And themselves cannot deny but eyther they must prove their Prelacy and inferiour Ministery aforesayd to be ordeyned by Christ in his Testament and so to be the true Ministerie given by Christ to his Church or els if they affirme that the King hath not authority to suppresse and take it away they are by the sentence of their owne Canons impugners of the Kings supremacy and excommunicated ipso facto and not to be restored but after repentance and publik revocation of those wicked errours And so commeth vpon them that which Christ hath sayd Of thyne owne mouth will I iudge thee ô evill servant Luc. 19.22 And wheras by the same Canon the power of restoring such is committed onely to the Archbishop with the condition aforesaid it would be knowen if the Archbishop himself be in the same case who shall now restore him and whether it can be done to him any more then to the rest without his repentance and publick revocation of those his wicked errours Which if he and the rest had grace to revoke these questions would soon be at an end But howsoever they deale and the Kings of the earth for a while mainteyne or suffer them certaine it is that the King of Kings the Lord Iesus Christ will in his time vtterly consume and abolish that lawlesse apostasie and mystery of iniquity in all the power and tyrannicall vsurpation thereof 2 Thes 2.3.4.7.7 with Rev. 14-20 chap. From whence we will take the next and last Argument which now we will alledge The seventh Argument IF the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies VII of England be such as it shal be abolished by the Lord through the light and power of his Gospell according to that which is written 2 Thes 2.3.8 with Rev. 14.6.7.8 and 18.4.5.20 then it is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie But the present Ministery of the Church-assemblies of Engl. is such as it shal be abolished by the Lord through the light and power of his Gospell according to that which is written 2 Thes 2.3.8 with Rev 14.6.7.8 and 18.4.5.20 Therefore it is the Ministerie of Antichrists apostasie The Proposition is evident as may appeare by the Scriptures mentioned in it The Assumption also is manifest may thus be shewed 1. The Scripture teacheth that †2 Thes 8.3 8. with Esa 11.4 Rev. 14.6.7.8 the Lord will consume the man of sinne with the breath of his mouth in the power of his word and therefore also his counterfeit offices ordinances and authority Of which sort the present Ministery of the Church-assemblies of Engl. being found to be it will follow that these shall also with the rest of that body be abolished by Christ with the brightnes of his coming with the breath of his mouth in the power of his Gospell Otherwise the man of sinne should not be consumed away as the Lord hath sayd he shal be and hath therefore called him the sonne of perdition or destruction because he is appointed to be consumed abolished 2 Thes 2.3 And seing that although in all other places of the earth all the offices parts powers and ordinances of his kingdome and religion were abolished yet so long as the present offices and functions of the Prelacy Priesthood and Deaconry in the Archbishops Archdeacons Lordbishops Deanes Prebendaries Parsons Vicars and the rest of that sort with their callings works maintenance assemblies Courts Canons and proceedings ecclesiasticall do continew in England the Ministery power and authority of the man of sinne were not consumed and abolished as the Scripture hath foretold shall come to passe it must needs be that these also shall go into destruction with the rest of that body For true and strong is he which hath sayd it and will performe it Rev. 18.1.2.8.20.21 and 19.1.2 with 2 Thes 2.3.8 2. Agayne seing the Scripture saith that ‖ 1 Ioh. 3.8 for this purpose the Sonne of God hath appeared that he might loose the works of the Divel and the comming of the man of sinne in all his apostasie is in another Scripture said to be by the working of Sathan 2 Thes 2.3.8.9 it followeth also herevpon that Christ the sonne of God will break and abolish the Prelacy and lying Ministery of that lawlesse one together with the rest of his apostasie wheresoever Which already we have seen to be begun in that the Lord hath now in this latter age of the world appeared according to his promise in the light of his Gospell and hath begun thereby to dissolve that work of Sathan to cast down Babylon that great city to manifest and consume that man of sinne to remove and abolish the offices callings works and livings belonging to that body and kingdom of darknes So as in divers countreyes at this day the popish Antichristian offices callings are generally rejected and abandoned And in England the Pope Cardinals Priors Abbots Monks Fryers and Nunnes together with many of the popish heresies errors superstitions are abolished cast out of the land This hath the Son of God that * Psal 24.8.10 king of glory by the shining brightnes and power of his Gospell already brought to passe in this latter age Neyther will he cease or give over this his glorious work vntil he hath evidently consumed the body of that man of sinne and discovered dissolved the work of Sathan in Antichrists kingdome throughout the world The Lord of hosts hath determined it and who shall disannull it His hand is stretched out and who shall turne it away Esa 14.27 with 2 Thes 2.8.9 Rev. 14.6.7.8 3. Moreover the present Ministery of the Church-assemblyes of England being such in their Offices entrance administration and maintenance as the Lord never set in his church as †Reason 1. before hath bene proved therfore also it cannot be doubted but that these shal be abolished as Christ hath sayd Every planting which my heavenly Father hath not planted shal be rooted vp Mat. 15.13 4. Finally the sekers of reformation have bene if still they be not of the same judgement and expectation Els why have they sued to the Parliaments to have these parts remnants of the Popish Antichristian Kingdome yet reteyned in the land to be removed and abolished yea and have expressely written * Admon to the Parliam in the Preface that they shall downe hold they never so hard Now furthermore that this destruction of Antichrists kingdome and religion shal be seen and done by Christs appearing in the light and power of his Gospell we gather also from the Scriptures which teach ‖ Rev. 14.6.7.8 2 Thes 2.8 with Esa 11.4 that by the preaching of the Gospell Babylon falleth And for the better discerning hereof thus we shew it further First by Babylon ‡ Rev. 17.5.7 with 11.8 2 Thes 2.7 mystically and spiritually is vnderstood the city kingdome and iurisdiction of Antichrist with the offices and ordinances belonging therevnto the apostasie and authority of the man
is the execution of the Ministerie of the Church of England Ergo It is to have conformity with Antichrist and his Officers as is aforesaid The Proposition they will not gainesay The Assumption they have graunted and published vidz vide licet That they have an Antichristian Hierarchie and popish ordering of Ministers straunge from the word of God and the vse of all well reformed Churches in the world And that their Ponticfiall whereby they consecrate Bishops and make Ministers and Deacons is nothing els but a thing word for word drawen out of the Popes pontificall wherein he sheweth himself to be Antichrist most lively Admon to Parliam treatise 2. section 14. and 20. The third Argument taken out of the same book of Mr Bradsh Twelve Arguments and out of the London Ministers Exceptions and Lincolnshire Ministers Abridgement c. IF such be the estate of the Ministery of the Church-assemblies of England as they are bound in their Ministration vnto such things as the vsing of them in Church Service in manner and forme prescribed is a Wil-worship a giving of speciall Honour to Antichrist and his members a performing of Honour more then civill even a Religious onely to an humane Power and Authority a warranting of the like vse of Iewish Turkish Paganish or Popish observations a doing of schismaticall Actions an having of spirituall Cōmuniō with the Idolatrous Papists in the mysteries of their Idolatrie and Superstition a mingling of Profane things with Divine an vsing of vnlawfull things in Divine worship an administring of Sacraments that are not of divine institution a solemne acknowledging of spirituall Homage to the spirituall vsurped authority of Lord Archbishops Bishops an vsing of humane Traditions and Rites enioyned to be performed in Gods worship as necessarie to salvation an apparant meanes of the Damnation of the sowles of infinite numbers of men confirming them in Superstition and Idolatry a disgracing of the holy Scripture a profaning of the Sacraments an approving of Popish errours and manifest vntruths an observing of a Leiturgie which in the whole matter and forme thereof is too like vnto the Masse-book and hath in it sundry things contrary to the word of God c. If such I say be the estate of the Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of England then is it not lawfull to communicate with them therein But such is the estate of the Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of England Ergo It is not lawfull to communicate with them therein The consequence of the Proposition is proved by sundry reasons alledged * Abridgement of the book delivered to his Maiesty by the Lincolneshire Ministers p. 17. c. by the Lincolneshire Ministers though vrged by them but against the vse of their Ceremonies which we will now apply vnto the communicating with their Ministerie and ministration aforesaid 1. By the second commandement which forbids all provocations vnto spiritual fornicatiō as the seventh doth vnto that which is carnall 2. By the commandement and direction God hath given vs in his word †to separate our selves from Idolaters and Antichristians and to be as vnlike vnto them as may be specially in their religious observations ‖ to abolish not onely all Idols but all the instruments of Idolatrie and that so as we may best shew our ‡ vtmost detestation to them and * root out the verie memory of them c. †Levit. 18.3.4 and 19.19.27 28. Exod. 23.24 Deut. 14.1 and 12.4 30 32 2 Cor. 6 14-18 Apoca. 18.4 ‖ Gen. 35.2 4. Num. 33.52 Deut. 12.2.3 2 King 23.4 5. Esa 27.9 and 30.22.23 Zeph. 1.4 Apoca. 2 14.20 ‡ Deut. 7.25.26 and 9.21 1 Chron. 14.12 2 King 18.4 and 23.6.8 Esa 30.22 Iude 23. * Exod. 23.13 Deut. 12.3 Iosh 23.7 Zach. 13.2 3. By the equity reasons of these commandements which we find set down in holy Scripture vidz vide licet 1. The detestation which the Lord our God being a jelous God beareth vnto Idolatry and all the instruments and tokens thereof as vnto spirituall whoredome Exod. 20.5.6 Deut. 7.25.26 2. That we cannot be said sincerely to have repented of the Antichristianisme Idolatrie or superstition whereby we or our forefathers have provoked the Lord vnles we be ashamed of and cast away with detestation all the instruments and monuments of it 2 Chron. 33.15 Esa 1.28.29 and 2. 6.8.9.20 and 30.9.10.11.22 2 Cor. 7.11 3. That we shal be in danger to be corrupted in Religion and doctrine and to be brought to ruine and destruction if we conforme our selves to Idolaters Antichristians in their Ministerie ministration ceremonies reteyne or partake with the monuments of their superstition yea if we shew not al detestation vnto them Exod. 34.12.15 Deut. 7.4.25.26 Iudg. 2.13 Gal. 2. 5. Rev. 18.4 4. That our keeping of communion with the Ministers in such Ministration will be a speciall meane to harden them in that vngodlynes Ezech. 16.54 1 Cor. 8.10 5. That seing the Prelates are reveiled to be great Antichrists and their Ministerie and constitutions to be great troublers of the Church at this day it cannot but be very sinfull and hurtfull to reteyne or communicate with them 2 Thes 2. 3.4.8.9.10.11 12. Apoc. 17. and 18. chap. Lev. 18.3 4. By the judgment of the godly learned of all Churches ages who have constantly taught and given testimony to this truth that Christians are bound to forsake and cast of the Ministration ceremonies religious customes of Pagans Iewes Antichristians Idolaters Hereticks and carefully to shun all conformity with them therein And hitherto of such reasons as are alledged by the Lincolneshire Ministers as is aforesaid Now for further confirmation of the Proposition I will also annex these following being of like nature with the former 1. The consideration of the many sinnes and those also great and grievous which ensue vpon such practise as may appeare by the particulars noted here in the Proposition prosecuted in their Books 2. Because the second commandement forbiddeth not onely the making but also the bowing downe to any inventions constitutions of men in the worship of God And this prohibition of bowing downe includeth not onely those that vse them but such also as communicate with them therein Exod. 20.5 3. Because the Lord requireth of vs to shew all vttermost detestation and forsaking of them both by word deed even casting them away as menstruous cloths and saying vnto them Get you hence Esa 30.22 4. Because the imposition observation of the things aforesayd is not onely vpon the Ministers but vpon the people also that both in their own persons and in their children And why should not the people aswel as the Ministers stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free and not be intangled agayne with the yoke of bondage Gal. 5.1 5. Because the Lord hath not required this at our hands that we should serve him by such a Ministerie and Ministration Esa 1.12 6. And finally
with their walking it is more then tyme needfull that they did it that they did it soundly from the word of God For as yet what do they els but with one mouth both blesse and curse and with the one hand build vp that which with the other they destroy and so make themselves trespassers Gal. 2.18 The seventh Argument taken out of Mr Bradsh book aforesaid vidz vide licet out of the tenth Argument of that Treatise IT is a sinne against Christ the sole Head of the Church to have spirituall communion with those Ministers which in the administration of Divine things do eyther by word or deed solemnely professe yeeld a spirituall Homage to an vsurped spirituall authority in the Church But the Ministers of the Church-assemblies of England do even in the administration of Divine things by solemne deed professe and yeeld a spirituall Homage to the spirituall authority of Lord Archbishops and Bishops which is vsurped Ergo It is a sinne against Christ the sole head of the Church to have spirituall communion with the Ministers of the Church assemblies of England The Proposition may not be gainesaid For all spirituall power vsurped over the Churches of God is an Antichristian authority and to communicate with those Ministers which professe spirituall homage therevnto is to communicate with such as professe spiritual homage vnto Antichrist which must needs be a sin against Christ the sole head of the Church The Assumption hath two parts 1. That the Ministers of the Church of England do even in the administration of Divine things by solemne deed professe and yeeld a spirituall Homage to the spirituall authoritie of Archbishops and Lord Bishops Which is most evident because they preach the word and administer the Sacraments by vertue of their calling received from the Archbishops and Bishops who give them authority herevnto at their ordination saying to every one of them * Book of ordering Priests fol. 14. Take thou authority to preach the word of God and to Minister the holy Sacraments in the Congregation where thou shalt be so appointed Which things themselves cannot deny to be meer Ecclesiasticall Religious and spirituall Actions injoyned among them to be done by offices callings received from the Prelates Ecclesiasticall and spirituall authority So as the doing of them by vertue thereof must needs be a solemne declaration of spirituall homage yeelded to the same authority 2. The second part of the Assumption is That the authority of their Lord Archbishops and Bishops is an vsurped authority The confirmation whereof Mr Bradsh setteth downe in these words following This is sufficiently proved of late by Mr Iacob in his 1. Assertion by many reasons Onely because the weight of the Argument leaneth vpon it I will vse one Reason Those Officers Rulers in the Church that make claime to be of Divine institution chalenge to themselves Apostolicall authority and iurisdiction as the onely Successours of the Apostles to sit onely in Moses chaire To have sole power of the Keyes To cut from the visible Church and receive againe To have power of creating displacing all other ecclesiasticall officers To be the Vniversall Pastors of whole Dukedomes and Kingdomes vnder whom all other Pastors are as Curates c. And yet for all this are such as stand and are supported onely by humane Traditions Ceremonies such as a civill Magistrate may without sinne put out of the Church and such as the true Churches of God may renounce and yet continue the true Church as Antichristian Vsurpers spirituall Tyrants I say all such Officers and Rulers exercise an vsurped authoritie in the Church But our Archbishops Bishops are such Rulers and Officers as are aforesaid Ergo They execute an Vsurped power over the Church The Proposition may easily be iustified For if inferiour officers vidz vide licet Pastors of particular Congregations have had may have firme continuance in the Church without these humane devises and inventions If the Magistrate cannot without sinn put them out of the Church And if those can be no true Churches that renounce to have particular Pastours and Ministers over them it must much more hold in such Church-officers and Rulers as these are if their authority be lawfull good For whilest the Apostles lived they needed not any humane Traditions and devises to support their authority The Magistrates that sought to put them downe sinned with a high hand And that was no Church that renounced and disclaimed their Office Authoritie and Iurisdiction The Assumption is as easily justified For 1. they make claime Title to all those Prerogatives before rehearsed in the first part of the Proposition and vnto more then that as shal be proved if it be denied 2. It is an Embleme of their owne NO CEREMONIE NO BISHOP Ergo No humane Tradition and Invention no Bishop Ergo The office of a Bishop is supported by them eyther onely or specially 3. Their Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction is derived from the King els it is a flat deniall of his Supremacie Also themselves graunt in their last Tables of Discipline That the King hath power to increase or diminish the Circuit of a Bishoprick That he may make two or more Bishopricks of one one Bishoprick to be two or more Yea what should hinder but that he may divide the Bishoprick of London into 800. For where God hath not defined the number of Parishes that a Bishop is to reign over it must needs be a thing indifferent In which by their owne Doctrines the King hath authority without sinne to dispose If therefore the King may as well notwithstanding any thing in the Law of God give the Keyes of the Church to everie particular Pastour of a Congregation over his owne Congregation as to a Bishop over a Diocesse which taketh away the very Essence of an English Bishop He may without sinne take away the very Office of the Bishop which consists in having jurisdiction over many Congregations c. 4. There is no true sober Christians but will say that the Churches of Scotland Fraunce the low Countries and other places that renounce such Archbishops and Bishops as ours are as Antichristian vsurping Prelates are true Churches of God Which they could not be if the authoritie and prerogatives they claime to themselves were of Christ and not vsurped For if it were the ordinance of Christ Iesus that in every Kingdome that receiveth the Gospel there should be one Archbishop over the whole Kingdome One Bishop over many hundred Pastors in a Kingdome and all they invested with that authority and jurisdiction Apostolicall which they claime iure Divino to be due vnto them and to reside in them by the ordinance of Christ certainely that Church that should renounce and disclaime such an authority ordeyned in the Church cannot be a true Church but a Synagogue of Sathan For they that should renounce and deny such must needs therein renounce and deny