Persons become Members of the Church of Christ are two different Questions and even this which is his own he answers not distinctly for by his first way They become Members only of the Catholick Church visible By his second They become Members also of the Holy Catholick Church the mystical Body of Christ so that without distinguishing what is here and there meant by Church we are not like to be much edified by this Answerer That a visible Profession of Christianity Entitles men to the Priviledges of the Church in the second acceptation of the word may be true which yet with his good leave their Debaucheries and Immoralitys may again deprive them of notwithstanding the Church at Corinths delay in casting out the incestuous person But 't is not every vice or error in a Member of a particular Church that Unchurches them St. Paul therefore might very well own the Church at Corinth for a Church notwithstanding the Debaucheries and Immoralities that were in some of its Members But the tolerating them was certainly a Crime which the Parable of the Tares and Wheat will never justifie for though they were to grow together till Harvest it was not in the Church but in the world for so our Saviour declares the field to be Nor will the parable of the Net and good and bad Fishes contained therein give any more countenance to this fond Assertion that Debaucheries and Immoralities are or may be tolerated in a Christian Church or that Debaucht and Immoral persons are not to be debarr'd the Priviledges thereof If that be as it seems to be this Answerers meaning the Apostle commanding that the Incestuous person be delivered unto Satan i. e. cast out of the Church the Kingdom of God into the world the Kingdom of the Devil Query III. Whether the Parochial Churches within these Nations and the worship therein us'd be according to Christs Institution or the Rule and Order of the Gospel Reply to the Answer to this Query THis Query relating to the former hath respect unto the means whereby Christians become a Church of Christ and aim'd at their Information or satisfaction who doubted whether Co-habitation or mens living together within such or such a Precinct having a Priest or Curate so and so set over them be the formal cause of an Instituted Church of the Gospel And whether such Societies meeting to worship God by certain set or prescribed Forms of Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments be according to Christs Institution or the Rule and Order of the Gospel which this Answerer not thinking good to speak to requiring only the contrary to be showne leaves his Reader therein as much unsatisfied and to seek as before while he troubles himself with enumerating such particulars as are not here questioned nor were ever intrâ—ded by the Query which respected more the manner then matter of worship and formal cause only of an Instituted Church of the Gospel Query IV. Whether it be not the duty of every Christian to withdraw from every Brother that walks disorderly and not after the Traditions received from the Apostles Reply to the Answer to this Query WE have an affirmative answer here which could not well be denyed us since it is but what the Apostle commands But then he tells us from an excellent Expositor what disorderly walking is by which it seems we are only to withdraw from such as withdraw their Obedience from the Church and like disbanded Souldiers run away from their Colours where by the way disbanded Souldiers are improperly said to run away forsake the Service of their Superiours and Commands of their Bishops c. and with such he tells us we are not to have any familiar or friendly conversation But this withdrawing says he concerns only private Persons and yet private Persons are not totally to withdraw themselves from such disorderly walkers till so and so nay even then we are not interdicted all Society with such a Person So that we are little edified by this Answerer or his excellent Expositor as to our duty of withdrawing which they do not convince us ought to be only from the civil conversation of such as withdraw their obedience from the Church or as forsake the service of their Superiours and commands of their Bishops and not also from the Religious Fellowship and Communion of such Bishops and Brethren as in the Worship and Service of God walk not according to the Rule and Order of the Gospel Query V. Whether it be not the duty of every Christian to chuse the Communion of the purest Church And whether in the choice thereof is he bound to follow his own Judgement after the best information he is able to attain unto or other mens Judgements against his own Reply to the Answer to this Query LIttle of what hath been here said is to the matter in Question though in a peevish and froward manner he tells us If there be a purer Church they may betake themselves to it Whereby he seems to acknowledge That it is every mans duty to chuse the Communion of the purest Church Nor does he say that in the choice thereof a man is bound to follow anothers Judgement against his own and if he be not why are any molested for but doing their duty and though possibly they may be mistaken in their choice yet while they are so by misfortune and not their fault God will pardon it and men ought not to punish it at least while therein they hurt none but themselves Yea but says this Answerer They introduce confusion in all the Parishes of this Kingdom in setting up one Altar against another and removing ancient Land-marks expressly against a Divine Prohibition which is not saith he to embrace the Communion of the purest Church but to cast a mans self out of the Catholick Church But does this Learned and Judicious Answerer really believe That they who Separate from a Parochial or National Church do thereby cast themselves out of the Catholick Church Does he believe the French Protestants cast themselves out of the Catholick Church when they Separated from their Parochial Churches or from the National Church of France Or that the Parliament went expressly against a Divine Prohibition in removing an Ancieut Land-mark when they gave new Bounds to St. Martins Parish by taking Covent-Garden out of it And what do they who in this Nation worship God in Assemblies Separate from the Parochial Congregations more then all the Reformed Churches in all Popish Conntries in Europe both do and have done ever since they had a Being and yet I hope they set not Altar against Altar or if they do let him shew the evil of it His objection against Dissenters being let alone or snffer'd to go on in their way in that it will as he says administer occasion to the Enemies of our Religion to come and take away both our Place our Church and Nation is but the old objection the Chief Priests
to be burnt alive at Geneva Query VIII Whether it is not Incongruous and Heterogeniall to punish Corporally man erring Spiritually Reply to the Answer to this Query THe Question is not here Whether any Judge or Justice can take cognizance of mens Thoughts or Consciences nor when wickedness in the heart is manifested by external action whether liable to the Magistrates Power and Inspection none I think ever questioning either of them But whether men erring Spiritually ought Corporally to be punisht Paul 's reckoning Heresies among the works of the flesh and telling the Gorinthians they were Carnal from the Schisms and disorders that were amongst them does not prove it But says this Answerer Certainly any sensual sin may be punisht by the Civil Sword What thinks he then of Hatred Wrath Covetousness Emulations Envyings and the like which are sensual Sins or works of the flesh yet not therefore to be punisht by the Civil Sword But why are they as he tells us Who gather Churches c. more then Spiritually Erronious How comes that which was the great Errand and Duty of the Apostles and their immediate Successors now to become so great a Crime Is it that Men or Children rather are now born Christians or being born in a Christian Commonwealth as it is usually though improperly exprest or in such or such a Parish they do thereby become a Church of Christ No one certainly who understands what either a Christian or a Church of Christ is can think so And wherein do they as he says dispise Government and Trample upon all Laws Did he not but now tell us The Church was a Society and that there can be no Society without Government How then comes the gathering of Churches to be a despising of Government and trampling upon all Laws undoubtedly there is a Law and a Divine Law to for the gathering of Churches if the Gospel be the Law of God as I hope neither this Answerer nor any who own themselves Christians doubt it to be There is little reason sure to say as he does The inticers to Idolatry mention'd in Deutromony might as well have pleaded it was only an error of their minds as any of our Dissenting Ministers for that none certainly can imagine that it could be a sin of Ignorance in them to draw any from the true God to worship Idols it being against the very light of Nature in that as the Apostle tell us That which may be known of God was manifest in them It may therefore for any thing this Answerer hath here said Be both Incongruous and Heterogenial to punish Corporally men erring Spiritually Query IX Whether secular force and compulsion in things of Divine and Supernatural Revelation be not the Arms of Antichrist and not of the true Church Reply to the Answer to this Query THis Answerer might have done well to hae inform'd us How secular force and compulsion in Religion towards some is as he says Anti-Christian and not towards other the difference not being evident at least to all capacities We are not here enquiring after what is so much a violation of the Law of Nations as of the Law of Nature and though our Answerer expresses his dislike of the Spaniards dealings with the Indians graciously acknowledging that propriety is not forfeited by unbelief Yet but now speaking of Dissenters here he said If they disapprove of the Decisions of their Superiours the world is wide enough they may leave the Government and betake themselves to the Communion of purer Churches which is but in other words to say Be of the Religion of your Country or abanden your Properties with the Land of your Nativity But should providence permit the Establishment of a Religion in this Nation he approves not of if he be not resolv'd to approve of whatever shall be the National Religion would he not think himself hardly dealt with to be requir'd to Conform or to abandon his Native Country He may do well therefore to meditate a little on that no less Divine then Moral precept Of doing to others as he would they should do to him The Cannon he mentions is indeeed very pertinent to our purpose So likewise is what he Cites from Tertullian and Lactantius But then without the least colour or shadow of Reason and perhaps only because Grotius says It is not just or lawful to make War upon any because they will not embrace the Christian Religion He would have this to be understood only of Princes raising Wars against Pagan Nations to compel and force them to the Profession of Christianity and imbracing of the Gospel But 't is very well and judiciously observ'd of him That these things nothing concern a Kingdom in which there is a visible and universal profession of the same Religion in that there is indeed no need of compelling or forcing any to profess what all already do profess But yet even in such a Kingdom Magistrates he says may use compulsive methods to secure their People from a totall and manifest Apostacy from the true Faith c. which we would freely allow him if compulsive methods could secure a People from Apostacy and that through ignorance or mistake of the Truth Magistrates did not too often instead thereof compell to error But none sure will say but that Magistrates may and ought to repress such Seducers as threaten the extirpation of their own Government yea and of the true Faith too were it once determined which amongst the many that would be so accounted were the true What he says of the Religious Princes of the Jewish Church hath been already spoken to Query X. Whether any one can be compelled by secular force or compulsion to perform any one Religious duty acceptably since God accepts not of any but what is volâ—ntary and of Faith which cannot be forc't And of what use then is secular Force and compulsion in Religion but to make men sin or suffer Reply to the Answer to this Query THis Query which this Answerer says with others is forged in the Shops of the Socinians and Anabaptists is with the rest grounded on the Rule of Gods word with which he seems to be little acquainted or with the due performance of Religious Duties in saying That it might with as much strength of Reason be urg'd against the Magistrates using compulsive methods towards his Subjects for the performance of the Duties of the 2d Table aâ— those of the first There being some difference beâ—ween forcing men to moral actions and Divine duties since in things moral the action however circumstantiated is in it self positively good or evil But in things of Divine Institution the manner only of the performance makes the action good or evil and therefore it is said He that Sacrificeth an Ox is as if he kild a Man and he that killeth a Lamb as if he cut off a Dogs neck where the manner of performing the Command is not observ'd as well as the
charge not this on the Church of England nor have we said That they who serve God according to her Liturgy were false-worshippers These are but the uncharitable Inferences and Surmises of a strangely ignorant or immeasurably malitious Person who wanting strength of Reason or Argument to oppose the Truths he likes not thus loads them with Reproach and Calumny And to what purpose does he tell us it being nothing still to this Query That there is no Congregated Independent Congregation in England but the respective Pastor of it assumes to himself more Power and Authority to Govern and Conduct the sworn Members of it in the ways and duties of Religion then the greatest Prelate in our Church does in his Province or Diocess unless to manifest how difficult it is for him to write one true Period there being amongst them no such sworn Members as he mentions and whether of them exercise most Power and Authority to Conduct and Govern their respective Members in the ways and duties of Religion let those concern'd determine But this he says He will not prove from their Practices the thing being apparent from the very Principles of Independency which aim at little else but Tvranny and Pre eminence as appears by the Independant Pastors excluding whom they please from the means of Salvation and making that a condition of their Communion which is impossible I hope he does not mean here that in making the conditions of their Communion impossible they exclude whom they please from the means of Salvation as if there were no Salvation out of their Communion and yet I know not what else he means by it and if that be his meaning they do not yet exclude any from the means of Salvation in making that a condition of their Communion which is impossible for if the condition were impossible the Communion which depended on it would be so too but the contrary is very well known and so in good time will the credit of this Reporter likewise be But as a farther instance of their Tyranny and Praeâ—eminence he tells us They pry into the very secrets of mens Souls Lives and Actions by severe Scrutinies and Examinations If they do it is not by the Oath c. we have heard much talk of But they will not he says admit of any to be Members of their gather'd Churches till they have satisfied the curiosity of their guides That is they will perhaps have no Communion with unbelievers nor Fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkness a great Crime and worthy this Answerer's rebuke But is it more then probable as he politickly observes That this and not meanness of Trade impoverishes City and Country or supposing they who having been made partakers of their Spiritual things should according to duty administer unto them in carnal things How should this occasion the Nations poverty What do they receive which they give not again Or which of them hath such plenty as to enable them to hoard up any thing No no we are told by a wiser and more pious Politician That a fruitfull Land is turned into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein And the Holy Prophet tells us The Land mourns and the Herbs of every field wither not for Peoples meeting together to pray for a blessing upon themselves their Governours and the Land of their Nativity but for the wickedness still of them that dwell therein thus we see how persons differ in Judgement according to the diversity of their spirits and passions But to return to the Query charged in the Rear with blind Leaders and Followers he wishes the Gentleman would not make such sly and unworthy reflections upon the conformable Laity and Clergy of this Kingdom And the Gentleman wishes likewise this Answerer would also forbear applying to particulars what is indefinitely spoken and was not by him intended to one party more than another But 't is a shrew'd sign of some very sore place in the Ass that kicks and winches upon every approach before he is touch't Query XX. Whether it be not most unreasonable in the concerns of Eternity to tie men by Temporal penalties to fallible guides whom to follow may be their Eternal to forsake their Temporal Ruine Reply to the Answer to this Query HE hath nothing it seems to say against it and therefore very advisedly sends his Reader he knows not whither for satisfaction in he knows not what Query XXI Whether the main inlet of all the Distractions Persecutions and Divisions in the Christian World hath not been by adding and requiring other conditions of Church-Fellowship and Communion than Christ or his Apostles did Reply to the Answer to this Query THe enquiry here is only into the original of the Distractions Persecutions and Divisions which have been in the Christian world i. e. among Christians or such as have made profession of Christianity not of the Persecutions raised against them by Heathens and Infidels The Ten Persecutions therefore against the Primitive Christians and the Inroads of the Goths and Vandals into Italy come not within this enquiry But says this Answerer If it be understood in this sense there are very great mistakes in it for that severe proceedings of Christian Emperours against Hereticks and of Hereticks against the Orthodox Christians were not for Innovations brought into the Church as conditions of Christian Communion but for the Truths of Christ c. That 's the Query and wherein â—y the great mistakes in asking it But he may be pardon'd this for so ingeniously professing himself Ignorant of any Distractions Persecutions and Divisions that were ever raised in the Christian World upon the account of adding and requiring new or unheard of conditions of Church Fellowship unless it were the difference between the Western and Eastern Churches about the Observation of Easter So that it seems he is ignorant of the Persecutions and Divisions that were amongst Christians in the Reigns of Constantine Constantius and some following Emperours upon the imposition of differing if not contradictory Creeds For it was not the Doctrine of the Trinity Three Persons and one God as exprest in Scripture that caus'd the breach of Communion and Church-Fellowship between the Arians and the Orthodox Christians but the Orthodox forcing the Arians to subscribe to their newly invented Homoousian as did afterwards the Arians where they prevailed requiring the Orthodox to subscribe to their Homoiousian whereas as a Learned Prelate hath well observ'd had both parties acquiesced in the very Scripture expressions without their own additions they might have lived peacably and quietly together and the Arian Heresie probably have soon expired Error divested of Secular Force and Support not being long able to withstand the â—ower of Truth He is it seems likewise Ignorant of the great Divisions which after arose in the Church about the Procession of the Holy Ghost whereas as the said Learned person likewise observes had they acquiesced also in what the
tells us His design was to ease men of their former burdens and not to lay on more That the duties he required were no other but such as were necessary and withall Just and Reasonable That he that came to take away the insupportable Yoke of Jewish Ceremonies certainly did never intend to gall the necks of his Disciples with another instead of it and if so did not certainly give Power or Authority unto any to Institute in their room such others as they should think good it would be strange says he the Church should require more then Christ himself did and make other conditions of her Communion then our Saviour did of Discipleship Then asks What ground there can be why Christians should not stand upon the same terms now which they did in the times of Christ and his Apostles Whether Religion were not sufficiently guarded and fenced in them Whether there was ever more true and cordial reverence in the worship of God What Charter Christ hath given his Church to bind men up to more then himself hath done And then tells us The grand Commission the Apostles were sent out with was only to Teach what Christ had commanded them not the least intimation of any Power given them to impose or require any thing beyond what himself had spoken to them or they were directed to by the immediate guidance of the spirit of God What Power or Commission therefore any have since received to Institute such Ceremonies in the Worship and Service of God as they shall think good this Answerer or his Adherents may do well to inform us But instead thereof he tells us Nothing is more evident in the New-Testament than that Christ did intrust those whom he appointed in his absence to be the Ministers of his Church with the Government of it He did so and yet he did not Empower or Authorise them to Institute in the Worship and Service of God such Ceremonies as they should think good But says our Politick Answerer This Government could not subsist without the Enacting of Laws for its own and the Churches preservation for that Christ intended c. How does that appear we find nothing in his Gospel of any such intention nor have we reason to believe he intended any should Enact other Laws for the Government of his Church than what himself Enacted since 't were to deny the Scriptures sufficiency unto that end and its being a perfect Rule of our Faith and Obedience in all Gospel Duties and Administrations and in plain term's to tell us that Christ was not faithfull to him that appointed him as was Moses in all his House in that he left not as did Moses a compleat Volume of Laws for its Rule and Government We wish therefore this Answerer would acquaint us with the Instrument by which the Apostles made over their Authority of Enacting Laws for the Government of the Church to their Successors in that it would tend greatly to their conviction who have hitherto been in an error and very much deceived if the Lord Christ be not the sole Lord over and Law-giver to his Church and that the Apostles neither did nor could Delegate a Legislative Power to their Successors being themselves Ministers only of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Power of the Keys committed unto them not being a Power of giving Laws to the Church but a Power of Teaching and Ruling the Church according to the Laws which Christ himself had given and those as he says not to that present Age of Christians but to all Succeeding Ages in which his Church was to continue in the World they being evey way sufficient to continue and preserve upon Earth a visible Church untill his Second coming But so far this Answerer is in the right That there could have been no such Society if there had been no Law for its Vnity But he should withall have consider'd that there neither could nor can be any Law for its Unity but from an Universal Law-giver the obligation of no Law extending farther then the Iuâ—â—â—â—â—tion or Authority of the Legislator So that it is altogether impossible for any but the Lord Christ to Enact Laws for the visible Unity of Christian Communion in the external Administration of Gods sacred Worship since the Jurisdiction or Authority of none other can reach or oblige all Christians That our Blessed Saviour was greatly concern'd for the Unity of his Church none sure ever doubted But the words quoted by this Answerer from St. Johns Gospel relate not so much to the external visible Unity of the Church as to the internal mystical Union that is between Christ and his Members Yet he tells us That which he would principally have the Reader observe in them is The care that our Blessed Lord and Master took for that great Essential of Christianity the Vnity of the Church No doubt he did both for the internal and external Unity thereof and that not only in his frequent calling on his Disciples to Unity and to love one another making it a Caracteristical note of their relation unto him By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another But also in commanding them to teach the observation of all things whatsoever he commanded them which would all who would be accounted his Disciples likewise observe and do without setting up their Posts as the Prophet speaks by his Posts Unity would not be wanting among Christians nor yet throughout the Christian world a due uniformity in the external Administration of Gods Sacred worship which variety of Rites and Ceremonies in particular Churches destroys And it may be truly enough said by him That it is impossible for the Gospel to be propagated and upheld by Faith and Charity only as they are lodg'd in mens Hearts unless the Fruits of these Graces were exerted in some things that were visible and obvious to sense and therefore outward worship is required that the inward may be exercised and expressed for to talk of inward worship without any outward expressions thereof is but a Cloak for Atheism But for this Answerer to tell us That the Churches Vnity was the main thing that Christ took care of before his Crucifixion That it is the great Essential of Christianity the very being of Christian Religion depending on it And that the main principle of all Christian Amity and affection is the visible Vnity of Christian Communion in the external Administration of Gods Sacred Worship which ought to be Vniform and undevided and then conclude That variety of Rites in one National Church would cause Division of Judgement and of affection Is such an explanation of the Unity of the Church and visible Unity of Christian Communion in the External Administration of Gods Sacred Worship as I think the world was never before blest with For was it the Unity of a National Church only that Christ took such care of and which is the great essential of Christianity or is
be circumcised Christ shall profit them nothing So far were the Apostles from commanding the Observation of the abrogated Ceremonies of the Jewish Law which is indeed a contradiction interminis for if they had Apostoâ—ical warrant and command they were not abrogated but we must bear with small slips if we will not Create to our selves endless trouble But 't is at length acknowledg'd That Gods will is to be the Rule of his worship and our Answerer hopes to salve all in saying That it were the most sacrilegious Invasion of Gods Prerogative to make humane Inventions the essentials of his worship But for Rites and Ceremonies the Governours of the Church may it seems Institute such and so many as they shall think good And if so let him tell us why the Church of Rome hath not the same Authority as other Churches to Institute such Ceremonies as she also shall think good and how comes he to censure hers as vain and foolish ridiculous and superstitious while she exercises but the Authority he allows her Instituting no other Ceremonies then she judges conducive to so high and generous an end as the propogation of the Christian Faith and which render Religion amiable by its external Ornaments and Beauty But what may this Answerer mean by the essentialls of worship A dear friend of his tells us The essence of Religious worship consists in nothing else but a gratefull sense and temper of mind towards the Divine goodness and as for all that concerns external worship 't is no part of Religion it self and if this be his Judgement also he may tell us 'T is the most sacrilegious Invasion of Gods Prerogative to make humane Inventions the Essentials of his worship and yet retain a liberty of introducing all the vain and foolish ridiculous superstitious Ceremonies now in use in the Roman Church when ever he shall change his thoughts of them and judge them to render Religion amiable and beautifull But certainly nothing is more evident in Scripture than that the due observance of the outward Institutions in Religion come under the notion of the worship of God So did the Sacrifices of old and so do the present Sacraments of the Church which were and are parts of outward worship and I suppose of Religion too and whatever is made so necessary to be observ'd in the worship of God that without it the worship is not to be perform'd is thereby made an essential of worship for that which is so the matter of a thing that without it the thing cannot be is of the essence of that thing But he tells us All that is pleaded is but that the Church of England may be allowed the same priviledge which all Sects and Parties assume to themselves viz. To determine the circumstances of Religion which is so reasonable that it cannot either in Reason or Justice be denyed Then he tells us There is no Sect but the Authority of their Teachers prevails in those Instances and Rites where there is no word of God to warrant the things that are practis'd by them Instancing in the worship perform'd as he says by Independents asking what Scripture they have to prove their Covenant which the Members of their Churches swear to before they are admitted by their Pastors and Elders Though he finds no mention of any such Covenant sworn to in the declaration of the Faith and Order owned and Practis'd in their Churches wherein as well their Order as common Faith is declar'd Neither of which do they or did they ever that I have heard of impose upon any and yet are able I presume to give an Answer unto every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them To them therefore I shall refer him for farther satisfaction in the particulars he mentions if he desires it And for the present shall only tell him There is some difference between a confession of Faith and imposing Articles of Faith Yea or Rites and Ceremonies And will he now say In verbo Sacerdotis or upon his Reputation That the Church of England in appointing of her Rites and Ceremonies does no more then appoint circumstances concerning the worship of God common to humane Actions which are to be order'd by the light of nature and Christian Prudence according to the general Rules of the word Or why does he thus impose upon his credulous and unwary Reader But he tells us If the Governours of the Church of England did command such and such things then Dissenters had some reason to separate from its Communion which is but a copy of his countenance he elsewhere telling us That the Governours of the Church have Power to Institute such Ceremonies as they shall think good and that it is the peoples duty to obey Yea he advises them to resign up themselves to the Fathers of the Church rather than attend to 〈◊〉 the Dictates of their own dark minds which takes away not only the liberty of separating but even of examining the commands of their Spiritual guides And having thus reduced them to an implicit Faith he may be bold to tell them There were as many or more Ceremonies made use of in the very Age of the Apostles and then Instituted by them than are now in the Church of England and instance in half a score not one of which were ever Instituted by the Apostles Yet after all his boldness he speaks but faintly in saying If he be mistaken in his conjecture about this matter yet 't is no way injurious to the present Power of the Church of England in appointing symbolical or significative Ceremonies in Gods worship for that the Primitive Christians under the Heathen Emperours were much like the Israelites in their Egyptian Bondage rather concern'd to maintain the life and being of Religion then to be curious about the Apparel and Ornament thereof And would to God there were no pretended Christians in these days more concern'd about the Apparel and Ornament as they term them of Religion then to maintain the life and being thereof And how unhandsomly does he reflect here on the Primitive Christians in saying When Kings and Emperours became Christian then they began to glorifie God with their bodies and to honour him with their substance and Estates c. As if till then they had been unmindful of the Apostles precept of glorifying God in their bodies and in their spirits or what thinks he of those who before that sold their Possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need Did not they as much honour God with their substances and Estates as those who adorn Temples But such gross and carnal thoughts have some of the most High Who dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands as to think him still delighted and pleased with mens Erecting Dedicating and Adorning of Temples in which they generally place more of their Religion than in the performance of the most spiritual and
his blessed Will to us in his holy word What us does he mean For we cannot but think it all mens duty with the Psalmist still to pray That God would open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of his Law There being an Illumination of the Spirit of God necessary for the right understanding of those things that are revealed in the word of God which is it seems a revelation this Answerer is yet unacquainted with for though the Gospel be written the saving Truths thereof are hid to those whom the God of this world hath blinded This Query therefore grounded on tâ—e Apostles advice to the Philippians intends only the Revelation there mentioned which we hope is no Enthusiasm By saying In doubts relating to Religion men would do better to resign up themselves to the Fathers of the Church and seek satisfaction from the Prists lips then attend to the Dictates of their own dark minds He plainly enough tells what he would be at and that 't is blind obedience he would bring us to But before we thus resign up our selves both Soul and Body unto any let him tell us who amongst the many pretenders are those Fathers of the Church to whom he would have us thus to resign up ourselves our Blessed Saviour himself having commanded us to Beware of false Prophets and the Holy Apostle not to believe every Spirit but to try the Spirits whether they are of God By which 't is evident there belongs by Divine Right unto all Christians notwithstanding their dark minds a private discretive and self-directive Judgement by vertue whereof they not only ought to prove all things recommended to them by their Teachers but even to judge of their Teachers themselves between the true and the false between the Messengers of Christ and the Messengers of Antichrist so far is it from the mind of God that any should pin their Faith upon their Teachers sleeves Captivate their Judgements unto theirs and believe and do whatever they shall think meet It were indeed happy if men could receive satisfaction from the Priests lips as those which should keep knowledge But it may be said to too many of them in our days as the Prophet said to them of old Ye are departed out of the way ye have caused many to stumble at the Law ye have corrupted the Covenant nant of Levi saith the Lord of Hosts therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the People according as ye have not kept my ways but have been partial in the Law Query XVIII Whether in these duties whereon Eternity depends it be not the highest absurdity to force any against their own light to be guided by others who are not infallible Reply to the Answer to this Query 'T Is no very pleasing imployment to have to do with those who either do not or will not understand the Questions they take upon them to answer But 't is that we must be content with in this Contest What this Answerer finds in this Query inferring a necessity of Infallibility in all Guides and Governours whether Sacred or Civil we are yet to seek there being as we conceive some difference between being guided in duties of Religion by those that are fallible which we never thought unreasonable and being forced to follow them therein against a mans own light and knowledge which is the thing here question'd It being an implicit Faith and blind obedience only and even the worst of these a mans acting against his own light and Conscience and only in the concerns of Eternity that this Query opposeth And where hath this been as he tells us before answer'd Or to what purpose doth he here tell us It is no higher absurdity in these days of the Gospel for men in matters of Religion to be guided by a Learned and Pious Minister and much more by all the Governours of a National Church then it was under the Mosaick Oeconomy to seek the Law at the Priests mouth who was the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts since we never denyed either but say that blind obedience was never to be yielded unto any much less that any ought to be forc't in any Religious duties against their own light The Priests lips indeed should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth but as hath been before said they departed out of the way they caused many to stumble at the Law and corrupted the Covenant of Levi So that a Judgement of discretion was then as well as now to be exercised by the people and they were not always to hearken unto the words of the Prophets that Prophesied unto them their directions and instructions therefore with this Answerers good leave might sometimes be rejected And since our Blessed Saviour hath himself commanded us to Beware of false Prophets and the Apostle not to believe every Spirit but to try the Spirits whether they are of God it is undoubtedly the duty of all Christians to examine the Authority and Mission of their Teachers and to Query who are the true and who the false who the Messengers of Christ who of Antichrist that so they may receive the one and reject the other with all their Doctrines and Instructions if upon trial they square not with the Rule by which they are commanded to prove them Yet does not this render as he says the Ministry of the Christian Church much less all Offices and Dignities of the Commonwealth void and useless It only cautions Christians not to esteem of them above what is meet in yielding that blind obedience the Gospel Prohibits and which is unbecoming the nature and being of a Rational Creature to give when therefore God commands the people to obey those that have the Rule over them and to submit to them as they that watch for their Souls It is to be understood so far forth only as they Teach according to the Rule of his word their Authority as we have before told you from the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet Being only directive and declarative and in matters of duty can bind no farther then Reason and Evidence brought from Scripture by them doth But he goes on with his Infallibility and says the Argument holds as much against any Judge or Magistrate in the civil concerns of Humane life as against the Ministry of the Church But he may be therein mistaken for 't is all mens Interest to acquiesce in the Determinations of civil Judicatories in the concerns of Humane life how Erronious or unjust soever they may apprehend them to be for the preservation of a greater good publick peace and quiet but that will never make it reasonable in the concerns of Eternity which admit of no compensation for a man to put out his own eyes to be guided by others who perhaps see no better it may be not so well as himself For we do not say it is absurd for a man to be
leave and forsake them 't is no very good sign or token of their Ministerial Gifts and Abilities But it is a presumptuous and too bold comparison he here makes between the Success of Christs Ministry while he exercised it in his own Person upon Earth and that of the Clergy of England For though taking on him the form of a Servant he was made in the likeness of men yet couâ—d he have Converted Millions of sinners as well as have commanded Legions of Angels if it had so pleased him The Cases of Elijah and of Athanasius he instances in are not at all to the present purpose for we do not say that Peoples leaving or forsaking their Pastors is an Argument of their having lost all spiritual Power and Authority But Pastors leaving or forsaking the Spiritual means by Christ appointed for the Rule and Government of his Church and applying to and using of other means than he appointed and commanded them to the subversion and ruine of his Discipline is an Argument of it And here I cannot but take notice of the great Pique our Answerer hath against liberty in Religion in that he would have the Prophets apprehension That the whole Israel of God had forsaken his Covenant to proceed from the general indulgence granted by Ahab to all kinds of Religion as well as Impieties when though there may be reasâ—n enough to believe he indulg'd all kind of Impieties in that it is said He did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger then all the Kings of Israel that were before him there is not the least evidence of his indulging all Kinds of Religions in that though there were 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Ball the Prophet knew not of one true worshipper besides himself which is no great Argument of their being indulged among the all kind of Religions he talks of But to conclude whoever as he says shall seriously consider the depraved Nature of Man how much more prone it is to embrace Vice than Vertue Error than Truth and the Novel rather than the good old way of Religion will not be much startled or wonder that the greatest part of mankind should forsake the Truth and true Religion which have Persecution and outward sufferings usually accompanying them to embrace those Religions which not only indulge them in their Lusts but have the greatest worldly Interests and advantages attending them Query XXV Whether are not they Strangers to the Power and efficacy of the Divine Spirit or distrustfull of Gods Providence to be always with his Church who think Christianity which both began and spread it self over the world for several hundreds of years under Heathen and Persecuting Emperours cannot stand or continue supported by the same Divine Presence and Protection to the Worlds end without the Aid and Assistance of the Civil Magistrate Reply to the Answer to this Query WE do not say nor did we ever think the first Reformers of Religion in this or any other Nation were Strangers to the Power and Efficacy of the Divine Spirit or distrustful of Gods Promise to be always with his Church Because the whole Reformation was not without the Aid and Assistance of civil Magistrates But bless God rather for their Cooperating in so good a work And yet we shall not scruple to say They had been strangers to the Power and Efficacy of the Divine Spirit and its operations on the Souls of men had they believed the Reformation could not have been effected without them And to ask what Archbishop Cranmer Hooper Ridly c. could have done to restore Religion to its Purity and Truth had they not been seconded and Assisted by the civil Magistrate would have better become a Turkish Mufti then a Gospel Minister Does he think the Power and Efficacy of Gods Spirit in the mouths of his Preachers not sufficient to convert the most obstinate and to bring into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ How then did not only Peter and Paul with the rest of the Apostles but the Primitive Christians for several Ages after them propagate Christianity and the Truths of the Gospel not only without the assistance but even against the greatest opposition of civil Magistrates And what can be more to the disparagement of the then Englishâ— Clergy and derogatory to the Spirit of God then to say as he does they might as well have attempted to have pull'd the Sun out of its Orb as ever to have Reformed Religion by the Aid and Assistance of the Holy Spirit without the Aid and Assistance of the civil Magistrate Does he think things were then amongst them as he would have them thought to be amongst us That the Presence of God and Assistance of his Holy Spirit were to be look't upon as miraculous concurrences with the Clergy in the management and Exercise of their Ministerial Office I trust they are not and that he judges both of the one and of the other but by himself But so far I agree with him That as Kingdoms and States so Religion and the Church are to be secured and npheld by the very same means and methods by which they were established And so the Church of England as founded in Prelacy by the Kings and Nobles of England as hath been shown must be secured and upheld by the same means and methods or it will not long so continue but as Christian wherein it was founded by the mouths of Preachers with the Aid and Assistance of the Holy Spirit it will I trust be so secured and upheld to the worlds end Yet that God will withal vouchsafe her so great a blessing That Kings and Queens may ever be her Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers to protect and defend her from the rage and violence of wicked and unreasonable men since all men have not Faith is my hearty desire But our Clergy man sensible it seems how things are now amongst them is distrustful of Gods continuing his Church with us and therefore would have the Gentleman consider in what Scripture he hath promis'd that either Christianity in general or Protestantism in particular should for ever continue the Establisht Religion of this Kingdom We know indeed of no particular promise concerning the Establisht Religion of this Kingdom but this we know That where two or three are gathered together in Christs name he hath promised to be in the midst of them and that he told his Disciples while they taught the observation of all things which he commanded them he would be with them to the worlds end So that if Christianity continue not with us it is by oâ—r own default in forsaking Christ and disobeying his commands He is pleased to acknowledge here what could not well be denied That Christianity spread it self over the world under Heathen and Persecuting Emperours only by the Power of the Divine Presence and Protection without the Aid of the civil Magistrate But looks upon it as miraculous
and not to be depended on and would not because some have been fed from Heaven without the help of ordinary and common sustenance that others therefore should refuse their daily bread No certainly no wise or sober man will ever do that but rather thankfully accept of the Magistrates favour and assistance if he will have that to be the Churches daily bread though I should have thought the Divine presence and Influences of the Holy Spirit might rather have been so esteemed and to substitute in the place thereof the Magistrates Coercive and Compulsive Power savours more of Mahumetism than of Christianity So little reverence hath he for our Blessed Saviour as to tell us with a seeming contempt of him That true Religion flourisht before ever he came in the flesh though he acknowledges it was by the Divine Protection without the Aid of the civil Magistrate But so soon as the Israelites were settl'd in the Land of Promise The true Religion he says no longer thriv'd and prosper'd among them then it was encouraged and protected against all false and Forraign Religions by the civil Magistrate God having then as he would have us to believe withdrawn his Divine and Spiritual Assistances from it committing the sole care and concerns thereof to the civil Magistrate What then became of Religion when those Magistrates neglected their duty both towards it and towards God was there then no true Religion in Israel or does he think it did not then thrive or prosper in the hearts of any which is the proper Seat of Religion The Apostle tells us Godliness is great gain but gain with some is the only godliness and they think Religion never thrives or prospers but in the outward Prosperity of its Professors though the contrary be evident and so David tells us Before I was afflicted saith he I went astray but now have I kept thy word and again It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes Yet will it not be denyed but that the example and countenance of Superiours hath a great influence on the behaviour and conversation of Inferiours according to the old saying Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis yet Religion does not stand and fall with them for even in Ahabâ— Reign there were 7000 who bowed not the knee to Baal who yet were neither Schismaticks nor to be censur'd as disobedient to Superiours because they were not of the then establisht national Religion But to conclude our Answerer tells us in plain terms Although Christianity were planted by miracles i.e. By the Power of the Divine Presence and its Protection only without the aid of the civil Magistrate yet its preservation can be effected by no other means than Laws forgetting what he but now told us That as Kingdoms and States so Religion and the Church are to be secured and upheld by the very same means and methods by which they were aâ—quired But Mahumâ—â—atism prevailing hath it seems alter'd his mind and now he judges the Sword of the Spirit unable to preserve Christianity without the aid of the Civil Sword and that Christs promised Presence with his Church to the worlds end together with the Gifts he gave unto men for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of his body are not of themselves sufficient for the preservation of Christianity Yea he sticks not to tell us That these have slept for these fifteen hundred years judging it seems others as things are now amongst us such as himself and consequently that Christ continu'd not his Gifts unto men for the ends before-mention'd nor yet his Presence for the preservation of his Church above one hundred and fifty years so leaving her for an hundred and odd years without either Civil or Spiritual means for her Preservation it being 300 years after Christ before she had the Aid or Protection of the Civil Magistrate such an excellent Advocate for Christ and his Church hath this Learned and Judicious Answerer approv'd himself Query XXVI Whether to Persecute upon the account of Religion be not an Indication of a Cainish Ishmalitish and Wolfish Nature and a certain sign that such are none of Christs Sheep Reply to the Answer to this Query THis Answerer is sure the first that ever quarrel'd at the severities of any expressions against such as persecuted on the accouut of Religion there being certainly no viler miscreants on the Earth than they who molest or trouble any for rendring only unto God the Homage due from the Creature to the Creator And though he knows of none of the Socinian writers that press as he says this Argument with that bitterness as is expressed in the Query Yet he may soon find some among the Orthodox who have prest it in the same words and from whom indeed the Query was but borrowed The Reverend Learned and Pious Dr. Henry More of Cambridge having declared Liberty of Religion to be the common and Natural right of alâ— Nations and Persons tells us how Grotious gives several instances thereof in his De jure belli Pacis where he cites one of the Canons of the Council of Toledo Praecipit Sancta Synodus c. The Holy Synod Decrees that none hereafter shall by Force he compelled to the Faith for God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will be hardneth Also Tertullian lex nova non se vindicat ultore gladio The Gospel supports not it self by the punishing Sword He Cites also the constitutions of Clemens Athanasius and Chrysostom to the same purpose who expressly exclude Force and Compulsion in bringing over to Christianity And certainly they who are brought over to it ought not therefore to be treated with less of Reason and Moderation That also saith our Reverend and Learned Doctor is remarkable which Bishop Jewel notes out of Chrysostom in the 19th Homily on St. Matthew Nunquid ovis lupum persequitur aliquando c. Does the Sheep ever persecute the Wolf no but the Wolf the Sheep so Cain persecuted Abel not Abel Cain so Ishmael persecuted Isaac not Isaac Ishmael so the Jews persecuted Christ not Christ the Jews Hereticks persecute Christians not Christians Hereticks by their fruits therefore ye shall know them whereby he plainly implies that Persecution for Conscience sake is A very Vnchristian or Antichrstian Symptom And smartly again in the same Homily Quem vides in sangnine persecutionis gaudeâ—â—tem lupus est He that is a Persecutor is no Sheep of Christs but a Wolf And lastly for it were an infinite business saith he to prosecute this common place that is a shrewd intimation of the Apostle be that was after the flesh persecuted him that was after the Spirit so great an Antipathy is there between the carnal and truly Regenerate Christian which should make any man afraid to feel any persecuting motions arise in his breast as being Indications of a Cainish Ishmaelitish
this Answerer That the not punishing of these is prejudicial both to Church and State the one being thereby over-run with Factions and Seditions and the other as wofull experience tells us with Schisms Heresies and Contentions But our Answerer grows pleasant and plays with his Reader in telling him Dissenters are persecuted to what the Primitive Christians were persecuted from viz. Their Churches or Publick place of Divine worship for Dissenters are not certainly persecuted to their Churches though some may account it a persecution to be compelled unto his There hath been and may be great difference in the Causes as well as Degrees of Persecution but whoever suffers in any kind for his faithful adhering unto the plain and undoubted Commands of his Heavenly Soveraign the Authorâ— thereof will not be excus'd because others have been more barbarous and cruel than they And yet that even these are not as bad as the worst may be ascribed rather to the good hand and providence of God and moderation of those in Authority restraining them than to their good wills or desires The instance he gives us of a Father's correcting his child and the childs crying out Mâ—ther is very impertinent here Parents may correct their children and Princes their Subjects but as the cause makes the Martyr so 't is that must denominate it either persecution or punishment 'T is Christ alone knows who are his yet thus much we shall presume to say That they who persecute him in his Members will not speed better at the great day of account than they whom himself hath told us shall be then rejected but for not visiting and relieving his poor Members when in want in sickness or in any other adversity Query XXVIII Whether since offences will come it be not every ones concern to be more than ordinary careful he involves not himself in that dreadful woe pronounced against those by whom they come Matt. 18. 7. Reply to the Answer to this Query QUoting the Text might have satisfied this Answerer That by offences here no more is understood then what our Blessed Saviour intended when he pronounc't that dreadful wo against those by whom they come and whether they be the persecutions which discourage Christians from owning of his name attending upon his Ordinances adhering unto his Truth or ought else that administers occasion to another to transgress any Law of God neglect his duty or obstruct him in a course of Piety and good works it certainly concerns every one to be more than ordinarily careful he involves not himself in that dreadfull wo pronounced against those by whom they come The Query indeed cautions all to beware splitting on so dangerous a Rock but chargeth none with running or driving others upon it Evil therefore be to him that evil thinks Mr. Baxter as quoted by him says very well That a Minister should not more fear offending his particular flock than offending the Catholick Church but this will neither justifie nor excuse his offending of either And notwithstanding this Answerer's hope he will not find a National Church of humane Institution to have that Authority over its Members even when it shall be determin'd who are so as a private Minister hath over the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him Overseer Whether Dissenters take no offence as he says but what they bring upon themselves by their own perverted Judgements c. Let them see too who are therein concern'd and must one day answer for it There is no doubt but it may and often does so happen That one man is the occasion of another mans sin and yet the guilt of him who sins not to be changed upon him whose action occasion'd it which yet hinders not but that many may likewise occasion others to sin for which they must be accountable And yet none sure doubts but that as he says in the enacting of Laws Authority is not so much to consider what will please the humours as advance the benefit of those under its Charge and Protection Nor can we have so hard thoughts of any in Authority as to imagine they should make Laws thwart or contradict those that are Divine Nor yet who takes or gives offences for as every one must give an account of himself to God so let every one look to himself and his own duty And as he tells us the day is coming when all mens Disguises and Vizards shall be pull'd off and their most retired thoughts and actions laid open and manifest to men and Angels 〈◊〉 't were well if all men had a serious and due sense thereof and so liv'd and behav'd themselves in the whole course of their lives as to convince the world they spoke as they thought and believ'd as they profest But who are they this Libellous Answerer accuses of charging the Church of England with offences and denying the Magistrates Power and Supremacy in matters of Religion as by Law declared These Queries being no ways guilty thereof for as they respected so they were directed only to such as himself who against the Doctrine of the Church of England and Principles of the Reformation require an Implicit Faith and worse than blind obedience from the People And `t is beyond his Power and malice to find any thing in them inconsistent with their receiving the Holy Eucharist according to Law who scruple not the lawfulness thereof And who are they this Libeller would have to Question not only the Kings Coercive Authority but the whole Ministry and being of the Church of England and accuse her Government of more Tiranny and Persecution then ever yet was objected against her by the most violent of her Romish Adversaries Not those sure who are against secular Force and Compulsion in Religion which is the utmost import of these Queries for then the charge will reach all those Reverend and Learned Divines of the Church of England before mention'd with most others of Name and Fame in the Christian World who have decry'd the same as Unscriptural and Inconsistent with the Precepts of the Gospel and Principles of Christianity and will indeed argue him to be the Person of that evil and depraved temper of spirit he speaks of Yet I agree with him That men Eminent in their Country and such as have a reputation for Knowledge and Wisdom might do more good by their examples than in this Age the Church can do with its censures or Church-men with their instructions But let him be assured none shall ever have a Reputation for Wisdom and Knowledge who give not unto God the things that are Gods as unto Caesar things that are Caesars Fear to whom Fear aud Honour to whom Honour is due And let him not deceive himself in thinking Men of Wisdom and Knowledge separate from the Church because they separate from some Churchmen of vicious and depraved spirits or to have Enmity against that because they will have no Fellowship or Communion with these it not being
says To tolerate unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers who vent their idle fancies to corrupt and withdraw others from the simplicity of the Truth be an Indication of more cruelty than to Tollerate so many Thieves and Murtherers upon publick Roades and Highways This Answerer is by no means to be tollerated having manifested himself so unruly and vain a Talker and Deceiver as he hath done Query XXVII Whether can any think That they who Persecute Christ in his Members despoiling them of their goods and Imprisoning their Persons and that too for their faithful adhering to the plain and undoubted commands of their Heavenly Soveraign will speed better at the great day of account than those whom Christ himself hath told us shall be then rejected but for not visiting and relieving his poor Members when in want in sickness or any other Adversity Reply to the Answer to this Query INstead of Answering this Query 'T is very judiciously objected It hath many things questionable in it And with as great Judgement and to as little purpose he likewise tell us That none are true Members of Christ besides those that are Vnited to his Church for that Christ is the Head and his Church his Body and as he also judiciously observes no one can be a Member belonging to the Head unless he be some way or other Vnited to the Body But sure our Answerer is the first pretended Christian that ever questioned the soundness of Christs Body the Holy Catholick Church or that a Christians joyning to it might endanger his internal Vnion to Christ who is Hâ—â—d And wherefore doth he here tell us what the Query neither denies nor questions That the Church of England is a sound part of the Catholick Church unless to manifest his Dialectick Art in proving That whoever in any thing withdraw themselves from any part of Christs Body cut themselves off from Christ the Head and therefore they who withdraw Communion from the Church of England though but in the least minute Circumstances or Ceremonies belong not unto Christ. So that it seems with this Learned and Judicious Answerer out of the Ceremonial Pale of the Church of England there is no Salvation and if any are punisht for so cuting themselves off from Christ the Head their punishment is no persecution Quod erat demonstrandum Great wits according to the Proverb have short memories he could not else have so soon forgotten which he but now reprov'd the Independants for viz. Their evaâ—uating one main Article of the Christian Creed Faith in one Catholick Church For that as he said They restrained it to themselves whereas he so restrains it to the Church of England as that he allows of none withdrawing themselves from her Communion to belong unto Christ the one main Article therefore of his Christian Creed Faith in one Catholick Church is it seems Faith in the Church of England or rather Faith in whatever Church is uppermost And though out of her there is no Salvation yet for Arguments sake he will suppose That those who separate from her Communion even in her very Ceremonies are notwithstanding such their separation real Members of Christs mystical body yet none of them he says are persecuted for their faithful adhering unto Christ or the undoubted and plain commands of their Heavenly Soveraign nor does the Query say they are But supposing as he supposeth That any should be punisht for assembling together to Pray or partake of the Ordinances of the Gospel which Christ hath Instituted and requires the observation of would not such be persecuted for their faithful adhering unto Christ and to the plain and undoubted commands of their Heavenly Soveraign But says our Answerer Let the Gentleman produce one Person that ever suffer'd for performing any essential duty of Christian Religion We know not what he may esteem an essential duty of Christian Religion who is one with him who declares the outward worship of God to be no part of Religion But if he will allow Praying Preaching and Administring the Sacraments to be essential duties of the Christian Religion as by all good Christians they have hitherto been esteemed He need not go beyond his own Parish to meet with those who have suffer'd and deeply suffer'd even by his Instigation for the performance of those duties But he tells us 'T is not for the performance of those duties but for the disorderly and Irregular way of performing them that they are punisht Very good By what Rule then does he judge the way of their performance Disorderly and Irregular all order consisting in the due observation of some Rule Now if he will tell us of any Rule they therein transgress which he will abide by he hath said something to the purpose He tells us indeed They are punisht for not doing them in that due manner as is enjoyn'd them by their Superiours yet does not say The injunction of Superiours is the Rule whereby they are to be perform'd Nay he says If the Governours of the Church did command a worship that were Idolatrous or superstitious or did appoint vain foolish and ridiculous Ceremonies they were not therein to be complyed with So that the Injunctions or Commands of Superiours are not by his own confession this Rule But he tells us They are punisht for being disorderly in their Stations and Callings and for being disobedient to Government and Laws If by being disorderly in their Stations and Callings he means as he elsewhere says Their Vsurping the Office of Bishops as well as of the Inferiour Clergy He hath thereon already had the Judgement of as Learned and Judicious a Divine as most the Church of England can boast of And for their being disobedient though he hath advised us to resign up our selves unto the Fathers of the Church He hath not yet told us they are to be obeyed in whatever they shall or may command us So that neither can the commands of Governours nor Laws of Superiours be this Rule nor indeed ought else but the will of God revealed in his word To the Law and to the Testimony was the old Rule and the Divine Institution is still the only Rule to judge of the Orderly and Disorderly performance of all Religious duties â— by and if the manner of their performance be not according unto this Rule it is indeed Disorderly and Irregular and suffering upon that account may be esteemed a punishment rather then a persecution as may likewise their sufferings who are disobedient to the Laws and Governments of men in all civil and secular matters and concerns and theirs also who censure the Actions of Authority Vsurp the Office of the Ministry endanger the peace of the State and violate the Vnity of the Church Nor are there greater violaters of the Churches Unity than they who impose on Christs Disciples other conditions of Church-fellowship and Communion than Christ or his Apostles ever enjoyned or required And so far I agree with