Chapter 1. The Evil of Schism and the Present Controversy

Aggravations of the evil of schism, from the authority of the ancients. Their incompetency to determine in this case; instanced in the sayings of Austine and Hierome. The saying of Aristides. Judgement of the ancients subjected to disquisition. Some men's advantage in charging others with schism. The actor's part privileged. The Romanists' interest herein. The charge of schism not to be despised. The iniquity of accusers justifies not the accused. Several persons charged with schism on several accounts. The design of this discourse in reference to them. Justification of differences unpleasant. Attempts for peace and reconciliation considered. Several persuasions hereabouts, and endeavours of men to that end. Their issues.

It is the manner of men of all persuasions, who undertake to treat of schism, to make their entrance with invectives against the evils thereof, with aggravations of its heinousness. All men whether intending the charge of others, or their own acquitment, esteem themselves concerned so to do. Sentences out of the Fathers, and determinations of schoolmen, making it the greatest sin imaginable, are usually produced to this purpose. A course this is which men's apprehensions have rendered useful, and the state of things in former days easy. Indeed whole volumes of the ancients, written when they were actors in this cause, charging others with the guilt of it, and consequently with the vehemency of men, contending for that, wherein their own interest lay, might (if it were to our purpose) be transcribed to this end. But as they had the happiness to deal with men evidently guilty of many miscarriages, and for the most part absurd and foolish, so many of them having fallen upon such a notion of the Catholic Church and schism, as has given occasion to many woeful mistakes, and much darkness in the following ages, I cannot so easily give up the nature of this evil to their determination and judgement. About the aggravations of its sinfulness I shall not contend.

The evidence which remains of an indulgence in the best of them, [in non-Latin alphabet] in this business especially, deters from that procedure. From what other principle were those words of Augustine; Obscurius dixerunt Prophetae de Christo quam de Ecclesia: puto propterea quia videbant in spiritu contra Ecclesiam homines facturos esse particulas: Et de Christo non tantam litem habitutos, de Ecclesia magnas contentiones excitaturos. Conc. 2. ad Psal. 30. Neither the affirmation itself, nor the reason assigned can have any better root. Is anything more clearly and fully prophesied on then Christ? Or was it possible that good men should forget with what contests the whole Church of God all the world over had been exercised from its infancy about the Person of Christ? Shall the tumultuating of a few in a corner of Africk, blot out the remembrance of the late diffusion of Arrianism over the world? But Hierom has given a rule for the interpretation of what they delivered in their polemical engagements; telling us plainly in his Apology for himself to Pammachius, that he had not so much regarded what was exactly to be spoken in the controversy he had in hand, as what was fit to lay load upon Jovinian. And if we may believe him, this was the manner of all men in those days. If they were engaged they did not what the truth only, but what the defence of their cause also required. Though I believe him not as to all he mentions, yet doubtless we may say to many of them, as the Apostle in another case; [in non-Latin alphabet]. Though Aristides obtained the name of just, for his uprightness in the management of his own private affairs, yet being engaged in the administration of those of the commonwealth, he did many things professedly unjust; giving this reason, he did them [in non-Latin alphabet].

Besides, the age wherein we live, having by virtue of that precept of our Savior, Call no man Master, in a good measure freed itself from the bondage of subjection to the dictates of men (and the innumerable evils with endless entanglements from there ensuing) because they lived so many hundreds of years before us; that course of procedure, though retaining its facility, has lost its usefulness, and is confessedly impertinent. What the Scripture expressly says of this sin, and what from that it says, may regularly and rationally be deduced (whereunto we stand and fall,) shall be afterwards declared. And what is spoken suitably thereunto by any of old, or of late, shall be cheerfully also received. But it may not be expected that I should build upon their authority, whose principles I shall be necessitated to examine. And I am therefore contented to lie low, as to any expectation of success in my present undertaking, because I have the prejudice of many ages, the interest of most Christians, and the mutual consent of parties at variance (which commonly is taken for an unquestionable evidence of truth) to contend withal. But my endeavours being to go, non quà itur, sed quà eundum est, I am not solicitous about the event.

In dealing about this business among Christians, the advantage has been extremely hitherto on their part, who found it their interest to begin the charge. For whereas perhaps themselves were, and are of all men most guilty of the crime, yet by their clamorous accusation, putting others upon the defence of themselves, they have in a manner clearly escaped from the trial of their own guilt, and cast the issue of the question purely on them, whom they have accused. The actors or complainants part was so privileged by some laws and customs, that he who had desperately wounded another, chose rather to enter against him the frivolous plea, that he received not his whole sword into his body, then to stand to his best defence, on the complaint of the wounded man. An accusation managed with the craft of men guilty, and a confidence becoming men wronged and innocent, is not every one's work to slight & wave. And he is in ordinary judgements immediately acquitted, who avers that his charge is but recrimination. What advantage the Romanists have had on this account, how they have expatiated in the aggravation of the sin of schism, while they have kept others on the defence, and would fain make the only thing in question to be, whether they are guilty of it or no, is known to all. And therefore ever since they have been convinced of their disability to debate the things in difference between them and us, to any advantage, from the Scripture, they have almost wholly insisted on this one business, wherein they would have it wisely thought, that our concernment only comes to the trial, knowing that in these things their defence is weak, who have nothing else. Nor do they need any other advantage. For if any party of men can estate themselves at large in all the privileges granted & promises made to the Church in general, they need not be solicitous about dealing with them that oppose them; having at once rendered them no better then Jews Solis nosse Deos & Coeli numina nobis and Mahumetans,—out solis nescire datum, heathens or Publicans, by appropriating the privileges mentioned to themselves. And whereas the parties litigant, by all rules of law and equity, ought to stand under an equal regard, until the severals of their differences have been heard and stated; one party is hereby utterly condemned before it is heard: and it is all one to them, whether they are in the right or wrong. But we may possibly in the issue state it upon another foot of account.

In the mean time it cannot be denied, but that their vigorous adhering to the advantage, which they have made to themselves (a thing to be expected from men wise in their generation) has exposed some of them, whom they have wrongfully accused, to a contrary evil; while in a sense of their own innocency, they have insensibly slipped (as is the manner of men) into slight and contemptible thoughts of the thing itself whereof they are accused. Where the thing in question is but a name or term of reproach, invented among men, this is incomparably the best way of defence. But this contains a crime; and no man is to set light by it. To live in schism, is to live in sin; which unrepented of, will ruin a man's eternal condition. Every one charged with it must either desert his station, which gives foundation to his charge, or acquit himself of the crime, in that station. This latter is that, which in reference to myself, and others, I do propose: assenting in the gross to all the aggravations of this sin, that with any pretence from Scripture or reason are heaped on it.

And I would beg of men fearing God, that they would not think, that the iniquity of their accusers does in the least extenuate the crime whereof they are accused. Schism is schism still, though they may be unjustly charged with it; and he that will defend and satisfy himself by prejudices against them, with whom he has to do, though he may be no schismatic, yet if he were so, it is certain he would justify himself in his state and condition. Seeing men on false grounds and self interest may yet sometimes manage a good cause, which perhaps they have embraced upon better principles, a conscientious tenderness and fear of being mistaken, will drive this business to another issue. Blessed is he who fears always.

It is well known how things stand with us in this world; as we are Protestants we are accused by the Papists to be schismatics. And all other pleas, and disputes neglected, this is that which at present (as is evident from their many late treatises on this subject, full of their wonted confidence, contempt, reviling, & scurrility) is chiefly insisted on by them.

Farther, among Protestants; as being Reformatists, or as they call us Calvinists, we are condemned for schismatics by the Lutherans & Sacramentarian Sectaries, for no other crime in the world, but because we submit not to all they teach; for in no instituted Church relation would they ever admit us to stand with them; which is as considerable an instance of the power of prejudice, as this age can give. We are condemned for separation, by them who refuse to admit us into union. But what has not an irrational attempt of enthroning opinions put men upon?

The differences nearer home about Episcopal government, with the matter of fact, in the rejecting of it, and somewhat of the external way of the worship of God, formerly used among us, has given occasion to a new charge of the guilt of the same crime on some; as it is not to be supposed, that wise and able men, suffering to a great extremity, will oversee or omit any thing, from where they may hope to prevail themselves against those, by whose means they think they suffer. It cannot be helped (the engagement being past) but this account must be carried on one step farther. Among them who in these late days have engaged (as they profess) into Reformation (and not to believe that to have been their intention is fit only for them, who are concerned, that it should be thought to be otherwise, whose prejudice may furnish them with a contrary persuasion) not walking all in the same light as to some few particulars, while each party (as the manner is) gathered together what they thought conduced to the furtherance and improvement of the way, wherein they differed one from another, some unhappily to the heightening of the differences, took up this charge of Schism against their brethren; which yet in a small process of time, being almost sunk of itself, will ask the less pains utterly to remove and take off. In the mean time, it is among other things (which is to be confessed) an evidence that we are not yet arrived at that inward frame of spirit, which was aimed at (Philippians 3:15, 16), whatever we have attained as to the outward administration of ordinances.

This being the state of things, the concernment of some of us, lying in all the particulars mentioned, of all Protestants in some, it may be worth while to consider, whether there be not general principles of irrefragable evidence, whereon both all and some may be acquitted from their several concernments in this charge, and the whole guilt of this crime put into the Ephah, and carried to build it a house in the Land of Shinar, to establish upon its own base.

I confess I would rather, much rather, spend all my time and days in making up and healing the breaches and schisms that are among Christians, than one hour in justifying our divisions, even therein, wherein on the one side they are capable of a fair defence. But who is sufficient for such an attempt? The closing of differences among Christians is like opening the Book in the Revelation: there is none able or worthy to do it in Heaven or in Earth, but the Lamb: when he will put forth the greatness of his power for it, it shall be accomplished, and not before. In the mean time a reconciliation among all Protestants is our duty, and practicable; and had perhaps ere this been in some forwardness of accomplishment, had men rightly understood, wherein such a reconciliation according to the mind of God does consist. When men have laboured as much in the improvement of the principle of forbearance, as they have done to subdue other men to their opinions, religion will have another appearance in the world.

I have considered and endeavoured, to search into the bottom of the two general ways, fixed on respectively by sundry persons for the compassing of peace, and union among Christians, but in one nation, with the issue and success of them in several places: namely, that of enforcing uniformity by a secular power on the one side, as was the case in this nation not many years ago, (and is yet liked by the most,) being a suitable judgment for the most, and that of toleration on the other, which is our present condition. Concerning them both I dare say; that though men of a good zeal, and small experience, or otherwise on any account full of their own apprehensions, may promise to themselves much of peace, union, and love, from the one or the other, (as they may be severally favoured by men of different interests in this world, in respect of their conducings to their ends,) yet that a little observation of events, if they are not able to consider the causes of things, with the light and posture of the minds of men in this generation, will unburden them of the trouble of their expectations. It is something else, that must give peace to Christians, than what is a product of the prudential considerations of men.

This I shall only add as to the former of these, of enforcing uniformity; as it has lost its reputation of giving temporal tranquility to states, kingdoms, and commonwealths (which with some is only valuable, whatever became of the souls of men, forced to the profession of that, which they did not believe) the readiest means in the world to root out all religion from the hearts of men the letters of which plea are in most nations in Europe washed out with rivers of blood, (and the residue wait their season for the same issue) so it continues in the possession of this advantage against the other, that it sees, and openly complains of the evil, and dangerous consequences of it; when against its own, where it prevails, it suffers no complaints to lie. As it is ludicrously said of physicians, the effects of their skill lie in the sun, but their mistakes are covered in the churchyard: so is it with this persuasion; what it does well, while it prevails, is evident: the anxiety of conscience in some, hypocrisy, formality, no better than atheism in others, wherewith it is attended, are buried out of sight.

But as I have some while since ceased to be moved by the clamours of men, concerning bloody persecution on the one hand, and cursed, intolerable toleration on the other, by finding all the world over, that events and executions follow not the conscientious embracing of the one or other of these decried principles, and persuasions, but are suited to the providence of God, stating the civil interests of the nations; so I am persuaded, that a general alteration of the state of the churches of Christ in this world, must determine that controversy: which when the light of it appears, we shall easily see the vanity of those reasonings, wherewith men are entangled, that are perfectly suited to their present condition of religion. But hereof I have spoken elsewhere.

Farther, let any man consider the proposals and attempts, that have been made for ecclesiastical peace in the world, both of old, and in these latter days; let him consult the rescripts of Princes; the Edicts of Nations, Advices of Politicians, that would have the world in quietness on any terms, Consultations, Conferences, Debates, Assemblies, Councils of the Clergy, who are commonly zealots in their several ways, and are by many thought to be willing rather to hurl the whole world into confusion than to abate any thing of the rigor of their opinions, and he will quickly assume the liberty of affirming concerning them all, that as wise men might easily see flaws in all of them, and an unsuitableness to the end proposed, and as good men might see so much of carnal interest, self, and hypocrisy in them, as might discourage them from any great expectations, so upon many other accounts a better issue was not to be looked for from them, than has been actually obtained; which has for the most part been this, that those, that could dissemble most deeply have been thought to have the greatest advantage. In disputations indeed the truth for the most part has been a gainer; but in attempts for reconciliation, those that have come with the least candor, most fraud, hypocrisy, secular baits for the subverting of others, have in appearance for a season seemed to obtain success. And in this spirit of craft and contention are things yet carried on in the world.

Yet I suppose the parties at variance are so well acquainted at length with each others' principles, arguments, interests, prejudices, and real distance of their causes, that none of them expect any reconciliation, but merely by one party keeping its station, and the other coming over wholly thereunto. And therefore a Romanist in his preface to a late pamphlet about schism to the two Universities, tells us plainly, that, if we will have any peace, we must without limitation submit to, and receive those [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], those commanding oracles which God by his holy Spouse propounds to our obedience; the sense of which expressions we are full well acquainted with. And in pursuit of that principle he tells us again, p. 238, that suppose the Church should in necessary points teach error, yet even in that case every child of the Church must exteriorly carry himself quiet and not make commotions (that is, declare against her) for that were to seek a cure worse than the disease. Now if it seem reasonable to these gentlemen, that we should renounce our sense and reason, with all that understanding, which we have, or at least are fully convinced that we have, of the mind of God in the Scripture, and submit blindly to the commands, and guidance of their Church, that we may have peace, and union with them, because of their huge interest and advantage, which lies in our so doing, we profess ourselves to be invincibly concluded under the power of a contrary persuasion, and consequently an impossibility of reconciliation.

As to attempts then for reconciliation between parties at variance about the things of God, and the removal of schism by that means, they are come to this issue among them, by whom they have been usually managed, namely politicians and divines; that the former perceiving the tenaciousness in all things of the latter, their promptness and readiness to dispute, and to continue in so doing with confidence of success, (a frame of spirit that indeed will never praise God, nor be useful to bring forth truth in the world) do judge them at length not to have that prudence, which is requisite to advise in matters diffused into such variety of concernments as these are, or not able to break through their unspeakable prejudices and interests to the due improvement of that wisdom, they seem to have; and the latter observing the facile condescension of the former in all things that may have a consistency with that peace and secular advantage they aim at, do conclude that, notwithstanding all their pretences, they have indeed in such consultations little or no regard to the truth; whereupon having a mutual diffidence in each other, they grow weary of all endeavors to be carried on jointly in this kind; the one betaking themselves wholly to keep things in as good state in the world, as they can, let what will become of religion; the other to labor for success against their adversaries, let what will become of the world, or the peace thereof. And this is like to be the state of things, until another spirit be poured out on the professors of Christianity, than that wherewith at present they seem mostly to be acted.

The only course then remaining to be fixed on, while our divisions continue, is to enquire wherein the guilt of them does consist, and who is justly charged therewith; in especial what is, and who is, guilty of the sin of schism? And this shall we do, if God permit.

It may I confess seem superfluous to add any thing more on this subject, which has been so fully already handled by others. But as I said, the present concernment of some fearing God, lying beyond what they have undertaken, and their endeavors for the most part having tended rather to convince their adversaries of the insufficiency of their charge and accusation, than rightly and clearly to state the thing or matter contended about, something may be farther added as to the satisfaction of the consciences of men unjustly accused of this crime, which is my aim, and which I shall now fall upon.