the downefall of the Papacy Revel. 18. and so the mounting of the Lord Iesus and his white Troopers againe Revel. 19. c. For the going out of any to preach upon hire for the going out to convert sinners and yet to hold communion with them as Saints in prayer For the going out without such a powerfull Call from Christ as the twelve and the seventy had or without such suitable gifts as the first Ministry was furnished with and this especially without a due knowledge of the Period of the Prophecies to be fulfilled I have no Faith to act nor in the Actings and Ministrings of others for There is but one God Lord and Spirit from whom those Gifts Administrations and Operations proceed 1 Cor. 12. without whose holy heavenly concurrence in all those three both Gifts and Administrations and operations instead of Glorifying the name of Christ and saving Souls we may Blaspheame his Name and grieve his spirit and hinder and harden poor souls against Repentance when by fellowship in prayer with them as with Saints we perswade them of their already blessed state of Christianity and that they are New-born the saints and sons and daughters of the living God therefore Lastly If it shall please our most Noble Governours to search into the institution and constitution as they have done of the Diocesan so also of the National and Parish Churches concerning which I shal humbly subjoyn some Queries in the close of all If they please to take off the Yoaks the Soul Yoaks of binding all persons to such parochiall or parish formes permitting them to injoy their own belief whether within or without such Parish worships Parish maintenance Parish maryings Parish Buryings by which the souls and consciences of so many have been inbondaged in life and death and their bodies in respect of buryings after death If they shall please so far if not to countenance yet to permit impartially All consciences and especially the consciences the meetings and assemblings of faithfull and conscionable people the Voluntiers in preaching Christ Iesus so as that what people and persons please may peaceably frequent and repaire to such spirituall meetings and assemblies as they doe the Parish Churches I am humbly confident that as to the point of converting souls to God so far as the present state of Christianity can be so promoted the souls of thousands will blesse God more then if Millions of Hirelings were sent abroad from all the Vniversities both of Popish and Protestant Countries Fourthly 4 Upon the grounds first laid I observe the great and wonderfull mistake both our owne and our Fathers as to the civill powers of this world acting in spirituall matters I have read as blessed Latimer once said the last Will and Testament of the Lord Iesus over many times and yet I cannot finde by one tittle of that Testament that if he had been pleased to have accepted of a temporall Crowne and Government that ever he would have put forth the least finger of temporall 〈◊〉 civill power in the matters of his spirituall affairs anâ—Kingdome Hence must it lamentably be against the Testimonâ— of Christ Iesus for the Civill state to impose upon the Soules of the People a Religion a Worship a Ministry Oaths in Religious and Civil affairs Tithes Times Days Marryings and Buryings in holy ground yet in force as I have I hope by the helpe of God fully debated that great Question with Master Cotton and washt off all his late washings of that bloody Tenent of Persecution c. What is then the expresse duty of the Civill Magistrate as to Christ Iesus his Gospell and Kingdome I answer I know how wofully that Scripture Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers c. hath been abused and elswhere I have at large discussed that and other such Objections At present I humbly conceive that the great Duty of the Magistrate as to spirituals will turne upon these two Hinges First In removing the Civill Bars Obstructions Hinderances in taking of those Yoaks that pinch the very Soules and consciences of men such as yet are the payments of Tithes and the Maintenance of Ministers they have no faith in Such are the inforced Oaths and some ceremonies therein in all the Courts of Iustice such are the holy Marryings holy buryings c. Secondly In a free and absolute permission of the consciences of all men in what is meerly spirituall not the very consciences of the Iews nor the consciences of the Turkes or Papists or Pagans themselves excepted But how will this Propagate the Gospell of Christ Iesus I answer thus The first grand Design of Christ Iesus is to destroy and consume his Mortal enemy Antichrist This must be done by the breath of his Mouth in his Prophets and Witnesses Now the Nations of the World have impiously stopt this heavenly breath and stifled the Lord Iesus in his Servants Now if it shall please the civill State to remove the state bars set up to resist the holy Spirit of God in his servants whom yet finally to resist is not in all the powers of the world I humbly conceive that the civill state hath made a fair progresse in promoting the Gospel of Iesus Christ This Mercy and freedome is due to the meerly religious consciences of all men in the world Is there no more due from the Magistrate to Christ Iesus his saints and Kingdome I answer While I pleade the Conscience of All men to be at Liberty doubtlesse I must plead the Liberty of the Magistrates conscience also and therefore were his bounties and donations to his Bishops and Ministers as large as those of Constantine who but the holy Spirit of God in the mouths of his Prophets can restrain him Onely let not Caesar as Constantine in his setled prosperity did rob the God of Heaven of his Rights the consciences of his subjects their heavenly Rights and Liberties But under the pretence of propagating the Gospell of Christ Iesus it may be said what horrible opinions and Spirits will be vented as woefull experience hath manifested I answer Opinions offensive are of two sorts some savouring of Impiety and some of Incivility Against the first Christ Iesus never cald for the Sword of Steel to helpe the Sword of the Spirit that two-edged Sword that comes out of the mouth of the Lord Iesus And therefore if a world of Arrians deny the Deity of Christ Iesus If a Maniche his humane nature If the Jews deny both and blasphemously call our Christ a Deceiver Nay if the Mahumetans the Turkes the greater number by far of one Religion in the World if they I say pefer their cheating Mahomet before him What now must we raile revile c. and cry ou Blasphemers Hereticks Must we run to the Cutlers shop the Armories and Magazines of the Cities and Nations Must we run to the Cities or Nations and Senates and
no more of those white-horsemen that is as I conceive of the Apostles or Messengers of Iesus Christ the whole streame of the Intervening Prophecies from the 6. to the 19. insinuating a totall Routing of the Church and Ministry of Christ Iesus put to flight and retired into the Wildernesse of Desolation Fourthly during the dreadfull Apostacy and Desolation the Lord hath not left the World without witnesse but hath graciously and wonderfully stirred up his holy Prophets and Witnesses such as were before the Waldenses more obscure but more eminently the Waldenses the Wicklevists the Hussites the Lutherans the Calvinists so called who have as Witnesses prophecyed and mourned in Sack-cloath 1260 dayes or years prophetically I say mourned for the routing desolating of the Christian Church or Army and panted and laboured after the most glorious Rally thereof and Restauration This Testimony is probably neer finished and the Saints by their late and yet following wars I say probably must in rage the Antichristian world so far as to provoke the Nations to their great and generall slaughter called the slaughter of the Witnesses Revel. 11. After which and their shame three years and a halfe followeth their most glorious and joyfull Rising These Witnesses these Prophets are probably those one hundred forty four thousand Virgins mysticall Israelites twelve times twelve which stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion against the Romish Beast and are the same Number sealed twelve times twelve Revelations 7. But there is in the same seventh Chapter a numberles Number which no man can number to wit the Converts of the Nations of the world which must yet come flowing unto Christ Iesus after this his famous second Conquest over the Devil the Dragon in the Romane Popes having before triumphed over him in the Romane Emperours The World divided say our ablest Cosmographers into thirty parts as yet but five of thirty have heard of the sweet name of Iesus a Saviour His Messengers must yet goe forth into the other twenty five after the downfall of the Papacie when also at the Fullnesse of the Gentiles or Nations comming in shall be the joyful Raising us from the Dead of the Accursed and yet Beloved Nation of the Iewes Rom. 11. Revel. 18. 19. The Civill state of the Nations being meerly and essentially civill cannot Christianly be called Christian States after the patterne of that holy and typical Land of Canaan which I have proved at large in the Bloudy Tenent to be a Non-such and an unparalel'd Figure of the Spirituall State of the Church of Christ Iesus dispersed yet gathered to him in all Nations The civill Sword therefore cannot rightfully act either in Restraining the Souls of the people from Worship c. or in constraining them to Worship considering that there is not a Title in the New Testament of Christ Iesus that commits the Forming or Reforming of his Spouse and Church to the civill and worldly Powers Seventhly no man ever did nor ever shall truly go forth to Convert the Nations nor to Prophecy in the present state of Witnesses against Antichrist but by the gracious Inspiration and Instigation of the holy Spirit of God according to 1 Cor. 12. where the holy Spirit discoursing of those three Gifts Administrations Operations tells us that No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the Holy Spirit And Revel. 11. I will give power to my two Witnesses c. I prejudice not an Externall Test and Call which was at first and shall be againe in force at the Resurrection of the Churches as Mr. COTTON himselfe calls it in Revel. 20. But in the present State of things I cannot but be humbly bold to say that I know no other True Sender but the most Holy Spirit And when he sends his Messengers will goe his Prophets will Prophecy though All the World should forbid them From the former Conclusions we may first see upon what a false Sent or Word our Fathers and our selves have run as to the true Ministry appointed by Christ Iesus How many thousand Pretenders have been and are Protestants and Papists to that Grand Commission Matth. 28. Goe into all Nations Teach and Baptise c In the poor small span of my Life I desired to have been a diligent and Constant Observer and have been my selfe many wayes engaged in City in Countrey in Court in Schools in Vniversities in Churches in Old and New-England and yet cannot in the holy presence of God bring in the Result of a satisfying discovery that either the Begetting Ministry of the Apostles or Messengers to the Nations or the Feeding and Nourishing Ministry of Pastors and Teachers according to the first Institution of the Lord Iesus are yet restored and extant It may then be said what is that Ministry that hath been extant since Luther and Calvins time especially what is that Ministry that hath been Instrumentall in the hand of the Lord to the conversion of thousands I answer The Ministry of Prophets or Witnesses standing with Christ Iesus against his great corrivall and competiour Antichrist Revel. 10.11 The whole Books of Martyrs or Witnesses is nothing else but a large Commentary or History of the Ministry of Witnesses during all the Reigne of the Beast to this day Look upon Berengarius with the Saints enlightned by him Look upon Waldus with his Waldenses in France Wickliffe in England Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prague in Bohemia Luther in Germany Calvin in Geneva what were they but the holy Prophets of Christ Iesus in those Parts and other Places and Countries now examine their Witnesses in two Particulars 1. Negatively wherein they Witnessed against the False against the Vsurpations and Abominations of Antichrist and therein they were the Infallible Witnesses and Prophets of Christ Iesus Preaching and oft times Suffering to the Death for his Names sake But 2. View them in their Positive Practise and Worships as they have assumed and pretended to such and such Ministries and Titles and Churches and Ministrations and there is not one of them no not Calvin himselfe the greatest Pretender to Church-Order but the Father of Lights in our times of Light hath been graciously pleased to discover their great mistakes and wandrings from the first Patternes and Institutions of Christ Iesus I know the multitudes of Interpretations given upon Revel. 11. as touching the two Witnesses and that many if not most incline to beleeve at least to hope and desire that their slaughter may be past and over unto which in all humble submission to the holy councells of God for Zions sake I most heartily say as Ieremy once said in another something a like case Amen But all the Interpretations extant that ever I have yet heard or read of they seem to me to look up the Sun in a Chamber they are too narrow and particular and like some Almanacks calculated for one
part of his holy worship and sometimes put for his whole worship and therefore proper unto such as are his true Worshippers in Spirit and Truth and persons may as well be forced unto any part of the worship of God as unto this since it ought not to be used but most solemnly and in most solemne and weighty cases and ordinarily in such as are not otherwise determinable since it is the voice of the two great Law-givers from God Moses and Christ Iesus that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses not Swearing every Word shall stand Whether the inforcing of Oaths and spirituall Covenants upon a Nation promiscuously and the constant inforcing of all persons to practise this Worship in the most triviall and common cases in all Courts together with the Ceremonies of Booke and holding up the hand c. be not a prostituting of the Holy Name of the most High to every unclean Lip and that on slight occasions and a taking of it by Millions and so many millions of times in vaine and whether it be not a provoking of the eyes of his jealousie who hath said it That he will not hold him what him or them soever guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine An Humble and Christian proffer of Disputation WHereas in the Epistle I intimated my readiness to debate the Particulars of this Discourse c. I am here humbly bold to Professe as in the holy presence of the most High that I am not Conscious to the least Designe or Aime but that of a Conscionable and Peaceable presenting Verbum opportunum an Apple of Gold in a Picture of Silver into those Honorable hands whom it so highly concernes 'T is true my long Exile into and in America have rendred me now a Stranger and after the Dispatch of some Civill Affaires I should unspeakably rejoyce to be gone to morrow But while the Most High is pleased to force my stay He hath also as I beleeve inforced my Spirit againe to proffer in all Christian meekness and humility to agitate with whom or before whom soever these following Proposals First Since the remoulding of this Nation into the Modell of Protestanisme the Clergy or Ministry so call'd of this Nation both Prelaticall Presbiterian and Independent and however in their persons many of them precious and excellent yet as to their Functions and Offices as to procuring the Magistrates actings in spiritual cases as to the Worships and Consciences of this Nation they have been bewildred if not wholly blinded For as the Hireling way of Ministry is none of Christs So for this Hire have not only the Popish but the Protestant Clergy tost up and downe even like Tenis-bals the Magistrates and Laws the Consciences and Worships the Peace and War the Weale and Woe of this Nation Secondly In all ages since Constantine the Hireling Ministry have must wofully mislead the Consciences of the Civill state by Preaching them out of their Civill Spheare and Line sometimes into an Headship sometimes into a Footship now over and above and againe as the Revolutions have been inferiour to and under the Church Out of this Civill line or Sphear as this present Age is forced to confesse that the Civill Magistrates our Fathers before us never made true Christian Worke of it so I am humbly bold to maintaine they never shall and therefore Thirdly As the Civill permission of all the Consciences and Worships of all men in Things meerly spirituall is no wayes inconsistent with true Christianity and true Civility So is it the Duty of the Civill Magistrate to suppresse all violencies to the Bodies and Goods of men for their Souls beliefe and to provide that not one person in the Land be Restrained from or Constrained to any Worship Ministry or Maintenance but peaceably maintained in his Soul as well as Corporall Freedome To which end I add that the violent putting in and putting out of the severall sorts of the Ministers of Worship in this Nation if against the Peoples Free choice and desire hath ever and will be yet while so practised a Grand oppression and a Powerfull occasion both of Civill Insurrections and Soul mischiefs Fourthly The Lord Jesus Christ hath not forgotten to be infinitely Faithfull and infinitely Wise and Tender to the Soules of his Chosen but hath in all Ages and in all Conditions and Changes of his Spouse stirred up by his holy Spirit and sent such Voluntary Labourers into his Vine-yard and so will as have been and shall be abundantly sufficient for this Nation and all Nations as may best suit the Holy ends and Periods of his Time and Kingdome Fifthly As he never appointed so he never needed the casting of whole Nations into Oecumenicall Nationall Provinciall Parochiall or Parish forms and Classes To feed which Churches and the Ministries thereof he never appointed nor needed the Divinity or Godlinesse degrees of Universities and Colledges Nor the enforcing of all the People of a Nation to come to Church as they call it nor the Distinction between inforcing to some Ordinances but not to others as to the Word and Prayer and Singing and Paying but not to the Lords Supper All which are Plants which God his Father never planted and therefore as all such like though â—â—irer Plants and Inventions must all in his holy Season be plucked up and cast into the Fire FINIS The Author's Call to this Endeavour Contrary to Intention and Desire The Civil Power in all Ages deceived by the deceived and deceiving Hirelings The excellent Gifts and Spirits of many who are yet captivated with a mercenary spirit and principle The Author 's humble advice to such excellent and worthy Spirits as are â—et captivated in the Trade of Hirelings Holy persons most unfit for unholy places God most wisely disposeth of his work some to the Fathers and some to the Children Impartial soul freedom to all the people of the Nation Where the guilt of all the bloud spilt in Ireland lies The ministry of Prophets and the People of God have assembled with them all the reigne of Antichrist The duty of each particular child of God in the midst of differences and dictractions 1. Conclus Moses Christ reveale from God a Visible Worship 2. Conclus Prov. 9. Christs Messengers sent into the World The white Troopers 3. Conclus The White Troopers Routed 4. Conclus A state of Witnesses during the Apostasie Revel. 10. 11. 5. Conclus The 144000. Virgins the twelve times 12000. mysticall Israelites Prophets and Witnesses A two-fold famous number of the followers of Christ Iesus in these times The Fullnesse of the Gentiles and Conversion of the Iewes 6. Conclus The Civill state cannot restraine or constraine in Spiritualls No other present Sender but the holy Spirit of God Consectarie Pretenders to that Grand Commission Matth. 28. mistaken Not the true Begetting or Feeding Ministry appointed by Christ Iesus yet extant Quest The Ministry of Prophets immediately stirred up by God
The Hireling Ministry None of CHRISTS OR A Discourse touching the Propagating the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS Humbly Presented to such Pious and Honourable Hands whom the present Debate thereof concerns By ROGER WILLIAMS of Providence in New England London Printed in the second Moneth 1652. In this Discourse are briefly touched these Particulars 1. THe Nationall and Parishional Constitution of Churches is found to be the Grand Idoll of the Nation 2. The inforcing of the Nation to such a constitution is the greatest soul oppression in this Nation 3. The Hireling Ministrie attending upon such assemblies or others is none of the ministrie of Christ Iesus 4. The Universities of the Nation as subordinate and subservient to such ministries and Churches are none of the Institutions of Christ Iesus 5. It is the absolute duty of the civil state to set free the souls of all men from that so long oppressing yoake of such ministries and churches Yet 6. Ought the Nation and every person in it be permitted to see with its own eyes and to make free choice of what worship and ministrie and maintenance they please whether parochial or otherwise 7. The Apostolical Commission and ministrie is long since interrupted and discontinued Yet 8. Ever since the beast Antichrist rose the Lord hath stirred up the ministrie of Prophesie who must continue their witness and prophesie until their witness be finished and slaughters probably neer approching accomplished 9. The provocation of the holy eyes is great in all courts throughout the Nation by millions of legal oaths which if not redressed may yet be a fire kindled from his Iealousie who will not hold him guiltless which taketh his name in vain 10. The free permitting of the consciences and meetings of conscionable and faithful people throughout the Nation and the free permission of the Nation to frequent such assemblies will be one of the principal Meanes and expedients as the present state of Christianity stands for the propagating and spreading of the Gospel of the Son of God To all such Honourable and Pious hands whom the present Debate touching the propagating of CHRIST'S Gospel concernes AND TO All such gentle Bereans who with ingenious Civility desire to search whether what 's presented concerning Christ Iesus be so or no All humble respective Salutations IT being a present high Debate Honourable and Beloved how the Gospel of Christ Jesus might more be propagated in this Nation 2. And being desired by eminent friends to cast in my mite towards it 3. And having been engaged in several points of this Nature in my former and later Endeavours against that bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of Conscience 4. And also having been forced to observe the Goings of God and the spirits of Men both in Old and New England as touching the Church the Ministry and Ordinances of Jesus Christ I did humbly apprehend my Call from Heaven not to hide my Candle under a Bed of Ease and Pleasure or a Bushel of Gain and Profit but to set it on a Candlestick of this publike Profession for the Benefit of others and the Praise of the Father of all Lights and Godliness 2. For the Substance and most of this I suddenly drew it up and delivered two Copies unto two eminent friends of Jesus Christ and this Nation But being importuned for more Copies then I was possibly able to transcribe and being therefore advised by some honourable Friends to use the help of the Press I am thus beyond my first Intentions and Desires held forth in Publike 3. If ought I have expressed seem harsh dissatisfactory or offensive I am humbly bold I hope in the power of the Most High to profess my readiness to discuss debate dispute either by Word or Writing with whom or before whom soever the present Debate concerns with all Christian meekness and due submission 4. It is true I do absolutely deny it against all commers to be the Burthen of the Civil State to take cognisance of any Spiritual cause and I do positively assert it to be the proper and alone work of the holy Son and Spirit of God in the hands of his Saints and Prophets to manage Heavenly and Spiritual causes and that only with Spiritual Weapons against Spiritual Oppositions And therefore that the Higher Powers have been constantly deceived by the Mercenary and Hireling Ministry who being themselves deceived deceive and tack about as the Wind and Time and Advantage blows from Popery to Protestanisme from Protestanisme to Popery from Popery to Protestanisme again From Prelacy to Presbyterie from Presbyterie many to Independency and will again to Presbyterie and Prelacy if not to Popery in some cases rather then lose as they say the Liberty of Preaching But what that loss is of somwhat else Gain Honour c. let themselves and all men judge impartially in the fear of God Yet 5. I humbly acknowledge as to Personal worth I deal with men for many excellent gifts elevated above the common rank of men yea and for Personal Holiness many of them worthy of all true Christian Love and Honour In which respects when I look down upon my self I am really perswaded to acknowledge my unworthiness to hold a Candle or a Book unto them And yet if I give flattering Titles unto men my Maker said Elihu would quickly take me away and why therefore since I have not been altogether a stranger to the Learning of the AEgyptians and have trod the hopefullest paths to Worldly preferments which for Christ's sake I have forsaken since I know what it is to Study to Preach to be an Elder to be applauded and yet also what it is also to tug at the Oar to dig with the Spade and Plow and to labour and travel day and night amongst English amongst Barbarians why should I not be humbly bold to give my witness faithfully to give my counsel effectually and to perswade with some truly pious and conscientious spirits rather to turn to Law to Physick to Souldiery to Educating of Children to Digging and yet not cease from Prophecying rather then to live under the slavery yea and the censure from Christ Jesus and his Saints and others also of a mercenary and Hireling Ministery 6. To which end my humble and hearty cry is to the Father of Lights to plead with all his Children of Light effectually so that they may look up wonder and say Am I a Child of Light Is the Father of Lights my Father and the Saints my fellow Brethren and Schollars in Christ Jesus the children of Light also What make I then in dark places like those that have been dead of old What make I amongst the Graves and Tombs the Livings Benefices Promotions Stipends c I have been told a quick passage between the truly Noble Earl of Essex in Queen Elizabeth her days and a truly able and zealous Non-conformist I have said the Earl been studying a great while these
two points First the Persons of the Bishops and I have laboured with the Queen to prefer none but good men to her Bishopricks The next thing is their Places which if I find them to be as bad as their Persons be then then c. But they soon cropt off that Noble head c. That same blessed Spirit breaths I doubt not in many heavenly spirits of our Times in Parliament in Councel in the Army and their holy desire hath been to prefer the choice and flower of Able and Godly men to Places in City in Country in University It may yet so please the Father of Spirits to stir up their Noble minds to meditate as well Hirelings places as they have too well known their persons It may also be that his most holy and pure Eye sees they have been highly honoured and enough already More work is left for growing sprigs for whom some Crownes are kept to which their Fathers heads were not so fitted 7. And yet although I humbly give the Civil state it 's Right to wit to take down places or persons which themselves or Fathers have erected yet am I also far from taking off a yoke from one to clap on the neck of others Let the Townes the Parishes and divisions of people in the three Nations be undisturbed by any civil Sword from their consciences and worships though traditional though Parochial and let their maintenance be by Tenths and Fifths or how they freely please 1. Only let it be their souls choice and no inforcing Sword but what is spiritual in their spiritual causes 2. I plead for Impartiality and equal freedom peace and safety to other Consciences and Assemblies unto which the people may as freely goe and this according to each conscience what conscience soever this conscience be not transgressing against Civilities whether of Jews or Gentile Object But would you have say some Jews Turks and Papists live in Protestant countries I answer I judge it here only seasonable to say that I humbly conceive that this objection and all that can be said as to piety or policy is satisfied in my late unwashing of M. Cotton's washing of the Bloody Tenent in that late endeavour I humbly hope I have made it evident that no opinion in the world is comparably so bloody or so blasphemous as that of punishing and not permitting in a civil way of Cohabitation the consciences and worships both of Jewes and Gentiles Ireland hath been an Akeldama a field of blood probable it is that the guilt of all that blood Protestant and Papist will fall upon this Bloody Tenent of which both Papist and Protestant are guilty to wit of not permitting the Hereticks the Blasphemers c. as the Sword falls either into the hand of a Popish or a Protestant Victor What a voice from heaven is there in the forepast ages of our Fathers now rotten under us From Henry the second his time when Englands first yoke was clapt on poore Irelands neck I say from Henry the second his time unto Henry the eight while their consciences had freedom under popish Kings of England how little bloud was spilt English or Irish compared with the showers and rivers both of one and the other spilt in the few years of our Protestant Princes while the consciences of the Catholicks have been restrained by the civil Sword and penalties Eightly In the discourse it will appear how greatly some mistake which say I declame against all Ministries all Churches all Ordinances for I professedly avow and maintain that since the Apostasie and the interrupting of the first ministry and order God hath graciously and immediatly stirred up and sent forth the ministrie of his Prophets who during all the raigne of Antichrist have prophesied in sackcloth and the saints and people of God have more or less gathered to and assembled with them they have praid and fasted together and exhorted and comforted each other and so do notwithstanding that some are not perswaded and satisfied as others conceive themselves to be as touching the doctrines of Baptismes and laying on of hands Lastly what ever be the Issue of all their publick agitations my humble and hearty cry to the Father of mercies is for every soul in the three Nations that desire to fear him whether of higher or lower rank that we may more and more cry and endeavour for assurance of personal reconciliation in the blood of the lambe more and more for participation of the divine Nature in the purity and holiness of the spirit of God more and more lament with Jeremy the division and desolations of God's people and the holy Ordinances and Worship of God in Christ Jesus more and more press after love and all possible communion with God's people in the midst of many differences more and more abound in mercy and compassion to the soules and consciences and wofull conditions of others Jews or Gentiles and more and more prepared with the golden shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of peace ready for all the good pleasure of God in Christ Jesus for prosperity for adversity for abundance for want for liberty for imprisonment for honour for dishonour for life for death as knowing that they that suffer with Jesus shall not only Reigne with him but here also in the midst of outward sorrows be filled with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Being Desired by some Loving Friends to cast in my Mite as to that Heavenly Proposition of Propagating the Gospell of Christ Iesus I am humbly bold to Propose these Conclusions and their Consectaries following THe two great Prophets of Gods Revealed Councell Moses the Servant and Christ Iesus the Lord as they have both declared unto us a Creation a Creatour the Shipwrack of Mankind the Restauration the Restorer so have they both revealed unto us a visible Company of the holy Worshippers of this one most glorious Creatour and Redeemer and that as for his owne most glorious praise so in opposition to all false Gods who also are attended with their visible Worships and Worshippers In order to Gods visible worship the Lord Iesus hath broken downe the Wall of Division between the Iewes and the rest of the Nations of the World and sent forth his Ministers Wisedomes Maidens unto all Nations to bring in by the Gospels Invitation Proselites Converts Disciples such as should Eternally be saved to begin that heavenly and Eternall Communion in Heaven here in an holy and visible Worship on the Earth This going forth of the true Ministers of Christ Iesus is represented under the Figure of the white Troopers in the opening of the first Seale where the Lord Iesus in his first Messengers rode forth upon the White horse or Horses of the word of truth and meeknesse Psal. 45. Conquering and to conquer in the souls of Men Thirdly From the 6. of the Revelations to the 19. we hear
Meridian and Climate For Antichristianisme is an Vniversall plague-sore spread over all the Empire that was Romane The Romane Popes as Vicars of Christ Iesus pretend to a Romane Catholicisme or Vniversality also The Lord Iesus his cause therefore and the cause of his Saints is of a a more generall and universall concernment such hath the Witnesse of his Servants been in all Ages and Countries of Europe Now notwithstanding many particular slaughters as the Book of Martyrs and other Catologues of Christs Witnesses testifie yet I see it not possible that that Scripture can be satisfied but that after the Vniversall finishing of the Witnesse there must follow an universall persecution and slaughter unto which an universall provocation and Exasperation by the Saints must probably precede and give Occasion Wherein hath the former and latter Ministry been defective I answer In all these four their Gifts their Calling their Worke their Wages First In their Gifts for notwithstanding they pretend to the Apostles Commission and to succeed them Mat. 28. yet they have never pretended to the Gifts and Quallifications of such a Ministry nor have they ever been able to clear up those two Foundations of the Christian Religion Heb. 6. the Doctrine of Baptisme and the laying on of hands Secondly Notwithstanding that some plead their Succession from the Apostles or Messengers yet are they forced to run into the Tents of Antichrist and to plead Succession from Rome and neither such nor others which plead their Calling from the People can prove to my conscience from the testimony of Christ Iesus that either Christs succession did run in an Antichristian line or that two or three godly persons might first make themselves a church then make their Ministers without a preceding Ministry from Christ Iesus unto them to gather and to guide them in such their Administrations Thirdly the worke of that Commission Mat. 28. was exercised and administred to the Nations as Nations and the World but all our professed Ministrations former and latter have been carried on in a grand and common mistery for the converting of a converted people for if we grant all Protestant Nations to be Christians and so act with them in prayer as Christians and the children of God how can we pretend to convert the converted and to preach unto them to convert them One or other must be denied to wit that they are converted or if unconverted that we may offer up Christian and Spirituall Sacrifices with them No Herauld no Embassador sent to a city or army of Rebels did ever constantly least of all performe such actions of state with those Rebels which represents or renders them in a capacity of honest and faithfull Subjects Oh the Patience and Forbearance and Long-suffering of the most High whose Eyes yet are as a flame of Fire Fourthly In their Wages whether by Tithes or otherwise they have alwayes run in the way of an Hire and rendred such Workemen absolute Hirelings between whom and the true Sheapheard Joh. 10. the Lord Iesus puts so expresse and sharp a Difference so that in all humble submission I am bold to maintaine that it is one of the grand Designes of the most High to breake downe the Hireling Ministry that Trade Faculty Calling and Living by Preaching and that if All the Princes States Parliaments and Armies in the world should joyne their Heads and Hearts and Armes and Shoulders to support it yet being a part of Babel and confusion it shall sinke as a Mil-stone from the Angels hand into the deeps for ever But is not the Labourer worthy of his Reward I answer There is no Reward by infinite degrees comparable to an hundred fold though with persecution in this Life and in the world to come eternal life to all that deny themselves in this Life and doe and teach and suffer for the name of the Son of God More strictly and particularly I answer First He that makes a Trade of Preaching that makes the cure of Souls and the charge of mens eternall wellfare a trade a maintenance and living and that explicitely makes a covenant or bargaine and therefore no longer penny no longer Paternoster no long pay no longer pray no longer Preach no longer fast c. I am humbly confident to maintaine that the Son of God never sent such a one to be a Labourer in his Vineyard Such Motions spring not from the living and voluntary Spring of the holy Spirit of God but from the Artificiall and worldly respects of Money Maintenance c. Wherein consists the making of the Hirelings explicit and implicit Bargaine I answer T is explicite expresse and plaine when there is a mutuall declaring and agreeing for so much or so much in one kinde or another as the Levite agreed with Micha in the Iudges Of this sort of explicite and plaine Bargaines by way of Tithes stipend c. How is our owne and other Nations full and how many thousands are there of the instances of moving and removing from Leaner to fatter Benefices like the former Levite from the poor Chaplain-ship of Micahs family to the more rich and eminent Devotion of a Tribe of Dan just like Servants hired by the yeare more or lesse stay not when they hear of proffers of more Ease and better Wages Secondly an implicite or implied Bargaine or Compact is when there passeth no expresse Agreement for so much or so much but having been brought up as we say to that only Trade they must make their living of it and therefore being something convinced of the Grosser way they are content as Water-men Porters and the like with some kind of Intimations by word of mouth or in course which shall amount to such a promise as this expresse I know your Fare your Due I will content you c. Trust to my Courtesie The triall of this is plaine for without such an Implication or implicite promise the Hireling will not indeed he cannot having no other way to live on move his Lip or Tongue no more then a Waterman or Porter his Hand or Foot Secondly as to the Labourer worthy of his Reward I answer we find no other patterne in the Testament of Christ Iesus but that both the Converting or Apostolicall Ministry and the Feeding or Pastorall Ministry did freely serve or minister and yet were freely supported by the Saints and Churches and that not in stinted Wages Tithes Stipends Sallaries c. but with larger or lesser supplies as the Hand of the Lord was more or lesse extended in his weekly blessings on them Thirdly when either through poverty or neglect support and maintenance failed yet still they eyed as Sea men and Souldiers say the Good of the Voyage and the Battel the common Cause of the Lord Iesus and their owne hands day and night supplied their owne and others Necessities And this was and will be the onely way
of the Labourers of the Son of God The Priests and Levites under the Law had setled and constant Maintenance I answer Blessed be the Father of Lights who hath shewne his people of late times the great difference between the stated and setled Nationall Church the Ministry and maintenance thereof and the ordinary afflicted moving flying state of the Church and Churches of Christ Iesus all the world over Although it be granted that the Hireling Ministry both explicite and implicite is none of Christs yet this is wonderfull what should be the Reason why so much good hath been wrought thereby as the conversion of thousands c. I answer All the wisedome mercy goodnesse and piety that is in us is but a drop to the Ocean of that which is in the Father of mercies who with infinite pity and patience passeth by the ignorances and weaknesses of his Children Hence Luther and other Monks Cranmer and other Bishops Calvin and other Presbyterians God hath graciously covered their Failings and accepted his owne Grace of good Desires good Affections and Endeavours though many wayes defiled with sin Thus was his infinite Goodnesse pleased to overlook the sin of Poligamie or many Wives in which so many of the Fathers or Patriarchs of Israel were brought forth Thus was he pleased to passe by the sins of the High places where Solomon himselfe offered Sacrifice And yet as to this great point of good being done we may with truth assert two things First where God hath been pleased to bring in one soule to Himselfe by the Hireling Ministry many more have been brought home by the voluntary and more single preachings of some whether publick or private by the endeavour of private christians by the reading of the holy Scriptures by godly examples by afflictions c. Hence wofull experience hath made it evident that many excellent men in their persons and the graces of Gods Spirit have laboured a score of yeares and more in an Hireling way without the birth of one child to God while others singly out of Love to Christ Iesus have despised Bargaines and Hire and been more abundantly blest with mercifull successe and fruitfulness Hence sure it is that there have been and are many excellent Prophets and VVitnesses of Christ Iesus who never entred as they say into the Ministry to wit Lawyers Physitians Souldiers Tradesmen and others of higher and lower rank who by Gods holy Spirit breathing on their meditations of the holy Scriptures and other private helps have attained and much improved an excellent Spirit of knowledge and Vtterance in the holy things of Jesus Christ which spirit they ought to cherish and further to improve to the praise of Christ Amongst so many Instances dead and living to the everlasting praise of Christ Iesus and of his holy Spirit breathing and blessing where he listeth I cannot but with honorable Testimony remember that Eminent Christian VVitness Prophet of Christ even that despised and yet beloved Samuel How who being by Calling a Cobler and without humane Learning which yet in its spheare and place he honoured who yet I say by searching the holy Scriptures grew so excellent a Textuary or Scripture learned man that few of those high Rabbies that scorne to mend or make a Shoe could aptly and readily from the holy Scripture out-go him And however through the Oppressions upon some mens Consciences even in Life and Death and after death in respect of Burying as yet unthought and unremedied I say however he was forced to seek a Grave or bed in the very High way yet was his life and death and buriall being attended with many hundreds of Gods people honourable and how much more his Rising againe glorious But secondly True and Right prophecying and Preaching at first was and shall be because after Gods own way and Ordinance beyond all compare with present Times gloriously and wonderfully Successfull Thus Acts 2. 5. c. poore Sinners came mourning after a Saviour by thousands The Church and people of God since the Apostacy is an Army routed and can hardly preserve and secure it selfe much lesse subdue and conquer others like a Vessell becalmed at Sea which though it make some way by Rowing and Towing yet not comparable to what it doth when the mighty gales of Gods holy Spirit breath as most he useth to doe in the wayes of his owne most holy Appointments Thirdly We may see a great mistake as touching that great point of Conversion There is a great breathing in the souls of Gods people after the Conversion of the English Irish Iewes Indians and blessed be God for those Breathings Yet doubtlesse the first great worke is the bringing of the Saints out of Babel or confused worships and the downefall of the Papacie after the witnesses slaughtered Hence it is probably conceived by some upon Revel. 15. that untill the Vyals be powred forth upon Antichrist the smoak so filleth the Temple that no man that is few of the Iewes or Gentiles shall by conversion enter in Some will say haue there not been great and mighty conversions of whole Nations England Scotland French Dutch c. from Popery to be good Protestants c. I answer If the holy Scripture the first pattern and dolefull experience may be judge as an eminent Person lately spake upon occasion of a Debate touching the Conversion of the Indians we have Indians at home Indians in Cornewall Indians in Wales Indians in Ireland yea as to the point of true Conversion and Regeneration by Gods spirit who can deny but that the body of this and of all other Protestant Nations as well as Popish are unconverted and as formerly ready to be converted and turned forward and backward as the VVeather-cock according as the powerfull wind of a prevailing Sword and Authority shall blow from the various points and quarters of it By the mercifull Assistance of the most High I have desired to labour in Europe in America with English with Barbarians yea and also I have longed after some trading with the Iewes themselves for whose hard measure I feare the Nations and England hath yet a score to pay But yet as before I cannot see but that the first and present great Designe of the Lord Iesus is to destroy the Papacy in order to which two great VVorks are first to be effected First His calling of his people more and more out of the Babel of confused VVorships Ministries c. and the finishing of their Testimony against the Beast Secondly the great sufferings and slaughters of the Saints upon occasion of which Christ Iesus in his holy wrath and jealousie will burne and teare the bloody whore of Rome in pieces After which effected the numberlesse number Rev. 7. the fullnesse of the Gentiles or Nations Rom. 9. together with the Iewes shall flow to Iesus Christ Thirdly we may hence see our great mistakes both of
our selves our Fore-fathers as to the pretended Seed-plots and Seminaries for the Ministry the Vniversities of Europe and the Vniversities of this Nation for alalthough I heartily acknowledge that among all the outward Gifts of God humane learning and the knowledge of Languages and good Arts are excellent and excell other outward gifts as far as light excels darknesse and therefore that Schools of humane Learning ought to be maintained in a due way and cherished yet notwithstanding In ordine ad ministerium as to the ministry of Christ Iesus any one of those ministeries Ephes. 4. 1 Cor. 12. upon a due survey of their Institutions and continuall practises compared with the last will and Testament of Christ Jesus they will be found to be none of Christs and that in many respects First as to the name Schollar although as to humane learning many wayes lawfull yet as it is appropriated to such as practise the Ministry have been at the Vniversities as they say It is a sacrilegious and theevish title robbing all believers and Saints who are frequently in the Testament of Christ stiled Disciples or Schollars of Christ Jesus and only they as Beleevers and this Title is so much theirs that both men and women beleeving were called Schollars Act. 9. There was a certaine Disciple or Schollar called Dorkas Secondly As to their Monkish and idle course of life partly so gentile and stately partly so vain superstious that to wet a finger in any pains or labor it is a disgraceful and an unworthy Act But the Church is built upon the Foundation of the Apostles Prophets who were Labourers Fishermen Tent-makers Iesus Christ although the Prince of Life yet a poor carpenter the chief corner stone And I cannot but conceive that although it should not please the most holy and jealous God to stir up this renowned State and their renowned Cromwell the 2d to deale with our refined Monasteries as that blessed Cromwell the first did with the more grosse and Palpably superstitious in Henry the Eighth his days Yet in his time the Lord Iesus whose is all power in Heaven and Earth will spue out these Seminaries of Hirelings and misticall Merchants out of his mouth as he hath done their Fathers the superstitious and bloudy Bishops before them Thirdly As to their Popish and vaunting Titles so strange from the New Testament and language of Christ Iesus or any word of title that came forth of his blessed mouth Bachellors of Divinity or Godlinesse Doctor of Divinity so clearly and expresly opposite to the command of the Lord Iesus Call no man Father Doctor c. that is by way of Eminency in spirituall and heavenly regards Rabbi Rabbi Doctor Doctor c. I omit because possibly for shame left off in these dayes their childish ceremonies used even by the most holy and consciencious in their superstitious commencings and creatings c. Their holy Gownes black and red holy cassocks holy caps holy scarfs holy Rings yea and holy bootes also c. All as far from the purity and simplicity of the Son of God as far as the honest-Attire of some sober and chast Matron from the wanton and flaunting vanities of some Painted Harlot Fourthly As to their pretended Spirituall and holy exercises proper onely to the Churches and Assemblies of the Saints the onely Schools of the Prophets appointed by Christ Iesus How have they been by Courts imposed upon every naturall and unspirituall man who in Truth perceives not the things that be of God How have they been prostituted to every prophane and unclean lyp unto whom saith God Psa. 50 What hast thou to doe to preach my word and to take my name into thy mouth Fifthly As to their being prepared and fitted by these means as in a way of Prentiship to set up the Trade and way of Preaching the science or faculty of Spirituall merchandize Revel. 18. in a deep Mistery of all sorts of spices and precious things the precious sweet Truths and Promises of holy Scripture yea which we may with holy trembling add a trade of selling God himselfe Christ Iesus the Holy Spirit Heaven and Hel and too too often their own Souls and the Souls of thousands But have there not come excellent men from thence famous for Learning Holinesse Labours Successe in the Souls of thousands c I say There have been excellent men some say Popes and Cardinals and we are sure Lord Bishops and Monks in their personall Holinesse gifts Learning Labours Successe and therein famous Prophets and Witnesses of Christ Iesus yea they have sealed the holy Truths of God which they have learned from the holy Scriptures and which they have declared to others I say they have sealed them with their heart blood but that 's no justification of their evill standings Institutions Administrations c. which as by degrees it hath pleased the Father of Lights to discover unto them they have come out of such Bondage with shame and sorrow and laboured after the purity and simplicity of the Son of God But extraordinary gifts be ceased how shall now the people of this Nation be supplyed with Ministers but from such Seminaries of Learning which fit men both with Learning to know and Eloquence to utter the heavenly Mysteries Or would you have the people be of no Religion at all meer Atheists without God without his Word without a Ministry c I answer 'T is true those glorious first ministeriall gifts are ceased and that 's or should be the lamentation of all Saints to wit the desolation and widow-hood of Zion yet I humbly conceive that without those gifts it is no ground of imitation and of going forth to Teach and Baptise the Nations for the Apostles themselves did not attempt that mighty enterprise but waited at Ierusalem untill the Holy Spirit descended on them and inabled them for that mighty work least of all is that a ground of counterfeiting and of suborning a livelesse picture of that first Ministry like Ieroboams Institutions when every one that hath Friends may be preferred to Fellowships in Colledges to the superstitious Degrees and Titles of Divinity as they call it and by these staires ascend up the Gospel preferments of rich and honourable Benefices Yet Secondly Far be it from me to derogate from that honourable civility of training up of Youth in Languages and other humane Learning whether in the City of LONDON or other Townes and Cities c. All that I bear witnesse against is the counterfeiting and sacrilegious arrogating of the titles and rights of Gods Saints and Churches as before which are the only Schools of the Prophets As also against their sacrilegious and superstitious Degrees as they call them in the profession of Divinity as if they only knew Divinity Godlinesse Holinesse and by such skill in godlinesse and by such Degrees might succeed the ancient
Scribes and Pharisees in the uppermost seats in Synagogues and Feasts in Reverend titles and salutations as the only Masters and Teachers of Religion and godlinesse and all this in the way of the Hireling dividing Dan. 11. the whole Land for gaine so that there hath not been roome without some speciall and extraordinary priviledge and license for the poorest Cottager to live in England out of the Bishops Diocesse and the Priests Parish and Payments therefore Thirdly In all humble reverence and due submission to the Higher Powers I affirme there was never meerly Civill State in the World for that of the Iewes was mixt and Ceremoniall that ever did or ever shall make good work of it with a civill sword in spirituall matters and therefore have but builded pluckt down planted and pluckt up Churches Ministries Disciplines c. I acknowledge with thankfulnes that many heavenly Spirits in K Edwards Q Elizabeths days and since that have been forming and reforming the states and nations Religion Worship Ministry c. Doubtlesse Intentions were holy as Davids labours great Gods mercy and pity and patience infinite yet experience long and ever hath told us That there was never a Nation yet born in a day to God That the bodies of all Nations is a part of the world and although the holy Spirit of God in every Nation where the Word comes washeth white some Blackamores and changeth some Leopards spots yet the bodies and bulks of Nations cannot by all the Acts and Statutes under heaven put off the Blackamores skin the Leopard spots c. O why then should the wisedome of so many Ages still each after other be preacht by the prevailing Hirelings of each time againe and again into the selfe-same delusion of washing the Blackamore c There is not a Towne nor a Parish nor a person in England but judge themselves christian and to that end challenge the right and use of a Minister in sacris some as in all Religions in the world it is to serve the Dietie they worship ex officio as Sacerdotes or holy persons for and with them in prayers and holy Rites This mine eyes have often seen among thousands of the wild yet wise Americans who yet alas as all the Nations of Europe and the world are utterly uncapable of Formes and Ministers or Officers of Christian worship while yet in their naturall and worldly capacities not borne againe made spirituall and heavenly by the holy spirit of God Yet Fifthly I desire uprightly to be far from divers waights and measures in the things of God especially and therefore I desire not that liberty to my selfe which I would not freely and impartially weigh out to all the consciences of the world beside And therefore I doe humbly conceive that it is the will of the most High and the expresse and absolute Duty of the civill powers to proclaim an absolute freedom in all the 3 Nations yea in all the world were their power so large that each Towne and Division of people yea and person may freely enjoy what worship what ministry what maintenance to afford them their soul desireth To this end I am humbly bold to offer that it is not the will of the Father of Spirits that all the consciences and spirits of this Nation should violently Vi armis be forced into one way of worship or that any Towne or Parish so called in England Scotland or Ireland be disturbed in their worship what worship soever it be by the civill sword If the people freely choose that way of worship and ministry and maintenance they walk in yea if they will freely pay them the Tenths or Fifths I shall not envy their Ministers maintenance nor disturb either minister or peoples conscience by any other sword but with that spirituall sword of two edges the sword of Gods spirit the holy word of God Grant the bodies of the Nations to be but naturall but civill and therefore cannot without the changings of Gods spirit be possibly fit as spirituall flocks of sheep for spirituall Pastors or shepheards to feed and build them up with the spirituall Ordinance of Christ Iesus yet need they not a converting or begetting ministry of Christ Iesus to preach Repentance to them to spiritualize and change them And if so where shall ten thousand Ministers be had to goe to about that number of Parishes in England without the constant supplies of the seed-plots and Seminaries the Vniversities of the Nation I answer First there are great Disputes among Gods people whether Apostles or Messengers sent out to teach and baptise that is to Convert the Nations be yet an Ordinance of Christ Iesus continued or being extraordinary ceased There is a great dispute whether the Ministry of the twelve Matth. 10. or of the 70 Luk. 10. be continued since they both had an immediate call from Christ And secondly Such excellent gifts abilities and furniture from Christ which now we find none are furnished with as healing the sick raising the dead casting out Devils c. Further whether all these gifts and administrations Ephes. 4. 1 Cor. 12. be to be expected For my selfe I am sure of two things First It is but little of the World yet that hath heard of the lost estate of mankinde and of a Saviour Christ Iesus and as yet the fullnesse of the Gentiles is not yet come and probably shall not untill the downefull of the Papacy Yet Secondly The Ministry or Service of Prophets and Witnesses mourning and Prophecying in Sack-cloath God hath immediately stirred up and continued all along the reigne of the Beast and Antichrist of Rome This Witnesse is probably neer finished and the bloudy storme of the slaughter of the Witnesses is yet to be expected and prepared for But this and the time and many passages of Revel. 11. is Controversiall and something like that of Christs expected personall presence the state of the New Ierusalem the new Heavens and Earth c. However this is cleare that all that are betrusted with spirituall or temporall Tallents must lay them out for their Lord and Master his Advantage That all of what rank soever that have knowledge utterance of heavenly Mysteries therein are the Lords Prophets Witnesses against Antichrist must Prophecy against false Christs false Faith false Love false Ioy false Worship and Ministrations false Hope and false Heaven which poor souls in a golden dream expect look for This Prophecy ought to be chiefly exercised among the Saints in the companies meetings and assemblies of the fellow-mourners and witnesses against the falshoods of Antichrist If any come in as in 1 Cor. 14. yea if they come to catch God will graciously more or lesse vouchsafe to catch them if he intends to save them But for the going out to the Nations Cities Townes as to the Nations Cities and Townes of the World unconverted untill