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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	church_n	good_a	great_a	3,182	5	2.6384	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80541	A copie of tvvo vvritings sent to the Parliament. The one intituled motions for reforming of the Church of England in this present Parliament: most taken out of Irenaus Philadelphus. The other a humble petition unto the Parliament, for reforming of the Church of England: all taken out of the holy Scriptures.	Du Moulin, Lewis, 1606-1680. Motions for reforming the Church of England in this present Parliament.	1641 (1641)	Wing C6235; Thomason E238_12; ESTC R2679	18,517	27

A COPIE Of tvvo vvritings sent to the PARLIAMENT The one intituled Motions for reforming of the Church of England in this present PARLIAMENT Most taken out of Irenaeus Philadelphus THE OTHER A Humble PETITION unto the PARLIAMENT for reforming of the Church of England All taken out of the holy Scriptures NEHEMIAH 13.14 Remember mee O my God concerning this and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the House of my God and for the Offices thereof PSAL. 137 8 9. O Daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed Blessed shall he be that repayeth unto thee thy reward which thou hast rewarded unto us O blessed shall he be that taketh and dasheth in-peeces thy Babe against the Rock Printed in the Yeare MDC.XLI The humbly Supplication of sundry of his Maiesties Faithfull Subiects who have now along time beene constrained to live as exiles abroad or to endure other greevious Persecutions at home for bearing witnes to the truth of Christ against the corruptions of Antichrist yet remaining in the Church of England To the Honourable and High Court of Parliament CRaving pardon upon our knees for our boldnesse wee most humbly beseech you to heare us a little with patience What DAVID spoke in his owne defence when his elder brother charged him with Pride haughtinesse of heart 1 Sam. 17 28 Is our answer now unto all such as shall lay upon us the like accusation vvhat have we now done Js there not a cause Sundry CAUSES there are which have moved us in all duetifull manner to become instant suters to his Highnesse and to you in the Cause of Jesus Christ. 1. 1 Cause of our Petition The great hope which his Majestie hath given of much good to bee done through the mercy of God by your meanes in Church and Common-wealth 2. We take our selves bound in conscience to speake at this present Fearing least otherwise through our silence 2 Cause the Motions which some have made might prove hurtfull and perilous both to Church and State How farre the Motioners are from speaking according to the law to the testimonie and seeking to have things reformed in the Church of England Esa 8 20 agreeable to the Patterne of the new Testament We shall shew in our next Petition Onely two things we desire may be here considered as being the speciall drift and maine of their Motions First in the whole there is much self-seeking For to what end is it motioned to have the Parish-ministers raised up to an equall height as it were of power and authoritie with the Bishops But that they and the Bishops together keeping from the people their Rights and Liberties in the Gospell may equally LORD it and doe what they please without controll But our hope is that the PARLIAMENT Psal 122.8 beeing men in whome the Lord hath putt wisdome and understanding will for their Brethren and Companions sake yea and for their owne soules sake too prudently foresee the evill and prevent the Motion and not put authoritie into their hands who wil be if they have it as great persecutors of the Saints as the Prelates formerly have beene and so instead of one Lordly and Domineering Bishop in a Diocesse we shall then have one in every Parish in some more to oppresse suppresse all such as walke up to their light more closely and conscionably in all Gods wayes then themselves We know what we speake and wee speake no more then what we have had wofull experience off and can make good by proofe The next is their mixing of Heaven Earth together Motioning for a discipline which is a very hotchpotch a gallemowfry compounded of Episcopie Presbyterie and Poperie thinking in likelyhood to please all sides by framing like the Samaritants a worship of sundrie religions But the Lord sees their halting Mal. 1 14. and will one day reward them for it in their owne bosome as they have deserved Cursed is the deceiver which hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing 3. Cause A third CAUSE moving us to Petition is in regard of you who are our PARLIAMENT-MEN What Paul said to Agrippa we say to you wee thinke our selves happie because we shall answer for our selves this day before you whom we know to be expert in all customes and questions that are amongst us In what a forlorne and desperate State our Kingdome was come unto before you came together wee are all very senceable off And howsoever many true Causes thereof have beene already discovered by your deepe wisdome and diligence Notwithstanding give us leave to adde this unto the rest That because the glorious Scepter of the Lord Iesus hath not beene hitherto advanced in our Land as it should have been our blessings have beene the fewer 1 Sam. 2 30. and our crosses the more Them that honour mee saith the Lord I will honour and them that despise mee shall be ligh●ly esteemed And how farre it shall please God to goe forth now in the worke of reformation by you wee know not But this we know if you altogether hold your peace at this time yet shall enlargement and deliverance arise unto the Kingdome of Christ from some other place And truely just it wil be with the Lord to purge away such drosse filth of the scarlet whore with the blood of the Nation which through your neglect shal be left in the Land Zach. 1 14. Psal 2. For thus saith the Lord of Hostes I am jealous for Ierusalem and for Sion with great jealousie and the Nations which will not kisse the Sonne and come under the sweete and easie Yoake of the Gospell hee will breake them in peeces with a red of Iron Oh that you would looke but to former PARLIAMENTS and consider how their Statutes and Acts made about Religion have occasioned afterwards sore troubles in the Land And why But because they were not made conformable to the will and Testament of Iesus Christ And what better successe may we now expect unlesse looking beyond State Policie and carnall reason there be a full closing with God in the truths of the Gospell Prov. 21 30. There is no wisdome nor understanding nor Counsell against the Lord. We therefore before God and the Lord Iesus Christ and the elect Angels beseech you to mind the necessity of a right and full reformation For if your care and strivings tend this way then shall the Earth yeeld her increase and God even our God shall blesse us 4 Cause Our 4. and last CAUSE of Petitioning is for Sions sake the Mount of the Lords holinesse and the place where his Honour dwelleth That which we desire herein is that remouing the Hierarchy and devised Leiturgie Christ true Ministerie Worship Government may be by Act established But if it be doutfull to you whether our request be lawfull Then our humble supplication is that it will please

be left unto the Church for every one to give according to the blessing which hee hath received of the Lord. And so Christ hath ordained that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell and not by Popish Lordships and Livings or Iewish Tythes and Offerings As for the Law of Tythes it did cease with the change of the Leviticall Preisthood e Heb. 11. It is therefore humbly desired that the Land and revenewes of the Prelates and Cleargie yet remaining may now by this Parliament f 2 Co● 31. D● 17 1● 19.20 Esa 19 23. Ps 3.4 Ez 20.4 5 Pro. 3 10. Rev 17 1● be taken away and converted to better use As those of the Abbyes Nunneries have beene by former Parliaments Their originall beeing one and the same And further it is desired that not the distinction alone of Deanes Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and Readers be taken away but their offices and places also g Rev 11.18.14.8 ● 10.12 16.10 17.18 Chap. 2 Th● 3.8 in regard they are not elected called or ordained according to Gods Word but their entrance into the Ministery is by a Popish and unlawfull vocation strange from the Scriptures and never heard off in the primitive Church 10. No doubt but it is the office duetie of this present Parliament to cherish and protect the true ministers of Christ h Esa 23. 3 10.12 D● 17.14 19 20 Ps 2 11.12 72 and on the other hand to suppresse and root out by their authority all false Ministers and unlawfull Ecclesiasticall functions whatsoever i 2 C● 29 chap Therefore our humble Request is that all Popish Offices entrance administration and maintenance with their Names Titles and Priviledges may be now abolished and that every Christian Congregation may have freedome to enjoy the publick ordinarie ministery of Pastors k Act. 17. 2● Rom ● 7 8 Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers as those onely which Christ hath appointed in his Testament for the feeding governing and building up of his Church And as every Congregation hath power l Act. 5. 23. 22.2 with 1.15 in Christ to take unto themselves meet and sufficient men into those offices so the Hierarchie and their dependant Offices beeing all unlawfull and Antichristian in the height of jurisdiction and place be taken away an act of Parliament be made that from henceforth these true Ministers which are too much vilified shall have more honour respect then heretofore 11. Howsoever the Papists doe place the power of the Keyes in the Pope the Protestants in the Bishops and the Reformed Churches in the Presbytery Classes and Synods notwithstanding according to the Apostolick institution every particular Congregation m 1 Co 5.4.11.12 13. Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 16.3 2 Cor. 8.19 Act. 18.23 15.23 18.22 hath power in and for it selfe immediately from Christ to exercise Ecclesiasticall government and all other religions Ordinances So that the power of Excommunication is in the body of the Church whereof the parties that are to bee cast out are members And so farre is the power of Ecclesiasticall K●yes from belonging solelie to Bishops and Ministers as that they themselves stand under it For the Congregation which did elect and ordaine them may if the cause so require depose them from the M nistery they exercise n 1 Tim. 3 10. 5 22. Rom. 16.16 Phil. 3 2. 1 Tim. 6.3 5. Eze. 44 12.13 Mat. 18.16 and if they remain obstinate and impenitent orderly cut them off by Excommunication And this is a truth so cleare and manifest viz. that according to the ancient constitution of the primitive Church the power of he ecclesiasticall Keyes is given to the whole body of every Christian Congregation o Ps 122.3 Act. 2.47 Rom. 16.2 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 c. and not to any member apart or to more members sequestred from the whole or to any other Congregation to doe it for them As that the learned on all sides as Papists Lutherans Calvinists Conformists Non-Conformists ancient Writers with the publick Confession of all the Reformed Churches what ever their practice be give Testimony hereto as we have it in our hands to shew if the Parliament be pleased to call for it 12. That there ought to be no Nationall Provintiall or Diocesian Bishops wee have shewed before neither are Churches to be made by the bounds and limits of Parishes for that is an ordinance of man even the man of sin and contrary to the faith and order of the Gospel but to consist of a company of people called and separated from the world by the Word of God p Act. 2.39 19.9 Rom. 1.6.7 10 14 c. and joyned together by voluntary profession of the faith of Christ in the fellowship and practice of the Gospel and therefore no drunkards no whoremongers no prophane persons at least which are known may be received retained or compelled to be members in the Church of Christ q Mat. 3.7 2 Cor. 6.14 Rev. 21. ult num 15 27 22 15. Esa 35.8 9 c. which is his body whereof he is head and his temple wherein hee dwelleth by his Spirit but the House of God must be kept as neare as it is possible free and cleane from all polutions and prophanations whatsoever And to this Church Christ hath given his power to chuse and call into office among themselves such as are fit without going to Synods or Bishops with Presentations of any for that is but a humane device and therefore by the Parliament not to be tolerated 13. That in stead of Lay Elders to sit in Nationall and Provintiall Synods an office that hath no root in Christs Testament let it be appointed by the Parliament that every Christian Congregation shall have free liberty to elect and ordaine as the Word requireth Governours or ruling Elders r Act. ● 28. R● 12.8 Phil. 1. 1 Tim. 17. Ep● 11.12 1 Cor. 28. n● 12.24 2● Exod. 3● 42. De● 1.13 being men of life unreproveable sober gentle loving temperate men of wisedome knowledge and sound judgement that may sit in the Church to see the Congregation holily and quietly ordered discerne between cause and cause plea and plea and accordingly prevent and redresse evils 14. A better course cannot be taken for providing for the poore then that the Ordinance of the Gospel be observed which is that Deacons be chosen in every Congregation ſ Act. 6. 1 Tim 8.9 Ro● 12.8 1 Cor. ● 28. Ph● 1.1 being men of honest report grave temperate not given to excesse nor to filthy lucre let these gather and collect by the ordinance of the Church the goods and benevolence of the faithfull and faithfully distribute the same according to the necessity of the Saints For Church-wardens Side-men and Collectours their offices are unlawfull and hurtfull unlawfull because they are counterfeits of Gods true Officers namely Elders and Deacons also

pu 329. 330. with holinesse and when any dangerous errours are broached for to ●uppresse them But at these meetings of Ministers of sundry Churches they medled ●ot with Excommunication l Ignat. ad Philad ad mag Tral Tertu Apol c. 20. Atha Ep in pers ad orthod Ep. ad Soli vit deg Ep. con Nicae c. 9 Eccl. hist Bas Epi. 58 ad Elitiū Theo. l. 1. c. 19 election and ordination of Church officers for all such ●hings they left as peculiar administrations to every particular Church onely if there were Heresies broached ‡ Cent. 2. c. 9 p. 159 160. 161 or some weightie point to be determined every one ●ave his judgement and advice and afterwards signified what was done to the Chur●hes who had still their liberty to receive or reject what was before concluded And thus for the space of 200 or 300 years as Brightman m on Rev. cha 12. p. 505. 506. edit 3. Iacob n neces Resor p. 57 c. and o●hers have well observed the Primitive purity of Church government was not destroyed ●either had Satan as yet brought in Prelaticall and Synod●ll pride into the Sheepfold of the Lord but every Congregation was free and subject to no other Ecclesiasti●all jurisdiction then unto that which was within it selfe Indeed about Constantines time and after as Cyprian o Epist de lapsis l. 4 c. 4. Eusaebius p l. 8. ● 1. and Am●rose q Com. in 1 Tim. 5. testifie and which is also affirmed by Casaubon r ad Card. Peron obs 4. p. 30. 31. Whitaker ſ de Rom. pont cont 4. p. 5. Mornaeus t H●● ●op p. 37. 38. Brightman u Apoc. c 2 p 67. and others Men began to devise a new order and manner of gover●ing Churches as they thought fittest to agree with the times and took away by little and little the independant power and government of particular Churches And had now their Councils and Synods to make what Canons and Laws they listed imposing the same nolens volens upon all Congregations not permitting the people to have a●y hand in the election of Ministers excommunication and the like x See Beza in res ad tract de minst Evan. de grad c. 22. f. 154. 155. Synod Laod. can 13. And how●oever the government left by the Apostles to the Churches was rejected under pretence to preserve the unitie and peace of the Church y Duaraen dist 8. and for the avoiding of schismes a Field of the Church l. 3. p. 157. 158. de visib non l. 5. c 4. factions and for the unrulinesse of the people b Scvlting hierarch anar l 11 p 134. and to prevent other evils yet whosoever will juditiously read the impartiall Writers of that age hee shall finde that the corrupting at first of Church government was principally through the pride c Greg l 4 Epi 38. and ambition of the Ministers for beginning now to have some outward state and meanes in the world thought it a disparagement that the Bretheren should be equall with them in the affaires of the Church d Chrysost in Mat hom ●4 Hieron in Epi ad Gal cvp 4. Much lesse could they any longer indure to be under their admonitions and censures how disorderly soe● they walked Adde to this another cause viz. the negligence Hieron n Esa l. 6 c. 30. and idlenesse of the people also the number of unfit members which were daily received such as f Chrys in opere imperfect hom 44. knew 〈◊〉 what their liberty in the Gospell was besides about this time the civill Magistrat● joynes with the Innovatours and corrupters of Church government and under divers threatnings and severe penalties commandeth every one to yeeld and conform themselves to the sinfull devices of their NEW MASTERS Having thus briefly declared what was the discipline planted by the Apostoli● institution g See Cen. 5. ca. 9. de Synodis in all Christian Congregations at first we have now onely a word more to speake to the Parliament being in hand at this present time with the reforming of 〈◊〉 Church of England Wise Polititians in their institutions of Government do hold for an infallible m●ime that for to reforme abuses and corruptions in States a better course cannot be ●ken then to reduce things to their primitive originall For as one truely saith h Field of the Church l 2. p. 49. 〈◊〉 first in any kinde or sort of things is truest and best Now our humble request is that leaving the MOTIONS of mens braine you w● looke backe to the Churches of the Apostolique institution and from them take yo● patterne and platforme to walke by for so God teacheth i Mat. 28 20. Act. 1 3. 2 Tim. 1.13 Heb. 3.5 you to do And it is i●deed the golden reed k Rev 11. 1. Eze. 41 which Christ now putteth into your hands saying unto y● Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein The authority of the Primitive Churches saith Gerson l De vit spirit is above all Churches 〈◊〉 therefore it is not in the power of Pope Councill or Church to change the doctrines and ●ditions delivered by the Apostles Brightman m Cha. 2. pag. 65. edit 3. on the Revelation hath a singular passage to the same effect T● first Government of the Church saith hee is common to all times and places and it is 〈◊〉 permitted to be at the arbitriment of men to follow what way they list but that alwaies i●forming a Church we must have recourse to the first beginnings to the which as our onely 〈◊〉 we must call back whatsoever strayeth from it and that they are not to be turned and 〈◊〉 according to the crookednesse and jarring sound of succeeding Churches Parker n Pol. eccl l 1 ca. 23. p. 59. l. 3 pag 95 30. in effect useth the very same expression So Cartwright o Repl. to Whitg l 1 p 25 26. and ●nolds p Confer with Hart pag 195. 459. yea and some Bishops too as Iewell q Defenc Apol par 6 chap 16 divis 2 p 762 and Bilson r Perpet Govern p 3. And Hooker ſ Eccles pol l 4 p 1 Cont Mart lib 4 cap 5. gi● reason for it thus the first state of things was best and therefore it must needs follow customes laws and ordinances devised since are not so good for the Church of Christ b● best way is to cut off later inventions and to reduce things to the ancient state wherein at 〈◊〉 they were And this agrees with Tertullians saying of old with which we will end 〈◊〉 Petition That is truest which is first that is first which is from the beginning that is fro● beginning which is from the Apostles FINIS