Considerations Toward a Peaceable Reformation

CONSIDERATIONS towards a peaceable Reformation in Matters Ecclesiastical.

1. T Hat the straightest, and so the shortest Rule, to compose differences in ways, is to agree of ends; for deliberations are not duly drawn up, when the design is uncertain. He that hath no certain port, hath no certain wind: Therefore it were to be wished, before we go too far in Collateral heats, and divertive retardings in diversity of Projects, that we well understood what Reformation of our Church doth import in a sober sense: For until that be fore-laid, and allowed by an Universal Vote, it will be very easy for the averse party to blast all blessed beginnings, and to raise rubbish to become a Rock, or at least a Remora of our Reformation.

2. That the work in hand is not planting of a Church, laying fundamentals, nor only the reducing of practices to fore-laid principles, but the perfecting and improving, cum effictis, those Orders and Ordinances that have been either omitted or corrupted; and in the removin • what doth pregnantly produce such distempers: That so we may secure future Relapses by real Clauses conservative.

3. That though the rule of Supernaturals is not defective, nor difficult in the necessaries to the being or well being of the Catholic Church; yet in relation to the better being of particular Churches, there must be beating out of advantages by serious consideration of consequences; not as to single salvation, but in respect of common edification, as we are collectively considered in a visible society: Now the fewer deductions that we admit, the safer it is, both in relation to human reason, and Antichristian Tyranny, which runs up all into Authority; which is brought in not only as auxiliarie, but as authentic also in a concurrent way.

4. That it is very safe, and savors of a prudent and peaceable spirit, not easily to conclude many things in Governement, Iure Divino; For as fundamentals in point of belief are few, and fully revealed, and soberly to be held without any supplementive additionals; and the admitting of more is the cause of all the mischievous miseries in the Church in point of Doctrine: so it sets us at a distance from peace, at defiance amongst ourselves, and disableth all accommodation, to pitch down a Governement Iure Divino; yea, produces many hard charges, prejudicating the truth of God; and gives ground plausibly to arrest and attaint Religion, for suspicion of disturbance or encroachment, by such fore-stalling the Civil State, and rendering the business of Reformation for the future impossible.

5. That though in a degenerate time, and Church, it be well and wisely done to discover as much as may be for Information, as necessary to Reformation; yet we may do as well to be wary, that we discard not all we dislike with the same degree of detestation: So that as we have cause not to bless all that we would have, with a Iure Divine, so we may find reason not to blast all that we desire should be removed, with an Antichristian brand: For we are fir from peace, while we put ill-sounding consequences upon other men's opinions and practices, or by provoking parallels, or envious aggravations, represent them odious. This is very hardly to be avoided, where affairs are carried with few heads and many hands; and when they take destructive work to be their way, and that to have most of Justice which hath most of Primitive proceedings in it. This course hath cost Christendom dear, for seldom any Councils but fell fowl upon opinions by extreme sentences: Now though middle Councils are seldom safe in affairs of State, yet seldom hurtful in business of the Church.

6. That though it be unpleasing, and may prove pernicious, peremptorily to lay down a way of government, Iure Divino, to the decrying of all others in an exclusive way; yet it is very reasonable and conformable to the principles of a Christian Church, to propose the designs Iuris Divini, coasting in all consultations closest, to that which is by divine permission of approbation; as what is most for Christian peace, freest from scandal, fullest for edification, most for the glory of God: which Rules bind not only because they are written, but also because they are reason. And in thus doing we shall be true to the end and reason of the State, which is to be a most Christian national Church.

7. That as change is no wise man's choice, but h •• d chance often puts him to yield to it, who would never positively have pitched upon it for a remedy; so it is reason in alterations to take care that some things which are mutable, as to their original, be not too easily changed upon color of Inconvenience, without such a necessity as is as easily discovered: For as it is dangerous •• venter upon the inconveniences of any great alteration, so it will be difficult to avoid the like grievances upon the same grounds, because if we change now evil for good, upon men's advice, why may we not change again for the better; and so we shall always be meddling under the consideration of mending: and while we complain of Innovations, we shall do nothing but innovate.

8. That we shall do well to distinguish upon what is to be reformed, whether the corruptions be incorporated by Custom, have color of Law, or are mere matter of Fact, which do rise and fall with a faction: Dis-usage to carry men off insensibly, may be safe in the first; over-ruling by interpretation in the second; and exemplary discountenance in the third; for where such men get no heat, they will take no cold. And so we shall appear, such as seek more to remove what we fear then what we hate.

9. That as it is a slip in Judgment to confound Persons and things, Fact and Law, in a destructive way, so it may be an error in good desires; and something dash our design to go direct and down-right ways, though to upright ends in point of Edification, without allowance of due time for men to see reason in what is laid down as a Rule: For all sudden departures are dangerous and offensive, as prodigious; therefore it may be a consideration worthy the weighing, and will prove a great assurance of peace, to lay foundations of Governement at a good latitude, that the Reformation may be of a growing constitution; and so may bear up against corruption; as well underlaid by its own good temper, and not only stand or fall by the temper or distempers of men.

10. That if it be not well to go on in provoking ways, when tis possible to pacify and sweeten, then it is not wise to stir many matters at once, because many matters engage many men; yea, many times move more than is fit to be removed, or to be discovered moveable: Therefore in punishing persons, Reformers shall do well to be tender of the honor of Offices; and in discarding Superstition in point of places, times, and performances, take heed of fostering profaneness in any of those respects, I confess tis hardly to be avoided, but that party which is to suffer Reformation, must needs for the time be near to ruin: for many that hate the Clergies Canons and Orders, love not God's Commandments nor Ordinances.

11. That though Civil States may be free from temporal turns and interests in the Reformation they design on the Church, yet they shall hardly avoid the suspicion of it, if the Clergy be not respectively called to Consultation: Therefore it may be well, and is expected that there be communicating not only in a private way with men, whose minds they know afore-hand, and it may be, have already suggested their sense; but with such also as are dis-engaged and resolved to be reserved until such a time, as a public agitation may give ground to declare their judgments; this will be of no ill influence upon the whole work in relation to the Christian world.

12. That seeing Politique Laws should be laid in with Moral possibility, and multiplicity of commands makes them impossible, as well as the difficulty of the duties; therefore it is believed a good course not to over-lay any State with positive penal Laws, promissarie Oaths, discovering Subscriptions, or multitude of Ceremonies; especially a Church that hath the Law of God as a perfect rule of Doctrine, Manners, and necessary Discipline: But let the things be few that are required, and then let them be strongly commanded. For many indifferent things have cost too dear, having been put on too hard upon pious and peaceable men, without any accommodation or toleration: Thus without cases reserved to an arbirrarie power, conscientious men may be moderately dealt with, that they complain not of a rigorous remedy as a grievance and persecution of mankind.