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-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
of the Churches of Vienna and Lyons concerning their Persecution in the Epistle of Clemens or the Church of Rome to the Church of Corinth in the Writings of Ignatius Justin Martyr Clemens Tertullian Origen Cyprian and their contemporaries there is not only an utter silence of such a thing but Assertions wholly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and oppsit thereunto Tertullian sayes expresly Illuc suspicientes Christiani manibus expansis quia innocuis capite nudo quia non crubescimus denique sine monitore quia de pectore oramus Apol. cap. 30. The Christians in those dayes he tells us looking towards Heaven not on their Common-Prayer-Books with their hands spread abroad c. prayed to God without a Monitor because from their hearts And in several places he testifies that they praised God in a way of Prayer and Thanksgiving according to their abilities Indeed Claudius de Sainctes and Pamelius two Popish Divines tell us of Lyturgies composed by the Apostles James Peter and Mark Of Peter's and Mark 's Cardinal Bellarmine himself not only takes no particular notice but upon the matter condemns them as supposititious and spurious which that they are is abundantly demonstrated by learned Morney and no more need be added thereunto There are some also fathered upon Basil Chrysostome and Ambrose but as these lived about the years 372 381 382 in which time many corruptions had crept into the Churches of Christ so the spuriousness thereof as being falsly fathered upon the persons whose names they bear may easily be demonstrated 'T is already done to our hands by learned Morney in his Book De Missâ l. 1. chap. 6. Durantus himself the great Lyturgy-munger acknowledges That neither Christ nor his Apostles used any prescribed Forms but the Lords Prayer and the Creed that they used these he sayes but proves not nor will it ever be proved to the worlds end That about the year 380. Theodosius the Church being rent by Heresies intreated Pope Damasus at whose election though the contest was betwixt him and Ursinus a Deacon of the Church there were not fewer than one hundred thirty seven persons slain that some Ecclesiastical Office might be made which was accordingly done by Hierome and approved by Pope Damasus and made a Rule The unlikelihood of this latter part of the Story is manifest Theodosius was too well acquainted with the Spirit of Prayer than to go about any such thing had he judged it necessary having assembled the great Council of Constantinople wherein were not less than an hundred and fifty persons convened Is it probable this good man Theodosius would in so momentous a concern rather consult with one single person than such an Assembly as were by his Authority met together and yet should this be granted it would not from hence appear that at this time there was any Lyturgy devised and imposed all that is pretended to be done by Hierome was the appointing an Order for the reading of the Scriptures which is another thing to the imposition of Forms of Prayer in Worship There is one passage in Socrates his Ecclesiastical History l. 5. c. 21. who lived about the year 430. that carrying an undeniable evidence with it that at that time there were no Lyturgies we cannot pass over in silence 't is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein he tells us that among all the Christians in that age scarce two were to be found that used the same words in Prayer Not to tire the Reader in this disquisition Though one part of the Lyturgy was not long after introduced by one Pope and another part by another yet till Gregories time who to the honour of Lyturgies be it spoken was the very worst of all the Bishops of Rome that preceded him viz. about the year 600. was there any considerable use or any imposing of them Yea till the time of Pope Hadrian which was about the year 800. was it not as I find by publick Authority imposed Then indeed the Emperour Charles the Great being moved thereunto by the foresaid Hadrian by his Civil Authority commands the use of a Lyturgy viz. Gregories Lyturgy as is thought to which he compels his Ministers by Threats and Punishments the usual attendancies and support of Lyturgyes ever since their production in the world The sum is That in as much as first it cannot be proved the contrary being most manifest in the Scripture that any Lyturgy was enjoyned by Christ or his Apostles or in use in the first Churches planted by them 2dly It is evident that for the first four hundred years and more after Christ there was no Lyturgy framed nor any by solemn Authority imposed to the year eight hundred it follows undeniably from hence That to worship God in the way of a Lyturgy or stinted Forms of Prayer is to worship him in a way that is not of his appointment To which we adde 2. That Worship which is an obstruction of any positive duty charged by Christ to be performed by the Saints is not a Worship that is of his appointment But this is undeniably true of the Common-Prayer-Book-Worship Therefore That Christ did upon his Ascention give unto his Church Officers as signal characters of his Love to and Care of it will not be denied Ephes 4. 11. is an evidence hereof beyond exception That to these Officers He gave Gifts and Qualifications every way suiting the imployment which he call'd them forth unto cannot without a most horrid advance against the Wisdome Faithfulness Love and Care of Christ towards the Beloved of his Soul be gainsayed That be not onely expects but solemnly charges upon these Officers an improvement of the Gifts bestowed upon them for the edification of his Body is evidently comprized and very frequently remarked in the Scripture 2 Tim. 1. 6. 1 Cor. 12. 7. Ephes 4. 11. Prov. 17. 16. Luke 19. 20. To imagin after all this that any Worship should be of the institution of Christ that should shut out of doors as unnecessary the exercise of the Gifts given by him to be made use of in the solemn discharge of the Worship of his House is such an imputation of folly to him as may not be charged upon any person of an ordinary capacity or understanding Yet this is righteously to be imputed to him absit Blasphemia if the Common-Prayer-Book-Worship be a Worship of his appointment The exercise of the Gift of Prayer to mention no more being wholly excluded hereby Nor will it in the least take off the weight of this Argument to say that liberty is granted for the exercise of this Gift before and after Sermon For 1. The whole Worship of God may according to these mens principles be discharged without any Sermon at all and its manifest it is frequently so at one time or other in most of the Assemblies of England 2. Those their Prayers are also bounded and limited by the 55th Canon of the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical 3. We had alwayes thought
thought had not bin own'd by any Idolater in the world viz. That Images are to be worshipped not as the representatives of the Deity c. and per accidens but properly and per se so as that they terminate the Worship Inter delicias uberis lateris Et dico si forte oculos super ubera tendo Diva parens mammae gaudia posco tuae Sed dico si deinde oculos in vulnera verto O Jesu lateris gaudia malo tui Rem scio prensabo si fas erit ubera dextrâ Laevâ prensabo vulnera si dabitur Lac matris miscere volo cum sanguine nati Non possum antidâ—to nobiliore frui Vulnera restituant turpem ulceribus mendicum Testa cui saniem radere sola potest Ubera reficient Ismaelem sitientem Quem Sara non patitur quem neque nutrit Agar Ista mihi ad pestem procul procul expungendam Ista mihi ad longas evalitura febres Ira vomit flammas sumatque libidinis Aetna Suffocare queo sanguine lacte queo Livor inexpleta rubigine saevit in artus Detergere queo lacte cruore queo Vanus honos me perpetua prurigine tentat Exsaturare queo sanguine lacte queo Ergo parens nate meis advertite votis Lac peto depereo sanguinem utrumque volo O sitio tamen O vocem sitis intercludit Natae cruore sitim comprime lacte parens Dic matri meus hic sitit optima mater Vis e fonte tuo promere deque meo Dic nato tuus his frater mi mellee fili Captivus monstrat vincula lytron habes Ergo Redemptorem monstra te jure vocari Ubera si reliquis divitiora geris O quando lactabor ab ubere vulnere pascar Deliciisque fruar mamma latusque tuis To which might be added as second hereunto the blasphemous poetry of Franciscus de Mendoza in viridario utriusque eruditionis lib. 2. Prob. 2. The usual ascription of Laus Deo Virginique matri Mariae in the close of their writings in which Divine honour with God is ascribed to the Virgin Mary is known to all Any ordinary Reader knows where to furnish himself with many more instances of the like nature equalizing if not exceeding in expression the greatest Idolaters that ever were in the world We judge it not necessary to stand longer upon this matter 't is beyond exception evident that that Assembly of men that are usually known by the name of the Church of Rome are Idolaters If there be any such in the world they are so 2. That the present Ministers of England act by vertue of an Office-Power from this Combination and Assembly of Idolaters they themselves will not deny Succession from hence being one of the best pleas they have for the justification of their Ministry which when they have proved that ever the Lord Jesus did entrust an Assembly of the greatest Murderers Adulterers and Idolaters in the world with any power for the sending forth Officers to act in the Holy Things of God to and for the Church his Spouse will be admitted but this they shall never be able to do So hugely importunate are some of them herein that they are not ashamed to ask us why Ordination may not be received from the Church so called of Rome as well as the Scripture To which we shall onely say that when it is proved that we received the Scripture from that Apostate Church by vertue of any Authority thereof as such somewhat of moment may be admitted in that enquiry but this will never be done 'T is true the Bible was kept among the People in those parts where the Pope prevaileth yet followeth it not from hence that we received it from their Authority as Ordination is received if we did why did we not keep it as delivered from them to us in the vulgar Latine so that of these things there is not the same reason It will not then be denied but the present Ministers of England act in the holy things of God by vertue of an Office-Power received by Succession from the Church of Rome and so from Idolaters that Church being eminently so as hath been proved 3. Nor can it be denied but they offer up to God a Worship meerly of Humane Composition as the Common-Prayer-Book-Worship hath been proved to be once abused to Idolatry with the Modes and Rites of Idolaters That the Common-Prayer-Book-Worship is a VVorship that was once abused to Idolatry being the VVorship of that Church whose VVorship at least in the complex thereof is so cannot with the least pretence of Reason be denied That the whole of it is derived from and taken out of the Pope's Portuis as are the Common-Prayers out of the Breviary the Administration of the Sacraments Burial Matrimony Visitation of the Sick out of the Ritual or Book of Rites The Consecration of the Lord's Supper Collects Epistles Gospels out of the Mass-Book The Ordination of Arch-Bishops Bishops and Priests out of the Romane Pontifical hath been asserted and proved by many Which might be evidenced if needful beyond exception not onely by comparing the one with the other but also from the offer was made by Pope Pius the 4th and Gregory the 13th to Q. Elizabeth to confirm the English Lyturgy which did it not symbolize with the Service of the Church of Rome they would not have done Yea when the said Queen was interdicted by the Popes Bull Secretary Walsingham procures two intelligencers from the Pope who seeing the Service of London and Canterbury in the Pomp thereof wonder that their Lord the Pope should be so unadvised as to inderdict a Prince whose Servive and Ceremonies did so symbolize with his own When they come to Rome they satisfie the Pope That they saw no Service Ceremonies or Orders in England but might very well serve in Rome upon which the Bull was recalled Not to mention what we have already minded viz. the Testimony of King Edward the 6th and his Council witnessing the English Service to be the same and no other but the old the self-same words in English that were in Latine which was the worship of England and Rome in Queen Maries dayes it 's evident that the present Ministers of England offer up a Worship to God once abused to Idolatry That they do this with the Rites Ceremonies and Modes * Maccovius loc com append de adiaph p. 860. saith Non licet mutuari aut retinere res aut ritas Sacros Idololatrarum sive Ethnicorum sive Pontificiorum c. etsi in se res fuerint adia Phorae quia vitandam esse omnem conformitatem cum Idololatris docemur Lev. 19. 4 27. and 21. 5. Deut. 14. 1. of Idolaters viz. such as are in use in that Idolatrous Church of Rome needs not many words to demonstrate what else is the Priests change of Voice Posture and Place in Worship enjoyned them not to mention their Holy Vestmentes Bowings
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
12 13. and 10. 24 25. Lev. 19. 17. Mat. 18. 15 16 17. 4. When they notwitstanding all that they have done or can do being under an utter incapacity of proceeding further therein perceive them to persevere in their sin shall still continue to hold communion with them and not separate from them Rev. 18. 4. Come out of her my People lest being partakers of her sins ye receive of her plagues The abiding with obstinate persevering Offenders as it is against positive injunctions of the Most High Rom. 16. 17. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16 17. 1 Tim. 6. 5. Ephes 5. 8 11. Rev. 18. 4. So is it in the last place instacn'd in assigned by the Spirit to be one way of partaking with others in their sins Not to multiply more particulars let us in a few words make Application of these remarked To the business in hand Is there any thing in the world that carries a greater brightness and evidence with it than this That the hearing the present Ministers of England is to be partakers with them in their sin is not our so doing a secret consenting with them and encouraging of them in their evil deeds Is this to discharge those duties incumbent upon us if we indeed look upon them as Brethren for their reclaiming yea is this to come out of and separate from them what less So then except it can be proved that the particulars instanc'd in are not some of those wayes whereby persons do become guilty of partaking with other mens sins or that to attend upon the present Ministers of England is not what doth symbolize with some one more or all of them which can never be done it evidently follows that 't is not lawful for Saints to hear the present Ministers of England the doing whereof is apparantly a partaking with them in their evil deeds CHAP. IX A ninth Argument against hearing the present Ministers That it casts contempt upon the Wayes and Institutions of Christ hardens persons in a false way of Worship and Rebellion against God proved A tenth Argument produced That 't is not lawful to go into the Assemblies of false Worshippers proved An eleventh Argument that there is no promise of a Blessing upon the hearing these men proved A twelfth Argument proving that so to do is the first step to Apostacy Several Queries proposed Argument 9. THat the doing whereof doth cast contempt upon the Wayes and Institutions some one or more of them of our Lord Jesus and hardens persons in a false way of Worship and Rebellion against him is utterly unlawful for the Saints to do But the hearing of the present Ministers of England is that the doing whereof doth cast contempt upon the VVayes and Institutions some one or more of them of our Lord Jesus and hardens persons in a false way of VVorship and Rebellion against him Therefore The major Proposition is laid down in such full clear and evident expressions bottom'd upon Scripture and right Reason as carry a brightness with them that none but such as are desperately and judicially blinded will or can gainsay The minor or second Proposition viz. That the hearing of the present Ministers of England is the doing of that which doth cast contempt upon the VVayes and Institutions of our Lord Jesus and hardens persons in a false way of VVorship and Rebellion against him is by our dissenting-Brethren gainsayed Three things are therein asserted 1. That our hearing these persons is that which casts contempt upon the VVayes and Institutions of Christ 2dly That it hardens persons in a false way of VVorship 3dly That it hardens and encourages souls in their Rebellion against the Lord. As for the first a brief Observation of some of the Institutions of Christ clearly bottom'd upon the Scripture will abundantly evince its original to be from God First then That separation from the world and men of the world from all wayes of false VVorship and the Inventions of men thereabout until the Saints of the Most-High be apparently a People dwelling alone and not reckoned amongst the Nations however it be decryed and sound harsh in the ears of carnal men is one grand Institution a man may run and reade in the following Scriptures Numb 23. 9. Joh. 15. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 17 19. Eph. 5. 8 11. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Hos 4. 15. Rev. 18. 4. Prov. 14. 7. nor is it denied by some of our Conforming-Brethren Secondly That Saints separate from the world should frequently meet together as a distinct body therefrom for the edification and building up of each other in the VVay and VVill of God according to the gifts bestowed upon them is so evidently asserted as the Institution of our alone King and Lawgiver in the Scripture that it cannot be gainsayed Mal. 3. 16. 1 Thess 5. 11. Heb. 3. 12. Jude 20. Heb. 10. 24 25. 1 Cor. 12. 9. Acts 12. 12. 18. 23. Ephes 5. 19. Jam. 5. 16. 1 Thess 5. 14. Thirdly That particular Congregations or Assemblies of Believers gathered into one body for the Celebration of the Worship of God in opposition to any National Church or Churches whatsoever is of the Appointment of Christ is alike evident as the former Act. 8. 1 3. 12. 1. 13. 14. 15. 22. 18. 22. 20. 14 28. 1 Cor. 1. 2. 6. 4. Acts 9. 1. 1 Cor. 16. 19. Rom. 16. 4. 2 Cor. 8. 1. Gal. 1. 2. Acts 16. 4 5. 14. 23. 1 Cor. 11 12. 14. 4 5 12 19. 2 Cor. 1. 1. Rev. 1. 2 3 11. Fourthly That Christ hath appointed Officers of his own to act in the Holy-things of God in and over these Assemblies whom he furnisheth with Gifts every way suiting their Imployment to whom without turning aside to the voice of strangers or attending upon the Ministery of such as are not of his Appointment it 's the duty of Saints to hearken is very conspicuous in the ensuing Scriptures Eph. 4. 11. Heb. 13. 7 13. Mat. 24. 4 5 23 24. 1 Joh. 2. 18. 4. 1. 2 Joh. 10. Acts 20. 29 30 31. Rev. 2. 14 15 16. which exactly agrees with what was practised by primitive Believers who it seems received none without the Testimony of some Brethren of known integrity in the Churches 1 Cor. 16. 3. Act. 9. 26. Not to mention more let it be weighed whether the hearing of the present Ministers of England doth not cast contempt upon these Institutions of Christ VVhat is more evidently preached forth by such a practice than 1. That separation from the Assemblies of England though in their constitution carnal and worldly and the worship thereof although false and meerly of humane invention was and is our sin and evil 2dly That 't is not by vertue of any Soveraign Institution of Christ the duty of Saints to meet together as a body distinct without going out to other Assemblies to worship with them for their mutual edification in the Lord. 3dly That particular Assemblies
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