superstition or custome as God had not inioyned them and to leaue vndone the lawes and commandements of God which sinne is your transgression at this day Reade therfore the 7. of Marke and 15. of Mathew more diligently Further those superstitious traditioÌ„s Gal 4. and Colos. 2. the observing wherof were the denyall of Christ were neither held meritorious nor iustification sought by them manie of them being Iewish ceremonies sometimes as rudiments commanded of God now abolished and no further burden to be layde in such outward thinges no We reade not that the law of God yt self was eyther commanded or so observed as to seeke righteousnes by yt Now then to the matter Mr. Giff. thinketh Christ and his Apostles did well in refusing to obey the traditions of the Fathers at the Pharisies commandement and so must confesse it lawful and a dutie of vs to refuse to observe your Iewish cerimonies and Romish superstitious traditions which are so manie as euen your whole Leitourgie and worship conteine nothing els God 's lawes and ordinances not only left vndone but al that pleade for them and seeke to walke in them persecuted with deadly hatred And how Mr. Giffard will proue that there is no adding or diminishing to or from the word of God by imposing and creating more lawes theÌ„ God hath made in his worship and gouernmeÌ„t of his Church but such as bee made part of the worship or bynde the conscieÌ„ce or bee meritorious or against such rules of his gouernment as bee perpetuall though I take all your orders lawes worship in this compasse yet howe you can poue this I know not for looke againe vpon the scriptures Pro. 30.5.6 Deut. 4.2 and 12.32 and Gal. 3.15 Revel 22.18.19 and you shal finde that to add superordeine innovate or diminish or take anie thing from the lawes of God already prescribed for his worship were to abrogate his lawe to laye further burdens then hee hath layde to make his lawe vnperfect and set our selves in his seate yea whatsoeuer wee put to which hee hath not commanded or whatsoeuer wee inhibit that hee hath commanded is here forbidden For this saith the Lorde Ye shall put nothing vnto the word which I command you neither shall you take ought therefrom that you may keepe the preceptes of the Lorde your God which I commande you Deut. 4.2 And that this was as well in the outwarde ordinaÌ„ces of the Temple as in the iudgments is plaine in the first verse Againe in the 12. Chap. 32. Whatsoeuer I command you take heede you do yt Thou shalt put nothing therto nor take anie thing therfrom and in the Proverbs Euerie word of God is pure put nothing vnto his wordes lest hee reproue the aÌ„d thow bee found a lyer Now the scripture speaking so absolutely and generaly against al addition or detraction to or from his ordinances Mr. Giffard ouershooteth himself of his bare word to contradict and limit so expresse commandementes for these Scriptures saith hee are against adding of humane preceptes and lawes to bee kept as partes of Gods worship to bynde the conscience to seeke righteousnes forgeuenes of sinne merit in them or against such rules of gouernmeÌ„t as God hath set to be perpetuall This is true but this is not all for the lawe is generall against all inventioÌ„s traditions constitutions whatsoeuer God hath not commanded as the second Commandment doth also teach Thou shalt not make to thy self etc. so that God hath left nothing to be layde vpon his Church by commandement Which he hath not commanded And therfore that place of the Apostle to the Gal. 3.15 must be better pervsed If it be but a mans Testament when yt is confirmed no man doth abrogate yt or superordeine anie thing to yt CHRISTS Testament then being much more perfect his whole minde for the ordering of his house manifested therin it is wicked presumption to alter the ordinances thereof or to holde them vnmeete or vnsufficient for anie age or estate Well Mr. Giffard coulde nowe bee content thus far to limit the power of the Church namelie to haue her subiect and obedient to his voice but that he supposeth there may be lawes ecclesiastical made of things in themselues indifferent that where the scripture hath commanded such things to be vsed at our libertie for order for comelynes edification and glorye of God as matters of place time and such circumstance But hee here mistaketh his text for the Lorde commandeth by the Apostle in that place â— Corint 14. that those publique busines and exercises of the assembliâ—s shoulde be done in order in comlynes to edifying and doth not leaue somthing to bee commanded which the maister buylders hath not prescribed For to binde those thinges by lawe which God hath not bound in his worship were to add newe traditioâ—s to bring vs into bondage of the creatures which the same Apostle denyeth euer to bee brought into bondage vnto 1. Cor. 6.12 in his owne person teaching vs so to walke the Lord see in his wisdome cause to leaue them in our libertie knowing there woulde bee no end of such perticular lawes especially if he had left it to mans wyt to make and vnmake lawes therin For the orders you speake of then meaning circumstances of time place kneeling sitting standing etc. there can be no further lawes of them then the Apostle hath set and as the Minister of Christ prescribed that al be donne to edifying in comlynies order etc. Of theis to set perticular lawes were to break these generall lawes of God whereby he teacheth vs the true vse of them and leaueth them in the Churches libertie as need requireth to vse them or not vse them Neither can all assemblies bee bound in these thinges to the same in perticular that being needfull and decent in one that is not in an other And in that you woulde haue them no further commanded then they bee needfull convenient decent etc. you condiscend that there can bee no setled lawe in perticular layde vpoÌ„ the Church in theÌ„ For to vse them so far as they bee convenient necessarie and to edifijng is the lawe and commandement of God and to vse them further at anie mans commandement were both a breach of Gods lawe and making the creatures stumbling blockes Idolles bondages and euerie way sinnefull And when the Church commandeth them so far to be vsed as they are commanded of God the Churche doth but ratifye and see GODS lawe executed so that you haue lost your selfe whiles you sholde haue proued your bold affection That the Church hath power to ordeyne lawes for to create or make lawes which you see the folly of being nowe driuen to another shift that in the perticular thinges whereof GOD hath giuen generall lawes wee may make setled lawes and yet but for the tyme they be convenient Wheras in deed GODS lawe is the same and nothing ells But because they bee necessarye in one place that bee not in another
fall into any sinne except the sinne against the holye GHOST yet bee restored by repentance GODS grace so far abounding alwayes considered as then I noted that obstinacye in anye sinne make them to vs the servants of sinne whiles they so remayned not speaking this to giue leaue or incouragement to presume in the least or first step of sinne lest GOD leaue them to themselves but to giue them hope if they returne that haue so fallen hee excepteth generally against all presumptuous sinne saying of frailty Gods childrē may fall but of presumption hee maketh great doubt for anye so sinning to bee renued by repentance for it is spokē of the Maranatha to bee pronounced in this life to none but that bee in that sinne against the holye Ghost and here to fill his paper as his common shift is when hee can neither affirme nor denye hee putteth me to newe questions You must saith hee declare howe filthye incest is not sinne against the holye GHOST nor if a man kill his Father or Mother or children nor witchcraft nor familiarity with Spirits is not your meaning that the regenerate man may of presumption and obstinacy commit these If Maister Giffard shoulde thus vnderstande the worde may hee is in the same fault to say the regenerate may sinne of frailty And I answere furder hee coulde vnderstand the worde may otherwise if as in all his writinges hee caryed not this minde to take all in euil part to quarrell hee coulde have vnderstood it thus that God suffereth of his elect to fall into such sinne yet hee is able to reduce them by repentance and hath made promise to receive them iff they retourne and not haue cauilled in this maner in such thinges the horrour in the verye naming of which sinnes shaketh the flesh and bones of the godlye to heare or behold so that his drift is but to cast in a litle wormewood to deface the truth deliuered Therefore I will onlye prooue the generall doctrine before affirmed and for these perticulars let him that taketh pleasure in raking in them being sinnes not once to bee named amongst GODS children answere himself And much better might hee have put his question thus Whither wilfullye committing of sacriledge and presumptuous continuing to enchant in a false ministery with Iannes and Iambres resistinge the truth persecutinge the light against their knowledge bee not within the compasse of that sinne against the holye Ghost That GODS elect after regeneration doe fall into presumptuous sinne and for a time persist in obstinate sinne and may bee restored by repentance I thus prooue Manie of GODS children may bee excommunicat and vpon the repentance bee receiued againe as the incestuous person 1. Cor. 5. therefore do for a time remayne in obstinate sinne Againe euerie sinne is to bee prayed for but that one sinne against the holye Ghost 1. Iohn 5.16 Therfore presumptuous sinne is committed of GODS elect after regeneration That all presumptuous sinne is not sinne against the holy GHOST wee shall see by the discription of that sinne Hebr. 6. and 10. where there is dispyting of the Spirit accompting the blood of IESUS an vnholy thinge persecuting the light they haue sometimes tasted of and such like notes which are degrees further then presumption for there is presumption of ignorance of rashnes of hope of mercy and many times do the Prophets charge the people with rebellion against GOD so that all presumption cannot have the curse maranatha pronounced vpon it or the persons not to bee prayed for But sure I grant that presumption is neere to that sinne and there cannot bee that high sinue without presumption But now if all sinne but sinne of frayltie were vnpardonable your Clergie were in a wofull case that thus maynely resist the truth and persecute GODS servants Neither is this doctrine anye way contrarie to that I delyvered namelye that the regenerat man cannot bee said to stande in bondage to sinne after regeneration and the servant of GOD at the same time by outwarde profession for none are in bondage to sinne after their calling to the faith to our iudgment but suche as contynue obstinate in their open knowne sinne after due admonition that such stande not by outwarde profession the servants off CHRIST but of sinne and are to bee excommunicate hee willingly granteth and herevpon merueileth how I shoulde gather that obstinat grosse sinners shoulde not bee excommunicat which hee might playnlye perceiue if hee had eyes for if al the regenerat bee in bondage to sinne and so the servants of sinne and of Sathan howe should they cast out an other for bondage out of their fellowship by the power of CHRIST If Maister Giffard say because the obstinate is in greater bondage then the other this proueth not that the bond can cast out the bond by the power of Christ. Againe if all bee in bondage then none can bee houlden without for being in bondage to sinne so that none shoulde be excommunicat none without the worlde and the CHURCH light and darknes CHRIST and BELIALL should bee mingled together To all which hee hath made no answere but demandeth certeine questions and maketh such a formall conclusion as if all were in bondage vnto sinne His questions I grant all affirmantiuely yet denye his consequence Let him plainely proue therfore by euidence of SCRIPTURE that all that do sinne are bondslaues of sinne and when hee hath so done I shall therevpon conclude him a flat Anabaptist in the cheif ground of their profession Verye gladlye therefore woulde hee leave out the worde bondage and falslye accuseth and sclandereth mee in saying I holde that men can not outwardly appeare sinners and stand the servants of CHRIST both at a time which is an open vntruth Yt is hee that cannot put difference betwene sinning and bondage vnto sinne so that in one worde all his questions are answered If anie bee in bondage to sinne hee standeth a seruant thereof Now for the 7. to the Romanes the APOSTLE setting forth the strift betwene the flesh and the Spirit speaketh somtimes in the person of the one if I may so speake and somtimes of the other somtimes of the newe man or regenerat part or of himself so far as hee is regenerat somtimes of the olde man which is not wholly slayne but ful of rebellion striueth for maisterie Nowe I must demand of him whether of these two haue the preheminence dominion and rule in the regenerat the graces of the Spirit or the rebellions of the flesh The same APOSTLE saith the SPIRIT and that part off the man renewed there with which wee call the inner man In the 8. Cap. he maketh it playne The lawe of the spirit of life in CHRIST hath freed mee from the lawe of sinne and of death What is the lawe of the Spirit but the powre rule and dominion of the Spirit of GOD in vs And what is the lawe of sinne but the powre of sinne and bondage wherewith
doubted what is this then but to deceaue your Reader both to iudge sinisterlie of me and be drawen from the truth himself But indeede you meane not this holden by force of ciuile bondadge or persequution for then ther were no difference betweene vs ād myne Argument should stand vntouched You affirme then that the Church may stand vnder a false gouernement inforced therunto by the tyranny of the ennemie and yet in that estate be the true apparant Church by open profession which is nothing els then that the Church may professe Christianisme and Antichristianisme both at a tyme subiect in minde to Christ and subiect to Antichrist in outwarde obediēce That you hold this doctrine in this place the processe of your matter proueth and to make all plaine your wordes in the last writing which here you summe vp were these But if the Church at any tyme be by mayne force restrayned from some priuiledges or haue some gouernement set ouer it which agreeth not with GODS worde which it cannot auoide c. See nowe how smoothly this man hath put away the crosse of Christ by teaching men to stand vnder a gouernement contrarye to Christes I thought the ordinances of the newe Testament had beene a kingdome that could not be shaken Heb. 2.28 that none could haue beene a mēber of Christ that receaueth the marcke of the Beast though yt be but in his hand or could be holden a member of Christ by outward profession that here had beene the patience of the Saincts to suffer vnto death rather then to bowe downe either in minde or bodie to an other gouernment then Christs How is he a Lorde to them that are not gouerned by him Well I needed not haue stand vpon this doctrine but that he nether prynted my former answere nor answered in these pointes and myne owne copie taken from me by the Bishops so that this man may retract what he will and accuse as please him if he haue anie common honestie let my former answere be seene But to proue the Church may be subiect to an other gouernement then Christs which is euen to say that a man may gyue all alleageance by outward practize to the Kinge of Spaigne and yet be her Ma◠true subiect He saith the Church was holden captiue in Babilon where he as conningly hideth himself as before though in my last writing I vrged him to answere whether the Church in Babilō was subiect to their Idolatrie or no. To the ciuile power I doubt not they were But if the Priestes and Leuites stood Priests to the Idolatrous worship in Babilon whether the people of Israel bowed downe to the outward practise and obedience of their Idolatrie or no then if they did so whether they stoode by profession the childrē of God or apostatate in that estate None of these thinges haue you answeared me Let the exāples of Hanania Mishaell and Azarin testifie Dan. 3. The people that retourned repented their transgressions wher they had any of them sinned and made a new couenant with the Lorde before they were receaued Ezra 9.14.15 and 10. Cap. 2.3.8 Yea the voyce of God was this come out of her my people ād touche no vncleane thing and I wil be your God We are before thee saith Ezra in our trespasse and we cannot stand before thee because of it You never renounced your Antichristian ministerie you neuer made newe couenant since the deepe defectiō of Poperye but still minister in that kingdome and wil not repent yet boast your selves to be the Church of God cryinge out the Temple the Temple I answeare then directlie that whiles you stād subiect vnto and practize ād communicate with other orders and gouernments then Christes you are not by outwarde professiō the Churches of Christ. I may not with you omitt the worde willfull because you persequute the light and so much higher is your sinne Here I must forewarne the Reader with diligēce to consider Mr. Giffords disagreement and mine he hauing accused me of a fundamētall heresie as he calleth it wheras he himself still maintayneth most grosse errors wher of I reproued him yet he persisteth Namely that the regenerate man may be said to stand in bondage to sinne by reason of the corruption of the fleshe that is in vs ād of our vnperfectnes in this life Then that one standing in outwarde bondage to opē knowē sinne may in that estate be accompted and cōmunicated with as the seruāt of Christ by outward profession both at one instant which is asmuch to say we may be to mās sight the seruaunt of the deuill and the seruaunt of Christ both at one tyme by outward profession so none should be excōmunicate none be without te world ād the church light and darcknes Christ and Belial should be mingled togeather The heresie wherof he most vniustly and vntruly proclaymeth to be mainteyned by vs is that the regenerate man consenteth not to sinne after regeneration although in the last writinge I testified the cōtrary Namely that the whole church might erre might cōmitt some kinde of Idolatrie that no mā was free from cōmitting sinne etc. And now I testifie to all the world that I was neuer infected with anie such Anabaptistry but haue euerie where resisted such dannable heresie I haue learned and taught manie degrees of sinne and differēces of trāsgressions which the deare children of God fall into after regeneration in thought word and deed of ignorance of knowledge of presumptiō slippes transgressions and obstinate sinne Yea that ther is no sinne except ehe sinne against the Holy Ghost but Gods childrē may cōmitt it after regeneration and be renued by repentance which we ought to pray for in all sinners but that one sinne except Not that men should herevpon take boldnes to sinne because God giueth repētance to his elect wherin the riches of his mercy appeareth but rather serue him in trembling and feare as a iealous God least with Esaw we find no place to repentance though we seeke yt with teares Againe though in Gods sight his elected are neuer forsakē vtterlie nor the Holy Ghost vtterly extinguished in the repenerate yet to mans iudgment he that cōmitteth opē knowē sinne and persisteth obstinatly in the same cannot be held the child of God to vs by outward profession but must be cutt of Nombers 15.27.31 Math. 18.17 and 1. Cor. 5. till they repent Much more none that stād opē professed mēbers of te false church subiect by the least outward bowing downe to this antichristiā Hierarchie ād so cōtinuing in bōdage to a false gouernmēt cā be holdē of vs te true professors of Christs Gospel Now let vs peruse te seueral doctrines Mr. Gifford affirmeth that the true church migt stād in bōdage to a false gouernmēt yet in that estate be helde and cōmunicated with as the true Church by outward profession his wordes in waye of proof be these They may with St. Paule say it is no longer I
that do it but sinne that dwelleth in me for if the yoake wherwith he was held captiue in part could not take from him but that he was the Lordes free seruaunt it is no reasoÌ„ that some outwarde bondage should make the Church not to be the spouse of Christ. If a man commaund his wife saith he to do a thinge and ther be violent force to withhold her shee is not to be blamed Rom. 7. Mine answere to this he durst not print but peruerteth my wordes so manie as pleaseth him nether can I yet come by a copie of my former writing to shew what I theÌ„ replyed Now consider what gouernmnet is and what bondage is and then behold the wickednes of this man Spirituall gouernmet is that souereigntie Dominion and regiment that Christ Iesus by his spirit lawes ordinaÌ„ces and officers exerciseth in aÌ„d ouer hys church as yt is writteÌ„ And thou BethleeÌ„ Iuda art not the least among the Princes of Iuda for out of thee shall come a gouernour that shall gouerne my people Israell againe thy Scepter is an uer lasting Scepter I haue set my king vpon Syon my Holy mountaine Mat. 2.6 Psa. 2. and 45. and 110. these lawes aÌ„d ordinaÌ„ces wherby this kinge raigneth are caled a kingdome that caÌ„not be shakeÌ„ Heb. 12.28 they that haue not him to reigne ouer theÌ„ are by outward professioÌ„ none of his If I be your lord where is my honor againe those myne enimies which would not that I should reigne ouer theÌ„ bring bether and slay theÌ„ before me Luke 19.27 Also bondage or seruitude is to be al commaundement and to yeild obedience in subiection Now to be in outward bondage to an other outward government other lawes officers and ordinances then Christs is to be by outward subiection servantes of Antichrist which layeth an other foundation for by outward profession we cannot stand to mans iudgment professed subiects to two kings at enimitye But we must be an enimie to the one and so esteemed of all meÌ„ much lesse members vnto two divers heades This then is mine answere here 1. That it is an heresie to say a man may stand in bondage to open knowen sinne and the free seruaunt of Christ to vs by outward profession both at one instant 2. That it is a falsifying of the Scripture to say that St. Paul in the 7. to the Romanes was in bondage to sinne when he in the inner man resisted sinne and daylie preuailed against the sinne which his flesh would haue led him captiue in if there had not beene a stronger power to ouercome that enimie For he ther reasoneth of the benefite of the lawe to manifest our sinne and our conquest ouer sinne by daylie repentance and reprouing of sinne in our selues fighting against sinne victory ouer sinne thoughe yt contynuallie rebell 3. How blasphemous were yt to contynue in knowen sinne in bondage to yt and to say it is sinne that dwelleth in vs and not we and so still to blesse our selves without amendement O horrible peruertinge of the Scriptures to mens destruction 2. Pet. 3.16.4 That ther is no Argument to be drawen nor consequence to followe from the reliques of sinne and corruption of the fleshe in one man or the whole Church and a professed bondage to al false government no not betweene the open committing of sinne in the whole Church or some mâ—mbers therof and a professed homage and subiection vnto a false gouernment we cannot be partakers with the false Church and true at no hand 1. Cor. 10.21 5. Lastlie that the subiection to an other gouernement is as a wife that committeth adulterie Hosea 2. I then reason thus on the contrary with you Any man that after regeneration committeth open knowen sinne and contynueth obstinate as a bond seruaunt thervnto standeth not the professed seruaunt of Christ but of synne Ezechiel 18. till he repent so the whole Church that persisteth in open knowen sinne and persequuieth the messengers that reproue the same Then as euerie member of the false Church standeth a professed seruaunt of sinne so the whole assemblies that stand professed subiects of false gouernment no censures sf admonition belonging vnto them but calling of them to repentance and seperation from the false Church Then as the wife that geueth her self to be one with an other man is an adulteresse Rom. 7.3 so that Church that subiecteth herself to an other gouernment ordinances and lawes then Christs is an harlot Now lett all men say whether I had not iust cause to say you spake like a carnall libertine and an Athiest yea nowe as one having his conscience â—eared to affirme that the Church remayninge in open knowe bondage to a false gouernment may saye as Paul said it is not I that sinne And that contynuing in that adulterie she is the spouse of Christ by outward profession You would saye it were a false Argument to say the Church hath manie imperfections ignorances transgressions etc. therfore standeth in bondage to sinne nay standeth in bondage to an other heade and an other government then Christs Euen so to saye the Church doth sinne therfore may contynue in bondage to sinne is false doctrine nay to say it may stand in open professed subiection to Antichrist and be esteemed the CHURCH of CHRIST by outward profession in that estate is damnable doctrine It is the flat contradiction of all the rules of the Scripture to say a man may stand in bondage to sinne and the free servauntâ— of Christ by outward profession by mans iudgment at one tyme seing the obstinate offenders are to be cast out of the assemblie But nowe though the regenerate may fall into these highe sinnes and contynue in their sinne a long time yea manie yeares depriued of GODS grace to mans seeming and to vs is the seruant of Satan for anie thing wee see yet the Spirit of GOD is never vtterlie extinguished or departed after regeneration but will recouer the man againe and bring him to repentance as David after a whole yeare for the stronge man once displaced and cast out by a stronger then he the spirit neuer vtterly departeth againe for then yt were impossible that maÌ„ should be renewed Mat. 1.2.31 Heb. 10.26 and 6.4 And herevpon I might saye Paul never contynued captiue in sinne but was alwaies renewed by repentance Furder this spirit of God the sparkes wherof were never quenched vtterlie did not nor could not consent or giue place vnto sinne for here is the enimitye and battel betweene the spirite and the flesh euerie where spoken of Gal. 5,16.17 Rom. 7. May I not now say then that Paul never contynued captiue vnto sinne nor consented vnto sin concerninge the Inner man or gave place vnto sinne in that place mentioned without heresie And still reproue you that when Paul reasoneth of the old man or corruption in him you will conclude yt of the new man or inner man and of the whole man when you see euidently he opposeth the
consider how it lyeth vpon him whiles he speaketh out of the mouth of the Beast if he repent not to turne from his euil wayes Let it further be weighed how ignorantly he chargeth me to condemne al Churches for this finale examplifying of this Egiptian darknes Idolatrous worship and exalting mens writings into this defacing of Gods word and true worship they neither being guylty of such a sacrilegious Leitourgie as this Egiptian Calf hatched at Rome neither are to be presently iudged no Church for others sinne till they ioyne obstinacie to their transgression But shift the matter as you wil or rather as you can appeare before God I wil not make lesse the sinne or the iudgment due to sinne for mens persons no not of whole Churches if they shal be guilty therin My desire is by discouerie of the sinne to bring men to repentance and vnto the awe of God in his worship who are guyltie besides your selues in such sacriledge as to abrogate the Leitourgy of Christ and set vp an other or to restraine Gods true worship and to giue life to the image of the Beast it shilleth me not let sinne be sinne and GOD righteous and them examine yourselves if they or you be cleare I reioyce neither do I thinck or can charge them with such Idolatrie as is here erected I take it you wil be found the sclanderer of other Churches to hide your owne filthines But saith Mr. Giffard those Scriptures are against the adding of humane preceptes and lawes to be kept as parâ—â—s of Gods wurship to â—ind the conscience to seek righteousnes and the forgiuenes of sinnes or the merit of eternal life in them or against such rules of gouernment as God hath set to be perpetual In which we must take your meaning to be this that you grant where anie humane precepts and lawes be enforced as a part of GODS worship or as lawes to bind the conscience or when righteousnes is sought in them and forgiuenes of sinnes by observing of them or merit by them or if they be against such rules of gouernment as GOD hath let to be perpetuall if the additions or constitutions be such as anie of these then such lawes and constitutions are against the perfection of the word of God against Christian libertie and in the chief things which concerne Gods worship against the ground and foundation of our faith and so a thing most detestable and accursed which our Sauiour CHRIST refused iustly to obserue with the blinde Pharisâ—is wherein you haue granted as much as I euer affirmed For is not your whole Leitournie being an other then CHRISTS Testament your whole reading mens writings in place and in stead of laying forth your owne present wantes and occasions in prayer to God humane constitutions aÌ„d made a parte of Gods worship at least such pretended worship as you thinke good enough for him Weygh the matter vnrightly Againe whither your whole Antichristian gouernment offices Courtes and ministerie be not constitutions and ordinances against such rules of Christs gouernment as be perpetual and an innovating of his Testament examine which you shall soone perceiue if you looke but what Christs perpetuall ordinances offices officers and lawes for the guyding ordering and gouerning of his CHURCH be prescribing euerie one their place dutie and limits iointly and seuerally and not finde your ministerie registered there but a strange Leitourgie and worship borrowed from the Pope which came out of the bottomlesse pit confesse your sacriledge in suppressing CHRISTS whole ministerie and ordinances and erecting an other for the perpetuitie of his euen to euerie naile and pâ—â—n The holy Ghost sheweth that only to be his ministerie till we be all a perfect body in him and his whole ministerie and ordinances a kingdome that cannot be shaken Hebre. 12. Ephes. 4. a commandement to be kept vndefiled till the apearing of IESUS CHRIST his Scepter an euerlasting Scepter the Sonne as faithfull in his house as Moses a servant in the Tabernacle who made all things according to the paterne So that it is to be wondred Mr. Giffard should think anie part of Christs gouernment should not be perpetuall that was giuen by his Apostles the master buylders and layers of the foundation wherby all actions should be tried to the worlds end May not Mr. Giffard as wel cal into question the perpetuite of the TestameÌ„t as the lawes and rules for the governmeÌ„t of his Church Now if your whole false Hierarchie Offices Officers Lawes Worship be plainly other then Christs as in our other writings are proued and shame will inhibit you to deny how can you be so drunke with the cup of the Whores fornication to think you haue no constitutions lawes or traditions which are a part of worship and against such rules of Christs gouernment as the Apostles haue prescribed for the ordring of his howse and the same ordeyned for all Churches til we become all a perfect bodye in him But if Mr. Giffard wil shew himself so voide of al conscieÌ„ce aÌ„d truth to say al their traditionall worship and Antichristian Offices and ordinances be neither part of their worship nor constitutions disanulling the ordinances of Christ yet wil he confesse I doubt not this kinde of worship and gouernment to be imposed as matters to binde the conscieÌ„ce being all the seruice of God they haue seeing hee woulde also haue al that obserue them not to be censured and excommunicat for this marchandize yt were a sore matter a man should be cut of from Christ and his Church gyuen ouer to Satan and the iudgment ratified in heauen against soule and bodye for a matter that byndes not the conscience As though the soule and bodye howsoeuer some things perteine to the one or is done by the one as proper worke there of were not both to be counted when the conscience shal be opened to answere for all done in both or by eyther of both even whatsoeuer wee haue done in soule and bodye and Calvine would but diuide the soule and the bodye in Ciuile causes But Maister Giffard would goe a note further â— namely that in the seruice of GOD in such causes as the transgression deserue excommunication to be no matter bynding the conscience But it may be Maister Giffard doth suppose that except the constitutions ecclesiasticall be such as righteousnes be commanded to be sought in the doing them and forgiuenes of sinnes and merit by them all is wel Then besides the other hbuses granted he must de demanded whither those traditions of the Fathers which our Sauiour Christ and his Disciples refused to observe were imposed as meritorious whervnto wee answere No For in the superstitious washings of cuppes of beddes with al such trincketts wee see to be no such matter Marke 7. and Christs words in saying they layde the commandements of God aside to set vp their owne traditions doth shew wherin the sinne was namelie to do and observe such things of vaine glorie