is counted one of the six foūdations principles of faith there rehearsed Which then requireth that also the whole outward spiritual administration and government of Christes Church now must be such yea and the forme it selfe of the visible politicall Church must then be a foundation of Religion a principle of christian faith ordinarily necessary forever unchangeable by men Wee doe not here think that all who of simplicitie doe erre in this foundation and principle of faith are of necessitie damned We are not of so rigid and severe an opinion But we therefore hold it as a foundation and principle of faith because it is ordinarily necessarie to salvation and forever unchangeable by men Thus standeth our faith in these pointes so that they which hold contrarily to wit that these things are but circumstances in Religion accidents ordayneable and changeable by men even from one forme to another doe as we believe erre greatly from the trueth Of Christs true visible politicall Church in more speciall manner 4. Wee believe that the nature essence of Christs true visible that is politicall Church under the Gospell is a free congregation of Christians for the service of God or a true spirituall bodie politike cōteyning no more ordinary Cōgregations but one and that independent Wherein chiefly 2. pointes are to be noted First that a true visible politicall Church under the Gospell is but one ordinary Congregation And this is to be seene plainely in these scriptures Math. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4.12.13 1 Cor. 11.18.20 1 Cor. 14.23 Againe Act. 1.15 Act. 2.1.44 Act. 6.2.3.5.6 Act. 15.22.25 Also Act. 14.27 Act. 15.30 Moreover Act. 20.28 Act. 14.23 Gal. 1.2.21 2 Cor. 8.1 Rom. 16.1 c. The second point here to be noted is That by Gods ordinance this one ordinary congregation of Christians is a spirituall bodie politike and so it is a free congregation independent That is It hath from God the right and power of spirituall Administration and Government in it selfe and over it selfe by the common and free consent of the people independently and immediately under Christ alwayes in the best order they can Which these places doe prove Mat. 18.17.19 1 Cor. 5.12.13 10.15 7.23 2 Cor. 2.8 2 Thes 3.6.14 Act. 6.3.5.6 Act. 14.23 Act. 1.23.26 Act. 15.22.25 1 Thes 5.21 1 Ioh. 4.1 Rom. 16.17 Coll. 4.17.2 3 Io. 10. Gal. 1.9 Gal. 5.1 Gal. 4.26 Of Synods and Councells 5. Howbeit we acknowledge with all that there may be and that on occasion there ought to be on earth a consociatiō of Congregations or Churches namely by way of Synods but not a subordination or surely not a subjection of the congregations under any higher spirituall authoritie absolute save onely Christs and the holy Scriptures They who deny this mainteyning a Diocesan and Provinciall and neither wee nor they themselves know what universall visible politicall Church both proper and representative doe herein vary farr from the rule of the Gospell Of a Catholike or Vniversall Church politike that is indued with power of outward spirituall Government 6. It is demanded doe wee deny an Universall visible Church under the Gospell Wee answer yea Under the Gospell Christ never instituted nor had any one Universall visible Church that is Politicall either proper or representative which ordinarily was to exercise spirituall outward government over all persons through the world professing Christianity No such Church say wee is found in all the new Testament Therefore we now cannot acknowledge any such Of a Provinciall Church independent 7. It is marveyled why we likewise deny that under the Gospell there is any true visible politicall Church Provinciall or Diocesan seing so we shall deny a true visible politicall Church to be now in England because the English Church as commonly it is holden is properly a Diocesan and Provinciall or a Nationall visible politicall Church We answere For our parts we acknowledge there are many true visible yea politicall Churches in England in some degree in some respect yet indeed we deny also a Nationall a Provinciall Diocesan Church under the Gospell to be a true visible politicall Church whether wee meane the whole body or the representative part of such Churches though the publike practise among us doth hould them for true politicall Churches The reason why wee deny these also is Because neither any such is found any where set downe in Gods word of the new Testament even like as there is no Universall Church visible politicall there set downe But onely a free Congregation or ordinary Assembly is found in the new Testament as a litle before is shewed How true visible politike Churches are in England 8. And touching the true visible politicall Churches which we acknowledge are in England wee professe and declare in this manner Namely that each company of true visible Christians associated togither in one place viz. a Parish and professing to serve God according to his will in faith and order so farr as they knowe such as there are many in England the same is a true visible politicall Church in some respect that is Though not in respect of the order of the state unless indirectly and by accident to it after which they walke and under which they stand in spirituall bondage yet in Christ directly they are free And so directly and essentially they are a true politicall Church as they are a company of true visible Christians united by their owne consent to serve God as a litle before is noted And thus they have free power of spirituall outward governmēt among themselves though they professedly practise it not But esteeming them by Gods word in their direct practise state according to the publike proceedings they are not a true politicall Church nor free directly as they stand under and joyned to the L. Bishops spirituall dominion over them Which bondage and want of spirituall freedome in themselves our godly people generally see not nor this That in right from Christ they have this freedome to be exempted from the unlawfull domination of the L. Bishops aforesayd Neither think they so upon this matter as they ought and as the perill of their soules requireth Howbeit yet all this as ‡ Prov. 25 18. 17.15 we judge doth not simply disanull that peoples being true visible Christians with us so long as herein they erre but of ignorance nor the assemblies from being true visible politicall Churches in some respect and degree as before is shewed And therefore we cōmunicate also with them on occasion as before likewise is signified viz. while in such communicating wee countenance out no evill thing in them which in many places and many times we need not doe Whereof we shall presently see further in Art 11. following Of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops Diocesan and Provinciall 9. Wee believe that the spirituall office calling and power and administration of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops
Diocesan and Provinciall with their inferior Hierarchy is contrary to the Ecclesiasticall order ordinance of Christ established in the new Testament and not to be communicated with The proofes whereof doe stand on the grouÌ„ds of the 4. Article before and on those in the 10. Article next following after Of the making of Ministers 10. Wee believe that the essence of Ministers calling under the Gospell is the †1 Thes 5.21 Rom. 16.17 1 Ioh. 4.1 Act. 14.23 Act. 6.3.5 Act. 1.23.26 2 Cor. 1.24 1 Pet. 5.3 1 Cor. 7.23 1. Cor. 3.22 Math. 18.17.19 28.20 Congregations consent We speake of the ordinary Ministerie especially of Pastors And it is proved thus Whatsoever is essentiall in making of a Minister at some time and in some place the same is essentiall ever But the Congregations consent is essentiall at sometime and in some place This is without question viz. in some places it was when Christians came first out of the Antichristian tyranny bondage of Rome Also as it may happen it is now and may be hereafter in like cases And also in the first conversion of the Indies and other infidell Countries Which even our Adversaries as they must needes doe confesse Therefore the Congregations consent is essentiall ever and every where in the making of a Minister Many there are by whome this conclusion is denyed They hold the authority and consent of a former Minister to be essentiall to the making of a Minister And so they derive hold the Ministery of the Church of Christ with us to come as touching the essence thereof succeedingly from Antichrist the Pope of Rome Indeed there are but onely these 2. wayes neither can be to make Ministers to us essentially And therefore in truth we conclude a Ministers calling is essentially alwayes from the Congregations consent For any lawfull authority herein from the Pope we acknowledge * 2 Cor. 6.15.16 none And with all upon this ground Wee for our partes cannot but believe it to be simply unlawfull and sinfull to fetch receive yea or to use a Ministery formerly received from the Prelates seing that hereby and especially by the expresse opinion that the Ministery of England descendeth from the Pope beside the mainteyning of Romes pride the foreshewed order of God and the †As before in the beginning of this Artic. Churches true right spirituall is most plainely violated and defaced yea and as we doubt our persons most deeply indangered of our lives by the ‡ Eliz. 27.2 Lawes verdicte in the rigor thereof Because the Soveraigne absolutenes and independency of our Land and Countrey in spirituall things is greatly impaired abased and diminished thereby to say no more of it Finally upon this ground we also believe that a Minister so reputed without any particular flocke is indeed | T.C. â—epl .1 â—1 no Minister Of our communicating with the Parish Ministers Parishes in England 11. First we believe that to think we doe or can receive a Ministery essentially from a former ‡ Hebr. 7.7 Minister or Prelate in these dayes is an errour and the thing received is a nullitie in that respect Secondly this receipt in a Parish minister with us maketh not a nullitie of the Ministerie in him in every respect besides that is it maketh not voyd all truenes of Ministery in him as a believing Congregation howsoever consenteth to have him and useth him for their Minister This consent of the godly there howsoever it be mingled otherwise with errour is not wholly voyd Thirdly concerning us when on some weightie occasion we joyne onely to that which is true in the sayd Ministery and testify in the best manner we can that so we doe also ordinarily leaving the parish congregation and Ministerie for that their errour and other such like and with all professing publishing and practising freely and constantly the simple truth therein with our selves this quitteth us as we firmely believe and sufficiently maketh us cleare from all evill and appearance of evill in this matter Lastly It being no evill nor any appearance of evill justly in us to joyne to the Parish Congregation and Ministerie in such respect and so farr forth onely as is aforesayd we ought as we believe sometime on waightie occasion so to joyne and †Luk. 17.37 Heb. 10.25 1 Cor. 10.32 we sinne if we doe not Touching Plurality Pastors and Nonresidents 12. We believe Plurality-Pastors and Nonresidents to be directly contrary to the order of God in the Gospell And therefore that now they are simply unlawfull and likewise deputed and substituted Pastors by private authority such as our Curates are And meere Lecturers are little better Touching Discipline and Censures 13. Wee believe the true administring of the holy Censures to be by the Congregations consent also And therefore not to be lawfully done by an absolute Diocesan or Provinciall authority that is if it be without any necessary concurrence of consent of that Congregation which it chiefly concerneth Touching the number of Pastors in each Church of the Pastors ordinary power authoritie in managing the Churches spirituall affaires Government 14. Wee believe each Church ought to have one Pastor at least and that they may have moe then one if the number of the Church and their meanes be fitt for it and such plenty of choice may be had Howbeit we judge that it is best and most agreable to the last Apostolike practise that even where many are yet that one have during life a precedencie and prioritie in order and place not in power before the rest Revel 2.1 c. Touching their power and authority in Church government we believe whether they be in each Church single or moe then one they have all that they have and nothing more then what the Congregation doth commit unto them and which they may when need requireth againe take away from them Yea to their utter deposing and also rejection out of the Church it selfe if such necessitie be Howbeit otherwise while they are approved and stand in their place we judge each proper Pastor may and ought to be trusted by the Congregation with the managing of all points of their Ecclesiasticall affaires and government so farr that he with his assistants when he hath any doe execute and administer the same yet so that in matters of waight the whole Congregation doe first understand thereof before any thing be finished and the finall act be done in the presence of the whole Congregation and also that they the sayd Congregation doe not manifestly dissent there from Touching the profane and scandalous mixtures of people in the Congregation 15. Wee believe concerning mixtures of the open prophane with some manifest godly Christians in a visible Church though at once it doth not destroy essentially nor make void the holines of that whole Assembly yet truely it putteth that whole Assembly into a most dangerous and desperate estate by such their confusion and
Anno Domini 1616. A CONFESSION AND PROTESTATION OF THE FAITH OF CERTAINE CHRISTIANS in England holding it necessary to observe keepe all Christes true substantiall Ordinances for his Church visible and Politicall that is indued with power of outward spirituall Government under the Gospel though the same doe differ from the common order of the Land Published for the clearing of the said Christians from the slaunder of Schisme and Noveltie and also of Separation undutifullnes to the Magistrate which their rash Adversaries doe falsely cast upon them Also an humble Petition to the K. Majestie for Toleration therein Coloss 2.6 As yee have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walke in him Psalm 116.9.10 I will walke before the Lord in the land of the living I believed therefore have I spoken for I was sore troubled Vide Fide Fide sed Vide. A CONFESSION AND PROtestation of the faith of certain Christiās in England holding it necessary to observe keepe all Christes true substantial Ordinances for his Church visible and politicall that is indued with power of outward spirituall Government under the Gospell though the same doe differ from the common orders of the Land Published for the clearing of the sayd Christians from the slaunder of Schisme and Noveltie and also of Separation and vndutifulnes to the Magistrate which their rash Adversaries doe falsly cast upon them WEe who do beleeve profess it to be necessary both for the glory of Christ for the assurance of our owne soules to observe and keep Christs substantial Ordinances for his visible politicall Church which are wanting publiquely among us yet are both his clear commandements and also special meanes of salvation and of Gods worship for us under the Gospell doe judge it most fit and reasonable to publish and testifie to all men in all plainenes wherein particularly we doe consent and doe fully agree with the publique Churches in Englād And wherein we disagree and differ frō the doctrine publiquely received And also finally to shew the inforcing reasons that haue driven compelled us to take this way which wee doe 1. Touching the first of these we protest before God and men that we unfaynedly and hartily agree to all the civil authoritie Magistracie and Government as it is received and standeth by law established in the Land holding it a most high offence against Almighty God if any of us should not with all readines cōscience at all times submit in all things eyther actively or passively thereunto Moreover wee doe likewise protest that we refuse not on occasion to communicate with the publique ordinary Congregations assembled for the exercise of religion in England viz. where neyther our assent nor silent presence is given to any meere humane tradition And we agree willingly to all the articles of faith and religion publiquely received and mainteyned among us onely excepting those points which hereafter folow mentioned and are distinctly set down in the particular Articles of this our present Confession and Protestation 2. Then touching the second thing above mentioned that is our difference and disagrement from the doctrine received publiquely in this land thus we declare and testify in the presence of God and men that meerely being constrayned by the cleare and unresistable evidence of Christs gospell which sayth * Act. 5.29 wee ought rather to obey God then men and not moved by any other conceite or vaine fancie we differ and disagree from the sayd publique doctrine in Eight and Twentie severall Articles 28. Articles all of them being of very great importance yea most of them both substantial matters in Religion and also speciall meanes of salvation under the Gospell The Articles wherein onely wee dissent from the publique Ecclesiasticall order and doctrine in England 1. Of Christs offices namely his Propheticall and Kingly offices 2. Of the alsufficiencie of the Scripture 3. Of Christs true visible Church generally 4. Of Christes true visible politicall church in more speciall manner 5. Of Synods and Councells 6. Of a Catholike or Universall Church politike that is indued with power of outward spirituall government 7. Of a Provinciall Church independent 8. How true visible politike churches are in England 9. Of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops Diocesan and Provinciall 10. Of the making of Ministers 11. Of our Communicating with the Parish Ministers Parishes in England 12. Touching Pluralitie Pastors and Non residents 13. Touching Discipline and Censures 14. Touching the number of Pastors in each Church and of the Pastors ordinary power and authority in managing the Churches spirituall affaires and government 15. Touching the prophane and scandalous Mixtures of people in the Congregation 16. Of humane Traditions 17. Of traditions Apostolike 18. Of Prophecy 19. Of reading of Homilies in the Church 20. Of Christs descending into Hell 21. Of Prayer 22. Of Holy dayes so called 23. Of Mariage and Burying churching as it is called 24. Of Ministers made also Magistrates by the State 25. Of the gifts and Offerings of the faithfull 26. Of Tithes and the Pastors fittest and due and necessarie maintenance 27. Of the civill Magistrates duety charge supreamly to oversee and order his Churches spirituall matters yet but civilly 28 Touching the necessity that lyeth upon us notwithstāding to obey Christ rather then man when they differ in our using the true and refusing the contrary ecclesiasticall ordinances above specified Of Christs Offices namely his Propheticall and Kingly Offices 1. Wee beleeve Christs Prophetical and Kingly Offices even in outward spirituall or religious matters to be absolute and perfect Where note that wee understand outward spirituall matters or religious to be outward matters used in the exercise of Religion not for any naturall reason nor for any civill use but meere voluntarily that is such things therein as are of the authors meere voluntary appointing And though some persons opposing against us do account these any thing rather thē Spirituall matters yet surely we hold them to be spirituall and religious seeing they are voluntarie institutions vsed onely in and for the exercise of religion and are appropriated thereunto Also these outward matters we believe are spirituall and religious unlawfully and falsely which are of mens institution they are lawfully justly and truely such which are of the institution and appointing of Iesus Christ Againe where these men doe say They neither intend nor teach these things to be spirituall or religious We answer that maketh not the matter They are such in the very nature of the thinges notwithstanding For mens wordes or intents make not the nature of these things neither can they alter the same Men indeed make these things in the exercise of religion false and unlawfull in as much as they come meerely frō men But spirituall and religious they are of themselves viz. being simply voluntarie ordinances appropriated to the affaires of Religion as they are In the appointing therefore of these outward spirituall matters and