â—lders therein is abâ—ue the Apostle aboue the Prophet the Eâ—angâ—list the Pastor the Teaâ—hâ—r euerie particulâ—â—â—lder For the â—oining partaking of â—anie churches togâ—â—hâ—r of the authoritie Vvhich manie haue must needes be greater more Vvaightiâ— â—hâ—n the authoritie of anie siâ—gle person And this alâ—oe ment Paâ—l Vvhere he saith 1. Cor 2. 22. Wee are yours you are Christes Christ is Goâ—es Soe that the Apostle is inferior to the châ—rch the church is inferâ—or to Christ Christ coÌ„cerning his manhood offiâ—e in the church is inferior to God This he iudgâ—d not onelie toe be against the Vvickedâ—eâ— of the bâ—shâ—pes but alâ—o agâ—inst theiâ— Vvhole povver authoritie For if the authoritie of the châ—rch of the forvvaâ—dest breethren or elders therein be aboue the bishopes hovve should it not follovue but that the bishopes maie be commauÌ„ded accused charged bie the church yea also discharged separated as is their desert But novve because of their popish povver canon lavves thei haue lift vpp their authoritie more high theÌ„ the church can take accountes of them not onelie by force do thrust out trouble Vvhome thei list but also raigne as Lordes Dukes in their dioces their authoritie must nedes be vsurped For the Apostles did geue accouÌ„tes to the church of all their doinges as Vve read in the Act. 11. 4. Act 15. 2. 3. Rom. 15 31. But these being got aboue the Apostles Vvill sit in the throne of Christ as Christ is not inferior to the church no more Will thei be For Christ hath choseÌ„ vs saith the scripture not Vve him Ioh. 15 16. therfore he is greater theÌ„ vs all And seiÌ„g the church can not chose the bishopes nor those hirelinges Vvhome the bishopes thurst vppon them therefore theâ— also Vvill be greater then the church Vvith Vvhom then do thei compare them selues in degree but Vvith Christ so make them selues antichristes Nai thei presume further then Christ Vvhich vvouldâ— not thrust his Apostles vooÌ„ anie congregaâ—ioÌ„ nor suffer them to take charge of anie Vvhich did not Vvillinglie receaue theÌ„ Luâ— 10. 10. But these do force vpoÌ„ the people euerie Vvhere in sundrie places against their vvilles not onelie ministers vnknovuÌ„e but also such as are knovueÌ„ to be blind busserdes Vvicked fâ—lloâ—ves idol shâ—pherdes Likevvise Christ hath al rule in his hande as it is Vvritten that vve aâ—e compleat in him Vvhich is the head of all priÌ„cipalitie povver Col. 2. he can not sinne nor offend the lavve of God nor be accused by the same For â—o the â—cripture testifiâ—th that none could reproue him of sinne though he offâ—red him sâ—lfe to them to acâ—use him â—f â—hâ—i could Ioh 8. And he is that high priest as againe it is Vvâ—itten Heb. 7 vvhich is holie harmlesse Vndefiled separate from sinners and made highâ—r thâ—â— thâ— heauens Hovv hâ—gâ— then â—o theâ— lift â—hâ—m selves Vvhich Wâ—ll rule alone aâ— lordes ouer the stoâ—k though thâ— vvord hath saied iâ— shâ—ll not be so Luâ— 22. 26. â— Pet. 5. 3. Wâ—ich vvill be Râ—â—biâ—s Doctors reuerenâ—â—â—â—hers though Vve hâ—ue bâ—t one doctoâ— Father as 〈…〉 hâ—gh 〈…〉 â—at 23. vvhich â—lso tâ—ke vpoÌ„ theÌ„ not as seruauÌ„ts in the hâ—â—â—e as vvas Moâ—â—â— â—â—b 3. 〈…〉 â—ftâ—r him that is soone hâ—ire in his ovvne house saâ—ng thâ—â— vvâ—ll â—ot 〈…〉 raâ—gâ—â—o â—et theÌ„ Lâ—c. 19 14. For theâ— haue refused his gouernment châ—â—en their ovvne popâ—â—h â—â—sciplâ—â—e in steaâ— thereof This appeareth because thâ—y enter takâ— on them their offiâ—eâ— in popâ—sh vvise as â—haâ—â—â—vve praescribeth theÌ„ also do misgâ—id the people by thâ—â—â—opâ—sh tyraâ—nie For vvho knovveth not but that they vvâ—tch for the liuing or byshâ—p â—â—ke vvhen it shall fall then seâ—â—e pâ—ye vvell for the same if they obtaine it â—o are they rauenous vvicked persoÌ„s as saith the câ—pture Zâ—c 3. They are makâ— shâ—ftes troublers seing they rule rathâ—r because they seeke their ovvne aduantage or glorie or â—â—shâ—henous pâ—rpose then the vvelfare benefâ— of the church Yea they all looke to their ovvne vvaye as saiâ—th â—he Prophet Esa 56. 11. euerie one for his aâ—uaÌ„tage for his ovvne pâ—rpose Who knovveâ—h not also but that they vvhiâ—h are not duelie â—eceaued called to guide that by due consent agremeÌ„t they are ether Antichristes in the church or Tyrantes in the common vvelth because they vsâ—rp in the church or commoÌ„vvelth Such are they of vvhom Paul speaketh 2 Cor. 11. 20 that the coriÌ„thians did suffer them to much For they did suffer if a man brought them into bondage if a man deuoured if a maÌ„n tooke if a man exalted him selfe if a man smote them on the face For in deed the people do suffer the bâ—shops though they take from them their lâ—bertie â—f chosing good pastors refusing euill yea they suffer them selues to be robbed beaten by those spiritual courtes they suffer the great vnto vvardnes vvickednes of the byshops to be coloured hidden by their outvvard bragge countenance as by their pomp authoritie tytls povver some times by their fair flattering sermons pleasings For they rule by three sortes of lavves as by the ciuil the canoÌ„ the commoÌ„ lavve vvhich are three kingdomes vnto them or as the Popes triple crovvne by pretending the fourth lavve vvhich is the vvorde of God they ouerrule totoe much they spare not to come vppon the people vvith force povver they care not to bridle them vvith nevv yearly iniunctions alâ—o vvith the ould lavves penalties of the court of Rome While R. B. thought these thinges â—n him selfe he moued the matter diuers times vnto others Some did gainsay those of tâ—e â—orvvardest affirming that the byshops authoritie is tolerable he might take license â—â—â—horitie of them Others of them saide they vvoulde not couÌ„sel nor medle for an other maÌ„â— coÌ„science in that matter but they them selues iudged that the byshops preached the vvoâ—d of God therefore ought not lightlie to be reiected Also they said that seing they had the vvord the sacraments they must needes haue vvithall the church people of God seing this vvas vnder the gouernmeÌ„t of the byshops by means of theÌ„ they could not vvholy condem the byshops but rather â—udge them faultie in some parte Then did R. B. againe againe discusse these matters as he had often before as vvhether the byshopes coulde be saied to preach the vvord of God minister the sacraments or no. For if that vvere trevve then also might they call place ministers seing they them selues did minister so great â— thing as is the vvorde the sacraments they might also minister their help in other thingâ— not so great Therfore to knovve vvhether they preached the vvord of God he searched fouÌ„d by the scriptures vvhat it is to preach the vvord namely to do
then are thei â—ot against Christ that is hovve are thei not antichrists And these things against Christ are not onelie lamentable vvantes among them but alsoe moâ—â— greeuous vvickednes horrible abominations Therefore both to R. H. to the companie that aftervvaâ—d ioined vvere such things spoken as follovve also set dovvne in Vvriting namelie that vve are to forsake denie all vngodlines vviâ—ked fellovveship to refuse all vngodlie communion vvith Vvicked persons For this is it that is most first of all needfull because God vvil receaue none to communion couenant Vvith him Vvhich as yet are at one vvith the Vvicked or do openlie them selues transgresse his commaundementes Novue it vvas shevued theÌ„ that the foundacion of that state is the popes canon lavve the head stones in the building is the povver authoritie of canon officers that therefore thei could not ioine vvith them as in one spirituall building For so is it vvritten Ezr. 4. 2. 3. likâ—vvise other scriptures vvere alleged to this end as Ezr. 6 21. Act. 2 40. Ephe. â— 3. Rom. 16 17 Ioh 10 5 2. Thess 3 14. 2 Cor. 6 17. But because the enimies sought it out deeplie hovue to iustifie all such antichristiaÌ„ offices he taught them herein also to take heed of their leauen For thâ—â— bâ—ing for their vvarâ—ant the Quâ—enes commaunâ—ement Shee appointed them saie thei thei are not novue antichristian but ciuill orders iff you Vvill not haue them to be callinges in the church yet let them be offiâ—es in the common Vvelth For ansvuere hereof it Vvas said that in deed in the parlaments the bishopes had set doune their traditions orders the Queene Vvith the Counsell did agree graunt vnto them But such traditions except thei vvere Warranted bie the Word off God are but the precepts doctrine off â—en And the scripture saâ—th plainlie Hoâ— 5. 11. that Israel is oppressed broken in iudgment because he Willinglâ— vvalcked affter the commaundement that is because mens commaundements Vvere so much made off the Will off the Lord not regarded Therefore saith the Lord in Esa 29 13. because this people come neare vnto me vvith their mouthes honour me vvith their lippes but haue remoued their hart ffrom me and their fâ—eare tovvard me is taught by the precept off men therefore the vvisedom off the vvise men shall perish the vnderstanding off the prudent shall be hid Therefore though thei be nobles or bishopes or vuho so euer yet iff thei reiect the lavve off the Lord for their ovvne traditions vvhat vvisdom is in them Novve vvhereas thei mingle ciuil church offices it vvas ansvvered bi the vvord off God that such mingling vvas flatt antichristianitie For Christ him self refused to be a ciuiliudge diuider of landes Luc 12 14. forbad his apostles to medle in such manner Luc. 22 25. Againe it is vvritten no man that goeth on vvarfare intangleth him selfe vvith the affaires of this life 2. Tim. 2 4. For if once ecclesiasticall persons as thei call them get ciuil offices thei become that second beast vvhich is antichrist Reuel 13 15. For thei get the image off the first beast vvhich is the povver authoritie off vvicked magistrates that confirme their authoritie so thei geue a spirit to the image that it should speake that is their church lavves orders hauing got ciuil povver both to deceaue men bâ— shâ—vve of religion to force them vvith threates and penalties the kingdom ofâ— antichrist doeth mightilie vvorck lift vp it selfe But because thei againe did striue that thei vvere protestantes did but as the martyrs had done before them Thei had sought the Lord sence the time of the martyrs It vvas ansvuered that so saied the aduersaries of Iudah beniamin added further that thei had sacrificed a long time vnto the true god Ezr. 4 2. as these also sai thei haue the vvord the sacameÌ„tes So said the scribes phraises vvhich builded the tombes of the prophets garnished the sepulâ—heres of the righteous Mat. 23. 29 as these also haue vvritten make much of the booke of martyrs saie iff thei hadd bene in the daies of their fathers thei vvould not haue bene partners vvith theÌ„ in the bloud of the martyrs But novve sence the Lord hath called vnto theÌ„ thei refuse to be reformed in so manie greuous pollutions also pursue imprison persecute those vvhich call for redresse euen all the bloud of the righteous shed vpon the earth vntill this daie shall come vpon them Againe vvhereas thei vnderprop vvickednes by regard off times or examples of authorities first for their times it vvas thus ansvvered as it is in Hagg 1 2. This people saie the time is not yet come to build the Lordes house but is it time for you saith the Lord to dvvâ—ll in your seiled houses this house ly vvaâ—â— againe in Esa 5â— 6. â— haâ—e set vvaâ—chmen vpon thi vvalis OserusileÌ„ vvhich all the day â—â— the night coÌ„tinuallâ—â— shâ—ll not cease yee that are â—in of â—ll or the Lord keep not sil nce geue him no rest till he repaire aâ—d vâ—til he set vp â—erusalem the praise of the vvoâ—ld â—lso for their examples authorities of men it Vvas ansvuered as in Eâ—od 23 2 thoâ— shâ—lâ— not follovve a multiâ—u â—e to do euill But further thei alleged the scripture for theâ— selues as vvhere it is vvritten of Paul â— Cor. 3 If â— man buil 〈◊〉 stâ—bble this his vvorck â—urâ—e be shâ—ll lose but he shall be safe him selfe likevvise thâ—â— sai that thei mai build though â—â—perfectlie yet help foâ—vvard the house of God Anâ—â—gaine thei a â—â— that Paul reioâ—â—ed â—f Christ vvas preached though it vvere of â—unie â—â—â—fe Phil. â— Thus by 〈◊〉 shâ—ft â—ges excâ—les thei hâ—de as in a nest their â—ato vvaâ—â—nes 〈◊〉 Tâ—ei 〈◊〉 vâ—â—estle such paâ—kingâ— let them stee vvhen thei list agâ—iâ—e thei can coâ—er thâ—m by suâ—h deep deuises For vvhen Paul speaketh of building haiâ— stâ—bble he rebuketh thâ—ir vaâ—â—e â—hetoâ—â—ck cloquence this he saith shall burne vvâ—th the fier but thei shall be safe iâ— theâ— cease to be vaâ—â— buil â— rightly vpon the foundacion vvherefore for ansvuere of the enimies â—â— vvas saied that if Christ the foundacion vvere vvanting hovve should ether the builder him selfe be safe or his vvorck stand abide Fat Christ is the foundacion being duelâ— preached duely receaued so held 1. Cor. 3. 11. Bâ—t none can hould him vvhich openâ—â— shâ—vv them sâ—â—ues to be the children of bâ—lial And such are thei vvhâ—ch caâ—l so manâ—e grosse corruptâ—oÌ„â— to be that haie stubble laied vpoÌ„ the foundacion For thus do thei iustifie their popish kind of parishâ—s vvhich though thei ouerthroe the true planted churches yet forsooth thei are bâ—â—lt vpon Christ the foundacion Behould their vvortlue building it is made of stravves the bâ—ames be
diuided Hovve many non residents are there gredie dâ—uourers off benefices sâ—ipendes other popish liuings Which are vtterly vnlavvefull because thei are bie tythings vvhich are novve no more to be geuen to the ministerie or biâ— lavves customes vvhich hinder the due placing displacing off ministâ—rs the right libertie off the church therein These a thousand mo abominations haue thei amongst theÌ„ confesse tâ—â—m selues that thei can not redresse them So thâ—i hould one communioÌ„ vvith hoggs dogges euâ—n open vngodlie persons haue no remedie Behould do these men preach Christ vvhâ—ch thus do pâ—ruert the ghospel of Christ For this is the sum of the ghospell of Paules preaching as he him selfe vvittnesseth Act. 20. Râ—pentance tovvardes God faieth tovvardes our Lord Iesus Christ This repeÌ„tance fâ—ith is dâ—nied â—o also Christ his ghospel is cast â—nder foote vvhere such greuous corruptions doe raigne nether his gouernment prophecie can ouersee trie out such fâ—lthâ—nes nor make separation of-cleane and vncleanne not yet by his preisthood anie such â—ncleannes can be clensed avvaie Therefor vve say that these men can not preach Christ truelie but onelie in â—hâ—vve nether can build vpon Christ the foundation for it is not for you saied the lords people but for vs to build the house vnto our god for vve our selues together vvill build it vnto the lord god of Israel Therefore not all builders or preachers are to be receaued or reioyced in but such as in deed do hould the foundacion preach Christ aright for the enuie strife vvhereofâ— Paul speaketh vvas seacret or vvhen it appeared yet it could not and vvas not menifestlye proued therefore such preachinge vvas not against the foundacion But if anie doe vvâ—l fullie presumptuouslye stand in anie opeÌ„ synne â—de same can not hould the foundacion for vvhether the sinne be small or great Mat. 18. if it become open be duelie brought be fore the church the offeÌ„der vvill not heare the church let him be vnto the faieth Christ as an heathen man a publican againe it is vvritten that that man vvhich shall doe presumptuouslie against the voice of the highe preist vvhich figured the voice of Christ Iesus at this daye in his chuch that man shall die dut. 17. And Saul kinge of Israel though he saied he had sinned yet beâ—ause he excused it repented not Samuel vvould not returne to him tyll agaieÌ„ he had saied I haue sinned vvithout excuse 1. Sam. 1â— So thâ—t plainelie it appeareth that Samuel Iudged Saul not to hould the foundacion vvhile he openly excused his sinneâ— for else he vvould not hauÌ„ forsaken his fellovvshipp left him to the shame of the people But Semuels vvords before doe plainly deâ—lare that all open sinne vnrepented stoud in is the ouerthrovv of the foundacion for Rebellion is as the sinne of vvitch craft transgres froÌ„ is vvickednes Idolatrie verse 23. if then vvitches Idolaterrs hould not the foundacioÌ„ suerli noe more doe thei vvhich by ane sinne rebâ—ll transgresse against god vvittingliâ— excuse it as did Saule or vvilâ—fullie presumptuâ—â—â—lâ—e Iustifie it Novv let it be Iudged hov â—ther thei build â—pon the foundacion or hould 〈◊〉 â—â—undacion or preach Christ as thei sai thei doe for this is to lay the foundacion Acts. 8. 12. to preach the thengs that concren thâ—-kingdome of God the naÌ„â— of Iesus Christ this is to ouerthrovve the fouÌ„dacion vvhich vvilfullie thei or vvith persecution outrage thei vphould the abominations of a coÌ„trarie kingdome This is to lay the foundacioâ— Mat 28. to preach Babtise in the name of the Faster teachinge to obserue doe vvhat soe euer saieth Christ I haue commaunded you thâ—s is to ouerthrovv the foundacion to teach a toleration practissing of things vvhich aâ—e coÌ„traie to the vvhole gouernment kingdom of Christ Novv to hould the foundacioÌ„ is to beleeue also receaue that doctrine of Christ in profession practise of life for as soone as thei beleeued thei vvere babtised saieth the text thei continued in the apotles doctrine fellovvship coÌ„munâ—oÌ„ of praâ—ers sacramâ—ts Act. â— yea thei shâ—vved their vvorkes their loue the singlenes of their harts verse 46. Act. 19. vvere seprat froÌ„ that frovvard generation it is vvritten thâ—t if aâ—ie man shâ—ll breake of the least commaundemeÌ„ts teach men soe that is shall doe it openlie geâ—e euil example hould Iustâ—fie it in doctraine vvords he shâ—ll be called the least in the kingdom of God Mat. 5. that is hâ— shal be excludede shâ—t out off â—is kingdom And if anie man shall ad or diminish of the vvord of God either by doctrine or by practisse that vvitingli stubburnlie he can not hould the foundacion for Goâ— shâ—ll add vnto hiâ— the plagues that are vvritten Reuel 22. Pro. 30. Therefore sâ—ie noe more ye vvicked preachers that ye hould the fouÌ„dacion or that ye preach for vvhat is it vvorth to saie vnto Christ haile King of the Ievves bovve the knee be fore him vvhâ— you cast your filthie disorders popish gouernment as dougne on his face you haue not yet gathered the people froÌ„ the Popish parishes vvicked fellovvshâ—p nether â—aue planted the church by layinge the foundacion thereof â—or here by is the foundacion â—ried vvhen vVe make hould the couenant vvith the Lord to be vnder hâ—s gouernment vvhen vve haue the povver of the Lord as it is vvritten Cor. 1. 5. amongst vs the sâ—pter of Christ Iesus amongst vs. But these doe hould the vvhep the svvord of Popish excomuÌ„ication They are vvithout the Lords couenant vvithout his gouernmeÌ„t Thei haue alltogether corrupted their vvaies thei haue broken the yoake Burste the bands in sunder for euen those vvhich can be none of Christ church abidnge in such vvickednes are cheefe in their churches soe farr are thei from buâ—ldinge of gould tymbere together vvith hay stubble that thei put fier to the better tymber tuÌ„ble dovvne the better stones to ouerthâ—vve the Lords buildinge Thus haue thei an ansvvere of those places of the. 1. Phil 1 Cor. 3. vvhich is this that â—hir vviâ—kednes abominacion is more greuous then that can be counted the Infirmitie of speaking toe eloquentlie or of enuie vvhich is secrett or of a conâ—eâ—tious mynd THE ORDER AGREED ON FOR THE GIVDING establishing of the companie in all Godlines such like This doctrine before being shevved to the companie openlie preached a mong them â—â—uie did agree thâ—reto though much trouble persecution did follovve yet some did cleaue fast to the trueth but some Fâ—ll avvâ—iâ— â—â—o vvhen triall by puâ—suites losses imprisonment caÌ„e further increaâ—ed 〈◊〉 Robert Bâ—rker Nâ—colas vvoâ—â—ovves Tatsâ—l Bond soÌ„e othâ—rs for sooke vs also hâ—lâ— baâ—k â— vvere afraied at the first