Word of God the touchstone of all truth the best judge of all Controversies it appears there were no ecclesiastical Bishops or Elders in the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes but such as were either extraordinarily Called and sent by Christ as were the Apostles Prophets Evangelists Workers of Miracles and such as had the gifts of healing or speaking with or interpreting of divers Tongues a 1 Cor. 12. 28 29 c. Ephes 4. 11. or else such as were ordinarily called and sent by these or by the Presbytery of ordained Elders who impos'd their hands on them with Fasting and Prayer b Titus 1. 5 7. Acts 14. 23. 13. 2. c. 1 Tim. 3. 10. 4. 14. 5. 22. 2 Sith in each Congregation or Church we read of in Scripture there were more than one ordained Bishop or Elder in the Primitive Church placed there according to the bigness of the City or Church by the first Planters c Acts 14. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 20. 12. Phil 1. 1. Titus 1. 5 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Sith many were given by Christ to the Church Ephes 4 11. and placed there by the Holy Ghost Acts 20. 28. and 1 Cor. 12. 28. and by the Apostles Acts 14. 23. Titus 1. 5 7. yea Christ when he sent forth his Apostles paired them which also the Holy Ghost confirms in sending Paul and Barnabas after they had been separated or ordained by the Eâ—ders of Antioch for the work whereunto God had caâ—led them d Acts 13. 1 2. yea when these two holy men differed in judgement yet singly they went not alone to plant or water the Churches for Paul chose Silas and Barnabas Mark both which were teaching Elders e Acts 15. 39 40. 16. 13. 4 Sith we read of one Elder of a Church absent and so detained by St. Paul f Phil 2. 30. who had other Elders to feed them g Phil 1. 1. Câ—l 1. 7. and of Epaphras at Coloss Minister who was with the Apostle at Rome whilst the Church had Archyppus to teach them Colos 4. 12. 17. 5 Sith its inconvenient if not hurtful to have but one Bishop or Elder in a Congregation to feed and rule the people therein who being sick as was Epaphroditus of Philippi or otherwise lawfully imployed as was Epaphras of the Church of Coloss h Phil 2. 25. Col 4. 13. the Congregation in the mean time may starve or want food at least be neglected and exposed to danger as sheep without a Shepheard i Ezek 34. 8. and the publick Ordinances of Christ be omitted on the Sabbath day or at least not be so seasonably and perfectly performed as they ought to be as is evident by daily experience in many places and therefore its necessary at least convenient that there should be more than one ordained Elder in every Church otherwise how can he aright receive the Lords Supper when there is no Elder in Christs name authoritatively to bid him take and eat and to represent Christs person to command him to do it as Christ gave it to his Apostles and they distributed each to other and so to the Church as they had received of the Lord k Luke 22. 17 1 Cor 11. 23 24. Vt in prima coenae institutione discipuli oculos habuere intentos ad Dominum qui ad mensam sedens porrexit discipulis corporis sanguinis Sacramentum ita nos quoque levemus corda nostra ad Dominum qui illiâ— agens nobis ministrorum manibus porrigit verum suum copus c Haeming Comment in Loc August de Consensu Evang lib 3. Mat 5. â—7 for the Minister his action and words are herein Sacramental it belonging only to the Ministers of the Gospel to break the Bread and bless the Cup 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. though some unwarily of late have practised the contrary nor Secondly without there be two or more of those ordained Elders in a Church can christians perform the duty the Apostle requires of them in sickness viz. to send for the Elders of the Church to pray for them James 5. 14. nor can one Elder annoint the sick person with Oyl in the name of the Lord the Commission being given not singly to one Elder but jointly to two at the least Nor Thirdly can the people observe aright as I conceive those rules of giving them double honor 1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Thes 5. 12. and to know them that labor among them and are over them in the Lord admonish them to submit to and obey them that watch for their Souls and are their guides Heb. 13. 7 17. if there be only one Elder in their Congregation Nor Fourthly can the Doctrine the Minister preacheth be so fully coâ—firmed unless there be two or three of the Elders to ratifie it Christ himself had his Father with him to bear witness of the truth he spake John 8. 18. though his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had been sufficient for in the mouth of two or three Witnesses every word shall be established l Mat 18. 16 Nor Fifthly can the discipline of Christ in each Church be rightly administred unless there be two or three of thâ—se ordained Elders gathered together in Christs name to bind or loose as Christ requires m Mat 18. 17 20. which makes up a Representative Church as the company of Prophets are called n 1 Sam 19 20 for so Christ speaks to his Apostles and in them to the Elders that succeed them What ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and what two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing ye shall ask it shall be done for you of my Father which is in Heaven Matth. 18. 18 20. Nor lastly can the wicked be so fully convinced neither here in the Church nor yet hereafter in the day of Judgement unless there be two or three of these o Luke 10. 16 Acts 13. 46 2 Thes 1. 10 therefore St. Paul excommunicates not the incestious Person but as joyned with other Elders p which authority the Lord gave unto them for edification q 2 Cor. 10. 8 yea Christ himself distinguisheth the Elders l 1 Cor. 5. 4 and Angel of the Presbytery in Thyatira Rev. 2. 18 24. from the people and divers of the holy Martyrs in the Primitive Church confirm the same r Clem. Epist ad Cor pag 54 Polycarp Epist ad Phillip Ambros Com. in Eph cap 4 Iraeneus calls all the first overseers of the Church of Rome Presbyters s Iraen Epist ad Victor adv Haeres lib 4 chap 43 as Saint Luke long before had called all the Bishops of Ephesus Acts 20. 17 28. yea Evaristus Martyr who was the Angel or chief Presbyter of the Church of Rome ordained seven Presbyters to be in every City for Doctrine and Discipline t Gratian dist 93. cap legimuâ— Cyprian would do nought
without his Clergy and therefore in the fourth Councel of Carthage it was concluded as Orthodox that every Church should have his Presbyters or Elders without whose Counsel nought should be done in the Church u Concil Carth 4 Ignatius long before affirms the Presbyters to be as the Court of God and combination of the Apostles Ignat. Epist w Tert. Apols adu Gent. capâ— 39 ad Tral also Tertullian affirms that the approved Elders sat as Presidents in their Assemblies u so likewise Origen and Ambrose informs us that there was nothing done in the Churches without y Celsum Ambr Com in Tit. chap. 5. 1 See the Appendix to Ius Divinum ministerii propos 7 their Counsel although in Ambrose his time the custom began to be obsolete by the sloth or negligence or rather pride of some Presbyters x Origen Câ—nt who would alone seem to be somewhat which made way for Antichrist to come in for it s conceived by some learned men that the exaltation of one Bishop above another was and hath been a chief means of setling Antichrist in his Throne a Greg. M Ep. ad Patriarch Const Iohan Epist ad Maur. Imp. Fox Acts and Mon. part 1 page 108. Zanch Annot in 2 Thes 2 Musc com Loc Ius Divin Miâ— append page 118 119 and the want of these ordained Elders in each Church hath caused the Discipline of Christ to cease and the inventions of men to be setled in its stead in many places whereby Christs vine wanting a fence is exposed to the wild Bore of the Wood and crafty Foxes of the Field who pull off and devouâ— many of heâ— tender Grapes by means whereof Sects and Schisms are multiplyed Blasphemous and monstrous Opinions are hatched and defended without shame to the heart grief of Gods people to the dishonor of God and scandal of the Reformed Religion which we pâ—ofess for those of the Reformed Religion here amongst us are grown into four great Factions some are for Prelacy and Lordly Episcopacy others for strict and Aristocratical Presbytery others for pure and popular Independency others for refined and upstart Antipaedobatistry and Anabaptistry Therefore for Gods glory the Churches edification for reconciling our unhappy differences for the composing our distractions the re-uniting of these four Factions and preservation of love unity and peace among us I humbly offer these Proposals to your consideration First It seems convenient if not necessary that the three Nations though they stilâ— retaâ—n their Parochial bounds for civil ends as now should be divided into several Congregational Churches according to the ancient constitution of the Churches in the Primitive times and Apostles dayes as the supream Authority of the Nations shall think fit in every Market-Town and in some great Villages also where Believers are many and the Towns few and inconveniently placed as the Churches were at first planted by the Apostles and Apostolical men at Ierusalem Samaria Antioch Lystra Iconium Derbe Troas Rome Corinth Philippi Coloss Ephesus Smyrna c. as the Scriptures testifie and Saint Paul left Titus at Creet to ordain Elders in every City b Tit 1. 5 7 and so much Ecclesiastical History abundantly testifies c Clem. Epist ad Cor p 54 Ignat ad Tral Polycarp ad Phillip Epist Eusebius Eccl Secratet Theodoâ—et and oâ—hers thus in Judea of old there were Synagogues in the Towns and cities among the Jews the Villages belonging to these Towns belonged to the Elders of the Towns Now the places where Christians assemble are by the Apostle called Synagogues Iames 2. 2. and there were many Synagogues in Ierusalem no less than four hundred Schools and Synagogues d Ainsw Annot in Lev cap 26 31 and so much Saint Luke intimates e Acts â—5 21 and 24. 12 so at Ierusalem under the Gospel though the Christians there were but one Church f Acts 15. 4 yet questionless they had Synagogues or distinct places of meeting each from other which the twelve Apostles joyntly for a time did govern together with the Elders and Deacons ordained by them g Acts 15. 6 22. for all the Apostles spake togâ—ther and the Deacons served at the Table and Ministred for the Churches good and the Elders assembled in Counsel with the Apostles to consider of matters in Doctrine or manners after when the Church of Ierusalem multiplyed to some mâ—llions h Acts 21 20. each of the Apostles went to his place and Iames with the Elders guided that Church as all Ecclesiastical Writers affiâ—m 2. It seems fit that in each of these Churches whereunto the Congregation are to resort for Ecclesiastical Discipline there be joyned all the Elders of that City or Town together with the Elders of the Villages belonging or adjoyning unto the said City or Town to be the Bishops Elders or Guides of that Church to feed and rule the same i Acts 13. 1 20. 17 Phil 1. 1 Heb. 13. 7. 17 Titus 1. 5 and let no un-ordained Elder be joyned with them the Deacons being first approved l 1 Tim. 3. 10 and elected yea and ordained by Prayer and imposition of hands of the Presbytery before they were thought fit to execute in the office m Acts 6. 3 6 nor read we in the Scripture of any one un-ordained Elder that ruled in the Church those Ruling Elders mentioned 1 Tim. 5. 17. being such as did tread out the corn of the Word verse 17. and so worthy of Reward for if the inferior Officer the Deacon was to be ordained much more ought the Superior which is the Elder as its plain they were n Ordination giving both name and being unto a Church-Officer as a Commission doth to a Judge in civil affairs as the Reverend Ministers of London prove n Acts 14. 23 1 Tim. 4. 14 Titus 1. 5 Ius divin minist cap 11 3. It seemeth fit that there be in each Congregation or Church at least two or three of these ordained Elders to gather together in Christs name for the administration of Discipline as Christ and his Apostles teach o Mat. 18. 20 1 Cor. 5. 4 promising to them his special presence where two or three of them are gathered together in his name as there were three in the least Ecclesiastical Courts in Israel where Believers are many and the Parishes thick there may be twenty three as there were in each City amongst them wherein were one hundred and twenty men housholders p Ainswâ—rth Annot on Deut. 16 Goodwins Iewâ—sh Antiq. lib 5. cap 1. 14 yea in our greatest Cities there may be more as there was in Ierusalem the Sanhedrim which consiâ—ted of seventy two persons l and let these by common consent rule in each Congregation as they did in the Primitive times untill Cyprians dayes q Cypr Epist 39. yea till Saint Ambrose time who flourished about Anno 374. for then the Churches had their Elders as well as their
those Sacrifices nor for the obtaining pardon of his sins thereby but rather out of servâ—le fear of Gods Judgments or self-love for the preservation of his life and his Children k Ez. 6. 10 11 12 yet â—his being given with a direful Execration the same fell on â—hose that took away these Gifts as on Jason Antiochus Menelaus Apollonius and others who took the holy vessels with polâ—uted hands and with prophane hands pulled down the things â—hat were dedicated by other Kings to the augmentation and glory honor of the place l In Simon and Jason Antiochus Menelaus Apollonius and others vide Rawl hist lib 5 c 6. 2 Mac 5. 16. 9. 28 Heliodorus these Antiochus gave away and he â—ook out of the Temple no less than one thousand and eight hundred Talents for which shortly after the Lord smote him so that he died miserably l â— Mac 9. 5 6 7. 28. so 2 Mac. 3 ch ch 4. in Andronico Now as it was lawful for those under the law by Vows or Gifts to Consecrate and Devote persons Money Houses and Lands to Gods service and the maintenance of the Priests and Levites and no devoted thing was to be sold or redeemed but was most holy unto the Lord m Levi. 27 28 2â— Haemin in Rom. 9. 2. So also under the Gospel it was Prophesied That the godly should anathematize or devote with a Curse their substance and desireable things n Micah 4. 13 Isa 60. 5 6. 61. 6 Rev 21. 24 unto the Church for the Maintenance of the Ministers and poor Saints therein which also in fact was performed o Acts 2. 45. 4. 32 34 35 36. 5. 1 2 c. 11. 29. 30. Rom. 15. 26 by the Gentiles To Conclude The Apostle gives the Reasons of it proving these Gifts Offerings and Devoted things belonged to the Ministers by way of Debt and Duty p Cor. 6 11. Rom 15 27 for if the people have been made partakers of their spiritual things their duty also is to Minister unto them in carnal things therefore saith he by way oâ— command q Gal. 6. 6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let him that is taught in the Word communicate to him that teacheth him in every good thing or as in the Original in all good things which they enjoy Now how can this be done without communicating a part of all they possess unto them aâ— Christ commands his Disciples to do viz. Give alms of all thaâ— ye possesse or of such things as you have r Luke 11. 41 and then behold all thingâ— are clean unto you Almes they are in regard of the Poor thaâ— enjoy them and Debts and Honour in regard of the Ministers that deserve them and of God who requires them who accounts himself paid and honored when they are duly and truly given to his Embassadors Now what part was that under thâ— Law but the tenth And under the Gospel it must needs be aâ— large a part as it was under the Law according to Christs Ordinance Å¿ 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. Non est siâ—ut similitudinis sed aequalitatis For so hath the Lord ordained That they that Preacâ— the Gospel should live of the Gospel as they that waited at the Altar did live of the Altar which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as is of equality not similitude Therefore I cannot see how either Christians can obey this Ordinance of Christ or pay their Debt or shew their Duty unless they pay their Tythes or what is equal thereunto For ' tiâ— not a pecuniary Stipend short of the Tenth nor an Alms giveâ— half worth the Tenth that will pay the Debt or perform thâ— Duty much less obey Christs Ordinance which is made in Justicâ— and Truth to continue to the end of the world Those Priestâ— that served at the Altar lived partly by Oblations free-wiâ— Offerings and Sacrifices and by Devoted things and Tythâ— which were brought into Gods house to feed them and so the are said to live of it t 2 Chron. 3 1. 5 c. although they had Estates and Houseâ— and Câ—ties of their own as its plain u Levit 6. 26. 7. 31 34 Neh. 13. 12 Josh 21. 4 c. Numb 35. 2 by Gods command aâ— lotâ—ed them for a part of their livelihoods The equity of whicâ— Law saith holy Ainsworth who was no friend neither to Bâ—shops nor Tythes both for honoring the Lord with our substancâ— w Prov. 3. 9. Gal. 6 6. Aâ—sw Anno in Numb 35. 1. and for maintaining of his Ministers â—s perpetual Therefoâ— seaking of the Church under the Gospel according to these leâ—l figures x Ezek. 45. 1. 4 5 c. 48. 9 10 13. which Houses Gleabs Lands once given as a portion to God might not be sold changed nor altered nor alienated by the Priests themselves much less by any other See Mr. Prynns Gospel Plea p. 98. he saith When ye shall divide the Land by inheriâ—nce ye shall offer an Oblation unto the Lord an holy portion of the â— and c. which shall be for the Priests the Ministers of the Sanâ—uary who shall come neer to minister unto the Lord and it shall â—e a place for their houses c. For so hath the Lord ordained that â—hey which preach the Gospel should live of it viz. By those â—oluntary Alms and Offrings which the people should give them â—nd by the Tythes they should pay to them although they have â—leabs and Houses of their own to live in The Ministers are to â—ave as free bountiful and certain Means to maintain them for â—reaching of the Gospel as the Priests had that served at the Altar â—or their attendance thereon Christ afforded food and rayment â—ufficient to his Apostles when he sent them to preach and thereâ—ore would not have them to provide before hand for things neâ—essary y Mat. 10. 9 10. and gives a reason grounded in equity for it because z Luk. 10. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—he labourer is worthy of his meat or of his hire as St. Luke stiles â—t or reward as the word signifies Intimating that as 't is opâ—ression and cruelty in men not to allow their Servants meat that â—abour for them and wages for their work so 't is no less sin amongst Christians not to allow their spiritual labourers the same Nay the Apostle proves it an unnatural and an unreasonable sin â—or men guided only by the light of Nature and Reason allow their Horses and Oxen meat that do their work and the like belongs â—o the Ministers of Gods Word who tread out the corn according to Gods ancient Law Thou shalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the Corn. a Deut. 25. 4. Spiritually this figured the labour of the Ministers of the Word preparing the bread of life for the Soul as the Apostle sheweth b 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. So the
in his room had not only the internal Gifts of the Spirit conferred on him the Spirit of Eliah being redoubled on him but had even a Miracle wrought for him to procure honour and obedience to him from the rest both of the Prophets and People w 2 King 2. 14 15 c. And if this were necessary for the Priests and Prophets under the Law to procure obedience to their word how much more should it be under the Gospel to the Ministers thereof whose ministration is far more glorious than that under the Law x 2 Cor. 3. 11 That the Ministers and Prophets should have honour and glory put on them which can never be so long as they be poor mean and contemptible as before hath been said Therefore that the people may obey and submit unto them that are over them in the Lord and that the Ministers may wait for their souls and so be able to give an account of them with joy and not with grief which wiâ—l be unprofitable for the people either in their Prayers when they give account of them to God or at their Hour of Death or day of Judgment when they are to give an account of their Steward-ship if they have not been honoured both with Reverence and Maintenance or not obeyed and submitted to as his Stewards y Heb 13 7 All the Apostles though Christ freely gave them power and ability immediately from Heaven to Preach the Gospel and work Miracles z Acts 2. yet had they Hire for their labour sufficient to cloath and feed them and to provide all things needful for them so that they lâ—cked nothing by their own confessions a Luke 22 35 nor were they only to be provided for but also their Wives were to be provided for and maintained at the charge of those they taught this power God gave them And St. Paul challengeth it as belonging to other Ministers of the Gospel as well as to Peter and the rest of the Apostles b 1 Cor. 9. 5 and though he and Barnabas had not made use of that power yet he pleads it belonged to him and that he took wages of other Churches to do service to the Church of Corinth c 2 Cor. 11. 7 9 for he was supplied by the Brethren that came from Macedonia which made that Church of Philippi which thus liberally contributed to the Apostles to be more honorable than that of Corinth d Phil. 4. 14 Rationem accepti fecerunt quia spiritualia ex me receperunt rationem dati non fecerunt quia nihil contra mihi pro illis sunt clargit Gagn. in locum scol and this of Corinth to be inferior to other Churches for neglecting this Duty of providing for them e 2 Cor. 12. 13 for they wanted Fruit to abound to their account and did not offer that Incense which gave an odour of sweet smell that Sacrifice which was acceptable and well pleasing to God as the Church of Phillippi had done f Phil. 4. 18 which made the Apostle St. Paul to rejoyce and to be encouraged in his Ministry they being his dearly beloved and long'd for his joy and crown g Phil. 4. 1 and to encourage other Christians to imitate them he praised God for this work of his Spirit in them for it would redound not only ro their spiritual account and to their eternal happiness but also God seeing them faithfully distributing his talents he would encrease these temporal blessings also supplying all their wants according to his Promises h verse 19 Prov. 3. 9. 10 2 Kings 4. 8 Haggai 2. 19 Mal. 3. 10 1â— Mat. 10. 41 42 Mark 9. 41 2 Cor. 9. 6 Gal. 6. 6 7 8 both in the Old and New Testament On the other side If any person or persons though never so great or many shall detain or with-draw or fraudulently keep back any thing Devoted or Consecrated to his Ministers maintenance they will bring a Curse on themselves and all others that partake with them in this sin as its plain in Achans case i Josh 7. 25 it brought a consuming fire on him his Sons and Daughters his Oxen and Asses his Sheâ—p and Tent and all that he had which were burned with fire after they had been stoned This with other sins annezed to it brought sudden death on Ananias and Sapphira k Acts 5. 5 10 it brought severe judgments on the whole Nation of Israel in the Prophet Malachy's dayes l Mal. 3. 19 10 especially on the sacrilegious persons m Hag. 1. 9. 10 compared with Nehem. 13. 10. Sir Henry Spilman sheweth at large how God hath wonderfully plagued this sin in our fore fathers dayes n vide Spilman and of late in the last Three Princes Reigns God who is just and holy in his wayes who is the Fear cutting off the Spriiâ—s of Princes and being terrible to the Kings of the earth o on Psa 76. 12 destroying utterly the Family of Henry the 8th that great Tyrant and Church-robber in the Death of Queen Elizabeth who was the first that sold away openly the Revenues of the Church devoted to Gods service changing the Consecrated Lands for others with divers honourable and generous Families in this Nation only in this Fact degenerating from true Pâ—ety and Charity whose Posterity have felt the smart of Gods justice and they inheriting their Fathers sins with those devoted Lands and not restoring them they have also inherited their plagues Queen Elizabeth her self though I hope a Saint with God yet one of the last and worst works she did by the flattery and perswasion of her Favourites was the passing over the Mannor of Sherbourne belonging to the Cathedral of Sarum of which Revenue Bishop Jewel that great Champion of our Religion had made good use unto Sir Walter Rawleigh who was as I am informed by a Reverend D. of that Church warn'd to desist from that enterprize foretelling him of the sad sequel would follow thereon but his ambitious and Covetous Wife over-swayed the wise man as Solomons Wives did him p 1 Kings 11 4 He was by Dr. Hide Cannon of the Church of Sarum disswaded from desiring the Dean Chapter to ratifie the Gift of the Queens and though that Sir Walter was by the old mans Arguments overcome and contented to surcease the enterprize yet his Wife would not suffer him to be quiet until the business was ended as one of the Walters related to me But the Donor lived not long after but lost her life and Crown together leaving it to a Forraign Prince and though the Gift was sweet to those who for a while enjoyed it yet it fill'd the belly with gravel and raised him such foes that burthen'd him so heavy till they brought him to the block and truly divine Vengeance attended all the owners of it ever since q As the Earle of Sommerset Prince Henry the Earls of Bristol c.
have persisted in this sin and forgotten God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you and confess and forsake your sin then shall you obtain mercy Prov. 28. 13. Having food and rayment be ye therewith content for he hath said He will not leave thee nor in any wise forsake thee p Heb 13. 5 Mat. 22. 21 Render thou to Caesar the things that be Caesars and unto God the things that be Gods and owe nothing to any man but this That ye love one another q Rom. 13. 8 and whatever ye would were you in the Ministry that others should do unto you the same do ye unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets r Mat. 7. 12 But he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong he hath done and there is no respect of persons with God s Col. 3. 2 The Lord open the eyes of those that have been blinded with self-love and with the love of the world or been deceived with humane laws customes and evil examples of the mulitude that have been guilty of this sin that they may see it and repent of it remembring Christs saying It will profit a man nothing to gain the World and lose his own soul t Mark 8. 36 Now that I have shewed you the light do not walk in darkness and hate the light because your deeds are evil for to him that knows to do well but doth it not to him it 's sin with a vengeance u Jam. 4. 17 The wrath of God being revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men who detain the truth in unrighteousness w Rom 1. 18 And if you shall not speedily repent the same judgement may befal you which befel Ananias Sapphira or Simon Magus for their covetousness and sacriledge for such impenitent persons are in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity x Acts 8. 23 as they were by reason of those sins And the Lord avert his wrath from this Land and Nation which hath been horribly guilty of this sin to that end let the Magistrates find out some way or means for the Reformation of this sin as Nehemiah did in his Reformation y Neh. 13. 10 11 12 who caused the portions of the Levites to be given to them and the Tythes to be paid to the Priests and Levites for their service in their Churches according to their Courses As also zealous Hezekiah ordered it z 2 Chron. 31 12 13 c. and appointed Officers to see them faithfully distributed which thing was good and right and truth before the Lord his God z verse 20 For the Lord had blessed his people Mal. 3. 10 12 Deut. 26. 10 12 Prov 3. 9 10 Mat. 10. 40 Psal 4. 18 and brought a blessing on the Land and people z. Secondly Let those Impropriations whose heard-hearted Owners tremble not at Gods Word nor fear his threatning be bought in at the Wisdom and Discretion of the Honorable House of Parliament which I conceive in a short time may be effected by the Revenue coming into the Honourable Trustees for Bishops and Dean and Chapters Lands over and above what they now pay for Augmentations Lastly for the right ordering of Ministers in every Church for to receive these Tyths and devoted Lands and Goods and to perform the work of the Ministry and for the gathering and building up of Gods Church Let these proposals be considered by them To the Magistrates of England E. F. on the Jews behalf Humbly Dâ—clareth THat siâ—h its apparent by the Scriptures That the Jews Gods ancient People shall be converted to the Faith as these Scriptures testifie Rom. 11. 25 26. Psal 5â— 6 67. 5. 6 69. 35 36. Isa 1. 25 26 11 1. Zeph. 3 9 c. And being converted they shall be a blessing unto the Godly amongst whom they live they ministring to them exceeding cause of joy for if their Fall be the Riches of the world and their Diminution is the riches of the Gentiles how much more their fulness For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world what will their Assumption be but life from the dead Rom. 11. 12. Zach. 8. 13. And sith by our mercy they shall obtain mercy Rom 11. 31. And many shall seek their favour as it s prophesied Zâ—ch 8. 23. And God will execrate and destroy thâ—se Nations that have been enemies to them as the Prophets fore-tell Isa 11. 13. Gen. 12. 3. Jer. 3. 16. Zeph. 3. 19 20. Isa 51. 21 22. 47 6. Jer. 2. 3. Zach. 1. 12 15. And sith in our Directory made by the late reverend Assembly and confirmed by the High Court of Parliament the Ministers of the Gospel were commanded to Pray for their conversion and so to use all means to effect the same unless we will flatteringly mâ—ck God in our Prayers especially sith they are beloved according to the Election for their Fathers sake of our heavenly Father whâ—m we are to imitate and whose gifts and callings are without repentance Rom. 11. 28. and whâ—m we are to follow as dear Children sith from them came the Adoption and the Glory fâ—â—m them we received the Covenants and the Law the Worship of God and the Promises for theirs were the Fathers and from them Christ came who is â—od â—ver all bâ—â—ssed for ever Rom. 9. 4 c. Lastly Sith they abound in Wealth Arts and Sciences and excel in ingenuity and Tongues and God is able to graft them in again and the Redeemer shall come to Zion to turn away iniquity in Jacob and the time of fulfilling this is by the common suffrage of the Godly at hand Rom. 11. 26. Therefore to hasten their Conversion and to procure the Blessing and life to us and our Posterity to have the honour and glory to be happy instruments of their Conversion through out mercy spread towards them to get to us and our Posterity deliverance from the evil threatned to fulfil the Prophesies avert all Judgements and to obtain our Petitions for ingrafting and Salvation Therefore your Petitioner humbly prayeth That they may have Liberty as well as other Nations to Trade and Traffick in our Common-Wealth without peril of their lives To that end let the Statutes of Bannishing them be Repealed And if the Parliament think fit let them on good Cautions and Conditions as shall seem meeteâ—t to their wisdom be suffered here to Continue and Dwell amongst us as formerly before the Conquest that so living with us they may with the Sweetness and Fatness of our Land receive into their Souls the wholsome and saving knowledge of the Gospel which in no Country under Heaven blessed be God and continued still be this Mercy to us and ours till Christ come is so purely and powerfully preacht and held forth as in this Common-Wealth To effect which Your Petitioner shall alwayes Pray c. The Proposals 1. SIth by the
Angels without whose counsel nothing was done in the Church r Ambr. Com in Epist Tim cap 5 and let all these labour in the Word and Doctrine and in ruling the Congregation committed to them either by course in their several places of meeting as the Priests served in the Temple s Luke 1. 5 1 Cron. 24 19. whilst the rest are imployed in ruling or else let them constantly preach as now they do in their several Parishes both publickly from house to house privately as Saint Paul did t unless sickness or some Acts 20. 20 Moses chose Rulers in Israel over thousands hundreds fifties tens to judge the people Exod. 18. 25 other necessary occasion hinder any of them at which time let the other Presbyters assist him that is wanting and so let them all rule joyntly with common consent the Church of God committed to them 4. It seemeth fit that the eldest Presbyter if he please to accept of it or the next Senior that will accept of it be with common consent of the Presbytery and congregation chosen Angel of the Church for such we read werein the seven Asian Churches approved of by Christ to whom he directs his Epistles and so it was in the first Century though soon after altered as Ambrose confesseth u Rev. 2 3 capita Ambr. Com. in Epist ad Eph. capit 4 See the Appendix in Iuâ— Divinum Ministerii cap. 6. 7 that the Ordination that was then in the Church agreed not in all things with the Ordination that was in the Apostles dayes for St. Paul calleth Timothy a Presbyter a Bishop created by him for at first Presbyters were called Bishops and so the elder Bishop or Presbyter departing the next following succeeded him and because the following Presbyters began to be found unworthy to hold that Primacy by the advice of a Counsel this form of succession was altered that not order but desert should create a Bishop thus in time the Church forsook the Apostolical pattern under a shew of wisdom as the Apostle saith and establisht a humane tradition in its place and the best way to reform its corruption is to teturn to its Primitive institution as Christ removed Bigamy out of the Church of the Jews w Mat. 19. 8 Such at this day are the superintendents amongst the Germanes as Zeppyrus writes lib. 2. cap. 10. â—un contro lib 8 2. cap. 5. noâ— 1 and let the Angel in each Church be the first Presbyter in order of all the rest but not in dignity or office above them for though St. Peter wills the younger Presbyters to submit to the elder x Pet. 5. 5. yet are the elder also to be subject to them and so the Holy Ghost requires a subjection each to other The Angel of the Church is to be Moderator in the Assembly and collect the Votes and propound questions to the Presbytery for Reformation and therefore Christ blames them when they were negligent herein y Rev. 2. 2. 14. 20 ch 3. 1. 15 they are to see that all things in the Church be done decently and in order with the advice and consent of his Co-presbyters But he is not to have any power or jurisdiction over the other Presbyters or more than the rest sith the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven are equally committed to them all nor hath the Pope of Rome or any other Bishop moâ—e power than other Bishops herein z Harmony of Confes page 364. see Sect. 11 as the Belgick Church concludes therefore in alâ— Acts of Government let them be done by the common consent of the Presbyters or major part of them as it was in the first Counsel * Acts 15. 6 22 23 of the Apostles Presbyters and Bishops in their assembly in Ierusalem with the consent of the Brethren for though the Presbyters are to separate the precious from the visd a Jer 15. 19 and to judge what is good or ill truth or error who are holy who prophane who clean or unclean and authoritatively to declare them so to be b Lev. 13. 3 Deut. 21. 5 8 and though the Ministers of Christ as was before prophesied of them should stand in judgement and teach the people between holy and prophane d Ezek. 44. 23 and Christ gave to them the power of loosing and retaining sin e Mat. 18. 18 John 20. 23 yet the Congregation of Israel were obliged in general by Gods command to put their sentence in execution as to shut out the Lepers out of the Congregation whom the Priests had declared to be such f Numb 5. 2 3 so also under the Gospel St. Paul requires the Church of Corinth to put away the incestious person whom he and the Presbyters had pronounced unclean for he had determined of him already 1 Cor. Hac increpâ—tio quae a pluribus sie Arius Mont. Int. 5. 4 5. 7. 13. and he desires the Presbyters when they were gathered together in Christs Name and his Spirit with the power of our Lord Iesus to deliver him over to Sathan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit might be saved and after enjoyns the whole Congregation to purge out the old Leaven and to put away from them that wicked person nor were they to receive him in again till the Presbyters should pronounce him clean no more than the Lepers were to be received into the Camp till the Priests pronounced them clean nor did the Church of Corinth receive him in again till St. Paul had judged of him and pronounced him clean so absolving him and desiring the Church to receive him and the Presbyters to forgive and comfort him for he judged sufficient unto him was the increpation which was inflicted by many g 2 Cor. 2. 6 many blamed him for his sin and scandal and executed the sentence St. Paul and the Presbytery had pronounced upon him but they did not judge and censure him as our Democratical Brethren would have it assuming to themselves the Kâ—yeâ— Christ never gave them for they belonged to the Ministry they received that power from the Lord h Lev. 14. 3 4 2 Cor. 10. 8 Taâ—tae se uti diciâ— potestate quanta concessa est ab author Ambr Com. in loc all â—he Church cannot be head eyes or Rulers where then were they ruâ—ed and the rest of the body 1 Cor. 12. 14. or who then were to obey and submit unto their Rulers Heb. 13. 7. 17. 5. If either of these Elders dye let the people chuse Acts 6. 3. and 14. 23. and the Presbytery of that Congregation approve of and ordain another to take his office i 1 Tim. 3. 10 Acts â— 20. 6. 3 Ambr. Com. in â—â—c vide Appendix Iuris divini Minist Aâ—gl page 120 but if the Angel die let the next Presbyter succeed him for he is a Bishop or Angel who is first amongst the Presbyters as Timothy a Presbyter was a Bishop