of Antichrist can not be found amongst the vvorst of our ministers For neyther do the lavves of our Church allovv any to teach false doctrine and vve all professe Christ to be the onely lavv giver to the conscience neyther is any thing amongst us vrged to be done vpon payne of damnation but onely the vvord and lavv of God Answer to the 2. Section MAyster H. sayth here he is not vnwilling to yeeld to the first part of the reason Yet afterward in his letter when he hath taken some exception agaynst the prooff off it contradicting himselff he hath these words And this I hope may be sufficient to show how vntrue that is which is affirmed in the first part of the reason c. Now to yeeld to the first part of the reason as being true and to hold that which is affirmed in it to be vntrue what are these but contradictary the one to the other But to let this passe because it may be I mistake his meaning or he forgott himselff I com to show that the words off the Apostle written 2. Thes. 2. 4. c. do fitly and directly proue the first part off the reason and therefore are not for the proof thereof wrested and perverted from the right sence as he taketh exception I prove it thus first If this Scripture teach that such as receyv or ioyne vnto Antichrist that man of sinne in his apostasy opposition and exaltation above all that is called God and that is holy that such I say shall perish because they receyv not the love off the truth but are caryed with a strong delusion to beleev lies and to please themselues in that transgression of the lawes and ordinances off God then it proueth that the people off God may not receyv or ioyne vnto any which deale with the holy things off God aÌ„d work vpon mens coÌ„sciences by vertue off any off that Antichrists power offices and callings because in so doyng they cannot but haue fellowship in that apostasy opposition and exaltation off Antichrist and thereby stand subiect to perish eternally forasmuch as they receyv not the loue off the truth but in a strong delusion please themselues in vntruth and vnrighteousnes even in Antichrists traÌ„sgression off the lawes and ordinances off Iesus Christ. But the former is true as may appeare by comparing together vers 3. 4. 7. 8. with vers 10. 11. 12. Therefore also the latter Next for proof hereoff let us marke how the Apostle describeth Antichrist in this Scripture Which we fynd to be by many mo effects and propertyes then Mr. H. hath noted and such also as do plainely show that this Scripture proveth the truth of the first part of the reason for which it is alledged 1. As first that Antichrist shall make Apostasy and departure from the faith and order off Iesus Christ prescribed to his Church Which whether he haue not done it in the offices of ministery in the entrance into them in the works and maintenance off them aswell as in other poynts off the faith and commaundements of Christ let the things themselues speak 2. Secondly that he shall be a man of sinne Where it is to be obserued that as the true Church of Christ is compared to the body of a man and together with Christ the head thereof is called by the name of Christ 1. Cor 12. 12. so the false Church of Antechrist is compared also to the body of a man and consisting of all the parts together is called a man of sinne even wholy given and caryed to sinne and transgression of the law of God Which as in other parts it is to be seen so also in the offices and functions of that body of Antechrist that man of sinne 3. Thirdly that he shall first work as it were in secrett â—n a mystery by little and litle gaynesaying and corrupting the â—aith and ordinances of Iesus Christ. 4. Fourthly that afterward when that which hindreth â—s taken away he shall then be manifested and at length exalted â—n his throne being in his ministery worship lawes and coÌ„â—titutions opposed against and lifted vp aboue the Lord Iesus â—nd his true faith servants ministery ordinaÌ„ces and all holy â—hings he hath given to his Church 5. Fiftly that he shall thus be exalted not without â—he Church among the heathen or Iewish infidels but in the â—osome of the Church amoÌ„g them that professe Christ so as he â—hall sit in the Temple of God preteÌ„ding that he is as God giving â—les aÌ„d lawes to the consciences of meÌ„ for the service of God 6. Sixtly that he shall be A lawles man who will not 〈◊〉 tyed to the lawes and ordinances off Iesus Christ but will â—spise and opyugne them and sett vp others off his own at â—s pleasure 7. Seventhly that Sathan shall set all his power and cunning as to erect and establish so also to vphold this throne and kingdome of Antichrist And that with such power and lying wonders as if it were possible the very elect should be deceyved 8. Moreover that notwithstanding all the power of Sathan auÌ„d the Apostasy subtilâ—y opposition exaltation and iniquity of the man of sinne yet at length he shall with all his offices and constitutions be vtterly consumed by the spirit and povver of Christ Iesus appearing in the brightnes of his Gospell before the last day Wherevpon also he is here called the sonne of perdition being by God foreappoynted to be destroyed and abolished 9. Finally that they which partake in his apostasy and iniquity shall justly perish because they receyv not the love of the truth to obey Iesus Christ that they might be saved but being strongly deluded beleev and please themselves in the lyes and vnrighteousnes of Antichrist vnto condemnation By all which it appeareth both how vnperfitly Mr. H. hath noted down the marks of Antichrist described in this place and that Antichrist is here described to haue vnlawfull callingâ— and offices For otherwise how should he stand in apostasy from the true callings and offices aswell as from the other ordinances appoynted by Iesus Christ how els should he stand so directly in opposition against and so proudly in exaltation aboue all that is called God and that is holy how should he els be said to be lavvles contemning and treading vnder foot the lawes and commaundements of Iesus Christ Yea how should he els deceyv the world so as he doth in all deceyveablenes of vnrighteousnes if he had not vnlawfull callings and offices wherein to teach and reigne over the people â—educed by him which yet they beleving lyes should count to be lawfull as they do even vnto this day But to let other reasons alone and to take the marks of Antichrist which Mr. H. hath himself here set down I would aske first how Antichrist shall teach his false doctrine which here Mr. H. noteth to be one marke whether in the
lawfull offices and callings ordeyned by Christ or in the vnlawfull offices and callings devised by Sathan and vsed by this man of sinne in his Apostasy Secondly how he shall vsurpe that authority to give lawes vnto mens consciences and to rule in the hearts of men as God which Mr. H. noteth as theâ— other marke whether in the true offices and callings appoynted by Christ or in false ones devised by Sathan aÌ„d himself For the very termes and actions of teaching and of vsurping authority here mentioned by Mr. H. do in this case imply some offices and callings lawfull or vnlawfull wherein to teach and vsurpe authority Now lawfull they can not be because he standeth in apostasy from Christs way yea oppositt against it and even lawles in that respect It remayneth therefore that they are vnlawfull ones And being found not one lyin the papacy but in the Church of England it followeth that they are not to be receyved or ioyned vnto in the one any more then in the other as also that this Scripture is not wresâ—ed but fitly and foundly alledged for the proof of the first part of the reason But because Mr. H. taketh exception at the proof though all in vayne yet for his better satisfaction and more strenghtning of the proposition let him further consider first that as Christ being king and Lord of his Church hath given vnto it the holy things of his word Sacraments Censures Treasury etc. so he hath also as Lord and king appoynted offices of his own to contiâ—â—e to the end of the world to witt Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers for the due administration of these his holy things according to his word being lawfully called therevnto So as neyther any may medle therewith by vertue of any Antichristian power office or calling nor if they do may any ioyne with them therein least partaking in theyr sinnes they receyv also of theyr plagues Secondly that our consciences are the Temples of the holy Ghost Wherrvpon it must needs follow that we may not suffer Antichrist to fitt in them at all as he doth whensoever we suffer them to be wrought vpon in the ministery of the word or any other wayes by vertue of any Antichristian power office or calling And this I thought to annexe for the further confirmation of the first part of the reason which though in word Mr. H. seemeth to graunt yet in deed he laboreth to oppugne Now where he saith the lawes of theyr Church allow not any to teach false Doctrine although this be not much materiall towching the poynt in controversy seing they allow not any to teach true doctrine but in false and Antichristian callings which is vtterly vnlawfull to be done yet we fynd that by the lawes of theyr Church many false doctrines are and may be tauht amoug them A tast of which leaven of theyrs I will give in some particulars as followeth 1 That there may be in the Church other Archbishops and Lordbischops then Iesus Christ which is contrary to 1 Pet. 5. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 12. 5. Eephes 4. 5. Heb. 3. 1. etc. Luk. 22. 25. 26. 2 That men may and â—ught to be made ministers by these Lord Bishops that is may enter into the ministery by another way then Christ hath sett down in his word and by other Lord bishops then Iesus Christ which is contrary to Heb. 5. 4. Ioh. 10. 1. 7. and 13. 20. aÌ„d 14. 6. Ier. 23. 21. Act. 14. 23. with 6. 3. 5. 3 That the Prelates and theyr chaunceloâ—â—â—s aÌ„d officials haue Christs power to excommunicate aÌ„d cast out of the Church of god which is coÌ„trary to Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 4. 4 That the ministers of the Church may be civil magistrates also and exercise civill authority in the comon wealth Which is contrary to Mat. 20. 25 26. 2 Tim. 2. 4. Rom. 13. 1. etc. Rev. 17. 18. 5 That meÌ„ may give the titles of the lord Iesus vnto the Prelates to call them their Arch and Lord Bishops reverend Fathers and such like Which is contrary to these Scriptures Esa 42. 8. et 5. 20. Mat. 23. 8. 9. 10. Iob. 32. 21. 22. 2 Thes. 2. 4. 6 That the Lord Bishops can give the holy Ghost and power to retayne and forgive sinnes As when they make any Ministers they say vnto them Receyv the holy Ghost whose sinnes thou doest forgive they are forgiven and whose sinnes thou doest retayne they are retayned Which is contrary to Luk 11. 13. Ioh. 3. 8. and 15. 26. 27. and 20. 21. 22. 23. Gal. 3. 5. and 4. 6. Act. 8. 18. 19 20. 21. Luk. 5. 21. 7 That the ministers of Christ may exceâ—ute their ministery vnder these Lord Bishops and their Chauncelours and Archedacons aÌ„d cease preahing aÌ„d leav their floks at their appointmeÌ„t Which is coÌ„trary to 1. Cor. 12. 5. and 9. 16. Ier. 48. 10. Act. 4. 18. 19. 20. Ioh. 10 12 13. Amos. 7. 12. 13. 14. 15. 8 That the offices of suffraganes Deanes Cauâ—â—s Petticanons PreheÌ„daryes Oueristers Organists ArchdeacoÌ„s Comissaryes Officials Parsons Vicars Curats stipeÌ„dary preachers and the rest of that sort among them are lawfull and necessary to be had in the Church of Christ. Which is contrary to these Scriptures 1. Cor. 12. 18. 28. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. Num. 16. 40. and 18. 4. 7. Esa. 1. 12. Rev. 9. 3. Ier. 51. 26. 9 That the Deacons office in the Church is to be employed in publick prayer administration of Baptisme and ministery of the wold being by the Prelates licensed herevnto which is contrary to Act. 6. 2. 3. 4. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. Rom. 12. 7. 8. 10 That there is and may be now an office of priesthood in men for the Ministery of the Gospell Which is contrary to Heb. 7. 11. 1â— 16. 18. 23. 24. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 5. 28. 11 That the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospell may be by tithes and offrings which must needs be Iewish or Popish Contrary to Heb. 7. 12. 1 Cor. 9. 13. 14. Phil. 4. 10. 18. Rom. 15. 27. Gal 6 6. 12 That Christ in his soule descended into hell whilest his body lay in the grave which doctrine is CoÌ„trary to these Scriptures Luk. 23. 43. 46. Ioh. 19. 30. Col. 2. 14. 15. Luk. 16. 26. Eccles. 12. 7. 13 That Christ hath not sert in his Church an Eldership to continew aswell vnder Christian as heathen Princes Which doctrine is contrary to 1 Tim. 4. 14. and 5. 17. and 6. 13. 14. 15. Mat. 28 20. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ti. 1. 5. Act. 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. and 21. 18. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 14 That the ministery worship and government which Christ hath appoynted to his Church is not to be receyved or ioyned vnto vnles the magistrates do allow it where they are Christian. Which is contrary to Mat. 28 20. 1 Tim. 3. 15. and 5. 21.
and 6. 13. 14. 15. with 2 Tim. 2. 2. Act. 5. 29. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Mar. 8. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. Esa. 51. 1â— 13 Luk 12. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. and 21. 12. 13. Psal. 2. 10. 11. 12. Rev. 12. 11. 17. and 14. 12. 15 That the Apoâ—ryphal books which have in them errours vntruths Blasphemy magick and contradiction to the Canonicall Scriptures may be vsed in the publik worship of God Which is contrary to 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. Gal. 3. 15. Rev. 22. 18. d19 2. Pet. 1. 16. 19. 20. 21. 1 Tim. 6. 3. 4. 5. Rom. 3. 2. with Deut. 4. 2. 5. 6. Pro 30 5. 6. Psal. 19. 7. 8. 9. 16 That there may be a prescript leiturgy and sett forme of service in the Church devised and imposed by maÌ„ for the worship of God Which doctrine is contrary to these Scriptures Esa. 29. 13. 14. Mat. 15. 9. Exod. 10. 4. 5. 6. Psal. 119. 21. 113. 128. Gal. 3. 15. Ephes. 4. 7. 8. 17 That the book of common prayer taken owt of the Popes porâ—uis is the true worship and service of God for his Church and people Which is contrary to Deut. 12. 30. 31. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11. and 22. 18. 19. 2 Thes. 2. 3. 4. 8. Ier. 51. 26. Ioh 4. 23. 24. Mat. 15. 9. and 28. 20. 18 That one may read other mens words vpon a book and offer them vp to God as theyr own prayers and sacrifices Which doctrine is contrary to Rom. 8. 26. 27. 1. Pet. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 14. 15. 1 Sam. 1. 15. Psal. 66. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Esa 29. 13. 14. Rev. 8. 3. 4. 19 That the most wicked and theyr seed may be compelled and receyved to be members of the Church Which is contrary to Psal. 110. 3. Act. 2. 40. 41. 47. and 19. 9. Lev. 20. 26. Ezra 6 21. 2 Cor. 6. 14. 17. and 9. 13. Ioh. 15. 19. 20 That mariage may be forbidden at certayne seasons of the yeare as in lent Adveâ— Rogation week etc. which Doctrine is contrary to 1 Cor. 7. â— Heb. 13. 4. with 1 Tim. 4. 3. and Dan. 7. 25. 21 That mariage is an ecclesiasticalâ— not a civill action neyther lawfull except it be solemnized vp a Priest which is contrary to â—uth 4. 1. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Pro. 3. 17. Mal. 2. 14. Deut. 22. 23. 24. Hev 13. 4. Gen. 29. 21. 22. 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. Deut. 12. 32. 22 That women may administer the Sacrament of Baptisme Which is contrary to 1 Cor. 14. 34. 35. 1 Tim. 2. â—2 Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 23 That Baptisme is to be administred with a crosse in the forehead aÌ„d that also as a symbolical signe which is contrary to Mat. 28. 18. 19. Reb. 14. 9. and 22. 18. Rom. 4. 〈◊〉 with 1 Cor. 2. 13. Exod. 20. 4. 5. 6. Psal. 119. 113. 128. 24 That the Lords super is to be administred with these words The body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee preserue thy body and soule etc That is with other words then those of Christs institution yea with such as are taken out of the Popes masse book Which is contrary to 1 Cor. 11. 23. 24. 5. Luk 22. 19. 20. Deut. 12. 30. 31. with 2. Thes. 2. 3. 4. 8. 25 That the Sacrament of the Lords supper may be administred to one alone as to the sick man ready to dy etc. which is contrary to 1 Cor. 10. 16. 17. and 11. 33. Mat. 26. 26. 27. Act. 2. 42. and 20. 7. 26 That the Lords supper is to be receyved kneeling which is contrary to Mar. 14. 18. 22. 23. 1 Cor. 10. 21. and 11. 20. and 14. 40. Exod. 20. 4. 5. 1 Thes. 5. 22. 27 That though the open notorious obstinate offenders be partakers of the Sacraments yet neyther the Sacraments nor the people that ioyne with them are defiled thereby Which doctrine is contrary to 1 Cor. 10. 17. â—ag 2. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 5. 6. Eccles. 10. 1. Mat. 18. 8. 9. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Exod. 12. 43. Ezra 6. 21. 22. Lam. 1. 10. Lev. 11. 24. and 13. 45. 46. and 15. 4. 5. 6. 7. 31. and 19. 7. Numb 5. 2. 3. and 19. 21. 22. Iosua 7. 11. 12. 28 That prayer is to be used over the dead at buriall Which is contrary to Exod. 20. 7. with Eccles. 11. 3. and Luk. 16. 26. Hos. 9. 4. Mat. 6. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 1 Ioh. 5. 14. Iam. 1. 6. with Rom. 14. 23. 29 That there may be holy dayes appoynted to the virgin mary to Iohn Baptist to the Apostles and all Saints and Angels together also with fasts on theyr tves on Ember dayes Frydayes Saterdayes and Lent Which doctrine is contrary to Exod. 20. 8. 9. 10. 11. Galat. 4. 10. 11. Col. 2. 16. 18. 21. 23. with 1. Tim 4. 1. 2. 3. Act. 20. 7. 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. Rev 1. 10. and 19. 10. and 22. 18. 19. 30 That the coap surplice tippett rochet square cap and such like are meet and decent ornaments for the worship of God and ministery of the Gospell which is contrary to Esa. 30. 22. Exod. 20. 4. 5. Deut. 12. 30. 32. Psal. 119. 113. 128. 1 Tim. 3. 2. 31 That the oth ex officio in theyr ecclesiasticall courts making men sweare to accuse themselues etc. is lawfull and to be used which is contrary to Exod. 20. 7. Ier. 4. 2. Ioh. 18. 19 20. 21. 22. 23. with mat 26. 63. Act. 23. 35. and 24. 13. and 25. 16. Deut. 19. 15. These and divers other false doctrines do the lawes of theyr Church allow to be taught And if any among them teach otherwise they are subiect to be suspended excommunicated degraded deprived by theyr Lords the Prelates theyr Chauncelours and Officials And we because we teach and walk otherwise are haled to prisons and gallowes banished and rayled upon yea hated of all men for the truths sake Now as you see the lawes of theyr Church allow false doctrine to be taught so for theyr preaching also of the truth consider I pray you what themselues haue heretofore written of themselues In an admonition to the Parliament they say and write of theyr Church estate as followeth We are say they so scarce com to the outward face of a Church rightly reformed that although some truth be taught by some preachers yet no preacher may without great daunger of the lawes utter all the truth comprised in the book of God It is so circumscribed and wrapt within the compasse of such articles such penaltyes such Injunctious such advertissements such articles such canons such sober caveats and such manifold pamphlets that in maner it doth but peep out from behind the skreen The lawes of the land the book of common prayer the Queens Injunctious the Commissioners advertissements the Bishops canons Liâ—woods provincials every Bishops articles in his dioces my Lord of Canterburyes sober caveats his licences to preachers aÌ„d
onely as hath ben ordeâ—â—ed by CHRIST owr Lord the king of his Church whâ— being the Sonne is worthy of more honour then Moses the servant So as first we see here his own testimony condemneth their present ministery which is such as was never prescribed by CHrist to his Church But it may be M r. H. meant by this Scripture to insinuate vnto vs that there were two hypriests at that tyme whereas by the ordinance of God there should be but 〈◊〉 Wherevnto I aunswer first that it was no new thing but an aâ—â—â—cyent approved order among the Iewes to have two chief priests over the rest Yet so as the oâ—e of them was principall and the other the second or next vnto him Thus we read that Zadok of the sonnes of Eleazâ—r and Ahimâ—lech of the sonnes of Ithamar were together the chief priests in Davids tyme. And afterward when the Iewes were led captive to Babylon Seraiah was the chief priest and Zephaniah the second Where it may be observed both that there was two principall priests ouer the rest and yet the one chief and the other the second Secondly we fynd that Annas and Cayaphas here mentioned in Luke were hy priests the one after the other to witt Caiaphas at the tyme when CHrist was crucifyed and before and Annas afterward when the Apostles Peter and Iohn were brought afore him As also after this we read agayne of one Ananias to be hy priest alone Act. 23. 2. and 24. 1. and 25. 2. Thirdly it is to be mynded that the word here vsed signifyeth chief priests and is spoken oftentymes of others that were chief among the priests as well as of the hy priest and that even then when there was but one by priest As in Mat. 14. 53. Mat. 26. 57. Act. 25. 2. 15. and 24. 1. Luk. 22. 52. 54. Finally the having of the hy priesthood then by course interchaungeably and but for a yeare and such like were in deed corruptions crept in among them in the ordinance of GOD. Yet doth not this give any warrant of the present Antichristian constitution of these assemblyes For even then we see they had no new ministeryes but the priesthood appoynted by God yea and but one hy priest at once Which also according to the law kept in the kinred wherevpon it is sayd they that vvere of the chief priests kinred Act. 4. 6. Besides that in this often chaunge of it there seemeth to ly a mystery God having so disposed to declare that now that Leviticall priesthood drew to an end and another Priest was to rise vp after the order of Melchisedech who because he endureth ever should have a priesthood that can not passe from him to any other So then from this Scripture can be gathered no defence at all of the present estate of these assemblyes but rather many arguments agaynst it forasmuch as now among them they have no other but straunge ministeryes inveÌ„ted by man and then there was no such new ministery at all eyther ordinary or extraordinary receyved among the Iewes And this hath Mr. â—artwright heretofore avowched when proving the vnlawfulnes of the offices of Archbishops and Archdeacons he wrote as followeth First of all saith he the ministery is by the vvord of God and heavenly and not left to the vvill of men to devise at theyr pleasure as appeareth by that vvhich is noted of Iohn vvhere the Pharisees coming to Iohn Baptist after that he had denyed to he eyther CHRIST or Elias or another Prophet conclude If thou be neyther Christ nor Elias nor of the Prophets why baptizest thou Which had beÌ„ no good argument if Iohn might have ben of some other function then of those which were ordinary in the Church and instituted of God And therefore Iohn to establish his singular aÌ„d extraordinary function alledgeth the word of God whereby appeareth that as it was not lawfull to bring in any straunge doctrine so vvas it not lavvfull to teach the true doctrine vnder the name of any other function then vvas instituted by God Let the vvhole practise of the Church vnder the Lavv be looked vpon and it shall not be found that any other ecclesiasticall ministery vvas appoynted then those orders of hy priests and Levites etc. vvhich vvere appoynted by the lavv of God And if there vvere any raysed vp extraordinarily the same had theyr calling confirmed from heaven eyther by signes or miracles or by playne aÌ„d cleare testimonyes of the mouth of God or by extaordinary exciting and movings of the Spirit of God So that it appeareth that the ministery of the Gospell aÌ„d the functions thereof ought to be from heaven and of God and not invented by the brayne of men From heaven I say and heavenly because although it be executed by earthly men and the ministers also are chosen by men like vnto themselves yet because it is done by the vvord and institution of God that hath not onely ordeyned that the vvord should be preached but hath ordeyned also in vvhat order and by vvhom it should be preached it may vvell be accounted to come from heaven and from God Seing therefore that these functions of the Archbishop and ArchdeacoÌ„ are not in the vvord of God it follovveth that they are of the earth and so can do no good but much harme in the Church And a litle after he hath also these words Tell me saith he in the vvhole volume of the Testament is there any kind or degree of ministery vvhereof God is not the certayne and expresse author Was there ever any man I except Ieroboam and all such profane men eyther so holy or so vvise or of such great knovvledg that ever did so much as dreame of instituting of a nevv ministery After the long vvandring of the Arke in the vvildernes vvhen it came to be placed in lerusalem tell me if any besides the Levites and priests the ordinary ministers and the Prophets vvhich vvere immediately sâ—irred vp of God vvere found to have ordeyned any office or title vvhich vvas not commaunded or vvhether therevvas at any tyme any thing added or enioyned to those offices of priesthood and Leviteship vvhich vvas not by the lavv prescribed These are M. Cartwrights words in the places here quoted By which it is cleare themselves also graunt that in the tyme of the law in the true Church there was no new ministery erected and that there neyther might nor may be any eyther ordinary or extraordinary but such as have expresse appoyntment and warrant from God himself Whereupon is followeth that the present ministery of these assemblyes having no such warrant these and the like Scriptures give not any defence of it but condemne and make against it Thus much concerning the testimony alledged out of Luk 3. 2. Next is alledged Luk. 2. 22. 27. and Mat. 8. 4. where it is thus written first in the second of Luke coÌ„cerning Christ When the
therefore giveth most strait charge before God and the Lord I Esus Christ and the elect Angels to keep that commaundment without spott and blameles vntill the appearing of our Lord Iesus Thirdly in that he teacheth that even to this end the whole Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable to teach to improve to correct and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may be absolute being fully furnished to every good work Fourthly in that the Apostles themselves did account it substantiall and of necessity in theyr own administration not to follow subtill and cunning fables but to deliver that they receyved of the Lord Neyther to have dominion over the Saints but to be helpers of theyr ioy Even as Peter likewise requireth of all others that they speak the words of God and that they feed the flock which dependeth vpon them caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for filthy luâ—re but of a ready mynd not as though they were Lords over Gods heritage but as ensamples to the flock Fiftly Christ himself the Lord of his Church hath taught this both by practise and commaundement By his practise when concerning his own ministration he saith I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me gave me a commaundement what I should say and what I should speak and I know that his commaundement is life everlasting the things therefore that I speak I speak so as the Father said vnto me By commaundement when he charged his Apostles they should teach to observ vvhatsoever he had commaunded them promising to be with such vnto the end of the world And finally if it might be otherwise what end would there be in the Church of mens precepts vayne inventions new ministrations false doctrines straunge worship voluntary Religions counterfett holynes vsurped tyranny Antichrisâ—ian Lordlynes and such like Thus then appeareth that in a true and lawfull ministery it is substantiall and necessary there be first a true and lawfull office that is such as Christ hath in his Testament given to his Church secondly a lawfull calling and entrance therevnto thirdly a lawfull administratioÌ„ thereof according to the said Testament of Iesus Christ. So as to prove that they have the substance of a true ministery Mr. H. should have showed out of the Scripture theyr offices entrance and administration theyr offices I say of Archbishops Lordbishops Deanes Prebendaryes Archdeacons Parsons Uicars Stipendaryes and all other sorts of Priests and Deacons among them theyr entrance likewise by the Lordbishops according to theyr popish pontificall that is according to theyr book of coÌ„secrating Archbishops and Bishops and of ordering Priests and Deacons together with theyr Patrones presentations theyr institutions inductions othes of Canonicall obedience to the Prelates and such like finally theyr administration of the word Sacraments and Censures by vertue of the offices afore said and according to theyr popish book canons aÌ„d constitutions together with the performance of such actions as belong not at all to the dutyes of the ministery such as be the Churching of women the solemnization of mariage praying over the dead at burial aÌ„d the like These I say he should have showed by the Scriptures if he would prove vnto vs that they have the substance of the ministery of the Gospell Which because it neyther is neyther caÌ„ be done by the word of God therefore can we in no wise be perswaded that they have the substance of a true ministery and fayle but in circumstance as he would here beare vs in hand Yet because he pretendeth as if he could prove that which he saith let vs see what stuffe he bringeth to this purpose It followeth therefore in his writing for proof of his former assertion in this wise ¶ M r. H. his letter Section 7. DOth the vvord enioyne the Minister to preach deligently So by our 〈◊〉 he is expresly charged at his ordination to do and forbidden to teach any thing as required of necessity vnto salvation but that vvhich he is persvvaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture Yea it commaundeth him vvith all faithfull diligence to banish and drive avvay all erroneous and straunge doctrines that are contrary to Gods vvord Doth the vvord authorise him to administer the Sacraments So doth our Lavv. Doth the vvord requier that the minister should not onely publikly teach but also oversee and look to the peoples conversation exhorting admonishing reproving and comforting them asvvell privately as publikly Even so doth our Lavv. Lastly doth the vvord authorise the minister to execute the censures and discipline of Christ Our lavv doth also commaund the same So that although many to vvhom the execution of these things appertayne do grievously fayle in the practise thereof yet you see the office vvhich the Lavv inioyneth to the Minister is the same in substance vvith that vvhich the vvord layeth vpon him Aunswer to Section 7. THis is then Mr H. his proof by which he would perswade vs that theyr Priests have the same office in substance with the Pastors appoynted in the word because the Law of the land requireth of theyr Priests the performance of such things as the word of God requireth of Pastors But this is no sufficient proof For first if he look into the Popes pontificall and Canons he shall fynd they require also of theyr Priests and Bishops to preach diligently to administer the Sacraments to oversee theyr flock and to execute the censures and discipline And consequently if his reason were good the most popish priests and Bishops should have the same office in substance with the Pastors described in the word Which doubtles he will not affirme or if he do let him take heed least with Mr Giffard he prove himself a Schismatick from the Church of â—â—ome from whence they have derived theyr ministery and yet pretend as if they made departure from that Church Secondly he should have remembred that distinction is to be made between an office and the actions or dutyes of an office For it often commeth to passe that many performe the actioÌ„s of an office who yet have not the office or substance thereof as he calleth it To offer incense was a duty belonging to the priesthood in the tyme of the Law Corah Dathan Abiram men famous in the CongregatioÌ„ â—zziah also a king they take censers and put incense therein to offer it to the Lord Yet had they not therefore the substance of the Priests office but were punished and made examples to all such as should afterward attempt to do the dutyes of the ministery being not lawfully called and sett in those offices which Christ hath appoynted therevnto The administration of Baptisme likewise is a duty belonging to the Ministery of the Gospell Yet women in ENgland do administer it yea and are by the Law allowed so to do in case of necessity as they call it Yet I suppose Mr
by the Apostles 1 Cor. 4. 17. with 1 Tim. 5. 17. and 1 Cor. 14. 33. The severall functions and Ministeryes aforesaid hath CHRIST appoynted and set in the Church as Lord and King thereof Vnto them he giveth by his SPIRIT sufficient diversity of gifts aÌ„d ablility for the ordinary works of teaching exhorting governing distributing etc And being GOD he worketh by and in them all to the prayse of his Name and salvation of his elect 1 Cor 12. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 18. 28. and 14. 37. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Mat 18. 17-20 and 28. 18. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. and in the other Scriptures noted before Let like evidence and warrant from the Scriptures be showed for the severall offices and functions now had and exercised in the Church of England Otherwise all men may know they are not from heaven but of men A few positions briefly conteyning the summe of the cause and treatise following 1 THat Iesus Christ is King and Lord of his Church and that all which look for salvation by him are bound to yeeld obedience to him as in all other things which he hath commaunded so also in his ordinance of Ministery Worship and Government prescribed in his Testament and no other Mat. 28. 19. 20 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 15 16. vvith Heb. 5. 9. and 12. 28. 19. 29. Ioh. 3. 36. Gal. 1. 8. 9. and 3. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 5. and 14. 37. 38. Act. 3. 22. 23. and 5. 31. Esa. 60. 12. Rev. 22. 18. 19. 2. That Christ as head and â—ord of his Church hath given vnto it for the instruction guydance and service thereof the offices of Pastors Teachers Elders â—eacons and Helpers together with rules for theyr entrance administration and maintenance Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 15. 16. Rom. 12. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 9. 14. and 12. 28. Act. 6. 2 6 and 14. 23. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. The epistles to Timothy and Titus 3. That the Primitiue Churches were by the Apostles planted in this way and order as being the onely true way and order appoynted by Christ and to be observed to the end of the world Rom. 12. 7. 8 1 Cor. 12. 28. and 14. 37. Act. 6. 2. 6. and 11. 30. and 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. Phil. 1. 1. Col. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Iam. 5. 14. Tit. 1. 5. c. 1 Tim. 3. and. 5. and 6. 13. 14. vvith Rev. 22. 18. 19. Mat. 28. 20. 4. That synce the tyme of the Primitive Churches thus planted Antichrist that man of sinne as was foretold hath made departure from this way and order of Christ not onely in other poynts of doctrine but also in the Ministery â—orship and Government of the Church Wherevpon is come to passe that in stead of the former offices appoynted by Christ haue crept in the Locusts of Antichrist Archbishops Lordbishops ArchdeaeoÌ„s Chauncelors Commissaryes Parsons Vicars Priests and the rest of that â—ort together with theyr new and straunge entrance administration and maintenance 2 Thes. 2. 3. 4. 7 12. Rev. 9. 1 11. and 13. 11 18. and 14. 9. 10. 11. and 18. cap. 1. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. compared vvith the Scriptures alledged in the former positions 5. That the Nations of the earth and this among the rest have ben made drunk with this cup of Babels fornications Whereof whosoever drunketh God hath threatned they shall also drink of the cup of his wrath Rev. 17. 1 5. and 18. 3. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. 12. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11. 6. That this nation hath to the prayse of God and honour of her Maiesty ben purged from many of the abominations and false doctrines of Babylon aforesaid but not from the Prelacy and other Ministery worship and government of the Church by Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons Commissaryes Priests Parsons Deanes Prebendaryes Canons etc. 〈◊〉 is evident by theyr present estate and by these reasons follovving First if all the false ministery worship and tyranny of Antichrist wers in all other places of the world abolished yet so long as this Prelacy and other Clergy and worship aforesaid remayneth in this land Antichrist that sonne of perdition were not vtterly consumed As the Scripture testifyeth he shalbe by the light of the Gospell before Christs comming at the great day 2 Thes. 2. 3. 8. vvith Rev. 14. 6. 7. 8. and 18. 19. and Ierem. 50. and 51. cap. Secondly the Churches of Antichrist cannot be compleet in all the Canonicall functions Prelacy and Ministery of Antichrist if they have not the functions Prelacy and Ministery of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons Priests and the rest now had and retayned in the Land This is proved by the Popes Canons and Pontificall and by theyr Church constitution Thirdly the Churches of Christ may be compleet in the whole ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ to his Church and yet be alway and altogether without the present ministery worship and goverment by Archbshops Lordbishops Archdeacons Priests etc. now had and retayned in this Land This is proved by the constitution of the Primitiue Churches planted by the Apostles Which the Scripture showeth were compleet in the former and yet never had nor knew these latter Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. Act. 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Col. 2. 5. Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 5 9. 1 Tim. 3. and 5. cap. and 6. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 12. Fourthly if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery worship and government ordeyned by Christ in his Church then ought all the Churches of Christ vpon earth to vse the same Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 4. 17. and 12. 5. and 14. 37. Iude. ver 3. Rev. 22. 16. 17. 18. 19. But even the Prelates themselves and theyr Proctors confesse it is and may be otherwise VVhitg in the preface of his last book against T. C. Also the Aunsvver to the Abstâ—act pag. 58. Finally if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ to his Church then might it be found in the word of God But that can it not If any be otherwise mynded let them show the severall offices entrance administration and maintenance of the Prelacy and other Ministery of these assemblyes out of the Scriptures and Testament of Christ. If they speak not according to this vvord it is because there is no light in them Esa. 8. 20. The treatise following conteyned in two letters is divided into ten Sections The first section beginneth pag. 1. The second pag. 5. The third pag. 17. The fourth pag. 44. The fift pag. 59. The sixt pag. 79. The seventh pag. 86. The eight pag. 94. The ninth pag. 106. The tenth pag. 116. ¶ ERRATA Pag. 4. lin 7. for dare read deare Pag. 28. lin 30. for the he is read that he is Pag. 111. lin 43. for what the people read what know
base a conceit of others who advise them better Secondly for yourself well may you think as we all ought that it is no disgrace vnto vs that our knowledg is imperfect and our judgment weak seing the Apostle saith even off himself as of all others now we know but in part and now we see through a glasse darkely Yet also would I desier Mr. H. remember and you to note it for your comfort that God so disposeth for his glory as euen the private members of the true Church yea women are found walking in the truth as we have receyved a commaundement from the Father when many deceyvers though men and in publick office are abroad in the world and false Church which confesse not in truth and in deed Iesus Christ come in the flesh that onely Prophett Priest and king whom God hath giuen to his Church forever Thirdly towching them whom God vsed as his instruments to draw you out off the bypaâ—â—s of these assemblyes into the way of truth wherein you now walk as you have iust cause to blesse God for them so I pray you also regard not so much who they be as what they say And in any case take heed that you never have the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons neyther of Princes nor prelates nor any other though otherwise learned rich or famous any maner way Neyther let the heat of the adversaryes persecution nor the coldnes of the tyme servers swallowing vp all the abominations yet abiding among them nor the love of this present world nor the colourable perswasion of any though never so dare vnto you neyther any other thing whatsoever ensnare you to be wrapped in like errour with them but remember alway as is here well noted vnto you that the written word of God onely is to be the rule of our Life and Religion Lastly concerning Mr. H. who wrote this letter vnto you as you shall do well to take it that he erreth of ignorance and not of malice etc. as he desireth to be taken so of him I would desier for the taking away of this vayle from his eyes that he do heedfully look into the perfitt law of liberty not onely the better to see the filthynes of theyr corruptions that he may avoyd them but to behold also what orders and offices Christ Iesus hath sett in his Church to keep and observ them To which end he shall do well himself to Consider that which here he hath sett down vnto you concerning the writteÌ„ word of God According to which if he shall examine the particulars of theyr Church-constitution of which more God willing hereafter I hope he will no more say in this case that as of syncerity as of God in the sight of God so writeth he of these things but will rather acknowledg that whosoever go about to bring colour out of the Scriptures for them they do therein no other but make marchandize of the word of God And therefore will eyther stay his talâ—â— and lay his hand on his mouth or if he speak will speak to his own soule aÌ„d say Wilt thou plead Antichrists cause or wilt thou save him If he be of Christ let him plead for himself against them that by the word of theyr testimony destroy his ordinaÌ„ces Thus much to the entrance of this letter The rest of it is spent in laboring to disprove the writing which it seemeth you gaue him in defence of your separation from the ministery of these assemblyes Which after he hath well propounded in forme of reasoning he then bringeth some show of answer therevnto and of defence of theyr Ministery Wherein although I might in few lynes shortly have noted the subtilty and vnsoundnes of his answers yet have I chosen rather to write somewhat largely both for your sake and his own and for others also into whose hands these writings may coâ—â— And this haue I thought to be the more needfull because he doth here so earnestly both protest the syncerity of his affection and make promise that nothing shalbe brought to perswade you but the word of God Now of the syncerity of his affection I make no doubt but do vertly thinck that he writeth and walketh as he is perswaded Onely where he promiseth and pretendeth to bring the word of God for the perswasion of your soule and performeth it not in deed and yet hath such obiections and pretence off Scripture and reason as greater in this case I thinck neyther have ben neyther can well be brought thereâ—ore have I thought it best for better clearing of the truth to prosecute his annswers from poynt to poyut And although it wil be the more tedious yet to take this course therein first to sett down in his own words his aunswers to the reason you gaue him and then to examine and take them away by the light of the Scriptures For your self it shalbe your part as he desireth you to lay apart all sinister affection and with meeknes to receyv the word of truth grafted in you and able to save your soule Consider therefore well what is said and the Lord give you vnderstanding in all things Now to proceed it followeth in his letter to you thus Mr. H. his letter Section 2. The summe of the vvhole vvriting you gaue me is a reason to prove the lavvfulnes of your separation from our assemblyes because vve have no such minissters as you may lavvfully ioyne vvhithall and for plainenes it may fitly be coÌ„cluded in this forme Whosoever he be that dealeth with the holy things of God and worketh vpon the Consciences of men by vertue of an Antichristian power office and calling him the people of God ought not to receyv or ioyne themselves vnto 2 Thes. 2. 4 10. But all the ministers that stand ouer the Church assemblyes in England deale with the holy things of God and work vpon mens consciences by vertue of an Antichristian power office calling Therefore the people of God ought not to receyv them or ioyne themselves vnto them The first part of this reason as I am not vnvvilling to yeeld vnto so do I affirme that the vvords of the Apostle vvritten 2. Thes. 2. 4. 10. are for the proof thereof vvâ—ested and perverted from the right sence For the Apostle there describeth Antichrist nor by his unlavvfull onâ—vvard calling or office that he should exercise in the Church but first by the false doctrine he should teach as appeareth plainely by the 10 and 11 verses and secondly by the authority he should vsurpe to give lavves vnto mens consciences and to rule in the harts of men as God as you may see in the 4. verse VVhich tvvo maâ—ks of Antichrist as they may evidently be discerned in the papacy so admitt all the outvvard calling and offices in the Church of England exercised vvere faulty and vnvvarrantable by the vvord yet you in your ovvn Conscience knovv that these marks
canons Wherevpon also to note it by the way it followeth that they are not a true Church of Christ. For Christs Church hath alwayes Christs power to excommunicate Whereas these assenblyes have no other power to excommunicate but by the Archdeacon or Lordbischop whose offices be Antichristian And herevpon it is that the more religious any is among them the more he contemneth theyr excommunication Which were a fearefull sinne if theyr Church were a true Church whose bynding on earth were such as bound also in heaven Thirdly I aunswer if theyr ministery and worship of God were according to the word aÌ„d law of God then ought all vpon payne of damnation to submit aÌ„d ioyne vnto it Now if they do not so vrge it themselves do thereby acknowledg that it is not of God If they do so â—rgeit then they vrge vpon payne of damnation that which is contrary to the word and law of God as hath ben and shall more be showed hereafter Now it followeth in his letter thus Mr. H. his letter Section 3. TO vvhich purpose also I besech you to consider that althoug there is not the least part of Christs ordinances that can be neglected vvithout grievous sinne yet the vvant or neglect of some of these ordinances of Christ vvhich concerne the discipline of his Church and the outvvard calling of the ministers is no such sinne as can make eyther the ministers and governours of our Church Antichrists or our Church an Antichristian and false Church And although divers corruptions remayne in our Church vvhich vvere derived to vs from the Papiâ—es the least vvhereof I vvill not take vpon me to defendt yet are they not of that nature that can make vs an Antichristian Church For first no one place of Scripture can be found vvherein he is called aâ— Antichrist or Antichristian vvho holding the truth of doctrine and professing those articles of religion that are fundameÌ„tall as you knovv vve do doth 〈◊〉 eyther in iudgment or practise from that rule that Christ hath given for the Discipline of his Church In the prophecy of Daniel Antichrist is described by his Doctrine Dan. 7. 8. 25. So is he in the epistle to the Thessalonians 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. And in the epistle to Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. And in the Epistles of Iohn 1 Ioh. 2. 22. and 4. 3. and 2 Ioh. 7. And in the book of Revelation chap 13. 5. 6. Neyther can you fynd any Antichrist mentioned in the Scripture vvhose doctrine vvas sound Our Saviour Christ calleth him a true Pastour and no hiâ—â—ling vvho leadeth the sheep in at the doore Ioh. 10. 2. that is vvho teacheth no other meanes of salvation but Christ onely vvho is the doore of the sheep Ioh. 10. 7. 9. He affirmeth also that vvhosoever beleveth in his heart and confesseth vvith his mouth that he is that Christ and Messiah promised is a true member of his Church and built vpon a rock against vvhich the gates of hell shall not prevaile If then the doctrine of our Church be sound vvhat vvarrant have you to callâ—s Antichrists If our pastours offer to lead you vnto salvation through no other doore then Christ hovy dare you that say you are Christs refuse to be guyded by them If our asseâ—blyes be built vpon that rock hovâ— can you deny them to be true Churches Aunswer to Section 3. IT is to be noted here first that Mr. H. denyeth not but they stand in grievous sinne by neglecting Christs ordinaÌ„ces secondly that he graunteth they retayne divers corruptions in theyr Church which were derived to them from the Papists How theyr case standing thus by his own confession how can he peswade you or any other to partake with them in such sinnes vnles he would have you also to receiv of theyr plagnes Agayn it is to be observed that â—r H. faith here he will not take vpon him to defend the least of theyr popish corruptions And yet doth cleane otherwise throughout this letter chiefly in his aunswer to the second part of the reason But to omitt this I would desier to have noted down in particular the corruptions remayning in theyr Church which he confesseth were derived to them from the Papists And then let it be iudged whether they be Antichristian Here also it is to be mynded that the ministery and constitution of theyr Church is not charged to be Antichristian because of this that they want or neglect some of Christs ordinances as here he may seem to insinuate but because they have and submitt vnto Antichrists as will appeare in the discussing of them In the meane tyme to omitt many other let him consider first that theyr forcing and confounding in the body of their Church all maner people though never so wicked to stand members thereof is meerly Antichristian and directly contrary to the order of Iesus Christ who hath commanded his people to separate willingly from the world and all false wayes Secondly that the offices of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons and theyr Officials in whom resteth the chief ecclesiasticall power among them are also Antichristian and were never sett by Christ in his Church Thirdly that the offices of the Priests Deacons Dicars sâ—ipendaryes and the rest of the inferiour ministery among them theyr entrance also into theyr offices theyr administration of them and maintenance in them are not found in the Testament of Christ nor in the Primitive Churches planted by the Apostles but derived from and belonging to the apostaâ—y of Antichrist and found in his popish pontifiâ—all and assemblyes even vnto this day Next towching theyr profession he speaketh of I aunswer first that the verball profession of the articles of religion that are fundamentall will no more help them then it doth the Papists who do also verbally and daily repeat and professe in generall the articles of faith called the Apostles treed and the Creed of Athanasius of Nice and Calcedon wherein are briefly and generally conteyned the fudamentall poynts of Christian religion But what avayleth this eyther the one or the other when otherwise in particular all of them in practise and some in judgment deny Christ to be that eternall Prophet Priest and king of his Church howsoeuer in word and generall they both do professe it Secondly I aunswer that the very strength of delusion aÌ„d depth of the subtilty of Antichrist by which he deceyveth staÌ„deth in this that he pretendeth to be for aÌ„d with Christ aÌ„d teacheth many exceleÌ„t truths otherwise he would soone be espyed and forsaken whereas now it is a mystery as the Scripture saith hardly discerned and hardlyer avoyded Hereupon it is that among the Papists so many of them are deluded whiâ—â—â— the Pope professeth he is not against Christ but for him even his vicaâ— and Peters successor that his Church is the Catholik Church out of which there is no salvation and such like And among these in England likewise whiles theyr
blasphemyes and power was given vnto him to do two and fourty moneths And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his Name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven Rev. 13. 5. 6. This book of the Revelation whosoever readeth over with a single heart and compareth with it the event of things partly come to passe already partly morefully yet to be accomplished considering on the one hand that the whore of Babilon hath made all nations of the earth drunk with the cup of her fornications that she hath already begun to fall and daily more and more inclyneth to her full desolation and destruction which yet can never wholy be accomplished so long as the Babylonish offices of Archbisâ—hops Lordbishops Archdeacons and the rest with theyr courts canons worship and procedings do continew And on the other hand that the Lord Iesus will by the light aÌ„d power of his gospell condemne and abolish that Babiloâ—ish whore with all her false offices and constitutions and will also raigne in his Church by his own offices and lawes with his crown of glory vpon his head aÌ„d his scepter of righteousnes in his haÌ„d vntill he give vp the kingdome to God even the Father that God may be all in all Who so I say readeth this book and considereth these and such like prophecyes therein coÌ„teyned in part already fulfilled and yet morefully to be effected shall playnely see that this book of all other most playnely deciphâ—reth and condemneth the Babylonish Antichristian estate and constitution of these assemblyes as they now stand vnder this Prelaâ—y and other false ministery of the land Now in particular for the place of this book here alledged that it likewise is verisfyd of theyr ecclesiâ—sticall estate aÌ„d dealings at this day as heretofore it hath beÌ„ in the Romane Empire and Apostasy elswhere may sufficiently be seen by that which hath before ben said towching Daniels like prophetyes where you may perceyv by the spâ—rialtyes there expressed how these men in theyr estate at this day have a mouth that speaketh great things and blasphemyes against God to blaspheme his name in speaking yll of his truth and ordinances and his Tabernacle that is his Church which is the house of the living God aÌ„d Tabernacle wherein he dwelleth among the sonnes of men on earth and them that dvvell in heaven that is the Lords secret ones whose conversation is in heaven whiles they live here on earth keeping the â—â—mmaundements of God and having the testimony of Iesus Christ whom they look for from the heaveÌ„s for theyr full redemptioÌ„ But these things being before in the handling of Daniels prophery declared in many particulars it shall not be needfull here agayn to repeat them Onely in this place it shall be good to note this moreover that in this chapter and book Mr. H. might have sett down many other places describing the propertyes of Antichrist and that not onely in regard of his doctrine and deceit thereof but also in respect of his tolourable pretence to be of Christ and for him yet forcing all people to stand subiect to his own adulterate discipline ordinances and jurisdiction To which end it is to be observed that Antichrist is here described to have two hornes like the lambe pretending his ministery and authority to be of Christ â—nd for him but yet shall speak like the dragon in his false doctrines imposed traditions blaspheming the truth reviling the witnesses thereof and advauncing himself and his own inventions above God and his commaundemeÌ„ts Moreover that he shall make all both small and great rich and poore bond and free to take his mark in theyr forehead aÌ„d haÌ„d and so to submitt to his ministery leiturgy courts excommunitations and the rest of the actions of his vsurped authority Or els killeth banisheth aÌ„d imprisoneth all such as refuse so to do not suffring them eyther to enioy any liberty oâ—priviledg in the world or to performe any worship to God but according to his own in ventions aÌ„d apostasy Which hâ—w true they arâ— of the Prelacy and other Clergy of these assenblpes let theyr estate and daily actions be witnesses Hitherto also might be referred other scriptures of this book verifyed in them likewise for example that as the 〈◊〉 spoken of in the ninth of this book were like vnto horses prepared to battayle having on theyr heads crownes like vnto gold and faces like men and haire as womeÌ„ and teeth as lyons aÌ„d habergions of yron and tayles as scorpions with stings in them having power to hurt for a season so the Prelates aÌ„d other Clergy of Antichrist are fâ—erce as horses to fight against the truth and people of God having rule and dominion with Lordly titles and princely dignities in outward face aÌ„d show pretending to be the Ministers of Christ and his Church but in deed being deceitfull entising and lascivious as harlots and ravenous cruell poysonfull and singing as Lyons and scorpions having powr to hurt and deceyue for a season albeyt their 〈◊〉 aÌ„d malice be limited aÌ„d repressed by the providence and power of the most High Agayne that as those locusts with mens faces were all of them vnder AbaddoÌ„ their King the Angel of the bottomles pitt so the Prelates and other Clergy of Antichrist howsoever they pretend to be the Ministers of righteousnes are in deed the subjects of Sathan the Prince of darâ—nes who yet transformeth himself into an Angell of light Moreover that they as well as other people and nations of the earth haue committed fornication vvith that vvhore of Babylon spoken of in this book and haue receyued of her names of blasphemy such as be the names of Archbishops and Lord bisshops and Priests when it is ascribed to an office of Ministery of the Gospell and haue drunk of her golden cupfull of abominations whence haue proceeded theyr Ministery book of common prayer book of ordering Priests and consecrating Archbishops and Bishops excommunications by Archdeacons and Lordbishops theyr courts of facultyes Commissary courts and such like among them and finaâ—â— have ben made drunken vvith the blood of the Saints and vvith the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus So as these assemblyes in theyr ecclesiasticall constitutioÌ„ and procedings have showed themselves to be the naturall daughters of Babylon that mother of vvhoredomes and abominations of the earth howsoever as a Mystery it ly much hid and is not easily espyed vnleâ— Christ Iesus annoynt ovvreyes vvith ey salue that we may perceyv it and carry us forth as it vvere into the vvildernes in the Spirit to take a view of it by the light of his word aÌ„d not as it maketh show aÌ„d is esteemed among men in the world And thus much of this place aÌ„d book of the RevelatioÌ„ here alledgeâ— Now before Mr. H. cometh to any other Scriptures 〈◊〉 this conclusion of the former that
but Christ onely who is the doore of the sheep whether such a one I say were therefore to be reputed a Pastour and minister of Christ lawfully sett in that office I am assured Mr H. will not say it For that were both to give allowance of intrusion which Christ â—ondemneth and to open a doore to the annihilating of that order with Christ hath appoynted his Church for the entrante into his ministery And now if such a one were not therefore to be accounted in such office of ministery much lesse will such teaching approve him that standeth in an Antichristian office to be a Pastor or Minister of Iesus Christ. It may also further be observed that Christ in this Scripture speaketh of such as be shepeards of sheep and therefore that it helpeth not the ministers of these assemblies who commonly stand heards of swyne theyr Church being an hold of all foule spirits and a cage of every vncleane and hatefull bird Besides that they all even the most religious among them so long as they continew members of that Church stand subiect to theyr ecclesiasticall courts officers canons worship and the rest of theyr abominations and therefore as yet in that respect can not be accounted the sheep of Christ hearing his voyce and obeying his precepts The next and last Scripture here alledged is out of the 16. of Mathew Where Christ as king his Disciples whom they said he was Peter aunswered Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the living God Wherevpon Christ said agayn I say vnto thee that thou art Peter and vpon this rocke will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevayle against it Mat. 16. 18. Here we are taught vpon what rock the true Church and lively members thereof are built to witt vpon this confession that Iesus is the Christ the Sonne of the living God Now here we are to remember that Christ is described both by his person and office Of which I have spoken before at large vpon like occasion concerning the testimonyes alledged out of the Epistles of Iohn To which therefore I refer you not purposing here agayn to make repetition thereof Onely thus much concerning this Scripture I will further note that as we learned out of Ieâ—us epistles to discerne the Spirit of GOD from the spirit of Antichrist so here we are taught how to know the true Church of God and so to discerâ—e it from the false Synagogues of Antichrist that is by considering whether it be built vpon the rock Iesus Christ that Propher Priest and king of his Church For as the Apostle saith other foundation can no man lay then that vvhich is layd vvhich is Iesus Christ. But as before we showed so here we are to remember that a verball and generall profession of Christ in word being denyed in practise will not avayle to make eyther the popish or these assemblyes the true Churches of God and not the apostate Synagogues of the man of sinne The Apostle Peter to whom with the other disciples this was spoken although in the maner of speach Christ alluded to Peters name as signifying a stone or rock he laying this foundation in the Churches which he planted Iesus Christ that chief corner stone elect and precious doth thus further apply it vnto them saying Vnto you which beleev it is precious but vnto them that be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is become the head of the corner and a stone to stumble at and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient Where he plainely teacheth it is the obedience of faith which is required of all such as are truly baylt vpon this rock and corner stone Iesus Christ. And this hath Christ himself also taught vs when he likeâ—ed him that heareth his words and doth them vnto a wise man which hath built his house on a rock against which the rayne and floods and wynds prevayle not to cast it 〈◊〉 and him that heareth his words and doth them not vnto a foolish man which hath built his house vpon the sand against which the rayne and floods easily prevayle to beat it down So in like maner we are to know for the question in hand that the true Church of CHrist is as a wise woman and faithfull wife which hearkning to the voyce of her husband yeeldeth obedience vnto him and as an house built vpon the rock against which the gates of hell shall not be able to prevayle Whereas the false Church of Antichrist is as the foolish woman and harlott which howsoever she pretend to heare the voyce of Christ yet in deed followeth the lust of her own eyes and goeth a whoring after her own inventions yea and pretending onely the name of Christ but in deed not receyving him as her Prophet Priest and king is as an house built vpon the sand which the breath of Christs mouth and wynd of his judgments will in the end consume and scatter abroad as the dust It is not then a verball profession in generall that will serve where an actuall denyall in practise is ioyned withall But the true Church which is built vpon the rock doth in deed and truth obey the Lord Iesus acknowledging him to be such as he is revealed vnto vs in the word of God This the Apostle Paul likewise teacheth vs when he saith the Church is built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himself being the head corner stone Wherein he giveth vs to learne that that is in deed the true Church which is so built vpon Iesus Christ as the Apostles and Prophets have layd him for the foundation and head stone in the corner that is have taught him to be the Sonne of God come in the flesh the Prophett Priest and king of his Church for ever Which forasmuch as these together with the popish assemblyes do not in deed and verity acknowledg howsoever in words generally they professe as hath before at large ben proâ—ed it therefore followeth that in this estate they cannot be esteemed truly built vpon the rock Iesus Christ and therefore cannot be counted the true Churches of God whiles we try them by the rules given vs by the Prophets and Apostles and by Christ Iesus himselfe And thus have I showed the severall Scriptures here â—iâ—ed by Mr H. to be so many witnesses against themselves Thus also have we seen both their doctrine to be vnsound and theyr ministery and Church constitution to be such as was never appoynted by Christ but derived from Antichrist And therefore by none to be continued in but of all to be separated from and that vpon payne of everlasting condemnation For so hath the Scripture testifyed Hitherto of Mr H. his first exception Now his second followeth in these words ¶ M r. H. his letter Section 4. SEcondly vve are able to prove that greater corruptions haue ben
out of the RevelatioÌ„ Which because they are of one sort towching the question in hand therefore will I speak of them together The words be these first in the epistle to the Corinthians where the Apostle reproving theyr abuses about the Lords supper saith thus vnto them Every one when they should eat taketh his ovvn supper afore and one is hungry and another drunken Have ye not houses to eat and drink in despiâ—e ye the Church of God and shame them that have not What shall I say to you shall I prayse you in this I prayse not 1 Cor. 11. 21. 22. And agayne to the â—orinthians among whom some denyed the resurrection of the body thinking that the soule onely should live for ever in the world to come the Apostle writeth thus concerning that matter in the place alledged If Christ be preached that he is risen from the dead hovv say some among you that there is not a resurrection of the dead 1. Cor. 15. 12. And in the second of the Revelation first to the Angell of the Church of Pergainus Christ thus writeth I have against thee a fevv things because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam vvhich taught Balac to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel that they should eat of the things sacrificed to Idols and commit fornication So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans vvhich thing I hare Rev. 2. 14. 15. Then to the Angell of the Church of Thyatira thus he saith I have against thee a fevv things that thou suffrest the vvoman Iezabel vvhich calleth herself a Propheresse to teach and to deceyve my servants that they should committ fornication and eat of the things sacrificed to Idols And I gave her tyme that she should repent of her fornication but she repented not Rev. 2. 20. 21. These Scriptures show errors and corruptions in such Churches as were planted in the faith and order of Christ. Which nothing helpeth to mainteyne the Antichristian â—state of these â—ssemblyes as is before declared at large in the generall aunswer concerning all these testimonyes We neuer doubted but the best Churches on earth have fallen and still are subiect to fall into corruptions and transgressions of the Law of God And how can it be otherwise when as they consist of sinfull and mortall men who both know but in part and in the knowledg we have walk with much weaknes aÌ„d imperfection But what is this to iustify Antichrists apostasy or to encourage any to partake in his sinnes We must alway remember that as it is one thing when a true Christian is overtaken with a sinne and another when such as pretend to be Christians live as the heathen and sell themselves to work wickednes so also towching a Church it is one thing wheÌ„ a people are setled in the order of Christ but through weaknes fall into divers enormityes and another when a people stand in the defection of Antichrist aÌ„d receyve the print of his ordinances in theyr hands and foreheads Eyther therefore must they prove the constitution of theyr Church to be of Christ and not Antichristian or els these examples in theyr estate will give them no succour at all For it will nothing avayle BabyloÌ„ or such as commâ—â— fornicatioÌ„ with her to show that Zion hath her breaches or her children theyr infirmityes SecoÌ„dly in these Scriptures is to be mynded that but some of the Corinthians and some of them of Pergamus and Thyatira were infected with the errors and corruptions here recorded and not the whole Churches generally And this is the lot and tryall of the Church of God in all ages that unto it do creep men of corrupt mynds who vnder a show of holynes often breed schismes and errors in the Church and in theyr lives turâ—â—e the grace of God into waÌ„tonnes through hypocrisy Thus it pleaseth God to try and exercise his Church from tyme to tyme that they which are approved might be knowen Henre it is that in the Church of Corinth spring vp schismes and heresyes that in the Church of Ephesus arise men speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them that in the Churches of Pergamus and Thyatira be found such as hold the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicoiaitans teaching the people to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to committ fornication And such also in these dayes have crept in among vs vnder pretence of godlynes who after a while vpon one occasion or other have manifested theyr vngodly contentious and fantasticall spirits and that commonly with great trouble of the Church being authors of grievous schismes and other impietyes for which the truth and Church have ben and still are evill spokeÌ„ of But these being but the personal sinnes of some particular men not the publik estate and constitution of the whole Churches what comparison is there between them and these assemblyes whose very constitution is Antichristian and out of which God hath absolutely commaunded all that will be saved to depart Whereas from the other separation may not be made but first redresse is duly to be sought that such old leaven being purged out they may still be a new lampe vnto the Lord. Thirdly here is to be observed that it is said these Churches suffred such amoÌ„g them Which as it manifesteth what was theyr sinne so it showeth also they had power aÌ„d should vse it for the reclayming or casting out of such from among them Whereas these assemblyes have not power to redresse any abominations or to excommunicate any persons though never so wicked but the whole ecclesiasticall power and iurisdiction among them is committed onely to the Ordinary that is to an Antichristian Prelate and to his Chauncelour and Archdeacon So as by this also appeareth there is no comparison between them Fynally it is to be remembred that even in these and the like Churches where they do not repent and amend but continew in corruption and iniquity Christ hath threatned to remove his caÌ„delstick aÌ„d to take his kingdome from among them And if God thus deale with his own Churches stablished in his faith and order when they come obstinately to persist in sinne aÌ„d impiety what shall be the end of the Synagognes of Antichrist which staÌ„d in emnity against Iesus Christ and in apostasy from his truth and will not be reclaymed If God will not spare but come against Corinth Pergamus aÌ„d Thyatira will he let Babylon that mother of whoredomes or any of her daughters escape If Ierusalem for her sinne be made to drink the cup of Gods wrath shall Edom Moaâ— or Ammon go free They shall not saith the Lord of hostes Iere. 25. 15. 18. 21. 29. And thus much to M r. H. his second exception Now followeth his third in these words M r. H. his letter Section 5. THirdly if it be a sinne for an vvhole Church to account any private
man for an heathen or publicane though he be knovven to have grievously sinned Mat. 18 till such tyme as by despising all lavvfâ—ll meanes that can be vsed for reclayming him he shall be found to sinne of obstinacy then must it needs be a sinne for any private members such as you are to account an vvhole Church and so many famous assemblyes to be all as heathens and publicanes and Antichrists before theyr sinne hath ben manifested vnto them and they proceeded against according to the rule of Christ. Novv this hath not ben done vnto vs for many there are of the ministers in England that are not yet in theyr iudgement persvvaded of the discipline and many that do yeeld vnto it in iudgment and desier hartily the establishment of it aÌ„d the removall of all corruptioÌ„s caÌ„not yet see hovv they may vvith a good conscience forsake the callings and roomes they occupy for the vvant of the discipline If these sinne they sinne but of ignorance and therefore may not for this sinne be accounted for heathens and publicanes But admitt our sinne had ben manifested vnto vs by vvhom have vve ben ensured for it A private member may not be cast out till he have despised the censure of the Church though he have despised the admonition and counsell of sundry private Christians Then suerly an vvhole nation may not be cast out of the Church though it have not hearkned to the reproof of many private Christians till it shalbe found to have despised the censure of other more famous Churches professing the Gospell And vvhat such Church is there in the vvorld that â—ath censured vs Nay it is most evident that all those Churches in Christendome that have in most syncerity receyved and mainteyned the doctrine and discipline of Christ have alvvayes accounted our Church for a sister and given vnto her the right hand of fellovvship I deny not but a private Christian may â—â—islike the corruptions that are allovved and practised by an vvhole Church he may refuse to subscribe or yeeld his consent vnto them he may by prayer and all other good meanes seek the reformation of them but that any one private Christian or some fevv severall assemblyes vvhereyn also there are some learned men may account all the Churches â—â—at are in an vvhole nation to be either as heathens that is such as are destituâ—e of the vvord and Sacraments and service of God or as publicanes that is such as vvith vvhom they may not lavvfully commanicate and ioyne in the said service of God that do I vtterly deny And vvhereas the chief thing vvhereof you boast your selves against vs is that you have Christs discipline practised among you vvhich vve vvant I affirme and date bynd my self to prove it that there is nothing practised amongst vs so contrary to the discipline as there is amongst you For proof vvhereof to omitt sundry of your practises and the extream confusion that is to be seen in your best reformed assemblyes let this suffice that hath ben already mentioned S. Peter calleth those Ievves that had crucified Christ brethâ—en Act. 2. 29. and 3. 17. And Paul accounteth the Galathians a true Church vvhen the errours that they vvere fallen into vvere matters fundamentall Gal. 1. 2. and 5. 2. And this account did these tvvo holy Apostles make of them because they had not ben yet convinced and reiected by the iudgment of the Church And vvhy should you or any of your company vvho for authority you knovv are not to be compared vvith those holy Apostles disdayne to call vs brethren and to account vs a Church till such tyme as vve have ben convinced of error and reiected by the iudgment of other Churches VVhen there grevv controversy in the Church of Antiochia the brethren thought it not fitt to proceed in iudgment against them of the circumcision though theyr errors vvere far greater then any are in our Church and though the belevers there vvere more in number and of greater graces then ever those vvere of your company Act. 11. 21. 26. and 15. 23. and so might vvith more coÌ„sent and authority have ended the matter at home vvithout seeking further to other Churches yea though they had Paul and Barnabas men better able to decide and determine the matter then ever you had any in your assemblyes yet vvould they not I say proceed till they had made other Churches and naâ—ely that famous Church of Ierusalem acquainted vvith the matter and required theyr advise and authority to decide and overrule it Act. 15. 2. 4. And might it not asvvell have beseemed those of your company that first entended a separation from our Church a matter of so great vvaight and consequence to have sought the advise of the Churches of Geneva and Fraunce and Germany and Helvetia and Scotland in the matter and to have stayed theyr separation till such tyme as those Churches had proceeded against vs according to the rule of Christs discipline May I not vvell say as the Apostle doth to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 14. 36. Came the vvord of God our from you eyther came it vnto you onely And this I hope may be sufficient to shovv hovv vntrue that is vvhich is affirmed in the first part of the reason vsed in your vvriting viz Whosoever worketh vpon the consriences of men by vertue of an Antichristian office aÌ„d calling he is an AntichristiaÌ„ Minister whatsoever truth he bringeth with him Aunswer to Section 5. IN this third exception according to theyr vsuall maner Mr H. taketh for graunted that which he should prove to witt that theyr ecclesiasticall assemblyes be the Churches of Christ sett in his order and constitution Which thing we deny And till they prove it themselves may see they can not thus reason from this Scripture of Mat. 18. as here he doth For although from thence it may be gathered that the Churches of Christ are not for corruptions arising in them to be forsaken but first theyr redresse is by all good meanes to be sought yet it followeth not therevpoÌ„ that the Synagogues of Antichrist are in like maner to be proceeded withall and not forthwith to be avoyded This I say followeth not of the other any more then if one should reason thus A brother being knowen to have sinned is not to be accounted as an heathen or publicane till being duly proceded with he have contemned the voyce of the Church Therefore also one that is an heathen or publicane yet notwithstanding is not so to be accounted till he have ben likewise admonished and proceded withall As there is no consequence in this so neyther is there in the other The same Scripture which saith Do ye not iudge them that are vvithin saith it not also What have I to do to judge them that are vvithout Now then as we are to carry our selves after one maner towards particular men that are within and after another towards them that are without
with Babels cup if the people of God should not at his commaundment depart out of Babylon without staying till there were some Churches to lay open her abominations before her face and to censure her for them Every one of Gods people ought in such case aÌ„d estate to deliver theyr own soule and to be as an hee-goat before the rest to lead them the way out of Babel So far ought we to be from bringing balme to cure her or abiding in her vnder any pretence least if we should still take part in her sinnes we should in the ende drinck also of the cup of her sorrowes When Israel stood in defection should Eliah have committed like transgression with them pretending they had not ben censured by other Churches When Iudah stood in apostasy should the disciples of God among whom the Law was sealed vp have walked in the way of the rest of the people till by some Churches they had ben censured Finally when Antichrist that man of sinne hath made deparâ—ure from the faith aÌ„d obedience of Christ should the people of God beleev his lyes and please themselves in the decâ—ivablenes of his vnrighteousnes till he be censured by others Suerly the Scripture teacheth and the people of God in all ages have taken another course as we also must do at this day vnles we set light both of obeying Gods commaundment which chargeth vs to depart out of every false Church aÌ„d of vndergoing his wrath which he will powre vpon all that have spirituall communion with any such Hos. 4. 15. Amos. 4. 4. 5. 6. and 5. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11 and 18. 4. 5. Let them therefore eyther prove the constitution of theyr Church to be a true one according to the TestameÌ„t of Christ or els let them know that we must depart from theÌ„ aÌ„d every false Church though they had never ben putt in mynd by any other Churches or Christians of theyr Antichristian estate This might suffice though there were no more to be said in this matter But now what will Mr H. say to the multitude of Christians in our own countrey that have testifyed against theyr Antichristian constitution even to imprsonment banishment and death it self Or because the testimâ—ny of our own countreymen is litle regarded with them what will he say to the publik profession and practise of the reformed Churches abroad who thereby have sufficiently advertised England and all other people so walking of theyr fearfull estate And because he saith here the best reformed Churches have not onely not ceÌ„sured theÌ„ but also account theyr Church a Sister and give her the right hand of fellovvship it will be good in this place to consider what the publik confession and estate of those Churches is thereby to see whether they and the Church of England be in deed sisters of one Mother and ioyned together in the fellowship of one faith and obedience of Christ as Mr H. and others generally would beare vs in hand First therefore on the one hand we fynd that the reformed Churches do hold and publikly professe that it is the part and duty of every faithfull man to separate himself according to Gods vvord from all those vvhich are vvithout the Church aÌ„d to couple himself to the company of the faithfull whom they describe to be such as submit theÌ„selves to the doctrine aÌ„d discipline of the Church appointed by Christ vvheresoever God hath placed it yea though the coÌ„trary edicts of Princes aÌ„d Magistrates do forbid them vpoÌ„ payne of death Now on the other hand when we look at the estate of the Church of England first we can not fynd it to consist of a company of faithfull people so separated according to the word of God and the vse of the reformed Churches but to stand in confusion of all sorts of people good and bad even of the greatest persecuters and most profane of the land after the maner of Antichrist and his Babylonish assemblyes secondly we cannot see that notwithstanding the prohibition of Princes and Magistrates they submitt themselves to the doctrine and discipline of the Church appoynted by Christ but that they stand in subiection to the ministery aÌ„d discipline of Antichrist Wherevpon it followeth that in this constitution they cannot iustly be deemed a Sister of the reformed Churches abroad but of the daughters of the great Babylon spoken of in the book of the Revelation chap. 17. Next towching the Ministery and government which Christ hath given to his Church the reformed Churches beleeve and professe that the true CHVRCH ought to be governed by that regiment or discipline which our Lord Iesus hath established to witt so that there be in it Pastors Elders and Deacons That all true Pastors in what place soever they be placed have the same and aequall authority among them selves given vnto them vnder Iesus Christ the onely head and the chief and alone vniversall Bishop And that the Ministers Elders and deacons ought to be called to those theyr functions aÌ„d by the lawfull election of the Church to be advaunced into those roomes earnest prayer being made vnto God and after the order and maner which is sett down vnto vs in the word of God And on the other side towching the new ministeryes brought into the Church and devised by men as Patriarks Archbishops Suffraganes Metropolitanes Archpriests Deacons Subdeacons and the rest of that sort higher and lower towching all these say they we passe not a rush what they have ben in tymes past or what they are now the Apostles doctrine concerning Ministers sufficeth vs. And no man can by any right forbid vs to returne to the auncient constitution of the Church of God and rather to receyv it then the custome of man And moreover in the Church of Geneva they professe that they detest the Hierarchy as a divolish confusion stablished as it were in despire of God and to the mocking and reproch of all Christian religion Thus we see what the reformed Churches professe to be theyr faith iudgment and practise in these things With which if we compare the present constitution of the ecclesiasticall assemblyes of this land wherein are not onely wanting the aforesaid true offices of Pastors Elders Deacons together with the calling and administration appoynted by Christ and acknowledged by the reformed Churches but are also remayning the false offices and vsurped authority of Archbishoâ—s Lordbishops Deanes Archdeacons Commissaryes Parsons â—icars Priests and the rest of that rable for which these reformed Churches professe they passe not at all and which they have reiected as AntichristiaÌ„ together with theyr popish canons and constitutions if I say we compare these together who cannot see that the reformed Churches are in these things so far from giving to these assemblyes the right hand of fellowship as they do rather with the left hand put them over to Antichrist with whom they communicate and vnto whom
be judges The other is that he would a litle pawse and take view of that themselves have published towching theyr Priests heretofore for whom now he pleadeth As for example to give him a tast they write that theyr Parsons Vicars Parish Priests Stypendaryes with the rest came from the Pope as out of the Trojane horses belly to the destruction of Gods kingdome Also that the Church of God never knevv them but that they are the Prelates new creatures Yet see how now all of a sodepne Mr. H. would perswade us they are become Pastors those auncyent officers whâ—m Christ appoynted and the Apostles planted in the Primitive Churches of old Are these things sutable one with another Doth not theyr contradiction discover it self And do not themselves proclayme to the world theyr deceytfull dawbing theyr halting and vnfaythfulnes The Lord give them to lay it to hart and to amend Now to proceed it followeth in his writing thus ¶ Mr. H. his letter Section 8. Tâ—ll vs not then that the same name is given to our office as to the popish sacrificers Do you think the vvorse of your self because you are called Brovvâ—ists And shall the holy office and calling vvhich is so agreable to the vvord be misliked because it is called a Priesthood coâ—sidering that though it agree in name yet it differeth in nature and substaâ—ce as much from the popish priesthood as light doth from darknes Aunswer to Section 8. YEs sure we must tell them agayn and agayn that they are Priests both in name and office But be it that they were not Priests by office yet seing the very name of Priests being applyed to a Ministery of the Gospell among men is eyther a calling back of the Leviticall priesthoâ—d which were to deny Christ to be come in the flesh or els a monument and remembraÌ„ce of that priesthood of Antichrist which is odious to Christ and all good Christians with what conscience can they still retayne or plead for so vnchristian and abominable a name Have they forgotten or do they not regard that among the marks of that great whore the Romish Babylon this is one that she is full of names of blasphemy And among these names of hers is not this of Priest being spoken of an office of Ministery among men vnder the Gospell one of them that is most blasphemous for the reasons before alledged Hath not God also threatned that they shall drink of the cup of his wrath and have no rest day nor might not onely which worship the beast and his image but even whosoever receyveth the print of his name Let them therefore make as light account hereof as they please Yet dare not we but mislike and abhorre this and the rest of the Names of blaâ—phemy retayned among them And yet to we neyther do neyther need think the worse of our selves because we are called Brownists It is one thing to be rayled vpon and miscalled by the adversaryes of the truth another to borrow from them and retayne with them theyr names of blasphemy It is one thing to be reviled by nickâ—â—mes and sclaunders another to be called by fitt and proper names It is one thing to be falsely and vnjustly termed this or that another to be truly and justly so termed â—e are reviled and termed Brownists by the enemyes of the truth falsely and vnjustly therefore there is no cause why it should mâ—ve vs. The Apostles themselves and the Christians with them in the Prâ—â—itive Churches were likewise called a sect of Nazarites and every where spoken against And at this day by the sclaunderous papists are the names of Calvinists Lutherans Zwinglians and the like attributed to them that consent to the doctrine of truth taught by Calvin Luther Zwinglius etc. God knoweth we hold not this truth we professe of Brown or any man whatsoever but because it is the â—octrine and commaundement of Christ revealed in his word and given to his Church We blesse God for any instruments he vseth to manifest his truth to the world but we rejoyce not in men neyther theyr persons nor names We are baptized into the â—ame of Christ and are called Christians as were the Disciples in the Primitive Churches The slaundâ—rous names given to them in that age or to vs or any other Disciples of Christ in this or any other age we acknowledg not It is the malice and subtilty of Sathan and his instruments by such sclaunders and nicknames to make the truth and servants of God odious and abhorred of the world Therefore regard we 〈◊〉 not but with the Apostle we do freely confesse that after the way which they call Heresy so worship we God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ beleving all things that are written in the Law in the Prophets and Apostles and endevoring our selves to have alway a cleare conscience toward God and toward men Let men therefore call vs Brownists or what they please it troubleth not vs seing we are so termed vntruly and vnjustly But for theyr name of Priests it is far otherwise They are truly and justly so called and that for these causes following First for that the Law whereto Mr. H. appealeth for theyr defence alloweth no other orders of Ministery in the land but of Deacons which is the way to the priesthood and of Priests so made and ordeyned by the Prelates Secondly because at theyr ordination the Archdeacon presenting them to the Lordbishop vseth these words Reverend father I present these men vnto you to be admitted to the order of Priesthood Thirdly for that the Prelates by whom they are ordeyned admitt them to no other office For after the Archdeacon hath presented them as is aforesaid then the Prelate speaking to the people sayth thus Good people these be they whom we purpose God willing to receyve this day vnto the holy office of Priesthood Fourthly because theyr book of ordination both in the title of it and els where throughout the book showeth they receyv no other office And therefore calleâ—h and accounteth them priests As doth also theyr book of common prayer and theyr other books of Articles and Iniâ—â—ctions almost iâ— every page Lastly because the most popish priests whether they have ben so made hereâ—ofore in England in â— Maryes dayes or els be so made at Rhemes or Rome or any sucâ— place in these daâ—es yet if they renounce onely those poynts of popery that this land hath reiected are receyved and retayned for priests without any new ordination to administer in these asemblyes to offer vp theyr prayers to deliver theyr SacrmeÌ„ts to them to preach to enter vpon any benâ—fice in the land to enioy the commodityes thereof and to performe the dutyes therevnto belonging Proof hereof we have seen not onely in â— Mary priests so retayned from the begining of her Maiestyes raigne vnto this day but also in divers popish priests of this age as Tirell Tither Nichols
read that Moses â—ezekiah Nehemiah Annah and others have so prayed and ben accepted of God 13. Christ hath given an expresse commaundement VVhen ye pray say Our father c. wherevpon I reason thus The commaundements of Christ are to be kept otherwise it is sinne therefore if Christ have here commaunded to vse these words in that number and order then whosoever pray at any tyme and vse not these words they sinne But already we have seen that the Apostles prayed and vsed not these words and yet sinned not And so no doubt do other the servants of God daily according to theyr divers occasions and conditions Not to speak here of the prayers which the preachers vse before and after theyr sermons neyther of theyr collects and other prayers besides this prescribed in theyr books Otherwise also every man that blesseth his table or sayth to another God be with you God blesse you God recover you good morrow good night or the like should sinne in this because he prayeth and yet saith not Our father etc. 14. Yet I doubt not but we may vse any of these aswell as other words applying them to our speciall case and necessity As we see that Christ prayed saying Father glorify thy Name And agayn O my Father if this cup can not passe from me but that I must drink it thy vvill be done Where we may learne by Christ who gave the rule how to vse it to witt not in a superstitious saying over these words but in praying according to this rule as our special necessities shall be whether we vse any of these words or other or pray with sighs that cannot be expressed 15. Finally therefore all such as have framed or receyved any other forme of Prayer but this onely which Christ hath taught offend against this rule and commaundement of Christ. And thus not we but they who have devised and follow other formes and books of prayer are those which deny and as much as lyeth in them disanull the Lords prayer â—EVEN QVESTIONS which have ben propounded to divers of the Mâ—inisters of these assemblyes with request that they would aunswer them directly and sâ—ncerely from the Scriptures Which also still is desired at theyr hands â— WHether the Lord Iesus Christ have by his last Testament given vnto and set in his Church sufficient ordinary offices with theyr calling vvorks and maintenance for the administration of his â—oly things and for the sufficient ordinary insâ—ruction guydance and service of his Châ—rch to the end of the world or no 2. Whether the offices of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers be those offices appoynted by Christ in his Testament as aforesaid Or whether the present ecclesiasticall offices of Archbishops Lordbishops Suâ—â—raganes Deanes Subdeanes Prebendaryes Channcelors Priests Deacons or half Priests Archdeacons Subdeacons Commissaâ—yes Officials Doctors Proâ—tors â—egisters Scribes Apparitors Parsons Vicars Curates Stipendaryes Dagrant preachers Chapleynes or howse priests Canons Petticanons Gospellers Epistlers Chaunters Virgerers Queristers Organ-players Churchwardens Sidemen Collectors Clerks Sertans and the rest now had in these Cathedrall and parishionall assemblyes be those offices appoynted by Christ in his Testament as is aforesayd or no 3. Whether the calling and entrance into these ecclesiasticall offices last aforesayd theyr administration and maintenance now had and reteyned in England be the maner of calling administration and maintenance which Christ hath appoynted for the offices of his Church aboue named or no 4. Whethere very true visible Church be not a company of people called and separated out from the world and the false worship and wayes thereof by the word of God and ioyned together in fellowship of the Gospell by voluntary profession of the faith and obedience of Christ And whether the ecclesiasticall assemblyes of this land be such or no 5. Whether the Sacraments being seales of rightuoesnes which is by faith may be administred to any other then the faithfull and theyr seed or in any other Ministery and maner theÌ„ is prescribed by Iesus Christ the Aposâ—le and high Priest of our profession And whether they be not otherwise administred in the Cathedrall and parishionall assemblyes of England at this day 6. Whether the book of common prayer with the feasts fasts holy dayes 〈◊〉 prayers and leiturgy prescribed therein and vsed in these assemblyes be the true worship of God commaunded in his word or the devise and inâ—ention of Man for Gods worship and service 7 Whether all Churches and people without exception be not bound in religion onely to receyv aÌ„d submit vnto that 〈◊〉 vvorship and order which Christ as Lord and King hath given aÌ„d appoynted to his Church Or whether any man receyv and joyne vnto another devised by man for the service of God And consequently whether they which ioyne to the present ecclesiasticall Ministery vvorship and order of these Cathedrall and parshionall assemblyes can be assured by the word of God they ioyne to the formeâ— ordeyned by Christ and not to the latter 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 and service of God ¶ Let him that readeth consider A table of some principall things conteyned in this treatise THe written word of GOD onely is to be the rule of our life and â—â—â—gion pag. 1. 4. How God accounteth the mixture of mans inventions with his ordinances in his worship pag. 115. The ordinances of Christ are to be kept notwithstanding the prohibition of Princes or any persecution to the contrary pag. 32. 71. 133. 136. Magistrates are to be obeyed in the lord not against the Lord. pag. 49. 71. 133. 136. Of the Christian Magistrates allowance or prohibition inreligion p. 1â— 133. No Prince Church or Nation can make that lawfull which Gods word maketh vnlawfull pag. 126. 133. Princes ought to abolish all false worship and ministeryes pag. 25. 105. 134. The worship Prelaâ—â— and other ministery of the Church of England is against the Prphecy Priesthood and Kingdome of Christ. p. 30 34. Christs person and office p. 28. 42. Whether the Church of Engl. in theyr constitution held Christ the onelâ— lawgiver to the conscience p. 15. False doctrines taught and allowed in the Church of Engl. p. 10. 11. 12. 13. Of the profession of the Church of Engl. p. 19. Antichristian corruptioâ—s yet remayning in the Church of Engl. p. 19. 75. Antichrists religion a mystery of iniquity p. 7. 19. 37. 115. The description of Antichrist out of 2 Thes. 2. p. â— and out of 1 Ioh. 4. 3. p. 28 35. Of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons etc. p. 10. 52. 68. 75. 86. 88. 100. 108. 113. 117. 130 131. 136. 141. Of the Priests office in the Church of Eng. Sect. 7. 8. and p. 11. 33. 87. 105. The maner of entrance into it Sect. 9. and pag. 10. 100. 109. 119. Of the name Priests pag. 81. 94 99. The Priesthood of England compared with the popish and both of them with the Pastors office p. 98 105. The Deacons office in the Church of Engl.