A Seasonable Advertisement,
James Dodson
concerning the late publick FAST of the 25th of January, 1712, Publickly Read and affixed to several Church Doors; and now Printed to prevent Misinformation, whereunto are Subjoyned some Reasons of it’s Publication.
These are to Advertise All and Sundry the People of God who shall see thir [these] Presents, That they would beware and take heed of the dangerous and ensnaring Stratagem, which appears this day to be laid for their Souls, by the Open Enemies and Secret Betrayers of the Truth; and to beseech them, by the Love they do, or should bear to the Honour of CHRIST, to the Covenanted Reformation of the Church of Scotland, and to their own precious Souls; that they would seriously search the Scriptures, and examine their own Consciences, whether it be a Course of Sin or Duty wherein they are engaged?
It is not without a Draught of the Old Serpent, that this 25th of January is chosen and picked out by the Great Defender and Nursing Mother of the English Popish Ceremonies, for a Day of such Solemnity; it being the Day, which the Pope, that Antichristian Beast of Rome, did Institute to be kept sacred, and which therefore the English Church doth to this day Superstitiously observe, in Memory of the Conversion of St. Paul, as is to be seen in their Ruberick and Liturgie. And it is observable, that she has enjoyned the Observation of this Day upon all her Loyal Subjects, for obtaining a New Conversion, viz. of the Tyrant of France, from being the Common Adversary of Europe, to be our Trusty Friend; that we may be straitly Confederate with all the Limbs of Antichrist, and him whom our Pulpits have these many years been crying down to Hell, as the
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Grand Adversary of the Protestant Religion, they may henceforth lift up to Heaven; when yet the Advancement of the Protestant Interest is not sought in the Intended Peace.
Now tho’ this Day be observed for St. Paul’s Conversion, it is not by the Apostle Paul’s Direction, but expresly against it, Gal. 4. 10. 11. Ye observe Days &c. Neither is the Defence sufficient, which some Blind and unfaithful Guides may make use of in this case; viz. That the Causes being just, the Symbolizing with Rome and England, (in a day) is nothing. But, the Scriptures enjoin otherwise, Deut. 12. 30, 31. Eph. 5. 11. See Mr. Pool upon the Places. The Primitive Christians believed otherwise, as is clear from their practice recorded in Ecclesiastick History. And what is the Old Serpent seeking, but this little Hole to get in his Head, that he may at length wind in his whole Body? And when it shall be enquired who called for such a day at your Hands? What can be answered, but that first the Pope and next your Sovereign Lady, the Invaders of Christ’s Soveraignty, ordained for you this Solemnity? Neither are the Causes all Morally good; for instance, to pray for the Success of a Peace and Confederacy with a Professed Enemy to God and the true Religion, without any regard had to the Advancement thereof. Nor will the Churches Additional Causes, salve the Matter; they may serve to Hood-wink the injudicious Multitude, and hide the sin, but not to please an Holy God, who will have His Worship entire, and who accounts the Worship but vain where the Commandments of Men (beside or against His Word) are foisted in and mixed there with, Mat. 15. 17. 9. and the Worshippers are like to meet with that Expostulation, Zech. 7. 5. Did ye at all fast unto Me, even to Me?
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POSTSCRIPT.
Containing a brief Summary of the Reasons of the foregoing Advertisement’s Publication.
The Glory of GOD, which is of all things dearest unto Himself, and the most Noble Depositum, ever committed unto Men, having (of his Infinite Mercy) been greatly displayed to this poor Land, and Church, in reforming us from Popery and Superstition, and taking us into Covenant, to be a holy and peculiar people to himself, zealous of good works; we cannot but be the most inexcusable Sinners under Heaven, if we shall continue to depart further and further from GOD, forsake our first love, and lose these things; not only that we have wrought, but that God has graciously wrought for us; by being again entangled in Antichristian Yoks of Bondage, remitting our Zeal and holy Indignation against the Dregs of Romish Superstition, and insensibly returning unto Egypt, while we dream we are in a Canaan of Rest. This among other Considerations moved the Spirits of some poor People, who desire to have their garments kept clean of the Defilements of this sinful Apostatizing Time, to publish, in a Way suitable to their Station, the foregoing Advertisement, partly for the Information of some, who might be ignorant of the Draught and Design of the Day, partly for the Conviction of others, who knowing it, did not withstanding with a high Hand, resolvedly go on in that Course of Defection, that they might at least be rendered inexcusable; and chiefly for a Testimony to the Truth against Popish and Prelatick Superstition, enjoyned by Erastian Usurpation, introductory of a boundless Toleration,
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and oversive [eversive] of our Covenanted Reformation. Which Duty became the more necessary, for Persons of a private Station; because these who should be Watch-men and Zion’s Remembrancers, to consider her palaces and mark her bulwarks, to [shew] Israel his Transgressions and Judah his sins, to cast up and prepare the way for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, are so far fallen asleep in our Day (to say no worse) that they perceive not, or will not see the Designs of Malignant Haters of the Truth, to carry us back to Rome, and immerge us into Superstition: And are so far mancipated [i.e., enslaved] to the Fear of Men, that they dare not make publick and honourable Mention of our Sacred and Solemn Covenants, whereby we are bound to oppose Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Erastianism and whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine, and the Power of Godliness. Yet notwithstanding that these Reasons plead so strongly for the Lawfulness, Expediency and Necessity of such a Duty, in such a Juncture; many have taken to themselves a Liberty to make this their Faithfulness to GOD, and to the Souls of their Covenanted Brethren, a Handle of great Obloquie and Reproach against them, endeavouring to stir up Persecution against them upon that Account. And these especially, who take to themselves the Title of Pastors, who sit at their ease and swell in pride against poor People that dare not concur with their Schismatical Church-ruining Courses, who, it seems, know not a better way of bringing Sheep into their Fold, than to worry them; these are the main Reproachers and Instigators against them. But all the Tender and Conscientious through the Land, who consider the Matter impartially, will see it to be their Duty, according to Scripture precepts, and our Covenant Ingagements, not only not to reproach them for; but also to concur with them in owning the same Duty, and defend them against unjust Wrong, upon the Account thereof.
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That such Days institute by the Pope not by our Lord Jesus Christ, are Superstitious and ought not to be observed, is clear to any that will not be wiser than what is written, and believes that God in his Word has given sufficient Direction anent his own Worship. So that it will not need to be proved here, but may be taken for granted. And if any be in a doubt about it, he may Consult Mr. Gillespie’s Dispute against the English Popish Ceremonies, and Mr. De Launs Plea for the Non-conformists. The only thing that can be objected will be, that the 25th of January was not observed for that formal Reason, but upon another Account. Which tho’ it should be granted, yet such a Symbolizing with Idolaters is expressly against Scripture. God would have his People of Old opposite in all things to Idol-worshippers, so as that they might not so much as enquire how the Nations worshipped their Gods. And the Apostle who accounted an Idol nothing in the World, yet forbade the Christians to stumble and offend their weak Brethren, by eating things sacrificed to Idols, when any shewed it them. And he is no less express against Superstitious Days than eating things sacrificed to Idols. All these Popish Festival Days are likewise expressly abjured in our National Covenant, and in general all Papistry and Superstition in the Solemn League and Covenant. Wherefore the keeping such a Day was a Breach of Covenant, both in reference to our selves, and the English, as being a hardening them in their sin, by Symbolizing with them in a Breach of Covenant and practice of a false Superstitious Worship. The Primitive Christians would not have so far symbolized with Heathenism or Judaism as that Observation did with Papistry. The Council of Laodicea forbade the Christians to do any thing that might import an observation of or affection towards the Heathenish and Jewish Feasts, they were not to receive
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these Gifts and Presents which used to be sent by their Friends or Neighbours, upon those days, nor eat with them thereupon, as appears from the 37 Canon of the said Council. The Centurists [i.e., Magdeburg Centuriators] tell us out of Origen, That for Christians to observe the Solemnities of Jews or Pagans, is utterly unlawful, and an Apostacy from the Faith. The African and Toletan Councils expressly discharged the Believing Jews and Gentiles, to deck their Houses with green Boughs and Bay Leaves, upon the days in which the Heathen and Unbelieving Jews used the same. So the Famous Council of Nice says expressly, See that none of us, that profess Christianity, agree in any thing with that detestible Rout [Root] of the Jews. And because the Manichees had taken up a Custom of fasting upon the Lord’s Day, therefore another Council provides, That none of the Orthodox should fast thereupon. And we find them condemned by the Fathers for Hereticks, who observed the Jewish Sabbath together with the LORD’s Day. Tertullian is large and vehement in his Dehortations from this Sin of symbolizing with Idolaters; Thou that art a Christian, faith he, must have these things in Abomination: the Authors and Inventers whereof thou canst not chuse but hate. And Augustine faith, If thou wouldest win Pagans discover thy Abhorrence of their Solemnities, forsake their Toys. But now it seems Men think the best way to win our Brethren of England from Superstition to the Simplicity of the Worship of Christ’s Institution, is to Embrace their Superstitious Days, as the fittest times for Publick Solemnities. What the Church of Scotland said in their Letter to the Bishops of England, from the General Assembly at Edinburgh, in the Year 1566, concerning their Superstitious Garbs, may with equal Reason be said against their Superstitious Days: If Surplice, Cornercap and Tippet, have been Badges of Idolaters in the very Act of Idolatry, what have the Preachers of Christian Liberty and the open Rebukers of Superstition, to do with the Dress [I add, the days] of the Romish Beast?
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Neither would the Faithful in this Church Preach upon Festival days, when enjoyned by King James 6th. The Learned Mr. Durham in his Treatise upon Scandal, Par. 1. Chap. 1. Distinct. 6. Page 7. Says expressly, that this is Scandalous or Offensive, to Preach upon such Days. The words are, For it is not Offensive to one to Pray or Preach, but at some times, as before an Idol, or upon an Holy Day, it may be Offensive. If it be said, the Magistrate commanded it, and this removed the sin and Offence. Its answered, That this indeed aggravates instead of removing thereof, that Command being in it-self an Erastian Usurpation upon the Church of CHRIST, by one that is an Advancer of Superstition. Yea giving (but not granting) that it had been by a Lawful Magistrate, it was still sinful and offensive. See the same Treatise upon Scandal, part 1. chap. 7. Page 31. Where the worthy Author having proposed the same Question, answers thus, In that case the Scandal is still active and given, and therefore no Command or Authority can Warrand one in such a deed. For as these two worthy Divines, Ames in his Cases of Conscience, lib. 5. chap. 11. And Gillespie in his Dispute of Ceremonies, chap. 7. Sect. 5. observe, no Man can Command either our Charity or our Consciences, or make up the hazard of a [grievous/known] Offence; the Reader may see all the following Page.
That the Causes were unlawful, is evident, if we consider that Confederacies with Enemies to the true Religion are forbidden and reproved by GOD in his Word, as is clear from Mr. Gillespie, and Mr. Binning upon Confederacy with Malignants, &c. And none can clear the Church from strengthening and approving thereof, when she does to the utmost of her Power therein.
’Tis objected, That the foregoing Advertisement is Treasonable, as being a Controling of the Injunctions of Civil Authority: To which it is answered, That if the mentioning of, and testi-
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fying against the Land’s treacherous Dealing with GOD, be called Treason, the only Apologie is, That it makes the Necessity of doing it double, and indispensible Duty; and no upright hearted Christian will refuse to be a Traitor, if that be Treason. But for other Treason against the Righteous Laws of the Land, none will ever convict it thereof.
To conclude, if the Concomitants, Fruits and Consequences of things serve to discover their Nature, and direct us in our Judgment of them (as ’tis our LORD’s Rule, by their fruits ye shall know them) ’tis too evident, that the Court’s Imposition, and the Church’s Observation of this Day, had a sinful Design and Tendency; For upon that very Day, the Episcopal Bill was by the Order of the Common’s House brought in, and obtained a Reading, which has since past the Houses, and obtained the Royal Assent, wherein is contained a Liberty, not only for all Superstitious Days, and other Fopperies of the English Ceremonies, but also for all Heresies (the Denying of the TRINITY excepted) And so easie a Compliance with that Day, has given the Court a Specimen of what further Submission they may expect to their other Arbitrary Impositions, and an Encouragement to multiply their Encroachments. All which Considerations, with many Others that might be mentioned, evince, that a Testimony against that, or any other such Days, was highly lawful, necessary and commendable.
FINIS.