they had put on they not living to the adorning but to the shame of the Gospel This is the Summ of the Discipline and Government that Christ left to his Church for ought appears by any plain Scripture And what need of more or other For if the Ministers of the Everlasting Gospel have free liberty to Instruct break Bread exhibit the Sacraments and Pray the Civil Magistrate hath sufficient Power by God's own Ordinance to order all the rest And their Commission extends no farther viz. Go ye and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Matth. 28.19 20. Cura Animarum Salvation and Damnation of Souls being of Everlasting consequence and of the highest concern in the World to every individual is beyond all peradventure and contradiction the main Duty and Glory both of Priest and Prelate and to be apt to teach to be instant in season out of season to reprove rebuke and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4.1 2. for hereunto most especially and if not onely they are called as was Aaron and if not called unto this Duty they are called unto none by any Patent or Commission from Heaven This was the Government the Apostles used and left no other and the Gospel prospered under it then and why it should not prosper under it still no reason can be asscribed however let us trace the steps thereof and see by what vile arts and means it became degenerated into meer worldly Forms set up for meer worldly Ends and Interests In the Days of our Saviour whilst on Earth there was a common Purse which Judas carried which was always filled and supplied with the free-will Offerings of pious devout Princes and of private Persons who plentifully contributed their Temporal Riches to the Churches which was first instituted kept and distributed for two Ends only viz. First For the Necessities of Christ and his Apostles Preachers of the Gospel Secondly For Alms for the Poor which was distributed as the Lord commanded by Judas who was a Thief and usurped to himself the said Goods common to the Apostolical Colledge and was so Covetous that he sold to the Jews the very Person of Christ When Christ was ascended into Heaven the Holy Apostles in the Church of Jerusalem kept on foot the same Holy institution and for the self-same Ends viz. for the Necessities of the Ministers of the Gospel and for Alms for the Poor the Faithful in those Days making all their Goods common sold their Possessions for the same Purse or Stock and Uses So that the Community of the Church was not distinct from the particular of each faithful Man Yet this Custom of having all things in common went not out of Jerusalem And in other Churches planted also by the Holy Apostles this Custom was not observed neither did it last long in Jerusalem Whereupon 26 Years after Christ it is read That the publick was distinct from the private every one knowing his own but the Money being common in that Church as in others founded in Oblations which placed in common served onely for the Ministers and for the Poor The first Day of the Week which for that cause was called the Lord's-Day the Faithful met together and each one offered that which he had set apart of the foregoing Week for the Necessities of the common which was administred and distributed by the Apostles themselves for a short time after the Ascension whence arose murmurings and discontents and many dissatisfactions some thinking they were neglected and had too little and that others had too much which gave great trouble and distractions to the Apostles which they considering and finding that they could not attend this perfectly together with Preaching the Word of God they resolved to stick close to the Ministery of Preaching and Teaching and Praying continually and therefore appointed for this Office of having care of Temporal things another sort of Ministers Deacons quite disserent from that we see done in these Days wherein the Pope and Chief Prelates of the Church attend the Government of Temporal things and the Office of Preaching and Teaching and the Doctrine of the Gospel neglected and left unto Friars or Brethren and inferior Priests in the Church Wherefore they directed the Brethren to look out among themselves from the body of the Faithful Seven Men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom whom they appointed for that Ministery that they might give themselves continually to Prayer and to the Ministery of the Word And wheresoever they founded a Church they also appointed Deacons in the same manner and to the same Ministery As also they ordained Bishops and Priests and other Ecclesiastical Ministers Fasting and Praying preceeding And the common Election of the Faithful following after observing inviolably this order never deputing any Man to any Ecclesiastical Charge who was not first Elected by the Universality of the Church which is of all the Faithful together This Custom was observed not only during the life-times of the Apostles but even about two hundred Years maintaining the Ecclesiastical Ministers and the Poor also with the publick Stock raised by such Oblations And the fervent Zeal and Charity of those Times was so great that the Oblations amounted to very great Summs In the Church of Rome that rich City Marcion about the Year 170 gave a free-will Offering at one time of Five thousand Crowns of Gold in the Church of Rome who afterward holding Erroneous Opinions in matters of Faith he was expelled from the Congregation and all his Money restored to him This rich City grew so rich by those Oblations that after Two hundred and twenty Years the Roman Emperours coveted them Whereupon Decius the Prince arrested St. Lawrence a Roman Deacon to take the Ecclesiastical Treasures from him but he being aware thereof distributed them all suddenly and so disappointed the Tyrant The Church thus abounding in Riches the Clergy began then to degenerate and to live at ease not being content with the daily Food of the Church but would have their separate shares every Day or Month or longer and live where they pleased which tho' it declined from the Primitive Perfection was yet winked at by the Fathers but it rested not here for the Bishops began to fail the Poor of their due and kept more for themselves and so growing Rich with the Goods of the Church dealt also in Usury to increase in Riches and withall leaving off the Care of Teaching the Doctrines of Christ and busied themselves in getting Pelf of which St. Cyprian complains in his time Tho' the Church possessed so much Wealth yet it had no settled or stable Goods at the first Yet in France and in Italy some left or gave stable Goods to Churches which in the Year 302 were all confiscated by Dioclesian and Maniminian tho' in France
their first innocent Beginnings and Institutions against which no Objection can reasonably be made The Primitive Church did continue very many Years in perfection with increase of Saints and propagation of the Gospel without the use of any ceremonies or suppressing any holy Assemblies Conventicles or Excommunicating as now used or any Priest imployed in Secular Affairs in Princes Courts and the purity thereof can by this means only be restored they knew full well that the Kingdom of God did not consist in Cringings Ceremonies Vestments or Colours but in righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 and may be so governed again if the Clergy would give it countenance and encouragement and be as active in good earnest to divest themselves of all Temporal Dominion and be content to live the life and practice of the Apostles yet with plentiful Revenues as they are to persecute their fellow Members in Christ for acting as the Apostles taught and did Be wise now therefore O ye Prelates be instructed yet Priests of the most High do not offend little onesS that believe in their and your god and that assemble in secret to imploy and improve precious time and holy Talents its better a Milstone were banged about your necks and you drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat. 18. than that you should be found guilty of such offence remember that he that toucheth such toucheth the Apple of his Eye Zach. 2.8 If they are weak in Faith yet receive them but not to doubtful disputations Rom. 14.12 and 15.1 for he that eateth and he that eateth not and he that conformeth and he that conformeth not may both meet in Heaven and see the Face of God with comfort It is hard kicking against the pricks if briars and thorns will set themselves in battle against the Lord he will go through them and burn them with unquenchable fire Isai 27.4 To me it seems marvellous nay monstruous that Ministers of the Gospel should preach pure Doctrine Holiness and Strictness of Life and Conversation and that most zealously and yet at the same time in the same Pulpit revile and speak evil of Ministers of the same Gospel preaching the same Doctrines as fervently as themselves in private Assemblies or Conventicles and out of their Pulpits to rail persecute and trouble those that practise the same Doctrines that they themselves teach them differing from them only about things indifferent Doth a fountain send forth sweet water and bitter James 3.11 12. Are these Pastors according to God's own Heart Is this to feed us with Knowledg and Understanding Jer. 3.15 Is it not rather to be bruitish in Knowledg Jer. 10.15 Falsest Priests that teach one thing and yet revile and persecute them that practise it to me it seems impossible that there should be sincerity in such Pulpits is not this to prevaricate with God and Man to speak lyes in hypocrisie and by slight and cunning craftiness lie in wait to deceive Will you talk deceitfully for God or as one man mocketh another will you so mock him Job 13.7 9. Tho' I thus argue yet am of Opinion that the Ceremonies of the Church of England are so innocent that they may be and are used with very good Conscience by some and may be injoyned But I know no Power under Heaven that hath lawful Authority rigorously to command submission to them upon Penalties and Severities that if any through either indiscreet Zeal or truly conscientious Scrupulosities cannot use them they must not therefore preach the Gospel either publickly or privately or partake of Church Offices and Benefices O! they are things indifferent and may be commanded be it so And therefore they ought so to continue and not be made necessary by any commands of Men. Let them so continue and Unity will necessarily ensue Rites and Ceremonies tho' by nature indifferent do then become bad and of ill consequence when imposed under Penalties and when they that do impose them have an Opinion that they are good or necessary Preaching and Praying and Assembling are of absolute necessity use of Ceremonies not so And the Holy Ghost would have no greater burthen imposed than things necessary Acts 15.28 To press these things so severely is with the Ministers of Jeroboam to lay snares in Mispah and spread nets upon Tabor Hos 5.1 And to sham and use Laws Menaces and Subtleties to keep the People from God's Temple and Sanctuary and to smother and dissemble the strictness and purity of God's Holy Ways but the righteous Lord will how the snares of the ungodly in pieces Psalm 129.4 Preaching of the Gospel and Administration of the Sacraments are things commanded by God and therefore ought not to be forbidden by Men and are so far exempt from human Laws that the prohibition of them is of no force it being in such cases better to obey God than Man Acts 5.22 and for that no Man's right ought to be denied him either in things Civil or Spiritual for fear they should abuse it for tha then no Man's Right shall be preserved safe and intire unto him And for certain God hath given no Power at all either to Princes or Prelates but what is accompanied with Divine Wisdom and sincerity and therefore to forbid any to preach the Gospel because they refuse to submit and conform to commands of things indifferent and no way Essential to the saving of Souls or to the Sincerity or Purity of the Gospel is utterly unlawful and sinful and as arrant persecution as was that of the Jews towards the Apostles and no ways to be countenanced in a Christian State but such Abuse of Power is a plain demonstration that they hate them that rebuke in the Gate and abhor them that speak uprightly Amos 5.10 Besides the matters in Difference between Conformist and Non-conformist are confessed by both to be but about things indifferent and therefore ought not to be imposed necessarily because their imposition cannot be justified infallibly and because indeterminate by plain Scripture and therefore can have no warrant from them What are we then to conceive of those our Ecclesiasticks who have been so far from promoting such a Reformation that they have always opposed it with strong opposition Witness of late Days their earnest and importunate solicitations of the Members of both Houses of Parliament to Repeal that Act of Parliament made 17 Car. disenabling all Persons in Holy Orders to exercise any Temporal Jurisdiction or Authority which by good management they have effected by another Act made 13 Car. 2. by which they are now re-instated on the old rotten Papal Foundation and are at such ease therein that if any do but mutter or peep against it they are ready with the two Men in the Gospel possessed with Devils coming out of the Tombs exceeding fierce and to cry out Why are you come to torment us before the time Matth. 8.28 29. Are not such Priests those that teach for hire and
Prophets that divine for money and pimp for domination Mich. 3.11 and Demas-like forsake the fellowship of Saints and embrace this present World So that unless the Apostles return from Heaven or that Christ himself come again in Person and lasn them as he did the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple I see small hopes of Establishing the Government of the Church on a right Basis If they would be active in good earnest to divest themselves of all Temporal Domination and Jurisdiction and content to be reduced to the life and practise of the Apostles as they are to persecute their fellow Members for Conventicling we might be happy Yet I must do the right Reverend Author of Naked Truth that right That if the Ecclesiasticks were all of his mind and first seek the Kingdom of God it would easily be done and I do with him humbly conceive That the Bishops with the rest of the Clergy are bound in Conscience to implore the Assistance of both Houses of Parliament to Petition his Majesty for the Redress of the Abuses by Pious Laws settling the Church Government in the Primitive Purity and Authority which most evidently was very great and as greatly reverenced Bishops and Priests being the Persons to whom Christ and his Apostles committed the Souls of Men bought with his most precious Blood Therefore I think they do such Clergy-men not Priesthood not Episcopacy not true Church of England Men no wrong who esteem them as they manage their matters the very worst Interest that Protestant Kings and Kingdoms have but that of the Papists These Animosities and Differences have been ever since the beginning of the Reformation between the Conforming and Non-conforming Clergy and I may truly prophesie ever will be so long as Conscience shall be on the Earth and as long as Ministers will not be Servants but Lords over Gods heritage and will not condescend to let things made by God Almighty indifferent so to be and remain the Reasons are pregnant for that Conscience will be Conscience while the World stands and therefore there ever will be Scrupulonties and Obligations upon Conscience which are greater than all other Obligations in the World And therefore King James the First would say and that truly That the Puritans were never to be obliged and for that Reason Whereas if things indifferent might so remain and the Conventiclers permitted to preach in publick to take away all Fears Jealousies and Suspicion we should be all at quiet for then there would not be left so much as the pretence of Religion to occasion Dislentions or Quarrels Besides it is the time-serving Clergy only the Drones that vilifies and abaseth that caluminates and disturbs the Dissenters and not the Dissenters them EXtremities used against them at their Instigation Silencing Imprisoning Excommunicating making use of Laws against them that in their primary 35 Eliz. simple and sincere Institution were intended and enacted against Papists only and they not proceeded against so violently according to those very Laws in full force against them as against the Non conformists who have been Indicted under the Notion of Popish Recusants and Penalties levied upon them and the Papists either totally connived at or remissly prosecuted many Crimes through ungrounded prejudices laid to their charge as disturbing of the Government which they abhor and teach not of which they are no otherways guilty than by that Logick that the Fox his Earon his Head were Horns meer Surmizes Calumnies and Libels and nothing proved but that contrary to a human Law they following the Command and Example of Christ and his Apostles meet and assemble together to keep a more intimate near and dear Communion with their and our God and with one another and to make Peace and Reconciliation with God whilst they are yet in the way yet in the possibility of Salvation whcih Law in it self is null and void because it contradicts the Law of God which Commands all Men every where to call on the Name of the Lord Jesus and all Priests to teach all Nations Baptizing c. and to preach in every Church in season out of season c. to reprove exhort rebuke with all long-suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. Is not this with the Priests of old and the Captain of the Temple to be grieved at the heart that they teach the People and therefore laid hands on them and put them in hold and like Elymas the sorcerer being full of all subtlety and all mischief children of the Devil enomies of all righteousness never ceasing to pervert the right ways of the Lord Act. 4.2 and 13.10 But lying lips shall be put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous Psalm 31.18 It was St. Paul's Glory that Christ was preached any way though through strife or vain glory and I fear it is the glory of the more violent and haughty Tory Church of England Party as the road to Preferment to decry Conventicling and Preaching contrary to such a Law and to stop the Mouths of them that would Preach whereby they intitle themselves to the Character of the Shepherds described and deciphered Isai 56.10 11. Consider that in Preaching contrary to such a Law they do no more than what Christ and his Apostles did in their Days The Rulers of the Jews offended with Peter 's Sermon imprisoned him and John and having strictly examined them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus Did they therefore forbear Preaching or were they obedient to such Commands of the Rulers I tell you nay but answered and said unto them Whether it be right in the sight of God to bearken unto you more than unto God judge ye and continued speaking the Wrod of God with great boldness Acts 4. The like did the rest of the Apostles even from house to house though accused of turning the World up-side down and of doing contrary to the decrees of Caesar yet preaching the Word of God boldly Act. 17.26 Either the Author to the Hebrews Preacht false Doctrine when he exhorteth us to consider one another to provoke unto Love and to good Works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is And so did St. Paul when he wrote his Chap. 14. to the Corinthians wherein he adviseth all to desire Spiritual gifts but rather that they may prophesie that they may speak unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort when the Church is come together in one place with particular Directions how all should behave themselves in such Assemblies that all may profit with a general Rule that all things be done decently and in order Either I say these Apostles taught false Doctrines in so Teaching or else they that preach and prate against such Assembling as the manner of some is are false teachers I know no medium take it as you please Can it it be imagined that if St. Paul who rejoyced