and doe only by these premisses labor that that truth which hath been amongst vs long suppressed and afflicted may come to light and may be so honored and freed at last as God requireth that it should be 5. If the Callings of the Prelats be warrantable and of Divine ordinance as Bishop Barlow avoucheth in his late Sermon then the yeelding vnto this Offer wil be a notable meanes to establish the same and can no wayes be derogatory vnto it for no Divine ordinance will fly or feare any such Tryall But if it be vnlawfull as it will be supposed of all men to be even in the cōsciences of the Prelats if they shall refuse this Offer thē indeed this Tryall can be no meanes to iustify the Prelats who ought in such a case either to giue ouer their places or at least to suffer those that haue their consciences perswaded of the vnlawfulnes of their Callinges to be free even as Christ hath made them free both from them and their Government 9. OPPOSITION This Offer proceeds from them who wil be satisfyed with nothing If they should haue the Discipline granted them and all that they desire they would not stay there that would not contēt them At the first they stood vpon a few Ceremonies only after this they cryed downe with Bishops and when they haue their de sire in this then let the King looke to himselfe ANSWER 1. This is but a malicious surmise of that whereof there is noe ground the Propositions before set downe makeing it more then manifest that as the Ministers haue not any the least intention to impeach the Royall dignity so likewise they doe much more advance the same indeed thē the Prelats do 2. The practise of all other Reformed Churches inioying the Discipline which is desired confuteth this slanderous obiection in as much as they rest content under the same without seeking or indeauoring any vaine or rebellious innovation 3. Though some Ministers haue stoode upon the Ceremonies onely yet many of them haue from time to time witnessed vehemently and in speciall maner against the Prelacie according as God hath opened their understanding in this point though som of them at the first did not sufficiently consider how unlawfull and unwarrantable it is and this is no more preiudiciall either to them or to the cause then it was to the Apostle Paul for teaching that doctrine afterward which at first he understood not or to those now professing the Gospell who in times past haue bene ignorant Papistes enemies to the trueth 4. The Ministers desire not that either the Discipline or any thing els should be yeelded unto them or that they should haue their willes satisfied in any thing further then they are able to proue the thing for want whereof they are unsatisfied to be due unto them by the word of God And so far forth they thinke it lawfull for them or any els to shew themselues unsatisfied it being a grieuous Sinne for any in matters of Religion and meanes of Saluation to content themselues with lesse then God will haue them to be content withall The Ordinances of God will content them sufficiently and nothing will discontent them but to be depriued of any of the same they all being ordinary meanes of Saluation And is it not an Antichristian spirit that would binde men to any other Content If in their discontent they desire any thing that God doth not require them to desire there may be as many meanes found then as now to bridle their desires 5. Their advising the King to looke to himselfe when Ceremonies Diocesan Bishops are downe is a Scarcrow fitter to fright Dawes away then to hinder so wise a Majesty from yeelding his furtherance to so Christian an Offer The Ministers therefore doe heere againe professe to all the world that they no further desire the overthrowe of the Prelats then they shall proue that their standing is derogatory both to Christ to the King and that they take nothing from the Prelats but what they giue to Christ his Church the King the Civill Magistrats vnder him the Prelats unjustly keeping that from them which by the word of God is their due and which the said Ministers are readie to yeeld unto them before they desire to see the overthrow of the Prelats who we doubt not will appeare to be enemyes though in a mysterie to God to the King and to his people even in their very Callings and Offices 10. OPPOSITION Shall we hearken to the Offer of such as are not yet agreed amongst themselues what they would haue There are not two of them of one minde and therefore it is to no purpose to hearken unto them Let them first agree amongst themselues and tell us what they would haue and then they shall be heard ANSWER 1 They are all agreed alreadie vpon these poynts that the Ceremonies are scandalous and ought by those that are in authoritie to be removed that the Ecclesiasticall Government of other reformed Churches is more agreeable to the word of God then the Government by Diocesan Prelates that Pluralists Nonresidents and dumbe Ministers ought not to be tolerated in any Christian Church that it is fitter we should conforme our selues to other Reformed Churches in our Liturgie Ceremonies Discipline then to the accursed Synagogue of Rome Their differences are onely about the maner of maintayning these pointes Let them hearken to the Ministers in the things wherin they all are alreadie agreed and they will not trouble them with any disagreements Yea they shall finde that in their differences they will agree better then they would haue them 2. If they disagree so among themselues as the Prelats would beare men in hād they haue the lesse cause to feare them may with more hope of prevailing enter into this Tryall with them But the truth is that their differences are neither halfe so many nor halfe so great as those that be among the Prelats 11. OPPOSITION Either their Propositions are false and sufficiently confuted by their owne practise or if they be true then why doe they ioynt to our Church which is gouerned by the Prelates why doe they desire to execute a publike Ministery under them why doe they not wholly with the Brownists separate and get them to Amsterdam to their holy brethren there ANSWER 1. The practise of the Ministers herein is no way contrary to their Propositiōs this is a most desperate shift in the Prelats to press thē herewith 2. They protest to the shāe of the Prelats to the testifying of their charitable loue to those of the Ministerie which are otherwise minded thē themselues that they are perswaded that many of the Conforming Ministers are notwithstanding the great defects and corruptions in their calling and standing true Ministers of Iesus Christ and indued with gifts from heaven for that holy functiō And that the Churches which they teach howsoever in their Constitution very
shall say the contrary haue in their said late Synod decreed that all who shall affirme that either the Ceremonyes in Controversie are superstitious and unlawfull Can 6 or that the Government by Archbishops and Bishops is not Apostolicall and lawfull are to be excommunicated ipso facto Now seeing that not onely the Ministers suspended and deprived but many thowsand others in this Kingdome do affirme and maintaine these things they stand all by vertue of those Canons Excommunicat and standing in that estate if justly are by consequence in the case of damnation yea so as dying resolutly in these poynts they must needes be damned everlastingly Either therefore the Prelats shall shew themselues to be Antichristiā and that in a high degree in sending without any mercy or compassion so many thowsand soules with the dash of a pen to Hell it being in their power to keepe them out or exceedingly presumptuous in denouncing such a sentence against those whō they cannot but know oftentimes do confesse to be the true servants of God or at the least it standeth them upon diligently to use all good meanes for the recovery of so many soules out of Hell especially then when by such an Offer as this is they hold up their hands out of the pit desiring to be pulled out 22 Last of all the Propositions being so plainly and distinctly layd downe and so directly opposite to the profession of the Prelats they having also so often disgraced the Ministers for their paucitie and povertie of gifts and learning and so often vaunted of the multitudes of great learned men on their side and by that meanes having far greater choyse of sufficient and able men then the Ministers haue and being better able to furnish them with all needfull helps to such a worke and the poynts in Controversie so neerely touching their Iurisdiction state and dignitie which is so deare and pretious unto them also the Offer that is made unto them being so equall just and Christian if they shall refuse to yeeld unto the same in steed thereof afflict the persons which humbly make this Offer unto them they shall therein proclaime to all the world that in these their proceedings they haue sinned doe sinne with a high hand and malicious heart contrary to knowledge and conscience against God and his Divine truth and therefore are to be judged to be at the next dore of committing that unpardonable sinne which the Prelats in the time of our Saviour Christs being upon the earth in the like cases committed From which if it be the good will of God notwithstanding all the evill which they haue done against these poore servants of Christ and the Churches of God committed to their charge they pray carnestly that they may quit thēselues and that upon their repentance in this life they may attaine unto such a crowne of glory as they in their consciences are perswaded is layd up for some of those whom they use now living in the world as Heathens Infidels 4. AN ANSWER TO SVCH OPPOSITIONS AS MAY BE MADE BY THE Prelats against yeelding to the aforesaid Offer 1. OPPOSITION The reverend Fathers of the Church before they proceeded to suspension and deprivation of the Ministers used godly admonitions exhortations arguments to perswade them to conformitie answering whatsoever they could then obiect why they should not conforme Therefore what neede they now to enter into that trouble againe ANSWER This is not true I. They neuer vsed any one Argumēt to the purpose but such as hath been sufficiently answered we know not how often 2. Their Admonitions were meere formall wherin also the Ministers were exceedingly wronged divers of them who were very poore men and some of their livings not aboue 40. som 30. some 20. pounds by the yeare their charge of wife children and family very great being forced to come in the depth of winter 9. or 10. times yea some oftener unto their Pallaces some of them 30. some 40. some 50. miles and more to receaue their Admonitions and at length their deprivations for their labor 3. We desire that the Prelats would publish to the view of all the world those Arguments which they used and the Ministers did not or could not answer 4. This is a most certaine truth wil be justified to the faces of them all that many of the Ministers demanded of them Reasons and Arguments according to the forme of the Kings Proclamation and they refused to giue any yea divers of them sundry times offered their Propositions and Reasons to the Prelats promising upō their reasonable answer with out any further question to Conforme and to this day they never gaue them any 5. This may the more incite them to accept of this Offer for by this meanes they may make knowne to the world those great Arguments and Resolutions which then they used and may set them downe with mature and advised deliberation to the honor of their proceedings 6. The only Argument to purpose that they used was this that it was his Majesties pleasure it should be so thereby laying the imputation and envie of their unjust proceedings upon him 2. OPPOSITION The Ministers can say noe more then they haue said written already and which we haue answered often And why then should we try these things any further ANSWER 1. This is more then the Prelats know Some of the Ministers haue lately said more to some poynts then hath been said before And upon such occasions as may be offered by such a Conference they may say more thē they haue said yet 2. The prelats by their corrupt answers in their late published writings haue given them occasion to say more then yet hath been said 3. This they are able to make good that that which they haue said alreadie hath not been answered as yet and therfore this Cōference is desired that these matters may be further tried 3. OPPOSITION It is dangerous that matters established by Law should be thus called into question and disputed of as matters doubtfull ANSWER 1. These matters are not now newly called into question but they haue been from time to time opposed against and so will be to the end of the world at least wise so long as so many Churches of God in other Kingdoms professe and practise as they doe and the rather because many great and famous Lights of the Church both beyond Seas and at home in their Monuments that shall last to all posteritie haue testifyed against them This therefore is not to call a matter which is out of question into question but to call a matter already in question to a direct and finall determination 2. It cannot but be rather very profitable vnto any State such rules and conditions as are here propounded being observed to debate and dispute in such a maner as this is of any humane law whatsoever For by this meanes if a law be iust it wil be an honor
vnto it to haue the iustice therof manifested if vniust it may be abrogated And how cōmeth it to passe that so many lawes of man are abrogated by man if whē once a Law is enacted it may not be called into questiō Iust Lawes grounded vppon equitie reason the word of God never dread examination but vniust and Antichristian Lawes do 3. These matters were never yet so established by law as is pretended but only tolerated it being the intent of the first retainers of these Reliques of popery in time to abolish them And since the 14. yere of hir late Maiesties Raigne the High Court of Parliament and the state of this Kingdome who only with the assent of the King haue power to make and abrogate Lawes whether Civill or Ecclesiasticall haue euer shewed themselues readie to ease the Churches of these burdens which vnder the name of things established by Law are impose vpon them by the Prelats Only the Prelars hauing many voyces of their owne in the vpper Howse haue by their grosse flatteryes fayned promises to the in Chiefe place ever crossed the holy endeavors of the Parliament for the removall of these burdens grievous both to Church and Commonweale 4. It is ordinary in our Universities to admit of argumentatiō against any poynt of Religion and Faith and that in such a maner as is more dangerous to the truth and lesse indifferent then this forme that is heere offered 4. OPPOSITION If Schismaticks and factious persons may haue this favour why then may not Brownists Anabaptists and Papists exspect the same ANSWER 1. They Ministers deny themselues to be Schismatiks shall at any time iustifie themselues to be as honest men and as dutifull loyall subjects as any Prelat in the Kingdom 2. The thing they desire is no favor but that which in justice is to be yeelded vnto thē Neither shall they get any good but hurt by it except the truth be on their side 3. It were a shame for a state professing the true Religion publikly to deny to the free subiects thereof desiring it such an indifferent hearing of their opinions as this is be they of the Separation or Anabaptists or what they may be For if the Heathen had not much lesse should true Christans haue any such law to condemne any sect or faction whatsoever before they heare them and heare them they doe not that will refuse to admit of such an indifferent Offer as this is And it is a shame of shames to the Doctors of Oxford who provoking those whom they call Brownists in their Answer to the Ministers Petition and being challenged of dishonestie and iniustice in an Answer therevnto have not in all this time iustified themselues answered that which the other say in their owne defence it being so grauely moderatly and discreetly set downe How much greater shame reproch would it be to refuse such a direct kinde of triall as this is tyed to so strict rules so preiudiciall to error of so great advantage to the truth 5. OPPOSITION This Offer argues only a willfull obstinacie of persons that will never be satisfied and content with reason For was not according to their owne seeking their cause handled heard in the Conference at Hampton Court his Maiestie him selfe moderating the action and answering whatsoever in these points their owne Agents could obiect what would they more ANSWER 1. In their objecting to the Ministers the Conference at Hampton Court they object to them as it were that which is Non Ens None of them knowing what it was nor any other faue a few that were present whose reports thereof are also so diuerse that one spoyles the credit of another And that which is set forth as the true report of it being published onely by the Prelates who are partiall without the knowledge aduise or consent of the other side deserues no credit the rather considering that D. Morton hath bene allowed to call some part of it into question even some speeches fathered vpon his Maiestie which he was faine to confute as vnsound and contrary to divinitie Wherin sith the Kings owne speeches be as it seemeth grossely abused by the author it is much more likly that speeches of other men are abused Besides none but Prelats and such as were partiall being present at the first dayes Conference there can be no credit at all given to the report thereof for it is more then apparant that they haue fraudulently cut of and concealed all the speeches which were many that his Maiestie vttered against the corruptiōs of our Church practise of the Prelats as appeareth by that testimony of the Deane of the Chappell which he gaue therof saying That his Maiestie did that day wonderfully play the Puritan But if he playd that part no otherwise then is specified in the Prelats report he acted it very poorely or rather never a whitt If therefore they would haue had the Ministers to stand to the determination of that Conference they should haue vsed more indifferencie and honestie in the Relation of it then they haue don they should at least haue made it appeare by mutuall testimonie of all sides that it was a true act For they haue no reasō to belieue such enemies as the Prelats haue shewed themselues to be vnto them any further then they see them 2. Such a conference as that was never desired by the Ministers And it seemes by the whole managing of it that it was vnderhand plotted and procured by the Prelats themselues abusing therin his Maiestie and vsing M. Galloway as an instrument in the matter to the end that they might haue the more colour for their intended proceedings afterwards And there is great probabilitie of this for that the Archbishop professed to the Committies of both Howses the last session that he had the letters written from M. Cartwright to M. Galloway about that matter 3. Most of the persons appoynted to speake for the Ministers were not of their chosing nor nomination nor of their iudgment in the matters then and now in question but of a cleane contrary For being intreated at that time by the Ministers to dispute against these things as things simply evill and such as cannot be yeelded vnto without sinne they professed to them that they were not so perswaded and therefore could not so doe Being then requested to let his Majesty understand that some of their brethren were further perswaded touching the unlawfulnes of these things then themselues were they refused that also Lastly being intreated either to giue them in writing their reasons to proue these thinges indifferent or to giue them an answere in writing to such reasons as they would giue them in writing to proue them simply euill they would doe neither the one nor the other so that there neither was nor could be any hope of good by that conference 4. The matters in controversy were not in that Conference throughly debated but nakedly