the whole way of the Separation for the healing of that great Schisme sprung up of late in this Church I thought good for the present necessity to set forth these few and short Reasons more time being required to review transcribe and Print larger Treatises Now that which first moved me to the drawing up of these Reasons both against Independant Government and against the Toleration of it was the credible information given me of some Petitions drawne to be presented to the Honourable House of Commons for a Toleration of some Congregations to enjoy an Independant Government and to be exempt from the Government which shall be established by Law Now though I believe hope and pray daily that God will keepe that Honourable House from ever giving any Countenance much lesse granting any such Petitions yet considering how many there are of that way some Inhabiting in this Kingdome others who are come over into England on purpose being sent as Messengers of their Charibes to negotiate in that behalfe and observing how diligently and close they follow it by daily attending at Westminster by insinuating themselves into the company of sundry Members of the House of Commons by Preaching often at Westminster the more to ingratiate themselves and their cause Printing also their desire of a Toleration for Independant Government and that with casting of dirt upon the Reformation and Government of this Nationall Church what ever it may be as witnesse the Protestation Protested I a Minister of the Gospel and a Sufferer for it these many yeares last past being one who desires as free a passage of the Gospel and as through a Reformation according to the will of God as any of them have thought it my duty that I might discharge a good Conscience to God and to the Kingdome to Print these Reasons at this time that so when any of those Petitions come to be propounded in the House of Commons under specious pretences and faire pretexts there may by these Reasons appeare a Snake under the greene grasse Neither speake I this as if I would intimate that that Honorable House could be taken with colours and faire glosses I know that great Body is so full of wisdome and so Eagle eyed that they can both see into and fore-see a farre off the many evills and mischiefes of Independancy and Tolerations But I suppose these Reasons may have their use among some to furnish them the more with grounds against such Petitions for satisfying also scruples instilled by the Independant men into some others as also to demonstrate to the Petitioners the unreasonablenesse of their demands My aime therefore is by this following discourse l. humblâ— to crave leave to enter in the Honourable House of Commons a Caveat both against Independant Government of Particular Congregations and against their Toleration and to present to the House a Writ of Ne admittas fetcht out from the Court of Heaven and from the Records of Holy Scripture Reasons Against THE Independant government OF Particular Congregations Reason I. THE Churches gathered and constituted by the Apostles watered by Evangelists and Prophets and after planting and watering having Pastors and Teachers with all other Officers as they say set over them by the Apostles and their owne Elections Yet it is evident these Churches could not well stand nor subsist of themselves with all these Officers but many of them had beene much indangered and subject to have beene ruined if some others besides these Churches and Officers had not upon occasions interposed and that authorotatively as the Apostles Evangelists and Elders of other Churches as doth appeare by the Acts of the Apostles and by many Epistles as to Corinth Galatia Colossians Timothy Titus 15. Acts 2. Cor. 12. Chap. 20. ver. 24. 2. Cor. 13. Chap. 1. 2. 10. ver. The particulars whereof I shall evince more largely hereafter Now if these Primitive Churches who had all the officers and were setled by the Apostles in all poynts according to Christs order yet in those times could not doe well Independently how can wee thinke that any particular congregation in these times which cannot be so setled having no Apostles nor any infallible men to direct them can doe well without dependancie And though it will be said these extraordinary Officers be now ceased yet let them consider whether there is not need of some way to supply this want to the particular Churches now But if it be said that the ordinary Officers of Pastors Teachers Elders with the body of the Congregation will suffice for the governing every particular congregation Independantly To that I answer according to their Principles In the Apostles times there were all these Officers in particular Congregations and setled in a perfect way and yet for all this particular Churches needed a dependancy upon Apostles Evangelists Prophets and Presbyters of other Churches and Timothie and Titus are set over the Church of Ephesus and Crete now though some of these be ceased and so this power may be ceased as it was in particular men yet that the Congregations should not need it now in these times as well as then no solid Reason can be given but there is much more reason for it now which therefore must bee in some other way be it Synods and Councels to supply the defects of each particular by the Conjunction of the whole the whole helping every part and supplying what is lacking to it and this reason hath the more strength in it if we consider that the Churches in the Apostles times were Churches in Cities it being all one to say in every City or in every Church 1 Tit. 5. 14. Act. 23. which Churches also had good store of Preaching Ministers amongst them as appeares by Acts 13. v. 1. Act. 20. v. 36 37. Compared with ver. 28. So that in all cases of Doctrine and Discipline having many Ministers to resolve and determine matters and to have carryed them with the more gravity and authority they might have subsisted the better Independantly whereas most particular Congregations now have but few Ministers one or two nay according to their Principles there may be none nor no Officer at all and yet these Congregations must be Independant having all power and government Independantly before Officers as well as after Reason II. THat Governement and power which causes men to runne upon the manifest violation of the constant practice and example of the Churches during all the time of the Apostles and puts Churches upon practices that are absurd unreasonable and prejudiciall to the good of their Soules that government is not of divine Institution nor to be received but such is the Independant power and government of particular Congregations The major is of undoubted Truth and will be denyed by none for the minor I will prove it in these following Instances First their Independancy forces them either to have Ministers and Officers without being ordained contrary to the practice and examples of the Churches
they cannot grow up in grace and knowledge as becomes a Church of Christ there may be also all barbarousnesse and disorder for want of gifts in government in these weake Officers all which tends to the prejudice and hazard of the Soules hence this is given as the great reason by Divines of the examination of Ministers before Ordination and that to be by learned and able men because as there is nothing more profitable to the Church then good Pastors so nothing more pernitious then bad and unlearned Ministers Secondly suppose they might chuse well namely able men both for parts and soundnesse in the faith and it were lawfull also for the people to ordaine yet it may so fall out according to their principles of a Church that these visible Saints cannot Ordaine Officers as having no gifts of prayer for publicke especially not able to conceive prayers concerning the action in hand namely the Ordination of a Minister neither had they any gifts to make publicke exhortations and admonitions to the Pastor of his duty nor be able to know what to say to him at the admission of him into his Office What shall be done now shall the worke be staid and the Church want a Minister till she be able to doe these workes and duties They may for ought can be said be long nay ever without Ministers and so without Preaching of the Word and Sacraments which cannot but be very prejudiciall to their Salvation But to grant them that which needes not be granted according to their principles that this Church shall have some Offices as suppose a ruling Elder yet when a Pastor is to be chosen these Elders who have a gift in government may not be able nor competent to try and examine the gifts and parts of a Pastor nay yeeld them to have a Pastor and the Church would now chuse a Teacher one single Pastor though able in his gift of Exhortation and application may not be so able to try the gifts requisite to a Teacher whose gifts must be for exposition and controversies to preserve pure Doctrine Hence Amesius speaking of calling of Ministers to a Church saith that here is need of direction and helpe of Presbyters both of the same Church and for the most part of the Neighbour Churches But if he were able to try and examine yet how shall this Teacher be ordained there being but one Minister if Ministers of Neighbour Churches may not joyne also consider if they doe not fall into that which they complaine against in the Episcopacy namely for one man to have the sole power of Ordination So that by all these particulars you may see the Assumption proved Reason III. T Is not to be thought that Christ would institute such a government of his Church which affords no helpe nor allowes no way or remedy no not for one time or prima vice for innocent persons that are wronged but where being no place for appeales the parties oppressing must be the sole Judges of the cause It is counted an unequall unreasonable thing in governements that parties should be judges at all much lesse the sole and that there should be no way for persons oppressed to be righted But now in this Independant Church Government there is no reliefe no not at first for injured persons nor way of appeale to others who be not parties to heare their cause and determine here onely parties are Judges and no others may be admitted As for instance in one of their congregations the greatest number of that Church as it doth and may oft fall out is against the Pastor or Teacher and some other members upon a difference in some points of doctrine and being the greater number the Elders also taking part with them they proceed most unjustly to censures of deprivation and excommunication Now if all the power lye independantly in this particular Church so as there may be no other as Synods to appeale unto to heare the cause and right them this Minister and brethren thus censured must lye under these oppressions without all remedy and be debarred from the ordinances of Christ without helpe what remedy there is in such cases as this we desire them to shew us and that such cases as this may not and doe fall out cannot be denyed Now that Christ should institute such a governement in his Church where 't is unlawfull for any but parties properly so termed to be sole Judges and where there is no possibility of redresse for the innocent in cases of injury which may and do ordinarily fall out is not a thing to be imagined by reasonable men t is spoken of by these men for a strange practise in the Bishops that they should be Judges in their owne cause and give votes in it though yet there be besides them three times their number of voyces in the house of Lords how much more unreasonable may they judge it in their way of Church governement where parties who are Judges be greater in number so that I may speake of the Independancy of their Congregations as Cameron speakes of the popular government of their Congregations * It is not credible that our Lord Jesus Christ who is both King of Righteousnesse and King of Peace would have government to be in this way which hath no meanes nor way for Righteousnesse nor peace in his Church besides the practice of the Church of Antioch recorded in Scripture for our example is against it and gives us ground for appeale to others out of that Church and not to have the parties the Judges Acts 15. 1 2. because the dissention and disputation was betweene Paul and Barnabas and them of Judaea who taught Circumcision therefore the Church of Antioch thought it not fit that Paul and Barnabas should determine and end it but sent to others Apostles and Elders who were not parties against them of Judaea and they shall determine for them all Else had not the dissention and disputation beene betweene Paul and Barnabas and certaine of Judaea and that in the particular Church of Antioch they were able to have determined it without sending to Jerusalem but the Church judged it unequall that they who were the parties in the controversie should be the Judges Reason IV. THe light and Law of Nature with right reason is against the Independancy of particular Churches dictating leading us to dependancy a subordination and a consociation in government In all societies and bodies it is thus by the dictates of Nature and it is found necessary amongst bodies naturall and bodies politicke that the severall parts and particular members doe joyne in one for the good of the whole and that the whole being greater then a part the severall parts should be subject to and ordered by the whole as in a mans body the foote though it hath its proper use and operation is dressed lanched and ordered not by it selfe but by the hands and eyes In Cities and great Townes
which hee established by the example and judgement of other Churches 1 Cor. 14. 33. 1 Cor. 11. 16. The equity of which is that the Orders agreed upon by the consent of many Churches are of great force and authority to bind so Paul though an Apostle submitted to the practice of what was agreed upon by the common consent of James and all the Elders of Jerusalem though in the practice of Jewish and legall ceremonies Acts 21. from the 18. ver. to the 27. ver. Thus in a case of great dissention and disputation in the Church of Antioch Acts 15. 1 2. ver. Why did that Church send to Jerusalem for resolution in that difficult case to be determined and bound by the decrees and Orders of the Apostles and Elders in that Synod and were not bound nor determined by their owne Church onely especially having two such excellent men with them as Barnabas and Paul whose judgement they might have rested upon Surely this was done for this end to teach us that divers Churches in difficult cases ought to meete by their Ministers and some choise men to determine of matters for those Churches according to the Word to which all those Churches should submit Neither will it helpe them to say this was extraordinary for what Synod can say it seemeth good to us and the holy Ghost and those decrees bound them who were not present Not to answer these exceptions now but reserving the answer to a larger Tractate upon this subject grant it that something in this Synod was singular and extraordinary yet this was not for one Church to send to another and that to their ordinary Officers the Elders Acts 15. 2. ver. to this end that by common consent difficult cases might be determined and enjoyned upon particular Churches by more than their owne Church for this must needs be Ordinary and so binding being an example founded upon rules of common equity reason and communion of Churches and not upon temporary or extraordinary grounds and that appeares thus for unlesse it were to teach the succeeding Churches this and to be a ground for Synods and Dependancy in Government in cases of difference and difficulty there could be no other great use nor end of it for as for the satisfying of the question and resolving the case Paul alone being at Antioch one who was immediately and infallibly inspired by the Spirit was able of himselfe to have satisfyed that controversie about Circumcision much more Barnabas being with him and others in that Church Reason VI THe Government of the Church by Synods is no where forbidden by God in the New Testament nor spoken against either directly or by consequence as they say is for one man to have the power Luk. 22. 25. 26. ver. For though no one Minister as some say be greater than another yet all are greater than one or a few In Synods here is no erecting or appointing of an Officer or office in the Church which Christ hath not appointed which is the exception made against Episcopacy but here are onely the Officers appointed by Christ and that forme of government which is appointed by Christ in his Church namely Aristocraticall here is no varying of the forme of Church government from Aristocraticall to Monarchicall as they speake of Episcopacy but the government by Synods is most Aristocraticall whereas the Independant way for the most part is but onely Oligarchicall having but a few Officers in a Church or else Democraticall if put into the body of the Congregation now where there is no Law forbidding there is no transgression for sinne is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3. 4. And such actions the Church may lawfully doe wherein no Law of God is broken as is confessed by themselves in the fifth Argument of Syons Prerogative But here is no Law broke this never being spoken against nor liable to those exceptions put in by them against Episcopacy but found agreeable to the Law and light of Nature concerning societies to generall rules in the word of edification order peace purenesse lovelinesse c. to examples also and practises in Scripture and what though there be not an expresse precept or a command in terminis for it yet not being against Scriptures but so agreeable to it as appeares by all before said no sober godly Minister or Christian should refuse Communion with a Church or submission to it and go and set up a Church against a Church and foment a schisme for that for if they will doe so and will not goe upon generall rules equity of Examples light of Nature and reason they must forsake being fixed members of any particular congregation and forsake all Churches in the Independant way and professedly joyne themselves to no Assembly in the exercise of Instituted worship because they must practice as great matters concerning externall government and worship of what ever Church or government they be of as this is namely the Association of Churches Let them produce a particular word for the order of Gods Worship what must be performed first what second what third what fourth and so of the rest and that no ordinance nor part of Worship may be in another Order Let them if they can show a particular Word or rule in the New Testament for their Church covenant which yet is an essentiall point namely the forme of the Church let them produce what is required in the word particularly as the forme of excommunication or as the forme of Ordination let them set downe the outward worship and gesture of the externall reverence which must be used and no other way in the severall Ordinances of God as Word Prayer singing of Psalmes reading Scriptures Baptisme Lords Supper Excommunication which if they cannot as we know they are not able neither in these nor many other things which may be named let them then learne that many things in government and Discipline have but generall rules with equity of practices and if they will not joyne nor have to doe in Church Government and Discipline till they have particular commands to walke thus and no otherwise they shall stay long enough and be of no Church Reason VII THis consociation and combination in way of Synods is granted by themselves as lawfull and expedient in sundry cases and particulars As that one Church being required ought to give an account to others and to be content that matters of difference and importance should be heard by other Churches as also to be advised and counselled by other Churches to have also doctrines that are questionable tryed and judged of by Synods to be admonished and to be reproved also in case they deserve it and in case they will not amend and reforme upon admonitions and reproofes of Synods and Assemblies then they are to be complained of to the Civill Magistrate that he may doe his duty For this see Christ on his Throne vid. pag. 32. examin. of Prelat petition Sions Prerog. pag. 63.
and they in one bed shall be so divided as that they shall not be of one Church nor worship God together in Word Sacraments Prayer but apart O how will this overthrow all peace and quiet in families filling husbands and wives with discontents and setting at variance Fathers and children each against other weakning that fervent love in those relations O how will this occasion disobedience contempt neglects of Governours from the inferiors of the family whilst the Governours be looked upon by them as not in a true Church O how will this toleration take away for every Saint must bee free to joyne himselfe voluntarily to what congregation he please that power authority which God hath given the husbands fathers and masters overwives children servants whilst that they shall joyne against their wills to such Churches and be stollen from them against their pleasure neiâ—her can the Governours be able to judge of their proâ—â— in the Word nor be certaine they sanctifie the Lords day according as God hath layd the charge upon them in the fourth Commandement when as the children and servants are of other Churches so that by these and many other things which will be found in experience this toleration will pervert disturbe that Order of Gods owne appointing namely the relations duties and workes of families which were there nothing else to be sayd against it this were enough God certainely appointing no such Church wayâ—â—s is crosse to the good and peace of families one orcer of God certainely not destroying another Now how strong this Reason is against this toleration I submit to the Judgement of that Court which hath the Legislative power they knowing well that both Churches and Common-wealths are made of families all issuing out from thence they being the Seminaries and Nurseries for both and if there be a ground-worke layd for disturbances divisions and disorders there what can be firme peaceable or sure Reason IIII. THere will be great danger of continuall Divisions distractions disputes amongst us not onely from the different forme of government and worship in their Churches and ours but from other Doctrines and practises held by some of them for the present as for instance that Saints when they dye goe not to heaven where Christ is but they goe to a third place the sitting with their Hats on at the receiving of the Lords Supper c. and others that will be dayly broached and then their Churches being Independant and not under the government of any out of themselves they will goe on without being hindred and whereas we have now too many new and strange doctrines we shall have nothing but errours and novelties broached and so greater contentions and breaches amongst us Reason V. THe most eminent Ministers in this Kingdome for parts grace and Labours can have little assurance of the continuance of their flockes to them if such a toleration be granted for they will draw away their people and admit them into their Churches and even gather and encrease their Churches out of the labours of the best Ministers the Ministers shall doe little else but spend and be spent for to fit men for them when Ministers have travelled in birth of children and should have comfort and joy in them then they will be stollen away This toleration upon any discontent taken or any light occasion of demanding dues or preaching against any thing they like not opens a wide dore and will invite them to desert their Ministers and what a sadding of the heart and discouragement in the worke of the Lord this must be to the Ministers of the Kingdome let all judge Reason VI A Toleration of Churches to bee erected as Independant to enjoy liberty and exemption from the estabilshed will be undoubtedly a meanes and way of their infinite multiplication and encrease even to increase them 30. fold so that if the Parliament could like to have more of the breede and have a delight to have multitudes to be exempted from the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of the Land which Parliaments never did no way like this for we see within this nine moneths though there be no toleration of their way yet having not beene lookt after how are they increased and multiplyed and that there will be a mighty encrease upon a toleration to say nothing of casting a snare upon the people by this to make doubts nor nothing of the wantonnesse and instability of many professours nor of the activenesse of many to spread these principles that their party may be considerable this may evince it In many if not in most Townes and Parishes it cannot be helped but that there are and will be for many yeeres men of no great popular gifts for preaching who also according to their principles not having beene brought up to it cannot so comply with their people now many that live in these Parishes seeing they may keepe their houses and places of abode upon the newes of a toleration will for the benefit of more powerfull practicall and zealous Preaching betake themselves to goe to their Churches which liberty they cannot have in the Churches established for the Law it is likely will provide for men to keepe to their owne Ministers where there is sufficient preaching and so will fall to their principles and so wee shall have upon this grouud swarmes of them Reason VI THe Prime and fundamentall principles of this Independant way upon which they erect their Church way and independancy are very prejudiciall dangerous and unsufferable to this Kingdome as for instances Saints qua Saints two or three of them or more they onely have an immediate independant power from Christ their immediate head to gather and combinde themselves into visible Churches without expecting warrant from any Governours whatsoever upon earth as also being thus gathered and joyned into a Church to chuse all officers among themselves and to exercise all Discipline and Ecclesiasticall Government even to Excomunication without and against the good will and consent of the Christian Magistrates but the Magistrates whether Kings and Princes or States they have no power but in all things of the Visible Church Christ is an Immediate Governour to the Saints having put none of his power out of his hands to any Magistrate whatsoever but though he hath given much power to Magistrates over goods liberties and lives of his Saints yet this Spirituall power of gathering and making Churches and of the power of exercising censures and Discipline so as it may not be exercised without their power and leave he hath not given them so that I desire them to consider and enquire whether this denying to Kings and Princes power and authority in causes Ecclesiasticall in the Church and giving all Spirituall Ecclesiasticall power immediately and independantly under Christ to the particular Congregations and not to the King be not against these Lawes and Statutes of the Land made in 26. Henry the 8. cap. 1. 25. yeere of Henry the 8. cap. 19.
and the 1. yeere of Elizabeth cap. 1. where it will be found that all Jurisdiction Superiority Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall as by any Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall power or authority hath beene or may lawfully be exercised for the visitation of the Ecclesiasticall state and persons and for reformation order and correction of the same and of all manner of Errours Heresies Schismes abuses offences c. shall for ever by authority of this present Parliament be united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme As also that no orders nor constitutions may be enacted in the Church without the Kings assent and hence the oath of Supremacie was appointed by Law for every Ecclesiasticall person to take hence I aske the Independant men seeing they give that immediate Ecclesiasticall power to their particular Churches which the Papists doe to the Pope whether they will take the oath of Supremacie or doe acknowledge in their prayers that title of the King Defendor of the Faith c. Secondly they hold that things lawfull in themselves as for instance set formes of Prayer acknowledged by them to be lawfull yet being enjoyned by Authority are now unlawfull so that though a Forme of Prayer be lawfull yet being imposed for order uniformity that alters the case a strange paradox that things lawfull in themselves tending to Order and Peace should become unlawfull when commanded 3 They affirme that Christian Princes Magistrates who are defenders of the Faith have no more to doe in and about the Church then Heathen Princes Some of them deny also and question that received axiome that the Magistrate is custos utriusque tabulae Saying of those Kings of Judah and Israel who medled in the Church with reformation and establishment of Religion that they did it not as Kings but as types of Christ so that I leave it to better judgement whether it be safe for a Kingdome to tolerate such Churches who maintaine and vent upon all occasions such kinde of principles and as the principles so the people for a great part of them be dangerous and insufferable heady refractory proud bitter scornefull despisers of Authority who though but a few comparatively and the Lawes standing have attempted not to suffer the publicke prayers to be prayed but what with singing what with clapping on of Hats in times of prayer what with reviling and threatning of Ministers have laboured to hinder their use Now if they dare attempt such practises and things being but a few the Lawes being point blanke against them and the Lawes establishing the other what will they not doe when they shall be multiplyed and tolerated if they come once to a great head we may feare they will not tolerate the Churches and Government established by Law but what insolencies and mischiefes will follow upon their toleration not onely in Ecclesiasticall government but in Civill I leave such who are experienced men in matters of Government to fore-see and Judge of but hereafter too late to remedie but I desire rather to pray against a toleration than to Prophecy of the wofull effects of it Reason VIII THese independant men where they have power as in new England will not give a toleration for any other Ecclesiasticall Government or Churches but in their owne way they would not suffer men of other opinions in doctrine and government to live within the bounds of their patent though at the furthest bounds but have banished them They were sent to from England by some godly Ministers their brethren men otherwise approved by them as being against Ceremonies who being in danger of leaving the Land sent to know if they might have liberty according to their Consciences to goe in a Church way something differing from theirs and not in this Independant Popular Government to which question you may reade the answer they could not grant any other forme of government but one seeing there is but one way of Church government layd downe in the Word and that unchangeable and therefore they cannot yeeld to it So others of them will nottolerate or admit into fellowship the godliest Christians unlesse they will enter into Covenant professe their faith submit to their Church Orders though they would be of their Church so that these men who now would faine have a toleration in this great Kingdome will not allow any in a remote Plantation nor in one of their small particular Congregations for feare of disturbing the peace of their Church and yet would have a toleration in this Kingdome never caring to disturbe the peace and good of the three Kingdomes which would be much hazarded by it but thus partiall men are and you may observe it t is ordinary for men when they are not in place nor have no power in Church or Common-wealth and hold also Doctrines and principles contrary to what is held and established then to plead for tolerations when as the same parsons comming to be in place and to have power wil not tolerate others to set up any way different from theirs And I beleeve those present men who here are endeavouring a toleration for their Churches had they the power in their hands to settle a Government we should have no Government tolerated nor Church but the Independant way and for this see The Protestation Protested what he thinkes of our Church and of what ever Government shall be established Reason IX AToleration may be demaunded upon the same grounds for all the rigid Brownists of the Kingdom and for all the Anabaptists Familists and other Sectaries who professe t is conscience in them and in some respects upon better grounds it may be moved by them as being perswaded we are no true Church then for these Semi-Separatists nay whether may not the Papists petition to and hope to have a toleration of Religion seeing it is Conscience in many of them as well as you and if once an exemption be given from the Religion established by Law to one sort why may not others thinke to have the same priviledge and therefore if ever the dore of Tolerations should be but a little opened there would be great crouding by al sorts to enter in at it Reason X. THe granting a Toleration of this Independant way whose first fundamental principle is that two or three Saints where ever or by what meanes soever they doe arise separating themselves from the world into the fellowship of the Gospell are a Church truely gathered and that they only have an immediate and independant power from Christ their immediate head to gather and combine themselvs without expecting warrant from any Governours whatsoever upon earth to make a Church doth make way for any thing for Libertinism or for any opinion in the world that so all who fall into any Doctrine or any who like not their owne Ministers and Church Government either because they restraine them from sinne or keepe them to Gods Ordinances they may goe three or foure
to move and stirre you up most Noble Worthies to put to your hands for the earely and timely compounding of this great Controversie about the Church and Church Government When fires are begun in great Cities and Townes or Tumults raised the Fathers of Families and the Citizens run to the Magistrates and Governours to acquaint them with the case and to desire their helpe who having power to command both Men Armes Waters Engines buckets from every quarter the fire is quickely out and the peace setled Now be pleased to suffer me to mind you of that which few or none doe namely of our danger from errors on the right hand the growing and spreading evill of this present time Every one minds you by Petitions Sermous Bookes concerning the Reformation of this Church in Government Ministery Ceremonies and worship and God forbid that a word should ever fall from my mouth or my pen draw a line to call you off from it Goe on strongly and fully in the worke of Reformation to purge this Church thorowly and purely to take away all our drosse and tinne cast out of the way all stumbling blocks gather out all things that offend let nothing be left to hurt or to destroy in Gods holy mountaine Break downe all Images and Crucifixes throw downe all Altars remove the High Places breake to peeces the brazen Serpents which have beene so abused to Idolatry and superstition put out the unpreaching and scandalous Ministers take a course for setting up good Pastors and Ministers in every Congregation and in your great Wisdomes and zeale be pleased to consider of wayes to provide oyle for al the Lampes of the Sanctuary Goe on Comfortably for God is with you and the Ministers with sounding Trumpets of Ministery of Word and Prayer and the people of God with you covering you all over with earnest prayers and and teares as also with praises to God for you and be pleased to remember not to doe the worke of God by halves or negligently Perfect and thorow Reformation will be your praise both with God and all good men at home and abroad and your zeale may provoke other Kingdomes and States and many will arise up and call you blessed for the good Pastors and pure Ordinances that they shall enjoy T is the blemish of some of the good Kings that were reformers as Asa and Iehosaphat But neverthelesse the high places were not taken away It was the praise of other Kings that they were taken away as of King Hezekiah Perfect Reformation takes away all possibility and hopes from men of bringing things backe againe but an imperfect leaves both a ground-worke and faire possibility upon any advantage or opportunity to returne Theodoret in his Eccle. historie relates that Theodosius that most faithfull Emperor being fully set to overthrow the errors of the Gentiles he made Lawes by which he commanded that the Temples of the Images should be puld downe Constantine the great with some other Emperours who succeeded Constantine forbad all Sacrifices and worships to the heathen gods and their Images and forbad any to come to their temples but they did not demolish the temples places wherin they were worshipped so that Iulian and Valens Emperours who came after did renew the impiety of the Gentiles so that fire was kindled againe upon the Altars and Sacrifices were offered to the Images All which things when Theodosius understood for certaine hee did not onely shut up the Idols houses forbidding all to come to the Temples but he did extirpate them by the rootes and tooke care to have them buried in eternall oblivion It was the saying of Zisca the famous leader of the Thaborites That the very nests of the Storkes are to be puld downe lest they returne againe And may it please this Honorable House to purge us thoroughly and the rather for this because the more perfect our Reformation is according to the will of God you shall by this lay the better and surer ground-worke for healing and composing the great schisme and divisions risen about the Church and Church Government But amidst all your care and paines in this kinde I beseech you cast an eye upon the errors and evills of the other hand as Anabaptisme Brownisme c. and be pleased to take into your serious considerations the meanes and wayes how to hinder their growth and so much the rather in regard there is not now in this Kingdome things standing as they doe so much danger of errors on the left hand Popery superstition prophanenesse have beene so discountenanced of late so discovered and their nakednesse laid so open as that Altars Images pressing of Ceremonies and prophane Ministers are falling of themselves Satan for this time hath even done with errors on the left hand and their time is going out growing like an Almanacke out of date Any man who hath but halfe an Eye in his head and observes the course of things may see that errors on the right hand are now comming on the stage to take their turne also and to act their part the Devill seeing he cannot effect his ends in the former wayes he went he will now try others as Theodoret speaks in the case of Nestorius that Satan gave over moving against the Church by outward manifest enemies but came under the show of the Orthodox and in the habit of great strictnesse bewitching many drawing the injudicious common people to a desire after him Satan is now transforming himselfe from an Angell of darknesse into an Angell of light and though hee must use other kind of instruments and goe other waies yet t is to bring about the same things the upholding of his kingdome and the hindring of Gods so that he will now labour to doe that by correcting and building up which hee did before by persecuting and pulling downe as Luther speakes In a word plainly to expresse my meaning one extremitie as many examples both antient and moderne testifie a hath caused another the Tyrannie of Episcopall government in some Bishops hath brought forth the Democracie and Independencie the violent pressing of some pretended orders hath set many against all order and Satan seing hee cannot doe as he did the times not favouring those things they being growne old and even antiquated that every man is ready to hisse at them hee now goes about by other waies and if he can but effect what he is in a faire way for and what he hath begun in a great measure he hath enough T is reported of the Fish called * Polypus that it will be of the colour of that stone to which it cleaves whether white or blacke or any other so will Satan be of that colour and that temper just that the men are of with whom he deales and the times are of For besides this that Satan hath more wayes to kill Soules and advance his designes then one as when he cannot have his
Protest protested Now I desire them to satisfie me in their answers they give to these Reasons what grounds they have in Scriptures for these Practices for Ministers and Elders of severall Churches to meet together in greater Assemblies to heare the matters of a particular Church to try and judge Doctrines to admonish and reprove and to complaine and that matters may with common advise and consent be agreed upon for those Churches excepting onely generall rules and commands with the equity and Analogie of examples so that if these Acts and Workes may be done lawfully then the judging and determining of censures and the imposition of Orders and Decrees may be warrantable especially considering that the example of the Synod at Jerusalem ordained those decrees for to be kept of the Churches Act. 16. ver. 4. So that there was not onely discussion disputation common agreement but imposition of them besides these acts which you grant some of them be Acts of Power and government other of these Acts are Church censures as publicke reproving and admonition upon complaint and accusations as appeares by the 1 Tim. 5. 20. Mat. 18. ver. 15 16 17. So Amesius tells us that the parts of Discipline are brotherly correction and excommunication neither doth Discipline consist onely or chiefely in the thunder-bolt of excommunications but chiefely in Christian correction and full excomunication is not to be exercised unlesse to the sinne there be added contumacy And so admonitions and reproofes upon complaints are held Church censures by themselves Now then if Officers of other Congregations with their owne Officers may exercise these censures and that which is the chiefe part of Discipline and if members of other Churches ought by the Law of Communion of Churches to seeke advise helpe and to submit to admonitions and reproofes so as there may be good by them then also may they submit to the decreeing of Excommunications by Synods for if discipline may be lawfully exercised in that wherein it chiefely consists as admonitions and reproofes by Officers of other Churches towards members of such a congregation then may it also be exercised in that wherein it lesse consists and in this you are no more subject in conscience to a humane Ordinance then you are in publicke admonitions and reproofes Reason VIII THey doe grant and confesse that Churches of such a Communion and association if upon complaints of false Doctrines and evill Discipline made to Synods and Classes the Synods and classes convincing a Church of their errors admonishing and councelling them to reforme and to censure the obstinate persons among them if after all this they shall persist and goe on that then all these Churches ought to withdraw from them renounce communion and fellowship with them cast them off and declare so much to their severall Congregations Now I would know of them avoyding strife about names words and formes of Excommunication what is excommunication but this what is it to excommunicate or to be excommunicated but to reject persons and not to have communion with them neither in holy nor civill things familiarly for proofe of which see these places Matth. 18. v. 17. If he neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen or Publican Which words are understood by all men that would found Discipline upon this place to be meant of excommunication So 2 Thes. 3. v. 6. 14 15. They are both understood of excommunication and they are expressed by keeping no company with them and by withdrawing communion from them So that if Officers and Churches may doe this lawfully then they may excommunicate members of other Congregations So Tit. 3. v. 10. Excommunication is expressed under rejecting so that our Independant Brethren should not upon word or names make so great a stirre in the Church and maintaine a controversie even to separated Assemblies when they doe yeeld the substance hence it is that one of them in that late Protestation Protested meaning I suppose no other than his fellowes plainely uses the word Excommunicate which was not without a providence to make them yeeld to the Truth not onely in the thing but in the very name and terme Many other Reasons against Independancy I could subjoyne to these as that this overthrowes Communion of Saints as the impossibility of this Government to any Christian Common-wealth or Nation c. Besides the taking of all their evasions to these Reasons which I easily know and foresee as also an answer to all their arguments and reasons for Independancy But intending this onely for a light skirmish before I draw up my Forces to the maine Battell and sending this forth but as a Scout to discover the strength or weakenesse of the other side I will adde no more onely that I doe not feare but that these few Souldiers will be able to returne againe alive and unwounded and be able to doe more service when they shall be joyned with others and formed into Battalio Reasons Against A Toleration of some Independant CHVRCHES IN ENGLAND Reason I. THough the Scriptures speake much for tolerating and bearing one with another in many things both in matters of opinion and practice as these places testifie Rom. 14. 1 2 3. 5. 13 14. verses Rom. 15. 1 2. 7. ver. Ephes. 4. 2 3. ver. Phil. 3. 15 16. ver. yet when differences come either to heresie or schismes and points be maintained by men so as to trouble and disturbe the Church then the Scriptures are expresse against their Toleration and sufferance requiring them who have power to hinder it as may be seene Rev. 2. 20. I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that Woman Jesabel which calleth her selfe a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my Servants 1 Tim. 1. 3. Timothie must charge some in Ephesus to teach no other Doctrine Tit. 1. 10. Men who are unruly and subvert whole Houses teaching things that they ought not for filthy lucres sake their mouthes must be stopped Tit. 3. 10. Titus must reject a man that is an Hereticke after the first and second admonition Rom 16. ver. 17. Paul presses upon the Romans by earnest beseeching to Marke them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them which is far from tolerating them So Paul writes to the Galathians of some who troubled their Church affirming Galath. 5. 10. 12. That he who troubleth you shall beare his judgement whosoever he be And I would they were even cut off which trouble you On which words Pareus gives the Exposition That to beare judgement is to be punished that is troublers and disturbers of a Church and people shall be punished first of God and then of the Church as also of the Magistrate and on the 12. verse Paul wishes they were cut off from the Church which rend the Church about circumcision who trouble and disturbe both the outward peace of the Church as also your
faith and consciences So Calvin on these two verses 10. 12. speakes thus But let them heare whoever give occasion of troubles to the Churches who loosen the unity of the Faith who breake peace and if they have any right understanding let them tremble at this for God doth pronounce by the mouth of Paul that no Authors of such offences shall be unpunished They teare and rend the Church about Circumcision I would have them to be cut off neither can this be condemned of cruelty as if it were against Charity for if we compare the Church with one man or a few how farre doth that outwaigh for it is cruell mercy which preferres one man or a few before the Church c. Now the Toleration desired to set up Churches independant and separated from the Churches in the Kingdome it is in it selfe a schisme a rent and a troubling disturbing of the Church so it will prove more and more and cannot be avoided according to their principles and practices hitherto a daily schisme and rent in this Church and an infinite disturbance both to the outward peace and to the faith and consciences of the people in this Kingdome The Church of England will be as much troubled by it as ever was the Church of Galatia which will appeare more fully in the following Reasons And therefore there ought to be no Toleration every one in their place ought to be against it the Magistrates Ministers and People The permitting and suffering of evill with the giving of any countenance to it when men have power to hinder it is to be partakers of their sinne 1 Tim. 5. 22. the second Epistle of John the 11. verse Qui non prohibet quando protest jubet Hee that doth not forbid when he hath power commands And let me aske the Independant Ministers a question or two Is it fitting that well meaning Christians should be suffered to goe and make Churches and then proceed to chuse whom they will for Ministers as some Taylor Felt-maker Button-maker men ignorant and low in parts by whom they shall be led into sinne and errors and to forsake the publicke assemblies where they may enjoy worthy and pretious Pastors after Gods owne heart who would feed them with knowledge and understanding If once there be a Toleration of Churches it will be thus but if they be hindered of all meetings this would be prevented So heresies also may take and spread in those separated assemblies before they can be knowne to the Magistrates and Ministers of other Churches Do not your hearts bleed within you to see and heare of this for the present in severall places and to thinke what will be hereafter O mine doth and thus if once there were a Toleration how many weake Brethren would perish for whom Christ dyed Reason II. THe toleration desired will not helpe to heale the Schismes and tents of this Church which is one speciall thing ought to be looked unto in this present reformation of the Church but will much foment and encrease it For whilst some congregations and they accounted of note both for ministers and people will not submit to the reformation and government setled by Law this will breed in the peoples mindes many thoughts Ex natura rei that this Church and government is not ordered according to the Word of God but is unlawfull else why should such men most eminent for gifts and graces as many people account them refuse to conforme to it and this will prove as great and as continued a division betweene the ministers and people of the Churches established by Law and the Churches tolerated as ever was betweene Conformists and Non-conformists about Ceremonies nay greater because these are of different Churches Congregations whereas Conformists and non-conformists held communion together in one Church though contending about these matters and that this will certainly be may be easily beleeved and foreseene upon these grounds 1. Because many of the people who yet be not in this Church way for their practise are yet much possessed with these principles of the Independant way as the onely way of God and are much looking towards it 2. The mindes of multitudes of the professors in England and especially in this City are upon all occasions very apt to fall to any way in Doctrine or Discipline that is not commonly received by the Church as accounting some singular perfection to be in that which is new and held but by a few 3. Though the Ministers of the Congregations tolerated would promise not to preach of these points in publicke nor in private to speake of them which yet they will not be tyed unto yet their people many of them both men and women are so strangely bold pragmaticall and so highly conceited of their way as the Kingdome of Christ and the onely way of Christ that what out of those principles and what by vertue of their relations in friendship kindred c. there would be continuall drawing of many and many falling to them 4. The prime principles of this Church way as namely independancie liberty power of government and rule to be in the people are mighty pleasing to flesh and blood people generally chiefely meane persons and such who have beene kept under affecting Independancie Liberty Power and Rule 5. The grant of a toleration will be made use of by them for the strengthning of their way to be the truth and will be interpreted in this sense that they had such grounds and reasons as the ablest Ministers in the Kingdome could not answer and therefore were content they should have a toleration else if they could have satisfied them what needed a toleration onely though they could not answer their Reasons and had nothing to say yet they would not come to them and this will be spoken of by their followers that we would not bee convinced though we could say nothing against it all which will as a meanes to encrease their side occasion continuall strifes divisions heart-burnings both of Ministers against Ministers and people against people so that in stead of Union and peace in the Kingdome and Church we shall have notwithstanding all reformation a greater division and rent succeede than ever before Reason III. THis toleration will not onely breede Divisions and Schismes disturbing the peace and quiet of Churches and Townes by setting them who are of different families and in more remote relations one against another but it will undoubtedly cause much disturbance discontent and divisions in the same families even betweene the nearest relations of husbands and wives Fathers and children brothers and sisters Masters and Servants The husband being of one Church the wife of another the father of one the childe of another the master of the Church established by Law the servant of the tolerated one brother of one Church and another brother of another and so all Oeconomicall relations and duties will be much disturbed when as they of one house
many Professors are more idle and busie bodies tatlers also as it is said 1 Tim. 5. 13. ver. Very wanton also in their Wits affecting novelties in Religion and liking of points that are not established nor commonly held Fourthly Holland tolerates you and many others but it is more upon grounds and necessitie of worldly respects because of that benefit of excise towards the maintenance of warres which they have from them who live amongst them so that they are paid well for it so that in this they measure things rather Vina Mercatoria than by the rule of Scriptures and were it not for that and such respects which the state of that State hath put them upon they would never grant tolerations but there is not the same reason here in any respect our riches and strength standing in one way of Religion and not in tolerations Reason III. IF wee may not have a toleration and a liberty of erecting some congregations among you this will force us to leave the Kingdome that wee may have the liberty of our consciences and if you doe what cruelty is this 1. Answer There is no need of a Toleration for you and yet no need of forcing you to leave the Kingdome that you may enjoy your Consciences and that will appeare if you calmely and meekely be content to heare Reasons and Principles which you your selves agree to as namely you hold that our Churches be true Churches our Ministers true Ministers Ordinances of word Sacraments true and that you can partake with us in our Congregations in all Ordinances even in comming to the Lords supper provided that scandalous and ignorant persons be kept backe and ceremonies removed why then should you desire to set up other Churches as different from ours you can have but Word Prayer Sacraments and Discipline in your owne that you may enjoy in ours is this any good reason for you to leave the Kingdome I pray consider well some of your Ministers at first comming over said as I have beene told from good hands they could take the charge of Parochiall Churches amongst us upon the reformation hoped for and they could yeild to Presbyteriall government by Classes and Synods so not enjoyned to submit to it as Jure divino but since they have gotten some more hopes I know not upon what grounds they are now very hot for a Toleration and will not heare of growing into one body with us Secondly Seeing our Churches Ministers and Ordinance be true for you to erect new and to withdraw from such Churches though suppose they were in some things defective and not every way so rightly ordered as were to be desired I know can never be answered to God especially you having not the power and authority from God to order those Churches otherwise and I desire you againe and againe to waigh whether you may not live in the Communion of such Churches where some thing may be yet desired that is not where it is not in your power to helpe but that you are bound by the Command of God in such cases either to leave the Kingdome for that liberty or else being private men in a Land where true Churches Ministers and Ordinances are to goe and set up divided Churches in that Land both against the Lawes of the Land and to the scandall of all the Churches I beseech you thinke upon it what is become of Fraterna toleratio and of giving scandall not to one Brother but to thousands of Congregations of Christ And whether nothing wanting in matter of Order may be Tolerated so long as a man is not put upon the practise of that which is unlawfull As for those Brownists whose Principles and Consciences though very erroneous hold that we have no true Church Ministery Ordinances but all is Antichristian they have a better warrant to set up new Assemblies or to leave the Kingdome to enjoy their way but as for you to withdraw and set up separated assemblies upon no greater grounds or causes can never be justified and I shall be ready upon that point to deale with any of you and for your better satisfaction for the present I wish the conscientious and sober Ministers to read two pages in Master Robinsons Apologie Chap. 12. De Eccle. Anglic. pag. 86 87. Wherein he grants that Churches may not be departed from for circumstantiall corruptions nor for many inconveniencies affirming that it is neither Christian prudence nor charity to doe so he shewes it is not an intolerable evill though an evill to be lamented for evill men to be suffered in the Church nor that Discipline as it is called or that Ecclesiasticall government instituted by Christ is neglected or violated but that 's it that the plaine contrary to it should be established by Law and so he goes on Now supposing our reformation it will be otherwise with England then when he writ and the most that can be said supposing your principles the Truth though that 's denyed by us there will be but evill men suffered and not men of the most profligate life and Discipline instituted willbe but neglected or violated not that which is quite contrary as established by Law take place Thirdly You your selves live in and are members of such Churches and thinke it unlawfull to forsake them where for many yeares together you beare with defects and want some parts of government and Officers appointed by Christ more materiall then will be in ours upon a reformation as namely without Pastors Elders Widowes many yeares together without Sacraments a long time without censures especially unlesse you allow people to be the instruments and exercise Excommunication without having Ordination of Officers without prophecying also many yeares Why can you not beare with some defects in our Churches and be content to waite some yeares till God either give you light to see your mistakes or else till we have more light to perfect what is wanting You tell us that some things may be omitted for a time as Circumcision was in the Wildernesse and that affirmatives doe not binde too alwayes and that exercise of Discipline may be forborne for a time when it is evident it will not be for edification to the Church but destruction what shall hinder then but that you ought to incorporate into our Assemblies though something yet were to be desired there is nothing contrary that will be put upon you nor quite another thing Fourthly You may safely be members of our congregations in the reformation of us and in these times because you may without danger shew your dislike and speake against scandalous persons and against the fault of the Church if they admit such to the Sacrament which being done your selves grant you may communicate with them so a Letter sent from Roterdam grants And I have heard this alledged as the reason why you first left our Churches but that reason now ceases seeing either such persons will be wholly kept away or else you may
flourishing of your way but not as that which is necessary to your way now in a busines which is but of conveniency not of necessity according to your principles though you had a liberty priviledge to enjoy it yet where so muchscandal may come of your liberty and it cannot be avoyded for though one of the more sober and conscientious Ministers and people could use it better yet most would abuse it as the rigid Brownists Anabaptists and many weake Christians you should not use it but forbeare so the Apostle teaches us 1 Cor. 8. v. 9. So Gal. 5. v. 13. 14. 15. Now a scandall is some word or action giving an occasion of ruine to a weake brother which practice of yours would certainely doe now to the avoiding the scandall of the weake All those things are to be done or omitted which may be done or omitted without sinne as Amesius grants lib. 5. de Cons. cap. 11. So Gerson speakes part 2. Reg. moral A man is bound to desist from every act to which be is not necessarily tyed where upon good grounds the scandall of the weake is feared Now the setting up of separated Assemblies in this Church may be omitted without sinne neither are ye necessarily tyed to it as will appeare by this sixth Answer Besides considering all the former answers wherein you see what you may enjoy in this Kingdome in liberty of Ordinances and Consciences you are not tyed for some matter of convenience which you might enjoy in another Kingdome to withdraw from this Church and to leave your owne Country for your satisfaction in which point I had rather Doctor Amesius should speake then I to whom I referre you who in his cases of Conscience about this point saith thus A man may keepe Communion with a Church wherein wicked men are suffered and good men depressed and that upon severall reasons amongst others upon this ground Because from such a Church to a purer there is oft times no removing without great dammages and hinderance which ought to be avoyded alwayes as much as may be without sinne yea such dammages and losses doe sometimes cause that an affirmative precept ceases to bind A man may joyne himselfe and live in such a Church in which many defects are necessarily to be tolerated yea and joyne to that Church where the power of removing scandalls and casting out wicked men is taken away if he cannot without great prejudice and hurt goe to a freer Church and men sinne not either in joyning to such a Church or continuing in it But yet further he grants a man may be a member of such a Church in which some things instituted by Christ are wanting and where some things appointed by men are introduced So that I beseech you Brethren lay all these six answers together and consider sadly whether God requires of you unlesse you may have a Toleration to leave the Kingdome to run many hazards and dangers for Churches after your way when as you may enjoy so much at home without a Toleration of exempt Assemblies as I have opened in these six answers Seventhly If notwithstanding all that is said to you you will not be satisfied without setting up Churches against the Church it were better for you to leave the Kingdome and to returne backe to your charges and families into Holland and others of your minde who cannot be satisfied to leave the Land and to goe to New England or else where rather then by erecting of Churches by Toleration or without it to disturbe the good and peace of three Kingdomes and this will be no great harme to many of you for you may easily returne being able to live and subsist there comfortably as you say your selves and for my owne part were I of your way so farre as I know my owne heart I had rather goe to the uttermost parts of the Earth though to live in a hard and meane condition than to disturbe the peace or good of three Kingdomes as you would doe by a Toleration Looke what is commonly said praestat ut pereat unus quam unit as It is better that one perish than unity so I say it is farre better a few Ministers and people wanted some outward accommodations of their owne Countrey than that the good of the whole should be so in danger neither is there any cruelty or persecution in it as they will be apt to phrase it for if the purity of Doctrine holinesse of life peace of the Church cannot be preserved by such a Toleration as I have in part shewed and can make it plaine then it ought not to be and I will speake for my selfe and in the behalfe of hundreds of my Brethren painefull in the Ministery who have borne the brunt of the times that we professe we will submit to the reformation and government established by Law which we doubt not but will be very blessed and glorious but however things should fall out we would either patiently tolerate what is not in our spheare to reforme or quietly sit downe in the Kingdome or else with leave betake our selves to some other Countryes being fully resolved in our Consciences that circumstances in and about externall formes of Government in matter of order can never be sufficient grounds to us to set up Churches against a Church where true Churches are and so to prove meanes of eternall divisions and heart-burnings between Ministers and people Reason IIII. I But if these Ministers and some such Churches be not tolerated they are afraid that in time they shall draw most of the good people out of the Land after them First Answer I heare one of them say so but I suppose they rather hope then feare it and this plainely shewes they have a good conceit of themselves and of their owne way Secondly For their feare we feare too but not as they doe but this that if they have a toleration they may draw away many good people especially if the ceremonies and the Liturgy stand in full force and their Churches tolerated they will make brave worke in a short time though I am confident God will preserve many judicious advised Christians from their way notwithstanding but let there be no Toleration granted and they once well shipt and a reformation amongst us in government and Ministers that feare is over with me we feare it not that many will follow them for when that which first bred these men the violent pressing of ceremonies the casting out of good Ministers the many notorious persons suffered in the Church without all censure shall be removed many will not be bred and others will be satisfied and I doubt it not but that the godly and painefull Ministers of the Church of England may and will both out-Preach them and out-live them and may be compared with them for all excellencies and abilities for my part I shall speake as I finde I knew many of them long before they fell to this
protest against them though I must tell you that practise you judge your selves tyed to is founded upon a false principle namely that the power of government is given by Christ to the body of the Congregation Fifthly There is a medium betweene persecution as you terme it and a publicke Toleration a middle way betweene not suffering men to live in the Land and the granting them a liberty of separated Assemblies so that there is no necessity either of leaving the Land or of enjoying exempt Congregations for there is a third datur tertium as for Instance Persons may be tolerated to inhabit in a Land to enjoy their Lands and liberties and not be compelled to professe and practise things which are against their consciences It is one thing to be forced and compelled positively to doe things against conscience and another thing not to be suffered the publicke practise of some things in separated Congregations as to illustrate it thus suppose the Papists upon their petitions to the Parliament should have those statutes repealed which enjoynes them to come to our Churches which they say is against their consciences though indeed they are bound by the command of God to come and ought by the Magistrate to be compelled to come as Doctor Davenant hath cleerely showed yet the granting the Papists a Toleration of the publicke exercise of their Religion to the scandall of the Reformed Churches and dishonour of God were quite another thing insomuch as the Papists though they petition the first upon deepe Protestation of living peaceably and according to the Lawes of the Land yet they move not for the last so I judge you may live in the Land freely and enjoy your liberties and estates comming to our Churches enjoying the ordinances and are like never to be compelled to professe or practise what is against your judgements the greatest inconvenience is but the forbearing of something you would have which considering the questionablenesse of the thing and the many other evills which would attend it if you should enjoy it you may in point of conscience be well satisfied without it so that consider well and you may find a medium betweene leaving the Land and enjoying a Toleration of exempt Congregations Sixthly If all these former answers satisfie you not fully because though these things be true yet besides these Ordinances and Ministers you must be in a Church way and Fellowship as now you are then know according to your Principles of a visible Church laid downe by Master Robinson and by your selves in all your Manuscripts you may enjoy your way in having severall visible Churches and that without that offence and scandall to Magistrates and Churches and yet neither leave the Kingdome nor have a Toleration and that I will demonstrate thus two or three Saints joyning together in a Covenant make a Church a greater number is not required neither Officers to the essence of a Church a greater addition of company to this two or three though they may make for the well being and flourishing of the Church yet they are not of the essence of the Church Now then every one of you in your owne Families as the Husband Wife Children of age and Servants who are visible Saints may be joyned in covenant to walke in Gods wayes and to watch over one another so that here is a Church and every Master in his Family may set up holy exercises and exercise Discipline among themselves for their Families and thus in the Church that is in their house they may exercise what Discipline they judge is wanting in ours so that comming to our Churches to the Word Prayer Sacraments they may serve God in their owne Families among themselves in a Church way in wayes of admonition reproofe and other censures nay every Church Family or most of them may have Officers also amongst them the Ministers Families may have a Pastor or Teacher each Minister being made Pastor of his owne Family chosen also he may be by his Family who also may Preach and instruct his Family and exercise Discipline amongst them great Families as Gentlemen or Citizens may themselves be teachers of their Families according to your Principles or may have some in their Families fit to be chosen Elders and Teachers to them especially such of them who keepe Schollers in their houses and still chosen by the Church of this Family But if there be some Church Families who have none fit for Officers to their Church which can hardly be in these kindes of Churches yet this is not of the essence of the Church But as for single persons as Young men and Mayds who are of your judgement if you aske what they shall doe seeing they have no Families and cannot joyne two or three in a Family to make a Church I answer they may be Servants unto men of their owne judgement and live in the Families of their owne way and so may be in a Church And thus you may enjoy your owne way without scandall or division the Lawes not forbidding or medling what men doe in this kind as how oft men pray in their owne Families or catechise them or whom they shut out from their Prayers and holy duties But if it be said how shall such as are bred Schollers the Ministers of this way be maintained it is not being Ministers to their owne Family will maintaine them I answer I have taken care to show them a way for maintenance also how they may enjoy their Country their Consciences and maintenance that so they need not be forced to seeke a Toleration of Churches that they may be maintained and that is thus Supposing they will not take Pastorall charges of Parishes but onely be Pastors of the Church in their house yet holding it lawfull as they doe to Preach in our Congregations they may take Lectures amongst us and so be maintained there will be want of many men for Lectures setled by gifts of the dead and then no question but the government of the Church which shall be established by Law will be so moderate that if men hold the maine points of Doctrine with the Church be pious in life and peaceable so as not to Preach nor speake against what 's established by Law nor doe not make Schismes to goe and set up separated Assemblies which practises caused troubles in the Church they may enjoy all liberty and as many Scriptures show freedome though in point of opinion and judgement there may be some difference from things established by Law for I suppose we shall not have subscriptions enjoyned to formes of government and Discipline but onely to Doctrines and that also in maine and cleere poynts so that by all this you may apprehend how without a Toleration you may in a secret and peaceable way enjoy your Church fellowship with maintenance also What ever else you seeke for by a Toleration of many Families to make a Church is but for the more comfort