ecclesiastical functioÌ„s receiv civil offices callings nor take vnto them princely titles dignityes Ephe. 4.11.12.13 1 Pet. 5.1.2.3.4 Rom. 12.7.8 1 Cor. â—2 5.8.28 1 Tim. 4.13.15.16 2 Tim. 2.4 Luk. 12.14 and 22.25.26 But the offices of the Prelates Priests and Deacons of the Church of England are not so but by their own constitution are set in that Church and employed in the Ministerie of the word Sacraments Church government so as they may also together with their ecclesiastical functions receive civill offices and callings as to be Iustices of peace County palatines Lords of the Counsel c. take vnto them Princely titles and dignityes as of Grace Lordship c. Which al men see and know to be thus Therfore they are not true Pastors and Teachers 5. Againe The Ministery of Christian Pastors Teachers standeth by the word and ordinance of Christ so as al Churches vnder heaven are bound to receive submit therevnto and to no other whatsoever Ephes 4.11.12.13 Rom. 12.5.6.7.8 1 Cor. 12.5.28 1 Tim. 3. chap. and 5.17 and 6.13.14 But the Prelacy Priesthood Deaconry of the Church of England standeth onely by the authority and Law of man so as other Churches els where neyther ar nor need to be subject therevnto Which even themselves of all sorts have acknowledged For which see Whitgifts Defence in the Preface The Answer to the Abstract pag. 58. The Admon to the Parliam The Defence of godly Minist The Demonstration c. Therfore their Prelacy Priesthood Deaconry is not the Ministery of Christian Pastors and Teachers 6. Furthermore The offices of Pastors and Teachers which Christ hath appointed are such as they which have them must be members of a true visible Church and bound to one particular Congregation for the Ministery governmeÌ„t therof Rom. 12.4.5.6.7.8 1 Cor. 12.5.8.12.18 Act. 14.23 20.28 Col. 4.17 Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3 4. But the offices of the Prelates Priests and Deacons of the Church of England are such as they which have them need not be neyther in their estate can be members of a true visible Church but of a false nor are bound to one particular Congregation for the Ministerie governement thereof but the Prelates are over whole provinces and Dioceses c. and the other inferiour Priests may have in that estate plurality of benefices ecclesiasticall cures c. Which none can deny Therefore they are not the Pastors Teachers which Christ hath appointed 7. Finally The offices condition and government of Pastors and Teachers spoken of Ephe. 4.11 are such as no way empaire the authority Supremacy or dignity of Kings or any other civil Magistrates eyther in civil or ecclesiastical causes Ephes 4.11 12. and Rom. 12.7 8. with 13.1 Tit. 1.5 9. with 3.1 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. with 2.13.14 But the offices condition government of the Prelates Priests and Deacons of the Church of England are such as do many wayes empaire the authoritie supremacy and dignity of Kings and all other Magistrates both in civill ecclesiasticall causes And for an instance take these particulars That the Prelates will have their presence voyce authority to be at Parliaments for enacting of Lawes statutes for the coÌ„mon wealth c. That they are rulers of whole Provinces Dioceses in the ecclesiasticall causes therof That in civill estate and government some of them are above all and all of them above some of the Nobles Iustices and other Magistrates of the land That themselves their Courts and officers handle determine sundry civill causes and affaires pertayning to the civill Magistracy That they inflict civil mulcts and punishments That in their forbidden times they give licences to matry c. That the beneficed Priests sweare Canonical obedience to the Prelates That all the Priests and Deacons are exempt from the Magistrates iurisdiction in divers things apperteyning vnto them and answerable onely or chiefly to the Prelates and their Officers c. Therefore they are not the Pastors and Teachers spoken of Ephe. 4.11 And to this end might divers other reasons be alledged from particular consideration of these severall offices As for example if any for the Prelates would perswade that their Archbishops have the Pastors office then would it follow that they have but two Pastors in the land because they have but two Archbishops Or if they say the Lordbishops be Pastors then have they but sixe and twenty or thereabout and what office then have the Archbishops above them If others say the Priests whether Parsons Vicars or Stipendaries be Pastors then let them tell vs what office their Archbishops Lordbishops have amoÌ„g them seing Christ hath appointed in his Church no ordinarie ecclesiasticall office for any one person greater then the Pastors nor set the Pastors one of them above another in any respect of Ministery power or government but made them all equall therein Rev. 2.1.8.12.18 and 3.1.7.14 with Ephes 4.11 12 13. Act. 20.17.28 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3 4. and Luk. 22.24.25 26 27. And thus much is acknowledged and published also by some of themselves both heretofore in divers of their books and now of late in an Offer of conference about certayne Propositions which they offer to mainteyne against the Prelates Among which are these namely * Offer of Conference p. â— That the Pastor of a particular Congregation is the highest ordinarie ecclesiasticall Officer in any true constituted visible Church of Christ That it is the office of every true Pastor to teach and to governe spiritually onely one Church or Congregation immediately vnder Christ That it is simply vnlawful for any Pastor vnder the new Testament to be also a civil Magistrate That the Office and calling of Provinciall and Diocesan Prelates is contrary to the word of God c. Furthermore if any would say their Deacons have the Pastors office the same absurdity followeth as in the former and this moreover that the works of the Deacons office are by the Apostles opposed to the work of the Ministery wherein the Pastors office is employed Act. 6.2.3.4 with Ephe. 4.11.12 Rom. 12.8 Likewise if they would say they have the Teachers office it would be knowen whether it be the Archbishops Lordbishops Priests or Deacons Parsons Vicars or Stipendaries that have it among them to whom they are adjoyned for the work of Ministerie as ‖ Ephe. 4.11.12 Rom. 12.7.8 the Teachers are to Pastors seing they have none in the office of Pastors spoken of Ephe. 4.11 as is proved here before and what office of Ministery the rest of their Prelates Priests Deacons have whom themselves account not to have the Teachers office and whether the Teachers spoken of Ephes 4.11 must first be Deacons and then Priests and promise obedience to the Prelates that also as to their Ordinaries and be silenced and deposed at their pleasure c. But of these things we have spoken in other
to the testament of Christ they are for this cause evil intreated reviled and persecuted vnto death even by these who professe themselves to be Christians 2. Secondly in that their Prelacy Priesthood and Deaconry is the very meanes of thrusting away keeping out of the Church the Ministery and order which Christ hath appointed in his word Which some of themselves have heretofore acknowledged and written affirming that Lord Bishops Archdeacons Commissaries Officials and the rest Admon to the Parliam thrust away most sacrilegiously the order which Christ hath left in his Church and which the Primitive Church hath vsed Sermon on Rom. 12. That they rob the Church of lawfull Pastors watchfull Elders and carefull Deacons And that by the length of their vnlawful swords they keep out the lawfull members of the body of Christ which is the Church Neyther need we seek any further proof hereof then that which is daily felt and seen in their bloody opposition and proud exaltation above the holy things ordinances and servants of Iesus Christ Who being Lord over all will bring their wayes vpon their owne heads and when they have filled vp the measure of their iniquity will judge them according to their works The fourth Argument THe Ministerie which is such as in the nature and condition thereof IIII. of it perteyneth not to any body and estate eyther civill or ecclesiasticall but onely to the body and kingdome of Antichrist that is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie But the present Mininisterie of the Church-assemblies of Engl. is such as in the nature and condition thereof it perteyneth not to any body or estate eyther civill or ecclesiasticall but onely to the body and kingdome of Antichrist Therefore the present Ministerie of the Church-assmblies of Engl. is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie The Proposition none can deny And for it see 2 Thes 2. chap. with Rev. 13 11-18 and 14. and 16. and 17. and 18. and 19. and 21. chap. The Assumption is cleare to all that will open their eyes to see the truth of it in as much as their Prelacy Priesthood Deaconry the present Ministery of that Church is such in the nature and condition thereof as the civill estate of the Common-wealth may be perfect without them for they are ecclesiasticall functions the Church of Christ may be compleet without them and yet have all the offices appointed by Christ therevnto and the Turks and Pagans neyther have them nor require them Onely the body and kingdome of the Romish Antichrist cannot be full and furnished in all the offices thereof without them Which all men know to be true From which also an argument to the same purpose may be framed in this sort The fift Argument V. THe Ministerie which is such as the body of Antichrist the man of sinne cannot without it be compleet in all the members and Canonicall functions thereof that is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie But the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of Engl. is such as the body of Antichrist the man of sinne cannot without it be compleet in all the members and Canonicall functions thereof Therefore the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of Engl. is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie The Proposition is cleare and certaine The Assumption is proved by the Canons Pontificall and estate of the Romish Antichrist the man of sinne and by the constitution of that body in the members and functions thereof As all must needs confesse that have any knowledge of the conditiō of that Church and Officers perteyning therevnto The sixt Argument THe Ministerie of Deacons Priests and Prelates VI. which accounts it self to be Christs and yet in deed is such as the Kings and Rulers of the earth may and ought to suppresse and root out of their dominions that is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie But the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of Engl. is the Ministerie of Deacons Priests and Prelates which accounts it self to be Christs and yet in deed is such as the King may and ought to suppresse and roote out of his Dominions Therefore it is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie The Proposition is proved 1. Because there is no other such Ministery but Antichrists which accounts it self to be Christs when in deed it is such as the Magistrates ought to abandon and root out of their dominions 2. Because that which is in truth the Ministery of Christ no Princes may refuse or set against But in so doing they sinne highly against the Lord and provoke his judgements against themselves their kingdomes Rev. 17.12.13.14.16.17 with Psal 2.10.11 12. and Esa 60.10.11.12 The Assumption hath two poynts to be considered The one that the Ministery of the Church of Engl. is Ministery of Deacons Priests Prelates which accounts it self to be Christs which themselves cannot nor will not deny The other that in deed it is such as the King may and ought to suppresse and root out of his dominions Which we have shewed already both in †Treatise of Minist of Engl. p. 25.105.134 Answ to Mr. Iacob p. 163.197.199 The Apologie pag. 27.52.53.54.85 c. other Treatises and in the first Reason here before And the forward preachers among them have yeelded it in their suits to the Parliament to have it removed and taken away And if the Prelates and their conforming Priests affirme the contrary they are impugners of the Kings supremacy and excommunicated ipso facto by their owne Canons the words whereof be these in the second of their ‖ Canons of Anno 1603. Can. 2. last Canons Where first the Title is thus Impugners of the Kings supremacy censured And then the Canō it self followeth thus Whosoever shall affirme that the Kings Maiestie hath not the same authority in causes ecclesiasticall that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperors in the Primitive Church c. let him be excōmunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publick revocation of those his wicked errours From which Canon I reason thus The godly Kings amongst the Iewes had such authority in causes Ecclesiasticall as they might suppresse within their dominions any Ministeries not ordeyned by the Lord and therefore any false Ministeries whatsoever as Iosiah did the Chemarims the Priests of Baall them that burnt incense to the host of heaven c. Therefore also seing the present Ministery of the Church of England * As hath ben proved before Pag. 2. c. is not that which Christ ordeyned and gave to his Church and consequently must needs be a false Ministery the King of England having the same authority in causes ecclesiasticall as those Kings of Iudah had may and ought to suppresse and root out of his dominions this their Ministery and Prelacy of Archbishops Lordbishops Suffraganes Priests Deacons Subdeacons Archdeacons c. Like as King Henry the eight did the Abbats Monks Nunnes c.
with their walking it is more then tyme needfull that they did it that they did it soundly from the word of God For as yet what do they els but with one mouth both blesse and curse and with the one hand build vp that which with the other they destroy and so make themselves trespassers Gal. 2.18 The seventh Argument taken out of Mr Bradsh book aforesaid vidz vide licet out of the tenth Argument of that Treatise IT is a sinne against Christ the sole Head of the Church to have spirituall communion with those Ministers which in the administration of Divine things do eyther by word or deed solemnely professe yeeld a spirituall Homage to an vsurped spirituall authority in the Church But the Ministers of the Church-assemblies of England do even in the administration of Divine things by solemne deed professe and yeeld a spirituall Homage to the spirituall authority of Lord Archbishops and Bishops which is vsurped Ergo It is a sinne against Christ the sole head of the Church to have spirituall communion with the Ministers of the Church assemblies of England The Proposition may not be gainesaid For all spirituall power vsurped over the Churches of God is an Antichristian authority and to communicate with those Ministers which professe spirituall homage therevnto is to communicate with such as professe spiritual homage vnto Antichrist which must needs be a sin against Christ the sole head of the Church The Assumption hath two parts 1. That the Ministers of the Church of England do even in the administration of Divine things by solemne deed professe and yeeld a spirituall Homage to the spirituall authoritie of Archbishops and Lord Bishops Which is most evident because they preach the word and administer the Sacraments by vertue of their calling received from the Archbishops and Bishops who give them authority herevnto at their ordination saying to every one of them * Book of ordering Priests fol. 14. Take thou authority to preach the word of God and to Minister the holy Sacraments in the Congregation where thou shalt be so appointed Which things themselves cannot deny to be meer Ecclesiasticall Religious and spirituall Actions injoyned among them to be done by offices callings received from the Prelates Ecclesiasticall and spirituall authority So as the doing of them by vertue thereof must needs be a solemne declaration of spirituall homage yeelded to the same authority 2. The second part of the Assumption is That the authority of their Lord Archbishops and Bishops is an vsurped authority The confirmation whereof Mr Bradsh setteth downe in these words following This is sufficiently proved of late by Mr Iacob in his 1. Assertion by many reasons Onely because the weight of the Argument leaneth vpon it I will vse one Reason Those Officers Rulers in the Church that make claime to be of Divine institution chalenge to themselves Apostolicall authority and iurisdiction as the onely Successours of the Apostles to sit onely in Moses chaire To have sole power of the Keyes To cut from the visible Church and receive againe To have power of creating displacing all other ecclesiasticall officers To be the Vniversall Pastors of whole Dukedomes and Kingdomes vnder whom all other Pastors are as Curates c. And yet for all this are such as stand and are supported onely by humane Traditions Ceremonies such as a civill Magistrate may without sinne put out of the Church and such as the true Churches of God may renounce and yet continue the true Church as Antichristian Vsurpers spirituall Tyrants I say all such Officers and Rulers exercise an vsurped authoritie in the Church But our Archbishops Bishops are such Rulers and Officers as are aforesaid Ergo They execute an Vsurped power over the Church The Proposition may easily be iustified For if inferiour officers vidz vide licet Pastors of particular Congregations have had may have firme continuance in the Church without these humane devises and inventions If the Magistrate cannot without sinn put them out of the Church And if those can be no true Churches that renounce to have particular Pastours and Ministers over them it must much more hold in such Church-officers and Rulers as these are if their authority be lawfull good For whilest the Apostles lived they needed not any humane Traditions and devises to support their authority The Magistrates that sought to put them downe sinned with a high hand And that was no Church that renounced and disclaimed their Office Authoritie and Iurisdiction The Assumption is as easily justified For 1. they make claime Title to all those Prerogatives before rehearsed in the first part of the Proposition and vnto more then that as shal be proved if it be denied 2. It is an Embleme of their owne NO CEREMONIE NO BISHOP Ergo No humane Tradition and Invention no Bishop Ergo The office of a Bishop is supported by them eyther onely or specially 3. Their Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction is derived from the King els it is a flat deniall of his Supremacie Also themselves graunt in their last Tables of Discipline That the King hath power to increase or diminish the Circuit of a Bishoprick That he may make two or more Bishopricks of one one Bishoprick to be two or more Yea what should hinder but that he may divide the Bishoprick of London into 800. For where God hath not defined the number of Parishes that a Bishop is to reign over it must needs be a thing indifferent In which by their owne Doctrines the King hath authority without sinne to dispose If therefore the King may as well notwithstanding any thing in the Law of God give the Keyes of the Church to everie particular Pastour of a Congregation over his owne Congregation as to a Bishop over a Diocesse which taketh away the very Essence of an English Bishop He may without sinne take away the very Office of the Bishop which consists in having jurisdiction over many Congregations c. 4. There is no true sober Christians but will say that the Churches of Scotland Fraunce the low Countries and other places that renounce such Archbishops and Bishops as ours are as Antichristian vsurping Prelates are true Churches of God Which they could not be if the authoritie and prerogatives they claime to themselves were of Christ and not vsurped For if it were the ordinance of Christ Iesus that in every Kingdome that receiveth the Gospel there should be one Archbishop over the whole Kingdome One Bishop over many hundred Pastors in a Kingdome and all they invested with that authority and jurisdiction Apostolicall which they claime iure Divino to be due vnto them and to reside in them by the ordinance of Christ certainely that Church that should renounce and disclaime such an authority ordeyned in the Church cannot be a true Church but a Synagogue of Sathan For they that should renounce and deny such must needs therein renounce and deny
Christ himself Thus the Assumption is cleared And thus the cause is yeelded by themselves who in their owne writings speak and reason in such sort as hath ben shewed Which I thought good thus to apply to their present estate further manifestation of the truth And thus much cōcerning these Argumēts Reasons Which now I leave to the consideration of all that are of judgement and conscience exhorting them as they love the truth and their owne good 1 Thes 5.21 Psal 119.59 to try all things by the word of God to consider their wayes and to turn their feet into his testimonies And I pray the Lord God of all glorie and goodnes to discover and consume the apostasie of Antichrist daily more and more to make the light and power of the Gospell of Christ shine forth and prevaile against all enemies and hinderances to give his people of all estates and nations to walk in the light and comfort thereof to the praise of his Name and eternall life by Iesus Christ who is God overall blessed for ever Amen Ier. 50.29 Call together * the mighty many against Babel all that bend the bow besiege her round about let there be no escaping for her recompense her according to her work according to all that she hath done do vnto her for she hath ben proude against the Lord against the holy one of Israel A Table of some principall things conteyned in this Treatise THat it is not lawfull to heare or have any spirituall communion with other Ministerie then that which Christ hath given vnto his Church pag. 1. 17. 51. 63. 70. 78. 87. 93. c. That the Ministery given by Christ is of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers spoken of Ephes 4. p. 2. 4. 5. 7. 22. c. That the Ministers of the Church of England are none of these p. 3. c. Of the obiection made about hearing the Scribes and Pharisees p. 14. That the Ministery of the Church of Engl. is the Ministery of Antichrists Apostasie p. 18. c. Of the Prelates being spirituall Lords Diocesan and Provinciall Bishops Antichristian vsurpers c. p. 19. c. and p. 70. 71. 101. 102. 110. Of the examples of Timothee and Titus alledged for them p. 22. c. Two Questions about the ordinance of Christ and the apostasie of Antichrist touching the Ministery and governement of the Church p. 26. How the Ministers of the Church of England are made Deacons Priests Bishops and Archbishops And wherevnto they subscribe p. 30. c. That the Ministery of that Church obeyeth not Christ in his ordinance as their Prophet Priest and King p. 39. 105. That it is set against and exalted above the holy things and constitutions of Christ p. 41. That it apperteyneth not properly to any estate civill or ecclesiasticall but onely to the body and religion of Antichrist p. 42. 43. That the King may and ought to suppresse it throughout his Dominions p. 44. That the Lord will abolish it by the light and power of his Gospell with the spirit of his mouth and brightnes of his coming p. 46. That the Ministers with the people in that estate worship the Beasts image and receive his mark in the forehead or hand p. 51. c. That they derive not their power and functions of Ministerie from Christ the head of the Church p. 63. c. That though they be of good gifts and teach many true doctrines yet it is no warrant to communicate with their Ministerie p. 66. 75. 92. That they work vpon the consciences of men by vertue of a false spirituall calling p. 70. 109. 110. Of the Apostles not ceasing to preach in the Name of Iesus at the commandement of the Rulers of Israel p. 73. 74. That the Ministerie of the Church of Engl. is a straunge Ministery p. 78. c. Of the conspiracy of Corah Dathan Abiram c. p. 79. That it is vnlawfull to present our bodies at false worship p. 81. c. Of Naamans example alledged for that purpose p. 82. That the Ministerie of the Church of England is not from heaven but of men p. 87. That it giveth honour to Antichrist and is derogatory to the reformed Churches p. 95. Divers testimonies of their owne and of the Martyrs others against their Ministerie and Church estate p. 6. 13. 15. 21. 30. 33. 36. 41. 44. 59. 65. 73. 76. 79. 88. 93. c. Also the grounds of Mr Bradsh Arguments and of the London Lincolnshire Devonshire and other silenced Ministers their Exceptions Abridgement Answers and Offers applyed against them p. 93. c. Faultes escaped Pag. 63. lin 6. 7. read thus of Engl. is such as deriveth not Pag. 78. lin 22. Num. 15.39 Pag. 85. lin 8. will from the hote Pag. 94. line 29. annex this in such of the books where it is wanting and God must have no solemne Worship in England except it be in communion with the same Pag. 95. lin 19. put in the margent Mr Bradsh Argum. 2. Pag. 110. lin 10. annex this And their owne reasons alledged against the vse of the Ceremonies do also prove it