An answer to W.R. his narration of the opinions and practises of the churches lately erected in Nevv-England.: Vindicating those Godly and orthodoxall churches, from more then an hundred imputations fathered on them and their church way, by the said W.R. in his booke. Wherein is plainely proved, 1. That the grounds of his narration are sandie and insufficient. 2. That the maner of his handling it, unloving and irregular. 3. That the matter of it, ful of grosse mistakes & divers contradictions. 4. That the quotations extremely wrested, and out of measure abused. 5. That his marginall notes impertinent and injurious. / By Thomas Welde, Pastour of the Church of Roxborough in Nevv-England. This is licensed and entred according to order.

Answer to CHAP. VIII.

This chapter is spent (especially the Margent) in invectives against the strictnesse of our Church Covenant, that restrains men, that they can∣not have elbow roome, and be at loose end, when they please. I will gather the strength of all he speakes in this chapter into some objections, and ve∣ry briefly answer them.

[Object.] A member (saith he) cannot remove from a Church without our consents, sought and obtained. Art. 1.

* 1.1It crosseth the nature of all Covenants in the world, for to dissolve the Covenant without the consent of the other: And shall this engagement, so solemne, so sacred, so deliberate, be loosed at pleasure, (by a mans re∣moval

whē & whither he pleaseth, & it may be also not without apparant sin without acquainting the Church withal, & getting approbation frō thē?

The Church may be partiall in their own cause, may not some of other Churches [Object. 2] be consulted withall, rather then this: pag. 32. Marg.

Shall a man infringe this Covenant, [Answ.] deprive the Church of her proper right, and lay her under blame of partiality upon a meere supposall, that the Church may be partiall? Let this Church be [first] consulted withall, rather then any other, (and good reason too,) for the Covenant is made with her: and if it appeare she is (indeed) partiall, then let the counsell of other Churches and Ministers be called in, which was never yet denied a∣ny Member, and I hope never will be.

But what need a man consult with the whole Church? what if his reasons be se∣cret, [Object. 3] &c.

The Covenant being made with the whole, [Answ.] (reason speakes) the whole ought to untie the knot. But if there be some case extraordinary, where the grounds of removall may not safely be divulged to all, as I con∣fesse it's possible so to happen, let the partie but intimate so much to the Church, and desire that some two ot three faithfull men be intrusted, and what hinders?

If the Church covenant binds so fast, then (as the Disciples said of marriage) [Object. 4] it is not good to touch this covenant. pag. 32.

1. A gracious sp;irit counts it no bondage but freedome, [Answ.] to be constantly under the sweet yoake of Christ in Gospell duties: and such and no other are the particulars of our Covenant; ah,* 1.2 let none be weary of this but all be as the servant in the Law, that might have gone out free, yet (loving his Master well) chose rather to abide with him for ever.

2. Yet it any man be desirous, and stedfastly bent to depart, the Church never holds him against his will, though she sees little or no weight in his reasons, and I hope it is not the case of marriage, so easily to be dissolved.

But if the Church be not satisfied with his reasons, he goes away tacitely accu∣sed, [Object. 5] slandered, yea virtually cast out and curst.

Sure I am, this is accusing, slanderous, and curst language: [Ans.] * 1.3 not fit for a so∣ber & grave man, by that law in Israel, W. R. would goe neere to be amer∣cied and striped for this defamation. What would he have them doe when they cannot be satisfied with the grounds of his departure? must they needs act against light and conscience, and say they are satisfied, when they are not, especially when they see a brother (haply) running into evill, or danger, by such a removall? All they can doe, is (through indulgence) to suspend their vote and leave him to his own liberty. And yet they will neither accuse or slander him, much lesse curse him or cast him out: These are words fit for nothing but retraction, and repentance.

If men be once ••••tred into covenant, he is so riveted into it that he can hardly [Object. 6]

ever get out of it, but must continue in it, though perhaps against his conscience. Ibid.

[Answ.] To my best remembrance, I never heard of, or knew any godly Church-member that repented of this Church-way, & desired (upon that ground) to make a retreate.

2. If any should be convinced in his conscience (as you say) that there is sin in it, and should (after all meanes of information used) solemnely profes and make it appeare ingenuously, that he dareth not in conscience proceed on in those waies; I know no Church that will detaine him?

[Object. 7] How shall this man, thus dismissed without the Churches approbation and Let∣ters of recommendation be received into any other Church?

* 1.4How many lines doth he spend (to no purpose) about untying this knot? and when he cannot unloose it,* 1.5 (for that he knows not our practises there) he falls out extreamely with us, and our way as harsh and rigid.

I have read of Harpia (a lame woman in Seneca) who still complained of the roughnesse of the way that made her limpe, but faw not her owne lamenesse to bee the cause. I will not stand to make application, but unloose his knot, by telling him; Though a Church cannot see cause enough to commend such a person as we speake of, to another Church, for his Departure from them, as being not cleare in it themselves, yet (hee being a godly man, and of a good conversation in the generall) they may and doe use to commend him for his godlinesse, &c. and in prudence, con∣ceale any supposed error, or infirmity in his departure from them: And upon such a testimony he is received, and so neede not bee left as an Hea∣then.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••ns.
• * 1.2

  Ex. 21.5.6
• * 1.3

  Deut 22.•• 19.
• * 1.4

  ••nswer.
• * 1.5

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