is counted one of the six foūdations principles of faith there rehearsed Which then requireth that also the whole outward spiritual administration and government of Christes Church now must be such yea and the forme it selfe of the visible politicall Church must then be a foundation of Religion a principle of christian faith ordinarily necessary forever unchangeable by men Wee doe not here think that all who of simplicitie doe erre in this foundation and principle of faith are of necessitie damned We are not of so rigid and severe an opinion But we therefore hold it as a foundation and principle of faith because it is ordinarily necessarie to salvation and forever unchangeable by men Thus standeth our faith in these pointes so that they which hold contrarily to wit that these things are but circumstances in Religion accidents ordayneable and changeable by men even from one forme to another doe as we believe erre greatly from the trueth Of Christs true visible politicall Church in more speciall manner 4. Wee believe that the nature essence of Christs true visible that is politicall Church under the Gospell is a free congregation of Christians for the service of God or a true spirituall bodie politike cōteyning no more ordinary Cōgregations but one and that independent Wherein chiefly 2. pointes are to be noted First that a true visible politicall Church under the Gospell is but one ordinary Congregation And this is to be seene plainely in these scriptures Math. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4.12.13 1 Cor. 11.18.20 1 Cor. 14.23 Againe Act. 1.15 Act. 2.1.44 Act. 6.2.3.5.6 Act. 15.22.25 Also Act. 14.27 Act. 15.30 Moreover Act. 20.28 Act. 14.23 Gal. 1.2.21 2 Cor. 8.1 Rom. 16.1 c. The second point here to be noted is That by Gods ordinance this one ordinary congregation of Christians is a spirituall bodie politike and so it is a free congregation independent That is It hath from God the right and power of spirituall Administration and Government in it selfe and over it selfe by the common and free consent of the people independently and immediately under Christ alwayes in the best order they can Which these places doe prove Mat. 18.17.19 1 Cor. 5.12.13 10.15 7.23 2 Cor. 2.8 2 Thes 3.6.14 Act. 6.3.5.6 Act. 14.23 Act. 1.23.26 Act. 15.22.25 1 Thes 5.21 1 Ioh. 4.1 Rom. 16.17 Coll. 4.17.2 3 Io. 10. Gal. 1.9 Gal. 5.1 Gal. 4.26 Of Synods and Councells 5. Howbeit we acknowledge with all that there may be and that on occasion there ought to be on earth a consociatiō of Congregations or Churches namely by way of Synods but not a subordination or surely not a subjection of the congregations under any higher spirituall authoritie absolute save onely Christs and the holy Scriptures They who deny this mainteyning a Diocesan and Provinciall and neither wee nor they themselves know what universall visible politicall Church both proper and representative doe herein vary farr from the rule of the Gospell Of a Catholike or Vniversall Church politike that is indued with power of outward spirituall Government 6. It is demanded doe wee deny an Universall visible Church under the Gospell Wee answer yea Under the Gospell Christ never instituted nor had any one Universall visible Church that is Politicall either proper or representative which ordinarily was to exercise spirituall outward government over all persons through the world professing Christianity No such Church say wee is found in all the new Testament Therefore we now cannot acknowledge any such Of a Provinciall Church independent 7. It is marveyled why we likewise deny that under the Gospell there is any true visible politicall Church Provinciall or Diocesan seing so we shall deny a true visible politicall Church to be now in England because the English Church as commonly it is holden is properly a Diocesan and Provinciall or a Nationall visible politicall Church We answere For our parts we acknowledge there are many true visible yea politicall Churches in England in some degree in some respect yet indeed we deny also a Nationall a Provinciall Diocesan Church under the Gospell to be a true visible politicall Church whether wee meane the whole body or the representative part of such Churches though the publike practise among us doth hould them for true politicall Churches The reason why wee deny these also is Because neither any such is found any where set downe in Gods word of the new Testament even like as there is no Universall Church visible politicall there set downe But onely a free Congregation or ordinary Assembly is found in the new Testament as a litle before is shewed How true visible politike Churches are in England 8. And touching the true visible politicall Churches which we acknowledge are in England wee professe and declare in this manner Namely that each company of true visible Christians associated togither in one place viz. a Parish and professing to serve God according to his will in faith and order so farr as they knowe such as there are many in England the same is a true visible politicall Church in some respect that is Though not in respect of the order of the state unless indirectly and by accident to it after which they walke and under which they stand in spirituall bondage yet in Christ directly they are free And so directly and essentially they are a true politicall Church as they are a company of true visible Christians united by their owne consent to serve God as a litle before is noted And thus they have free power of spirituall outward governmēt among themselves though they professedly practise it not But esteeming them by Gods word in their direct practise state according to the publike proceedings they are not a true politicall Church nor free directly as they stand under and joyned to the L. Bishops spirituall dominion over them Which bondage and want of spirituall freedome in themselves our godly people generally see not nor this That in right from Christ they have this freedome to be exempted from the unlawfull domination of the L. Bishops aforesayd Neither think they so upon this matter as they ought and as the perill of their soules requireth Howbeit yet all this as ‡ Prov. 25 18. 17.15 we judge doth not simply disanull that peoples being true visible Christians with us so long as herein they erre but of ignorance nor the assemblies from being true visible politicall Churches in some respect and degree as before is shewed And therefore we cōmunicate also with them on occasion as before likewise is signified viz. while in such communicating wee countenance out no evill thing in them which in many places and many times we need not doe Whereof we shall presently see further in Art 11. following Of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops Diocesan and Provinciall 9. Wee believe that the spirituall office calling and power and administration of L. Archbishops and L. Bishops
by such extreame perill of further infection especially if they doe long tolerate the same among them Insomuch that what soule soever in such a Church state desireth to be in safety ought with all diligence to leave that spirituall societie wherein he standeth thus and joyne to a better Seing under the Gospell there are more free societies of Christians mo visible Churches politike then one in a Country and some more sincere then some And all true Christians are cōmanded of God to keepe their owne soules sound and cleare from contagion which is unpossible to be done ordinarily for any long time where the visible Churches constitution is so commingled of bad and good of open prophane and godly togither for who can carry fire in his bosome and his clothes not be burnt And who can touch pitch and not be defiled therewith And who can escape but in a while a litle Leaven will leaven the whole lump much more will it so come to passe where there is a great quantitie of Leavē for a litle Dowe as now with us it is wherefore in such an inevitable present danger of our soules doubtlesse we ought to leave the worse societie and to enjoy one that is may be sincere For by no meanes may we dare to be of | Eph. 2.12 no visible Ministeriall Church if but 2. or 3. where we live can be gotten to consent and joyne togeither in the name of Christ and in the freedome of Gods word Of Traditions humane 16. Wee believe all Ecclesiasticall unwritten Traditions and Ordinances of men being no circumstances nor accidents are now under the Gospell even like as they were under the Law untruthes and false positions and errors in the worship of God And that simply we ought not to be present in the practising of them unlesse we might conveniently reprove the same Wee much mislike therefore those who hould at least some such to be now in these times both tolerable and profitable in Gods worship Nay we believe all Ordinances freely and voluntarily instituted in the exercise of religion to be indeed and so to be rightly named Gods worship either true or false being as they are the proper matter contents and parts of the second cōmandement in the decalogue which also before is signified in the secōd Article This doctrine they who admit not doe erre not a little even in the very nature and definition it selfe of the sayd worship of God and in the kindes and parts thereof we meane of Gods instituted worship Some particulars of these unwritten Traditions are a Catholike Church politike a Provinciall politike church independent the proper Offices of their government and the Forme and parts thereof Beside these also are The Cope and Surplice the Crosse in Baptisme Kneeling in the Communion and the like All which being in Gods worship and pertinent to it in speciall wise and meerely of mens voluntary institution we therefore renounce and doe utterly condemne as mens inventions spirituall and will worship Of Traditions Apostolike 17. We believe that every ordinance or institution Apostolike and that must unto us out of holy Seripture be proved to be so is divine that is to say of divine Authority instituted of God simply unchangeable by men and such that of right it ought to be used perpetually universally among Christians unlesse God himselfe by his owne worke doe let it and make it voide They therefore doe erre much who hould that it is rightfully in the Churches power to alter and take away some thing which hath been of spirituall and ecclesiasticall use appointed by the very Apostles and that mentioned in the holy Scripture And they also erre no lesse who say that something truely Apostolike may be proved so to be by Traditions onely without Scripture Of Prophesie as the Apostle calleth it 18. Wee believe that the sober discreet orderly and well governed exercise of expounding and applying the Scriptures in the Congregation by the Apostle called Prophesying allowed expressly by him to any understanding member of the Church but ‡ 1 Cor. 14.34 v. 1.39 and vers 31. women is lawfull now convenient profitable yea sometime very necessary also in diverse respectes The Churches order and allowance therein for each particular person so imployed being first had For it being lawfull privately by | 1 Thes 5.11 1 Pet. 4.10 private motion it must needs be more lawfull in pub-like when it is seene needfull by the Church and is performed under the Churches order direction and judgement Of the reading of Homilies in the Church 19. Wee believe that with us the reading of Homilies in divine service is not lawfull but very unmeete for the congregation of the faithfull namely where it is held for competent without the imployment of a preaching Pastor where as a Pastors diligent discreet and judicious preaching and applying of Gods word is the power of God unto salvatiō ordinarily Neither doth every of the allowed Homilies in every pointe conteyne godly doctrine Of Christs descending into Hell 20. After the usuall and cōmon sense of this English word Hell we believe that in the Creed this point is not rightly translated where it is sayd Christ being dead descended into Hell For the Scripture sayth onely and so likewise doe the originall words in the Creed signify that he was then under the power of death And was in the place where all other the godly deceased were And that is all Of Prayer 21. Wee believe concerning prayer that though every †2 Chrō 29. 30. Psalm 102. 92. Mat. 26.30 forme of prayer prescribed by men be not absolutely nor simply a sinne neither as we judge an Idol nor an invention of man nor a transgression of the 2. commandement yet wee constantly avouch and professe a prescribed Leiturgy or a booke of common prayer by cōmandement inforced upon a whole Church rightly constituted to be used still in the very same words whensoever they assemble in comparison of other praying is not so profitable but rather hurtfull in many users of it as making holy zeale true piety sincere godlynes and other giftes of Gods Spirit in many of them to languish namely where it is made necessary and in perpetuall use and when it is so long as that the reading of it over taketh up the whole time fit for one usuall meeting to divine service And therefore we cannot think it any way cōvenient for our selves nor meete to be imposed or to be so received in any well constituted Churches much lesse to be imposed on a whole nation least of all upon all Churches of the world The new Testament teacheth no such matter neither troubleth it selfe with indeavouring an uniformity in this point but leaveth all Churches herein to their godly liberty wisedome understanding and diligent consideration of themselves Besides such prescribed Leiturges were never used in any māner among Christians till late after Christ The soonest was after 300. yeares
Cor. 16.1.2 Cōcerning the gathering for the Saincts as he ordeyned in the Churches of Galatia also viz. Every first day of the weeke let every one put aside by himself and lay up as God hath prospered him This shewing what the Apostle then required of thē for an occasionall reliefe of other brethren farr off from them doth shew more that he requireth them thus to doe for their owne constant ordinary and necessary supportation maintenance Of Tithes the Pastors fittest and due and necessary maintenance 26. Wee believe that Tithes for the Pastors maintenance under the Gospell are not the just and due meanes thereof Howbeit yet we doe not think these Tithes absolutely unlawfull if they remaine voluntary but when they are made necessary we think them not so lawfull The same doe we judge also of whatsoever other set maintenance for ministers of the Gospell established by temporall Lawes We graunt for the Ministers security such established maintenāce is best but for preserving due freedome in the Congregation sincerity in Religion and sanctity in the whole flock the Congregations voluntary conscionable contribution for their Pastors sustenance and maintenance is doubtless the safest and most approved nay it seemeth the onely way wherewith the Apostles caused their times to be content neither did they take care for other order herein which certainely they would and should have done if other order had been better Onely they are carefull and that very religiously commanding all Churches of conscience and duety to God to give not sparingly but liberally and not as almes but as duety for the upholding advancing and countenancing of the holy worship and service of God which is either much strengthened or weakened much honoured or abased amongst men according as the Pastors maintenance is To this end tendeth that which is written †1 Cor. 9.7.9.11.14 Who goeth a warfare at any time on his owne cost Thou shalt not muzzel the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corne If wee have sowne unto you spirituall things is it a great thing is wee reap your carnal things God hath ordeyned that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospel or else a people herein negligent * Mal. 3.8.9 robbeth spoileth their God will a man spoile his God Wherefore †Prov. 3.9 honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruites of all your increase and | Gal. 6.6 let him that is taught in the word make him that taught him partaker of all his goods Also every one as hee soweth †v. 7. so hee shall reape And ‡ Deut. 16.16 none may appeare before the Lord emptie By all which it is manifest that Almighty God commandeth the people to mainteyn with their goods their ministers And in the Gospell their maintenance to be free yet honest liberall and plentifull that * 2 Chrō 31.4 they may be incouraged in the way of the Lord. Of the civil Magistrates duety and charge to oversee and order his Churches in spirituall matters 27. Wee believe that we and all true visible Churches ought to be overseene and kept in good order and peace ought to be governed under Christ both supreamely and also subordinately by the Civill Magistrate yea in causes of religion when need is By which rightfull power of his he ought to cherish preferre the godly and religious and to punish as truth and right shall require the untractable and unreasonable Howbeit yet alwayes but Civilly And therefore we from our hart most humblie doe desire that our gracious soveraigne King would himselfe so farr as he seeth good and further by some fubstituted †Supplicat for Tolerat p. 8.12 civill Magistrate under him in clemency take this speciall oversight and government of us to whose ordering and protection wee most humbly commit our selves acknowledging that because we want the use of this divine ordinance That therefore most greate and infinite evills both to us and even to the whole kingdome doth ensue and also because of the spirituall Lords their governmēt over us And notwithstāding the spirituall Lords ‡ Ibid. pag. 12. doe think it injury and wrong to themselves not small if the King should substitute civill Magistrates to this busines yet as it is sayd that is Gods owne ordinance and to doe otherwise namely to commit either spirituall or civill government viz. Diocesan or provinciall to Ministers of the word is evill and as we believe a direct transgression of the text of the Gospell above rehearsed in Artic. 4.10.24 Touching the necessity that lyeth upon us to obey Christ rather then man in our using of the true and in refusing the contrary ecclesiasticall ordinances above specified 28. Wee believe that by the word of God all Christians are bound each one for his own part to keepe observe actually and perpetually the Affirmative ecclesiasticall Commandements and ordinances in the Gospell as well as the Negative That is so farre as one person sufficeth to performe the same singly by himselfe he ought so to doe where some number are required are ready for the observing of any such Commandement there each christian which can be present with other standeth bound to give his consent to make one with them therein Alwayes after the bestorder they can and namely that maine order which is in the Gospell notwithstanding whatsoever mans forbidding or whatsoever affliction in the world should followe upon it But that touching the use of Christs visible politicall Church under the Gospell viz. A free independēt c̄ogregatiō prescribed in Mat. 18.17 is such an Affirmative Cōmandmēt Ordinance Mat. 18.17 and it agreeth to that order afore named as wee see in the Scriptures alleaged for the 2. point in the 4. Article Therefore every Christian is bound by Gods word to keepe and observe the same perpetually so as is before declared And namely this all are commanded occasiō requiring viz. to tell such a Church and to heare such a Church Therefore all are commanded and stand bound by Gods word so as before is declared perpetually to have such a Church and to be members of it first Further all simply are cōmanded * Mat. 28.20 to doe whatsoever Christ commanded the Apostles and to †1 Thes 5.21 try all things and to hold fast that which is good And to ‡ 1 Joh. 4.1 try the spirites whether they be of God And | Rom. 16.17 brethren marke them diligently which cause dessentions and offences besides the doctrine which yee have learned and avoid them These duties we may very well doe according to that true order above noted if we enjoy such a visible Church a free Congregation as is before described But wanting such a Church it is not possible for us to doe them which any good order as is shewed Therefore we all are simply commanded to enjoy and use an independent Church exercising spirituall