Anno Domini 1616. A CONFESSION AND PROTESTATION OF THE FAITH OF CERTAINE CHRISTIANS in England holding it necessary to observe keepe all Christes true substantiall Ordinances for his Church visible and Politicall that is indued with power of outward spirituall Government under the Gospel though the same doe differ from the common order of the Land Published for the clearing of the said Christians from the slaunder of Schisme and Noveltie and also of Separation undutifullnes to the Magistrate which their rash Adversaries doe falsely cast upon them Also an humble Petition to the K. Majestie for Toleration therein Coloss 2.6 As yee have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walke in him Psalm 116.9.10 I will walke before the Lord in the land of the living I believed therefore have I spoken for I was sore troubled Vide Fide Fide sed Vide. A CONFESSION AND PROtestation of the faith of certain Christiās in England holding it necessary to observe keepe all Christes true substantial Ordinances for his Church visible and politicall that is indued with power of outward spirituall Government under the Gospell though the same doe differ from the common orders of the Land Published for the clearing of the sayd Christians from the slaunder of Schisme and Noveltie and also of Separation and vndutifulnes to the Magistrate which their rash Adversaries doe falsly cast upon them WEe who do beleeve profess it to be necessary both for the glory of Christ for the assurance of our owne soules to observe and keep Christs substantial Ordinances for his visible politicall Church which are wanting publiquely among us yet are both his clear commandements and also special meanes of salvation and of Gods worship for us under the Gospell doe judge it most fit and reasonable to publish and testifie to all men in all plainenes wherein particularly we doe consent and doe fully agree with the publique Churches in Englād And wherein we disagree and differ frō the doctrine publiquely received And also finally to shew the inforcing reasons that haue driven compelled us to take this way which wee doe 1. Touching the first of these we protest before God and men that we unfaynedly and hartily agree to all the civil authoritie Magistracie and Government as it is received and standeth by law established in the Land holding it a most high offence against Almighty God if any of us should not with all readines cōscience at all times submit in all things eyther actively or passively thereunto Moreover wee doe likewise protest that we refuse not on occasion to communicate with the publique ordinary Congregations assembled for the exercise of religion in England viz. where neyther our assent nor silent presence is given to any meere humane tradition And we agree willingly to all the articles of faith and religion publiquely received and mainteyned among us onely excepting those points which hereafter folow mentioned and are distinctly set down in the particular Articles of this our present Confession and Protestation 2. Then touching the second thing above mentioned that is our difference and disagrement from the doctrine received publiquely in this land thus we declare and testify in the presence of God and men that meerely being constrayned by the cleare and unresistable evidence of Christs gospell which sayth * Act. 5.29 wee ought rather to obey God then men and not moved by any other conceite or vaine fancie we differ and disagree from the sayd publique doctrine in Eight and Twentie severall Articles 28. Articles all of them being of very great importance yea most of them both substantial matters in Religion and also speciall meanes of salvation under the Gospell The Articles wherein onely wee dissent from the publique Ecclesiasticall order and doctrine in England 1. Of Christs offices namely his Propheticall and Kingly offices 2. Of the alsufficiencie of the Scripture 3. Of Christs true visible Church generally 4. Of Christes true visible politicall church in more speciall manner 5. Of Synods and Councells 6. Of a Catholike or Universall Church politike that is indued with power of outward spirituall government 7. Of a Provinciall Church independent 8. How true visible politike churches are in England 9. Of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops Diocesan and Provinciall 10. Of the making of Ministers 11. Of our Communicating with the Parish Ministers Parishes in England 12. Touching Pluralitie Pastors and Non residents 13. Touching Discipline and Censures 14. Touching the number of Pastors in each Church and of the Pastors ordinary power and authority in managing the Churches spirituall affaires and government 15. Touching the prophane and scandalous Mixtures of people in the Congregation 16. Of humane Traditions 17. Of traditions Apostolike 18. Of Prophecy 19. Of reading of Homilies in the Church 20. Of Christs descending into Hell 21. Of Prayer 22. Of Holy dayes so called 23. Of Mariage and Burying churching as it is called 24. Of Ministers made also Magistrates by the State 25. Of the gifts and Offerings of the faithfull 26. Of Tithes and the Pastors fittest and due and necessarie maintenance 27. Of the civill Magistrates duety charge supreamly to oversee and order his Churches spirituall matters yet but civilly 28 Touching the necessity that lyeth upon us notwithstāding to obey Christ rather then man when they differ in our using the true and refusing the contrary ecclesiasticall ordinances above specified Of Christs Offices namely his Propheticall and Kingly Offices 1. Wee beleeve Christs Prophetical and Kingly Offices even in outward spirituall or religious matters to be absolute and perfect Where note that wee understand outward spirituall matters or religious to be outward matters used in the exercise of Religion not for any naturall reason nor for any civill use but meere voluntarily that is such things therein as are of the authors meere voluntary appointing And though some persons opposing against us do account these any thing rather thē Spirituall matters yet surely we hold them to be spirituall and religious seeing they are voluntarie institutions vsed onely in and for the exercise of religion and are appropriated thereunto Also these outward matters we believe are spirituall and religious unlawfully and falsely which are of mens institution they are lawfully justly and truely such which are of the institution and appointing of Iesus Christ Againe where these men doe say They neither intend nor teach these things to be spirituall or religious We answer that maketh not the matter They are such in the very nature of the thinges notwithstanding For mens wordes or intents make not the nature of these things neither can they alter the same Men indeed make these things in the exercise of religion false and unlawfull in as much as they come meerely frō men But spirituall and religious they are of themselves viz. being simply voluntarie ordinances appropriated to the affaires of Religion as they are In the appointing therefore of these outward spirituall matters and
is counted one of the six foūdations principles of faith there rehearsed Which then requireth that also the whole outward spiritual administration and government of Christes Church now must be such yea and the forme it selfe of the visible politicall Church must then be a foundation of Religion a principle of christian faith ordinarily necessary forever unchangeable by men Wee doe not here think that all who of simplicitie doe erre in this foundation and principle of faith are of necessitie damned We are not of so rigid and severe an opinion But we therefore hold it as a foundation and principle of faith because it is ordinarily necessarie to salvation and forever unchangeable by men Thus standeth our faith in these pointes so that they which hold contrarily to wit that these things are but circumstances in Religion accidents ordayneable and changeable by men even from one forme to another doe as we believe erre greatly from the trueth Of Christs true visible politicall Church in more speciall manner 4. Wee believe that the nature essence of Christs true visible that is politicall Church under the Gospell is a free congregation of Christians for the service of God or a true spirituall bodie politike cōteyning no more ordinary Cōgregations but one and that independent Wherein chiefly 2. pointes are to be noted First that a true visible politicall Church under the Gospell is but one ordinary Congregation And this is to be seene plainely in these scriptures Math. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4.12.13 1 Cor. 11.18.20 1 Cor. 14.23 Againe Act. 1.15 Act. 2.1.44 Act. 6.2.3.5.6 Act. 15.22.25 Also Act. 14.27 Act. 15.30 Moreover Act. 20.28 Act. 14.23 Gal. 1.2.21 2 Cor. 8.1 Rom. 16.1 c. The second point here to be noted is That by Gods ordinance this one ordinary congregation of Christians is a spirituall bodie politike and so it is a free congregation independent That is It hath from God the right and power of spirituall Administration and Government in it selfe and over it selfe by the common and free consent of the people independently and immediately under Christ alwayes in the best order they can Which these places doe prove Mat. 18.17.19 1 Cor. 5.12.13 10.15 7.23 2 Cor. 2.8 2 Thes 3.6.14 Act. 6.3.5.6 Act. 14.23 Act. 1.23.26 Act. 15.22.25 1 Thes 5.21 1 Ioh. 4.1 Rom. 16.17 Coll. 4.17.2 3 Io. 10. Gal. 1.9 Gal. 5.1 Gal. 4.26 Of Synods and Councells 5. Howbeit we acknowledge with all that there may be and that on occasion there ought to be on earth a consociatiō of Congregations or Churches namely by way of Synods but not a subordination or surely not a subjection of the congregations under any higher spirituall authoritie absolute save onely Christs and the holy Scriptures They who deny this mainteyning a Diocesan and Provinciall and neither wee nor they themselves know what universall visible politicall Church both proper and representative doe herein vary farr from the rule of the Gospell Of a Catholike or Vniversall Church politike that is indued with power of outward spirituall Government 6. It is demanded doe wee deny an Universall visible Church under the Gospell Wee answer yea Under the Gospell Christ never instituted nor had any one Universall visible Church that is Politicall either proper or representative which ordinarily was to exercise spirituall outward government over all persons through the world professing Christianity No such Church say wee is found in all the new Testament Therefore we now cannot acknowledge any such Of a Provinciall Church independent 7. It is marveyled why we likewise deny that under the Gospell there is any true visible politicall Church Provinciall or Diocesan seing so we shall deny a true visible politicall Church to be now in England because the English Church as commonly it is holden is properly a Diocesan and Provinciall or a Nationall visible politicall Church We answere For our parts we acknowledge there are many true visible yea politicall Churches in England in some degree in some respect yet indeed we deny also a Nationall a Provinciall Diocesan Church under the Gospell to be a true visible politicall Church whether wee meane the whole body or the representative part of such Churches though the publike practise among us doth hould them for true politicall Churches The reason why wee deny these also is Because neither any such is found any where set downe in Gods word of the new Testament even like as there is no Universall Church visible politicall there set downe But onely a free Congregation or ordinary Assembly is found in the new Testament as a litle before is shewed How true visible politike Churches are in England 8. And touching the true visible politicall Churches which we acknowledge are in England wee professe and declare in this manner Namely that each company of true visible Christians associated togither in one place viz. a Parish and professing to serve God according to his will in faith and order so farr as they knowe such as there are many in England the same is a true visible politicall Church in some respect that is Though not in respect of the order of the state unless indirectly and by accident to it after which they walke and under which they stand in spirituall bondage yet in Christ directly they are free And so directly and essentially they are a true politicall Church as they are a company of true visible Christians united by their owne consent to serve God as a litle before is noted And thus they have free power of spirituall outward governmēt among themselves though they professedly practise it not But esteeming them by Gods word in their direct practise state according to the publike proceedings they are not a true politicall Church nor free directly as they stand under and joyned to the L. Bishops spirituall dominion over them Which bondage and want of spirituall freedome in themselves our godly people generally see not nor this That in right from Christ they have this freedome to be exempted from the unlawfull domination of the L. Bishops aforesayd Neither think they so upon this matter as they ought and as the perill of their soules requireth Howbeit yet all this as ‡ Prov. 25 18. 17.15 we judge doth not simply disanull that peoples being true visible Christians with us so long as herein they erre but of ignorance nor the assemblies from being true visible politicall Churches in some respect and degree as before is shewed And therefore we cōmunicate also with them on occasion as before likewise is signified viz. while in such communicating wee countenance out no evill thing in them which in many places and many times we need not doe Whereof we shall presently see further in Art 11. following Of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops Diocesan and Provinciall 9. Wee believe that the spirituall office calling and power and administration of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops
religious we believe as is sayd those offices of Christ to be most absolute and perfect Indeed so perfect in every such particular now so alsufficient and so necessary to be submitted unto of all Christians as the sayd offices of Christ were under the Law We believe that Christ in these things no lesse then in matters inward concerning religion is the foundation to the whole building even of his visible and politicall Church now under the Gospell as well and as throughly as he was under the Law appointed by God over all things yea all these things as the head to his sayd Church which is the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all things And so wee believe Christ our Mediator in the kinde and nature of his offices to be not changed much lesse diminished but altogether the same unto us now as he was heretofore to his people the Iewes as it is written ‡ Heb. 13.8 Act. 3.23 Luc. 19.14.27 Mat. 21.43 Iesus Christ the sonne yesterday today and forever Yea we are perswaded if we should believe otherwise we should rob Christ of his honour and give his glorie to others which is a part of the highest sacriledge that can be And therefore where in this Article we are cōtradicted by some who say plainely that Christ in the Gospell though he bee the Prophet King and Priest to his Church yet he is not the onely or absolute Teacher Institutor King and | The Approvers of Gabriel Powell de Adiaph c. Lawgiver of his outward Church nor of the visible administration thereof and namely not in the forerehearsed outward thinges And likewise that Christians now have libertie and free choyce for the saide outward thinges in the exercise of Religion till mans Authority do determine them and that then such outward things are necessary to be observed but not otherwise This we cannot consent unto but we renounce it as highly derogating from the true and due offices and honour of Christ as is above shewed Of the Allsufficiency of the Scripture 2. Wee believe the holy Scriptures Allsufficiencie even in the sayd outward matters spirituall now likewise as well as it was believed and professed by all the faithfull under the Law And for that reason we hold this sense which indeed was and is the onely true sense of the 2. commandement viz. that touching the generall matter thereof or generally it containeth onely in the exercise of Religion free and voluntary Ordinances that is having no cause for their sayd use neither in civility nor in naturall Reason but the meere will of the Author of them Yea we believe that such ordinances both outward and inward private and publique doe wholly make the 2. commandement both in the affirmitive and Negative part They against us abroade in the land hold not this sense of the 2. cōmandement but deny it As likewise with like dishonour to Christ which wee noted before and with no lesse disgrace to his word | Doct. Whig in pref against T. C. saith it is a rotten principle they deny the Allsufficiency of holy Scripture in the said outward pointes as we believe of faith Christian Religion and most materiall and weightie under the Gospell They call them circumstances Accidents to Gods worship But most unjustly The Scripture indeed serveth not to specifie circumstances or Accidents Wee willingly agree to this Neither did it so at any time As namely not under the Law But we deny this constantly being therein well assured our matters in controversie are not circumstances nor Accidents in Gods worship And therefore also not indifferent A circumstance is A circumstance which of it selfe and by the very nature of it hath sometime and to some persons a helpfull a profitable and needfull use of Gods worship yet is not any part of Gods worship nor perpetually fit nor meerely voluntarie nor used onely therin An accident is An Accident which being no way a part of Gods worship is sometime in it sometime not A matter substantiall in the worship of God and that which is a part of it is of 3. sortes Either a thing not Civill but properly pertaining to Gods worship and yet a meere voluntarie ordinance therein Or a thing having absolute necessitie in nature and naturall reason to be a part of Gods worship Or otherwise which by the Scripture is plainly commanded or forbidden in Gods worship Our matters in controversie are all substantiall of one of these 3. later sorters namely of the first And therefore what soever of them is lawfull must be commended to us in the Scripture Else they are all unlawfull sinnefull and wicked The severall pointes we shall here presently note in particular at least namely these which follow Of Christes true visible Church generally 3. Wee believe that for more cleare understanding Christs true Church is to be noted and considered 4. wayes First Christ hath a true Church * Ephes 3.15 Heb. 12.23 Invisible which is the Universal number of his elect Secondly He hath a Church Militant considered meerely as it is †Gal. 1.13 Philip. 3.6 professing and suffering that is as the severall members doe professe the true faith and doe endure the opposition of enemies for the same Thirdly the church is taken for a Christian family so well nurtured and ordered in Religion that they are ‡ 1 Cor. 16.19 Bez. Annotat ibid. like unto a litle Church So a Church is figuratively and metaphorically taken But none of all these is to our purpose Fourthly The Church is taken as the same | Math. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.12.13 Act 1.26 is politicall or indued with power of outward spirituall policie and administration of Gods holy ordinances the meanes of salvation for mens soules Now this Church under the Gospell and with this consideration is that which onely we doe here treat of seeke and desire And wee believe that the speciall forme of this that is Christs visible politicall Church under the Gospell and the particular kinde of Government thereof must be of divine Institution they are matters ordinarily necessary to Saluation they are matters of faith matters of the 2. commandement no lesse then they were under the Law Wee believe that these things are no circumstances nor Accidents nor Indifferent nor at all changeable by the discretion of men But we believe that these are matters of Substance in Religion and that by these things one visible politicall Church differeth essentially or substantially from another to wit in the nature and kinde of the outward spirituall Administration thereof As namely the Iewes visible politicall Church under the Lawe did substantially differ from the Christian visible politicall Churches under the Gospell And rather the proper Diocesan and Provinciall and Catholike Churches since Christ doe so differ from the churches which are but ordinary Congregations independent Moreover Laying on of handes Heb. 6.2 set for the forme of making Ministers under the Gospell
government a free Congregation according as is before described that we may obey God and keepe his Commandement given us in these places of Scripture Which we ought to doe Likewise * Gal. 5.1 all are cōmanded to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not to be intangled in the yoake of bondage Out of such a visible Church a free Congregation we cannot possibly observe and keepe this generall Commandement orderly ordinarily but in it we may Therefore here we are commanded also to be actually in such a visible Church a free Congregation and to use the same Againe all are commanded †2 Thes 3.15 to stand fast and to keep the Apostles Traditions and Ordinances But this forme of a visible Church is one maine and substantiall Apostolike Ordinance Therefore we are all cōmanded to observe keepe it namely so as before is declared Againe all are commanded to ‡ Heb. 13 17 7 1 Thes 5.12 obey their Pastors to follow their faith to make much of such to | Math. 6.33 seeke first the Kingdome of God to “ 2 Fet. 1.10 make our calling and election sure viz. by walking in the true outward way To observe the 2. Commandement in all the parts of it a maine part whereof under the Gospell is this forme of a visible Church and government Lastly this ordinance of Christ we ought to hold and keep most firmely whosoever gainsay it because in this estate of a Church the †Psalm 33.3 134. ◠Eph. ◠12 promises of God are given and received and no where else directly and ordinarily And there is no promise to any indirect and accidentall constitution of a Church Wherefore this direct and ordinary meanes of hope and faith of grace and salvation we ought to preferre before our life Remembring also that ‡ Luk. 9.27 willingly to refuse and omitt the same is no lesse then damnation to any man Thus then in all these so waighty points we are cleerely cōmāded to obey God rather thē man And God cōmanding us to feare to love and to serve him he cōmandeth us the necessary meanes way of doing so even that Church in and by which ordinarily wee must doe so that wee may be accepted Which under the Gospell is such a free Congregatiō as is †In Artic. 4. before made cleare Where we see that this onely is now Christs true visible Church and no other forme of a visible Church is Wherefore we are all bound with all care to hearken to the expresse precept o the Holy Ghost concerning even this point saying ‡ Isa 30. 21. This is the way walke yee in it Which also the Harmony of Confessions teacheth viz. | Harm of Conf. French Artic. 26. Dutch Artic. 28. Helvet ch 11. That this we ought to doe notwithstanding men of power and might shall say nay These with the branches depending on them are our differences even all the matters wherein we dissent from the usuall and common opinion among us in this Land 3. Now therefore to come to the 3. and last point of this our Protestation wee demaund and doe earnestly crave of every in different christian to answere us what false things have wee here affirmed What on our part is evill What is wicked in all this If nothing as wear firmely perswaded in our soules that there is nothing Then we pray and earnestly intreate in the bowells of mercy in Iesus Christ every one to pardon our Consciences in that thus doing wee stand to give actuall obedience to our Heavenly Lord and Saviour in his owne Commandements and Ordinances which also wee doe that we may thereby as by the onely true complete meanes get †1 Ioh. 3.18.19 assurance of salvation to our soules which otherwise we for our parts cannot finde And otherwise whise wee omitt thus to doe and keepe not Christs sayd Cōmandements any with reproch may say unto us shew us your faith by your workes through workes is faith made perfect But faith without workes is dead And Christ sayth If yee love mee then keep my Commandements And Not he that saith Lord Lord But he that doeth the will of the Father is justified Whence verily wee see it plaine and we know well that not the talkers nor disputers of Christs will but the doers shal be saved yea though men afflicte them for it and they that will have Christ to raigne over them not ‡ L 19. they that will not Wherefore we humbly pray every upright-harted servant of God to consider that it is not possible for us knowing that which we know to give this fore-rehearsed due obedience unto Christ but by walking in this way which wee doe Which also cannot be but first by eschewing the evill and then by doing the good That is first by renouncing to be ordinary and constant members of any Diocesan or Provinciall Church visible politicall Because the forme of these is wholly without Gods word in the Gospell yea contrary to it And then also of the Parishes as naturall parts depending on them and on their Lord Bishops seeing these likewise doe both want Gods word and add to it stand in bondage in those the above noted substantiall pointes and meanes most important to salvation which before have been declared Wherefore thus farr forth onely wee leave our sayd parishes also but no further That is to be in them no ordinary and constant members but members in them occasionally we refuse not to be seing in them we finde in many places very many true visible christians with whom we cannot as we believe deny publike communion absolutely and therefore on occasion we offer to communicate with our sayd publike congregations or parishes as before we have professed taking God to witnes that this we doe not through any pride or singularity but meerely out of necessitie of our duetie to obey Christ in his word as we believe that herein we doe and to submitt unto his word and ordeyned meanes to keepe his commandements and to avoide abiding in sinne which otherwise possibly we cannot see how wee can avoyd Yea againe and againe we testify that being forced meerely by conscience thus wee do not knowing otherwise in our soules how to answere it at the last day Where we know no Magistrate nor Prince shall be able to answere for us if after the Light manifested we be found standing in a wrong way contrary to Christes sacred Ordinance as we believe this Diocesan politicall Church is Secondly hence it is that we do joyne each person onely himselfe humbly and obediently to the evident way of the Gospell the most certayne true Church estate set downe in the New Testament by Christ and his Apostles namely to a free Congregation Which truthes before specially in the 4th Article wee have sufficiently shewed binding our selves to proceede simply and onely by this sure rule and therein to persevere