Visible to be a Body Politick the first Seat of all Ordinances and that the Pastor's Office was with Relation to the whole Catholick Church that they might Administer all Ordinances of Worship and Discipline wheresoever they came The Congregational Presbyterian in opposition unto 'em denied the Catholick Church Visible to be a Body Politick or Governed Society that Visible Saints combin'd for Communion in all Odinances whilst without Officers were a particular Church Essential tha these Churches had Power to choose their own Officers and that the Ruling Power of these Officers was confined within the Bounds of Congregational Particular Churches §. 10 Well then let us in the next place compare these distinct Notions with the late Heads of Agreement and see whether the Vnited Brethren fell in with the English Presbyterian Principles in this Matter or not §. 11 1. If we do but impartially observe the Design of this Agreement we shall find it to be nothing else than an Improvement of our Liberty in such a way as may most effectually convince them of the Church of England that nothing is more Remote from our Thoughts than a making the least Incroachment upon or in any wise an Intermedling with the National Church Form and whereas the Congregational and English Presbyterian Principles are best adjusted to this end as well as most Conform to the Gospel Rule we took special care in drawing up the Agreement to Assert and Explain their Principles And therefore as we did in the Preface and in the Title of the first Page positively declare against Intermedling with the National Church Form So §. 12 2. We did express our Dislike of that Principle on which either a Diocesan or Classical Church Government is erected For by the first Article in the first Section the Catholick Churches being a Totum Integrale a Society under an External Polity or Government is Disclaimed in these Words viz. But as for the Notion of a Visible Catholick Church as it may signifie its having been collected into any Formed Society under a Visible Head on Earth whether one Person singly or many collectively we with the rest of Protestants do UNANIMOUSLY DISCLAIM IT §. 13 3. Agreeably hereunto a particular Church ESSENTIAL with its Rights and Liberties is Asserted and Described first more generally Art 2. We Agree that particular Societies of Visible Saints who under Christ their Head are statedly joyn'd together for ORDINARY COMMUNION with one another in ALL THE Ordinances of Christ are Particular Churches That is to say a Congregation of Visible Saints statedly joyn'd together for these Ends. So that here is a Particular Church Essential asserted that this particular Church Essential is Congregational also cleared and as such agreed unto for it 's said that they are statedly joyn'd together for ORDINARY Communion with one another in all the Ordinances of Christ which cannot be but in one single Congregation But §. 14 4. There is special care taken to secure this Principle by declaring in the second Article That these Societies are to be owned by each other for Instituted Churches of Christ than which nothing can be more plainly delivered in opposition to the Classical Government §. 15 5. This particular Congregational Church Essential is more particularly described as to its Matter and Form Art 3. and 4. Besides §. 16 The Right of this Church Essential to choose its own Officers is secured by Art 6. That each Particular Church hath Right to choose their own Officers and being furnished with such as are duly Qualified and Ordained according to Gospel Rule HATH AUTHORITY from Jesus Christ for EXERCISING GOVERNMENT and of Enjoying ALL the Ordinances of Worship WITHIN IT SELF This then being the Turning Point between those who are for a Catholick Church Government and these who are for a Particular Congregational Government I will be the more distinct in showing what depends on a Right or wrong stating it §. 17 1. If this Article contains not the Truth then indeed the Cause must be yielded to the Classical Diocesan Provincial National Patriarchal and Papal Church Government For upon the same Reason the Government is stretched beyond a single Congregational to a Classical Church it must be carried to the outmost Bounds of the Catholick which is the Papal For it is impossible to carry it to a Classical or Diocesan upon any other Reason than as it is a Larger part of the Catholick Church Polity which still must pay a Deference unto a Larger until you come to a larger than that and at last to the Largest of all viz. the Papal which is a Truth that hath been so fully cleared by Mr. Baxter and is in its own Nature so very Plain and Obvious that a small Measure of Attention will help an ordinary Capacity to see into it §. 18 2. But if this Article of the Vnited Brethren DOTH contain the Truth and a particular Church Essential hath Power to choose its own Officers and being furnished with such hath received Authority from Christ to exercise Government and enjoy all Ordinances of Worship within it self then it unavoidably follows that Congregational Churches are in a Proper Sense Particular Churches that all Church Power doth firstly belong unto them and that Classical Provincial National Patriarchal Churches are not Properly Churches nor have they a Power over Particular Congregational Churches Besides §. 19 3. If the Vnited Brethren namely the English Presbyterian and Congregationalists do herein Assert no more than they are Authorized to do by the Gospel of our Lord Jesus then the First Reformers in their Separation from ROME and their setting up Churches of another sort than what were established by the Pope did no more than what they were empowered by Jesus Christ himself to do as will clearly appear by an Impartial Proposal of the Judgment of the Learned Gilbertus Voetius Meinardus Shottanus and Carolus de Maetz Divinity Professors at Vtrecht which upon such Mighty Considerations as relate to the Vitals of the Reformation they gave in the resolving some Cases proposed unto them on the Forming that Particular Church of which one Mr. Park was chosen Pastor who hath said enough to justifie what the Vnited Brethren have Asserted about a Particular Church ESSENTIAL and the Power of choosing her own Officers Consider then that the Questions proposed were 1. Whether such Faithful Persons as without the Authority of any Ecclesiastical Society either Classical or Presbyterial by Combination forming themselves into a Society for Communion in the Ordinances of the Gospel may be Acknowledged to be ESSENTIALLY a Church 2. Whether this Church ESSENTIAL hath Power to choose a Pastor To the first they answer That it is and may be said to be Essentially a True Church of Christ Distinguenda est say they Ecclesiae Particularis Essentia ab INTEGRITATE Perfectione ejus ORGANICA Voet. Pol. Eccles Part. 1. Lib. 1. Cap. 3. to wit an External Visible Instituted Parochial Particular Church Their fourth Reason for
and their Subordination to the Civil Magistrate are briefly these 1. That a Governing Church is of no larger Extent than a Worshipping Congregation 2. That the Ruling Power of their Officers is not to be stretch'd beyond the Bounds and Limits of their Worshipping Congregation 3. That what Power besides this is requisite to reform the Disorders in Particular Churches such as the Removing Scandalous and Heretical Teachers c. is vested in the Civil Magistrate 4. That it belongs also to the Civil Magistrate to convene Synods or Assemblies of Ministers when there shall be an occasion for them whose Power when convened is only Persuasive not Coercive §. 2 The Principles which the Classical or Scotch Presbyterians who assert the Divine Right of a National Church-Government do advance are 1. That One Governing Church is made up of many worshipping Congregations 2. That the Ruling Power of their Officers is extended beyond the Bounds of a single Congregation For by asserting the Catholick Church Visible to be a Govern'd Society or Organnick Body they must necessarily and do professedly own that the Ministry Ordinances and Censures are given firstly to the Catholick Church Visible and secondarily to particular Churches which whether Congregational Classical Provincial c. are not properly Churches but only Parts or Members diversly combin'd of the Catholick Church which is the only proper Visible Church whereupon all Church-Power is habitually seated in the Officers of the Catholick Church Visible as such and therefore extended beyond the Bounds of single Congregations even to the utmost Limits of the Catholick Church Visible 3. That the Ruling Officers in their larger Assemblies viz. Classical Provincial National Patriarchal and Oecumenical have a Power inherent in them to reform the Disorders of particular Churches and to remove scandalous or Heretical Teachers 4. That it belongs to the Church and not to the Civil Magistrate to convene Synods or Assemblies of Ministers and other Ruling Officers §. 3 In these particular Instances you have a full though brief Account of what is embraced by the English and by the Classical Presbyterians And it 's now my Part to vindicate the former from those Reproaches unjustly cast upon them and shew that the Charge can not be fairly laid at the Door of any Presbyterian but the Classical §. 4 That I may do the English Presbyterians Justice in the representing their Principles I must consider what the miserable State of the Church was before Luther upon what Principles the Protestants went in their Endeavours to reform the Church and then evince that the English Presbyterians stuck firmly to those Principles upon which the Separation was made from the Church of Rome SECT II. The Miserable State of the Church before Luther the Principles on which the Reformation was begun and carryed on with a state of the Controversie between Papist and Protestant The English Presbyterians constantly adhered to the Reformed about Church-Government particularly Cartwright c. §. 1 ABout the time that Luther with many others endeavour'd a Reformation of the Church the Great Evil complained of was the Intolerable Tyranny of the Ecclesiasticks The People were then so very much under the Power of the Clergy that they were perfect Strangers to the least Part of Christian Liberty besides the Inferiour Clergy so grievously Oppressed by their Superiours and all so much Slaves to the Pleasure of the greatest that throughout all Europe the Miseries of the People were so great and pressing that none durst open their Mouths in favour of their Ancient Rights and Privileges Yea §. 2 The Domination and Tyranny of Popish Prelates who aimed more at Worldly Grandeur than at the advancing Christ's Glory was grown to such a Height that they did what-ever was good in their own Eyes and that they might do it with the greater Countenance they asserted that there was a Catholick Church Visible that this Catholick Visible Church was One Governed Corporation or Society under one supreme Governing Power to which they ascended by sundry steps from the Diocesane to the Provincial from thence to the Patriarchal §. 3 The first Reformers as many of their Fore-Fathers such as the Wickliffists Hussists c. groaning under these Insupportable Burdens and throughly understanding from whence they had their Rise laid the Ax to the Root of the Antichristian Tyranny denying that there was a Catholick Church Visible §. 4 Here the Reformed fix'd their Foot affirming that the Universal Church was made up only of Elect Believers and was Invisible that those special Privileges which the Papists appropriated to their Catholick Church Visible belonged only to the Invisible Church and hereby left no foundation for the raising a Catholick Church Government upon for Sublato Fundamento tollitur Opus and thus their Catholick Government fell to the Ground The Government in Controversie being External as well as Catholick must have a Visible as well as a Catholick Church for its State so that where no such Catholick Church there can be no such Catholick Government On the other hand §. 5 The Papists being fully convinced that the Reformers had taken the most effectual way to subvert their Church Government and divest them of that Authority they assumed to themselves over the Consciences of the People owned it and in Opposition unto them held that there was a Catholick Church Visible under an External Polity or Government So Alphonsus a Castro advers Haeres Lib. 1. The Wickliffists Hussists and Lutheranes do stifly insist on the Invisibility of the Catholick Church and is the strongest Shield they have to defend themselves against whatever is urged from the Church's Authority which is the sharpest Weapon we can use against them Gregory de Valentina Anal. Fid. Cathol lib. 6. Chap. 3. If the Vniversal Church be Composed only of those who are Predestinated and truly Righteous the Government of the Church of Rome can never be defended And Rodericus de Arriago confesseth de Divin sid Disp 7. § 1. Num. 3. That the true Reason why they lay so much stress upon this Part of the Controversie is because the Support of the Papall Power Depends upon it Many other Authorities may be at any time produced for the Confirmation of this Point but the thing it self is so clear that it 's not needful §. 6 The Reformed in this Kingdom agree'd with the Wickliffists Hussists and Lutheranes owning that the Catholick Church was no otherwise visible than as it might be seen in Particular Church-Assemblies which closely examined amounts to more than that there is no Church properly speaking Visible but what is Particular and no External Church-Government but what is seated in Particular Churches that the Reforming such Disorders as cannot be done by that Power which is Peculiar to Parochiall or Congregational Churches belongs to the Civil Magistrate viz. such as the convening the Assemblies of Ministers and the removing Scandalous Turbulent and Heretical Teachers But §. 7 If all that Power which is meerly
Spiritual and Ecclesiastical be appropriated to particular Congregations then all that Power exercised in Classical Diocesane Provincial National Patriarchal and Oecumenical Synods or Assemblies falls to the ground together with their having Authority to determine Controversies of Faith for sublato fundamento tollitur opus as has been already observed §. 8 This being for many Years after the Reformation began in this Land generally received the English Presbyterians took Advantage against that Part of the Church of England which retaining too much of the Catholick Church Leven would fain have preserved somewhat of the old Papal Power Some feeble Efforts were put forth in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and James the First but re infecta and in the Reign of Charles the First by the help of Archbishop Laud and his Followers great Advancements were made towards the Restoring this Power But §. 9 The general Vogue of the Episcopal as well as the Cry of the Nonconformists being against the Exercise of any such Power the Difficulties the Archbishop met with were next to insuperable especially upon the account of the Different Copies about the Twentieth Article of the Church of England for as some Copies begin thus The Church hath Power to decree Rites and Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith it is not Lawfull c. So others begin at It is not Lawfull c. Whereupon Laud's Party found it necessary to oppugn the old Doctrine about the Authority and Government of the Church and whereas the 20th Article in some Ancient Copies of the Queen's Reign began at It is not Lawfull for the Church to Ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word c. 't was such an obstacle in the way of their Designs that they were hard put to it and found it necessary if possible to remove it And accordingly §. 10 Dr. Heylin a chief Instrument in this Design did on the 24th day of April Ann. 1627. answer in the Divinity-Schools at Oxon upon these two Questions viz. 1. An Ecclesia unquam fuit invisibilis And 2. An Ecclesia possit errare Both which he determined in the Negative And in stating of the first he fell upon a different way from that of Dr. Prideaux in his Lecture De Visibilitate Ecclesiae and other Tractates of and about that time in which the Visibility of the Church was no otherwise proved than as scattered amongst the Waldenses Wickliffists Hussists c. For Heylin not liking this manner of Proceeding because it utterly discontinued the Succession in the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy chose rather to look for a Continual Visible Church in Asia Ethiopia Greece Italy and Rome it self §. 11 In the Year 1633. Heylin was at Oxon to Answer for his Degree of Doctor and insisted on the Authority of the Church as formerly he did on the Infallibility and Visibility of it His Questions were 1. An Ecclesia habeat Authoritatem in Decernendis fidei Controversiis 2. Interpretandi Scripturas 3. Decernendi Ritus Ceremonias all which he held in the Affirmative declaring it to be the Plain and Positive Doctrine of the Church of England in the 20th Article which runs thus in terminis viz. Habet Ecclesia Ritus sive Ceremonias statuendi Jus in fidei Controversiis Authoritatem But §. 12 Dr. Prideaux then in the Chair expressed great Dissatisfaction with Heylin charging him with falsifying the Publick Doctrine of the Church as others accused Laud and other Bishops for making this Addition the better to support their Power and Tyranny But saith Heylin in his Examen Historicum Archbishop Laud in his Speech in the Star-Chamber June 15. 1637. made it appear that the said Clause was in a Printed Book of Articles published in the Year 1563. being but very few Months after they had passed in the Convocation which was on the 29th of January 1562. in the English Account and more than so he shewed unto the Lords a Copy of the 20th Article exemplified out of the Records and attested by the hands of a Publick Notary in which that very Clause was found which had been charged upon the Bishops for an Innovation And thus much I can say of my own Knowledge that having occasion to consult the Records of Convocation I found this controverted Clause verbatim in these following words Habet Ecclesia Ritus statuendi Jus in fidei Controversiis Authoritatem so far Dr. Heylin p. 144. who further adds That in the Year 1571 the Puritan Faction beginning to grow very strong the Articles were again Printed in Latin and English and this Clause left out Published according to those Copies in the Harmony of Confessions Printed at Geneva Ann. 1612. That the Archbishop in his Speech p. 71. was of this Opinion too §. 13 There was we see a great deal of stress laid on this Clause of the 20th Article because the Assertion that the Church hath Authority in Controversies of Faith is so necessary to National and larger Synods and Assemblies and the laying aside this Clause so accommodated to the Principles on which the Reformation was begun and carried on For which reason I will offer what I know of this matter and therein be very impartial §. 14 1. That this Clause is not either in the Latin or English Copies Printed Ann. 1571. is granted by Dr. Heylin and I have by me a Copy in Latin published by John Day Ann. 1575. in which 't is not 2. I have seen a Copy Ann. 1563. in which it is and so it may be in the Records of the Convocations as has been suggested for ought that I do know to the contrary However 3. I do affirm upon my own Knowledge and in most humble manner address my self to the present Archbishop of Canterbury who was of C. C. C. C. to Dr. Green Master and to the worthy Fellows of that Colledge for their concurrent Testimony that in the Manuscript Library given to that House by Archbishop Matthew Parker there are the Articles of the Church of England which I can't call thirty nine because they are more subscribed by the Bishops in the Year 1562. with the number of Pages and of every Line in each Page in which the Articles are and that the twentieth Article is exactly the same with the twenty first of Edward VI. without this Clause whence I conclude first That the leaving of it out being as is acknowledged by Archbishop Laud and Dr. Heylin most adjusted to the Principles of the Nonconformists the true and genuine Reason is because the first Reformers of the Church of England and the Nonconformists were of a mind in this Particular and opposed the Papal Tyranny upon the same Foundation Secondly That although in the beginning of the Queen there were some otherwise minded who added this Clause to the Copy of 1563. yet the Bishops unanimously adhered to the Copy which laid this Clause aside But to return It is manifest §. 15 That the Old Nonconformists whom I call
Brethren the Old Puritan Nonconformists See Puritanis Angl. by Dr. Ames as the Opinions of Whitehead Gilbe Fox Dearing Greenham Cartwright Venner Fulk Whitaker Rainolds Perkins c. But also from what is in the Preface to the English Presbytery of which more in due place where the Author mentioning Dr. Ames his Puritanism adds To which Presbytery is at least a Piece of a Successor And thus it continued till the Meeting of the Assembly of Divines at Westminister in the Year 1641 without the putting forth of any Efforts for the Classical by Nonconformists SECT III. The Setting up of the Classical Presbytery in this Land Attempted by the Scots and by their Interests in the Assembly at Westminister but met with so much Opposition not only from the INDEPENDENTS but from sundry others that it could never take amongst us §. 1 THE English Presbyterians considered in Contradistinction unto the Brownists and other Dissenters from the Church of England prevailing from the beginning of the Reformation till the Assembly at Westminister met with some Check from the Attempts made upon them as well as upon the Church of England by the Scots and their Influence on the Assembly but the English Presbyterians were so powerful in this Nation at that time and the Independents who in the above-mention'd particulars Agreed with the English Presbyterians had obtain'd so great an Interest in the Parliament and Army and the Multitude of them who Dissented from the Church of England DOING SO upon a Principle that did set 'em as much against the Classical Church Government the Obstacles which lay in the way of the Assemblies setting up the Classical Presbytery were so many that they never adventured to Assert the Divine Right of that Form and the Parliament would never allow of all the Assembly presented to ' em And what was by an Ordinance of both Houses Established could never get Reputation enough amongst the People to be generally Received §. 2 This being a Point of extraordinary Importance in the present Case I will be the more Distinct in my Attempt to clear it And seeing 't is Granted on all hands that notwithstanding the most the Scots and their Friends either in the Parliament or Assembly could do the People of this Nation could never be Prevailed with to Submit to the Classical Church-Government I will only shew what were the True Reasons why it could gain no more amongsts us and the rather because not only Mr. Robert Bayly in his Disswasive from Errour but also the Learned Mr. Baxter in the Narrative he gives of his own Life p. 73. do charge the Independents for being the only hinderers Mr. Bayly with Unchristian bitterness and sundry false and Rayling Accusations saith that all the Prelates and the Papists cannot nor do hinder so much the work of Reformation as the five Dissenting Members viz. the Independents But Mr. Baxter with more temper saith that the five Dissenting Bretheren Joyned with the Rest till they had Drawn up a CONFESSION OF FAITH a Larger and Shorter Catechism but when they came to Church Government they engaged them in many long Debates and kept that Business as long as possibly they could Undetermined and after that kept it so long Vnexecuted in almost all Parts of the Land saving London and Lancashire that their Party had time to strengthen themselves in the Army and the Parliament and hinder the Execution after all and keep the Government determined of a stranger to most of the People of this Land who know it but by hearsay as it was Represented by Reporters So far Mr. Baxter who to the shame of Mr. Bayly whose Classical Zeal transported him him beyond all Bounds of Truth when he Accused the Independents for Patronizing all manner of Abominable Errours and Heresies hath confuted him and done them the Justice of Leaving it on Record that they Joyned with the Assembly in the Confession of Faith larger and shorter Catechism But §. 3 My design is cheifly to clear the Truth and show that as the Independents did undoubtedly their Part to hinder the setting up of a National Church-Government which would have Ruined those Churches which are of Christ's Institution so there were others who attempted the same that the Independents did for both the Prelatists and the English Presbyterians had upon different Reasons their hands in the Opposition and also the Body of the People §. 4 1. That the Prelatists had their share in the hindring it is Apparent from what is in the Letter sent by the Assembly to the Belgick and other Reformed Churches p. 7. in which they declare That in those Troublesome times the Honourable Houses of Parliament called the Assembly to give them their best Counsels for the Reformation of the Church c. And in this Work say they we are now excercised tho' the Enemy hath stirred up the Heart of our Dear and Dread Sovereign AGAINST us Now it 's well known that none so Powerful with the King as the Church of England who did you see their most to prevent the Assemblies erecting the Classical Government by setting his Majesty against them But §. 5 2. The great Impediment that lay in their way was the Power of the English Presbyterians who had Leaven'd the Gentry as well as the Common People with Principles opposite unto the Scotch Church Government and most conform to the Rule settled by the first Reformers in Defence of their Separation from Rome And whoever will consider what the Parliament did in Calling and Directing their Synod and in Approving and Rejecting what was Presented to them by the Assembly will see reason enough to conclude I am in the Right For §. 6 1. This Synod was not called either in the Diocesan or Classical way as Mr. Baxter observes but the Parliament as if Resolv'd to take the English Presbyterians for their Conduct chose the Assembly themselves The Parliament saith Mr. Baxter ubi seq not intending to call an Assembly which should pretend a Divine Right to make Obliging Laws or Canons to bind their Brethren but an Ecclesiastical Council to be Advisers to themselves did think they best knew who were the fittest to give them Advice and therefore chose them all themselve Thus touching their Calling which was most Remote from the Scotch-Classical way and conform to the English-Presbyterian Principles who are only for Perswasive Synods §. 7 2. This Assembly when thus called could not proceed by virtue of any Inherent Power in themselves but in all their Debates were confined by the Parliament so Mr. B. This Assembly was confined by Parliament to Debate only such things as they Proposed to them And many Lords and Commons were joyned in Commission with them to see that they did not go beyond their Commission So far was this Synod from being formed according to the Classical Model Whence I infer §. 8 3. That one Reason why the Assembly never adventur'd upon the settling the Divine Right of their Government
it is this If the contrary Opinion should be admitted we cannot say they see what may be the Consequences thereof with respect to those Difficult Controversies with the Papists about the Perpetual Succession of the Churches some Years before Luther about their Separation from Rome about the first Gathering and Constituting Reformed Churches and calling of Ministers before with at and since the Reformation §. 20 The Strength of what they offer on this Occasion lieth here namely in case Visible Saints combin'd for Communion in the Ordinances of the Gospel have Power by Virtue of Jesus Christ's Institution to call and choose their own Officers The first Reformers in combining thus and choosing their own Officers acted in pursuance of the Authority given 'em by Jesus Christ and are Justified But had they not such a Power their Case is not easily defended These Great Divines therefore in Answer to the second Enquiry affirm That a Church Essential has a Power belonging unto it to call a Pastor So that these Learned Men have urged Arguments sufficient to justifie what the Vnited Brethren have done in defining a Church Essential and in shewing how it becomes an Integral Organical Political Body And what they have urged from the Consideration of the Fatal Consequences of the contrary Doctrine with respect to the First Reformation hath enough in it to satisfie any considering Mind about the Reasons that have Influenced the Vnited Brethren to fix their Foot on this Principle about a Particular Church Essential in the framing the Heads of their Agreement Once more §. 21 As the Vnited Brethren have Asserted Particular Churches to be Congregational so it 's evident they have confined the Power of their Officers to their own Churches For in the Section of Communion with other Churches Art 2. it is agreed That none of our Particular Churches shall be Subordinate to one another each being endow'd with Equality of Power from Jesus Christ and that none of the said Particular Churches their Officer or Officers shall Exercise any Power or have any Superiority over any other Church or their Officers So clear it is that this Article by denying unto one Officer singly and to many Officers collectively any sort of Power or Superiority over one another doth lay an impregnable Bar against the setting up of Classical Provincial or National Assemblies invested with a Power to govern Congregational Churches For it must be acknowledged that in forming the late Heads of Agreement special care was taken to convince them of the Church of England that there was no place for us to make the least Incroachments on the Established National Church Form That the Mounds and Barriers we raised to keep all within the Confines of the Tolleration granted us were such that no sincere Approver of the Vnion can have any Hand in erecting any thing like a National Church Form and therefore can never be for Classical Provincial or National Assemblies of Ministers Their going about any such thing is a breaking down the strongest Mounds a violating the most Solemn Engagements and a tearing up the very Foundation on which the late Union was built which can never be answered to our Countrey Brethren nor to their own Consciences much less unto a Holy and Jealous God For §. 22 By the Heads of Agreement as all that Church Power we claim is confined to Particular Congregational Churches and a Superiority of Power denied to any one Officer or Officers of Churches so Particular Churches were no further concern'd to give any account of their own Actings beside what the Civil Magistrate requires but what on some special Occasions might be needful in a Brotherly way to Neighbour Congregations when desired and 't was for the removal of Scandals or the rectifying Mistakes But for stated Classical Provincial or Natural Assembles and the coming under the Obligation of making a Diligent Observation and a Faithful Report of the State of their Congregations unto any of those larger Assemblies there is not one Word in our Agreement Nor can any of our Number consent that our Ministers should take upon 'em the Office of stated Inquisitors or Informers For as such an Imploy is as likely to Ruine as it is to serve its chiefest Contrivers so it 's Vnworthy of Men in so Holy a Function and contrary to that Work Christ Jesus has called his Ministers unto which lying in strenuous Endeavours to further the Salvation of them committed to their care cannot be faithfully performed but by keeping within the Pale of their Single Congregations And seeing this is what is granted to us by the Toleration to which we have hitherto confined our selves we declare it to be our Firm Resolution always to do so being as much Dissatisfied with that Church-Form which endangers the Established Church as any in that Church can be For §. 23 That very Form of Church Government which alone can give just Ground of Suspicion is as Destructive of those Churches we believe to be of Divine Institution as it can be of the Established Church Form The Jure Divino Classical Government that Rivals it with the Episcopal doth as really destroy Congregational Churches by making them but Parts of a Proper Church as it would subvert the Diocesan were it set up amongst us Yea if we more closely look into this Matter we shall find the Classical Government more Hurtful to our Church way than it can be to theirs seeing it allows of Diocesan under the Name of Classical and strikes only at their Rulers and not at their Church-state whilst it Vn-churches all our Congregations and Divests the Officers of that Power which we think Christ has given them and are therefore more Formidable unto and Dreaded by us than by the Church it self which Consideration will we hope satisfie our Superiours and every thoughtful Person of the Church That they are in no Danger from us §. 24 That they destroy our Church way is farther evident in that they bring every Paroch and Congregation under the Government of their Classical and other Larger Assemblies by the Obligation of a Divine Law and that they may to their own greater Satisfaction prove thus much they make the Catholick Church Visible to be one Govern'd Society or Body Politick which must necessarily be under a Governed Head either of One single Person or of many Collectively whereby they run so far as to destroy not only Congregational Churches but to subvert that very Principle upon which the Reformation was begun in this Land and do lay a Foundation for that Papal Anti-christian Power which in its Exercise hath shed the Blood of Thousands who are now under the Altar crying How long Holy and True dost thou not Avenge c. and against which we have by the Oath of Supremacy Sworn So that tho' we agree with our Classical Brethren of Scotland in affirming Bishops and Presbyters to be of the same Order which only is against the Divine not