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
way appointed by him to the end of the World Eph. 4. 11. 6. That there is not one promise of a blessing in the whole Scripture upon persons atending on such a Ministry with innumerable things of the like tendency and import that might be produced if needful are such a basis upon which the truth of the major Proposition stands as cannot be easily shaken or removed The Minor wants not sufficient demonstration First The present Ministers of England are either from Christ or from Antichrist There is no medium a Linsey-woolsey-Ministry that is partly of Christ partly of Antichrist as 't is not to be proved by Scripture so will it not be abetted That they are not from Christ hath in part been proved already and may farther be evinced 1. Their Names are forreign to the Scripture Where reade we of Deacons in their sence Priests as distinguished from Christians in the New-Testament Deans Cannons Petty-Cannons Prebendaries Arch-Deacons Lord-Bishops Parsons Vicars c. these are onely found in the Popes Pontifical whence they are derived So are 2. Their Offices Deacons attending Tables we reade of but Deacons Praying Preaching Administring Sacraments so called by vertue of an Office-power an order of the first step to the Priesthood we find not Priests in the Old-Testament both true and false we reade of in the New Saints are so called First in respect of analogie to the ritual Priests of old whose prerogative it was to come near to God Deut. 21. 5. to whom through Christ Saints have access with boldness Ephes 2. 18. and 3. 19. Jam. 4. 8. Secondly in respect of their union and engrafture into Christ the great High-Priest over the House of God Thirdly in respect of that analogy there is betwixt what Christ hath done for them as Priest and by his Spirit worketh in them He offered up Sacrifice so do they Psal 116. 17. and 141. 2. Rom. 12. 1. Heb. 13. 14. He was crucified died so are they Rom. 6. 6 7 8. c. Gal. 2. 20. Fourthly as Priests they are anointed to the participation of do thereby attain to a kind of holy and intimate communion with Christ in all his glorious Offices Rev. 5. 10. But an Office of Priesthood in men for the Ministry of the Gospel that are to be bounded by men in that their Office must preach what they would have them and cease when they would have them as is the case of the present Ministry of England the Scripture is a stranger to So is it 3. to their admission into this their office viz. by a Lord-Bishop without the consent of the Congregation in which they act as Officers The very truth is both in their Names Office and admission thereunto the present Ministers of England symbolize not with the Ministers of Christ but the Popish order of Priests so that if these do act by vertue of an Antichristian office-power then do they as he that runs may read in the ensuing parallel particulars 1. They are both called and own themselves Priests which though some may make light of yet considering that it is a term borrowed either from the Priests of the Law the assertion of such a Priesthood being a denial of Christ come in the flesh or from the Priests of the Heathen in conformity to whom as the Druides of old our Priests wear their white Garment or Surplice or from the Antichristian Church so called of Rome Such idolatrous superstitious names being commanded by the Lord to be abolished Hos 2. 15. Zech. 13. 2. wants not its sufficient weight the retention whereof being also a sore suspition of too great a compliance with if not a willingness to return to that from whence they are derived Of the same mind with us herein is Hierom upon the 2d of Hosea the Hebrew Doctors Kimchi and Aben-Ezra the Caldee Paraphrast Ribera though a Jesuit Zanchi Danaeus Sanctius Polanus Rivet and almost all that write upon the said Scripture The last mentioned viz. Learned Rivet hath these words in his Corollaries from Hos 2. 15 16. There are many names which in themselves are good enough and might be used but God abhorreth the use of them because they have been abused to Idolatry he instanceth indeed in the word Mass but Priest or Altar being of the same allay upon the same foot of account is to be rejected The reformed Churches in Helvetia in their harmony of Confessions are of the same mind The Ministry say they and the Priesthood are things far different the one from the other he himself viz. Christ remaineth only Priest for ever and we do not communicate the name Priest to any Minister lest we should detract something from Christ 2. The Priests of Rome must be first Deacons ere they are Priests So must the present Ministers of England 3. The Priests of Rome must be ordained to their Office by a Lord-Bishop or his Suffragan So must the Ministers of England 4. The Priests of Rome must at their ordination be presented by an Archdeacon or his Deputy with these words Reverende Pater c. Reverend Father I present these men unto thee to be admitted unto the order of Priesthood So are the present Ministers of England 5. The Priests of Rome must be ordained to their office according to their Pontifical devised by themselves the Priests of England according to their Book of ordering Priests and Deacons which is taken out of the Popes Pontifical as is evident to any that shall compare the one with the other and as hath been long since confest by some of themselves in an Admonition to the Parliament in Queen Elizabeths dayes in their second Treatise 6. The Popish Priests must kneel down upon their knees at the feet of the Lord-Bishop that ordains them and he must say to them blasphemously enough Receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose sins ye remit or forgive they are remitted whose sins ye retain they are retained which exactly accords with the fashion of ordaining the Priests of England 7. The Popish Priests are not ordained in and before the Congregation to whom they are to be Priests but in some Metropolitan Cathedral City several miles from the place So are the Priests of England 8. The Popish Priests take the care of souls though not elected by them from the presentation of a Patron by the institution and induction of a Lord-Bishop and do not the present Ministers of England the same 9. The Popish Priests wait not the Churches Call to the Ministry but make suit to some Prelate to be ordained Priests giving mony for their letters of Ordination So do the present Ministers of England 10. The Popish Priests are ordained to their Office though they have no Flock to attend upon So are the Priests of England 11. The Popish Priests must swear Canonical Obedience to their Ordinary So do the present Ministers of England 12. The Popish Priests may at their pleasure without the consent of the People resign and give over their
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
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
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
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
their instructive distribution delivered that if they were negligent other aproved men should receive their ministration being ordained by them or in the mean time by other choice men all the Church consenting thereunto Yea afterwards Let some one among you Ingenious Merciful filled with Love speak if through me Faction and Contention Schisms I will depart Of which if you are willing I return and will do the things appointed by the Multitude Wherein he fully asserts the Priviledge of the Church or People of Christ we are pleading for And afterwards during the raign of Antichrist Christ hath not left himself without a Witness nor his People without Champions to plead their Right in this matter To instance but in a few That lively Witness of Christ Martin Luther loudly proclaims that the voice of the People ought not to be severed from the chusing of Ecclesiastical persons And long before him Cyprian who lived about two hundred sixty years after Christ sayes Plebs obsequens c. The People that obey the commands of God and fear him ought to separate themselves from a wicked Pastor seeing the People themselves chiefly have either power to choose Pastors that are worthy or to refuse those that be unworthy Cypr. Epist 68. and tells us plainly That this is bottom'd upon the Authority of God That that is a just and lawful Ordination which is tryed by the judgment and voice of all viz. that fear and obey God Of the same mind long after was Francis Lambard the companion of Luther in Germany in the Preface of his Book entituled The Sum of Christianity who sayes Verily every Parish ought to have his proper Bishop the which should be chosen by the People and confirmed by the Commonalty of every Parish who if they swerve one jot or tittle from the Doctrine of the Gospel of the Kingdom ought to be deposed by the People and others more fit to be elected by them And in chap. 5. of the said Book he professes That 't is the most grievous crime and by no means to be suffered that many children of perdition do deprive the People of God of their just Right and Title viz. to chuse them a Pastor Peter Martyr in his common places refers the chusing and election of Ministers to the People as their undoubted Right To whom we may joyn Mr. Bullinger who sayes That the Apostles exercised not Tyranny in the Church in ordaining Ministers without the consent of the People Bullin Decad. 5. Serm. 4. Tit. 1. 1 Tim. 5. Gualter also upon Acts 1. 25. saith That those that profess the Gospel handle the matter as evil as the Monks and Popish Bishops in that they restore not again to the Church the liberty of chusing Ministers which by Tyranny they took from them Of the same mind is Zanchio Calvin Beza Danaeus Tilenus Tyndall the Martyr with many others as Mr. Fox Cartwright Mr. Jacob c. We cannot omit the famous Case of the United Brethren of Bohemia who concluding the whole Papacy to be purely Antichristian could not allow of the Ordination of their Ministers by any in communion with it and yet being perswaded of a necessity of continuing that Ordinance in a way of succession send some to the Greek and Armenian Churches who returning with dissatisfaction they thereupon commit themselves and their cause to God and chuse Elders from amongst themselves and by Fasting and Prayer solemnly set them apart to the work of the Preaching of the Gospel To these many more might be added The practice pleaded for as is evident is as antient as the dayes of the Apostles and the first election of ordinary New-Testament Officers continued in the Church till after the dayes of Constantine when Pride and Tyranny soon brought all things into horrible confusion upon the pretext of Decency and Order yet in the worst of times have the Witnesses of Christ born their Testimony hereunto What say our Reverend Fathers and Ministers of the Church of England to these things have they not an equal respect to this Appointment of Christ as to those before instanc'd in is there any thing like it almost practised by them in this great concern of separating persons for the preaching of the Gospel of Christ is not the liberty of the Brethren and Churches of Christ as much as lies in them wholly disannulled and broken by them have they any such call to the Ministry do they at all value or esteem of it are they in the practice of the Primitive Church or of the Reformed Churches of this day in this matter is not the print of the feet of the old Strumpet of Rome the bloudy Persecutor of the Saints the cunning Devisor of a new self-invented and whorish Worship to be soley found in the paths they are in this matter traversing and can such be accounted as the subjects of the Kingdom of Christ and the real owners of his Authority and Power To these many other Institutions of Christ may be added which they subject not to What should I mention 6. That Royal Command of our Soveraign King and Lawgiver which the profound self-philosophically wise but indeed foolish and unlearned Doctors of this day wrest to the countenancing of the disorders and confusion of Antichrist darkness so gross that it may be felt that all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 40. viz. that the Saints may prophesie one by one and ought to admonish exhort and build up one another in their most holy Faith Rom. 8. 26. 12. 6. 1 Cor. 4. 17. 5. 4. 11. 23. Ephes 4. 7 11 12. 1 Tim. 2. 1. 3. 15. Jude 20. 1 Cor. 12. 7 11. Mat. 25. 24. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 12. 15. 14. 12 24. Ephes 4. 3 7 15 16. Act. 2. 42. Rom. 15. 14. Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. 1 Thess 5. 14. 2 Thess 3. 15. Heb. 3. 13. to which might be added the frequent examples of the Saints in the Old and New-Testament 2 Chron. 17. 7 8 9. Job 2. 11. Mal. 3. 16. Luke 4. 16. Act. 13. 15. 1 Cor. 14. 24 to 34. and the practice of the Primitive Church as witness Origen in his Epist to Celsum Tertullian in his Apology Justin Martyr in his Apology and many others Yea 7. What should I mention that grand Institution of this Soveraign Lord and Lawgiver that nothing be offered up to the Father but what is of his own prescription Divine and Spiritual without affectation of Legal shadows Joh. 4. 24. of worldly pomp or carnal excellency 2 Cor. 1. 12. 2. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 12. 6. 13. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Isa 33. 22. Jam. 4. 12. Mat. 15. 6 9. Heb. 8. 5. 1 King 13. 33. 12. 33. Jer. 7. 31. Numb 15. 39. Deut. 12. 1 4 31. It 's evident the present Ministers of England conform not to the Orders and Ordinances Christ as the great Prophet and Lawgiver to his People hath appointed them to
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
Order lies therefore the Church hath power to determine in this matter are such Non-sequiturs as will not in hast be made good But let this be granted suppose that 't is the priviledge and duty of the Church to make Laws and Constitutions for the binding of the consciences of men in matters of Decency and Order this Church herein is bounded by the Scripture or it is not If it be †Learned Maccovius in loc com cap. 83. p. 851. sayes Leges secundum quas judicare debent rectores Ecclesiae sunt leges in verbo Dei praescriptae The Laws he tells you by which the Governours of the Church are to judge are such as are prescribed in the Word of GOD. bounded by the Scripture then when it hath no prescription therein for its commands it s not to be obeyed and so we are where we were before that Decency and Order is to be determined by the Scripture If it be not bounded therby then whatever Ceremonies it introduceth not directly contrary thereunto they must be subjected to which how fair an inlet it is to the whole Farago of Popish Inventions who sees not yet were this also yielded them they were never a jot nearer the mark aimed at except it can be proved that supposing a power of introducing Ceremonies to be invested in the Church thence a power for the institution of new Orders and Ordinances the introducing of Heathenish Jewish and superstitious practices in the Worship of God may be evinced And yet should all this be yeelded them none of which will they be able to prove to the worlds end how will they manifest those Lordly Commands and Constitutions are the Constitutions of a truly-constituted Church of Christ a strong supposition hereof is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the present Objection and yet fail they in the making good their ground herein who sees not that their plea hitherto impleaded sinks of it self what is it then they mean by the Church whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are without disputing to subject to is it the National Church of England But where find they any national-National-Church of the institution of Christ in the Oeconomie of the Gospel how prove they that the Church of England is so Yet should this also be granted where are the Constitutions and Laws of this Church that we may pay the homage to them as is meet when was it assembled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the same place together in its several Members freely to debate 1 Cor. 11. 20. 14. 23. and †Maccovius in loc com append de Adi p. 861. sayes Conditio tertia quae requiritur in adiaphoris est haec quod haec non debeant introduci in Ecclesiam nisi communi consensu Ecclesiae Acts 15. Things indifferent he tells you ought not to be introduced into the Church but by the common consent thereof according to Acts 15. determine what Laws and Constitutions were fit to be observed by them If it be said That this is not requisit it is enough that it be assembled in its several Officers or such as shall be chosen by their Officers whose Laws every Member is bound to be obedient to We answer But these Officers are the Church or they are not if they are not as there is nothing more sure I owe no subjection to their Laws or Constitutions it being pleaded that 't is the Church that hath only power in this matter if they are the Church let them by one Scripture prove they are so or where the true Officers of a true Church are so called and as Nonius saith out of Naevius to them Dum vivebo fidelis ero Yet except this also be yeelded them there is nothing of moment in the Objection produced It remaineth therefore that the present Ministers of England submit own and subscribe to Laws and Constitutions that are not in any sense of Christ's revealing and therefore oppose the Kingly Prophetical Office of Christ But this is not all 2dly The present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Laws Constitutions and Ordinances that are contrary to the Revelation of Christ whence an opposition to the Kingly and Prophetical Office of Christ may rationally be concluded This also by the induction of a few particular instances will be evinced beyond exception They own and acknowledge 1. That there may be other Arch-Bishops and Lord-Bishops in the Church of Christ besides himself which is contrary to 1 Pet. 5. 3. 1 Cor. 12. 5. Eph. 4. 5. Heb. 3. 1. Luk. 22. 25 26. 2. That men may and ought to be made Ministers only by these Lord-Bishops which is contrary to Heb. 5. 4. Joh. 10. 1 7. 13. 20. 14. 6. Act. 14. 23. with 6. 3 5. 3. That Prelates their Chancellors and Officers have power from Christ to cast out of the Church of God contrary to Mat. 18. 16 17. 1 Cor. 5. 4. 4. That the Office of Suffragans Deans Canons Petty-Canons Prebendaries Queristers Organists Arch-deacons Commissaries Officials Parsons Vicars and Curats are lawful and necessary to be had in the Church evidently contrary to 1 Cor. 12. 18 28. Rom. 12. 7. Eph. 4. 11. The Officers instituted by Christ are sufficient for the edification and perfecting of the Saints till they all come unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ ver 12 13. in what sense the fore-mentioned being not one of them of the institution of Christ may be owned as lawful or necessary without an high contempt of the Wisdom and Soveraignty of Christ cannot by such dull persons as my self be conjectured That any others see them any way useful to the Church of Christ may be imputed to such a sharp-sightedness as was that of Caius Caligula to whom when he enquired of Vitellius whether he saw him not imbracing the Moon 't was answered Solis Domine vobis Diis licet se invicem videre 5. That the Office of Deacons in the Church is to be imployed in publick Praying Administration of Baptism and Preaching if licensed by the Bishop thereunto Contrary to Act. 6. 2. Eph. 4. 11. 6. That the Ordinance of Breaking-Bread or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper may be administred to one alone as to a sick-man ready to dye which is diametrically opposit to the nature and institution of that Ordinance 1 Cor. 10. 16. 11. 33. Mat. 26. 26. Act. 2. 42. 20. 7. 7. That a prescript form of words in Prayer a ceremonious pompous Worship devised by Man and abused to Idolatry is according to the will of God and may lawfully be used under the New-Testament-dispensation contrary to Mat. 15. 9. 28. 20. John 4. 23. Deut. 12. 32. Jer. 51. 26. Rom. 8. 26. 1 Cor. 14. 15. 8. That wicked and ungodly persons and their Seed are lawfull Members of the Church and if they consent not willingly to be so they may be compell'd thereunto contrary to
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
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
chosen and called by Christ to be an Apostle commissionated by him to preach but the present Ministers of England are not so as hath been proved So that this is not at all to the business in hand Object 6. But there are some good men amongst them and such as belong to God may we not hear good men To which briefly Answer 1. That there are some amongst the present Preachers of this day that are good men we shall not stand to deny Yet 2. We crave leave to say That they are all of them such as are sadly polluted and defiled by their Complyance in respect of their standing in the Ministry Antichristian whose teachings Saints have no warrant to attend upon 3. The greater hopes we have of their goodness the more cautelous should we be of encouraging them in a false way that they by our relinquishment of them and separating from them after we have discharged all other duties we are satisfied are incumbent upon us to perform towards them may come to see their sin repent and do their first works that God and we may again receive them 4. Yet the goodness of any as to the main is no warrant for any to hold communion with them or attend upon their teachings There are Brethren that walk disorderly whom 't is the duty of Saints to separate from that the very best of the Ministers of England do so will not be denied The Incestuous person 1 Cor. 5. was as to the main for ought I know a good man yet were not the Saints at Corinth to hold communion with him till upon his repentance he was again received 2 Cor. 2. 6. 5. 'T is utterly unlawful to communicate with a devised Ministry upon what pretext soever 6. So is it for any to partake in other mens sins as hath been proved but every usurped Ministry is the sin of him though never so holy a person that exerciseth it Object 7. But many Learned and Good men and such as in conscience could not conform to the Ceremonies of the Church of England have in dayes past and do now hear the present Ministers thereof To which we answer 1. That the greatest Scholars and most accomplished for humane Wisdom Parts yea visible Holiness have not been alwayes on the Lords side following him in paths of his own appointment but many times have been found the greatest Persecutors and Opposers of Christ the most stupendously ignorant of the Will of God in respect of the Truth and Work of their Generation of any persons in the world Witness the Scribes and Pharisees the Learned Rabbies and Profound Doctors of that day with what virulency did they oppose Christ and the Doctrine of the Gospel preached by him 2. That persons of as great Holiness and renown for Learning and all manner of Accomplishments as learned Ainsworth Cotton c. have been and are of the same apprehension with us in this matter Not to mention the Reformed Churches who generally renounce the Ministry of the Church of England not admitting any by vertue of it to the charge of souls as they speak But 3. To the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8. 20. if they speak not according to this Rule though Angels for knowledge and holiness they are not to be received or heeded One word from the Lord is of more weight to hearts made truly tender than the Example of an hundred Professors can be 't is possible these may erre be yea and nay but so cannot the Truth of God which is alwayes the same and will abide so for ever 4. The Apostle hath long since determined this case 1 Cor. 11. 1. Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ So far as Saints follow Christ I may and ought to follow them but no further So that the Learning Parts or Holiness of any that attend upon the present Ministers of England is no warrant for me so to do nor will ever be a satisfactory answer to that enquiry Who hath required these things at your hands Object 8. But the Magistrate commands us and ought we not to obey Magistrates Answer 1. That Magistrates have no power to command in matters of instituted Worship where Christ is silent or to govern in his Church is affirmed by many 2. The Commands of Magistrates when contrary to the Will and Way of Christ are not to be subjected to This case is long since stated and resolved by the Apostle Acts 4. 19 20. and 5. 29. and Spirit of the Lord breathing long before in his renouned Witnesses Dan. 3. 16 17. and 6. 10. nor is it denied by any that are sober or juditious Whether the hearing of the present Ministers of England be contrary to the Word of God the Will and Way of Christ we leave from what hath been offered to the considerate Reader to judge And shall onely adde what was long since asserted by Augustine in this matter who August do Verb. Domini Serm. 6. was herein fully of the same mind with us Sed timeo inquies ne offendas Majorem time prorsus ne offendas Majorem non offendes Deum Quid enim times ne offendas Majorem Vide ne forsan major sit isto quem times offendere Majorem certe noli offendere quis est inquies Major eo qui me genuit a an ille qui Teipsum creavit qui enim resistit Potestati Dei Ordinationi resistit sed quid si illud jubeat quod non debes facere timondo postestatem ipsos humanarum rerum gradus advertite si aliquid jusserit Curator nonne faciendum est tam et si contra Proconsul jubeat at non utique contemnis potestatem sed eligis Majori servire nec hinc debet Minor irasci si Major praelata est Rursum si aliquid ipse Proconsul jubeat aliud subeat Imperator numquid dubitatur in illo contemptu illi esse serviendum Ergo si aliud Imperator aliud Deus quid judicatis solve tributum est mihi in obsequio rectè Sed non in Idolio in Idolio prohibet quis prohibet Major Potestas Da veniam tu cancerum ille gehennam minatur He tells us plainly that such as fear to offend their Superiours should much more fear to offend God who is greater than all The Emperours and Monarchs of the VVorld threaten us with a Prison if we disobey them the LORD threatens us with Hell upon our disobedience of Him Object 9. But the Ministers of England are true Gospel-Ministers for they convert souls which the Apostle makes the Seal of his Ministry or Apostleship Therefore it is lawful to hear them To this we say That the Ministers of England are true Gospel-Ministers is absolutely denied by us what is offered in this Objection proves nothing 1. Paul makes not the Conversion of the Church of Corinth singly a sufficient Demonstration or convincing Argument of his Apostleship he only useth it as what was most likely to win and