vertue of any Authority derived to them from him are not Ministers of the Gospel but Thieves and Robbers Joh. 10. 1. from whom 't is the property of the Sheep to flee ver 4. But the present Ministers of England come not in by the Door Therefore That they come not in by the Door viz. by vertue of any Authority derived to them from Christ is evident If they have received any such Authority or Commission from him they have received it either mediately or immediately the latter will not be asserted nor without the working of Miracles should it so be would it to the world's end be made good 'T is the former must be fixt upon viz. That they have received their Authority or Commission mediately from Christ but to as little purpose for those that receive Authority to preach the Gospel mediately from Christ have it from some particular instituted Church of Christ to whom power is soley delegated for the electing of their own Officers according to the tenour of the ensuing Scriptures Acts 6. 5. 14. 23. These men as it 's known have no such Authority pretend not to it have it in derision come barely with a Presentation from a Patron and Ordination Institution and Induction from a Lord-Bishop things forreign to the Scripture and impose themselves upon the people whether they will or no. 2. 'T is not lawful to hear them as Gifted-Brethren 1. The most of them are not gifted nor 2. Brethren being Canonical-Drunkards Swearers Gamsters c. 3. The best of them cannot by Saints in respect of Gospel-communion be so accounted for 1. There was never any giving up of our selves each to other according to the will of God and primitive Example whence such a Brotherhood doth result 2. We cannot as things stand perform the duties of Brethren to them according to Mat. 18. nor will they or can they in the state in which they stand to us 3. If we acknowledge the best of them for such we must also acknowledge the worst of them for 1. They are all Members of the same Church 2. Profess themselves to be one Brotherhood so sayes their Rime upon the Lord's Prayer Our Father which in Heaven art And mak'st us all one Brotherhood c. Nay 3. we cannot so acknowledge them but we must also acknowledge the Bishops for our Reverend Fathers for theirs they are which how abhorring it is to any tender enlightned soul may easily be conjectured But to hear this Plea speak its uttermost let it be granted they are Brethren and may be so esteemed They are Brethren that walk disorderly or they do not That they walk disorderly cannot be denied by such as pretend to Reformation If submitting to Ordination or Re-ordination by a Lord Bishop covenanting and protesting with detestation against a Reformation according to the Scripture and the best Reformed Churches to own as consonant to Scripture a Lyturgy or stinted Forms of Prayer in the Church and read them to wear the Surplice c. be disorderly walking they are the very best of them beyond contradiction to be reputed in the number of disorderly walkers And so after due admonition according to the Scripture and a perseverance in their sin to be separated from by vertue of positive and express Precepts of Christ Mat. 18. 2 Thess 3. 6. Now we command you Brethren in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition he received of us With what vehemency authority and holy earnestness doth the Apostle press separation from Brethren that walk disorderly We command you and we command you in the Name of the Lord Jesus and we command you Brethren by vertue of our relation to each other and that love and endearment that is betwixt us as Brethren that you withdraw your selves c. I scarce know any one thing pressed by the Apostle with greater vehemency than what is here instanc'd in wherein we have also an undeniable convincing Argument that the persons of whom we are treating walk disorderly Those that walk not after the tradition received from the Apostles we may adde and the Primitive Church for above three hundred years after Christ but according to the traditions of the old Bawd and Strumpet of Rome are such as walk disorderly But the present Ministers of England walk not after the Tradition received from the Apostles but after the Traditions of the whorish-Whorish-Church of Rome Therefore they are such as walk disorderly What Apostolical Tradition have we for stinted Forms of Prayer or Lyturgies in the Church did they frame any those that are ascribed to some of them are all spurious as hath been over and over proved for Surplice crossing in Baptism and many other gewgaws used by them if they have any Apostolical written tradition for these things let them produce it and we shall lay our mouths in the dust and for ever be silent as to a charge of this nature If they have not as there is nothing more certain they are disorderly walkers if the Apostles Argument be valid We command you to withdraw from such as walk disorderly But who I pray are these disorderly walkers how shall we know them they are sayes the Apostle such as walk not after the tradition received from us CHAP. III. A third Argument proving the unlawfulness of hearing the present Ministers of England produced That they act by vertue of an Antichristian Office and Calling proved Their perfect agreement with the Popish Priests in seventeen Particulars demonstrated That the Office of Lord Bishops is Antichristian proved The Testimonies of the Ancients produced Whence the Antichristianism of the Office of the Ministers of England is evinced An Objection answered Argument 3. THose that act in the holy things of God by vertue of an Antichristian Power Office or Calling are not to be heard but to be separated from but the present Ministers of England act in the Holy Things of God by vertue of an Antichristian Power Office or Calling Therefore The Major is evident For 1. The Power Office and Calling of Antichrist is opposite and contrary unto the Power Office and Calling of Christ Not to separate from such as act by vertue of such an Office-Power is to stand by and plead for Antichrist against Christ 2. It s unlawful to attend upon the teachings of Antichrist therefore upon the teachings of such as act by vertue of a Power derived from him 3. Christ calls and solemnly charges his upon the penalty of most dreadful Judgments to separate from every thing of Antichrist Rev. 18. 4. and 14. 9 10 11. 4. There is not a command in the Scripture enjoyning Saints to take heed of being deceived to try the spirits because many Antichrists are gone abroad into the World but is an abundant demonstration of the truth of this Assertion 5. The institution of Officers of his own by Christ to be continued in the
Church of Geneva That the Hierarchie is devilish Confusion stablished as it were in despight of God and to the mocking and reproach of all Christian Religion The Seekers of Reformation in Queen Elizabeths time speak fully hereunto 2 Adm. to Parl. We have an Antichristian and Popish ordering of Priests strange from the Word of God never heard of in the Primative Church taken out of the Popes shop to the destruction of Gods Kingdome The names and offices of Arch-Bishops Arch-Deacons Lord-Bishops c. are together with their Government drawn out of the Popes shop Antichristian Devilish and contrary to the Scriptures Parsons Vicars Parish-Priests are birds of the same feather to whom might be added many others Object One stone of offence must be removed out of our way ere we pass on further it is this Though Lord Bishops are Antichristian yet it doth not follow that the Office and Ministry derived from them is so For they are also Presbyters and ordain as Presbyters Answ Give me leave to say That were not men resolved to say any thing that they might be thought to have somewhat to say we had not heard of this Objection For 1. That they act in the capacity of Presbyters in the matter of Ordination is false 1. Contrary to their own avowed principles their Lordships think it too great a debasement to be degraded from their Lordly Dignity to so mean an Office 2. Contrary to the known Law of the Land by which they receive power to act therein in which they are known and owned onely in the capacity of Lord-Bishops 3. Contrary to their late practice whereby they have sufficiently declared the nullity of a Ministerial Office received from the hands of a Presbyterie in thrusting out of doors several hundreds of Ministers so ordained Strange that it should be pleaded they act as Presbyters in the matter of Ordination and yet they themselves judge a Presbyterian-Ordination invalid But 2. What if this should be granted it would avail nothing except it can be proved that they are and act as Presbyters of the Institution of Christ which these being only in a particular institued Church of Christ will never be to the worlds end Thus far of the third Argument CHAP. IV. A fourth Argument proving the unlawfulness of hearing the present Ministers of England A twofold denial of the Offices of Christ asserted That the present Ministers deny his Kingly and Prophetical Office proved from their Non-conformity to the Orders and Ordinances appointed by Christ for his House Several Institutions of Christ remarked Their Non-Conformity thereunto manifested An Objection answered Argument 4. THose that oppugn or deny any of the Offices of Jesus Christ are not to be heard but separated from but the present Ministers of England oppugn and deny some of the Offices of Jesus Christ Therefore Before we come to clear the several parts of this Argument we shall crave liberty breifly to premise First That there is a twofold denying or oppugning of the Offices of Christ 1. Verbal and Professional Such was and is that of the Jews the Papists are not guilty hereof in words they own preach up plead for all the Offices of Christ as much as any So do also the present Ministers of England This is not then the denial of the Offices of Christ we implede them as guilty of 2. Real and actual when persons do that which enwraps in the bowels of it an impugning and denial of the Offices of Christ This the Romish Synagogue are eminently guilty of So are the present Ministers of England as shall we doubt not be clearly demonstrated in its proper place Secondly That a Verbal Professional acknowledgement of the Offices of Christ is nothing when contradicted in practice This the Apostle avowedly asserts in respect of the knowledge of God Tit. 1. 16. They profess they know God but in works they deny him And may congruously enough be applied to the matter in hand This as applied to the Combination and Synagogue of Rome some of themselves have long since acknowledged Whilst they profess Christ to be King and submit not to the Laws he hath prescribed in his Word they make him an Idol and put a Scepter of reed in his hand So some of their own But I interrogate What if a man should with the greatest earnestness profess and in the height of a confident Spirit aver That he were Born again of God Washed Sanctified in the Blood of Christ and by the Spirit of the Lord that he did receive and own Christ as his King and Lawgiver when I see this man at the same time walking in a way of Rebellion against Christ in open contempt and defiance of his Laws and Government subjecting to the Yoak of other Lords and Lawgivers Shall his Plea be admitted surely no! Quid verba audiam cum facta videam T is long since decided by Christ That False-Prophets are to be descried Not by their words they may speak like Angels cry Hail Master kiss him yet be False Prophets yea Judasses to him but by their fruits Let them profess a thousand times over That they own all the Offices of Christ if they are in the mean while found in the practise of those things that are inconsistent with the truth of such a Profession they are really Deniers and Opposers of the Offices of Christ This is that then we affirm in this matter 1. That those that do really oppose any of the Offices of Christ are not to be heard but separated from This carrying a brightness along with it that is sufficient to convince all except such whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded that its original is from God we shall take for granted will not be denied by a Professing Enlightened People though otherwise it were easie to multiply Arguments for its demonstration 1. To oppose Christ in any of his Offices bespeaks such as are guilty thereof to be Antichrists 1 John 2. 22. and 4. 2 3. 2 John 7. of the same mind with us herein is learned Beza upon the forecited Scriptures and none will surely be so inconsiderate not to say worse as to assert It 's lawful to attend upon the Ministry of Antichrist 2. To hear such is to strengthen and encourage them in that their denial of and opposition unto the Offices of Christ and thereby become partakers with them in their sin The thought of which cannot but be grievous to the poor Lambs of Christ. But this will not be denied 'T is the second thing may sound harsh in the ears of some as did some Sayings of Christ but if Truth where God shall give the seeing eye and hearing eare 't will be received viz. 2. That the present Ministers of England do oppose and deny some of the Offices of Christ viz. His Kingly and Prophetical Office which we come now to the proof of Argument 1. Those that hearken not to the Revelation Christ hath made and as Supream Lord and
walk by and therefore really disown the Kingly and Prophetical Office of Christ But perhaps to these things some may say These are but small matters good men differ amongst themselves herein To which we answer 1. That they are part of the Instituted Worship of God the Orders he hath left his Children to conform to hath already been proved to say that any part of the instituted Worship of Christ is a small matter is no small derogation to the Wisdom of the Lawgiver that gave it forth 2. What if it should appear that as small as these things seem to be they are the great Grounds of the late Controversies of God pleaded with Fire and Sword in most of the Europaean Kingdoms this may perhaps a little stay sober persons from so rash a conclusion that these are small matters A serious review of the late Contests of God in the Nations with the consideration of the Grounds and Rise of them will to persons of sobriety sufficiently evince the truth of the Suggestion 3. As small matters as these have been severely punished by the Lord he is a jealous God and stands upon Punctilio's if I may so call them in his Worship hence is that expression Ye cannot serve the Lord for he is a jealous God Josh 24. 19. What should I mention the case of Vzziah 2 Chr. 26. 16. of Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. of Uzzah whose sin lay meerly in whose judgment was singly upon this foot of account his not seeking the Lord after the due order 1 Chron. 15. 13. God commands that when the Ark was removed it should be covered by the Priests that no hand touch it that it be carried upon mens shoulders Numb 4. 11 15. which Order was violated when they brought it from the house of Abinadab 't was Uncovered and upon a Cart after the manner of the Egyptians 1 Sam. 8. 7. for which breach of Order Vzzah is struck dead 4. As small matters as these when once commanded by the Lord are of that force as not only to deface the wel-being but to overturn the true-being of the Worship of God Take one pregnant instance herein The Lord commanded the Israelites by Moses to bring their Sacrifices to the place that he should chuse and offer them there which in it self was but a circumstance of place yet all the Sacrifices offered elsewhere were a stink in the nostrils of God and not accounted by him as any Worship performed unto him 5. But the Objection is altogether impertinent we are not debating the greatness of the sin but the truth of what is charged upon the present Ministers of England what we have mentioned are either the Appointments of Christ or they are not if they are as hath been proved the present Ministers conform to them or they do not if they do not as nothing more sure they conform not to the Orders and Ordinances Christ hath left his People to walk by which is the thing in debate and therefore really deny his Kingly and Prophetical Office As for what is added that good men differ amongst themselves in this matter it 's of no more weight than what went before for 1. 'T is not at all to the business in hand 2. 'T is possible good men may for a while do that which really enwraps in the bowels of it a denial of the Offices of Christ We shall not deny but some of the Ministers of England may be so in the account of God 3. That good men differ is an Argument of their Ignorance and Darkness which though in some cases it excuses a tanto yet not a toto it may alter the degree never the nature of the sin 4. 'T is false that good men pressing after Reformation and the restitution of the Worship of God according to the Primitive Pattern do differ touching the substance of the things instanc'd in Were but the pride and passion of mens spirits a little more allaied and they disentangled more from their selfish interests a greater harmony would appear amongst them in these matters But 5ly as was said The particulars instanc'd in are commanded by Christ or they are not if they are as hath been proved doth it in the least discharge persons that conform not to them from the charge they are impleded as guilty viz. Non-conformity to the Laws of Christ that good men differ in these matters i. e. some good men transgress the Laws of Christ which is sure no part of their goodness nor any warrant to justifie me in the doing of what may strengthen their hands in such a Non-conformity CHAP. V. A second Argument demonstrating that the present Ministers of England deny the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ That they own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not of Christ's revealing proved by the induction of 14 Particulars An Objection answered That they own Laws and Institutions contrary to the Institutions of Christ proved by the induction of 10 Particulars A 3d Argument proving their denial of the Offices of Christ produced That there is no other Head of the Church but Christ proved Objections answered THat the Ministers of England deny the Kingly and Prophetical Offices of Christ and therefore are not to be heard but separated from hath been asserted and by one Argument proved in the foregoing Chapter To the further evidence whereof a few things more are to be offered in this Argument 2. Those who own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances which not only are not of Christ's revealing but contrary thereunto do really deny and oppose the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ But the present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not only not of Christ's revealing but contrary thereunto Therefore The major or first Proposition is beyond exception If an owning submitting and subscribing to Orders and Ordinances that are not onely not of Christ's revealing but contrary thereunto be not a denial of his Kingly and Prophetical Office I must profess I know not what is Suppose the Chief Magistrate or Magistrates of a Nation should give forth a Declaration of their will touching this or that other concern were not persons Non-conformity thereunto supposing it to be what lies within the verge of their Authority and power to command and may righteously be exacted of them whose Conformity is thereunto required a silent opposition of their Authority but should any presume to give forth Laws of their own without the least stamp of Authority upon them yea contrary unto the Statutes and Declarations of their Governours would not all conclude that these persons and their Abettors were guilty of Rebellion against their Rulers and did really deny the lawfulness of their Authority This is the present case if men shall be found traversing paths in the possession and practice of Orders and Constitutions that are forreign to the Edicts of Christ yea contrary thereunto shall we not as
Psal 110. 3. Act. 2. 40 41 47. 19. 9. 2 Cor. 6. 14 17. 9. 13. 9. That Women may administer the Sacrament of Baptism contrary to 1 Cor. 14. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 12. Matth. 28. 18 19 20. Ephes 4. 11. 10. That the Lord's Supper is to be received kneeling which is directly opposit to the practice of Christ in the first institution thereof Mark 14. 18 22 23. and positive precept as being what hath an appearance of evil in it being a gesture used by the Papists in the adoration of their Breaden-god 1 Thes 5. 22. as also to the practise of the Churches of Christ for several hundred years after to the time of the invention and introduction of the Popish Breaden-god Not to mention its contrariety to the judgment and practise of most of the reformed Churches if not all at this day What should I mention the Constitutions and Canons before pointed to wherein 't is forbidden to any to preach not licensed by the Bishops thereunto to Marry or eat Flesh at certain times with many more of the like nature all directly contrary to the Soveraign Edicts of Christ and some of them evident characters of the last dayes Apostates 1 Tim. 4. 3. from whom Saints are warned by the Lord to turn aside ver 5. These we have produced carry an undeniable evidence with them that the present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are contrary to the revelation of Christ and therefore deny his Propheticall and Kingly Office To all that hath hitherto been offered in this matter we shall yet adde as a further demonstration of the truth we are in the disquisition of Argument 3. Those that acknowledge another Head over the Church beside Christ deny his Prophetical and Kingly Office but the present Misters of England do own and acknowledge another Head over the Church beside Christ Therefore If the assertion of another King in England that as the Head thereof hath power of making and giving forth Laws to the free-born subjects therein be a denyal of his Kingly Authority as no doubt it is the major or first Proposition cannot be denied If Christ be the alone King of his Church as such he is its alone Head Lawgiver If he hath not by any Statute-Law established any other Headship in and over his Church to act in the holy things of God from and under him besides himself who sees not the assertion of such an Headship carries with it a contempt and denial of his Authority if there be any such Headship of the institution of Christ let us know when and where it was instituted whether such a Dominion and Soveraignty over the Subjects of his Kingdom with respect to Worship be granted by them to any of the Sons of men absolutely or conditionally if the first then must the Church it seems be governed by persons casting off the Yoak of Christ trampling upon his Royal Commands and Edicts for so it 's possible it may fall out those that attain this Headship may do as it 's evident many Popes of Rome the great Pretenders hereunto have done If the second let one iota be produced from the Scripture of the institution of such an Headship with the conditions annexed thereunto and we shall be so far from denying of it that we shall chearfully pay whatever respect homage or duty by the Laws of God or man may righteously be expected from us But this will not we humbly conceive in hast be performed and that because 1. The Scripture makes mention of no other Head in and over the Church but Christ Eph. 1. 22. 5. 23 29. 2 Cor. 11. 2. 2. If there be any other Head he must be either within or without the Church The latter will not be affirmed Christ had not sure so little respect unto his Flock as to appoint Wolves and Lions to be their Governours and Guides in matters Ecclesiastical nor can the former for all in the Church are Brethren have no dominion or authority over each others Faith or Conscience Luke 22. 25. 3. If any other be Head of the Church but Christ then is the Church the Body of some others besides Christ but this is absurd and false not to say impious and blasphemous 4. There was no Head of the Church in the Apostles dayes but Christ 5. If any be Head of the Church beside Christ they either have their Headship from an original right seated in themselves or by donation from Christ To assert the first were no less than blasphemy if the second let them shew when and where and how they came to be invested in such a right and this controversie will be at an end 6. He that is asserted in Scripture to be the Head of the Church is said to govern feed and nourish it to Eternal life is her Spouse and Husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. In which sense none of the sons of men one or other can be the Head thereof and yet of any other Head the Scripture is wholly silent But of this matter thus far It cannot by any sober person be denied but an owning of a visible Head over the Church having power of making and giving forth Laws with respect to Worship such an Headship not being of the Institution of Christ must needs be a denial of his Soveraign Authority and Power That the present Ministers of England do own and submit to such an Headship is undeniable witness their Subscription Oath Conformity in Worship to Laws and Edicts made and given forth by the sons of men as Heads and Governours of the Church which are not onely forraign to but as hath been already demonstrated lift up themselves in opposition against the Royal Institutions of Christ This being matter of fact the Individuals charged herewith must either acquit themselves by a denial of what they are impleaded as guilty or prove that what they do is not criminous but lawful to be done The former being too notoriously known to admit of a denial 't is the latter must be insisted on what is therein offered is nextly to be considered This is that some say Obj. 1. That they acknowledge another Head besides Christ cannot indeed be denied but the Headship owned and acknowledged by them is an Headship only under Christ To which we answer Answ 1. But this Headship is either of Christ's Appointment or 't is not if it be let it be shewn where it was instituted by him and as we said this controversie is at an end if it be not the Assertion of such an Headship even in subordination to Christ over his Churches as such hinders not but persons owning submitting thereunto are guilty of denying the Kingly Office of Christ 2. The Headship pleaded for by the Church of Rome is no other 3. 'T is not so as is pretended they own an Headship that is not in all things subordinate to Christ having a Law-making and Law-giving Power touching
Death to worship or bow down to this Image of the Beast or Ecclesiastical Government in its Courts Canons Laws and Ceremonies devised by it v. 15. 15. That they compel all to receive a mark either in their right-hands or foreheads secretly or openly one way or other to acknowledge subjection unto this Beast without which they may neither buy nor sell being cut off from the Church by their Excommunications for their stubornness v. 16 17. All which Characters of the second Beast or false Prophet he that runs may reade upon the present Hierarchy and Ministry of England It remaineth then that the present Ministers of England have the Characters and Properties of the false Prophets and Priests upon them and therefore are not to be heard but separated from CHAP. VII A sixth Argument against hearing the present Ministers of England proposed Of the several sorts of Idolatry that the Ministers of England are hereof guilty proved An Objection answered That the present Ministers act in Divine things by vertue of a power received from Idolaters offer up a Worship abused to Idolatry with the Rites and Ceremonies of Idolaters That the Romish Church are Idolaters Objections answered Argument 6. THose that are guilty of Idolatry Saints may not have communion with much less own them as their Teachers but ought to separate from them But the present Ministers of England are Idolaters Therefore The Major or first Proposition will not be denied because bottom'd upon express Commands from Christ 1 Cor. 5. 11. 10. 14. 2 Cor. 6. 14 18. Before we descend to the confirmation of the Minor or second Proposition we shall crave leave to premise That Idolatry may be considered under a threefold notion 1. Most gross and absurd Idolatry when the creature is worshipped terminatively this * Rab. M. Maimonides de Idolat 8. 2 3 c. Observes that never any Idolater was so silly as to think that an Idol of wood stone or mettal was a God that made the Heavens and Earth but through them all Idolaters intend to worship God few are guilty of the Israelites of old worshipped not the Calf terminatively but God in it therefore they are said to proclaim a Feast to Jehovah Exod. 32. 5. 2dly Somewhat more refined Idolatry viz. in respect of what we but now instanc'd in when we offer up any worship or homage proper and due to God only before any creature as the Medium or Representative of God Such was the Idolatry of Israel in the Golden-Calf Brazen-Serpent c. Of this are the Synagogue of Rome amongst all the combinations of men in the world most eminently guilty To this Head may be added 1. The ascription of the Godhead to any creature as to Herod Acts 12. 22. 2. The ascription of the Properties of the Godhead to any creature 3. The worshipping of God in any other way than what he hath prescribed which all that write upon the second Commandment say is the Idolatry therein forbidden 4. The Oblation of Worship or Service to God that hath been offered up to Idols for which there is no prescription in the Scripture 3dly Most refined Idolatry when the heart goes forth in desires after any thing beyond what is limited by the Lord or trusts and relies on any creature on this side God In the first sense there are as was said few or no Idolaters in the world the Papists come as near thereunto as any praying to the Cross the Virgin Mary Saints Angels c. expresly affirming that the Virgin Mary may be worshipped with that worship which they call Cultus Latriae which yet they say is due only to God In the last sense there are none but at one time or other may be said to be Idolaters the hearts of the best of men too too often going forth too far in desires after and secret dependance upon things beneath the Lord which yet they are watching and warring against waiting and longing for the day in which they shall be compleatly swallowed up in the will of God 'T is in respect of the second particular before instanc'd in that we assert the present Ministers of England to be Idolaters to the proof whereof we now address our selves Argument 1. Those that worship the true God in any other way than he hath said he will be worshipped in and is prescribed by him are Idolaters But the present Ministers of England worship the true God in another way than he hath said he will be worshiped in and is prescribed by him Therefore The Major or first Proposition is evident from this single Consideration To worship the true God through false mediums is Idolatry such as so worship him are Idolaters this must be so or else there is little or no Idolatry in the world nor ever was The Athenians and other Gentiles worshipped the true God for they worshipped him whom Paul declared to them even that God that made the world Acts 17. 23 24. yet none doubts but they were Idolaters which they cannot be charged with upon any other account than their worshipping the true God through false mediums But to worship God in any other way than what is of his own prescription is to worship him through a false medium Therefore so to worship him is Idolatry and they that so worship him are Idolaters The Minor or second Proposition viz. That the present Ministers of England worship the true God in another way than he hath said he will be worshipped in and is prescribed by him is that which is denied by some but the truth thereof we doubt not will to the unprejudiced Reader be beyond exception evident from the ensuing demonstration Viz. Those that worship God after the way of the Common-Prayer-Book worship him in another way than that he hath said he wil be worshiped in and is prescribed by him But the present Ministers of England worship God after the way of the Common-Prayer-Book Therefore The Minor or second Proposition cannot be denied their subscription before they are admitted to the Ministry together with their daily and constant practice are sufficient evidences hereof As for the Major Proposition That to worship God after the way of the Common-Prayer-Book is to worship him in a way that is not of his Appointment 1. Let any shew when and where such a stinted-form of Service was appointed by Christ and this part of the controversie is at an end sure we are there are not the least footsteps of such a way of Worship to be found in the New-Testament no not in the whole Book of God whatever is pretended by some touching Lyturgies in the sense we are speaking amongst the people of the Jews no nor yet was there any such a way of worship thought of much less imposed in the first and purer times of the Gospel for several centuries of years after the dayes of Christ and his Apostles In the Epistles of the Church of Smyrna about the Martyrdom of Polycarpus and
are not soley of the Institution of the Lord Jesus but that National are also to be accounted as the true Churches of Christ though they have no footing in the Scripture of the New-Testament from whence the Pattern of Gospel-Churches is soley to be deduced Yea 4thly That the Officers of Christ's Appointment are not sufficient for the Saints but together with them the help of false and Idol-shepherds is to be sought after than which what greater contempt can be poured upon the forementioned Institutions of our dear Lord Yet who sees not all this to be the language which is heard and goes forth into the Nations from the practice of our Brethren in the matter we are debating If they look upon Separation in the sense before-minded to be of the Institution of Christ can they offer a greater affront thereunto than to run into the Assemblies of the Nation If they judge it their duty to meet together distinct from the World and its VVorshippers why run they thereunto If they apprehend National Churches to be the result of humane prudence without bottom in the Scripture and the Ministers of Christ to be onely in contradistinction to the Ministers that are not of his Appointment attended unto why give they the right-hand of fellowship unto such Assemblies as profess themselves to be parts of such a National Church and hear Ministers that have relation thereunto who have received as hath been proved no Mission from Christ to their Ministry If this be not evidently to pour contempt upon the Institutions of Christ and confessedly so we shall for ever dispair of success in the most facile and righteous undertaking As for the second Particular that hereby poor souls are hardened in a false way of Worship what can be thought less supposing the Worship in the Parish-Assemblies of England to be so as hath been proved when they shall see Professors that were wont to pray and preach together to profess and protest against Common-Prayer-Book-Priests and Worship to cry up or at least approve of Laws made for their ejection if guilty of no other crime than conforming to the Worship they now conform to and practise now flock unto their Assemblies and hear their Priests what can they imagine less than that these persons thus acting in a direct contrariety to their former judgement and practice do now see they were mistaken and are beginning at least to return unto those paths fom whence they departed and that these wayes in which they and their forefathers have walked are the Good Old Way in which rest is to be found Wo unto the world because of Offences wo also unto them by whom they come Nor is the third Particular viz. That hereby poor souls are hardened in their Rebellion and Blasphemy against God the Spirit his Tabernacle and them that dwell therein to be in the least questioned We every day hear to the breaking of our hearts stout words spoken against the Lord because of the practice of some in this thing What say the wicked of the world less than that Religion which many pretend to is but a Fancy that the Professors thereof are but a Generation of Hypocrites that will turn to any thing to save themselves that the spirit by which they are acted is but a spirit of Phanaticism and Delusion yea how do they bless themselves that they are not nor ever were and resolve so much the more they will never be of the number of such Professors Ask them a Reason of all this and they wonder you should ask them and speedily reply to you Do you not see how many of you for fear of Persecution have disserted your former Principles and are returned to our Assemblies and the Ministry thereof and that any of you stand out 't is from hence evident that it is from a spirit of Pride and Obstinacy and not as you pretend from Divine Tenderness and the Leadings of the Spirit of the Lord. And what can we say to all these things must we not with grief and sorrow confess that there is indeed too great an occasion administred to them for their thus speaking though this will be no plea for them in the day of Christ Blessed are they that are not offended in him It remaineth then that inasmuch as the hearing the present Ministers of England pours out contempt upon the Wayes and Institutions of Christ hardens persons in a false way of Worship Rebellion and Blasphemy against the Lord it 's utterly unlawful for Saints to be found in the practice thereof To all that hitherto hath been said we shall yet briefly add Argument 10. God calls his People out of and strictly charges them not to go to the places of False-Worship Therefore 't is unlawful for the Saints to attend upon the present Ministers of England The Antecedent is clearly proved Hos 4. 15. Amos 4. 4. The Reason of the Consequence is Because we cannot go to hear the present Ministers of England without we go to their places and assemblies of False-worship as the Common-Prayer-Book-Worship hath been proved to be Argument 11. That upon the doing whereof Saints have no promise of a Blessing not any ground to expect it is not lawful for them to do But in the hearing of these men the Saints have no promise of a Blessing nor ground to expect it Therefore The Major or first Proposition will not be denied As for the Minor or second Proposition That the Saints have no promise of a Blessing from God nor ground to expect it in the hearing of the present Ministers of England may many wayes be demonstrated If there be any promise of a Blessing upon them from God in their so doing let it be produced and we shall willingly confess there is no weight in this Argument But this we conceive to be no easie task for any to discharge and that for these Reasons 1. The Blessing of the Lord is upon Sion Psal 87. 2. and 78. 68. there he dwells Psal 9. 11. and 74. 2. Jer. 8. 19. Isa 8. 18. Joel 3. 17 21. the presence of Christ is in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks Rev. 1. 12 13. and 2. 1. 't is his Garden in which he feedeth and dwells Cant. 6. 2. and 8. 13. and we are not surer of any thing nor will it be denied by our Conforming Brethren many of them than we are of this That the Assemblies of England in their present constitution are so far from being the Sion of God his Candlesticks his Garden that they are a very Wilderness and that Babel out of which the Lord commands his People to hasten their escape Rev. 18. 4. 2. God never promiseth a Blessing to a People waiting upon him in that way which is polluted and not of his appointment as we have proved the Worship of England to be 3. The Lord hath expresly said concerning such as run before they are sent That they shall not profit the People Jer. 23. 32. 4.
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or A CHRISTIAN and SOBER TESTIMONY AGAINST Sinfull Complyance WHEREIN The Unlawfulness of Hearing the present Ministers of England is clearly demonstrated Severall weighty Queries proposed Objections impartially weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and found wanting By Christophilus Antichristomachus a Mourner in Sion waiting for the day of her Salvation and coming of her King Rev. 14. 9 10 11. If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his Mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his Indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever and they have no rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the Mark of his Name Acts 2. 40. Save your selves from this untoward generation John 10. 3. The Sheep hear his Voice v. 5 and a stranger they will not follow 1 Joh. 4. 5. They are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world hears them Printed for the Author in the Year 1664. To the READER Candid Reader VVE are almost at the end of these Paper-Contests which are daily preaching their own Funeral 'T is in another way that Jehovah will shortly appear for he hath already sent his Harbingers before him to convince the world and worldly Church of their Wickedness and Adulteries whereby they provoke the pure eyes of his glory For behold the Lord cometh with Fire and with his Chariots like a Whirle wind to render his Anger with Fury and his Rebuke with flames of fire For by Fire and by Sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many Happy art thou if in the number of those that shall be able to live when the Lord doth this Alas Who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth Men as men will be at their wits ends when they behold the Earth to reel to and fro like a drunken man its foundatious being out of course the Mountains to Smoake and the Hills to melt away because of the terribleness of his Anger The Kings of the Earth who now as Pharoah of old are with delight drinking the blood of the Saints as sweet Wine and refuse to let them go from under their bonds to Sacrifice to the Lord according to his appointment and the Great men and the Rich men and the Chief Captains and the Mighty men and every Bond-man and every Free-man will then hide themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and cry to them to fall upon them and hide them from the Wrath of the Lamb. The day of whose Wrath is ready to spring forth though the wicked world think not so all the signs of the near approach thereof are already visibly fulfilled What Wars and rumors of Wars Nation fighting against Nation what strange Signes in the Heavens and in the Earth with great Earth-quakes in many places what a spirit of Persecution and Offence Brother even betraying Brother to death what declension and decaies of love to Jesus Christ amongst not only a professing but an once Zealous professing People do we daily see and hear of how doth Iniquity abound so that the Worlds fields are even white unto the harvest the Voice of the Daughter of Sion is louder than than ever crying out My flesh and my blood be upon the Daughter of Babylon the souls under the Altar are groaning How long O Lord God Holy and True will it be ere thou avenge our blood upon them that dwell on the Earth and will the Lord refrain himself and shut out the Prayers of his Prisoners of Hope I tell you nay but as a Lion and as a young Lion roaring on his prey when a multitude of Shepherds is called forth against him he will not be affraid of their voice nor abase himself for the noise of them so shall the Lord of Hosts come down to fight for Mount Sion and for the Hill thereof Vtterly to dethrone the Antichristian Beast and Whore who have made themselves drunk with the blood of the Saints for which he will make them drunk with blood even their own blood for they are worthy and to cause his poor oppressed ones to inherit the Throne of Glory in despite of their Oppressors Reader whoever thou art into whose hand this little Tract may come I cannot but crave thy stay out of pure love to speak a few things to thee in the Portal If thou art one that art a Scorner Derider Persecutor of the Saints under what denomination soever if thou art glad in thy heart as was wicked Edom and Tyâ—us of old at the sufferings of the People of the Lord yea if thou art but a civilized person or a meer outside Professor without any acquaintance with the work of Regeneration upon thy spirit and the Power and Mystery of Christianity and Godliness whatever thy enjoyments comforts hopes or confidences be know of a certainty that this day of the Lord's Wrath will sweep them away all and thou wilt utterly perish in the flames of his Indignation Oh then thou wilt cry out I Fool accounted their life madness and their end to be without honour but now they are numbred among the Children of God and crowned with glory but I am cast out to be tormented millions of millions of ages O that I could prevail with thee seriously to consider of thy state art thou able to meet and contend with the Most High to proceed no further in rebellion treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous Judgment of God O fling away thy Weapons kiss the Son that he be not angry with thee and thou perish in the way Content not thy self in being accounted a Christian that thou hast escaped the pollutions of the World nor in the performance of some dead formal sapless and spiritless service to the Lord which profiteth nothing Get an Interest in Christ freely tendred in the Gospel deep humiliation for thy former iniquities a spirit of Grace and Supplication inward Purity and Heart-uprightness or perish for ever Oh see that thou hast Oyl in thy vessel as well as in thy lamp or thou wilt not be able to dwell with devouring fire and everlasting burnings If thou art a Child of Light indeed begotten of the Lord acquainted and holding communion with him in his Ivory Pallaces O what cause hast thou to tryumph in God for his wonderful wonderful Grace to thee O how should'st thou love him how should'st thou praise him with what eagerness shouldest thou be prosecuting the concerns of his Glory how tenderly should'st thou be affected with his dishonour how full of Supplications and heart-groans
it being a Prophecy expresly relating to the Jews and their miraculous Conversion if there be no such thing as a National Church of the Institution of Christ as most certain it is there is not the Assertion whereof is wholly destructive of Gospel-Administrations Then 2. Whether National Ministers are the Ministers of Christ or whether there can be a true Ministry in a false Church as a National-Church must be if not of Divine Institution upon what pretence soever it be so denominated 3. Whether God doth not bear as much love to and exercise as much faithfulness over his New-Testament-Churches as over the National-Church of the Jews If so Then 4. Whether he hath not as of old he did with reference unto the then Church determined the whole of the Worship appertaining unto them to whose Institutions without any humane additions it s the duty of souls soley to conform Yea 5. Whether he hath not now as then designed the several Officers and Offices his Wisdom thought sufficient for the management of the affairs of his House so that the invention of new ones by the sons of men is not only needless but a daring advance against the Soveraignty Care and Wisdom of God over his Churches 6. Whether the Priviledges of Saints be not every way as great and extensive under the Gospel as those under the Law if so then Whether the solemn deputation of men signally pointed out by the Lord for the administration of holy things in his House by the Body of his Church be not now as then their peculiar Priviledge 7. VVhether any Church in the World we speak of a visible instituted Church hath greater security against Apostacy from God and that sore Judgment of having its Candlestick removed and being unchurched than that People of the Jews had if not then whether supposing a National Church to be of the Institution of Christ it may not so come to pass that it may be so over-spread with corruptions that it may lose the Essence of a Church and justly be disrobed of that appellation 8. VVhether the Ecclesiastick and Spiritual Rulers Governours and Officers of such a Collapsed Church may not righteously as of old be accounted and esteemed as false Prophets that go about to cause the people to forget the Name of the Lord or his pure Worship by their Lies or unscriptural Traditions Innovasions and Ceremonious Pageantries 9. VVhether Separation from such a Collasped Church in respect of its Worship Ministers and Ministry be not only justifiable but as of old the duty of the Lord 's faithful Remnant that desire to worship him according to his Appointments Yea 10. VVhether supposing a Church so called thus dreadfully as aforesaid departed from the pure Institutions of Christ never to be according to Truth a visible instituted Church of Christ and the Lord 's poor People living in the Nation never by their free consent Members thereof as it is on the pretended Churches part most unheard-of-Cruelty to compel them so it be not on the part of the free-born Children of God most stupendous folly and disvaluation of the Institutions of Christ and ingratitude to God for the Light and Liberty from the Yokes of men received imaginable to joyn affinity with it in Worship or attend upon the self-invented Ministry that appertains thereunto Many more Questions of the like nature and importance might unto these be added CHAP. I. The great care of Souls in their Accesses to God should be to sanctifie his Name Divine Institution to be heeded in the whole of our Worship The Question proposed That 't is lawful to hear the present Ministers of England denied one Argument proposed to consideration Nothing may be practised in instituted Worship but what is warranted by the Scripture The Testimonies of the Ancients produced That Hearing is part of instituted Worship proved THis is that which the Lord hath said I will be sanctified in all that draw nigh me and before all the People will I be glorified The great care of Saints in matter of Worship is to sanctifie the Name of the Lord therein This is the great thing that God looks at the omission whereof he often severely punishes the children of men for now in order hereunto it 's necessary that in all our approaches to God we see to the Institution of the Lord both in respect of the matter and manner of Worship that it be according to Divine Prescript else we cannot sanctifie the Name of God therein nor glorifie him before the people Hearing as was said and shall beyond contradiction in its proper place be evinced is part of instituted Worship it therefore more nearly concerns Saints than many are aware of to have their consciences resolved from the Scriptures of God in the matter under enquiry Whether it be lawful for the Saints to hear the present Ministers of England 'T is the Negative we have received under our maintenance because we are satisfied Christ hath so To the proof whereof we now address our selves Argument 1. That which there is no warrant for in the Scripture being part of instituted Worship is not lawful for the Saints to practise But there is no warrant in the Scripture for hearing the present Ministers or England and hearing is part of instituted Worship Therefore The major or first Proposition is evident 1. From the nature of instituted Worship which consists in this that it be of Divine Revelation else whatever it is it is not instituted Worship 2. From the Verdict of Christ who pronounces all the Worship of man to be vain and fruitless and so unlawful that is bottom'd on any thing but Divine Revelation Mark 7. 7. 3. If it be lawful to conform to any one part of instituted Worship without warrant from Scripture 't is also lawful to conform to another a third the whole which would banish instituted Worship out of the world 4. To assert that it is lawful to conform to any part of instituted Worship without warrant from Scripture reflects sadly upon the Wisdom and Faithfulness of Christ for either he was not wise enough to foresee that such a part of Worship was or would be requisite or had not faithfulness enough to reveal it though the Scripture compares him to Moses for faithfulness who revealed the whole Will of God to the making of a pin in the Tabernacle 6. It pours out contempt upon the Care of God over the New-Testament Churches as if it were less to these then to the Church under the Law and the Oeconomie of the Gospel as not so compleat as that of old the whole of whose VVorship Orders and Ordinances as was said was bottom'd upon pure Revelation 7. It carries with it a sad reflection upon the Authority of the Scripture as not thorowly furnished to make the man of God perfect 8. The Lord condemns not only that which is done against the warrant and direction of the VVord but also that which is done beside it
Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32. Mat. 15. 9. Lev. 10. 1. their sin lay not in this that they offered strange fire which was forbidden but which God commanded them not Prov. 30. 6. Jer. 7. 31. 9. Of the same mind with us in this matter are the renowned VVitnesses of Christ in all ages generally all that write upon the second Commandment speak fully hereunto Cyprian in his Epist to Caecilius de Sacram. sayes roundly Et quod Christus solus c. i. e. that Christ alone ought to be heard we have the Father himself witnessing from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son hear him Wherefore if Christ only be to be heard we ought not to attend to what others did before us but what he hath prescribed Beza on Phil. 1. 1. sayes Episcopos igitur c. The Apostle meaneth by Bishops such as were set over others in the preaching the VVord viz. Pastors Teachers and Elders for so were Bishops of old called until he which for Polities sake did preside in the Assembly began peculiarly to be call'd Bishop hereof the Devil began to lay the first foundation of Tyranny in the Church of God Behold sayes he of how great moment it is to decline from the Word of God though but an hairs breadth So he To whom may be added the Testimony of that lively Witness of Christ Martin Luther †In a Translation of the New-Testament in Edward the 6ths time the Author of the Notes on Matth. 15. saith God will not be worshipped after the doctrine precepts of men but as he himself hath prescribed and taught us in his Word who sayes on 1 Pet. 4. 11. To the Office of preaching that properly belongs which the Apostle Peter prescribeth viz. unto whomsoever the vocation and charge of Preaching the Word is allotted let him speak as the Words of God which Caveat and Lesson ought most carefully to be taken heed unto that no man presume to preach and teach any thing whereto he hath not the express words of God for his warrant and except he be most certain that the same be directly to be avouched out of the sacred Scriptures Which being so what may be thought of the Pope we may add of the Hierarchy and his dirty Traditions And anon after he saith A Bishop ought to do nothing in the Church unless he be certain and sure of the warrantise thereof by God's Word for God cannot abide to have his Service jumbled and mingled at pleasure with every foolish gewgaw and light trumpery yea further saith he And therefore we are strictly forbidden not to rely unto nor to allow whatsoever decree or constitution the Bishops list to obtrude and enjoyn unless they stand upon a sure ground that the things which they do are allowed of God and unless they be able to say Do this for it is the Will and Commandment of God and we have his express Word and Commandment for our warrant if they be not able to say thus they ought to be accounted as Liars and Deceivers much less ought any Christian to yeeld unto them therein any obedience or subscription And afterwards There is nothing saith he so pernitious nothing so monstrous nothing so beastly as to go about to govern the Church of God without the Warrant of God's own Word Of the same mind is learned Whitaker We acknowledge saith he no Oyl in God's Service because we reade nothing of Oyl in the Scriptures can you shew that ever Christ or his Apostles used it To whom many others might be added The minor or second Proposition consists of two parts 1. That Hearing is part of instituted Worship one would wonder should it be denied however 't is evident it is so from the light of this single demonstration That in which we wait upon God in the way of an Ordinance for the communication of good beyond the vertue of any creature to conveigh to us is part of the instituted Worship of God for what I wait for not being in the thing it self in which I am waiting no ground can be assigned for my expecting of good through it but Divine Institution but in the Hearing of the Word we wait upon God in the way of an Ordinance for the communication of good beyond the vertue of any creature to conveigh to us Therefore 2. That Hearing the present Ministers of England is not warranted in the Scripture This will be manifested when we come to the ventilating and scanning of those places which are usually produced for the abetting of the practice of some in this matter in the mean while we crave liberty to profess that it is not opinionativeness singularity vain-glory uncharitableness or any thing of that nature as some are apt uncharitably enough to censure but the dread and awe of God who is a jealous God and especially in point of Worship and an holy fear of offending him that hinders us from complying in these matters could but one word tittle or iota be produced from the Scriptures of God for the warranting the Hearing the present Ministers of England we should quickly lay our mouths in the dust confess and bewail our guilt and folly in refusing to conform thereunto but this we are fully assured those that dissent from us are not able to do what they say herein shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be sifted to the uttermost CHAP. II. A second Argument proposed to consideration That 't is not lawful to hear the present Ministers of England as Ministers of Christ nor as Gifted Brethren proved A Separation from them if Brethren evinced That the best of them walk disorderly proved Argument 2. IF it be lawful to hear the present Ministers of England 't is lawful to hear them either as Ministers of the Gospel or as gifted Brethren But 't is not lawful to hear them either as Ministers of the Gospel or as Gifted-Brethren Therefore The major or first Proposition will not be denied That Christ hath appointed some as Ministers by vertue of an Office-power to dispense the Ordinances of the Gospel until his second coming is granted by all that 't is permitted to others as their liberty enjoyned them as their duty having received Gifts and Enablements from the Lord thereunto to improve those Gifts in preaching praying c. for the Edification of the Body of Christ though not solemnly invested into Office is assented unto at least by some of those with whom we have to do whence a lawfulness to hear them as Ministers or as Gifted-Brethren doth necessarily arise 'T is the minor or second Proposition that is capable in the thoughts of some of a denial which we prove per partes thus 1. 'T is not lawful to hear them as Ministers of the Gospel they are not such therefore may not be heard as such That they are not Ministers of the Gospel but Thieves and Robbers is manifest Such as come not in by the Door which is Christ Joh. 10. 9. viz. by
Institutions of Worship that never came into his heart are flatly against his Appointments as hath been proved 4. One Head in subordination to another doth as really make the Body a Monster as two heads conjoyned If it be said Obj. 2. That the Kings of Israel were the Heads successively of th◠then Church and therefore a visible Headship over the Churches of Christ in the New-Testament is lawful We answer 1. That betwixt the Oeconomy of the Law and Gospel there is a vast disproportion many things were lawful in that day which to do or subject to now were no less than a denial of Christ come in the flesh 2. The Kings of Israel were Types of Christ 3. That the Kings of Israel were Heads of the Church is false God was its alone Head and King Hence their Historian saith their Government was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and when they would needs choose a King God said they rejected him to whom even as to their Political Head a Sicle was paid yearly as a Tribute called The Sicle of the Sanctuary True indeed as they were a Political Body they had visible Political Governours who when they ceased their Polity was at an end but that these had any Headship over them to make any Laws introduce Constitutions of their own framing in matters relating to Worship will never be proved CHAP. VI. A fifth Argument against hearing of the present Ministers of England advanced That they have the characters of false Prophets upon them manifested in 15 Particulars Argument 5. THose who have the characters and properties of false Prophets and Priests upon them are not to be heard but separated from But the present Ministers of England have the characters and properties of false Prophets and Priests upon them Therefore The major or first Proposition stands upon too firm a basis to be quickly removed nor will any attempt so to do Christ having charged his to beware of such Mat 7. 15. to take heed that none deceive them Mat. 24. 4 5 23 24 25. not to believe every spirit but to try the spirits because many false Prophets are gone out in the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. not to receive such into their houses 2 John 10 11. to watch against them Act. 20. 29 30 31. with much more that might be said if needful for its confirmation is a sufficient evidence of the truth thereof But herein the parties litigant are at a perfect agreement 'T is the minor Proposition that is iudged by some to come short of a sufficient substraction viz. That the present Ministers of England have the properties and characters of false Prophets and Priests upon them This we doubt not by a serious observation of the characters are given of such in the Scriptures by the Holy-Ghost will to any ordinary understanding be made exceeding perspicuous and evident The signal Characters of whom are 1. That they run before they are sent Jer. 23. 21. That a Mission from the Lord is of the essence of a lawful Ministry that whoever wants such a Mission is no Officer of Christ but a false Prophet and Minister of Antichrist may hence rationally at least by way of analogy be deduced is evident Which also exactly accords with what is asserted by the Apostle Rom. 10. 15. That the present Ministers of England want such a Mission hath already been demonstrated and we shall not actum agere In a word when it shall be proved that they have received their Authority from Christ either immediatly or mediatly from any rightly constituted Church of Christ or by succession from the Church in the Wilderness we shall acknowledge them to be the Ministers of Christ and look upon our selves as obliged to pay them all the honour and duty that as such we are charged in Scripture to do But if they have nothing else to plead for themselves but what is usually instanced in by them a succession from the Church of Rome That Apostate Church having lost her Churchship and therewith all lawful power for the sending forth Officers into the Churches of Christ we shall not fear to say That they are such as are characterized here by the Prophet persons that run before they are sent 2. That they commit Adultery and walk in Lies Jer. 23. 14. Which none as I ever yet met with interpret literally of corporal Whoredome and Adultery but mystically of spirituall Adultery a departure from the pure Wayes and Institutions of the Lord in Worship to the * In an old Translation of the New-Testament dedicated to Edward the 6th the Author thereof in his Notes on Mat. 21. says They which in their Ministry and Preaching do otherwise than God hath commanded them are no true Disciples of Christ Devices Inventions of men a sin usually in the Scripture expressed for the nature and greatness of it under that notion Jer. 3. 8. Ezek. 23. 37. Rev. 2. 22. which is also in Scripture called a Lye Isa 28. 15. Amos 2. 4. John 8. 44. The whole Worship of Antichrist being patch'd up with such dirty Inventions is so called 2 Thess 2. 11. That this character also doth rightly appertain unto the present Ministers of England the best of whom do in the sence of the Spirit in the forecited Scripture commit Adultery and walk in lies hath already been proved and more hereunto shall afterwards be spoken 't were well if upon some of them it had not a literal accomplishment which of the Institutions of Christ have they not mixed with their inventions From how many have they gone a whoring Is not a great part of their Worship drops of the Whores Cup of Fornication and shreds of the great lye of Antichrist who that hath soberly and unbiassedly considered of these things but must acknowledge it 3. That they strengthen the hands of evil-doers that none doth return from his wickedness Jer. 23. 14. That the present Ministers of England really do so is capable of an ocular demonstration perhaps they do in their Sermons reprove sin thunder out the Judgments of God against transgressors of his Law as much as any but alas what is this to condemn them in the state wherein they stand without-repentance to the pit of Hell in the Pulpit and by and by to Saint them in the Chancel and tell them there without exception that the Body of Christ was broken for them his Blood shed for them Oh how many millions of souls are and have been hereby hardened to their own undoing and had their hands strengthened in wickedness what should I mention their admission of the Children of all to Baptism without exception their owning them as Church-members yea die they never so wickedly as Brethren of whose joyful Resurrection they profess they have a sure and certain hope thereby proclaiming their undoubted perswasion that they are a People in covenant with God not to take notice of the terrible reflections and uncharitable censures are publickly by them past upon
for Saints to pray in a form 't is lawful either because they have not the Spirit or that having the Spirit he is not a sufficient help to them in their approaches to God If the first they are not Saints Rom. 8. 9. to assert the second is little less than Blasphemy besides its direct opposition to Rom. 8. 26. As for the third viz. that Forms of Prayer imposed are but meer Circumstances of VVorship and not parts thereof it cannot be proved The contrary thereunto is evident That which is made so the condition of an Action that without it the Action is not to be done is not a Circumstance of it but such an Adjunct as is a necessary part thereof But Forms of Prayer imposed are so made by that their Imposition Therefore c. Sacrificing of old on the Altar at the Tabernacle and Temple was part of the Worship of God that they were to perform this Worship only at those places being once commanded was not a Circumstance of that Worship but as real an essential part thereof as sacrificing was The case is the same here Prayer is commanded so is the use of these Prayers which are as really by vertue of that Command made alike parts of Worship But 2dly That the Lyturgy or Common-Prayer-Book is no essential part of Worship is utterly denied by the present Ministers of England who make it not only a part but the principal part to which Preaching must give place and be omitted if they have not time for both yea the whole of the Worship of God which being performed they suppose they have served him acceptably without more ado and if omitted whatever else is done God is not worshipped at all And thus far of the first Argument for the demonstration of what we are in the disquisition of viz. That the present Ministers of England are Idolaters The sum whereof is this Those that worship God in any other way than he hath said he will be worshipped in and is prescribed by him are Idolaters But the present Ministers of England worship God in another way than he hath said he will be worshipped in and is prescribed by him viz. in the way of the Common-Prayer-Book which that it is not of Divine Prescription hath been demonstrated Therefore To which we add Argument 2. Those who act in the holy things of God by vertue of an Office-Power received from Idolaters and offer up to him a Worship meerly of humane composition once abused to Idolatry with the Modes and Rites of Idolaters are guilty of the sin of Idolatry But the present Ministers of England act in the holy things of God by vertue of an Office-Power received from Idolaters and offer up to him a Worship meerly of humane composition once abused to Idolatry with the Modes and Rites of Idolaters Therefore The Major or first Proposition carrying a brightness along with it sufficient to lead any one into the belief of the truth thereof one would think might be taken for granted Two things are asserted therein 1. That such as act in the holy things of God by vertue of an Office-Power received from Idolaters are themselves such at least in respect of that their Office-Power so received by them That Jeroboam's Priests were all of them Idolaters we suppose will not be denied Supposing some one or more to Act in the Worship of God by vertue of an Office-Power received from them were these to be accounted in that respect Idolaters it seemeth so nor can there be the least pretence of reason to the contrary Certainly such as act by vertue of Authority committed to them in matters Civil from Rebels are equally guilty of Rebellion as those from whom they derive that their Authority The case is here the same 2. That such as offer up to God a Worship meerly of humane composition once abused to Idolatry with the Modes and Rites of Idolaters are Idolaters If these be not such I must profess I know not who are That there are few or none that worship the creature terminative will not be denied the most of Idolaters in the world are such upon the account of their worshipping the true God through Mediums of their own devising with Rites and Modes that never entered into the heart of God to prescribe To assert that any should symbolize with Idolaters herein who are soley upon this foot of account such and not be guilty of the sin of Idolatry is absurd and irrational The Major Proposition then as was said may be taken for granted Such as act in the holy things of God by vertue of an Office-Power received from Idolaters and offer up to God a Worship meerly of humane composition once abused to Idolatry are Idolaters Whether this be true of the present Ministers of England is in the next place to be considered of which briefly 1. That the Romish Church so called are Idolaters their Worship in the complex thereof Idolatry will not we suppose be denied by any that call themselves Protestants the most learned of whom have asserted and proved it so to be If any of our Reverend Fathers are of another mind we would entreat them to construe to themselves a Copy or two of Verses composed by Persons of Eminency in that Combination of men and then give us their second thoughts which are usually better than the first Thus some of them O felix Puerpera Nostra pians Scelera Jure Matris Impera Redemptori VVherein the Virgin Mary is not only prayed unto but Christ in his Exalted state is subjected to her Authority which is not only a spice of Idolatry but also some of the most horrid Blasphemy imaginable Their praying to Images Adoration of Saints c. is known Take a taste hereof in the ensuing Instances thus then they speak O Crux spes unica Auge piis constantiam Hoc passionis tempore Reisque dona veniam In which the Cross it self is invocated as their only Hope to bestow pardon upon the guilty patience and constancy upon the Godly And who comes not in the least short hereof for Blasphemy and Idolatry Bonarous the Jesuite Lib. 3. Amphitrial Honor. l. 3. cap. ult ad Divinam Hallensem Puerum Jesum saith as followeth Haereo haec inter meditans interque cruorem Thomas de Aquino 3a parte Sum Quaest 25. Arti sayes Sequitur quod eadem reverentia exhibeatur imagini Christi ipsi Christo cum ergo Christus adoratur adoratione latriae consequens est quod ejus imago sit adoratione latriae adoranda The Image of Christ he tells you is to be worshiped with the same worship that Christ is Yea Bellarmine de Imag. cap. 21. says Imagines Christi Sanctorum venerandae sunt non solum per accidens impropriè sed etiam per se propriè ita ut ipsae terminent venerationem ut in se considerantur non solem vicem gerunt exemplaris In which he asserts what I had
Cringings Candles Altars c. all of which as it 's known owe their original unto the appointments thereof It remaineth That the present Ministers of England acting in the Holy Things of God by vertue of an Office-Power received from Idolaters and offering up to him a Worship meerly of humane composition once abused to Idolatry with the Rites and Modes of Idolaters are deeply guilty of the sin of Idolatry To which we adde Argument 3. Adoration in by or before a creature respectivè or with relation to the creature is Idolatry such as so adore or worship God are Idolaters But the present Ministers of England do adore or worship God in by or before a creature respectivè or with relation to the creature Therefore The major or first proposition being generally owned by Protestants it being the very same maxime they make use of and stop the mouth of the Papists with in the point of adoring God mediately by the creature we shall not stand upon the proof of it None that know what they say will deny it The minor Proposition viz. That the present Ministers of England do adore or worship God in by or before the creature respectivè or with relation to the creature will receive a quick dispatch Not to mention their bowing and cringing at the Altar That †Didoclavius p. 755. saith Genuflectere non modo excludit ritus institutionis sed etiam praeceptum secundum de vitandâ Idololatriâ multis modis violat which Maccovius assents to loc com p. 861. they kneel at the receiving of the Sacrament is known that they with their Communicants should do so is enjoyned by their Church That their so doing is an adoration or worshipping of God before the creature respectivè or with relation to the creature is too manifest to admit of a denial Nothing being more certain than that the Elements are the objectum significativè à quo or the motive of their kneeling which if they were not there they would not do Object To what hath been hitherto offered in this matter if it be said That the charging the present Ministers of England with Idolatry is exceeding harsh and that which is an argument of a very unchristian and censorious spirit Though this makes nothing to the enervating of what hath been offered yet we answer 1. That many words of Christ himself were accounted hard sayings and not to be born and that by such Hearers as were once his Admirers and did with seeming-great affection attend upon his Ministry That such poor worms as we should be recharged herewith is no great marvel it is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master 2dly We have in this matter said nothing but what is in Thesi over and over asserted by most or all Protestant VVriters upon the second Commandment who assert fully that the †Calvin Perkins Ames Maccovius Altingius Wendeline Paraeus Explicat Cate. p. 3. Q. 96. p. 528. saith Quid postulat secundum praeceptum Resne Deum ullâ imagine aut figurâ exprimamus neve ullâ alia ratione eum colamus quam quâ se in suo verbo coli praecepit 1 Sam. 15. 23. Deut. 12. 30. Mat. 15. 9. And afterwards he addeth Huic secundo Praecepto contraria sunt ea quae vero cultui divino adversantur 1. Idololatria quae est cultus numinis fictitius aut superstitiosus Sunt autem Idololatriae duae species praecipuae una crassior cum fictitium numen colitur haec species prohibetur in imo praecepto aliquâ ex parte in tertio altera est subtilior cum verus Deus coli fingitur sed errator in genere cultus hoc est cum vero Deo cultus fingitur praestari aliquo opere quod ipse non praecepit haec species Idololatriae hoc praecepto propriè damnatur nominatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive superstitio And pag. 529. Qui peccant contra secundum praeceptum peccant contra primum quia qui Deum aliter colunt atque vult coli illi fingunt Deum aliter effectum atque est hoc est alium Deum Ita non Deum sed cerebri sui commentum quod sic affectum esse sibi persuadent colunt fingere alium Dei cultum est aliam Dei voluntatem proinde alium Deum fingere c. worshipping God in a way not prescribed by him is Idolatry such as do so are Idolaters with our application hereof unto the present Ministers of England if they are guilty as that they are hath been abundantly demonstrated why should any be offended To speak Truth when our silence would be prejudicial to the souls of our Brethren methinks should not be accounted unchristian or censorious But 3dly What would these Objectors have said to Tertullian that renowned Servant and VVitness of the Lord Jesus in his day who is by far more nice in this point of Idolaty than we have declared our selves to be He in his Book De Idololatria chargeth such as make Statues or Images build or adorn Idols Temples though it were their trade Astrologers Schoolmasters that name the names of Idols making honorable mention of them in their Orations such as keep holydayes dedicated to Idolatrous service as their Saturnalia in the stead of which is the time with us called Christmass c. such as adorned their Gates Posts Houses after the Pagan manner at Festivals with Lawrel Ivy c. as sympolizing with Idolaters yet sure we are he could not justly be charged with an unchristian or censorious spirit If it be further said Obj. 2. But what shall we judge of Latimer Ridley Hooper and many other famous Witnesses and Martyrs of Christ who worshipped God after the same way of Worship that these do now were they also Idolaters how could they be saved then when the Scripture sayes that no Idolater shall inherit the Kingdom of God and we do not find that they repented hereof To this we answer 1. That the persons instanc'd in were eminent Witnesses of Jesus Christ in their day whose very Names are in our nostrils as sweet Perfume we readily grant and would be loth to speak one word to abate of that just esteem is due to their Names and Testimony for Christ 2dly That they are now with Christ and shall come with him and sit upon Thrones to judge their unjust Judges in the day appointed thereunto we have not the least scruple But 3dly they were but men encompassed about with many infirmities that they were guilty of the sin of Idolatry cannot from what hath been said herein it's evident be denied Yet 1. They were in that day but just peeping out of the Gates of Babylon beginning to arise and shake themselves out of the dust of the Abominations of the great Whore and 't is no wonder if some of the filth of her Fornications did cleave to them 2. They worshipped God in sincerity according to the light he was pleased in that day
to communicate and God accepted of them in Christ granting to them a general Repentance for those Iniquities they saw not to be so knew not themselves guilty of Which is all we shall at present say hereunto The intelligent Reader knows that these things are not of any moment for the invalidating of what hath been offered upon this subject Thus far of this eighth Argument The present Ministers of England are guilty of Idolatry therefore 't is the duty of Saints not to hear but separate from them CHAP. VIII A 7th Argument against hearing the present Ministers of England 'T is an offence grief and cause of stumbling to the Saints proved Two Objections answered The nature of Scandal given An eighth Argument proposed to consideration The various wayes of partaking with others in their sin considered That hearing the present Ministers is a partaking with them in their sin proved Argument 7. 'T Is not lawful for Saints to do any thing for the doing whereof there is no positive Precept in the Scripture that is an Offence Grief Scandal and cause of stumbling to their Brethren But the hearing the present Ministers of England as there is no positive Precept in the Scripture for it so it is an Offence Grief Scandal and cause of stumbling to the Brethren Therefore The Major or first Proposition is bottom'd upon express Precepts in the Scripture Rom. 14. 13 15 20. 1 Cor. 8. 9 13. and 10. 24. The Minor or second Proposition consists of two parts 1. That for hearing the present Ministers of England there is no positive warrant in the Scripture if there be let it be produced and this Controversie is at an end The contrary thereunto hath all along been manifest in this present Discourse It cannot enter into our hearts to imagin that the Lord Jesus having instituted Officers of his own for the management of Affairs in his House should ordain that any of his Houshold should attend upon the Ministry of such as are not of his institution as hath been abundantly demonstrated touching the present Ministers of England that they are not nor is it by many pleaded as their duty so to do but onely as their Liberty which they judge they may or they may not do without sin 2. That for the Saints such as are visibly so profess themselves to be such to hear the present Ministers of England is an Offence Grief Scandal and occasion of stumbling to their Brethren This is too evident to be denied to how many thousands in England for whom those that as yet attend upon the present Ministry thereof dare not but think Christ dyed is the practise of some herein a Grief Scandal and occasion of Stumbling Their groans and tears alone and together upon this foot of account will better demonstrate the truth hereof than our words can Yea how many poor souls have been drawn by reason of the practise of some Leading Brethren in this matter against the checks of their own consciences to a Conformity herein to their after-grief and wounding Upon whose doors 't is to be feared and we wish they would in the fear of God lay it to heart may be written THE BLOOD OF SOULS If it be said Object That there is a twofold Scandal 1. Scandalum acceptum a Scandal or Offence taken 2. Scandalum datum a Scandal or Offence given In respect of the former possibly many may be offended at their practise in the matter treated of and so would some or other whatever is done by them 'T is impossible but Offences should come that there is any just Offence given by them herein is denied To this we answer Answ 1. That as we admit of the distinction so no doubt there is a truth in what is suggested thereupon That whatever I do some one or other will be offended at it There are a generation of men whom the doing of my duty will offend and cause to blaspheme these are not to be minded but to be pitied Christ himself was to some a Rock of Offence and Stone of Stumbling 2. But 't is not yet proved nor like to be that the Scandal treated of is a Scandal taken and not given the very nature of Scandal given as is confest by all and evident beyond exception from the Apostles discourse 1 Cor. 8. 10. lying in the doing of what is judged by me to be my liberty which other Saints are not fully perswaded of in their own minds to be so but are ready to conclude it to be my sin and evil and from thence have occasion of Grief or Stumbling administred to them This was the very case of the Church of Corinth upon the occasion whereof Paul writes to them 1 Cor. 8. some of them judged it their liberty to sit at meat in the Idols Temple others not being fully perswaded hereof were scandalized many wayes at this their practise which the Apostle therefore condemns as unlawful Should it for Arguments sake be granted though in truth it be not so that 't is the liberty of Saints to hear the present Ministers yet many of the sincere Lambs of Christ being stumbled grieved and Scandalized herear for that very reason if no more could be said herein it becomes our sin to be guilty whereof who can chuse but be filled with trembling that hath ever with seriousness read that terrible Commination of Christ Mat. 18. 6. Whoso shall offend one of these little Ones that believe in me it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the Sea especially when those that are thus scandalized are able to demonstrate that their Offence is not any pevish Humour or foolish Nicety but what is too really administred by the actions of their Brethren When they shall hear Christ commanding them to separate from every thing of Antichrist Rev. 18. 4. and therefore from his Ministry and they are in conscience perswaded the Ministers of England are such which they judge they are able to demonstrate When they consider how the Laws of their dear Lord and Law-giver are made void by the traditions of these pretended Ministers whose Kingship they see them visibly opposing when they find upon them the characters of False Prophets and Apostles and are able to manifest that they are deeply guilty of the sin of Idolatry from whom they are enjoyned by Christ to turn away yea when they take a veiw of the frame of the spirits of their now Conforming-Brethren in dayes past and the Principles were then owned by them That they did then some of them at least separate from the Assemblies of England as not true Churches of Christ and accounted the Common-Prayer-Book-Priests persons not meet to preach unworthy to be attended upon in their so doing and see them now saying A confederacy with and attending upon the ministry of those very persons and things from whom not onely Christ hath commanded them to separate but these very
Brethren did formerly decry and at least seemingly abominate they judge they have just ground of Offence given to them Nor can it be denied but it is indeed so If it be yet further said Object 2. But if I do not go to hear the Preachers of this day many truly godly and sober Christians will be offended at my forbearance so that whether I hear or whether I forbear I shall offend To this I answer 1. That granting the case to be as is suggested though perhaps somewhat else upon a serious and strict search may be found to lye at the bottom of our Conformity beyond what is here pleaded I am very apt to believe were but a toleration granted 't is not the fear of offending any would cause our Conforming-Brethren to attend upon the Ministry of the present Priests of England Yet supposing it to be as is intimated we ask 1. Do you look upon your going to hear as your duty or meerly as your liberty if the first let it be proved from any positive precept of Christ and we are satisfied If the second you are bound by many solemn injunctions which are at least reduceable to the Moral Law not to use your liberty to Scandalize your Brethren Secondly Let both parties be weighed in an upright Ballance such as you judge to be offended with you for not hearing and such as are offended thereat I am bold to say That the last mentioned for Number Holiness Spirituallity and Tenderness do far surmount the former who will really be Scandalized at your forbearance Thirdly Let also the grounds of the offence on both sides be weighed the one are offended at you That you build not up in practise in a day of trouble and cause thereby the Enemies of the Lord to tryumph and blaspheme what in a day of liberty you did in your preaching and practise pull down and destroy The other because of your disobedience to what they are satisfied and you your selves once were God is calling you to viz. to have nothing to do with separate from this generation of men But Fourthly That 't is your duty especially if in a Church-Relation to meet together as a People called and picked by the Lord out of the Nations of the World in a way of distinction from them cannot be denied the neglect of which is charged by the Lord as the first step to Apostacy Heb. 10. 25. Be you in the practise of this duty and see what Spiritual Saint will be offended at you if any should you might have peace therein you doing your duty no just cause of Scandal is given Yet further Fifthly Consider on which side the Cross lies which the Flesh and fleshly interest is most opposite to whether in going or forbearing to go to hear these men and let that be chosen Usually that is the way of God that hath most of the Cross in it and the flesh is most strugling and contesting against But thus much of the seventh Argument Argument 8. That which Saints cannot do without being guilty of partaking with others in their sin is utterly unlawful for them to do But the Saints cannot attend upon the Ministry of England without being guilty of partaking with them in their sin Therefore The Major Proposition is clearly bottomed upon Scripture Psal 50. 18. Ephes 5. 7. 1 Tim. 5. 22. 2 John 11. Rev. 18. 4. which might be abundantly demonstrated were it needful Sure that God who commands me to abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes 5. 22. never enjoyned expects not that I should be found in the practice of what without sin cannot be performed by me The Minor Proposition viz. That the Saints cannot attend upon the present Ministry of England without being partakers with them in their sin will admit of a speedy dispatch Two things are briefly to be enquired into 1. What that or those sins are we suppose the Ministers of England to be guilty of 2. How it will appear that any person 's attending upon their Ministry renders him guilty of partaking with them therein Of the former we have already treated and proved beyond what any are able to say to the contrary That they are guilty of the sins of worshipping God in a way that is not of his appointment of acting in the Holy things of God by vertue of an Antichristian Power Office or Calling of opposing really the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ of using and conforming to Modes and Rites in Worship not appointed by the Lord that have been abused to Idolatry c. Nor is it denied by our Conforming-Brethren but with some of these things the present Ministers of England may be justly charged That they worship God after the way of the Common-Prayer-Book with Modes and Rites used in the Papacy cannot be denied Nor can their undue administration of that great Ordinance of our Lord Jesus of breaking Bread to all according to the form therein prescribed That they are Ordained and some of them Re-ordained by the Episcopacy is also known I ask are these things the sin and evil of these men or are they not If they are not why did not our preaching-Brethren receive the Ordination from the Bishops these received Yea why do not our half-conforming-Brethren attend upon the reading of the Service used joyn with them in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as administred by them Doth not their absenting themselves herefrom abundantly demonstrate that they in their consciences are perswaded that 't is the sin and evil of the present Priests of England thus to act and from such a Mission in the Worship of the Lord As for the second That the hearing of the present Ministers of England is that which renders a man guilty of being partaker with them in their sin the consideration of the several wayes persons may justly be charged with being guilty of partaking with others in their sin will abundantly demonstrate the truth thereof To instance in a few particulars Then may persons justly be charged as guilty hereof 1. When they are found any way consenting with them in their sin Psal 50. 18. When thou sawest a Theif then thou consentedst with him and hast been partaker with Adulterers 'T is not the doing of the act that was done by these wicked persons that is here called partaking with them but a secret consenting with them therein 2. When they do that which hath a real tendency to encourage persons in their sin 2 John 11. Receive them not into your houses bid them not Godspeed for he that biddeth them God speed is partaker of their evil deeds 3. When they neglect the doing of those duties which the Lord requires at their hands for the reclaiming of them from their sin such are Watching over Rebuking Admonishing first privately then by two and in case of obstinacy and perseverance therein telling it to the Church which are duties eminently comprized in the ensuing Scriptures 1 Thes 5. 14. Heb. 3.
The Lord protesteth that such as refuse to obey his Calls to come out of Babylon shall partake of her Plagues Rev. 18. 4. 5. Where the Lord is not in respect of his special Presence and Grace there is no ground to expect any Blessing but God is not so in the midst of the Parochial Assemblies of England Where are the souls that are converted comforted strengthened stablished that are waiting at the doors of their house Though many will not see it yet a sad spirit of withering and visible decaies is to be found upon many that are waiting upon the teachings of the Ministers of this day And we hope the Lord will in mercy cause those that are indeed his to see it that they may remember from whence they have fallen repent do their first works and watch to strengthen the things that remain that are ready to dye for God hath not found their works perfect before him Argument 12. That the doing whereof is one step to Apostacy is not lawful to be done But the hearing the present Ministers of England is one step to Apostacy Therefore The Major Proposition will readily be granted by all The beginnings of great evils are certainly to be resisted Apostacy is one of the greatest evils in the world The Minor or second Proposition viz. That the hearing of the present Ministers of England is one step to Apostacy is evident 1. It cannot be done especially by persons of Congregational Principles without a relinquishment of Principles owned by them as received from God That the Church of England as National is a Church of the institution of Christ That persons not called to the Office of the Ministry by the Saints are rightful Ministers of Christ must be owned and taken for granted ere the conscience can acquiesce in the hearing of the present Ministers for we suppose 't will not be asserted by those with whom we have to do that there can be a true Ministry in a False Church or that False Ministers may be heard and yet the present Ministers are Ministers in and of the National Church of England and were never solemnly deputed to that Office by the suffrage of the Lords People 2dly Nor can it be done without the neglect of that duty which with others is eminently of the appointment of the Lord to secure from Apostacy instanc'd in by the Author to the Hebrews Hebr. 10. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching In which the duty of Saints assembling of themselves together as a body distinct from the world and its Assemblies as also their frequent and as often as may be exhorting one another as a medium to secure them by the blessing of the Lord thereupon from a spirit of Degeneracy and Apostacy from God is clearly asserted Whence it undeniably follows That the hearing of the present Ministers of England being inconsistent with the constant and diligient use of the means prescribed for the preservation of the Saints in the way of God for whilst they are attending upon their teachings they cannot assemble themselves according to the prescription of God in the forementioned Scripture is at least one step to the dreadful sin of Apostacy from God and therefore is it utterly unlawful for Saints so to do And thus far of the 12th Argument for the proof of the assertion under our maintenance viz. That t is not lawful for Saints to hear the present Ministers of England to which many others might be added But we doubt not to the truly tender and humble enquiring Christian what hath been offered will be abundantly sufficient to satisfie his conscience in the present enquiry We shall only in the close offer a few Queries to be in the fear of the Holy One considered by the intelligent Reader Quer. 1. Whether the Lord Jesus be not the alone Head King and Lawgiver to his Church 2. Whether the Laws Statutes Orders and Ordinances of Christ be not faithfully to be kept though all the Princes in the world should interdict and forbid it 3. Whether to introduce other Laws for the Government of the Church of Christ and the Worship of his House be not an high advance against and intrusion into his Kingship and Headship 4. Whether the Lord Jesus as King and Head over his Church hath not instituted sufficient Officers and Offices for the administration of Holy Things in his House to whom no more can be added without a desperate undervaluation and contempt of his Wisdome Headship and Soveraignty over it 5. Whether the Officers instituted by Christ are not onely Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers 6. Whether the Offices of Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops Deans Sub-Deans Prebendaries Chancellors Priests Deacons as an order of the first step to a Priesthood Arch-Deacons Sub-Deacons Commissaries Officials Proctors Registers Apparitors Parsons Vicars Curats Canons Petty-Canons Gospellers Epistollers Chaunters Virgers Organ-Players Queristers be Offices any where instituted by the Lord Jesus in the Scripture 7. Whether the calling and admission into these last mentioned Offices their administration and maintenance now had and received in England be according to the Word of God 8. Whether every true visible particular Church of Christ be not a select company of People called and separated from the world and False Worship thereof by the Spirit and Word of God and joyned together in the Fellowship of the Gospel by their own free and voluntary consent giving up themselves to Christ and one another according to the Will of God 9. Whether a company of People living in a Parish though the most of them be visible Drunkards Swearers c. or at least strangers to the work of regeneration upon their souls coming by compulsion or otherwise to the hearing of Publick Prayers or Preaching are in the Scripture account Saints and a Church of Christ according to the Pattern given forth by him Or rather be not to be esteemed Daughters of the old Whore and Babel spoken of in the Scriptures 10. Whether in such a Church there is or can rationally be supposed to be a true Ministry of the institution of Christ 11. Whether the Book of Common-Prayer or stinted Lyturgies be of the prescription of Christ and not of mans devising and invention 12. Whether if one part of a Worship used by a People be polluted the whole of their Worship be not to be looked upon in a Scripture account as polluted and abominable according to 1 Kings 18. 21. 2 King 17. 33. Isa 66. 3. Hos 4. 15. Ezek. 43. 8. Zeph. 1. 5 so that if their Prayers be naught and polluted their Preaching be not so too 13. Whether a Ministry set up in direct opposition unto a Ministry of Christ which riseth upon its fall and falls by its rise can by such as so account of it be lawfully joyned unto 14. Whether such as have forsworn a Covenant Reformation
according to the VVord of God and swear to a Worship that is meerly of humane devising that have nothing of the essentials of a Ministry of Christ to be found upon them may be accounted of as his Ministers and be adhered to 15. VVhether such as shall so do be not guilty of casting contempt upon the Institutions of Christ and disobedience against his Royal Edicts commanding them to separate from persons of such a complection To which many others of the like nature might be added CHAP. X. Arguments for the lawfulness of hearing the present Ministers of England 1. From the supposed Precept of Christ Mat. 23. 1. whether the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23. 1. were Magistrates or Ministers debated If Ministers that their Office and Calling was lawful proved That Christ neither commands nor permits his Disciples to hear them proved 2. From the practice of Christ and his Apostles 3. From Phil. 1. 15. 4. From their preaching truth 5. From Judas his preaching 6. From their being good men 7. From the practice of Learned and Good men in former dayes and now 8. From the Magistrates command 9. From the pretended Plea of their being true Ministers because they convert souls 10. From persons not knowing whither to go to hear Fully answered HAving hitherto been upon the confirmation of the Truth asserted by us viz. That 't is not lawful for Saints to hear the present Ministers of England we come now to consider what is in this matter objected by our dissenting Brethren This is that they say Object 1. Christ commands or at least permits his Disciples to hear the Scribes and Pharisees who were men as corrupt in their Doctrine as vitious in their lives as the present Ministers of England can be supposed to be Mat. 23. 1 2. Therefore it is lawful to hear these Answ This being the main Objection used by our dissenting Brethren in this day as it was by others in times past their very Achilles in this controversie we shall speak the more largely to it Many things are supposed by the Objectors and taken for granted and must be so by all that judge any weight to be in what is from this supposed command of Christ argued which they will never be able to prove and yet are the very basis upon which the stress of the Objection lies As 1. 'T is supposed that the Scribes and Pharisees here spoken of were in the Ministerial Seat Teachers and Expounders of the Law which at first view seems to be a difficult task for any to demonstrate That some of the Scribes and Pharisees which were particular Sects among the Jews as is known were so cannot be denied that these here mentioned by our Saviour are such is not so evident They are expresly said to sit in Moses Seat not Aarons who though he were of the Tribe of Levi yet was not the Ministerial but Magistratical Seat committed unto him To the Posterity of Aaron did the Office of Priesthood appertain as is known to all that have but in the least turned aside to consider of this affair nor is it altogether frivolous that is by some observed That these Scribes and Pharisees are especially charged with the omission of Judgment and Mercy things most nearly relating unto the Office of Magistracy to whom it doth especially appertain to look thereunto Now will it in the least follow That supposing Christ enjoyned his Disciples to attend upon the Scribes and Pharisees acting as Magistrates and conform to what is justly and righteously prescribed by them as such That therefore it 's lawful to attend upon the present Ministers of England But let this be granted Suppose 2. The Scribes and Pharisees to be the Preachers and Expounders of the Law in that day the Seat mentioned to be a Ministerial Seat yet this will not at all help them in the matter in controversie except it be granted to them that the Scribes and Pharisees were not a lawful but a false Ministry that had surreptitiously climbed up into this Ministerial Seat for who sees not the invalidity and nothingness of this Argument 'T was lawful to hear the Scribes and Pharisees which were the lawful Church-Officers of that day of the appointment of the Lord acting by vertue of an Authority derived from him Therefore 't is lawful to hear persons that have not any such Authority from Christ but are meer Intruders and Ministers of Antichrist as the present Ministers of England have been proved to be Now this upon that supposition that they were Ministers we cannot yeild for these Reasons 1. The Pharisees are expresly said to be Priests and Levits John 1. 19. and this is the record of John when the Jews sent Priests and Levits from Jerusalem to ask him Who art thou ver 24. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees which were the ordinary lawful Ministers of that day 2. These of all others were most apt to question the Authority of such as taught the People So when John appears Preaching and Baptizing and professes to them that he was not the Christ nor Elias nor Prophet who was expected by the People of the Jews they immediatly question his Authority John 1. 25. Why baptizest thou then which they could not be supposed to have the face to do if they themselves of all others had been the greatest Intruders Nay 3. When they question Christ himself about his Authority he asks not them From whence they had theirs which doubtless upon that occasion he would have done had they not been lawfully seated in the Seat they did possess but from whence John had his who was esteemed as a Prophet 4. We have the Lord Jesus many times crying out above all others against the Pharisees condemning them of Pride Hypocrisie Avarice c. but not the least tittle of the usurpation of Moses-seat is by him charged upon them or in the least intimated which doubtless would have been had they been guilty thereof But let this also be granted that we may hear this Argument speak its uttermost The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat this Seat is a Ministerial Seat and they sit not here by vertue of any lawful Authority but are meer intruders what follows from hence why this if it were lawful to hear the Scribes and Pharisees persons vitious in their lives corrupt in their doctrine having no lawful call to the place they possessed then it undeniably follows that it 's lawful to hear the present Ministers of England though they have no lawful Authority or Call to the Office they assume It must it seems then 3dly be granted that when Christ sayes What they say unto you do he is to be interpreted to command or at least to permit an attendance upon their Ministry But this is that we deny and dare confidently aver That it never entered into the heart of Christ to permit much less to command any to attend upon the Ministry of the Scribes and Pharisees Nor