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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49524	The reformed Presbyterian, humbly offering to the consideration of all pious and peaceable spirits several arguments for obedience to the act for unifromity, as the way to vnity and endeavouring to demonstrate by clear inferences from the sacred scriptures, the writings of some of the ancients, or several old pastors of the reformed churches abroad, and of the most eminent old non-conformists amongst ourselves : as Mr. Josias Nichols, Mr. Paul Baines, and other learned divines : as for Mr. Perkins, Mr. Iohn Randal, and Mr. Rob. Bolton, that there is nothing required by the act for vniformity that is forbidden by the law of God / by Rich. Lytler ...	Lytler, Richard.	1662 (1662)	Wing L3573; ESTC R1525	139,662	290

temporum eos abolevit aut non tulit esse restituendos He that will receive and follow the use and the opinion of the universal Church in all times and places unto this Age for a certain Interpreter will easily understand that the several degrees of Presbyters and Bishops in the Ecclesiastical government are and ever were according to Gods Word and therefore where they stand still they must not be abolished and where the iniquity of the times hath abolished or not suffered them they must be set up again Sect. 3. By which and other before quotations it appeareth that their judgment was long ago for Bishops and their Ordination by them and that the several degrees of Presbyters and Bishops in the Ecclesiastical government are according to Gods Word that they were not the same as is so strongly supposed Be perswaded therefore not onely to stand and wonder at the counsel this holy Zanchy giveth but resolve to follow it where the iniquity of the times hath abolished or not suffered that Ecclesiastical government he saith it must be set up again it must not be endeavoured to be undermined or extirpated for this is contrary to a Scripture-Reformation otherwise he would have ascribed their abolition to be from the piety and not the iniquity of the times Sect. 4. I beseech you Sirs therefore take no care for the Reformed Churches as to their Ministry and Ordination but take care of your own and take heed that you give no occasion of scandal or offence to them by suffering your selves to be deprived of the exercise of your Ministerial gifts because that you will not yield to that which may make your Ordination which hath hitherto been by the classes and so done but by halves to be more valid and complete and consonant to the practice of the primitive times Sect. 5. But if what I have said may not satisfie you as to your thoughtfulnesse and great care for the Reformed Churches lest by your being ordained by Bishops they should be unchurched as having no true Ministers because not Episcopally ordained Be pleased to take but a View of the Government and Publick Worship of God in the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas Wherein is shewed their Conformity and Agreement with the Church of England as it is established by the Act of Uniformity A Book lately set forth by Mr. John Durel And herein you will find so much said by himself and quoted from the learned Spanhemius late Professour of Divinity at Geneva and of Ludovicus Capellus late Divinity-Reader and Professour of Hebrew at Saumers with others that will not onely give a very satisfactory answer in this case but also to a serious question propounded in the Petition for peace pag. 9. What judgment all the Protestant Churches are likely to pass on your proceedings meaning the Bishops and how your cause and ours meaning the Petitioners for peace and Non-conformity will stand represented to them Sect. 6. And I hope withall will very much prevail upon you to be ordained by Bishops and to conform lest that you should be a further scandal and offence to them and give them a further occasion to be confirmed in the mean opinion that some of the most learned Pastours beyond Sea had of our work of Reformation in taking away Bishops and Liturgy and setting up the Directory in the stead thereof You will find more then what I say implyed in the great commendation that the learned Spanhemius of Geneva giveth of the beauteous face of the Church of England with her Reverence in publick Worship before these late times vide his Epistle before the third part of Dubia Evangelica quoted by Monsieur Durel pag. 66. And more then I will write in English you will find Durell pag. 15. quoted Ex Ludovic Capell Thes Salm. Th. de Liturg. part 7. Thes 6 7. who after a commendation of the Liturgy of the Church of England as free from all Popish saperstition and Idolatry and how happy we might have been c. he saith Dorec tandem nuperrimè exorti sunt in Anglia morosi scrupulosi delicatuli nimium ne superstitiosos planè dicam homines quibus Ecclesiae suae hactenus usurpata Liturgia visa est multis sed levissimis nulliusque penè momenti de causis non improbanda solum verum etiam planè abrogan la penitus unà cum toto Episcoporum Hierarchico regimine abolenda obliteranda c. Sect. 7. Now as by these two quotations you may as I said before easily see how you have stood represented to the Reformed Churches of Geneva and others so also you may apprehend what judgement the Protestant Churches are like to passe upon you for your Non-conformity and for chusing rather not to preach then to receive Ordination from the Bishop whereby that of the Presbytery may be completed and to declare an agreement with them by your subscription Oh Sirs be perswaded after all your doubts fears and scruples to observe the Act for Uniformity and take more care of giving offence to the Reformed Protestant Churches abroad by your Non-conformity then of any offence they will take at you thereat how far they are from it you will find plentifully proved in Mounsieur Durells Book aforesaid to which I refer you Sect. 8. It is confessed that in yielding to this seasonable Counsel there will be some kind of self-denyall and a departing from that sentence and opinion which many have taken up to the contrary Yet being lawful to be done and conducing so much to the Peace of Church and State and giving an opportunity to many persons whom God hath qualified for the work of the Ministry to exercise the same Be perswaded for Christs sake if ever you will shew your selves to be Christs Disciples indeed deny your selves and follow the wholsome Counsel of holy Beza before spoken that leaving all bitterness as long as the truth of the doctrine and purity of conscience was safe Bear one another with patience and obey the Queens most gracious Majesty and all her Prelates with a free heart Beza 12. Epist ue ante Sect. 9. That the Truth of the Doctrine is safe I beseech you seriously to consider what I have already quoted from Mr. Baxter and what now followeth from that Revernd and holy Mr. Robert Bolton in his Saints sure and Perpetual Guide pag. 126. Saith he Certain it is that our Church in that most exquisite and Worthy Confession of Faith contained in the Articles of Religion doth hold and professe all substantiall points of Divinity as soundly as any Church in the world none excepted either in this age nor in the primitive times of the Church Oh therefore subscribe unto these 39. Articles which the Act for Uniformity requireth and that ex animo as Beza counselled in his time the Queen and her Prelates should be obeyed Sect. 10. Especially considering that not onely the truth is safe but that whatsoever is required by this Act

doth belong to the Magistrate and Church-governour to command and appoint in matters of Religion pag. 8 CHAP. IV. The term Uniformity explained and this Proposition proved That obedience to the Act for Uniformity is the way to Unity pag. 12 CHAP. V. That indifferent things may lawfully be commanded and that to obey such commands is not onely lawfull but profitable for the Peace of the Church To refuse obedience to indifferent things as sinfull is Negative superstition with several considerations about the regulating of our zeal about things indifferent in themselves pag. 22 CHAP. VI. That to declare against the binding power of the Covenant according to the Declaration appointed by the Act for Uniformity is lawfull both by the Law of God and of the Land Wherein the judgement of reverend Mr. Perkins in six cases as to the not-binding power of on Oath is applied to the case in hand pag. 33 CHAP. VII That to declare That it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up arms against the King and that we do abhor that trayterous Position of taking arms by his Authority against his Person c. is very warrantable by the Law of God and of the Land pag. 48 CHAP. VIII That Uniformity in publick Worship by obedience to an Imposed Form is lawful pag. 54 CHAP. IX The Vindication of the Common prayer of the Church of England be Mr John Ball from the aspersions of the Old Prownists and the Authors of the Temperate Discourse and Plus Ultra The lawfulnesse also of Conformity to it with its Rites proved by Bishop Jewell Martin Bucer and others pag. 60 CHAP. X That to subscribe to the 39. Articles of Religion and to declare an unfeigned assent and consent c. is not contrary to any command of Christ but lawful and warrantable notwithstanding all the objections made of old by Mr. Josias Nichols against subscription which are in this Chapter laid down and modestly removed Pag. 91 CHAP. XI That to subscribe to the use of those Ceremonies which have significancy in them as the Surplice and Crosse in Baptism is lawfull and warrantable proved by the judgement of Forreign and our own Modern Divines both Conformists and Non-conformists Pag. 106 CHAP. XII The general argument against Subscription to the Book of making Bishops Priests and Deacons because the Deacon we are to approve his description is not to be found in the Book of God answered The weakness of which argument is evidenced from the example of Christ and his Apostles also the great evil of urging this argument at large that nothing is warrantable but what is expresly commanded Pag. 110 CHAP. XIII The Order of Deacon excepted against by Mr. Nichols as exercised in the Church of England justified by Mr. John Balls argument for Lecturers Together with several directions from Mr. John Randal what is to be done in this present case of Conformity as to perswading of the Conscience Pag. 124 CHAP. XIV Contains the course that a Minister is to take as to Conformity Though scandal be taken by weak Brethren in which Chapter the Doctrine of scandal is considered and what is alleadged by the Author of the Temperate Discourse is answered and the Magistrate freed from what is charged upon him under this consideration Pag. 132 CHAP. XV. That to receive Ordination from the Bishop though ordained before by Presbyters is lawful Pag. 140 CHAP. XVI That for our Ministers to receive Ordination by Bishops though ordained before by Presbyters will not conclude the Reformed Churches that have no Episcopal Ordination to have no true ministers and consequently to be no true Churches Pag. 151 Bucer Scripta Anglicana pag. 455. I give thanks to God who hath given you grace to reform these Ceremonies in such a purity And of the Common Prayer thus he there writes I have found nothing in it which is not taken out of the Word of God or at least which is contrary to it being rightly interpreted Mr. John Ball 's Answer to Mr. Can part 2. pag. 9. If the Common Prayer be wholly taken out of the Mass-book how cometh it to have those things which are so directly contrary to the Mass that both cannot possibly stand together Peter Martyr's Epistle from Oxford Nov. 4. 1550. to Bishop Hooper pag. 8. How be it I will not grant that these diversities of Vestures have their beginnings of the Pope for so much as I read in the Ecclesiastical History Euseb lib. 3. cap. 31. How that John the Apostle wore at Ephesus where he dwelled a Bishops apparel terming it Petalum seu lamina pontificalis As touching S. Cyprian the holy Martyr Pontius the Deacon writeth that a little before he should be beheaded he gave unto him that was appointed to behead him his vesture called B●rrus after he had put it off and to the Deacons he gave his other Vesture called Dalmatica c. Chrysostom maketh mention of the white Vesture of the Ministers of the Church in Mat. cap. 26. homil 83. ad ●o●ul Antioch homil 60. c. But be it so let them be the invention of the Pope as you would have it yet notwithstanding for the respect of the Papistical invention in them I cannot be perswaded so much impiety to be therein that whatsoever it toucheth it doth by and by so corrupt that it cannot be lawfull for good and godly men to use godlily pag. 7. We read how that wine was consecrated unto Bacchus bread unto Ceres water unto Neptune oyle unto Minerva song unto the Muses and unto Apollo and many other things Tertullian rehearseth in his book intituled De Corona Militis Christiani yet for all that we stick not to use all these things freely as well in holy as in prophane uses although at one time or other before they had been consecrated to Idols and to Devils Perkins on Conscience of Oaths pag. 527. If at the first it were lawful and afterward by some means become either impossible or unlawfull it binds not conscience for when it becomes impossible we may safely think that God from heaven frees a man from his oath CHAP. I. Introductory and by way of Preface pressing the necessity of searching into the nature of the things commanded before suffering for the same Section 1. INquiries after Truth in matters controverted are not more difficult in their prosecution then pleasant and delightful in the satisfaction they afford For though it be a true assertion of Democritus that Veritas in puteo latet c. and cannot be drawn out but with much labour yet no dainties are so relishing and delicious to the taste as truth obtained is to our Intellectnals Sect. 2. But more especially ought we to desire to know the truth in matters doubtful which refer to our practice and especially such as refer to the purity of Gods Worship who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and truth And though this is to be done at all times yet

especialty when we are supposed to be brought unto such an hour of temptation that we must either betray the truth through cowardise in our own apprehensions or in the apprehensions of others betray our liberties sacred and civil by a rash and precipitant suffering Sect. 3. Now this I suppose being the case of many both Ministers and People at this time there being but small hopes notwithstanding our former Civil wars and late Petition for peace but that now by the Act for Uniformity established we must either conform thereunto or suffer the penalties of the same The present duty that now lieth upon us is by all the helps we can to make a serious search into the nature of those things which are the subject matter of that Conformity enjoyned and to satisfie the conscience in this particular Whether by obedience thereunto we become not children of disobedience unto Christ who is the everlasting Father and supreme Law-giver of his Church Sect. 4. For this being a certain truth That we are never called to suffer as Christians by yielding passive obedience but when we cannot without sin yield active obedience and that no Minister I suppose is to lay down his Ministry but in as clear a case as he can lay down his Life it doth very much concern us to be perswaded in our consciences by that which hath absolutely the commanding and obliging power thereof viz. the Word of God Whether or no by yielding obedience to this Act of U ifo mity we are not Violaters of the Law of God For where no law is violated there is no transgression sin being the transgression of the law Sect. 5 And doubtless though there be as the Authors of the Pe ition for peace do intimate p. 4. an appearance of very great love to Christ in refusing conformity to things indifferent because that they judge it to be an Usurpation of his Kingly power and an accusation of his Law as unsufficient and because that they dare not be guilty of adding to or diminution of his worship or of worshipping him after any other Law then that by which they shall be judged or such as is meerly subordinate to that supposing them to be mistaken in thinking things to be so displeasing to God Sect. 6. Though this may be commendable in such cases and about such matters wherein persons are left to their own liberty and are not under the commands of their Superiours Yet when by so doing upon a mistake through their disobedience they shall violate a positive and clear Gospel precept and in suffering upon this account shall condemn the generation of the just even the practice of the primitive Christians in the Apostles dayes who did conform to indifferent things of no necessity to salvation Acts 15. and of the tender-conscienc'd Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes when they shall thereby also deprive the Church of God of their labours in the Ministry and be also matter of grief of heart to many solid and judicious Christians and thereby administer matter of horrour and great scruple of conscience in weak Christians who thence conclude that surely there must needs be many conscience-wasting sins in the use of the Common Prayer Rites and Ceremonies of the Church c. that men will suffer so much for their Non-conformity Sect. 7. I humbly conceive that a mistake in this case is of very dangerous consequence and to avoid these miserable and sinful evils is a duty incumbent and that it would argue a very great fear of displeasing of Christ and a sollicitous care of obeying him to make a diligent search into Gods Word and into the Writings of pious and learned men Before such who especially are Teachers of others shall expose themselves to the deprivation of their Ministry and thereby many good souls that delight therein to the loss thereof Sect. 8. I say they ought to be clearly and fully perswaded they are not onely Truths but Truths of so high a nature as may bear proportion with what they do expose themselves to suffer for the same I do verily believe it would be a great sin and highly displeasing to Christ if now in this juncture of time meerly to please men or avoid suffering we should do any thing whereby we might violate any Law of Christ the King of his Church If Daniel when there was a Law made forbidding him to offer unto God his daily sacrifice of prayer for 30. dayes Dan. 6.7 his conformity to this Law would have been as manifest a breach of Gods Law as for the three children to have fallen down and worship'd the golden Image at the command of the King Sect. 10. But to refuse such commands as are doubtful and disputable whether sinful or no it is not the judgment of those Worthies named in the Petition for peace pag. 18. who have taken this Non-conformity to be a sin but it must appear upon a well-grounded conviction of the conscience from Gods Word truly applyed which doth either in express terms or by a just consequence make this or that to be a sin which is now the matter of obedience by this Act otherwise we shall suffer but for our own fancies or opinions or upon a tradition received from our Forefathers And though I do believe what I have read professed in the name of many who are yet unsatisfied in the Petition for peace that you have by reading and prayer sought for satisfaction yet considering what I find asserted in the book aforesaid pag. 14. That men have not their Understandings at command who can tell what a word in season may do now especially from so unlikely and so unlook'd-for as well as from so unworthy a one as I my self Sect. 11. It is an old saying That sometimes a looker on may see more then a gamster And therefore though unconcerned in this last Act for Uniformity being in none of those capacities which call me to the observance of the same Yet sympathising with those that are scruplers and desiring that they may not thereby be exposed to those sufferings which may be the fruit of their Non-obedience and that all the ill effects thereof may be prevented Sect. 12. I have presumed to be a Remembrancer to such persons as I was sometimes to the Army to mind them of such things which I shall present from the Writings of such Non-conformists and other Divines as are now above all Interest and being dead yet speak as also from the judgment of the reverend Mr. Richard Baxter yet living By which I hope it will appear That there is not that matter of sin and danger which I do observe some do conclude and take for granted there is in yielding obedience unto the Act for Uniformity CHAP. II. Concerning subjection and obedience in general our averseness to it and the way to heal it Section 1. NOw for as much as the subject matter of Obedience to this Act for Uniformity to some appeareth so sinful that

for Uniformity may be lawfully observed with a safe conscience if I be not mistaken This hath been my work and endeavour to prove by the holy Scriptures the practice of the primitive Church the judgement of the most Eminent Divines of the Reformed Churches abroad by the concessions of severall pious Non-conformists which are dead and by what I have alleadged from Mr. Baxter Five Disput. First that an Vniformity in Gods pulick Worship by obedience to a form of prayer Secondly that to conform to the use of the Common prayer of the Church of England with the Rites and Ceremonies of the same Thirdly that to subscribe to the 39. Articles of Religion Fourthly that to receive Ordination from Bishops though ordained before by Presbyters Fifthly to declare against the binding power of the Covenant That all these are lawful and warrantable Sect. 11. Consider therefore I beseech you that the way to keep your consciences safe and sound is to yield obedience to the lawful commands of our Superiors Rom. 13. It is given as the reason why we should obey our Superiors even for conscience sake For If conscience be truly tender it will check and chide us for our disobedience and our hearts will smite us for the same For Take heed therefore as you love your souls of this delusion in pleading conscience for disobedience for the heart being so deceitful we are very apt so to do I have in the integrity of my heart I hope made publick that Christian compassion and charity within me to the end that what I fear are like to be the sad effects of Non-conformity may be prevented And surely except the decree be gone forth against us for that general impenitency that is upon all parties for our new sins since new rare and unexpected mercies received and the continuance in our old ones Sect. 12. I should hope through the great piety wisdom and moderation of our Superiours in pressing more for the substantials of Religion the Power of godliness then the form and by the obedience of Inferiours to their commands in both these black clouds of Gods anger which I am apt to fear do still hang over our heads may be blown over our discords and divisions about these matters of mode in Worship and Government which I believe are both our sin and punishment may be healed and that spirit which I fear in many that at this day lusteth not after envy but bloud again may be subdued by a plentiful effusion of the Spirit of love and peace anb of a sound mind Sect. 13. In order to all this I have in the first place laid before you the consideration of this proposition That obedience to the Act for Uniformity is the way to Unity I have endeavoured to prove it I beseech you once more be perswaded to improve it by your practice I have as I said before shewed what is required may lawfully be done without sin I shall therefore desire you that laying aside all prejudice you would be pleased to grant me these two requests that I find made in Five Disput pag. 271. First that before you let out your displeasure against me for contradicting any of your conceits received opinions and traditions you would humbly impartially and with modest self-suspicion both study and pray over what you shall read written by so weak and worthless an one who can tell but that what I now offer cometh to your view as an answer to your prayers for information in these doubtful matters Secondly the next request of Mr. Baxters which I make is this That you will alwayes keep the faith charity self-denial and tenderness of Christians upon your hearts and the great ends and interest of Christ and Christianity before you and take heed how you venture upon any controverted points or practice that contradicteth the Churches unity peace and holiness Sect. 14. Oh Sirs if you will be pleased to keep that faith charity self-denyal and tenderness of Christians upon your hearts it will keep you from setting your wits on work as you are Scholars in this juncture of time to give a seeming answer to what I have said not as a Disputant having never been so high as a Sophomore in the Schools but as a compassionate Advocate for the Churches unity peace and holiness which last cannot better be promoted then by the continuance of holy men in the Ministry I say this faith charity humility self-denyal and christian tenderness kept close to your hearts at this time will keep you not onely from controverted points which contradict the spirit of Christianity but also from such practices which may contradict the spirit of Christianity also and obstruct the progress of the Church in holiness peace and unity Sect. 15. How much disobedience to the Act for Uniformity together with the deprivation of some Ministers thereby for the same may obstruct the Churches unity and peace may contradict the spirit of Christianity may hinder the propagation of the Protestant Religion may gratifie the hopes and expectations of the Romish Jesuites I wish you may not see when it is too late to repent thereof I conclude therefore with that pathetick cry for audience that came from Jotham when he uttered his parable Judg. 9.7 Hearken unto Me that GOD may hearken unto You. FINIS Courteous Reader These Books following with others are printed for Nath. Brook and are to be sold at his Shop at the Angel in Cornhill Excellent Tracts in Divinity Controversies Sermons Devotious 1. CAtholick History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councils and ancient Fathers in answer to Dr. Vanes Lost Sheep returned home by Edward Chesenhale Esq Octava 2. Bishop Morton on the Sacrament Folio 3. Grand Sacrilege of the Church of Rome in taking away the sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table by Daniel Featly Quarto 4. Quakers Cause at second hearing being a full answer to their Tenets 5. Re-assertion of Grace Vindiciae Evingelii or Vindication of the Gospel a Reply to Mr. Anthony Burges's Vindiciae Legis and to Mr. Rutherford by Rob. Town 6. Anabaptists anatomized and silenced or a Dispute with Mr. Tombs by Mr. I. Cragg where all may receive clear satisfaction 7. A Cabinet-Jewel wherein is Mans misery and Gods mercy set forth in eight Sermons with an Appendix concerning Tithes and expediency of marriage in publicly assemblies by the same Author Mr. J. Cragg 8. A Glimpse of Divine Light being an explication of some passages exhibited to the Commissioners at Whitehall for approbation of publick Preachers against J. Harrison of Land-chappel Lancashire 9. The Zealous Magistrate a Sermon by T. Threscot Quarto 10. New Jerusalem in a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers Quarto in the year 1651. 11. Divinity no enemy to Astrologie a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers in the year 1653. by Dr. Thomas Swadling 12. Britannia Rediviva a Sermon before the Judges August 1648. by J. Shaw Minister of Hull 13. The Princesse Royal