it being a Prophecy expresly relating to the Jews and their miraculous Conversion if there be no such thing as a National Church of the Institution of Christ as most certain it is there is not the Assertion whereof is wholly destructive of Gospel-Administrations Then 2. Whether National Ministers are the Ministers of Christ or whether there can be a true Ministry in a false Church as a National-Church must be if not of Divine Institution upon what pretence soever it be so denominated 3. Whether God doth not bear as much love to and exercise as much faithfulness over his New-Testament-Churches as over the National-Church of the Jews If so Then 4. Whether he hath not as of old he did with reference unto the then Church determined the whole of the Worship appertaining unto them to whose Institutions without any humane additions it s the duty of souls soley to conform Yea 5. Whether he hath not now as then designed the several Officers and Offices his Wisdom thought sufficient for the management of the affairs of his House so that the invention of new ones by the sons of men is not only needless but a daring advance against the Soveraignty Care and Wisdom of God over his Churches 6. Whether the Priviledges of Saints be not every way as great and extensive under the Gospel as those under the Law if so then Whether the solemn deputation of men signally pointed out by the Lord for the administration of holy things in his House by the Body of his Church be not now as then their peculiar Priviledge 7. VVhether any Church in the World we speak of a visible instituted Church hath greater security against Apostacy from God and that sore Judgment of having its Candlestick removed and being unchurched than that People of the Jews had if not then whether supposing a National Church to be of the Institution of Christ it may not so come to pass that it may be so over-spread with corruptions that it may lose the Essence of a Church and justly be disrobed of that appellation 8. VVhether the Ecclesiastick and Spiritual Rulers Governours and Officers of such a Collapsed Church may not righteously as of old be accounted and esteemed as false Prophets that go about to cause the people to forget the Name of the Lord or his pure Worship by their Lies or unscriptural Traditions Innovasions and Ceremonious Pageantries 9. VVhether Separation from such a Collasped Church in respect of its Worship Ministers and Ministry be not only justifiable but as of old the duty of the Lord 's faithful Remnant that desire to worship him according to his Appointments Yea 10. VVhether supposing a Church so called thus dreadfully as aforesaid departed from the pure Institutions of Christ never to be according to Truth a visible instituted Church of Christ and the Lord 's poor People living in the Nation never by their free consent Members thereof as it is on the pretended Churches part most unheard-of-Cruelty to compel them so it be not on the part of the free-born Children of God most stupendous folly and disvaluation of the Institutions of Christ and ingratitude to God for the Light and Liberty from the Yokes of men received imaginable to joyn affinity with it in Worship or attend upon the self-invented Ministry that appertains thereunto Many more Questions of the like nature and importance might unto these be added CHAP. I. The great care of Souls in their Accesses to God should be to sanctifie his Name Divine Institution to be heeded in the whole of our Worship The Question proposed That 't is lawful to hear the present Ministers of England denied one Argument proposed to consideration Nothing may be practised in instituted Worship but what is warranted by the Scripture The Testimonies of the Ancients produced That Hearing is part of instituted Worship proved THis is that which the Lord hath said I will be sanctified in all that draw nigh me and before all the People will I be glorified The great care of Saints in matter of Worship is to sanctifie the Name of the Lord therein This is the great thing that God looks at the omission whereof he often severely punishes the children of men for now in order hereunto it 's necessary that in all our approaches to God we see to the Institution of the Lord both in respect of the matter and manner of Worship that it be according to Divine Prescript else we cannot sanctifie the Name of God therein nor glorifie him before the people Hearing as was said and shall beyond contradiction in its proper place be evinced is part of instituted Worship it therefore more nearly concerns Saints than many are aware of to have their consciences resolved from the Scriptures of God in the matter under enquiry Whether it be lawful for the Saints to hear the present Ministers of England 'T is the Negative we have received under our maintenance because we are satisfied Christ hath so To the proof whereof we now address our selves Argument 1. That which there is no warrant for in the Scripture being part of instituted Worship is not lawful for the Saints to practise But there is no warrant in the Scripture for hearing the present Ministers or England and hearing is part of instituted Worship Therefore The major or first Proposition is evident 1. From the nature of instituted Worship which consists in this that it be of Divine Revelation else whatever it is it is not instituted Worship 2. From the Verdict of Christ who pronounces all the Worship of man to be vain and fruitless and so unlawful that is bottom'd on any thing but Divine Revelation Mark 7. 7. 3. If it be lawful to conform to any one part of instituted Worship without warrant from Scripture 't is also lawful to conform to another a third the whole which would banish instituted Worship out of the world 4. To assert that it is lawful to conform to any part of instituted Worship without warrant from Scripture reflects sadly upon the Wisdom and Faithfulness of Christ for either he was not wise enough to foresee that such a part of Worship was or would be requisite or had not faithfulness enough to reveal it though the Scripture compares him to Moses for faithfulness who revealed the whole Will of God to the making of a pin in the Tabernacle 6. It pours out contempt upon the Care of God over the New-Testament Churches as if it were less to these then to the Church under the Law and the Oeconomie of the Gospel as not so compleat as that of old the whole of whose VVorship Orders and Ordinances as was said was bottom'd upon pure Revelation 7. It carries with it a sad reflection upon the Authority of the Scripture as not thorowly furnished to make the man of God perfect 8. The Lord condemns not only that which is done against the warrant and direction of the VVord but also that which is done beside it
Law-giver hath enjoyned to be observed touching the Orders and Ordinances of his House deny the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ Deut. 18. 18. Acts 3. 22. Isa 9. 6. But the present Ministers of England hearken and conform not to the Revelation Christ hath made touching the Orders and Ordinances of his House Therefore T is the minor or second Proposition that in the thoughts of some is capable of a denial but the verity thereof shines forth as the Sun in its brightness in the review of the Orders and Ordinances of the House of Christ appointed by himself and the present frame and deportment of the Ministers of England with respect thereunto Which of them have they not made void by their Traditions This is that which Christ hath said 1. That all power for the Calling Institution Order and Government of his Church is invested solely in him as the alone Lord Sovereign-Ruler and Head thereof Mat. 28. 19. 1 Tim. 6. 14 15. John 3. 35. Acts 3. 22. and 5. 31. T is upon this foot of account that Christ chargeth his Disciples not to be called of men Rabbi nor to call any Father viz. not to impose their Authority upon any or suffer themselves to be imposed upon by any in the matters of their God Mat. 23. 8 9 10. because one is their Master and Lord viz. Christ Hence also the Apostles lay the weight of their Exhortations upon the Commandment of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 23. and 14. 37. proclaim all to be accursed that preach any other Gospel Gal. 1. 8. yea though Angels from Heaven should they live and speak as such charge those to whom they write Not to receive any into their houses that bring any other Doctrine much more not to receive them as their Teachers 2 John 10. yea the Spirit of the Lord in the close of the last Revelation of his Will it pleased this great King and Lawgiver in such a way to give forth testifies That if any man shall adde unto these things the Lord shall adde unto him the Plagues that are written in his Book Rev. 22. 18. Do the present Ministers of England conform unto this great Institution in words indeed they do so But what meaneth the bleating of the sheep and lowing of the Oxen in our ears Do they not own other Lords Heads and Governors that have a Law-making power and would enforce the consciences of the Free-born Subjects of Christ over his Churches besides him What doth this less than evidently proclaim their disobedience and rebellion which is as the sin of Witchcraft against the KING of Kings and their rejection of his Scepter and Soveraign Authority over them But of this more hereafter 2. This great Prophet and King hath also revealed and proclaimed That 't is his Will that those whom he hath called by his Word should separate from the world walk together in particular Societies and Churches having given up themselves to the Lord and one another according to the Will of God for their mutual Edification and comfort in the Lord. The truth of this Soveraign Institution of Christ he that runs may reade in the Scriptures hereunto annexed 1 Cor. 1. 2. and 5. 12. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. John 15. 19. and 17. 6. Acts 2. 40. and 19. 9. Phil. 1. 5. Act. 2. 41. and 17. 4. 2 Cor. 8. 5. with many more In the proof of this matter we might be copious but that we study brevity The diligent Reader knows where to find this theam at large treated of by learned Ainsworth Bartlet Cotten Rogers c. How do the Ministers of England acquit themselves in respect of this Solemn Appointment of the Lord alas who sees not that they are in their practice at open defiance herewith have it in derision and contempt making no difference betwixt the Holy and Prophane admitting persons led captive by the Devil at his will that openly blaspheme the Spirit of the Lord and deride its effectual opperation in the consciences of men into their Society Are any too vile except such as truly fear God and desire to press after Holiness to be admitted by them into their Communion Is not their Church-State so unlike is it to the Institution of Christ a very Babel a Den of Dragons and Hold of Unclean-Beasts 3. That he hath entrusted them so called and united together with Power and given them Rules for the due and right exerting thereof for the carring on the Worship of his House to chuse Officers over them to act in the Holy Things of God for and to them of which more shall be spoken in its proper place to admit Members excommunicate Offenders c. all which we find shining forth in brightness in the ensuing Scriptures Act. 1. 23. and 6. 3 5. and 14. 23. 2 Cor. 8. 19. Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 4. Do the present Ministers of England conform unto this Institution of Christ nothing less is there any thing like this in the whole oeconomie invented and practised by them do they not to the utmost of their power labour to break this Bond of Christ asunder cast away this Cord from them by stirring up the Magistrate to persecute by Fines Imprisonments Banishment c. the precious People of the Lord that desire to be found in the practice of this Law of Christ branding them with the odious names of Phanaticks Sectaries Schismaticks c. 4. That the Officers of his appointment are only such as these Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Widdows or Helpers Who as they are in one particular Congregation so they have not any Lordship or lordly Authority over each other being all Brethren Ephes 4. 11. Rom. 12. 7. and 16. 1. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Phil. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Acts 6. 5. and 15. 2. and 20. 17. and 28. 21 28. 1 Tim. 3 chap. and 5. 9 10 17. This Law of Christ so clearly revealed in the Scripture they are so far from subjecting to that they have neither the name nor thing required by him therein Set up other Officers and Offices as if in open contempt and defiance of his Authority of which it may righteously be said He did at no time command them neither did it ever enter into his heart so to do 5. That these Officers be chosen by the common Suffrage of the Church of Christ and solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer this is evidently comprized in the ensuing Scriptures Acts 1. 15. and 6. 1 2 3 5. and 14. 23. and 1. 23 26. and 9. 26 27. In conformity whereunto we find the Saints for many centuries of years after Christ in the peaceable possession of this their Priviledge and Right Clemens in his Epistle to the Church of Corinth p. 57. saith Our Apostles also knew by our Lord Jesus Christ that contention will be about the name of Episcopal-Charge Therefore for this reason having received a full predetermination they constituted such as were fore nominated and in
that Christ having given Gifts unto men did require the use of those Gifts at all times when ever persons were called to the performance of that Service for which they were designedly given by him by vertue of the forementioned Precepts When Christ hath given a Gift of Prayer unto his Children and charged them to stir up the Gift given and not to napkin their Talent we had verily thought that when ever they had been called forth to the performance of that duty he did really intend and expect that they should be found in the exercise of the Gift given and see as yet no reason to change our apprehensions in this matter But 3dly The Common-Prayer-Book-Worship is a Worship of which we find no footsteps in the Scripture nor in some centuries of years after Christ as hath already been demonstrated Whence it follows that 't is a Worship of pure humane invention which is not onely not of Christ's appointment but contrary to the very nature of instituted Worship as is proved in our first Argument and to very many Precepts of the Lord in the Scripture Exod. 20. 4 5. Deut. 42. 12. 32. Prov. 30. 16. Jer. 7. 31. Mat. 15. 9 13. Mark 7. 7 8. Rev. 22. 18. The mind of God in which Scriptures we have exemplified Lev. 10. 1 2 3 4. Josh 22. 10. c. Judg. 8. 24. 2 King 16. 11. 1 Chron. 15. 13. 4. That Worship which is not necessary for the edification comfort or preservation of the Saints in the Faith and Unity of the Gospel is not of the institution of Christ But such is the Worship of the Common-Prayer-Book Therefore The Major or first Proposition will not be denied The Lord Jesus having freed his Disciples from all obligations to the Ceremonies of the Law institutes nothing de novo but what he knew to be necessary at least would be so by vertue of his institution for the ends assigned which was the great aim of Christ in all Gospel-Administrations Ephes 4. 7 to 15 Col. 2. 19. Acts 9. 31. Rom. 14. 14 15. 1 Cor. 10. 23. and 14. 3 4 5 12 26. 2 Cor. 12. 10. 1 Tim. 1. 4. That the Common-Prayer-Book-Worship is not necessary for the edification comfort or preservation of the Saints in the Faith and Unity of the Gospel whatever is pretended by its admirers might many wayes be demonstrated Take one pregnant instance instead of all that will make it exceeding manifest The Churches of Christ for the first four centuries of years and more after his Ascention knew not any thing of such a Worship as hath been already demonstrated not to mention the Reformed Churches at this day to whom it is as a polluted accursed abominable thing yet than those first and purer Churches for Light Consolation truth of Doctrine Gospel-Union hitherto there hath not been any extant in the world more Famous or Excellent no nor by many degrees comparable to them But we shall not further prosecute this Argument enough hath been said to demonstrate that the Common prayer-Book-Worship is not of the appointment of the Lord Therefore such as worship him in the way thereof worship him in a way that is not of his prescription If the former notwithstanding all that hath been said be scrupled by any we refer them to Tracts written by Smectymnuus V. Powel to a Treatise entituled A Discourse concerning the interest of words in Prayer by H. D. M. A. the Common-Prayer-Book unmask'd as also to a Treatise lately published by a Learned but nameless Author entituled A Discourse concerning Lyturgyes and their imposition In which that matter is industriously and largely debated Object If to what hath hitherto been proposed it be said That the Lyturgie or Common-Prayer-Book is no essential part of Worship but meerly circumstantial Praying 't is true is part of Worship but praying in this or that Form is not so but meerly a circumstance thereof And therefore though it be true that the present Ministers of England worship God after the way of the Common-Prayer-Book yet it follows not that they worship him after a way that is not of his appointment To this we answer 1. That many things are strenuously supposed as the basis upon which the weight of this Objection is laid which the Framers thereof knowing to be no easie task to demonstrate do earnestly beg us to grant unto them Which being matters of greater moment than many are aware of we shall not part with on such easie terms 'T is supposed first That there are some things in the instituted Worship of Christ that are meerly circumstances thereof as such Secondly That it is lawful for Saints to pray in a Form Thirdly That Forms of Prayer imposed are but meer circumstances of Worship and no essential parts thereof Fourthly That Circumstances of Worship as such are not determined by the Lord in the Scripture but left to the wills of men to determine therein as they shall judge meet All unproved Of the last we have already spoken and shall not here reassume the debate thereof Touching the first That there are some things in the instituted Worship of Christ that are meerly Circumstances thereof as such we crave liberty to deny which till the proof thereof be attempted may suffice Circumstances in the Worship of Christ attending Religious Actions as actions we grant but Circumstances of Worship as such will never be proved To infer that because time and place with sundry things of the like nature are Circumstances in Worship therefore there are Circumstances of Worship as such is frivolous Those things being the attendments of religious Actions common to any civil actions of the like nature to be performed by the sons of men no action to be managed by a Community can be orderly performed by them without such an assignment of time and place Publick Prayer being so to be managed as a religious Action hath the Circumstances before mentioned attending it and so it would were it a meer civil action to be performed by a Community though it related not at all to the Worship of God 2. That 't is lawful for Saints to pray in a Form i. e. to tie themselves to a written stinted form of words in prayer is not yet proved not like to be 't is too large a field for us to enter into nor is it needful to do so till it be proved That to pray in the form of the Common-Prayer-Book or imposed devised Lyturgies is so yet in transitu we crave leave humbly to offer that to pray in a form as before explained is altogether unlawful being 1. A quenching of the Spirit of Prayer 2dly A rendring useless the donation of the Spirit as a Spirit of Prayer unto the Children of God 3dly Directly opposit unto the many positive Precepts of Christ before instanc'd in of stirring up the gift given to us of God improving the talents he hath been graciously pleased to entrust us withal 4thly If it be lawful
VVorship of England we shall be so far from condemning them therein that we shall bless God for them But this is not to the purpose in hand the attendance of our Brethren upon the Ministry of England is quite another thing that requires other Arguments for its support than we have hitherto met with Parvas habet spes Troja si Tales habet Object 3. Paul rejoyceth at the Preaching of the Gospel though 't was preached out of envy Phil. 1. 15 16. To which briefly 1. There may be cause of rejoycing in respect of the issue and event of things by the wise Providence of God though the means used for their production be evil and not to be abetted or complyed with In what have Christians greater cause of rejoycing than in the death of Christ Yet had it been utterly unlawful to have joyn'd in counsel with or any wayes abetted or encouraged those wicked persons that crucified and slew him Should the Pope send some Jesuits into any remote parts of America to preach the Gosplel to the poor Indians there here were upon some accounts ground of rejoycing yet no ground for Saints to attend upon a Jesuitical Ministry But 2ly it appears not that these Paul speaks of were not true Gospel-Ministers and so it reacheth not the case in hand This being that we have proved the Ministers of England guilty of viz. an acting in the Holy Things of God without any Commission from Christ which when our Dissenting-Brethren prove they have we shall easily acknowledge the lawfulness of attending upon their Ministry 3ly It follows not in the least that these the Apostle speaks of were either not real Saints or not true Ministers of Christ because they are said to preach him out of envy the object whereof was not Christ for had they envied him they would never have preach'd him but Paul thinking says he to add affliction to my bonds which is consistant with Grace and a lawful Mission to the preaching of the Gospel Yet 4thly Here is not in this Scripture the least word requiring Christians to hear them That because Paul rejoyces at their preaching therefore 't is the duty of Saints to attend upon their Ministry is such a Non-sequiter as will never be made good Object 4. The Ministers of England preach Truth and is it not lawful to hear Truth preached We answer 1. That 't is lawful to hear Truth preached is readily granted but this must be done lawfully and in the way of Christ's Appointment 2ly All that preach Truth are not to be heard nor will our dissenting Brethren say they are For 1. There was never yet any Heretical-Preacher in the world but he preached some Truth is it lawful to hear such this will not be said 2. The Devil himself preached Truth yet Christ forbids him and commands that he hold his peace 3. The Popish Priests preach Truth yet who will say 't is lawful to attend upon their Ministry But 3dly As the present Ministers of England preach Truth So 1. They preach it but by halves and dare not for fear of the L. Bishops Inhibition preach any doctrine though never so clearly revealed in the Scriptures and owned by them as the Truth of Christ he commands them not to meddle with 2. The main Truths they preach at least many of them are contradicted in their practice They 'l tell you that the Lord Jesus is the great Prophet and King of his Church but how palpably this is contradicted by them in their practice conforming to Institutions and Laws that are not of his prescription who sees not This we have already abundantly demonstrated 3. With the Truth they preach they mingle many Errors directly contrary to the Scripture and the Revelation Christ hath made of his Will therein Instances of this kind have been already exhibited to which may be added many more we shall mention but a few 1. That the Ministry Worship and Government which Christ hath appointed to his Church is not to be received or joyned unto unless the Magistrates where they are reputed Christian do allow it 2. That the Apocryphal books which have in them Errors 2 Mac. 12. 44 45. 14. 41 42. Eccles 46. 20. Wisd 19. 11. Untruths 2 Esd 14. 21 22 23. 2 Macc. 2. 4-8 Tob. 5. 11 12 13. with 12. 15. Judith 8. 33. 10. 9 with v. 12. 11. 6 12 13 14 15. 1 Mac. 9. 3 18. with 2 Mac. 1. 13 to 17. 9. 1 5 7 9 28 29. Blasphemy Tob. 12. 12 15. with Rom. 8. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Rev. 8. 3 4. Magick Tobit 6. 6 7 8. 9. 2 3. with 3. 7 8. 11. 10 11 13. with 2. 9 10. and contradiction to the Canonical Scriptures Judith 9. 2 3 4. compared with Gen. 49. 5 6 7. Esther in the Apocrypha chap. 12. 5. 15. 9 10. with Ester canonical chap. 6. 3. 5. 2. Eccles 46. 20. with Isa 57. 2. may be used in the Publick Worship of God 3. That the most wicked and their seed may be compelled and received to be members of the Church 4. That Marriage may be forbidden at certain seasons as in Lent Advent Rogation-week c. 5. That Baptism is to be administred with a Cross in the forehead and that as a symbolical sign 6. That though the most notorious obstinate Offenders be partakers of the Lord's Supper yet the people that joyn with them are not defiled thereby 7. That there may be Holy-dayes appointed to the Virgin Mary John Baptist to the Apostles All Saints and Angels together also with Fasts on their Eves on Ember-dayes Fridayes Saturdayes so called heathenishly enough and Lent 8. That the Cope Surplice Tippit Rocket c. are meet and decent Ornaments for the Worship of God and Ministry of the Gospel 9. That the Book of Common-Prayer is the true Worship of God 10. That Christ descended into Hell as if Christ descended into the place of the Damned as the Papists hold 11. That Lord Bishops can give the Holy-Ghost and power to forgive and retain Sins 12. That Altars Candles Organs c. are necessary and useful in the Church of God 13. That all Children †Common-Prayer-Book of Publick Baptism when baptized are regenerate and received by the Lord for his own Children by Adoption Yea 14. That Children being baptized have all things necessary for their Salvation and shall undoubtedly be saved So they profess in the Order of Confirmation in the Common-Prayer-Book with much more that might be offered in this matter Object 5. Judas preached though a wicked man and no doubt 't was lawful yea the duty of Saints to hear him To this we say No doubt but it was so But 1. Judas was not a visible wicked man at the time of his preaching but so close an Hypocrite that he was not known to be so no not to the Disciples But some of the present Ministers of England are visibly wicked and prophane 2. Judas was
chosen and called by Christ to be an Apostle commissionated by him to preach but the present Ministers of England are not so as hath been proved So that this is not at all to the business in hand Object 6. But there are some good men amongst them and such as belong to God may we not hear good men To which briefly Answer 1. That there are some amongst the present Preachers of this day that are good men we shall not stand to deny Yet 2. We crave leave to say That they are all of them such as are sadly polluted and defiled by their Complyance in respect of their standing in the Ministry Antichristian whose teachings Saints have no warrant to attend upon 3. The greater hopes we have of their goodness the more cautelous should we be of encouraging them in a false way that they by our relinquishment of them and separating from them after we have discharged all other duties we are satisfied are incumbent upon us to perform towards them may come to see their sin repent and do their first works that God and we may again receive them 4. Yet the goodness of any as to the main is no warrant for any to hold communion with them or attend upon their teachings There are Brethren that walk disorderly whom 't is the duty of Saints to separate from that the very best of the Ministers of England do so will not be denied The Incestuous person 1 Cor. 5. was as to the main for ought I know a good man yet were not the Saints at Corinth to hold communion with him till upon his repentance he was again received 2 Cor. 2. 6. 5. 'T is utterly unlawful to communicate with a devised Ministry upon what pretext soever 6. So is it for any to partake in other mens sins as hath been proved but every usurped Ministry is the sin of him though never so holy a person that exerciseth it Object 7. But many Learned and Good men and such as in conscience could not conform to the Ceremonies of the Church of England have in dayes past and do now hear the present Ministers thereof To which we answer 1. That the greatest Scholars and most accomplished for humane Wisdom Parts yea visible Holiness have not been alwayes on the Lords side following him in paths of his own appointment but many times have been found the greatest Persecutors and Opposers of Christ the most stupendously ignorant of the Will of God in respect of the Truth and Work of their Generation of any persons in the world Witness the Scribes and Pharisees the Learned Rabbies and Profound Doctors of that day with what virulency did they oppose Christ and the Doctrine of the Gospel preached by him 2. That persons of as great Holiness and renown for Learning and all manner of Accomplishments as learned Ainsworth Cotton c. have been and are of the same apprehension with us in this matter Not to mention the Reformed Churches who generally renounce the Ministry of the Church of England not admitting any by vertue of it to the charge of souls as they speak But 3. To the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8. 20. if they speak not according to this Rule though Angels for knowledge and holiness they are not to be received or heeded One word from the Lord is of more weight to hearts made truly tender than the Example of an hundred Professors can be 't is possible these may erre be yea and nay but so cannot the Truth of God which is alwayes the same and will abide so for ever 4. The Apostle hath long since determined this case 1 Cor. 11. 1. Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ So far as Saints follow Christ I may and ought to follow them but no further So that the Learning Parts or Holiness of any that attend upon the present Ministers of England is no warrant for me so to do nor will ever be a satisfactory answer to that enquiry Who hath required these things at your hands Object 8. But the Magistrate commands us and ought we not to obey Magistrates Answer 1. That Magistrates have no power to command in matters of instituted Worship where Christ is silent or to govern in his Church is affirmed by many 2. The Commands of Magistrates when contrary to the Will and Way of Christ are not to be subjected to This case is long since stated and resolved by the Apostle Acts 4. 19 20. and 5. 29. and Spirit of the Lord breathing long before in his renouned Witnesses Dan. 3. 16 17. and 6. 10. nor is it denied by any that are sober or juditious Whether the hearing of the present Ministers of England be contrary to the Word of God the Will and Way of Christ we leave from what hath been offered to the considerate Reader to judge And shall onely adde what was long since asserted by Augustine in this matter who August do Verb. Domini Serm. 6. was herein fully of the same mind with us Sed timeo inquies ne offendas Majorem time prorsus ne offendas Majorem non offendes Deum Quid enim times ne offendas Majorem Vide ne forsan major sit isto quem times offendere Majorem certe noli offendere quis est inquies Major eo qui me genuit a an ille qui Teipsum creavit qui enim resistit Potestati Dei Ordinationi resistit sed quid si illud jubeat quod non debes facere timondo postestatem ipsos humanarum rerum gradus advertite si aliquid jusserit Curator nonne faciendum est tam et si contra Proconsul jubeat at non utique contemnis potestatem sed eligis Majori servire nec hinc debet Minor irasci si Major praelata est Rursum si aliquid ipse Proconsul jubeat aliud subeat Imperator numquid dubitatur in illo contemptu illi esse serviendum Ergo si aliud Imperator aliud Deus quid judicatis solve tributum est mihi in obsequio rectè Sed non in Idolio in Idolio prohibet quis prohibet Major Potestas Da veniam tu cancerum ille gehennam minatur He tells us plainly that such as fear to offend their Superiours should much more fear to offend God who is greater than all The Emperours and Monarchs of the VVorld threaten us with a Prison if we disobey them the LORD threatens us with Hell upon our disobedience of Him Object 9. But the Ministers of England are true Gospel-Ministers for they convert souls which the Apostle makes the Seal of his Ministry or Apostleship Therefore it is lawful to hear them To this we say That the Ministers of England are true Gospel-Ministers is absolutely denied by us what is offered in this Objection proves nothing 1. Paul makes not the Conversion of the Church of Corinth singly a sufficient Demonstration or convincing Argument of his Apostleship he only useth it as what was most likely to win and