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A56167 A fvll reply to Certaine briefe observations and anti-queries on Master Prynnes twelve questions about church-government wherein the frivolousnesse, falseness, and grosse mistakes of this anonymous answerer (ashamed of his name) and his weak grounds for independency, and separation, are modestly discovered, reselled : together with certaine briefe animadversions on Mr. Iohn Goodwins Theomachia, in justification of independency examined, and of the ecclesisticall jurisdiction and rights of Parliament, which he fights against / by William Prynne ... Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1644 (1644) Wing P3967; ESTC R3868 34,873 26

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but_o only_o real_a visible_a saint_n be_v there_o no_o usurer_n oppressor_n corrupt_a dealer_n covetous_a proud_a malicious_a uncharitable_a censorious_a person_n no_o apparent_a hypocrite_n or_o dissembler_n yea_o be_v there_o not_o many_o sin_n and_o corruption_n in_o the_o best_a the_o choice_a of_o all_o your_o member_n who_o can_v depart_v away_o or_o quite_o separate_v themselves_o from_o their_o *_o 15_o own_o bosom_n corruption_n as_o there_o be_v and_o will_v be_v in_o the_o best_a of_o man_n during_o their_o mortality_n if_o your_o independent_a congregation_n consist_v of_o such_o member_n as_o these_o of_o man_n subject_a to_o like_o passion_n sin_n infirmity_n as_o other_o in_o presbyterial_a church_n what_o then_o be_v become_v of_o this_o your_o reason_n and_o principal_a ground_n of_o independency_n or_o rather_o separation_n or_o brownism_n its_o ancient_a proper_a title_n you_o may_v lay_v it_o up_o in_o lavender_n for_o another_o world_n but_o can_v make_v no_o use_n of_o it_o in_o this_o where_o you_o can_v so_o much_o as_o dream_v of_o a_o church_n of_o real_a saint_n without_o any_o mixture_n of_o corruption_n and_o therefore_o rather_o than_o separate_v or_o leave_v we_o in_o a_o p●…lt_n because_o you_o can_v have_v your_o will_n in_o all_o thing_n you_o shall_v with_o bless_a paul_n as_o tender-conscienced_a no_o doubt_n as_o any_o of_o you_o and_o a_o lawful_a pattern_n for_o your_o imitation_n *_o 24_o to_o the_o jew_n become_v as_o jew_n that_o you_o may_v gain_v the_o jew_n to_o they_o that_o be_v under_o the_o law_n as_o under_o the_o law_n that_o you_o may_v gain_v they_o that_o be_v under_o the_o law_n to_o they_o that_o be_v without_o law_n as_o be_v not_o without_o law_n to_o god_n but_o under_o the_o law_n to_o christ_n that_o you_o may_v gain_v they_o who_o be_v without_o law_n to_o the_o weak_a you_o shall_v become_v as_o weak_a that_o you_o may_v gain_v the_o weak_a yea_o be_v make_v all_o thing_n to_o all_o man_n that_o you_o may_v by_o all_o mean_n gain_v some_o which_o how_o far_o you_o in_o your_o new_a way_n be_v from_o let_v all_o man_n judge_n 3._o for_o his_o answer_n to_o that_o of_o act_n 15._o all_o age_n church_n till_o this_o present_a have_v hold_v it_o both_o a_o express_a warrant_n and_o precedent_n for_o the_o lawfulness_n usefulness_n of_o national_a and_o provincial_n synod_n to_o determine_v difference_n in_o religion_n which_o particular_a church_n person_n can_v decide_v and_o make_v necessary_a canon_n for_o church-affair_n neither_o can_v all_o his_o shift_n elude_v it_o to_o his_o first_o and_o second_o reason_n or_o rather_o evasion_n i_o answer_v it_o be_v clear_a by_o act._n 15._o 2._o that_o the_o church_n of_o antioch_n itself_o can_v not_o decide_v the_o question_n nor_o paul_n nor_o barnabas_n satisfactory_o determine_v it_o so_o far_o as_o to_o quiet_v all_o party_n and_o therefore_o they_o send_v delegate_n to_o the_o apostle_n and_o elder_n at_o jerusalem_n there_o 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say_v that_o though_o this_o meeting_n be_v occasional_a yet_o it_o i●…_z a_o sufficient_a warrant_n for_o general_a meeting_n which_o be_v usua●…ly_o call_v only_o upon_o special_a occasion_n of_o moment_n in_o it_o there_o be_v a_o general_a assemble_n of_o all_o the_o apostle_n elder_n and_o brethren_n at_o jerusalem_n where_o there_o be_v then_o divers_a particular_a congregation_n as_o our_o assembly_n long_o since_o resolve_v from_o act_n 2._o 6._o 41_o 42_o 46_o 47._o c._n 4._o 4._o c._n 5._o 14_o 15_o 16_o 42._o c._n 6._o 1._o to_o 9_o c._n 8._o 2_o 3_o 4._o c._n 11._o 1_o 2._o c._n 12._o 12_o 13._o c._n 21._o 17_o 18_o 23_o 22._o which_o if_o independent_n deny_v than_o they_o must_v prove_v that_o all_o the_o apostle_n and_o elder_n at_o jerusalem_n be_v pastor_n but_o of_o oneand_a the_o selfsame_a individual_a congregation_n and_o than_o what_o become_v of_o their_o independent_a church_n which_o have_v no_o apostle_n and_o only_o one_o pastor_n but_o scarce_o any_o elder_n in_o they_o who_o upon_o this_o special_a and_o some_o other_o public_a occasion_n meet_v all_o together_o and_o that_o not_o to_o advise_v only_o but_o determine_v and_o resolve_v as_o be_v evident_a by_o verse_n 6._o to_o 32._o c._n 16._o 4._o c._n 21._o 25._o which_o compare_v with_o the_o text_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n in_o the_o margin_n of_o my_o quere_n where_o we_o find_v frequent_a national_a general_a assembly_n synod_n or_o parliament_n if_o i_o may_v so_o style_v they_o among_o the_o israelite_n prescribe_v appoint_v by_o god_n and_o no_o way_n contradict_v revoke_v under_o the_o gospel_n determine_v †_o 32._o all_o ecclesiastical_a controversy_n settle_v order_v all_o church-affair_n matter_n concerning_o the_o ark_n temple_n sacrifice_n passover_n priest_n national_a covenant_n fasting-day_n festival_n suppression_n of_o idolatry_n false-worship_n relic_n of_o idolatry_n and_o the_o like_a be_v a_o impregnable_a evidence_n of_o the_o lawfulness_n of_o national_a synod_n parliament_n assembly_n in_o all_o christian_a kingdom_n republic_n upon_o the_o like_a occasion_n and_o that_o they_o be_v endue_v with_o equivalent_a authority_n there_o be_v no_o one_o text_n in_o the_o old_a or_o new_a testament_n nor_o any_o shadow_n of_o reason_n but_o mee●…_n shift_n or_o obs●…inacy_n of_o spirit_n against_o public_a govetment_n order_n and_o authority_n to_o control_v it_o if_o any_o pretend_v they_o do_v it_o only_o out_o of_o consci●…nce_n if_o they_o will_v but_o serious_o gauge_v their_o own_o deceitful_a heart_n i_o fear_v their_o conscience_n will_v prove_v but_o wilfulness_n have_v neithe●…_n precept_n pre●…dent_a nor_o right_a reason_n to_o direct_v it_o so_o as_o i_o may_v true_o 〈◊〉_d his_o own_o calumny_n against_o i_o on_o he_o and_o he_o that_o his_o and_o their_o own_o name_n will_n or_o opinion_n be_v their_o only_a argument_n against_o this_o shine_a truth_n which_o all_o age_n church_n have_v acknowledge_v ratify_v practise_v without_o the_o least_o dispute_n 9_o to_o my_o nine_o quere_n and_o argument_n in_o it_o he_o return_v nothing_o worthy_a reply_n but_o upon_o this_o petitio_fw-la principii_fw-la or_o beg_v of_o the_o thing_n dispute_v that_o the_o scripture_n and_o apostle_n have_v prescribe_v a_o set_a form_n of_o government_n in_o all_o after_o ●…ges_n for_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n which_o he_o neither_o can_v nor_o endeavour_n to_o prove_v and_o that_o church_n in_o the_o apostle_n day_n be_v independent_a though_o doubtless_o all_o church_n be_v then_o subject_a to_o the_o apostle_n law_n orde●…s_n edict_n decision_n though_o no_o immediate_a minister_n or_o pastor_n of_o they_o as_o appear_v by_o their_o epistle_n to_o they_o therefore_o not_o independent_a so_o as_o my_o argument_n hold_v firm_a and_o his_o answer_n weak_a as_o for_o his_o retort_a argument_n that_o the_o scripture_n be_v write_v in_o the_o infancy_n of_o the_o church_n therefore_o wise_a and_o better_a scripture_n may_v be_v write_v now_o it_o be_v a_o blasphemous_a and_o absurd_a conclusion_n they_o be_v all_o writ_n by_o the_o spirit_n and_o inspiration_n of_o god_n himself_o the_o very_a *_o 13._o a●…cient_a of_o day_n who_o have_v neither_o infancy_n nor_o imperfection_n as_o the_o church_n have_v to_o his_o second_o objection_n that_o i_o will_v needs_o make_v a_o national_a church_n state_n more_o perfect_a understanding_n and_o wise_a than_o a_o congregational_a i_o f●…are_v be_v not_o to_o aver_v it●…_n since_o warrant_v by_o *_o 4._o direct_a scriptu●…e_n and_o since_o yourselves_o must_v grant_v that_o the_o church_n under_o the_o law_n be_v more_o perfect_a than_o that_o before_o it_o the_o church_n under_o the_o gospel_n more_o perfect_a than_o under_o the_o law_n and_o the_o church_n under_o the_o gospel_n at_o the_o end_n of_o the_o apostle_n day_n when_o furnish_v with_o more_o divine_a knowledge_n scripture_n gospel_n officer_n and_o rule_n of_o faith_n manner_n
use_v this_o expression_n only_o to_o blame_v they_o for_o go_v to_o law_n before_o heathen_a not_o christian_a judge_n for_o secular_a matter_n vers._n 1._o 6_o 7._o such_o independent_a argument_n will_v but_o ill_o support_v your_o independent_a fabric_n 11_o to_o my_o 11._o quere_n he_o give_v only_o a_o negative_a answer_n and_o then_o declaim_v against_o presbytery_n without_o ground_n or_o reason_n but_o because_o i_o have_v prove_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o he_o deny_v in_o my_o independency_n examine_v and_o in_o some_o follow_a page_n i_o shall_v not_o trouble_v you_o with_o any_o further_a proof_n except_o these_o two_o particular_n 1._o that_o independency_n be_v in_o reality_n mere_a separation_n and_o brownism_n late_o christen_v with_o this_o new_a title_n to_o take_v off_o its_o odium_fw-la and_o if_o so_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o it_o be_v a_o nursery_n of_o schism_n sectary_n etc._n etc._n 2._o that_o we_o find_v by_o woeful_a experience_n what_o bloody_a division_n war_n schism_n the_o toleration_n but_o of_o one_o religion_n and_o sect_n in_o our_o realm_n contrary_a to_o that_o establish_a to_o wit_v popery_n and_o papist_n have_v produce_v in_o all_o our_o dominion_n to_o their_o imminent_a danger_n and_o almost_o utter_a ruin_n what_o then_o will_v the_o free_a permission_n of_o many_o independent_a different_a form_n of_o church_n sectary_n do_v will_v it_o not_o produce_v many_o more_o trouble_n danger_n war_n schism_n than_o we_o have_v hitherto_o feel_v yea_o if_o every_o man_n ought_v to_o have_v freedom_n of_o conscience_n to_o vent_v what_o opinion_n and_o set_v up_o what_o government_n he_o deem_v most_o conformable_a to_o the_o word_n in_o his_o own_o private_a fancy_n you_o must_v indulge_v papist_n this_o liberty_n as_o well_o as_o other_o and_o then_o how_o soon_o will_v they_o overrun_v we_o for_o the_o future_a how_o just_o can_v we_o take_v up_o arm_n to_o suppress_v they_o for_o the_o present_a consider_v serious_o of_o these_o and_o other_o public_a mischief_n of_o your_o way_n and_o that_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n you_o so_o much_o contest_v for_o which_o in_o truth_n be_v nothing_o but_o mere_a lawlessness_n or_o licentiousness_n to_o do_v *_o 25._o what_o seem_v good_a in_o your_o own_o eye_n as_o if_o there_o be_v no_o king_n in_o israel_n without_o respect_n to_o the_o public_a peace_n weal_n or_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o then_o happy_o you_o may_v in_o time_n discern_v recant_v your_o error_n 12_o to_o my_o twelve_n quere_n he_o only_a answer_n that_o i_o fall_v a_o jeer_n of_o my_o brethren_n a_o palpable_a untruth_n and_o that_o i_o put_v a_o nickname_n on_o they_o to_o make_v they_o odious_a to_o wit_n the_o title_n of_o independent_n which_o they_o disclaim_v not_o answer_v one_o syllable_n to_o the_o substance_n of_o the_o question_n to_o which_o i_o reply_v first_o that_o the_o title_n of_o independency_n of_o which_o you_o be_v now_o ashamed_a be_v at_o first_o assume_v approve_v by_o yourselves_o and_o many_o of_o your_o party_n do_v still_o own_o though_o some_o disclaim_v it_o of_o purpose_n to_o evade_v the_o title_n of_o separatist_n and_o brownist_n with_o who_o you_o real_o concur_v in_o practice_n beside_o you_o very_o well_o know_v that_o this_o title_n be_v impose_v on_o and_o own_v by_o you_o long_o before_o i_o write_v therefore_o i_o can_v not_o father_n this_o brat_n upon_o you_o but_o if_o you_o be_v offend_v with_o this_o name_n i_o desire_v you_o in_o your_o next_o pamphlet_n to_o discover_v to_o we_o your_o own_o christian_a name_n with_o the_o true_a title_n of_o your_o party_n and_o the_o government_n you_o plead_v for_o as_o the_o only_a way_n of_o christ_n institution_n all_o which_o you_o have_v hitherto_o conceal_v and_o then_o god_n willing_a i_o shall_v give_v you_o a_o further_a answer_n to_o this_o cavil_n or_o retract_v this_o title_n till_o then_o i_o must_v inform_v you_o that_o it_o most_o proper_a for_o your_o party_n who_o will_v have_v every_o one_o of_o your_o own_o private_a congregation_n a_o complete_a absolute_a corporation_n exempr_v from_o unsubject_v to_o independent_a on_o any_o other_o be_v it_o a_o national_a synodal_a provincial_n parochial_a assembly_n parliament_n or_o king_n themselves_o in_o any_o church-affair_n you_o must_v therefore_o still_o retain_v this_o title_n while_o you_o maintain_v such_o paradox_n both_o in_o opinion_n practice_n and_o that_o by_o mere_a independent_a inference_n as_o just_o appropriate_v to_o you_o conveniunt_fw-la rebus_fw-la nomina_fw-la saepe_fw-la suis_fw-la be_v never_o more_o exact_o verify_v then_o in_o this_o your_o suitable_a name_n but_o you_o object_n first_o that_o you_o be_v accountable_a for_o your_o action_n to_o every_o neighbour_n church_n that_o shall_v in_o the_o name_n of_o christ_n require_v it_o second_o that_o you_o stand_v not_o independent_a from_o but_o hold_v communion_n with_o all_o other_o church_n both_o in_o the_o ordinance_n and_o in_o ask_v counsel_n and_o advice_n mutual_o to_o the_o first_o i_o answer_v 1._o that_o if_o you_o be_v accountable_a for_o your_o action_n to_o every_o particular_a neighbour_n church_n t●…n_n why_o not_o much_o more_o to_o a_o synod_n or_o parliament_n who_o ecclesiastical_a jurisdiction_n over_o you_o or_o your_o church_n be_v deny_v by_o you_o second_o if_o you_o be_v thus_o accountable_a to_o every_o neighbour_n church_n do_v you_o intend_v it_o of_o parochial_a episcopal_a or_o presbyterial_a church_n as_o well_o as_o independent_a or_o of_o independent_a only_o if_o of_o independent_a only_o as_o i_o suppose_v you_o do_v than_o you_o appeal_v only_o to_o church_n of_o your_o own_o party_n frame_n judgement_n and_o make_v one_o of_o they_o subordinate_a accountable_a to_o another_o but_o not_o to_o any_o other_o church_n which_o be_v a_o apparent_a schism_n separation_n from_o all_o other_o church_n and_o contradict_v your_o second_o objection_n if_o of_o all_o other_o sort_n of_o church_n as_o well_o as_o independent_a you_o must_v either_o grant_v they_o true_a church_n of_o christ_n and_o then_o you_o have_v no_o ground_n to_o sever_v from_o they_o or_o if_o false_a or_o no_o true_a church_n of_o christ_n as_o you_o in_o truth_n repute_v they_o then_o by_o your_o own_o principle_n they_o be_v no_o competent_a judge_n of_o ecclesiastical_a affair_n nor_o you_o accountable_a to_o they_o three_o how_o i_o pray_v do_v you_o hold_v yourselves_o accountable_a to_o every_o neighbour_n church_n by_o way_n of_o subordination_n correction_n or_o just_a appeal_n that_o i_o be_o certain_a you_o will_v deny_v or_o only_o by_o way_n of_o voluntary_a information_n and_o satisfaction_n when_o require_v which_o i_o conceive_v you_o mean_v if_o so_o only_o than_o this_o be_v proper_o no_o account_n at_o all_o or_o but_o arbitrary_a at_o most_o which_o you_o may_v deny_v if_o you_o please_v and_o if_o you_o err_v or_o prove_v faulty_a or_o refractory_a this_o neighbour_n church_n can_v but_o admonish_v not_o enforce_v you_o to_o correct_v your_o error_n or_o injustice_n and_o so_o this_o will_v prove_v but_o a_o mere_a mockery_n in_o stead_n of_o a_o account_n to_o the_o second_o i_o answer_v that_o if_o you_o stand_v not_o independent_a from_o other_o church_n but_o hold_v communion_n with_o they_o in_o ordinance_n and_o in_o mutual_a counsel_n and_o advice_n then_o 1._o why_o do_v you_o separate_v from_o they_o as_o no_o true_a church_n and_o oppose_v their_o way_n of_o government_n with_o so_o much_o bitterness_n second_o why_o do_v you_o refuse_v to_o administer_v baptism_n and_o the_o lord_n supper_n to_o those_o who_o be_v their_o member_n in_o your_o church_n unless_o they_o be_v profess_v member_n of_o some_o independent_a congregation_n three_o why_o do_v you_o not_o follow_v their_o advice_n counsel_n or_o the_o parliament_n synod_n admonition_n and_o submit_v thereto_o who_o now_o earnest_o persuade_v you_o from_o your_o way_n of_o separation_n division_n in_o these_o distract_a time_n the_o end_n of_o demand_v good_a counsel_n and_o advice_n be_v but_o to_o follow_v not_o reject_v it_o where_o there_o be_v humility_n ingenuity_n or_o sincerity_n in_o those_o who_o ask_v it_o you_o must_v therefore_o either_o disclaim_v these_o object_a concession_n or_o become_v more_o tractable_a for_o the_o future_a 4._o you_o tell_v we_o in_o the_o next_o succeed_a line_n that_o neither_o i_o nor_o synod_n nor_o this_o synod_n be_v infallible_a but_o as_o subject_a to_o error_n as_o other_o and_o that_o never_o †_o such_o more_o dangerous_a error_n have_v be_v confirm_v then_o by_o synod_n and_o therefore_o man_n be_v not_o bind_v in_o conscience_n to_o their_o decree_n upon_o penalty_n of_o sin_n arrogancy_n etc._n etc._n but_o pray_v sir_n may_v not_o you_o and_o your_o independent_a minister_n church_n err_v as_o well_o as_o other_o be_v infallibility_n annex_v only_o to_o your_o private_a chair_n conventicle_n if_o