it being a Prophecy expresly relating to the Jews and their miraculous Conversion if there be no such thing as a National Church of the Institution of Christ as most certain it is there is not the Assertion whereof is wholly destructive of Gospel-Administrations Then 2. Whether National Ministers are the Ministers of Christ or whether there can be a true Ministry in a false Church as a National-Church must be if not of Divine Institution upon what pretence soever it be so denominated 3. Whether God doth not bear as much love to and exercise as much faithfulness over his New-Testament-Churches as over the National-Church of the Jews If so Then 4. Whether he hath not as of old he did with reference unto the then Church determined the whole of the Worship appertaining unto them to whose Institutions without any humane additions it s the duty of souls soley to conform Yea 5. Whether he hath not now as then designed the several Officers and Offices his Wisdom thought sufficient for the management of the affairs of his House so that the invention of new ones by the sons of men is not only needless but a daring advance against the Soveraignty Care and Wisdom of God over his Churches 6. Whether the Priviledges of Saints be not every way as great and extensive under the Gospel as those under the Law if so then Whether the solemn deputation of men signally pointed out by the Lord for the administration of holy things in his House by the Body of his Church be not now as then their peculiar Priviledge 7. VVhether any Church in the World we speak of a visible instituted Church hath greater security against Apostacy from God and that sore Judgment of having its Candlestick removed and being unchurched than that People of the Jews had if not then whether supposing a National Church to be of the Institution of Christ it may not so come to pass that it may be so over-spread with corruptions that it may lose the Essence of a Church and justly be disrobed of that appellation 8. VVhether the Ecclesiastick and Spiritual Rulers Governours and Officers of such a Collapsed Church may not righteously as of old be accounted and esteemed as false Prophets that go about to cause the people to forget the Name of the Lord or his pure Worship by their Lies or unscriptural Traditions Innovasions and Ceremonious Pageantries 9. VVhether Separation from such a Collasped Church in respect of its Worship Ministers and Ministry be not only justifiable but as of old the duty of the Lord 's faithful Remnant that desire to worship him according to his Appointments Yea 10. VVhether supposing a Church so called thus dreadfully as aforesaid departed from the pure Institutions of Christ never to be according to Truth a visible instituted Church of Christ and the Lord 's poor People living in the Nation never by their free consent Members thereof as it is on the pretended Churches part most unheard-of-Cruelty to compel them so it be not on the part of the free-born Children of God most stupendous folly and disvaluation of the Institutions of Christ and ingratitude to God for the Light and Liberty from the Yokes of men received imaginable to joyn affinity with it in Worship or attend upon the self-invented Ministry that appertains thereunto Many more Questions of the like nature and importance might unto these be added CHAP. I. The great care of Souls in their Accesses to God should be to sanctifie his Name Divine Institution to be heeded in the whole of our Worship The Question proposed That 't is lawful to hear the present Ministers of England denied one Argument proposed to consideration Nothing may be practised in instituted Worship but what is warranted by the Scripture The Testimonies of the Ancients produced That Hearing is part of instituted Worship proved THis is that which the Lord hath said I will be sanctified in all that draw nigh me and before all the People will I be glorified The great care of Saints in matter of Worship is to sanctifie the Name of the Lord therein This is the great thing that God looks at the omission whereof he often severely punishes the children of men for now in order hereunto it 's necessary that in all our approaches to God we see to the Institution of the Lord both in respect of the matter and manner of Worship that it be according to Divine Prescript else we cannot sanctifie the Name of God therein nor glorifie him before the people Hearing as was said and shall beyond contradiction in its proper place be evinced is part of instituted Worship it therefore more nearly concerns Saints than many are aware of to have their consciences resolved from the Scriptures of God in the matter under enquiry Whether it be lawful for the Saints to hear the present Ministers of England 'T is the Negative we have received under our maintenance because we are satisfied Christ hath so To the proof whereof we now address our selves Argument 1. That which there is no warrant for in the Scripture being part of instituted Worship is not lawful for the Saints to practise But there is no warrant in the Scripture for hearing the present Ministers or England and hearing is part of instituted Worship Therefore The major or first Proposition is evident 1. From the nature of instituted Worship which consists in this that it be of Divine Revelation else whatever it is it is not instituted Worship 2. From the Verdict of Christ who pronounces all the Worship of man to be vain and fruitless and so unlawful that is bottom'd on any thing but Divine Revelation Mark 7. 7. 3. If it be lawful to conform to any one part of instituted Worship without warrant from Scripture 't is also lawful to conform to another a third the whole which would banish instituted Worship out of the world 4. To assert that it is lawful to conform to any part of instituted Worship without warrant from Scripture reflects sadly upon the Wisdom and Faithfulness of Christ for either he was not wise enough to foresee that such a part of Worship was or would be requisite or had not faithfulness enough to reveal it though the Scripture compares him to Moses for faithfulness who revealed the whole Will of God to the making of a pin in the Tabernacle 6. It pours out contempt upon the Care of God over the New-Testament Churches as if it were less to these then to the Church under the Law and the Oeconomie of the Gospel as not so compleat as that of old the whole of whose VVorship Orders and Ordinances as was said was bottom'd upon pure Revelation 7. It carries with it a sad reflection upon the Authority of the Scripture as not thorowly furnished to make the man of God perfect 8. The Lord condemns not only that which is done against the warrant and direction of the VVord but also that which is done beside it
and 19. 37. and 20. 22. and 25. 18. and 26. 15 43. Deut. 4. 1 5 8. and 5. 1. and 7. 11. and 11. 1 32. and 12. 1. and 26. 16. and 30. 16. 1 Chron. 16. 12. and 28. 7. Psal 89. 30. Ezek. 5. 6. and 36. 27. Dan. 9. 5. 2ly That persons were appointed by the Lord to be chosen by the Congregation for the publick administration of Ordinances and Worship cannot be denied Thus were the Livites Exod. 13. 2 12 13. and 22. 29. Numb 3. 12. called therefore the Wave-Offering of the Children of Israel Numb 8. 9 10 11. because given up by them to the Lord as their Offering by solemn Ordination and Imposition of hands 3ly That persons thus invested into the Office of Priesthood were not left to the liberty of their own wills nor had they any dependance upon the Will or Authority of the sons of men one or other of them either in respect of the matter or manner of their Worship the whole whereof was purely of Sovereign Institution and Divine Appointment Exod. 25. 9 40. Numb 8. 5. Heb. 8. 5. 1 Chron. 28. 11. Exod. 8. 27. Lev. 10. 1. Exod. 39. 1 5 7 21 26 31 43. and 40. 23 25 27 29. Levit. 8. 9 13 17 21 29. Numb 8. 3 Exod. 35. 10 29. 36. 1 5. Isa 29. 13. Fourthly That this Church gathered by the Lord and wonderfully separated from the rest of the world though they had him nearer to them than any people had his Law made known amongst them did notwithstanding quickly depart from his pure Institutions mingling therewith the Inventions of men and Customs of the Nations after which they went a whoring is frequently remarked in the Scripture Of this the Lord sorely complains Deut. 32. 18. Jer. 2. 32. and 13. 25. and 18. 15. and 23. 27. Hos 4. 6. and 8. 14. and 13. 6. 2 Chron. 13. 10. Isa 1. 4. Jer. 1. 16. and 2. 17 19. and 9. 13. and 15. 6. Deut. 29 25. 1 Kings 11. 33. and 18. 18. and 19. 10. 2 Kings 22. 17. Ezra 9. 10. for this he severely threatens and punisheth them Deut. 29. 25. Judg. 10. 10. 1 Sam. 12. 10. 2 Chron. 12. 5. and 24. 20. and 34. 25. Jer. 16. 11. and 19. 4. the very truth is the Contests of God with that People from first to last are to be bottomed upon this foot of account Fifthly That notwithstanding their dreadful Apostacy from God they were usually confident That they were the only People Had not forsaken the Lord nor done any evil and could not bear the Prophecies and Rebukes of the Prophets and Servants of the Lord against their abominations Whom they persecuted and put to death as at last they did the Prince of Life and Glory for no other cause but for telling them the truth and bearing testimony against their Innovations and Apostacy from God the usual practice of persons degenerated from the Way and Spirit of the Lord Mal. 1. 6. Jer. 7. 4. Luke 3. 8. John 8. 39. Matth. 5. 12. Act. 7. 52. Sixthly That they had all along their corruption in Worship and degeneracy from the pure Wayes of God false Prophets who ran before they were sent prophesying smooth things to them in the Name of the Lord seeing lying vanities for them according to the desires of the hearts of them and their Rulers who were therefore in great esteem amongst them Isa 9. 15. 28. 7. Jer. 6. 13. 23. 11 28. 28. 10. Hos 9. 8. Jer. 2. 8 26. 5. 31. 14. 14. 23. 13 21. Ezek. 13. 2. 22. 25 28. Mic. 3. 5 6 7. Zeph. 3. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Seventhly That in the height of their Apostacy God left not himself without a Witness having one or other extraordinarily raised up and spirited by him to testifie for his Name and Glory against all their Abominations and self-invented Worship reserving also a Remnant unto himself that were not carried away with the spirit of Whoredoms and Delusions 1. Kings 19. 14 18. 2 Kings 17. 13. Rom. 11. 3 4. Jer. 18. 11. and 25. 5. 35. 15. Eighthly That it was the sin of that People to hearken unto the teachings of such as were not sent by the Lord though they pretended never so much to be sent by him and the unquestionable duty of the Lord 's persevering Remnant to separate from them as also from all the false self-devised Worship of that day though commanded by their Kings and Rulers 2 Kings 17. 21 22. Hos 5. 11. The former is evident such Prophets were to be cut off from the midst of them Deut. 18. 20. and they are expresly forbidden to hear them Deut. 13. 3. Jer. 27. 9 16. So is the latter their devised Worship being a breach upon the Sovereign Authority of God must needs be a greivous sin as the names of Adultery Whoredom Idolatry Fornication by which the Spirit of the Lord doth frequently set it forth abundantly demonstrates Psal 73. 27. Isa 57. 3 8. Jer. 9. 2. Ezek. 23. 45. Hos 3. 7. and 7. 3. Lev. 20. 5. Jer. 13. 27. Ezek. 16. 17 20 30. Hos 1. 2. Rev. 14. 8. 18. 9 19 20. which without controversie the People of God were to separate from and have no communion with any in upon what pretence soever Which is solemnly charged upon them as their duty in the Scripture Hos 4. 15. Amos 5. 5. Prov. 4. 14. and 5. 8. Cant. 4. 8. What may rationally be inferred from these Positions so evidently comprized in the Scripture and by way of analogie at least be argued from them is evident to any ordinary understanding for our parts being resolved as was said to try out the matter in controvesie from such Rules and Soveraign Institutions as our dear Lord hath left his New-Testament Churches to walk by we shall not stand to make that improvement of them as else otherwise we might A few Queries upon the whole that hath been offered shall put a close to this Preface 1. Whether since the Apotomie or Unchurching the Nation of the Jews the Lord hath ever since so espoused a Nation or People to himself as that upon the account thereof the whole body of that People or Nation may be accounted his Church whether there be any National Church under the Oeconomie of the Gospel if so let it be shewed when and where it was instituted by the Lord what is produced by some to this purpose is but upon a slight view thereof of no moment it is Isa 49. 21. Kings shall be your Nursing-fathers c. which Prophecy waits the time of its accomplishment hitherto both before and since the rise of Antichrist being made drunk by the Whores intoxicating-cup they have been for the most part cruel Butcherers of the Saints and were we under its accomplishment a National Church would be far enough from being its result Of a Nations being born at once we shall not sure hear pleaded in this matter
are not soley of the Institution of the Lord Jesus but that National are also to be accounted as the true Churches of Christ though they have no footing in the Scripture of the New-Testament from whence the Pattern of Gospel-Churches is soley to be deduced Yea 4thly That the Officers of Christ's Appointment are not sufficient for the Saints but together with them the help of false and Idol-shepherds is to be sought after than which what greater contempt can be poured upon the forementioned Institutions of our dear Lord Yet who sees not all this to be the language which is heard and goes forth into the Nations from the practice of our Brethren in the matter we are debating If they look upon Separation in the sense before-minded to be of the Institution of Christ can they offer a greater affront thereunto than to run into the Assemblies of the Nation If they judge it their duty to meet together distinct from the World and its VVorshippers why run they thereunto If they apprehend National Churches to be the result of humane prudence without bottom in the Scripture and the Ministers of Christ to be onely in contradistinction to the Ministers that are not of his Appointment attended unto why give they the right-hand of fellowship unto such Assemblies as profess themselves to be parts of such a National Church and hear Ministers that have relation thereunto who have received as hath been proved no Mission from Christ to their Ministry If this be not evidently to pour contempt upon the Institutions of Christ and confessedly so we shall for ever dispair of success in the most facile and righteous undertaking As for the second Particular that hereby poor souls are hardened in a false way of Worship what can be thought less supposing the Worship in the Parish-Assemblies of England to be so as hath been proved when they shall see Professors that were wont to pray and preach together to profess and protest against Common-Prayer-Book-Priests and Worship to cry up or at least approve of Laws made for their ejection if guilty of no other crime than conforming to the Worship they now conform to and practise now flock unto their Assemblies and hear their Priests what can they imagine less than that these persons thus acting in a direct contrariety to their former judgement and practice do now see they were mistaken and are beginning at least to return unto those paths fom whence they departed and that these wayes in which they and their forefathers have walked are the Good Old Way in which rest is to be found Wo unto the world because of Offences wo also unto them by whom they come Nor is the third Particular viz. That hereby poor souls are hardened in their Rebellion and Blasphemy against God the Spirit his Tabernacle and them that dwell therein to be in the least questioned We every day hear to the breaking of our hearts stout words spoken against the Lord because of the practice of some in this thing What say the wicked of the world less than that Religion which many pretend to is but a Fancy that the Professors thereof are but a Generation of Hypocrites that will turn to any thing to save themselves that the spirit by which they are acted is but a spirit of Phanaticism and Delusion yea how do they bless themselves that they are not nor ever were and resolve so much the more they will never be of the number of such Professors Ask them a Reason of all this and they wonder you should ask them and speedily reply to you Do you not see how many of you for fear of Persecution have disserted your former Principles and are returned to our Assemblies and the Ministry thereof and that any of you stand out 't is from hence evident that it is from a spirit of Pride and Obstinacy and not as you pretend from Divine Tenderness and the Leadings of the Spirit of the Lord. And what can we say to all these things must we not with grief and sorrow confess that there is indeed too great an occasion administred to them for their thus speaking though this will be no plea for them in the day of Christ Blessed are they that are not offended in him It remaineth then that inasmuch as the hearing the present Ministers of England pours out contempt upon the Wayes and Institutions of Christ hardens persons in a false way of Worship Rebellion and Blasphemy against the Lord it 's utterly unlawful for Saints to be found in the practice thereof To all that hitherto hath been said we shall yet briefly add Argument 10. God calls his People out of and strictly charges them not to go to the places of False-Worship Therefore 't is unlawful for the Saints to attend upon the present Ministers of England The Antecedent is clearly proved Hos 4. 15. Amos 4. 4. The Reason of the Consequence is Because we cannot go to hear the present Ministers of England without we go to their places and assemblies of False-worship as the Common-Prayer-Book-Worship hath been proved to be Argument 11. That upon the doing whereof Saints have no promise of a Blessing not any ground to expect it is not lawful for them to do But in the hearing of these men the Saints have no promise of a Blessing nor ground to expect it Therefore The Major or first Proposition will not be denied As for the Minor or second Proposition That the Saints have no promise of a Blessing from God nor ground to expect it in the hearing of the present Ministers of England may many wayes be demonstrated If there be any promise of a Blessing upon them from God in their so doing let it be produced and we shall willingly confess there is no weight in this Argument But this we conceive to be no easie task for any to discharge and that for these Reasons 1. The Blessing of the Lord is upon Sion Psal 87. 2. and 78. 68. there he dwells Psal 9. 11. and 74. 2. Jer. 8. 19. Isa 8. 18. Joel 3. 17 21. the presence of Christ is in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks Rev. 1. 12 13. and 2. 1. 't is his Garden in which he feedeth and dwells Cant. 6. 2. and 8. 13. and we are not surer of any thing nor will it be denied by our Conforming Brethren many of them than we are of this That the Assemblies of England in their present constitution are so far from being the Sion of God his Candlesticks his Garden that they are a very Wilderness and that Babel out of which the Lord commands his People to hasten their escape Rev. 18. 4. 2. God never promiseth a Blessing to a People waiting upon him in that way which is polluted and not of his appointment as we have proved the Worship of England to be 3. The Lord hath expresly said concerning such as run before they are sent That they shall not profit the People Jer. 23. 32. 4.
Brethren did formerly decry and at least seemingly abominate they judge they have just ground of Offence given to them Nor can it be denied but it is indeed so If it be yet further said Object 2. But if I do not go to hear the Preachers of this day many truly godly and sober Christians will be offended at my forbearance so that whether I hear or whether I forbear I shall offend To this I answer 1. That granting the case to be as is suggested though perhaps somewhat else upon a serious and strict search may be found to lye at the bottom of our Conformity beyond what is here pleaded I am very apt to believe were but a toleration granted 't is not the fear of offending any would cause our Conforming-Brethren to attend upon the Ministry of the present Priests of England Yet supposing it to be as is intimated we ask 1. Do you look upon your going to hear as your duty or meerly as your liberty if the first let it be proved from any positive precept of Christ and we are satisfied If the second you are bound by many solemn injunctions which are at least reduceable to the Moral Law not to use your liberty to Scandalize your Brethren Secondly Let both parties be weighed in an upright Ballance such as you judge to be offended with you for not hearing and such as are offended thereat I am bold to say That the last mentioned for Number Holiness Spirituallity and Tenderness do far surmount the former who will really be Scandalized at your forbearance Thirdly Let also the grounds of the offence on both sides be weighed the one are offended at you That you build not up in practise in a day of trouble and cause thereby the Enemies of the Lord to tryumph and blaspheme what in a day of liberty you did in your preaching and practise pull down and destroy The other because of your disobedience to what they are satisfied and you your selves once were God is calling you to viz. to have nothing to do with separate from this generation of men But Fourthly That 't is your duty especially if in a Church-Relation to meet together as a People called and picked by the Lord out of the Nations of the World in a way of distinction from them cannot be denied the neglect of which is charged by the Lord as the first step to Apostacy Heb. 10. 25. Be you in the practise of this duty and see what Spiritual Saint will be offended at you if any should you might have peace therein you doing your duty no just cause of Scandal is given Yet further Fifthly Consider on which side the Cross lies which the Flesh and fleshly interest is most opposite to whether in going or forbearing to go to hear these men and let that be chosen Usually that is the way of God that hath most of the Cross in it and the flesh is most strugling and contesting against But thus much of the seventh Argument Argument 8. That which Saints cannot do without being guilty of partaking with others in their sin is utterly unlawful for them to do But the Saints cannot attend upon the Ministry of England without being guilty of partaking with them in their sin Therefore The Major Proposition is clearly bottomed upon Scripture Psal 50. 18. Ephes 5. 7. 1 Tim. 5. 22. 2 John 11. Rev. 18. 4. which might be abundantly demonstrated were it needful Sure that God who commands me to abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes 5. 22. never enjoyned expects not that I should be found in the practice of what without sin cannot be performed by me The Minor Proposition viz. That the Saints cannot attend upon the present Ministry of England without being partakers with them in their sin will admit of a speedy dispatch Two things are briefly to be enquired into 1. What that or those sins are we suppose the Ministers of England to be guilty of 2. How it will appear that any person 's attending upon their Ministry renders him guilty of partaking with them therein Of the former we have already treated and proved beyond what any are able to say to the contrary That they are guilty of the sins of worshipping God in a way that is not of his appointment of acting in the Holy things of God by vertue of an Antichristian Power Office or Calling of opposing really the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ of using and conforming to Modes and Rites in Worship not appointed by the Lord that have been abused to Idolatry c. Nor is it denied by our Conforming-Brethren but with some of these things the present Ministers of England may be justly charged That they worship God after the way of the Common-Prayer-Book with Modes and Rites used in the Papacy cannot be denied Nor can their undue administration of that great Ordinance of our Lord Jesus of breaking Bread to all according to the form therein prescribed That they are Ordained and some of them Re-ordained by the Episcopacy is also known I ask are these things the sin and evil of these men or are they not If they are not why did not our preaching-Brethren receive the Ordination from the Bishops these received Yea why do not our half-conforming-Brethren attend upon the reading of the Service used joyn with them in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as administred by them Doth not their absenting themselves herefrom abundantly demonstrate that they in their consciences are perswaded that 't is the sin and evil of the present Priests of England thus to act and from such a Mission in the Worship of the Lord As for the second That the hearing of the present Ministers of England is that which renders a man guilty of being partaker with them in their sin the consideration of the several wayes persons may justly be charged with being guilty of partaking with others in their sin will abundantly demonstrate the truth thereof To instance in a few particulars Then may persons justly be charged as guilty hereof 1. When they are found any way consenting with them in their sin Psal 50. 18. When thou sawest a Theif then thou consentedst with him and hast been partaker with Adulterers 'T is not the doing of the act that was done by these wicked persons that is here called partaking with them but a secret consenting with them therein 2. When they do that which hath a real tendency to encourage persons in their sin 2 John 11. Receive them not into your houses bid them not Godspeed for he that biddeth them God speed is partaker of their evil deeds 3. When they neglect the doing of those duties which the Lord requires at their hands for the reclaiming of them from their sin such are Watching over Rebuking Admonishing first privately then by two and in case of obstinacy and perseverance therein telling it to the Church which are duties eminently comprized in the ensuing Scriptures 1 Thes 5. 14. Heb. 3.