not satisfied he must have another Book a Prayer book and another Book an instructing or preaching Book a Catechisme book and to the same end that hee may bee better furnished for his work that by this means it may bee done more perfectly more to edification as the Common prayer-Prayer-book formerly There is a precise appointment with what words and sentences Gods Name shall be called upon saith Mr. Hooker that the endless and senslesse effusions of indigested Prayers may not bee Pol. p. 239. and another of them The end of these formes is to bee a meanes to banish utterly out of Christs Church all extemporal invention of unsound prayer Covel against Burgis p. 70 71. So for the other part of our Ministerial work wee have beene furnished with a Homily Book and now a Catechisme Book which some would have imposed upon Ministers utterly to banish out of Christs Church all other Catechismes as also a more particular help and means then any Christ hath furnished his Ministers with for the better understanding of the Principles and for the better propagating the Gospel and preserving men sound in their knowledge which is to like ends as was those set formes formerly imposed § 5. To conclude this Argument our demand is of those that have so zealously stickled for such an imposition and have a mind to bring Ministers to their Books againe from whose necks this yoak hath been and that by a mighty hand of God so lately taken off I demand whether any thing in those reasonings of our suffering Brethren against Apocrypha Common prayer-Prayer-books and Homily-books he of any consequence from this topick the bringing of other books into the solemne Service of God besides those of Divine Authority Neither the Levites saith many of our Brethren together in the Abridgement nor Christ Abrid p. 6. nor his Apostles did ever read preach or interpret any other writing for the instruction of the Church but only the Canonical Scripture Againe in the same place It is the proper Office of Christ to be the Teacher of his Church and therefore no writings may bee appointed to bee read in the Congregation for instruction but only such as have been indited by his Spirit Mr. Cartw. in Cat. maketh it a breach of the Second Commandement and against Doctor Whitg about reading of Homilies in the Church hee writeth thus Neither the Homilies nor the Apocripha are to bee read at all in the Church It is good to consider the order which God kept with his people in times past when hee commanded that no Vessel nor instrument either Beesome or Flesh-hook c. should come into the Temple but those only which were sanctified and set apart for that use And hee will have no other Trumpets to call the people together but those only which were set apart for that purpose what should the meaning of this Law bee The matter of other common Vessels and Trumpets was the same oftentimes which theirs was the same forme also and Trumpets able to serve for the uses of sounding c. as well as those of the Temple and as those which were set apart wherefore might not these as well be used in the Temple as others forsooth because the Lord would by these Rudiments teach that he would have nothing brought into the Church but that which hee had appointed no not although they seemed in the judgement of men as good the Homilies be they ever so learned and pithy c. see Parker on the Cross 1 part Doctor Chadderton on Rom. 12. and divers others to the same purpose I demand againe what shew of Scripture there is for any such method or way as prescribed by Christ or Authority left by him to any other person to prescribe any such Utensile or Instrument What warrant hath any man to carry on the Directory for instruction further and more particularly than Christ himself hath thought fit to doe and thus to establish a Humane forme in a setled stated Sabbath-service without Scripture warrant And whether he may not as lawfully collect matter and put it in a set method and forme of words and furnish the Minister with a Booke as a help or means for the better edification of the people in any other or in all other the works and parts of the Ministerial Function as in this and as lawfully impose such Books to bee used by him and no other nor any other thing done by him but what is done by Book If hee may bee by such meanes better enabled for one part of his Ministry he may likewise for another and if for all why should it not be rather chosen CHAP. IV. Divers Objections answered no shew of Scripture for it nor necessity nor requisite for uniformity or obliged to it by our Covenant I Shall now faithfully give an account of whatever I have either read or heard or imagine can be pleaded as a warrant in this case § 1. Obj. 1 The notation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to teach by voyce from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 autem sonum sive simplicem sive ex reflexa repercussione geminatum significat and hence wee have our English word Eccho which is as it were an answering againe Ans There is no such distinct meaning in the Scripture use of the word but most ordinarily for preaching or instructing by voyce and so interpreted by our Translators 1 Cor. 14.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that by my voyce I might teach others Gal. 6.6 wee doe not beleeve the Ministers maintenance is to rise from those that learn Catechismes only such as are unmarried and under the age of twenty one years yet the same word there and is translated teaching and the Scripture speaking of such to whom this Catechistical way seems to bee most sutable it expresseth their instruction and teaching by another word Heb. 5.12 You have need that one teach you the first Principles of the Oracles of God the word there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word is used also for a story or any report by hear-say Luke 1.4 Acts 21.21 24. Obj. 2. Those Scriptures are objected that mention Principles Fundamentals which are reckoned up Heb. 6.1 Psal 34.11 Come yee children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. And 2 Tim. 1.13 a pattern of sound words in faith and love and Rom. 2.20 the forme of the knowledge of the truth is spoken of Ans In none of these Scriptures any set forme for method and words and if so yet not with injunction to bee held to only that principles and lower truthes are to bee taught and to those of a lower capacity in a more familiar and plaine method and way this is confirmed by those Scriptures and is a duty of that evidence from Scripture that the Civil Magistrate may impose and compel Ministers
fit and sutable in that respect then what was done by others So Master Gataker Dr. Hill c. in their Epistles to their Catechismes § 7. If nothing faulty either in the matter or forme of this Catechism yet wee enjoy not that ministerial liberty Christ hath left us and that which hitherto and even in the worst times hath bin enjoyed in this Nation and hitherto we have not beene straightned or narrowed It is true a forme of Catechisme is mentioned in the Common prayer-Prayer-book but so as a liberty left and taken to compose or chuse what Catechisme a man judged more sutable to his people for their edification and few Ministers of eminency in the Land but composed a distinct Catechisme there are I beleeve no less then five hundred several Catechismes extant nay men of the Episcopal way and such as were punctual in observing the very hints of what was likely to be pleasing or displeasing to their Lords composed and published Catechismes for matter and method differing from what was allowed by authority as Doct. Hall who was afterwards Bishop Dr. Featly Dr. Chitwin Dr. Hill Mr. Pearston who dedicated his Catechisme to the Bishop of London Mr. Vicars Chap. to Bishop Carlton and many others Neither hath this variety been looked upon as hurtful for if so then holy men would have kept to what they found and have made conscience of increasing this evil by adding to the number I finde saith Dr. Gouge in all ages of the Church Epistle to his Catechisme God hath stirred up many of his Servants to publish severall formes all agreeable in the substance and I observe among many other these two good uses to arise from thence c. which there hee specifieth nay since this of the Assembly composed by a Synod of holy and learned men approved of and commended to the Nation by the Parliament then sitting and received and setled in Scotland yet mens Consciences have not been satisfied in this as the only Catechisme fit to bee used as appeareth in the great number and variety of Catechismes composed and printed since this was published a greater number then in so short a time were ever published before But suppose in all this variety of Catechismes there were no difference no one better but each equally as good and edifying to my people as other that which I now further assert is this that in these Spiritual affaires to impose or limit to some one in such a case is against Christian Liberty and our freedome as Ministers if a man hath obtained his Freedome in any Trade hee is judged fit to set up in any part of the City no man can limit him to any one Precinct though hee might drive his Trade with as much advantage there as in any other place nay if a man shall enter into Bond to his Master not to set up his Trade in such a street or within such a distance from him this Bond is voyd in Law so tender are our Lawes of Humane liberty The Lords Prayer so tearmed is beyond Controversie as edifying as any other Prayer in the Scripture yet our Brethren the N. C. could not subject to such an imposition as gave a preheminence or more stated use of this one Scripture Prayer above all the rest the refusal of such an use of that Prayer was one thing for which Mr. Hooker could not have the liberty of his Ministry with Mr. Paget at Amsterdam when for N. Conformity hee was enforced by the Bishops to make that his refuge It was an Objection against the Common Prayer Book that in the Calender some Scriptures were to bee read every year and some oftner and some part of Canonical Scripture not to be read in publick at all â pari ratione in ordinary gifts to exalt any one work or composition by such a solemn sanction above all that hath been or shall be and limit us from the like publick use of any other though from men of equal gifts and graces is an abridgment of our Liberty ordinary as well as extraordinary gifts are from Christ and for his ends § 8. The third particular by which in such impositions wee are abridged of our Liberty it is in respect of the gifts and abilities wee have received from Christ It is the priviledge of a Minister to have liberty to imploy his owne talent there is an honour and reward in so doing Our labour and study shall not bee lost in the Lord every man shall receive according to his owne work and the talents hee hath imployed the Disciples work hath but a Disciples reward but the Prophets worke a Prophets reward If the Lord Christ hath put into my hand and trust Prophets or Pastors worke and gifts and talents sutable if I bee faithful and put my self out accordingly I shall accordingly be accepted of the Lord if I fulfill my Ministry I shall not come short of a full reward Wee are equally intrusted with the Lambs as with the Sheep with the weake as with the strong and to shew our love to Christ in feeding the one as well as the other wee are upon this account Debtors both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise Rom. 1.14 It is laid on us not only to find out fit sutable matter for such instruction but expressions and words to this end Christ hath given gifts of utterance as well as a gift of knowledge and whatsoever gift we have received wee must stir up and use Eccl. 12.9 The Preacher was wise hee taught the people knowledge hee gave good heed and sought out and set in order the Preacher sought to finde out acceptable words so that matter and order and words and all is by Christ intrusted with the Preacher it is not for him to enquire what the State or a Synod hath sought out and set in order The truth is hee who is to be the mouth of God and to whom it is given to speake from him to the people to him belongs the finding out both of matter and words Psal 19.14 hence those to whom to instruct others belongeth are dealt with by the Apostle about the method and forme of words in which that holy duty is to bee managed 1 Cor. 14.9 so likewise except you even you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you that are to Prophecy to instruct utter by the tongue words significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word well and aptly signifying how shall it bee known what is spoken saith the Apostle If I had not warrant if it were not my liberty and priviledge to expresse my owne matter in my owne words faylings and faults in expressions would not bee accounted as my sin but rash inapt unsignificant expressions tautologies Word or speech so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. wee finde in Scripture charged upon those that pray or instruct non simplex vox seu dictio sed integra sententia seu rei narratio
Eccles 5.2 Let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing the conceptions of my heart are my charge to be expressed in fit significant words whosoever was the Author of the Jewish Leiturgye the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and vaine repetition is charged upon him that officiates Matth. 6.7 Now then to have an imbargo more or lesse put upon the talents the stock wee are intrusted with from Christ the improvement whereof shall be so richly rewarded this is directly against the liberty and priviledge of a Gospel Ministry § 9. It is an honourable imployment the honour and dignity of it is in this the use of his gifts with industry and labour in the word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5.17 if others share in the work if they share not in the honour it is a wrong Hos ego versiculos feci tulit alter honorem it is a dishonour to pretend to Poetry and yet repeat another mans Verses as if mine owne Adm. p. 10 to pretend to bee a Teacher or Leader and yet not able to lead but by other mens Lights To goe with Crutches carry my arme in a Skarfe or use Spectacles when the man is sound and needs no such helps it is a dishonour to him hee goeth in the esteeme of others as an infirm man infirm in hands and feet and eyes To use a set forme of instruction of another mans composing argueth a defect in ability as if not able to teach to impose it under such penalties a defect in will as not apt to teach and what greater dishonour can bee put upon the Ministry of the Nation than this that they are neither able nor willing to instruct the poore ignorant Soules committed to their charge especially in an age wherein a more strict way than ever is taken to keep and cast out such as are not both for gifts and grace fitly qualified for the Ministry Had it been in the dayes of old when the Common prayer-Prayer-book Catechism was formed when formes for Prayer Preaching Sacraments Marrying Burying and all by the Book some more ground for such an imposition Upon this account Doctor Burges after hee had subscribed three times refused subscription because not like necessity of such helps for Prayer c. when a more able Ministry Let an effectual course bee taken to bring the ignorant of each Parish young and old to a more familiar way of personal instruction it will quickly appear there is a greater number of Ministers throughout the Nation than in former ages that are both able and willing without such poor helps to doe the work in some measure Christ hath intrusted them with which if they bee it is an abridgment of their priviledge and honour to put the worke in part or in whole upon others as if they were not sufficient for one of the lowest performances that belongs to their calling I say young and old if ignorant for such was the care formerly in our Discipline as appears in the 71. Canon They shall teach the Catechisme and therein shall instruct all their Flock of what age or degree soever not only Maidens and Children but also the elder if need be And under most severe penalties whereof this is one that no Persons might bee married except before they have learned the Principles of Christian Religion and cannot fitly and aptly answer to all the parts of the Catechisme And this will bring us to another particular wherein Ministerial liberty is abridged §. 10. It is certainly the duty of the Minister to instruct all with respect to their capacity giving each a portion in due season strong meat to such whose senses are exercised and Milk to Babes and this without respect to their years or age if for years fit to bee Teachers which according to the manner of the Jewes and ancient Canons since supposeth persons to bee above one and twenty years yet if at this age dull and ignorant Heb. 5. they ought to bee taught the very Principles of the Oracles of God And it is the duty of the Magistrate to cause all sorts to observe the Sabbath and come to the publick Assemblies and to submit to instruction as well the old as the young the married as the unmarried It is true we are not forbidden to Catechise the elder But to put the younger sort and those that are unmarried only under the edge of the Law is such a kind of exemption as secretly will harden the elder though ever so ignorant as if by Law approved of as lesse needing to bee taught than others It will bee a very hard matter for a Minister to get any that are married or above one and twenty years of age to submit to such instruction Ministers are in a better condition for the reducing their people into order and subjection in many Cases when none at all than when only a half provision is made The exercise of Discipline in our Congregations was ordered by the Parliament but limited likewise to an enumeration of the sins for which wee might Excommunicate exempting other Sinners that were as much under our charge This was looked upon by the Assembly as a great abridgement of their Ministerial liberry and so great as they professed it could not with a good Conscience be submited unto as not being able to performe their trust which they received from Jesus Christ and must give an account of to him resolving to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free CHAP. VI. The third Argument Taken from the imposition and penalty the severity and inequality of it §. 1. A Third Argument is taken from the imposition and penalty Since a blessed reformation and seasonable Gospel-freedom hath been wrought out for the people of God this is the first imposition with penalty that hath been endeavoured upon the Ministers of Christ Nor hath this work the Catechising of the younger sort by any Parliament as yet been so imposed upon Ministers There was a Catechism in the beginning of Edw. 6. which afterwards was enlarged and confirmed by authority of Parliament but the use of it was not enjoyned with a penalty to be inflicted upon those that should doe otherwise as there was for other matters in the Common-Prayer book So that a liberty was generally taken by godly Ministers to use publickly what form of instruction they judged most suitable to their peoples capacity There hath been hundreds of Catechisms used and published according to the variety of gifts in those that composed them and capacity of those that were to be instructed And this liberty was enjoyed throughout the Nation from the beginning of Reformation until towards the latter end of the Bishops reign and then though they themselves had been the Authors of Catechisms formerly yet began to bee severe against this liberty and enjoyn the use of the Common-prayer-Books Catechism only §. 2. There is considerable in this imposition and penalty annexed 1 The greatnesse and inequality of it
upon which Episcopacy was taken away Ordinan June 12. 1643. namely because it was very prejudicial to the state and government of this Kingdome Now if a settlement in the Church depends thus upon the Lawes and constitutions of the Common-wealth As they or it shall alter and change there will ordinarily then at furthest bee new mouldings of the Church order in whole or in some parts of it and if so experiments may bee made of several wayes and impositions before a thorow and fixed settlement of any It cannot bee expected saith the former Ordinance a rule in every particular should bee setled at once but that there will bee need of suppliment and additions and happily also of alterations in some things as EXPERIENCE shall bring to light the necessity thereof though the fundamentals and substantial parts of Church-Government hath been setled And so in the first reformation there was a reserve for alterations It is said of the Ceremonies and Church-Order then determined Preface to the Com. Prayer-Book that upon just causes they may bee altered and changed being not as the Law of God and a little after in the same Declaration That wee should put away such things from time to time as wee perceive to bee abused as in mans Ordinance it often chanceth And it is appointed by the Statute for Uniformity That the Queens Majesty with the advice of her Metropolitan might make such alterations and ordaine and publish such further Rites and Ceremonies of the Church as may bee most for Gods glory c. And what alteration was in the Common-Prayer Book in 1â— Jacobi was done by Commission under the Great Seal Proclamation of March 5. 1 Jaco which is there said to bee according to the form which the Lawes of this Realm in like case prescribe to be used so that not only in Parliament but at other times also alterations might be made §. 7. So they say Ordi of March 14. 1645. THe great difficulty which the Honourable Houses found to pitch upon any thing suddainly in Church-Government especially in what they judged not to be fundamental and of the substance of it for that was sooner setled by them And the possibility upon further experience to make alterations in Circumstantials and lesser matters Did beget a tenderness in them and gracious indulgence to such as were to submit in what they then setled as 1 In the establishing of matters more doubtful for three years only or a shorter time 2 What was to be for a standing Law or Rule and for longer time had no ruining penalty to enforce submission 3 A forbearance was consulted for such as through tendernesse of Conscicence could not come up to that rule prudently and piously considering What was not without so much difficulty resolved upon in their own Consciences to establish might after establishment finde some difficulty in other mens Consciences to be submitted unto And the truth is such matters as Civil Governours and others have looked upon as small differences or but Circumstances or at most not of the substance of Discipline or Worship yet it hath fallen out otherwise in the Consciences of those that have been to practise knowing their God to bee a jealous and severe God in matters wherein his Worship and Name is concerned Exod. 20. Small things are great to a searching tender Conscience and where doing or not doing thrusts a man between these two rocks the offending of God or man §. 8. And that our Governours may still if it please the Lord continue this work of reformation with the like tenderness as it hath bin begun and hitherto carried on let it be seriously and sadly considered how that from time to time the greatest differences and contentions with us in Ecclesiastical affairs have risen not from what is of the substance or essence either in Discipline or Worship but from Circumstances only and lesser matters in both And then especially such things have proved and will prove occasions of greatest suffering and discouragement to Ministers when such smaller and more doubtful matters as these are imposed under such great and undoing penalties as in THIS CASH Episcopal and Common-prayer-Book Conformity and the contentions and sufferings upon that account is a sad instance and may not bee forgotten The matters controverted were not of the substance either of Discipline or Worship in the opinions of those that imposed them This appears in the Preface to the Common-Prayer Booâ— and frequent professions of the Bishops Nor were they otherwise judged of by those that opposed and sought to have them reformed It is asserted by our Brethren in a Treatise that the Bishops and Seekers of Reformation are all one that is the title of the Book the drift and scope whereof is to shew that whatsoever is essentially of the religion and profession of the Church of England and of the Ministry described in the Holy Scripture maintained by the Prelates standing for conformity Wee the Ministers and People who seek reformation doe hold and professe the same And the things wee desire to bee reformed and they stand earnestly to maintain are but Circumstantial Additaments brought into the Church by Humane constitution Which will bee more evident if wee reduce the Controversies thereabout to these three heads the Leitourgie Ceremonies and Episcopacy For the first stinted prayers A formed Leitourgie there was to be held to for matter and words by all Ministers or to lose their Livings Those that were for this look upon such forms imposed to bee no matter of Religion Mr. Bâ—â—â— his trial p. 4. or substantial means of Worship nor necessary to prayer And those against it joyn in this that the Book of Common prayer may bee used for the substance thereof 2 The heats and sufferings about the Ceremonies were greater the Materials of this Controversie were but Circumstantials so granted by both parties Our Brethren disputed not against them Brâ—dsh 12 Arg. but as in manner and form prescribed Those that pressed Ceremonies professed as much Our Church saith Bishop Morton retains them for decency c. without making them of the substance of Gods Service The 3 Innocent Cerem p. 45. thinking them alterable and changeable without opinion of necessity And of the Crosse one of the worst of them in the Canons of 1603. Can. 30. The keeping and omitting of a Ceremony in it self considered is but a small thing Ed. 6. Common Prayer Book Ann. 1549. it is said to be no part of the SVBSTANCE of the Worship The infant is fully and perfectly Baptized before the sign of the Crosse which being afterwards used doth neither adde any thing or being omitted doth detract any thing from the effect and SVBSTANCE of it and in the same Can. It is a thing in it self INDIFFERENT 3. Episcopacy and that form of Government which saith Doct. Downham is the chief and principal though other particulars bee controverted and so chief as
Crime of it is most justly charged by our Brethren upon those who were the sole cause of it and not upon those who with much sadnesse and grief of heart left their stations Ch. Go. with peoples consent p. 138 They themselves speaking of the Prelates are the Schismaticks and the makers of the divisions which are now in England All wise men know that not the difference but the cause maketh a Schismatick and more fully afterwards pag. 175. The Superiour over-ruling Minister over many distinct Congregations which the Word knoweth not In truth such a one is the proper cause of dissention and Schisme for hee not willing to submit to Gods Word by his power draweth many with him whereupon followeth dissention and schisme And then he with his Company being the stronger in the world may cry out loudest against those fewer that dissent that they are Schismaticks and Peace-breakers but look to the Word of God and themselves will bee found to be the makers of the Schisme by their traditions De. Pol. l. 1. c. 37. Learned Parker bestowes a whole Chapter in proving that Episcopis non puritanis dissiaium anglicanum imputandum esse And in his Treatise of the Crosse I would saith he our opposites the Bishops were as well able to clear themselves of Schism as we are able who run within that Censure of Augustine Quicunq invident bonis ut quaerant occasiones excludendi eos aut degradandi c. Whosoever saith hee envies those that are good and seeks occasion to exclude and eject them that rather than they will leave their own faults they will devise how to raise up troubles in the Church and drive men into Conventicles these are Schismaticks though they still remain in the Church About seven or eight and twenty years since Master George Walker preached a Visitation Sermon I have cause to remember it being then suspended and put out of my Ministry by the Visitor it was upon 1 Cor. 11.16 If any man seem to be contentious c. hee declared and with much strength and evidence asserted the Imposers who being not necessitated lay such snares and not those that conscientiously shun them are the CONTENTIOUS persons For which Sermon he was articled against and molested long in the High Commission Court §. 6. These penalties and severe impositions are many times laid by the Magistrate when his Conscience is not by any Scripture-light necessitated so to doe The matters which the Scriptures have not determined precisely one way or other nor required any such determination from the Magistrate If such things bee strictly imposed and bound upon us Hee doth not leave that liberty to others though it be every mans right as well as his which hee found left to him by the Lord. And where it is thus what was arbitrary in the Imposer becomes necessary to the persons imposed upon they are necessitated either to submit or leave their places And this puts a great difference as more or lesse blameable in the parties contending when the one can plead little but his will or resolution and the other an apparent necessity Wee doe not said our suffering Brethren separate our selves from the Church Positions Archip. pa. 10. 11. or forsake the Ministry of the Gospel but are thrust from it if men driven by Excommunication out of the Church bee not Schismaticks much lesse Ministers driven by suspension and deprivation If the Prelates cannot prove from the Word the things in question may be prescribed by Authority and yeelded to by the Ministers without sin then are the Prelats Schismatical according to the judgement of the Apostle who beseecheth the Brethren to mark them diligently who cause division and differences besides the Doctrin which they have learned and avoyd them Rom. 16.17 §. 7. Breaches and Divisions secondly are continued and fixed by such impositions upon this account ¶ II. Humble reasonings about matters in difference amongst Brethren if it be with equal liberty to each is the ordinary way to reduce into peaceable union persons of different judgements But opinions or practices having obtained an establishment by Law are thereby exempted from any such Disputings or so much as being questioned in respect either to their lawfulnesse or expedience Ecclesiast Pol. p. 26. Things were disputed saith Hooker before they came to bee determined men afterwards are not to DISPVTE any longer but obey Prudentia say others non obedientis sed imperantis est it is our part to obey and not to bee so wise as to dispute what is established by power and many are the like expressions in Episcopal writings In so much as though our silenced Brethren and those of that party did all along make it their humble sute that they might have liberty and freedom in a modest and Christian way to conferre and dispute with the Prelatical party about the main and principal Controversies and differences that were betwixt them This could not bee obtained by all the friends and interest those poor men could make But upon the like reasons as are before mentioned it was constantly denied them These forms say the Prelates and Ceremonies being established by a Law ought not to bee called in question and disputed of as if they were doubtful It is presumption and arrogancy to reason against what our Superiours have done Answ the Minist of London pa. 17. For a Subject to examine the Law of his Magistrate saith another is to presume and usurp authority above his superiours The Governours themselves have ever been sufficiently against it Proclam 5º Mar. 1º Jacabi King James tells us it is necessary for them to use constancy in upholding the publick determinations of State otherwise it will become ridiculous and that the stedfast maintaining of things by publick advice established is the weal of all Common wealths Hee speaks there of Church Lawes The Canons of 1603. which were confirmed by his authority threaten thus Can. 6. Whosoever shall hereafter AFFIRM the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by LAVV ESTABLISHED are such as being commanded by lawful authority men may not with a good conscience approve use or if occasion require subscribe unto them let him be excommunicated ipso facto Can. 7. The like for those that owne not Church-Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops c. So that when these lesser or doubtful matters come to bee established by a Law the scruples about them cannot in an ordinary way be brought to any period the one party being forbidden to declare their Consciences under as great a penalty as for the greatest Crime a man can fall into for so is Excommunication ipso facto And if hee escape this Thunderbolt from above there is a gulf provided beneath to swallow up all his livelihood Act for Uniformity the Act for Uniformity which is thus Whosoever refuseth to use the said Common Prayers c. or shall preach declare or speak any thing in the derogation of the said Book or
taught our Prelates such good manners as to put fescues of their own making into his hand and so appoint him after what manner and by what means hee shall teach us And brings this saying of Peter Martyr For as much as God is most wise hee needs not our devise for instruments to stir up faith in us which also no tradesman in his kinde would endure but would chuse to himself at his own pleasure what hee should think most fit Our brethren were offended at the Leiturgy upon this account because in the Act by which it is established you have this reason of the imposition namely to make the same prayer and fashion of service more earnest and fit to stir Christian people to the true honour of Almighty God his Majesty hath ordered the book of Common Prayer to be perused and made fully perfect Stat. 5. Ed. 6. § 3. 3 If with opinion of holinesse or necessity in the reasons given against subscription by the Ministers of Lincoln Abrid pa. 38. When opinion of necessity or holinesse is known to bee annexed either by such as impose or use them in this case it is a part of that confession which every Christian is bound to make of his religion to reject them The Church at Geneva to their brethren in England write thus humana decreta atque inventa omnia quantumvis illustrem secum splendorem persuasionemque apportent si vel verbum Dei cursum impediant vel necessitatem inferant absque omni dubitatione refringi rescindique debent It is then sacred when appropriated to some holy end or use as was said before The holy God onely and by his holy Word sanctifies and separates what hee is pleased to accept from us as holy in all our approaches before him Things appropriated to religious or spiritual persons Functions or Actions either are or ought to be religious and spiritual And therefore either are or ought to bee instituted immediately by God who alone is the Author and Institutor of all religious and spiritual actions and things whether internal or external Doctor Ames in his Pur. Anglic. cap. 1.6 What is holy must bee from God A solo Deo diximus quia ejus solius est suum cultum res cultui rebus Ceremonias omnibus ipsas Circumstantias sacrare Anon. de adiaph p. 11. And then in our esteem necessary 1 When urged in the use to bee constant and without intermission such an imposition either findes things or makes the things imposed to be so Ritibus ne accedat perpetua observatio Part 1. p. 88. Parker out of Ursinus 2 When the use of such things imposed is urged more or as much as the observation of the Lawes and Ordinances of God Link Abridg. p. 39. If those that are willing to doe all necessary services tending to the Salvation of man but cannot conforme must therefore bee turned out of Christs service Brad. 12. Arg. at 11 such Conformity is reputed necessary to Salvation When so pressed saith Master Parker that the most respected Preachers shall bee utterly cast away themselves and theirs c. How can it bee but wee must conceive that the men who bring this wrack doe hold them necessary in their judgement Mr. Par. of the Cross p. 2. cap. 2. § 19. 3 We esteeme that necessary that we judge tends to edification for edification is necessary and all things tending thereto necessitate precepti saith another §. 4. All or most of these will bee found the blame of this imposition as 1 It is by this appointment a part of the set Service of God to be performed every Lords Day in the Publick Congregation this Book to be instituted and ordained as it were by the laying on of the hands of Authority and set apart from other Books of this kind to instruct and reveale to our people the whole Truth of God necessary to Salvation it is to be a kind of Curate to officiate with us and as the mouth of God to our people A set Forme of Prayer and thus established to bee held to by all Ministers may with more reason bee pleaded for The Minister in the duty of Prayer is the mouth of the people to God in preaching or instructing as the mouth of God to the people it is now more congruous in reason that the people or their Representatives prescribe in what words he shall bee a mouth for them to God then that hee by them should bee taught and words put into his mouth when he comes as an Ambassadour and from God or in Christs stead to teach them The Bishops themselves were ashamed of their State Homilies and State Catechismes and quietly permitted the laying them aside by godly Ministers when their State Prayers were kept up in greatest severity 2 It is likewise imposed as a means or help in the Service of the Lord it is clear in those expressions a better way for the understanding of the Principles expressly designed for the propagation of the Gospel and to prevent the growth of Ignorance Atheism It is put as a fescue in the Ministers hand and must bee made use of by all without respect to what they want or have of sufficiency for the worke of the Ministry â—x necessitate faciendi non facientis which evidently speakes it a help to the Worship and not to the persons only whosoever he bee that engageth in teaching and instructing work must make use of this help or else hee must hold his peace and depart surely such a maine beam of the House such a peice of Architecture without which it cannot stand if it be set up would not have been omitted or left out by our wise Master-builder 3. As sacred and necessary the former expresse it is termed not only an ancient and good but also a pious or holy way of instructing Perpetua observatio And for the necessity it is imposed as a Rite every Lords Day to bee performed as Prayer or Preaching or reading the Scriptures not left to the discretion of the Minister at any time or upon any occasion to bee omitted With such a penalty also as if it were equally necessary as any nay as all other Ministerial duties put together For let the Minister bee ever so well qualified and diligent and faithful in all Ministerial Services appointed by Jesus Christ in relation to his Flock if ever so peaceable and desirous to submit to Superiours in all lawful Commands yet if hee scruple obedience in this he must bee thrown out of his Ministry his Wife and Children to beggery there is no Christian tender-hearted Magistrate would make such an imposition if he were not perswaded of it as a necessary help and furtherance of the Service of Christ And that it was to bee imposed as tending to edification and that not only for the matter but the very forme and way is evident not only in the title but throughout the Act. CHAP.
thus to instruct leaving them as Christ hath left them for choyse of matter and words according to the gifts the Lord hath furnished them with for his service §. 2. Obj. 3. It is ancient and received by all Churches in all ages since the Apostles times Ans If it bee meant instructing the ignorant and younger sort in Principles it is not only so but more ancient even before the Apostles times and confirmed by them and is or ought to bee received practised by all Churches But method words c. imposed as a necessary Rite and Order in the Service of God this is not ancient and he that was well skilled in antiquity will tell you so Mr. Parker of Symbolizing with Antichrist part 2. p. 19. If they speak of Canons inferring necessity they must know there were no such Canons in antient time Christian Liberty was more tendred in those dayes Againe Antiently saith the same Author there was in Rites a liberty permitted and no necessity imposed necessity in Rites is jugum papale never heard of in the Church till Antichrist began to usurp over the liberty of Christian men Ans 2. Suppose it had both Antiquity and Universality Is this a topick more cogent here then in former disputes as between Protestants and Papists Conformists and Non Conformists Cassander Anglica pag. 2. Mr. Sprint layeth his most weight upon this Argument The refusing of Conformity saith hee tends to condemne all true Churches all faithful and sound Teachers of all times and places since the time of the Apostles of Christ The avouching Antiquity and Universality of acceptation as equivalent in a Dispute to Divine Authority which is or ought to be the only rule in this matter is very sufficiently refuted by Jewel Whitakers Reinolds Morton and the rest of ours against Papists as also at large disputed betweene Doctor Ames in his reply to Mr. Sprint and Doctor Burgis his rejoynder and then Dr. Ames again in his Fresh suit Obj. 4. And for any necessity or Arguments drawne from thence Ans There is no Ministerial work in which a necessity may not better bee pretended as 1 In convincing the Gain-sayer controversal disputes such difficulty as for want of help sometimes men are disputed into error 2 To pitch upon such Characters and signes by which Sincerity may be discerned from Hypocrisie is very difficult and for want of experience and skilfulness in such a work the hearts of those have been made sad whom God would not have made sad Ezek. 13. If in such Cases the Magistrate should consult with a Synod and forme certaine wayes of reasoning for method and words and impose upon the Minister in their Disputes to bee held to and no other and the like for the imposing certaine formes of signes and markes by which Sincerity and Hypocrisie may safely bee distinguished or any other difficulty that falls in the way of our Ministry is much more necessary and allowable 3 To be able to speake level and not over or under in determining the Magistrates power in Ecclesiastical matters is a difficulty and to what extremities doe good men in their preaching and printing run in the point upon this consideration a Homily is composed that is a certaine forme for matter and words Synod 40. Can. 2. and imposed * upon all Ministers as followeth For the fuller and clearer instruction and information of all Christian people in their duties in this particular wee doe Ordaine and Decree That every Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher upon some Sunday in every quarter of a year shall treatably and audibly read these explanations of the regal Power here inserted and the words are set downe In every of these Cases and forty more might bee instanced there is more necessity of impositions than in teaching plaine Principles Can it bee imagined Ministers intrusted without any such books or helps in these more difficult points will need them in the easiest part of his Ministry Is a Minister able to feed with strong meat and not fit to bee trusted with Babes and Lambs Obj. 5. It will conduce say some much to uniformity and so to unity and peace if the same order in this matter be observed throughout the Nation Ans This is the old Plea and a means by which the Ceremonies and Common prayer-Prayer-book kept their station so long amongst us There is an uniformity arising from the vertue of internal principles as also from an external mould or frame the one is free and natural the other compelled and forced Uniformity from internal Principles is an excellency in Nature and in Grace also That an Acorn a grain of Corn a Kernel a seed from each a Body and in its kinde the like the like leaf bark branch fruit it is true not in smaller things so exact in likenesse as what you cast in the same mould yet for substance and in the maine they are the same all Vines Cedars every Plant and every Herb in its kind every Beast and every Bird in its kind And so is it with gracious and holy men being a holy Seed and having this Seed remaining in them their conversation for the substance is the same and so visibly uniforme and the same as the blinde World can distinguish them from other men So also in this part of their conversation their Service of God in his Ordinances if the institutions of Christ and whatsoever hee in his Word hath prescribed as necessary means and circumstances from more general Rules bee observed by Ministers that are gifted industrious and gracious you will have a natural free and comely uniformity and more to the glory of God then to have all by external injunctions cast as it were in an artificial mould such a forced Conformity in all Ages hath been the occasion of greatest differences and disturbances I say the neglect of Scripture Rules which guide and direct an uniformity in matters of substance and greater consequence and by Canons and Injunctions erect an uniformity in matters of doubtful Dispute and not of much concernment if they were cleared Those Reverend N. Conformists that wrote the Admonition spoke very prudently to this The only cause why our Church differeth from the Churches reformed of the Strangers or among our selves or they among themselves is because our Church suffereth not it self so to bee directed by the course of those Scriptures as another doth except it be in those things of order wherein one Parish may many times differ from another without offence following the general Rules of Scripture for order as in appointing time place and the like 2 Ad. pa. 42. The pretence of uniformity and upon that account taking liberty to impose doubtful Traditions hath been in all Ages an Utensile in the hands of Church Governours by which they have exercised the greatest tyranny and put themselves in a capacity to bring Ministers under what bondage they please One Councel Decrees that all Ministers must live single
receive as it was termed once a year at the least Now without such an expresse and precise form of words in this administration as are pleadable in a Court of Justice recusancy could not legally bee thence adjudged For if such forms had not been thus strictly held to by little alterations backward possibly no more than what was done in that Book sent to Scotland towards the Masse-book out of which they were taken the Service and Sacraments might have been so superstitiously administred as a Papist would not scruple to be present at them §. 5. There is no such State necessity for this forme Neither is there such disability in Ministers now to Catechise as there was then to pray and preach from their own gifts these being performances requiring greater ability and learning For certainly thus to ask questions by the Book and receive answers by the Book requires no great gifts or study Parents Masters of Families and those of lowest parts or learning may sufficiently perform it Mr. Baxter his advice yea Master Baxter and so doe others grant persons not set apart to any Office in the Ministry may thus Catechise and instruct Worstersh Asso not only their own Families but the whole Parish Such are the abilities of Ministers generally we blesse the Lord for it as they stand in as little need of books to Catechise and instruct youth by as books to say prayers by or to preach by And it being so it is a very sad consideration that having through mercy persons qualified and approved for Ministerial gifts and graces Such must now in an age of light and experience be silenced and put from the imployment to which Christ hath called them for not submitting to a Form or Circumstance which is neither peculiar or of absolute necessity to ministerial work or service §. 6. The younger sort of a Parish may bee instructed according to Scripture direction in the Fundamentals of Religion for so are the elder and many of them as ignorant though not in such a method of Catechising as is injoyned This strict method may bee practised as it hath been for many years and yet no one particular Catechisme enjoyned The crime lieth in the omission only of a form or rather circumstance of such a form to instruct in such a method is but a form but an arbitrary form some other method may bee as good this or that particular Catechisme is but a circumstance of such a form the punishment is as great as for omission or negligence in the great and essential duties of the Ministry This is not equal the Canonists say Penor Cic. de off Poena non debet excedere delictum And a Heathen Cavendum est ne poena major sit quam culpa Mag. Cha. cap. 14. The old Law of Magna Charta was this Ex quantitate poena cognoscitur quantitas delicti quia paena debet esse commensurabilis delicto and our suffering Brethren pleaded it against the unreasonablenesse of the penalties imposed upon them for omissions in Forms and Ceremonies pretending they did it with contempt to Authority which is the greatest aggravation of an omission No Free-holder for contempt of the Kings Commandement may bee punished with the losse of his Free-hold when the great Charter of England telleth us that a Free-man shall not bee amerced for a small fault but after the quantity of the fault and for a great fault after the manner thereof saving unto him his Conteniment and Free-hold If then unto every Free-man punishable by the law though his fault bee great his Conteniment or Free-hold ought to be reserved it seemeth much more reasonably to follow that no Church-man being a free-man may so be punished c. Certain considerations printed anno 1605. p. 43. where the justification of a more severe proceedings against Church-men than other Free-holders because these hold virtute officii only is also debated and concluded that if the crime of which hee is guilty bee not inconsistent with his office hee ought to enjoy the same priviledge granted to other Free-holders by Magna Charta So that if the not observing a Ceremony or form or the not owning Episcopacy If the not instructing in such an order or by such a particular book enjoyned or not coming up to such forms of Discipline as are established Be not a defect which is in it self destructive to the Office of a Minister according to our Brethrens opinion such ought not to bee put out of their Livings under any such pretence §. 7. Silencing and putting Ministers from their places for such matters was argued formerly by those holy men to be an unjust and unequal kind of punishment from another consideration also namely that such punishing of Ministers is a greater punishment upon the people Such stopping of the mouthes of painful and profitable preachers is no lesse punishment to the Church it self than to the Preachers Prov. 29.18 yea farre much the greater for where there is no vision the people perish Trial of Sub. p. 18. So in the Petition of the House of Commons to King James Anno 1610. Ministers being removed from their Ecclesiastical Livings for not conforming in some points it is a great grief to your Majesties Subjects seeing the whole people that want instruction are by this means punished and through ignorance lye open to the seducements of Popish and ill-affected persons Congregations saith one in this miserable condition Advertisements to the Parliament in Anno 23. p. 11. and every member of them may say to you most Honourable high Court of Parliament as Job said to his friends Job 19.21 Have pitty upon us oh yee our Honourable and Christian Friends for the hand of God hath touched us in suffering our Ministers to bee taken from us our souls are starved by keeping back our Spiritual food Job 30.18 Wee goe mourning without the Sun for these things we weep our eyes run down with water because the Comforters that should refresh our souls are farre from us Lam. 1.16 Punishments of this nature light most heavie upon the most innocent The people who are most concerned and for whose supposed good this punishment is inflicted upon their Minister but proves indeed a greater evil to them than the evil it self for which hee is punished For he may bee a person well accomplished able and willing to instruct the whole Parish Old and Young To feed with milk and strong meat and yet upon the reasons before mentioned scruple the submission to such a particular method or help where it is needlesse Arguments ch 2. 5. or some other in his Conscience more useful and suitable to his charge Let the person bee of ever so much worth and beloved of his people he and his Ministry is wholly taken away from them Old and Young for a defect if it were so in a part or circumstance in his duty and in respect only to a part the younger
any other profession some that are expert and able in it have done I say when these were taken away a very great incouragement to Learning was removed and such as will be felt in the following age Not that the continuance of such places is in the least desirable no they were sinful and ought to bee removed But let Gods dealing and providence in removing of them bee remarkably observed and especially in this namely That when the Lord took from this Tribe those invitations that did ballance the hazard of a long and chargeable education and other uncertainties At the same time these Ceremonies and subscriptions the tenure by which they were held and those great and breaking penalties of ejection and deprivation for Non-Conformity were also happily removed which was so great an incouragement on the other hand as it held up mens minds to the Ministry notwithstanding But now to see these penalties upon one occasion or other returning upon us again but those encouragements or any equivalent never likely to return and that after they have been so lately and twice taken away and to return again in as strict a severity upon this almost sunk generation of men as ever they were inflicted It will cause multitudes to turn their backs upon this Profession more than upon any other and more than ever they have done heretofore I must professe I have long feared and doe still more than ever considering these things and upon what uncertain terms also that maintenance depends which the Law hath allowed for the Ministers support and how long struck at I mean Tithes and petitioned against and I doubt had been taken away before this time were it not for the Lay-interest so much spoken against by some of Appropriators And also with what difficulty some Tithes especially in Cities and Towns are now recovered and gotten in I say when I thus consider and lay all together I fear this Nation which hath been worthily famous throughout the world for learned powerful able Preachers In a short time if such discouragements should bee brought in again upon the Ministry our Governours will bee constrained either 1 To take the course they doe in the Netherlands where the Ministers being low and mean their Children comming to the charity of the State are bred up to the Ministry again for a supply when their Fathers go off by death And for their Professors places men are called ordinarily from other parts to supply them Or 2 To put into the Ministry persons bred up to some other Calling or Trade who though not able in conscience to conform to what is or what may bee imposed in Discipline or Worship yet if it so happen can take up their Shops or Trades again Having been so provident as not to cast their youth into such a way of breeding as will hang their necessary livelihood upon such an uncertain turning hinge §. 10. And if this also be added the SEASON and a consideration of these times in which 1 Ministers work never lay heavier upon those that are faithful and 2 The hands never fewer to bear it up than at this present which will adde weight and aggravation to our discouragement For the first when a reformation is made of what is amisse in Religion when the Worship of God comes to bee purged of old wonts and superstitions these are such things as the common people are more unwilling to part with than their gold or silver 1 Pet. 1.18 Judg. 18.24 Jer. 32.35 or any thing else they have in this world A more Spiritual Gospel Light also in reforming times breaketh forth upon such as naturally love darkness rather than light At such times therefore there hath ever been great stirrings and distempers of spirit through the generality of a whole Nation The Ministers they only stand as it were in the front of contention and receive all the shot of opposition Though the alterations be by the Lawes of the Nation and the resolutions of their own representatives yet they are willing to look no further than their Ministers in whose hands indeed these changes first appear as those that make them Our Minister saith one will not use the common-prayer-Common-prayer-Book not Marry nor Bury nor Church as we were wont to have it our Minister will set up Discipline keep us from the Sacrament say others When Ministers had to doe only with the Doctrine of the Gospel and discharged their Consciences in a faithful and searching application of it to each person such a mans condition was not much better than Ishmaels of whom it is said Gen. 16.12 His hand is against every man and every mans hand against him But Gospel Discipline provokes and displeaseth ten times more and this also is now Ministerial work and it is a New work to the common people especially it being exercised by so mean a hand as they account it a common Minister Formerly it was done by a Bishop a Spiritual Court under Seal and by those that exercised a great deal of state in their Ecclesiastical proceedings like the Princes of this world that have dominion over their people Thus we see Ministers have discouragements enough at such a time from the work it self if performed as it should be in so much as in many places they are enforced to sit down with half the means the Lawes give them and what they doe get is with such uncomfortable contentions as did not necessity urge they were better bestow their pains amongst them for nothing And this hath been the Ministers condition upon all changes and further reformations who being not able in Conscience to satisfie their people in such superstitious vanities as they formerly enjoyed the people put them to the utmost extremity and molestation in every thing they have to doe with them in And so it is at this time in so much as his Highnesse commiserating the sufferings in this kind Proclamation for the better encouragement of godly Ministers Nov. 25. 1658. of the most conscientious Ministers throughout the Nation was graciously pleased with the advice of his Council by a seasonable Proclamation to require all persons concerned to deal more righteously in this matter And it being thus at present with the faithful Ministers of the Gospel and especially with those that are most zealous to carry on this work of reformation If to this severe Discipline of the people who take from him half his means because he dischargeth his Conscience in some things such Discipline of the Magistrate bee added the taking away his whole means because he cannot goe against his Conscience in some other things I say if it be thus with this profession and on each hand beset with such discouragements it is not for us to expect any thing in the future but a very low Ministry through the Nation some few persons being off the Stage that more encouraging times engaged to come on §. 11. For the Second As the work it self hath
another and to goe arme in arme against the Common Adversary that so there might bee Vis unita fortior In which case of want of their joynt labours with ours there might arise cause of some such doleful complaint as fell out upon an accident of another nature in the Book of Judg. 5.15 where it is said that for the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart Also remember Judg. 20.12 13 14.46 47 21.1.6 c. that when the Benjamites though for their desert in maintaining of a bad cause were all destroyed saving six hundred and the men of Israel sware in their fury that none of them would give his Daughter to the Benjamites to Wife yet when their hot bloud was over they lamented and said There is one Tribe cut off from Israel this day and they used all their wits to the uttermost of their policy to restore that Tribe again In like sort if these our Brethren aforesaid should bee deprived of their places for the matters premised I think wee should finde cause to bend our wits to the uttermost extent of our skill to provide some Cure of Souls for them where they may exercise their talents Furthermore if these men being divers hundreds as it is bruited abroad should forsake their Charges as some doe presuppose they will who I pray you should succeed them Verily I know not where to finde so many able Preachers within this Realm unprovided for But be it that so many may bee found to supply those empty roomes yet they might more conveniently bee setled in the Seates of unpreaching Ministers and so the number of Preachers should be much increased But if they should bee put into the places of these men being dispossessed thereupon would follow First That the number of preaching Incumbents should not be multiplied by their supply and Secondly The Churches could not in likelihood be so well and fitly furnished on the suddain for that though happily the new supply should bee of men as learned as the former yet is it not probable that they should bee at their first coming from the Universities or in a good while after so ready Preachers so experimented in Pastoral Government so well acquainted with the manners and usage of the people and so discreet every way in the carriage of themselves as the others who have spent already many years abroad in their Ministerial charges Besides this for so much as in the life time of the late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury these things were not so extreamly urged but that many learned Preachers enjoyed their liberty herein conditionally that they did not by word or deed openly disgrace or disturb the State established I would know a reason why it should now be so generally and exceeding strictly called upon especially seeing that those men are now the more necessary by so much as wee see greater increase of Papists to bee now of late than were before To conclude I wish that if by Petition made to the Kings Majesty there cannot be obtained a quite remove of the premises which seem so grievous to divers The Bishops themselves some of them were not so zealous against tolleration as some of our Brethren are nor yet a TOLLERATION for them which be of the more stayed and temperate carriage yet at the least there might be procured a mitigation of the penalty if they cannot be drawn by other reasons to a conformity with us CHAP. IX The Fourth Argument It is destructive to that Independency which hath been antiently claimed and professed by our brethren the Non-Conformists §. 1. THere is an exemption or Independency in the manage of Ecclesiastical matters pleaded for by those our Brethren as an immunity or peculiar of the Church and Ministers being a Body or Corporation distinct from the Civil State which is utterly overthrown by such an imposition as in THIS CASE A sole power to determine and order all matters appertaining to the Worship and Service of God Such methods and forms also with the usage of them and other circumstances as are pertinent to the same is placed primarily and independently in Ministers of the Gospel and not in Parliaments or Princes This hath been constantly asserted by our Brethren of the Presbyterian perswasion antient and modern those that have suffered and those that have reigned Discip of Scot. p. 73 As the Magistrate saith the Discipline of the Church of Scotland ought not to preach Minister Sacraments or Excommunicate so he ought not to prescribe any rule how it should bee done but command the Ministers to observe the Rules commanded in the Word Cartwright against Whitg lib. 1 p. 192 As Ministers meddle not saith Master Cartwright with making of Civil Lawes and Lawes for the Common Wealth so the Civil Magistrate is not to ORDER matters of the Church Eng. po Cerem p. 148 The Civil Magistrate saith a Modern Author may not by himself define and direct such matters as appertain to Divine Worship or make any Lawes thereabout it belongeth not to Princes to govern and direct things of this nature even as it belongeth not to Pastors to govern and direct earthly things and civil societies of men The Officers of Christ qua Officers are not directly and properly say our London Ministers subject to the Civil power to whom then Jus di regim p. 89 It is told us pa. 90. the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets not to the Civil power as such Argument against Cer. c. Arg. 4. And long before viz. in Anno 1570. it was asserted that Ministers ought not to obey Princes when they command Ceremonies and forms c. it doth diminish saith the Author the authority of his Office which is to govern the Church of God Acts 20. but in this he himself and the Church of God is governed by the will of the Prince This Ecclesiastical power according to them is in every particular Officer derived immediately from the Lord Jesus Christ and to be exercised by the Coetus Presbyterorum which they call the Church The Synod hath to determine the time place and FORM of preaching and praying c. for who should be able to know these things best according to Gods Word but they that be Preachers of the same unto others Dr. Fulk his disc of Discipline p. 117. If Discipline were setled saith Mr. Knox there would need no coming to the Parliament for matters of Religion Exhor to Eng. p. 99 If the Convocation house say others were such as it ought to be Sup. to Q. Eliz. p. 45 then were it not LAWFUL for the Parliament to establish any thing appertaining to the Worship of God If this be so such a determination as in this case cannot be made by the Civil Magistrate without an incroachment upon the priviledges and intrustments of the Church contained in the Charter by which we are Officers and Ministers of Jesus Christ For if all
upon themselves and after the Parliament had injoyned us forthwith to practise according to their Ordinances they added considerations and cautions before they would receive them And by consequence if no Provincial a Classical Assembly may doe the like and if no Classis each Congregation being furnished with a Presbytery ought to make if not afore Judgement by their Delegates in some greater Assembly yet an after Judgement and to accept or refuse what a Parliament shall doe in this kind by their Presbytery according to Presbyterial principles which liberty cannot be enjoyed where Civil powers impose with such penalties as in the case CHAP. X. The Fifth Argument It is difficult in Ecclesiastical matters to obtain reformation of what is amiss These things are pressed with greatest severity upon the most conscientious WHen any change happens in Ecclesiastical affairs it is long before wee can come to a settlement as we have formerly shewed This settlement being made and munited with penal Lawes by the Civil Magistrate it is difficult if not impossible in an ordinary way to get any thing reformed though it bee ever so inconvenient and burdensome to mens Consciences Repeals and changes are made frequently of Lawes about Civil affairs and our evils cured as they come to bee discerned but Church grievances like diseases in the spirits are in a manner incurable 1 There are but a few in comparison and those more strict and conscientious who are ordinarily the worst beloved and least regarded that feel the pain of such distempers 2 By such impositions we rid our selves of those Ministers whom wee esteem most troublesome and have great advantage to fashion the rest I mean the less conscientious to a state guise The sad experience we have had formerly and what great and constant endeavours after reformation have been many years prosecuted with little or no fruit may be a proof sufficient hereof In the Reformation began with Edward the Sixth such reliques of Popery were left in the Church as did much offend divers godly learned even in those dayes These Superstitions coming to a settlement and by penal Lawes fixed in the Worship and Service of God they held their station neer a hundred years notwithstanding the testimonies at several times given all along against them In the beginning of Queen Maries dayes those learned men that left their own Country and went into Germany where this reformation and the superstitions setled in it being stuck to by some amongst them there was then a very great testimony and in the eye of the Churches of Christ given against those evils by others of them better affected to a thorow reformation of which more afterwards These endeavours and witnessings did not in the least loosen the hold those corruptions had gotten by their first establishment but were continued still as will appear in what followeth §. 2. Those Brethren and such others as desired further reformation conceived great hope to themselves upon Queen Elizabeths coming to the Crown who was a Sufferer with them SHEE by Imprisonment as they by Banishment Application was made betimes and with much zeal and so it was continued all her days There were Petitions preferred to her Majesty to the Parliament to the Council to the Bishops to the Convocation Pleas Admonitions Advertisements Considerations and the like to the Common people Multitudes of Books daily and profers of Disputation against those forms and impositions as also Assertions Demonstrations wherin a more savoury Discipline in the Church and order in the Worship of God is held forth and in so much evidence of Scripture light as they were not able to put it under a bushel much out of our Brethrens Writings might bee brought forth to this purpose and of the great actings and sufferings by the godly party all her reign and yet all this obtained not the least alteration or to have the lightest penalty taken off from such as could not conform though some of them sealed their testimony with their bloud Greater hopes by farre were conceived upon King James his coming to the Crown whose breeding seemed to set him fair for the desired reformation as also the Oathes Covenants and other engagements that were upon him his seeming dislike also of our Bishops and Ceremonies expressed frequently As a preparation hereunto there were representations and applications made to him while in Scotland and speedily at his first comming into England There were by a discreet and moderate Pen some considerations put into his hand about this work of reformation And to make way hereunto in the first place the Author endeavours to represent the slownesse and neglect of States in altering what hath gotten any settlement in Ecclesiastical affaires though matters bee ever so much amisse his words are these I ask why the Civil State should be purged and restored by good and wholsome Lawes made in every third or fourth year in Parliament providing remedies as fast as time breedeth mischiefs and contrariwise the Ecclesiastical state should still continue upon the dreggs of time and receive no alterations now for this five and forty years and more It is above five and forty years since Wee have heard saith he of no offer of Bills in Parliament Is nothing amisse The pretensions for not making alterations in Churches setled are mentioned by the same Honourable Pen in page 29. Tares say they Discourse concerning Church affairs by the L. Bacon must not bee plucked up lest you supplant the good Corn but let them grow together they stiffly hold that nothing may bee innovated because it would make a breach upon the rest which hee reasoneth against thus Qui mala non permutat in bonis non perseverat Without change of ill a man cannot continue in good to take away abuses supplanteth not good orders but establishes them Morosa moris retentio res turbulata aeque ac novitas est Contentious retaining of Custom is a turbulent thing as well as innovation pag. 32. There were solicitations by the godly Ministers and people of both Kingdoms the suffering of good Ministers all Queen Elizabeths days were represented to him which before hee came to this Crown hee seemed much to resent These hopes were strengthned by his Majesties condescension to a Conference which could never bee obtained before in which hee was present in his own person And what was the issue of all those hopes and endeavours It is strange to consider 1 Not one grievance some small things only explained rather than changed or imposition removed or penalty lessened but advantage taken to lay the yoke heavier upon those that desired reformation in representing them to the Nation as persons Schismatical and troublesome in the Church 2 A Proclamation was sent abroad immediately March the 5. in 1 Jacobi to let all men know that whatsoever was presumed upon of his Majesties intentions to further reformation was without cause given by him All former Lawes and penalties are anew enforced
c. but in after times such as met together to fast and pray to repeat Sermons and edifie one another with good conference were these Conventiclers and punished accordingly §. 5. In some Diocesses where the Bishop being mindful of that wholsome exhortation to mercy in his Consecration was more tender to his Clergie Book of Ordination pa. penult there more indulgence was exercised and not such wresting former Injunctions and Articles or perverting them against the godly sober Ministers Hence Visitation Articles and Inquiries were of different strains according to the spirit of the Diocessan which being observed and that there was more liberty given in one Diocess than in another from the inadvertency as his Majesty termed it of some in authority By the ninth Can. of the Synod in the year 1640. It was ordained for the better setling of uniformity in the outward government administration of the Church as followeth This Synod saith the Canon hath now caused a summary of Visitatory Articles and wee doe Decree and Ordain that no Bishop shall cause to be printed or published any other Articles or forms of enquiry c. So that the edge of those former Injunctions which was intentionally set against Popery and Prophaneness by this new Book of Articles and enquiries is fixedly set and without all hope of indulgence from any better-minded Bishop to wound the peace and comfort of the best affected Ministers and People throughout the Nation and for all times to come It being now not left in the power or to the discretion of any Bishop without hazard of a Months suspension ipso facto from his Bishoprick to bee more favourable than another or less severe and rigorous than the major part of that Synod a Synod that mounted their Canons to a greater height against the purity and simplicity of Gospel-Worship than any at any time before them since the reformation FINIS The Contents THe Usefulness of Catechizing and the prejudice to the people for want of it Pref. CHAP. I. A Case With an explication of some terms and the State of the Question Pag. 1 CHAP. II. The first Argument Rites and Forms that have a Stated Use and to Spiritual ends in the Worship of God ought to have Scripture warrant for their establishment p. 16 CHAP. III. What directions there are in the Scripture for the instructing of others in respect both of matter method and means c. p. 29 CHAP. IV. Divers Objections answered no shew of Scripture for it nor necessity nor requisite for Uniformity or obliged to it by our Covenant p. 43 CHAP. V. The second Argument Of Christian Liberty things indifferent the particular Catechism designed not so desirable for this Use and how many waies our Ministerial liberty is prejudiced by the imposition of it p. 61 CHAP. VI. The third Argument Taken from the imposition and penalty the severity and inequality of it p. 99 CHAP. VII Of the prejudice to the Ministry and evil consequences of such an imposition p. 120 CHAP. VIII Schisms and Divisions amongst the People of God occasioned and continued thereby is another fruit or evil consequence of such penalties p. 165 CHAP. IX The fourth Argument It is destructive to that Independency which hath been anciently claimed and professed by our brethren the Nonconformists p. 211 CHAP. X. The fifth Argument It is difficult in Ecclesiastical matters to obtain reformation of what is amiss These things are pressed with greatest severity upon the most conscientious p. 233 Courteous Reader These Books following are printed or sold by Adoniram Byfield at the three Bibles in Cornhil next door to Popes-head Alley THE History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valies of Piedmont containing a most exact Geographical description of the place and a faithful account of the Doctrine Life and Preservation of the Ancient Inhabitants together with a most naked and punctual relation of the late bloody Massacre 1655. And a Narrative of all the following transactions to 1658. Justified partly by divers Ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther by Samuel Monland Esq in fol. Divine Characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between the hypocrite in his best dress of seeming virtues and form of duties and the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience by Mr. Samuel Crook in fol. A Commentary upon the three first Chapters of Genesis by that Reverend Divine Mr. John White late of Dorchester in sol An Exposition upon Ezekiel by Mr. William Greenhill in quarto The Humble Sinner resolved what hee should do to bee saved or Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the onely way of Salvation by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in quarto The Riches of Grace displayed in the offer and tender of Salvation to poor Sinners by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in 12o. The Fountain opened and the water of Life flowing forth for the refreshing of thirsty Sinners wherein is set out Christs earnest and gracious Invitation of poor Sinners to come unto the waters His complaining Expostulation with the ingratitude and folly of those who neglect so great Salvation His renewed Solicitation with all earnestness and the most perswasive Arguments to allure thirsty Sinners to come to Christ by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in quarto The Anatomy of Secret sins Presumptuous sins sins in Dominion and Uprightness wherein divers Cases are resolved with the Remissibleness of all sin and the Irremissibleness of the sin against the Holy Ghost by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the sight of God justified by the God of Truth in his holy Word and the cloud of witnesses in all ages wherein are handled the Causes of the Sinners Justification explained and applied in a plain doctrinal and familiar way for the capacity and understanding of the weak and ignorant by Mr. Charls Chauncy in quarto The Gospels Glory without prejudice to the Law shining forth in the glory of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the Salvation of Sinners who through Grace do beleeve by Richard By field in octavo A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their Elders and Messengers in their meeting at the Savoy in quarto Habbakkuks Prayer applied to the Churches present occasion and Christs Counsel to the Church of Philadelphia very seasonable and useful for these times by Mr. Samuel Balmford in 8o. A Short Catechism by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick Hidden Manna by Mr. Fenner in 12o. Safe Conduct or the Saints guidance to glory by Mr. Ralph Robinson in quarto The Saints Longing after their heavenly Country by Mr. Ralph Robinson in quarto A Sermon at a Fast by Mr. Nathaniel Ward in quarto Moses his Death a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Bright Minister by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in quarto A short and plain Catechism instructing a learner of Christian Religion what he is to believe and what he is to practise by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in octo The Hypocritical Nation described with an Epistle prefixed by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in quarto A Sermon of the baptizing of infants by Mr. Stephen Marshal in quarto The unity of the Saints with Christ the head by Mr. Stephen Marshal There is now in the press that long expected book The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting Covenant by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in fol. FINIS