Declaration prefixed before the Articles in the Kings name prohibiting the free preaching of those points according to the Scriptures So as Ministers canot resolve what it is they subscribe unto in the sayd Article And therefore it is necessary that the said false Articles be wholly expunged and the doubtful as they pretend more fully explained and so the said Declaration prefixed taken away CASE XI Now all this done and the whole Antichristian yoke in the Prelacy with the burthen of all their Rites and Ceremonies removed from Christians neckes what is that particular form of government which is to be set up FOr answer First we premised something hereof in generall namely That Christs governement alone is to be set up in all true Christian congregations and so his yoke to be borne as our glory upon our neckes But secondly for further and a more particular unfolding of this government of Christ over every true Church or congregation First we are to enquire what the true Church of Christ is And secondly what is that governement which Christ hath appointed over every such Church For the first A true Church of Christ is a congregation of true beleevers men and women who by the Word of God preached are separated from the world and the reigning lusts thereof and declared to be such by the open profession of the true and right faith and by the conversation of Christian life conformable thereunto Such is a particular visible true Church or Congregation and so is as farre as wee can judge a true branch of the holy Catholique Church which is invisible comprehending the number of Gods Elect and is apprehended only by faith not by sight Now every such particular Congregation as aforesaid consisting of professed beleevers of the knowne truth of God according to which they frame the course of their life and conversation is in it selfe an absolute Church whose onely Governor for matters of faith and the true worship of God is Iesus Christ He it is that as King reigneth in this congregation and in all the members therof they acknowledge none other Governor for matters of Religion but Christ onely For herein stands his kingly Office and the Laws by which this King reigneth and governeth his Church is his written Word And his Vicegerent by whom Christ is alwayes present with every one of his severall Congregations is the holy Ghost which who so hath not is none of Christs Now having thus defined what a true Church of Christ is namely a congregation professing the known true faith every member thereof being able in some measure to give a reason of the maine points of faith and to make proofe of their profession by walking in a holy course of life hence it appeares who they be that are not admitted to bee members of this congregation or church of Christ therein to participate of the holy Sacrament untill their repentance and reformation namely all ignorant and prophane persons which neither beleeve a right nor live accordingly For the congregation of Christ is called the Communion of Saints being sanctified by faith in Christ and by his word and Spirit The second thing is to enquire and consider how this Church of Christ is to be governed To finde this out is no difficulty First sure it is that none but Christ is supreme and immediate Lord King and Governor of his Church whether of the Catholique or of every particular church or congregation rightly constituted as aforesaid so as no power on earth hath any authority to prescribe Lawes for the governement of this Church whether for doctrine or discipline whether for faith or worship but onely Christ whose written Word and Law is the onely rule of this government which Law all Princes who are therefore called Custodes utriusque Tabulae are bound by him whose Vicegerents they are to see well observed both by Ministers and people Here then wee will speake of the Officers which Christ hath appointed over every Christian congregation and those are either Ministers or other officers of the people First for the Ministers they are called by sundry titles as a Bishops or Presbyters b Pastors and Teachers c Ministers d Labourers and the like Their principall office is to pray to preach the word to administer the Sacraments And these Ministers however stiled in Scripture are all of equall authority not one over another nor one over many nor many over one each being in his place peculiar congregation under Christ alone as the King of his Church to whom he is accountable and under Christ to the civill Magistrate as being a subject But here a question may be moved whether a Synod of Ministers or of the churches have not power over any one Minister and so over all the Congregations either to censure particular persons or congregations or to prescribe and impose orders Rites Canons or the like For answer Some are of opinion that a Synod hath authoritie to binde particular churches to such rites as they shall prescribe and impose And they alledge that Synod or assembly of the Apostles wherein were determined certaine observances which they sent and imposed on the churches of the new convert Gentiles as necessary for them to observe some wherof were Iewish ceremonies Hence they conclude That a Synod collected of the churches hath power over particular churches to ordaine and impose ceremonies as necessary to bee observed But this act of the Apostles is no president or patterne for succeeding ages The reason is first because the Apostles were inspired with the holy Ghost which wholly guided them in all matters of the Church so as in that their determination they say expressely It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burthen Now what Synod in any age after the Apostles could ever say that they were infallibly inspired and assisted by the holy Ghost If any can infallibly assure me hereof that a Synod after the Apostles cannot erre but that they can truly say It pleased the holy Ghost and us then I will obey all their Decrees Secondly That injunction of the holy Ghost and of the Apostles was but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for that present time for the avoyding of offences betweene Iewes and Gentiles who in every city conversed together Which James the Apostle alledgeth for the only reason of that determination But we reade not in all the writings of the Apostles afterward that they either ordained or imposed the least rite or ceremonie to bee observed in any of the Churches of God yea they expressely condemned all such ordinances as before is shewed But here another question ariseth If particular congregations be not subject to bee ruled by Synods or the like jurisdiction what order can be expected or what meanes is left for ordaining of Ministers over every congregation For answer briefely First for order What better or
withall stript of his office and so of his flock wherof another now is made the Overseer or Bishop and the title and Office of a Curate onely is left him according to the Collect for Bishops and Curates Or if there be a mentall reservation to every Minister of a congregation of the office of Pastorship yet when the title of Bishop is given to one above him even thus also is an invasion made upon Christs owne title and prerogative who is the onely {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the chiefe Shepheard or chiefe Bishop of his Church besides whom and above whom all the Pastors acknowledge none And if of Pastors some onely be called Bishops and the rest not here also Christs sheepehooke is wrung out of his hand as where he is called the Shepheard and Bishop of our soules So easie a thing it is by the alienation or impropriation of a name to set up such an office and government in the Church as wherby Christs government the proper office of his true Ministers are cast to the ground trampled under foot Moreover if ever this governement of Bishops falsly so called shall bee set up or continued in maner aforesaid yet farre bee it from those Worthies of the land whose justice is so cleare and unpartiall in other things and namely in the cutting off of all Monopolies in the civill State to erect or ratifie or any way to countenance such a Monopoly in Christs kingdome so derogatory to his incommunicable prerogative and to that stile and office wherein he hath so highly dignified and intrusted all faithful Ministers For what a Monopoly is this to take away the title wherein the Office of all true Pastors is comprehended and to transfer it to one alone among many Ob. But here it may be objected That the Reformed Churches beyond the seas as even Geneva it selfe have their Overseers which is a title and office equivalent to our Diocesan Bishops Episcopus signifying an Overseer why then is it not as lawfull to have the like in England I answer The case is farre different for such Overseers or Moderators as in other reformed Churches they are called as in the Kirke of Scotland are chosen by the Ministers and Elders and that but for one yeare and whose office is to call the Synods at certaine fixed times and to collect the votes the like But some say that our usurping Bishops shall bee perpetuall for their lives and how farre the power of their place and dignity may be extended especially when they have their election from the Court either immediate and absolute per se or by the means of a Conge de lier as whom so designed above the Ministers of the Diocesse in stead of the Deane and Chapter are bound to elect Or if they be but Triennial so to come under the visitation of a Trienniall Parliament yet who knows but such spirits may so work as in time to make Parliaments as geason as heretofore when some of them have confessed that they never dreamed to see a Parliament againe Or if they shall be continued from three yeare to three yeare yet this is also more than is used in forreine Reformed Churches And however for them to retaine the name of Bishop still as before is against Gods Word and not onely derogatory to Christs true Ministers for the present but also very prejudiciall to their liberty when such Bishops holding their favor in Court and their neerenesse to the Chaire of State may by that means grow awfull to those their Curates among whom some and perhaps too many may be found ready to prostitute their officiousnesse unto their Bishop in stead of Christ out of a hope to be made the heires apparant of the Bishopricke which though it be now cropt and deplumed yet will be still a bait for ambition which must be doing and will rather play small game than sit out All which considered I leave it to the Wise to judge what may bee the consequents thereof whether by this means either we or our children may come to see as great corruption both in doctrine and manners as now we doe For as I sayd before the time may come when God in his justice may deny this State the like opportunity so armed with a necessity of reformation as we neither could have wished nor any more can hope for to reforme Episcopall insolencie Or suppose a possibility of Prelates to become no worse than as the Parliament shall leave them yet the least rag of Prelacie making a rent in Christs coat as it beeing the head of such a Government as is condemned by the Word of God ought no more to be pieced to Christs livery seeing it destroyeth Christian liberty both in Ministers and people And all this I say ariseth from the very name of Bishop so misplaced for which cause it ought to be with the whole Bishopricke utterly extirped and that no lesse than the heathen Romans rooted out the very name of the Tarquins for the tiranny which they had exercised CASE X. Whether the whole Hierarchy being abolished the 39 Articles which were agreed upon in 62 by the Archbishops and Bishops c. in both Provinces doe any longer binde or that Ministers are bound to subscribe unto them I Answer First That these 39 articles taken conjunctim together no man can with a good conscience rightly informed subscribe unto them For secondly There be some of those articles which are very false as Article 20 which saith The Church hath power to decree Rites and Ceremonies and authority in Controversies of faith Both which are false as before is noted and were added since the same article was first made in King Edward the sixt his dayes Againe the 36 Article is no lesse false which saith The booke of ordination of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests c. doth containe all things necessary to such consecration and ordering Neither hath it anything that of it selfe is superstious and ungodly And therefore all so consecrated and ordered according to the Rites prescribed c. wee decree to bee rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered Now to this article all Ministers subscribe although they be false Bishops consecrated after the order of Rome and false Priests that are by false bishops so ordered Thirdly Art 3. it is sayd As Christ died for us and was buried so is it to be beleeved that he went down into hell Which going downe into hell imports a locall going downe into the place of hell which hath no proof in Scripture nor holds any proportion or analogie of faith but crosseth the truth of Scripture and the current of all sound interpreters and therefore not to bee beleeved as Christs death and buriall Fourthly some Articles are made of late by the enemies of grace the Prelates of so doubtfull and double a sence as those especially about Grace and Freewill that they have procured a
full Minister as they call it having put the Bible into his hand saying Take thou authority to preach the Word of God yet for all this hee may not must not preach at all till he have obtained the Prelates License which he must purchase for a good fee Again they make such Priests as are dumb dogs and cannot barke being meere Ignoramuses and Sir John-Lacke-Latines abusing those words Receive thou the holy Ghost And Take thou authority to preach the Word of God And lastly They make no true Ministers of Christ seeing they bind all with the Oath of Canonicall obedience to be subject to their lawlesse laws in the execution of their Ministry Secondly There is no use nor need of Prelates for inflicting of Censures Their power practise of Excommunication is altogether unlawfull a meere usurpation and contrary to Gods Ordinance and that in many respects First because the Prelate is not the Pastor of that Congregation whose member is cut off by Excommunication Because the Prelate doth it alone hee or his Surrogate and this perhaps either a Lay-man or a dumb priest without any consent of the people Thirdly he excommunicates a man for every triviall cause that without due summons rashly and for his fee absolves him without any repentance or reformation without satisfaction to the people offended Whereas excōmunication is the highest censure is to be done by the Minister congregation joyntly after much means used to reclaim the offēdor for grievous scandals not to be restored without hearty repētance in a sad serious solemn maner Lastly if Prelats for the causes here alledged be of no use for the high censure of excommunication how much lesse need is there of thē for inflicting corporall or criminall punishment upon reputed Delinquents as deprivation of liberty by imprisonmēt of the ministry by deprivation degradation suspēsion deprivation of means and livelihood by imposing of intolerable fines and restraining men from the exercise of their particular Calling to the undoing of them and theirs Thirdly for calling of Synods cannot this bee without a Prelate may not this be by a Law dormant giving liberty when occasion shall be to have a Synod for the better ordering whereof a Moderator for the time being is by votes elected Fourthly For determining of doubts arising in matters of Faith what need is there for Prelats Are they fit or competent Iudges in such things Yea are they not herein egregious usurpers presumptuous and arrogant men Yea Antichrists in sitting thus in the Temple of God over mens consciences as Lords over mens faith Is not this a meere evacuating of the authoritie and sufficiencie of the Scripture which is the sole judge and rule of Faith Yet this Prelates presume to doe and challenge as their proper right so as in the twentieth Article which is of the Authority of the Church these words have beene of later dayes foisted in namely that the Church hath authority in Controversies of faith Fiftly Neither in appointing of Ceremonies are Prelates needfull Yea for prelates or Church or any humane power to ordaine and impose Ceremonies to binde the consciences in the worship of God this is expressely condemned and forbidden both by Christ himselfe and by the Prophets and by the Apostles Man may not impose the least Ceremony in Gods worship if hee doe he therein denies Christ Col. 2. 19. he holds not the Head And yet the aforesaid Article boldly affirmes saying The Church hath power to decree Rites and Ceremonies So as this Article whether meaning by Church the Prelates as they meane it or any other humane power ought to be to Christians no article of Faith or binding any mans Conscience Sixtly For orders sake for what order-sake are Prelates necessary or any way requisit what order they keep all men know what order can there be in a Babylonish goverment as the prelatical altogether is 7. For confirmation of children This also is a Babylonish Sacramēt as if it did confer some grace ex opere operato or some vertue dropping out of the Bishops Lawn sleeve Indeed this confirmation is a pretty knack to win credit to the Prelacy frō the blinde Vulgar which to everie wel taught Christian is both superstitious and ridiculous 8 For dedication of Churches this is a most notorious Romish Popish superstition is rather a meer prophanation than any dedication except it be to superstition idolatry as they at Rome do use their Temples they would make the world beleeve that by their many superstitious ceremonies in crossings censings adorations the like which they use in their dedication there goes forth a vertue by which holynes is infused into the wals pews especially into their sacred chancel Ninthly for the form of Liturgy if we goe no farther than our Service booke which is an extract out of Romes Latine service Missall or Masse-booke as it is confessed in the Booke of Martyrs the Romane Latine being turned into English if there were no more in it than this that it is the forme of Romes Worship and so as King Iames once called it an ill sayd Masse it might a little startle such Christians as hold that Christianity to be the purest which hath least conformitie with Antichrist and his superstitiōs For if wee be commanded to come out of Rome to have no communion with her idolatrous service let it then be well considered whether Christians may with a good conscience be present at the English Liturgy which is for the maine the Masse turned into English For although it be objected that it is purged from the Popish drosse yet if it should be brought to the Touchstone or tried in the Text let the wisest then judge how free from Popish drosse it is when therein they shall finde Romish superstitious Ceremonies maintained and prest upon mens consciences as the Surplice Crosse in Baptisme kneeling at the Sacrament standing at the Creed attended with their severall significations as if man had a power to set up any significant Ceremonies in Gods worship when as wee finde all kinde of signes and ceremonies in Gods service under the Old Testament though ordained by God himselfe to be utterly abolished by Christ and forbidden to Christians under the New Testament and much more all such as are of humane invention all which are of that nature as the Apostle cals them the Yoke of Bondage to such as are intangled therein exhorting all Christians to stand fast in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made us free And Col. 2. he plainly shewes all such ordinances to be an evacuation of Christs death and so an apostacie from Christ And no Christian I hope will plead for the use of humane ordinances in Gods worship when Christ hath abrogated all ceremonies of divine institution and hath left no footstep for any one Ceremonie in the New Testament and flatly condemns all commandements of men