with Babels cup if the people of God should not at his commaundment depart out of Babylon without staying till there were some Churches to lay open her abominations before her face and to censure her for them Every one of Gods people ought in such case aÌ„d estate to deliver theyr own soule and to be as an hee-goat before the rest to lead them the way out of Babel So far ought we to be from bringing balme to cure her or abiding in her vnder any pretence least if we should still take part in her sinnes we should in the ende drinck also of the cup of her sorrowes When Israel stood in defection should Eliah have committed like transgression with them pretending they had not ben censured by other Churches When Iudah stood in apostasy should the disciples of God among whom the Law was sealed vp have walked in the way of the rest of the people till by some Churches they had ben censured Finally when Antichrist that man of sinne hath made deparâ—ure from the faith aÌ„d obedience of Christ should the people of God beleev his lyes and please themselves in the decâ—ivablenes of his vnrighteousnes till he be censured by others Suerly the Scripture teacheth and the people of God in all ages have taken another course as we also must do at this day vnles we set light both of obeying Gods commaundment which chargeth vs to depart out of every false Church aÌ„d of vndergoing his wrath which he will powre vpon all that have spirituall communion with any such Hos. 4. 15. Amos. 4. 4. 5. 6. and 5. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11 and 18. 4. 5. Let them therefore eyther prove the constitution of theyr Church to be a true one according to the TestameÌ„t of Christ or els let them know that we must depart from theÌ„ aÌ„d every false Church though they had never ben putt in mynd by any other Churches or Christians of theyr Antichristian estate This might suffice though there were no more to be said in this matter But now what will Mr H. say to the multitude of Christians in our own countrey that have testifyed against theyr Antichristian constitution even to imprsonment banishment and death it self Or because the testimâ—ny of our own countreymen is litle regarded with them what will he say to the publik profession and practise of the reformed Churches abroad who thereby have sufficiently advertised England and all other people so walking of theyr fearfull estate And because he saith here the best reformed Churches have not onely not ceÌ„sured theÌ„ but also account theyr Church a Sister and give her the right hand of fellovvship it will be good in this place to consider what the publik confession and estate of those Churches is thereby to see whether they and the Church of England be in deed sisters of one Mother and ioyned together in the fellowship of one faith and obedience of Christ as Mr H. and others generally would beare vs in hand First therefore on the one hand we fynd that the reformed Churches do hold and publikly professe that it is the part and duty of every faithfull man to separate himself according to Gods vvord from all those vvhich are vvithout the Church aÌ„d to couple himself to the company of the faithfull whom they describe to be such as submit theÌ„selves to the doctrine aÌ„d discipline of the Church appointed by Christ vvheresoever God hath placed it yea though the coÌ„trary edicts of Princes aÌ„d Magistrates do forbid them vpoÌ„ payne of death Now on the other hand when we look at the estate of the Church of England first we can not fynd it to consist of a company of faithfull people so separated according to the word of God and the vse of the reformed Churches but to stand in confusion of all sorts of people good and bad even of the greatest persecuters and most profane of the land after the maner of Antichrist and his Babylonish assemblyes secondly we cannot see that notwithstanding the prohibition of Princes and Magistrates they submitt themselves to the doctrine and discipline of the Church appoynted by Christ but that they stand in subiection to the ministery aÌ„d discipline of Antichrist Wherevpon it followeth that in this constitution they cannot iustly be deemed a Sister of the reformed Churches abroad but of the daughters of the great Babylon spoken of in the book of the Revelation chap. 17. Next towching the Ministery and government which Christ hath given to his Church the reformed Churches beleeve and professe that the true CHVRCH ought to be governed by that regiment or discipline which our Lord Iesus hath established to witt so that there be in it Pastors Elders and Deacons That all true Pastors in what place soever they be placed have the same and aequall authority among them selves given vnto them vnder Iesus Christ the onely head and the chief and alone vniversall Bishop And that the Ministers Elders and deacons ought to be called to those theyr functions aÌ„d by the lawfull election of the Church to be advaunced into those roomes earnest prayer being made vnto God and after the order and maner which is sett down vnto vs in the word of God And on the other side towching the new ministeryes brought into the Church and devised by men as Patriarks Archbishops Suffraganes Metropolitanes Archpriests Deacons Subdeacons and the rest of that sort higher and lower towching all these say they we passe not a rush what they have ben in tymes past or what they are now the Apostles doctrine concerning Ministers sufficeth vs. And no man can by any right forbid vs to returne to the auncient constitution of the Church of God and rather to receyv it then the custome of man And moreover in the Church of Geneva they professe that they detest the Hierarchy as a divolish confusion stablished as it were in despire of God and to the mocking and reproch of all Christian religion Thus we see what the reformed Churches professe to be theyr faith iudgment and practise in these things With which if we compare the present constitution of the ecclesiasticall assemblyes of this land wherein are not onely wanting the aforesaid true offices of Pastors Elders Deacons together with the calling and administration appoynted by Christ and acknowledged by the reformed Churches but are also remayning the false offices and vsurped authority of Archbishoâ—s Lordbishops Deanes Archdeacons Commissaryes Parsons â—icars Priests and the rest of that rable for which these reformed Churches professe they passe not at all and which they have reiected as AntichristiaÌ„ together with theyr popish canons and constitutions if I say we compare these together who cannot see that the reformed Churches are in these things so far from giving to these assemblyes the right hand of fellowship as they do rather with the left hand put them over to Antichrist with whom they communicate and vnto whom
of Antichrist can not be found amongst the vvorst of our ministers For neyther do the lavves of our Church allovv any to teach false doctrine and vve all professe Christ to be the onely lavv giver to the conscience neyther is any thing amongst us vrged to be done vpon payne of damnation but onely the vvord and lavv of God Answer to the 2. Section MAyster H. sayth here he is not vnwilling to yeeld to the first part of the reason Yet afterward in his letter when he hath taken some exception agaynst the prooff off it contradicting himselff he hath these words And this I hope may be sufficient to show how vntrue that is which is affirmed in the first part of the reason c. Now to yeeld to the first part of the reason as being true and to hold that which is affirmed in it to be vntrue what are these but contradictary the one to the other But to let this passe because it may be I mistake his meaning or he forgott himselff I com to show that the words off the Apostle written 2. Thes. 2. 4. c. do fitly and directly proue the first part off the reason and therefore are not for the proof thereof wrested and perverted from the right sence as he taketh exception I prove it thus first If this Scripture teach that such as receyv or ioyne vnto Antichrist that man of sinne in his apostasy opposition and exaltation above all that is called God and that is holy that such I say shall perish because they receyv not the love off the truth but are caryed with a strong delusion to beleev lies and to please themselues in that transgression of the lawes and ordinances off God then it proueth that the people off God may not receyv or ioyne vnto any which deale with the holy things off God aÌ„d work vpon mens coÌ„sciences by vertue off any off that Antichrists power offices and callings because in so doyng they cannot but haue fellowship in that apostasy opposition and exaltation off Antichrist and thereby stand subiect to perish eternally forasmuch as they receyv not the loue off the truth but in a strong delusion please themselues in vntruth and vnrighteousnes even in Antichrists traÌ„sgression off the lawes and ordinances off Iesus Christ. But the former is true as may appeare by comparing together vers 3. 4. 7. 8. with vers 10. 11. 12. Therefore also the latter Next for proof hereoff let us marke how the Apostle describeth Antichrist in this Scripture Which we fynd to be by many mo effects and propertyes then Mr. H. hath noted and such also as do plainely show that this Scripture proveth the truth of the first part of the reason for which it is alledged 1. As first that Antichrist shall make Apostasy and departure from the faith and order off Iesus Christ prescribed to his Church Which whether he haue not done it in the offices of ministery in the entrance into them in the works and maintenance off them aswell as in other poynts off the faith and commaundements of Christ let the things themselues speak 2. Secondly that he shall be a man of sinne Where it is to be obserued that as the true Church of Christ is compared to the body of a man and together with Christ the head thereof is called by the name of Christ 1. Cor 12. 12. so the false Church of Antechrist is compared also to the body of a man and consisting of all the parts together is called a man of sinne even wholy given and caryed to sinne and transgression of the law of God Which as in other parts it is to be seen so also in the offices and functions of that body of Antechrist that man of sinne 3. Thirdly that he shall first work as it were in secrett â—n a mystery by little and litle gaynesaying and corrupting the â—aith and ordinances of Iesus Christ. 4. Fourthly that afterward when that which hindreth â—s taken away he shall then be manifested and at length exalted â—n his throne being in his ministery worship lawes and coÌ„â—titutions opposed against and lifted vp aboue the Lord Iesus â—nd his true faith servants ministery ordinaÌ„ces and all holy â—hings he hath given to his Church 5. Fiftly that he shall thus be exalted not without â—he Church among the heathen or Iewish infidels but in the â—osome of the Church amoÌ„g them that professe Christ so as he â—hall sit in the Temple of God preteÌ„ding that he is as God giving â—les aÌ„d lawes to the consciences of meÌ„ for the service of God 6. Sixtly that he shall be A lawles man who will not 〈◊〉 tyed to the lawes and ordinances off Iesus Christ but will â—spise and opyugne them and sett vp others off his own at â—s pleasure 7. Seventhly that Sathan shall set all his power and cunning as to erect and establish so also to vphold this throne and kingdome of Antichrist And that with such power and lying wonders as if it were possible the very elect should be deceyved 8. Moreover that notwithstanding all the power of Sathan auÌ„d the Apostasy subtilâ—y opposition exaltation and iniquity of the man of sinne yet at length he shall with all his offices and constitutions be vtterly consumed by the spirit and povver of Christ Iesus appearing in the brightnes of his Gospell before the last day Wherevpon also he is here called the sonne of perdition being by God foreappoynted to be destroyed and abolished 9. Finally that they which partake in his apostasy and iniquity shall justly perish because they receyv not the love of the truth to obey Iesus Christ that they might be saved but being strongly deluded beleev and please themselves in the lyes and vnrighteousnes of Antichrist vnto condemnation By all which it appeareth both how vnperfitly Mr. H. hath noted down the marks of Antichrist described in this place and that Antichrist is here described to haue vnlawfull callingâ— and offices For otherwise how should he stand in apostasy from the true callings and offices aswell as from the other ordinances appoynted by Iesus Christ how els should he stand so directly in opposition against and so proudly in exaltation aboue all that is called God and that is holy how should he els be said to be lavvles contemning and treading vnder foot the lawes and commaundements of Iesus Christ Yea how should he els deceyv the world so as he doth in all deceyveablenes of vnrighteousnes if he had not vnlawfull callings and offices wherein to teach and reigne over the people â—educed by him which yet they beleving lyes should count to be lawfull as they do even vnto this day But to let other reasons alone and to take the marks of Antichrist which Mr. H. hath himself here set down I would aske first how Antichrist shall teach his false doctrine which here Mr. H. noteth to be one marke whether in the
ministers pretend to be the ministers of Christ and professe to bring his Gospell with them when as in deed they revile and persecute the true and syâ—cexe practise of it even vnto death Thirdly I aske whether the ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ for his Church vnder the gospell be not asmuch of the foundation as the ministery worship and government appoynted by Moses for the tyme of the law And if they be whether they are not as faithfully sett down by Christ as the other were by Moses and as carefully to be observed by vs as the other were by the Iewes or rather much more in asmuch as Christ the Sonne is worâ—â—â—y of more glory and honour then Moses the servant Fourthly I aske what fundamentall articles of religion Moses and Aar on with the rest of the Iewes ioyning with them held that Corah Dathan Abiramâ— and theyr company held not differing onely from them concerning the office of Priesthood and Ministery thereof a matter of the Discipline as these menâ—call it Yet were they with all that departed not from theyr tents destroyed by the iust iudgment of God The like may be seen in other poynts of the Discipline of the Church in the examples of Nadab and Abihu of â—zziah the priest and of â—zziah the king Which examples of all sorts are written for our learning that people of all estates might know and remember that to obey the temmaundements of God in whatsoever thing he hath enioyned is better then sacrifice and to hearâ—en better then the faâ—â— of rammes whereas disobedience and rebellion against the commaundements of God is as the sinne of witchcraft vnder what pretence soever it be and transgression is wickednes and Idolatry how lightly soever men account thereof Fifthly whereas Mr H. saith there is no Antichrist whose Doctrine is sound I willingly graunt it and have already showed their case to be such Yet with all I wish Mr H. to marke that even Antichrist that man of â—inne professeth many notable truths and foundamentall articles of religion as that there is a God one in essence three in persons the Father Sonne and holy Ghost that Christ is God and Man Prophet Priest and king of his Church that the holy Ghost is present with the Church of Christ to the end of the world that there shall be a resurectioÌ„ of iust and vniust etc. And yet notwithstanding standeth he with all his followers in defection from the truth and obedience of Christ even to destruction By all which is manifest that the verball profession helpeth litle when men in practise and particulars deny that which inword in generall they 〈◊〉 to hold and thereby deâ—â—ive the world as if they held the truth when indeed they fight against it Finally therefore on the one hand vnderstanding by the Discipline of the Church as we ought the auncyent and holy order and ordinances which Christ Iesus by his last Testament hath given to his Church for the administration of his holy things and for the keeping of his people in the obedience of faith and considering on the other hand that Antichrist hath perverted that holy order and made apostasy from those holy lawes advauncing himself and his own constitutions above them and that also in the ministery worship and government of the Church aswell as in other parts thereof it doth and must needs follow herevpon that whosoever do not onely not keep that holy order and appointement of Christ but also bow down to the confusion and false Ministery of Antichrist they stand in Antichrian estate notwithstanding any truths they teach professe or mainteyne So as then the Ministery of the Church of England being never ordeyned by Christ but derived from Antichrist that man of 〈◊〉 it helps them not in this behalf that they teach and receiv much truth therein as we see it helpeth not the papists that theyr priests teach there is a God a Christ an holy Spirit Church a resurrection and many other fundamentall 〈◊〉 of Christian religion as before hath ben said But now let vs come to examine whether in the Scriptures here alledged by Mr H. Antichrist be not described to be against Iesus Christ even in that which they call the discipline of the Church as in other things also agreing to them in theyr estate The first Scripture he alledgeth is out of the prophecy of Daniel The words are these I considered the hornes and behold another home a litle one came vp among them and three of the first hornes were pluckt away before it And loe eyes like the eyes of a man were in that home and a mouth speaking presumptuous things Dan. 7. 8. And he shall speak words against the most High and consume the Saints of the most High and think to alter the tymes and law and they shalbe given into his hand for a tyme and tymes and half a tyme Dan. 7. 25. Now although this Scripture seem first to be vnderstood of Antiochus Epâ—hanes and of his pride and tyranny against the truth and people of God yet may it also fiâ—ly be applyed further and compared with the description of the beast in the RevelatioÌ„ and so with the Antichristian prelacy and priâ—â—â—hood from tyme to tyme. For to omitt other things that might here be observed and to note onely such things as art most evident we see here that horne of the beast described to have eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking presumtuous things Even so the ministers of Antichrist who will needs be the eyes of the people and light of the world pretend to be the ministers of Christ and not that onely but haue also aswell as that horne a mouth speaking presumptuous things even against the most High See it in these particulars following and such like which are rise among them that the true ministery and syncere practise of the Gospell of Christ is schisme heresy fancy rebellion insurrection sedition subversion of the State and what not that Christ the Sonne hath ben lesse faithfull then Moses the servant in setting down any prescript ministery and order for the Church vnder the Gospell perpetually to be kept that Christ who hath all power iâ— heaven and in â—arth is not to be submitted vnto in that ministery order and discipline which he hath given to his Church if Princes on earth forbid or refuse to establish it that the ministery of Antichrist is to be receyved and ioyned vnto being appointed by Christian Princes for the service of God that it is lawfull for others to be Archbishops and Lordbishops over the Church and ministers of the Gospell besides Iesus Christ that a priesthood a stinted number of words and prayers tithes and such like are appointed for the ministery of the Gospell of Christ that Christ shall not reigne over them by his offices and ordinances prescribed in his word that Christ in his soule went down into hell
A TREATISE ⧠Of the Ministery of the Church of England Wherein is handled this question Whether it be to be separated from or joyned vnto Which is discussed in two letters the one written for it the other against it Whervnto is annexed after the preface A brief declaration of the ordinary officers of the Church of Christ And A few positions Also in the end of the treatise Some notes touching the Lordes prayer SEVEN QVESTIONS A table of some principal thinges conteyned in this treatise Trie all thinges keep that vvhich is good 1 Thes. 5. 21. If the Prophets had stood in my counsell then should they have caused my people to heare my vvordes and have turned them from theyr evil vvay and from the vvickednes of theyr inventions 22. Ierem. 23. Lord who hath beleeved our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord reveled Esa. 53. 1. Ioh. 12. 38. Rom. 10. 16. THE PREFACE To the Christian reader grace and peace from Iesus Christ our Lord. GReat strife there is at this day about the ministery of the Church of England vvhether it be the same that Christ hath ordeyned in his Testament or an other And many by conference some also by vvriting have controverted this question There coming to my hands these tvvo Letters follovving the one vvritten in defence of the said ministerie the other as aunsvver therto and disproving the same I have thought them meet and needfull to be published for thy good gentle reader that the truth in this point may appeare Neyther will they that vvrote these thinges blame me for thus doing I trust seing the matter 〈◊〉 off it ovvne nature publik and concerneth al men 2. besides both of them doubtlesse have set dovvne that vvhich they are persvvaded is the truth and vvhich they vvould vvish others vvith them to receyve and follovv 3. and sundry copies especially of the first letter are already spred abroad in vvriting vnto the handes of many The ground and occasion of these letters as I vnderstand and as may be perceived also by the vvritinges themselves vvas this Theâ—e vvas a gentlevvoman imprisoned because she vvould not ioyne vvith the publick ministerie of England in the vvorship of God She being much sollicited to the contrarie gave in vvriting a reason of that her faith and practise to one Mr A H. a minister and a man very learned The reason vvas this as may also be seen 〈◊〉 the letters follovving Whosoever he be that dealeth with the holy thinges of God and worketh vpon the consciences of men by vertue of an Antichristian power office and calling him the people of God ought not to receyue and joyne themselves vnto But al the ministers that stand ouer the Church-assemblyes in England deale with the holy thinges of God and worke vpon mens consciences by vertue of an Antichristian power office and calling Therefore the people of God ought not to receive them or ioyne themselves vnto them VNto this argument Mr H. made aunsvver by a letter vnto her vvhich follovveth The letter she communicated vvith some of her friendes they together advised to get it aunsâ—â—ered vvhich vvas obteyned of one Mr. F Io. prisoner for the same cause vvho also directed 〈◊〉 aunsvver to the foresayd gentlevvoman Both of these vvith some fevv other things are 〈◊〉 set forth for thy benefit good reader that comparing one vvith an other and vveyghing thinges by the vvord of truth thovv maist discerne the right through the helpe of God and 〈◊〉 of his grace vvhich it shalbe thy dutie instantly to crave that so knovving his heaven 〈◊〉 vvil in these things thovv maist also be blessed doing the same Iohn 13. 17. Farevvell Desier the peace of Ierusalem let them be prospered that love thee Let peace be in thy fort tranquillitie in thy pallaces Because of my brethren and my fellow-friendes I will speak now peace in thee Because of the howse of the Lord owr God I will seek-out good for thee Psal. 122. 6. 7. 8. 9. A brief declaration of the ordinary officers of the Church of Christ. The ordinary offices besides the private members had in the Primitive Churches planted by the Apostles were these Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Widowes or Helpers 1 Pastors In the Churches of Ephesus Ephes. 4. 11. 1 Tim. 5. 17. with cap. 1. 3. Rev. 2. 1. Rome Rom. 12. 8. Colosse Col. 1. 7. Corinth 1 Cor. 3. 5. 6. and 12. 8. â—hessalonica 1 Thes. 5. 12. Creta Tit. 1. 7. 8. 9. The dispersed Iewes 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 4 Heb 1â— 7. 17. 2 Teachers In the Churches of Ephesus Ephes. 4. 11. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Rome Rom. 12. 7. Antiochia Act. 13. 1. Corinth 1 Cor. 12. 8. 28. Galatia Gal. 6. 6. Creta Tit. 1. 7. 8. 9. The dispersed Iewes 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 4. Heb. 13. 7. 17. 3 Elders In the Churches of Ephesus Act. 20. 17. 1. Tim. 5. 17. Rome Rom. 12. 8. Ierusalem Act. 11. 30. and 21. 18. Corinth 1 Cor. 12. 28. Thessalonica 1 Thes. 5. 12. 14. The dispersed Iewes Iam. 5. 14. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 4 Deacons In the Churches of Ephesus 1 Tim. 3. 8. with chap. 1. 3. Rome Rom. 12. 8. Ierusalem Act. 6. 2. 3. 5. 6. Philippi Phil. 1. 1. 5 Widowes or Helpers In the Churches of Ephesus 1 Tim. 5. 3. etc. with chap. 1. 3. Rome Rom. 12. 8. Corinth 1 Cor. 12. 28. Cenchrea Rom. 16. 1. The other members of the Church commonly called Brethren the Saints the multitude the flock or by such like name In the Churches of Ephesus Act. 20. 28. with ver 17. Rome Rom. 16. 14. 15. Ierusalem Act. 6. 2. 5. and 15. 22. 23. and 21. 17. 22. Philippi Phil. 1. 1. The dispersed Iewes Iam. 1. 2. Heb. 13. 24. And almost every where throughout the Epistles and Acts of the Apostles The whole body of the Church joyntly together In the Churches of Corinth 1 Cor. 5. 4. and 11. 20 3â— and 12. 27. and 14. 2â— Ierusalem Act. 1. 15. and 15. 22. â—ystra Iconiuâ—â— Antiochia Act. 14. 21. 23. 27. and 15. 3. Ephesus Ephes. 2. 19 22. and 4. 16. Galatia Gal. 12. 1 Cor. 16. 1. Rome Rom. 12. 5. Collosse Col. 2. 5. The dispersed Iewes Iam. 1. 1. with Heb. 13. 24. And so in all other Churches of Christ wheresoever Mat. 18. 17. 1. Cor. 4. 17. and 14. 33. 35. 2 Cor. 8. 19. The Eldership to whom the oversight and guyding of the Church is committed consisting of the teaching and ruling Elders that is of the Pastors Teachers and Elders aforesaid In the Churches of Ephesus 1 Tim. 4. 14. and 5. 17. Act. 20. 17. 28. Ierusalem Act. 15. 4. 6. 22. 23. and 16. 4. and 21. 18. Rome Rom. 12. 7. 8. Iconium â—ystra Antioch Act. 14. 21. 23. Philippi Phil. 1. 1. Thessalonica 1 Thes. 5. 12. 13. 14. Corinth 1 Cor. 12. 28. The dispersed Iewes 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Iam. 5. 14. Heb. 13. 17. 24. And so in the rest of the Churches planted
by the Apostles 1 Cor. 4. 17. with 1 Tim. 5. 17. and 1 Cor. 14. 33. The severall functions and Ministeryes aforesaid hath CHRIST appoynted and set in the Church as Lord and King thereof Vnto them he giveth by his SPIRIT sufficient diversity of gifts aÌ„d ablility for the ordinary works of teaching exhorting governing distributing etc And being GOD he worketh by and in them all to the prayse of his Name and salvation of his elect 1 Cor 12. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 18. 28. and 14. 37. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Mat 18. 17-20 and 28. 18. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. and in the other Scriptures noted before Let like evidence and warrant from the Scriptures be showed for the severall offices and functions now had and exercised in the Church of England Otherwise all men may know they are not from heaven but of men A few positions briefly conteyning the summe of the cause and treatise following 1 THat Iesus Christ is King and Lord of his Church and that all which look for salvation by him are bound to yeeld obedience to him as in all other things which he hath commaunded so also in his ordinance of Ministery Worship and Government prescribed in his Testament and no other Mat. 28. 19. 20 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 15 16. vvith Heb. 5. 9. and 12. 28. 19. 29. Ioh. 3. 36. Gal. 1. 8. 9. and 3. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 5. and 14. 37. 38. Act. 3. 22. 23. and 5. 31. Esa. 60. 12. Rev. 22. 18. 19. 2. That Christ as head and â—ord of his Church hath given vnto it for the instruction guydance and service thereof the offices of Pastors Teachers Elders â—eacons and Helpers together with rules for theyr entrance administration and maintenance Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 15. 16. Rom. 12. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 9. 14. and 12. 28. Act. 6. 2 6 and 14. 23. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. The epistles to Timothy and Titus 3. That the Primitiue Churches were by the Apostles planted in this way and order as being the onely true way and order appoynted by Christ and to be observed to the end of the world Rom. 12. 7. 8 1 Cor. 12. 28. and 14. 37. Act. 6. 2. 6. and 11. 30. and 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. Phil. 1. 1. Col. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Iam. 5. 14. Tit. 1. 5. c. 1 Tim. 3. and. 5. and 6. 13. 14. vvith Rev. 22. 18. 19. Mat. 28. 20. 4. That synce the tyme of the Primitive Churches thus planted Antichrist that man of sinne as was foretold hath made departure from this way and order of Christ not onely in other poynts of doctrine but also in the Ministery â—orship and Government of the Church Wherevpon is come to passe that in stead of the former offices appoynted by Christ haue crept in the Locusts of Antichrist Archbishops Lordbishops ArchdeaeoÌ„s Chauncelors Commissaryes Parsons Vicars Priests and the rest of that â—ort together with theyr new and straunge entrance administration and maintenance 2 Thes. 2. 3. 4. 7 12. Rev. 9. 1 11. and 13. 11 18. and 14. 9. 10. 11. and 18. cap. 1. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. compared vvith the Scriptures alledged in the former positions 5. That the Nations of the earth and this among the rest have ben made drunk with this cup of Babels fornications Whereof whosoever drunketh God hath threatned they shall also drink of the cup of his wrath Rev. 17. 1 5. and 18. 3. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. 12. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11. 6. That this nation hath to the prayse of God and honour of her Maiesty ben purged from many of the abominations and false doctrines of Babylon aforesaid but not from the Prelacy and other Ministery worship and government of the Church by Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons Commissaryes Priests Parsons Deanes Prebendaryes Canons etc. 〈◊〉 is evident by theyr present estate and by these reasons follovving First if all the false ministery worship and tyranny of Antichrist wers in all other places of the world abolished yet so long as this Prelacy and other Clergy and worship aforesaid remayneth in this land Antichrist that sonne of perdition were not vtterly consumed As the Scripture testifyeth he shalbe by the light of the Gospell before Christs comming at the great day 2 Thes. 2. 3. 8. vvith Rev. 14. 6. 7. 8. and 18. 19. and Ierem. 50. and 51. cap. Secondly the Churches of Antichrist cannot be compleet in all the Canonicall functions Prelacy and Ministery of Antichrist if they have not the functions Prelacy and Ministery of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons Priests and the rest now had and retayned in the Land This is proved by the Popes Canons and Pontificall and by theyr Church constitution Thirdly the Churches of Christ may be compleet in the whole ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ to his Church and yet be alway and altogether without the present ministery worship and goverment by Archbshops Lordbishops Archdeacons Priests etc. now had and retayned in this Land This is proved by the constitution of the Primitiue Churches planted by the Apostles Which the Scripture showeth were compleet in the former and yet never had nor knew these latter Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. Act. 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Col. 2. 5. Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 5 9. 1 Tim. 3. and 5. cap. and 6. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 12. Fourthly if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery worship and government ordeyned by Christ in his Church then ought all the Churches of Christ vpon earth to vse the same Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 4. 17. and 12. 5. and 14. 37. Iude. ver 3. Rev. 22. 16. 17. 18. 19. But even the Prelates themselves and theyr Proctors confesse it is and may be otherwise VVhitg in the preface of his last book against T. C. Also the Aunsvver to the Abstâ—act pag. 58. Finally if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ to his Church then might it be found in the word of God But that can it not If any be otherwise mynded let them show the severall offices entrance administration and maintenance of the Prelacy and other Ministery of these assemblyes out of the Scriptures and Testament of Christ. If they speak not according to this vvord it is because there is no light in them Esa. 8. 20. The treatise following conteyned in two letters is divided into ten Sections The first section beginneth pag. 1. The second pag. 5. The third pag. 17. The fourth pag. 44. The fift pag. 59. The sixt pag. 79. The seventh pag. 86. The eight pag. 94. The ninth pag. 106. The tenth pag. 116. ¶ ERRATA Pag. 4. lin 7. for dare read deare Pag. 28. lin 30. for the he is read that he is Pag. 111. lin 43. for what the people read what know
base a conceit of others who advise them better Secondly for yourself well may you think as we all ought that it is no disgrace vnto vs that our knowledg is imperfect and our judgment weak seing the Apostle saith even off himself as of all others now we know but in part and now we see through a glasse darkely Yet also would I desier Mr. H. remember and you to note it for your comfort that God so disposeth for his glory as euen the private members of the true Church yea women are found walking in the truth as we have receyved a commaundement from the Father when many deceyvers though men and in publick office are abroad in the world and false Church which confesse not in truth and in deed Iesus Christ come in the flesh that onely Prophett Priest and king whom God hath giuen to his Church forever Thirdly towching them whom God vsed as his instruments to draw you out off the bypaâ—â—s of these assemblyes into the way of truth wherein you now walk as you have iust cause to blesse God for them so I pray you also regard not so much who they be as what they say And in any case take heed that you never have the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons neyther of Princes nor prelates nor any other though otherwise learned rich or famous any maner way Neyther let the heat of the adversaryes persecution nor the coldnes of the tyme servers swallowing vp all the abominations yet abiding among them nor the love of this present world nor the colourable perswasion of any though never so dare vnto you neyther any other thing whatsoever ensnare you to be wrapped in like errour with them but remember alway as is here well noted vnto you that the written word of God onely is to be the rule of our Life and Religion Lastly concerning Mr. H. who wrote this letter vnto you as you shall do well to take it that he erreth of ignorance and not of malice etc. as he desireth to be taken so of him I would desier for the taking away of this vayle from his eyes that he do heedfully look into the perfitt law of liberty not onely the better to see the filthynes of theyr corruptions that he may avoyd them but to behold also what orders and offices Christ Iesus hath sett in his Church to keep and observ them To which end he shall do well himself to Consider that which here he hath sett down vnto you concerning the writteÌ„ word of God According to which if he shall examine the particulars of theyr Church-constitution of which more God willing hereafter I hope he will no more say in this case that as of syncerity as of God in the sight of God so writeth he of these things but will rather acknowledg that whosoever go about to bring colour out of the Scriptures for them they do therein no other but make marchandize of the word of God And therefore will eyther stay his talâ—â— and lay his hand on his mouth or if he speak will speak to his own soule aÌ„d say Wilt thou plead Antichrists cause or wilt thou save him If he be of Christ let him plead for himself against them that by the word of theyr testimony destroy his ordinaÌ„ces Thus much to the entrance of this letter The rest of it is spent in laboring to disprove the writing which it seemeth you gaue him in defence of your separation from the ministery of these assemblyes Which after he hath well propounded in forme of reasoning he then bringeth some show of answer therevnto and of defence of theyr Ministery Wherein although I might in few lynes shortly have noted the subtilty and vnsoundnes of his answers yet have I chosen rather to write somewhat largely both for your sake and his own and for others also into whose hands these writings may coâ—â— And this haue I thought to be the more needfull because he doth here so earnestly both protest the syncerity of his affection and make promise that nothing shalbe brought to perswade you but the word of God Now of the syncerity of his affection I make no doubt but do vertly thinck that he writeth and walketh as he is perswaded Onely where he promiseth and pretendeth to bring the word of God for the perswasion of your soule and performeth it not in deed and yet hath such obiections and pretence off Scripture and reason as greater in this case I thinck neyther have ben neyther can well be brought thereâ—ore have I thought it best for better clearing of the truth to prosecute his annswers from poynt to poyut And although it wil be the more tedious yet to take this course therein first to sett down in his own words his aunswers to the reason you gaue him and then to examine and take them away by the light of the Scriptures For your self it shalbe your part as he desireth you to lay apart all sinister affection and with meeknes to receyv the word of truth grafted in you and able to save your soule Consider therefore well what is said and the Lord give you vnderstanding in all things Now to proceed it followeth in his letter to you thus Mr. H. his letter Section 2. The summe of the vvhole vvriting you gaue me is a reason to prove the lavvfulnes of your separation from our assemblyes because vve have no such minissters as you may lavvfully ioyne vvhithall and for plainenes it may fitly be coÌ„cluded in this forme Whosoever he be that dealeth with the holy things of God and worketh vpon the Consciences of men by vertue of an Antichristian power office and calling him the people of God ought not to receyv or ioyne themselves vnto 2 Thes. 2. 4 10. But all the ministers that stand ouer the Church assemblyes in England deale with the holy things of God and work vpon mens consciences by vertue of an Antichristian power office calling Therefore the people of God ought not to receyv them or ioyne themselves vnto them The first part of this reason as I am not vnvvilling to yeeld vnto so do I affirme that the vvords of the Apostle vvritten 2. Thes. 2. 4. 10. are for the proof thereof vvâ—ested and perverted from the right sence For the Apostle there describeth Antichrist nor by his unlavvfull onâ—vvard calling or office that he should exercise in the Church but first by the false doctrine he should teach as appeareth plainely by the 10 and 11 verses and secondly by the authority he should vsurpe to give lavves vnto mens consciences and to rule in the harts of men as God as you may see in the 4. verse VVhich tvvo maâ—ks of Antichrist as they may evidently be discerned in the papacy so admitt all the outvvard calling and offices in the Church of England exercised vvere faulty and vnvvarrantable by the vvord yet you in your ovvn Conscience knovv that these marks
lawfull offices and callings ordeyned by Christ or in the vnlawfull offices and callings devised by Sathan and vsed by this man of sinne in his Apostasy Secondly how he shall vsurpe that authority to give lawes vnto mens consciences and to rule in the hearts of men as God which Mr. H. noteth as theâ— other marke whether in the true offices and callings appoynted by Christ or in false ones devised by Sathan aÌ„d himself For the very termes and actions of teaching and of vsurping authority here mentioned by Mr. H. do in this case imply some offices and callings lawfull or vnlawfull wherein to teach and vsurpe authority Now lawfull they can not be because he standeth in apostasy from Christs way yea oppositt against it and even lawles in that respect It remayneth therefore that they are vnlawfull ones And being found not one lyin the papacy but in the Church of England it followeth that they are not to be receyved or ioyned vnto in the one any more then in the other as also that this Scripture is not wresâ—ed but fitly and foundly alledged for the proof of the first part of the reason But because Mr. H. taketh exception at the proof though all in vayne yet for his better satisfaction and more strenghtning of the proposition let him further consider first that as Christ being king and Lord of his Church hath given vnto it the holy things of his word Sacraments Censures Treasury etc. so he hath also as Lord and king appoynted offices of his own to contiâ—â—e to the end of the world to witt Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers for the due administration of these his holy things according to his word being lawfully called therevnto So as neyther any may medle therewith by vertue of any Antichristian power office or calling nor if they do may any ioyne with them therein least partaking in theyr sinnes they receyv also of theyr plagues Secondly that our consciences are the Temples of the holy Ghost Wherrvpon it must needs follow that we may not suffer Antichrist to fitt in them at all as he doth whensoever we suffer them to be wrought vpon in the ministery of the word or any other wayes by vertue of any Antichristian power office or calling And this I thought to annexe for the further confirmation of the first part of the reason which though in word Mr. H. seemeth to graunt yet in deed he laboreth to oppugne Now where he saith the lawes of theyr Church allow not any to teach false Doctrine although this be not much materiall towching the poynt in controversy seing they allow not any to teach true doctrine but in false and Antichristian callings which is vtterly vnlawfull to be done yet we fynd that by the lawes of theyr Church many false doctrines are and may be tauht amoug them A tast of which leaven of theyrs I will give in some particulars as followeth 1 That there may be in the Church other Archbishops and Lordbischops then Iesus Christ which is contrary to 1 Pet. 5. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 12. 5. Eephes 4. 5. Heb. 3. 1. etc. Luk. 22. 25. 26. 2 That men may and â—ught to be made ministers by these Lord Bishops that is may enter into the ministery by another way then Christ hath sett down in his word and by other Lord bishops then Iesus Christ which is contrary to Heb. 5. 4. Ioh. 10. 1. 7. and 13. 20. aÌ„d 14. 6. Ier. 23. 21. Act. 14. 23. with 6. 3. 5. 3 That the Prelates and theyr chaunceloâ—â—â—s aÌ„d officials haue Christs power to excommunicate aÌ„d cast out of the Church of god which is coÌ„trary to Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 4. 4 That the ministers of the Church may be civil magistrates also and exercise civill authority in the comon wealth Which is contrary to Mat. 20. 25 26. 2 Tim. 2. 4. Rom. 13. 1. etc. Rev. 17. 18. 5 That meÌ„ may give the titles of the lord Iesus vnto the Prelates to call them their Arch and Lord Bishops reverend Fathers and such like Which is contrary to these Scriptures Esa 42. 8. et 5. 20. Mat. 23. 8. 9. 10. Iob. 32. 21. 22. 2 Thes. 2. 4. 6 That the Lord Bishops can give the holy Ghost and power to retayne and forgive sinnes As when they make any Ministers they say vnto them Receyv the holy Ghost whose sinnes thou doest forgive they are forgiven and whose sinnes thou doest retayne they are retayned Which is contrary to Luk 11. 13. Ioh. 3. 8. and 15. 26. 27. and 20. 21. 22. 23. Gal. 3. 5. and 4. 6. Act. 8. 18. 19 20. 21. Luk. 5. 21. 7 That the ministers of Christ may exceâ—ute their ministery vnder these Lord Bishops and their Chauncelours and Archedacons aÌ„d cease preahing aÌ„d leav their floks at their appointmeÌ„t Which is coÌ„trary to 1. Cor. 12. 5. and 9. 16. Ier. 48. 10. Act. 4. 18. 19. 20. Ioh. 10 12 13. Amos. 7. 12. 13. 14. 15. 8 That the offices of suffraganes Deanes Cauâ—â—s Petticanons PreheÌ„daryes Oueristers Organists ArchdeacoÌ„s Comissaryes Officials Parsons Vicars Curats stipeÌ„dary preachers and the rest of that sort among them are lawfull and necessary to be had in the Church of Christ. Which is contrary to these Scriptures 1. Cor. 12. 18. 28. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. Num. 16. 40. and 18. 4. 7. Esa. 1. 12. Rev. 9. 3. Ier. 51. 26. 9 That the Deacons office in the Church is to be employed in publick prayer administration of Baptisme and ministery of the wold being by the Prelates licensed herevnto which is contrary to Act. 6. 2. 3. 4. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. Rom. 12. 7. 8. 10 That there is and may be now an office of priesthood in men for the Ministery of the Gospell Which is contrary to Heb. 7. 11. 1â— 16. 18. 23. 24. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 5. 28. 11 That the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospell may be by tithes and offrings which must needs be Iewish or Popish Contrary to Heb. 7. 12. 1 Cor. 9. 13. 14. Phil. 4. 10. 18. Rom. 15. 27. Gal 6 6. 12 That Christ in his soule descended into hell whilest his body lay in the grave which doctrine is CoÌ„trary to these Scriptures Luk. 23. 43. 46. Ioh. 19. 30. Col. 2. 14. 15. Luk. 16. 26. Eccles. 12. 7. 13 That Christ hath not sert in his Church an Eldership to continew aswell vnder Christian as heathen Princes Which doctrine is contrary to 1 Tim. 4. 14. and 5. 17. and 6. 13. 14. 15. Mat. 28 20. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ti. 1. 5. Act. 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. and 21. 18. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 14 That the ministery worship and government which Christ hath appoynted to his Church is not to be receyved or ioyned vnto vnles the magistrates do allow it where they are Christian. Which is contrary to Mat. 28 20. 1 Tim. 3. 15. and 5. 21.
his high court of prerogative or grave fatherly faculties these together or the worst of them as some of them be to bad may not be broken or offended against but with more daunger then to offend against the Bible To these subscribing and subscribing again and the third subscribing are required for these preachers and others are indited are fined are prisoned are excommunicated are banished and haue worse things threatned them And the Bible that must haue no further scope then by these it is assigned Is this to professe Gods word Is this a reformation He that could not abide straunge fyer in the old law but burnt them that used it what vvill he do to us in the nevv lavv that erect a nevv and straunge course or vvord to rule his Church by What did the Pope but so He did suffer Gods vvord to haue a course as far as it pleased him so that he might haue the vvhole authority aboue it So did the popish Church But vve say the vvord is aboue the Church Then suerly it is about the English Church and aboue all these books afore rehearsed If it be so vvhy are not they ouer-ruled by it and not it by them These are theyr own words and that in an admonition to the high court of parliament So as we holding our peace you may by this perceiue in what estate they stand by the lawes and present constitution of theyr Church But Mr. H. addeth moreover that they all professe Christ to be the onely lavv giver vnto the conscience Is this so in deed How is it then that Mathew Sutcliffe Deane of Exceâ—er a chief officer in theyr Church is not afrayd nor ashamed to publish in print that it soundeth harsh in Christian eaâ—es to call Christ a Lavvgiuer But to let him alone with his blasphemous contradiction to the Scriptures and Spirit of God let us consider a litle the profâ—ssion they make herein And first I aske what if the Papists professe as much Will such profession in word help any thing when in deed by theyr works they deny it Secondly let Mr H. remember that some of themselues affirme vvhiles they professe Christ to be a king and per submitt not to the lavves he hath prescribed in his vvord they make him an Idoll and putt a scepter of reed in his hand Thirdly do not they fynd fault with the Papists aÌ„d prove them to bend true Church though they professe in word that Christ is the king of his Church becouse in deed they obey not his lawes but have invented and use theyr own canons and constitutions for government of the Church Mark well theyr own words in a treatise lately published wherein they prove the Church of â—ome not to be the true Church by this reason following The Papists in vvord vvill not deny but Christ is a king vvhich hath all povver in heaven and in earth But in deed it appeareth they do exile and banish him out of his kingdome or at least leav him but a small portion or rather none at all For in respect that he is a spirituall king and the king of his Church he is also as Iames speaketh the onely lavvgiâ—er thereunto and therefore by his lavves onely the Church is to be governed Which they cannot abide For they adde their popish Canous constitutions and customes vvhereby they vvill haue the Church governed Yea they vvill haue these take place though they utterly displace the vvord of God for the maintenance of them These are theyr own words in that treatise Thus they reason against the Papists And is not this reason I pray you as strong against themselues and against theyr own Church Prelates and Clergy Yea are not theyr ecclesiasticall assemblyes daughters of the Church of â—ome in this behalf Or have theâ— more priviledge by theyr verball profession to be exâ—mpt from the obedience of Christ and his lawes then the Papists havâ— Lastly seing Mr H. saith they professe Christ to be the onely lawgiver to the conscience Let him in syncerity of heart as before God aunswer vs these few questions 1 Whether then obedience be not to be given to the Lord Iesus in whatsoever he hath commaunded and all his lawes and ordinances to be observed though all the Princes on earth should forbid it 2 Why then they abstayne from the observation of those Lawes and ordinances which themselves have taught and written to be appoynted by Iesus Christ to be kept vnblameable and without spott vntill his appearing yea though it be with the losse of wealth honour liberty and life it self 3 Whether the Lord Iesus the lawgiver of his Church have not set in his Church to continew to the end of the world the offices of Pastours Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers together with theyr entrance works and maintenance for the administration of his holy things 4 Whether the Offices of Archbishops Lord bisshops priests deacons vicars and the rest now had in England theyr maner of entrance into them theyr administration of them by theyr popish canons and book of common prayer theyr maintenance in them by tithes Lordships Chrismes offrings aÌ„d such like be appoynted by Christ that onely Lawgiver to his Church and in what places of his Testament 5 Whether being not prescribed by Christ but derived from and belonging to Antichrist any can eyther administer or joyne vnto them in that estate and yet in truth acknowledg Christ to be the onely lawgiver to the conscience 6 Fynally whether they which abyde one with the world and false Church not separating themselves from them according to the commaundement of Christ which administer or receyv the word or Sacraments in or from a false ministery which how down vnto traditions and false worship devised and imposed by man which stand subiect to be silenced and excommunicated by the Prelates theyr Chauncelours and Archdeacons whether these I say can be said in truth to hold Christ to be the onely lawgiver to the conscience Or whether they receyv not the mark of the Beast and as yet stand subjects of his kingdome submitting to his Antichristian lawes and constitutions In the last place Mr. H. addeth that nothing among them is vrged to be done vpon payne of damnation but onely the word and law of God To which I aunswer first that if this were true yet it is not to the purpose seing many things among them contrary to the word of God are vrged to be done vpon payne of imprisonment confiscation of Goods and lands banishment death and such like Secondly I aunswer that they do require men to be subiect to theyr excommunication vpon payne of damnation as theyr own words in theyr writs of excommunication do show Now it is evident and confessed by the best of themselves that they have not Christs power to excommunicate but execute it contrary to the word of God by an Archdeacon or Lordly Prelate according to theyr
canons Wherevpon also to note it by the way it followeth that they are not a true Church of Christ. For Christs Church hath alwayes Christs power to excommunicate Whereas these assenblyes have no other power to excommunicate but by the Archdeacon or Lordbischop whose offices be Antichristian And herevpon it is that the more religious any is among them the more he contemneth theyr excommunication Which were a fearefull sinne if theyr Church were a true Church whose bynding on earth were such as bound also in heaven Thirdly I aunswer if theyr ministery and worship of God were according to the word aÌ„d law of God then ought all vpon payne of damnation to submit aÌ„d ioyne vnto it Now if they do not so vrge it themselves do thereby acknowledg that it is not of God If they do so â—rgeit then they vrge vpon payne of damnation that which is contrary to the word and law of God as hath ben and shall more be showed hereafter Now it followeth in his letter thus Mr. H. his letter Section 3. TO vvhich purpose also I besech you to consider that althoug there is not the least part of Christs ordinances that can be neglected vvithout grievous sinne yet the vvant or neglect of some of these ordinances of Christ vvhich concerne the discipline of his Church and the outvvard calling of the ministers is no such sinne as can make eyther the ministers and governours of our Church Antichrists or our Church an Antichristian and false Church And although divers corruptions remayne in our Church vvhich vvere derived to vs from the Papiâ—es the least vvhereof I vvill not take vpon me to defendt yet are they not of that nature that can make vs an Antichristian Church For first no one place of Scripture can be found vvherein he is called aâ— Antichrist or Antichristian vvho holding the truth of doctrine and professing those articles of religion that are fundameÌ„tall as you knovv vve do doth 〈◊〉 eyther in iudgment or practise from that rule that Christ hath given for the Discipline of his Church In the prophecy of Daniel Antichrist is described by his Doctrine Dan. 7. 8. 25. So is he in the epistle to the Thessalonians 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. And in the epistle to Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. And in the Epistles of Iohn 1 Ioh. 2. 22. and 4. 3. and 2 Ioh. 7. And in the book of Revelation chap 13. 5. 6. Neyther can you fynd any Antichrist mentioned in the Scripture vvhose doctrine vvas sound Our Saviour Christ calleth him a true Pastour and no hiâ—â—ling vvho leadeth the sheep in at the doore Ioh. 10. 2. that is vvho teacheth no other meanes of salvation but Christ onely vvho is the doore of the sheep Ioh. 10. 7. 9. He affirmeth also that vvhosoever beleveth in his heart and confesseth vvith his mouth that he is that Christ and Messiah promised is a true member of his Church and built vpon a rock against vvhich the gates of hell shall not prevaile If then the doctrine of our Church be sound vvhat vvarrant have you to callâ—s Antichrists If our pastours offer to lead you vnto salvation through no other doore then Christ hovy dare you that say you are Christs refuse to be guyded by them If our asseâ—blyes be built vpon that rock hovâ— can you deny them to be true Churches Aunswer to Section 3. IT is to be noted here first that Mr. H. denyeth not but they stand in grievous sinne by neglecting Christs ordinaÌ„ces secondly that he graunteth they retayne divers corruptions in theyr Church which were derived to them from the Papists How theyr case standing thus by his own confession how can he peswade you or any other to partake with them in such sinnes vnles he would have you also to receiv of theyr plagnes Agayn it is to be observed that â—r H. faith here he will not take vpon him to defend the least of theyr popish corruptions And yet doth cleane otherwise throughout this letter chiefly in his aunswer to the second part of the reason But to omitt this I would desier to have noted down in particular the corruptions remayning in theyr Church which he confesseth were derived to them from the Papists And then let it be iudged whether they be Antichristian Here also it is to be mynded that the ministery and constitution of theyr Church is not charged to be Antichristian because of this that they want or neglect some of Christs ordinances as here he may seem to insinuate but because they have and submitt vnto Antichrists as will appeare in the discussing of them In the meane tyme to omitt many other let him consider first that theyr forcing and confounding in the body of their Church all maner people though never so wicked to stand members thereof is meerly Antichristian and directly contrary to the order of Iesus Christ who hath commanded his people to separate willingly from the world and all false wayes Secondly that the offices of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons and theyr Officials in whom resteth the chief ecclesiasticall power among them are also Antichristian and were never sett by Christ in his Church Thirdly that the offices of the Priests Deacons Dicars sâ—ipendaryes and the rest of the inferiour ministery among them theyr entrance also into theyr offices theyr administration of them and maintenance in them are not found in the Testament of Christ nor in the Primitive Churches planted by the Apostles but derived from and belonging to the apostaâ—y of Antichrist and found in his popish pontifiâ—all and assemblyes even vnto this day Next towching theyr profession he speaketh of I aunswer first that the verball profession of the articles of religion that are fundamentall will no more help them then it doth the Papists who do also verbally and daily repeat and professe in generall the articles of faith called the Apostles treed and the Creed of Athanasius of Nice and Calcedon wherein are briefly and generally conteyned the fudamentall poynts of Christian religion But what avayleth this eyther the one or the other when otherwise in particular all of them in practise and some in judgment deny Christ to be that eternall Prophet Priest and king of his Church howsoeuer in word and generall they both do professe it Secondly I aunswer that the very strength of delusion aÌ„d depth of the subtilty of Antichrist by which he deceyveth staÌ„deth in this that he pretendeth to be for aÌ„d with Christ aÌ„d teacheth many exceleÌ„t truths otherwise he would soone be espyed and forsaken whereas now it is a mystery as the Scripture saith hardly discerned and hardlyer avoyded Hereupon it is that among the Papists so many of them are deluded whiâ—â—â— the Pope professeth he is not against Christ but for him even his vicaâ— and Peters successor that his Church is the Catholik Church out of which there is no salvation and such like And among these in England likewise whiles theyr
this is the Antichrist which denyeth the Father and the Sonne 1 Ioâ— 2. 23. By this shall ye know the Spirit of God Every spirit that confesseth Iesus Christ come in the flesh is of God And every spirit which confesseth not Iesus Christ come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist 1. Ioh 4. 2. 3. Many deceyvers are entred into the world vvhich confesse not Iesus Christ come in the flesh He that is such one is a deceyveâ— and an Antichrist 2. Ioh. 7. HEre in few words is comprised a most notable direction how to know Antichrist and declared also by the contrary in the fourth chapter as is here noted down Where the Apostle teacheth vs to trye and know the spirits of all men by the confession they make concerning Christ to witt by theyr acknowledging or derogating from his person or office For vnto these two heads he bringeth the whole matter the one concerning the person the other concerning the office of the Lord Iesus Towching his person that he is God and Man in one and the same person His Godhead he noteth out in these words Iesus Christ is come to witt the Sonne of God from heaven his manhood in those words in the flesh the vniting and knitting together of these two natures in one person when speaking of one and the same Iesus Christ he saith he is come in the flesh Towching his office that this Iesus is the CHRIST that is the annoynted of God that should come into the vvorld to be the onely and sufficient Mediator betwixt God and man Now as in the tyme of the law they were woont to annoynt the Prophets Priests and kings so these being but types of the Lord Iesus here spoken of the Apostle would teachus the he is in deed and so is to be acknowledged the annointed of God with the oyle of gladnes above his fellowes even with the Spirit of God without measure being called and consecrated by the Father to be the onely eternall Prophet Priest and king vnto and for his Church This have I shortly noted for the better vnderstanding of these Scriptures and deciding of the controversy between vs and these assemblyes And this to be the true meaning of these Scriptures appeareth not onely by the Argument and circumstances of the places themselues but also by the conference of other Scriptures here quoted in the margent and infinite such like in the Book of God Now before I proceed to any further application of them let me here again call to powr mynd that which hath before ben noted that even the Papists themselves whom these men acknowledg to be of Antichrist affirme in generall words and will dy in it against the Iewes and Turks that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh the Prophet Priest and king of his Church Yet will not Mr. H. or any of good knowledg say to the contrary but the Papists notwithstanding are by these Scriptures convinced to be of Antichrist because that although they professe thus much in generall termes yet when as theyr estate and practise is examined by the Scriptures in particular they are found to professe that in word which in truth and in deed they do not acknowledg And why then may not we so reason from these Scriptures agaynst these assemblyes which in theyr constitution and practise do likewise in deed deny that in particular which in generall they do professe concerning Christs prophecy priesthood and Kingdome Mr. Beza in his notes vpon these Scriptures sayth thus The Apostle here giveth a sure and perpetuall rule to discerne Antichrists and Antichristian Doctrine by to vvitt if the diuine or humane nature of Christ or the true vnitiug of them together be denyed or if never so litle be derogated from the office of that our everlasting high Priest Prophet and King Math this well Thus doth Mr. Beza vnderstand these Scriptures and thus he gathereth from them as you may see in his notes vpon the new Testament which are printed in English And these Scriptures themselues we see do not poynt at the Papists alone as if they onely were culpable herein but they concerne all others whosoever they be that come within compasse of these rules Now to show in particulars how the Papists offend in this behalf denying that in deed concerning Christ which in word they do acknowledg is altogether needles at this tyme it being graunted on both parts I meane both of vs and of them which yet stand in these assemblyes It shalbe sufficient therefore to show that these assemblyes of England as now they stand do not in this theyr constitution of Church ministery worship and order receyv and obey Iesus Christ in his own ordinance as theyr Prophet Priest and King And therefore howsoever in word generally they professe yet in truth do not in this theyr constitution acknowledg Iesus Christ come in the flesh And consequently by the rule and sentence of the Apostle in these Scriptures are not of God but of Antichrist First therefore concerning Christs Prophecey that they do not receyv and hearken vnto him in his own ordinaÌ„ce as their Prophett is to lamentably evident by this that they do not receyv and submitt vnto that ecclesiasticall order ministery and government which Christ Iesus that Prophet of his Church hath revealed from God the Father in his word and prescribed to his Church to be kept to the end of the world This I show two wayes First by theyr Church constitution then by theyr own confession The present constitutioÌ„ of their Church assemblyes throughout the land is such as they stand every one of them subâ—ect to the ministery and government of another Archbishop and Lord bishop then Iesus Christ of an Archdeacon and a parson vitar or stipendery being eyther priest or deacon so maâ—â— by the Prelates also to their devised â—â—â—ted book worship and administration to theyr ceclesiasticall courts canons excommunications absolutions and such other theyr procedings Which are not onely not found in the Testament of Christ appoynted by that Prophet but were derived from Antichrist that lyar and deceyver of the world Theyr confession is manifest in theyr books and writings wherein they have published to the view of the world 〈◊〉 there is no certayne and perfitt kind of government prescribed in the Scriptures to the Church of Christ vvhich must oâ— necessity be perpetually obserued Agayne that the exteâ—â—â— government of the Church vnder a Christian magistrate must be according to the kind and forme of the government vsed in thâ— common vvealth Moreover that the Apostles neyther 〈◊〉 vvriting nor practise did ever establish an vniformity of extemaâ— Church discipline and that perpetually to hold This they â—â—te and thus they walk Which is directly contrary to the 〈◊〉 fice of Christs Prophecey and highly derogatory to his faitâ—full performance thereof As is evident by these Scriptuâ—â— compared together Deut.
found in those Churches vnto vvhich the holy Ghost in the Scriptures hath given notable testimony 2. King 12. 23. and 14. 3. 4. 2 Chron. 20. 31. Matth. 15. 5. 6. Luk. 3. 2. and 2. 22. 27. Mat. 8. 4. and 23. 2. 3. 2 Cot. 11. 21. 22. and 15. 12. â—â—vel 2. 14. 15. 20. 21. ¶ Aunswer to section 4. WE aunswer they must first probe theyr assemblyes to be true Churches sett in the way of Iesus Christ afore these or any Scriptures which show true Churches subject to corruptions can any way help to defend theyr present Church estate Otherwise they do but still begge that which they should prove For what though the Churches established in the order of Christ have had and still shall have divers corruptions arising among them Doth this therefore give any warrant or allowance of such assemblyes whose constitution is Antichristian Was Israel in her defection a true Church because Iudah being the Church of God had some enormityes in her Or shall the assemblyes in Italy England and such like standing in apostasy he true Churches of God because in the Churches of Corinth Pergamus Thyatira established in the order of Christ there were found divers corrupâ—ions If this reason were strong might not Rome at this day iustify most of her abominations But what saith the Scripture Israel in her defection was no wife no true Church but an harlott and not to be joyned vnto notwithstanding that Iudah being a spouse and true Church had not yet the 〈◊〉 places taken away In like maner shall that vvhore of Babel staÌ„ding in apostasy together with all the assemblyes wheresoever made drunk with the cup of her formications be harlots and to be departed from notwithstanding that the Church of Christ being his spouse falleth daily into many sinnes and transgressions whiles it is militant here on earth For these two are of a far divers nature and consideration I meane on the one side a Church sett in the way and order of Christ but walking therein weakly and corruptly and on the other side a company of people standing in the defection aÌ„d disorder of Antichrist howsoever perhaps they may walk ther in with some show of piety and religion The former are true Churches notwithstanding the corruptions arising among them the redresse of which is duly to be sought The latter are false Churches and to be forsaken whatsoever show of holynes they do or can pretend Now theÌ„ forasmuch as neyther Mr H. nor any other of them hath proved theyr assemblyes to stand in any other Church-constitution but such as is Antichristian it is evident that the Scriptures here alledged which speak onely of Churches sett in Christs order and of corruptions in them cannot any way fitly belong to these assemblyes to give allowance of theyr Antichristian estate This being first sett down generally concerning all these Scriptures ioyntly together for the better vnderstanding of the controversy let vs now come to consider them more particularly and see whether as Mr H. hath vnder taken to prove so he have indeed performed that is have showed greater corruptions in those Churches vnto which the Scriptures give notable testimony then be in theyrs at this day The first three Scriptures here cited are of one sort These are the words Iehoash did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord all his dayes that Ieholadab the Priest taught him Notwithstanding the hy places were not taken away as yet the people offred and burnt incense in the hy places 2. King 12. 2. 3. And Amaziah did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord yet not as David his Father he did according to all that Ioash his Father had done Notwithstanding the hy places were not taken away as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense in the hy places 2. King 14. 3. 4. And Iehoschaphat reigned over Iudah and he walked in the way of Asa his Father and departed not there from doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Howbeit the hy places were not taken away for as yet the people had not prepared theyr heart vnto the God of theyr Fathers 2. Chron. 20. 31. 32. 33. All these Scriptures show vnto vs one thing which is that in the dayes of Iehoash Amaziah and Iehoschaphat kings of Iudah who did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord yet the hy places were not taken away but the people did sacrifice and burnt incense therein This in deed was a corruption among those people concerning which ynough is spoken before in that hath beÌ„ said towching these Scriptures generally Yet this I adde further first that in those tymes all the false ministeryes and kinds of worship before tyme vsed were abolished and this defect onely of worshipping God in the hy places as yet remayning Now what comparison then is there between this case and theyrs who have not abolished but still retayne aÌ„d ioyne vnto a false ministery and worship Who knoweth not that in those dayes they might not forme to themselves or receyv from others any other altar or fashion thereof for sacrifice then God had appoynted much lesse any new devised ministery Yea the sonnes of Aaron though in a true aÌ„d lawfull office might not offer with strauÌ„ge fyer much lesse might they have received or exercised a false uÌ„lawfull ministery Corah likewise though a Levite DathaÌ„ aÌ„d Abâ—ram though heads of the CoÌ„gregation Dzziah though a king might not offer vp the incense which God had appoynted to be offred being straungers from the priesthood much lesse might they have offred a false worship in a false ministery etc. Which is the case of these assemblyes These men therefore should compare like things with like aÌ„d not vnder colour of the hy places in Iudah seke to retayne and defend what Antichristian corruptions they please in theyr Church Otherwise why might they not also vnder the same colour still have kept the other popish abominations which already by the mercy of God are abolished out of the land Secondly I take it the fault of retayning the hy places in Iudah for the true service of GOD which at first were made for false worship and service of Idols was such as if now the false ministry worship and other abominations of Antichrist were abolished out of the land and yet these Idoll temples they call them Churches reserved and vsed for the true worship of God by a true ministery For these two may in divers respects seem to be like I meane those hy places and these Idoll temples Both which I take to be with in compasse of that morall commaundement of God which enioyneth the abolishing of the places aswell as of all the other monuments of Idolatry eyther by rasing them quite downor by defacing and converting them to civill vse and not to tourne them to be places for the publick worship of God though it were by
such ministery and in such maner as he hath appoynted Thirdly by that which hath ben said it is evident these Scriptures show not that for which they are alledged that is prove not greater corruptions to have ben found in the Churches aproved by the holy Gohst then be now in the Church assemblyes of England I deny not but this sacrificing in the hy places was a great corruption And so the Spirit of God noteth it that the people herein corrupted themselves yea and that they had not prepared theyr heart to the Lord. But for these men by colour of this to defend the reâ—ayning and vsing of theyr Antichristian ministery in theyr seerall offices callings administration and maintenance with theyr popish worship and the rest of theyr abominations it 〈◊〉 not at all but is rather wholy against them inasmuch as in that Church of Iâ—â—KH the vnlawfull priestâ—ood and worship with other the abominations in former tymes vsed were now taken away this corruption of the hy places onely excepted and the true worâ—ship of God in place thereof performed in such ministery and maner as he had ordeyned Neyther of which is yet to be seen in this land Lastly in these Scriptures is to be observed both the different speaches concerning the Kings and concerning the people in theyr ages and that the testimony which the holy Ghost giveth of them is such as hath with it a note of blemish and default in them and that recorded to posterity not to encourage vs to fayle in like maner as they did but to be a warning vnto vs to take heed of being so overtaken as they were And thus have I showed so far as yet I see the true meaning and vse of these Scriptures and how they serve not at all to that purpose for which they are brought as they have ben also and still are wrested by the Papists to boulster out theyr most filthy abominations likewise though all in vayne For great and strong is the truth and will prevayle against all adâ—ersaryes of it in the end The next Scripture is out of Mat. 15. where Christ reproving the Pharisees for transgressing the commaundement of God by theyr own tradition proveth it thus God hath commaunded saying Honour thy father and mother and he that curseth father or mother let him dy the death But you say vvhosoever shall say to father or mother It is or be it a gift vvhatsoever thou might be holpen vvith of me And shall not honour his father or his mother he shalbe giltles Thus have ye made the commaundemeÌ„t of God of no authority by your tradition Mat. 15. 4. 5. 6. Here we fynd a tast of that leaven of the Pharisees whereof our Saviour Christ bad his disciples they should take heed and beware and not that they should be encouraged thereby to be more corrupt as these men reason out of such places But let vs a litle compare this Scripture and theyr estate together and see whether is to be accounted more corrupt they then or these now First we see here the disobedience taught by the Pharisees was against the second Table whereas the disobedieÌ„ce taught by these men in the poynts now controverted is both against the first and the second Table Against the first in teaching the people to worsâ—hip God by another ministery and after another maner then he hath appoynted yea by such ministery and in such maner as Antichrist hath invented and God most straitly forbidden Against the second in disobeying the Magistrates in deed whom outwardly in show they would seem to obey whiles at theyr commaundemeÌ„t they serue God by a false ministery and worship imposed by them For as true obedience to the Magistrates is alwayes in the Lord so is it disobedience rather then obedience vnto them to obey them against the Lord. Secondly the Pharisees taught the people to neglect the performance of a duty which they ought to theyr earthly parents in honouring of them But these men teach the people to neglect the performance of that duty they oâ— to theyr heavenly father in honoring fearing and worshipping him as he hath commaunded Thirdly the Pharisees taught the people to neglect man vnder colour of keeping a â—ow or doing a duty to God to witt the vowing or offering of that as an oblatioÌ„ to God by which they should have holpeâ— theyr parents But these men teach the people to neglect God and his commaundements vnder colour of yeelding obedience to â—an Fourthly among the Iewes this disobedience against man was taught by some not receyved by all But in these assemblyes theyr disobedience against God is taught and 〈◊〉 of them all Fiftly the Pharisees and other Iewes at that tyme as may appeare even by some places by M r. H. here alledged had not devised a new publik ministery and worship but retayned that ministery and worship which God had appoynted though they walkt therein corruptly But the ministers and people of these assemblyes at this day have such ministery and worship as was never ordeyned by God but devised by that man of sinne though otherwise they make some show of holynes and religion therein So as in this respect there is no comparison between these two Lastly it is to be observed that the testimony here given concerning them that so taught as is aforesaid is not an approbation of them therein but both a sharp reproof of them and an earnest admoâ—ition to others for this cause to let thenâ— alone together with this generall sentence of Christ annexed therevnto Every plant vvhich myne heavenly father hath not planted shalbe rooted vp Let them alone they be the blâ—nd leaders of the blynd and if the blynd lead the blynd both shall fall into the ditch Hitherto of this Scripture of Matth. 15. which we see being duly considered neyther proveth that for which it is produced neyther any way iustifyeth but rather condemneth theyr Antichristian estate Next he alledgeth Luk. 3. 2. where it is thus written When Annas and Caiphas were the chief priests the word of God came vnto Iohn the sonne of Zacharias in the wildernes Luk. 3. 2. This Scripture is directly agaynst them For here first it is playne that for the ordinary ministery among them they had not devised a straunge new one but reâ—apned that auncyent function of priesthood appoynted by God as the mention of chief Priests doth show And whereas Iohn Baptist did now exercise an extraordinary ministery among them it is noted he did it not without speciall warrant from the word of God therevnto Which is further proved both in the words followâ—â—â— in this chapter and els where in this and the other Euangelists Now if then they might not have any eyther ordinary or extraordinary ministery but such onely as was appoynted and allowed by the word of God muchlesse may we now vnder the Gospell admitt of any ministery but such
dayes of her purification after the lavv of Moses vvere accomplished they brought him to Ierusalem to present him to the Lord As it is vvriten in the Lavv of the Lord Every man child that openeth the vvomb shalbe called holy to the Lord And to give an oblation as it is commaunded in the Lavv of the Lord a payre of turtle doves or tvvo young pigeons And behold there vvas a man in Ierusalem vvhose name vvas Simeon this man vvas iust and feared God aÌ„d vvaited for the consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost vvas vpon him And a revelation vvas given him of the holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ. And he came in the spirit into the Temple aÌ„d vvhen the parents brought in the child Iesus to do for him after the custome of the Lavv Then he took him in his armes and blessed God etc. Luk. 2. 22 27. And in the Gospell according to Mathew Cap. 8. it is thus written towching the leper whom Christ clensed Iesus said vnto him See thou tell no man but go shevv thy self vnto the Priest and offer the gift that Moses commaunded for a vvitnesse to them Mat. 8. 4. These Scriptures compared together evince that this Church of the Iewes had not reiected but retayned the publik ministery worship and ordinances prescribed by God and therefore wholy coÌ„demne the present estate of these Church assemblyes of EnglaÌ„d aÌ„d are far from proving that for which they are alledged In the second of Luke we read that at eight dayes old the child was circumcised which was according to the ordinance of God that Maryes purification the childs presentation to the Lord and the oblation they gave was not after any new devised maner but according to the Law of Moses and as it is commaunded in the Law of the Lord Finally that Simâ—oÌ„ fearing God came in the Spirit into the Temple whither the pareÌ„ts brought in the child Iesus to do for him not according to the custome aÌ„d inventioÌ„ of man but after the custome of the Law of God Where is to be observed how often together in these few verses the holy Ghost noteth down that whatsoever was done to and for the child was according to the Law of Moses the Law of the Lord the custome of the Law as it is written and as it is commaunded in the Law of the Lord. So this Scripture showeth that the ordinances appoynted by God for his worship were then observed Now if we ioyne herevnto the next Scripture of Mat. 8. we shall there fynd they had also that ministery which God had ordeyned for the tyme of the Law For there it is said Christ bad the leper being clensed go and show himself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commaunded Here then they had both the priesthood and ordinances which God had commaunded by Moses his servant And therefore these Scriptures are so far from proâ—ing greater corruptions to have ben in those Churches then be in these assemblyes as they do directly condemne theyr Church constitution in the new invented ministery worship and ordinances among them which God never ordeyned The next Scripture Mr H. citeth is out of Mat. 23. where Christ spake to the mulititude and to his disciples saying The Scribes and the Pharisees sitt on Moses chayre All therefore whatsoever they speak to you to observe that observe and do but after theyr works do not for they say and do not Mat. 23. 2. 3. This Scripture teaching that it was lawfull to heare the Scribes and Pharisees that sate in Moses seat is commonly alledged by the preachers and professors of this age for theyr defence Insomuch as they vse it as theyr anchor hold in greatest distresse But being well weighed it will prove the very shipwrack of theyr cause For first by conference of this Scripture with others appeareth that the Scribes aÌ„d Pharisees which sat on Moses chayre were priests and Levites expounders of the Law or such Iudges of hard pleas and coÌ„troversyes as we read of Deut. 17. And therefore were not in any straunge ministery invented by man but in those true offices which God had by Moses commaunded vnder the Law Secondly the phrase of speach here vsed when it is said they late on Moses chayre unporteth aÌ„d proveth thus much Which also may be gathered from a like maner of speach used in Nehemiah where we read that Ieshua aÌ„d Bani aÌ„d other of the Levites rose vpon the Levites stayre or hy seat and taught the people out of the Law and worshipped the lord Thirdly Pharisaisme was not any new kind of ministery but onely a sect among the Iewes that is a sort of people of what tribe soever among them which semed to haue chosen and in outward show pretended a more sirict observation of the Law then others did Fourthly the Scribes knew well ynough that every true ministery was from heauen not of meÌ„ that is was appoynted by God not devised by maÌ„ So far were they from having themselves any false ministery of mans invention This we may see in theyr coÌ„sultation which they had amoÌ„g themselves what to aunswer vnto Christs questioÌ„ whâ—â—e asked them whether the Baptisme of Iohn were from heaven or of men Lastly we fynd that the pharisees themselves were carefull of not admitting in that Church any new ministery that God had not ordeyned Insomuch as they were very earnest vpoÌ„ Iohn Baptist and vrged him to approve his calling and ministery by thr word of God Which thing also he did Ioh. 1. 23. 31. 33. Now then seing the Scribes and Pharisees here spoken of were not in false but in true offices and functions appoynted by God vnder the law seing they sate not on Baals but on Moses chayre seing they knew there was no true ministery but of God neyther would allow of any other then GODS word did approve yea seing Iohn Baptist graâ—nted thus much vnto them that he might not have any ministery but such whereof he could bring warraÌ„t from God who seâ—th not that even this example of the Pharisees so much alledged by them plainly condemneth the Ministers of these assemblyes which sitt not in CHrists but Antichrists chayre entring into and executing such offices of Ministery as GOD never appoynted or approved in his word Neyther is it of any moment as towching the poynt in controversy to say thâ— Pharisees were corrupt in doctrine aÌ„d coÌ„versation vnles theâ— could show by the word of God theyr ministers to be Pastors and Teachers in Christs ordinance though walking corruptly therein as we by the Scriptures show that the Pharisees which sate on Moses chayre were priests and Levites according to the Law of Moses though otherwise in many things they caryed themselves very vngodily with much hypocrisy The last Scriptures here cited by M r H. are oâ—t of the Epistle to the Corinthians aÌ„d
man for an heathen or publicane though he be knovven to have grievously sinned Mat. 18 till such tyme as by despising all lavvfâ—ll meanes that can be vsed for reclayming him he shall be found to sinne of obstinacy then must it needs be a sinne for any private members such as you are to account an vvhole Church and so many famous assemblyes to be all as heathens and publicanes and Antichrists before theyr sinne hath ben manifested vnto them and they proceeded against according to the rule of Christ. Novv this hath not ben done vnto vs for many there are of the ministers in England that are not yet in theyr iudgement persvvaded of the discipline and many that do yeeld vnto it in iudgment and desier hartily the establishment of it aÌ„d the removall of all corruptioÌ„s caÌ„not yet see hovv they may vvith a good conscience forsake the callings and roomes they occupy for the vvant of the discipline If these sinne they sinne but of ignorance and therefore may not for this sinne be accounted for heathens and publicanes But admitt our sinne had ben manifested vnto vs by vvhom have vve ben ensured for it A private member may not be cast out till he have despised the censure of the Church though he have despised the admonition and counsell of sundry private Christians Then suerly an vvhole nation may not be cast out of the Church though it have not hearkned to the reproof of many private Christians till it shalbe found to have despised the censure of other more famous Churches professing the Gospell And vvhat such Church is there in the vvorld that â—ath censured vs Nay it is most evident that all those Churches in Christendome that have in most syncerity receyved and mainteyned the doctrine and discipline of Christ have alvvayes accounted our Church for a sister and given vnto her the right hand of fellovvship I deny not but a private Christian may â—â—islike the corruptions that are allovved and practised by an vvhole Church he may refuse to subscribe or yeeld his consent vnto them he may by prayer and all other good meanes seek the reformation of them but that any one private Christian or some fevv severall assemblyes vvhereyn also there are some learned men may account all the Churches â—â—at are in an vvhole nation to be either as heathens that is such as are destituâ—e of the vvord and Sacraments and service of God or as publicanes that is such as vvith vvhom they may not lavvfully commanicate and ioyne in the said service of God that do I vtterly deny And vvhereas the chief thing vvhereof you boast your selves against vs is that you have Christs discipline practised among you vvhich vve vvant I affirme and date bynd my self to prove it that there is nothing practised amongst vs so contrary to the discipline as there is amongst you For proof vvhereof to omitt sundry of your practises and the extream confusion that is to be seen in your best reformed assemblyes let this suffice that hath ben already mentioned S. Peter calleth those Ievves that had crucified Christ brethâ—en Act. 2. 29. and 3. 17. And Paul accounteth the Galathians a true Church vvhen the errours that they vvere fallen into vvere matters fundamentall Gal. 1. 2. and 5. 2. And this account did these tvvo holy Apostles make of them because they had not ben yet convinced and reiected by the iudgment of the Church And vvhy should you or any of your company vvho for authority you knovv are not to be compared vvith those holy Apostles disdayne to call vs brethren and to account vs a Church till such tyme as vve have ben convinced of error and reiected by the iudgment of other Churches VVhen there grevv controversy in the Church of Antiochia the brethren thought it not fitt to proceed in iudgment against them of the circumcision though theyr errors vvere far greater then any are in our Church and though the belevers there vvere more in number and of greater graces then ever those vvere of your company Act. 11. 21. 26. and 15. 23. and so might vvith more coÌ„sent and authority have ended the matter at home vvithout seeking further to other Churches yea though they had Paul and Barnabas men better able to decide and determine the matter then ever you had any in your assemblyes yet vvould they not I say proceed till they had made other Churches and naâ—ely that famous Church of Ierusalem acquainted vvith the matter and required theyr advise and authority to decide and overrule it Act. 15. 2. 4. And might it not asvvell have beseemed those of your company that first entended a separation from our Church a matter of so great vvaight and consequence to have sought the advise of the Churches of Geneva and Fraunce and Germany and Helvetia and Scotland in the matter and to have stayed theyr separation till such tyme as those Churches had proceeded against vs according to the rule of Christs discipline May I not vvell say as the Apostle doth to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 14. 36. Came the vvord of God our from you eyther came it vnto you onely And this I hope may be sufficient to shovv hovv vntrue that is vvhich is affirmed in the first part of the reason vsed in your vvriting viz Whosoever worketh vpon the consriences of men by vertue of an Antichristian office aÌ„d calling he is an AntichristiaÌ„ Minister whatsoever truth he bringeth with him Aunswer to Section 5. IN this third exception according to theyr vsuall maner Mr H. taketh for graunted that which he should prove to witt that theyr ecclesiasticall assemblyes be the Churches of Christ sett in his order and constitution Which thing we deny And till they prove it themselves may see they can not thus reason from this Scripture of Mat. 18. as here he doth For although from thence it may be gathered that the Churches of Christ are not for corruptions arising in them to be forsaken but first theyr redresse is by all good meanes to be sought yet it followeth not therevpoÌ„ that the Synagogues of Antichrist are in like maner to be proceeded withall and not forthwith to be avoyded This I say followeth not of the other any more then if one should reason thus A brother being knowen to have sinned is not to be accounted as an heathen or publicane till being duly proceded with he have contemned the voyce of the Church Therefore also one that is an heathen or publicane yet notwithstanding is not so to be accounted till he have ben likewise admonished and proceded withall As there is no consequence in this so neyther is there in the other The same Scripture which saith Do ye not iudge them that are vvithin saith it not also What have I to do to judge them that are vvithout Now then as we are to carry our selves after one maner towards particular men that are within and after another towards them that are without
third exception then was in the former I might proceed to that which followeth in his letter save that a few things which he hath here inserted by the way seem needfull first to be to wched As first where speaking of vs he termeth a Church sett in the order of Christ to be private members Towching which this I thought to note that a company of faithfull people though considered apart by themselves they be private men yet being gathered together in the Name of Christ and joyned together in fellowship of his Gospell they are a publik body a Church a citty a kingdome and that of Iesus Christ who is present among them to guyde blesse and confirme what they do on earth in his Name and by his power So that like as in a Citty the citizens considered apart are commonly private members yet ioyntly together are the corporation and publik body of that town so is it also in the Church of Christ whether it consist of mo or of fewer yea though they be but two or three so as they be joyned together in communion of the Gospell and gathered together in the Name of Iesus Christ as before is said Secondly where he accounteth themselves a true Church having many famous assemblyes and to be proceeded against by the rule of Christ Mat. 18. I have already aunswered and showed that first he must prove theyr assemblyes to be sett in the way of Christ afore these sayings can be verifyed of them or applyed to them Many there are in deed amoÌ„g them famous for theyr gifts learning wisdome sobriery etc. but they also stand subject to the same Antichristian disorder and confusion that the rest do Neyther doubt I but in the most popish assemblyes there be also many famous for theyr gifts and otherwise which yet can no way justify theyr Antichristian estate The Lord in mercy graunt that such as belong to him may bring themselves and theyr gifts vnto Zion for the help and beauty thereof and no more employ them as they have done to the adorning of Babel that whoore and strumpett appoynted to destruction with all her ordinances and constitutions wheresoever Thirdly where he saith there be many of the Ministers in England that are not yet in theyr judgment perswaded of the discipline I aske whether he think not also there be many of the Ministers in Rome Spayne and els where that likewise are not in theyr judgmeÌ„t perswaded of sundry other most excellent doctrines of the Gospell And whether therefore all other that see them must stay from acknowledging and observing them vntill such also be perswaded of them If Iohn wickleff William Swinderby Walter Brute Iohn Claydon Martin Luther Iohn Hus Ierome of Prage William Tyndall Iohn Frith Robert Barnes Iohn Rogers Hugh Latymer Iohn Bradford Rowland Taylour Iohn Philpott and other the faithfull servants and Martyrs of Iesus Christ should in theyr severall ages have stayed from obeying the Gospell so far as God revealed vnto them out of his word vpon this and such like pretences of the ignorance and error of others I would know whether in so doing they had ben faithfull to God as they ought But besides these I would also aske whether it might not with as great colour if not greater in some respect have ben said to the Apostles and Primitive Churches that the Priests and Levites of the Iewes were not perswaded in iudgment that Iesus was the Christ To conclude is it not straunge that in so great alight they should still labour with such figge tree leaves to cover the nakednes of theyr filthy abominations The next exception he taketh when he saith that other of theyr ministers do yeeld vnto the discipline in iudgment and desier hartely the establishment of it and the removall of all corruptions yet cannot see how they may with a good conscience forsake the callings and roomes they occupy for the want of the discipline This exception I say which also might be alledged for the papists is of like nature with the former or rather much worse inasmuch as he graunteth they yeeld to the truth in iudgment and deny it in practise They know by his graunt that Christ hath appoynted an order of Ministery and government to his Church for the administration of his holy things and for keping his people in the obedience of faith with commaundment to observe it to the end of the world for this they do and must vnderstand by the discipline Yet in theyr practise they yeeld not vnto it for himself saith here they want it And not that onely but they submitt also to another ministery worship and government here called theyr corruptions Which seing it caÌ„ not be Christs which they want whose can it be but the Romish Antichrists with whose cup of abominations this land as the other nations of the earth hath ben made drunck God give them in tyme to make conscience of retayning such Antichristian callings and roomes that they may cast of theyr rough garments and false offices wherein they have so long tyme deceyved the people and may throughly see and consider in theyr hearts how wittingly they stand in disobedience against Christ whiles he graunteth they vvant that holy order of ministery and government here called the discipline which Christ hath straitly charged to be kept inviolable vntill his appearing and whilest they think there shalbe taken from Babel a stone for a corner or for a foundation in Zion Whether this now be a sinne of ignorance in them let themselves examine Yet if it were they must remember that even that servant that knoweth not his masters will and yet committeth things worthy of stripes shalbe beat though in deed with fewer â—â—â—pes then he which knoweth it and prepareth not himself neyther doth according therevnto Let them therefore look to it and take heed they neyther refuse knowledge nor forgett with knowledg to ioyne obedience least in the end they feel that which is written that God will render vengeaunce both to them that knovv him not and to such as obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ. Fourthly where he excepteth that they havve not ben censured by other Churches and therefore are not thus to be refused besides that which hath ben aunswered before towching their Antichristian estate in respect whereof they are to be departed from without any other censuring Besides this I say I would know by what Churches the assemblyes in Rome Germany Fraunce and England were censured when Arnoldus de villa nova Ierome of Prage Martin Luther Iohn Calvin William Tyndall the Baldenses and the Bohemians with many other the servants of God in former ages left and forsook them Or whether they should still have remayned in Babylon till by some Churches she had ben censured Yea and how there could ever be a true visible Church agayne vpon the earth after the generall apostasy wherein all nations were made drunken
they belong in this behalf Finally for the whole worship of God the reformed Churches professe that the whole maner of worshipping God which God requireth at the hands of the faithfull is in the written word of God most exquisitly and at large set dovvn and that therefore it is not lawfull for any man or Angel to teach otherwise to adde or to detract therefrom it being perfit and absolute in all poynts and parcels thereof So as no other vvritings of men although never so holy no custome no multitude no maÌ„s vvisdome no antiquity no prescription of tyme no personall succession no counsels visions miracles and to conclude no decrees statutes or ordinances of men are to matched vvith or opposed vnto the holy Scriptures and bare truth of God but that all things ought to be examined and tryed by the rule and square thereof For all men are by nature lyâ—rs and more vayne then vanity it self Thus do the reformed Churches hold and professe Whereas on the contrary in England the maner of worship and administration is not according to the word of God but according to theyr book of common prayer taken out of the Papists Masse book together with other theyr Canons Articles and Constitutions which God hath neyther himself appoynted in his word nor therein given authority to any other so to prescribe And thus have I showed by the publik confessions and iudgment of the reformed Churches themselves that it is far otherwise then as these men would beare the world in hand and that in deed the Church-assemblyes in England in this constitution can not rightly be counted sisters of the reformed Churches abroad but rather daughters of Babylon that mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth Next where Mr H. showeth how a private Christian should carry himself towardan whole Church towching corruptioÌ„s I have before spokeÌ„ of that matter aÌ„d noted two maners of proceding to be appoynted by God one toward such Churches as be set in the order of Christ but walk in it corruptly another toward such as staÌ„d in the apostasy of Antichrist though with some show of holynes This therefore being before haÌ„dled shal not need to be repeated By it may appeare how vnsound a directioÌ„ he hath here prescribed besides that what he sayth may with like colour be alledged for abiding in any the most popish assemblyes wheresoever For might not such alledge for themselves that they mislike the corruptions in those Churches that they refuse to subscribe or yeeld consent vnto them that by prayer and all other good meanes they seek the reformation of them Yet that being private Christians or a fevv severall assemblyes they may not account the Churches that are in an vvhole nation to be as beathens or publicanes aÌ„d that therefore they will abide in them still If this be a sufficient rule then suerly the Martyrs were deceyved in former ages and the godly Christians at this day in Spayne Italy and such places which content not themselves with misliking and seeking redresse of the corruptions in theyr popish assemblyes but refuse altogether to have any spirituall fellowship with them and chuse rather to suffer affliction for bearing witnes agaynst them Secondly how can they be sayd to mislike the corruptions wherevnto many of them subscribe with theyr hands and all of them joyne in theyr practise Or how do they refuse to yeeld consent to the corruptions which by word and deed they receyv allow and vphold Thirdly where he insinuateth that by prayer and other good meanes they seek a reformation I would aske with what comfort they can come before God in prayer when they do not onely stand subject to Antichrist in respect whereof theyr sacrifices of prayer must needs be abominable but by their continuall practise seem to deale like those Iewes of whom we read in Ieremy the Prophet that by theyr requests they made show as if they would know the will of God to obey it and yet when they knew it would not observ it If by other good meanes he vnderstand theyr suits to the Parliament as it is an happy thing and greatly to be desired that the Magistrates would abolish this false ecclesiasticall Ministery worship and government so yet if they do it not we must notwithstaÌ„ding at the commaundement of God leave all false wicked and Antichristian wayes and peaceably yeeld obedieÌ„ce to Christ in his own ordinaÌ„ce though we be for this cause reviled imprisoned banished aÌ„d killed all day long being counted as sheep for the slaughter 1. For in this case must alway be remeÌ„bred that we must obey God rather then Man aÌ„d that the coÌ„maundement or permissioÌ„ of the Magistrate maketh not the way of God any whit more lawful but onely more free from trouble 2. Agayn if the lawes of men do once enact aÌ„d establish the true ministery aÌ„d ordinaÌ„ces of Christ then must all be forced to submit thereuÌ„to whether it were Christs or not So as to withold our obedience from Christ till the Law enact it is nothing els but to stay till we be forced by man to the obedience of God 3. Furthermore what if the Magistrates would never establish that ministery aÌ„d order which Christ hath appoynted to his Church should we therefore never observ and submitt vnto it To what end then hath Christ enioyned vs without any exceptioÌ„ of the Magistrates Law to keep whatsoever he hath coÌ„maunded to the end of the world And why hath the Apostle so straitly charged Timothy aÌ„d in him all others before God aÌ„d Iesus Christ to keep the coÌ„maundments which he hath giveÌ„ towching the Ministery order and governmeÌ„t of the Church without spot and vnblameable vntill the appearing of our Lord Iesus 4. To coÌ„clude this poynt if without the Magistrates allowaÌ„ce we might not observ whatsoever Christ hath coÌ„maunded what were this els but to have the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons Which Mr H. before in the beginning of his leter according to the Apostles counsell wisheth in any case to be avoyded And thus much by the way towching the obedience which all Christians are bound themselves to yeeld vnto Christ leaving the generall reformatioÌ„ of the LaÌ„d to the Magistrates to whom it beloÌ„geth Now to proceed where he expoundeth accounting as Publicanes to be ment accounting them such as with whom communion may not lawfully be had in the service of God he seemeth to mistake the meaning thereof For we read that the Publicane went into the Temple to pray aswell as the Phaâ—isee and that the speciall thing wherein the Iewes absteyned from company of the Publicanes was raiher in civill â—onversation then in spirituall worship As may be gatheâ—ed by this that the Pharisees blamed Christ for eating with Publicanes and yet both themselves admitted them â—nto the Temple and found not any fault with Iohn Baptist for
and such other who being made Priests at Rhemes and Rome were without any other ordination then there they had vpon recantation of some popish errors receyved for ministers of these assemblyes aÌ„d inducted into benefices by the Prelates Whereas on the contrary such as have ben allowed for ministers in the reformed Churches beyond seas where the popish priesthood is wholy reiected wheÌ„ they come into EnglaÌ„d are not approved for lawfull ministers to administer in these assemblyes neyther to enter vpon any theyr benefiâ—es vnles they be first made Deacons and Priests by some of the Prelates Proof of this also we have seen not onely in the troubles raysed in this behalf against Mr Whittingâ—am at Durham in the North and against Mr Travers at the Temple in London but most evidently in Mr Wright now Parson of Dinnington in Suffolck who being presented to that benefice yet could not for all the allowance he had receyved of the reformed Churches in the low countreyes be instituted and inducted into it till he was made Priest by Scamler Prelate of Norwich now deceased Thus to omit till hereafter how neare of kinne our English Priests are to the popish by these reasons is evident that they are truly and iustly called Priests Which is the thing that was to be showed But they will say they are not ordeyned to sacrifice for the quick and the dead as be the popish priests Whereto I might â—unswer that some of them were so ordeyned and never receyved any other ordination yet notwithsâ—anding stand they priests of these assemblyes at this day as was showed before But be it that none of them were so ordeyned What then Doth it follow therefore they are no Priests If so thâ— the Leviticall priests vnder the Law were no priests For they were not ordeyned to sacrifice for the quick and dead Yet were they priests by office of ministery and lawfully also at that tyme as the Scripture teacheth Neyther by this reason are Mahumets priests at this day or any priests of the Heathen to be accounted Priests For they are not ordeyned as the popish priests to offer vp Christ whom they reiect Yet are they priests notwithstanding by theyr office as we read of Iupiters Priest in the Acts but false ones as be also the Romish and English and all Antichristian priests whatsoever Secondly although the Masse whereto those popish priests be bound be the chief and principall yet is it not the onely abominable sacrifice and worship in the world To let passe the Heathens sacrifices and priesthood what may we think in this light of the Gospell of that Idoll-book of stinted prayers and exhortations whereto the priests of England be tyed to offer it vp as theyr publik sacrifice and worship vnto God Will you heare what some of themselves have thought of it and have advertised the most honorable Court of Parliament concerning it Thus then have they written hereof We must needs say as followeth these are theyr own words that this book is an vnperfâ—â—â—t book culled and picked out of that popish dunghill the masse book full of all abhominations Lo here in theyr own consciences theyr book of Common prayer is no other but a pigge of that mezeld sow the Masse book Yet this sacrifice do theyr Priests daily offer vp vnto God and are bound therevnto And that so as among them this may and doth serve alone without any theyr sermons or other prayers whereas these without it in theyr constitution are not sufficient Although then the Priests of England be not now ordeyned to say Masse neyther tyed to the Masse book in Latin yet when in stead thereof they are still bound to such a book and worship as by theyr own confession is culled and picked out of that popish dunghill the Masse book full of abominations what can this help for theyr defence Nay rather considering the light and measure of knowledg revealed more to them then to the Papists is not theyr sinne though not in it self yet in this respect so much the greater as they have receyved more light and knowledg of the truth then the other have done Thirdly neyther is sacrificing the onely duty of the priesthood in Popery but besides it they have by vertue of theyr ordination to that office authority likewise to read theyr service book to preach to minister the Sacraments to bucy the dead to solemâ—ize Mariage to Church weomen after childbirth to pronounce absolution when they visit the sick etc. All which being dutyes likewise of the Priesthood of England wherevnto in this constitution they have authority by vertue of theyr ordination to that office as have the Priests in popery What great matter is it if agreing with them in so many severall dutyes of the same office they should altogether differ from them in one The Turkish and Heathenish priests at this day although they differ very much both from those at Rome and these of England yet notwithstanding are they Priests in a false office as well as the other Hitherto then hath ben showed that the Ministers of these assemblyes are truly and fitly called Priests And Mayster H. himself who pleadeth theyr cause yet cannot you see deny but they agree in Name with the popish priesthood Now whereas he addeth that though theyr Priesthood agree in name yet it differeth in nature and substance as much from the popish priesthood as light doth froÌ„ darknes it is as true as wheÌ„ he said before theyr priesthood was in substance the same with the office of the Pastor described in the word that is it is vtterly vntrue Which although it be sufficiently proved already yet for more clearing of the truth aÌ„d stopping of theyr mouths it shalbe good here by way of comparison to set down the agreement of theyrs with the popish priesthood on the one hand and on the other the disagreement of them both from the Pastors office which Christ hath appoynted 1 And first of all it would be knowen what the cause is why they retayne the same name if they have not the same office with the popish priesthood As also if they have the same office with the Pastors described in the word why then they have not also the same name In the history of Isaac the Scripture recordeth as a thing very godly and memorable that when he digged agayn the wels of water which they had digged in the dayes of Abraham his father and which the Philistims had stopped after the death of Abraham he gave them the same names which his father had given them If these men likewise have recovered agayn the Pastors office plaÌ„ted by the Apostles in the Primitive Churches and since theyr death stopped vp by the Romish Philistims why do they not in like maner give it the same name that our fathers the Apostles gave vnto it Are these men wiser then the Apostles of our Lord Iesus or are they fathers in Christ more
when he is presented by the Patrone and instituted by the Prelate Neyther can 〈◊〉 the Priests in the parishes of England But so it is not with the Pastors and Churches of Christ. Act. 14. 23. and 6. 2. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 8. 19. 14 The popish priests may at theyr pleasure without câ—nsent of the people reâ—igne or give over theyr benefices and comâ—â—nly betake themselves to some other of greater value So may also the Priests of England But Pafâ—ors may not give over or leav the flock over which the holy Ghost by the Churches calling hath made them overseers except it be with consent of the Church and for such cause as is warranted by the sayd holy Ghost in the written word Act. 20. 28. with 14. 23. Col. 4. 17. Rom. 12. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. Esa. 62. 6. 7. Ezech. 3. 26. 27. with 33. 22. Numb 8. 25. 15. One popish priest in theyr constitution may and doth â—ake the charge and commodity of many parishes and benefices at once So also may the Priests of England Wherâ—as Pastors have but one onely flock depending vpon them wherevnto they must attend with all faithfull diligence 1 Petr. 5. 2. 3. Act. 14. 23. and 20. 28. Rom. 12. 3 7. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Thes. 5. 12. 13. 14. Hebr. 13. 17. Ezech. 34. Cap. 16. The popish priests wait not the Churches calling to â—he ministery but seek and make suite to some Prelate to be ordeyned Priests giving money also for theyr letters of orders So do also the Priests of England But so do not Pastors but stay till the Lord by his Church call them to that office Hebr. 5. 4. Act. 20. 28. with 14. 23. Esa. 62. 6. 7. Ezech. 33. 2. with ler. 23. 21. and 2 Chron. 13. 9. 17 The popish priests are ordeyned to theyr office though they have no flock to attend vpon Yea commonly 20. or 30. of them are ordeyned at once whereof no one is called to any particular congregation but they must afterward like masterles men seek and sue for places where to be employed So is it also with the Priests of England Whereas Pastors are alwayes ordeyned to the attendance of a certayne particular Church for the work of the Ministery thereyn Act. 14. 23. and â—0 28. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Peâ— 5. 2. Rev. 1. 20. 18. Such be popish priests aÌ„d have â—ure of soules amoÌ„ng them as are not at all able to preach the word Such be also Priesâ—s and have charge of soules in England But none such be Pastors but they onely that being apt to teach are lawfully called to that office 1 Tim. 3. 2. Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 12. Tit. 1. 7. 9. Ioh. 10. 1 5. Num 1â— 5. 40. 19. Of the popish priests that can preach it is required that besides ordination to theyr office they have speciall liâ—ence from the Prelates to preach So is it also required of the Priests of England But not of the Pastors of Christ. Act. 20. 28. 1 Cor. 7. 23. and 9. 16. and 12. 5. 28. Ephes. 4. 1â— Rev. 14. 9 1â— 20 The popish priests are subject to be silenced suspended deprived degraded by the Prelates So are also the Priests of England But not Pastors Rev. 2. 1. and 14. 9. 12. 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Esa. 62. 1 6. 7. Zach. 11. 17. Ier. 48. 10. 1 Cor. 9. 16. and 12. 28. Act. 4. 19. 20. and 20 28. 21. The popish priests at theyr institution must sweare to performe Canonicall obedience to the Prelates theyr Ordinaryes So must the Priests of England But not Pastors 1 Cor. 12. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. Rev. 2. 1. and 14. 9. 12. Act. 5. 29. 31. Ioh. 15. 14. Rom. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 14. 15. 16. 22. The popish priests are tyed to a book of sâ—inted prayers and a prescript order devised by man for theyr worship and ministration So likewise are the Priests of England bound to a prescript order of service and book of Common prayer taken out of the Popes portuis Whereas the Pastors of the Churches of Christ are free to vse theyr gifts receyed from Christ for the work of his Ministery being â—yed thereyn to no inventions of men but onely to the rule and order which Christ in his word hath appoynted â—herevnto â—phes 4. 8. 11. 12. 1 Cor. 12. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 11. Exod. 30. 9. vvith Psal. 141. 2. Rev. 8. â— Esa. 29. 13. Mat. 15. 9. 1 Pet. 4. 10. 11. 2 Tim. 1. 6. 7. Rom. 8 26. Ioh. 4. 24. â— Tim. 3. 15. and 6. 13. 14. vvith Gal. 3. 15. 2 Tim. 3. 16. 17. Rev. 22. 18. 19. 23 The popish priests are bound in that office to performe such actioÌ„s as Christ never appoynted for the work of his ministery as to Church women to bury the dead to solemnize mariages etc. So are the Priests of England But so are not Pastors Eph. 4. 11. 12. Rom. 12. 7. 8. 1 Tim. 3. 15. and 5. 17. and 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. Rev. 22. 18. 19. 24 The popish priests be not of like aÌ„d equall power degree and authority amoÌ„g themselves but are some of them inferior to other hereyn as Parsons to Archdeacons Archdeacons to Lordishops Lordbishops to Archbishops So is it with the Priests of England But not with Pastors For they have all of them like and equall power degree and authority vnder Christ the onely Archbishop and great shepeard of the sheep 1. Pet. 5. 3. 4. and 2. 25. Luk. 22. 24. 25. 26. Rev. 1. 20. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. Act. 20. 28. Heb. 13. 17. 20. 25 The popish priests together with theyr people stand subject to the ecclesiasticall courts Canons citations excommunications absolutions and other the like jurisdiction of the Prelates and theyr Officials So stand also the priests of England and theyr people But so stand not the Pastors and Churches of Christ Rev. 14. 4. 9. 12. Mat. 6. 24. and 28. 20. Ioh. 3 35. 36. and 10. 4. 5. Gâ— 49. 10. Esa. 33. 22. Iam. 4. 12. Heb. 3. 1. 2. 3. 26 The popish priests have ioyned with them in theyr â—harâ—e Churchwardens and Sidemen which are sworne to present to the Ordinaryes court as also to his Chauncelors aÌ„d Commissaryes courts all such offences faults and defaults as be committed among them against the Prelates Articles aÌ„d Iniunctions So is it also with the Priests of England But not with the Pastors of the Churches of Christ Wherein they are not onely freed from all Antichristian bondage but have also ioyned with them Teachers and Elders for the instruction oversight and guydance of the Church according to the ordiâ—ances of Iesus Christ and no other 1 Tim. 5. 17. and 6. 13. â—4 Rom. 12. 7. 8. Eph. 4. 11. 12. 1 Cor. 12. 5. 28. and 14. 37. Act. 15. 2. 4. 6. 22 23. and 20. 17. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Matt. 28. 20. 27 The popish priests with theyr Churchwardens and people have not the power of Christ to cast out any
perhaps they never saw nor heard of afore and it may be never after Let him also tell vs if the Prelates do not oftē tymes make priests in theyr private chappels yea ād in theyr closets too ād whether these be not Priests by the Law aswell as the rest among them Now then where is the solemne assembly ād Congregation he speaketh of vnles he vnderstand it of the Prelates officers ād servitors who commonly are as wicked and irreligious as theyr Lord and Master Doth Mr H. write this as of syncerity as of God in the sight of God as he professed in the entrance of his letter Or doth he not rather go about to deceyv the Reader and darken the truth when thus colourably he would beare vs in hand that the Law of God which prescribeth that the Church and flock should approve and choose their own Minister is observed among them And yet further let◠him aunswer whether they be not commonly made Priests at theyr own suite without any people to attend vpon much lesse to approve and choose them Yea whether often it be not so as the people where they are to minister never saw them before till they come vpon them with the Patrones presentation and the Prelates induction to the benifice Which when they bring the people are most that can do least even iust nothing at all For priests they must and will be there whether the people will or not Is this to have the Churches choyse and approbation Is this to follow the Law of GOD and to have that in substance which the word prescribeth as here Mr H. pretendeth they have But above all it is most straunge that he would perswade vs theyr law requireth theyr Ministers to be ordeyned by imposition of hands of the Eldership when all the world knoweth that they imprison banish and persecute to death the poore Christians in the Land which follow that rule of God in theyr iudgment and practise Yea and Mr H. himself afterward in this letter confesseth both that the power of ordination among them is by law committed to the Prelates and that by the Law of God the Prelates are not capable of it How then possibly can this be true which here he saith that theyr Law requireth ordination to be done by imposition of the hāds of the Eldership as the law of God doth These must needs be contradictory the one to the other But to proceed if it were so as here he pretendeth why then hath he with the rest of the forward preachers and people so often sued to the Parliament for an Eldership consisting of Pastors Teachers and Elders in every Church if already they enioy it Do they sue for that they have that were a mockery Or doth not the Law expresly requier that imposition of hāds among them be done by a Lordbishop or his Suffragane with the Archdeacon and other Priests present And are these now of late come to be an Eldership How is it then that the Prelates and theyr followers have heretofore written that in the Apostles tyme there were Elders in every Church but now it ought not so to be And that the seekers of Reformation have published that not onely the office of Elders but theyr Name also is out of this English Church vtterly removed and that in stead of them in every Church the Pope hath brought in and they in England yet mainteyne the Lordship of one man over many Churches yea over sundry shires Which Lordbishops being not able as the Elders to execute theyr offices in theyr own persons without substitutes have therefore theyr vnder officers as Suffraganes Chauncelors Archdeacons Officials Commissaryes and such like Also that they with theyr Canons and Courts are drawen out of the Popes shop and take vpon them which is most horrible the rule of GOds Church thrusting away most sacrilegiously that order which Christ hath left in his Church and which the Primitive Church hath vsed yea robbing the Church of lavvfull Pastors Elders and Deacons Thus and much more have themselves written heretofore Yet see how now Mr H. would perswade vs they have the Eldership prescribed in the word And that vvhereas there is vvant of due execution of such things in theyr Church as the Lavv of God commaundeth that is the fault of the men not of the calling As if the limmes of Antichrist were now become the Eldership ordeyned by Christ And the Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons with theyr other priests and Officers whom the Apostles never knew were to be accounted those Elders whom the Apostles planted in the Primitive Churches Those Elders had a lawfull calling of a true Church to a true office ordeyned by Christ which also they were bound to administer according to the word of God in the Church whereof and whereto they were called These Prelates and Priests as hath ben proved have an vnlawfull calling in a false Church to a false office never set by Christ in his Church which also they are bound to administer according to theyr popish Canons Articles and Iniunctions besides that many of them have Lordship ouer many Churches and sundry shires Those Elders performed theyr office in theyr own persons These Prelates and Priests have theyr substitutes Vicars and vnder officers Those Elders were in no office belonging to Antichrist These Prelates and Priests have the very offices without which no Church of Antichrist pretending to be Christs can be absolute and complete in all the Canonicall functions of Antichrists ministery and government Those Elders had offices which must continew to the end of the world yea even then when Antichrist in all the partes offices and power of his Ministery and religion shalbe consumed by the Gospell of IEsus Christ These Prelates and Priests have such offices as till they be abolished all the offices of Antichrists Hierarchy are not destroyed Which the Scripture testifyeth shall come to passe by the Spirit of the Lords mouth in the light and power of his Gospell To coclude then these Prelates and Priests are as vnlike to those Elders as darknes is to light and the forgeryes of Antichrist to the ordinances of IEsus Christ. Where then is the imposition of hands of the Eldership which Mr H. would make vs beleev theyr Ministers have Or is the want now among them not of the offices of Elders but onely of vpright Dealers therein as here he would perswade Thus then you see that theyr Ministers having no other office nor calling then the Law alloweth have not at all the substance of the office or calling of Ministers which the vvord prescribeth whatsoever colour he pretend to the contrary And yet I pray you what hath he said more for the maner of calling to theyr Priesthood then may be alledged for the popish priests For the Popes pontificall out of which theyr book is drawen requireth the same things at the entrance to the priesthood which Mr
read that Moses â—ezekiah Nehemiah Annah and others have so prayed and ben accepted of God 13. Christ hath given an expresse commaundement VVhen ye pray say Our father c. wherevpon I reason thus The commaundements of Christ are to be kept otherwise it is sinne therefore if Christ have here commaunded to vse these words in that number and order then whosoever pray at any tyme and vse not these words they sinne But already we have seen that the Apostles prayed and vsed not these words and yet sinned not And so no doubt do other the servants of God daily according to theyr divers occasions and conditions Not to speak here of the prayers which the preachers vse before and after theyr sermons neyther of theyr collects and other prayers besides this prescribed in theyr books Otherwise also every man that blesseth his table or sayth to another God be with you God blesse you God recover you good morrow good night or the like should sinne in this because he prayeth and yet saith not Our father etc. 14. Yet I doubt not but we may vse any of these aswell as other words applying them to our speciall case and necessity As we see that Christ prayed saying Father glorify thy Name And agayn O my Father if this cup can not passe from me but that I must drink it thy vvill be done Where we may learne by Christ who gave the rule how to vse it to witt not in a superstitious saying over these words but in praying according to this rule as our special necessities shall be whether we vse any of these words or other or pray with sighs that cannot be expressed 15. Finally therefore all such as have framed or receyved any other forme of Prayer but this onely which Christ hath taught offend against this rule and commaundement of Christ. And thus not we but they who have devised and follow other formes and books of prayer are those which deny and as much as lyeth in them disanull the Lords prayer â—EVEN QVESTIONS which have ben propounded to divers of the Mâ—inisters of these assemblyes with request that they would aunswer them directly and sâ—ncerely from the Scriptures Which also still is desired at theyr hands â— WHether the Lord Iesus Christ have by his last Testament given vnto and set in his Church sufficient ordinary offices with theyr calling vvorks and maintenance for the administration of his â—oly things and for the sufficient ordinary insâ—ruction guydance and service of his Châ—rch to the end of the world or no 2. Whether the offices of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers be those offices appoynted by Christ in his Testament as aforesaid Or whether the present ecclesiasticall offices of Archbishops Lordbishops Suâ—â—raganes Deanes Subdeanes Prebendaryes Channcelors Priests Deacons or half Priests Archdeacons Subdeacons Commissaâ—yes Officials Doctors Proâ—tors â—egisters Scribes Apparitors Parsons Vicars Curates Stipendaryes Dagrant preachers Chapleynes or howse priests Canons Petticanons Gospellers Epistlers Chaunters Virgerers Queristers Organ-players Churchwardens Sidemen Collectors Clerks Sertans and the rest now had in these Cathedrall and parishionall assemblyes be those offices appoynted by Christ in his Testament as is aforesayd or no 3. Whether the calling and entrance into these ecclesiasticall offices last aforesayd theyr administration and maintenance now had and reteyned in England be the maner of calling administration and maintenance which Christ hath appoynted for the offices of his Church aboue named or no 4. Whethere very true visible Church be not a company of people called and separated out from the world and the false worship and wayes thereof by the word of God and ioyned together in fellowship of the Gospell by voluntary profession of the faith and obedience of Christ And whether the ecclesiasticall assemblyes of this land be such or no 5. Whether the Sacraments being seales of rightuoesnes which is by faith may be administred to any other then the faithfull and theyr seed or in any other Ministery and maner theÌ„ is prescribed by Iesus Christ the Aposâ—le and high Priest of our profession And whether they be not otherwise administred in the Cathedrall and parishionall assemblyes of England at this day 6. Whether the book of common prayer with the feasts fasts holy dayes 〈◊〉 prayers and leiturgy prescribed therein and vsed in these assemblyes be the true worship of God commaunded in his word or the devise and inâ—ention of Man for Gods worship and service 7 Whether all Churches and people without exception be not bound in religion onely to receyv aÌ„d submit vnto that 〈◊〉 vvorship and order which Christ as Lord and King hath given aÌ„d appoynted to his Church Or whether any man receyv and joyne vnto another devised by man for the service of God And consequently whether they which ioyne to the present ecclesiasticall Ministery vvorship and order of these Cathedrall and parshionall assemblyes can be assured by the word of God they ioyne to the formeâ— ordeyned by Christ and not to the latter 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 and service of God ¶ Let him that readeth consider A table of some principall things conteyned in this treatise THe written word of GOD onely is to be the rule of our life and â—â—â—gion pag. 1. 4. How God accounteth the mixture of mans inventions with his ordinances in his worship pag. 115. The ordinances of Christ are to be kept notwithstanding the prohibition of Princes or any persecution to the contrary pag. 32. 71. 133. 136. Magistrates are to be obeyed in the lord not against the Lord. pag. 49. 71. 133. 136. Of the Christian Magistrates allowance or prohibition inreligion p. 1â— 133. No Prince Church or Nation can make that lawfull which Gods word maketh vnlawfull pag. 126. 133. Princes ought to abolish all false worship and ministeryes pag. 25. 105. 134. The worship Prelaâ—â— and other ministery of the Church of England is against the Prphecy Priesthood and Kingdome of Christ. p. 30 34. Christs person and office p. 28. 42. Whether the Church of Engl. in theyr constitution held Christ the onelâ— lawgiver to the conscience p. 15. False doctrines taught and allowed in the Church of Engl. p. 10. 11. 12. 13. Of the profession of the Church of Engl. p. 19. Antichristian corruptioâ—s yet remayning in the Church of Engl. p. 19. 75. Antichrists religion a mystery of iniquity p. 7. 19. 37. 115. The description of Antichrist out of 2 Thes. 2. p. â— and out of 1 Ioh. 4. 3. p. 28 35. Of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons etc. p. 10. 52. 68. 75. 86. 88. 100. 108. 113. 117. 130 131. 136. 141. Of the Priests office in the Church of Eng. Sect. 7. 8. and p. 11. 33. 87. 105. The maner of entrance into it Sect. 9. and pag. 10. 100. 109. 119. Of the name Priests pag. 81. 94 99. The Priesthood of England compared with the popish and both of them with the Pastors office p. 98 105. The Deacons office in the Church of Engl.
and maner of â—ntrance into it pag. 108. The word and Sacraments administred aÌ„d receyved in the Church of Engl. in and from a false ministery Sect. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. and p. 33. 89. 90. 91. 141. Manifold abuses in their administration of the Sacraments p. 12. 13. 87. 91. Of excommunication in the Church of Eng. how coÌ„trary it is to that which Christ hath ordeyned in his Church p. 10. 17. 62. 104. Of a prescript leiturgy aÌ„d the Book of common prayer vsed in the Church of Engl. p. 12. 69. 97. 103. 141. Of the Apocrypha books vsed in theyr publick worship pag. 11. Of the holy dayes in the Church of Engl. pag. 13. Of Idoll temples pag. 46. The â—ath er officio pag. 13. The forbidding of mariage and meats at certayne seasons pag. 12. 23. 27. The Prelacy and theyr vsurped authority was in Engl. long before the raigne or birth of her Maiesty p. 127. The Prelates by the Law of God not capable of that which is committed vnto them by the Parliament pag. 117. 〈◊〉 false ministery not to be heard though the truth be taught in it Sect. 2. 3. 4. 5. and pag. 19. 39. 52. 89. Separation from the Ministery and worship of the Church of Engl. pag. 5. 16. 66. 78. 105. 122. 126. Of the name Brownists p. 94. The order of our Church who are falsely called Brownisâ—s pag. â—3 Though others be not perswaded or be ignorant of the truth of Christ yet must we obey it p. 64. What is substantiall in the Ministery p. 83. What is substantiall in the calling to it p. 116. etc. Of Elders and the Eldership p. 11. 113. 114. The ordinary offices appoynted by Christ for the administration of his holy things p. 9. 68. The tryall choyse aÌ„d ordination pag. 40 84. 100. 105. 106. 111. 112. 113. 116. 123 Their administration p. 12. 13. 85. 103. etc. Theyr maintenance p. 11. 104. Difference to be put between an office and the actions thereof p. 87. Difference to be put between true Churches having corruptions and betweeÌ„ false Churches making show of religion As also a divers maner of walking to be vsed towards them p. 45. 57. 61. Of two hy priests at once or by course etc. p. 50. What is vnderstood by this word Discipline pag. 21. Of the Lords prayer p. 138. Testimonyes of the Prelates and Formalists against themselves pag. 15. 30. 33. 88. 93. 113. Testimonyes of the forward preachers and people against themselves p. 14. 15. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 40. 51. 52. 88. 89. 93. 97. 107. 109. 110. 113. 116 130. 131. Theyr prayers and suites for â—eformation pag. 70. 113. Theyr own testimonyes which they alledg out of the Scripture for theyr defence against them Sect. 3. 4. 5. pag. 21. 63. Testimonyes of former tymes against them pag. 24. 25. 64. 66. 70. 131. For which see further in the Acts and Monuments in the hystories of Iohn VVicleff VVilliam Svvinderby Syr Iohn Old cattle Lord Cobham Iohn Claydon and other the servants of God and Martyrs of Iesus Who held aÌ„d professed that Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons c. be the disciples of Antichrist yea very Antichrists themselues That the possessions aÌ„d Lordships of the clergy are the venime of Iudas shed into the Church That the Bishops licence for a man to preach the vvord of God is the true character of the beast that is Antichrist Act and Monum edition 4. pag. 150 a. 468. b. 562. b. 563. a. 639. b. Testimonyes of the reformed Churches at this day against them pag. 67. 68. 69. We would have cured Babel but she could not be healed forsake her and deliver ye every man his soule from the fierce wrath of the Lord. Ier. 51. 9. 45. with Rev. 18. 4. 5. * Iam. 1. 19. 20. 21. Iam. 2. 1. a Iam. 1. 19. 20. 21. b Voâ— 22. c 1. Cor. 1â— 9. 12. d 2. Ioh. ver 4. and 7. e Iam. 2. â—2 f 2. Cor. 2. 17. g Iudg. 6. 31. The Reason alledged for separation from the Church ministry of England a In sectioÌ„ 5. in the end of it b 2. Thes. 2. 4. c. l 2. Thes. 2. 3. m Vers. 3. n Ver. 3. and 7. o Ver. 4. compared vvith Ver. 3. 6. 7. 8. p Ver. 4. cempared vvith Rev. 1â— 11. q Ver. 8. anomos that is savâ—les or lavvbreakes r Ver. 9. compared vvith Mat. 24. 24. s Ver. 3. and 8. compard vvith Rev. 14. 6. 7. 8. t ver 10. 11. 12. compared vvith Rev. 14. 9. 10 11. v 2. Thes. 2. 3. vv Ver. 4. x Ver. 8. y ver 10. 11 z 1. Coâ— 12. 5. 28. Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 12. Rom. 12. 7. 8. vvith 1. Tim. 3. cap. and 5. cap. and 6. 13. 14. 15. x 1. Coâ— 3. 16. 17. and 2. Cor. 6 16. 17. 18. compared vvith 2. Thes 2. 4. 10. a 2. Machab 12. 44. 45. and 14. 41. 42. Eccles siastiâ—us 46 20. vvisdoÌ„ 19. 11. b 2 Esdras 14. 21. 22. 23. 2. Machab. 2 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. To bit 5. 11. 12. 13. vvith 12 15. Iudith 8. 33. and 10. 9. vvith 10. 12. and 11. 6. 12. 13. 14. 15. aÌ„d 14. 3. 4. 1 Machab. 9. 3 18. vvith â— Mach. 1. 10. also 1 Machab 6. 4. 8. 9 16. vvith 2 Machab. 1. 13 14. 15. 16. and vvith 9. 1. 5. 7. 9. 28. 29. c Tobit 12. 1â— 15. compared vvith Rom. 8. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 5 Rev. 8. 3 4. d Tobit 6. 6. 7. 8. and 9. 2. 3. vvith 3. 7. 8. also 11. 10. 11. 12. 13. vvith 2. 9. 10. e Iudith 9. 2. 3. 4. coÌ„pared vvith GeÌ„ 49. 5. 6. 7. Ester Apocâ—â—pha 12. 5. vvith Ester Canonical 6. 3. also Ester Apoâ—â— 15. 9. 10. vvith Ester canon 5. 2. Ecclesiasticus 46. 20. vvith Esa. 57. 2. aÌ„d Eccles. 12. 7. f Second admon to the Parliam pag. 6 aÌ„d 7. g Lev. â—0 1. 2. h Ephes. 2. 20. i Sutclifs English treatise of eccles discipline pag. 7. k Esa. 33. 22. and 42 4. Gen. 49. 10. Act. 5. 31. Gal. 6. 2 Ier. 31. 33. vvith Heb. 8. 10. Iam. 4. 12. l Tit. 1. 16. m Demâ—stra in the preface to the Reader also Declar of eccses discip n Gods arrovv against A therists Papists etc. cap. 5. o I am 4. 12. p Ezech. 16. 44. vvith Rev. 17. 5. q T. C. first reply pag. 177. Declar. of â—ccles disipline etc. r Act. 2. 40. and 19. 9. 2 Cor. 6. 17. 18. Rev. 18. 4. 1. Tim. 6. 3. 4. 5. s Ad salutem animae that is to the salvation of the soâ—le t 1 Cor. 5. 4. 6. Mat. 18. 17. 18. 19. 20. And this Mr H. graunteth aftervvardrin section 5. v Rev. 18. 4. and 14. 9. 20. vv Rev. 13. 16. and 18 2 x Ad. 2. 40 41. Rev. 18. 4. 2. Cor. 6. 1â— Eâ—ra 6. 21. and 9. 14. Psal. 119. 113 128. y 2. Thes. 2. 4. Rev. 9. 3. vvith 1. Cor. 12 5. Ephe. 4. 5. 11 1. Pet. 5. 3. 4. z Rev. 18. 11. and