CERTAIN QUERIES PROPOVNDED To the Churches of Christ and all that fear God and love the appearing of King JESUS QVERIE 1. WHether there be not sufficient in the Bible as it is translated into English for Believers under the Gospell to prove their Faith and Order or Church-fellowship by without any tradition of men as Matth. 20.28 teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world according to Tim. 2 3.14 15 16 17. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them And 〈◊〉 form a childe thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes Compared with Rev. 22.18 19. Q 2. Whether Christ Jesus hath not given as plain and perspicuous a rule under the Gospel to Believers in all their Administrations to the end of the world as Moses did to the Jews under the Law Deut. 4.2 Isa 8.20 Jer. 6.16 Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternall life and them are they that testifie of me compared with Ephes 4 8.11 to the 14. Quer. 3. Whether any thing may be brought into the worship of God for matter or form that is not exprest in the Gospell or the Epistle of the Apostles seeing the Jewes were required so strict obedience under the Law as it was given of God by Moses Deut 12.32 What thing soever I command you to observe do it thou shalt not adde thereto nor diminish from it compared with Pro. 30.6 But believers much more under the Gospell as given by Christ Heb. 1.1 to the 4. and 2.1 to the 5. and 3.1 to the 4. and 10.28 29. He that despised Moses Law died without mercie under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Sonne of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an un-holy thing and hath done despight unto the spirit of Grace Quer. 4. Whether actuall Believers confessing sins and professing faith with desire of the Ordnance be not the true subject of Baptisme or Dipping And the right form Dipping or Burying in water not Sprinkling with water it being not according to the rule and institution of Christ and the primitive Churches practice Mat. 28 19 20. Acts 2.37 38. and 8.12 13. But when they believed Philip preaching to them the Kingdome of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were all dipt both men and women compared with verses 36 and 37. Rom. 6.4 Coll. 2.10 And this is performed in shew by Godfathers and Godmothers commanding the Priest to dip the childe as is cleer in the Rubrick And whether the Administrator be not to go down into the water as Philip with the Eunuch Acts 3.38 and Iohn with Jesus Matth. 3.16 Quer. 5. Whether repentance and faith with desire of dipping be not of necessitie to be required according to the former Scriptures and declared in the Catechisme set forth by authoritie of every one that is baptised And whether there be not the same ground for Common Prayer Surplice and the rest as for sprinkling of Infants Quer. 6. Whether Christ commanded or the Disciples and Apostles ever practised the dipping much lesse the sprinkling of Infants of eight dayes old or the like or when or by whom it was first invented which we finde to be one Fidus a Priest and confirmed by Pope Innocentius about 300 years after Christ And whether such as seek to uphold it by Scripture be not those false accusers Paul speaks of 2 Tim. 3.3 In that they pretend Scripture for it when both the Church of Rome Councels and Fathers as they call them confesse it to be but a Tradition And whether the Inventers and upholders declare not themselves worse then Balam Numb 22.18 who being sent for by Balack to curse the people of God and so to be raised to great promotion answered If Balack would give me his house full of silver and gold I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God to do lesse or more Quer. 7. Whether every one that looks for life and salvation by Christ and professe faith in him be not bound to partake of that one Baptisme Eph. 4.4 5 and not content themselves with any inventions of men For as Eliah said 1 Kings 18.21 how long halt ye between two opinions if God be God follow him if Baal be God follow him So say I if Dipping actuall Believers be Gods Ordinance obey and imbrace it If Sprinkling Infants be according to Christs institution prove it by the Scripture and continue it For as the Apostle saith if he or an Angell bring any other doctrine then what they have received or above what is written let him be accursed Gal 189. 1 Cor. 46. Quer. 8. Whether every particular Church of Christ or Assembly of Saints in the order of the Gospell have not power from him their Head to receive in deal with or cast out their own Members by the onely Lawes Keyes or Statutes of him their King and Law-giver according to Is 33.22 The Church of Ierusalem Corinth or the Churches of Galatia for Iames 4.12 there is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Acts 2.41 46 1 Cor. 5 4 5. Quer 9. Whether Religion be to be forced or compelled by any paenall Laws and Statutes Or if these Scriptures prove not the contrary Psal 18.43 and 110.3 Math. 10.1 to the 16 and 20.1 to the 10 and 28.19 Mark 16.15 16. 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5. 2 Tim. 2.24 25. And whether the Civill Magistrate in forcing the conscience fulfils not these Scriptures in giving their power and Kingdome to the Beast Revel 17 12 to the 18. And whether as was said by Christ Matth. 23.32 to the 36 Fill yee up the measure of the Fathers ye serpents ye generation of Vipers how can ye escape the damnation of hell wherefore behold I send unto you Prophets and wise men and Scribes and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie and some of them shall ye scourge in the Synagogues and persecute them from Citie to Citie that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the bloud of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barakias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar So whether the bloud imprisonments banishments deaths and persecutions of what kinde soever that hath been spilt of any of the Saints that hath witnessed for the truth since Christs death our Abel shal not be required of the Kingdomes and States where they have suffered According to Isa 43.4 and
Jer. 25.13 to the 18. and Rev. 18.21 22 23 24 The Angel took up a stone like a great milstone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall that great Citie Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all And the voice of Harpers and Musitians and Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee And no Craftsman of whatsoever craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the sound of a milstone shall be heard no more at all in thee and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee for thy Merchants were the great men of the earth for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived and in her was found the bloud of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the earth compared with Jude 15. 10 Whether Religion is to be fought for with carnall weapons by Believers in the first publishing the Gospell for the planting or after preserving the Churches of Christ Or if these Scriptures prove not cleerly the contrary Mat. 10.16 Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of Wolves be ye therfore wise as Serpents harmlesse as Doves Mat. 16.24 25 Then said Jesus unto his Disciples if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his crosse and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall finde it 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5 For though we walk in the flesh we do not warre after the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivitie every thought to the obedience of Christ compared with Ephes 6.11 to the 19. Col 1 24 Revel 6.10 and 11.12 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimonie and they loved not their lives unto the death Their weapons as I conceive being onely Faith Preaching Prayers Sufferings and Tears Mark 16.16 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs steed be ye reconciled unto God Ier. 9.1 and 13.17 2 Cor. 12.15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the lesse I am beloved According to Eccles 9.17 The Words of Wise men are heard in quiet more then the crie of him that ruleth among Fooles Quer. 11. Whether Nationall or Parishionall Assemblies be by divine Institution Churches of Christ now under the Gospell or a humane invention and contrary to the Primitive churches practice as 1 Cor. 1.2 Unto the church of God which is in Corinth to them which are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints Ioh. 15.19 If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you 1 Pet. 2 5 9 Ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priest-hood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Vers 9. But ye are a chosen generation a Royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that you shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvailous light And that some would shew how and by whom the Nationall or Parochiall Assemblies were first begun contrived or constituted Quer. 12. Whether God makes any covenant under the Gospell concerning life and salvation with any Parishionall church and their naturall seed much lesse with any Nationall which is cleer he doth with all the Saints and churches of Christ Mark 16.16 He that beleeveth and is baptised shall be saved Rom. 2.6.7 Who will render to every man according to his deeds to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory honour immortality and eternall life The contrary proved Mat. 3 7 8 9. Rom. 9.7 8. Gal. 3.6 7 8 9.27 28 29. And therefore whether practising contrary to the Scripture pretending Scripture for their doings when there is none be not as Isaiah saith seeking deep to hide their counsell from the Lord whose works are in the dark turning things upside down saying who seeth us or who knoweth us saying of him that made them he had no understanding Isaiah 29.15 16. Quer. 13. Whether the Parishionall Assemblies and the Ministerie of England have not their Constitution and calling from the Church of Rome by Austin the Monk As we humbly conceive is to be seen in the Book of Ordination dedicated to Archbishop Abbot And whether such as have their call from them be not as truly Antichristian as theirs Seeing Job the 14.4 he saith Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Therefore Christ saith Math. 7.15 16 Beware of false Prephets which come to you in Sheeps clothing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves ye shall know them by their fruites Do men gather Grapes of Thornes or Figges of Thistles Even so every good Tree bringeth forth good fruit But a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evill fruit A good Tree cannot bring forth evill fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good fruit Verses the seventeen and eighteen Quer. 14. Whether any that pretend to renounce their call from the Prelates may preach as some do by vertue of their gifts as they pretend without first conversion to the Faith and obedience to the Gospell And so joyning to a church of Christ in order and by them sent forth with whom they are Members Seeing the Apostle saith Rom. 10.15 How shall they preach except they be sent And Acts 13.3 When they chose Paul and Barnabas it is said when they had fasted and prayed they laid their hands on them and sent them away Quer. 15. Whether after the Apostasie JOHN speakes of Revel 6.14 15. Heaven being rowled up as a Scrole and the witnesses being slain Chapter eleven verse the seventh to the twelfth the churches of Christ are not to be so gathered as they were first instituted by Christ and planted by the Apostles as in the first of the Corinthians the third and the 9 to the 15 and Revelat the eleventh and the first And there was given me a Reed like unto a Rod and the Angell stood saying arise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein Quer. 16. Whether the Ministerie of the Gospell be not those gifts and those onely of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers which CHRIST gave at his Ascension Ephes 4.8.11 Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivitie captive and gave gifts unto men And he gave some Apostles and
some Prophet and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers And whether as the false church is rejected and the true erected the false Ministerie be not to be forsaken and the true received and consequently false Baptisme renounced and the true assumed According to Ier. 51.6 to the 10. The Lord hath brought forth our righteousnesse come and let us declare in Zion the Work of the Lord our God And 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you compared with Revelat. 18.4 Come out of her my people pertake not of her sinnes and that ye receive not of her plagues Quere 17. Whether Abraham had not a carnall or temporall covenant made to his carnall seed the Promise being of carnall or temporall things sealed to them with a carnall seal Gen. 17.13 Also a second or new covenant made with him and his Spirituall seed concerning spirituall things even the kingdome of grace and glory Hebrews 8.7 to the 12 whereof the Holy spirit of Promise is the seal And thus as I conceive things are proportionable Two covenants Gal. 4.24 Two seeds verse 23 Ishmael of Abraham and Hagar which typed the carnall seed And Isaac of Abraham and Sarah which typed the Spirituall seed These had likewise two Seales Circumcision Gen. 17.11 and the Holy spirit of promise 2 Corinth 1.22 Ephesians 1.13 1 John 4.13 But now under the Gospell the carnall Commandement together with the subject is done away by the crosse of Christ 2 Coloss 14. Blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nayling it to his crosse And infteed thereof we have a spirituall covenant typed by the carnall Also the Spiritual seal the Holy spirit of Promise signified by the carnall seal likewise a Spirituall Infant a new born Babe in Christ in whom Christ typed by the male is newly formed signified by the carnall Infant These had also two states and conditions promised the naturall seed the Land of Canaan Genesis 17.8 but the Spirituall seed the Kingdome of Heaven Genesis 17.19 Romans 9.7 8. Galatians 3.7 8 9. Romans 2.7 Mark 10.30 And whether the Admission of Children to Baptisme and so into Church-fellowship by anothers faith either Parents or Godfathers and Godmothers as they call them be not contrary to the Scriptures Which cleerly shewes that men are saved by their own faith and not by the faith of others Habakuk 2.4 Romans 1.17 Hebrews 10.38 John 1.12 13. and 3.3.5 2 Cor. 5.16 17. Quere 18. Whether it may not be said of Infants sprinkling as at the mariage of England and Scotland Where every one is charged to examine themselves as they will answer at the day of judgement If they know any cause why they may not lawfully be joyned together then to speak Because such as are joyned together otherwise then Gods Word doth allow are not joyned together by God neither is their Matrimonie lawfull So of Infants Baptisme or Sprinkling it may be said That those that are baptised or rather sprinkled otherwise then Gods Word doth command Matthew 28.19 20 were never baptised into CHRIST Galathians chapter the third verse twenty seven Neither is their Baptisme lawfull Ephesians chapter four verses four and five There is one Body and one Spirit even as yee are called in one hope of your Calling one LORD one Faith one Baptisme Quer. 19. Whether under the Gospel the Church and Civill state bee not two distinct things as bodies or corporations Independant of themselves by Gods divine ordination as is largely shewen by Master Hancoke in the three Kingly Estates Or Light for the Ignorant That is the civill state the true Ecclesiastacall State and the false Eclesiastical state whether the 3 part or civil state which was noted in speech between Mr Selden and Master Grimstone to be but Iure Humane having power from God only over our Estates Liberties lives and that which is externall as is noted by Luther and therefore are called Fathers of our flesh Heb. 12.9 have any authothority from God to settle Religion which is Iure Divino And setled already by the Parliament of Heaven with a curse denounced against all that adde or diminish and therefore not to be altered but by the same authority and Parliament of Heaven by which it was enacted Mat 28.18 19 20. Revel 22.18.19 Qu. 20. Whether it be not a Humane Invention and not Gods Ordinance for one to go up into a pulpit and there speake an houre or more and deliver what he please without questioning by any of the Assembly though never so erronious or judging by them whose due it is or adding if truth or whether these Scriptures prove not the contrary Act. 13.16 17.11 1 Cor 14.31 32. For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learne and all may be comforted and the spirits of the prophets are subiect to the prophets for God is not author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints And Pet. 14.10 As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God And as every member that hath any gift is to administer the same for Gods Glory and the peoples good so the power of determinig is onely in the particular Church where it is done they being the freeest Independent body under heaven whose power resteth in the body not in the Officers Mat. 18.20 and 28.20 Act. 1.21 to the 26. Quer. 21. Whether the servants of Christ are not to preach by vertue of a gift given Ephes 4.8.11 being called thereunto by the Church of which they are members as Acts 13.3 And not by arts learned at the Universitie or Authority gotten from Bishops or any others And whether those priests that hinder beleevers from exercising those gifts or those books from printing which are plainly proved by Scriptures be not a part of the Four angels Revel 7.1 that hold the four winds that they should not blowe upon the earth which causeth separation when men may not deliver truth nor contradict errours the Word of God being as David saith Psal 39.3 Like a fire within the breast of his Disciples they beinig as the Lawvers that take away the key of knowledge and enter not in themselves but hinder those that are entring Luke 1152. Quere 22. Whether it can be properly said that the Ministers of Englang doe convert any to the faith of Christ and obedience of thegospel by their preaching seeing they take it for granted before they sprinkle the Infant that it is regenerate and borne Anew whereas before it was the Childe of wrath but the godfathers having profest repentance and faith and desired baptisme or having one of the parents a beleever as they now say the Minister saith he receivs the childe into the congregation of Christ
flock Now we never read that the members of Christs church hath conversion preached unto them after thy are added to the church but before to bring them thither As Acts. 2.38 40.41 3.19 and 26.17 18. Col. 1.12 18. Ehpe. 2.19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints of the houshold of God but afterwards they are to be fed as Paul exhorts the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20.28 they being before begotten to the faith as he saith 1 Cor. 4.15 For though you have ten thousand Instructers in Christ yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel Quer. 23. Whether the two Witnesses spoken of in the Revel 11.3 may not be understood to be the Scriptures and those gifts or ministerie of the Gospel Mat. 28. 19 20. Ephes 4.8 11. And whether their being clothed in Sackcloth signifie not their poor mean dispised and persecuted condition according to Mat. 10.16 Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves 1 Cor. 4.9 to the 13. and 2. Tim. 3.12 and John 15 18 19. which as the Lord complaineth of the false Prophets Ezekiel 34.3 Who eat the flesh and cloath themselves with the wooll which now will not serve but Silke Plush or Velvet they being indeed the great Merchants of the earth according to Revel 18.11 to the 19. Quer. 24. Whether the true Ministers of the Gospel may not or ought not to worke with their hands in some particular calling to eate their owne bread as Paul did Acts 18.3 and gave command to all others Mat. 10.8 freely ye have received freely given 1 Cor. 4.12 and 9.18 Acts. 20.33 34 35. I have coveted no mans Silver or Gold or apparell yea you your selves know that these hands have ministred to my necessity and to them that were with me I have shewed you all things how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus how he said it is more blessed to give then to receive and 2. Thes 3.8 Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought but wrought with labour and travell night and day that we might not be chargeable to any of you not because we have not power but to make our selves an ensample unto you to follow us for even when we were with you this we commanded you that if any would not worke neither should he eate for we heare that there are some which walke Amongst you disorderly working not at all but are busie bodies now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietnesse they worke and eate their owne bread but the Lord of old by the Prophet reproves those that preach for hire and Divine for money and yet would lean upon the Lord and say is not the Lord among us Micha 35. to the 11. Quere 25. Whether under the Gospel there be any priviledge or prerogative by descent or generation seeing the Scripture saith Eze. 18.4 That soul that sinneth shall die And Hab. 2.4 The Iust shall live by his faith And Gal. 5.6 and 6.15 Circumcision nor Vncircumcision availeth any thing but a new creature and faith which worketh by love and Christ tels the Jews who were Abrahams seed after the flesh they were of their father the Devill Iohn 8.44 And Paul saith 2 Cor. 15.16 Henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Iesus Christ after the flesh yet henceforth know we him no more and Gal. 3.7 8 9 26 29. If you are of the faith of Abraham then are ye blessed with Abraham for ye are all the Children of God by faith in Christ Iesus and If ye be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heires according to the Promise according to Iohn 1.12 13 and 3.3 5. Quere 26. Whether those gifts of the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists which Christ gave at his Assension Ephes 4.8 11. For the begetting to the faith and planting in Church fellowship do not continue after the apostacie though commonly said to be ceased as well as Pastors and Teachers according to Mat. 28.20 Epes 4.13 1 Cor. 3.5 to the 10. or by what gifts they must be gathered converted or begotten seeing it is the pastors duty to feed and instruct those that are begotten as Philemon 10. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds Now it belongs to the Ministerie of Apostles to beget and not to Pastors and Teachers as Acts 20.28 where they are to feed those that are begotten according to Isa 2.3 and 1 cor 12.20 Revel 14 2 6 7 8 13 15 17 18 19. Quere 27. What may be meant of the Great city Babylon being divided into three parts Revel 16.19 And whether Presbiteriall Nationall Government which some would have set up be not the third part or division thereof and as truly Antichristian as the Papall or pontificall And whether their Government would not exceed the other in cruelty had they but the like power as the other had over the consciences of men as farre as Ieroboam did his father Solomons 1 Kings 12.10 11 14. or that some would declare what Presbyterian Government is what power they have wherein their strength Lyes from whom they receive it whether from the civill state or the Eclesiasticall state Christ or the civill Magistrate or composed of both And whether the the Papall State at first arose not out of a Presbyteriall Que. 28. Whether the people of God are not in an Especiall manner to hold and bear forth the Truth when it is most opposed or decrees made against it as Dan. 6.9 10. Wherefore King Darius signed the writing And the Decree now when Daniel knew that the writing was Signed he went into his house and his windowes being open in his chamber towards Ierusalem he kneeled upon his knees three time a days and prayed and Acts 4.18 19. the Apostles being commanded silence answered and said unto them whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more then unto God judge ye for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard Quere 29. Whether the faithfull preaching and patient sufferings of the Saints and Servants of Christ under the Gospel who have ever gone under reproaches and trials as Act. 2.41 1 Cor. 1.24 Col. 1.24 1 Kings 18.17 Where Elias was counted the troubler of Israel Paul and Silas was said to turne the world upside downe Acts 17.6 Paul counted a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition among the Iewes and a ringleader of the Nazarites yet whether they and others since walking in Gods owne way faithfully doth not more publish the truth to the glory of God the Inlightening of the earth and the overthrough of the Kingdome of Antichrist then all the Inventions of men though never so seemingly holy According to Christs whords to the Pharisees Luk 16.15 Ye