nor increase oâ— his Spiritual and Immorâ—al seed nor of the â—eaping of that Harvest which was not puâ—chased with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious bloud of his dâ—ar Son buâ— leave it to ignorant careless or malicious Husbandmen It is he that is the Begetter an◠〈◊〉 of this Spiritual Seed the Planter Waterer and Increaser of it For neither is he that planteth anything neâ—ther he that watereth any thing but God that 〈◊〉 And as they are sent â—orth by Him and his Spirit onely so thâ—â— authority and weapons are spirâ—â—ual not caâ—nal or 〈◊〉 they speak in the power evidence and demonstration of the 〈◊〉 and with authority not like Scribes and Pharisees for the weaponâ— of their warfare are not carnal but mighty in God â—heir power ariseth not from Commissions and Licenâ—â— given or granâ—ed from Magistrats Parliaments or numbers of person proudly and Lucifer like stiled Divines from Committees or Colledges Presbyteryes or Academyeâ— nor from any such but from the Lord of Hosts the God of Heaven and Earth from Iesus Christ the Iudg of quick and dead and from that Spirit of his that searcheth all things yea even the deep things of God The strength and might of their weapons is not Academick and Scholastical Learning the â—otten rubbish of Ethnical and Babylonish ruines nor Fathers Modern Writers Expositors Commentators the ayery bubbles that ignorance corrupt 〈◊〉 and humane Tradition hath blown up and gilded over with the unsuitable and Heterogeneous title of Orthodoxal Authours nor their wit reason nor collected notes the rotten Crutches to support lameness no nor any of these or whatsoever can arise from the flesh but onely that Spirit of Truth that lends into all truth And as their Calling and power is onely from God so man hath no power to obstruct or hinder it for Peter and Iohn sayd unto the Council of the lews Whethe◠〈◊〉 be right in the light of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judg ye for we cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard If it be objected that though it be 〈◊〉 that God called many of the Apostles by his own power and Spirit onâ—â—y yet that Calling was immediate and extraordinary and aâ—terwards those that were so called did constitute and ordain others in an ordinary way by Imposition or Extension of hands as divers places of Scripture do affirm For this cause left I thee in Crâ—â—â— that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee And neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery And when they had layd their hands on them and fasted and prayed they sent them away And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church and had prayed with Fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they beluved For those distâ—nctions of Mediate and Immediate Ordidinary and Extraordinary I finde no mention of them nor ground for them in the Gospel and they are but the cunning and 〈◊〉 devices of the Schools and therefore need no further answer than rejection and denyal untill they be made good from a better ground than that fruitless and vain wisdom of man And though in the calling of many of his Ministers in divers ages there were divers circumstances used at the calling of some that were varyed or omitted at the calling of others which they have therefore made an Essential difference not knowing that Circumstantials do not absolutely change the nature of Essentials yet was it the same God that called and sent them and the same Spirit that enabled them and spoke in them as sayth the Record of Truth God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son So many of the Apostles were called by the External and audible voice of Christ in the flesh yet that verbal Call had signified little if the Spirit had not called them inwardly in their hearts for herein consisted their calling that to them it was given to understand the Mystery of the Kingdom but to others it was not given And yet were many others as truly called as they that never saw nor heard Christ speak in the flesh And Paul being called had a great light shined and a voice spake unto him which those that journeyed with him could hear though they saw no man and yet were Timothy Titus Barnabas and others as truly called as he in and by the power of the same Spirit though not in the same manner relaâ—ing to circumstances and yet did and do all the Ministers of Christ in all Ages speak from the same Principle and are sent forth in the same Power and Spirit so that Circumstance makes nor substantial Difference and so that part of the Objection is of no force for the Truth â—aith Knowing this first that 〈◊〉 Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretacion For the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and so do all his Ministers still untill the end of the World For the Imposicion of hands it is manifest that it was used in divers cases as first by our Saviour in â—â—ring of Disceases and after by the Apostles in the like cases and likewise upon little children brought unto him And lastly by the Apostles and Presbyteries in laying on of their hands with Fasting and Prayer Buâ— it is as manifest that by their layiug on of Hands Fasting and Praying gifts of Grace {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} were given and those upon whom they laid their hands and prayed with did thereupon speak with Toungs and Prophesie and so thereby received the Holy ghost and this was that gift that Timothy was exhorted not to neglect and this was it that Simon Magus would have bought with money Now to imitate an Ordinance or practise an Administracion without the same Power Spirit and â—ifts is but hypocritical and vain therefore unless that they that pretend to ordain by Imposicions of hands had the same Power or thereby could confer the same gifts they ought not to practise the same Administracion because without the prâ—sence of the same Power and operacion of the same Gifts wherein the Essence of it stood it cannot be sayd to be an Ordinance of God but a Tradicion of men Again the falling of the Holy Ghost and the manifesting of its visible Power or Power visibly by Prophecying and speaking with Tounges was not as hath been commonly mistaken a peculiar Ordinance for setting men apart for the Ministry but was commonly used to Converts as Converts and belonged to
your eys and give you spiriâ—s to discern in what Principle ye stand Was ever the Spirit of Christ in his Saints in any Age a spirit of persecution Or were the Saints accusers of their Brethren by casting upon them any odious Titles Or did they complain of others to any secular Power or labored to punish or imprison any that followed not them and their way Nay doth not Christ teach them not to forbid such And is it not the Rule that Saints should not speak evil one of another for in so doing they judg the Law and fulfill it not And did not God so lead out their spirits that being reviled they did bless being persecuted they did suffer and being defamed they did intreat Nay is it fitting to bring a railing accusation against the Devil No but to refer it to the Lord that he may rebuke him Now whether it be so with you or not let your Consciences and carriage speak Did ever the Spirit of Christ teach you that any actions dutyes performances or any holy exercises of yours were well-pleasing unto God that were not the fruits and effects of his Spirit inhabiting and working in you No although you should give your bodyes to be buâ—ned and your goods to feed the poor without the Principle of Divine Love which is Christ working the same in you it would profit you nothing Where is your Charity Where is your Love Doth all that you act in the way of his worship flow from this Spirit Try your selves Examine your selves know you not that Christ Jesus is in you except you be reprobates Must not every Plant which the heavenly Father hath not planted be rooted out And if your Religion and way of worship were of God it would stand without any assistance of man or worldly power that the Gates of Hell could not prevail against it for his Kingdom being not of this world is not upholden by the power or principles of this world but by the Almighty Word of his spiritual power But doth the house of your holiness stand founded upon this Rock of Ages or upon the sandy foundation of mans power and self-righteousness and therefore when the rain descendeth the windes blow â—nd the flouds beat it falleth and the fall of it is great And you that call your selves the Ministers of the Nation did ever the Spirit of Christ teach you to derive your Calling and Mission from man or the power of men Is it not the Lord of the Harvest onely and none but he by his own will and spirit that sendeth forth Laborers into his Vineyard Had you your Mission from him or from Rome from his spirit or from the vain and fruitless imposition of the hands of Bishops or Presbyters who apishly imitated the Apostles action without their spirit gifts or power Is not the calling of a Minister as was Pauls from God immediatly and neither of man hor by man Consider into what Places you have thrust your selves even whither the Lord hath not put nor placed you Nay have you not run when he never sent you Those that are his Disciples chuse not him but he chuseth them and ordaineth them to bring forth fruit But do you not pretend to chuse him to make a Trade of his service when you go and are sent to Academyes to be fitted for that end and to Bishops Presbyters gathered Churches or the power of the Magistrat to borrow authority and thereby to procure a fat Porsonage or Augmentation and then you set up shop to sell and vend your wares as though now you had served a sufficient apprentiship and were Masters of the Craft or Trade when yet God hatâ—â— neither chosen fitted nor sent you forth in the power and demonstration of his Spirit And this appears by the fruits of your pretended Ministry being empty dull dead liveless and onely like teaching of the Scribes and Pharises for indeed men do not gather Grapes of Thorns nor Figs of Thistles and so by the fruits of their Doctrine the tru Ministers are known from the false and so are you Dare you presume to â—ver that you are Christs Ambassadors and know not the Message that you should deliver but have it to frame and hammer out by your study cogitations devices and the working of your carnal wit and corrupted Reason or to scrape and gather up out of this and that Author Father Schoolmen Modern Writers this and that Expositor Commentator and the like Is this to be made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit Those that Christ sends forth have that Unction that teacheth them all things that they need not to ask or inquire of vain Idols that have eys and see not ears and hear not mouths and speak not neither have any spirit of understanding in them at all but they are all taught of God and have received in some measure of that spirit which leads into all truth and need not take thought what they shall answer for it shall be given them in that hour for it is not they that speak but the Spirit of the Father in them and out of their bellies do flow fountains of living waters While in the mean time your broken Cisterns of wit learning and carnal wisdom can contain no water Can you be his souldiers when yâ—u have no weapons but what are carnal and not those spiritual ones of Christ that are mighty in him to the pulling down of strong holds and the laying low of every imagination that stands up against him and his power The Lord in mercy open your eyes to see your own emptiness and want of furniture to fight conquer and stand in this spiritual and great warfare otherwise none are sufficient of themselves to think any thing of themselves but every Ministers sufficiency is of God Did ever Christ teach you to preach for hire or to make Contracts how much you must have for exercising that Ministry the necessity of which is laid upon you if you be called of God even to preach in season and out of season and woe be unto them that do it not And yet it is your cry No publike maintenance no Ministry Oh hypocrites how can ye escape the damnation of hell Or hath he taught you to remove from place to place where you may have more mony or a greater benefit This is only to preach for hire not for the love of the truth nor out of your sensibleness of the necessity incumbent upon you With what faces can or dare you exact Tythes or pay from poor Labourers by the compulsory power of a worldly Law who perhaps never received any benefit from your Ministry or cry out for a publike maintenance to be established by the Magistrate Is there any other maintenance for a Gospel-Ministry but what those freely give that feel and
The Saints Guide OR Christ the Rule and Ruler OF SAINTS Manifested by way of Positions Consectaries and Queries Wherein is contayned The Efficacy of acquired Knowledge The Rule of Christians The Mission and Maintenance of Ministers And the power of Magistrates in Spiritual things By IOHN WEBSTER late Chaplain in the Army LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread Eagle at the West End of Pauls 1654. To all that love the Lord IESUS CHRIST in Truth and Sincerity Dear Souls BLessed be the God of mercies who hath satisfied my spirit that it is not the power of Argument the force of Dispute or Eloquence nor the efficacy of humane Reason that can more clearly make out the things that are freely given to us of God than they are by that Spirit that searches all things yea even the deep things that are of God in the experience of his Saints as they all witness having the same spirit opening unto them that Record which God gave of his Son Neither are these and poor weak things though we should not despise the day of small things made publick upon any such account but onely as it pleased the Lord to draw forth my spirit to give testimony with those Truths he had sealed in my breast against all the prejudice cenfures and unrighteous judgments of men For that immortal Spirit which raised Iesâ—s up from the dead and quickeneth the bodies of his Saints by its own light life power wisdom and strength worketh all in all in his people stands not in any need of the weak instrument of â—infull mans carnal and devilish wisdom For it is this Spirit that quâ—ckeneth the flesh profiteth nothing Neither are the weapons of a believers warfare carnal but mighty in Christ not in us to the pulling down of strong holds and laying low of every imagination that stands up against Christ And also I have usually in experience observed that in laboring to make out the Truth by the force of our wit and arguments one carnal weapon is but set against another and so doth little else but engender strife and stir up passion so that Truth rather receives damage than profit by it And therefore the Scripture witnesseth that Saints should avoid foolish questions endless Genealogies and contentions with perverse disputings whereof cometh envy strife railyngs and evil surmisings And as the Lord in mercy hath cleared my spirit from these mysts so he hath led me forth to give my testimony with the rest of his Saints in behalf of his Cause and Truth against all perversness and unrighteousness of men For after the Lord about eighteen years ago had in his wonderfull mercy brought me to the sad experience of mine own dead sinfull lost and damnable condition in nature and fully shewed me the nothingness and helplesness of creaturely power either without or within me and graciously led me forth to witness with the Prophet David That he had drawn me forth of the horrible Pit and set my feet upon a Rock and established my goings And then and ever since carried me forth somtimes in much power somtimes in weakness according to the working of his own will to declare unto the sons of men what he had done for my Soul This no sooner appeared in me and others whom it pleased the Lord to reveal his Son in but the power of Babel in the Ministers of Satan transforming themselves into Ministers of Righteousness then in the Episcopal and Prelatical Form poured forth all their malice and spite against the Truth and against all those in whom it appeared then throwing dirt upon us and hotly raging in persecution against us in and under the terms of Puritans Seperatists Grindletonians and Antinomians And also continued the same bitterness in malice in the tail of the Dragon though then disguised under the name of Presbyterians and a new Form of pretended godliness by the former odious â—itles and addition of new as Libertines Blasphemers Sectaries and Hereticks and since hath not ceased under the new devices of Independency and Church-gathering keeping still the same appellations and super-adding of others as Dippers Quakers and indeed what not calling and accounting all others as Hereticks that were not of their Tribe and Trade Form and judgment and so the hierling merchants of Demetrius his Craft do still vociferate and continu it yet notwithstanding all their bloudy malice and insaciable envy the Lord hath delivered me and those that were his through his great mercy from the paws of all these devouring Lions and will still faithfully keep and preserve all his by his mighty power through faith unto salvation And now the Lord hath strengthened my spirit and hand to bear out my witness against all these and to manifest the same to you my dear brethren pertakers of the same heavenly calling and anointed with that spirit that teacheth all things and leadeth into all truth where there is neither Iew nor Greek bond nor free male nor female but are all one in Christ Iesus to the unity of whose Spirit he commends you who remains April 28. 1653. Yours in the Lord though the lowest and least of all Saints JO WEBSTER To all those that set up Forms and external Worship instead of the spiritual and those that call themselves the Ministers of the Nation Countrey-men IT is far from my purpose to asperse your persons or to condemn any of the least appearances of the Lord Iesus in you much less to oppose any thing that may tend to the building up of the spiritual and new Ierusalem Nevertheless the Lord hath put a few things in my mouth to speak unto you and some things in my spirit to inquire of you which I beseech you to receive in meekness as becometh thâ—se who have stiled themselves by the dear and precious name of Christians Hath the Spirit of Christ ever revealed in you or the record of his truth taught you that any Form of godliness how exact soever or any external worship or discipline though never so near the model that you may imagine is layd down in the Letteâ— of the Scriptures doth make a Saint where the life and power is altogether absent Or doth there appear in any of your gathered Congregations or select Forms the evident and pure power of spiritual self-denial and divine love Nay is it not as the Apostle foretels Having a Form of godliness but having denyed the power thereof Doth Pride Covetousness Censuring Envying Condemning nay murthering of others that follow not your Forms declare or evidence the power of godliness Is not he a murtherer that hateth his brother and therefore hath not eternal life abiding in him Or is there none a Brother but only he that is of your gathered Congregation Is this to worship the Father in spirit and truth or rather to worship ye know not what either at Jerusalem or pon some other Mountain The Lord open
Beleivers as they were such Which is undeniably manifest For when Philip came to Samaria and had preached the Gospel many there beleived add were baptized both men and women And Peter and Iohn were sent down unto them who prayed for them that they might 〈◊〉 the Holy Ghost for as yet he was fallen upon 〈◊〉 of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Iesus Thou layd they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost and these were both men and women and not all Ministers unless every Believer be one And again when Paul came to Ephesus he found there certain Disciples that had been baptized with the Baptism of Iohn but had not heard whether there were any Holy Ghost or not and these he baptized again in the Name of the Lord lesus And when he had layd his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied And all these were about twelve But it is not apparent that this was done for Ordaining them for the Ministry but as they were believers unless where the Scripture is silent we must give it a tongue to speak out what we fansie and suppose And therefore Timotheus stirring up the gift that he received by Pauls hands and the hands of the Eldership was but that gift of the Holy Gost which he received as a Conveâ—t not as a Minister unless as I sayd all Believerâ— be 〈◊〉 as in some degree they are in truth and verity For God hath not given his the spirit of fear but of power of love and of a sound minde And indeed there are two things concerâ—ing this very observable 1. That the Holy Ghost often â—ell upon those that were converted while the Word was in speaking somtimes before they were baptized with water and somtimes before praying with them or laying on of hands and yet these they usually baptized with water afterwards as is manifest that at Pentecost they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance And while Peter yet spake these wordâ— the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the 〈◊〉 â— Those upon whom the Holy Ghost was thus faln we â—inâ—e that they did baptize them but not lay tâ—eir hand on them but those that had been bapâ—â—zed and no received this gift upon such they put their handâ— that they might receive it By which it is clearly manifest that imposition of hands was used to many that were baptized who had not received the gift and so was common to Believers as Believers as Peter 〈◊〉 saying As I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning Then remembred I the word of the Lord how that he sayd Iohn indeed baptized with water But ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost For asmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Iesus Christ What was I that I could withstand God So that heer it is clear that this gift and so the Type or Ordinance of Imposition of hands â—id belong to as many as believed on the Lord Iesus Christ and so was not peculiar to the Ministry onely And as to that Scripture Acts 13. where it is ayd and when they had â—aâ—ted and prayed and layd their hands on them they sent them away viz. and so urge that this Imposition of hands was then used for the setting of Barnabas and Saul apart for the Ministry and so was their Calling or Ordination there unto 〈◊〉 is manifest that these men were called before and did exercise the Ministry before and therefore in the same place they are called Prophets and Teachers {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which they could not truly have been sayd to be unless they had been before called and ordained of God 2. When the Holy Ghost desired to have them separated they were there to 〈…〉 unto the Lord and fasting so that they were 〈◊〉 to and exercised in the work before this their 〈◊〉 for Panâ— preached presently after his Conversion at Damascus and aâ—so at Terusalem and it was three years after his Conversion before he came thither so that this laying on of hands was not a is commonly alleadged his Calling or setting apart to the Ministry 3. This separating or sending forth of Saul and Barnabas was for the accomplishing of that work whereunto he had already called them and so to imploy them in several places or Countreys And when they were to take this journey the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 and pray with them and layd their hands on them that the Lord might strengthen them and prosper them in the work Which thing ought to be done and is usually practised by Saints when God sends forth any Minister to other places or Regions to preach his Word And also as to that Scripture alleadged in Acts 14. v. 23. Where the words are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Quuâ—que ipsis per suffragia creassent Presbyteros and when they had ordained them Elders Where say some is understood Ordinacion and seâ—ting apart to the Ministry Others the choosing of Ministers for particular places by consent of the people iâ— extending the hand 1. The Apostles no where mencion any power or skill that they had to call or make men able Ministers of the New Testament but do witness that it is God that makes them and others so and he only sends them into his Vineyard and not men and therefore the Apostles practise cannot be understood to contradict their evidence in teaching and therefore this cannot be understood of Ordaining and Calling men to the Ministry but of appoynting men to particular places for order and conveniency sake that were already called and ordained of God 2. Paul oftentimes gives out his witnesse and commendacion of particular men testifying that God had gifted called and made them faithful for that work of the Ministry and so sends them to divers places to abide as Ministers So he doâ—h of Timothy Titus and many others Now if Timotheus come see that he may be with you without fear for he worketh the work of the Lord as I also do Whether any do enquire of Titus he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you or our Brethren they are the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ And so he gives his witness of Tychicus that he is a beloved Brother and a faithfull Minister in the Lord and he testifies that he sent Timotheus to the Thessalonians as a Minister of God and a fellow labourer in the Gospel to establish them and comfort them concerning their faith So that what was done of the Apostles Presbyteries or Churches was but only a giving forth of their witness in behalf of such as God had called that by their testimony
others might more willingly receive them and their Doctrin 3. When Timethy was left at Ephesus and Titus in Creet to set things in order and ordain Elders in particular places this was but to appoint such as God had alreadâ— called and gifted to remain at such partâ—cular places and to give their Testimony and witnes that they were so called which either they did by extending of the hand when divers so called and gifted were present or nominated or else that divers being proposed the believers of that Church did by extending the hand manifest which of them they desired to be over them in the Lord and then these they confirmed in those places and prayed that God might prosper them in that work To feed the flock of Christ which he hath purchased with his own bloud and these are the Pastors that should feed the flock not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde and not as being Lords over the heritages Not but that they are called before this and this but a witness from others that they are so called If it were in the power of Magistrats Academyes Presbyteryes or Churches to send forth Ministers then this would be a continual and standing power to propagate this Tribe by a way of carnal generation as that of the Lâ—vites who were born Priests or to the right of the Priesthood and so no age or generation need be without as hath been and is practiced in the Kingdom of Babylon to this day who all claim it by Succession and a carnal way of propagation Bishops from the Pope Presbyters from them and the Independent and baptized Churches from the Presbyters so that heer would be a perpetual Ministry set up by man whether ever God sent any or not When the mystery of his Truth hath been hidden from ages and generations and is onely manifest to the Saints according to the times and seasons that the Father hath put in his own power And so all along the time of the Apostasie these Locusts have swarmed out of the bottomless pit and covered the face of the Earth to devour the Fruits thereof and would continue so still though the Father of light never sent them but the Prince of darkness Consectaryes Then for a State or Common-wealth to set up and appoint a National Ministry from any judgment of men Ministers or Churches is to take unto themselves the power wisdom and right of the Almighty and to set themselves in his Throne and so to be like the Scribes and Pharisâ—es thieves and robbers stealing and attributing that honour unto themseves which is due to the Lord of the Harvest who onely 〈◊〉 Labourers into his Vineyard This is but to set up a câ—rnal Image of a Ministry a Picture without 〈…〉 their trust in him Then those that have entred into the Sheep-fold not by the 〈◊〉 but climbed up some other way the same are thieves and robbers and the Sheep neither know nor hear their voice nor follow them And he that cannot evidence his Calling to be immediatly from and by the Spirit of Christ both by the witness of the same Spirit in his own Breast the power and authority of the speakings of God in him and by the Seal of his Ministry the Conversion and Confirmation of Souls is nothing else but a thief and a robber a deceiver and an 〈◊〉 and nevâ—r was sent of God but came of himself and had 〈…〉 but from the Devil and Man Then are 〈…〉 and Commissions from men to authorize others 〈◊〉 and râ—â—ch vain corrupt and abominable and men that pretend to derive their power from these are 〈…〉 And if any thing be not of him it will fall of it self for that which is crooked cannot be made straight Queryes I desire to know from whence the National Ministers have their Calling or Ordination If from Man who gave him that Power and wherein consists it If from God when and how did they receive it and wherein stands the Power of it Are not they Theeves and Robbers that steal and robb Christ of his honor And do not these so when they hold that being bred in an Academy and furnishd with such Arts and Learning as are taught there and to be Ordained by Bishops Presbyters or Churches is the true Calling and Ordination of Ministers If this be not to rob God of his Honor what is it then Do these that call themselves the Ministers of the Nation seek Authority Counsel Countenance and Protection from God only that sends forth true Ministers and bids them not be afraid of those that can kill the body and can do no more but of him that can throw both body and soul into hell fire or from Men and Magistrates Why do these men if they be ordained of God and sent out in the Power of his Spirit persecute condemn and scandalize others for witnessing that there is no other Calling but what in the power of that Spirit when it is certain That no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Iesus accursed Of the wages and maintenance of Ministers That the Ministers of the Gospel have allotted and allowed them a maintenance by the Gospel Order is evident Because The Labourer is worthy of his hire and the Lord hath ordained that they which Preach the Gospel should Live of the Gospel And he that is taught in his Word should communicate to him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6. 6. But it is as evident that this maintenance ariseth not from Tythes and Oblations as to the Levites under the Jewish Ministry Nor by the power of a compulsory Law made by a Commonwealth or Nationall Power in giving or setling a National Maintenance But from the free Gift and Contribution of those individuall persons wrought upon by that mans Ministry to whom they are to communicate their temporal things and the proportion such as God shall move their spirits to bestow Because the Jewish Ministery is now fulfilled and ended which was but the pattern of the Spiritual and now we have no other High Priest but Christ and all his people being members of his mysticall Body and stones in his spirituall Building do not pay Tithes in him who received them of Abraham in whose loyns according to the flesh Aaron and his sons were And therefore the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law Secondly our Saviours command to his Disciples when he sent them into the World was not that they should have Lands and Livings Lordships and Dominion Tythes and Augmentations but only food and rayment and therewithall they were to be content And they were to provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in their purses nor scrip for their journey neither two coats neither shooes nor yet staves for the workman is worthy of his meat so that they were to bargain or
the Scribes and Pharisees loved the uppermost seats in the Synagogues and at Feasts and greetings in the Market-place and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi but the Disciples were forbidden these things I never read that the poor Disciples or any other Saints desired of the Magistrates tithes or augmentations mony or maintenance for their pains taken about the things of Christ They desired not of the Magistrates any Authority Licenses Commissions or Orders for their preaching the Message that God had put into their mouths But now our Sons of Belial will strike their fleshbook with three teeth into the pan and caldron and if the people will not give them of the Sacrifices they they will take it by force and so wage law against the poor people but the judgement of Elies sons is hastening upon them and if they make not a great uproar and noyse their great Diana falls for ever I never read that the Disciples or Christians in their days did desire the Magistrate to punish kill accuse condemn or imprison any that received not their doctrine no they were but to shake off the dust of their feet as witness against them Nor did they desire to have the Magistrate to punish any that fell away from their doctrine into other opinions though never so gross but all that they did was by spiritual power to deliver them to Satan and that also for this end even for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Iesus All that I find that they declared the Magistrate had no power to hinder them of was the speaking the things of God wherein they were bound to obey God rather then men and in this case the counsel of Gamaliel was both good and pretious That they should abstain from these men and lâ—t them alone for if that counsel or work were of men it would come to nought But if it were of God it cannot be overthrown and so in opposing of it men may be found fighters against the holy Ghost 2. Neither did they act or speak as Christians any thing that was destructive or any way hurtfull to the power of the Civil Magistrate For though they were accused of divers evils and misdemeanors as of being enemies to Caesar the Temple and Laws perverting of the people for speaking blasphemous words against the place of the Iewish worship against the Law to trouble the Cities to teach customs not lawful for them to observe that were Romans and that they turned the world upside down That they were seducers hereticks and that their Sect as they were pleased to call it was spoken against every where and that Paul was a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition among all the Iewes throughout all the world and a ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens Yet were all these accusations false and forged and could not be proved against them For neither against the Law of the Iews neither ther against the Temple nor yet against Caesar had they offended any thing at all Nay they were so â—ar from being disturbers of the peace or injurâ—ous to any man that their very Doctrine was to have as much as in thâ—m laid peace with all men and not to suffer â—or 〈◊〉 doing but well And it was their practice that being reviled they did bless and being persecuted they did suffer and being deâ—amed they did intreat Nay they were so far from doing evil or opposing the civil Power that Paul being wrongfully accused by the Iews had such confidence even in the justice of the Heathenish Magistrate and his own innocency with Godâ— assistance that he appealed unto Caesar But it is not so with those that pretend to be Saints now for they will not be coâ—tent without maintenance from the Magistrate or else they will resist and oppose The civill Magistrate hath not any positive power to punish any man or restrain any for their lâ—ght judgment conscience opinion or way of worship if so be they act or speak nothing that is distractive or destructive to the civill Power or tending to the breach of the peace or to injure one another which is manifest from these grounds Nothing ought to be restrained condemned or punished by the civill Magistrate in relation to Judgment and Opinion but as it is certainly and inâ—allibly known to be erroneous false blasphemous or hereticall nor any thing â—estrained or punished in respect oâ— worship but what is infallibly known to be idolatrous supeâ—stâ—â—ous and contrary to the mind of God But it is manifest that man â—s he is natural knoweth nâ—t these things but they are fooliâ—â—ness unto him neither can he discern them for men arâ— altogether gone out of the way and there is none of them that understands these things no not one And then shall man be a judge of what he knows not and give sentence where he understands not at all And if it be thought that Magistrates are to judg punish these things as they are Christians because it is said â—hat the Saints shal judg the world 1. It cannot be proved that they are â—hristians because they are called so nor that they are Saints because they think and call themselves so for not he whom man approveth but he whom God approvâ—th is justified 2. And though it be true that the Saints do shall judg the world yet it is not by using any of the Civill Power or Authority of the world for Christs kingdom of which they are members is not of this world and thus Paul did not judge those thâ—t were without and the Saints judging of the world was in spiâ—itual power by a declarative witnessing against all unrightâ—ousness of men but no using of the civill sword for their weapons were not carnal but spirituall And therâ—â—ore the Magistrate is not the competent judge of these things and therefore hath no power but what is negative and so ought not to forbid them But though the Magistrate had the spirit of discerning without error or mistake of what was true or false light or darkness both in relation to opinion and outward worship yet is not the right and judgement of these things given or granted unto him though he be as a god upon earth but it is the great high priviledge and prerogative of Iesus Christ by whom God will judge the world according to Pauls Gospel and the very â—entiles for walking contrary to their own light were judged of God and not by men and of him given up unto vile affections as a just punishment for sinning against light and therefore the Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son and he it is that is appointed judge of quick and dead for all power is given him both in heaven and earth for it is God himself in
from every brother that walked disorderly and if any did not obey his word in that Epistle they should note such an one have no company with him that he might be a shamed 3. For that of the Angel of the Church in Thyatira it contains a very high great mystery more then mans wit can conceive by the letter yet it is clear that they should not have suffered her but what was it they should have restrained or resisted her withall not with carnall weapons for the Saints wear not such but with spirituall which were mighty and powerfull in Christ 2. Those rebuked there were such as had her doctrine and those threatned were such as had committed fornication with her and therefore by suffering her was to have embraced her doctrine but those that had it not nor had known the depths of Satan they were not reproved not threatned at all but exhorted only to hold fast untill Christ should come Consectaries There is nothing in the Gospel either in doctrine or practice that is distractive or destructive to the civil power nor any way hurtful or injurious unto men And therfore whatsoever doctrine or practice is destructive to Magistracy or tends to break the peace or injure any man the same hath no ground in the Gospel and is an evill that the Magistrate hath power to restrain and punish All the liberty that Christians have or can claim of or from the Magistrate is onely negative and permissive that they should not forbid hinder them to declare the things that God hath revealed in them and commanded them to utter nor prohibite them the way of their worship and serving of God The Magistrate hath an unquestionable power to restrain and punish every word and action of man that tends to the disturbance of the civil State or to the prejudice of others and is bound to uphold nothing of Christian Religion either with the sword or with mony or maintenance and therefore those that require pay from the State to uphold their Religion ought in that point so far to be restrained as to be denied it and none allowed them Then whatsoever a mans opinion or way of worship be if he live peaceably amongst men both in word and work and faithfully and obediently toward the Civil power the Magistrate ought without respect to his judgment or way of worship to protect and defend him and not at all to intermeddle with him in regard of either Queries If the Magistrate not having infallibility of judgment do by law establish one or more forms or Religion compell men to conform therunto may not one or all those be idolatrous and erroneous and some way not allowed by law be the onely way of truth in Christ Can a Magistrate drive more into heaven then the Father hath determined to draw thither or can he be wiser then the Spirit of Christ to teach and direct men the way to eternall life Doth any form of religion necessarily entail the grace of God upon those that walk in it Or can any form keep out the Spirit and Grace of God when it will enter Doth any power of the Magistrate really and truly change the heart though it make the tongue confess and the person in external worship conform to the Form and Religion established Is it not against the law of Nature and the light imprinted in us to do that to another we would not have done to our selves to compell another when we would not be compelled If any out of tenderness of conscience lowliness of mind or love of the truth desire further satisfaction in the particulars handled herein I shall be willing as far as the Lord in mercy shall enable me either by conference or otherwise to give them what content and assistance lies in my power If any one be unsatisfied with the truths herein contained and judge them unsound or erroneous and so have a desire to confute them or argue against them I only intreat them plainly and fully to make it manifest out of what principle they speak whether from the Spirit of truth or from the ground of Human learning and Reason and according to the presence of the Lord with me they shall receive a responsion FINIS Zach. 4. 10. 〈…〉 Iohn 6. 63. 2 Cor. 1â— 1. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Psalm 40. 2. 〈…〉 2 Cor. 1. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 5. Gal 3. 28. 2 Tim. 3. 5. â— Iohn 3. 14 15. Iohn 4. 21 22 â—3 24. Mark 9. 38 39 40. â—mes 4. 11 12. â— Cor. 4. 12. Iude 9. 1 Cor. 13. 3. 2 Cor. 13. â— Matth. 15. 13. Matth. 16. 18. Iohn 18. 36. Matth. 7 24 25 26 27. Maâ—tâ— 9 36 3â— 38. Gal. â— 1. 11 12 John 15. 16. Matth. 7. 6. 10. 29. 2 Cor. â— 6. I Iohn 2. 27. Heb. 8. 11. Iohn 1â— 13. Mattâ— 10. 19 20. Iohn 7. 8 3â— Psalm 115. 5â— 7. Jer. 2. 13. 2 Cor. 10. 4. 2 Cor. 3. 5. 1 Cor. 9. 16. Mic. 3. 11. Position 1. Position 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 3. Matth. 11 25 20. â— Cor. 1. 19 20 Argum. 4 1 Cor. 1. 27 28 29. Argum 5 Rom. 7. 8. Jam. 3. 15. Object 1. Solution 〈◊〉 8. 2â— Obâ—ect 2. Solutiâ—â— â—ohn â— 63. 〈…〉 Consect. 1 2 Pet. â— 16. Acts 4. 13. 〈…〉 Consect. 2 Maâ—â—h 15. 14. Mat. 23. 13. Consect. 3 Mâ—t. 16. 17 Query 1 Query 2. Query 3. Query 4. Position 1. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Posicion 5 Arguâ— 1 Rom. 8 9 1â— 1 Iohn 2 27. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Aâ—gum 3. Luke 1. 75. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 4 〈…〉 Argum. 5. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 2 Pet. 1. 18 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Argum. ◠〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 4. 〈…〉 Object 1 〈…〉 1 Tim. 4. 14. Acts 13. 3. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 2. Luke 5. 13. Mark 1. 41. Act. 3. 7. Act. 5. 12. Mat. 19. 13 14 15. Act. 1â— 3. Act 〈…〉 Tim 4 14 Act 8 1â— Argum. 3. Act. 8 2 14 15 1â— 17 〈…〉 â— Tim. 1. 6 7. Acts 2. 4. 〈…〉 Acts 8. 12 1â— â—5 〈…〉 Acts 11. 15 â—6 17. Argum. 4. Acts 9. 2â— 29. Gal 1. 18 2â— 23. Argum. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 5. 6. Mar 9. 38. Rom. 56. 21. 1 Cor. 16. 10 2 Cor. 8. 23. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Thes. 3. 2. Acts 20. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Argum. 6. Col. 1. 26. Acts 1. 7. Rev. 9. 3 â— Consect. â— Iohn 〈…〉 6 10. 〈…〉 Consect. 2. 〈…〉 Qâ—ary 1. Query 2. Query 3. 1 Cor. 12. 3. Position 1. Argum 1. 1 Cor. 9. 6 â— 8 9 14. Position 2. Argum. 1 Hâ—b. 4. 14. Hâ—b. â— 6 9 12. Argum. 2. 〈…〉 Argum. 3. Acts 4 34 35 36 39. Acts 5. 4. Argum. 4. 〈…〉 1 Cor. 9 15 16 17 18. Object 1. Solution Argum. 1. Rom. 2 28 29 Argum. 2. Joh. 18. 36. Matth. 6. 33. 2 Cor. 5. 7. Argum. 3. Conset 1. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Consect. 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Matth. 6. 32. Consect. 3. Query 1. Query 2. Query 3. Query 4. Position Argum. 1. Rom. 2 14 15. Argum. 2. Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5 6. 1. Pet. 2. 13. 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. Position 2. Argum. 1. Mat. 20â— 20. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Mat. 12 38. 3â— Argum. â— Argum. 3. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 4. 〈…〉 Argum. 1. Acts 1â— 26. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Position 3. Argum. 1. 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 1 Cor. 10. 18. 〈…〉 Argum. 2 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Argum. 3. 〈…〉 Argum. 4. 1 Cor 11. 19. Mat. 18 â—◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Dan 2. 34. 1 Cor. 1. 25 Iohn 6. 44 Argum. 6. Ezek. 18. 31. 11. 19. Object 1 Solution Heb. 7. 12. Object 2. Rev. 2. 20. Solution 1 Cor. â— 4. 5. 1 Cor. 5. 11. 2 Thess. 3. 6. 14. Rev. 2. 22 24 25. Consect. 1. Consect. 2. Consect. 3. Consect. 4. Query 1 Query 2. Query 3. Query 4. Query 5. Request 1 Request 2.