PROPOSALS FOR The furtherance and propagation of the GOSPELL in this NATION As the same were humbly presented to the Honourable Committee of Parliament by divers Ministers of the Gospell and others As also Some Principles of Christian Religion without the beliefe of which the Scriptures doe plainly and clearly affirme Salvation is not to be obtained Which were also presented in explanation of one of the said Proposals LONDON Printed for R. Ibbitson dwelling in Smithfield neer Hosier Lane 165â— The humble Proposals of the Ministers who presented the Petition to the Parliament Feb. the eleventh and other persons for the furtherance and propagation of the Gospell in this Nation Wherein they having had equall regard to all persons fearing God though of differing judgements doe hope that they will also tend to union and peace I. THat persons of godlinesse and Gifts in the Universities and elsewhere though not ordained may be admitted to preach the Gospel being approved when they are called thereunto II. That no Person shall be admitted to triall and approbation unlesse he bring a testimoniall of his piety and soundnesse in the faith under the hands of six godly Ministers and Christians gathered together for that end and purpose unto whom he is personally knowne of which number two at the least to be Ministers III. That a certaine number of Persons Ministers and others of eminency and knowne ability and godlinesse be appointed to sit in every County to examine judge and approve all such persons as being called to preach the Gospel have received testimonials as above and in case there shall not be found a competent number of such persons in the same County that others of one or more neighbouring Counties be joyned to them IV. That care be taken for removing the residue of Ministers who are ignorant scandalous non-residents or disturbers of the publick peace and likewise of all Schoole-masters who shall be found Popish scandalous or dis-affected to the Government of this Common-wealth V. That to this end a number of Persons Ministers and others of eminent piety zeale faithfulnesse ability and prudence be appointed by authority of Parliament to goe through the Nation to inquire after examine judge of and eject all such persons as shall be found unfit for the Ministry or teaching Schooles being such as are above described VI That for the expediting of this worke these persons may be assigned in severall Companies or Committees to the six circuits of the Nation to reside in each of the Counties for such a convenient space of time as shall be requisite untill the worke be done calling to their assistance in their respective Circuits such godly and able persons Ministers and others in each of the Counties where they shall then reside to assist them in this worke as they shall thinke fit That these persons so sent and Commissionated may bee impowred before they shall depart out of each County to returne and to represent to the Parliament the names of fit and sufficient Persons Ministers and others to be appointed Approvers of such as shall bee called to preach the Gospel in such Counties and that in the meane time the Persons so commissioâ—â—…ed as aforesaid shall have power while they reside in each County to examine judge and approve of such persons as having a Call to preach the Gospel in such County shall upon such testimoniall as aforesaid offer themselves to such examination VII That it be proposed That the Parliament be pleased to take some speedy and effectuall course either by impowring the persons in the severall Counties to be appointed for triall and approbation of such persons as shall be called to preach the Gospell there or in such other way as they shall thinke fit for the uniting and dividing of Parishes in the severall Counties and Cities within this Common-wealth in reference to the preaching the Gospel there saving the civill rights and priviledges of each Parish VIII That the Ministers so sent forth and established be enjoyned and required to attend the solemne Worship of God in Prayer Reading and Preaching the Word Catechising expounding the Scriptures and as occasion shall require visiting the Sicke and instructing from house to house residing amongst the People to whom they are sent and using all care and diligence by all wayes and meanes to win soules unto Christ IX That as it is desired That no persons be required to receive the Sacraments further then their light shall lead them unto so no person sent forth to Preach and already placed or which shall be placed in any Parish within this Nation be compelled to administer the Sacraments to any but such as he shall approve of as fit for the same X. That a Law may be provided That all persons whatâ—â—ever within this Nation be required to attend unto the publick preaching of the Gospell every Lords Day in places commonly allowed and usually called Churches except such persons as through scruple of Conscience doe abstaine from those Assemblies XI That whereas divers persons are not satisfied to come to the publick places of hearing the Word upon this account that those places were dedicated and consecrated that the Parliament will be pleased to declare That such places are made use of and continued only for the better conveniency of persons meeting together for the publick Worship of God and upon no other consideration XII That all persons dissenting to the Doctrine and way of Worship owned by the State or consenting thereunto and yet not having the advantage or opportunity of some of the publicke meeting places commonly called Churches be required to meet if they have any constant meetings in places publickly knowne and to give notice to some Magistrate of such their places of ordinary meetings XIII That this Honourable Committee be desired to propose to the Parliament That such who doe not receive but oppose those Principles of Christian Religion without the acknowledgement whereof the Scriptures doe clearly and plainly affirme that salvation is not to be obtained as those formerly complained of by the Ministers may not be suffered to preach or promulgate any thing in opposition unto such Principles And further That the Parliament be desired to take some speedy and effectuall course for the utter suppressing of that abominable cheat of Astrologie whereby the mindes of multitudes are corrupteâ—â—nd turned aside from dependancy upon the providence of God to put their trust in the lyes of men and delusions of Satan By the thirteenth Article we intend that no persons be suffered to Preach or Print any thing in opposition to those Principles of Christian Religion which the Scripture plainly and clearly affirmes that without the beliefe of them salvation is not to be obtained In the further explication of which Proposall we humbly offer these following Principles of our Religion which we conceive to be generally received and therefore have not brought all the Scriptures or any of them singly to prove the truth of the Principles
ordained that wee should walk in them XIV That to continue in any knowne sinne upon what pretence or principle soever is damnable Rom. 1. 32. Who knowing the judgement of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death not onely to doe the same but have pleasure in them that do them Rom. 6. v. 1 2. What shall we say then shall we continue in sinne that grace may abound God forbid How shall we that are dead to sinne live any longer therein Compared with Verse 15 and 16. What then shall we sinne because we are not under the Law but under grace God forbid Know yee not that to whom yee yeeld your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousnesse 1 John 1. 6. 8. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walke in darknesse we lye and doe not the truth If we say we have no sinne we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Chap. 3. Verse 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe even as he is pure Vers 4. 5 6 7 8. Whosoever committeth sinne transgresseth also the Law for sinne is the transgression of the Law And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sinnes and in him is no sinne Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither knowne him Little children let no man deceive you He that doth righteousnesse is righteous He that committeth sinne is of the Devill for the Devill sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil 2 Pet. 2. 19 20. While they promise them liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are againe intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them then the beginning Rom. 8. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shal dye but if ye mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit ye shal live XV That God is to be worshipped according to his own will and whosoever shall forsake and despise all the duties of his worship cannot bee saved Jerem. 10. 15. Poure out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not and upon the families that call not upon thy name for they have eaten up Jacob and devoured him and consumed him c. Psal. 14. 4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord Jude v. 18 19 20 21. How they told you there should be mockers in the last times shall walke after their owne ungodly lusts these be they who separate themselves sensual not having the Spirit But yee beloved building up your selves in your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Rom. 10. 13. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shal be saved XVI That the dead shall rise and that there is a day of judgement wherein all shall appear some to goe into everlasting life and some into everlasting condemnation 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. Holding faith and a good conscience wch some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme compared with 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. And their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus who concerning the faith have erred saying That the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some Acts 17. 30 31. And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day wherein he wil judge the world in righteousnesse John 5. 28 29. All that are in the grave shal heare his voice and shal come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation compared with 1 Cor. 15. 19. If in this life onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable FINIS Rom. 10. 8. 2. Thess. 2. 12 13. * {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with one consent
themselves but to shew that without the beliefe of them Salvation is not to be obtained FIrst That the holy Scripture is that rule of knowing God and living unto him which who so doth not believe but betakes himselfe to any other way of discovering truth and the minde of God instead thereof cannot be saved 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a Lye that they all might be damned who beleeve not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse ver. 13. But we are bound to give thâ—â—…â—…s alway to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth ver. 14. whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 15. Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which yee have been taught whether by word or our Epistle 1 Cor. 15. 1 2 3. Moreover Brethren I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you which also you have received and wherein yee stand By which also yee are saved if yee keep in memory what I Preached unto you unlesse yee have beleeved in vaine For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures 2 Cor. 1. 13. For we write none other things unto you then what you read or acknowledge and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end compared with Acts 26. 22. c. Having therefore obtained help of God I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great saying none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them you thinke to have eternall life compared with Psalme 147. 19. 20. verses He shewed his word unto Jacob his statutes and Judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgements they have not known them And with John 4. 22. Yee worship yee know â—â—…t what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews 2 Pet. 2. 1. But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction compared with 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. This second Epistle beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance That yee may be mindfull of the words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandement of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour II. That there is a God who is the Creator Governour and Judge of the world which is to be received by faith and every other way of the knowledge of him is insufficient Heb. 11. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God So that things which are seen were not made of things which doe appear Verse 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must beleeve that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Rom. 1. v. 19. Because that which may be known of God is manifested in them for God hath shewed it to them Verse 20. For the Invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are cleerly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternall power and Gâ—â—â—ead so that they are without excuse Verse 21. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankfull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened Verse 22. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools compared with 1 Cor. 1. 21. For after that in the wisdome of God the world by wisdome knew not God it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them that beleeve 2 Thes. 1. 8. To render vengeance on them that knew not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ III. That this God who is the Creator is eternally distinct from all the creatures in his being and blessednesse Rom. 1. v. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men who hold the truth in unrighteousnesse Verse 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lye and worshipped and served the creature more then the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen 1 Cor. 8. v. 5. For though there be that are called Gods whether in heaven or in earth as there be gods many and lords many Verse 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him IV. That this God is one in three persons or subsistences 1 John 5. 5. Who is this that overcometh the world but he that beleeveth that Jesus is the Sonne of God Verse 6. This is he that came by water and blood even Jesus Christ not by water onely but by water and blood and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse because the Spirit is truth Vers 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Verse 8. And there are three that beare witnesse in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one Verse 9. If we receive the witnesse of men the witnesse of God is greater for this is the witnesse of God which he hath testified of his Sonne Compared with John 8. 17. It is also written in your Law that the testimony of two men is true Verse 18. I am one that beare witnesse of my self and the Father that sent me beareth witnesse of me Verse 19. Then said they unto him where is thy Father Jesus answered Ye neither know mee nor my Father if ye had knowne me you should have knowne my Father also Ver. 21. Then said Jesus unto them Yee shall dye in your sins Matth. 28. 19. Goe yee therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Compared with Ephes. 4. 4. There is one body and one spirit even as yee are called in one hope of your calling Ver. 5. One Lord one Faith one Baptisme 〈◊〉 6. One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all 1 John 2. 22. Who is a lyar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Sonne Verse 23. Whosoever denieth the Sonne the same hath not the Father but he that acknowledgeth the Sonne hath the Father