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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78217	Ichnographia. Or A model of the primitive congregational way: wherein satisfaction is offered, by unfolding (according to the Scriptures) what the right order of the Gospel, and way of the saints in the visible worshipping of God is, in the dayes of the New Testament. And how the saints in these dayes may walk up to it, notwithstanding their present hindrances. Together with the maine points in controversie, touching the right visible church-state Christ hath instituted under the Gospel, with the extent of church-officers, and power of particular visible churches, and continuance of divine ordinances and institutions under the defection and apostasie of Antichrist. By W. Bartlet, Minister of the Gospel, at Wapping.	Bartlet, William, 1609 or 10-1682.	1647 (1647)	Wing B986; Thomason E381_17; ESTC R201418	140,788	175

want of good principles and sound hearts at the first If their ends had been good at first and their hearts upright they had never gone out to crooked wayes of their own or others but as the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us so such as fall away from the truth to the embracing damnable heresies do therefore fall away because they were never properly of the truth certainly when men venture on the pure and sound wayes of God with unsound and base ends the Lord justly suffers them to fall such as have not the glory of God but themselves in their eye the Lord shall in just judgement lead such forth with the workers of iniquity Psal 125. last verse 6. Though this way of the Lord may have such evill weeds to grow up in it yet it doth not allow of them but labours either the reforming or casting of them out when they are discovered as a sound Constitution doth those distempers it lyes under as Mat. 18.11 1 Cor. 4.4 5. 2 Thes 3.6.14 Rev. 2. and as a learned Author saith What flaming Sword is there in the hand of a classicall Presbytery to keep men out of errours which may not be in a congregation In one Congregation there may be as many Presbyters as from many Congregations make a Classis and why then may they not do the selfe same acts their offices office is the same therefore the promise of assistance is the same and if the councell and advice of other neighbour Churches be required a Congregation may have that as well Anatomist Anatomised p. ●0 and perhaps sooner then a Classis can which must stay for a Provinciall Synod 7. Lastly let it be considered that there have been as the former Author observes as great defections both of Ministers and people unto errours under Presbyteriall Government as under any other as is cleare in the Low Countryes where so many Ministers and People have turned Arminians Papists Socinians greater errours then the denyall of Paedobaptisme and yet those of the Presbyterian way here are not free of that as is well known besides other evils of more dangerous consequence as might be named Impediment 6 6. Another impediment why the godly do not enter on this way of the Gospell is because they s●y this way cryes up toleration for all sorts of Religion and liberty of mens consciences and so every man may do as he list and what confusion and destruction will this soon produce in Church and state For the removall of this impediment let these few things be considered 1. That this is a great untruth and so nothing but a slander and an evill report that some evill Spyes give out upon the view they have taken of this holy L●nd from some base private ends its much to be feared of their own which the Searcher of all hearts will in due time reveale and discover And that it is so is evident from the workes of some of no mean abilities for learning and godlines that have been in the Congregationall way 1. That late precious servant of Iesus Christ M. Ier. Burroughs who was eminent for his Gospell annointings in his Heart Divisions chap. 7. pag. 41. where he spends most of that chapter to this purpose pag. 42 43 44. and at last towards the end of the chapter pag. 45. he hath these following words And consider now my bretheren whether the Congregationall way be such as if it be suffered there will be no helpe to reduce an erring or hereticall church but all Religions Arianisme Mahumetisme any thing must be suffered Surely men do not deale fairely in raysing such mighty accusations upon such poore and weake grounds This great aspersion and huge out-cry that these men would have all Religions suffered and in their way there is no helpe against any hereticall Congregations moulders and vanishes away before you So likewise in his Sermon before the House of Lords November 26. 1645. pag. 45. where speaking to them excellently in the behalfe of the Saints that have been faithfull to them in the trust committed to their charge though they could not come up fully in some things to them they have published to the world and therefore desires them not to listen to any who should whisper such suggestions or vent such things as tend to he exasperating of their spirits against those deare servants of Christ he hath these words There is a great out-cry against the Toleration of all Religions and we are willing to joyne against such a tolleration But that which fils the mouthes of many in this is the heate of their spirits against those that differ from them in any thing that they might with the more strength be able by this to strike at them suffer not your power to be abused to serve mens designes be faithfull with God encourage those that feare him and God will take care of your honours c. 2. Master Thomas Goodwin of whose worth without flattery speake it the Kingdome is not ignorant in that notable Sermon of his before the honourable House of Commons called The great Interest of States and Kingdomes p. 53. where pressing that Honourable House to looke well to their interest meaning the Saints that are in England to maintaine and preserve them and make provision for them as they meant to preserve the Kingdome he hath these words to our purpose If any man thinke I am a pleading for a liberty of all opinions of what nature and how grosse soever I humbly desire them to remember that I only plead for Saints and I I answer plainly the Saints they need it not The Apostle tels us there are damnable heresies 2. Pet. 2.1 2. and they will soon un-Saint men there are errours that are Capitall not holding the Head Col. 2. Do but distinguish these from others and let this be one foundation laid for this union 3. Master John Goodwin whose innocency and integrity in the cause of Christ and great worke and labour of love to Christ and his Churches I doubt not but in due time shall be cleared and rewarded abundantly In his Reply with another Brother to A. S. 2. Edit pag. 24. whose words to our purpose are these Nor on the other hand do I speake this to intimate that I approve a toleration of the broaching of all opinions or any toleration of some practises And that men might see what he sayes if they will not shut their eyes wilfully against the light he reduceth his discourse to 3. Heads 1 The least venting of any opinion against Fundamentals as Judaisme denying Christ to be the true Messiah Arianisme and Socixianisme opposing the Deiety of Jesus Christ Arminianisme that quest●ons the person of the Holy Ghost Papisme that holds justication by works or that Anababtisme that denyes the derivation of Adams originall corruption to us c. the venting of these and the like opinions he acknowledgeth to be

in their proper place for a man may be qualifyed for the place and office of a Minister and yet no Minister he may have excellent endowments of humane learning naturall parts truth of holinesse and yet no Minister Some women have store of all these and many Lawyers and Physitians abound in them and yet no Ministers in office So that I say though many men have excellent naturall parts acquired gifts of humane learning many precious breathings of Christ and the Spirit in him yet that doth not presently denominate him a Minister in office and I may adde no not his Ordination by the Classis nor a Noblemans or a gentlemans Presentation or bestowing an Advowson or Benefice upon him no nor the execution of that office in a parish where he is sent T is not enough to say a man is a Minister but how truly and lawfully he came to be a Minister Quest What is it then makes a true and lawfull Minister Answ A true and lawfull call to that office and worke of the Ministery as Heb. 5 4. Now this call in these dayes is not onely internall from God in qualifying a man and making him willing to the worke but externall from those he is to take the charge of whose prerogative it is they have received from Christ to choose their own officers which the most learned and judicious * Cyp. Ep. 3 4 68. Theod. l. 1. c. 9. Euseb de vit Const l. 3. Azor. the Jes part 2. l. 3. c. 28 l. 6. c. 14. Jerom ad Ruff. Ambr. epist 82 Nazian Aug. Bazi Chrysost So multitudes of Moderne Writers as Cal. Musc Bulling Jun. Ames Cartwr c. Divines of all sides grant as could with ease be manifested Now the first of these is not sufficient without the last and God hath so joyned them together that it were no lesse then high presumption in any to separate them So that this being granted for the truth as it cannot be denyed then it must needs follow that most of the Ministers of the Church of England are not Ministers properly in office being without the call of their people to them especially the godly and not a few of them living where there were never any godly to call them A fourth hindrance in their way is That they look upon this way Impediment 4 as a way of separation which hath been and still is such an eye-sore to many that they had rather dye then touch with it Now to remove this I answer in a word there is a two-fold separation the Scripture speaks of 1. A good separation a separation from evill from evill and sinfull wayes and things and persons a separation from false worship from Babels confusion a separation of the precious from the vile of the cleane from the uncleane 2. A Bad separation from good to evil from Christ to Belial from God to the Devill as Jud. 19. Now that Separation we stand guilty of is of the first sort and not the last the separation which God allowes commands and justifyes and without the practise of which he will not be well pleased with his people as Jer. 15.19 2 Cor. 6.18 Rev. 18.4 Ephes 5.11 2 Tim. 3.5 and therefore I conceive there is no just cause or reason why the godly in the Kingdome should be offended at what is now done and which they themselves are called also to practise Indeed if they could prove their By Nationall Church-state ●n the King●ome of Eng●and I do not ●nderstand the ●reaching of the word and administration of ●he Sacraments ●for these make ●o more a Church then ●he ornaments ●f a house make 〈◊〉 house But ●hat false visi●le order poli●ie institu●ion in which ●hese divine or●inances are ●erformed The officers members of the National Church-state ●ot being framed regulated ●nd ordered ac●ing to Gospell ●nstitutions but ●fter the tradi●ions inven●ions of men ●●om whom ●hey receive being and ●ubsistance Nation●ll Church-state to be of divine and Gospell constitution as I said before it were something but till that be done they shall find in the end that they themselves are guilty of the fault they lay to the Congregationall mens charge * 5. Another stumbling block that lyes in the way of many godly persons is because they see many after they have entred on this way to fall into grievous errours and some turne Libertines and grow loose in their w●lking Ans Now to remove this consider these following pariculars 1. Suppose this be a truth and so to be greatly lamented yet dare any man say that such persons would not have taken such courses if they had not entered on this way of the Gospell How many are there which are guilty of grosse errours in judgement and loosenesse in practise and yet never knew in all their lives what this way of the Gospell meant as in Germany France Holland England and other parts of the world 2. If this way be of God and hath footing in the Scriptures example from the Apostles practise and approved of by many famous servants of God and purest churches in the world as we have shewed you then farre be it from any to make it the cause of such abominations Can the light of the Sunne properly beget darkenes Impediment 5 so as properly can the way of the Lord be said to beget these evils either in judgement or practise 3. Did you ever heare or know of any Church where the government was most exact according to the Scriptures and unquestionable that hath been perfect and without errours or hath God promised that here on earth his Churches should be totally free Doth not the Scripture speake otherwise which is left to us for our instruction as in 1 Cor. 11.19 There must be heresies amongst you saith the Apostle and he gives the reason for it that so those that are approved may be made manifest amongst you not that these heresies and evils do necessarily flow from the true being and right government of a Church but only per accidens viz. from the evill disposition of those members that are sinfully tollerated in a Church and not cast out and those temptations of Sathan that they are exposed dayly unto by Gods permission 4. Consider where the Lord is most rightly and purely worshipped there the Devill is most busie to make Divisions sow the seeds of errour occasion scandals and offe●ces and the Lord in infinite wisdome seeth it good to have it so partly 1. That his power may appeare the more in preserving such a Church and society 2. That his wisdome may appeare the more in guiding such a Church 3. That his mercy may appeare the more in pardoning his People 4. Lastly that his justice may appeare the more in hardning those that do not love but hate his wayes 5. Such as fall into errours and loose walking after their entrance on this way of the Lord come not thereunto from their submitting to that way but from

But in Christ there are none for in him there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all fulnes and in him are hid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all treasures of wisdome Col. 2.3 which cannot be said of the creature what they have is but a drop to his Ocean and that little they have is from him also 7. Lastly in r●spect of the duration and perpetuity of it All other power is perishable uncertaine and fading The Monarchs of the world cannot say of their power and authority that it is everlast●ng as Jesus Ch●ist can 〈◊〉 Dan. 4.34 35. and Esay 9 6 7. Of the encrease of his government there is no end Now if Christ be so ●●inently qualifyed for this worke no wonder if it be put altogether into his hands 3. F●om Christ u●dertaking and perfo●ming it as in Mat. 16. and ●8 17 18. Mat. 28 19 20. Ioh. 20.21 Ephes 4.10 1● 12. 1 Cor. 11.23 and 12.28 In wh●c● plac●s we find a Church state appointed by Christ with offices officers gifts ordinances and government correspondent 4. From the Apostles their disclayming this power and authority professing their work was meerely a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministery not a Lordship Act. 17. and that they were the servants not only of Christ but of the Churches also 2 Cor. 4 5. Rom. 15.31 and that they had no power or dominion over the faith or consciences of the people but helpers of their joy 2 Cor. 1. ult 5. From the insufficiency of all humane abilities to accomplish this worke which I shall make out three wayes 1. From want of wit and skill to do it 2. From want of a mind and will to do it 3. From want of power nd strength to do it 1. Men have no wit nor skill for this worke all the abilities of the creature are too low to reach such Mysteries as these what could Moses or David or Solomon do towards the building the visible Tabernacle and Temple of old with the ordinances of worship thereunto appertaining if God had not first made them acquainted with it by his Spirit So what could the Prophets and Apostles have done towards the building the living Temple of Chr●sts Church under the New Testament if Jesus Christ had not acquainted them with the order and manner of it from his owne mouth Who hath known the mind of the Lord 1 Cor. 2. ult Doubtlesse if Christ had left this work to the wit and discretion of men we should have had sorry Church worke Whence is it that there are so many divisions and differences amongst men in the world in the matters of Gods house and worship but this that men are darke and ignorant and not acquainted with the mind of Christ revealed in the word 2. As men have no wit nor skill for this busines so neither have they a mind and will to do it Looke we narrowly into the dispositions of men and we shall find how backward they are this w●y As the Apostle spake in his Epistle to the Church at Philippi Phil. 2.21 All seeke their owne but few the things of Iesus Christ men are so taken up with the building their owne houses that they care not what becomes of Gods house as those in the Prophet Haggai●s Hag. ● 2 dayes every man said The time is not yet come to build the house of the Lord. And doubtlesse if Jesus Christ did not carry on the building of his temple further then men are disposed thereunto he might stay long enough for it We are all of us even the best of the Saints of Cranzius disp●sition and temper who answered Luther it were to be wish●d that such a work were done he spake to him about We could wish that Antichrist were down and J●sus Christ exalted on his throne but where is the man that is of Luthers spirit in the things of God Christ and his Cause may sink for ought that men doe to put themselves forward in preserving and forwarding of it And if at any time men doe begin to set upon this worke doe we not see how soone they are discouraged and draw back and are ready to cease and give over as it was with those Jewes that God brought out of Babylon to Jerusalem after they had begun to build how long was it before they finished neere as many yeeres by computation in building the Temple as they had been in Babylon from the Temple There was little heart little stomach in them to this worke Yea though many of them were good men as well as great men every small threat of their adversaries was enough to make them cease building so that the Lord was faine to send Prophet after Prophet to them to spurre and excite them forward to their worke they were called unto And is it not so now in these dayes how long have we beene building Gods house what murmuring what repining what objections what excuses what carnall reasonings Every man is ready to say The time is not yet come and so sad consequences come of it and sadder yet are like to come I feare and all this I say for want of a will of a heart in Gods owne people to this worke And therefore without controversie this is a truth that further then Jesus Christ acts in us by his Spirit men have no mind to the work 3. From want of power and strength to doe it If men had skill and wit for the work yet so long as they want power how should they bring it to passe Now that men want power and strength for this worke is evident from hence 1. In that there are many and mighty enemies to be throwne downe when this Church-state is to be set up great and high Mountaines that must be made Plaines What a great mountaine was there of a Samaritan faction joyned with the power of the Persian Monarchy before Zerubbabel when he c●me in the name of the Lord to build his house that had been laid waste And what a great mountaine is the Romane Empire and that Antichristian State which now opposeth and who shall be able to dry up th great river Euphrates Rev. 16.12 that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared By which River some understand the Monarchy on which it borders which is the Turkish Empire Now this men cannot doe the stilling the rage of adversaries is beyond the power of men He that shakes the Nations when he comes to this worke Hag. 2.7 he onely can build this house amidst all those commotions and tumults that are made in the world against it This work is the work of a God and not a poore silly worme as Man is And therefore saith the Lord to Zerubbabel Zech. 4.6 Not by might nor by power but by my spirit And againe in Psal 2 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion It is the work therefore of God and not of men If the Lord should leave this wo●k to the

particular Tabernacles every particular Church and Congregation under one Pastor their meeting is the Church of God a several Church * Vid. the note before in the margent at the testimony of M. Baynes INDEPENDANT And as for the Church of England he saith it is called a particular Church from other nations because it is under a government civill which is not dependant on any other forraine Prince Now what can be spoken more fully for the Congregationall way then this famous Minister hath in these words So then put all these together besides multitudes of other choice servants of Christ that are yet living in this Kingdome and forraine parts who are many of them in the practise of this truth with abundance of the rich blessings of Christ on them and then see whether it becomes men to say that none but a company of injudicious weak simple idle and giddy-headed men are of this opinion that the power of Church government is entirely within a particular Church But that we may leave men for ever without excuse let us before we leave this particular see what our brethren themselves of the Presbyterian way do say for this in their piece called Jus Divin Regim Eccles they set forth with all their strength wherein when I read me thinks that Scripture of the Apostle is verifyed 1. Cor. 3.19 For the wisdome of the world is foolishnes with God for it is written he taketh the wise in their own craftines And my reason is b●b●cause whe e they should speake most there they say least and where they should be strongest there they are weakest For whereas the whole Volumne consists of neare about 32. sheets of Paper there is not much above 6. sheets that speakes to the point of their Presbytery and not above a sheet and halfe to the principall part of the controversie p. 231. in laying down of which also they have not dealt fairely and candidly by expressing themselves in ful plain and ample termes but equivocally and ambiguously * And in la● down the d●●●rences bet● the Presb. Independ their Prefa● they speak untruth in very first ●ticular for the Independants have left it upon Record that a particular Church is a sin part of the Catholique their own expression Ames medulla Theolog. c. 32. De ecclesi● stituta p. 148. Istae enim congregationes sunt quasi partes SIMILARES Ecclesia catholica que adeò et nomen et naturam ejus participant So M. Wil. Sedgwick in his Sermon befor● verse of the Parl. printed by Ralph Smith at the sign of the Bible in Cornhill hath the s● p. 4. And yet these men in the place before quoted say to the contrary reserving more to themselves in their practise then what is expressed in their Proposition as I doubt not but will ere long be made out Now these Ge●tlemen in the last chapter of their Booke before they come to lay down their own Assertion which is the thing I produce to the confirmation of the former truth grant six things to the Independents 1. That particular Churches have within themselves power of Discipline entirely so farre forth as any cause in debate particularly and peculiarly concerneth themselves and not others 2. That where there is no consotiation or neighbourhood of a single C●urches whereby they may mutually aid one another there a single Congregation must not be denyed entirenes of ju●isdiction 3. That every single Congregation hath equall power one as much as another and that there is no subordination of one to anoanother according to that trite and known Axiom Par in parem non habet imperium i. e. An equall hath no rule or power over an equall Subordination Prelaticall which is of one or more Parrishes to the Prelate and his Cathedrall is denyed all particular Churches being collaterall and of the same authority 4. That Classicall or Synodall authority cannot be by Scripture introduced over a particular Church in a privative or destructive way to the power which God hath bestowed upon it 5. That the highest ecclesiasticall Assembly in the world cannot require from the lowest a subordination absolute and Pro Arbitrio i. e. at their own meer will and pleasure but only in some respect subordination-absolute being only to the law of God laid down in Scripture 6. They grant Charitative consultative Fraternall christian advice or direction either to be desired or bestowed by neighbouring Churches either apart or in their Synodall meetings for the mutuall benefit of one another by reason of that holy profession in which they are all conjoyned and knit together Now what can be more fully to our purpose then what these men themselves say Obj. You will say though they say all this yet t is not all they say for they say the Presbyteri●ns have a further power that particular Congregtions have not which is the power of greater Assemblies in a Classis or Synod over a particular Church to deliver it to Sathan in case of obstinacy Ans But first where do these men read in all the New Testament of these greater Assemblies and lesser Assemblies that have this authoritative power over one another to excommunicate and deliver over to Sathan Let them produce but one plaine Scripture for it by way of precept for it or practise of it and we will say something to it let them not thinke to put off the matter so easily as if 3. or 4. Recocta cr● be fastidiu● parit et n● seam old Arguments that have been at least ten times answered will serve the turne Gods people have learnt to be more wise now then formerly 2. Do not these men know that its a great question amongst themselves or their friends in the Assembly whether Traditio Satanae i. e. The power of delivering over to Sathan were not Apostolicall that is peculiar to the power of Apostles so as ordinary Elders had it not and then the utmost power of all those great classicall Presbyteriall Assemblies over the lesser as they call them in way of censuring will be at last the same with the Independants non-communion which the Independants acknowledge upon good grounds to be the last meanes Christ hath appointed in his Church to worke upon the heart and therefore as forcible and effectuall as that formall and juridicall delivering over of a particular Church to Sathan which the Presbyterians so stifly though ungroundedly plead for 3. Let the Assembly of Presbyters be never so great yet I hope there is none of them that will affirm that such an Assembly can proceed by all their authority they claime to the delivering over a particular Church to Sathan Clave non errante they are not freed from error no more then a lesser Assembly and commonly the truth of Christ is with the fewer not the greater number one poore despised Saint may understand more of Gods mind and see further into some one particular truth then a whole Synod And we have examples of

Barnabas namely Judas sirnamed Barsabas and Silas chiefe men among the BRETHREN wrot letters by them after this manner The Apostles Elders BRETHREN send greeting to the Brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia that is the Churches that were gathered and planted in those Countryes Vid. Jus Divin reg eccl● Now this is far from the practise opinion also of the Presbyterians in these dayes that affirm the authoritative power of Synods and Classis is in themselves without the joynt consent approbation of particular bretheren in the churches and therefore this instance of theirs which they produce against the Congregationall way is altogether without warrant from the Scripture 7. Another impediment that stands in the godlies way to this Impediment 7 blessed worke is this that they cannot see it to have the Magistrates countenance and allowance whereas if this were once done they would not forbeare to enter on the practise of it For the removing of this impediment Let these few things be minded 1. That if by the Magistrates countenance allowance they mean an expresse Warrant and Ordinance for it as they have done for Presbytery t is granted there is no such yet thus much I can say and we have cause to blesse God for it that to this day the Lord hath so farre kept authority in Parliament that they have not made any expresse Law against it nor we trust in Christ will they ever doe 2. Who knowes but by that time the three yeares allowance of the other be fully expired the Lord may so farre reveale himselfe to Authority as that they shall not only countenance the Congregationall way but also make a Law for the establishing of it not only three yeares but as the Lawes of the Medes and Persians that shall never be altered or repealed Jehovah the Lord and God of truth peace hath done and can do as great things as these and why should we not believe it Seeing he hath made a promise that Kings and Queenes that is such as are in authority shall be nursing Fathers and Mothers to his People in the pure wayes of his worship as Esay 49.23 3. Suppose that this way of the Gospell should never have the expresse command and countenance of the civill Magistrate for it which for my part I cannot believe because of the former promise yet I hope it will be granted that what Jesus Christ the Head and King of his Church hath ordained and commanded for his people to walke up to the practise of as I take this order of the Gospell to be that hath been formerly laid downe is not to be left undone and the practise thereof neglected because it cannot obtaine the countenance of the creature the reason is because the practise of Gods will Quare in gra●m hominum ●il est agen●m con●●a de● sed quic●id deus prae●pit agendum 〈◊〉 etiam si ho●nes eo offen●ntur seque ●o a nobis ha●i putent ●d ipsis noli●us contra dei ●cceptum gra●ca i. Piscat ● Mat. 10.37 ●bser 28. and worship revealed in the Scriptures doth not depend on the will and pleasure of men but meerely on the command and injunction of God himselfe whom we ought to love and honour above all men * And therefore we find in the Primitive times that the Apostles and servants of Christ when they had no countenance at all from the civil Powers that were in those dayes but rather the contrary yet they went on in the practise of what Christ enjoyned them against all their opposition And its worthy our consideration that if the way of the Lord that now we pleade for the enjoyment of in peace and holines was lawfull in those dayes when civill Magistrates were no friends but professed enemies to Jesus Christ and his Churches Then doubtlesse its much more lawfull now in these dayes wherein civill Magistrates do openly professe themselves friends to Christ and hold forth to the world by manifold Protestations that they place their greatest ambition in being Servants to Christ otherwise it would follow that Christ and his Churches should be losers and in a worse condition by living under such Magistrates as we are bound to believe are reall in their Protestations and professions of and for Christ then under those that were Heathen which were absurd in any to affirme The reason is because such Magistrates know themselves to be ordained of God for the good of the Saints and not for their hurt for their encouragement and furtherance in the wayes of Godlinesse and not for their discouragement and hinderance Rom. 13.4 5. 4. Lastly what ground for comfort can those have to build on if the Magistrate should approve of it and countenance it as wee doubt not as we said before but in the Lords time he wil when they enter upon it for that very reason cause because its the command of the Magistrate and he approves of it I say for that very cause and reason and no other as many of late that would not part with the Ceremonies and Service-booke though never so Popish and Antichristian til they saw the same Power that set them up did pul them downe not touch with any other way of worship prescribed in Gods Word before they saw what the Civill Magistrate did authorize Now I say what comfort can these men have in what they do seeing that hereby 1. They make the order appointed by Christ for his service and worship to depend on the will and pleasure of man and 2. Their fear of God is taught by the Precepts of men Esay 29.13 And 3. Their honouring of the creature herein is a flat dishonouring of God for this kind of obedience to humane power diminisheth if not annihilates the right and true obedience that is due to divine power setting up the Minister and servant in the place and room of the Lord and Master And what comfort can men take in this doubtlesse there is a day comming when the eternall God will make men ashamed of it and it may cost them bitterly Obj. Then you will say by this doctrine Magistrates are not to be reverenced nor regarded Ans A meere non sequitur for cannot Cesar be obeyed unlesse he be set up in Gods roome but this is no other then a vile aspersi●n that malicious and envious spirits would cast on the faithfull servants of Jesus Christ whose reverence respect and just obedience to authority I make no doubt shall be found in due time to appeare in its beauty and excellency through the good hand of our God upon them when the rottennes of such base malicious selvish spirits shall be discovered to their everlasting ignominy and disgrace For God is faithfull that hath promised to plead the cause of his people cause their integrity and faithfulnes even in this point I doubt not to shine forth as the Sun at noon-day Psal 37.6 And