as hath beene formerly said the false Church hath no power nor Charter nor office for all these things are locked up within the body of the Clergie soe is it as true that they are distitute of all lawes or administrations amongst themselves so that all they haue at any time is brought to them by these Crowned Stinging messengers of that authority as Common sence and reason proveth â—hat the Clergie being a pollitique and distinct body of themselves from the Layety hauing all power and authority Ecclesiasticall in themselues must of necessity haue all lawes ordinances and administrations in themselves whether they bee divine which they haue by vsurpatoÌ„ or humane by their own InventioÌ„ they only posesse them and haue power to vse them not fearing adding or detracting the Lay congregations being altogether passive herein til their Jnjuâ—tion make them active Soe the lawes and ordinances of this state being innumerable as their officers are J must omit for to name them as their severall false holy things Kneeling in the of receiuing Signeing with the Crosse in Baptisme Churching of women Reading Prayers with the Consecrating of Dayes Times Places Persons Garments with their Anoynting of the Sicke and vnholy Orders of consecration with other innumerable inventions not worthy aplace in Christians thoughts onely note the opposition of their law against the law of Christ in vehement prohibiting and strongly barring all Lay men as they call them from preaching that let Christ giue never soe great abillities or guifts to lay men they are never suffered to make any publique vse of them but it is horrible prophanesse and sacrelegious presumption soe to doe and this prohibition of the Clergie is and hath been so vniuersall that it reacheth to the foure Corners of the earth and with holdeth this spirituall winde of Christ Jesus in the mouth of his Saints that it shall not blow upon them that are in the earth Revel 7. The true Ecclesiasticall State A Sevevth DisproportioÌ„ is betwixt their subjects or members the subjects or members of Christs Kingdome 〈◊〉 Church must be beleeving Disciples they must bee Saints by Calling sanctified in Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 1.2 they must be liuing stones to build his house withall 1 Petâ— 2.5 such as these and these onely are enjoyned to observes whatsoever he commands them to these only is his Kingdome and dominioÌ„ given these be they that are crowned as Kings anoynted as Priests the mediatour himselfe being theirs he hath committed the administrâ—…ion of his mediatorship in his Church to them But to the Wicked saith God what hast thou to do with these things Psa 50.16 Thou hast not a wedding garment therefore binde him hand foote cast him out as leaven dangerous to hurt the body 1 Cor. 5.7 For without shall be dogges inchanters and those that loue make lyes Rev. 22.15 But within there shall be noe vncleane thing Revel 21.27 The False Ecclesiasticall State But the Subjects of this foule body are all vncleane and hatefull birds Revel 18.2 the Cage that holds them being the Ecclesiasticall state of Rome is become the habitatioÌ„s of Devils the hold of every foul spirit so that the vnfitâ—ests members which they can least indure or suffer amongst them are the conscious saints they are the soonest turned out cut of and killed by them Revel 13.15 but yet if the saints or Christ himselfe can by temptations or compulâ—ion bee drawn to worship the Devill he will haue it of them Mat. 4.9 for he will haue all the world to worship him if high and low rich and Poore bond and free be all the world he will compell them to bee subjects or members in his black Regiment Revel 13.16.17 For these dwell and rule make change lawes and times in this their habition which is the bottemlesse pit as the Father Sonne holy Ghost do in their habitation which is the New Jerusalem The true definition of a true visible Church of Iesus Christ. 1. THat every true visible Church of Christ are a company of people called and seperated out of the world a By the word of God Ioyned b together in the fellowship of the Gospell by volentary c profession of fayth and obedience of Christ a Levit. 20.26 Nehe. 10,18 Ezeche 44 7.9 1 Pet. 2.9.10 Act 2.40 Act 19.9 1 Cor. 1.1 2 Cor. 6.17 Revel 18.4 b Act. 11.21.23 Ier. 50.4,5 c Act. 2.41 2 That every true visible Church of Christ is an independent body of it selfe Revel 1.3 chapt hath power from Christ her head Coll. 1.18.24 to bind loose to receive in cast out by the Keys of the Kingdome Mat. 18.17.18 Psa 149.8.9 1 Cor. 5.4.5.12 2 Cor. 2.7.8 3 That Jesus Christ hath by his Last wil and Testament given vnto and sett in his Church sufficient rodinary Officers with their quallifications Callings and worke for the Administration of his holy things and for the sufficient ordinary Instruction Guidance and service of his Church to the end of the world Rom. 12.6.7.8 Ephe. 4.11.12.13 Heb. 3.2.6 1 Tim. 3.2.8 Chapt. 5.9.10 Act. 6.3 And that all the Officers in the Church are but onely five and noe more namely Pastor Teacher Elder Deacons Widdows Rom. 12.7.8 Ephe. 4.11 Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 3.1 Ch. 5. Tit. 1.5.7 FINIS
in the Body or Assembly of the Saints as the former scriptures largely declare Secondly that they were not forced nor compelled to submitt to theis power but as the loue of God shed abroade in their hearts the Doctrine of the Apostles by the power of the spirit caused them freely and willingly to submit themselves unto it Acts 2.41 for Christ and his Apostles never used any means to bring his saints into his Kâ—ngdome The False Ecclesiasticall State Soe in Like manner the Dragon that Old Serpent Rev. 12. â— gave to his son of perdition the Beast his power throne great authority Rev. 13.2 And this man of sinne hath conveyed to all his Cergie his power by vertue wherof they are all rulers men of authority in all nations where he hath established them as is declared Rev. 9 Chapter 10 First Verse s wher it is said hey haue Crownes upon their heads like gold that is counterfit power and authoritie by vertue of this power pollitique are made one intire body pollitique under one head King soe called vers 11. and are distinct from the Layety living in by the practise of this power with reference to that Head though they bee never soe farre disperced or remote from him this beeing observed the disproportion will appeare in these two particulers First the subject place where this power doth recide it beeing in the body of the Clergy the Layety being excluded though never so high or great in place as Iudges Iustices Lords Knights c they refusing it as a matter not belonging to them but to the Clergy Secondly this power compells all in all nations will they nill they to come under this Government and to obey his power and authority Rev. 13,8.16 where it is said he made all great and small rich and poore free and bond to submit to him else they should not buy nor sell nor live ver 17. and ch 11 7. The true Ecclesiasticall State A Third disproportion shall appâ—aâ—e in this Every Kingdome or pollitique state whether Civill or Ecclesiasticall hath their severall bookes and Charters wherein is contayned the Platforme of there severall governments soe every Church is knowne by its owne articles Cannons and Constitutions so that they that will know what Church Ministery and worship Christ and his Apostles hath planted in the new Testâ—ment after the Câ—remoniall was abolished they must read the Acts of the Apostles with the Epistles Acts 16.4 1. Cor. 14.37 Revel 22 18.19 Yea the whole new Testemenâ— and there they shall finde Jesus Christ our Lord and King his Bookes of Cannons Articles and Ordination to guide and direct the Churches of the saints in his Kingdâ—me vnto the end of the world The False Ecclesiasticall State Also in the False State they that would know what goverment Church Ministery and worship the man of sinne hath established he must viewe his Platforme contayned in his Booke of Cannons Articles and Ordintion â—f the Priests Deacons his Bookes of homilies and Common Prayers for in them is contayned those institutions Lawes and ordinances that he hath established but how contrary to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testement they that are Spirituall in part doe know and how obedience to them is inforced and divine Lawes omitted and laid aside the poore saints doe finde and fâ—…e to there smart The true Ecclesiasticall State A Fourth Disproportion This State makes not Nationall nor Provinciall pollitique Bodies but only particuler Congregations or assemblies of Saints as in Judea one Nation yet divers Churches Gal. 1.22 Soe Galalia one nation yet many Churches ver 3. likewise Asia hath seaven seuerall Churches ver 1.11 and where there was but one the Holi ghost speakes in the singuler number as the Church at Rome another at Corinth another at Collossia another at Thessaloniea and the like Secondly the Congregations of our Lord Christ come freely and willingly as so many living stones 1 Pet. 2.4.5 volluntarily â—…iting themselues together whereby they become A Spirituall house and a Royall Priesthood ver 9. and are hereby capable of performing the publique worship of the New Testament wherein they are to offer as Living sacrifices their Soules and Bodies Rom. 12.1 and by faith to haue Communion with their Mediator Heb. 12.24 as he hath promised to all such assemblies gathered in his name and power Rev. 21.3 Math. 18 19.20 which is the forme and beeing of this their visible and pollitique vnion communion Ephe. 2.20.21.22 Coll. 2.19 Thirdly the visible Churches of Christ are independent Bodies there is Equallity or apparity amongst them that is they are all alike in Iurisdiction authority they are all Golden Candlestickes Rev. 1.20 they are every one of them a Ierusalem compact together within it selfe Psal 122.3 compared with Heb. 12.22 hauing each of them whole Christ for their mediatour that is Priest Prophet and King and thereby enjoy all his power and all his promises and all his Lawes and ordinances with all his liberties and previledges Fourthly and Lastly in the vse of their liberty which they enjoy from and vnder Christ their Head and dwels in the whole body in the vse whereof they are inabled to exclude sinne and sinners and ought that offends God or them 1. Cor. 5.13 2 Thes 3.14 Acts 3 and to establish among them such Officers Ordinances and Admistrations as their Lord King hath given them for their comfort and profit by this power they can examine and try False teachers Rev. 2.2 they can reproue and admonish proud ones and exhort the negligent Coll 4.17 thus their power and liberty from Christ their head becomes a great benefit and a great good to the whole body in these and divers others perticulers of great weight The False Ecclesiasticall State But this False State brings ten Kingdomes into one pollitique body Rev. 17.12.13.15 hath set heads over nations to bring them into pollitique bodies Ecclesiasticall as for example England is one pollitique body Ecclesiasticall as well as Civil vnder one Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Pope of Lambeth and by the sinewes and bonds of his Ecclesiasticall power the whole hand as one body is knitt and bound to that Ecclesiasticall Head by vertue of that Romish authority that hee successively doth exercise and hath received from Austin the Monke who consecrated authorized sent into this Land to establish this power according to Pope Gregorius his will wisdome and power Farther this False State hath left noe liberty nor power to any person good or bad Rev. 13.7.8 but compels and forces all in the name and power of Antichrists successours will they nill they haue they faith or no conscience or no conscience this beast will be served and obeyed of all states degrees and conditions of all people in the world ver 15.16.17 soe that there is noe Ecclesiasticall body of his making whether it be the great Catholique Babylon Reuel 16.19 or Nationall or Provinciall or
Perrochiall bodies but this Beast first made or framed them and still by the force of the same authority doth compell them to assemble and worship in his name and power which power is the tome and being of their visible pollitique vnion and Communion Againe the visible Churches which are in the Kingdome of the Beast are neither independent nor free bodies therefore the great Citty is called by the Holy ghost Sodome Egypt for her filthynes bondage Rev. 11.8 so that there hath not in Europe one parrish beene found free from spirituall Egyptian bondage inflicted upon them by some taske Master of the Clergy as the Person and Church-Wardens who force and drive by spirituall tyranny ouer the consciences of men to their falsely so called spirituall Courts to whom they are in bondage and vpon whom they do essencially depend so are not independent neither haue they any power or liberty to procure truth or abandon Errour in their publicke worship And Lastly these poore Captiuated slavish assemblies haue noe liberty or power of Christ among them but a great power ouer them that keepes them in a spirituall bondage and there assemblies consists of sinners of all sorts for they haue noe power of reproving or excluding sinne or sinners they must take such officers as the Bishops sends them be they never soe bad and they haue noe power to exclude or refuse them and if they proue good they haue no power to keepe them neyther canne they keepe themselves there except they submit to and practise such ordinances Lawes administrations as are the inventions of men and will worship aâ—… so breake the second commandement so that they haue no power to do them selves any spirituall good or to exclude from themselves any spirituall evill or hurt but being injoyned by there spirituall taske-masters to assemble to Church they goe and when they present them to their Courts they runne being commanded to do this or that in there publick worship they doe it though it bee contrary to God and there own consciences In these and divers other particulers this power that is ouer them is to their exceding great hurt damage The true Ecclesiasticall State The Fift Disproportionly s in their Officers or ministers which we are to observe thus First in there number Christ Iesus our Lord and King hath instituted and ordayned onely fiue which are specified Rom. 12.7.8 Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 5. for though our Lord hath ordained in his Church for the Foundation thereof himselfe being the Cheife corner stone Apostles Prophets and Evangelists yet not successivelie continued but these Five onelie are to continue to the End of the world Secondly these Officers and Ministers of Iesus Christ haue not onely there authority from the particuler congregation but do originally and naturally arise out of the same Acts 1.23,26 and 6.3 14.23 Note that in the new Translation the word Election is left out of the 23. verse For before there be any Officers in the Church the e is instituted by the Holy Ghost divine â—ffices functions or odministrations as voyd and empty roomes Psa 122.5 Rev. 4.4 cha 20.4 for the saints which dwell in that Citty of God to supply with fit able persons to performe those severall administrations which God hath ordayned and commanded them and for the authorising of their Officers they haue Christ walking a mongst them as in one of his golden Candlesticks holding them in the right hand of his Kingly authority Rev. 1.16 by these divine deputies he rules them as a King teacheth them as a Prophet and feedes them as a Priest with his most sacred body and bloud The false Ecclesiasticall State But the officers of this false state are the whole body of the Clergy almost innumerable if we should reckon their severall orders â—distinction of degres as Pope Cardinals Patriarchs Primates Meâ—trapolitans Arch-bishops Lord-bishops Deanes Chancellars Vicar-Generals Praebends Arch-deacons Subdeacons Doctors of the Civill Law Doctors of Divinity Proctors Registers Cannons Petty-Cannons Chanters Preists Iesuits Parish-Preists Parsons Vicars Curats Deacons Vestremen Church Wardens Swornemen Sidemen Paâ—ish-Clarkes Sextons Pursâ—uants Summinours Apparitors with amultitude more which would tire a man to reckon them al up their being well nie sixscore in all of this rabble and as Iesus Christ his Apostles never knew them nor approvedly spoke of them but rather gave warning to the Saints that they should take heede of such for such were to come 2 Pet. 2.1 Mat. 24.24 and the Saints haue wofull experience that they are come for they haue been plagued with them this thousand yeares more Yet the time approcheth and is neere when they shall bee consumed with the Breath of his mouth and brightnesse of his comming 2 Thess 2.8 that rides vpon the white Horse Rev. 19.11,12,15 for their Kingdome is momentary and his is Everlasting Likewise these offices rise not out of the particuler assemblies neither haue the assemblies any offices or functions properly in them nor any power or authority to produce or raise officers out of them selves for the Clergy are a perticuler body distinct from the Layety hauing their consecrations Offices and authority from and amongst themselves and soe sent by their Ecclesiasticall Heads and bring their Office and authority with them as matters not belonging to the assemblyes and so by vertue of that Ecclesiasticall power rule ouer them as Lords and teacheth them as that power allowes and commands them vsurpedly administreth spirituall foode vnto them and soe by Imitation beguileth the simple and affronts the Administration of the mediatourship of Christ Iesus The true Ecclesiasticall State A Sixt Disproportion is the difference betweene there Lawes and Administrations as euery Citty and Corporation haue there Lawes amongst themselues by vertue of their Charters from their King Even soe hath every visiâ—le Church from Christ there King by vertue of their Charter which is the New Testament in possession amongst themselves all Lawes ordinances as Christ by his Apostles Mat. 28.20 hath committed to them Charging them vnder acurse to keep from adding or diminishing to or from these divine Lawes Act. 1.2.2 1 Cor. 11.3 2 Thes 2.15 Rev. 22.18.19 Secondly as the difference is great in the number of there Officers the true being few the False being innumerable so of necesity must the difference be in the lawes and administrations agreeable to the number of Officers which particulers I must omitt as a matter to large for this place yet note this by the way that one of the first laws in Christs Church is the ordinance of Prophecie 1 Cor. 14.1 to the end of the chap. that is that it is not only the liberty but the duty of every man in the Church that is able to teach preach to the edifying of the body so to do provided he keep the propoâ—tion of fayth that is the boundes of his owne knowledge Rom. 12.6 The False Ecclesiasticall State But