Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	england_n	reform_a	4,212	5	9.5265	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91187	A fresh discovery of some prodigious new wandring-blasing-stars, & firebrands, stiling themselves nevv-lights, firing our church and state into new combustions. Divided into ten sections, comprising severall most libellous, scandalous, seditious, insolent, uncharitable, (and some blasphemous) passages; published in late unlicensed printed pamphlets, against the ecclesiasticall jurisdiction and power of parliaments, councels, synods, Christian kings and magistrates, in generall; the ordinances and proceedings of this present Parliament, in speciall: the national covenant, assembly, directory, our brethren of Scotland, Presbyterian government; the Church of England, with her ministers, worship; the opposers of independent novelties; ... Whereunto some letters and papers lately sent from the Sommer-Islands, are subjoyned, relating the schismaticall, illegal, tyrannical proceedings of some Independents there, in gathering their new-churches, to the great distraction and prejudice of that plantation. / Published for the common good by William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne, Esquire.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1645 (1645)	Wing P3963; Thomason E261_5; ESTC R212456	96,461	90

And what persons shall bee admitted to them and upon what termes 3. Whether they meane to continue that Lordly or Masterly practise of universall Catechising all men and women weekly begun here almost two yeares past and pressed upon all with great vehemency And that all shall still be tied to answer according to that Catechise of Mr Oxenbridges called Babes Milke or some other These three practises as they have been used here being as I conceived their own inventions and not grounded on the word of God nor the examples of the Primitive or other Reformed Churches nor on the Lawes of our Land but pressed upon us meerely by their own Authority I did in some sort oppose at their first comming up namely by testifying both privately and publikely my dislike of them and the reasons why But especially the last more at large whereunto I was moved by Mr Iohn Oxenbridge who took upon him to write a defence of this practise of universall Catechising all men and women and of true Beleevers in speciall and to answer the Objections which I had made against it But what he hath performed and how well beseeming his worth and reputation I leave to the j●dgemnt of such as have or shall peruse my Confutation of that his Defence and Answer where I have put them together Touching these three practises I should move sundry questions but that it seemes they are all laid down of late and as it is thought will not be taken up againe therefore we shall passe them over that we may come to those new things which they urge now 4. Whether this Discipline and forme of Religion which they would set up be the same in all points of moment with any other Reformed Church whatsoever except perhaps in Providence where it had no such successe as should induce us to embrace it If they say yes in new-New-England we are very doubtfull of that not knowing certainely what is practised there the rather for that some have endeavoured to establish universall Catechising here upon that ground saying it was generally used there which appears not to be true Besides if such a Discipline be there it is no leading example to us partly because they have had no long experience of it and partly because there may be much difference between the people there and here for if all Magistrates Ministers and People were eminent in piety we need not much care what Government were used no though it were wholy Arbitrary for none would injure another and to this condition the Churches in the Apostles times seeme nearest to ●pproach But here where it is farre otherwise and in other places in generall men must be wary what Discipline and Government they set up presupposing it must come into evill mens hands as well as good yea and that more often 5. Whether this Discipline be fully set down by any sound Divine and not rather framed by themselves borrowing from severall Churches and severall Divines what will best serve their turne And whether our three Ministers agree in all points touching the Discipline they would have us embrace 6. What severall Offices and how many Officers shall be in every Church and how subordinate one to another And whether the Minister shall not be the chiefe of those Officers or as it were the supreme Moderator or Governour of them all without whom nothing shall bee established and also to have the principall hand in putting in and putting out these Officers for so they seeme to intimate 7. Whether this Minister and his Officers will govern and censure the rest according to some lawes or in an Arbitrary way and if in an Arbitrary way to whom shall they appeale if they have wrong And who shall question and judge the Minister if he decline from the truth or be a wicked liver And whether this bee not like to prove a very tyrannicall government if it come into evill hands which must be presupposed 8. If they will govern and judge according to some lawes what be those lawes whether some already extant or some others which they will frame and who they be that shall frame these lawes and what shall be the severall penalties or censures for Delinquents 9. What tryall in things of importance the party accused shall be allowed The Common Law of England to avoyd tyranny and injustice to which the corrupted nature of man is much inclined and even of Clergy men as well as others allowes a tryall by 12 indifferent men which are honest and free men of good ranke having no dependance nor are in feare of the Iudge nor beare no ill will to the party accused but such as are like to deale impartially and that upon Oath Whether he shall have that or some other so faire a tryall 10. What things they be which they will undertake to judge of and whether any thing shall bee wholy reserved to the judgement of the Civill Magistrate or whether the party offending or the matter in controversie shall be punished or judged of both namely by the Civill Magistrate and also by th●se Ecclesiasticall Iudges 11. If they say they will judge only of Ecclesiasticall matters what are those matters Ecclesiasticall and how exempted from the jurisdiction and authority of the Christian Magistrate For the Pope and Bishop obtained of Kings that sundry things might bee called Ecclesiasticall and so belong to their spirituall Courts as they call them which are no more Ecclesiasticall then other matters which belong not to them 12 Whether these Ministers and other Officers shall be judged by the Christian Magistrate in all things as other men or how farre forth they shall bee under his jurisdiction and authority and how farre forth exempted 13 From what places of Scripture is such a form of Government deduced justified or allowed 14 Who shall be the other members constituting these intended Churches and who shall be excluded from them To this all or some of them at least seem to answer expresly that they shall consist only of such as are truly regenerate and can bring sufficient testimony of their conversion and holy conversation and all others shall be excluded as Heathens Cananites Publicans c. 15 And seeing they have said sometimes and will I suppose grant that not one fourth part nor it may be one tenth part of the people here or in England are able to bring such sufficient testimony of their true conversion and holy conversation and thereupon shall be excluded Christian society and reputed as aforesaid whether this will not breed a most dangerous division between Church and Common wealth threatning the ruine of both 16. I suppose they cannot but be sensible in part and foresee the desperate issues of such a Separation and therfore it would in the next place be known whether they intend not to salve it by some politick course contrary to these principles and what good policy can be used to this purpose For mine own part I can think of

A Fresh DISCOVERY Of some Prodigious New Wandring-Blasing-Stars Firebrands Stiling themselves NEVV-LIGHTS Firing our Church and State into New Combustions Divided into Ten Sections comprising severall most Libellous Scandalous Seditious Insolent Uncharitable and some Blasphemous Passages published in late UnlicensedPrinted Pamphlets against the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and Power of Parliaments Councels Synods Christian Kings and Magistrates in Generall The Ordinances and Proceedings of this present Parliament in speciall The Nationall Covenant Assembly Directory our Brethren of Scotland Presbyterian Government The Church of England with her Ministers Worship The Opposers of Independent Novelties and some Seditious Queres Incitations Practices to stir up the Commonalty rude Vulgar against the Parliament Assembly Ministery worthy both Houses and all Sober-minded Christians serious consideration detestation and crying for speedy exemplary Justice on the Libellersand Libels to prevent our Churches Religions Parliaments Kingdomes eminent ruine Whereunto some Letters and Papers lately sent from the Sommer-Islands are subjoyned relating the Schismaticall illegall Tyrannicall proceedings of some Independents there in gathering their New-Churches to the great Distraction and prejudice of that Plantation Published for the Common good By WILLIAM PRYNNE of Lincolns Inne Esquire Take heed therefore that the Light which is in thee be not Darknesse If thine Eye be evill thy whol body is full of Darknesse If therefore the Light that is in thee be Darkenesse how great is that Darknesse Luk. 11. 25. Mat. 6. 23. These filthy Dreamers despise Dominion and speak evill of Dignities These are raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame WANDRING STARS for whom is reserved the Blacknesse of Darknesse for ever Jude 8. 13. LONDON Printed by John Macock for Michael Spark senior at the sign of the blue Bible in Green Arbour 1645. TO The High and Honourable Court of PARLIAMENT MOst Religious and Judicious SENATORS I here present to your saddest thoughts and serious deliberations an abstract of sundry most scurrilous scandalous seditious railing Libels lately published to the world in Print by some Anabaptisticall Independent Sectaries and New-lighted FIRE-BRANDS wherein the undoubted Priviledges Ordinances just Proceedings of Parliament the Reverend Assembly of Divines our Brethren of Scotland the Church of England with her Government Ministers Worship the Nationall Covenant Directory Presbytery professed Defenders of the Parliaments Priviledges Ordinances against their Licentious Schismaticall Practises according to their Solemn Vow and Covenant are so audaciously affronted oppugned slandered railed against and the Common people so earnestly excited to mutiny against the Parliament Assembly Presbytery Government and Ministers of our Church of England that I am confident no former Age did ever produce such Monstrous Insolencies such detestable virulent Libels which neither the Honour Justice nor Wisdome of that Soveraigne Court of Justice wherein you are Assessors nor the Peace and Safety of our Religion Church State nor your own personall security nor the Nationall Vow and Covenant engaging both your Honours and all others who have taken it against these pernitious Mutiniers can any longer suffer you patiently to tollerate as hitherto you have done without exemplary proceedings against and punishments upon the Authors Printers Publishers Dispersers of these most scurrilous and mutinous Pamphlets Wherein they most injuriously and falsly revile traduce all such for Persecutors Fighters against Christ and his Kingdome Enemies to the wayes of Christ pulling his royall Crown from off his head his kingly Scepter out of his hand Oppugners of the most religious conscientious Godly best-affected Party as they Pharisaically and falsly terme themselves dividers betweene the Parliament and their best their faithfullest Freinds Prophane Apostates Popish Jesuiticall Incendiaries haters of Gods people and the like who out of conscience solid Judgment and cordiall affection to the safety tranquility of Religion Parliament Church Kingdome dare openly by word or writing maintain the undoubted Jurisdiction of Parliaments Synods Magistrates in Ecclesiasticall affaires or oppose their factions schismaticall Independent wayes and Innovations destructive both to Magistracy Ministery Vnity Parliaments and that blessed Reformation so much desired For my owne particular I have with much Patience and Contempt endured without any Reply at all their false unchristian Invectives against my self only for Writing in Vindication of the undoubted Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction directive and coercive power of Christian Emperours Kings Magistrates Parliaments in matters of Religion and Church-government in my Truth triumphing over Falsehood Antiquity over Novelty published with Your speciall approbation and my Independency Examined which have much incensed this waspish Generation unable to give any satisfactory answers to them and I should have continued silence still had my own private interest only been concerned But when I discerned them to be so audaciously licentious presumptuous as To set their mouth against the Heavens to revile the very Gods themselves and curse the Rulers of the people to despise Government and speak evill of Dignities to bring railing accusations against and resist the Higher Powers publishing Libell after Libell against the Proceedings Ordinances and Jurisdiction of the present Parliament and Assembly yea with Antichristian pride to oppose and exalt themselves above all that is called God or that is wershipped as they have lately done in the Pamphlets hereafter mentioned and in the Nativity of Sir Iohn Presbyter c. freshly published since the rest every of these latter Libels being more seditious and pernitious then the former and Barrabas like to stirre up sedition and insurrection among the people against the Ordinances Votes of Parliament and that Ecclesiasticall reformation and Pre-byteriall government You have resolved to establish My bowels my bowels were pained within me at my very heart so that I could not hold my peace nor keepe silence any longer because thou hast heard O my soul the sound of these seditious Trumpets and the alarme of this Schismaticall Anti-Parliamentary war Yea should I now refraine from writing the very stones themselves would immediately cry out against their most infamous Libels and mutino●s presumptuous Practises opposite to all publike Order Government Authority And the rather am I necessitated to this ungratefull worke because their very Libels actions speeches proclaime a plotted avowed Confederacy among some furious Ringleaders of these Independent Sectaries though I presume the more moderate are not guilty of it against the Parliament Assembly and all their Resolves in matters of Religion or Church-Government yea against our very Church Ministers and Tithes the meanes of their support as their Libellous Passages against the Ecclesiasticall Power proceedings of the Parliament and Assembly their publike oppositions against the Nationall Covenant Directory the Ordinances prohibiting disorderly unlicensed Printing of Libellous Scismaticall Pamphlets against Lay-mens preaching in the Army or else-where for due Payment of Tythes c. recited in the ensuing Sections will at large declare And that which further confirmes me in this opinion is First the New

a true married estate and condition even so say I the Church of England neither is nor never was truly married joyned or united to Jesus Christ in that espousall band which his true Churches are and ought to be but is one of Antichrists Nationall Whorish Churches or Cities spoken of Rev. 16. 19. Vnited joyned knit to the Pope of Lambeth as Head and Husband thereof being substitute to the Pope of Rome from whom he hath received his Arch-Episcopall power and Authority Pag. 18. Your Church is false and Antichristian Therefore if every Parish in England had power in themselves which in the least they have not to choose and make their own Officers yet for all this they would be false for a false and Antichristian Church as yours is can never make true Officers and Ministers of Iesus Christ and though that the Churches of the Separation want Apostles in personall presence to lay hands upon their Officers which lawfully they choose out from among themselves yet have they their Laws Rules and Directions in writing which is their Office and is of as great Authority as their personall presence Pag. 19. And thus have I sufficiently by the Authority of the Sacred Word of God proved all your Officers and Ministers false and Antichristian and none of Christs which if you can groundedly contradict shew your best skill chalenge I you and put you to prop to hold up your tottering and sandy Church and Ministry or else your great brags will prove no better then winde and Fables and you your self found to be a Liar Pag. 22. And as for these two things Of Conversion and confirmation or building up in the wayes of God which you speak of if you mean by conversion and opening of the eyes to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God or if you mean by conversion a deliverance from the power of darknesse and a translation into the Kingdom of the Son of God both of which the Apostles Ministry did accomplish in the hearts and lives of Gods people Act. 26. 18. Coll. 1. 13. I absolutely deny it that your Ministery in England doth this And therefore I desire you to declare what you mean by Conversion and prove your definition by the holy Scripture and also prove that you in England are so converted which when you have done I shall further answer you by Gods assistance and as for their building them up in the wayes of God as all true Shepherds ought to build up their sheep as Acts 26. 1 Pet. 5. Yet I deny it that your Ministers do it for how can they build them up in that which they themselves are ignorant of and enemies unto for as Jannes and Jambres which withstood Moses so do these men also resist the Truth being men of corrupt mindes and destitute of the truth 2 Tim. 3. 8. And do feed you with husks and Chaffe being neither willing to imbrace it themselves nor to let those that would as their constant preaching and speaking against the truth of God and the Kingdom of his Son doth witnesse c. I have taken the pains by the Word of God and demonstrable Arguments grounded thereupon to prove the Church of England Antichristian I do promise you I will by the strength of the Lord of Hosts for ever seperate from Church Ministery and Worship in England all and every one of them as Antichristian and false Yet thus much I say and do acknowledge and the Scripture proves it that God hath a people or an elect number in spirituall Babylon yea in the Kingdom of Antichrist part of which the Church of England is and none of them shall perish but be eternally saved yet I say it is the duty of all Gods Elect and chosen ones that are yet in the Whorish bosome of the Church of England or in any part of Antichrists Regiment to separate away from it and come out of it least God plague them for their staying there Pag. 23. All the Ministers of the Church of England are not true Ministers of Christ but false and Antichristian Ministers of Antichrist Pag. 24. And as for your Minor and Assumption which is that you in the Church of England do enjoy and outwardly submit your selves to the true worship of God It is most false and a notorious lie and untruth and as well might wicked Faux and the rest of the Gunpowder-Plotters say that they submitted unto Noble King James Laws and Scepter when they went about to blow up the Parliament House that so they might destroy him and all his for you do not only oppose and justle ou● the true worship of God and throw down and trample upon the Scepter of Jesus Christ his son but also you set up false and Antichristian Worship the inventer of which is the Devil and the Man of sin his eldest and most obedient Son Pag. 26 27. Now from that which I have said I frame these Arguments 1. That Worship which is of the Devils and Antichrists invention institution and setting up is no true Divine worship But the Worship of the Church of England is of the Devils and Antichrists invention institution and setting up as Revel 13. doth fully prove Ergo the Worship of the Church of England is no true Worship 2. That Worship which is a main means and Cause of pulling down the Kingdom of Iesus Christ and establishing maintaining and upholding the Kingdom of the Devil and Antichrist and sends more souls to Hell then all the wickednesse impiety ungodlinesse in the Kingdom doth besides is no true worship of God but ought to be detested and abhorred of all his people But such is the worship of the Church of England Ergo c. Pag. 29. I absolutely deny your Argument and affirme that your Religion neither is the true Religion nor that it leads men the true way to salvation Pag. 37 38. I groundedly and absolutely deny that either the Church of England is or ever was a true Church and till you have proved it true all the pains that you have taken in proving that it is possible for corruptions evil livers to be in a true Church is spent in vain and to no purpose and I am confident that you nor none else will ever be able to prove the Church of England true nor any other Nationall Church for Christ Jesus by his death did abolish the Nationall Church of the Iews with all their Laws Rites and Ceremonies thereof and in the New Testament did never institute no Nationall Church nor left no Laws nor Officers for the governing thereof but the Church that he instituted are free and Independent bodies or Congregations depending upon none but only upon Christ their Head Therefore Nationall Churches under the Gospel are of Antichrists that man of sins institution and ordaining who only hath ordained Laws and Officers of his own for the governing of them Therefore for you

written or preached against their seditious wayes and Libels 10. Seditious Queres Passages and Practises to excite mutinies and popular commotions against the Parliament and disobedience to its commands Section I. Containing divers seditious scandalous libellous passages against the authority and jurisdiction of Parliaments Synods and temporall Magistrates in generall in Ecclesiasticall affaires in the late writings of several Independent New-lights and Firebrands I Shall begin with a Copy of a Letter written by John Lilburne Lieu Colonell the Ringleader of this Regiment of New-Firebrands to William Prynne Esq upon the comming out of his last book intituled Truth triumphing over Falsehood Antiquity over●Novelty Of which Letter there have bin three Impressions made by him without license contrary to the Ordinance of both Houses restraining the printing or dispersing of unlicensed libellous seditious Pamphlets whre he p. 4. writes thus Sir in your last book that you put out you spend a great deale of paines in citing old rusty Authors to prove that Kings Councels Synods and States have for so many hundred yeares medled with matters of Religion I grant you they have but I demand of you by what right or by what authority out of the Word of God they have so done Hath God the Father or Jesus Christ his Sonne given them any allowance in this Or have they not hereby rather fulfilled the prophesies of the Scripture which saith Rev. 17. 17. That the Kings of the Earth shall give their power unto the Beast till the Word of God be fulfilled which they have done in assisting the Popes to joyne the Ecclesiasticall and Civill State together making the Golden Lawes of Christ to depend upon the Leaden Lawes of Man yea upon such Lawes as was just suitable to their tyrannicall lusts and which might the most advance their wicked ends and designes and in the doing of this they have set up a perfect Antichrist against GOD'S CHRIST yea England is not free from this And to hold that Kings Parliaments Synods States have any thing to do in matters of Religion and Church-Government he concludes pag. 5. to be a setting of the Potentates of the earth together by the eares with Christ who is to rule all Nations Rev. 12. 5. to pluck his Crown from his head his Scepter out of his hand and his person out of his throne and State that his Father hath given him to raign gloriously in Which is thus backed by Henry Robinson the supposed Author of the Answer to Mr. William Prynnes 12. Questions concerning Church-Government pag. 6. Particular Churches members of a Kingdome and Nation are not obliged in point of Conscience and Christianity to submit unto whatsoever publike Church Government Rites and Discipline a Nationall Councell Synod and Parliament shall conceive most consonant to Gods Word unlesse it prove so in the whole Kingdomes Nations and those very particular Churches Judgement pag. 8. The grounds of Independent Government attribute nothing to the Magistrate in Church affaires further then the Magistrate is a member of their Churches and Assemblies pag. 12. You can no more Justifie a Nationall Church of Christians shall likewise go up to the Temple of Jerusalem from whence by the same Prophesie they are also to receive the Word of God and not from Parliament Pope Synod or Presbytery Mr. Henry Burton in his Vindication of Churches commonly called Independent c. p. 49 50 51 c The Church is a spirituall kingdome whose only King is Christ and not Man It is a spirituall Re-publick whose only Law-giver is Christ and not Man No man nor power on earth hath a Kingly power over this kingdome No earthly Lawgiver may give lawes for the government of this Republick No man can or ought to undertake the government of this communion of Saints No humane power or law may intermeddle to prescribe rules for the government or form of this spirituall house NOT COUNCELS NOT SENATES This is Christs Royall Prerogative which is uncommunicable to ANY TO ALL THE POWERS ON EARTH c. he adds p. 60 61. We challenge you to shew us any Parliament Councell Synod ever since the Apostles that could or can say thus It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us to determine controversies of Religion to make and impose Canons to binde all men c. Shew this to us at this time and we will obey But if you cannot as you never can never let any man presse upon us that Scripture that Synod which hath no parallell in the whole world and so is no precedent or patterne for any Councell Synod Parliaments A short Answer to Adam Stewarts second part of his over-grown Duply to the Two Brethren with certaine difficults questions easily answered printed without license 1644. supposed to be written by Mr. Iohn Goodwin p. 13 17. But perhaps you 'l say there is an Act of Parliament a Civill law declaring heresie or any different from the State opinions such as for the present are in fashion to be censurable by the civill power I answer not without all due respect unto the lawes and such as made them that if there be any distinction between a Church-state and a civill-state which all Christians hitherto acknowledge the enacting civill lawes to punish spirituall offences is not only a solecisme or impropriety in state but an incroaching on the Churches power a profaning of the Keyes and injurious to the offender who by this meanes is punished both beyond the degree and nature of his offence If the blessed Spirit should at any time bear witnesse unto your spirit or unto the spirit of a whole Parliament and Synod what were this to the spirits of other men must not they wait with patience untill the blessed Spirit be pleased to visit their spirits likewise before they can joyne with yours or the Assemblies spirit But if the Synods determination of this or that controversie should seem good unto the holy Ghost as the Churches decrees of Jerusalem did must they therefore be imposed upon the Countrey the whole world Is not this to equallize your Synodall Canons with those decrees of the Apostolicall Church of Jerusalem and to make Scripture of yours as well as theirs is not this to adde to Scripture nay to alter it p. 28. But if King and Parliament may not force a new Religion or Sect suppose Presbyterian upon the kingdome much lesse can the Synod which neither has not yet pretends as is alleaged to use the materiall sword And if for matters of religion all power originally is in Christ as you sometimes acknowledge How can King Parliament or Synod wrest it from him Nay what think you is it not secondarily in the people as well as civill power which you affirme in the same page and so doubtlesse is spirituall power unlesse you will make God to have provided mankinde better of a safegard or liberty to defend their bodies than their soules If then the spirituall power be so inherently in

the people next under Christ as that they cannot so well renounce and part from it in many respects by what they may of civill how can it be thought by any one that the King Parliament Synod though never so much importun'd by a thousand such Asses should goe about to settle a new Presbyterian Scotch government with an intention to force a conformity of the whole Kingdome three quarters whereof cannot as yet be thought to submit unto it willingly or for conscience sake Pag. 32 33 34 35 36. Qu. 5. Is it not an ungodly thing to suffer men to be of any Religion Ans No For both our Saviour his Apostles and the Primitive Christians did the same neither is it in the power of flesh and blood to hinder it Qu. 6. Is it not the most unseemely sight to see the people of one Citty run seambling from their Parishes to twenty Conventicles where so many severall doctrines are taught An. No but farre more monstrous and abominable in the eyes of God for people of twenty severall opinions for feare or favour to assemble and Joyn together hyprocritically in one way of worship or Church discipline Q. 8. Ought we not then at least to keepe our different opinions and Religion unto our selves in obedience to the Civill Magistrate that commands it An. No because it is better to obey God then man Qu. 9. If Jesuited Papists and other subtile Hereticks be suffered will they not likely seduce many unto their erronious by-pathe Ans Though a Tolleration of erronious opinions may gaine some to sathan yet truth being therewith to be published and improved will in all probabillity not onely gaine so many more to God but any one thus wonne to God unto his truth is worth thousands of those that fall from it Qu. 10. But may not the multiplying of Heresies stifle or expell the truth like as the abounding of tares and weedes often choake the wheate and for this cause not to be permitted An. Though it seeme to be many of the first yet our Saviour in the parable of Tares Math. 13. teaches us a quite contrary doctrine and forbids Heresies the Tares to be pulled up before the day of Judgment the harvest v. 30. 39. least the wheate the children of the Kingdome true professors v. 30. 39. be therewith rooted up Qu. 21. Is it not a pious Act to compell a Company of carelesse Idle people to heare a good sermon to do a good worke whether they will or no Ans No more pious an Act then for Papists to use the like compulsion towards Iewes and Protestants inforcing them to heare their sermons Masse or Vespers Q. 24. May not the Civill Goverment interpose to punish such Church members with whom the spirituall by reason of their refractorinesse cannot prevaile Answ Nothing lesse since the Civill State or government has no more power nor vertue to make a Papist turne Protestant in England then it can prevaile to make a Protestant become a Papist in Spaine Qu. 29. But can there be any hurt in forceing refractory people to be present at Religious orthodox assemblies where if they will they may be informed of the truth An. Yes first because there can come no good thereof through want of willingnesse which God onely reguards in him which is thus compelled and secondly because this forceing is a doing evill that good may come thereof which is prohibited Rom. 3. 8. The Falshood of M. W. Prynnes Truth triumphing c. printed in London 1645. without license written by H. Robinson who hath set up a private unlicensed printing Presse determines thus p. 19. 20. 26. But did the only wise God think we resolve to create man after his own Image to estate him in such a sad and execrable condition worse then that of beasts wolves Bears Tigres as that he must necessarily tyrannize or be Tyrannized over both in soul and body and yet it cannot possibly be otherwise if you will grant a power to Kings Parliaments or Synods to require conformity from others in any thing which is not agreeable to their consciences for if such a Latitude and height of Iurisdiction be granted but to the more orthodox Kings Parliaments and Synods both Papists Lutherans Calvinists and Independants pretending and really takeing themselves to be the most orthodox are bound in conscience to lay Clayme to and put in Execution this power of Compelling all the world unto their uniformity and so infallibly produce the most cursed enmity and hatred betwixt all the people but differing in opinion exceeding that of Cannibals or the profoundest of Antipathics betweene any rationall creatures whatsoever You say the oposites to Parliaments Ecclesiasticall Jurisdictions have formerly and more especially in this Present Parliament addressed severall Petitions to this High and honorable Court for Reformation of the Church c. wherein under favour I conceive you have mis-apprehended their proceedings Intentions which doubtlesse was for the most part or best affected that the Parliament in whom they acknowledge the Soveraigne power to reside would permit Cou●tenance and encourage all godly men of gifts in preaching down Heresies Errors Idolatry Popery c. Many whereof had either beene formerly established by Law or not permitted to be preached downe through the Prelates corruption contrary to the Law This is the best even all the Reformation which the Civill Magistrate as Civill has a Capassity of compassing against all Heresies and Errors which must necessarily be vanquished by the sword of the Spirit and cannot possibly be suppressed by carnall weapons or the civill sword they may destroy the flesh but cannot properly be said to touch and worke upon the Spirit T is no small dis-service which you do both Parliament and Assembly in thus exposing their proceedings to be questioned by no little and that the most conscionable and best affected party of the kingdome such spirits of contention as this of yours were those which made the first great breach among the Parliaments friends Master John Goodwins Theomathia pag. 48 49 50. The generality and promiscuous multitude of the World who have a right of nominating persons to a Parliamentary trust and power are but a Secular Root out of which the Independent Brethren conceive an impossibility that a spirituall extraction should be made A man may as well bring a clean thing out of an unclean in Jobs expression as make a spirituall extraction out of this secular root who have no Authority nor power from Christ to nominate or appoint who shall be the men that shall order the affaires of Christs kingdome or institute the government of his Church Therefore there is an impossiblity that a legitimate Ecclesiasticall power should according to the minde of Christ or any precept or president of Scripture be by them conferred upon any man or that the persons so elected should have a power by vertue of such nomination or election to enact Laws or Statutes in matters of religion

or any other to say and affirme that this monstrous ugly botched and scabbed body is Christs true Spouse is dishonourable to his blessed being and Mediatorship His Schismaticall seditious conclusion from all these Premises is this pag. 35. Therefore let all Gods people that yet are in the bosome of the Church of England as they love their own inward peace and spirituall joy and look that their souls should prosper and flourish with grace and godlinesse look to it and withdraw their spiritual obedience and subjection from all Antichrists Laws and worship and joyne themselves as fellow Citizens of the City of God to worship and serve him in Mount Sion the beauty of holinesse and there only to yield all spirituall obedience to Christs spirituall Laws and Scepter This language and opinion of his concerning our English Church and Ministry is seconded by most Independents in their late Pamphlets of which you have had a bitter taste in the preceding Sections and their practice proves as much For first though they proclaime Liberty of conscience to all Sects and Religions whatsoever yet they have so harsh an opinion of Presbyterians and all others who submit not to their Independent Modell that they esteem them no better then Heathens Infidels unbelievers and proclaim them in their Books to be * Men who deny disclaim and preach against Christs Kingly Government over his Churches men unconverted or at least converted but in part vvanting the main thing to wit Christs kingly Office men visible out of the Covenant of Grace who have not so much as an outward profession of Faith who deny Christ to be their King to whose persons and infants the very Sacraments and seals of grace with all Church Communion may and ought to be denied which is in effect to un-Christian un-Church un-Minister all Presbyterians and to make them cast-awayes If this be their charity to us already what may we expect from them hereafter if their Faction bear the sway Secondly when they gather any Independent Congregation their practise is for their Ministers solemnly to renounce and abjure their former Ordination in and the people their Pristine Communion with the Church of England and all Congregations else whereof they have been Members and then to new-mould themselves into an Independent Church which practise they have lately begun in the Plantations of the Summer Islands as a Friend of mine from thence informed me by a Letter dated May 14. 1645. in these insuing termes The Independent Church was set up here the last year wherein they have covenanted to stand unto the death but their Covenant is not fully exprest reserving power in themselves especially in their Pastor to alter it when they will and as they think good they have exprest nothing in writing though often urged to it but he that joyns with them must do it by a kinde of implicite faith to imbrace what their Church doth or shall imbrace not knowing what it is or will be When they began it their Minister called a Fast for all that would be present where in the publique Congregation our Ministers being then but three Did lay down and renounce their Ordination and Ministry received in the Church of England and so become as they said no Ministers but did joy● themselves together in Covenant by words only to become a Church first making a kinde of confession of their sins and signifying that others might also joyn themselves to them if they were such as after such confession they should approve of and there was one principall Officer did then joyn himself with them they then continued weekly Lecturers still yet as they said not as Ministers but only as private men to exercise their gifts wherein they laboured to draw others to joyn with them and every week received in some but that confession of sins grew daily more and more out of date the rather for that * some were threatned to be called in question at the Assises for some things which they confessed there so that at this time all is in a manner implicite and though little or nothing be expressed by the party to be received in yet he is not put back But when they had gotten about thirty to joyne with them they again called a Fast for all that would be present where it seems having appointed one of our assistant Governors for their Prolocutor he nominated Master White to be their Pastor which the rest confirmed by erection of hands then it seems Master White nominated our other two Ministers Master Copland and Master Golding for his ruling Elders yet they continue to preach constantly as before but Master White only doth Administer the Sacraments and that only to such as have joyned themselves in their implicite Covenant with them Their practise therefore and their writings demonstrate what ungratefull sons and unnaturall Vipers they are to our Mother Church and Ministers of England which hath little cause to harbour these Rebellious Apostate sons who thus abominate renounce both her and her Ministers as Antichristian Surely some of their own Independent Faction had other thoughts of her and her Ministry unlesse they dissembled before God and man as they commonly do without blush or check but very few years since and among other the five Independent Apologists and Master Hugh Peter Solicit●r generall of the Independent Cause and Party whose Subscription before the Bishop of London concerning our Church of England in the late Prelaticall times when far more unreformed then now I shall here present you with the Originall whereof I found in the Archbishops study under Master Peter his own hand c●dorsed with the Archbishops thus Master Hugh Peters Subscription before the Bishop of London August 17. 1627. RIght Reverend Father in God and my very good Lord being required to make known to your Lordship my Judgement concerning some thing propounded at my last being before your Lordship from which Propositions though I never dissented nor know any cause why I should be suspected yet being ready and willing to obey your Lordship in all things especially in so just a demand as this I having consulted with Antiquity and with our modern Hooker and others humbly desire your Lordship to accept the satisfaction following 1. For the Church of England in generall I blesse God I am a member of it and was baptized in it and am not only assured it is a true Church but am perswaded it is the most glorious and flourishing Church this day under the sun which I desire to be truly thankfull for and for the Faith Doctrine and Articles of that Church and the maintenance of them I hope the Lord will inable me to contend Tanquam ut pro aris focis Yea I trust to lay down my life if I were called thereunto 2. For the Governour and Government thereof viz. The reverend Fathers the Archbishops and Bishops I acknowledge their Offices and jurisdictions and cannot see

the Parliament and their faithfull friends and servants and that my actions and practises tend to no better end but to make him and his partie VS to be sleighted and contemned and that they a faithfull conscientious AND CONSIDERABLE PARTY IN THE ARMY and KINGDOM MIGHT BE DISINGAGED and CAVSED TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMES c. After which he concludes thus pag. 7. Now I appeal to everie true hearted Englishman that desires a speedie end of these Wars of what evil consequence it would be to the Parliament and Kingdoms to have such a faithfull and considerable partie as Mr. Prynne calumni●teth and reproacheth as bad if not worse then ever the Bishop of Canterbury did should be causleslie cut off with the sword or be disingaged by his means especiallie seeing the Kingdoms necessities is such that they stand in need of the help of Forrainers In which Passage he intimates First that those Anti-Parliamentary seditious Sectaries who confederate with this Libeller know their own particular pretended strength in the Army and Kingdom Secondly that they fight only for their own private interests and to erect their own Church Government not for Religion not the publick Cause since my very writing against their Schismaticall seditious wayes but in meer generall terms as this Libeller one of their privy Cabinet Councell intimates and that by Authority of a Committee of Parliament in just defence of the Parliaments undoubted Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction and Authority which they most affront of any men whatsoever Is a means to disingage and cause them to lay down their Armes Thirdly I answer that if he his party be such faithfull friends and servants to the Parliament and such a conscientious considerable party both in the Army and Kingdom as he pretends my writing in defence of the Parliaments jurisdiction which they pretend to fight for can be no dis-ingagement or dis-couragement to them And therefore himself alone must be the Incendiary twixt them and the Parliament and the dis-ingager of them to lay down their Armes by these his slanderous Libells against the Parliaments jurisdiction Priviledges Proceedings not I who have only Cordially maintained them according to my solemn Vow and Covenant by publike encouragement and speciall approbation I shal therefore challenge so much Iustice from this Epistoler as publikely to retract all these his malicious Libellous slanders of me without the least provocation given him on my part or else he must expect from God all good men yea from his own best friends and party the brand of a most malicious Libeller slanderer Incendiary and undergoe the punishment due to such To this I might adde a whole bundle of Calumnies and injuries against me in Master Iohn Goodwins Calumny Arraigned and cast wherein he chargeth me pag. 2. for aspersing the Honourable Committee for Plundered Ministers and himself in averting that he was suspended and sequestred by that Committee which all the Committee then and himself with his Confederates since experimentally know to be a reall truth however they outfaced it for a time His other Calumnies are so grosse and triviall that I will not waste Paper to refute them These Libellers are not single but thus seconded by a Brother of their Sect one Henry Robinson in his Pamphlet intituled The Pretences of Master William Prynne c. A meer empty Libell fraught with nothing but railings and slanders against me and in his latter Libell intituled The Falshood of Master William Prynnes Truth Triumphing in the Antiquity of Popish Princes and Parliaments To which he attributes a sole Soveraign Legislative Coercive power in all matters of Religion Discovered to be full of absurdities contradictions Sacriledge and to make more in favour of Rome and Antichrist then all the Books and Pamphlets which were ever published whether by Papall or Epi●copall Prelats or Parasites since the Reformation with twelve Queries eight whereof visit Master Prynne the second time because they could not be satisfied at the first Printed in London 1645. Here is a large Libellous Title but not one syllable of it so much as proved or made good in the Book wherein he convinceth me neither of Falshood nor absurdities nor Contradictions nor Sacriledge And whereas he chargeth That my Truths Triumphing c. Makes more in favour of Rome and Antichrist then all the Books and Pamphlets which were ever published by Papall or Episcopall Prelats or Parasites since the Reformation of which he makes not the least offer of proof in his Book I shall aver to all the world I hope without ostentation being thus enforced to it and appeal to all men of Iudgement who have read it that it makes more against Rome Antichrist and the usurped power of Popish Lordly Prelates and Clergymen in points of calling Councels the Authority of Prelates Clergy men and Synods in making binding Canons c. and other points therein debated then any Book or Pamphlet whatsoever of this Subject written by any Prelate Clergy man Laicke or by all the whole Mungrell Regiment of Anabaptists Sectaries or Independents put together Therefore this Title of his is a most false malicious impudent slander of a Libeller past shame void both of truth and conscience His passage against me pag. 9. 10. Is much of kin to his Title Page where thus he writes The truth is I cannot deny but Master Prynne was once by more then many and they godly too held to be a man of Piety and was highly honoured in whose Books and Pamphlets notwithstanding which have been published of late may be observed more corrupted Principles and a far worse spirit of persecution then ever was discovered in the late Delinquent Decapitated Archbishop from his first ascending unto his highest growth of Authority and greatnesse and in the Diary of his life which I suppose Master Prynne Printed not to do him honour though after Ages will not be tyed to be no wiser then Master Prynne I finde such eminent signes of a Morall Noble pious minde according to such weak principles as he had been bred up in his own persecuting disposition disabling him from being instructed better and particularly so ingenious a passage in his Funeral Sermon whereby he justifies the Parliament in putting him to death as I may safely professe to all the world I never yet could discerne any thing near of like piety or ingenuity to be in Master Pryune by all that ever I yet heard of him from first to last or by all the books of his which ever came to my hands wherein yet I have hitherto done him the honour in being at charges to buy as many I mean one of every sort as I could ever meet withall Surely I am much beholding to this Gentleman for proclaiming me a man of more corrupt principles and a person possessed with a worse spirit of persecution then the late Decapitated Archbishop but the Archbishop far more obliged to him in Canonizing him for such a Saint As for his Diary

I call the God of heaven to witnesse would it quench their thirst and be a ransome for our posterity I would freely offer it to the Common good● and as for the P●●testant Religion hath it not beene lock'd up in the breasts of the Assembly hath not your faith beene pin'd upon their sleeve your estates spent and your blood shed for the result of their mindes right or wrong and so have fough● for you know not what But it may be you 'l say you have engaged for the suppression of Prelacy High-Commission c. you have indeed beat the bush but the Presbyters have caught th●● Hare instead of one High-commission in the whole kingdome you shall have one in every Parish under the name of a Parochiall Sessions besides the generall High-commission call'd the Common Councell of Presbyters Now have you not to shu● the smoke skippt into the fire is the matter any thing amended sure you have got a worthy Reformation But it may be you have a better esteem of these new Courts then of the old High-commission Let me aske you do you thinke that they 'l be better then their patterne c. Thus you may see what you are to rely upon if in conscience you cannot submit to any thing they command you know your wages you must be banished and doe not our Presbyters not onely labour for the banishment but for the lives of the Contrary minded to them And is not this thinke you as evill measure as ever was measured out of the High-commission Wherfore I beseech you Friends consider what you do consider the frait of your bodies into what slavery you are fit to inthrall them I know you would be loath your Children after you should be deprived of trading or living in the Kingdome though they should differ a litle in opinion from others I beseech you therfore save your selves from this wicked Generation who have spent your estates your blood and all and you are now worse then ever you were hitherto all hath beene in their disposing and you are betrayd and daiely delivered as a prey to the Enemy The Lord Deliver us Amen Whether this be not another Sheba a Trumpeter to blow up popular sedition and Rebellion against the Parliament Synod and their proceedings deserving Sheba's punishment and whether it be not more then time for the Honorable Court of Parliament to proceed severely against such Scismaticall Libellous and Seditious Mutiniers as these forementioned let all wise men judge If our foolish pitty and indulgence towards them according to the proverbe destroy our Citty our Church our Religion our Parliament our Realmes let those superior Powers answer it who have authority to prevent it I can with a good conscience professe and say Liberavi animam meam what ever censures reproaches Scandals Libels I suffer for my good intentions from this Libellous Generation of unreasonable men who have litle faith and lesse Charity Certain Queres propounded to Independent Ministers and their Members convincing them in many things to be meer Papists and swervers from the Word of God 1. WHether Independent Ministers prescribing and Members submitting to a New-forme of Church-Government not yet fully knowne to or agreed on among themselves nor reduced unto certainty by any of their Sect but fluctuating and swimming in their Ministers giddy braines with a reserve of altering adding or diminishing at their pleasure be not a meere Popish blind obedience a receiving of a Church-Government with an implicit Popish faith to believe as their Minister or Church believes without knowing certainly and determinately what they do dogmatically believe and a plaine worshipping of they know not what their Independent way and Government being yet not fully delineated nor 〈◊〉 in writing by any of their party though frequently pressed to it 2. Whether Independent Ministers Members Churches denying the lawfull legislative directive coercive Authority Jurisdiction of Parliaments Councels Synods Kings and Temporall Magistrates in all Ecclesiasticall affaires or matters of Religion appropriating this power wholy to themselves and their Independent conventicles Their pleading of an exemption of themselues and Members from all secular Powers in Church matters as being immediately subject herein to none but Christ Their usurping Authority to erect and gather New Independent Churches not onely without but against the command of Parliaments and Princes Their dayly practise of admitting rejecting Church-members excluding godly Christians not onely from their Churches but even from the Sacraments and their children from baptisme in case they submit not to their New-fangled way Their denying the liberty and benefit of Appeales from themselves to any superior Tribunall be it a Classis Synod or Parliament by way of ●urisdiction but onely of advice Their proclaimeing their owne Independent Churches to be the onely true Churches of Christ and allothers f●lse erronious Antichristian from which all must sever under paine of damnation Their imposing New O●thes and Covenants under pain of exclusion from Church-communion on all their new members and binding them wholy to their wayes Edicts Their stilling themselves supreame heads of the Church next under Christ and exalting themselves above all that is called God or worshipped above all other Ministers or Christians whatsoever as the ONLY Lights of the world and tying the Scriptures to their owne new-fangled expositions be not an erecting of a meere arbitrary tyrannicall Pap●ll Antichristian Jurisdiction in every Independent congregation both over the soules consciences bodies of Christians and a setting up of as many Petty Popes as there are Independent Ministers or congregations 3. Whether Independents admitting Women not onely to vote as members but sometimes to preach expound and speake publikely as Predicants in their Convent●cles be not directly contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and practise 1 Cor. 14. 34. 35. 1. Tim. 2. 11. 12. and a meer politick invention to engage that Sex to their par●y Whether their pretended Liberty of conscience for every man to bleeve professe and practise what Religion he pleaseth be it Paganisme Judaisme Turcisme Popery without co●rtion or punishment by the magistrate be not a like wicked Policy contradictory to Scripture and Religion which proclaimes a licen●iousnesse to practise any sinne with impunity and warrants Popes Papists Iesuits to murther Protestant Princes blow up Parliaments Massacre Heretiques absolve subjects from their allegiance Equivocate worship Images Saints Reliques and their Breaden-god and commit any wickednesse for the advancement of the Catholique cause because their Religion and Consciences hold them lawful And how then can we justly punish any Traytor Rebell Murder Adulterer Swearer Drunkard Polyganist Theef in case he be really perswaded in his conscience what he doth is lawfull 4. Whether the Independent Ministers in the Assembly will undertake to bind either themselves or all others of their party for the future without any reserve of altering or changing their opinions and practise to that Independent way of Church Government which Mr. Thomas

of all persons here and of whom he will certainly require it if such an evill as is threatned should befall through your neglect For although the great Antichrist and his Clergy did prevaile to perswade Christian Princes and Magistrates that the Government of the Church and care of Religion pertained not to them but to the Clergy and the like is now here preached amongst us yet I verily trust you entertain no such false principle For to establish true Religion to maintain it and to see that the duties of Religion be duly performed to God and man is almost all that the Law requireth and so is almost if not all the duty of the Christian Magistrate And this being taken from him and put upon the Clergy he may serve as an officer to execute what the Clergy shall decree but ceaseth in a manner wholly to be a Magistrate Thus commending you to the tuition and direction of Almighty God I rest March 6. 1642. Your Worships in all due observance RICH. NORWOOD An Advertisement to such here as have care of the Conservation of true Religion IT is and ought to be the principall care of every good Christian to conserve the knowledge and exercise of true Religion in himselfe and others being the one thing necessary But from this these times have much declined everywhere and even in our deare native Countrey so farre as called for a speedy Reformation or threatned ruine And seeing little hope of the one the latter was justly feared by many and by my selfe I confesse amongst others being the principall cause of my comming hither But the Lord hath mercifully stayed those feares and given us fresh hopes by the Reformation in so great a measure begun by the present Parliament which also they endeavour through many difficulties to accomplish more fully And considering how worthily they have begun and what great things they have effected above all expectation we have no cause to mis-doubt them nor to anticipate their Honourable proceedings but rather to attend what shall be determined by them especially considering that wee of this place as wee have not beene much burthened except by some Ministers so now we are altogether unburthened of the Ceremonies and whatsoever else hath usually beene offensive to good Christians in England For if we should set up a new Government or Discipline and forme of Religion here wee must alter it againe when wee understand out of England what forme the Parliament have or shall establish Some say no our Ministers are as supreame heads under Christ of their severall Churches here and not subordinate in these things Ecclesiasticall to Parliament or any other power upon earth whatsoever but this opinion savors too much of Antichristian pride and presumption Others say the Parliament will establish the same forme that our Ministers will set up here but these conjectures doe much wrong that Honourable Assembly for if the matter were so easie and evident that our Ministers here can presently determine it then what need the Parliament so long to debate and consider of it What need such consultation with the ablest Divines in England and many other from all parts And why hath there beene such difference of opinions touching this matter even amongst the most godly and learned in Christendome for these 100 years together I remaines therefore that wee must change againe when we heare from thence and considering what changes have beene made by some already if we should now make another change in setting up a new Discipline and shortly after another when we heare out of England such mutability would neither be safe for this place not suteable to the stedfastnesse of the Church and people of God which is the Pillar and ground of truth and must not be wavering and carried about with every winde of Doctrine c. The Apostle makes it a signe of a double minded man to be unstable in all his wayes and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines c. And the Prophet saith Why runnest thou about so much to change thy wayes It will be answered we intend not to change but to the better but withall remember that such is alwayes the pretence and oft-times the intent in all Innovations whatsoever Therefore Solomon saith My sonne feare God and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change Not but that even the best Christians may al●er sometimes in some circumstances of Religion some good and weighty causes requiring it but it must not be through levity nor of an high minde nor for selfe ends A restlesse levity and that with contempt of Authority under pretence of greater and new lights is a dangerous signe of an Anabaptisticall spirit Therefore I say what we change ought to be done with the feare of God and the King In the feare of God namely according to his Word and with the feare of the King that is consenting with the Lawes and Soveraigne Authority set over us or at least not with an high hand in contempt thereof For every soule must be subject to the higher powers yea saith Chrysostome though he be an Apostle though an Evangelist though a Prophet Therefore I could wish as I have often perswaded that wee might stay for the determination of the Parliament in these things and likewise the approbation of the Company in those that concern● them But because some here are very impetuous and a further change is daily preached and pressed amongst us I have little hope to stop the violence of this streame Therefore to the intent we may understand and consider what to doe and as the saying is look before we leap I should in the next place desire as many others doe and as it concerns us all to desire of them and of our Ministers especially that they would be pleased to set down in writing whatsoever new thing in Doctrine or Discipline they would have us entertaine different from the practice or tenents of the Church of England that so each thing being well considered examined and adjudged by the Word of God we may entertaine or reject it accordingly I know there are sundry Objections alleadged and pretended more then I need to repeat or answer here For howsoever it is true that we are to submit our selves to the Word of God I meane the holy Scriptures in all things yet not so to men especially when they seek themselves in stead of Christ No though they tell us they are the mouth of God and sit in Moses chaire and therefore must be heard and obeyed and that the government of the Church belongeth to them next under Christ and that even Caiaphas though a persecutor of Christ yet when he had the place of High-priest he prophesied the truth And though they tell us we must not strive with the Priest nor reprove our R●prover and though they accuse us to have rejected and opposed more

good Ministers then any other like place professing Christianity of which there is no shew of truth I know and that they which rebell against the Ministers cannot be under the Government of Christ with many heavy threats against such And though they threaten to leave us destitute of the Word of God if we make any resistance and though it be often alleadged that we have rare and reverend Ministers endued with new light and that so great as the like hath scarce beene since the Apostles times Nay I have heard some and those of note preferre it before that of the Apostles at least in some things And further that all foure of our Ministers concluded of a new Discipline and new courses of edification whereof two being gone into England to agitate the businesse there with their friends and in Parliament God hath sent another from Providence almost miraculously who was not of their counsell and yet doth approve of all their proceedings and as earnestly presse them as the rest Besides say they all the chiefe professours in the Countrey are for the same yea the chiefe Authority in the Island next the Governour So that all things thus concurring shewes say they that there is an extraordinary hand of God in the effecting of it and therefore wee ought quietly to yeeld our selves to them least wee resist even God himselfe These I say and other the like arguments in this case however they may prevaile much with some that have other foundation for their Religion besides the Scriptures yet to an understanding man they will easily appeare to be of small value as would be more evident in answering them particularly which I shall readily doe if it bee needfull But having no purpose here to dispute but rather to invite to a cessation from these occasions of strife and controversie or at least wise to a due consideration of what we doe I shall only answer in generall It is a saying of Divines agreeable also to the experience of good Christians That Satan never tempts more dangerously whether by himselfe or others then when he doth most perswade us not to resist his temptations but to yeeld our selves to them And even the Lord himselfe doth sometimes prove his Church and people whether they will cleave unto him that is hold fast to his Word or unto other Lords other lights other spirits besides his as Deuter. 13. 3. And so the Apostle foretelleth there should be Schismes and Heresies in the Church as For there must be heresies even among you that they which are approved amongst you might be knowne And so But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you Therefore we must not take up our Religion upon the credit of men how great soever they may seeme to be but examine things by the word of God and see that it be firmly grounded there To the Law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Therefore they must prove by the word of God not by outward signes and wonders the things they teach and would have practised And first let us know them fully and with those noble Bereans search the Scriptures and examine them throughly before we entertaine them They tell us daily of a greater light whereby they discerne these things and other great and glorious things that are working and already begun in the world within these three yeares and will shortly be accomplished even so great and so excellent a change in the world as may seeme to be a heaven upon earth the Lord grant it and hasten it but withall let us desire and expect these things with sobriety and watchfulnesse lest whilst our eyes be taken up and dazzled with a present expectation of these high and glorious things we see not the danger that is at our feet but be caught in the snare before we be aware remembring the words of our Saviour in this case when his Disciples asked him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel He answered It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power I have read in some History of the West-Indies that about 100 yeares since or more the Iland Vianis which some of our men are now gone to discover and all those Ilands thereabout were Inhabited by certain Indians which for ingenuity and feature surpassed many others these held the immortality of the soule and thought that when it departed the body it went to a kinde of Purgatory which they supposed to be the cold Northern Mountaines congealed with frost and snow where after it was sufficiently purged it went from thence into countreys more Southerly and there abode for ever enjoyning a thousand delights and pleasures The Spaniards having knowledge of this opinion of theirs and wanting men to work in their gold mines came thither with Ships from Hispaniola or Cuba which are to the Southward and making some goodly shew told these silly Indians that they were come from the Southern parts places of great felicity where the soules of all their Ancestors and friends departed were in all joy and happinesse and they were now come to transport them immediately thither that they might never come at all into that Purgatory in the Northren parts These simple people being dazelled with the conceit and imagination of these things could not forethink their danger at hand but came flocking to the Spaniards in great numbers who when they saw their opportunity set saile and carryed them thence to their gold mines where they were soone consumed with grievous service and slavery In like sort it concernes us not to be so much transported with any glorious pretences of some great temporall freedome and felicity at hand as to be drawne in any sort from the Church of England especially as it is now reformed and in reforming but to know fully of those that would draw us whither they would have us goe and upon what grounds that so we may search the Scriptures and throughly examine those grounds thereby God hath delivered our Nation as many others in Christendom from under the bondage of the great Antichrist we have not prized this deliverance nor made that use of this liberty nor those many mercies and blessings accompanying it that we ought And considering our great abuse of Gods favours and in particular the sinnes of this place in all sorts Magistrates Ministers and people and especially the evident unsoundnesse of those that are Professors here It were just with God whilst we look for light to send us darknesse and whilst we propose to our selves the speedy ruine of Antichrist great freedome and glorious times all which the Lord can effect in his due time wee fall our selves into another servitude and bondage perhaps as grievous as the former under petty Antichrists For

if that grand Antichrist come down as we have good hope and a company of Clergy-men should arise whether Ministers or who else that should as it were divide his kingdome among them by assuming every one to himselfe such a like power over his Church or the people committed to his charge as the grand Antichrist usurped over the Catholique Church and that as he did lure Divino which they pretend surely they would become so many petty Antichrists and the Church should be brought into servitude and thraldome as before And indeed as the errour to which the Iewes were most inclined in generall was to set up other gods that is false gods attributing something to them which was proper to the true God So the errour to which Christians in generall are most inclined is to set up false Christs that is Antichrists of the Clergy attributing something to them that is peculiar to Christ himselfe or to his Church which is Christ mysticall As was foretold by the Apostles and is evident by the experience of all Ages since Christ And of which our Saviour himself seems to give warning when he saith For there shal arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. And by such meanes even the Pope himselfe and all his Clergy had their first rising having the Suffrages and helpe of some that seemed otherwise to be good Christians It behoves us therefore to be earnest with God in prayer to walk more worthy of his grace and the light of the Gospel vouchsafed unto us least he send us strong delusions to be sober minded and watchfull remembring there will bee alwayes some Antichrists and that the Church and people of God is never like to be free from persecution affliction and temptation in this world And that we shall never have such Ministers whom we may absolutely trust to for our Religion as some here professe to doe Calvin in his Preface to Psychopannychia hath those words Is this to learn Christ when a man shall apply his eare to any doctrines yea though they bee true without the word of God If thou receive it as from man wilt thou not as easily entertaine lies for what hath a man that is his own but vanity Therefore we must alwayes have the loynes of our minds girded and our lamps burning and stand upon our guard our selves And so follow men even the Apostles themselves as they follow Christ The Apostle speaking of Ministers saith Let 〈◊〉 man at his pleasure beare 〈◊〉 over you by humblenesse of mind● advancing himselfe in those things which he never saw but are of his own devising rashly puft up with his fleshly minde And in another place Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God And for trying the spirits we must follow the rule of our Saviour who saith Beware of false Prophets which come to you in sheeps c●oathing but inwardly they are ravening Woolves yee shall know them by their fruits c. And their fruits are their conversation and doctrine But the conversation of themselves and their adherents being a thing more personall and so apt to stirre up offence which I would avoid so much as I may I forebeare to prosecute Their Doctrine then we must examine by the rule of Gods word which that we may the better doe being a matter that so much concerns us we should desire as I have before said we might have the particulars wherein they differ from the publike doctrine and practise of the Church of England set down in writing This if they be not able or shall disdaine to doe as not accounting us worthy for whom they should doe it they must not be offended nor complaine of us that we are opposers in this matter of the Kingdome of Christ and will not be ruled by them in the course of their Ministry for what discretion were it to follow strangers we know not whither It s like they will say they are no strangers they have lived long here But as we know one of them came by an accident very lately the other two though they have been long among us yet they are in a manner strangers to us for they are not the same men that formerly they were having changed their opinions and practises in many things that we know and it is like in many other things that we know not and how farre they will proceed and where they will make a stand wee know not nor it may be they themselves If they shall say as some pretend that the Government and Discipline which they would have us entertaine is of it selfe evident by the word of God to every one whose eyes are not blinded by the god of this world that they have declared it already in their Sermons especially in their weekly Lectures which it seemes they have instituted for that purpose As hee that preached the third Lecture seemed to intimate when speaking of this intended Church and Discipline he said His first reverend Brother had laid the foundation his second reverend Brother had shewed what must be the materials of this building namely such and onely such as could bring good testimony of their conversion and holy conversation And he was now to shew the forme and order to bee observed in every particular Church and how each one was to be Superiour or Subordinate to others though he did not this at that time so farre as I understood The same things or to the same purpose were againe repeated in the fourth Lecture But I say all this notwithstanding the things are of themselves obscure and doubtfull which doubts they have not taken away but rather encreased Some of which doubts amongst many I will here set down not raised from speculations of things afarre off and not like to trouble us but such as arise from that which is frequently preached and pressed or practised amongst us In which though I endeavour to understand things in the best sence yet because they expresse not themselves plainely I may mistake their meaning in some things and therefore also doe the rather desire they would fully and plainly expresse their intent in writing as one that am ready to joyn in whatsoever I understand to tend truly and indeed to the advancement of the Kingdome and Government Iesus of Christ but would not be missed by the devices of men under this or any other pretence whatsoever 1. WHether they meane to set ut Vestries againe for every Tribe as formerly they have done and so to govern the severall parts of their charge by severall Ve●●ries of a douzen men in each Vestry whereof the Minister to be the chiefe and so to enquire heare and present Offenders as heretofore 2. Whether they meane to continue those weekly meetings which they call L●blolly Feasts whereof also the Minister is the chiefe

none for either they must frame Religion to the people as the Popes and Romish Clergy did heretofore making it suteable to the dispositions of most men or else which is more usuall feign a people to Religion admitting and accounting whom they lift through partiality favour and sinister respects to be truly religious though they be not and so receiving them into the Church as true converts though they can bring no good testimony of their conversion and conversation This policy I confesse may have faire pretences and would advance them highly above all men As they which opening no man can shut and shutting no man can open this would set them a● Gods in the Temple of God the Church and bring them in infinite gaines But it would set up many Antichrists as busie violent and rigorous within the small spheare of their activity as the great Antichrist hath been in his It would turne Religion into policy making it serve for humane purposes The faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ should be had in respect of persons It would prove a tyrannicall usurpation over the true Church as the popish policy hath done for which as for sundry other reasons that might be alleadged if it were not palpably wicked it ought not to be suffered 17. Whether there be any place of Scripture to justifie such a Separation as is afore mentioned they say yes because John the Baptist said to the Scribes and Pharisees O generation of Vipers who hath forewarned you to fire from the wrath to come therefore a Minister may keep out of the Church such as cannot bring testimony of their true conversion and holy conversation This and other like reasons they alleadge which are so insufficient that they need no answer especially having no purpose as I have said to dispute here But a matter of so great consequence ought to be clearly and foundly proved which doubtlesse they can never doe 18. What times they were wherein the Church did thus separate from it selfe all that could not bring sufficient testimony of their conversion and holy conversation because they say in former times it was the usuall practice of the Church but shew not in what times nor where nor for what causes There is no doubt but those that live or fall into grosse or manifest sins may be separated or excluded Also in times of persecution they would no doubt be very wary what strangers they did admit into the Church but that 's not the thing in question 19. Many other doubts in this matter they leave untouched or uncleared As 1. Whether Infants shall be received into the Church by Baptism before they can bring this testimony 2. Whether those that have been baptized without such testimon● have been rightly entred into the Church or shall need to be baptized againe such a rumour there is spread upon what occasion I know not 3. What manner of testimony this must be 4. Who must give it and whether a man 's own testimony may not serve in this case and when c. these and many other like should be cleared which we passe over 20. Whether they meane that any man may of himselfe excommunicate another when they say frequently a man may or I would passe a private excommunication against such or such a man 21. What they meane to alter in the administration of the Sacraments I heare there is much variety of late The last child which I saw baptized the Minister required the Father to say his Creed which done the Minister made an exposition of it making some doubt also of some part of it and then asked the Father if he would have his child baptized into that faith who answering yea it was baptized and thus I heare he useth of late to baptize others Now it would be knowne why it may not serve the turne for the Father to testifie his assent to the Articles of the Creed c. as heretofore hath been used 2. Whether the child and parent also may not be very uncertaine of the Faith into which the child was baptized seeing the Ministers exposition is not recorded 3. Whether they have the same opinion of the Creed that they seeme to have of the Scriptures that it may not bee publikely read or repeated unlesse it be also expounded by a Minister and why 4. Whether this tying of the Baptism to the Ministers exposition may not serve as a fit opportunity for Hereticks not yet discovered to baptize children into their Heresie 22. Whether the Scriptures be not the word of God able to make a man wise unto salvation except only then when they are pronounced and expounded by a Minister And whether the places of Scripture that we which are no Ministers alledge in any case be not also the word of God as true and of as much sorce as if they were pronounced by a Minister 23. Whether the writings of Eminent and approved Divines may not be read in the Church when there is no Sermon Nay whether they may not prove more profitable then the Sermons of some schismaticall or other unworthy Ministers 24 Whether our English Common Prayer having never yet been called in may not be read in the Church such things being altered or left out as have bin doubtfull or offensive to good Christians Or whether it is so faulty that it may not bee used at all Because they will not suffer it to bee read at all where they preach and as I heare intend to abolish the reading of it quite 25 Whether they will permit any other book of Common Prayer used in any other Reformed Church or some other that may be framed or that no set form at all may be used but such prayers only as the Minister doth then conceive nor any thing read no not out of the Scriptures but what the Minister doth then expound 26 How long it is they mean when they say a few dayes that they would have men that would be converted or receive a further degree of grace to exercise themselves in humiliation before they shall partake of those enlightnings and comforts they speak of and after what manner this is to be done and from what ground of Scripture 27 What Covenant it is which they perswade so much all the members of this Church to enter into at their admittance and which as is thought is already begunne whereby they must bee bound one to another and how farre forth they must assist and defend one another what are the particular parts and circumstances of this Covenant and how it shall be confirmed whether by subscription or by some solemn vow 28 Whether he which hath entred this Covenant shall still remayn as hee was a true member of the Church and Common wealth of England or be of some other Reformed Church or of some Separate Independent Church 29 We grant there is often mention in Scriptures of a Covenant betwixt God and the people c. but whether there

the Ministry I have no such meaning neither doe I think a worthy Minister to be unworthy or unfit for other the most eminent Offices or callings in Church or Common-wealth were it not that he hath a most eminent calling already sufficient to take up the whole man and unmeet to be yoaked with other callings as the Apostle saith who is sufficient for these things And the Apostles doe reject such employments with a kinde of contempt saying It is not meat that we should leave the word of God to serve Tables and a little after we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the Ministry of the Word intimating that these things would hinder them from prayer and the ministry of the Word whereby it appeares they would not be Deacons nor take upon them any other Office in or over the Church but spend themselves wholly in the word and prayer the like might be manifested by sundry other Scriptures And the evill of it hath beene so generally observed in England that as I heard Queene Elizabeth when she had conferred upon a Minister authority and power to rule was wont to say I have spoyled a good Preacher to day And surely if we observe it the desire of Superiority and Dominion in or over the Church in Ministers and Clergy men and the readinesse of Princes and people to conferre it upon them hath been a principall if not the principall cause in corrupting Religion from time to time and of setting up the great Antichrist and many others as might easily be shewed if it were not an argument too long for this place Thus farre through the gracious assistance of God I have expressed my minde in this matter to the intent I might stop so much as in me lies the setting up of a new Discipline and Government of our owne framing seeing we are already freed of all those things that have usually beene burthensome and offensive to good Christians in England and that we expect daily the further determination and decree of the Honourable Assembly of Parliament in these things Or if I cannot prevaile so farre as to stop it yet that wee might look before we leap and understand well what we doe before we doe it Or if neither that may be obtained yet hence it will appeare that my selfe and some others deserve no blame much lesse such evill speeches as are usually vented against us by some because we will not rashly runne with them we know not whether And lastly I desire that this may be a publike testimony of my judgement in these things For to be present and heare them daily pressed and to bee alwayes silent is taken for a signe of consent and approbation March 1. 1642. RICH. NORWOOD Postscript SInce this Advertisement of mine came abroad though but a month what horrible forespeakings threatnings imprecations and censures have beene publikely denounced against me in severall parts of the Countrey I shall not need to repeat being too well knowne Neither will I answer them accordingly lest I also be like them I will only in the feare of God and by the comfortable assistance of his holy Spirit apply that saying How should they curse where God hath not cursed Or how should they detest where the Lord hath not detested And those words of David It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction and doe me good for his cursing this day A desperate thing it is for men to blaspheme against some good light and what is it to acknowledge the good gifts and graces of God in those which they so bitterly preach against and to overwhelm them all with most foule and feigned susspicions and aspersions without cause As when they say Satan will not use profane and wicked men but he makes choise of those that are of good and able parts men of a religious life of a blamelesse conversation these close hypocrites he makes his instruments to oppose the Kingdom of Christ that is their intended Discipline c. with other like speeches I say it is very dangerous for men thus to give way to wrath and malice The Scribes and Pharisces did see and would no doubt have acknowledged the eminent gifts and graces that shined in our Saviour if he would have applied them to the establishing of their Faction But because he would not doe so they maliciously traduced him and said he had an uncleane spirit but he reproves their desperate wickednesse shewing how nearly they did approach or became guilty of the sinne against the Holy Ghost And let every man take heed how they doe cunningly fasten slanders or otherwise shew despight unto the spirit of Grace because it will not be subordinate unto their ends I could wish also they would consider the words of Marsilius Patavinus in his Book entituled Defender of the Peace Where speaking of those that presume to frame or presse Orders Decrees and other parts of Discipline without license of the true Law-giver or Prince and endeavour to draw people to the observation of them by surreptitious words as it were compelling them by threatning eternall damnation to such as transgresse them or denouncing execrations reproachfull speeches excommunications slanders revilings or other maledictions against them or any of them in word or writing such saith he are to suffer corporall punishment in a most high degree as conspirators and stirrers up of civill schisme or division in a Common-wealth For it is saith he a most grievous kinde of treason because it is committed directly against the Royall Majesty of the Prince and his Soveraigne Authority and tendeth to set up a plurality of supreame authorities or powers and so of necessity to the dissolution or overthrow of every civill Government They object also that I am but a Lay-man and therefore should not meddle with matters of Divinity applying that Proverb Ne sutor ultra crepidam and saying that even the Sunne Moone and Starres wherein he hath skill should teach him that lesson which alwayes move in their owne spheares except they be wandring starres for whom the blacknesse of darknesse is reserved for ever with many other bitter expressions But this is an old plea of the Popish Clergy to hold the people in ignorance and thraldome and should not be taken up by those that would seeme to be more opposite to Popery then Protestants are That eminent and blessed Divine Doctor Sibbes was of another minde who speaking in commendation of Mr Sherland that was no Preacher disdaines not to say he had good skill in controverted points of Divinity and that he was a good Divine And surely the calling of a Christian is of that importance that he must if need so require omit whatsoever calling he have besides to make good that one most necessary neither can he justly be charged to move out of his spheare whensoever he meddles with matters of Christianity and Religion especially such points as he is pressed to embrace and submit