discourse as a second branch of the last particular First sum up all that hath been said touching this Primitive Ecclesiasticall constitution of government in a compendious form as it was then held forth And then secondly the grounds and reasons of the first defection and Apostacle from the same And lastly propound some means to re-estate the same in its former pureness As for the first I thinke I cannot doe better then only word for word to circumscribe what that Author hath set down touching the same in the Shrill cry where after he had shewed that the Covenant did not require conformity to a Nationall Church because the word of God acknowledgeth no other but that one visible Catholike Church which is in all Nations dispersed into congregations and families that Congregation then saith he or family wheresoever it is that in matter form doctrine or disciplin shal conform to theprimitive institution that must needs be the purest Church which we are bound by Covenant to hold forth in these Nations and that is conceived to be this when at the first by the preaching the sincere word of the Gospel so many as heard it that were convinced of their lost estate by reason of sin were incited therby publickly to professe repentance from dead works and faith towards God through the Lord Jesus desiring thereupon to bee baptized into the visible Church and under his Government to obey both in doctrine and discipline what they shall clearly be perswaded to bee his will and for that end frequently to meete in their severall Assemblies and there orderly and decently exercise each others gifts for the edification one of another in their most holy faith that so upon very good experience had upon such gifts they might out of themselves and for themselves successively choose as they stood in need Pastors and other Officers as they conceived necessary to the well-being and governing those who had voluntarily submitted themselves therunto So that then doubtles this constitution would have continued as a patterne to all succeeding Congregations Those extraordinary Messengers only excepted that by their Miracles shewed their authority from God to lay this foundation and prescribe the forme for this spirituall building Thus far the Shrill Cry But for the second touching the first grounds of apostacy its evident that from those very times this defection began the Apostle John testifying that there was then many Antichrists which by their carriages doctrines and cunning practices did deny the comming of Christ in the flesh which was in truth no lesse then to deny both the Father and the Son for he that doth deny the end of Christs comming which was to redeem inlighten fanctifie rule and governe his Church after his own mind doth in effect deny his very comming as also both father and son and is a very Antichrist To this also the Apostle Paul gives testimony that then this mistery of iniquity began to worke which first appeared in the defection and apostacy of some of those instruments that were first intrusted and furnished with ability to preach the word which afterward through a Satanicall pride and corruption in judgement began to fall off from the true Apostles usurping authority not onely over them but to reigne as Kings over the consciences of the Brethren whom then they did in the next place Secondly seduce from the sincerity of the Gospell pretending yet to be the Apostles of Christ which Paul calls notwithstanding false Apostles Ministers of Sathan transformed into the appearance of Angels of light because indeed they had a zeale for God after the righteousnesse of the law but not according to knowledge in that they could not distinguish between that active and passive righteousnesse of the Law and Gospell the one requiring and exacting obedience when it gives no power to performe the other freely giving a power to performe more than it at all times requires an exact performance to Besides from the womb of this error proceeded many more for as in the Law so in the Gospell there is such a concatination of Gospel truths that an error in one foundation truth causeth the like in others So that by falling off to the Law though they did professe faith in Christ They had no benefit thereby through the neglect of the Gospel either of an effectuall vocation justification true Sanctification or glorificaon which was only in this as Gods way to be found The Apostle to the Gallatians testifying that notwithstanding their profession of faith in Christ in that they preferred mans righteousnesse before Gods they were yet in their sins Christs death was in vaine to them And that all his benefits should profit them nothing which is as was said all one to them as if they had denyed Christs comming in the flesh And then thirdly having lost the purity of the Gospell they fell also from the forme and discipline of the same preferring circumcision before baptisme not assembling themselves as formerly refusing communion and fellowship with those purer Churches dispising and contemning those Sacraments which presented the benefits of Christs body and blood insomuch as the Apostle said in way of reproofe that if a temporall death followed the breach of one of Moses Laws how much shall he bee guilty of a sorer punishement which by the neglect of Gospell truths and Ordinances trample under foot the blood of the Sonne of God Finally After this corruption in doctrine there was so great a departure from the faith that ther followed as universal a corruption in manners and then the man of Sinne the Antichrist not long after came indeed to be revealed whose onely worke was to set himself against and above Christ in all his gospell-ministrations confounding all primitive order and forme both of doctrine and discipline admitting none but himselfe and his corrupt Clergy to be sole Judges in matters of faith which did assume to themselves onely the name of the holy Church that so he might the better sit in the consciences of those hee calls the Laiety as if it belonged not to them either to know or receive any benefit by Christ through a faith of their own over which he did so lord it that he compelled them contrary to their owne light implicitly to beleeve and obey many times those things that were both contrary to nature Law and Gospel Which together with many more horrid abominations that for brevity sake is here remitted So then by this such a thick and close darknes covered the eyes of the people that very few had in those dayes any true understanding in the mistery of the Gospell the Gospell then being turned into the Law and other humane traditions And when that darkenesse began a little to be expeld about Luthers time yet by and by after there was againe such a confused mixture of the Law and Gospell that it was hard to say which was either Which * Luther indeed prophetically foretold should come to passe through
body c must be dead because of sinne when the spirit is to live for a better righteousnesse sake And so I come to the second particular the Government Ecclesiasticall which imediately receded the other in the Infancy thereof The instruments and formes whereof hath also beene various before the time of Christs fleshly presence the reason of which was the good pleasure of the Fathers will the divine mystery of his Grace since revealed to us in the fullnesse of time for the most part hid in d him whose dispensations works alwayes appeare most perfect in the end During the infancy and minority of the mysticall body of Christ the Church then begun it seemed good to him here and there to enlighten and by a secret and inward call to seperate and segregate from the Common masse of mankinde such as should hold forth according to the measure of faith then dispenced the word of life That in divers wayes manners e and formes of discipline were made instrumentall in their generations to congregate as time and place afforded the children of truth Gradually first preparing and then through union of affection couching them in their due place as so many pollished stones upon that precious corner and first foundation stone of the spirituall Temple Christ Jesus I purpose not here for brevity sake to write severally of the particular Formes in those Ages past but rather with the * Authour of that forenamed Pamphlet I shall fall in with his Method in that Forme since as a Government for us more practically imitable It was evident then according to Scripture when the full time appoynted of the Father for the spirituall liberty and age of the Church was come He sent forth his Sonne into the world cloathing him with humane flesh and in the substance and shape of man put him under the Law That in his pure flesh in mans stead and for his benefit he might actively and passively performe what God or man by any Law could possibly require and though he knew no sinne neither was a transgressor of any Law yet he being instrumentall in the Creation of man the first and supreme * head of man by relation a * brother to man and by a peculiar right had an interest in man it was both just and reasonable that he onely as the fittest person should principally transact the affaires of man and for that end he was by God in the behalfe of all fallen man imputed a sinner numbred amongst transgressors made a curse by suffering upon the Crosse as a Thiefe and Murtherer that so thorough this Gods peculiar ordinance and acceptance he might no more remember or punish eternally the transgressions committed against the first Testament as also to give a sure ground of future hope that the bodies of the faithfull one day shall be perfectly redeemed from the power of sinne death and the Devill unto which by a righteous sentence they became with others most miserably captivated with all to give good assurance to all such by the death and sealing bloodshed of this Sonne of God which was appoynted to be both the testator and Mediator of the new Covenant t eternally stablished upon sure promises their spirits once cleansed from the filth and guilt of the old May now by a new and living way thorough the vaile of his flesh have a free passage into the most holy Sanctuary and presence of our heavenly Father in the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God and for that end this our great high Priest and Apostle of that faith which wee should professe during the time of his abode upon earth he made it his own because the Fathers worke to dispence light according to his will in matters of this Nature that so by it he might publiquely gather unto himselfe all those children of God that were capable Subjects for an audible administration and for that cause he was pleased to elect not onely twelve principall but many others to whom he did impart those mysteries that they might afterwards as good Disciples and Scribes before instructed communicate the same Upon whom after his ascention he poured out his spirit in the dispensation of extraordinary gifts that so by them the foundation begunne and forme prescribed for such a sprituall structure might successively be carried on in all succeeding times untill the very top stone should be layed and grace grace cryed thereunto It s easily conceived then by that 's past who were the Mr. workemen and what was the matter for this building but for evincing a double mistake in our pretended Mr. Builders It s necessary the matter of it be a little further considered It being affirmed by some on the one hand that all persons in a Nation yea infants are fit materialls for this Caelestiall Fabricke The folly of which opinion appeareth in that it is not onely contrary to the practice and direct precept but also the true nature and end of this institution by Christ Besides what benefit can acrew to Infants and others almost as uncapable to be made Members by any initiating ordinance since they are in no capacity through naturall weakenesse visibly to doe or receive any good neither hath God at any time or anywhere as is falsly by them premised engaged through an unwarrantable use of Baptisme to wash away originall sinne Regenerate visibly unite to himselfe and save Infants for why then doth not answerable effects follow Time quickly shewing that many thousands so baptized become Abhominable and Reprobate to every good worke Strange therefore it is to see how these men have been pusled to evade the cleare light of this Scripture Go discipline and baptise and that other Scripture he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but to these persons it seemeth fulfilled if they injoyne others to professe faith for them which visibly have none as if one mans bare profession which is not probably reall were with God meritoriously saving for others in like manner are they pusled about Circumcision which they say Baptisme cometh in the roome of when its clear to them which wil understand that Circumcision was no initiating ordinance for a Church and Gospel fellowship It being but a signe of an externall Covenant and stipulation made with Abraham and his Seed for a revive of the first Testament touching a civill and unblameable conversation in the flesh For sayth God my Covenant shall be in your g flesh So that all Israel after the flesh by the Law gendering to bondage were not Israel after the spirit borne of the free woman gendering to a spirituall liberty And this I am induced verily to believe for these Reasons viz. First Because all those that partook of Circumcision by Scripture proof were rigedly bound to a personall and perpetuall performance of the Morall Law in reference to the outward man h which our Saviour yet testifieth none of them did * keepe nor indeed could as
rejoycing to bring their glory to it casting their Crownes at the feet thereof as a due hommage to this eternall Excellency * Thirdly they may sweetly ecco in this to pray for rejoye in and wishing well to the prosperity and peace of each other And Fourthly They may be unanimous in this namely to assist and preserve each other in their distinct sphere and equipage so that God as supream may have his due and man as subordinate his Fiftly and lastly That they may and ought to assent in this that each person in respect of his outward man is under the command approbation and punishment of a Civill state as it shall act publickly for the good or to the apparent prejudice of the same when at the same time the inward in matters of faith as they concerne another life is under the command approbation or punishment of the Church whereof he is a Member As it shal publickly act for the good or the apparent prejudice thereof Thus having past the second I come to the third Well then as for the lawfull authority of those Governours that through the over ruling hand of the most high we are at this present under I dispute not Of which those that are doubtfull and desire to be informed may do well to read that forementioned * sheet or two which perfectly speaks my judgement therein This premised I proceed to the third and last generall head of this discourse namely first to present by way of proposal to our Honourable Worthies some probable meanes whereby their Government may be comfortable to themselves and prosperous to the people And here with the beloved Disciple John I shall minde them of that which was from the beginning according to that which hath already been in part shewed that is to say First that they would aime at the same end in all transactions which God did in the Primitive Institution of a Civil Government which briefly was this that they would be ten Commandement Magistrates giving God and man his due after the two Tables according to nature and reason Secondly for pursuing of which because not ubiquitarie Jethroes counsel might be taken to chuse out in the Nation men fearing God hating covetousnesse which in their places may judge and determine lesser matters Thirdly that accordingly as at first there may be a Government not onely Magisticall but sympatheticall and impartiall That so it be not endangered to split upon the Rock either of a just calumny or a pusillanimious contempt Fourthly That for the protection and praise of them that doe well they would take notice of evill doers disturbers of publick peace to make them exemplary for the same which principally now are the * irreverent impatient restlesse Levellers * or pretended Reverend Ministerial * Presbyters The first of which upon what male contented ground or tumor I know not indeavour machevile and Jesuite like to divide and distract and as much as in them lyes to confound the Councells of our experienced grave and honourable Sennators out of a pretended Jealousie before tryall made after all their winnowing may probably betray their trust which to me certainly neither the law of Nature God or Nations ever gave private persons such a power to anticipate and prejudge the transactions in dubious matters of their supreame Governour which doubtlesse must needs have more knowledge through experience in the affairs of State then the most extraordinary private spirit amongst the giddy multitud And as for those other which pretend to be Sacred calling themselves Ambassadors of Christ which if they were indeed They would never speak reproachfully evil of the rulers of the people as they do in Pulpits and did in their late Letter to the General and Officers of the Army a Paper in it selfe most salfe and scandalous since those that they asperse are publicke persons And themselves though presumed publick are in civill things private which if no more were said it was a sufficient answer to their Letter Againe if it should be admitted that the supream Governours and those under them intrusted * now in being were an usurped power and not agreeing with the law of the Land as they falsly insert yet Gods bare permission of such a power were ground enough not only of submission but their prayers also If the precept of the Apostle Paul be by them thought imitably practicall But these men presume doubtlesse of a more extraordinary spirit like the Prophets of old taking upon them to reprove Magistrates which they by visions many times confirmed by miracles they had an immediate Mission Those being the Gods to whom peculiarly the word of God then was sent Which if they can prove such a calling they shall be no more private but publicke persons To whom not only Magistrates but all others in doubtfull exigences should repaire as to the divine Oracles of God But seeing they cannot It is not a groundlesse or doubtfull title of an Ambassador or Gospel-minister that in case of a publicke civill breach of conscience towards men that should free them from punishment when yet liberty of conscience in doubtfull matters of faith towards God remaine still as a Rock unmoveable Therefore I verily thinke the day of Gods just visitation spoken of in Hosea is come upon these men in that hee hath given up these deviners and spirituall persons to a dog-raging madnes each pretended Prophet like fools not knowing the seasons interchangeable workings of the Almighty But I spare them as objects for our pitty and Prayers rather then envie since through their words already which every where frets like a Gangreen this their madness is in a manner seen and known of all men Fiftly and lastly the way to promote a blessed settlement in the Civill State is for our Honourable Rulers not as Magistrates by any coercive power to settle an Ecclesiastical * government But as Christians eminent in their places through a prudent and godly example to improve their utmost abilities to restore the Church to her former beauty and then shall they be indeed the Repairers of the Antichristian breach and restorers of the ancient paths for Saints to walke in so shall God blesse their government with Potiphar for a Josephs sake and as he did the house of Obed Edom for the Arks sake But it will be demanded what is the government neerest to the word of God since one saith here it is others there and some that there is none at all I have already shewed that God in all ages hath had a visible Church and that cannot be without a goverement although it hath not been alike alwaies in forme nor visibility but as for that visibility of a Nationall Church it having neither matter nor form according to the Primitive Institution it s a government more in name then in reallity the times of the Apostles being then our pattern I shall therefore in this last Series of my
conclude these things being of so great importance although for brevity sake I can but touch each particular here inserted Let us every one now in our severall places and callings lay aside all envie and bitterness superfluity of naughtiness that so through meekness and love we may promote the good of Church and State so shall God be our King and dwell amongst us and blesse us so that we need not to fear if the whole earth were gathered together against us since he is an all-sufficient refuge to his people as by good experience we have already found but if we still go on perversly and oppose him in making factions to carry on private Interests against his peculiar Interest which is the good and wellfare of this Church and State in the behalf of his Saints he will certainly break us to peeces so as we shall be a scorn and by word to Nations O then that our governours would act their part herein for who knowes but they might bee distinguished and separated thus unexpectedly from their brethren and exalted to the high place of judicature for such a time and season and work as this which if they shall not now as wise and godly men improve they and their houses shall certainly perish when yet deliverance shall come to Gods people some other way Secondly I wish also that all Royallists which hath seen the hand of God lifted up against them and their King not withstanding all faire glosses on foule matters would now sit downe and consider these are the dayes of Christs exaltation in his Saints to whom belongeth not only the Kingdome but the greatnesse of the Kingdome for ever and ever Thirdly I desire that all Levellers which in most of their requests hath been already satisfyed that they would not now goe about to destroy what formerly they have indeavoured to * build but rather quietly sit down and see what gradually God will doe amongst us Fourthly That all Presbyters that are so violent for a Government as indeed one there ought to bee would comply in this which is conceived to be nearest to the Word of God which in many particulars agreeth with that by them held forth And then Fifthly By this I suppose our Brethren of Scotland that cry up the Covenant as a thing not in any humane power to dissolve will be satisfyed since Sectaries by them so spoken against are in the right way suppressed yet is that wch they cal through ignorance heresie the true way of worshiping the God of our Fathers But I wish they had alike performed the Convenant with us the letter of which is either conditionall in referrence to the King or other Delinquents or with restrictions touching Reformation in the Church c. besides why not in man to dissolve Since that which is not in his lawfull power to do namely rashly to mix sacred things with prophane must needs be in his power upon more serious thoughts to undo neither is there any condition to make this Covenant perpetuall as I read in the fame But surely Scotland will no through their sence of the Covenant pick a quarrel and ungratefully invade their brethren in England which if the Lord who hath showed himselfe on our side will againe I doubt nor decide the controversie Lastly By such Government the civill State will bee settled Antichrist destroyed prophane converted the Gentiles fulnesse accomplished the Jewes through emulation thereat restored and so then Christs second comming will bee hastened Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly FINIS a Heb. 9. v. 1. b Rom. 3. v. 23. c Rom. 8. v. 10. d 1 Cor. 2. v. 6 7. e Heb. i. v. 1. * Shrill cry * Heb. 2. 6. 7. 8. * Ver. 13. 14 t Heb. 9. 15. g Gen. 17. ver. 13. h Gal. 5. 2. * Ioh. 4. 19. 23. i Colos. 2. v. 11. 12. 13. A good note for a timely instruction of children Isay 42. ver. 22 * Rom. 6. v. 9 10 11. l For want of a true distinguishing of these natures litâ—le of the Scriptures and heavenly mistery of the gospel is understood m For if God had intended to passe a sentence of an eternall death on this breach since it was pronounced peremptorily without any condition of faith in a promise which if God had been true of his word a thing not to be disputed man necessarily then had in both natures eternally perished It was the earthly part then that lay under that temporall sentence which before one thousand yeers Gods day it perfectly expired from which first sentence it was hourely declining besides this also appeareth in that the satisfaction was made in the flesh of Christ which through the Union was not without extream anguish of spirit Rom. 8. Hebr. 10. and elsewhere * After the manner of men Ezek. 34. Zach. 11. chapters worthy to be observed of all such as are intrusted with the care of Souls * Isay 60 to the end * Shrill Cry * Despiseâ—s of authority * Not considerable * More considerable in respect of place * The General Hosea 9. More like then a raâ—ionall or Christian spirit * A thing hateful to God as derogatory ro his word and spirit he standing in no need at all of man much lesse a forced obedience especially in spirituall matters * In Com. on Gal. pag. 201. and elsewhere â— Tim. 3. 1. c. In reference to humane learning And now if yet Baptisme shall not be thought fit to bee an initiaâ—ion into the Church which doubtlebe is the ordinance of Christ of which no Christian ought to be ashamed for if he had commanded a greater thing should it not have been obeyed much more then wash and be clean however let such as are convinced be permitted their Liberty and let a publike profession at least of repentance from dead works c. be a note of distinction from the multitude that so there being an agreement iu all things else there may be an harmonious Communion in this Nation in all the Churches of the Saints * Upon which ground it were to be wished the civill State first secured liberty of conscience in matters of faith may be no more bought and sold either in England or Ireland This I speake not out of love to Popery hatefull to God and good men but out of love to this truth that gives Christ this honor to destroy the man of sin by the word of his mouth and brightnesse of his glory it is permission then not a toleration is desired as the best way also to a civill peace * That is to say the Councel of State and the Parliament which if dissolved before security of a new election may be dangerous