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woman_n	church_n	keep_v	silence_n	2,518	5	9.9816	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93702	Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht: containing a confutation of the three degrees of popery, viz. papacy, prelacy, and presbitery; answerable to the triple crowne of the three-headed Cerberus the Pope, with his three fold hierarchies aforesaid. With a dispelling of all other dispersed clouds of errour, which doth interpose the clear sun-shine of the Gospel in our horrizon. Wherein the chiefe arguments each of them have, for the vindication of their erronious tenents are incerted, and refuted; with a description of such whem [sic] the true Church of Christ doth consist of: as also how, and by whom, they may be gathered, and governed, according to the will, and appointment of Jesus Christ, and his apostles, in the primative purity thereof. / By Iohn Spittlehouse, assistant to the Marshall Generall of the Army, under the command of his Excellency, the Lord Generall Fairfax. Imprimated by Theod. Jennings, and entred in the Stationers Hall.	Spittlehouse, John.	1649 (1649)	Wing S5013; Thomason E586_2; ESTC R203633	304,213	396

above a Presbiter no Deacon above a Deacon And if ●o how will your Classicall Provinciall and Nationall S●●ods ●o●d together by which you doe assume a power beyond the power which the Apostles used in the Church binding and consining your fellow Presbiters to observe your Injunctions and Decrees as if you were rather Apostles then Presbiters admitting only such Creatures as are of your owne stam●e into the Ministry and to such must all the Parishes of the Kingdome subscribe and admit of whether they have either seene or heard of them before or no your approbation is sufficient if they have but received the Popish stampe of Orders by your Predec●ssors the Bishops they are well enough otherwise not how gifted soever they be SECT 12. AGaine in your answer to his late Majesty you say That no other Persons or Officers of the Church may challenge o● assume to themselves such power as did the Apostles in that respect alone viz. because the Apostles practised it except such power belong to them in common as well as to the Apostles by warrant of Scripture which that it doth your Sinod is yet to prove You there also confesse that our Saviour and his Apostles did not so leave the Church at liberty as that any substantials belonging to Church Government which were appointed by Christ and his Apostles may be altered at pleasure and then I am certaine that your Classicall Provinciall and Nationall Sinods will not agree with the other left by Christ and his Apostles and therefore I beseech the Honourable House of Parliament to looke rather to the originall of those your Powers then the succession of them And thus you have made an Episcopall rod to whip your owne britch Obj. That which is called ordination was by the Apostles and a power established in the Presbitery and not in the Church as m●●re beleevers Ans I have proved and shall prove that the Brethren as well as the Presbitery had a joynt interest and concurrency in all power which belonged to the Church CHAP. VIII Of the Churches power to chuse their Officers SECT 1. Objection HOw prove you the election of Pastors and Elders by the Church or people Ans Even by the renowned Doctor Stewarts The Church hath power to chu●e its Pastors owne confession in his learned Dupley where he voluntarily and ingeniously confesseth and acknowledgeth albeit to the marring of his Market that no Minister or any other Church Officer ought to be thrust upon a people or Congreg●tion no more then a Husband is to be forced upon a woman against her will and that however such a Pastor may goe to the Pulpit and preach amongst them yet unlesse they consent he is not their Minister Thus far the learned Doctor And if so with what impudence have you of the Sinod dispatched your owne tribe to officiate where you your selves please by vertue of an Apostolicall power which you proudly usurpe unto your selves condemning it in others when as it so clearly appeares and that by a Bird of your owne feather that every Church hath power to judge of the ability and sufficiency of their Pastor Obj. If the Dector had thought you would have made such use of his expressions he would have kept them in however it is but one Doctors opinion Are you able to prove from Scripture that the reall body at ●erusalem had such power given them by the Apostles and Elders Ans Yea I am able to prove that they had a voyce in chusing The reall Church chose Matthias to be an Apostle of Matthias to the Apostleship from Act. 1. 23. SECT 2. Obj. THat text doth not say that the people viz. every one of them gave their voyce for if so then Mary and the rest of the women voyced also which was contrary to Pauls command who saith that women are to keep silence in the Church and therefore certainly none did voyce but such as had power to voyce Ans Neither doth the text say that the women did transgresse Women m●y proph●sie if so gifted that precept given by Paul in speaking but as you might●ly mistake the Apostle in other things so in this for in that place where the Apostle commandeth women to be silent in the Church it is only meant concerning preaching and propheying as doth clearly appeare 1 Cor. 14. 36. and not of other conference in the Church for if so Aquilla surely did offend in speaking in her owne house it being a receptacle for the Church Neither is it altogether forbidden in the sence of Prophecying if they be so gifted Obj. I pray you remember your selfe do● not goe about to contradict the Apostle as that he knew not what he said Ans That which I have said I am able to justifie by Scripture yea by the Apostle Paul himselfe if need require Obj. Hold me no longer in dispence but satisfie me how it may be and not to contradict the rule set downe by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor 14. 34. Ans I shall prove it by the Old and New Testament and first in the Old Testament I instance in Miriam Numb 12. 2. where Aaron and Miriam object against Moses in these words Hath not the Lord also spoken by us Such Prophetesses also were Deborah Hanna and Huldah and in the New Testament Hanah the daughter of Pannuel as also Philips foure daughters which were Prophetesses Act. 20. 9. SECT 3. Obj. BVt were these Prophetesses to teach publickly Ans These Prophetesses being extraordinarily stirred Gif●s of Prophesie a●e given to ●di●●● the Church up did also publickly Prophesie and not only privately in their families as may appear by these reasons viz. 1. Because the gift of Prophesie was given them to edifie the Church withall 1 Cor. 14. 3. they then having the gist did use it to the right end viz. publickly 2. It is confirmed by example in that passage I have named touching Miriam Numb 12. 2. Hath not the Lord spoken also by us 3. Deborah is said to judge Israel publickly being a Prophetesse Jud. 4. 4. she did therefore exercise her Propheticall gift publickly 4. The Apostle Paul himselfe dis-alloweth not of it 1 Cor. 11. 5. where speaking of women Prophecying saith not that it is unlawfull for women to Prophesie but that it is not decent for them to Prophesie with their heads uncovered by all which it appeares that some women in Pauls time being Prophetesses such as Philips foure daughters did Prophesie and that publickly Obj. The Apostle there doth not speake of the particular act of women but of the act of the Congregation which is said to pray or prophesie Ans It is apparent to the contrary by the use of the Word elsewhere viz. Ye may all prophesie one by one 1 Cor. 14. 31. for there the Apostle speaketh of the particular act of Prophecying Obj. Wherefore then doth the Apostle injoyne the women silence in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 31. Ans To reconcile these places

we are to observe that where Wherein the Apostle injoyne● women sil●●ce in the Church the Apostle is said to allow of the Prophecying of women 1 Cor. 11. 5. is meant of the extraordinary gift and function of Prophecying wherein he did not dis-allow the act but the manner willing that it should be done with comlinesse and order And as concerning the place where you object that silence is inioyned women the Apostle speaketh of the ordinary calling of preaching or prophecying which women ought not any way to usurp but for the extraordinary calling which the Lord hath sometimes given to women there is no doubt but they accordingly used the same and may now use if so inspired As for other conference in the Church I see no cause women having the same need of Pastors for their Soules as men but that they may have a voyce in the election of their Minister as any man whatsoever as no doubt but many of the rest had Acts 1. 14. SECT 4. Obj LEt us leave the women in silence did the rest of the people voyce in that election of Matthias Ans For any thing I know to the contrary or you either doe you read that any of the Assembly was forbidden to voyce But if there were any that were not capable of the businesse in hand we doe not read that they procured any disorder or fraction amongst the multitude Obj. The text doth not punctually make out that the people made choyse of Barnabas and Matthias but that they viz. the Apostles and Elders and the Church Officers and if you would have it otherwise you are to prove it from the text otherwise I neither can nor will beleeve you Ans But if I can prove it from the text then you both can and will beleeve me and so renounce your errour Obj. I promise you I will but I feare you will faile of your expectation Ans Call to minde the 15. ver of that Chapter and compare it with the 2● ver where Barnabas and Matthias is appointed and then judge whether it be not more likely that they were chosen by them to whom Peter spake unto in the 15. ver then to any other parties mentioned in any part of the Chapter for in the 15. ver the Disciples are not only numbred but Peter also beginneth his speech unto them which he continueth unto the very election of Barnabas and Matthias not diverting it from them to whom he began it which in the 15. ver is said to be the Disciples who were about 120 how can you then with modesty deny that Matthias was chosen by any other then by the Parties there mentioned and if granted then it must consequently follow that Matthias had the peoples appr●bation before the Apostles acceptation SECT 5. Obj. I Conf●●se that it doth appeare that Barnabas and Matthias was chosen by the multitude mentioned in the 15. ver but whether that number of Disciples mentioned were the reall or the representative Church I am not yet satisfied Ans Doe you read of any other part of the Church then at Jerusalem beside that number Obj. Suppose I grant you that the election of Church Officers doth belong to the promiscuous multitude yet do● I not hold that they have any Ecclesiasticall power in Judicature Ans I thought I had heretofore satisfied you that the Church The reall Church hath power os Judicature of Christ hath sufficient power in it selfe and that by the authority of Scripture to decide all matters of controversie touching it selfe viz. of a spirituall cognizance but if you scruple at it I will further inlarge my selfe in the point for proofe of which I could instance all Pauls Epistles but for brevity sake I will consine my selfe to the passage of the Apostle to the Corinthians in his first Epistle and fifth Chapter where writing touching the ejecting of the incestious person doth not attribute the powes thereof to his owne particular person or to more Apostles and Elders joyned with him but solely to that Church at Corinth in these words Doe not ye judge them that are within vers 12. he doth not say Doe not we the Apostles of Christ judge them that are within or we of the Classicall Provinciall and Nationall Sinod judge them but doe not yee c. viz. the reall body of the Church to whom he writ his Epistles yea he further ratifieth it in the 13. ver viz. therefore put away from your selves that wicked person And the like order have they also sor his reception upon his humiliation 2 Cor. 6 7 8. by which two texts of Scripture the Apostle ●leerly sheweth whom they be that the Church hath power over and whom the civill Magistrate hath to rule over as also what have I to doe to judge them that are without doe not ye judge them that are within Againe them that are without God judgeth intimating by the first that Christ hath given the rule of such as are without viz. not members of the Church to the rule of the civill Magistrate as in Rom. 13. and the latter sort viz. such as are members of the Church to the rule and government of the Covenanted members of the Church it selfe viz. to the reall body whereof they are members Obj. Hath the Civill Magistrate nothing to doe in Church-government Ans As he is meerly a civill Magistrate he hath not for his The Civill Magistrate hath nothing to doe in Church government power as a civill Magistrate is confined without the Church as I have formerly shewed neither is the Law viz. the Morall Law given to a righteous man but for the unrighteous Rom. 13. 3. and therefore so long as a member of the Church continueth his integrity and without running himselfe into a Morall offence he is without the verge of the civill Magistrate Obj. Hath not a civill Magistrate being a member of the Church a greater power then the rest of the members Ans Not at all as he is a member of the Church for there is no respect of persons with God whether they be Jewes or Gentiles bond or free rich or poore they are all one in Christ Jesus Leut. 10. 17. Act. 10. 38. Rom. 2. 11. Gal. 2. 6. Ephes 6. 9. Col. 3. 11. Rom. 12. 5. c. 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 14 c. Obj. What things be they which you ascribe as things proper to be done by the Church Ans They chiefly consist in these particulars viz. as in election The chiefe actions which concerne the Church of Pastors and Church Officers as I have proved as also in matters of advice and counsell as I have also proved as also in sending of Messengers from Church to Church to advise and to hold correspondency together as being all members of one universall Church as in Act. 15. 2. 22. 2 Cor. 1. 18 19. 1 Cor. 16. 3. 10. Act. 18. 37. As also in receptions of members into the Church as in Rom. 16.

religions Reason as was never yet in any age attained unto for the men of purest reason as the old Philosophers never attained further then the knowledge of some things infinite which they did not know a Religion of Morall righteousnesse and purity and some Sacrifices of attonement c. and there is not any Religion in the world Jewish or Turkish but they are made up of carnall principles and are founded upon reason and nature but this Gospel Religion hath opened a new way to salvation a way of worship crosse to all Methods and Heb. 4. 12 1 Pet. 1 19 w●yes of reason the word opening new wayes by a new Spirit purifying naturall reason into more divine and glorious notions then reason ever attained bringing in a way of beleeving and placing a Religion placed upon a spirituall perswasion called faith which is more proportionable to an infinite God and an infinite way and depth of Salvation then reason ever invented For the Soule to beleeve upon one even Jesus Christ in whom God hath laid up all love and fulnesse and so for man to come one with him who is God and Man And there cannot be a more rationall way for man to become one with God then by one that is both God and Man SECT 4. 10. THat the Scriptures or Gospel of the New Testament being a many hundred yeares old as from the Apostles even in that originall we have them no very materiall difference is to be found albeit the Copies have passed through the greatest Apostacy God restraining Antichrists power to corrupt them materially in the originall to advantage their Heresies and corruptions which very constant preservation of truth in the very midst of the enemies of truth is both a constant and standing Miracle of it selfe and so we need not stay for a Ministry with Miracle seeing we have a word with Miracle which in its matter subject power speaking of God of his Son God and Man of his Spirit the actor in man from both by way of outward ordinances of the depths windings and workings of reason c. and is of as much efficacy to perswade as any thing else we can have and though there be not such pouring out of Spirit and such gifts as beleevers may and shall have yet all beleevers ought to practice so farre of the outward ordinances as is cleerly revealed which conviction of his I suppose is sufficient to disswade any rationall man from thinking that either Miracles or new gifts of Tongues is now requisite for the gathering the Church of Christ out of Antichristianisme as there was in the Apostles time out of Judisme and Heathenisme Thus have I by Gods assistance confuted the tenents of the Atheists Anti-scripturians Papists Pellagians Armenians Antinomians Seekers Annabaptists saving that tenent from which they have their denomination which I shall hereafter discourse of in its more proper place and in the confutation of these former opinions is sufficiently confuted that other r●bble of Schisms and Heresies which are new coyned with the Presbiterian stampe unlesse it be the Quakers divorcers and Soul-sleepers which if there be any such as I hardly beleeve they may tell thee 1. That when they be hungry or thirsty they wil remember themselves and the second That to the pure all things are pure and aske the third which part of the St. Theife was with Christ in Paradice that day after his Passion Luk. 23. 24. CHAP. VIII The eighth Chapter treateth of Prelaci● SECT 1. IN the next place by the same assistance I A preface to the Prote●●ant intend to prosecute the discovery of all the Reliques of Popery which is yet harboured in any other opinions now extant amongst us in this Nation in hope that each ●pinionist will be as willing to imbrace the truth as it is willing to offer it selfe unto him and in regard the chiefe cause of the quarrell amongst us in matters of Religion consisteth in observing or not observing of Ceremonies which in respect of their long continuance is the greater cause that mens mindes are hardly perswaded from them as also in regard of the outward ●stentation or Aronicall glory which they retaine I will therefore take some paines to discover the ridiculousnesse of those needlesse Ceremonies which is yet fostered amongst many thousands in this Nation being verily perswaded that after they once see the vanity of them and how punctually they are against the precepts of Christ and his Apostles they will utterly renounce them albeit they have hitherto so much delighted themselves in them By which meanes their consciences being convinced they may use the Apostles word in the Apostles sence and say What pleasure had we then in those things whereof we are now ashamed And contrariwise if any whom I have or shall convince remaine refractory and obstinate it will be a meanes to leave them without excuse in regard they refuse to have their understandings eluminated loving darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill Joh. 3. 19. SECT 2. ANd in the first place I will incounter with such who call Ch●istians the most proper ●itle of the Disciples of C●●●st Act. 11. 26. themselves Protestants being ashamed of the name Christian which the Apostles and Disciples of the Primative Church tooke upon them as an ornament of their profession being derive● from their Masters name whom they professed to serve these Protestants or rather Prelatticants in regard of their deare affections to Bishops and their Popish Ceremonies and superiority being over-ruled by Satans pollicy which is to draw us to the outward imitation of Ceremonies that thereby we might leave the substance have under pretence of decencie and order and as it were to step out of the way to bring the Papists in to them maintained these their superstitions but by wofull experience they have found a contrary effect for instead of so doing the Papists have caught the most of them so that now they would rather be deprived of their Lives and Fortunes then part with such Toyes Now in regard I would shew them the vanity of each of their Their mistake in the Church errours I will first begin with their opinion touching the sanctity and inherent holinesse which they attribute to that place which they call the Church which indeed is not the Church but meerly a Meeting-place for the Church The true Church of Jesus Christ being a company of Men or Women or both acknowledging or worshipping the true God being gathered into A diffinition● of the Church of Christ a Body or Fellowship by the Word and Baptisme whom Christ doth regenerate and sanctifie here with his Spirit and purposeth afterward to glorifie in his heavenly Kingdome SECT 3. ANd as they are mistaken in the Church so are they also in Their mistake in the sanctity ●r inherent holinesse they attribute to their Steeple-houses the sanctity and holinesse which they attribute to that place which they so terme for

was the custome of the Israelites to take off their shooes at the confirmation of such contracts as I have instanced in Boas who is said to take Ruth to wife before the Magistrates of the City by using these words viz. Ye are witnesses this day that I have taken Ruth the Moabite The custome of the Country to be observed in marriage it being a civil action the wife of Naomi to be my wife c So it being the custome of our Country to use a ring in the like act it ought not to be withstood by any so it be done in that manner as Boas did viz. before the Magistrate or in the presence of the Church or Congregation yea to use the same expressions which is also accustomed to be used by such parties viz. With this Ring I thee wed c. but that the Priest should claime it as a thing meerly peculiar to his office and that a certain stipent is absolutely due unto him for the Marriage or that the office is peculiarly proper unto their function is rediculous there being no president for it in the Word SECT 16. Obj. VVHat thinke you of the Purification or Churching of Women Ans Purification is a Jewish Ceremony and Of purification of women therefore ought to be abrogated the Judisme of it appeareth in that the Woman so to be purified must be covered with a Vaile which is a rag of Superstition Obj. What thinke you of the Vaile which Rebecca put on in the presence of Isaac Ans It was a modell of her modesty but what is that to the Vaile of the Church Obj. The Vaile is required by the Apostle in the Congregation 1 Cor. 11. 10. Ans That Vaile was imposed upon all women and not upon them alone which came to be Churched again the Judisme thereof appeareth in the offering imposed upon women as being pretended to be due to the Minister as Wages or Stipent which terme offering doth fully discover their Jewish heart and by the same rule they may demand a pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pidgions to boyl with a peice of Bacon for every male Childe that openeth the Matrix or Wombe of conception but that their other gratuity of and a good dinner they take to be better And truly these Ceremonies which these Popish Priests have These ●ovish ●●r●mo●●es declare what these Priests ●re used and yet desire to use doth fully discover them to be Priests of the Law and not of the Gospel witnesse their pomp in Apparell their coveting of Tythes or using of any Ceremonies which wil advantage them a penny witnesse their Surplisse or rather Surplusse-sees their Harth-penny and Garth-penny and for every Communicant two pence SECT 17. Obj. So that we agree in the substance it mattereth not though we differ in circumstances Ans I suppose you will not account him wise that will agree touching the meat and yet will quarrell for the bone Obj. Wherefore then is the quarrell begun in relation to the bone Ans Our Saviour condemneth such men as love darknesse Why ceremonies ought to be opposed r●●●●r then light viz. such as will rather maintaine an errour of t●●●●een hundred yeares standing then a truth of sixteen hundred and odde yeares continuance and that because of some profit redounding to them by such meanes now in that the bone viz. matter of Ceremony ought not to make a difference amongst Christians let all of capacity judge who is most in fault seeing they are termed by them that desire them but as things indifferent which being so in their owne esteeme why should they not rather relinquish them then indeavour to uphold them by force of Armes especially when they appeare so repugnant to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ and all the reforming Churches of the times yea not only to retaine them for their owne use and service but also in a compulsive way to force such things upon those who know them to be rediculous and of no concernment in the Church of Christ yea let their owne Consciences judge whether in this they seeme to be what they pretend viz. such as hold them as things indifferent and not as necessary to Salvation when they yet endeavour with might and maine yea though with losse of lives and estates to uphold them Obj. Why may they not be vindicated as things indifferent by them that esteeme them so as confronted by such as doe not allow of them Ans Because we are not to reject light being offered and seeing the Lord is resolved to subdue Antichrist in every particular and would have us come utterly out of Babilon why should we desire to maintaine any thing that is contrary or repugnant to the will of Christ in his designe but being Christians rather endeavour to help on the work then any wayes to retard or oppose it As also seeing it is the thing which the Pope hath so long gaped after as a meanes to allure us to their pompeous and vaine-glorious worship adorning themselves with the gorgious Robes of Aaron and tearing in peeces the seamlesse Coat of Christ why should we adhere with them in the least particular but rather utterly renounce them and labour to suppresse them in our selves and others which the Lord give us hearts to accomplish The third part of Romes ruine by White-Hall c. Wherein is contained the Confutation of Presbitery c. HAving discovered the first and second degree of Popery I shall now enter upon the third in which encounter I shal charge them of the Presbiterian judgement who are so forward in condemning The Preface all but themselves for Schismaticks Hereticks and violaters of the Covenant and for the better progresse herein I shall present the chiefe heads of the Covenant touching Religion from which Magazine I hope to furnish my selfe with Armes and Ammunition not doubting to foyle them at and with their owne Weapons CHAP. I. Treateth of the Covenant c. SECT 1. THe heads of the Covenant in reference to Religion Two heads of the Covenant ●ouching Religion are these 1. That we shall sincerely really and constantly indeavour the reformation in Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God c. 2. Without respect of Persons to endeavour the extirpation of Popery c. Superstition Heresie and Schismes c. and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine c. From which I inferre that who so doth not sincerely really The inference drawne from them and constantly endeavour these things above mentioned are guilty of the breach of Covenant But that the Presbiterians are guilty of all or most of these and so consequently violaters of the Covenant will appeare and that most evidently in these respects viz. 1. In the matter or subject which they compose their Church of 2. In the Pastors whom they make use of or set apart for Teachers of their Church 3. In the meanes they

use to uphold or supply their Church with Members 4. In their manner of governing of it And first of the first touching the quality or condition of the people whom they compose their Church of and that is all the people of the Nation consisting of men women and children Now that a Church so modelled is contrary to the precepts of The Presbiterian Church not truly modeled Christ and the examples of the Apostles is sufficiently proved by Mr. Saltmarsh in his answers to Mr. Lees of the Synod in his Booke titled The smoake in the Temple unto which I refer you and yet not to leave it without some convincement I thus argue against their Agents in so doing They who wilfully admit of the professed enemies to Christ as Members of his Church are peremptory confronters of Christ and his Church and so consequently violaters of the Covenant But the Synodian Presbiterians doe freely permit yea rather compell the damme Cavaliers of this Nation to be members of the Church of Christ as also their children Ergo the aforesaid Priests are wilfull and peremptory opposers of Christ and his Church and so consequently violaters of the Covenant SECT 2. YEa I appeale to any rationall man whether all the people of All the people of the Nation not fit members for the Church of Christ this Nation be fit materials at the instant to be admitted Members of the Church of Christ which according to the Apostles expressions were or at the least seemed to be beloved of God sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be Saints or whether their Church may not rather be termed a Gallimanfrey Medley or Hodgepodge of all manner of opinions together as of him that sweareth as him that trembleth at an Oath and so consequently of all manner of vice and vertue then properly be termed a true gathered Church for to gather a people out of a people doth intimate that some are to be left out as not fit for admission therefore I admire their presumption that dare admit the apparent sinagogue of Satan for the Temple and Church of Christ For what communion hath light with darknesse or Christ with Antichrist so that either must they maintaine that there is no Antichristians in the Nation either of Clergy or Layety or else confesse that they allow of such to be made Members for they have hitherto laboured and doth yet labour to compell all such Subjects to their Government and why under their Government as if not Members of their Church Now it is very apparent that Christ and his Apostles did ever Christ and his Apostles did distinguish betwixt his fl●ck and the world make a distinction of the true Church from the men of the world as in Mat. 18. 17. Tell it to the Church c. which was not to the Scribes Pharisees Saduces or Herodians or to the worshippers of the Calves in Dan and Bethel though all of Israel for the Disciples of Christ to whom he there spake was no Members of such Societies and therefore not to make their appeales to them in point of difference amongst themselves it must needs follow then that the Church there spoken of by Christ was an Assembly of his Disciples and followers as may clearly be collected from his after expressions to the aforesaid Disciples in the 19. and 20. verses of that chapter SECT 3. AGain for the further confirmation hereof it is evident that the Apostle Paul in all his Epistles whether he writ to Cities or Countries did ever make a distinction betwixt them whom he had gathered into Church-fellowship through the opperation of the Spirit of God by his preaching and his fellow Apostles and them who were not of that Brother-hood instance in his Epistle to the Romans viz. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called to be Saints c. these are they in Rome which he writeth unto and no other it was only them whom he acknowledgeth to be the called of Jesus Christ it was for their peculiar faith which was spoken throughout the world that he giveth thankes unto God for chap. 1. ver 7. It was only them in Rome which he would make mention of in his prayers As also to the Church of God which is at Corinth To them that are sanctified in Jesus Christ and called to be Saints It is to them only in Corinth which he so saluteth 1 Cor. 1. 2. As also Ephe. 1. 2. Phil. 1. 2. Col. 1. 2. in all which places he doth distinguish them by some speciall marke from the rest who lived in such places and were not such like as to whom he wrot his Epistles Now seeing that there was such a distinction betwixt the Scribes Pharisees Saduces and the Church of Christ consisting of his Apostles and Disciples why ought not the Pharisees and Saduces of this Nation to be admitted as Members of the Church of Christ which is now to be extracted out of the world and Antichristianisme as it was then out of Judisme and Heathenisme SECT 4. Obj. WHo are those whom you terme the Pharisees and Saduces of this Nation Ans The Presbiterians and Cavaliers of this Nation Obj. Wherein doth the Presbiterians resemble the Pharisees Ans In three particulars viz. The Presbiterians compared with the Pharis●es in three things 1. In that it is reported of them Pharisees that they maintained that the promise made to Abraham recited by Jacob and often repeated by the Prophets concerning the promised Mesiah was spoken only of a Politicall Kingdome and that the Mesiah should come like another Alexander the Great to rule the whole Empire of the world the people being subject unto him And in this particular let all that have a discerning eye in the promise of Christ touching the renovation of his Church out of Antichristianisme viz. concerning that Spirituall comfort betwixt the seven-headed Beast and the Dragon against the Lambe and the Saints where the conquest is to be effected by the Sword which proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lambe Christ Jesus Rev. 19. 21. viz. by the power of the Word judge how neare these Presbiterians are in judgement with them Pharisees in that they think the victory there spoken of which is now to be effected viz. the subduing of Antichristianisme and renovating the Church of Christ shall be accomplished by a Politicall Government and power of the civill Magistrate which they chiefly make use of to that purpose witnesse the severall Votes and Orders which they procured from the two Houses of Parliament to bring men into a Spirituall obedience by their temporall power which is to no more purpose then to wash a Moore to make him white and as much rediculous as I shall hereafter make appeare 2. As the Pharisees thought it much better to give somewhat to the Temple then to releeve and nourish their owne poore Parents Mat. 15. 6 7. so in like manner doe the Presbiterian Clergy for so as their Parishioners pay

either in or since the Apostles daies And thus by divine assistance I have discovered unto you the three first Ingredients whereby the Church of Christ may be brought into its former or primative condition viz. 1. In its Pastors or Gatherers 2. In its meet Members whereby it ought to be compounded as also the way or rule whereby they may be distinguished from the men of the world or worldly men which directions that they may be put in practise by all such who desire to see the flourishing of the Church of Christ in its pristine purity as also the desolation of the scarlet Whore of spirituall Egypt and Babilon with all her accomplices is the cordiall desire of the servant to all who are so devoted CHAP. V. Treateth of the Government of the Church SECT 1. HAving thus discussed of the three first Ingredients I The fourth Ingredient shall now treat of the fourth viz. Of the Government which ought to be observed for the regulating of Churches so gathered Obj. When the Church is gathered as you desire by whom and by what meanes would you have it governed so that it may agree with the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Ans To the first of your demands I answer and yet not I By whom the Church ough● to be governed but the Scripture that it ought to governe it selfe viz. by the reall Body thereof and not to be governed by any particular Members set apart from the whole or by any other Church to doe it for them without the consent or approbation of the whole Church SECT 2. Obj. WHat is that you tearme the Church Ans A company of Beleevers met together in What the Church is one place for the administration of the Ordinances of God to publick edification Obj. Who doe you terme Beleevers Ans Such as are willing and doe comply with the precepts of What a Beleever is Christ who hath said By this yee shall know yee are my Disciples if yee keep my commandements as also Joh. 14. 15. 21. 23. 24. and 15. 10. 14. as also Luke 14. 26. 27. it is not therefore every one that saith Lord Lord but he that doth the will of Christ that is his Disciple and therefore they are much mistaken that thinke the assumption of the name of a Christian doth make them one as the generality of people doe in these dayes Obj. Suppose there be one thousand Beleevers in one place or City must they all meet together at one place or else is it not a Church Ans I have no such drift in this definition of the Church as you would either opprobriously or for want of judgement cast upon me as that the Catholique Church cannot be a true Church because they cannot all meet together at one place for I acknowledge a Church may as well consist of part of the Beleevers How a church may be divided int● parts and yet continue a church of a city or kingdom as of all the Beleevers thereof Paul writing to the Galatians writeth not to the Church of Galatia as if they had all been Members of one individuall Body but to the Churches in Galatia in the Plurall so that as wel part of the Beleevers of a City met together may be termed a Church as well as if they were all met together therefore in such a case as when all the Beleevers of a City c. cannot conveniently meet together in one place to receive edification they may without all doubt meet at two three or more places each distinct from other so that as you Presbiterians erre in the generall so also in the particular diffinition of our Church SECT 3. Obj. VVOuld you have each of these particular Assemblies called a Church being contained in one City Ans Each of these particulars being governed by one and the same rule may as wel be termed a particular Church of that City c. as all the Beleevers of that City may be termed a particular of the universall Church instance your Parish Churches Obj. Whether ought the particular Churches of a City to have its distinct officers or no Ans Yes doubtlesse and yet there may be so few Beleevers in some place as that it wil afford none as when there shall be found but one family in a City c. Obj. If so would you have that family termed a Church Ans Our Saviour saith that where two or three are gathered together in his name he will be present with them Mat. 18. 20. and therefore one saith Vbi fides ibi est Eclesiae where true faith is there is the Church be they many or few Obj. Doe you inferre from hence that Church-officers are not needfull Ans I doe not deny the use of them or that there is no occasion for them but this I say to acquaint you that there may be some Churches which will not consist of so many persons as to make Officers and yet to leave some to be governed as in the Church which was in the house of Aquilla and Prissilla Rom. 16. 3. 5. or in the house of Nimphas Col. 4. 15. SECT 4. Obj. VVHether did our Saviour leave the power of Judicature to the reall or a representative Church Ans Let the Apostle Paul decide the controversie To whom did he present his Epistles to a representative part or to the whole Obj. I say to the representative part prove you the contrary Ans It is very easily done and for proofe hereof I instance first in his Epistle to the Romans where in the first Chapter and Christ le●t the government of his Church to the reall body thereof seventh verse he thus expresseth himselfe by way of dedication viz. To all that be in Rome beloved of God and called to be Saints c. Now if the representative Church which you dreame of in Rome consisted of all such as were beloved of God and called to be Saints in Rome then must it needs follow that the rest of the reall Body of the Church o● Rome was not beloved of God nor called to be Saints as also by the close of his Epistle it appeares by them whom be greeteth and saluteth that he w●●t the said Epistle to the reall body of the Church in Rome unlesse you wil make Prisilla and Mary and the other women there mentioned to be of the representative Church which I perswade my selfe you will not I instance also in his first Epistle to the Corinthians where he is said to write to the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints c. from which word is easily to be understood that all such in Corinth as was sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be Saints were such unto whom the said Apostle did write his Epistle now unlesse you would have all these to be of the representative Church it must needs follow that he writeth unto others But least

Christ viz. you have the spirit of Prayer and Prophesie but you are asleep in the body or formall part of it 2. I shall parallel you with that text of Mat. 12. 43 c. where it is said that when the uncleane spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest but findeth none c. and this also is your very condition yea doubtlesse that parable was then delivered in relation to you yea I appeale to your selves if it doe not hit you in each particular Is not your spirits out of the body aforementioned have you not walked through dry places viz. out of all formes of Gospel Fellowship have you not sought rest and finde none viz. Have you not laboured to settle your selves in severall formes witnesse the great Disputes that have been about Church Government and have you found rest in any of them Againe hath not that spirit of yours being out of the body taken unto it selfe seven Spirits worse then it selfe since it departed out of the true Body of the primative Church witnesse Papacy Prelacy Presbitery Independancy Antinomians Universalians Seekers c. and in so doing hath not your last estate been worse then your first Againe you may also be fitly paralleld with that Parable of our Saviour Matth 25. from ver the 11. to ver 25. upon which there is now extant an eligant and divine Paraphrase published by Mr. John Branie titled Babels fall in the foolish Virgins sleepe c. worthy your best observations by reason of which I shall only give you some few of mine thereon in which Simily I shall acknowledge you to be the wise Virgins there spoken of My first observation is in relation of your going forth to meet the Bride-groome which implyeth that you were once both of one Family or Church Fellowship together if you could have kept you so in the Primative or Apostolicall times see therefore what you have got by your gadding You could not have kept you within doores you must with Dinah goe to see the Daughters of the Land though in the attempt you be ravished by the Antichristian Shechem 2. In relation to their slumbering and sleeping in which respect I finde you also as deeply ingaged as the foolish for like as they doe place Religion in the externall forme thereof as in the very use of the Ordinances or due observation of them as to heare the Word preached and to receive the Sacraments the performance of which duties they conceive is as much as God requireth of them in his worship and service In reference to which I say ye are wise for that ye know that such things are but the out-side of Religion and that it is a spirituall worship which Christ requireth of the Saints yet neverthelesse in this particular you are slumbring and sleeping as well as they viz. by your dispitefull contempt of the externall ordinances of the externall or militant Church it being with you in that particular as it is with such sorts of people who because Papists give Almes in a plentifull measure supposing they merit thereby therefore they wil give none at all because they wil not incu●re that aspertion the application I leave to your selves 3. In this your slumbring and sleeping condition you are said to be out of the Marriage Chamber both of you lying before the doore as may be gathered from the tenth verse which is as much as plainly to tell you that you are both out of the payle of the Church 4. In that you are said to take oyle in your vessels with your Lamps and not the other is meant that you have a Spirituall principle residing in you viz. of Prayer and Prophecy which the other want they relying meery upon humane Learning as doth appeare by their preaching set formes of Prayer and their other Ceremonies in their worship and service of God 3. In that it was said at midnight there was a cry made Behold the Bride-groome commeth goe ye out to meet him you being already out before as in ver 1. is meant of this present speech unto you which is to call you out of your selves as also the other in regard I have also done the like to them in the former part of the Booke 6. In that upon the aforesaid cry they are all said to arise and trim their Lamps I referre you to Mr. Braines description only this I shall say viz. That you wil hereby be put in minde of your present condition as also by the Apostles exhortations viz. that God is the God of order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 〈◊〉 33. as also that all things in the Church ought to be do●● 〈◊〉 ●●d in order ver 40. for which things sake the Apost●e 〈…〉 rejoyce Col. 2. 5. As also that Jerusalem is 〈…〉 unity in it selfe by which Spirituall pri●●● 〈…〉 of grace in you your Lamp of faith wil be kep● 〈…〉 the others wanting relying meerly upon the 〈…〉 ●f worship in their sence of them being by this Treatice proved rediculous shall burne it selfe out of the affections of the Disciples of such Teachers viz. of the Papall Prelaticall and Presbiterian Clergy As for the rest of that Parable before or after I referre you to the interpretation of the aforesaid Mr. Braine unto whom the Lord hath been pleased to reveale more of his secrets then to any of the now Clergy in the whole world witnesse his severall Evangelicall predictions of what is now apparently made manifest to the eyes of all men I shall only instance in one particular more wherein you are prefigured Rev. 12. 14. where it is said that the Woman had two wings of a great Eagle given unto her that she might fly into the wildernesse into her place where she is nourished for a time times and halfe a time from the face of the Serpent the meaning of which I take to be this By the Woman I understand the Church of Christ by the Serpent Antichrist the wings there said to be given to the Woman whereby she fled into the wildernesse I take to be the two Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper by which she hath been supported as upon the wings of that great Eagle Christ Jesus and in that she is said to be preserved in the wildernesse for a time and times and halfe a time I take it to be this That the Annabaptisticall Church which I take to be the Church there spoke of hath and shall have its abode in its now wildernesse condition until Papacy shall be abolished which I referre unto the word time as also until Prelacy and Presbitery shall be also exterpated which I apply to the word times as also until such as you shall relinquish your grosse errors and back-slidings which I take to be intimated by the halfe times Now the reason why I so alude them is this viz. Papacy I compare to time because of its long residence in this Nation Prelacy and Presbitery to