in the best construction to be an humane law â—…estraining and inhibiting the sober and â—…oly vse of those creatures which God hath put in our libertie But â—…s the truth in deed is and as their present practise without all conâ—…radiction declareth yt is as yt is vsed with them a burdenous idolaâ—…rous tradition a papisticall and romish custome being vsed after that â—…uperstitious abhominable manner that I haue abouâ—… declared a speâ—…iall and solemne part of their worship a great and principall action of their Church as the solemne bidding and keeping of that shewâ—…th How can this doctor then say yt concerneth not the conscience â—…o not the publike actions of the Church the worship and seruice of God praier fasting concerne the conscience or may such trumperie â—…raditions be brought into the Church or laid vpon the conscience â—…e learneth nâ—… such doctrine of M r. CALVINE who alloweth no humane diuises no Apocrypha traditions to be brought into the Church of God how holy pregnant or necessarie soeuer they may seeme to be Yet in handling this point he hath vnhappily stumbled at I vvote â—…ot vvhat old prescriptions and auncient erronious customes of keeâ—…ing a solemne memoriall of the birth death and resurrection of CHRIST vpon their peculiar daies yerely as also the feast of Pentecost when the Apostles receiued the holy Ghost c. He also alloweth of Apâ—…crypha Leitourgies viz. â—…set stinted forme of numbred publike praiâ—…rs to be brought into and vsed in the Church and this as yt should â—…eeme because he would not be thought a Nouatian or an Author of â—…ew Religion c. But see how he hath therby both insnared himself opened a gap for other like trumperie to be brought into y e church â—…vhich may easily carrie both as great shew of antiquitie and of godines as these He hath therby also giuen a verie pernitious president â—…nto other ages as apeareth in the miserable estate of our common â—…velth who are a great deale more ready to follow him in his errors â—…ransgressions then to imitate him in his godly vertues laborious and â—…oly life Me thinkes also that M r. CALVINE in the other part of this â—…oint concerning such lawes as pluck away any part of our Christian â—…ibertie or inhibite restraine that which God hath put in our power â—…ath greatly departed from himself therin For hauing very truly set downe that yt is heinous presumption in any mortall man to restraine or make lawes of such things as the Lord hath left in libertie he straightway least he should offend or keepe back ciuil magistrates froÌ„â—…eceauing the Gospel inuenteth a pollitike distinction betwixt y e outward or ciul Court the Court of conscieÌ„ce saying that this outward Court respecteth men only bindeth not the conscience of the doer but the outward actions only the other concerneth matters belonging vnto God therfore bindeth the conscience Thus hath he both lost intangled himself vtterly ouerthrowen all his former doctrine CONSCIENCE HE defineth from the second of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—… to be a certaine feeling or remorse within our selues according to the knowledg of Gods wil which doth continually present vs accuse or acquit vs before the iudgment seat of God Although this definition be somwhat of the scantest as making the conscience of man extend no further then his present knowledg which yet we read in the scriptures stretcheth much further namly to the vvhole liâ—…e of man wherin God as in a book writeth aly thinges done in this mortal life which booke he often openeth not vntil the final iudgmeÌ„t but suffereth men to run on die in their sinne without feeling vntill then he plucking away all vailes lets set al their sinnes that euer they haue committed in thought word or deed in order according to their indignitie before them vvhervpon in horror of conscience the scripture setteth out and describeth their fearfull desperate estate vnto our capacitie shewing that in that day they shall euen desire the rockes to fall vpon them the seas to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. c. If our consciences were only charged but with the sinnes which we coÌ„mit against our knowledg theÌ„ ignorance of Gods lawe excuseth the breach therof then were the ignorant in far most best estate and had the cleerest conscience then needed we not to pray for pardon for our ignorant sinnes c. But because our conscience in this life cannot be touched vvith or accuse vs here of more then we know to be sinne for as the Apostle saith without the law we liued but when the commandement came sinne reuiued but we died therfore to aâ—…oide further controuersie I rest in this his description which me thinkes also maketh vene fully against himself for we see how the knowledg of the law reuiueth sinne maketh yt out of measure sinful But to come to the point M r. CALVINE saith that by the ciuil lawes the conscieÌ„ce is not bound but the outward action only Yf he meane thus that the conscience is not subiect to the ciuil Magistrate but the bodie only he saith true If he meane that the ciuill Magistrate can but looke vpon the outward action in the keeping or breach of his law he saith true For man no not the whole Church can enter into Gods seat to search and iudge the conscience the inward affections of the heart c. Man can but behould and iudge the outward actions according to the law of God for if they could then should no hipocrites creepe into or remaine in the Church The heart and conscience vntill by outward actions yt be reuealed is not only liable vnto but searched by and iudged of God And this we see as well in the lawes of the first Table as in the lawes of the second Whiles I resort and vvalket together vvith the Church and vvorship God to all outward seeming vnreprouablie though I be inwardly neuer so great an hypocrite vntill my sinne apparantly breake out the Church can no more censure me then the ciuill Magistrate can punish me before I haue broken the law So then we see the secret conscience is as far out of the reach censure iudgment of the Church as yt is out of the Magistrates hand vntill some fault or offence be made But if M r. CALVINE meane as his wordes and whole scope intâ—…nd that the conscience is not charged with the law of the outward Court but vvith the outward action only then surely he greatly erred For this doctrine is most dangerous and false as discharging the conscience froÌ„ the whole second Table vnto vvhich yt is as much bound as vnto the first Neither can vve keep or please God in the first that vvalke not vvith a good conscience towardes all men in the second Our praiers are abhominable that are offred with handes ful of blood â—…r vvith our
vniuersal here there gaâ—…hered scattered in the world hath not the deuil also that prince â—…f this dark world his childreÌ„ seruantes which as tares ouergrow grieue the wheate couer the face of the whole fâ—…ld Is not this â—…he condition estate of the world shalbe to the end Now here â—…hough GODES children by the light of his word espie and grieue at â—…hese wicked tares so see this world which is in deed y e Lordes field beloÌ„geth to the good seed not vnto the euil thus pestered and â—…uergrowne with the wicked yet may they not by a rash inordiâ—…ate zeale be caried away either peremptorily to iudge coÌ„demne â—…r vtterlie to extirpate these tares as reprobates both because the â—…ord hath reserued this final iudgment execution vnto himself who knoweth to what he hath predestinate euerie vessel that he â—…ath made whether vnto honour or to dishonour reserueth the â—…easons oportunities wheÌ„ to cal or cut off in his owne handes â—…ath neither coÌ„mitted these things to maÌ„ nor need to be couÌ„celled or aduised in theÌ„ by maÌ„ But Christ in this parable rather teacheth â—…is disciples patience sobrietie to be patient towardes al men as â—…heir heauenly Father is patieÌ„t rather suffring instructing y e euil with meeknes prouing if God at any time will giue theÌ„ repeÌ„tance â—…y they may acknowledg y â— truth come to ameÌ„dment out of the â—…nare of the deuil of whome they are takeÌ„ prisoners to do his wil â—…ather pitiâ—…ng in their soules praying for al meÌ„ theÌ„ iudging fiâ—…ally condemning any or calling for fire vengeance vpon them c. This were a preposterous zeale greatly against Godes glorie who willeth al men to be saued calleth theÌ„ to his SoÌ„nes mariagé â—…east therefore causeth the gospell to be preached proclaimed for vs after we are once entred to shut the dore of Godes grace against others we were not for this cause receaued to mercy but raâ—…her to prouoke others to tast of Gods goodnes also be examples â—…o them that shal in time to come beleeue vnto eternal life Yf Paul Mary Magdalene others nay if we our selues by whome of al others we know most euil had beene plucked vp by the rootes whiles we grewe amongst the rankest of the weedes tares in the field of the world had yt not beene much ruth had not much good wheate beene spilt but he y chose called vs out of this dark world vnto the glorious inheritance of the Saintes in light shal shew the like mercie vnto them also if they abide not in vnbeliefe Our sauiour Christ whiles he was here emongst vs came not into the world as theÌ„ to iudge or coÌ„deÌ„ne the world but that the world through him might be saued Let not vs then take that vpon vs w ch belongeth not vnto vs neither iudge before the time seing God hath not giuen to his church to censure or iudge them without but to attend vpon iudg them which are within God iudgeth them that are wâ—…thout But now how may this place of the sowen field without vnsufferable vvrasting and falsifying be vnderstood of or applied vnto the planted Church of Christ shall these stinking vveedes noisome tares grow there vnweeded out or hath not GOD therfore giueÌ„ vnto his Church and euerie member therof the vveeding hooke of his word the power of our Lord IESVS CHRIST vvherby to censure cut off euerie obstinate offendor to cast downe euerie high thing that is exalted against the knowledg of GOD to haue vengeance ready against all disobedience and euery transgression that ariseth amongst them Is not the vvhole Church euerie member therof often almost euerie where in the scriptures coÌ„manded and stirred vp to keep this vvatch diligently and for the neglect contempt therof reade we not of sundrie Churches sharply reprooued yea vtterly cut off and is yt then likely that our sauiour CHRIST would here vtterly forbid his Apostles Disciples to intermedle vvith the vveeding out of these tares out of the Church his gardeÌ„ doth not this place thus vnderstood of the planted Church vtterly subuert and ouerthrow all ecclesiastical censures and condemne the Apostles of presumption for stirring vp the Churches to excoÌ„municate and cast out their obstinate offenders inordinate walkers heretikes c. from amongst them yea for so sharply reproouing whole Churches and threatning to come against them vvith the iudgmentes of GOD for their defalts herein vvhich vvay can all the learning these men haue reconcile these places but that by this their interpretatioÌ„ there must needes be expresse coÌ„trarietie But as they thus peruert this place so the applicatioÌ„ of yt and their collection from yt is much more pernicious and vnsusferable as shall afterward appeare THE NEXT place that is brought for the receauing and reteining their profane sinfull multitudes in their Church is the Parable of the draw-net vvherin fishes of all sorts are gathered and not seuered vntill the Lordes finall iudgmeÌ„tes This is granted them to be vnderstood of the planted Church where by the power of the word all degrees and sorts of men are gathered and amongst them diuerse false and wicked hypocrites vvhich shall coÌ„tinue remaine in the Church vntill the Lord pluck off their visors pull theÌ„ out whether by death or by his finall iudgment This is no new thing this is not denied this alwaies hath beene alwaies shalbe vnto the end of the vvorld Many shall enter without the vvedding garment vvithout that vvhite stone that inward testimonie and assurance vvhich no man knoweth saue he that receaueth yt and GOD giueth vnto none but vnto his choseÌ„ Many glorious hypocrites shal there be vvhich make a faire shew in the flesh which shal haue prophecied cast oâ—…t deui's done great vvorkes by CHRIST name which in that day shall call and not be heard But what of all this may yt â—…om hence be concluded that the profane multitude without due â—…stimonie and proof of their faith by publike profession c. may â—…e admitted into or any open vvicked vvhich remaineth obstinate â—…d impenitent may be reteined in this Church of CHRIST Surelie â—…is ground vvill beare no such doctrine this place no such conâ—…ruction THERE YET remaineth an other maine place to vphold their conâ—…sed profane assemblies draweÌ„ from the third chapter of Mathew 12 â—…rse vvhere they liken the gathered and established Church of â—…HRIST vnto a barneflore in vvhich the vvheate is so gathered toâ—…eather that yt lieth hidden vnder the chaffe vntill being clensed â—…ith fanne siue yt be aâ—… length layd vp in the grainer c. yea M r. â—…ALVINE in an other peculiar treatise against the Anabaptists vsing â—…is place of Mathew saith THAT the faithful shalbe in the planted â—…hurch of CHRIST
sauing their soules bodies from such wicked accursed assemblies from such disobedient rebellious people and from al the trumperies and deceites of the false Church c. But let vs a litle examine what kind of doctrine these men draw from Mr. CALVINE spread abrode in their pulpites publike writinges They hould that whatsoeuer Congregatiō keepeth an outward shew of the ministerie of the word sacramentes ceaseth not to be a Church neither is to be left for any sinne in maners as they call yt whatsoeuer though they willingly presumptuously neglect break the lawes of God both in their worship and conuersation and remaine incorrigible obstinate in these transgressiōs Now they teach that neither for such sinnes God is so displeased with the congregatiō that he herevpon withdraweth his fauor from them or they ◅cease to be held reuerenced of vs as a Church neither the publike actions of the said congregation as their praiers preaching sacramentes c. neither the cōmunicantes with this assemblie in these actions are with for these sinnes defiled For say they a godly conscience is not defiled with the sinnes of an other What fleshly libertine hath or can breath forth more poisoned doctrines then these more contrarie to the honour whole word of God from which yt at once taketh away al reuerence obedience practise What can be more popishly alledged for their Church then to say that yt can blesse these actions and persons whome God in his word accurseth or that the Church may cōmit such high sacriledge presumptuous sinne without the iudgment punishment due to the same Yf God haue made one the same couenant from the beginning of the world with the whole Church that he hath with euerie particular priuate mēber therof hath giuē no more libertie to the whole Church then to any priuate man to breake the least of his lawes if God for the transgression of his lawe vnpartially iudgeth al without respect of persons if presumptuous sinne with obstinacie ioined thervnto breaketh the couenant with God insomuch as yt both breake◅h Godes law and despiseth Godes mercie grace so depriueth them in that estate of any benefite of CHRISTES death If they which in this maner breake Godes law despise his grace to be iudged of al men as open wicked c. If al the actiones of the wicked be accursed of God so much the more accursed and abhominable by how much they take shew of holines profane Godes name ordinances Yf all they which partake in such actions praiers sacrifices which are an abhomination vnto the Lord be guilty of the altar and vnder the same curse how should those assemblies which continue in presumptuous obstinate sinne be esteemed the true Churches of CHRIST or any that administer vnto or cōmunicate with them in this estate in praiers sacramentes c. auoid the iudgment curse of God both for ioining vnto blessing the wicked for so high profanation of his name prostituting the holy mysteries of the ◅odie blood of Christ to such open vnworthy receiuers Rightly then and directly to reason to the point As many places of scripture as command Godes faithful seruantes with al their forces vttermostindeuor to obserue practise and obey vnto Godes holy word euerie part therof without any willing neglect or breach of the least cōmandement to their knowledg As many places as shew that obstinate presumptuous transgression breaketh the couenant As many places as command vs to seek out and resort vnto the true Church of CHRIST namely the cōmunion fellowship of the saintes Godes faithful obedient seruantes there to present our soules and bodies to be built bestowed according to Gods wil there together with thē to vvorship and serue our God c As many places as forbid vs all false Churches assemblies al spiritual fellowship cōmunion with the wicked or to repaire vnto or ioine with thē in their praiers worship c. So many places forbid vs al spirituall fellowship cōmunion vvith al assemblies in this estate vvhat faire shewes soeuer they make vnto vs or glorious titles they take vnto themselues so many places euidently prooue that if in this estate vve should communicate vvith them vve should be guilty of their sinns partakers of their plagues Which doctrines because they are generally receaued of all denied of none though omitted and forgotten by many and generally taught through the whole scriptures I need not here stand to make any more particular proofe or demonstration of them And so these being granted all these doctrines of M r. CALVINE and his Disciples fall to the ground Yet that the falshood of them may somwhat more appeare vnto all men let vs draw a litle neerer vnto them consider of their maine proofes and fundamental doctrines The publike actiones say they and ministerye of the Church as praiers sacramentes c. neither the godly conscience of anye are defiled vvith the open sinnes of others either of ministers or people c. For vvhy such publike actions are the ordinance of God and cannot be defiled or made vnavaileable with the sinnes of men neither are to be left for such sinnes Therfore the holy Prophets and our Sauiour CHRIST himself refrained not the Temple at such times as the estate therof was vholy corrupted but communicated with the wicked in their feastes and sacrifices although the pollution and contagion was generall and incurable both in the people and priestes For the rest euerie man is to eyamine himself and not othe◅s when he resorteth to the Church or receiueth the communion of the bodie and blood of CHRIST because he eateth to his owne damnation or saluation not to an other mans c. First if the open sinne of the minister or people defile not the praiers sacramentes by to them administred why hath the Lord said that ◅he sacrifice of the wicked is abhomination vnto him that they might as well kil a man as a bullock vnto him that they might as wel offer a dog or swines blood as sacrifice or burnt offering why hath the Lord said that sacrifice without obedience is not acceptable vnto him that he will haue mercie not sacrifice c. Why hath the Lord beene alwaies so ielous ouer his sanctuarie and ouer them that come neere vnto him vvhy hath he made so many lawes for the place Altar sacrifice priestes people c. that no priest with any apparant blemish might offer the bread of the Lord that no offring with any blemish might be accepted at the handes of any that none vvith any pollution or vncleannes vpon him might touch the tabernacle that no heathen or profane person vvhich was not yet come vnto the faith might tread in the courtes of the Lord or any offring be accepted at their handes vvhy hath the Lord
if any they had before and how by taking this licence with this limitation they haue emancipate the whole word of God as much as in them lieth vnto these Bishops or rather the Popes Cannons And yet to make their sinne the more odious inexcusable these slaues to sinne are not only sworne vnto such decrees as are already made although nothing can almost be added to the wickednes and blasphemie of them but euen haue bound themselues by othe to such decrees as they hereafter shal make being by publike authoritie of the land enioined c. also how they hereby become the vowed seruantes bondmen the marked ministers waged soldiours of Antichrist I haue also shewed their ministerie to be Antichristian adulterate and vagrant wit◅out place people chardge office gouernment and how they must come by yt b◅ as vnlawful meanes euē by symonical cōpactes opē bribery extortiō as the ex cessiue price of their boxe writinges vnto the Bishop his clerke ◅heir first fruites not to speake of other secret bargaines how they come by the patrones good wil c. declare Moreouer I haue shewed how their office of Parson or Vickar is ◅s popish strange antichristian how their entrance induction is ◅s popish iewish as the rest how the function of their behauiour in this office is yet worst of all most corrupt blasphemous ab◅ominable which now but by as slight a running ouer their admini ◅tration wil euen with detestation appeare vnto al mē Whose infinite odious sinnes heerin to set downe in particuler according to ◅heir hainousnes no tongue or pen of any martal man is able for that were to momber the haires of the beast or to diuide the droppes of a ◅unning riuer If I therfore set downe some such principal especial heades fro◅ whence these mischeues their particular transgressi ◅ns flowe as I remember them who know of many but a few leauing the further search of the r◅st cōsideration of these to the further labour iudgment of the godly by the scriptures as also the more particular remorse repentance of them to their con◅ciences which haue cōmitted shal accōpt before the Lord for the same I hope I say by that time the delusionis of these Babilonish diuines Egiptian Inchanters wil apeare vnto al mē saue vnto thē that perish their madnes be made so manifest as both they their Proselites shalbe left naked without one excuse or figleafe to couer their shame Now then as the education training learning degrees ministerie maner cōditions of r◅ceauing that office maner of cōming by entrance into the same haue beene partly described so was the endes function of their ministerie and office a litle touched in a word or two Namly how they al are by othe and office bound to reade and obserue the iniunctiōs c. to reade their seruice book at their apoin ted times places and maner according to the same to administer their Sacramentes church women visit the sick burie the dead c. and only for this ministerie they receaue the offringes tithes mortuaries wages of the people Also yt hath beene shewed that preaching is no part of their office or ministerie but only in certaine special cases where y t benefice is at a certaine rate in the QVEENES book required and that not necessarily laid vpon the person of such a parson but ōly quarterly inioined at 4. solemne feastes of the yeare as at their Christmas Easter c. and may be performed or supplied by their substitute Heere also must ◅e obserued that a person or Vickar is not by law nor office inioined to be resident giue attēdance in person vnto his charge flock but may be absent at his wil where he will so he find the parish a iornay man to reade their seruice administer their Sacramentes c. yea and as he cōmeth vnto them without the people◅ priuitie wil or consent so may he stand◅ parson or ◅s these learned preachers would haue him ter◅ed a Pastor vnto thē though he neuer see his f◅ock nor his flock him So may he also by law as the best of them vsually do vpon their owne liking or disliking but especially vpon the offer of a better liuing depart from them chang◅ or sell his office without the peoples knowledge or priuitie For as their ministery is not tied to any office so is not their office tied to any charge Are not these miserable Pastors trow we or are not the people more miserable that haue such sh◅pheardes and guides se◅ ouer them whome they must wil they nil they nourish with their goodes c. to the gathering vp wherof these priestes wil looke wel enough without regard or respect of persons whether they be rich or poore old or young widowe or fatherles that is al one to them they wil not spare their due They take vp al with the angle th◅y catch yt in their net and gather yt in their yarne It skilleth not to them whose yt be whether the goodes of the infidel or of the beleeuer It skilleth not them whome they spoile whether the poore the widow or the fatherles if they fall within the boundes and precinctes of their parish they regard not by what right or after what maner they haue yt whither by Iewish tithes and offringes or popish chrismatories and mortuaries They regard not so the Princes and their lord Bishops lawes allowe them though Gods lawes expressly forbid That day of accompt they put far ◅ff and think to do wel inough then yea they in the meane while blesse themselues in the name of the Lord though they cōmit all this wickednes Of al that groweth or increaseth within the compasse of their parish whithe◅ corne wood grasse or ca◅tel the priest wil haue his part yea for whō soeuer is borne or dieth in his parish he wil haue a fee and for thi◅ geare he standeth a priest to the whole parish and al the inhabitantes therof indifferently If the d◅iul of hel would ◅ome and dwel in his parish he were a priest for him and would for his goodes administer the Sacramentes c. vnto him also But heere before I begin to deal◅ with their maner of administratiō yt were not amisse in few wordes to shew the dānable filthines of their maintenāce for their ministeri◅ Christ hauing abrogate the Leuiticall priesthood and law instituted for the gospel an other ministerie for the ministerie an other maintenāce He ordeined in his Testament that the minister of the gospel should liue of the gospel the shepheard of the flock he ◅eedeth the husbādmā of the vineyard he d◅esseth keepeth Now this flock ◅ōsisted not of gotes swine doggs wolues c. neither is this shepheard limited or sheepe constrained to a tenth or any stinted part or portiō but according to the present wāt of
this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of Artaxerxes who no doubt vsed such words in this coÌ„mission as agreed to the lawes iudgmentes of Persiâ—… rather then of knowledg in Gods law be made either ecclesiastical censures or any way be executed in any Christian pollitike regiment otherwise theÌ„ they are found to accord with the lawes iudgments of God prescribed in his word But this new diuised high ecclesiastical Commission doth not only ceÌ„sure punish al faultes of their churches by these iudgmeÌ„ts penalties but doth inflict theÌ„ in what measure manner they lust vpon al persons for al cawses whatsoeuer whether cawses of religion as opeÌ„ idolatrie popish masse c. or contempt of their iniunctions decrees in not resorting to their worship sacraments or administring them after any other maÌ„ner theÌ„ they haue prescribed c. whither for ciuil offences be they neuer so hainous abhominable as most odious incests adulteries polygamies c. Al these by this commission are punished by the purse by the prison for the law of God for idolatours adulterers were al to sharpe therfore this holy councel guided belike by some better wiser spirit haue found out this more mitigate course repressing these sinnes But if any vpon faith and conscience towards God refraine their idolatrous deuises there can for such be found out no kind of hostility confiscation perpetual close imprisonment sufficient for their faultes Thus no way can this high CoÌ„mission of the church of England be iustified by these examples of 〈◊〉 Artaxerâ—…es neither hath yt any more defence in the new Testament where is no mention of any such councel or Court set ouer all churches ouer euery méber minister cause affaire ceÌ„sure therof to impose depose determine iudge censure punish at their pleasure whome what they lust without coÌ„tradiction or controlement We reade in the practise of the Apostles of a synode or councell of â—…undry churches for the deciding of controuersies doubtes where certaine chosen Elders of the churches are thervnto assembled together with such faithfull of any church as will be present without shutting out of any of them neither are these Elders here gathered in any such stagelike or pontisicall maner as these our Prelates are in this CoÌ„mission but in this christiaÌ„ councel or assembly ech one hath free liberty and place to relate or debate his owne cause without interruption or preiudice neither is any thing heere decreâ—…d by the wil of any man but only by the wil of God that vpon euident demonstratioÌ„ of the word otherwise no credite or obedience giuen to any thing they set downe or determine During y e time of which couÌ„cel at any time after w tout any preiudice any christiaÌ„ hath freedome and liberty in due time place not disturbing the peaceable order of ChristiaÌ„ assemblies to speake according to the word of God either in approbatioÌ„ or reproofe of any thing to be done or done in y t councel Which councel or synode as yt hath not power to erect or bring in any new decrees or ordinaÌ„ces into the church besides those which are prescribed in y e booke of God which are alsufficieÌ„t for al times occasions vnto the worlds end so hath not this councel any power or authority ouer any church or any member of the church to censure excoÌ„municate erect or depose any This councel or assembly is only ordained for the helpe quiet of churches to discusse questioÌ„s to decide doubtes as they fall out arise that so all churches in all places might walke by one rule in the vnitie of the spirit This couÌ„cel is not permanent or alwaies setled in one place but to be vsed by any Churches at any time or place vpoÌ„ due occasions Neither is this councel so subsisting of the presbitery ortied to the persons of any that the least meÌ„ber of Christ is therby shut out not suffred to heare or to speake or any way preiudiced neither is any Church by this councell either depriued of their high power authority which Christ hath giueÌ„ to euery seuerall congregatioÌ„ alike or forestalled froÌ„ the due execution therof towards any member of their congregation or cause that ariseth amongst theÌ„ But as is said this councel is only a brothâ—…rly peaceable meeting of sundry churches for the better more asâ—…ured deciding discussing of doubtes and questions that arise leauing the whole practise due execution of al things to euery particular congregation in that order maner that Christ hath prescribed in his Testament These occasions rules and proceedings of Synodes councels or meetings of diuers Churcheâ—… we find left vnto vs in that holy patterne Act. 15. where though the chiefe builders y â— Apostles themselues were yet euen there were al things handled with this order modesty sobriety freedome c. But now if we compare their high ecclesiastical Commission vnto this holy councell and meeting how vnlike in al their orders proceedings and actions shall yt be found Their Commission being made a continuall setled permanent Court hauing strange Iudges aduocates officers iuriâ—…diction pleas processe c. vsurping and exercising supreme power absolute authority ouer al churcheâ—… ministers persons lawes doctrines to ratifie or disanull to establish or reiect to erect or depose whome what they lust executing al the censures offices of the Church changing bringing in and setting vp what they please shutting out the sentence of all Churches Christians allowing them neither interest electioÌ„ voice or presence in this their councell thrusting their decrees and constitutions as most holy vpon all Churches the consciences of all men with an high strong hand to be receiued without contradiction or question adiuring examâ—…ning suspending deposing fining emprisoning persecuting with all hostility all such as receaue not their constitutions submit not vnto their power Now let any christian iudge whether this Commission be not more like vnto the high court of the Beast then vnto an holy peaceable orderly assembly of christiaÌ„s met in the feare of God and guided by his Spirit to enquire search out Gods wil and humbly to rest in the same The ciuill magistrats power or presence can no way iâ—…stifie this CoÌ„mission or their proceedings being found so directly contrary to the TestameÌ„t of CHRIST vnto which yt is now lawfull for no man or Angel to superordeine alter or pluck away any thing without hainouâ—… sacrilege This monstrous coÌ„mixture then of these distinct powers in one court or person together with this confuse practise barbarous hauock tyranny they make exercise ouer Gods heritage Christâ—… poore seruants doe euidently denote and as by the very steppes trase out vnto all men the person throne and power of that Antichrist that aduersary that beast accordingly as they are described foreshewed vnto vs in the scriptures Math. 24. 15. 2 Thess. 2. how Antichrist should presume into the very