Part II
I. 1. IT is not my present design to touch on any particular opinions , whether they are right or wrong; nor on any of those smaller points of practice, which are variously held by men of different persuasions: but first, to point out some things which on common principles are condemned by men of every denomination, and yet found in all; and secondly, some wherein those of each denomination, are more particularly inconsistent with their own principles.
And, first, it is my design, abstracting from opinions of every kind, as well as from disputable points of practice, to mention such of those things as occur to my mind, which are on common principles condemned, and notwithstanding found, more or less, among men of every denomination.
2. But before I enter on this unpleasing task, I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, by whatever love you bear to God, to your country, to your own souls; do not consider who speaks, but what is spoken. If it be possible, for one hour lay prejudice aside; give what is advanced a fair hearing. Consider simply on each head, Is this true, or is it false? Is it reasonable, or is it not? If you ask, “But in whose judgment?” I answer, in your own; I appeal to the light of your own mind. Is there not a faithful witness in your own breast? By this you must stand or fall. You cannot be judged by another man’s conscience. Judge for yourself by the best light you have. And the merciful God teach me and thee whatsoever we know not!
Now, as I speak chiefly to those who believe the scriptures, the method I propose is this, first, To observe what account is given therein of the Jews , the ancient church of God, inasmuch as all these things were written for our instruction , who say, we are now the visible church of the God of Israel . Secondly, To appeal to all who profess to be members thereof, to every one who is called a Christian, how far, in each instance, the parallel holds? And how much we are better than they ?
3. First, I am to observe what account the scriptures give of the Jews , the ancient church of God. I mean, with regard to their moral character; their tempers and outward behaviour.
No sooner were they brought out of Egypt , than we find them murmuring against God, (Exodus xiv. 12.) Again, when he had just brought them through the Red Sea with a mighty hand and stretched out arm , (chapter xv. 24.) And yet again, quickly after, in the wilderness of Zin, your murmurings (saith Moses ) are not against us, but against the Lord. (chapter xvi. 8.) Nay, even while he was giving them bread from heaven , they were still murmuring and tempting God, (chapter xviii. 2, 3.) and their amazing language at that season was, Is the Lord among us or not ? (chapter xvii. 4.)
The same spirit they shewed, during the whole forty years, that he bore their manners in the wilderness : a solemn testimony whereof, Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel , when God was about to take him away from their head; They have corrupted themselves (saith he) their spot was not of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation. The Lord led Jacob about; he instructed him; he kept him as the apple of his eye , (Deuteronomy xxxii. 5, 10.) He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields: then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation , (chapter v. 11, 13, 15.)
In like manner God complains long after this, Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth! I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters, have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel , (Isaiah i. 2, 3, 4.) Can a maid forget her ornaments, and a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number , (Jeremiah ii. 32.)
4. And as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge , so they had small regard to the ordinances of God. Even from the days of your fathers , (saith God by his prophets) ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them , (Malachi iii. 7.) Ye have said, it is vain to serve God; and, what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances? (verse 14.) Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel: Thou hast not brought me my burnt-offerings, neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices , (Isaiah xliv. 22, 23.) And so the prophet himself confesses, Thou meetest those that remember thee in thy ways—But there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee , (Isaiah lxiv. 5, 7.)