A case of great and present use whether we may lawfully hear the now conforming ministers who are re-ordained and have renounced the Covenant and some of them supposed to be scandalous in their lives considered and affirmatively resolved / by a late eminent Congregational divine.

Object. 4.

Where there is any better Preaching then Ordinary, especially in the City, it is so thron∣ged, as by that time Prayers are ended, there is no hearing.

Answ.

It is one thing to abstain upon such an account which is prudential only, as upon the account of bodily infirmity: another thing to abstain upon the opinion of unlaw∣fulness. Now the thing contended for, is to vindicate the Lawfulness of hearing such Ministers, notwithstanding what hath been objected to the contrary, and to deliver us from an error of very ill consequence: for this Opinion, that it is unlawful to hear such Ministers as have been spoken of, is an er∣ror of very ill consequence, in many re∣spects.

1. It puts us upon such singularity, as by which we divide in our practice, not only from our Brethren of the Presbyterian per∣swasion, but likewise from divers of the soberest Separatists. Where a good Consci∣ence necessitates us in many things to differ from other Godly Brethren on each hand, it is a sad Providence to have these differences increased by erronious Con∣science.

2. Except it be the reading of Scriptures, this Ordinance alone, of all other publick Ordinances amongst us, hath by the good hand of God been kept and continued by our National Establishment free in it self from all disputable Mixtures and Imposi∣tions; And the benefit and fruit of this Publick Ministry, hath accordingly been visibly great, as in any part of the World. Let us fear therefore lest we our selves now by raising groundless scruples, lay this as low, as others by their unwar∣rantable additions have done the other pub∣lick Ordinances.

3. In most of the misperswasions of these later times, by which mens Minds have been corrupted, I find in whatsoever otherwise they differ one from another,

yet in this they agree, that its unlawful to hear in publick; Which I am perswaded is one constant design of Satan in the variety of ways in Religion he hath set on Foot by Jesuites amongst us. Let us there∣fore be the more aware of whatsoever tends that way.

4. Such reasonings against hearing, though they convince not the unlawfulness of it, yet they leave such prejudices in the minds of them which are tender, as perplex and render Hearing less profitable and edifying, even to those that are perswaded of its Lawfulness. To bring the lawfulness of known Ordinances under dispute for some circumstances affixed, hath ever been of great advantage to Satan, whether in such disputes he prevails or not: For men are either beaten wholly off from the duty, or perform it with a more remiss and unsuta∣ble Spirit, which lyeth more directly in the way to prevent a blessing, than the evils of others we ordinarily Object. Those disputes about the morality of the Sabbath, as they have prevailed with many to a total neglect, so with more to a remiss observance, though convinced of it as a moral Duty. If for Substance the Duty be so

evident, as not to be liable to a dispute in it self (as this of Hearing is): then Satan fastens Scruples about Circumstances; which prevailing, we have as little benefit from the Ordinance or Duty, as if it were not.