are to preach it as freely as they have received it because he that hath the best right to send forth Ministers to minister from him to the people saith freely ye have received freely give fourthly The Ministers of Christ are to preach freely and the people are to hear them as freely so that they neither ought to be hindred from preaching nor the people from hearing And it is the duty of a Minister to preach as well as it is the duty of the people to hear 1 Thes 5.21 and they ought not to receive a Minister before they hear him nor there is no danger if the hearers receive not a Minister untill they have a true proofe and gospel commendation of him as a Minister by manifesting truth unto them in commending himself to their consciences in the sight of God as a Minister of the Gospel of Christ as aforesaid 2 Cor. 3. chap. 2 Cor. 4.1.2 But after God hath ordained and sent forth Ministers and given them a Ministry they are to attend upon it and if men forbid them to preach they must obey God rather then men Act. 4 17,18,19,20 2 Tim. 4.1 â— and in preaching the Word be instant in season and out of season as it is written therefore it is the duty of the true Gospel Ministers to preach when they are forbidden by men because they are to preach both in season and out of season And when is preaching the Word out of season but when by men it is dislik'd and forbidden for saith the Apostle the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap up to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables as by the Scriptures is evident and plain 2 Tim. 4.3,4 Now seeing the Ministers of the Gospel are to preach both in season and out of season they are to continue stedfast unto God in the work of the Ministry therefore they that give over preaching when men forbids them either never received any ministry from God or else in denying to preach they have denyed the Lord and those are not worthy to be either heard or any more received as the Ministers of God therefore there is no danger in rejecting of them because they have rejected the Lord Jer. 8.9 Hos 4.6 The Ministers of Christ are to be received after they be made manifest to the consciences of the people by manifesting the truth of the Gospel unto them in the sight of him that hath sent them and after they be so manifest the danger is great in rejecting of them Mat. 10.7.14,15 The Ministers of God ought not to be forbidden to preach the Gospel 2 Cor. 4. Math. 10.7.14,15 Mat. 10.40,41,42 Mar. 6.10,11 because they are to be known before they be received therefore it 's necessary that they should preach the word of God that the people may have a manifestation of them in order to the receiving of them because the receiving of them is as the receiving of God and hath the promise of a great reward and the rejecting of them or the forbiding of them to preach is as the rejecting of God therefore after the Minister of God be made manifest to the consciences of the people in the sight of God they ought to be received and yet though the danger of rejecting such be so great the punishment for rejecting of them is not to be inflicted by man but by the Lord because it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorab in the day of Judgment then for such as Christ Jesus hath said The Ministers of Christ are not to be forbidden to preach because they are to commend themselves to the Consciences of those that receives them by manifesting the truth of the Gospel unto them and as it is the Ministers work so to commend themselves to the consciences of the people in order to reception they ought not to be forbidden to preach the Gospel of Christ because preaching the Gospel is the right way and means of manifesting the truth unto them and after they be made manifest to the consciences of the people in the sight of God as his Ministers then it 's the duty of the people Rom. 10.14,15 unto whose consciences they are so made manifest to receive them as the Ministers of God because in receiving of them it 's accounted as the receiving of him Mat. 10.40,41,42 First Mat. 10.7.40,41,42 Mar. 6.12 2 Cor. 7.1,2 They ought to preach the Word of God as well as they ought to be received because God commands it and that 's upon the account of God as it s said he that receiveth you receiveth me Secondly They ought both to preach and be received as they are Ministers of God and righteous Men because the Scriptures and the spirit of truth enjoynes to it and that 's upon the account of their uprightness both to God and Man as they are Gods true and faithfull Ministers First Because the true Ministers of Christ wrongeth no Man Secondly Because they corrupt no Man And thirdly Because they defraud no Man as you may read 2 Cor. 7.2 These therefore who pretend to be Ministers of God and are wrongers of Men and corrupt and defraud them are not to be received as the Ministers of Christ because they are not owned of God but testified against by the Scriptures and also by the spirit of Christ in the true Gospell Ministers Secondly The true Gospell Ministers do not seek to force in themselves upon the people but saith receive us we have wronged no man we have corrupted no man we have defrauded no man as by the Scriptures is evident and plain 2 Cor. 7.2 Mat. 7.15,16,20,21,22,23 2 Joh. 7,8,9,10,11 But the Ministers of Antichrist cannot truly say so because by their fruites the contrary is manifest therefore such ought not to be received but rather rejected being testified against by the Scriptures and also by the spirit of Christ in the true Gospel Ministers because they are not the Ministers of Christ but of Antichrist and therefore deceivers and wrongers of God and man as is evident and plain 2 Pet. 2. Thirdly 2 Cor. 4.1,2 1 Pet. 1.12 Act. 10.42,43 Act. 4 17,18,19,20 Those who are ordained and commanded by the great God of Heaven to preach the Gospel unto the soules of the people with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven if Men should forbid them to preach when God requires them to preach it is better in such a case to obey God rather then man for it was the duty and practice of the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ when they were forbiden by men in Authority to preach any more in the name of Jesus to disobey such commands or ordinances of men who forbad them to preach by preaching obedience to the command and authority of God who requires it of them as you may read
A TOLLERATION Sent down from Heaven to Preach OR Godly Religious Meetings and true Gospell Preachers praying and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels justified by the Highest Powers and signally owned by Testimonies from Heaven ought not to be condemned or forbiden but rather Allowed and Tollerated by Men upon Earth AND Likewise what it is to Preach according to the Laws and Statutes of the Kingdome as to the matter of Preaching not punishable by the Act against Nonconformists ALSO Concerning the manner of Christian Religious Meetings and the true Ordination of Ministers sent forth to Preach according to the Scriprures since Christs Assention And likewise what the Gospel is who have a true right to preach it and what it is for Preachers to live of the Gospel according to the Scriptures or Ordination of God in that Case provided And he commanded us to preach unto the people to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10.42,43 Written in Glocestershire the beginning of the 10 th Month 1665. By R. F. Printed in the Year 1665. A Tolleration sent down from Heaven to Preach Or Godly Religious Meetings and true Gospel Preachers Praying and Preaching in other Places then Parish Churches and Chappels justified by the highest Powers and signally owned by Testimonies from Heaven ought not to be condemned or forbidden but rather allowed and tollerated by Men upon Earth c. THe Ministers of the Gospel of Christ who are made Ministers by the Lord God of Heaven 2 Coâ— 3.5,6 they are by a true Spiritual right and Gospel authority ordained and enabled to preach from God unto the Souls of the People as by the Scriptures is evident and plain therefore such ought not to be forbidden to preach nor punished for so doing The Ministers of Man are ordained and impowered by man and are bound to preach up the Interest of Man or else to be turned out of their Ministry maintenance by men for refusing the same Acts 10.42,43 Act. 28 30,3â— 2 Cor. 4 5. But the Ministers of God are ordained of God and impowered by him and bound in spirit to preach the Gospel of Christ and the Interest of God because they are not to please Men but the Lord nor to preach themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and themselves no Lords nor Masters but servants for Jesus sake for they dare not make themselves of the number or compare themselves with some that commend themselves for they who are so in love with self-commendation they do but measure themselves by themselves or by their Schollership and natural abilities and so comparing themselves amongst themselves 2 Cor. 10 1â— they are not wise But the true Ministers of Christ will not boast of things beyond their measure but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to them they reach unto others in preaching the Gospel of Christ not boasting of things beyond their measure that is of other mens labours for not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth as by the Scriptures is evident and plain see 2 Cor. 10.12,13,14,15,16,17,18 They who are made able Ministers of the New Testament 2. Cor. 3. by him whose Ministers they are that is to say by the Lord God of Heaven and whose Interest they preach in preaching the Kingdom of God Act. 28 30,31 and teaching those things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ no man ought to forbid them Acts 28.30,31 because they are approved by the Lord and commended of him by their Ministration to the Consciences of Men in the sight of the Lord as the Scriptures do testifie of them for because they have received a Ministry from God they haye renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness to turn with the times for any self-end nor handling the word of God deceitfully 2 Cor. 4.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 c. but by manifestation of the truth commending themselves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God as you may read 2 Cor. 4.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 c. The Ministers of the Gospel of Christ who are ordained of God and have received a Ministry from him for the Peoples everlasting good they ought not to be prohibited from preaching the word of God but are to be received as the Ministers of God because there is great danger both in prohibiting them to preach the Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 4.1,2 Mat. 10.40 â—1,42 and also in rejecting them that are sent of the Lord and likewise the danger is great in receiving the Ministers of Antichrist under pretence of the Ministers of Christ because John saith â— Joh. 4.1 â— Joh. 1.7,8 â—,10,11 receive not such into your house neither bid them God speed least ye be partakers of their evil deeds and Christ himself saith concerning his Ministers Mat. 10.7,14 â—5 that it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorah in the day of Judgment then for those that reject them or refuse to hear them preach and deny to receive them and their Doctrine as by the Scripture is evident and plain Seeing then that a danger lyeth on both hands first in rejecting the Ministers of Christ under pretence of the Ministers of Antichrist and secondly in receiving the Ministers of Antichrist under pretence of the Ministers of Christ how may they be known assunder seeing the one hath the form as well as the other I answer first that the Ministers of Christ who are to be received as the Ministers of God who are rightly ordained â—cts 10.43 â—… â— Cor. 3. â— Cor. 7.1,2 and have received a Ministry from him they are accompanied with a true Spiritual power and Gospel authority in their Ministration so as to reach the witness of God in the people who are to receive them that they may be received as the Minister of God with the peoples consent without being forc'd upon them against their Consciences by outward constraint Secondly Mat. 10.7 2 Cor. 4.1,2 it is the part and duty of a Minister of Christ by virtue of his office as a Minister in order to his establishment and confirmation in the hearts of the receivers of him first to preach the Word of God to them and secondly in preaching the Word to commend himself to the consciences of them that he preaches unto in the sight of God that sent him by manifesting the truth unto them as a means provided by the Gospel for a Ministers entrance into the people and in order to the establishment of him and his Ministry amongst them 2 Cor. 2.18,19,20,21,22 First Mat. 10 7. Act. 10.42,43 the command of Christ to his Ministers is to preach the Gospel secondly All are admitted to the hearing of it because he commands to preach it to every Creature thirdly They
in the case of Peter and John therefore it is the duty and practice of the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ in preaching the word to be instant both in season and out of season according to the charge given before the Lord 2 Tim. 1.2 Fourthly The Ministers of Christ ought not to be prohibited from preaching the Word of God because by their preaching they are to be manifested to the Consciences of the people by a Gospel commendation that they may be received by them to whose consciences they are commended in the sight of God by manifesting the truth unto them but the Ministers of Antichrist ought to be rejected though they pretend to be the Ministers of Christ because they would come in by force upon the people to whose consciences they have not commended themselves as the Ministers of God by manifesting the truth of the Gospel unto them in the sight of God as the true Gospel Ministers do and afore-time did Fifthly 2 Cor. 2.21,21 Acts 10.42,43 The Ministers of Christ ought both to preach and be received as the Ministers of God because they are anointed and sealed of God as well as ordained and sent to Minister from him to the people for their salvation consolation and soul-satisfaction but the Ministers of Antichrist are not to be received but rejected though they pretend to be the Ministers of Christ because they are not ordained and sent of God secondly because they are not anointed and sealed of God and thirdly because they are not appointed by the Lord to Minister from him to the people for their salvation consolation and souls-satisfaction Sixthly They who are ordained anointed and sealed of God and sent forth to Minister from him to the soules of the people they ought to preach because they have the earnest of the spirit of God given into their hearts as a testimony that they are in Covenant with God and appointed to preach 2 Cor. 3.21,22,23 Act. 10.42,43 Seventhly they ought to preach the Word of God because they have not Dominion given them over the faith of their Hearers but are helpers of their joy for it is by faith that they stand as you may read 2 Cor. 2.24 8ly They ought to Preach because there is no falshood in their Doctrine but as God is true so is their Doctrine for it is not yea and nay as it is written 2 Cor. 2.18,19,21,22,23 but the Ministers of Antichrist are not ordained anointed and sealed of God or sent forth to minister from him to the Souls of the People for their Salvation consolation or souls satisfattion therefore they are not to be received as the Ministers of Christ but rejected as the Ministers of Antichrist 1. Because they have not the earnest of the Spirit of God given unto them neither are they guided thereby but do daily err and go astray from Gods own ways 2. Because they do not help the joy of Believers but rather fills them with sorrow and sadness by seeking to have dominion over their faith in seeking to force in themselves and their Doctrine and maintenance upon the People contrary to faith and a good Conscience whilest they themselves are miserable siners and daily offend against Gods holy Laws 3. They are subject to error both in matter and manner who have no saving health in them whose word and doctrine is not true but yea and nay according to the times and contrary to the doctrine of the true Gospel Ministers of Christ as aforesaid They who are ordained anointed and sealed of God and sent to Minister from him to the soules of the people Rom. 8.14,15,16,17 they have the spirit of God given unto them to guide them in their ministration Rom. 8.15,16,17 and if any pretend to be a Minister and have not the spirit of Christ he is no Minister of his Rom. 8.9 They who have received a Ministry from God they have also received a spirit suitable to such a Ministry that is to say the spirit of God whereby they know the things that are freely given unto them as it is written 1 Cor. 2.11,12 for what Man knoweth the things of a Man save the spirit of Man that is in him even so the things of God knoweth no Man but the spirit of God Now we have received the spirit of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God said the true Gospel Ministers which things we also speak not in the words which Mans wisedome teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth as yon may read the 1 Cor. 2.11,12 The holy Ghost hath a teaching office in and by the true Gospel Ministers therefore they ought to preach and none are sit to be Ministers before they receive the holy Ghost from Heaven for men are ignorant of the things of God untill then First because no man knowes the things of God but by the spirit of God so that the fpirit of God gives men the knowledg of the things of God in order to administration Secondly the spirit of God is given of God and received by them that are to minister from him to the soules of the people before they be sent forth as his Ministers and they that receive not the spirit of God receive not a Ministry from him therefore they who have hot the spirit of Christ are none of his Ministers as it is plain and clear by the Scriptures Rom. 8.9 Rom. 8.9 As it is the love of God to give his spirit so it is the duty of them to whom it is offered to imbrace and kindly receive such a gift for they who receive not the spirit of God without which they cannot know the things of God they are very unfit to be the Ministers of God First because the spirit of God gives men the knowledge of the things of God Secondly because the spirit of God both guides and inables the true Gospel Ministers to preach or speak the things that are given of God And Thirdly the spirit of God guides and inables the true Gospel Ministers to preach according to the mind of God because it teacheth and enableth them to preach the Gospel of Christ in the words which the holy Ghost teacheth and not in the words which mans wisedome teacheth the words which mans wisdome teacheth are not to be used in preaching the Gospel but that which the holy Ghost teacheth for the Gospel cannot be preached by the wisedome of man without the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven therefore no man can be a true Gospel Minister but such as have received and do receive a true Gospel Spirit to Minister withall as by the Scripture is evident and plain 1 Cor. 2.11,12,13 1. Pet. 1.10,11,12 Rom. 8.9 1 Cor. 2.11 â—2 13 1 Pet. 1.10,11,12 Rom. 8.9 The Scripture doth not enable men to be Preachers of Christ and the Gospel without the true Gospel Spirit which is the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven into the hearts of men for if
The Liturgie saith it came to pass that as the People pressed upon him viz. Christ Jesus to hear the Word of God he stood by the Lake of Genesareth and saw two Ships standing by the Lake and he entered into one of the Ships which was Simons and he sate down and taught the People out of the Ship See the 5 th Sunday after Trinity the Gospel Whereby it appears that the Liturgie alloweth of the manner of meeting and preaching in a Ship and by the Sea side as aforesaid Therefore the Liturgy alloweth of the manner of Meeting and Preaching in other places besides Parish Churches and Chappels Secondly Great multitudes followed Christ as by the Liturgie appeareth See the 8 th Sunday after Trinity the Gospel and he preached unto them then drew near unto him all the Publicanes and Sinners for to hear him when he was in a Pharisees House and the Scribes and Pharisees murmured at him saying this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them then Jesus began to speak to them by a Parable as you may read see the third Sunday after Trinity the Gospel see also Luke the 14. and Luke 15. Chap. whereby it appeareth that Christ was ready to do good unto Sinners and refused not to preach unto them though he was not in a Parish Church but in a Pharisees House as aforesaid The Liturgie faith Peter opened his mouth and said of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him And where was Peter when he preached this Doctrine but in the House of Cornelius and not in a Parish Church or Chappel whereby it is evident that the Scriptures and Liturgy allowes of both Meeting and Preaching in private House as aforesaid see Acts 10. and Easter Munday the Epistle for proof of the same Again the Liturgie saith Christ preached on a Mountain and in great multitudes also see All-Saints day All Saints day the Gospel Whitsunday the Epistle Again for meeting in private Houses upon the account of the exercise of Religion the Liturgie saith that when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a mighty rushing wind and it filled the house where they were siting and they were all filled with the holy Ghost and began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance Whereby it is evident and apparent first That it was the practice of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians to meet in private House to wait upon the Lord. 2ly That God owned and honoured such Christian Religious meetings though they were not in Parish Churches or Chappels but in private Houses and that by sending the Holy Ghost from Heaven to them as aforesaid 3ly That the Scriptures and Liturgie alloweth and owneth the manner of such Christian and religious Meetings and practices though not in Parish Churches or Chappels but in a Houses as aforesaid Likewise the Liturgie saith That in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples and said the number of them by name being about one hundred and twenty Men and Brethren this Scripture must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spake by the mouth of David And where was Peter and about one hundred and twenty more when he said so unto them were they not met together in an upper Chamber see the Liturgie St. Mathias for the Epistle and Acts 1.12,13,14,15 c. Is it not therefore according both to the manner allowed by the Scripture and Liturgy for Christians to meet and assemble together upon the account of Religion to the number of five and above over and besides them of the houshold or family where they do meet and assemble together as aforesaid Many more examples of the manner of Christian religious Meetings might be instanced out of the Liturgy but I shall only mention one other instance out of the Liturgie which I judge may be sufficient as to that matter with a few more Scripture examples concerning the manner of Christian Religious Meetings and practices to prove the lawfulness of them That which the Liturgie declares to be very meet and right to be done must needs be allowed by the same but the Liturgie declares it to be very meet and right for Christians to meet together at all times and in all places for the Service of God therefore the Liturgie alloweth of the manner of Christian Religious Meetings at any time and in any place for the service of God as aforesaid that which is declared by the Liturgie to be the duty of Christians must needs be allowed by the Liturgie but it is declared by the Liturgie to be the duty of Christians at all times and in all places to give thanks or perform service to the Almighty God therefore the Liturgie must needs allow of the same at any time and in any place to be performed and done it is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places perform service unto the Lord for proof whereof see the Liturgie in that part called the Communion Seeing that the Liturgy alloweth of the manner of Christian Religious Meetings for the service of God at all times and in all places it allowes of Meetings in private Houses and in upper Chambers and other places as the Scriptures do or else the Liturgie would contradict and oppose the Scriptures and practices of the Apostles and Primitive Christians but they who have a reverend esteem of the Liturgie must needs say that what the holy Scriptures allowes of that the Liturgie allowes of and as the holy Scriptures allowes of the manner of Christian Religious Meetings Preachings and practices in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels so the Liturgie that it may be justified by the holy Scriptures concerning the manner of such Christian Religious meetings and practices alloweth of the same First The Apostles and Primitive Christians did meet together to preach and pray and perform duty and service to God and the manner of their Meetings were in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels and such meetings were no seditious Conventicles but lawful Assemblies Secondly They did meet and assemble together for the service and Worship of God after Christs Ascension in private Houses and upper Chambers as you may read Acts 1.13,14,15 Acts 2.1,2 Thirdly And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God with boldness Acts 4.31,32 Fourthly They were lawfull Meetings though in private Houses and owned by the Lord because he filled them with the holy Ghost to speak the word of God with boldness whereby it is evident that godly Ministers are justified by the Lord and may preach the word of God boldly in uper Chambers and private Houses as you may
and preaching in Houses and the true Gospel Ministers said walk as ye have us for examples Phil. 3.17 who did frequently meet and preach in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels therefore to meet and preach in houses is very justifiable by the example and practices of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians and owned by signal Testimonies from Heaven and ought not therefore to be condemned or forbidden by Men. POSTSCRIPT MEetings barely and simply considered as meetings upon the account of Religious exercise without an intent precedent to do some unlawful action or mischief when they are assembled together is no offence it seems against Law or punishable thereby Anno 16. Car 2. fol. 25 26. For first the Title of the Act is to prevent and suppress seditions Conventicles so that Conventicles or meetings for the service of God are not to be prevented and suppressed by the said Act but seditious Conventicles are to be prevented and suppressed thereby 2ly The remedies or penalties provided by the said Act are against the growing and dangerous practices of seditious sectaries and other disloyal persons who under pretence of tender Consciences do at their Meetings contrive Insurrections as late experience hath shewed so that those are seditious sectaries and disloyal persons against whom the penalties of the Act in that case are made and provided who under pretence of tender Consciences do at their meetings contrive Insurrections as aforesaid Whereby it may appear that for persons to meet and assemble together upon the account of Religious exercise to the number of five and above besides them of the houshold in other manner then is allowed by the Liturgy of the Church of England is to meet and assemble together under such a pretence to contrive Insurrections or do some mischievous actions under so fair a pretence as aforesaid For thirdly the tenor or execution of the Act Anno 16. Caâ— 2. fol. â—4 is to prevent the mischiefs which may grow by such seditious and tumultuous meetings under pretence of Religious Worship Whereby it is evident that the meetings punishable by the said Act are to be seditious tumultuous meetings which tends to mischievous actions so that the manner of meeting must be a seditious and tumultuous manner and the matter enacted done or performed at the meeting must be teaching or acting sedition insurrection or mischief or else how is it punishable by the said Act aforementioned And as to the matter of fact against preaching persons prohibited or to be restrained from coming within five miles of Cities and Towns Corporate or within five miles of any Parish Town or place wherein they have been Parsons Vicars Curats Stipendaries Lecturers possessed of any Ecclesiastical or Spiritual Promotions c. is it not to be proved as matter of fact against such preaching persons prohibited and to be restrained as aforesaid First that they take upon them to preach without any right or authority from God 2ly that they preach contrary to the lawes and statutes of this Kingdom 3ly that the meetings wherein they so preach are unlawful Assembles or Conventicles 4ly that such preaching persons have been possessed of some Ecclesiastical or spiritual promotions 5ly that they have been in holy Orders or pretend to be in holy Orders in a National or Parochial way 6. that they are setled persons or have setled themselves sometimes by three or more in Corporations thereby taking an opportunity to distill the poysonous principles of Schisme Rebellion into the hearts of the people to the great danger of the Church and Kingdom 7ly What it is to preach contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom as to the matter of preaching must it not be to preach Schisme and Rebellion or insurrection and sedition that is the matter punishable because preaching the Gospel of Christ and the pure Word of God is not the matter of preaching forbidden Written from a Principle of Truth Righteousness and peace on the behalf of true Christians and godly Preachers and owned by Christian Moderation Something more by way of Addition and Confirmation wherein also is answered some great Objections c. NOw if Christian Religious Meetings and Preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels be accounted seditious Conventicles because of the manner of meeting and preaching when both the matter and manner of meeting and preaching is according to the holy Scriptures and the practice of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians what just ground or reason from the holy Scriptures can be produced for the proof of the same to make persons guilty of punishment either by imprisonment sines or Banishment for so doing Object Perhaps some may object or say its no matter though the holy Scriptures and practice of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians do allow of the manner of Christian Religious Meeting and Preaching in upper Chambers and in private Houses so that there is no just ground or reason to be produced from the holy Scriptures or practice of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians to prove Christian Regions Meetings and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels to be seditious Conventicles and unlawful assemblies when both the manner and matter of meeting and preaching is according to the holy Scriptures yet there is an Act or Ordinance of Man made against the same and the Scripture saith Be subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake and therefore by that Act or Ordinance they are punishable for meeting and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels according to our apprehensions Ans In answer thereunto we say that forasmuch as every Ordinance of man ought to be submitted unto for the Lords sake how careful ought men in Authority to be who profess themselves Christian Magistrates too to enact and ordain nothing about the Service and Worship of God but what is according to the mind spirit and word of God seeing that the motive to subjection to such Ordinances of men is for the Lords sake and how can they be submitted unto for the Lords sake if they be contrary to the mind spirit and word of God because the Apostle Peter â— Pet. 2.13 â—…,15,16 who exhorts to subjection to the Ordinances of Men upon that consideration 1 Pet. 2.13,14,15,16 was one of the first that denyed subjection to that Ordinance made against preaching or was chiefly concerned in refusing subjection to the command or ordinance of Men when they commanded Peter for one to preach no more in the Name of Jesus for the Apostle Peter â—ct 4.17,18 â—…,20 could not submit himself to such a command or ordinance of men for the Lords sake when he knew it to be contrary to the mind and spirit of God in forbidding them to preach as aforesaid therefore may it not be concluded upon just grounds from the Scriptures and practice of the Apostles of Christ that they did not intend a subjection to the