Government as in Augustus Caesars tax to send their severall Priests and Deacons for other spirituall Officers then Bishops Priests and Deacons you know we have not to reforme or forme a Religion c We pray you to consider Dan. 3. Daniels Image a type of State Religions if the golden Image be not a type and figure of the severall Nationall and State Religions which all Nations set up and Ours hath done for which the wrath of God is now upon Us We pray you also to answer in what part of Christs Testament is found that title The Title the Assembly of Divines examined The Assembly of Divines and whether it be not in English The Church of Godly ones And as we Queried your ground for such a Church so have we also cause to pray you to tell us Where Christ Jesus hath given you power to assume and appropriate such a Title to your selves which seems in Scripture to be common to all the Children of God Some expresse it in Print and pulpit That title the Assembly of godly Divines examined the Assembly of godly Divines we derogate not from the worth or godlinesse of any of them yet you know the Assembly of Saints or godly Divines is no other in English then the Assembly or Church of Saints or godly godly ones All that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution We presume you will grant others to be Saints and godly too in that sence but Oh that that whole Assembly or Congregation were truly resolved by way of Eminencie to lead all the godly in the Land in such a Christian practice QUERIE II. Whereas you both agree though with some difference that the Civill Magistrate must Reform the Church establish Religion and so consequently must first Judge and Judicially Determine which is True which is False or else must implicitly beleeve as the Assembly beleeves and take it upon trust and so consequently is he the Head Root and Fountain of the Supremacie of all Spirituall power and hath the power of the Keyes of opening and shutting heaven gates c. Of which power upon a grudge as 't is said about his Wife King Henry despoild the Pope King Henry the 8. set down in the Popes chaire and with consent and Act of Parlament sate down himselfe in the Popes Chaire in England as since his Successors have done We now Querie since the Parlament being the representative Common-wealth hath no other power but what the Common-weale derive unto The Common-weale yea the world the head of the Church and betrust it with whether it will not evidently follow that the Common-weale the Nation the Kingdome and if it were in Augustus his time the whole world must rule and govern the Church and Christ himselfe as the Church is called 1 Cor. 12.12 Furthermore if the Honourable Houses the representative Common-weale shall erect a Spirituall Court for the Iudging of Spirituall Men and Spirituall Causes although a new Name be put upon it A new High-Commission yet whether or no such a Court is not in the true nature and kind of it an High Commission And is not this a reviving of Moses and the sanctifying of a new Land of Canaan of which we heare nothing in the Testament of Christ Jesus nor of any other holy Nation but the particular Church of Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 Is not this to subject this holy Nation this heavenly Jerusalem the Wife and Spouse of Jesus the pillar and ground of Truth to the vain uncertain and changeable Mutations of this present evill world Who knowes not in how few yeares the Common-weale of England hath set up and pull'd down The Parlaments of Englands wonderfull changes in Religion The Fathers made the Children Hereticks and the Children the Fathers How doth the Parlament in Henry the 8. his dayes condemn the absolute Popery in Henry the seventh How is in Edwards the 6. his time the Parlament of Henry the 8. condemned for their halfe Popery halfe Protestanisme How soon doth Queen Maries Parlament condemn Edward for his absolute Protestanisme The present Parlament would have been esteemed Hereticall in former times And Elizabeths Parlament as soon condemn Queen Maries for their absolute Popery 'T is true Queen Elizabeth made Lawes against Popery and Papists but the Government of Bishops the Common Prayer the Ceremonies were then so high in that Queen and Parlaments eye that the Members of this present and ever renowned Parlament would have then been counted little lesse then Hereticks And oh since the Common-weale cannot without a spirituall rape force the consciences of all to one Worship oh that it may never commit that rape in forcing the consciences of all men to one Worship which a stronger arme and Sword may soon as formerly arise to alter QUERIE III. Whether since you professe to be Builders The only true Matter for a true Church are living Stones you have not cause to feare and tremble least you be found to reject the Corner stone in not fitting to him only living stones 1 Pet. 2. Of these living stones true Beleevers the costly Stones of the Temple were types and without true matter which as it is in all works in the World it is impossible to build a spirituall House unto God This matter the One of you confesse and practice the Other questions and mingles Sheep and Goats together contrary to the spirituall nature of the Lord Jesus and his true Pattern contrary to the nature of God who is a Spirit and will be Worshipped by Spirituall Worshippers contrary to the peace and safety of any naturall Soule and conscience hardned in a dream of Fellowship with God who saith to the ungodly What hast thou to doe to take my Covenant into thy mouth and hatest to be reformed Psal 50. QUERIE IV. Whether in your consciences before God you be not perswaded notwithstanding your promiscuous joyning with all that few of the People of England and Scotland Few of the people of England or Scotland living Stones and fewer of the Nobles and Gentry are such spirituall matter living stones truly regenerate and converted and therfore Whether it be not the greatest Courtesie in the world which you may possibly perform unto them to acquaint them impartially with their conditions and how impossible it is for a dead Stone to have Fellowship with the living God and for any man to enter into the Kingdome of God without a second Birth John 3. QUERIE V. Although the fame and sound is great of Reformation we Querie Impossible to reforme the dead in sin the spiritually living are only capable of reformation according to Christ Whether a dead soule is capable of any Reformation untill the first principle of Christianity Repentance Heb. 6.6 be found in him otherwise as a thousand severall renewed Forms of Apparell alters not the condition of a dead man or a thousand new Formes of Postures of an Armie
of Cavaliers cannot make a Parlament Army So we Querie how possible that a person or persons visibly in a state of nature dead in sinne in a state of enmitie and opposition against God Ephes Definitions of ought must not be from the corruption but Institution of it according to which mist be the reformation 2. Rom. 8. can ever please God be visibly maried to God fight for him under the Banners of Love c. Allegations may be brought from the corruptions of the Church of the Jewes and the Churches of Christ but We doe not use to define a Man by his Diseases nor a Garden by Weeds nor a Citie by a Tumult or an Army by a Rout or disorder especially when we treat upon an Institution or Resturation QUERIE VI. Although you both professe your Holynesse Diligence Zeale Courage Selfe-denyall Patience and the one of you the incomparable spirit of your Fathers in the worke of Reformation yet we Querie Excellent Witnesses of Christ Iesus who never proceeded to a Church-estate Whether there hath not been as Holy Able and Zealous Men since the Apostacie Men like Antipas Rev. 2. faithfull Witnesses of the Lord Jesus in what Light they saw even to Death who yet never came up to such a worke of Reformation as you speak of Yea without offence be it spoken have there not been as excellent and heavenly Reformers as your selves and Fathers whose professed Reformation you now dislike Who shall outshine many of the Waldensian Reformers for Holynesse Zeale Excellent reformers whose worke now seems to be beside the first Pattern and this Age dislikes forsakes c. One of the greatest Parlaments that ever was after all rejoycing and triumphing in it found Gods anger for their errors in reformation of his worship patience Where is or hath that pretious man been found who hath for personall excellencies outshined Luther and who shall o'retop those glorious Cedars Bishops Doctors c. burnt for Christ Jesus in Queen Maries dayes Yea where the Church we grant to have been true according to its Instistution for the time of it What Assembly what Parlament can compare with that of David and his Captains of thousands Captains of hundreths and every Leader and all the Congregation of Israel from Shishor of Egypt to the entring in of Hemath assembled together to reform the Worship of God in that true but Nationall Typical Church estate of Israel What rejoycing what playing was there of David and all Israel with Harps Psalteries Timbrells Cymballs and Trumpets and yet how angry was God what a Breach did he make for David and all Israel transgrest the due appointed Order 1 Cron. 13. 1 Cron. 15. QUERIE VII Since the Law was given by Moses A Nationall Covenant and a Nationall Church not found in the Doct ine of the Son of God but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ by whom though God spake divers times and divers wayes to the Fathers he hath now revealed his councell in these last times Heb. 1. We Quere where you now find one footstep Print or Pattern in this Doctrine of the Son of God for a Nationall holy Covenant and so consequenty though we conceive the one of you stumble at it a Nationall Church Where find you evidence of a whole Nation Country or Kingdom converted to the Faith and of Christs appointing of a whole Nation or Kingdome to walk in one way of Religion If you repaire to Moses Such as hold a Nationall Church of God must needs disclaim Christ and follow Moses consult with Moses and the old Covenant or Testament we aske are you Moses or Christs Followers or do you yet expect the comming of the Son of God to set up the Christian Israel the holy Nation the particular Congregation of Christian Worshippers in all parts of the world 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 12. c. We further Quere Whether a Nationall Covenant lead not in case If one whole Nation where should we stop why may not many and the whole world c. and as is practised unavoydably to a holy Covenant of many Nations 2 Pet. 10.20 yea to a holy league or Covenant in case of Augustus his Government of the whole world which should then turne the Darling and Spouse of God between whom and it there is such enmitie that if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2. The Doctrine of Christ Jesus tells us that Acts 10.35 That in every Nation he that feares God The nature of the true Church or Congregation of Christ Iesus c. Not every Nation that feares God Christ Jesus tells us that his Church may come together to break bread in One place 1 Cor. 11. which Nations and Countries cannot possibly doe Christ Jesus tells us this his Congregation is now the Common-weale of Israel invested with the true Kingly power of the Lord Jesus to put forth every wicked person though King or Keysar from amongst them We Querie There cannot be 2 true kinds of Churches no more then 2 true Parliaments Whether it be possible there should be 2 true sorts or kinds of Churches any more then 't is possible there may be 2 true Parlaments in England though many scores or hundreths should be called There are indeed 3 score Queens and 4 score Concubines and Virgins without number which seem to imply and that even in these times as some also have interpreted severall kinds of Congregations or Churches Severall sorts of Churches like Brazen Silver and Golden Candlesticks and yet Christs Dove is but one and the only one of her motherr Cant. 6. The Light of much Truth may shine forth on the brazen Candlesticks of strong Nationall Churches maintained and held up by the seeming strong Sword of Steel in an Arme of Flesh c. There may be silver Candlesticks more refin'd and pure in respect of the Matter of which they are constituted viz. godly persons c. But Christ Jesus only walks in the midd'st of his Golden Candlesticks Gathered and Governed after the Golden Institution of Christs Word which is like fine Gold Rev. 1. Psa 19. Againe we aske A National Religion must rack Soules and Bodies Whether in the Constitution of a Natinall Church it can possibly be framed without a racking and tormenting of thè Soules as well as of the Bodies of persons for it seems not possible to fit it to every conscience sooner shall one suit of Apparell fit every Body one Law president every Case or one Size or Last every Foot Lastly The dangerous consequences of it Whether it be not the cause of a world of Hypocritets he Soothing up of people in a Formall State Worship to the ruine of their Soules the ground of Persecution to Christ Jesus in his Members and sooner or later the kindling of the devouring flames of Civill Warres as all Ages testifie QUERIE VIII Whether No Wars for
boast of the same against many Schismes and Heresies and doth try umph with wonderfull successe even against the Truth and the Witnesses of it according to Daniel and Johns Prophesies Dan. 11. Rev. 13. Thus it pleased God in his Providence to turn the scales of Victorie with a reliefe of their Armies to the Idolatrous Israelites and Edomites against the Moabites God sometimes gives great successe of Victorie even to Idolaters 2 Kings 3. and miraculously to deliver Idolatrous Apostate Israel from the mighty Armies of the Syrians 2 Kings 7. Thus he also rewarded hypocriticall Jehn for his temporall service in destroying Ahabs house with a temporall Honour to the fourth generation though himselfe and his continued in the Schisme Apostacie and Idolatry of the house of Israel We pray you also to call to mind how it pleaseth God out of the bottomles Ocean of his Goodnesse to cause his Sun to shine and his raines to fall upon the righteous and the wicked and time and chance saith Salomon happens unto all and one event It pleased the Lord to heare the Prayers of wicked Ahab God sometimes heares the prayers of legall cries of Idolaters and the Dwells themselves and to remit his temporall Affliction upon his temporall Humiliation Thus the Lord Jesus heard the prayers of the Divels themselves Luke 8. Upon the cry of the Idolatrous Mariners God mercifully provided to answer their prayers and cease the Storme by the casting out of Jonah Thus upon the external legall Humiliation of Ninivie it was reprieved and spar'd a season and Sodome had not been burned to ashes but had continued untill Christs time upon a supposition of their legall Humiliation Matth. 11. Thus although the Idolatrous Assirians feared Jehovah Iudgements taken off from the Assyrians upon the least shadow of Gods worship and served their gods 2 Kings 17. yet we hear no more of the Lions amongst them when the King of Assyria had taken order for one of Israels Idolatrous Priests to teach the Assyrians somthing of the manner of Gods service We Querie Whether all these Instances amount to more then Evidences of the infinite Mercies Goodnesse and Patience of God but are not proofs of their Worshipping of God according to his Ordinance that their Institutions were from him and their Reformations according to his Appointment Yea we further Querie Whether the power of godlinesse shining forth in persons may evidence their state and Worship good The power of godlines may shine in some persons living in great prophanations of Gods worship You both confesse the great profession of the power of godlinesse in England yet we beleeve the one of you acknowledge the Church of England as a Nationall Church not true and both confesse the Government Governours and the Common Prayer the Service and Worship of it to be abominable Yet it is confest that Englands false National Church with her Bishops Common Prayer ceremonies c. had more evidence of the power of godlines in her Children then was to be found amongst the Scotch French Dutch who pretend a Reformation purer It seems therfore evident that neither opposing of Heresies nor successe in Victories Deliverances nor power of godlinesse in some persons can evidence and prove their State and Worship to be right and pleasing unto God according to his Ordinance in Christ Jesus QUERIE XI Since you both seem to magnifie the Seales of Baptisme and the Lords Supper with a difference and excellency above other Ordinances We Querie where the Lord Jesus appointed such a difference and distinction And whether there was not as full Communion practised by the first Christians in the Word Prayer and Communitie as in the breaking of Bread Acts 2.42 Further we Querie since Baptisme is one of those Fundamentalls Heb. 6. and every one that will be saved is bound to prove his Faith and his Baptisme true Mark 16.16 he that beleeveth and is baptised shall be saved We Quere how a Baptismes or 2 Great Seals can be true in the Kingdome of Christ Jesus any more then 2 Great Seales can be true in the Kingdome of England And whether a Christian Commission Pattent Pardon Writ can be truly seal'd as is maintained from Rome any more then a civill Commission Pattent Pardon or Writ can be truly Sealed at Oxford To insist upon a late instance since the Bishops power and Calling is condemned as Antichristian how can we evidence the Seale of Baptisme true which we have received from them Furthermore since a true Baptisme giveth Right to all the Ordinances of Christ Jesus we Querie how any Protestant or Papist whose Baptisme you acknowledge to be true can be denied Communion in the Supper also according to 1 Cor. 12.12 By one spirit are we all baptized into one body and consequently into the participation of the Ordinances therof and if so we Querie how farre off Rome and the Pope himselfe is from our bosomes QUERIE XII Since you both professe to want more Light and that a greater Light is yet to be expected yea that the Church of Scotland may yet have need of a greater Reformation c. we Querie how you can professe and Sweare to Persecute all others as Schismatiques Hereticks c. that beleeve they see a further Light and dare not joyn with either of your Churches Whether the Lambes Wife have received any such Commission or Disposition from the Lamb her Husband so to practise Whether as King JAMES once wrote upon Re. 20. it be not a true mark and character of a false Church to Persecute It being the nature only of a Wolf to hunt the Lambs and Sheep but impossible for a Lamb or Sheep or a thousand Flocks of Sheep to persecute one Wolfe we speak of spirituall Sheep and spirituall Wolves for other VVolves against the Civil State VVe professe it to be the Dutie of the Civill State to persecute and suppresse them And lastly whether the States of Holland who tollerate though not owne as you say the several Sects amongst them which differ from them The States of Holland in permitting other consciences obey the Command of Christ of permitting the Tares are of another conscience worishp whether or no they com not neerer the holy Pattern commād of the Lord Jesus to permit the tares to have a civill being in the field of the world untill the harvest the end of it Mat. 13 VVhether those tares can possibly be taken for Hipocrites in the Church or Scandalous persons in the Common weal but are most properly false worshippers and in especiall and punctually intended by the Lord Jesus Antichristians the Children of the wicked one opposite to the true Christians the Children of the Kingdome VVhether for this very Truth which those States professe Noctate for the time bath been blest by God as that to admiration beyond either England or Scotland it hath not pleased the Lord to prosper the State above any other State in the word for the time since such their wise Permission Whether there can possibly be expected the least look of Peace in these fatall Distractions and Tempests raised but by taking Councel of the great and wisest Polititian that ever was the Lord Jesus Christ in this particular VVe know the Allegations against this Councell the head of all is that from Moses not Christ his Pattern in the typicall Land of Canaan the Kings of Israel and Iudah c. The danger and mischiefe of bringing Moses his Pattern into Kingdomes now since Christ Iesus his comming We humbly desire it may be searched into we beleeve it wil be found but one of Moses shadows vanished at the comming of the Lord Jesus yet such a shadow as is directly opposite to the very Testament and coming of the Lord Jesus Opposite to the very nature of a Christian Church the only holy Nation and Israel of God Opposite to the very tender Bowels of Humanity how much more of Christianity abhorring to poure out the blood of Men meerly for their Soules beliefe and worship Opposite to the very Essentialls and Fundamentalls of the Nature of a Civill Magistracie a Civil Common-weal or combination of Men which can only respect civill things Opposite to the Jewes Conversion to Christ by not permitting them a civill life or being Opposite to the civill Peace and the lives of Millions slaughter'd upon this ground in mutuall persecuting each others Conscience especially the Protestant and the Papist Opposite to the Souls of all Men who by persecutions are ravished into a dissembled Worship which their Hearts imbrace not Opposite to the best of Gods servants who in all Popish and Protestant States have been commonly esteemed and persecuted as the only Schismaticks Hereticks c. Opposite to that Light of Scripture which is expected yet to shine which must by that Doctrine be supprest as a new or old Heresie or Noveltie All this in all Ages experience testifies which never saw any long liv'd Fruit of Peace or Righteousnesse to grow upon that fatall Tree FINIS Errata Pag 6. line 13. dele Peter p. 9. l. 12. r. yeares since l. 26 r. have not been
Christ but Christian or Spirituall although as is exprest the godly in the 3 Kingdomes desire a Reformation yet since the Lamb of God and Prince of Peace hath not in his Testament given us a Pattern Precept or Promise for the undertaking of a civill War for his sake we Querie how with comfort to your Souls you may incourage the English Treasure to be Exhausted and the English Blood to be spilt for the Cause of Christ We readily grant the Civill Magistrate armed by God with a civill Sword Rom. 13. to execute vengeance against Robbers War lawfull in civill cases Murtherers Tyrants c. Yet where it meerly concerns Christ we find when his Disciples desire vengeance upon Offenders Luke 9. he meekly answers You know not what spirit you are of I came not to destroy Mens Lives but to save them Christ Iesus forbids fighting for his sake If ever there were cause for the servants of Christ Jesus to fight it was then when not his Truth or Servants or Ordinances but his own most holy Person was in danger Math. 26. yet then that Lamb of God checks Peter beginning to fight for him telling him that all that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword for with one Request to his Father he could have been rescued by more then 12 Legions of Angells The Reasons of it He renders the Reason of his unwillingnesse to have Fighting for his sake which was his Fathers good pleasure in the fullfilling of the Scripture Unto which also may be added Iohn 18.36 My Kingdome is not of this world if my Kingdome were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered c. If it be said his Kingdome then was not of this world but now it is or shall be then was the hower of his Suffring but now of his servants Reigning Christs sufferings to be fill'd up by his Followers we Querie What filling up of the suffrings of Christ Paul speaks of Col. 1. when he mentioneth that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ What means that generall Rule of the Lord Jesus Luke 9. If any man will follow me let him take up his Crosse or Gibbet and that of Paul 2 Tim. 4. all that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution We Querie if Securitie may be taken by the Wildome of the State for civill Subjection The consciences of Idolaters not to be opprest by the Sword why even the Papists themselves and their Consciences may not be permitted in the World For otherwise if Englands Government were the Government of the whole World not only They but a world of Idolaters of all sorts yea the whole World must be driven out of the World We Querie Whether the Common Body of Protestants impenitent and unregenerate be not further off Salvation and lye not under a greater guilt like Chorazin and Bethsaida then does the body of ignorant Papists Ignorant Papists not such great sinners as knowing Protestants And we humbly desire it may be deeply pondered what should be the kindling of the Jealousie of God to poure forth the Blood of so many Thousands of Protestants by the bloody hands of the Papists since most just He is and righteous in all his Judgements whether or no the Lawes inacted and Violence offred even to the Consciences of the Papists themselves have not kindled these devouring flames 'T is true the Prophesies are great concerning Christ and Antichrist throughout the Prophets and the Kevelation but can you sufficiently demonstrate these to the consciences of men The Prophesies of Daniel and John not so easity demonstrated Are you those our blessed Prophets which can tell us how long Psal 74. Can you clear up the mysteries of Daniels 2300 dayes Dan. 8. Daniels 7 weeks and 3 score and 2 weeks his one week and his halfe week Daniels and Johns mysticall Numbers Dan. 9 His time times and half a time his 1290 dayes and 1335 dayes Dan. 12 Can you unlocke those mysticall numbers of Iohns 42 moneths 1260 dayes the 3 dayes and a halfe Rev. 11.12 the time times and halfe a time Rev. 12. and the thousand yeare Rev. 20. with divers others which may establish the Judgements and Consciences of Men and give them Warrant whereon to venture their Souls and shed their Bloods for the present destruction of Pope and Popery not by the breath of Christs mouth and the Sword of the Spirit but by the breath of murthering Canons and a flaming Sword of steele Otherwise we Querie The wonderful slaughters of Papists and Protestants in the famous warres of the Waldensians Whether the blood of so many hundreth thousand Protestants mingled with the blood of so many hundreth thousand Papists as was spilt some hundreth yeares in the Waldensian warres when all the Protestant partie that took the Sword perished with it be not a warning to us their offspring 'T is true Iohn tells us of Christs great Battells against the Kings of the Earth The great battels of Christ Iesus yet to be fought against the Beast and false Prophet against Gog and Magog but where speaks he of other Ammunition and Artillerie used by the Saints but what we find in Pauls Christian Magazine Ephes 6 Where read we of any other Horse and Armes but those all white Rev. 19. And yet the Lamb shall have the Victorie over the Beast and false Prophet and over Gog and Magog in the appointed season Gods children have been successefull witnesses against the Abominations c. but never did well in Church Reformation which their children after them discover to vary from the Pattern QUERIE IX You both professe great Sufferings c. We Querie Whether any of the Sufferings of Gods Witnesses since the Apostacie have been only right against the darke part the Inventions Abominations and Usurpations of Antichrist according to Rev. 11 As for the light part who sees not but to this day the Childrens Reformations in new changes condemn their Fathers whose Zeale and Patience against the dark part have hitherto exceeded the Childrens We Querie Whether the finishing of the Testimonie with the slaughter of the Witnesses and their 3 dayes and halfe last great oppression be over and past that so the light part may arise in its brightnesse Martyrs that is Witnesses not peculiar to those that die for Christ And though you commonly and only call those Martyrs who lost their lives for Jesus yet we also Querie Whether Martyrs that is Witnesses Rev. 11. be not applyable to all the servants of Christ who Witnesse against any part of the Beasts Kingdome and Tyranny although they never Witnesse to the Death QUERIE X. Since you report your opposing and suppressing of Heresies and glorious successe c. We Querie Whether that be a demonstrative argument from the Scriptures for a Truth of a Church or Government of it since even the Church of Rome may