others that in our owne we are presently to Reforme but if another continue corrupt practises we may admonish them Protest against them but not lay violent hands on them but detect them to the Magistrate who by his Protestation will be bound to punish and Reforme them thus Gods worke will be done in Gods way with more beauty safety and certainty and suteable to the mature Iudgments of the wise Compilers of this usefull Vow After he hath done thus with the Protestation he proceedes to other objections to overthrow all subordination in the particular Churches of a Nation not only to one another which was never dreamt of but to any generall government by Officers gathered out of all and so set over all and so he laies a ground for independant Separate Churches which he desires may be erected in this Nation but this taske of his is undertaken and performed with better order and strength by another Author in the Presbyteriall Government Examined And yet that hath received a solid Answere by the Assertor of the Scotch Government and that not only in the generall by the grounds there layd downe but by a particular view and answere to the Arguments of the examiner and therefore thither I shal remit the Reader that wil-take paines for satisfaction in those points The full discussing of these things is also besides my purpose who do only undertake the Answere of it in reference to what is sayd touching the misinterpretation of the Covenants as impeaching the Doctrine that in the preceding Sermons I desired to publish yet because I perceive many are much unsettled and that even of those to whom I have some relation with the things that are scattered in this discourse I will indeavor briefly to run over the things here that are materiall especially such as have not a full answere in the aboue-mentioned Treatise In this Authors Answers to his owne Quaery what shall be substituted instead of Prelacy Liturgy and Ceremonies many things deserve examination First whereas he saith considering the Church of England to be none other then a National Church its uncapable of constitution This word Nationall Church I finde often used and much put upon it and yet neither is it a Scripture phrase nor do any give us a certaine exposition of it if by it they understand a Church that hath some common Nationall Worship by some common Pastor at some common place as all the Jewes had the same High Priest and Temple and all the Males were to meete thrice a yeare at the place which God should choose In which respect I conceive the Church of the Iewes was properly termed a Nationall Church in this sense Christians have no Nationall Churches But he seemes to make a National Church to be when an whole Nation is taken into a Visible Church or Churches having all of them the outward profession of Religion which he saith is impossible now because particular Visible Churches consist of none but Visible living members and visible Saints under Christ the King of Saints But here I would faine know the reason why it is necessary that the members in a particular Church should be of better mettall then the members of a Nationall Church doth not God require by his precepts as much of a Nationall Church and say as much of them as of a particular Church See Exodus 19.4 5 6 7 8. how often is that Priest on the Nationall Church of the Iewes Be yee holy or Saints for I am holy The very same charge that is prest on Christians 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. where no more is required of the members of Christian particular Churches then of the members of the Iewish Nationall Church and are not the members of the Iewish Nationall Church called holy or Saints aswell as be commanded to be so How often is this reason given by the Lord for you are an holy people See Deut. 7.6 14◠21 26 19. And many otherglorious things are spoken of the church of the Iewes Ie. 2 5. Ps 135 4. And was not Christ their King Psa 44 4. If he were slayne from before the Foundation of the world and the Redeemer of the Church under the Law was he not their King too What difference then doth Scriptures make betweene the members of a Nationall and particular Church and who dares distinguish where the Scripture doth not If they Answere that the Nationall Church of the Iewes were holy in Profession or are called holy in regard of some that were so indeed the denomination being from the better part will not nay must not that answere serve us were all the members of the Apostolicall Churches Visible Saints otherwise then by profession what those that were carnal in Corinth Cap. 3. and defrauders and scandalous contenders too C. 6. Those that were drunk whē they came to the Sacrament too Those that denyed the Resurrection too 1 Cor. 15 12. and those that had not repented of their uncleannesse fornication and Lasciviousnesse too 2 Cor. 12 21. And those that traduced the Apostle too Cap. 11. Then what shall deny the visibility of a Saint or a living member So I might aske touching some in the Ancient holy Church of Rome Romans 16 17 18. And the like of some in the Church of Philippi Cap. 3.18.19 So likewise in the Church of Sardis Revel 3 1 4. and Laodicea Revel 3 16 c. Can these be sayd to consist of Saints or holy people any more then the Iewes must they not have the Title of Saints in regard of their Profession or the denomination from the better part Can Sardis in any other respect have the name of a Colden Candlestick And then I would know againe for what reason it should be more dishonorable to Christ to be the head of a Congregation that are not all Visible Saints further then by profession and outward conformity then to be the head of a Nation where all are not Visible Saints or why Christians should be in more danger for being one by Profession in a Congregationall body then Christ and Prophets for being one with such as were not Visible Saints in a Nationall body these I confesse are Riddles to mee Nay I conceive that though all that doe professe holynesse and life should in-duty be so yet Christ in the parable of the Tares and wheate showes it will not be so and a generall seperation is not to be attempted till the end of the world for the Tares signifie the workers of Iniquitie that grow are to be gathered out of the Kingdome of him who is stiled the King of Saints and out of what Kingdome but the Kingdome parabolized The Kingdome of Heaven Math. 13 24 41. and these Tares were not secret Hypocrits for the Servants did discerne them and tell the Master of them and not the Master the Servants nor doth it any way crosse us that the field is interpreted the world as though the wicked and Godly should be
Vindiciae Voti OR A VINDICATION OF THE TRUE SENSE OF THE NATIONALL COVENANT in a briefe and moderate Answere to the Protestation Protested Discovering the unsoundnesse of that interpretation of the COVENANT and the weaknesse of the grounds there suggested for Separate and Independant Churches BY IOHN GEREE Master of ARTS and Preacher of GODS word in TEWKESBURY Published by the Authority of the House of COMMONS LONDON Printed by R. Oulton for Iohn Bartlet and are to be sold at the signe of the gilt Cup neare 〈…〉 Christian READER AFter I had sent up this exercise about the Protestation to the Presse there came into my hands a Pamphlet named The Protestation Protested or a Remonstrance shewing what is principally required of all those that have or doe take the Protestation Which Treatise so far as it doth concerne this title seemed to me so irrationall that I thought all understanding Christians would rather have smiled at the weaknesse then have been any way moved with the Sophistry of it But finding by experience that not onely many of the more intelligent Christians but even some of reputation in an higher ranke were much taken with it and the effect of it that some were scrupled some attempted a tumultuous removing of things established by Law under colour of this Protestation I thought it necessary that many make of so solemne a vow under which guilt by his exposition he concludes the most of the best Ministers and people of this Kingdome who have entred this Protestation wherein thus far we willingly agree with him A vow to GOD is a straight and sacred Band that should not be entred into rashly but with serious deliberation Eccles 5 2. else in stead of an help it may become a snare and be so far from acceptation that it prove an abomination as in Iephtaes case Iudges 11.30 31 34 35 36 39. After a vow is taken there ought to be as much tendernesse to observe it as caution before we undertake it else we shall but double our guilt and increase GODS displeasure against us What we vow is in it selfe good and so caries with it an engagement to performance Our Vow is second ingagement super-added to the first if after it we be negligent we breake more bonds and so must needs be more guilty It s not to be doubted but many enter this Protestation rather for company then conscience and so will make too little account of keeping it and need admonition to observe as well as to enter this Covenant But that this neglect should be so generall as to include the generality of the Godly as this Expositor doth make it that I dare not assent unto the Psalmist hath taught me more tendernesse Ps 73 15. If I will speake thus behold I should offend against the generation of thy Children To condemne the godly was such a thing to this blessed Psalmist that he would renownce sense and reason and set upon a serious review rather then dash upon it In whose steps had this Author troden hee would not have been so rash to have put the foole upon them He might with lesse adoe then the Psalmist have freed himselfe from needlesse Horrour and the godly from unjust censure But now to the point He gives us the ground of his Censure Pag. 2. THe Protestation is to maintain the Doctrine of the Church of England so far as it is opposite to Popery which they do not performe so long as they retaine and maintain the imposition of the Liturgy 2 the Discipline 3 the Government 4 the Ceremonies Ans In his very first Argumentation there is a most palpable fallacy which is so obvious that its wonder to me that any man that would undertake to write a Booke in a matter of this consequence should either not himselfe see or should imagine that so many cleere eyes that it must needs touch would not most easily discerne and discover it for the Argument must be framed thus He that hath solemnly vowed to maintain the Doctrine of the Church of England so far as it is opposite to Popery must renownce all Popery and particularly the imposition of the Liturgy c. or else he breakes his vow and is a foole c. But the Ministers and people have protested to maintain the Doctrine of the Church of England so far as it is opposite to Popery Therefore they must renownce all Popery and particularly the imposition of the Liturgy c. or else they breake their vowes and are fooles in whom GOD hath no pleasure Now what a manifest fallacy is here a dicto secundum quid ad dictum simpliciter from that which is spoken in some respect to that which is spoken absolutely for the Protestation is not against Popery absolutly but as this Author expresseth it so far forth as it is against the Doctrine of the Church of England what Popery then the Doctrine of the Church of England doth not condemne this Protestation doth not include being onely to defend the Doctrine of the Church of England against Popery and Popish Innovations But then some will demand is not the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery I answere ad hominem If the things here objected be Popery then the Doctrine of the Church is not against all Popery for these things so far as they may be termed Doctrinall are yet according to the Doctrine of the Church of England unlesse you will say that the Doctrine of the Church of England is contrary to the practise of the Church of England whence then thus I Argue Either the Doctrine of the Church of England is not against all Popery or else the imposition of the Liturgy Ceremonies Discipline Government are not Popery for the Doctrine of the Church of England is not against them If the Doctrine of the Church of England is not against all Popery he that vowes to maintaine that Doctrine against all Popery vowes not against Popery absolutly but only as it is against that Doctrine and then this Authors inference from this vow against Popery with this restraint that we must therefore oppose all Popery absolutly is a manifest inconsequence on the other side if the Liturgy c. be not Popery as they must not be if the Doctrine of the Church of ENGLAND be compleate against it then they are not abjured So however it be the Covenanter is free from breach and folly And this I conceive is so cleare that it needs no further confirmation yet a little more to evince the absurdity of it by other particulars in the Protestation we protest to maintaine every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of it If a man should thence inferre that we must defend him whatsoever he shall doe in the pursuance of it if hee shall move sedition or the like were not this a violation of the sense of this Covenant and is not the same when we stretch the
deny that the House of Commons did not at all intend to exclude what ever should pertaine to Popery as a branch thereof This Author is very good at bold assertions but all as bad in confirmations for what a good Christian may do in weaknesse I will not determine but no wise Christian as far as I can conceive can judge that what ever shall be found to be Popery is included in this Protestation but what ever is found to be Popery against the Doctrine of the Church of England which is the terme limiting Popery in the Protestation Fourthly he Argues from the hopes that we have by this Parliament of such a Reformation as will not deserve the name of Reformation if all Popery be not made to be packing I joyne with him in all comfortable hopes from this Honourable House but what is this to his matter in hand All the Reformation to be expected from this Parliament is not expected by this Protestation this is one degree to reforme whatever Popery or Innovation is against Law established this done the Parliament is proceeding further to perfect hoped for Reformation by removing corruptions established by Law Fiftly Suppose saith he that it could be imagined by any reasonable man that the House of Commons had no thought implicitely to include the foresaid things in the fardell of Popery shall private and particular Christians knowing these to be Popery and Antichristian being bound by their solemne Vow and Protestation never reforme themselves c. I Answere no man can if as he is rationall he deale rationally But suppose that these things were not included in the Protestation according to the intention of the House of Commons which may appeare by unanswerable grounds 1. Because the expresse words be against that Popery which is against the Doctrine of the Church of ENGLAND which these things mentioned established by Law in our Church cannot be Secondly Since the generall taking and first making of this Protestation the Government and Discipline of the Church hath been in strong dispute whether it should continue or no which had it been Protested against there had been no place for dispute which yet doth neither take off the friends of that side from asserting nor is used by the opposites to Prelacy to overbeare their Antagonists which had been the easiest and speediest way of victory if this Authors fancy had had truth in it Thirdly Under favour though as I shall make it appeare I am no friend to the foresaid things yet it was not rationall that the Parliament should include these things in their PROTESTATION for these things being establisht by Law and fixt in many of the members hearts aswell as Laws to desire men presently to abjure them before a full debating of them seemes a point of such rashnesse yea Tyranny as will not consist with the transcendent wisdom and Iustice of that Honourable Court Fourthly Nay further I conceive under favour that it would not have stood with the duty of that House to their Soveraigne of which I know they are most tender nor that respect that they owe to the Lawes of the Land to protest against things established by Law till the Law it selfe be abrogated for none may Protest in such a case further then they are free Subjects can challeng no more freedom then the Laws allow them where and while Laws do tye them they are in subjection and therefore could not in point of duty Protest against such things in such a manner to which the Lawes binds them The power of the House of Commons where this Protestation was framed is no doubt great far beyond my apprehension yet in this case I conceive their power over Laws is with the consent of the Lords and his Majesty to abolish them but not Protest against them while they are in force By all which Arguments its manifest that the Parliament neither did really nor could rationally intend in the Protestation to Protest against these things established by Law and if we suppose truly they intended it not this Author doth suppose still falsely that we are by our Protestation bound to reject and oppose them for its an old sound rule Oathes and Protestations are to be expounded according to the meaning of the framer and giver not of the taker else by a dishonest aequivocation any thing almost may be cluded therfor what the Protestation meant not we in the taking are not tied to And if this disputer should thinke this should bind us in the things mentioned though the Parliament intended no such thing but the contrary He may as well affirme that we are bound to maintaine his impendant Churches for whereas we Protest to maintaine the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject and every person that maketh this Protestation he may infer but independancy is in his judgment a right and liberty of all Christians entring into this Covenant therefore we are tyed to maintaine it This inference hath lesse dissonancy from the letter of the Covenant then that of his about the particulars questioned yet though I beleeve hee hath as good a will to this as the former he dare not be so bold as to draw such a conclusion because though the letter may beare it yet the judgment of the compilers makes it manifest it was far from their meaning which reason likewise might have kept him from including the particulars in hand But now lastly he comes in with other quaeries What then shall men never reforme themselves but live and die Communicants c. Ans How doth this follow may not men Reforme themselves in these things unlesse they do it by vertue of this Protestation did not all that held these unlawfull before this Protestation was formed in their owne practise withdraw from these things so far as they held them unlawfull and against the word of GOD and so may and ought to do still though they be not included in the Protestation But to proceed this Author next brings in his Schollers questioning how it may appeare that the forementioned particulars are branches of Popery And he faines them speaking that if their Consciences were convinced thereof by the word of GOD then by their Protestation as well as by GODS word they were bound to renownce them Ans But by his leave he makes them speake what many will not and none ought to speake If these things be Popish then by the word of GOD we ought to renownce them indeed but by this Protestation we ought not unlesse they be Popery opposite to the Doctrine of the Church of England I my selfe must needs account these things or the most of them of the same alloy with many things by the Doctrine and Lawes of our Church already condemn'd and abolisht else I should not have been nor continued as in part I doe a sufferer for witnessing against them And I doe as earnestly desire Reformation of them as of any thing that little grace that I have doth