Law-giver hath enjoyned to be observed touching the Orders and Ordinances of his House deny the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ Deut. 18. 18. Acts 3. 22. Isa 9. 6. But the present Ministers of England hearken and conform not to the Revelation Christ hath made touching the Orders and Ordinances of his House Therefore T is the minor or second Proposition that in the thoughts of some is capable of a denial but the verity thereof shines forth as the Sun in its brightness in the review of the Orders and Ordinances of the House of Christ appointed by himself and the present frame and deportment of the Ministers of England with respect thereunto Which of them have they not made void by their Traditions This is that which Christ hath said 1. That all power for the Calling Institution Order and Government of his Church is invested solely in him as the alone Lord Sovereign-Ruler and Head thereof Mat. 28. 19. 1 Tim. 6. 14 15. John 3. 35. Acts 3. 22. and 5. 31. T is upon this foot of account that Christ chargeth his Disciples not to be called of men Rabbi nor to call any Father viz. not to impose their Authority upon any or suffer themselves to be imposed upon by any in the matters of their God Mat. 23. 8 9 10. because one is their Master and Lord viz. Christ Hence also the Apostles lay the weight of their Exhortations upon the Commandment of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 23. and 14. 37. proclaim all to be accursed that preach any other Gospel Gal. 1. 8. yea though Angels from Heaven should they live and speak as such charge those to whom they write Not to receive any into their houses that bring any other Doctrine much more not to receive them as their Teachers 2 John 10. yea the Spirit of the Lord in the close of the last Revelation of his Will it pleased this great King and Lawgiver in such a way to give forth testifies That if any man shall adde unto these things the Lord shall adde unto him the Plagues that are written in his Book Rev. 22. 18. Do the present Ministers of England conform unto this great Institution in words indeed they do so But what meaneth the bleating of the sheep and lowing of the Oxen in our ears Do they not own other Lords Heads and Governors that have a Law-making power and would enforce the consciences of the Free-born Subjects of Christ over his Churches besides him What doth this less than evidently proclaim their disobedience and rebellion which is as the sin of Witchcraft against the KING of Kings and their rejection of his Scepter and Soveraign Authority over them But of this more hereafter 2. This great Prophet and King hath also revealed and proclaimed That 't is his Will that those whom he hath called by his Word should separate from the world walk together in particular Societies and Churches having given up themselves to the Lord and one another according to the Will of God for their mutual Edification and comfort in the Lord. The truth of this Soveraign Institution of Christ he that runs may reade in the Scriptures hereunto annexed 1 Cor. 1. 2. and 5. 12. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. John 15. 19. and 17. 6. Acts 2. 40. and 19. 9. Phil. 1. 5. Act. 2. 41. and 17. 4. 2 Cor. 8. 5. with many more In the proof of this matter we might be copious but that we study brevity The diligent Reader knows where to find this theam at large treated of by learned Ainsworth Bartlet Cotten Rogers c. How do the Ministers of England acquit themselves in respect of this Solemn Appointment of the Lord alas who sees not that they are in their practice at open defiance herewith have it in derision and contempt making no difference betwixt the Holy and Prophane admitting persons led captive by the Devil at his will that openly blaspheme the Spirit of the Lord and deride its effectual opperation in the consciences of men into their Society Are any too vile except such as truly fear God and desire to press after Holiness to be admitted by them into their Communion Is not their Church-State so unlike is it to the Institution of Christ a very Babel a Den of Dragons and Hold of Unclean-Beasts 3. That he hath entrusted them so called and united together with Power and given them Rules for the due and right exerting thereof for the carring on the Worship of his House to chuse Officers over them to act in the Holy Things of God for and to them of which more shall be spoken in its proper place to admit Members excommunicate Offenders c. all which we find shining forth in brightness in the ensuing Scriptures Act. 1. 23. and 6. 3 5. and 14. 23. 2 Cor. 8. 19. Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 4. Do the present Ministers of England conform unto this Institution of Christ nothing less is there any thing like this in the whole oeconomie invented and practised by them do they not to the utmost of their power labour to break this Bond of Christ asunder cast away this Cord from them by stirring up the Magistrate to persecute by Fines Imprisonments Banishment c. the precious People of the Lord that desire to be found in the practice of this Law of Christ branding them with the odious names of Phanaticks Sectaries Schismaticks c. 4. That the Officers of his appointment are only such as these Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Widdows or Helpers Who as they are in one particular Congregation so they have not any Lordship or lordly Authority over each other being all Brethren Ephes 4. 11. Rom. 12. 7. and 16. 1. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Phil. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Acts 6. 5. and 15. 2. and 20. 17. and 28. 21 28. 1 Tim. 3 chap. and 5. 9 10 17. This Law of Christ so clearly revealed in the Scripture they are so far from subjecting to that they have neither the name nor thing required by him therein Set up other Officers and Offices as if in open contempt and defiance of his Authority of which it may righteously be said He did at no time command them neither did it ever enter into his heart so to do 5. That these Officers be chosen by the common Suffrage of the Church of Christ and solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer this is evidently comprized in the ensuing Scriptures Acts 1. 15. and 6. 1 2 3 5. and 14. 23. and 1. 23 26. and 9. 26 27. In conformity whereunto we find the Saints for many centuries of years after Christ in the peaceable possession of this their Priviledge and Right Clemens in his Epistle to the Church of Corinth p. 57. saith Our Apostles also knew by our Lord Jesus Christ that contention will be about the name of Episcopal-Charge Therefore for this reason having received a full predetermination they constituted such as were fore nominated and in
Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32. Mat. 15. 9. Lev. 10. 1. their sin lay not in this that they offered strange fire which was forbidden but which God commanded them not Prov. 30. 6. Jer. 7. 31. 9. Of the same mind with us in this matter are the renowned VVitnesses of Christ in all ages generally all that write upon the second Commandment speak fully hereunto Cyprian in his Epist to Caecilius de Sacram. sayes roundly Et quod Christus solus c. i. e. that Christ alone ought to be heard we have the Father himself witnessing from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son hear him Wherefore if Christ only be to be heard we ought not to attend to what others did before us but what he hath prescribed Beza on Phil. 1. 1. sayes Episcopos igitur c. The Apostle meaneth by Bishops such as were set over others in the preaching the VVord viz. Pastors Teachers and Elders for so were Bishops of old called until he which for Polities sake did preside in the Assembly began peculiarly to be call'd Bishop hereof the Devil began to lay the first foundation of Tyranny in the Church of God Behold sayes he of how great moment it is to decline from the Word of God though but an hairs breadth So he To whom may be added the Testimony of that lively Witness of Christ Martin Luther †In a Translation of the New-Testament in Edward the 6ths time the Author of the Notes on Matth. 15. saith God will not be worshipped after the doctrine precepts of men but as he himself hath prescribed and taught us in his Word who sayes on 1 Pet. 4. 11. To the Office of preaching that properly belongs which the Apostle Peter prescribeth viz. unto whomsoever the vocation and charge of Preaching the Word is allotted let him speak as the Words of God which Caveat and Lesson ought most carefully to be taken heed unto that no man presume to preach and teach any thing whereto he hath not the express words of God for his warrant and except he be most certain that the same be directly to be avouched out of the sacred Scriptures Which being so what may be thought of the Pope we may add of the Hierarchy and his dirty Traditions And anon after he saith A Bishop ought to do nothing in the Church unless he be certain and sure of the warrantise thereof by God's Word for God cannot abide to have his Service jumbled and mingled at pleasure with every foolish gewgaw and light trumpery yea further saith he And therefore we are strictly forbidden not to rely unto nor to allow whatsoever decree or constitution the Bishops list to obtrude and enjoyn unless they stand upon a sure ground that the things which they do are allowed of God and unless they be able to say Do this for it is the Will and Commandment of God and we have his express Word and Commandment for our warrant if they be not able to say thus they ought to be accounted as Liars and Deceivers much less ought any Christian to yeeld unto them therein any obedience or subscription And afterwards There is nothing saith he so pernitious nothing so monstrous nothing so beastly as to go about to govern the Church of God without the Warrant of God's own Word Of the same mind is learned Whitaker We acknowledge saith he no Oyl in God's Service because we reade nothing of Oyl in the Scriptures can you shew that ever Christ or his Apostles used it To whom many others might be added The minor or second Proposition consists of two parts 1. That Hearing is part of instituted Worship one would wonder should it be denied however 't is evident it is so from the light of this single demonstration That in which we wait upon God in the way of an Ordinance for the communication of good beyond the vertue of any creature to conveigh to us is part of the instituted Worship of God for what I wait for not being in the thing it self in which I am waiting no ground can be assigned for my expecting of good through it but Divine Institution but in the Hearing of the Word we wait upon God in the way of an Ordinance for the communication of good beyond the vertue of any creature to conveigh to us Therefore 2. That Hearing the present Ministers of England is not warranted in the Scripture This will be manifested when we come to the ventilating and scanning of those places which are usually produced for the abetting of the practice of some in this matter in the mean while we crave liberty to profess that it is not opinionativeness singularity vain-glory uncharitableness or any thing of that nature as some are apt uncharitably enough to censure but the dread and awe of God who is a jealous God and especially in point of Worship and an holy fear of offending him that hinders us from complying in these matters could but one word tittle or iota be produced from the Scriptures of God for the warranting the Hearing the present Ministers of England we should quickly lay our mouths in the dust confess and bewail our guilt and folly in refusing to conform thereunto but this we are fully assured those that dissent from us are not able to do what they say herein shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be sifted to the uttermost CHAP. II. A second Argument proposed to consideration That 't is not lawful to hear the present Ministers of England as Ministers of Christ nor as Gifted Brethren proved A Separation from them if Brethren evinced That the best of them walk disorderly proved Argument 2. IF it be lawful to hear the present Ministers of England 't is lawful to hear them either as Ministers of the Gospel or as gifted Brethren But 't is not lawful to hear them either as Ministers of the Gospel or as Gifted-Brethren Therefore The major or first Proposition will not be denied That Christ hath appointed some as Ministers by vertue of an Office-power to dispense the Ordinances of the Gospel until his second coming is granted by all that 't is permitted to others as their liberty enjoyned them as their duty having received Gifts and Enablements from the Lord thereunto to improve those Gifts in preaching praying c. for the Edification of the Body of Christ though not solemnly invested into Office is assented unto at least by some of those with whom we have to do whence a lawfulness to hear them as Ministers or as Gifted-Brethren doth necessarily arise 'T is the minor or second Proposition that is capable in the thoughts of some of a denial which we prove per partes thus 1. 'T is not lawful to hear them as Ministers of the Gospel they are not such therefore may not be heard as such That they are not Ministers of the Gospel but Thieves and Robbers is manifest Such as come not in by the Door which is Christ Joh. 10. 9. viz. by
rationally conclude that these persons are really opposers of his Soveraign Authority and Government doubtless so 'T is the minor or second Proposition that may be under suspition amongst some viz. That the present Ministers of England the very best of them do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not only not of Christs revealing but contrary thereunto In which two things are incumbent upon us to prove 1. That the present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not of Christ's revealing This being a charge as to matter of Fact the production of a few Particulars that lie near at hand for its confirmation will give it a speedy dispatch 1. They own submit and subscribe to the Orders and Offices of Archbishops Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons Eccles Canons Can. 7. with many others appertaining unto this Hierarchie as Orders needful and necessary in the Church of Christ and promise subjection and obedience unto them 2. They own and submit Can. 4. to a Lyturgy or Prescript form of Worship devised by men and imposed solely by their Authority to which they tie themselves neither diminishing nor adding any thing in the matter or form thereof 3. They own submit engage to conform to all the Orders Rites and Ceremonies prescribed in the said Book of Common-Prayer Can. 36. such as bowing at the Name of JESUS using the Cross in Baptism kneeling at the Lords Supper which though we do not some would say smells very strong of the Popish Leven and is but one peg beneath the adoration of their Breaden-god wearing the Surplice c. 4. They own that the Office of a Deacon is the first step or degree to the Ministry Can. 32. 36. to which they are to submit and subscribe before they are made Priests 5. That no person be admitted to expound the Scripture though judged worthy of the Cure of Souls as they speak Can. 49. without License from the Bishop thereunto 6. That there be some lawful Ministers which are no Preachers Can. 49. 57. 7. That these unpreaching Ministers Can. 57. may lawfully administer the Ordinances of Baptisme and the Lord's Supper 8. That persons refusing to have their Children Baptised by such dumb Ministers or receive the Communion from them worthily deserve Excommunication if they shall persist herein Can. 57. 9. That Confirmation by Diocesan Bishops is an Ordinance of God Can. 60. 10. That it appertains to the Office of Ministers to Marry Can. 62. 11. That the Bishop of the Diocess may lawfully for a while suspend a Minister from his Ministry for refusing to Bury the Dead Can. 68. 12. That 't is not lawful for Ministers to preach or administer the Communion in private houses except in times of necessity Can. 71. 13. That no Minister may lawfully appoint or keep any solemn private Fasts or be wittingly present at any of them nor hold any meetings for Sermons in market Towns or other places which if he do and persevere therein he may lawfully be deposed from his Ministry Can. 72. 14. That Ministers ought to be distinguished by their Vestments and Apparel as Gowns Hoods Tippets Square-Caps and in their journeys Cloaks with sleeves called Priests Cloaks Can. 74. with many more that might be added to which the Ministers of England are to subscribe and own as agreeable to the Word of God before their admission into the Ministry according to the 38th Canon Eccleasiastical Are any of these Ordinances and Constitutions of the appointment of Christ when or where were they instituted by him that these are posts set by the Lord's posts and thresholds by his thresholds of which the Lord complains Ezek. 43. 8. who sees not That the present Ministers of England do conform and subscribe hereunto cannot be denied and thence an owning subscribing and submitting to Orders and Constitutions that are not of Christs appointment is evidently evinced Object If it be said That though these Canons and Constitutions owned by the Ministers of England be not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be found in the Scripture of the Institution of Christ in so many words yet by consequence they may rationally be deduced from thence As where it is commanded That all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 40. which 'tis the duty of the Church to make Rules and Constitutions about which when it hath done it is the duty of every Son thereof to own or subject to without questioning its Authority Ans That there is any thing of moment in this Objection though their Achilles in this matter and that which they are upon every turn producing is easily demonstrated The whole of it being built upon as uncertain principles yea upon as notoriously false suppositions as ever objection in so weighty a case was built upon 1. 'T is supposed that Christ hath not determined in the Scripture how the Affairs of his House should be managed with decency and order as well as commanded that they be so which is 1. No small derogation to the perfection of the Scriptures 2. To the Wisdom and Faithfulness of Christ debasing of him herein below Moses though the Scripture in this respect prefers him before him 3. Diametrically opposite to the Scripture instanc'd in which stands as a two-edged Sword to cut the throat of their cause in its approaches thereto for shelter Of which take this brief account The Apostle having in the beginning of the chapter prest the Church of Corinth to follow after Spiritual Gifts but especially that they might prophecy the liberty of the Saints therein being fully asserted and several directions thereabout given he condemns their disorderly practise in respect of this important Duty and Priviledge ver 26. and gives direction touching its regular performance and this he doth first generally ver 26. Let all things be done to edifying which with a little alteration he re-presses ver 40. Let all things be done decently and in order Secondly Particularly by telling them how they ought to manage this affair in a way of Decency Order and Edification wherein several Rules are comprized too long to be here insisted on as in cases of speaking in an unknown Tongue ver 27 28. of prophesying by two or three ver 29 30. of the duties of Women with respect thereunto ver 34 35. that from hence a power invested in the Church for the binding of the consciences of men touching ceremonies in Worship should be regularly deduced is the first-born of improbabilities and absurdities 1. Paul speaking by an infallible Spirit of Prophecy advises the Church of Corinth that all things be done decently and in order therefore persons that have not pretend not to such a Spirit may of their own heads bind our consciences by Laws and Rules of their own in the service of God 2. Paul doth not onely tell them that all things ought to be done decently and in order but discovers to them wherein that Decency and
VVorship of England we shall be so far from condemning them therein that we shall bless God for them But this is not to the purpose in hand the attendance of our Brethren upon the Ministry of England is quite another thing that requires other Arguments for its support than we have hitherto met with Parvas habet spes Troja si Tales habet Object 3. Paul rejoyceth at the Preaching of the Gospel though 't was preached out of envy Phil. 1. 15 16. To which briefly 1. There may be cause of rejoycing in respect of the issue and event of things by the wise Providence of God though the means used for their production be evil and not to be abetted or complyed with In what have Christians greater cause of rejoycing than in the death of Christ Yet had it been utterly unlawful to have joyn'd in counsel with or any wayes abetted or encouraged those wicked persons that crucified and slew him Should the Pope send some Jesuits into any remote parts of America to preach the Gosplel to the poor Indians there here were upon some accounts ground of rejoycing yet no ground for Saints to attend upon a Jesuitical Ministry But 2ly it appears not that these Paul speaks of were not true Gospel-Ministers and so it reacheth not the case in hand This being that we have proved the Ministers of England guilty of viz. an acting in the Holy Things of God without any Commission from Christ which when our Dissenting-Brethren prove they have we shall easily acknowledge the lawfulness of attending upon their Ministry 3ly It follows not in the least that these the Apostle speaks of were either not real Saints or not true Ministers of Christ because they are said to preach him out of envy the object whereof was not Christ for had they envied him they would never have preach'd him but Paul thinking says he to add affliction to my bonds which is consistant with Grace and a lawful Mission to the preaching of the Gospel Yet 4thly Here is not in this Scripture the least word requiring Christians to hear them That because Paul rejoyces at their preaching therefore 't is the duty of Saints to attend upon their Ministry is such a Non-sequiter as will never be made good Object 4. The Ministers of England preach Truth and is it not lawful to hear Truth preached We answer 1. That 't is lawful to hear Truth preached is readily granted but this must be done lawfully and in the way of Christ's Appointment 2ly All that preach Truth are not to be heard nor will our dissenting Brethren say they are For 1. There was never yet any Heretical-Preacher in the world but he preached some Truth is it lawful to hear such this will not be said 2. The Devil himself preached Truth yet Christ forbids him and commands that he hold his peace 3. The Popish Priests preach Truth yet who will say 't is lawful to attend upon their Ministry But 3dly As the present Ministers of England preach Truth So 1. They preach it but by halves and dare not for fear of the L. Bishops Inhibition preach any doctrine though never so clearly revealed in the Scriptures and owned by them as the Truth of Christ he commands them not to meddle with 2. The main Truths they preach at least many of them are contradicted in their practice They 'l tell you that the Lord Jesus is the great Prophet and King of his Church but how palpably this is contradicted by them in their practice conforming to Institutions and Laws that are not of his prescription who sees not This we have already abundantly demonstrated 3. With the Truth they preach they mingle many Errors directly contrary to the Scripture and the Revelation Christ hath made of his Will therein Instances of this kind have been already exhibited to which may be added many more we shall mention but a few 1. That the Ministry Worship and Government which Christ hath appointed to his Church is not to be received or joyned unto unless the Magistrates where they are reputed Christian do allow it 2. That the Apocryphal books which have in them Errors 2 Mac. 12. 44 45. 14. 41 42. Eccles 46. 20. Wisd 19. 11. Untruths 2 Esd 14. 21 22 23. 2 Macc. 2. 4-8 Tob. 5. 11 12 13. with 12. 15. Judith 8. 33. 10. 9 with v. 12. 11. 6 12 13 14 15. 1 Mac. 9. 3 18. with 2 Mac. 1. 13 to 17. 9. 1 5 7 9 28 29. Blasphemy Tob. 12. 12 15. with Rom. 8. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Rev. 8. 3 4. Magick Tobit 6. 6 7 8. 9. 2 3. with 3. 7 8. 11. 10 11 13. with 2. 9 10. and contradiction to the Canonical Scriptures Judith 9. 2 3 4. compared with Gen. 49. 5 6 7. Esther in the Apocrypha chap. 12. 5. 15. 9 10. with Ester canonical chap. 6. 3. 5. 2. Eccles 46. 20. with Isa 57. 2. may be used in the Publick Worship of God 3. That the most wicked and their seed may be compelled and received to be members of the Church 4. That Marriage may be forbidden at certain seasons as in Lent Advent Rogation-week c. 5. That Baptism is to be administred with a Cross in the forehead and that as a symbolical sign 6. That though the most notorious obstinate Offenders be partakers of the Lord's Supper yet the people that joyn with them are not defiled thereby 7. That there may be Holy-dayes appointed to the Virgin Mary John Baptist to the Apostles All Saints and Angels together also with Fasts on their Eves on Ember-dayes Fridayes Saturdayes so called heathenishly enough and Lent 8. That the Cope Surplice Tippit Rocket c. are meet and decent Ornaments for the Worship of God and Ministry of the Gospel 9. That the Book of Common-Prayer is the true Worship of God 10. That Christ descended into Hell as if Christ descended into the place of the Damned as the Papists hold 11. That Lord Bishops can give the Holy-Ghost and power to forgive and retain Sins 12. That Altars Candles Organs c. are necessary and useful in the Church of God 13. That all Children †Common-Prayer-Book of Publick Baptism when baptized are regenerate and received by the Lord for his own Children by Adoption Yea 14. That Children being baptized have all things necessary for their Salvation and shall undoubtedly be saved So they profess in the Order of Confirmation in the Common-Prayer-Book with much more that might be offered in this matter Object 5. Judas preached though a wicked man and no doubt 't was lawful yea the duty of Saints to hear him To this we say No doubt but it was so But 1. Judas was not a visible wicked man at the time of his preaching but so close an Hypocrite that he was not known to be so no not to the Disciples But some of the present Ministers of England are visibly wicked and prophane 2. Judas was