The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America Part 3

1. _When G.o.d shall purge this Land with soap and nitre, Woe be to the Crowne, woe be to the Mitre._

The accent of the blow shall fall there.

He that pities not the Crowne, pities not his owne soule. Hee that pities not those that wore the Mitre, more than they pitied themselves, or the Churches over which they insulted, or the State then corrupted and now Corruined by their pride and negligence, is to blame.

2. _There is a set of Bishops comming next behind, Will ride the devill off his legs, and break his wind._

Poore men! they might have kept his backe till this time for ought I know, had they not put him beyond his pace: but Schollers must gallop, though they tumble for it. Yet I commend them for this, they gave him such straynes as made him blow short ever since. I doubt the a.s.sembly troubles him; and I doubt he troubles them. Well, the Bishops are gone: If they have carried away with them all that was in the pockets of their Holliday hose, fare them well; let them come againe when I give them a new _Conge d' slier_, or send a Pursuivant for them; which if I doe, I shall never trust myselfe more, though they have often done it for me, who never deserved that honour. Some of them I confesse were very honest men, and would have been honester if they dared for their fellows.

The sad worke now, is to inst.i.tute better things in their Roome, and to induct better men in their roome; rather where, and how to finde those things, they having cunningy laid them so farre out of the way; I doubt some good men cannot see them, when they look full upon them: it is like, the Bishops carryed away their eyes with them, but I feare they left their Spectacles behind them. I use no spectacles, yet my eyes are not fine enough, nor my hand steady enough to cut by such fine threads as are now spun. I am I know not what; I cannot tell what to make of my selfe, nor I think no body else: My Trade is to finde more faults than others will mend; and I am very diligent at it; yet it scarce findes me a living, though the Country findes me more worke than I can turne my hand to.

For Church work, I am neither Presbyterian, nor plebsbyterian, but an Interpendent: My task is to sit and study how shapeable the Independent way will be to the body of _England_, then my head akes on one side; and how suitable the Presbyterian way, as we heare it propounded, will bee to the minde of Christ, then my head akes on the other side: but when I consider how the Parliament will commoderate a way out of both, then my head leaves aking: I am not, without some contrivalls in my patching braines; but I had rather suppose them to powder, than expose them to preregular, much lesse to preter-regular Judgements: I shall therefore rejoyce that the work is faln into so good hands, heads, and hearts, who will weigh Rules by Troyweight, and not by the old Haber-du-pois: and rather then meddle where I have so little skill, I will sit by and tell my feares to them that have the patience to heare them, and leave the red-hot question to them that dare handle it.

I fear many holy men have not so deeply humbled themselves for their former mis-wors.h.i.+ppings of G.o.d as he will have them before he reveales his secrets to them: as they accounted things indifferent, so they account indifferent repentance will serve turne. _Son of man, if my people be ashamed of all that they have done, then shew them the forme of the house, and the fas.h.i.+on thereof_, else not, _Ezek. 43. 11_. A sin in G.o.ds wors.h.i.+p, that seemes small in the common beame of the world, may be very great in the scales of his Sanctuary. Where G.o.d is very jealous, his servants should be very cautelous.

I feare, the furnace wherein our new formes are casting, is over-heat, and casts smoake in the eyes of our founders, that they cannot well see what they doe, or ought to doe; _Omne perit judicium c.u.m res transit in affectum._ Truth and peace are the _Castor_ and _Pollux_ of the Gospell: they that seek the one without the other, are like to finde neither: Anger will hinder domestick Prayers, much more Ecclesiastique Councels.

What is produced by tumult, is either deficient or redundant. When the judgements of good men concurre with a harmonious Diapason, the result is melodious and commodious. Warring and jarring men are no builders of houses for G.o.d, though otherwise very good. Instruments may be well made and well strung, but if they be not well fretted, the Musique is marred.

The great Turke hearing Musitians so long a tuning, he thought it stood not with his state to wait for what would follow. When Christ whips Market-makers out of his Temple, he raises dust: but when he enters in with Truth and Holinesse, he calls for deep silence, _Hab. 2. 20_. There must not a toole be heard when the Tabernacle is reared: Nor is that amiable or serviceable to men that pa.s.seth through so many ill animadversions of Auditors and Spectators. If the a.s.sembly can hardly agree what to determine, people will not easily agree what to accept.

I fear, these differences and delayes have occasioned men to make more new discoveries then otherwise they would. If publique a.s.semblies of Divines cannot agree upon a right way, private Conventicles of illiterate men, will soon find a wrong. Bivious demurres breed devious resolutions. Pa.s.sengers to heaven are in haste, and will walk one way or other. He that doubts of his way, thinkes hee loses his day: and when men are gone awhile, they will be loth to turn back. If G.o.d hide his path, Satan is at hand to turn Convoy: If any have a minde to ride poste, he will helpe them with a fresh spavin'd Opinion at every Stage.

_Where clocks will stand, and Dials have no light, There men must goe by guesse, be't wrong or right._

I feare, if the a.s.sembly of all Divines, doe not consent, and concenter the sooner, G.o.d will breath a spirit of wisedome and meeknesse, into the Parliament of no Divines, to whom the Imperative and Coactive power supremely belongs, to consult such a contemperate way, as shall best please him, and profit his Churches, so that it shall be written upon the doore of the a.s.sembly; _The Lord was not there._

I feare, the importunity of some impatient, and subtlety of some malevolent mindes, will put both Parliament and a.s.sembly upon some preproperations, that will not be safe in Ecclesiasticall Const.i.tutions.

To procrastinate in matters clear, as I said even now, may be dangerous; so, not to deliberate in dubious cases, will be as perilous. We here, though I think under favour, wee have some as able Steersmen as _England_ affords, have been driven to tack about again to some other points of Christs Compa.s.se, and to make better observations before we hoyse up sayles. It will be found great wisdome in disputable cases, not to walk on by twylight, but very cautelously; rather by probationers for a time, then peremptory positives: Reelings and wheelings in Church acts, are both difficult and disadvantageous. It is rather Christian modesty than shame, in the dawning of Reformation, to be very perpensive. Christs mind is, that Evangelicall policies, should be framed by Angelicall measures; not by a line of flaxe, but by a golden Reed, _Rev. 21. 15_.

I feare, he that sayes, the Presbyterian and Independent way, if rightly carryed, doe not meet in one, he doth not handle his Compa.s.ses so considerately as he should.

I feare, if Authority doth not establish a sutable and peaceable Government of Churches the sooner, the bells in all the steeples will ring awke so long, that they will hardly be brought into tune any more.

My last, but not least feare, is, That G.o.d will hardly replant his Gospel in any part of Christendome, in so faire an Edition as is expected, till the whole field hath been so ploughed and harrowed, that the soile be throughly cleansed and fitted for new seed: Or whether he will not transplant it into some other Regions, I know not: This feare I have feared these 20 years, but upon what grounds I had rather bury than broach.

I dare not but adde to what preceded about Church-Reformation, a most humble pet.i.tion, that the Authority of the Ministry be kept in its due alt.i.tude: if it be dropp'd in the dust, it will soon bee stifled: Encroachments on both sides, have bred detriments enough to the whole.

The Separatists are content their teaching Elders should sit highest on the Bench, so they may sit in the Chaire over-against them; and that their ruling Elders shall ride on the saddle, so they may hold the bridle. That they may likewise have seasonable and honorable maintenance, and that certainly stated: which generally we find and practise here as the best way. When Elders live upon peoples good wills, people care little for their ill wills, be they never so just: Voluntary contributions or non-tributions of Members, put Ministers upon many temptations in administrations of their Offices: two houres care does more dis-spirit an ingenuous man than two dayes study: nor can an Elder be given to hospitality, when he knowes not what will be given him to defray it: it is pity men of gifts should live upon men's gifts. I have seen most of the Reformed Churches in Europ, and seene more misery in these two respects, then it is meet others should hear: the complaints of painfull _Pareus_, _David Pareus_, to my selfe, with tears, concerning the Germane Churches, are not to be related.

There is yet a personall Reformation, as requisite as the Politicall.

When States are so reformed, that they conforme such as are profligate, into good civility: civill men, into religious morality: When Churches are so const.i.tuted, that Faith is ordained Pastor, Truth Teacher, Holinesse and Righteousnesse ruling Elders: Wisedome and Charity Deacons: Knowledge, love, hope, zeale, heavenly-mindednesse, meeknesse, patience, watchfulnesse, humility, diligence, sobriety, modesty, chast.i.ty, constancy, prudence, contentation, innocency, sincerity, &c.

admitted members and all their opposites excluded: then there will bee peace of Country and Conscience.

Did the servants of Christ know what it is to live in Reformed Churches with unreformed spirits, under strict order with loose hearts, how formes of Religion breed but formes of G.o.dlinesse, how men by Church-discipline, learne their Church-postures, and there rest; they would pray as hard for purity of heart, as purity of Ordinances. If we mocke G.o.d in these, He will mocke us; either with defeat of our hopes; or which is worse: when we have what we so much desire, we shall be so much the worse for it. It was a well salted speech, uttered by an English Christian of a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, Wee have the good Orders here, but you have the good Christians in _England_. Hee that prizes not Old _England_ Graces, as much as New _England_ Ordinances, had need goe to some other market before hee comes. .h.i.ther.

In a word, hee that is not Pastor, Teacher, Ruler, Deacon and Brother to himselfe, and lookes not at Christ above all, it matters not a farthing whether he be Presbyterian or Independent: he may be a zealot in bearing witnesse to which he likes best, and yet an Iscariot to both, in the witnesse of his owne Conscience.

I have upon strict observation, seen so much power of G.o.dlinesse, and spirituall mindednesse in English Christians, living meerly upon Sermons and private duties, hardly come by, when the Gospell was little more than symptomaticall to the State; such Epidemicall and lethall formality in other disciplinated Churches, that I professe in the hearing of G.o.d, my heart hath mourned, and mine eyes wept in secret, to consider what will become of mult.i.tudes of my deare Country-men, when they shall enjoy what they now covet: Not that good Ordinances breed ill Consciences, but ill Consciences grow stark nought under good Ordinances; insomuch that might I wish an hypocrite the most perilous place but h.e.l.l, I should wish him a Members.h.i.+p in a strict Reformed Church: and might I wish a sincere Servant of G.o.d, the greatest griefe earth can afford, I should wish him to live with a pure heart, in a Church impurely Reformed; yet through the improvement of G.o.ds Spirit, that griefe may sanctifie him for G.o.ds service and presence, as much as the meanes he would have, but cannot.

I speak this the rather to prevent, what in me lyes, the imprudent romaging that is like to be in _England_, from Villages to Townes, from Townes to Cities, for Churches sake, to the undoing of Societies, Friends.h.i.+ps, Kindreds, Families, Heritages, Callings, yea, the wise Providence of G.o.d in disposing mens habitations, now in the very Infancy of Reformation: by forgetting that a little leaven may season a large lump: and it is much better to doe good than receive. It were a most uncharitable and unserviceable part, for good men to desert their own Congregations, where many may glorifie G.o.d in the day of his Visitation, for their presence and a.s.sistance. If a Christian would picke out a way to thrive in grace, let him study to administer grace to them that want: or to make sure a blessing upon his Family; let him labour to multiply the family of Christ, and beleeve, that he which soweth liberally, shall reap abundantly; and hee that spareth more than is need, from them that have more need, shall surely come to poverty: yea, let me say, that he who forsakes the meanes of grace for Christ and his Churches sake, shall meet with a better bargaine, namely, grace it selfe. It is a time now, when full flocks should rather scatter to leane Churches, than gather from other places, to make themselves fat; when able Christians should rather turne Jesuites and Seminaries, than run into Covents and Frieries: had this beene the course in the Primitive time, the Gospel had been pinfolded up in a few Cities, and not spread as it is.

What more unG.o.dly sacriledge or manstealing can there be, then to purloin from G.o.dly Ministers the first born of their fervent prayers and faithfull preachings, the leven of their flocks, the incouragement of their soules, the Crowne of their labours, their Epistle to Heaven? I am glad to heare our _New-England_ Elders generally detest it _despuenter_, and looke at it as a killing _Cordolium_: If men will needs gather Churches out of the world (as they say) let them first plough the world, sow it, and reap it with their own hands, and the Lord give them a liberall Harvest. He is a very hard man that will reap where he hath not sowed, and gather where he hath not strowed, _Mat. 25. 24_.

He that saith, it is or was our case, doth not rightly understand himself or us, and he that takes his warrant out of _Joh. 4. 37. 38._ is little acquainted with Expositors. Wise men are amazed to hear that conscientious Ministers dare spoile many Congregations to make one for themselves.

In matter of Reformation, this would be remembred, that in premonitory judgements, G.o.d will take good words, and sincere intents; but in peremptory, nothing but reall performances.

_Composition._

If Reformation were come thus neer, I should hope Composition were not farre off: When hearts meet in G.o.d, they will soon meet in G.o.ds wayes, and upon G.o.ds termes. But to avoid prolixity, which steales upon me; For Composition, I shall compose halfe a dozen distichs concerning these kind of Wars; wis.h.i.+ng I could sing asleep these odious stirres at least on some part, with a dull Ode. He is no Cobler that cannot sing, nor no good Cobler that can sing well:

_Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum_ } They are _Qualemcunque potest_ ---- Juvenal } these.

1.

_They seldome lose the field, but often win, That end their wars, before their wars begin._

2.

_Their Cause is oft the worst, that first begin, And they may lose the field, the field that win:_[3]

3.

_In Civill warrs, 'twixt Subjects and their King, There is no conquest got, by conquering._

4.

_Warre ill begun, the onely way to mend, Is t' end the warre before the warre doe end._

5.

_They that will end ill warrs, must have the skill, To make an end by Rule, and not by Will._

6.

_In ending warrs 'tween Subjects and their Kings, Great things are sav'd, by losing little things._

[3] _Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa_ Catoni. Lucan.

Wee heare that _Majestas Imperii_ hath challenged _Salus Populi_ into the field; the one fighting for Prerogatives, the other defending Liberties: Were I a Constable bigge enough, I would set one of them by the heeles to keep both their hands quiet; I meane onely in a paire of stocks, made of sound reason, handsomely fitted for the legges of their Understanding.

If _Salus Populi_ began, surely it was not that _Salus Populi_ which I left in _England_: That _Salus Populi_ was as mannerly a _Salus Populi_ as need bee: if I bee not much deceived, that _Salus Populi_ suffer'd its nose to be held to the Grindstone, till it was almost ground to the grisles; and yet grew never the sharper for ought I could discerne; What was, before the world was made, I leave to better Antiquaries then myselfe; but I thinke, since the world began, it was never storied that _Salus Populi_ began with _Majestas Imperii_, unlesse _Majestas Imperii_ first unharbour'd it, and hunted it to a stand, and then it must either turne head and live, or turn taile and die: but more have been storyed on the other hand than _Majestas Imperii_ is willing to heare: I doubt not but _Majestas Imperii_ knows, that Common-wealths cost as much the making as Crownes; and if they bee well made, would yet outsell an ill-fas.h.i.+oned Crown, in any Market overt, even in _Smithfield_, if they could be well vouched.

But _Preces & Lachrymae_, are the people's weapons: so are Swords and Pistols, when G.o.d and Parliaments bid them Arme. Prayers and Teares are good weapons for them that have nothing but knees and eyes; but most men are made with teeth and nailes; onely they must neither scratch for Liberties, nor bite Prerogatives, till they have wept and prayed as G.o.d would have them. If Subjects must fight for their Kings against other Kingdomes, when their Kings will; I know no reason, but they may fight against their Kings for their own Kingdomes, when Parliaments say they may and must: but Parliaments must not say they must, till G.o.d sayes they may.