not willing to judge any thing before the time Do they succeed them in respect of their Office let them prove that and take the Cause The Apostles were first immediatly Sent by Christ Secondly Extraordinary Officers Commissionated to the preaching of the Gospel throughout the Nations of the world Are their Lordships such what can be imagined more frivolous or false where find we any Apostles after the departure of those that were immediatly by Christ called to that Office Did the Apostles ordain any as their Successors therein in any of the Churches of Christ Where reade we of their so doing yea are any qualified with Gifts as they for the discharge of such an Office or doth Christ indeed send forth Servants in any imployment and not furnish them with Gifts suitable thereunto Credat Apelles What more dishonourable to the Lord Jesus can be asserted it remains then that they being neither Prophets nor Apostles nor Pastors nor Teachers that they are not to be found in the Scripture of the institution of Christ Nor are they dream'd of in the world for several hundreds of years after Christ Clemens in his Epistle to the Church of Corinth takes notice of no other besides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops and Deacons which Bishops he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presbyters or Elders Yea Lombard himself confesses Hos solum Ministrorum duos ordines Ecclesiam primitivam habuisse de his Solis praeceptum Apostoli nos habere Lomb. l. 4. Sen. D. 24. li. 3. ext The Primitive Church he tells you had no other Order of Ministers than Bishops or Presbyters and Deacons nor did the Apostles give commandment concerning any other That their rise and occasion was from the aims and designs of men to accommodate Ecclesiastical or Church-affairs to the state and condition of the Civil Government is ingenuously confest by one that was looked upon to be as great an Admirer of and as able a Champion for Diocesan and Metropolitical Prelates as any one of late dayes 't is Dr. Hamond we mind who in his Dissertations about Episcopacy Sect. 3. hath these words His sic positis illud statim sequitur ut in Imperli cognitione in Provinciâ qualibet cum plures urbes sint una tamen primaria et principalis consenda erat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ideo dicta cui itidem inferiores reliquae Civitates subjiciebantur ut Civitatibus Regiones sic et inter Ecclesias et Cathedras Episcopales unam semper primariam Metropoliticam fuisse So far is the Office of Lord-Bishops from being of the Institution of Christ that their Primacy and Supremacy was the result of the designs and contrivements of men to accommodate the state and frame of the Church to the state and condition of the Government of the Nations 2. That the Office of Lord Bishops is contrary to express Precepts of Christ in the Scripture the truth of which he that runs may reade in the ensuing Scriptures Mat. 20. 25. Mark 10. 42. Luke 22. 25. 1 Pet. 5. 3. the English of Vos autem non sic but ye shall not do so Neque ut Dominantes Cleris not lording it over God's Clergy or Heritage an ordinary Reader may easily conclude to be inconsistent with their fordly dignities Not to multiply Arguments in a matter that others have so largely debated 2. That Office that is derived from and is only to be found in the Papacy is surely Antichristian if the Pope be the head of Antichrist this must not be denied But the Office of Lord Bishops is derived from is onely to be found in the Papacy Which of the reformed Churches that have separated from the Papacy have retained it Did the Woman in her flight into the Wilderness carry it along with her What more absurd then to run to the persecuting Whore and Beast for an Office of Ministry and what more evident demonstration of its being an Antichristian office than its entertainment only by that false Antichristian Church and its utter rejection and detestation by the true Spouse and Witnesses of Christ in all Ages What is delivered over to us in this matter by some of them we shall briefly affix hereunto Hierome in his Epistle to Evagrius and in his Commentary upon the Epistle of Titus professes That it is more by Custom than by any Institution of the Lord that Bishops are become greater than the Elders or Ministers Har. of Conf. sect 2. Tit. 11. So from him do the Churches of Helvetia proclaim whence they infer and that truly according to Act. 4. 9. That no man by any right can forbid but that we should return to the old Appointment of God and rather receive that than the Custom devised by men Wickliff in his answer to King Richard the 2d citing Mat. 20. 25. 1 Pet. 5. 3. sayes Lordship and Dominion is plainly forbidden to the Apostles and darest thou then usurp the same if thou wilt be a Lord thou shalt lose thy Apostleship c. The University of Geneva say Theses Genev. 71. These Functions following we hold to be altogether false and destitute of all true foundation viz. the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome over all Churches the Cardinalship Patriarchship Archiepiscopalship and briefly the whole Episcopal degree of Lord Bishops over their fellow Elders Marlorat in his Exposition on the Revelation chap. 17. 3. says That arch-Arch-Bishops Deans c. are in office under Antichrist yea upon chap. 9. that they are the tails of Antichrist Beza saith They could not be brought into the Church until they had driven him out who is the onely Master Christ and there is neither holy Scripture nor Council nor Ancient Doctors which ever did know such Monsters Beza's Confes Art 7. c. 14. The Noble Ancient Old-Castle Lord Cobham saith That the whole Episcopal degree of Lord Bishops over their Fellow-Elders is altogether false and destitute of all true foundation yea that all other Functions and Offices besides Priests and Deacons are unlawful as being Sects devised by men destitute of all true Foundation To these we might add Honest Bale upon the Revelation viz. chap. 17. where he saith Canterbury and York are the Beastly Antichrist's Metropolitans and Primates and upon chap. 13. that Arch-Bishop Diocesan Arch-Deacon Dean Prebend Doctor Parson Vicar c. are very names of Blasphemy For Offices they are not appointed by the Holy Ghost nor yet mentioned in the Scripture Cartwright saies of them That their functions are not in the Word of God but of the Earth new devised Ministries and such as can do no good that their Office is the neek of the Popish Hierarchie come out of the bottomless Pit of Hell Fenner proclaims them to be no natural Members of the Body of Christ's Church as being of humane addition not born with her nor grown up with her from the Cradle The French and Belgick Confession sayes That they pass not a Rush for them The
Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32. Mat. 15. 9. Lev. 10. 1. their sin lay not in this that they offered strange fire which was forbidden but which God commanded them not Prov. 30. 6. Jer. 7. 31. 9. Of the same mind with us in this matter are the renowned VVitnesses of Christ in all ages generally all that write upon the second Commandment speak fully hereunto Cyprian in his Epist to Caecilius de Sacram. sayes roundly Et quod Christus solus c. i. e. that Christ alone ought to be heard we have the Father himself witnessing from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son hear him Wherefore if Christ only be to be heard we ought not to attend to what others did before us but what he hath prescribed Beza on Phil. 1. 1. sayes Episcopos igitur c. The Apostle meaneth by Bishops such as were set over others in the preaching the VVord viz. Pastors Teachers and Elders for so were Bishops of old called until he which for Polities sake did preside in the Assembly began peculiarly to be call'd Bishop hereof the Devil began to lay the first foundation of Tyranny in the Church of God Behold sayes he of how great moment it is to decline from the Word of God though but an hairs breadth So he To whom may be added the Testimony of that lively Witness of Christ Martin Luther †In a Translation of the New-Testament in Edward the 6ths time the Author of the Notes on Matth. 15. saith God will not be worshipped after the doctrine precepts of men but as he himself hath prescribed and taught us in his Word who sayes on 1 Pet. 4. 11. To the Office of preaching that properly belongs which the Apostle Peter prescribeth viz. unto whomsoever the vocation and charge of Preaching the Word is allotted let him speak as the Words of God which Caveat and Lesson ought most carefully to be taken heed unto that no man presume to preach and teach any thing whereto he hath not the express words of God for his warrant and except he be most certain that the same be directly to be avouched out of the sacred Scriptures Which being so what may be thought of the Pope we may add of the Hierarchy and his dirty Traditions And anon after he saith A Bishop ought to do nothing in the Church unless he be certain and sure of the warrantise thereof by God's Word for God cannot abide to have his Service jumbled and mingled at pleasure with every foolish gewgaw and light trumpery yea further saith he And therefore we are strictly forbidden not to rely unto nor to allow whatsoever decree or constitution the Bishops list to obtrude and enjoyn unless they stand upon a sure ground that the things which they do are allowed of God and unless they be able to say Do this for it is the Will and Commandment of God and we have his express Word and Commandment for our warrant if they be not able to say thus they ought to be accounted as Liars and Deceivers much less ought any Christian to yeeld unto them therein any obedience or subscription And afterwards There is nothing saith he so pernitious nothing so monstrous nothing so beastly as to go about to govern the Church of God without the Warrant of God's own Word Of the same mind is learned Whitaker We acknowledge saith he no Oyl in God's Service because we reade nothing of Oyl in the Scriptures can you shew that ever Christ or his Apostles used it To whom many others might be added The minor or second Proposition consists of two parts 1. That Hearing is part of instituted Worship one would wonder should it be denied however 't is evident it is so from the light of this single demonstration That in which we wait upon God in the way of an Ordinance for the communication of good beyond the vertue of any creature to conveigh to us is part of the instituted Worship of God for what I wait for not being in the thing it self in which I am waiting no ground can be assigned for my expecting of good through it but Divine Institution but in the Hearing of the Word we wait upon God in the way of an Ordinance for the communication of good beyond the vertue of any creature to conveigh to us Therefore 2. That Hearing the present Ministers of England is not warranted in the Scripture This will be manifested when we come to the ventilating and scanning of those places which are usually produced for the abetting of the practice of some in this matter in the mean while we crave liberty to profess that it is not opinionativeness singularity vain-glory uncharitableness or any thing of that nature as some are apt uncharitably enough to censure but the dread and awe of God who is a jealous God and especially in point of Worship and an holy fear of offending him that hinders us from complying in these matters could but one word tittle or iota be produced from the Scriptures of God for the warranting the Hearing the present Ministers of England we should quickly lay our mouths in the dust confess and bewail our guilt and folly in refusing to conform thereunto but this we are fully assured those that dissent from us are not able to do what they say herein shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be sifted to the uttermost CHAP. II. A second Argument proposed to consideration That 't is not lawful to hear the present Ministers of England as Ministers of Christ nor as Gifted Brethren proved A Separation from them if Brethren evinced That the best of them walk disorderly proved Argument 2. IF it be lawful to hear the present Ministers of England 't is lawful to hear them either as Ministers of the Gospel or as gifted Brethren But 't is not lawful to hear them either as Ministers of the Gospel or as Gifted-Brethren Therefore The major or first Proposition will not be denied That Christ hath appointed some as Ministers by vertue of an Office-power to dispense the Ordinances of the Gospel until his second coming is granted by all that 't is permitted to others as their liberty enjoyned them as their duty having received Gifts and Enablements from the Lord thereunto to improve those Gifts in preaching praying c. for the Edification of the Body of Christ though not solemnly invested into Office is assented unto at least by some of those with whom we have to do whence a lawfulness to hear them as Ministers or as Gifted-Brethren doth necessarily arise 'T is the minor or second Proposition that is capable in the thoughts of some of a denial which we prove per partes thus 1. 'T is not lawful to hear them as Ministers of the Gospel they are not such therefore may not be heard as such That they are not Ministers of the Gospel but Thieves and Robbers is manifest Such as come not in by the Door which is Christ Joh. 10. 9. viz. by
vertue of any Authority derived to them from him are not Ministers of the Gospel but Thieves and Robbers Joh. 10. 1. from whom 't is the property of the Sheep to flee ver 4. But the present Ministers of England come not in by the Door Therefore That they come not in by the Door viz. by vertue of any Authority derived to them from Christ is evident If they have received any such Authority or Commission from him they have received it either mediately or immediately the latter will not be asserted nor without the working of Miracles should it so be would it to the world's end be made good 'T is the former must be fixt upon viz. That they have received their Authority or Commission mediately from Christ but to as little purpose for those that receive Authority to preach the Gospel mediately from Christ have it from some particular instituted Church of Christ to whom power is soley delegated for the electing of their own Officers according to the tenour of the ensuing Scriptures Acts 6. 5. 14. 23. These men as it 's known have no such Authority pretend not to it have it in derision come barely with a Presentation from a Patron and Ordination Institution and Induction from a Lord-Bishop things forreign to the Scripture and impose themselves upon the people whether they will or no. 2. 'T is not lawful to hear them as Gifted-Brethren 1. The most of them are not gifted nor 2. Brethren being Canonical-Drunkards Swearers Gamsters c. 3. The best of them cannot by Saints in respect of Gospel-communion be so accounted for 1. There was never any giving up of our selves each to other according to the will of God and primitive Example whence such a Brotherhood doth result 2. We cannot as things stand perform the duties of Brethren to them according to Mat. 18. nor will they or can they in the state in which they stand to us 3. If we acknowledge the best of them for such we must also acknowledge the worst of them for 1. They are all Members of the same Church 2. Profess themselves to be one Brotherhood so sayes their Rime upon the Lord's Prayer Our Father which in Heaven art And mak'st us all one Brotherhood c. Nay 3. we cannot so acknowledge them but we must also acknowledge the Bishops for our Reverend Fathers for theirs they are which how abhorring it is to any tender enlightned soul may easily be conjectured But to hear this Plea speak its uttermost let it be granted they are Brethren and may be so esteemed They are Brethren that walk disorderly or they do not That they walk disorderly cannot be denied by such as pretend to Reformation If submitting to Ordination or Re-ordination by a Lord Bishop covenanting and protesting with detestation against a Reformation according to the Scripture and the best Reformed Churches to own as consonant to Scripture a Lyturgy or stinted Forms of Prayer in the Church and read them to wear the Surplice c. be disorderly walking they are the very best of them beyond contradiction to be reputed in the number of disorderly walkers And so after due admonition according to the Scripture and a perseverance in their sin to be separated from by vertue of positive and express Precepts of Christ Mat. 18. 2 Thess 3. 6. Now we command you Brethren in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition he received of us With what vehemency authority and holy earnestness doth the Apostle press separation from Brethren that walk disorderly We command you and we command you in the Name of the Lord Jesus and we command you Brethren by vertue of our relation to each other and that love and endearment that is betwixt us as Brethren that you withdraw your selves c. I scarce know any one thing pressed by the Apostle with greater vehemency than what is here instanc'd in wherein we have also an undeniable convincing Argument that the persons of whom we are treating walk disorderly Those that walk not after the tradition received from the Apostles we may adde and the Primitive Church for above three hundred years after Christ but according to the traditions of the old Bawd and Strumpet of Rome are such as walk disorderly But the present Ministers of England walk not after the Tradition received from the Apostles but after the Traditions of the Whorish-Church of Rome Therefore they are such as walk disorderly What Apostolical Tradition have we for stinted Forms of Prayer or Lyturgies in the Church did they frame any those that are ascribed to some of them are all spurious as hath been over and over proved for Surplice crossing in Baptism and many other gewgaws used by them if they have any Apostolical written tradition for these things let them produce it and we shall lay our mouths in the dust and for ever be silent as to a charge of this nature If they have not as there is nothing more certain they are disorderly walkers if the Apostles Argument be valid We command you to withdraw from such as walk disorderly But who I pray are these disorderly walkers how shall we know them they are sayes the Apostle such as walk not after the tradition received from us CHAP. III. A third Argument proving the unlawfulness of hearing the present Ministers of England produced That they act by vertue of an Antichristian Office and Calling proved Their perfect agreement with the Popish Priests in seventeen Particulars demonstrated That the Office of Lord Bishops is Antichristian proved The Testimonies of the Ancients produced Whence the Antichristianism of the Office of the Ministers of England is evinced An Objection answered Argument 3. THose that act in the holy things of God by vertue of an Antichristian Power Office or Calling are not to be heard but to be separated from but the present Ministers of England act in the Holy Things of God by vertue of an Antichristian Power Office or Calling Therefore The Major is evident For 1. The Power Office and Calling of Antichrist is opposite and contrary unto the Power Office and Calling of Christ Not to separate from such as act by vertue of such an Office-Power is to stand by and plead for Antichrist against Christ 2. It s unlawful to attend upon the teachings of Antichrist therefore upon the teachings of such as act by vertue of a Power derived from him 3. Christ calls and solemnly charges his upon the penalty of most dreadful Judgments to separate from every thing of Antichrist Rev. 18. 4. and 14. 9 10 11. 4. There is not a command in the Scripture enjoyning Saints to take heed of being deceived to try the spirits because many Antichrists are gone abroad into the World but is an abundant demonstration of the truth of this Assertion 5. The institution of Officers of his own by Christ to be continued in the
way appointed by him to the end of the World Eph. 4. 11. 6. That there is not one promise of a blessing in the whole Scripture upon persons atending on such a Ministry with innumerable things of the like tendency and import that might be produced if needful are such a basis upon which the truth of the major Proposition stands as cannot be easily shaken or removed The Minor wants not sufficient demonstration First The present Ministers of England are either from Christ or from Antichrist There is no medium a Linsey-woolsey-Ministry that is partly of Christ partly of Antichrist as 't is not to be proved by Scripture so will it not be abetted That they are not from Christ hath in part been proved already and may farther be evinced 1. Their Names are forreign to the Scripture Where reade we of Deacons in their sence Priests as distinguished from Christians in the New-Testament Deans Cannons Petty-Cannons Prebendaries Arch-Deacons Lord-Bishops Parsons Vicars c. these are onely found in the Popes Pontifical whence they are derived So are 2. Their Offices Deacons attending Tables we reade of but Deacons Praying Preaching Administring Sacraments so called by vertue of an Office-power an order of the first step to the Priesthood we find not Priests in the Old-Testament both true and false we reade of in the New Saints are so called First in respect of analogie to the ritual Priests of old whose prerogative it was to come near to God Deut. 21. 5. to whom through Christ Saints have access with boldness Ephes 2. 18. and 3. 19. Jam. 4. 8. Secondly in respect of their union and engrafture into Christ the great High-Priest over the House of God Thirdly in respect of that analogy there is betwixt what Christ hath done for them as Priest and by his Spirit worketh in them He offered up Sacrifice so do they Psal 116. 17. and 141. 2. Rom. 12. 1. Heb. 13. 14. He was crucified died so are they Rom. 6. 6 7 8. c. Gal. 2. 20. Fourthly as Priests they are anointed to the participation of do thereby attain to a kind of holy and intimate communion with Christ in all his glorious Offices Rev. 5. 10. But an Office of Priesthood in men for the Ministry of the Gospel that are to be bounded by men in that their Office must preach what they would have them and cease when they would have them as is the case of the present Ministry of England the Scripture is a stranger to So is it 3. to their admission into this their office viz. by a Lord-Bishop without the consent of the Congregation in which they act as Officers The very truth is both in their Names Office and admission thereunto the present Ministers of England symbolize not with the Ministers of Christ but the Popish order of Priests so that if these do act by vertue of an Antichristian office-power then do they as he that runs may read in the ensuing parallel particulars 1. They are both called and own themselves Priests which though some may make light of yet considering that it is a term borrowed either from the Priests of the Law the assertion of such a Priesthood being a denial of Christ come in the flesh or from the Priests of the Heathen in conformity to whom as the Druides of old our Priests wear their white Garment or Surplice or from the Antichristian Church so called of Rome Such idolatrous superstitious names being commanded by the Lord to be abolished Hos 2. 15. Zech. 13. 2. wants not its sufficient weight the retention whereof being also a sore suspition of too great a compliance with if not a willingness to return to that from whence they are derived Of the same mind with us herein is Hierom upon the 2d of Hosea the Hebrew Doctors Kimchi and Aben-Ezra the Caldee Paraphrast Ribera though a Jesuit Zanchi Danaeus Sanctius Polanus Rivet and almost all that write upon the said Scripture The last mentioned viz. Learned Rivet hath these words in his Corollaries from Hos 2. 15 16. There are many names which in themselves are good enough and might be used but God abhorreth the use of them because they have been abused to Idolatry he instanceth indeed in the word Mass but Priest or Altar being of the same allay upon the same foot of account is to be rejected The reformed Churches in Helvetia in their harmony of Confessions are of the same mind The Ministry say they and the Priesthood are things far different the one from the other he himself viz. Christ remaineth only Priest for ever and we do not communicate the name Priest to any Minister lest we should detract something from Christ 2. The Priests of Rome must be first Deacons ere they are Priests So must the present Ministers of England 3. The Priests of Rome must be ordained to their Office by a Lord-Bishop or his Suffragan So must the Ministers of England 4. The Priests of Rome must at their ordination be presented by an Archdeacon or his Deputy with these words Reverende Pater c. Reverend Father I present these men unto thee to be admitted unto the order of Priesthood So are the present Ministers of England 5. The Priests of Rome must be ordained to their office according to their Pontifical devised by themselves the Priests of England according to their Book of ordering Priests and Deacons which is taken out of the Popes Pontifical as is evident to any that shall compare the one with the other and as hath been long since confest by some of themselves in an Admonition to the Parliament in Queen Elizabeths dayes in their second Treatise 6. The Popish Priests must kneel down upon their knees at the feet of the Lord-Bishop that ordains them and he must say to them blasphemously enough Receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose sins ye remit or forgive they are remitted whose sins ye retain they are retained which exactly accords with the fashion of ordaining the Priests of England 7. The Popish Priests are not ordained in and before the Congregation to whom they are to be Priests but in some Metropolitan Cathedral City several miles from the place So are the Priests of England 8. The Popish Priests take the care of souls though not elected by them from the presentation of a Patron by the institution and induction of a lord-Lord-Bishop and do not the present Ministers of England the same 9. The Popish Priests wait not the Churches Call to the Ministry but make suit to some Prelate to be ordained Priests giving mony for their letters of Ordination So do the present Ministers of England 10. The Popish Priests are ordained to their Office though they have no Flock to attend upon So are the Priests of England 11. The Popish Priests must swear Canonical Obedience to their Ordinary So do the present Ministers of England 12. The Popish Priests may at their pleasure without the consent of the People resign and give over their
their instructive distribution delivered that if they were negligent other aproved men should receive their ministration being ordained by them or in the mean time by other choice men all the Church consenting thereunto Yea afterwards Let some one among you Ingenious Merciful filled with Love speak if through me Faction and Contention Schisms I will depart Of which if you are willing I return and will do the things appointed by the Multitude Wherein he fully asserts the Priviledge of the Church or People of Christ we are pleading for And afterwards during the raign of Antichrist Christ hath not left himself without a Witness nor his People without Champions to plead their Right in this matter To instance but in a few That lively Witness of Christ Martin Luther loudly proclaims that the voice of the People ought not to be severed from the chusing of Ecclesiastical persons And long before him Cyprian who lived about two hundred sixty years after Christ sayes Plebs obsequens c. The People that obey the commands of God and fear him ought to separate themselves from a wicked Pastor seeing the People themselves chiefly have either power to choose Pastors that are worthy or to refuse those that be unworthy Cypr. Epist 68. and tells us plainly That this is bottom'd upon the Authority of God That that is a just and lawful Ordination which is tryed by the judgment and voice of all viz. that fear and obey God Of the same mind long after was Francis Lambard the companion of Luther in Germany in the Preface of his Book entituled The Sum of Christianity who sayes Verily every Parish ought to have his proper Bishop the which should be chosen by the People and confirmed by the Commonalty of every Parish who if they swerve one jot or tittle from the Doctrine of the Gospel of the Kingdom ought to be deposed by the People and others more fit to be elected by them And in chap. 5. of the said Book he professes That 't is the most grievous crime and by no means to be suffered that many children of perdition do deprive the People of God of their just Right and Title viz. to chuse them a Pastor Peter Martyr in his common places refers the chusing and election of Ministers to the People as their undoubted Right To whom we may joyn Mr. Bullinger who sayes That the Apostles exercised not Tyranny in the Church in ordaining Ministers without the consent of the People Bullin Decad. 5. Serm. 4. Tit. 1. 1 Tim. 5. Gualter also upon Acts 1. 25. saith That those that profess the Gospel handle the matter as evil as the Monks and Popish Bishops in that they restore not again to the Church the liberty of chusing Ministers which by Tyranny they took from them Of the same mind is Zanchio Calvin Beza Danaeus Tilenus Tyndall the Martyr with many others as Mr. Fox Cartwright Mr. Jacob c. We cannot omit the famous Case of the United Brethren of Bohemia who concluding the whole Papacy to be purely Antichristian could not allow of the Ordination of their Ministers by any in communion with it and yet being perswaded of a necessity of continuing that Ordinance in a way of succession send some to the Greek and Armenian Churches who returning with dissatisfaction they thereupon commit themselves and their cause to God and chuse Elders from amongst themselves and by Fasting and Prayer solemnly set them apart to the work of the Preaching of the Gospel To these many more might be added The practice pleaded for as is evident is as antient as the dayes of the Apostles and the first election of ordinary New-Testament Officers continued in the Church till after the dayes of Constantine when Pride and Tyranny soon brought all things into horrible confusion upon the pretext of Decency and Order yet in the worst of times have the Witnesses of Christ born their Testimony hereunto What say our Reverend Fathers and Ministers of the Church of England to these things have they not an equal respect to this Appointment of Christ as to those before instanc'd in is there any thing like it almost practised by them in this great concern of separating persons for the preaching of the Gospel of Christ is not the liberty of the Brethren and Churches of Christ as much as lies in them wholly disannulled and broken by them have they any such call to the Ministry do they at all value or esteem of it are they in the practice of the Primitive Church or of the Reformed Churches of this day in this matter is not the print of the feet of the old Strumpet of Rome the bloudy Persecutor of the Saints the cunning Devisor of a new self-invented and whorish Worship to be soley found in the paths they are in this matter traversing and can such be accounted as the subjects of the Kingdom of Christ and the real owners of his Authority and Power To these many other Institutions of Christ may be added which they subject not to What should I mention 6. That Royal Command of our Soveraign King and Lawgiver which the profound self-philosophically wise but indeed foolish and unlearned Doctors of this day wrest to the countenancing of the disorders and confusion of Antichrist darkness so gross that it may be felt that all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 40. viz. that the Saints may prophesie one by one and ought to admonish exhort and build up one another in their most holy Faith Rom. 8. 26. 12. 6. 1 Cor. 4. 17. 5. 4. 11. 23. Ephes 4. 7 11 12. 1 Tim. 2. 1. 3. 15. Jude 20. 1 Cor. 12. 7 11. Mat. 25. 24. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 12. 15. 14. 12 24. Ephes 4. 3 7 15 16. Act. 2. 42. Rom. 15. 14. Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. 1 Thess 5. 14. 2 Thess 3. 15. Heb. 3. 13. to which might be added the frequent examples of the Saints in the Old and New-Testament 2 Chron. 17. 7 8 9. Job 2. 11. Mal. 3. 16. Luke 4. 16. Act. 13. 15. 1 Cor. 14. 24 to 34. and the practice of the Primitive Church as witness Origen in his Epist to Celsum Tertullian in his Apology Justin Martyr in his Apology and many others Yea 7. What should I mention that grand Institution of this Soveraign Lord and Lawgiver that nothing be offered up to the Father but what is of his own prescription Divine and Spiritual without affectation of Legal shadows Joh. 4. 24. of worldly pomp or carnal excellency 2 Cor. 1. 12. 2. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 12. 6. 13. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Isa 33. 22. Jam. 4. 12. Mat. 15. 6 9. Heb. 8. 5. 1 King 13. 33. 12. 33. Jer. 7. 31. Numb 15. 39. Deut. 12. 1 4 31. It 's evident the present Ministers of England conform not to the Orders and Ordinances Christ as the great Prophet and Lawgiver to his People hath appointed them to
rationally conclude that these persons are really opposers of his Soveraign Authority and Government doubtless so 'T is the minor or second Proposition that may be under suspition amongst some viz. That the present Ministers of England the very best of them do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not only not of Christs revealing but contrary thereunto In which two things are incumbent upon us to prove 1. That the present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not of Christ's revealing This being a charge as to matter of Fact the production of a few Particulars that lie near at hand for its confirmation will give it a speedy dispatch 1. They own submit and subscribe to the Orders and Offices of Archbishops Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons Eccles Canons Can. 7. with many others appertaining unto this Hierarchie as Orders needful and necessary in the Church of Christ and promise subjection and obedience unto them 2. They own and submit Can. 4. to a Lyturgy or Prescript form of Worship devised by men and imposed solely by their Authority to which they tie themselves neither diminishing nor adding any thing in the matter or form thereof 3. They own submit engage to conform to all the Orders Rites and Ceremonies prescribed in the said Book of Common-Prayer Can. 36. such as bowing at the Name of JESUS using the Cross in Baptism kneeling at the Lords Supper which though we do not some would say smells very strong of the Popish Leven and is but one peg beneath the adoration of their Breaden-god wearing the Surplice c. 4. They own that the Office of a Deacon is the first step or degree to the Ministry Can. 32. 36. to which they are to submit and subscribe before they are made Priests 5. That no person be admitted to expound the Scripture though judged worthy of the Cure of Souls as they speak Can. 49. without License from the Bishop thereunto 6. That there be some lawful Ministers which are no Preachers Can. 49. 57. 7. That these unpreaching Ministers Can. 57. may lawfully administer the Ordinances of Baptisme and the Lord's Supper 8. That persons refusing to have their Children Baptised by such dumb Ministers or receive the Communion from them worthily deserve Excommunication if they shall persist herein Can. 57. 9. That Confirmation by Diocesan Bishops is an Ordinance of God Can. 60. 10. That it appertains to the Office of Ministers to Marry Can. 62. 11. That the Bishop of the Diocess may lawfully for a while suspend a Minister from his Ministry for refusing to Bury the Dead Can. 68. 12. That 't is not lawful for Ministers to preach or administer the Communion in private houses except in times of necessity Can. 71. 13. That no Minister may lawfully appoint or keep any solemn private Fasts or be wittingly present at any of them nor hold any meetings for Sermons in market Towns or other places which if he do and persevere therein he may lawfully be deposed from his Ministry Can. 72. 14. That Ministers ought to be distinguished by their Vestments and Apparel as Gowns Hoods Tippets Square-Caps and in their journeys Cloaks with sleeves called Priests Cloaks Can. 74. with many more that might be added to which the Ministers of England are to subscribe and own as agreeable to the Word of God before their admission into the Ministry according to the 38th Canon Eccleasiastical Are any of these Ordinances and Constitutions of the appointment of Christ when or where were they instituted by him that these are posts set by the Lord's posts and thresholds by his thresholds of which the Lord complains Ezek. 43. 8. who sees not That the present Ministers of England do conform and subscribe hereunto cannot be denied and thence an owning subscribing and submitting to Orders and Constitutions that are not of Christs appointment is evidently evinced Object If it be said That though these Canons and Constitutions owned by the Ministers of England be not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be found in the Scripture of the Institution of Christ in so many words yet by consequence they may rationally be deduced from thence As where it is commanded That all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 40. which 'tis the duty of the Church to make Rules and Constitutions about which when it hath done it is the duty of every Son thereof to own or subject to without questioning its Authority Ans That there is any thing of moment in this Objection though their Achilles in this matter and that which they are upon every turn producing is easily demonstrated The whole of it being built upon as uncertain principles yea upon as notoriously false suppositions as ever objection in so weighty a case was built upon 1. 'T is supposed that Christ hath not determined in the Scripture how the Affairs of his House should be managed with decency and order as well as commanded that they be so which is 1. No small derogation to the perfection of the Scriptures 2. To the Wisdom and Faithfulness of Christ debasing of him herein below Moses though the Scripture in this respect prefers him before him 3. Diametrically opposite to the Scripture instanc'd in which stands as a two-edged Sword to cut the throat of their cause in its approaches thereto for shelter Of which take this brief account The Apostle having in the beginning of the chapter prest the Church of Corinth to follow after Spiritual Gifts but especially that they might prophecy the liberty of the Saints therein being fully asserted and several directions thereabout given he condemns their disorderly practise in respect of this important Duty and Priviledge ver 26. and gives direction touching its regular performance and this he doth first generally ver 26. Let all things be done to edifying which with a little alteration he re-presses ver 40. Let all things be done decently and in order Secondly Particularly by telling them how they ought to manage this affair in a way of Decency Order and Edification wherein several Rules are comprized too long to be here insisted on as in cases of speaking in an unknown Tongue ver 27 28. of prophesying by two or three ver 29 30. of the duties of Women with respect thereunto ver 34 35. that from hence a power invested in the Church for the binding of the consciences of men touching ceremonies in Worship should be regularly deduced is the first-born of improbabilities and absurdities 1. Paul speaking by an infallible Spirit of Prophecy advises the Church of Corinth that all things be done decently and in order therefore persons that have not pretend not to such a Spirit may of their own heads bind our consciences by Laws and Rules of their own in the service of God 2. Paul doth not onely tell them that all things ought to be done decently and in order but discovers to them wherein that Decency and
Order lies therefore the Church hath power to determine in this matter are such Non-sequiturs as will not in hast be made good But let this be granted suppose that 't is the priviledge and duty of the Church to make Laws and Constitutions for the binding of the consciences of men in matters of Decency and Order this Church herein is bounded by the Scripture or it is not If it be †Learned Maccovius in loc com cap. 83. p. 851. sayes Leges secundum quas judicare debent rectores Ecclesiae sunt leges in verbo Dei praescriptae The Laws he tells you by which the Governours of the Church are to judge are such as are prescribed in the Word of GOD. bounded by the Scripture then when it hath no prescription therein for its commands it s not to be obeyed and so we are where we were before that Decency and Order is to be determined by the Scripture If it be not bounded therby then whatever Ceremonies it introduceth not directly contrary thereunto they must be subjected to which how fair an inlet it is to the whole Farago of Popish Inventions who sees not yet were this also yielded them they were never a jot nearer the mark aimed at except it can be proved that supposing a power of introducing Ceremonies to be invested in the Church thence a power for the institution of new Orders and Ordinances the introducing of Heathenish Jewish and superstitious practices in the Worship of God may be evinced And yet should all this be yeelded them none of which will they be able to prove to the worlds end how will they manifest those Lordly Commands and Constitutions are the Constitutions of a truly-constituted Church of Christ a strong supposition hereof is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the present Objection and yet fail they in the making good their ground herein who sees not that their plea hitherto impleaded sinks of it self what is it then they mean by the Church whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are without disputing to subject to is it the National Church of England But where find they any National-Church of the institution of Christ in the Oeconomie of the Gospel how prove they that the Church of England is so Yet should this also be granted where are the Constitutions and Laws of this Church that we may pay the homage to them as is meet when was it assembled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the same place together in its several Members freely to debate 1 Cor. 11. 20. 14. 23. and †Maccovius in loc com append de Adi p. 861. sayes Conditio tertia quae requiritur in adiaphoris est haec quod haec non debeant introduci in Ecclesiam nisi communi consensu Ecclesiae Acts 15. Things indifferent he tells you ought not to be introduced into the Church but by the common consent thereof according to Acts 15. determine what Laws and Constitutions were fit to be observed by them If it be said That this is not requisit it is enough that it be assembled in its several Officers or such as shall be chosen by their Officers whose Laws every Member is bound to be obedient to We answer But these Officers are the Church or they are not if they are not as there is nothing more sure I owe no subjection to their Laws or Constitutions it being pleaded that 't is the Church that hath only power in this matter if they are the Church let them by one Scripture prove they are so or where the true Officers of a true Church are so called and as Nonius saith out of Naevius to them Dum vivebo fidelis ero Yet except this also be yeelded them there is nothing of moment in the Objection produced It remaineth therefore that the present Ministers of England submit own and subscribe to Laws and Constitutions that are not in any sense of Christ's revealing and therefore oppose the Kingly Prophetical Office of Christ But this is not all 2dly The present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Laws Constitutions and Ordinances that are contrary to the Revelation of Christ whence an opposition to the Kingly and Prophetical Office of Christ may rationally be concluded This also by the induction of a few particular instances will be evinced beyond exception They own and acknowledge 1. That there may be other arch-Arch-Bishops and Lord-Bishops in the Church of Christ besides himself which is contrary to 1 Pet. 5. 3. 1 Cor. 12. 5. Eph. 4. 5. Heb. 3. 1. Luk. 22. 25 26. 2. That men may and ought to be made Ministers only by these Lord-Bishops which is contrary to Heb. 5. 4. Joh. 10. 1 7. 13. 20. 14. 6. Act. 14. 23. with 6. 3 5. 3. That Prelates their Chancellors and Officers have power from Christ to cast out of the Church of God contrary to Mat. 18. 16 17. 1 Cor. 5. 4. 4. That the Office of Suffragans Deans Canons Petty-Canons Prebendaries Queristers Organists Arch-deacons Commissaries Officials Parsons Vicars and Curats are lawful and necessary to be had in the Church evidently contrary to 1 Cor. 12. 18 28. Rom. 12. 7. Eph. 4. 11. The Officers instituted by Christ are sufficient for the edification and perfecting of the Saints till they all come unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ ver 12 13. in what sense the fore-mentioned being not one of them of the institution of Christ may be owned as lawful or necessary without an high contempt of the Wisdom and Soveraignty of Christ cannot by such dull persons as my self be conjectured That any others see them any way useful to the Church of Christ may be imputed to such a sharp-sightedness as was that of Caius Caligula to whom when he enquired of Vitellius whether he saw him not imbracing the Moon 't was answered Solis Domine vobis Diis licet se invicem videre 5. That the Office of Deacons in the Church is to be imployed in publick Praying Administration of Baptism and Preaching if licensed by the Bishop thereunto Contrary to Act. 6. 2. Eph. 4. 11. 6. That the Ordinance of Breaking-Bread or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper may be administred to one alone as to a sick-man ready to dye which is diametrically opposit to the nature and institution of that Ordinance 1 Cor. 10. 16. 11. 33. Mat. 26. 26. Act. 2. 42. 20. 7. 7. That a prescript form of words in Prayer a ceremonious pompous Worship devised by Man and abused to Idolatry is according to the will of God and may lawfully be used under the New-Testament-dispensation contrary to Mat. 15. 9. 28. 20. John 4. 23. Deut. 12. 32. Jer. 51. 26. Rom. 8. 26. 1 Cor. 14. 15. 8. That wicked and ungodly persons and their Seed are lawfull Members of the Church and if they consent not willingly to be so they may be compell'd thereunto contrary to
VVorship of England we shall be so far from condemning them therein that we shall bless God for them But this is not to the purpose in hand the attendance of our Brethren upon the Ministry of England is quite another thing that requires other Arguments for its support than we have hitherto met with Parvas habet spes Troja si Tales habet Object 3. Paul rejoyceth at the Preaching of the Gospel though 't was preached out of envy Phil. 1. 15 16. To which briefly 1. There may be cause of rejoycing in respect of the issue and event of things by the wise Providence of God though the means used for their production be evil and not to be abetted or complyed with In what have Christians greater cause of rejoycing than in the death of Christ Yet had it been utterly unlawful to have joyn'd in counsel with or any wayes abetted or encouraged those wicked persons that crucified and slew him Should the Pope send some Jesuits into any remote parts of America to preach the Gosplel to the poor Indians there here were upon some accounts ground of rejoycing yet no ground for Saints to attend upon a Jesuitical Ministry But 2ly it appears not that these Paul speaks of were not true Gospel-Ministers and so it reacheth not the case in hand This being that we have proved the Ministers of England guilty of viz. an acting in the Holy Things of God without any Commission from Christ which when our Dissenting-Brethren prove they have we shall easily acknowledge the lawfulness of attending upon their Ministry 3ly It follows not in the least that these the Apostle speaks of were either not real Saints or not true Ministers of Christ because they are said to preach him out of envy the object whereof was not Christ for had they envied him they would never have preach'd him but Paul thinking says he to add affliction to my bonds which is consistant with Grace and a lawful Mission to the preaching of the Gospel Yet 4thly Here is not in this Scripture the least word requiring Christians to hear them That because Paul rejoyces at their preaching therefore 't is the duty of Saints to attend upon their Ministry is such a Non-sequiter as will never be made good Object 4. The Ministers of England preach Truth and is it not lawful to hear Truth preached We answer 1. That 't is lawful to hear Truth preached is readily granted but this must be done lawfully and in the way of Christ's Appointment 2ly All that preach Truth are not to be heard nor will our dissenting Brethren say they are For 1. There was never yet any Heretical-Preacher in the world but he preached some Truth is it lawful to hear such this will not be said 2. The Devil himself preached Truth yet Christ forbids him and commands that he hold his peace 3. The Popish Priests preach Truth yet who will say 't is lawful to attend upon their Ministry But 3dly As the present Ministers of England preach Truth So 1. They preach it but by halves and dare not for fear of the L. Bishops Inhibition preach any doctrine though never so clearly revealed in the Scriptures and owned by them as the Truth of Christ he commands them not to meddle with 2. The main Truths they preach at least many of them are contradicted in their practice They 'l tell you that the Lord Jesus is the great Prophet and King of his Church but how palpably this is contradicted by them in their practice conforming to Institutions and Laws that are not of his prescription who sees not This we have already abundantly demonstrated 3. With the Truth they preach they mingle many Errors directly contrary to the Scripture and the Revelation Christ hath made of his Will therein Instances of this kind have been already exhibited to which may be added many more we shall mention but a few 1. That the Ministry Worship and Government which Christ hath appointed to his Church is not to be received or joyned unto unless the Magistrates where they are reputed Christian do allow it 2. That the Apocryphal books which have in them Errors 2 Mac. 12. 44 45. 14. 41 42. Eccles 46. 20. Wisd 19. 11. Untruths 2 Esd 14. 21 22 23. 2 Macc. 2. 4-8 Tob. 5. 11 12 13. with 12. 15. Judith 8. 33. 10. 9 with v. 12. 11. 6 12 13 14 15. 1 Mac. 9. 3 18. with 2 Mac. 1. 13 to 17. 9. 1 5 7 9 28 29. Blasphemy Tob. 12. 12 15. with Rom. 8. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Rev. 8. 3 4. Magick Tobit 6. 6 7 8. 9. 2 3. with 3. 7 8. 11. 10 11 13. with 2. 9 10. and contradiction to the Canonical Scriptures Judith 9. 2 3 4. compared with Gen. 49. 5 6 7. Esther in the Apocrypha chap. 12. 5. 15. 9 10. with Ester canonical chap. 6. 3. 5. 2. Eccles 46. 20. with Isa 57. 2. may be used in the Publick Worship of God 3. That the most wicked and their seed may be compelled and received to be members of the Church 4. That Marriage may be forbidden at certain seasons as in Lent Advent Rogation-week c. 5. That Baptism is to be administred with a Cross in the forehead and that as a symbolical sign 6. That though the most notorious obstinate Offenders be partakers of the Lord's Supper yet the people that joyn with them are not defiled thereby 7. That there may be Holy-dayes appointed to the Virgin Mary John Baptist to the Apostles All Saints and Angels together also with Fasts on their Eves on Ember-dayes Fridayes Saturdayes so called heathenishly enough and Lent 8. That the Cope Surplice Tippit Rocket c. are meet and decent Ornaments for the Worship of God and Ministry of the Gospel 9. That the Book of Common-Prayer is the true Worship of God 10. That Christ descended into Hell as if Christ descended into the place of the Damned as the Papists hold 11. That Lord Bishops can give the Holy-Ghost and power to forgive and retain Sins 12. That Altars Candles Organs c. are necessary and useful in the Church of God 13. That all Children †Common-Prayer-Book of Publick Baptism when baptized are regenerate and received by the Lord for his own Children by Adoption Yea 14. That Children being baptized have all things necessary for their Salvation and shall undoubtedly be saved So they profess in the Order of Confirmation in the Common-Prayer-Book with much more that might be offered in this matter Object 5. Judas preached though a wicked man and no doubt 't was lawful yea the duty of Saints to hear him To this we say No doubt but it was so But 1. Judas was not a visible wicked man at the time of his preaching but so close an Hypocrite that he was not known to be so no not to the Disciples But some of the present Ministers of England are visibly wicked and prophane 2. Judas was