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A56221	Twelve considerable serious questions touching chvrch government sadly propounded (out of a reall desire of vnitie and tranquillity in church and state) to all sober-minded Christians, cordially affecting a speedy setled reformation, and brotherly Christian vnion in all our churches and denominations, now miserably wasted with civill unnatuall warres, and deplorably lacerated with ecclesiasticall dissentions / by William Prynne ...	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1644 (1644)	Wing P4117; ESTC R32182	10,363	9

TWELVE Considerable Serious Questions touching CHVRCH GOVERNMENT Sadly propounded out of a Reall Desire of Vnitie and Tranquillity in Church and State to all Sober-minded Christians Cordially affecting a speedy setled Reformation and Brotherly Christian Vnion in all our Churches and Dominions now miserably wasted with Civill Unnaturall Warres and deplorably lacerated with Ecclesiasticall Dissentions By William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne Esquire 1 Cor. 1.10 Now I beseeech you Brethren by the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ that yee all speake the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement 1 Cor. 3.3 4. For yee are yet carnall for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnall and walke as men For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not carnall 1 Cor. 14 33. God is not the Author of unquietnesse but of peace as in all Churches of the Saints LONDON Printed by I. D. for Michael Sparke Senior and are to be sold at the Blew Bible in Green Arbour 1644. HAving neither Leisure nor Oportunity to debate the late unhappy differences sprung up amongst us touching Church Governement disputed at large by Master Herle Doctor Steward Master Rotherford Master Edwards Master Durey Master Goodwin Master Nye Master Sympson and others which much retard the speedy accomplishment and establishment of that happy Reformation wee all earnestly pray for and at least pretend Cordially to desire I have at the importunity of some Reverend Friends digested my subitane apprehensions of these distracting Controversies into the ensuing considerable Questions which sadly pondered solidly debated by sober-minded peaceably disposed men of greater Ability and Vacancy for such a worke then I enjoy may put a happy period to all our dissentions about this subject and heartily unite our devided Judgements Affections the better to secure our selves against the common Enemies who prevaile most by our divisions 1. Whether the Gospell being by Christs owne Injunction to be (a) preached to all Nations and people whatsoever who have their severall established different formes of Civill Government Lawes Manners Rules and Customes sutable to their respective dispositions climes republikes it can be infallibly evidenced by any Gospell Text That Christ hath peremptorily prescribed one and the selfe same forme of Ecclesiasticall Government discipline Rites to all Nations Churches in all particulars from which they may in no case vary under paine of mortall sin Scisme or being no true Churches of Christ with whom good Christians may not safely communicate Or rather whether every severall Nation republike and Nationall Church hath not under the Gospell (b) a Libertie and latitude left them to chuse and settle such an orderly form of Church-Government discipline and Ecclesiasticall Rites as is most suitable to their particular Civill Government Lawes Manners Customes alwaies provided it be consonant and no waies repugnant to the Word of God nor prejudiciall to his sincere Worship or the peoples salvation nor such as hinders their Christian Communion amity Charity among themselvs with other true Christian Churches This being as I conceive a generally received truth among all (c) Protestant Churches the very substance of the 34. Article of the Church of England of the 77. Article of the Church of Ireland and of the Statutes of 2. 3. E. 6. c. 1.3 4. E. 6. c. 10.5 6. E. 6. c. 1.1 Eliz. c. 2.8 Eliz. c. 1. And whether some things in all Church Governments Disciplines Ceremonies whatsoever are not and must not be left to humane prudence for which there is no direct precept nor patterne in sacred Writ Which truth is assented to by al parties Churches whatsoever in theory or practise 2. Whether if any Kingdome or Nation shall by a Nationall Councell Synod and Parliament upon serious debate Elect such a publike Church-Government Rites discipline as they conceive to be most Consonant to Gods Word to the Lawes Government under which they live and manners of their people and then settle them by a generall law all particular Churches Members of that Kingdome and Nation be not thereby actually oblieged in point of (d) Conscience Christianity readily to submit thereto and no wayes to seeke an exemption from it under paine of being guiltie of Arrogancie Scisme Contumacie and lyable to such penalties as are due to these offences 3. Whether that forme of Ecclesiasticall Governement which hath sufficient if not best warrant for it in the New Testament the examples of the Primitive Church of the best reformed Churches in this latter age to backe it the resolutions of the most eminent persons for Learning and Pietie in all Protestant Churches approving it tends most to effect establish Christian (e) Vnitie Peace and Amity in the Churches Nations Kingdomes embracing it and with forraign Churches professing the same Religion suites best with the publike civil Government Lawes Manners of those Realmes who receive it and serves most effectually to prevent suppresse all Heresies Errors Scismes Factions diversities of opinions corruptions of manners Libertinisme Injustice with other inconveniencies which may infest a Church or State is not to be chosen rec●ived as a true undoubted Church-Governement agreeable to the Gospell of Christ and to be preferred before that Ecclesiasticall Government which hath no such expresse ●arrant for it in Scripture no patterne for it in the Primitive or best reformed ●●urches no generall approbation of the most eminent persons for Learning ●nd Piety in all Protestant Churches asserting it tendes not to effect maintaine or establish Christian Vnitie Peace Amitie in the Churches Nations Kingdomes embracing it suits not with their established civill Lawes Go●ernment and is no effectuall meanes to prevent or suppresse but rather to intro●●ce and foment all Heresies Errors Scismes Factions diversities of opinions corruptions of manners Libertinisme Injustice for want of Appeales and other inconveniencies which may infest a Church or State 4. Whether the Presbiteriall forme of Church-government if rightly ordered be not such as is expressed in the former the Independent such as is mentioned in the latter part of the preceding question and therfore the first of them rather to be embraced then the last without any long debate 5. Whether the grounds and reasons principally in●isted on for an Independ●nt Church Government be not such as if duly examined will by unevitable necessary consequence subvert dissolve at least imbroyle endanger all Nationall Provincial Churches Councels Synods all setled Monarchicall Aristocraticall or Oligarchicall formes of civill Governement in Nations Republikes States Cities reduce all Ecclesiasticall all Civill publike kindes of Government to that which is meerely Parochiall or Domesticall and make every small Congregation Family yea person if possible an Independent Church and Republike exempt from all other publike Laws or Rules of civill and Ecclesiasticall Government but what they shall

Whence those of different Churches or contrary religions as Christians Turks Papists Protestants c. are alwayes for the most part at variance enmity seldome or never friendly brotherly charitable or assistant one to another Since then this New-Invention of Independency is apt to produce snch uncharitablenes unsociablenesse strangenesse differences coldnesse of brotherly love care reliefe and mutuall assistance even among Christians who professe themselves true Saints of God and tends apparently to the violation of these Principall precepts of the Gospell and cheifest badges of Christianity by which we know we are of the truth that we are Christs Disciples indeed translated from life to death and may assure our hearts hereof namely to love one another to love all the Saints and Brethren unfeinedly not in word in tongue but indeed in truth with a pure heart fervently i to walk in love as Christ loved us to put on as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long-suffering to be kind and tender hearted one towards another and above all things to put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnesse endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace to which we are called in one body there being we all having but one body one spirit one hope of our calling one Lord one faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and thorough all and over us all I humbly referre it to the serious consideration of all pious and peaceable Christians whether it can be any Church Goverment of Christs invention approbation or institution fit to be embraced in any Christian Realme wherein we should with (k) one minde and one mouth glorifie God and all speake the same thing without any divisions among us being perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement This Gods owne precept and it shall be my dayly prayer it may now prove all our reall practise I shall close up all with this exhortation of the Apostle necessary for our distracted times (l) If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill yee my joy that you be like minded having the same love being of one accord and of one mind Let nothing be done henceforth as to much I feare hath formerly bin through strife or vain glory but in lowlines of mind let each esteem of others better then himselfe Looke not every man on or after his owne things but every man also on the things of others (m) And I beseech you Brethren marke them which cause divisions offences contrary to the doctrine which yee have learned and avoid them Follow after the things which make for peace and such things only wherewith one may edefie another laying aside all bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamor and evill speaking with all malice covetousnesse pride and self seeking which duly practised will speedily reconcile and terminate all our differences eternally unite us in a lasting bond of reall Vnity and brotherly love against our Common enemies who endeavour to ruin●●s by our unnaturall sad divisions FINIS (a) Matth. 28.19 20. Mar. 16.15 Rom. 10.18 Col. 1 5.6.23 Ephes. 3.5 to 12. (b) 1 Cor. 14.40 c. 11.34 (c) See the Harmony of Confessions Section 10 11 16. (d) 1 Cor. 14.32.33 Rom. 13.1.2 1 Pet 2 13 14 15. 1 Cor. 10.32.33 (e) 1 Cor. 12.12 to 29. c. 14.33 c. 1.10 to 15. c. 11.16 Eph. 4.3 to 17 Rom. 15.56 Ia. 3.14.15 16● 17 18. Phil. 2.1.2 3. 1 Cor. 3.3.4 * Gen 4 17. c. 10. 11 14. Arist. pol. lib. 1. c. 1.2 c. * Rom. 16 15 1 Cor. 16.19 Acts 11.19 to 25 13.14 16. and 17. and 18 c. 28.30 31. (h) See Binius Surius Crab Merlin Syrmond Caranza and Sir Hen. Spelmans TOMES of Councels Bochellus De●reta Ecclesiae Gallicanae Gratian I●o Carnote● si● The harmony of Confessions Lyndewood and other Canonists (i) Communi Presbyter●rum concilio Ecclesiae regebantur Hier. Epist. ad Ev●grium Com. in Tit. 1. Igna●ius Epist. 5.6 18. Tertul. Apolog advers. Gentes cap. 39. Ireneus adv Haereses l. b 4. c. 43.44 Cyp. epist. 6.18.28.39.45 Sedulius Anselm in Tit. 1. ●ee my Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy c. part 2. c 8.9 Where this is largely proved Harmony of Confessions Sect. 11.12 (k) Exo. 23.17 c. 34.23 ●4 c. 35.1 Deu. ●6 15 17. c. ●1 1. Lev. 8.3 Num. 8.20 c. 13.26 Iosh. 22.12.10 34. c. 23. 2. c. 24 1. to 20. Iudg. ●6 1.2 c● 2● 5 1 Chron. 31.1.10 9. c 28.1 2. c. 29.1 c. ● Chron. 5. ● c. 6 3.12 13. c. 7 8 9. c. 20 4 5.14 c. 23.2.3 c. 30.1 to 27. c 31.1 Ezra 31. c 10 1 c Neh. 8.1.10.18 Luk. 1.41 (l) Acts 15.22 to 32. c. 16 14. c. 21.25 (m) ● Cor. 7.17 c. 11.6 c. 4. ●3 c. 16.1.2 Gal. 1.1 See Rev. 1.11.20 c. 2.7 c. 22 1● n Acts 9.31 c. 15 4● c. 16 5 Rom. 16 4● 16. ● Cor 7.17 c. 11 16● c. 1● 33 34. c. 16.19 2 Cor. 8.1 18.19.23 24. c. 11.13 2 Thes●● ● Rev. 1.11.20 c. 2.7.11.13.19 c. 3 6.13.22 c. 22.16 o Isay 2 2 3. Mic 4.1 to 5. Ps. 72.17 Ps 82.8 Psal. 86.9 Ier. 16.19 Mal. 1 1● Isa. 11.9 to 16 c. 9.12.23 c. 54.1.2 3. c. 60.3 to 22. Zach. 8.22 (p) Lu. 2.32 Mar. 13.10 Act. 1● 46.47.48 Rō 10.18.20 ● 1.12 c. q Rom. 16.5 1 Cor. 16.19 Col. 4 15. Philem. 2.23 Heb. 11.37.38 Acts 20.7.8 Acts 1.13.14 I●h. 20 19. (r) Gal. 1.1 Acts 9.31 c. 15.41 c. 16.5 Rom. 16 4.16 1 Cor 7.17 r. 11.16 c. 14.33 c. 16.19 2 Co● 1.18.19.23.24.11.28 2 Thes. 1 Rev. 1. ●1 20 c. 22.16 (s) Acts 6.1 to 8. 1 Tim. 3.8 (t) Act 11.30 c. 15.2.4 Phil. 1.1 Tit. 1.5 1 Tim. 3. c● to 6. c. 5.17 Iam. 5.14 1 Pet. 5.1.2 1 Cor. 1● 28.29 Eph. 4.21.12 13. 1 Tim 5.3.9.10 2 Pet. 1.20.21 (v) 2 Tim. 3.16.2 (x) 1 Cor. c. 1 3. 4. 5. 6 c. 11.34 7. 8. 9. 10.11 12. 14. 16. c. 1. 〈◊〉 2 Epist. to Tim. Tit c. 1. 2. 1 Cor 7.17 c. 3.4.3 * A Bloudy Tenent (y) Gen. 2.18 c 9.17 c. 10.11 r. 4. Arist. Polit. l. 1. ● z 1 Cor. 12.10 31. Acts 10.5 to 48 c. 11.21 22 26 c. 15.1 to 37. 1 Cor. 16 1 32 2 Cor. 2.11.11 2 Cor. 11.28 15. Acts 19.9.10 c. 11.21.22 (a) Rom. 10.14 Isay. 65.5 Lu. 18.10 to 19. Pro. 30.12 Math. 7.1 (b) Ph●l ● 3 (c) Lu. 18.10.11.12 Math. 18.17 (d) Math. 7.1 Rom. 2.1 r. 14.10 (e) 2 Chron. 6 30 17.9.10 f Acts 2.44 45 46. 1 Cor 12.12 to 26. c. 16 ● ● 2 Cor 8. Ephes. 4 3 4 5 6● c. ●● 25 to 23. 1 Tim 5 8 2. Cor 11 21. c. 12 14. g Iudges ● 28. Luk 9● 53 5● 〈◊〉 8 〈◊〉 Iohn 13.34 35. 1 Iohn 4.21 c 3.14 18 19● 1 Thes. 4.9 1 Pet. 1 2●● c ●●17 i Ephes. 5 2. c 4 ● to 7. Col. 3.12 3 14 15. (k) Rom 15.5 6. 1 Cor. 1.12 (l) Phil. 2.1.2 3 4. (m) Rom. 6.17 c. 14.19 c. 12.16 Ephes 4.31 c. 5.3

freely elect prescribe unto themselves during pleasure and alter as they see occasion upon more light of truth revealed 6. Whether in all Nations Ages from the first preaching of the Gospell till this present as Christians and beleevers multiplied particular Churches did not likewise multiply which had a dependency on and communion one with another and were all subordinate to Nationall or Provinciall Synods and publike Ecclesiasticall constitutions And whether any one example of such a particular Independent Congregationall Church or Governement as some now strennuously contend for or any one eminent Writer who maintained the same can be produced in any Christian Nation Kingdome or Republike totally converted to Christianity since Christs time till within our memories If yea then let the Independents nominate the place age Author if they can If not then doubtlesse that can be no Church Government of Christs or his Apostles Institution which had never yet any being nor approbation in the world till this present age for ought that can be proved 7. Whether the selfe-same Law of Nature God and rule of rectified reason which instructed warranted all persons Nations as they multiplyed from private families to unite themselves into severall Villages * Cities Kingdoms Republikes and to subject themselves to some one or other publike forme of Civill Government and such generall Laws obliging all persons societies of men alike which they conceived most usefull necessary for their common safety and prosperity did not heretofore and now likewise teach perswade instruct all men to use the selfe-same form of proceeding in matters of Church Government as the number of Christians Churches multiplyed or shall yet encrease among them Since all Nations whatsoever upon their conversion to Christianitie have proceeded in this Method as all Ecclesiasticall Histories and the Acts of Councels testifie For example first one person or more in a Nation was converted to the Faith of Christ who converted his Family and so perchance for a time had a private * Church in his owne house This Family after converted other persons families by degrees who united themselves into a Congregationall or Parish Church after which the Christians multiplying and their Princes Magistrates Nations embracing the Christian Religion they divided themselves into many Parochiall Churches Diocesse Provinces none of which Parochiall Churches when multiplyed and the whole Nation converted either were or claimed to be independent but were ever subordinate to (h) Nationall or Provinciall Synods Classes to the (i) Common Councell of Presbyters and governed by generall Laws or constitutions to which they still submitted just like our new Chappells and Churches lately built about London and other places which are not Independent but subordinate to the Ecclesiasticall Lawes and publike setled Government of our Nationall Church A course observed in all Religions Nations in the world since Adams time till now for ought appeares to me And why this order dictated by God nature and constantly pursued in all Nations converted to Christian Religion should not be perpetually observed but Independent Congregations gathered not of Infidels but of men already converted to and setled in the Christian faith of which forme of congregating Churches no one example unlesse derived from the private Conventicles of Arrians Donatists and other Heretickes who yet were not Independent amongst themselves nor any direct Scripture Reason or Authority can be produced to satisfie Conscience for ought ever I could yet discerne nor yet for particular Church Covenants to which all Members must subscribe before admission into Independent Churches I can yet see no ground 8. Whether the concession of one Catholike Church throughout the world denied by none the (k) Nationall Assembly and Church of the Israelites under the Law who had yet their distinct Synagogues and Parochiall Assemblies Instituted approved by God himselfe the Synodall Assemblie of the Apostles Elders and Brethren at Ierusalem Acts 15. who (l) made and sent binding De●rees to the Churches of the Gentiles in Antioch Syria Cylicia and other Churches compared with the severall generall (m) Injunctions of Paul in his Epistles to Timothy Titus the Corinthians and other Churches hee wrote to touching Church discipline Order Government seconded with all Oecumenicall Nationall Provinciall Councells Synods and the Church Government exercised throughout the world in all Christian Realmes States from their first generall reception of the Gospell till this present compared with Acts 7.38 c. 2.47 c. 5.11 c. 8.1.3 c. 12.5 c. 15.22 c. 20.28 Math. 16.18 Ephes. 3.10.21 c. 5.25.27.29.32 Col. 1 18.24 1 Tim. 3.5.15 Be not an infallible proofe and Justification of Nationall Churches of a common Presbyterian Classicall government to which particular Congregations Persons ought to be subordinate an apparent subversion of the Novell Independent Invention Whether all answers ●iven to these examples Texts by Independents be not when duly scanned meere palpable shifts or evasions which can neither satisfie the Consciences or Judgements of any intelligent Christians And whether their argument from these phrases n the Churches the Churches of Christ of Asia Macedonia all Churches c. in the plurall number meant only of the Churches then planted in severall Cities Provinces Regions Nations under distinct civill Governments comprised in Scripture under this aggregate Title the Church oft times and then equivalent to Nationall Churches derived out of them as the Gospell and beleevers of it multiplied be any more or better proofe of particular Independent Churches in one the selfe same City Nation Kingdome Republique Then Historians Councells and Canons mentioning of the Churches of England Scotland Ireland Wales France Spaine or the Churches within the Province of Canterburie Yorke or Diocesse of London c. argue all or any of their Parish Churches to be Independent not one Parochiall Church in all these Realmes being yet independent but alwayes subordinate to the whole Nationall or Provinciall Churches Councels Parliaments Synods of these Kingdomes as all Authors and experience witnes 9. Whether the Independents challenge of the Presbyterians to shew them any Nationall Church Profes●ing Christ in our Saviours or the Apostles dayes before any one Nation totally converted to the Christian faith or any generall open profession made of it by the Princes Majestrates and Major part of any Nation Kingdome Republique who were then all generally Pagans and Persecutors of the Gospell not then universally embraced be not a most irrationall unjust demand And whether this Argument from thence There was no Nationall Church professing Christian Religion in the Apostles dayes before any Nation totally converted to Christianity Ergo there ought to be no such Nationall Church now though the o Prophets long before assured us and (p) Christ with his Apostles certainly knew predicted there should be Nationall convertions Churches after their dayes Be not as absurd an Argument as these ensuing There was no Nation wholy converted to th●●aith nor any Church-meetings of Christians