A disswasive from error much increased a perswasive to order much decayed / by Joseph Bentham.

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Author:	Bentham, Joseph, 1594?-1671.
Title:	A disswasive from error much increased a perswasive to order much decayed / by Joseph Bentham.
Rights/Permissions:	The University of Michigan Library provides access to these keyboarded and encoded editions of the works for educational and research purposes. These transcriptions are believed to be in the public domain in the United States; however, if you decide to use any of these transcriptions, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact eebotcp-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact LibraryIT-info@umich.edu. This statement does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Print source:	A disswasive from error much increased a perswasive to order much decayed / by Joseph Bentham. Bentham, Joseph, 1594?-1671. London: Printed and are to be sold by William Thompson, 1669.
Subject terms:	Apostasy. Faith. Offenses against religion.
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A27412.0001.001
How to cite:	For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents

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title page

THE PREFACE.

sermon

I. Proposition.

II. Proposition.

III. Proposition.

IV. Proposition.

V. Proposition.

If we do err, ours are but small errors.

If any doth ask why God permits deceivers to draw men into errors, and men to be drawn into them?

You said from Timothy, that they are mildly, lovingly, and tenderly to be dealt withal, How then reject?

We think they are good and honest men, and their wayes good, they being so successful, they multiplying so much.

But what need you to trouble us with such like things, we being free from the one and the other.

The First.

If subjects may not resist, then they must obey unlawful commands contrary to Act. 5. 29.

They said they took not up arms against the King, but against his evil Councellors.

That they did was in obedience to publick command.

If subjects may not resist, then it seems Kings may do what they will.

But if Kings command to worship Devils, should we not resist? should we obey?

But what if the Government is in danger by evil managing?

The second.

You perhaps think and say I preach unprofitably, one of your articles against me formerly being thus: He hath preached so un∣profitably, that three or fourscore of his Parishioners have been forced to go into the Countrey to hear others. And he hath forced some to remove their habitations because they could not profit by him. Thus your Article. And when a Committee-man told some of you, that I was esteemed by the Countrey a painful Preacher, he was answered, To little purp•se.

The Third.

But what can I say to your Article?

The Fourth.

Perhaps you will say you are threatned for such and such Meet∣ings; and is not this persecution of good men?

But you perhaps will say, If there is any Law against such Meetings, it is not good.

If any of you say, as some do, Authority will not save souls.

I will then submit to the punishment inflicted according to Law.

If it be said that the Church is not to be obeyed when it suspends and deprives us for such causes, as we in our consciences know to be insufficient.

And to the speech of the Apostles objected, Act. 4. 19, 20.

You say you do nothing but what is good, you set open the great doors, and little doors, not caring who sees, who heareth you.

They who preach to us in private Meetings, are pious men, the other are profane, vicious, scandalous.

Why? Those you hear in your Meetings have rare gifts, they are pious and precious men.

But they are Idolaters.

Say we not right, that your Church is Antichristian, since your Common-prayer-Book is Popery? taken out of the Mass-Book? how can we then abide it? may we not justly leave it, and for it your Assemblies?

You are deceived, Papists, Anabaptists, Quakers, we and other more, you think do err, are not troubled; we fear not, we suffer for our consciences.

But if I will complain for neglecting Communions and Chate∣chising, why not of swearers and drunkards?

Certain sayings of Mr. Baxter in his Infant-Church-membership.

title page

A Visitation-Sermon PREACHED At Kettering, Octob. 6, 15. 1666.

Some I know will say, to obey and observe order in things com∣manded by authority, is against conscience.

But I am perswaded that such and such particulars are un∣lawful?

part

But by so doing we shall offend our weak brother, which we are forbidden to do.

Christ condemns the traditions of men, Mat. 15. 9.Things enjoyned are such.

But I think others to be better, and such to be needless.

But such and such are superstitious.

But is it not superstition to ascribe holiness to times, places, and things?

part

I dare not come saith one, lest I come unworthily.

I cannot come saith another, because of the company, many being admitted to come who are bad, and with such St. Paul saith I must not eat; and if I may not eat with them, then not come to the Lords Table with them.

We cannot touch pitch and not be defiled; we encourage them in their sins by our presence, whom we must reprove.

But we cannot communicate with that Church which hath no discipline.

We would come might we receive it as we would.

Oh no, We desire to receive in a Gospel way, in which we may imitate Christ, which we do not if we kneel.

What Christ did we must do.

It is Popery.

Something in it is in the Mass-Book, it was taken out of it.

part

That belongs to Parents, it is their duty.

This is used but as a form or custom.

Tey who are God-fathers and God-mothers do no such duty.

They who understood themselves, and are conscious, will under∣take no such charge impssible to be kept.

part

The POSTSCRIPT.