Delegats from all the Synods Prouincail that are within the dominion of one common-wealth Let the manner of calling it be the same that is appointed for calling the Prouinciall except the Synode it selfe shall take other order herein vz by some certaine Church yet so as the said Church doe appoint for place and time to holde it in such as the Prouinciall Synode of that Church which shall next ensue shall determine and thinke good For the Nationall Synode three Ministers and three Elders must be chosen out of euery Synode Prouinciall In it the common affaires of all the Churches of the whole nation and kingdome are to be handled as of Doctrine Discipline and ceremonies causes not decided in inferiour Assemblies Appellations and such like By the decree of the Nationall Synode one is to be chosen which shall reduce the commentaries or Actes of all the seuerall Churches into one body Hitherto concerning particular assemblies Now followes the vniuersall or oecumenicall Synode of the whole world And this is the Synode that consisteth and is gathered together of the chosen men out of euery particular Nationall Synode The Acts of all Synodes are to be reduced into one body And thus farre these Chapters of the meetings the particular points whereof maister Cartwright and his companions haue bound themselues by their subscriptions to put in practise without any further expectation for her Maiesties assent And according to these pointes as their numbers and oportunities haue serued their turnes they haue accomplished their bonds and promises as by that which hath beene saide and by depositions vppon othes concerning their meetinges and dealinges in them is most apparant to any that is not blinded with wilfull obstinacie CHAP. XIIII Moe points of their booke put in practise fasts calling of Ministers presbyteries censures c. FVrthermore also they haue not contented themselues with the execution of these thinges onely but they haue besides proceeded in like manner with the ful practising almost of all the rest of the booke It is most notorious that according to the doctrine thereof they haue taken vppon them to appoint publicke fasts and then especially they haue done it when their fellowes haue beene most busie to trouble the present estate of the Church Besides that these fasts with their seueral sermons and other prophecyings haue had another principal vse vz. as Lord did write to Fen of maister Cartwrights pleasure that the day following the brethren might talke of other matters Likewise saith maister Iohnson touching the election and making of ministers I thinke they obserue asmuch as they can the order prescribed in the said booke of Discipline As about Proudloe of Weedenbeck his admission 〈◊〉 I haue heard and Snapes and Larkes The manner whereof is that they renounce the calling they haue had of the Bishops and doe take it againe from the approbation of the Classis And againe they will be content to accept orders from the Bishop as a ciuill matter but doe not thereby account themselues Ministers vntill the godly brethren of some Classes haue allowed them But more fully Richard Hawgar The first degree they haue entered into is this that teaching all Ministers which are called according to the order of the Church of England to bee vnlawfull they doe vrge such as they dare trust and who are Ministers alreadie to seeke at their Classis a new approbation which they terme the Lords ordinance In this action the Minister before allowed of must renounce his former calling and take that calling wherby he must stand of them The manner whereof is this when any doe yeeld hereunto they appoint a day of their Classis c. As the example following wil shew One master Hocknel being to haue a benefice was willed by his Patrone to bring some testimoniall of the Ministers of the shyre for his good conuersation Wherevpon hee came to Maister Snape Who dealt with him as is afore mentioned and Hocknell hauing beene a Minister before some sixe or seauen yeares yeelding Snape with his companions gaue him a text and appointed him a day At which time the Classis met in Saint Peters and hee preached After they assembled themselues willing Hocknell to stand aloofe Then Maister Penry beganne to make a speech exhorting them to be carefull to call vpon God to deale without affectiō in this their action c. After which they fel to the matter Some liked that the man shuld be admitted some otherwise Those that were against him made these two reasons First that hee had not iumped meete in deliuering the Metaphore which was in his text secondly because he was neyther Grecian nor Hebrician So as they ouerruling the rest Hocknell was called for and in some sort commended but yet the speaker of the Classis told him he must take more paines at his book before they could allow of him as a fit Minister Hereupon Master Hocknell and they fell out and he contemning their censure did proceede and tooke possession of his benefice When they call a man that is not alreadie a Minister then hauing vsed the order before mentioned they command him to goe to the Bishops as to a ciuile Magistrate for his writinges which they tearme by a prettie name that this ex hath forgotten and this they say is onely for his safe standing in his former calling receiued of them not that thereby hee receaueth any power to be a Minister On this sort was Master Lark dwelling a little from Wellingborow called After this calling by them the parties so called may preache here and there as he thinketh good vntill hee bee called to a charge then he must go to the Bishop for his better standing and so the people calling him he is a full Minister Maister Snape being a Minister already renounced that his first calling was called by the Classis by that calling hee preached but would not administer the Lords Supper After the parrish of Saint Peters knowing that he must not account himselfe a full Minister vntill some particular congregation had chosen him they chose him for their Minister and so he standeth at this present Thus farre Hawger It is likewise deposed by two that Maister Snape for the answering of a question propounded vnto him said that rather then he would haue stood by vertue of any Letters of orders he would haue bin hanged vpon the gallowes But let Maister Snape speake himselfe Touching the substance of my calling to the ministerie I affirme that I had it of the church of God being approued by the learned godly neighbour Ministers and chosen by the people of my charge to that function Touching that allowance that I had of the Bishop I take it to be a thing meerely ciuile belonging to a ciuile Magistrate which authoritie he hath by Act of Parliament which therefore I might lawfully receaue at his hands for the peaceable execution of my Ministery Againe concerning the Presbyteries which the
I heard from you saith one Blake of the state of the Church of London Another By M. West M. Browne you shall vnderstand the state of the Churches wherein we are A third If my offence may not be passed by without a further confession euen before God and his Church in London will I lie downe and licke the dust at your feete and confesse c. A fourth I receiued a letter from you in the name of the rest of the brethren whereby I vnderstand your ioyning together in choosing of my selfe vnto the seruice of the Church vnder the Earle of Leicester c. I am ready to runne if the Church command me according to the holy decrees and orders of the discipline By these their speeches it appeareth that as they haue cut off themselues from the fellowship of the rest of the Christians in England by ioyning themselues into a seuerall brotherhood so haue they already seduced her Maiesties subiects by gathering them together into a new societie whereunto they doe appropriat the name of the Church as though all other Churches in the realme were but as Iewish Sinagogues or heathenish assemblies This is not you shall see my bare collection heare the witnesses what they hereof haue deposed In these brethrens speaches of the Church or Churches it is to be vnderstood that by the Church of England they meane the Church according to humaine lawes and the Popes which is ruled as they terme it by an Antichristian gouernement And by the Godly Churches or the Churches of God in England they meane such places congregations or assemblies as doe embrace the reformation and haue such a minister as is of some Classis Sometime also by the Church as the Church of God in London is meant the Classis of the brethren or their Synods And so maister Edmondes when they vse these or the like speaches in their writing or otherwise vz. the Church or Churches of God heere with this or that or the Church in London hath done this or that they by they especially meane the Ministers thēselues But for the further clearing of this matter because the chiefe Rabbies of this conspiracie do themselues preach in our material Churches it is to be obserued that the parish where they preach being assembled is not the Church properly in their sence but as many thereof onely as are ioyned vnto them with that inuiolable bond mentioned vz. the desire of the godly discipline and those furthermore who leauing their owne parish Churches doe come vnto them As for example The Church of God forsooth in the Black Fryers doth consist besides that parish of a number of men and Marchauntes wiues dispersed here and there throughout the whole Citie Be content to hear the depositions that are taken to like purpose Maister Snape affirmed as Richard Holmes and Richard Hawgar haue deposed that here one there one picked out of the Prophane and common multitude and put a-part to serue the Lord maketh the Church of God and not the generall multitude Maister Iohnson saith that the brethren of the laitie doe seldome come to their owne parish Churches nor receiue the communion there otherwise then they are compelled for feare of trouble For they account those their pastors onely whom they do so choose And maister Edmonds vpon his experience in London The people of this brotherhood do seldome come to their owne parish Churches otherwise then for feare to incurre some daunger of lawes neyther do they accompt the minister of their parishes to bee any of their pastors properly except he be some one of the brethren Ministers before specified or very effectually inclining that way It is likewise to bee obserued that if any of this faction brotherhood or sisterhood do lie dangerously sicke they do seldome or neuer send for their owne pastors to visite them nor moue them to pray for them publikely in their owne parish as neglecting their praiers but do send to the Readers abroad whom they haue chosen for their pastors both to come vnto them to pray with them and for them in their assemblies This also is to bee obserued that the stricter sort of this crue when they lie at the point of death will haue no bell tolled for them and many of them do take order before their death that afterwardes they be not buried in any Church that there bee no sermon nor any wanner of buriall vsed which is prescribed CHAP. XVI A ridiculous pretence of laws with a recapitulation of the summe of this third booke AS they countenance these their conuenticles vnlawful assemblies before specified with the name of the Church so with the like boldenesse to the same purpose some of them are not ashamed to affirme that by the doctrine of the Church of Englād and by the lawes and statutes of this Realm the present gouernment of the Church of England vnder her Maiestie by Archbishops and Bishops is to bee accounted wicked and vnlawfull and withall in effect that by the saide doctrine lawes and statutes all the former proceedings decrees c. of the brethren are to be maintayned and iustified As by the particular proofes following it will appeare The offices of Lord Archbishops and Bishops c. saith Martin Iunior are condemned by the doctrine of the Church of England The doctrine that condemneth the places of Lorde Bishops is approoued by the statutes of this Realme and her Maiesties prerogatiue royall To be a Lord Bishop is directly against the Statute 13. Elizab. According to the doctrine of the Church of England our Prelates haue no authoritie to make Ministers or to proceede to any ecclesiasticall censure their citations processes excommunications c. are neither to bee obeyed nor regarded Men ought not to appeare in their Courtes a man being excommunicated by them ought not to seeke any absolution at their hands And in the behalfe of the brethren he doth also further affirme that by the said doctrine of the Church of England c. all Ministers bee of equall authoritie that the godly ministers ought to ordaine those that would enter into that function without any leaue of the prelates and not so much as once to suffer them to take any approbation of the prelates that euery minister is bound to preach the Gospell notwithstanding the inhibition of the Bishops that a man being once made a minister is not to be kept backe from preaching by the inhibition of any creature and that by the saide doctrine c. all ministers are bound by subscription c. to disauow the Hierarchie of Bishops When you shall reade these strange assertions so farre passing any ordinary bounds of common modestie think with your selues that it is no maruaile to see their writinges so full of authorities For I do assure you that euen in the like sort and with the same sinceritie
DAVNGEROVS POSITIONS AND PROCEEdings published and practised within this Iland of Brytaine vnder pretence of Reformation and for the Presbiteriall Discipline 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My sonne feare the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious Prou. 24. 21. They despise gouernement and speake euill of them that are in authority Iude. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe 1593. An aduertisement to the Reader THE Author of this Treatise was required by some persons of honor who might dispose of him and his labours to set downe by way of an historicall narration what hee had obserued touching certaine positions holden and some enterprises atchieued or vndertaken for recommending and bringing the Presbiteriall Discipline into this Iland of Brittaine vnder pretence of reformation The performance of which dutie when hee had vndertaken and was entred into it hee found the worke to grow farre greater vpon him then at the first he did imagine Insomuch as although in the beginning he verily supposed tha hee might easily haue contriued his matter into a few sheetes of paper so that as many coppies as were to bee disposed might easily and in very short time haue beene written forth yet by the necessary length of the Discourse as it fell out and through his manifold quotations hee was constrained as the time required to procure for the better dispatch that some fewe copies might bee printed And albeit there is no meaning that this Treatise laboured but for the priuate satisfaction of some fewe especiall persons should otherwise continue then as an vnpublished Copie yet the writer of it wished to haue it signified that nothing is alleadged therein which is not to be found either in Bookes and writinges published to the view of the world such as he thinketh will not be disclaimed or in publike records or else is to be shewed vnder those parties own hands that haue beene either the principall procurers fauorers or dealers in those thinges whereof hee intreateth Which asseueration of his thus made he will be ready as he sayth God assisting him to iustifie at any time for the satisfaction of such as shall make doubt of it And doth further protest with all sinceritie that he hath not willingly detorted any thing in this whole Discourse to make either the cause it selfe or the fauorors thereof more odious then their owne wordes and deeds shall necessarily inferre and enforce against them with all indifferent and considerate Readers Farewell in Christ. The Contents of the first Booke OF two sorts of men that especially disturbe the Church of England and of the drifts of them both by way of a Preface Chap. 1. Fol. 1. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion and of the Doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached Chap. 2. Fol. 7. Of the proceeding of some Scottish Ministers according to the Geneuian rules of Reformation Chap. 3. Fol. 9. How the Geneuian Doctrine or principle for Reformation hath beene amplified by certaine pretended Reformers in Scotland Chap. 4. Fol. 14 The obiections against the doctrine reported of in the former chapter with the Consistorian answeres vnto them Chap. 5. Fol. 16. The proceedinges of certaine Scottish Ministers according to the groundes mentioned in the two last chapters for setting vp of the Consistorian Discipline and of their vrging of our English Disciplinaries to follow their steppes Chap. 6. Fol. 18. The Contents of the second Booke The Doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to have procured the like course for Reformation in England to that which was in Scotland Chap. 1. Fol. 34. Our English Disciplinarians doo imitate the Scottish in their desire of the Consistoriall gouernement sauing that they are more bewitched with a kind of dotage after it Chap. 2. Fol. 41. Our pretended English reformers doo imitate or rather exceede the Scottish Ministers in reuiling and rayling against all that doo encounter them Chap. 3. Fol. 44. The speeches of the said pretended reformers concerning England the State the present reformation and gouernement of the Church Cha. 4. Fol. 47. Some of their vndutifull and consistorian speeches concerning her Maiestie c. Chap. 5. Fol. 48. Some of their rayling speeches against the high court of Parliament and all others generally that do maintaine the present gouernment of the Church of England Chap. 6. Fol. 50 Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell Chap. 7. Fol. 52. Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall Chap. 8. Fol. 54. Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and ceremonies Chap. 9. Fol. 55. How they doo charge the present gouernement with persecution Chap. 10. Fol. 56. Some of their consistorian speeches of the Clergy of England assembled as occasion hath required in the Conuocation house Chap. 11. Fol. 58. Some of their presbiterial speeches of the Bishops of England professing the Gospell Chap. 12. Fol. 58. Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergy in England generally that mislike their designements Chap. 13. Fol. 60. Their especiall drift in their said rayling speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose Chap. 14. Fol. 61. The Contents of the third Booke The practises of certaine English reformers for Discipline from the yeare 1560. vntill the yeare 1572 chap. 1. Fol. 65 The secret meetings for Discipline and the matters handled in them heere in England from 1572. till 1583. chap. 2. Fol. 67 A forme or booke of discipline is drawne and a resolution agreed vppon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church chap 3. Fol. 69 About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their discipline and of a consistorian question chap. 4. Fol. 73 Their Booke of Discipline is reuiewed it was after sent abroad about 1587 it was put in practise in Northamptonshire and many other places cha 5 Fol. 75. A Synode is held at Couentry 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of discipline is subscribed vnto chap. 6. Fol. 85 The booke of the pretended discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certain Synods are kept and of their estimation chap. 7 Fol. 88 Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed chap. 8. Fol. 91 Cartwright is called for by authority a Synode is held in London it is there resolued that he shall refuse to be examined vpon his oath chap. 9. Fol. 93 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline collected out of the rules of their subscribed booke chap. 10. fol. 94 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline out of the articles they subscribed cha 11. fol. 98. It is confessed that they agreed to
that in an assembly had either at his house or at Kettring it was propounded treated and concluded that the Apocrypha writings were not to be read in the Church And in an other assembly which of them he doth not remember he affirmeth likewise that it was debated and concluded vpon that the superiority of the Bishops of this land ouer the rest of the Ministers is not warranted by the word of God To these depositions concerning the Northamptonshire Classes I might adde the depositions of one maister Parker Vicar of Dedham in Essex for the proofe of the Classes in that shire as of one about Brayntree side consisting of these Ministers maister Culuerwell maister Rogers maister Gifford c. another about Colchester consisting of these Ministers Doctor Chapman Doctor Chricke maister Dowe maister Farrar maister Newman master Tey c. and so likewise the depositions of others Ego singulis sabbatis si non alius adueniens locum suppleat cum prescripta leiturgias formula nihil habens cōmertij in coetu concionem habeo idque reuerendorum fratrum consilio qui suos habent singulis ferè hebdomadis conuentus qui etiam me in eorum numerum sic est mihi propitius Deus benigne ascripserunt I preach euery Sabbaoth day if no other that commeth by chance doth supply the place hauing nothing to do at all with the forme or booke of Common Prayer and that by the counsell of the reuerend brethren who haue their meetings almost euery weeke who haue also God being so mercifull vnto me admitted me very kindly into their number But in following of that course I should be too tedious I will onely set downe one mans witnesse more agreeing with Master Iohnson for the proofe that the like Classes are or haue beene held in most Shires in England and so referring you to iudge of them all by that of Northampton I will goe forward About two yeares since Maister Snape did say and affirme in the presence of Edward Smith Robert Vicars Edward Birde Richard Holmes himselfe that there were three or foure small Classes of Ministers in euery shire where there were any learned Preachers who did vse in their meetinges to debate of the Discipline by Pastors Doctors Elders Deacons and that the said seuerall small Classes did send their resolutions and opinions to the greater assemblies at Cambridge at Sturbridge Fayre time and at London at Bartholomew Fayre time which did meete together also for the same purpose and that if the said great assembly did like of that which was done by the smaller Classes then was the same so liked of generally concluded to be that which ought to be or stand in the Church As for example That it was concluded and agreed vpon both in the said Classicall and generall assemblies that the dumbe ministerie was no ministerie or else no lawfull ministerie and that the Ministers in their seuerall charges should all teach one kind of doctrine tending to the erecting of the foresaid gouernement by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons which pointes sayth Holmes of himselfe in another examination were concluded in the Synode at Sturbridge Fayre last vz. 1588. CHAP. VI. A Synode is held at Couentrie 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of Discipline is subscribed vnto THere is mention made in the last chapter of a Synode or meeting 1587. of the Cambridgeshire Classicall Ministers and peraduenture of some others also with them In which meeting there were certain questions propounded dealt in the which questions were afterwards sent by their direction to the Warwickshire Classes or brethren assembled in those parts to bee further intreated of and resolued The next yeare after vz. 1588. the saide Warwickeshire Classes c. assembling themselues together in councel as it seemeth at Couentry the questions mentioned were determined vpon and besides other matters were also concluded as by the acts themselues following to be shewed vnder Maister Wights hand and are acknowledged in effect vppon two mens othes in the Starre-chamber may sufficiently appeare Thus the proceedinges of that meeting are intituled Acta conuentus Classium Warwic die decimo quarti 1588. The Acts of the assembly of the Warwickeshire Classes the tenth day of the fourth moneth And touching the questions specified Questiones a fratribus ex Synodo Cantabrigiensi anno superiore delatae eâ quae sequitur formulâ sunt explicatae The questions brought the other yeare from the brethren of the Cambridge Synode are resolued in manner as followeth I will not trouble my paper with the fourme which they vsed but these were some of their resolutions vz. That priuate Baptisme is vnlawfull That it is not lawfull to read homilies in the Church That the signe of the Crosse is not to be vsed in Baptisme That the faithfull ought not to communicate with vnlearned ministers although they may be present at their seruice if they come of purpose to heare a sermon The reason is because lay men aswell as ministers may read publike seruice That the calling of Bishops c. is vnlawfull That as they deale in causes ecclesiasticall there is no duety belonging vnto them nor any publikely to be giuen them That it is not lawful to be ordained by thē into the ministery or to denounce either suspensions or excommunications sent from thē That it is not lawfull to rest in the Bishops depriuation of any from the ministerie except vpon consultation with the neighborministers adioyning and his flocke it seeme so good vnto them but that he continue in the same vntill he be compelled to the contrary by ciuill force That it is not lawfull to appeare in a Bishops Court but with protestation of their vnlawfulnes That Bishops are not to be acknowledged either for Doctors Elders or Deacons as hauing no ordinary calling That touching the restauration of their Ecclesiasticall discipline it ought to be taught to the people data occasione as occasion should serue That nondum as yet the people are not to be solicited publicè publickly to the practise of the discipline donec till they be better instructed in the knowledge of it That men of better vnderstanding are to be allured priuatly to the present imbracing of the Discipline and practise of it as far as they shall be well able with the peace of the Church And thus farre the prouinciall Synode of the Warwickeshire Classis Likewise at that time there was in the same assembly a great approbation obtained of the foresaid booke of Discipline as to be a draught of Discipline essentiall necessarie for all times and certaine articles being deuised in approbation and for the maner of the vse of that booke were then brought forth treated-of and subscribed vnto as Maister Nutter Maister Cleuely two that were then present haue deposed by Maister Cartwright Maister Fenne Maister Wight c. who promised to guide themselues by the saide Discipline and according to it as it is set downe in the
nourish the superstition of some men or giue ouer themselues to the preseruation of vanity Likewise festi dies sunt commodè abolendi holy daies as we tearme them must be abolished commode as they may handsomely Nowe if this booke had not beene meant to haue beene put in practise in these two pointes before it had come forth authorised by law they would haue said for the reasons alledged from henceforth let there be or it is ordered that there shall be no more preaching at burials nor holy dayes obserued or let them henceforth be abolished Moreouer reliquae liturgiae tota ratio in sacramentorum administratione ex vsu ecclesiae in nuptiarum benedictione consist it Cuius forma commodissima est quae ab ecclesiis vsurpatur quae disciplinam ex Dei verbo instaurârunt The rest of the liturgy doth consist in the administration of the Sacraâ—ents and as the vse of the Church is in blessing of mariages The forme whereof is most fit and commodious that is vsed by those Churches which haue erected the discipline according to the worde of God In the Parliament 27. of her Maiestie as I remember the brethren hauing made another booke tearmed at that time A booke of the forme of common prayers c. and contayning in it the effect of their whole pretended discipline the same booke was penned altogether statute and lawlike and their petition in the behalfe of it was vz. May it therefore please your maiesty c. that it may be enacted c. that the booke hereunto annexed c. intituled a booke of the forme of common prayers administration of Sacraments c. and euery thing therein contained may be from henceforth authorized put in vre practised throughout all your maiesties dominions See here when they hoped to haue attained their purposes by law and to haue had the same accordingly established they offered to the Parliament a booke of their own for the forme of common praiers c. and thought it as it seemeth altogether inconuenient to leaue euery minister to his owne choyse to vse what forme hee list other then such as were allowed in some Church which had receiued the Discipline for any such they liked-of indefinitly Whereby it to me it seemeth manifest that they neuer meant to haue required the enacting of that Chapter de reliquis liturgiae officijs but onely to set downe what course their bretheren should follow for the interim vntill they might take further order for a booke of their owne Lastly in all this whole booke of Discipline there is not once mention made of any authority or office in or ouer the Church belonging to the Christian ciuill Magistrate Hee hath not so much as either voyce or place in any of their Synodes as a member thereof except he be chosen to be an Elder He hath not any power assigned vnto him to call a Synode no though it bee a Nationall Synode nor so much as to appoint the particular times or places of their meetinges nor which is most strange so much as that his assent is to be required to any of their Canons But all these thinges are set downe in this booke as of right to appertaine vnto their Ministers and Elders For the tryall whereof I must needes referre you to the booke it selfe which is in many mens handes where you shall finde the brethren ascribe that to themselues which in the greatest darkenes of Popery all the BB s. in the Land for ought I doo remember durst neuer challenge Which is a proofe sufficient that either they meant by cunning to haue depriued her Maiesty by her owne consent of all her regall authority in these and such like causes of the Church as not of right belonging vnto her which they will not acknowledge or otherwise that they had agreed without her consent to take this authority vnto themselues which if they had any conscience they would not stick to confesse that being assuredly their currant doctrine as in some other place it shall hereafter more fully appeare But it may be said that these are onely collections Well let them be as they are Indeede there is no cause why I should stand vpon collections hauing yet in store most euident demonstrations CHAP. XI Further proofe for their practise of their Discipline out of the articles they subscribed THere hath beene often mention made of the articles whereunto the brethren subscribed for their allowance and practise of the sayd booke of Discipline and they are worde for worde as here I doo set them downe according to the deposition of those that subscribed vnto them and as they are to bee shewed vnder Maister Wights hand We the brethren assembled together in the name of God hauing heard and examined by the word of God according to our best abilitie and iudgement in it a draught of discipline essential and necessary for all times and Synodicall gathered out of the Synodes and vse of the Churches haue thought good to testifie concerning it as followeth We acknowledge and confesse the same agreeable to Gods most holy word so farre as we are able to iudge or discerne of it excepting some fewe pointes which wee haue sent to our Reuerend brethren of this assembly for their further resolution We affirme it to be the same which wee desire to be established in this Church by daily praier to God which we promise as God shall offer oportunity and giue vs to discerne it so expedient by humble suit vnto her Maiesties honour able Councell and the Parliament and by all other lawfull and conuenient meanes to further and aduance so farre as the lawes and peace and the present estate of our Church will suffer it and not enforce to the contrary We promise to guide our selues and to be guided by it and according to it For more especiall declaration of some points more important and necessarie we promise vniformely to follow such order when we preach the word of God as in the booke by vs is set downe in the Chapters of the office of Ministers of the word of preaching or sermons of Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper Further also wee promise to followe the order set downe in the Chapters of the meetings as farre as it concerneth the Ministers of the worde For which purpose we promise to meete euery sixe weekes together in Classicall conferences with such of the brethren here assembled as for their neighbourhood may fit vs best and such other as by their aduise we shall be desired to ioyne with vs. The like wee promise for Prouinciall meetinges euery halfe yeare from our conferences to sende vnto them as is set downe in the Chapter concerning the Prouinces and the conferences belonging vnto them beeing deuided according to the order following Likewise also that we will attend the generall assembly euerie yeare and at all Parliaments and as often as by order it shall be thought good to be assembled Hitherto
conclusion bee made with some short forme of blessing the congregation taken out of the Scriptures For the practise of this order I referre the proofe of it to all those who haue obserued the manner of any of the brethrens behauiour in their seuerall Churches The most of them that are but Doctors as they terme themselues and readers of Lectures in other mens charges do seldom or neuer come to the seruice which is read in the Church according to her Maiesties Lawes but vnder pretence of studying for their sermons doo absent themselues vntill seruice bee done or at the least almost finished and then they come in grauely I warrant you and doo goe to this their owne forme of seruice The rest of the fraternity that haue cures of their own some of them will haue a Parliament Minister as they terme him vnder them to say seruice and then he himselfe dealeth as it hath beene noted of the Doctor but others that are not able to haue such a one they for their safer standing as their tearme is doo vse some piece of our seruice-booke and peraduenture reade a lesson which things they affirme as it hath beene touched may be performed as wel by those that are not ministers as by them And then they in like sort doo begin their owne ministeriall function and proceede according to the foresaide fashion subscribed-vnto and promised But to proceede vnto their practise of other pointes of that booke The Preachers must leaue off by little and little as they may conueniently to preach at burials least thereby they nourish the superstition of some men or giue ouer themselues to the preseruation of vanity Let not women onely offer infants to Baptisme but the father if it may be conueniently or els some others in his name Let perswasions be vsed that such names as doo sauour either of Paganisme or Popery bee not giuen to children at their Baptisme but principally those whereof there are examples in the Scriptures Whether these pointes especially for two of them haue beene practised by the brethren or not the newe Churchyard in London and many brables in the country about vrging of the natural fathers to become Godfathers to their owne children c can more then sufficiently witnesse And for the third it is also sundry waies apparant For whence else doo these new names and fancies proceede The Lord is nere More-tryall Reformation Discipline Ioy-againe Sufficient From-aboue Free-gifts More-fruite Dust. and many other such like But Richard Hawgar of Northampton did first vnder his hande and after vppon his oath deliuer an especiall history to this purpose of giuing names Snape would not Baptise one Christopher Hodgkinsons childe because hee would haue the childe called Richard The order was this Hodgkinson obtained promise of Snape that he would christen his childe But saith Snape you must then giue it a Christian name allowed in the Scriptures The partie told him that his wiues father whose name was Richard desired the name Well saith Snape you must doe as I bidde you that when you come the congregation be not troubled But notwithstanding the said Hodgkinson not thinking it would haue beene made a matter of such importance the child was brought Snape proceeded in the action till hee came to the naming of the child And when he heard that they called the child Richard that they would giue him no other name hee staied there and would not in any wise Baptize the child And so the child was carried away thence was Baptized the weeke following at Alhallowes being named Richard Of likelyhoode the brethren haue founde this thing to be a matter of great importance that they wil rather leaue an infant vnbaptized then giue him such a name CHAP. XIII A second point of their Booke confessed to be agreed vpon for the practise of it without her Maiesties assent NOw I wil come to Master Cartwrights second point that is of the meetings and set downe the Chapters wherevnto in the Articles subscribed they referred themselues that thereby herafter no man that wil read them may doubt of their purpose of not staying for the Magistrate which are as follow so neere as I could by translation of them out of Latin expresse their meaning Mutuall conference is to bee practised in the Church by common assemblies but in these matters Ecclesiasticall are to bee handled and such chieflie as concerne those Churches whereof the assemblie doth consist They shall not determine except they be requested of anie thing touching other Churches but shall only decree that such matter is to be referred to the next greater assemblie Let the matters and order of thinges to be handled in them be thus Next after the view or calling of those that be present wherin withall the names of such as bee absent must be noted that in the next Assembly they may eyther yeeld sufficient reason of their absence or els bee censured by the iudgement of the assemblie first let the Acts of the next assemblie afore that was of the same sort bee read to the intent that if any thing of them were left then vndone it may be dispatched Then let those matters be done that are peculiar to the Assembly in hand And first let euerie of them deliuer the instructions from their Churches in the same order that they sit together with the Fiduciary or Letters of credence of the Churches next let there be * censures had of the Churches of that assembly whereby may bee vnderstood how they are framed and vsed whether the doctrine and the Discipline haue their course in them and whether the officers of them doe that which appertaineth and such like Besides let them decree those things that shall concerne eyther the common behoofe of all the Churches of that assemblie or of any one of them and this course will be sufficient enough for the view and ouersight of the Churches Lastly if it so seeme good let there bee inquirie Censures had euen of those which be delegated to meete in that Assemblie Such as are to meete in the Assemblies let them bee chosen by the Suffrages of those Churches or Assemblies that haue interest or to doe in it and out of these let such only be chosen as hath exercised some publike office in that Church eyther of a Minister or of an Elder and which hath subscribed both to the doctrine and Discipline and which haue vndertaken to behaue themselues in all things according to the word of God It shall be lawful for other Elders Ministers yea for Deacons and Students in Diuinitie by the appointment of the assemblie especially if they be such as doe exercise themselues in interpreting the Scriptures in the Assemblie to be both present to bee asked their iudgements these of the latter sort are therefore to be admitted that their iudgements to handle the affaires of the Church may hereby both be tried and sharpned Yet let
none be counted to haue a voice but those onely that were chosen by the Church which bring their commissions consigned vnto them If any matter be to bee consulted of that is of speciall importance let the President of the last superior Assembly or the Minister of that Church in which the next Assembly is to be made send it ouer in due time vnto the Ministers of all the churches of that assemblie to the intent they may afore treate thereof with those of their charge and so may know and report their iudgements In making choise of a place for the Assemblies respect is to be had of neerenes and other oportunities in case any party may instly finde himselfe grieued aboue the rest It is expedient that in euerie Ecclesiasticall Assembly there be a President which may gouerne the assembly and that he bee from time to time chaunged if it may be conueniently he must be thus chosen viz. He that was President of the last Assemblie of that kinde afore or the Minister of that congregation where the Assemblie is made conceiuing first a praier directed to that purpose shall preferre vnto the Assemblie the motion for choise of a President The President beeing thus chosen conceiuing first a Prayer fitting vnto the whole action and Assembly shall call ouer the names of those which be present and which bee absent and note them that the absents may be called-vpon at the next assembly to yeeld a reason of their absence Which if it be not sufficient let them be censured by the authoritie of the Assemblie Then let him read the Actes of the last Assembly that if any thing thereof remaine it may then bee dispatched Then shall be aske of euerie one in order as they sit their letters fiduciarie or of credence and their instructions signed Which being propounded in the same order and sufficiently debated by all their opinions hee shall aske their iudgements and gather the suffrages and pronounce what the greater part adiudgeth Which be shall procure to be put into Actes that the Delegates of the seuerall Churches may procure copies and transcripts to bee made which they may impart vnto those Churches to whome it appertaineth The President also by the iudgement and authority of the Assembly is to giue answere either by word of mouth or by letters to such as require it If any censures be to be inflicted hee is to performe them He shall also take care that all things be godly and quietly carried by exhorting them vnto quietnes and moderation of minde one bearing with another as neede shall bee and by preferring vp such as be wilfull and contentious vnto the Assembly lastly he shall propound vnto them touching the time of their next meeting and then with exhortation vnto them chearefully to goe forward in their duety and with thanksgiuing he shall curteously dismisse them Before the dismission of the Assembly let no man depart but with leaue The assemblies according to their seuerall kindes if they bee greater are of more if they be lesse they are of lesse authoritie Therefore it is lawfull to appeale from a lesse assemblie to a greater if any man thinke he haue iniurie except the fact be most euident and plaine vnto euery man but yet none otherwise but that the iudgement of the assemblie shall hold vntill it shall be otherwise adiudged in an assemblie of greater authoritie Assemblies are eyther Classes or Synods Classes are conherences of the fewest Ministers of Churches standing neare together as for example of twelue The chosen men of all the seuerall Churches of that assembly are to meete in conference that is to say for euery Church a minister and an Elder and they shall meete euerie fortnight They shall chiefly endeuour the ouersight and censure of that Classis searching particularly whether in them euery thing be done according to the holy doctrine and discipline of the Gospell vz. Whether any question bee arisen touching any point of doctrine Whether the Ecclesiasticall discipline haue his course Whether any Minister be wanting in any of the Churches that they may speedily prouide a fit person Whether the rest of the Elders and Officers of the Church bee appointed in euery Church Whether care be had ouer schollers and the poore In what pointes the Classes doo want aduise for the further aduancing of the Gospell among them Before they make an ende let some of the Ministers present make a sermon either in course or being chosen thereto by voyces Of whome the rest of the Ministers secluding the Elders shall iudge among themselues and if in any point it shall be requisite they shall monish him brotherly weighing euery thing according to the course afore laid-downe in the Chapter touching those things which are to be performed by him that preacheth to the congregation Synodes A Synode is an assembly of chosen men from â—oe Churches then those that be in one Classis or conference In these the Articles of the holy Discipline and Synodicall must alwaies be read also in them after all other thinges be finished censures or inquisition made vpon all that be present and the supper of the Lorde shall bee celebrated by them in and with that congregation where the Assembly is made if conueniently it may be Of Synodes there be two sortes the first is particular and this conteineth vnder it both Prouinciall and Nationall Synodes A Prouinciall Synode is an assembly of those which bee delegated from all the Classes or conferences of that Prouince Let euery Prouince conteine in it 24. Classes This may be fitte order for the assembling together of a Synode Prouinciall vz. Let this care be laid vpon some certaine Church by consent of the Synode let that Church with aduise of the Classis whereof it is prefixe the place and time for the Assembly let other Churches sende vnto such Church those matters which seeme vnto them of some difficultie to determine and likewise those matters that doo appertaine to the whole Prouince and that diligently in conuenient season to th'intent that that Church may in due time giue aduertisement vnto all the Classes of the Prouince both of the time and place and of the matters to be handled so that such as are sent may come better prepared and that they may iudge thereof according to the resolution of their owne seuerall Classes or conferences Let euery Classis sende vnto the Prouinciall Synode two Ministers and as many Elders It shall bee called euery halfe yeare or more often vntill the Discipline be confirmed But before a Nationall Synode be celebrated let it be called three months afore that they may prepare and furnish vp those things that belong vnto it Let the Acts of all the Prouinciall Synodes be sent vnto the Nationall by that Church in which the Prouinciall assembly was had and let euery Minister be furnished with the copies of the Acts and with the reasons vsed The Nationall is a Synode consisting of the