01.04 Postscript
A POSTSCRIPT TO THE READER How Far May Baptized Saints Go Toward Others Who Are Not Of Due Order?
Though I have reproved Master Edwards, for giving this name, or title, Church, to an House made of Lime and Stone, yet I desire you not to judge me an approver of their practice, who now give such names to Houses that have been called Churches, as tend only to the provoking and exasperating of their spirits that use to meet in them. I exceedingly approve of this name, A Public Meeting House. This would be found neither to favor superstition, neither yet to provoke men’s spirits by any intimation of contempt. Of those that yet use to hear and pray in those Houses, there are many who give good evidences of sincerity. Why then should we unnecessarily embitter their spirits by our expressions? We are also to seek the salvation of those who are yet unconverted. Why then should we causelesly provoke them to wrath so as to harden their hearts and stop their ears against our words? Also, in as much as they which yet meet in these Houses, are fellow-members together with us, of the same Political Body, and the same common enemy (seeking the destruction both of them and us) strives to set them at variance with us, that he may the more easily destroy both, it is therefore both just and necessary that they should find us not only faithful to them in our dealings, but also respectful, and not provoking in our expressions, we still being careful to have no fellowship with any evil.
Concerning Hearing, Praying and Appearing in Houses for Public Worship
Moreover, I think it not unmeet to acknowledge by my pen, what I declare by my practice, viz., that I cannot see it to be an unlawful thing, to preach or to pray in those houses, nor yet to hear in them, so far as it may be done without having any fellowship (either really, or in appearance) with any false Church-State, False Worship, False Doctrine, or False Ministry. The Building is Nothing But a Mere Building
I do not recede from my professed and utter disliking of their ill dealing, of their misapplying (and so abusing) of the Scriptures, which write upon the doors and walls of those houses: "This is the house of God. The Lord is in this place. My house shall be called the house of Prayer. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God. Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, the house of the God of Jacob," and the such like. Yea, because of this my spirit has been, and still is, stirred within me, even as it has been a vexation to my spirit, to hear men say with relation to these houses, that they are now met in God’s own house, that He still keeps open the doors of His sanctuaries, ect. But men’s misnaming these places the Houses of God do not make them to be the house of the Devil, no more than their miscalling another place the house of the Devil can make it to be the House of God. Yea, as it is also a great error to ascribe holiness to these places, so it is also an error to imagine any unholiness to be inherent in them. Even here we have need to beware of Satan’s wiles, and to take heed that he carry us not from one extreme to another and to the unnecessary and dangerous disturbance both of our selves and others. For our safety herein, let us be careful that we swerve not from the rule of the Word, neither in Allowing, neither yet in Condemning.
Thus courteous Reader, as I have not sincerely expressed my mind unto thee, so through the Grace of God I shall still remain, A True Seeker Both of Your
Temporal and Eternal Peace,
Benjamin Cox A Second Postscript
Such was the cautiousness of that friend, for whom this book is printed, that he would not have it to be printed for him without License, and such was the cautiousness of the Licenser, that he would not license it without some alterations. This has caused this printing copy to fall a little short of that which I wrote, viz., in these places ((I have made these correction in this edition-REP)), page 9, line 11, (as you by your writing now appear to be) my copy added, a persecutor of the people of God. Page 12, line 5, 6, 7, (That there is a great difference between a Parish-Assembly, and a well ordered Church of Christ), I wrote, That there is as great a difference between a Parish-Assembly and a true Church of Christ, as between Babylon and Sion. Line 14, (Then what kind of Churches were they?) I had written, Then certainly they were not true Churches. Line 21, 22, (Are not there in the right state of a Church, nor can attain thereunto without coming out of it), I wrote, Are not there in the state of a Church, nor can attain thereunto, without coming out of Babylon. Line 23, 24, (Those Parish-Assemblies because persuaded), I wrote, being falsely persuaded. Line 28, 29, (as right Churches), I wrote, As Churches. Line 30, 31, (Of Pastors of the Churches, as you call them), I wrote, Of pastors of supposed Churches. Line 35, (No right Churches), I wrote, No True Churches. Page 13, line 1, (That they are right Churches), I wrote, That they are Churches, &c. Thus courteous Reader, thou has now the whole of that which was written, and given forth to be printed upon this Subject, by your loving friend.
B. C.
FINISH.