two Parties of the Episcopal Laity and Clergy in England after drew in the Scots to help the Parliament and many Papists to help the King neither of them being the first Parties but Auxiliaries though in Scotland and Ireland it was otherwise begun 23. These Auxiliaries of the Parliament would not help them but on the terms of the Covenant and so Church-alterations came on and the Parliament thought it was better have no Bishops than such as did prevail against them 24. When Wars and Misery had tired both sides and made them long for reconciliation and this endeavour had called home the King and many Bishops and Doctors had promised to be for Concord upon necessary healing-terms and the Lords Knights and Gentlemen had printed many Protestations for Peace and against Revenge and the King had Commissioned us to treat with the Bishops for Concord and told us They should meet us if we would come as near as we could to them When the Kings Declaration seemed to have almost healed us the Commissioned Bishops stood to it that no abatements were necessary and though we foretold them the impossibility of Common concord without abating some things which did them no good but harm and the advantage which Schism Contention and Popery would unavoidably get which they might easily and cheaply prevent we pleaded we beg'd by a long Petition but all in vain nothing would move them but when we only foretold them of the Divisions that must needs follow when Thousands were forced against their Consciences they took it as if we threatned Sedition and turned our Petitions and Arguments for the common peace and concord as if it had been a crime against both it and us 25. And the Convocation cast away the Kings Declaration and drew up the changes in the Liturgy which added to our burden and drew the Parliament to confirm it all and in the Act of Uniformity much more unpracticable by us is imposed which made our breach what since it is 26. No man now must be in Trust and Office in any City or Corporation who will not declare that there is no obligation on him or any other person from the Covenant not excepting against Popery Schism or Prophaneness though he would confess it unlawfully imposed and taken and renounce all obligation to rebellion or any evil 27. No adult person or Infant must be admitted to Christendom by baptism without the transient Image of a Cross as a dedicating engaging Covenanting-sign and symbol or badg of Christianity 28. No Infant must be Christened without Godfathers who are his Covenant-sureties and undertake his pious education though the Parents can get none that will seriously tell them they intend to perform it The Parents being not allowed to speak one offering or Covenanting-word nor must be urged to be present 29. No person must be admitted to Sacramental Communion who thinketh it a sin to receive it kneeling lest it should be seeming compliance with Popish adoration 30. No persons must be admitted to Communion who have not Confirmation by Episcopal Imposition of hands or are desirous of it though they fear it is made a Popish Sacrament by the addition Upon whom after the example of the holy Apostles we have now laid our hands to certifie them BY THIS SIGN of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them 31. Though they will not tell us what the Church of England is that is Its Essentiating form and Head Lay or Clergy vet every man must be ipso facto excommunicate who faith It is not an Apostolical Church as established by Law 32. Every one is excommunicate ipso facto who saith that the form of Worship established by Law contained in the Book of Common-prayer is corrupt or unlawful or containeth ANY THING in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures 33. All are excommunicate ipso facto who say That any of the 39 Articles are in any part such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe to though it be but that of the Churches power to impose Ceremonies And yet divers Conformists are against the Doctrine about Free-well Heathens damnation c. 34. All are ipso facto excommunicate who say that the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England are superstitious or such as godly men may not with a good conscience approve use and on occasion subscribe See Can. 3 4 5 6. So that not only Ministers but all men and women that differ but of the Lawfulness of any one of their Ceremonies and say so are excommunicate already ipso facto 35. All are ipso facto excommunicate that say that the Government of the Church of England under his Majesty by Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons and THE REST that bear Office in the same is repugnant to the word of God So that if one were for Archbishops Bishops and Priests and Deacons and thought but Deans or Archdeacons unscriptural and sinful he is excommunicate yea or Lay-Chancellours decretive power of the Keys for the rest that bear Office must needs include them And yet many Bishops themselves are against them 36. All are excommunicate ipso facto who say that the form and manner of making and Consecrating Bishops Priests or Deacons hath any thing repugnant to the word of God C. 8. 37. They are to be excommunicate that say Ministers refusing to subscribe may truly take the name of another Church not established by Law c. And yet the Church of Rome is said to be a true though faulty Church by many and a faulty Church may be a Church And they say that the Dutch and French Churches here stand but by the Act of King and Council 38. All are to be excommunicated that say that there are within this Realm other Congregations of the Kings born Subjects than such as are allowed by Law who may rightly take the name of true and lawful Churches E. g. If Gloucester that had a Papist Bishop Goodman had chosen themselves a Bishop and called themselves a true Church c. 39. They Command all to keep the Lords day and other Holy-days accordsng to Gods holy Will in hearing the Word of God read and taught in private and publick prayer and yet suspended and ruined many Conformable Ministers for not reading a book for dancing and playing on that day 40. And where many thousands in a Parish cannot come within their Church-doors nor have any Conformist elsewhere in the Parish to teach them they forbid them on great penalties to hear Nonconformists and call them Separatists and Schismaticks unless they forbear like Savages all publick Learning and Worship of God rather than hear and joyn with Nonconformists 41. Yet they Swear the Church-Wardens to present all that come not to Church and punish them for not coming when some Parishes have 40000 some 30000 some 10000 that can have no room and the Church-Wardens cannot know them 42. Yet if they go to other Parishes oft for Communion they must not be admitted but
forbidden and sent home 43. No Minister in regard of Preaching or any other respect may diminish Orders Rites Ceremonies or Prayers nor add any thing in the matter or form C. 14. 44. Though many melancholy persons dare not communicate in the Sacrament and many other are secretly conscious of Atheism Infidelity or wickedness they must be compelled to receive thrice a year 45. The Minister is to be suspended who giveth the Sacrament to any that kneel not or that speak against the book of Common-prayer Ceremonies c. 46. No one may be made a Minister or permitted to exercise that Office who will not subscribe that the book of Common-prayer and Ordination containeth in it nothing contrary to the word of God and that he will use that form and no other And that will not declare publickly in the Church his unfeigned Assent and Consent to All and every thing contained and prescribed in and by that book 47. He must be cast out and silenced that doth not Assent that It is certain by Gods Word that children which are baptized dying before they commit actual sin are undoubtedly saved not excepting those whose Parents are Jews Infidels Heathens or Atheists and whose Godfathers are Atheists Hobbists or Impious 48. They must Assent Consent to and Practice signing Infants at Baptism with the Cross to dedicate them by that badg to his service whose benefits bestowed on them in baptism the name of the Cross doth represent in token that he shall not be ashamed to profess the faith of Christ crucified and manfully to fight under his banner c. which seemeth to us to be thus made a Sacrament 49. They must deny to Christen all that refuse this 50. They must consent to deny baptism to all that have not such undertaking Godfathers as aforesaid though the Parents would enter them into the Covenant who are forbidden to be Godfathers or speak a Covenanting-word 51. They must profess Consent to deny the Sacrament to all that dare not take it kneeling I speak all this as imposed on Ministers and before as on the people 52. They must profess consent and practice to pronounce all that they bury to be taken to God in mercy where we hope to come c. except only the excommunicate unbaptized and self murderers were they Atheists or profane 53. They must declare Assent to a false rule for finding Easter-day and consent to keep two Easters often yea though it be confessed false 54. They must consent to read the first Lesson out of Tobit Judith Bel and the Dragon and other Apocryphal-books for most of two months 55. None must be suffered to Preach that will not subscribe That it is not lawful on any pretence what soever to take Arms against those that are Commissionated by the King while we understand not whether the Law be not above his Commission and in some cases allow not the Sheriff to resist it and whether that be his Commission which is contrary to Law if it have his Seal and so the keeper of the Seal may Commission men to seize on his strength and treasure and to let in an enemy or consequently depose the King No words can more exclude exceptions than the exclusion of any pretence whatsoever 56. None must preach that subscribeth not that There lyeth no obligation from the Oath called the Covenant on him or ANY OTHER person to endeavour any change or alteration of Church-Government Though many Hundred thousands took that Oath whom we know not nor their sense and many Parliament-men that imposed it And so all Reformation of Church-Government is made unlawful and impossible though vowed 57. This Church-Government by Decretive Excommunication and Absolution is exercised by Lay-Chancellors and all must subscribe against all endeavours though vowed to amend it though some Bishops confess it to be evil 58. The Parishes as is aforesaid are made by many no true Churches but parts of the lowest Church And Parish-discipline is excluded The Priest hath no Power of the exterior Keys but to execute the decrees of the Bishop or Chancellor 59. Some Diocesses have above 1000 Parishes some many hundreds by which Christs true Discipline described Mat. 18. 15. 1 Cor. 5. 1. 1 Thess 5. 12 13. Heb. 13. 7 24. 1 Tim. 5. 25 26. Tit. 3. 10 c. is as impossible as for one Schoolmaster to be the sole Governour of many score or hundreds of Schools having Teachers only under him And none that Vow'd it may endeavour to mend this and render true Church-discipline again a possible thing 60. The Souls of men have great need of Pastors near them and able to resolve their Cases of Conscience and comfort them and help them in manifold straits And many Parishes are so great that the Priests cannot do such Offices for one of many hundred nor do they do it nor know the people And other Parishes too many have Priests that are raw unskilful men utterly unfit for such Pastoral helps And the Bishop is far off and must have hundreds with him at once should he do that work so that it is mostly undone And yet those are punished that chuse Pastors to do it in such need 61. If a Parish have a Priest so drunken that his own family can scarce live with him or so insufficient that he never preacheth because he cannot or will not and the people scruple encouraging such a one in his ill undertaking of the Ministry and dare not take him for their Pastoral Guide they are forbidden to go from him and to communicate in the next Parish and the Minister that receiveth them or baptizeth their Children though conformable is suspended C. 57. 62. No Minister must Preach in a private house save in times of necessity through sickness nor may they on any occasion of sickness or the like keep any Fasts in their Churches or in any private house nor be present at them which are not appointed by Authority C. 61 62. Nor may they hold meetings for Sermons or Exercises 63. Ordination enableth no man to preach without farther license 64. They Excommunicate all Ministers that voluntarily relinquish their callings and use themselves as Lay-men And yet thousands must do both if the Bishops silence them 65 He that preacheth to more than four not of his family if he conform not must be fined 40 l. a Sermon and he that owneth the ground 20 l. and the Preacher Imprisoned Six months in the Common Jayl and the Hearers fined And if he swears not never to endeavour any alteration or amendment of their Government he must be banished Five miles from Cities Corporations and all places where he lately preached or lie Six months in Jayl if he come nearer though the Law say that the Parish must keep him in his want 66. The Parish-Priest must publish Excommunications though against his conscience against godly men for not Conforming c. while thousands that never come to Church or Sacraments and Swearers and
Atheists Hobbists and wicked men are members of their Church from year to year continued 67. The Canon 139 excommunicateth all that say that the Synod of this Nation in the name of Christ and by the Kings authority assembled is not the true Church of England by representation By which they seem to make the King no part of the Church nor any of the Laity or else that they represent King and Laity and they intimate that all the Clergy is the Church-real and the Synod the Representative 68. They brought in new Canons and the et coetera Oath in 1640 without the Parliament which were condemned 69. From the beginning of Queen Elizabeth till now they have prosecuted and silenced Protestants that durst not conform even their fellow Exiles in Queen Maries days were silenced and multitudes after in King James's days and even Conformists suspended about the Dancing-book and troubled about Altars Bowing Afternoon-Sermons and Lectures which were forbidden and about 2000 ejected and silenced at once 1662 And multitudes of Families driven to Holland and New-England Though we offer them our Oaths that we will gladly conform if by any study we can but see that it will not involve us in the guilt of Lying owing the Perjury of maltitudes unknown to us corrupting the Church and Gods Worship Covenanting deliberately against needful Reformation of the Church-Government by Lay Chancellours and uncapable Diocesans and many other crimes with dreadful aggravations recited in our first Plea for Peace 70. They separate from us and our Congregations as unlawful to be joyned with 71. Though it was the judgment of the ancient Churches exprest in many Canons that he was no Bishop that had not the peoples election or consent they make it Schism not to obey such and allow the people no such power 72. They suppose that God hath entrusted the King to chuse for all his Subjects whom they shall commit the conduct of their Souls to as their Pastors and Bishops though he be not trusted to chuse our Physicians our Wives our Dyet c. And so they would make the King answerable for all ill-chosen Pastors And if a Papist Heretick or a hater of Pastoral holiness should ever be King in how sad a case are the peoples souls 73. Yea they hold that Patrons be they never so ignorant or ungodly must chuse all that shall have the Parochial trust of Souls As to the possession of Temples and Tythes we yield it they say The people must have no other than what the Patrons chuse and impose on them 74. Excommunication of Dissenters seemeth little to them but they by the writ de Excommunicato Capiendo lay them in Jayl till death unless they change their Judgment which it is not in their power to do 75. Though we publish our abhorrence of all Doctrines of Rebellion and disown even so much popularity as their Richard Hooker and most Politicks own many of them go on to charge Nonconformists with suspicions of Rebellion and to provoke the King against them as disloyal 76. They print and preach to provoke Magistrates to execute the foresaid severe Laws to silence and ruine them and accuse them for not doing it 77. They stir up the people to take them for intollerable seditious Schismaticks to the destruction of Christian Love and causing men to hate each other 78. By these means families are distracted Husbands against Wives Parents against Children some casting them out if they do but hear a Nonconformist Preacher while sensuality corrupteth youth and needeth more restraint 79. When the Kings Clemency Licensed our Meetings they grudged at it and neverthelss separated from us though they describe Separation to be Meetings held against authority and thereby shewed that it is somewhat else than the Kings authority that they contend for and something more than our want of License which causeth their fervent opposition 80. Though we beg of them in vain to prevent the Papists advantage by our divisions and though they seem resolved to let Popery it self come in rather than either restore us or tolerate us and abate what we count sin and they call Indifferent yet do they perswade people that we are bringing in Popery if we obey not all their Impositions and talk as if either no Dissenters were tollerable when all men differ and they among themselves in as great matters as from us or All were tolerable both which are abominable And as if he that were unwilling to be destroyed by Prelatists were introducing Popery Should a man chuse rather to be saved by a Papist than hanged by a Prelatist who were more to be suspected of Popery He that made that choice or he that put it upon him 81. Besides the reconciling treaty with the Papists asserted by Dr. Heylin some chief Doctors profess that they would have the Church in the same state as when the Greeks and Latine did divide and grant what the Greeks grant not denying the Pope to be Principium unitatis and pleading for Grotius as a Protestant of our Churches mind who was for the Council of Trent and all the rest desiring no more for our Concord with the Church of Rome but that as by the Mistris Church they may rule â—y the Canons and not absolutely securing the Rights of Kings and Bishops and reforming Scholastick curiositics and the Clergies lives 82. Under all the new Impositions we were never allowed to speak for our selves nor durst once Petition the Parliament that ejected us or any since for relief or audience lest such boldness should more incense our afflicters 83. There is no surer way to destroy their own Church-pomp and grandure and root out Episcopacy more than we desire than to use it for Satan against faithful Ministers and against the Souls of men and against the honour and innocency of Princes and against the property and liberty of Subjects even against God and man and so to make it odious to mankind by making it intollerable Till they that cannot tolerate a differing-word do weary the world by their intollerable pride and cast down themselves and then blame others 84. To this day while they accuse those of Schism that dare not subscribe declare swear and do the things aforesaid and plead against the enduring of them to preach or solemnly worship God they disagree in Doctrines and many great matters among themselves and take not themselves for Schismaticks Of which see our 2d Plea pag. 158 159. 85. Some of them are for Original sin according to the subscribed Articles Bishop Jer. Taylor and others were against it and Bishop Warner hath writ against him 86. Some of them preach for the Imputation of Christs Righteousness Mr. Thorndike Mr. Sherlock and others differ and many of them sharply accuse and preach against each other thereabout yea with high accusations as heretical 87. Some of them preach up Gods Eternal Decrees of Election and Derelection or Reprobation in that sort as others of them preach against
Mr. Dodwell hence draw dismal degrading and unchurching Consequences And yet thus they condemn both the English and Roman and Universal Church If church-Church-power be given by Inferiors the Independents are not to be confuted If from equals as Generation is as men generate men and Physicians make Physicians c. then Presbyters may make Presbyters If it must be by Superior Power then who maketh Archbishops in England or Popes at Rome who have no Superiors and so by them no authority So much for the Historical Characters of the Canonical Conformists But after all this we grant that there is some tye and union among them They all own Archbishops Bishops Deans and Chapters Archdeacons with an Et caetera the rest as the Canon speaketh They all agree to declare and subscribe the words imposed and promise or Covenant accordingly and swear Obedience to their Ordinaries E. g. Though such as Mr. Bull and Dr. Tully write against each other of Justification as by Faith or Works though many are very much against the Doctrine of Mr. Thorndike Mr. Parker Mr. Sherlock and such other yet they all subscribe the same Articles about Justification Free-will Predestination And I doubt not but there are very many not only Learned but Pious men among them who yet by strong prejudice and passion through education converse cross interests and unacquaintedness with Dissenters and the many scandals that have risen and the extremes which many have run into are possest with a conceit that the ruine imprisonment banishment or silencing of Nonconformists is necessary to the prosperity of their party called by them The Church And to do the Papists right they agree to be members of one Church and to be for the Dignities Wealth and Power of their Clergy and take the same Oaths and are under the same Canons c. though they differ about the Supremacy it self as between the Pope and the Prelates in General Councils and about swearing forswearing lying murder deposing and killing Kings fornication and many such as the Jansenists have opened at large All these differences they can bear with and the many different Sects of Fryers fitted to the several humours of men as long as they are for one Common society and interest And doubtless many of strict lives do think it a service to the Church and so to God to kill burn and destroy others that are against them as they do There is some one with what mind I know not that hath written a book called The Catholick Hierarchy pleading like an Independent against humane Impositions But in a Digression so diligently labouring to prove that the Diocesans Subordination of Churches will unavoidably infer a Pope or Universal Head that I take it to be a dangerous book while it stalleth the said Diocesans whether imprudently or fraudulently as a Prevaricator I know not he saith more for a Pope without any antidote than is ordinarily to be elsewhere found and then most heads are able to answer though the main conclusion is fully confuted in my last book against Johnson alias Terret the Papist CHAP. III. The Meer Nonconformist 1. BY the present Meer Nonconformists we mean those that 1660 by the Kings Concession made their proposals for Reformation and Concord and as are of the Judgment then by them professed I meddle not with others unknown 2. Their profest Religion is Meer Christianity essentially contained in the Sacramental Covenant explained in the Creed Lords-prayer and Decalogue and integrally in the sacred Scripture 3. Yet as Christians are accidentally called Protestants because they renounce Popery so we are Catholicks as renouncing all Schismatical Sects and Nonconformists because we dare not Conform to all that is imposed on us 4. We hold that all Christians should Love each other as themselves and do them all the good they can and no hurt 5. We hold that all baptized in Infancy should solemnly at age renew and own that Covenant as adult members 6. And that all that do so not nullifying their profession by inconsistent heresie or sin should be received in Communion 7. That such as renew it not or are proved to forsake it or heinously sin against it should be reproved and after sufficient admonition if impenitent be declared unfit for Church-Communion and accordingly avoided 8. That God hath appointed that there be stated Assemblies of Christians especially on the Lords-days where he shall be worshipped Men instructed and Communion exercised 9. That these Congregations should have known stated Pastors to be their Teachers and Guides in worship and holy living 10. That these Pastors by Office have the power of the Church-keys to judge whom to take in by Baptism and whom to admonish as Criminal to reject as impenitent and to absolve and receive again as penitent in their proper charge 11. That Baptism and the Eucharist being a Gift of a sealed pardon and of Christ and life no unbelieving nor unwilling person is capable of them Therefore none but believing Consenters or Volunteers and their Infants should be baptized and Volunteers only admitted to the Lords-Supper 12. And though Magistrates should promote the sacred Work and Rule the Churches and keep peace and order by the Sword and see that all have competent Teachers and hinder the intollerable yet may they not invade the Pastors office or peoples right nor force men to trust their Souls to the Pastoral Care of unable or untrusty men nor hinder them from chusing better for themselves any more than they may confine them to untrusty Physicians Servants or Wives 13. That because the Pastoral Office cannot be exercised either by or on the unwilling mutual consent is necessary to the Relation of Pastor and Flock 14. That it is part of the Pastors Office to word his own Sermons and Prayers But yet if to avoid discord or errour some common forms be agreed on not overthrowing the Pastors office they may be fitly used till by accident they do more hurt than good 15. The Laws of Magistrates Circa Sacra and the consent and custom of Churches should not in lawful things be crossed by humorous dividing Singularity 16. No one Liturgy was imposed on any National Church or any Patriarchate for many hundred years after the Apostles days yea and after Constantine But every Bishop or Pastor was the chuser of his Words and Practice 17. Christians should all live in Love and walk peaceably by the Divine Scripture-Rule so far as they have attained so waiting for increase of grace 18. We must receive the weak in the faith and such as differ tolerably from us even as Christ receiveth us and no Christian should be excommunicated but for impenitency in sins subverting faith or holy living 19. Nor must Christs Ministers be forbid to preach the Gospel because of tollerable differences 20. And those that through differences and scruples cannot comfortably worship God under one Pastor or in the Words or Ceremonies of one Church should have leave to do it in
as blasphemy against God and destructive to the piety and peace of man 88. Some of them preach for universal Redemption as a necessary point of faith which others cry down as Arminianism 89. Some of them make Justifying faith to contain Obedience and others cry it down as Popery and Socinianism 90. Some of them say that God hath given to all men sufficient grace to salvation yea say some and efficient which others call Arminianism 91. Some of them say that it is Gods Grace that maketh the faithful to differ from others and others say it is their own Wills And about the parts of Grace and Free-will they preach and write against each other 92. Some of them preach that all the justified persevere And others preach it down as a dangerous errour I have tryed to reconcile all these but they go on 93. Some of them are only for Bidding prayer in the Pulpit as if all other were forbidden by the Canon as Heylin others use prayer there 94. Some there pray in their own words and some only in the words of the Liturgy some use the same words and others vary them 95. Their Cathedral Worship much differeth from the Parochial and some Churches use Organs and others have none 96. One writeth for the Religious use of Lent as Bishop Guning others as Bishop Taylor and Dr. More c. are against their principles and use yea and against many other things of Church-Government and significant Ceremonies which the other party hold See Taylor cited 2d Plea for Peace 97. Some of them are for the Divine right of the Lords Day and the Morality of the fourth Commandment which Heylin and many others vehemently deny 98. One is for Altars and Rails and others against them and others for indifferency 99. In preaching they use very different Methods And some Churches of them begin to use new Versions of the singing Psalms 100. Some following Grotius de Jure Belli and Dr. Taylors Ductor Dubitantium are for useful lying which injureth not others and therefore no doubt for doubtful Conformity But others are against it 101. But they no-where more differ than in their Conformity it self one taking the words in one sense and another in another so that their Conformity is not the same thing though the Letters and sound of voice be the same One by his Assent and Consent to all things in the three books meaneth plainly and another meaneth but that he may and will use so much as concerneth him One by Not resisting by Arms any Commissioned by the King meaneth as he speaketh Another limiteth it to Lawfully Commissioned One by on any pretence whatsoever meaneth as he saith Another excepteth as Bilson aforesaid and such cases as King Johns who gave up his Kingdom to the Pope and would have done to the Morocco-Mahometan and many other such instances as Killing the Parliaments City c. One that subscribeth never to endeavour any Alteration of Church-Government meaneth as he speaketh Another excepteth Lay-Chancellours use of the Keys Deans and Chapters Archdeacons c. if the King would change them One by any endeavour meaneth as he saith Another meaneth only unlawful endeavour one by nothing contrary to Gods word in Can. 36. meaneth plainly Another meaneth nothing which maketh Communion unlawful One taketh all the imposed subscriptions to be but a promise of submission and peace which others abhor and are for the Truth of all that they subscribe assent to In a word some are for the common Rule of taking all the words in the usual sense except the Imposers declare a different sense And others are for necessary supposing that the Imposers meant well whatever they said and therefore our Charity and honouring them bindeth us to put no sense on their words which is contrary to Gods Law the Law of the Land or Common Right and supposing them true and good whatever they are who can doubt but they may be sworn or subscribed 102. Dr. Hammond and his party thought that it doth not appear that there were any subject Presbyters in Scripture-times and so that every single Congregation had a Bishop present in worshipping God But Dr. Stillingfleet saith p. 269. While the Apostles lived it is probable there were no fixed Bishops or but few And so the world had but 12 or 13 indefinite Bishops who are not proved to have any peculiar determinate Diocesses 103. Mr. Dodwell and I think most of them take the Church of England to be a Political society and many think we overthrow Church and Order if we deny Churches to be formed by a Constitutive Government But Dr. Stillingfleet not only holdeth that the Church of England is but the Pastors and people consenting by Parliaments to live under the same Laws about Religion without any Constitutive Church-Head one or many but also peremptorily concludeth that to maintain such a Constitutive Supreme Church-power will necessarily infer Popery and so maketh all the Conformists necessarily to lead in Popery who are for such Political Churches and Constitutive Governours 104. Mr. Cheny saith That to make Churches by Covenants confederacies or consent besides baptism is to be guilty of blasphemy impiety irreligiousness infidelity and one should rather die than yield to it But Dr. Stillingfleet saith the Church of England is one Church made by such consent But such Schisms among themselves are too many to be here numbered And no wonder when they differ so much as they do with their own Sentiments in one and the same book saying and unsaying as the argument in hand requireth E. g. Dr. Stillingfleet thinketh that the seven Churches of Asia being Metropolitan prove Diocesan or Metropolitan-Bishops then in being And yet that while the Apostles lived it 's probable there were no fixed Bishops or but few And so either seven Apostles were the Angels of the seven Churches of Asia reproved so much for their sin and backsliding or the Angels signified not the Bishops While we are all Schismaticks for disobeying say some and holding Nonconforming Assemblies say others from the Church of England yet this Church is no proper Political Church and hath no Constitutive chief Government saith Dr. St. and therefore hath no authority to make Canons to command us He no less than threatneth us with damnation not in the retracted Irenicum but in his late book against Popish Idolatry if we chuse not the purest Church and the Papist granteth it and saith as he And yet it is the substance of his unreasonable books to prove us Schismaticks if we depart from their Church or so much as preach to other Assemblies on the account of purer worship and greater edification c. And he had the wit to pass by this citation in the Epistle of a book against him As for Mr. Cheny and divers other such another book openeth their Contradictions They often tell us of the Nullity of the Ministry or Power which is not received from Episcopal Superiors Especially Bishop Gunning and