not keep it off by all your friends c. B Antap. p. 255 When an Assembly was first agreed upon there were not many more Ministers and Scholars of your way in the Kingdom who were capable of such a Service then you got in to be Members of the Assembly so that you had as much advantage as your condition was capable of yea and favour too See the Orders of the Assembly which give no power at all of Jurisdiction to the few selected Divines but alone a power of advice C Antap. p. 269. I am confident had it not been for you five and a few more the Reformation intended had been in a far fairer way then now it is Brethren there are many complaints and that by your dear friends of the retarding the Work of Reformation by your means You are the Remora to the Ship under Sails you are the Spoaks in the Wheels of the Chariot of Reformation Parliament complains Assembly City Countrey all complain of the Work retarded and all is resolved into you five principally I could tell you many particular passages but you know what I mean In a word all the Prelates and the Papists cannot nor do not hinder so much the Work of Reformation as you five Members of the Assembly D 1. The Scribes Books carry already above 500. Sessions D 2. Prynnes fresh Discovery p. 17. They lately conspired together to exhibite a Petition to the Parliament for present dissolving the Assembly and sending them home to Countrey cures to prevent the setling of any Church Government to which end they met at the Winde-Mill Tavern where John Lillburn sat in the Chair and Master Hugh Peters suggested the advice which was accordingly inserted in the Petition E 1. Answer to 32. Quest p. 83. If that Discipline which we here practise be the same which Christ hath appointed and therefore unalterable We see not how another can be lawful So if a company of people shall come hither and set up another we cannot promise to approve of them in so doing E 2. Burtons Vindication p. 2. If the better heed be not taken there may be more haste to a Reformation then good speed A Reformation therefore will necessarily require longer time yet that we may not go blindfold about it See also Saltmarsh his Queres F Bastwicks second part of Independency Postscript p 37. Before the Independents Apparition in our Horison there were but three or four Sects known among us and they were few in number and well conditioned but out of the Independents Lungs are sprung above fourty several sorts of straâ—lers which before their coming over were never heard of among us John Lillburn related it unto me and that in the presence of others that returning from the wars to London he met fourty new Sects and many of them dangerous ones and some so pernicious that howsoever as he said he was in his judgement for Toleration of all Religions yet he professed he could scarce keep his hands off them so blasphemous they were in their opinions So that he gathered that these were now the last days wherein so many Heresies abounded There are innumerable diabolical Sects and so prodigiously impious that it is not for a Christian to name their opinions and most of them if not all were first Independents and such as separated from our Congregations as unholy and were of their new gathered Churches and followers of their Ministery G A short Answer to Adam Stewarts second part supposed to be written by John Goodwin p. 32. and 36. Is it not an ungodly thing to suffer men to be of any Religion Answer No For both our Saviour and the Apostles and the primitive Christians did the same Ought we not at least to keep our different Opinions and Religion unto our selves in obedience to the Civil Magistrate that commands it Answer No Because its better to obey God then man but if Jesuited Papists and other subtill Hereticks be suffered will they not seduce many unto their erroneous By-paths Answer Though a Toleration of erroneous Opinions may gain some to Satan yet Truth being therewith to be published and approved will in all probability not onely gain so many more to God but any one thus wonn to the Truth is worth thousands of these that fall from it H Cottons Model of Church and Civil power related in the Bloody Tenent p. 120. The falls of Common-wealths are known to arise from their diminishing the power of the Church and the flourishing of Common-wealths is observed to arise from the vigilant administration of the holy Discipline of the Church I Master Prynnes fresh discovery in the Epistle Their Libels actions speeches proclaim a plotted avowed confederacy among some furious Ringleaders of these Independent Sectaries against the Parliament Assembly and all their resolves in matters of Religion That which confirms me in this opinion is first the new seditious Covenants which the Members of some Independent Congregations enter into to adhere defend maintain to the uttermost of their power and contend for even to blood the establishment of that Independent Form of Church Government which themselves have set up and to oppose the Presbyterian Bastwicks second part p. 28. This that I now say I speak upon very good ground among these they think they may confide in they affirm they will not be beholding to the Parliament nor any body else for their liberty for they will have it and ask them no leave They have the Sword now in their hand and they think their party strong enough to encounter any adverse party And they professe they care not how soon they come to cutting of throats and speak of nothing but the slaughtering and butchering of the Presbyterians And therefore there is just cause given us to think we may expect better quarters from the very enemies then from the Independents who call us in their Pulpits Brethren but in their hearts hate us Ibid. Postscript p 6. The Presbyterian Government not suiting with their humour they abhor it and all such as endeavour to establish it and wish rather that all the old Trumpery were brought in again and professe they had rather have the Government of the Prelates Yea some of them have not been ashamed to protest unto Prelatical Priests That before the Presbyters shall rule over them they will cut all their throats and joyn with them for the reestablishing of the Hierarchy Ibid. p. 30. Professing that all such Preachers who Preach and write the least thing in opposition to their Opinions ought to be hanged And had they the power in their hands they would trusse them up as many can testifie Ibid. p. 45. They boast of such a party in the Kingdom if their own words may be credited as they now think by the Sword to be able to make their own Laws and have been frequently heard say That they had many Abbettours in the Assembly and both Houses of Parliament and in many parts through the
rhyming and paraphrasing the Psalms as in your Church and against Apocrypha and Erroneous Ballads in rythme sung commonly in your Church instead of the Psalms and other Songs of holy Scripture LLLL Rob. Apoâ— p. 20. Nego eandem esse rationem precationis cantionis ipsi Psalmi quorum materia precatione aut gratulatione constat in hunc finem proprie primo formantur a prophetis in cantiones Psalmos spirituales ut nos edoceant quae vota illi in angustiis constituti ad Deum fuderint quasque liberati eidem Deo gratias retulerint ut nos eosdem Psalmos sive psallentes sive legentes institueremus nos ipsos sive publice sive privatim sive docendo sive commone faciendo sive consolando ad Dei gloriam in cordibus nostris promovendam MMMM Smiths Diff. p. 4. That the reading out of a Book is no part of spiritual worship but the invention of the man of sin that Books and writings are in the nature of Pictures and Images that it is unlawful to have the Book before the eyes in singing of a Psalm NNNN Smiths differences Vide supra cap. 1. E. OOOO Confess p. 34. Such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures ought by the appointment of the Congregation to prophecy and so to teach publikely the Word of God until such time as God manifests men with able gifts to such Offices as Christ hath appointed to the publike Ministry PPPP Bar. Disc p. 116. Shall I speak according to the times and say Be no true Sacrament or rather leave that traditional word which ingendreth strife rather then godly edifying and say Be no true Seal of the Covenant QQQQ Vide supra F. RRRR Johns Plea p. 291. Whether it be not best to celebrate the Lords Supper where it can be every Lords day this the Apostles used to do by so doing we shall return to the intire practise of the Churches in former ages SSSS How corrupt is the signe of the Crosse kneeling and uncovering of the head at the Lords Supper and such things which Scripture prescribes not but men have taken upon themselves thus breaking the second command and joyning their Posts and Thresholds with the Lords Men are thus drawn away from the simplicity of the practise used by Christ and his Apostles who sat when they ate and drank and did no more discover then before TTTT Johns Plea p. 294. To have love feasts on the dayes of the Lords Supper it is a thing indifferent to keep or leave them as they shall be used or abused or as every Church shall finde them to be most expedient for their estate VVVV Bar. Refut p. 43. Not here to mention the binding of the Faith of the Church to an Apocrypha Catechism Idem Disc p. 142. They are not ashamed to Preach and publikely Expound in their Church their fond Apocrypha Catechisms XXXX Bar. Disc p. 76. Their forged patchery commonly called The Apostles Creed YYYY His Refut p. 48. What Scripture can you bring for the blasphemous Article of Christs descent into hell ZZZZ Cans Necessity p. 44. Bare reading of the Word and single Service-saying is an English Popery and far be it from the Lords people to hear it for if they would do so they would offer to the Lord a corrupt thing and so incur that curse of Malachi AAAAA Johns Enquiry p. 7. We have in our Church the use of the exercise of Prophecie spoken of 1 Cor. 14. in which some of the Brethren which are for gifts best able though not in Office of the Ministery deliver from some portion of Scripture Doctrine Exhortation Comfort sometimes Two at a time sometimes more BBBBB Johns Enquiry p. 7. Then if there be occasion upon the Scriptures treated or questions propounded and answers made Bar. Disc p. 139. In that his priviledged Tub he may speak of what be list none of his auditory have power to call in question correct or refuse the same presently or publikely CCCCC Rob. Apol. p. 38. Prorsus inauditum ante haec nostra saecula sive inter gentes sive inter Judaeos sive inter Christianos ut Judicia publica aliive actus naturae publicae privatim aut seclusa plebe exercerentur Ibid. p. 51. Per plebem cujus Libertatem Jus suffragandi in negotiis vere publicis asserimus non intelligimus pueros mulieres sed solos viros eosque adultos DDDDD Browns Life and manners of all true Christians in the Preface or Treatise of Reformation without tarrying for any and of the wickednesse of those Preachers which will not reform till the Magistrate command or compel them p. 8. Know ye not that they which have their full and sufficient authority and calling are not to care for a further authority And hath not every lawful Pastor his full authority Ibid. p. 8. The Lord did not onely shew them the Tabernacle but bade them make it But these men will not make it at all because they will tarry for the Magistrate Ibid. p. 10. They could not force Religion as you would have the Magistrate to do And it was forbidden to the Apostles to preach to the unworthy or to force a planting or government in the Church The Lords Kingdom is not by force neither durst Moses nor any of the Kings of Judah force the people by Law or by power to receive the Church-Government But after they received it if then they fell away and sought not the Lord they might put them to death They do cry Discipline Discipline that is for a civil forcing to imprison the people or otherwise by violence to handle and beat them if they would not obey them Ibid. p. 11. The Lords people is of the willing sort they shall come unto Sion and inquire the way unto Jerusalem not by force nor compulsion but with their faces thitherward And p. 12. Because the Church is in a Common-wealth it is of the Magistrates charge that is concerning the outward Provision and outward Justice they are to look but to compel Religion to plant Churches by power and to force a submission to Ecclesiastical Government by Laws and Penalties belongeth not to them neither yet to the Church EEEEE Confess p. 32. Leaving the suppression of this Antichristian estate to the Magistrate to whom it belongeth FFFFF Bar. Refut In the Preface We acknowledge the Prince ought to compel all his Subjects to the hearing of Gods Word in the publike exercises of the Church yet cannot the Prince command any to be a member of the Church or the Church to receive any without assurance by their publike Profession of their own Faith or to retain any longer then they continue to walk orderly in the Faith GGGGG Bar. Disc p. 245. When Princes depart from the Faith and will not be reduced by admonition or reproof they are no longer to be held in the Faith of the Church but are to receive the censure of Christ as
Cotton if not the Author yet the greatest promoter and patron of Independency we will go on with the way it self What Master Cotton and the Apologists his followers have testified of Gods displeasure and judgements upon the way of the Brownists O is as evidently true of the way of the Independents not onely because as it will appear hereafter both wayes really are one and the same But also because in the comparison of the events which have befaln to both wayes it will be seen that the miscarriages and because of them the marks of Gods anger have been more manifest upon this latter way then upon the former Independency brought to the utmost pitch of perfection which the wit and industry of its best patrons were able to attain having the advantage of the Brownists fatal miscarriages to be exemplary documents of wisedom being also assisted and fenced with all the security that Civil Laws of its friends own framing and gracious Magistrates at their absolute devotion could afford notwithstanding in a very few lesse then one week of yeers hath flown out in more shameful absurdities then the Brownists to this day in all the fifty yeers of their trial have stumbled upon The verity of this broad assertion shall be palpable to any who will be at the pains a little to consider their proceedings in any of the places wherever yet they had any setled abode for however much of their way be yet in the dark and in this also their advantage above the Brownists is great that in their Discords none of themselves have proclaimed their own shame none that have fallen from them have of purpose put pen to paper to inform the world of their ways neither have any of them been willing to reply to any of the Books written against them that did put a necessity upon them to speak out the truth of many heavie imputations which with a loud voice by many a tongue are laid on them chusing rather to lie under the hazard of all the reproach which their unfriendly reports could bring upon them then to make an Apologie wherein their denial might bring upon them the infamy of lying or their grant the fastening by their own testimony upon the back of their party the Crimes alleadged against them Notwithstanding so much is broken out from under all their coverings as will make good what hath been said Hitherto they have had but three places of abode New-England Holland London That any where else they have erected Congregations I do not know Of their adventures in these three places we will speak a little In New-England when Master Cotton had gotten the assistance of Master Hooker Master Davenport and sundry other very worthy Ministers beside many thousands of people whom God in his mercy did send over to that new world to be freed from suffering and danger in the day of their Countreys most grievous calamities being there alone without the disturbance of any enemy either within or without What were the fruits of their Church-way First it forced them to hold out of all Churches and Christian Congregations many thousands of people who in former times had been reputed in Old-England very good Christians I have heard sundry esteem the number of the English in that Plantation to exceed Fourty thousand men and women when Master Cotton is put to it he dares hardly avow the one half of these to be members of any Church P But if we do beleeve others who were eye-witnesses also they do avow That of all who are there Three parts of Four will not be in any Church Q 1. To us it seemeth a grievous absurdity a great dishonour to God and cruelty against men to spoil so many thousand Christians whom they dare not deny to be truely religious of all the priviledges of the Church of all the benefits of Discipline of all the comfort of any Sacrament either to themselves or to their children to put them in the condition of Pagans such as some of them professe all Protestants to be who are not of their way Q 2. A second evil of their Way is That it hath exceedingly hindred the conversion of the poor Pagans God in great mercy having opened a door in these last times to a new world of reasonable creatures for that end above all that the Gospel might be preached to them for the enlargement of the Kingdom of Christ The principles and practice of Independents doth crosse this blessed hope What have they to do with those that are without Their Pastors preach not for conversion their relation is to their Flock who are Church-members converted already to their hand by the labours of other men before they can be admitted into their Church Of all that ever crossed the American Seas they are noted as most neglectful of the work of Conversion I have read of none of them that seem to have minded this matter Q 3. onely Master Williams in the time of his banishment from among them did assay what could be done with those desolate souls and by a little experience quickly did finde a wonderful great facility to gain thousands of them to so much and more Christianity both in profession and practice then in the most of our people doth appear R But the unhappinesse of these principles whereof we speak did keep him as he professeth from making use of that great opportunity and large door which the Lord there hath opened to all who will be zealous for propagating of the Gospel S Thirdly the fruits of Independency may be seen in the profession and practices of the most who have been admitted as very fit if not the fittest members of their Churches These have much exceeded any of the Brownists that yet we have heard of first in the vilenesse of their Errours secondly in the multitude of the erring persons thirdly in the hypocrisie joyned with their errours fourthly in malice against their neighbours and contempt of their Superiours Magistrates and Ministers for their opposition to them in their evil ways and lastly in their singular obstinacie stiffly sticking unto their errours in defiance of all that any upon earth could do for their reclaiming or that God from heaven almost miraculously had declared against them All this I will make good by the unquestionable Testimonies of their loving friends For the vilenesse of their Errours They did avow openly the personal inhabitation of the Spirit in all the godly his immediate revelations without the Word and these as infallible as Scripture it self T This is the vilest Montanism They avowed further with the grossest Antinomians That no sin must trouble any childe of God That all trouble of conscience for any sin demonstrates a man subject to the Covenant of Works but a stranger to the Covenant of Grace V That no Christian is bound to look upon the Law as a rule of his conversation X That no Christian should be prest to any
relinquish these darlings which they have resolved to keep still in their bosome The fatuity of this Tenet they use to season with the graines of three more sapid positions First they grant the being of Classicall Psesbyteries and Synods sss Secondly they ascribe to them the censure of Non-Communion ttt Thirdly they allow the Magistrate to correct Hereticall and Shismaticall persons www But if they will consider they shall finde that in none of those positions they goe beyond the Brownists and by them all they doe not any whit cure the disease of Independency For the first they admit not of any Classicall Presbytery differing from a Synod for what ever they speak of their granting gladly unto us all the degrees and Subordinations of Assemblies which we could wish yet betwixt a Congregationall Eldership and a Synod they grant not any interposition of a Classis or compounded Presbytery over more Congregations then one xxx which kinde of Presbytery the Reformed Churches make the first and ordinary subject of Ordination and of sundry acts of Jurisdiction esteeming it a Iudicatory specifically different both from the inferiour Eldership of a single Congregation and the Superiour Synod whither of a Shire or a Province or a Nation or of more or of all Nations Besides that Synod whereof they approve is only a Brownisticall one such as needeth not to be moderated by any Preacher yyy at the which any man who pleaseth may be present to debate and vote decisively zzz Yea they goe here much beyond the Brownists and their Brethren of New-England also for they deny that the 15 of the Acts is either a pattern or ground for any Synod aaaa expresly contrary to Mr Cottons latest Doctrine neither will they have any ordinary or set Synods but only occasionall and when the occasion of a Synod commeth they will have it to be meerely elective bbbb 1. consisting of such persons alone as themselves please to chuse not only of the Churches of their own Independent way alone but also of such only among these as themselves think meet to pitch upon bbbb 2 if a Classis or Synod bee of any other temper they count it so corrupt and so tyrannicall a Court that they could not countenance it with their presence yea not so much as they would doe an Episcopall Sea cccc the one being much worse then the other that the Brownists Independency went ever thus farre I doe not know As for their sentence of Non-Communion it is one of Mr Cottons new additions to old Brownisme dddd which it seemes rather to embitter then sweeten for it is a meer humane invention to supply the ordinances of God which men injuriously have cast away when they have denied to Synods the power of these censures which God hath appointed and finde themselves straightned by the absolute necessity of the matter to take up againe either them or their equivalent they will not be so changeable as to resume the censures whereof God is the Author having once cast them away but in their place they are forced to finde out some of their own these their new declarations and abstentions from fellowship and such like new censures of their owne But which is worst of all these their new censures if there be any force in them advance their Independency to the highest degree of power or rather lift it up highly in the aire and by a repugnancy and contradiction make it evaporate to nothing for this Non-Communion giveth power to every one even the smallest Congregation over all the Churches in the World it pleaseth to deale with so farre as to admonish rebuke declare against them all and cast them all out of her Communion eeee The Reformed Churches contend only for a power to a great Assembly for censuring a faulty member of a small Congregation but this Non-Communion gives to the smallest Congregation of any seven persons the power of sentencing the whole Churches and all the Assemblies in the World Howbeit this Non-Communion seemes to be contradictory and destructive of that Independency which it was invented to salve For if every Congregation bee Independent how shall all Congregations be so dependent upon every one that any the least may inflict this high censure upon the greatest yea upon all Beside this Non-Communion is nothing but the highest straine of separation that ever any Brownist aimed at it giveth a power for any Church to deny Communion to all Churches and to live separate without all Communion with any Church for ever This produceth an other power of a farther separation to wit a power to every member of that separate Church upon any grievance not satisfied to separate himselfe and either live there alone as many do or to gather a new Church of any whom they finde willing to associate with them these things are brought not so much for reasons to evert the positions in hand as to shew how unfit limitations they are of the extravagancy which appeareth in Independency and how much they runne out beyond the bounds which they pretend to hem in As for their third Tenet of the Magistrates concurrence to second their sentence of Non-Cummunion besides that the Brownists goe as farre as ever any of them did in this ffff we see now that the chiefe of them have recalled the Tenet though all the Protestant Churches and none more then they of New-England doe maintaine the Magâ—strates power to suppresse errours yet this unhappy love towards liberty whereinto the Independent party here among us have lately fallen makes them to entreat the Magistrate to let alone the affaires of Religion though they runne into all the confusion whither Satan and his Instruments are able to carry them gggg If the Magistrates feare of God doth stop his eare to such impious petitions then they flee up very high even to the deniall and decrying of all the Magistrates power in matters of Religion hhhh which yet the Papists in England and the Arminians in Holland who have been the greatest pleaders hitherto for liberty were never bold to impugne but of this more hereafter I hope I have demonstrated that in the point of Separation and of the constitution and government of the Church the great and only intended Articles of the Brownists our brethren the Independents come nothing behind them Sure in these their conceits they applaud themselves no lesse then the former they put in these things the very Kingdome of Christ all their opposites in these fancies they make them enemies to Christs Kingdome iiii they avow Independency to be a beginning and a part of that glorious Kingdome which Christ for a thousand yeares is to enjoy upon earth kkkk Concerning the worship of God and other heads of Divinity whatever crotchets the Brownists have fallen into the Independents punctually doe follow the most and worst of them and if in any they come short they are sure to exceed in other
fellowshippe especially with the Saints is a preservative against the beginnings of evill and a retractive therefrom when begunne Every gratious neighbour is a Counsellour and Pedagogue the greater the incorporation is of such the better is every Member directed and the more strengthened Hence the goodnesse of God hath ordained not onely the planting of particular men into a small body of one single Congregation but for the greater security both of Persons and Congregations the Lord hath increased that Communion of Churches by binding neighbour Congregations in a larger and stronger Body of a Presbytery or Classis yea a number of Presbyteryes by the same hand of God are combined in a Synode neither this onely but for the strengthening of every stone and of the whole building the Lord hath appointed the largest societies that are possible the very Church universall and the representation thereof an Oecumenick Assembly This congregative way is divine the dissolution of humane societies especially of Ecclesiasticke Assemblyes must be from another Spirit The first we know to have opposed the holy Societyes we speake of were Anabaptists who liking a Catholicke anarchy in all things and pressing an universall liberty did strive to cut in peeces all the bands as of Politicke and Oeconomick union whereby Kingdomes and States Cities and Familyes did stand so also of the Ecclesiasticke conjunction making every person at last fully free from all servitude and simply independent or uncontrolable in any of his owne opinions or desires by any mortall man Their first follower among the reformed was one John Moreau a Parisian who in the French Churches did vent the Independency of Congregations from Synods and the popular government of these Independent Congregations But his scismatick pamphlet came no sooner abroad then the French Divines did most unanimously trample upon it In their generall Assembly at Rochell most Reverend Beza Moderator for the time and in their next Assembly Learned Sadeell with others did so fully confute these Anabaptistick follies that thereafter in France this evill Spirit did never so much as whisper only in Holland in the Arminian times it began to speake by the tongue of Grotius and others of his fellowes who being conscious to themselves of Tenets whereunto they despared the assent of any Synode yea fearing to be prejudged in the propagation of their errours by a crosse Sentence of a Nationall Assembly did set themselves to call in question and at last to deny the Authority and Jurisdiction of all Church meetings But when the goodnesse of God in that happy Synode of Dort did crush the other errours of that Party this their fansie did evanish and since in these bounds hath beene buried in Oblivion By what meanes this Anabaptistick roote which neither France nor Holland could beare when Grotius and Morellius did assay to plant it doth thrive so well in England after Browne and Barrow with their followers did become its dressers I have declared at length before However the Novelty of the Tenet the Infamie of its Authours the evill successe it hath had whereever yet it hath set up the head doth burden it with so just contempt that all further audience might be denyed thereto yet in this impudent and malapertage where the greatest absurdityes will importunately ingyre themselves and require beleefe as unanswerable and most covincing truths unlesse in a full hearing their naughtinesse be demonstrate we are content without all prejudices to reason the matter it selfe from the ground and to require no man to hate this errour for its Authours or any externall consideration unlesse it be cleerely showne to be contrary to the revealed will of God The state of the Question hath no perplexitie if its termes were cleared The Brownists affirme that every Parish Church that every single Congregation is Independent from any Presbytery any Synod any Assembly This we deny affirming the true dependence and subordination of Parochiall Congregations to Presbyteries and of these to Synods to which we ascribe power authority and Jurisdisdiction Before wee fall to reasoning let us understand the words which in this debate doe frequently occurre First what is a Parochiall Church or single Congregation Secondly What is its independence Thirdly What is a Presbytery and a Presbyteriall Church Fourthly What is a Synod Fifthly What is Authoritie and Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall We intend no definitions but such popular descriptions as may make cleare what the parties use to understand by these words A particular Church a Parish or Congregation in this Question is taken for a company of faithfull people every one whereof in the face of the whole Congregation hath given so cleare tokens of their true grace and regeneration as hath satisfied the minde of all A company I say incorporate by a particular Covenant and Oath to exercise all the parts of Christian Religion in one place under one Pastor Our Opposits affirme that in one Church there must be but one Pastor assisted indeede with a Doctor and three or foure Elders yet no more Pastors but one They will admit into a Church no more people then commodiously and at their ease may convene in one house how few they be they care not ten families or forty persons to them are a faire Church you have heard that some of their Churches have beene within the number of foure persons Independencie is the full liberty of such a Church to discharge all the parts of Religion Doctrine Sacraments Discipline and all within it selfe without all dependence all subordination to any other on earth more or fewer so that the smallest Congregation suppose of three persons though it fall into the grossest heresies may not be controlled by any Orthodoxe Synod were it Oecumenicke of all the Churches on earth A Presbytery as it is called in Scotland or a Classis as in Holland or a Collogue as in France is an ordinary meeting of the Pastors of the Churches neerly neighbouring of the ruling Elders deputed therefrom for the exercise chiefely of discipline so farre as concernes these neighbouring Churches in common A Presbyteriall Church is a company of Professors governed by one Prysbytery who for the exercise of Religion meete in diverse places or who have moe Pastors then one A Synod is a convention of Pastors and Elders sent and deputed from diverse Presbyteries meeting either ordinarily or upon occasion for the affaires that are common to those that sent them Ecclesiasticke Jurisdiction is a right and power not onely by advice to counsell and direct but by authority given of God to injoyne and to performe according to the rule of Scriptures these things which concern the Ordination of Ministers the deciding of Ecclesiasticall Causes the determination of Doctrines the inflicting of Censures c. The signification of these words being presupposed the state of the Question or minde of the parties can not be obscure The first Argumen for the truth I cast into this Forme Every Independent
Ordinances of God It puts in the hand of every man a power to sentence all the Churches of the world It carries to the highest degree of Separation Their supply of the defects of Independency by the power oâ— the Magistrate was a remedy which they learned from the Brownists but now they have cast it aside denying to the Magistrate all power in matters of Religion The Independents doe advance their fancies to as high a pitch of glory as the Brownists They are the Brownists scholars in many more things beside the Constitution and Government of the Church They give to the Magistrate the Celebration of marriage Mr Milton permits any man to put away his wife upon his meer pleasure without fault and without the cognisance of any Iudge Mr Gorting teaches the wife to put away her husband if he will not follow her in any new Church way which she is pleased to embrace They are against all determinations of the circumstances of worship and therfore all church Directories are against their stomacks The common names of the dayes of the week the months of the year of many Churches and Cities of the Land are as unlawfull to them as to the Brownists All tithes and set maintenance of Ministers they cry down but a voluntary contribution for the maintenance of all their Officers they presse to a high proportion with the evident prejudice of the poore In their solemn worship oft times they make one to pray another to preach a third to prophesie a fourth to direct the Psalm and another to bless the people They make it a divine institution without any word of preface to begin the publike worship with solemne prayer for the King and Church After the Pastors prayer the Doctor reads and expounds In preaching they will bee free to take a Text or not as they find it expedient After Sermon any of the people whom they think able are permitted to prophesie All are permitted to propound in the face of the Congregation what questions upon the Sermon they think meet About the Psalms they have divers strange conceits but the speciall is their new Ordinance of a singing Prophet who in place of the Psalms singeth Hymnes of his own making in the midst of the silent Congregation They grant the lawfulnesse of read prayer in divers cases They will have none to be baptized but the children of their owne members so at one dash they put all England except a very few of their way into the state of Pagans turning them all out of the Christian Church denying to them Sacraments Discipline Church-Officers and all that they would deny to the Pagans of America They open a door to Anabaptism by 3 farther positions 1. They require in all to bee baptised a real holiness above a foederall which in no Infant with any certainty can be found 2. They esteem none for their Baptism and Christian education a member of their Church till they have entred themselvs in their church covenant 3. They call none of their members to any account before their Presbytery for obstinate rejecting of Paedo-baptism although the Brownists doe excommunicate for that sinne They participate with none of the Reformed Churches in the Lords Supper yet they scruple not to communicate with Brownists and Anabaptists Their way of celebrating the Lords Supper is more dead and comfortlesse then any where else They have no Catechising no preparation nor thanksgiving sermoÌ„s ordinarily they speak no word of the Sacrament in their Sermons and prayers either before or after They have only a little discourse short prayer in the consecration of both the Elements there after in the action nothing but dumb silence no exhortation no reading no Psalme They require none of their members to come out of their Pewes to the Table And they acknowledge no more use of a Table then the Brownists at Amsterdam who have none at all They teach the expediency of covering the head at the Lords Table They are as much for the popular Government as the Brownists All Discipline must be executed in the presence and with the consent of the whole people all must passe by the expresse suffrage of every one Dissenters not only lose their right of suffrage for the time but are subjected to censure if they continue in their dissent They are much for private meetings for it is in them that they usually frame the members of other mens Congregations into their new mould but the Brownists and they of New-England having felt the bitter fruits of such meetings have relinquished if not discharged them They flatter the Magistrate and slander the Reformed Churches without cause Some of them are for the abolition of all Magistracy All of them are for casting out and keeping out of the Christian Church all Princes all Members of Parliament all Magistrates of the Counties Burroughes that now are and that ever have been and are ever like to be hereafter except a very few These few Magistrates whom they would admit have no security but by the errour or malice of a few to be quickly cast out of the Church without any possibility of remedy When they have put all out of the places of Magistracy yea out of all civill courts who are not of their mind the greatest Magistrates they admit of bee they Kings or Parliaments they subject them all to the free-wil of the promiscuous multitude When Magistrates wil not follow their new erroâ—â—s they have bin very ready to make insurrections to the great hazard of the whole State Many of them deny to the Magistrate any power at all in the matters of Religion Their principles do spoile Princes and Parliaments of their whole â—egislative power they abolish all humane Lawes that are made and hinder any more to be made The Civill Lawes which Mr Cotton permits men to make bind no man any further then his own minde is led by the reason of the Law to obedience They put the yoak of the judiciall Law of Moses on the neck of the Magistrate They give to their Ministers a power to sit in civill Courts to voyce in the Election of the Magistrats and to draw from Scripture Civill Lawes for the government of the State They offer â—o perswade the Magistrate contradictory principles according to their own interest In New England they perswade the Magistrats to kill all Idolaters and Hereticks even whole Cities men women and children But here they deny the Magistrate all power to lay the least restraint upon the gâ—ossest Idolaters Apostats Blasphemers Seducers or the greatest enemies of Religion No great appearance of their respect to secular learning and Schools Independency much more dangerous then Browniâ— The Independents prime principles Their Tenet about the qualification of members is the great cause of their separating from all the Reformed Churches though they doe dessemble it In this they goe beyond the Brownists The true state of the question is whether it be necessary
God alone for any tollerable subsistence and their very being albeit we are hopefull the Lord is reserving good things for them who had so much Faith charity and Courage as to venture all for the cause of God and their Brethren the more unkind men have proved unto them The Lord who hath been witnesse to all their intentions actions and sufferings will in his owne time accordingly reward them and will not let them be ashamed of their first hopes and constant desires upon the which himselfe for a long time did shine so evidently from the Heaven as ever upon any enterprise on the Earth Though now that brightnesse be much ecclipsed and overclouded yet we are expecting with passionate desires and confident hopes the dissolution of these clouds and the dispelling of the present darkenesse by the strength of the Beames of his ancient and undeserved kindnesse towards that now suffering and much distressed Nation But insensibly my pen hath runne beyond the bounds of a short Epistle albeit my experience of your Lordships readinesse to dispence with your friends indiscretion makes me secure of my pardon I will detaine your Lordship no longer I lay downe my Booke at your Lordships feet to be given to the world by your Lordships hand If it be received with so much candor and charity by every Reader as I know it is offered it may possibly prove serviceable Thus wishing to your Lordship in these dayes of deepe and dangerous tryalls and too great defection of many constancy and daily increase of affection to all truth Piety Iustice and every Vertue I remaine Your Lordships in all Christian duty to be commanded R. Baylie London Novemb. 19. 1645. The Principall Authors whose Testimonies are cited in the case of the Brownists 1 THe Brownists confession of Faith printed by themselves 160â— 2 The Brownists Apoâ—ogy printed 1604 3 Robert Brownes Life and manners of true Christians printed 1582 4 Henry Barrow his briefe discovery of the false Church 1590 5 Henry Barrow his plaine refutation of Mr Gifford 1590. 6 Francis Iohnsons enquiry and answer to Thomas Whites Discovery of Brownism 1606 7 Francis Iohnsons Christian plea 1617. 8 Iohn Cann his guide to Sion 1638 9 Iohn Cann his necessity of Separation 1638. 10 Apologia Iusta quorundam Christianorum c. per Iohannem Robinsorum 1619 11 Robinsons justification against Bernard reprinted at London 1640 12 Syons royall prerogative 1641. 13 A Light for the Ignorant 1638. The Principall Authors whose Testimonies are cited in the case of the Independents 1. An Apologeticall Narration by Thomas Goodwin c. 1643 2 Iohn Cottons Keyes published by Thom Goodwin and Philip Nye 1644. 3 Iohn Cottons way of the Churches in New-England 1645. 4 Iohn Cottons Sermons upon the seven Vialls 1642. 5 Iohn Cottons Catechisme or the Doctrine of the Church 1644. 6 An Answer to thirty two Questions by the Elders of the Churches in New-England published by Mr. Peters 1643. 7 An Apology of the Churches in New-England for Church-Covenant or a discourse touching Church-Covenant 1643. 8 A glimpse of Syons glory in a Sermon at a generall Fast-day in Holland by T. G. printed at London 1641. 9 Ieremy Burrowes Sermons upon Hosea 1644. 10 The personall raigne of Christ by Io Archer Pastor of the Church at Arnheim 164â— 11 Io Archers comfort for Beleevers 1645. 12 Mr. Burtons vindication of the Independent Churches 1645. 13 Iohn Goodwins Theo-machia 1644. 14 A short story of the rise reigne and ruine c. published with Mr. Welds large Preface 1644. 15 Mr Welds answer to Rathbans narration 1644. 16 Mr Cottons Letter to Mr. Williams 1643. 17 The Anatomist anatomised by Mr Simson 1644. We cite also for some matters of fact to which no satisfactory Answer hath been made hitherto by the Parties 1 Mr Edwards Antapologie 1644. 2 Mr Williams examination of Cottons Letter 1644. 3 Mr Williams bloody Tenet 1644. 4 Plaine-dealing or Newes from New-England by Thomas Lechford 1642. 5 The Anatomy of Independency by a Learned Minister of Holland 1644. 6 Doctor Bastwicks Postscript 1645. 7 Mr. Prinns fresh discovery 1645. The CONTENTS of the following Treatise The Preface THe chiefe and first meane to extinguish the flames of our warre is the waters of our heart poured out in prayers to God pag. 1 Reformation after mourning is the second step to a solid peace p. 2 The corruption of the Church is the fountaine of our present misery ibid. The State cannot be setled till the Church be first reformed 3 Every man would help what hee can to recover the languishing Church from her desperate disease ibid. The offer of a strange and easie remedy of a Looking-glasse 4 The malignity of Errour ibid. The Authors intention is to set down in a Table for the cleare view of all the errours which trouble us ibid. And that with Iustice and Love toward all persons 5 The partition of the ensuing Treatise 6 Episcopacy was the mother of all our present Sects ibid. Presbytery will be their grave 7 The Presbyteriall way of proceeding ibid. What England rationally may expect from Presbyteries and Synods 8 Chap. 1. The originall and progresse of the Brownists Satan is the great enemy of the Churches Reformation 9 His chiefe instruments alwayes have been professed friends to Religion ibid. Reformation at the begining did run with one impetuous current ibid. What was its first stop 10 The fountaine of Protestant discord ibid. The unhappy principle of the Lutherans ibid. And the more unhappy principle of the Anabaptists 11 Somewhat of both these wayes was entertained in England ibid. The originall of the English Bishops and Ceremonies ibid. The originall of the Separatists 12 Brownism is a daughter of Anabaptism 13 Bolton the first known Separatist in England hanged himselfe ibid. Brown the second leader of that way recanted his schism and to his death was a very scandalous person ibid. The humour of Barrow the third master of this Sect 14 The strange carriage of Iohnson and Ainsworth the next two leaders of the Brownists ibid. The horrible wayes of Smith their sixth master 15 The fearfull end of Smith his wandrings 16 Robinson the last grave and learned Doctor of the Brownists did in the end undermine his party 17 Robinson the authour of Independency ibid. Chap. 2. The Doctrine of the Brownists They hold that all Churches in the world but their own are so polluted that they must be separate from 20 Their injurious slanders of the Church of England ibid. Yet sometimes they say that communion maybe kept with her both in preaching and prayer ibid. Their like dealing with all the other Reformed 21 Their flattering of forraign Churches is not to be regarded ibid. The matter of a Church they make to be reall Saints only 22 Their unreasonable strictnesse in this one point is the great cause of their Schism ibid. They place the forme of their Church in an expresse Covenant 23 Seven may make a perfect Church
Tenet wherein they will be constant ibid. The chiefe Tenets which hitherto they have given out and not yet recalled p. 102 They reject the name of Independents unreasonably and for their owne disadvantage ibid. When it is laid aside the more infamous name of Brownists and Separatists will inevitably fall upon them ibid. They avow a Semi-Separation but a Sesqui-Separation will bee proven upon them p. 103 The Independents doe separate from all the reformed Churches upon far worse grounds then the Brownists were wont to separate of old ibid. Their acknowledgement of the reformed for true Churches doth not diminish but increase their Schisme ibid. They refuse all Church Communion and Membership in all the reformed Churches ibid. They preach and pray in them as they would doe among Pagans only as gifted men to gather materials for their new Churches p. 104. About the matter of the Church and qualification of Members they are large as strict as the Brownists admitting none but who convinces the whole Congregation of their reall regeneration p. 105 Beside true grace they require in the person to be admitted a sutablenesse of Spirit with every other Member p. 106 But in this they are laxer then the Brownists that they can take in without scruple Anabaptists Antinomians and others who both in life and Doctrine have evident blots if so they be zealous and serviceable for their way ibid. About the forme of the Church a Church-Covenant they are more punctuall then the Brownists ibid. They take the power of gathering and erecting of Churches both from Magistrates and Ministers placing it onely in the hands of a few private Christians who are willing to make among themselves a Church-Covenant p. 107 This power of erecting themselves into a compleat and perfit Church they give to any seven persons yea to any three neither admitt they more into a Church then can altogether in one place commodiously administer the Sacraments and Discipline ibid. The Independents will have all the standing Churches in England except them of the Sectaries dissolved and all their Ministers to become meerely private men and any three persons of their way to be a full Church p. 108 Vnto this Church of seven persons they give all and the whole Church power and that independently ibid. Vnto this Congregationall Church alone they give the full power of Election and Ordination of Deposition and Excommunication even of all their Officers and of the finall determination of all Ecclesiasticall causes p. 109 The difference of Iohnson and Ainsworth about the power of the people and Presbyterie distinct one from the other is not yet composed among the Independents ibid. The common Doctrine of New-England is Ainsworths Tenet that the people alone have all the power and may excommunicate when there is cause all their Officers ibid. Mr. Cotton the other yeare did fall much from them and himselfe towards Iohnson teaching that the whole power of Authority is onely in the Officers and the people have nothing but the power of Liberty to concurre That the Officers can doe nothing without the people nor the people any thing but by the Officers p. 110 Yet that both Officers and people or any of them have power to separate themselves from all the rest when they finde cause ibid. The London Independants give more power of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction then the Brownists unto woemen p. 111 Some of them permit private men to celebrate the Sacraments ibid Brownists and Independents doe perfectly agree iâ— the point of Independency ibid If a corrupt or negligent Congregation doe not censure theâ— owne Members all the Assemblies in the world may not attempt to censure any of them though most apparently they did corrupt a whole Nation with the grosseth Heresies or most scandalous vices p. 112 The point of Independency is either the root or the fruit of many Errours ibid. To temper the crudity thereof they adde to it three moderating Positions but for little purpose ibid. They grant the being of Synods but not of Classicall Presbyteries p. 113 Their Synods are meerely Brownisticall without all Iurisdiction wherein every one of the people may voyce also they are meerely Elective and only occasionall ibid. The Sentence of non-Communion is Mr. Cottons invention to supply that defect which themselves make in the Ordinances of God ibid. It puts in the hand of every man a power to sentence all the Churches of the World p. 114 It carries to the highest degree of Separation ibid. Their supply of the defects of Independency by the power of the Magistrate was a remedy which they learned from the Brownists but now they have cast it aside denying to the Magistrate all power in matterâ— of Religion p. 115 The Independents doe advance their fancies to as high a pitch of glory as the Brownists ibid. They are the Brownists Schollers in many more things beside the constitution and government of the Church ibid. They give to the Magistrate the celebration of Marriage ibid. Mr. Milton permits any man to put away his wife upon his meere pleasure without any fault and without the cognisance of any Iudge p. 116 Mr Gorting teaches the wife to put away her Husband if he will not follow her in any new Church-way which she is pleased to embrace ibid. They are against all determinations of the circumstances of Worship and therefore all Church Directories are against their stomacks ibid. The common names of the dayes of the week of the Months of the yeare of the yeare of God of many Churches and Cities of the Land are as unlawfull to them as to the Brownists ibid. All Tythes and set-mayntenance of Ministers they cry downe but a voluntary contribution for the maintenance of all their Officers they presse to a high proportion with the evident prejudice of the poore p. 117 In their solemne Worship oft times they make one to pray another to preach a third to Prophesie a fourth to direct the Psalme and another to blesse the people ibid. They make it a divine Institution without any word of preface to begin the publick Worship with solemn prayer for the King and Church p. 118 After the Pastors Prayer the Doctor reads and expounds ibid. In preaching they will be free to take a Text or not as they find it expedient ibid. After the Sermon any of the people whom they thinke able are permitted to prophesie ibid. All are permitted to propound in the face of the Congregation what questions upon the Sermon they thinke meet ibid. About the Psalmes they have divers strange conceits but the speciall is their new Ordinance of a singing Prophet who is place of the Psalmes singeth Hymmes of his owne making in the midst of the silent Congregation ibid. They grant the lawfulnesse of read Prayers in diverse cases p. 119 They will have none to be baptised but the children of their owne Members so at one dash they put all England except a very few of their way into the
be subdued and the hand of God so far turned against their adversaries that they should submit themselves without further opposition But what peace can be expected so long as the Whoredom and Witchcraft the Idolatry and Oppression of Iezebel the crying Crimes of many in the Land yet unrepented for doth offend the holy eye of the great Dispenser of Peace and War A Reformation after mourning is the second step to a solid Pacification Long may we petition both God and men for peace in vain long may we article and treat for that end without any successe unlesse a reall Reformation remove from the sight of God the personal abominations the State-transgressions and the Church-impieties of our Lands The Crimes of persons are grievous but those of a State are more The corruption of a member is not so grievous as of the whole Body and the deformity of the Body Political is not so unpleasant to the eye of God as of the Church this is the Body this is the Bride of Christ nothing so much provokes the passion of a loving Husband as the polluting of his Spouse Church-grievances were the first and main causes of our present Troubles the righting of these will open the door of our first hope of deliverance Whoso will observe either the spring or progresse of our present Woes in all the three Kingdoms will finde that the open Oppression and secret Undermining of the Common-wealth by the craft and tyranny of the malignant Faction did highly provoke the wrath of God and was a great occasion of all this Dâ—scord which hath broke out among men Yet it is evident that the pâ—incipal cause which hath kindled the Jealousie of God and enflamed the spirits of men to shake off and break in pieces those Yokes of Civil Slavery which ingenuous necks were no more able to bear was the constuprating of the Church the bringing in upon her by violence and daily multiplying of Errours Superstitions Idolatries and other Spiritual Burdens The Method of our Cure if ever it prove solid must lead our Physitians to the fountain of our Disease All Treaties for accommodating State-differences will be lost if in the first place Religion be not provided for according to the minde of God If once the Temple were builded and filled with the cloud the Difficulties would be small in making up the breaches in the house of the Kingdom and filling it with Peace and Prosperity So long as the Temple lies desolate it is not possible to rear up the walls of the City It were the wisedom of our great Builders when they finde themselves over-toiled in the Fifth yeer of their Work as they desire not to have all their by-past labours vain and fruitlesse at last in good earnest to set upon the building of the Church Interests of private persons and particular Factions laid over with the colour of pretended State-reasons may procrastinate days without number setling of Religion yet if we trust either ancient or late experience these States-men provide best for the welfare of their Countrey who give to the God of heauen to his Worship and House the first and most high place in all their studies and cares If we behold either the former or the later Reformers of the State of Israel if we consider the practice of Moses of David of Hezekiah of Zerubbabel and others it is evident the Tabernacle the Ark the Temple did first and most lie at all their hearts Our Neighbours and Brethren of Scotland when this our Disease was upon them and did presse them well-neer to death and ruine by this method of Physick did in a short time regain their full health and strength in the which they had great appearence to have continued without any Recidive unlesse their pious compassion and brotherly attendance upon us in our languishing had made them partakers of these evils in our Company which they had clean escaped The lamentable neglect for so long a time of the Churches disease makes now the Cure if not desperate yet much more difficult then once it was so much the more had every good man need to bring forth the best of his wits at least of his wishes for the encouragement and assistance of our great Physitians who now blessed be God with all their care are busied above all things else about the recovery of that languishing Patient The voices of some of her more faithful servants crying aloud in the ear of all the world of their Mistris extreme danger of her approach to the doors of death this noise hath a wakened and given an Alarm to many that now they run with speed to recover the exparing breath of their dying Mother not without some disdain and â—ndâ—gnation against them by whose subtil artifices and more then ordinary industry they have been kept off all this while from so much as approaching the sick bed of the dangerously-diseased Spouse of Christ And now while so many gracious hands are about this noble Patient every one out of their rich shops bringing the choicest Medicaments they can fall upon I also out of my poor store rather from a desire to testifie affection then confidence of any skill in this Art do offer unto her as one mean of help a Looking-glasse wherein if she will be pleased but to behold the Symptomes of her Disease by this inspection alone and clear sight of her face in this Glasse without any further trouble whether of Potions within or Applications without I am hopeful through the blessing of the great Master of all lawful Arts she shall be able to shake off the principal of those evils which now do most afflict her That by the eye alone very noisome Diseases may be conveyed to the body it is the ancient credulity of some However dayly experience puts it out of all doubt that thorow the glasse of the eye the soul may be infected with the desperate Diseases of most pestilent passions But that which here is offered is much more rare and singular by looking in a Glasse to cure the worst Diseases and to remove from the soul the most dangerous passions by meer contemplation To leave Metaphors my meaning is that the greatest hazard of our Church this day comes from the evil of Errour This if the Apostle Paul may be trusted doth eat up the soul no lesse then a Gangrene the body This if we will believe the Apostle Peter is a pernicious and damnable evil which brings on sudden destruction It is a sin before God no lesse abominable then those which brought fire on Sodom the flood on the first world the chains of darknesse upon the evil Angels At this instant when the evil of Errour hath spred it self over the whole Body of this distracted Church it seems it may prove a remedy not unprofitable to draw together the chief heads of those errours which now are flying abroad their faces being cleerly
Word of God to binde the Sin of the Pastor and upon his Repentance to pronounce comfort and peace to him as he hath to binde or loose the sins of the least SS Confess p. 23. As every Congregation hath power to elect and ordain their own Ministery so also have they power when any such default in Life Doctrine or Administration breaks out as by the rule of the Word deprives them of their Ministery by due order to depose them yea if the case so require if they remain obstinate orderly to cut them off by Excommunication Canns Necessity p. 155. If they shall sin scandalously the Congregation that chose them freely hath free power to depose them and put another in their room TT Johns Inquir p. 7. We have in our Church the use of the exercise of Prophecy spoken of 1 Cor. 14. In which some of the Brethren such as for Gifts are best able though not in Office of the Ministery deliver from some portion of Scripture Doctrine Exhortation Comfort sometimes two at a time sometimes more VV Bar. Disc p. 26. Their is no cause to doubt but any of Gods servants may censure judge and avoid that Congregation which rejecteth Gods Word breaketh Gods Law despiseth his Reproof and Mercy as a wicked Assembly and an Adulterous Church Ibid. p. 38. Who can deny but that every particular Member hath power yea and ought to examine the manner of administrating the Sacraments as also the Estate Disorder and Transgressions of the whole Church and to call them all to Repentance and if he finde them obstinate in their Sin rather to leave their Fellowship then to partake with them in wickednesse XX Vide supra MM. YY Vide supra ll ZZ Smiths Differences p. 56. It may be a question whether the Church may not administer the Sacraments before there be any Officers among them AAA Bar. Disc p. 121. I have alwayes found it the Parents office to provide marriage for their children and that the parties themselves should affiance and betroath one another in the fear of God and in the presence of such witnesses as are present and that in their Parents or other private houses without turning to the Church or to the Priest Confess pag. 45. The Dutch Church at Amsterdam celebrates marriage in the Church as if it were a part of the Ecclesiastick Administration while as it is in the nature of it meerly Civil BBB Vide supra AAA CCC Vide supra AAA DDD Johns Inqui. p. 33. These of our Members that you censure they avow that they accused themselves of adultery not for that end to be quit of their wives but being perswaded in their minde that they ought not to continue with their wives having by their adultery broken the bond of marriage Ibid. This indeed we held the most of us heretofore and some of us are so perswaded still and while we were generally so minded we thought it our duty to walk accordingly he means to excommunicate even the innocent party who was pleased to dwel with her Husband after he had sinned taking the innocent party that retained such offenders though upon repentance yet to be defiled and live in sin EEE Johns Plea p. 231. Every particular Church with the Pastor doth stand immediately under Jesus Christ the Arch-Pastor without any other strange Ecclesiastical power intervening c. Vide supra P. Also Robinsons Apol. p. 17. Non magis erat Petrus Paulus homo integer perfectus ex partibus suis essentialibus integralibus constans sine relatione ad alios homines quà m est â—oetus particularis recte institutus ordinatus tota integra perfecta ecclesia ex suis partibus constans immediate independenter quòad alias ecclesias sub solo Christo non itaque movendi sub humanae prudentiae antiquitatis unitatis aut alio ullo colore ecclesiae visibilis seu Ministerialis termini antiqui quos posuerunt Apostoli FFF Canns guide to Sion about the midst It is sure that Christ hath not subjected any Congregation of his to any superiour Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction then to that which is within it self So that if the whole Church shall erre in a matter of Faith or Religion no other Church or Church-Officer hath any warrant from the Word of God or power to censure punish or controle the same but are onely to advise them and so to leave their souls to the immediate judgement of Christ Robins Apol. p. 18. Licet imò incumbit Pastori unjus ecclesiae ut reliquis membris quod donum accepit sive spirituale sive temporale prout datur occasio id aliis ecclesiis earum membris impertiri ex charitatis vinculo quo illis adunatur non autem exequi in iis munus publicum ex authoritatis prerogativa quam in suos solos habet GGG Johns Plea pag. 251. To this end and in this manner may be had a profitable use of Synods Classes and Assemblies for mutual help and advice in cases of question controversie and difficulty about Religion so that they do not challenge or usurpe any unlawful jurisdiction or power over the particular Churches and their Governours HHH Bar. Disc p. 261. These secret Classes these ordinary set Synods which the Reformists would set up III Bar. Refut p. 81. In a Christian Synod no Christian ought to be shut out but all have equal power to speak assent or dissent without disturbing the Order of the Holy Church by presuming to speak before the Ancients or against any thing said by them without just cause who so doth is reproved of all judged of all as a disturber KKK Vide supra III. LLL Bar. Disc p. 261. In their Synods the matters being debated the greatest part prevaileth and carrieth the judgement Ibid. p. 78. This balloting by suffrage or pluralty of voices might well be a custom among the Heathen in their popular Government but it is unheard of and unsufferable in the Church of Christ MMM Ibid. p. 261. The order and manner of these Counselâ— is first to chuse a Prolocutor Moderator or Judge to govern and order the action who and when they shall speak and when cease Ibid. p. 191. Not here to speak of their solemn Order observed in these Counsels and Synods as their choice by suffrages among themselves of their Archisynagogos or Rectorchori their President as they call him NNN Vide supra FFF OOO Bar. Disc p. 38. Every Member of his Church is to pronounce upon them the judgements that are written and to throw upon them the Stone of his judgement and consent Therefore hath the Lord raised up the Thrones of David in his Church and set his Saints in seats round about his Throne A Light for the Ignorant pag. 10. The true power which Christ our King hath received of the Father and communicated to his Saints and these onely is that dominion which the Ancient of days hath given to his Saints Dan. 7.19 PPP Johns
any other and to be cut off as withred branches The Church cannot neither hath in her power to defer the sentence of Excommunication any longer on hope of further tryal because they have had already that tryal which God alloweth it is a Leaden rule to proceed to the sentence of Excommunication with a Leaden-heel when the sin is ripe Ibid. p. 15. Which censures if the Prince contemn he contemneth them against his own soul and is thereupon by the power of the Church disfranchised out of the Church and to be delivered over to Satan as well as any other offender HHHHH Johns Inqui. p. 70. We hold it Antichristian to entertain or admit any appeal from one Church to another the highest ordained by the Lord for all sinners is that Church whereof the sinner is a member And therefore in urging our Church to submit to another Church they sought to draw it to Antichristian bondage IIIII Bar. Dis p. 84. I am perswaded that the Magistrate ought not to make permanent Laws of that the Lord hath left in our Liberty Ibid. p. 255. We approve all the Laws of God to be most holy and inviolable and all-sufficient both for Church and Common-wealth and the perfit instruction of every Member and Officer of the same in their several duties so that nothing is now left to any mortal man of what high dignitie and calling so ever but to execute the Will of God according to his Word KKKKK Bar. Disc p. 108. God will have his Laws and Statutes kept and not altered according to the State and Policy of times for these Laws were made not for the Jews estate as Master Calvin teaches but for all mankinde especially for all the Israel of God from which Laws it is not lawful in judgement to decline to the right hand or to the left By the neglect of these Laws the whole world overflows with sin Ibid. p. 212. In the Common-wealth they have abrogated all Gods Judicial Laws and cut them off at one blow as made for the Common-wealth of the Jews onely as if God had no regard of the conversation of other Christians or had left the Gentiles in greater liberty to make Laws and Customes to themselves LLLLL. Ibid. Hereby it cometh to passe that so many ungodly Laws are decreed and the whole course of Justice perverted that so many capital mischiefs as God punisheth by death such as blaspheme the Name of the Lord open Idolatry Disobedience to Parents are not by Law punished at all Incest and Adultery are either past over or punished by some light or triffling punishment Ibid. p. 155. The High-Commission punishes the most execrable Idolatries but with prisons or forfeitures making it a pecuniary matter contrary to Gods Word MMMMM 1. Vide HHHH MMMMM 2. Bar. Dis p. 211. Theft if above thirteen pence is punished by death NNNNN Bar. Dis p. 55. The Vniversity of Oxford and Cambridge have the same Popish and Idolatrous beginning with the Colledges of Monks Fryers and Nuns and these Vermin had and still do retain the same insufferable and incurable abuses therefore Queen Elizabeth ought by good right to abolish them as her Progenitors did the Abbeys OOOOO Ibid. p. 177. They repair to the Vniversities to be instructed in Heathen and vain Arts The Churches of Christ have not such Heathenish and Idolatrous customes they have no such prophane Arts vain Education and Literature Ibid. p. 56. We finde them all generally the Seed of Vnbeleevers nourished in all manner of Prophanenesse Heathenism vain and ungodly Sciences their Education from their cradle is ungodly in the common Schools where they must learn their Greek and Latin from lascivious Poets or Heathenish Philosophers With this Liquor are their Pitchers at first seasoned there are they trained up in Logick Rhetorick and Philosophy which Learning they draw from Aristotle Cicero and such like there they learn to speak by Art Syllogisms and Tropes Idem Refut p. 89. This I dare affirm that from the Book of God they never derived these their Colledges Schools Halls Orders and Degrees that I may not say Arts Authors Exercise use of Learning Disputations Commencements They fight with their School-Learning vain Arts Philosophy Rhetorick Logick against the Truth and Servants of God PPPPP Vide supra N O. QQQQQ Vide RRRRR 2. RRRRR 1. Bar. Dis p. 179. In the Church of Christ the name and offices of Chancelor Vice-Chancelor Dean of Faculty Masters of Colledges Fellows Beadels Bursours and all their several Statutes and Customes are strange as also their manner of Degrees Disputing for their Degrees and Order of Teaching Neither have any such Vniversities Colledges Society of Schollers any ground of the Word of God I see not why they should have any more toleration then their elder Brethren the Monks who every way had as great colour of Holinesse and shew of Vtility to the Church as they They have all one and the same Hellish Original they had and these still retain the same blasphemous incurable abuses which can no ways be reformed but by their utter dissolution RRRRR 2. Bar. Dis p. 177. The English of Christian Religion and Profession of the Gospel I can well away with but this English Romish abstract of Divinity I am assured came forth of this same Forge that the Title of the supreme Head of the Church and cannot by all the glosses they can devise be made other then most high blasphemy against the person of Christ who is the onely Vniversal Doctor of all his Disciples Ibid. p. 56. If they continue still and give their minde to the study of Divinity as they call it which is as much as to say The reading of mens writings with these Feathers they flee with these eyes they see which Books being taken from them they are as mute as fish as blinde as moles Ibid. Their Divinity is traditional wholly derived from other mens Books and Writings both for the understanding dividing and interpretation of all Scripture as also for all Questions Doctrines and Doubts that arise and not springing from the Fountain of Gods Spirit in themselves according to the measure of Knowledge Faith and Grace given unto them SSSSS Bar. Disc p. 146. It were much better for the whole Church that for Prophecy and Doctrine Preachers would lay aside all Authors and be take themselves wholly to the Book of God So should that Book be more soundly understood so should they see with their own eyes and not other mens TTTTT Bar. Disc p. 56. These Questions as also the whole Scripture must in these their Schools and Disputations be insufferably corrupted wrested blasphemed according to the lusts of these Philosophical and Heathen Disputers which here must handle divide discusse according to their vain affected Arts of Logick and Rhetorick All these prizes must be played in Latin that the Learning may the more and the Folly the lesse be perceived least even the common people should hisse them off the Stage if
esteem in the hearts of the people they would be sure still to father their opinions upon them and say I hold nothing but what I had from such and such a man Ibid. p. 65. She pretended she was of Master Cottons judgement in all things M Williams Examination p. 12. Some few yeers since he was upon the point to separate from the Churches there as legal Ibidem p. 33. How could I possibly be ignorant as he seems to charge me of their estate when being from first to last in Fellowship with them an Officer amongst them had private and publike agitations concerning their estate with all or most of their Ministers N Short story Preface p. 7. By this time they had to patronise them some of the Magistrates and some men eminent for Religion Parts and Wit Ibidem p. 25. Master Wheelwright had taught them that the former Governour and some of the Magistrates then were friends of Christ and Free-grace but the present were enemies The former Governour never stirred out but attended by the Serjeants with Halberts or Carrabines but the present Governour was neglected Ibid. p. 35. After that she had drawn some of eminent place and parts to her party whereof some profited so well as in a few moneths they out-went their Teacher Ibidem p. 33. Vpon the countenance which it took from some eminent persons her opinions began to hold up their heads in the Court of Justice N 2. Ibidem p. 32. It was a wonder upon what a sudden the whole Church of Boston some few excepted were become her new converts and infected with her opinions Ibid. Preface p. 7. In the Church of Boston most of these Seducers lived Ibid. p. 36. The Court laid to her charge the reproach she had cast upon the Ministery in this Countrey saying That none of them did preach the Covenant of Free-grace but Master Cotton She told them that there was a wide difference between Master Cottons Ministery and theirs and that they could not hold forth a Covenant of Free-grace because they had not the Seal of the Spirit Ibidem p. 50. All the Ministers consented to this except their Brother the Teacher of Boston Ibid. p. 52. Master Wheelwright being present spoke nothing though he well discerned that the judgement of the most of the Magistrates and near all the Ministers closed with the affirmative Ibidem p. 21. Albeit the Assembly of the Churches had confuted and condemned most of these new opinions and Master Cotton had in publike view consented with the rest yet the Leaders in these Erroneous wayes stood still to maintain their new Light Master Wheelwright also continued his preaching after his former manner and Mistresse Hutchinson her wonted meetings and exercises and much offence was still given by her and others in going out of the ordinary Assemblies When Mr. Wilson the Pastor of Boston began any exercise it was conceived by the Magistrate that the case was now desperate and it was determined to suppresse them by Civil Authority O Apologetical Narration p. 5. We had likewise the fatal miscarriages and shipwracks of the Separation whom you call Brownists as Land-marks to forewarn us of these Rocks and Shelves they run upon Cottons Letter to Williams pag. 12. I said that God had not prospered the way of Separation because he hath not blessed it either with peace among themselves or with growth of grace The Lord Jesus never delivered that way of Separation to which they bear witnesse nor any of his Apostles after him nor of his Prophets before him We do not come forth to help them against Jehovah this were not to help Jehovah but Satan against him We cannot pray in Faith for a blessing upon their Separation which we see not to be of God nor to lead to him It is little comfort to the true Servants of Christ that such inventions of men are multiplied P Answer to the thirty two Questions p. 7. Whether is the greater number these that are admitted to Church-Communion or these that are not we cannot certainly tell Q 1. Plain dealing p. 73. Here such confessions and professions are required both in private and publike both by men and women before they be admitted that three parts of the people of the Countrey remain out of the Church so that in short time most of the people will remain unbaptised Q 2. Williams of the name Heathen p. 6. Nations protesting against the Beast no Papists but Protestants may we say of them that they or any of them may be called in true Scripture sence Heathens that is the Nations or Gentiles in opposition to the people of God which is the onely Holy Nation Such a departure from the Beast in a false constitution of National Churches if the bodies of Protestant Nations remain in an unregenerate estate Christ hath said they are but as Heathens and Publicans Q 3. Plain dealing p. 21. There hath not been any sent forth by any Church to learn the Natives language or to instruct them in our Religion first because they say they have not to do with them being without except they come to hear and learn English R Williams of the name Heathen p. 10. For our New-England parts I can speak it confidently I know it to have been easie for my self long ere this to have brought many thousands of these Natives yea the whole Countrey to a far greater Antichristian conversion then ever was heard of in America I could have brought the whole Countrey to have observed one day in seven I adde to have received Baptism to have come to a stated Church meeting to have maintained Priests and Forms of Prayer and a whole form of Antichristian worship in life and death S Ibid. p. 11. Wo be to me if I call that conversion to God which is indeed the subversion of the souls of millons in Christendom from one false worship to another Williams Key unto the language of America p. 9. To which I could easily have brought the Countrey but that I was perswaded and am that Gods way is first to turn a soul from its idols both of heart worship and conversation before it is capable of worship to the true God T Short story p. 32. Many good souls were brought to waite for this immediate revelation then sprung up also that opinion of the indwelling of the person of the Holy Ghost Ibidem Preface p. 13. That their own revelations of particular events were as infallible as the Scripture V Short story Preface pag. 2. Sin in a childe of God must never trouble him Trouble in conscience for sins of Commission or for neglect of duties sheweth a man to be under a Covenant of Works X Short story Preface p. 2. A Christian is not bound to the Law as the rule of his conversation Y Ibid. p. 3. No Christian must be pressed to duties of Holinesse Z Short story Preface p. 13. Their Leaders fell into more hideous delusions as that the souls of
eeeeee Secondly doe not their principles hold out of the Church and deprive of all Christian consolation which flowes from any Church priviledge the farre greater part if not absolutely all Kings and Princes that are this day in the Christian world and have been since the dayes of the Gospel or ever are likely to be upon earth to the worlds end how exceeding few of all that are or have been Members of Parliament of either House of all that have been or are Magistrates in England if their principles might be put in practice would be admitted to the Lords Table or yet their children be baptised or themselves be reputed Christians and Members of any lawfull Church Thirdly of these exceeding few Kings Princes Peeres Commoners and Magistrates of the Land which they could take into their Congregations how many could have assurance to live any long time in a Christian condition as Members of a Church according to their principles Since they tell us that they are to Excommunicate without any delay the greatest Kings for any fault either in beliefe or life which doth subject the poorest servants to censure how many and frequent these faults may be it is hard to judge but the worst is when the greatest Kings and the chiefe Members of Parliament without any respect to their dignity are cast out of the Church for themselves and their children by the peevishnesse or errour or malice of a few in a small Congregation they have no meanes under heaven to redresse themselves of their injury they and theirs must live as Pagans out of the Church till they who did cast them out be perswaded and become willing to take them in should all the Divines all the Assemblies all the Churches of their Dominions see cleerly as the light their notorious wrong yet there were no possibility to helpe it by any mortall hand till the injurious Congregation it selfe of its own accord should be pleased to repaire it Fourthly they permit none to be Magistrates where they have power not so much as to be a member of their smallest civill Courts except they be fully for their way and be admitted members of their Church as it hath ever been their practice in New-England to this day but the Magistrates they admit of who are of their minde they debase their power so low as to suspend it all on the will and pleasure of the promiscuous multitude not only to limit the Soveraignty of Princes within the bounds of their just Lawes and to confine them unto the Counsell of their Parliaments but to bring both them and Parliaments and all Magistrates to their first originall and Makers to the free will of these whom they use to stile the prophane multitude ffffff Fifthly have any of the Reformed Churches now for an hâ—ndred yeares and above given to Magistrates such occasion to feare an unjust insurrection as they in the few yeares of their being have already furnished To passe by all their threatnings in this time of confusion gggggg while their strength is yet inconsiderable and their mighty endeavours to get Armes into their hand to enable themselves with the evident hazard of the whole Isle to doe what they please by force hhhhhh Let men only look over to the fruits of their principles in New-England not many yeares agoe there upon a very small and so farre as I know very groundlesse suspition to have somewhat of their Government altered by the King contrary to their Patent they did quickly purchase and distribute Armes among all their people and exact of every one an Oath for the defence of their Patent against all impugners whosoever Mr Williams opposition to this Oath as he alledgeth was the cheife cause of his banishment iiiiii What principles could these be that moved the same people a little after to doe and say such things for which their Magistrates did disarme so many of their Church members not only elsewhere but even at Boston upon fear of an apparent insurrection for the killing of the principall Magistrates and overturning the whole state of that Countrey kkkkkk 1. Few Magistrates will hereafter confide in these principles which saved not the Governour and generall Court of New-England from extreme danger by the members of Mr Cottons Congregation at New Boston Sixthly doe the Independents principles give to the Magistrate any Ecclesiastick power at all will they submit to his civill power in any Ecclesiastick affaires will they be hindered by the Magistrates sentence unlesse it be executed with violence to erect Congregations within his Dominions at their own pleasure will their principles permit them upon the command of King and Parliament to refuse to take into their Congregations the members of other Parish Churches without a dismision or take and admit upon the Magistrates command within their number any whom they account unfit for membership or to recall for the Magistrates pleasure any of their Church censures have they not very lately declared to the Parliament that they esteem all matters of Religion free and exempt from their sword and power That all matters both of worship and doctrine that all things of the mind as they speak or matters of opinion and all matters of outward forme wherein uniformity is required according to our Covenant are so farre to be ruled by every mans own conscience his own light and reason that the Parliament is not in any such matters to interpoâ—e their power whither this bee the true sence of their openly avowed and repeated letters to the Parliament it selfe let every intelligent man consider who reads the words kkkkkk 2 Seventhly are any of the Reformed Churches or any Churches or persons of the whole world so injurious to Magistrates as their principles force them to be who â—poyl Christian Kings and Parliaments of their whole Legislative power they will have us to beleeve as good Divinity that it is not only unlawfull for Church-assemblies to make Ecclesiastick Canons but that it is alike unlawfull for any Prince or State to make a Civill Law llllll That the placing of a Legislative power in Kings or Parliaments is to usurp the property and prerogative of God mmmmmm 1 These Principles cannot be very favourable to the State which at one stroke annihilate all the Acts of Parliament that now are in force either in this or any other Kingdom and make it impossible if they were beleeved to have any more in any place of the earth to the worlds end Look back upon what I have cited from the chiefe of the Brownists writings I grant the New English polishers of Brownism doe not expresse their Tenets in tearms so hugely grosse yet see how neare they come to them in substance when they tell us that no Magistrate may make any Lawes about the Bodies Lands Goods Liberties of the Subject which are not according to the Lawes and Rules of Scripture Scripture being given to men for a perfect rule as well
to forgive the repentant ccc The propositions 3. prop. The fraternity having authoritative concurrence with the Presbytery in Iudiciall acts ddd Keyes p. 16. Though the Church want authority to Excommunicate their Presbytery yet they want not liberty to withdraw from them eee Keyes Preface p. 5. When we first read this of this learned Author knowing what hath been the more generall current both of the practice and judgement of our brethren for the Congregationall way wee confesse we were filled with wonderment at that Divine hand that had thus led the judgements without the least mutuall interchange or intimation of thoughts or notions in these particticular of our brethren there and our selves here fff Ibid. Onely wee crave leave of the reverend Author to declare that wee assent not to all expressions c. Vide supra ggg Tabula Potestas charitativa merè est primo fratâ—um Presbyterorum charitativè non politicè ambulantium secundo sororum hhh Vide supra Chap. 4. F iii Vide supra Chap. 3. M kkk Bastwicks Independency p. 99. The fifth Quaere is whether the women and people as well as the Ministers have the Keyes and whether the women have all their votes in the Church both for election and reprobation of Members and Officers as well as the men and whether the consent of all the women and the greatest part of them be requisite for the making of any one a member or officer so that if they gain-say it being the greater number or allow of it the most voyces carry the businesse the practice of this the brethren in some of their Congregations hold for Orthodox Mr Prynnes Fresh Discovery in his Dedicatory Epistle to the Parliament p. 5. And to interest the femall Sex and draw them to their party they allow them not only decisive votes but liberty of preaching prophesying speaking in their Congregatitions lll Keyes p. 6. We be farre from allowing that sacrilegious usurpation of the Ministers Office which we heare of to our griefe to be practised in some places that private Christians ordinarily take upon them to preach the Gospel publikely and to Minister the Sacraments Katharine Chidleys Iustification of the Independent Churches p. 28. Yet that the Church must want the Word preached or the Sacraments administred till they have Pastors and Teachers in Office is yet to be proved but that which hath been alledged is sufficient to prove that the family must not be unprovided for either for the absence or the negligence of a Steward mmm Keyes p. 53. A particular Congregation being the first subject of the Church power is unavoidably Independent upon any other Church or body for the exercise thereof for the first subject of any accident or adjunct is Independent upon any other either for the enjoying or for the imploying the having or using of the same nnn Vide supra mmm ooo Answer to the 32 Questions p. 36. For Dependency upon men or other Churches or other Subordination unto them in regard of Church-Government or power we know not of any such appointed by Christ in his Word ppp Welds Answer to Rathband 14. chap. Our Churches are tender to perswade men to act without light much more to command or to compell both which very words though the thing required were lawfull are odious in the Churches of Christ most fitly becomming the Synagogues of Anti-christ qqq Vide Cottons Keyes p. 8. infra zzz rrr Cottons Catechisme p. 13. All the Churches thereabout may meet together and by the Word of God may confute and condemn such errours in doctrine or practice as are offensive to prevent the spreading either of the gangrene of heresie or of the leprosie of sin and if the Church offending shall not yet hearken unto their brethren though the rest of the Churches have not power to deliver them to Satan yet they have power to draw from them the right hand of Fellowship Vide infra sss sss Keyes p. 57. In the Election and Ordination of Officers and censure of offenders let it suffice the Churches consociate to assist one another with their counsel but let them not put forth the power of their Community to take such Church Censures out of their hands let Synods have their just authority in all Churches how pure so ever in determining such diataxeis as are requisite for the edification of all Churches Keyes Preface p. 4. Hee acknowledgeth that Synods or Classes are an Ordinance of Christ unto whom Christ hath committed a due and just measure of power furnishing them not onely with ability to give counsell but also a Ministeriall power and Authority to determine declare and enjoyne such things as may tend to the reducing of Congregations to right order and peace but not arming them with power of Excommunicating either Congregations or their members they are to leave the former act of this censure to that Authority which can only execute it placed by Christ in these Churches themselves which if they deny to doe or persist in their miscarriage then the Synod may determine to withdraw communion from them ttt Ibid. www Keyes p. 50.51 The Magistates addresse themselves to the establishment of Religion and Reformation of corruptions by civill punishments upon the wilfull opposers Iosiah put to death Idolatrous Priests nor was that a peculiar duty of the Kings of Iuda for of the times of the New-Testament it is Prophesied that in some cases capitall punishment shall proceed against false prophets xxx Keyes Preface p. 4. Hee asserteth an association of Churches sending their Elders and Messengers into a Synod so hee purposely chuseth to stile these Assemblies of Elders which the Reformed Churches doe call Classes or Presbyteries yyy Cottons Catechisme p. 3. The office or work of the ruling Elders is to moderate the carriage of all matters of the Church Assembled as to propound matters to the Church and to order the season of speech and silence in the Church zzz Keyes p. 48. The pattern of Synods is set before us Acts 15. There the Apostles assembled together with the Elders and a multitude of brethren together with them the whole Synod being satisfied determine of a Iudiciall sentence and of a way to publish it by Letters and Messengers so the matter is at last judged in a Congregation of Churches in a Church of Churches for what is a Synod else but a Church of Churches ibid. p 57. All the liberties of Churches were purchased to them by the precius blood of the Lord Iesus and therefore neither may the Churches give them away nor many Churches take them out of the hands of one aaaa Keyes Preface p. 6. In all humility wee yet see not that assembly of Apostles Elders and brethren Acts 15 to have been a formall Synod bbbb 1 Ibid. 4. He aâ—knowledgeth a Synod to be an Ordinance of God in relation to the rectifying of male administrations and healing dissentions in particular Congregations and the like cases in such cases
antiquity as our Brethren It is marvellous if in earnest they should encourage themselves in their Tenet by such testimonies of the Fathers as by the Catholick consent of all posterior antiquity and the unanimous profession both of Protestants and Papists this day are censured of error Who pleases to know the minde of antiquity in this subject Let him consult especially with Augustin de civitate dei Booke 20. almost through the whole and the Commentaries of Vives and Coqueus thereupon If humane authorities either ancient or moderne could give our Brethren any satisfaction in this question it were easie to present them with great store thereof Thus farre had I proceeded when by my Superiours I was called away from these Studies to an other imployment so what I intended to have spoken to the Anabaptists the Antinomians the Erastians and especially to the remainder of the Popish and Prelaticall Malignants I must remit it to another Season FINIS Isa 2. â— Mic. 4.3 Ioel 3. â— The first and chief Mean to extinguish the flames of our War is the waters of the heart poured out in prayers to God Lam. 2.3 Reformation after mourning is the second step to a solid peace Prov. 16.7 Psal 81.15 2 King 9.22 The corruption of the Church is the fountain of our present Misery The State cannot be 〈◊〉 til the Church be sâ—â—â— reformed Every man must help what he can to recover the languishing Church from her desperate Disease The offer of a strange and easie remedy of a â—ooking-glass The malignity of Errour 2 Tim. 2.17 â— Pet. 2.1 2 3 4 The Authors intention is to set down in a Table for the clear view of all the Errors which trouble us And that with justice loâ—â— towards all persons Onely forth is râ—gaâ—nâ—ng to the Truth The partition of the ensuing â—reatise Episcopacy was the Mother of all our present Sects Presbytery will be their Grave The Presbyteriall way of proceeding What England 〈◊〉 may expect from Presbyteries and Synods Satan is the great enemy of the Churches Reformation His chief instruments always have been professed friends to Religion Reformation at the beginning did run with an impetuous current What was its first stop The fountain of Protestant Dâ—scord The unhappy Principle of the Lutâ—eranes And the more unhappy Principle of the Anabaptists Somewhat of both these ways was entertained in England The original of the English Ceremonies and Episcopacy The original of the Separatists Brownism is a daughter of Anabaptism Bolton the first known Separatist in England hanged himself Brown the second Lâ—ader of that way â—ecanted his Schism and to his death was a very scandalous person The humour of Barrow the third Master of this Sect. The strange carriage of Johnson and Ainsworth the next two Leaders of the Brownists The horrible ways of Smiâ—â— their sixth Master The fearful end of Smith his wandrings A remarkable vengeance upon an erring spirit Robinson the last grave and learned Doctor of the Brownists did in the end undermine his Party Robinson the author of Independency They hold that all Churches in the world but their own are so polluted that they must be separate from Their injurious slanders of the Church of England Yet sometimes they say that communion may be kept therewith both in preaching and prayer Their like dealing with all the other reformed Their stâ—ing of 〈◊〉 Chu◠〈…〉 The matter of a Church they make to be real Saints onely Their unreasonable stricknesse in this one point is the great cause of their Schism The least sin of any Member of a Church defended is a just cause of Separation They place the Form of their Church in an expresse Covenant Seven may make a perfect Church yea two or three The erecting of a Church requireth neither the Magistrates nor Ministers assistance They put all Church power in a handful of people without any Pastor The Election Ordination Deposition and Excommunication of the Minister belongs to the flock and to it alone Every man of the Congregation may Preach and publikely rebuke not onely the Pastor but the whole flock yea and sâ—parate from it Some of them give the power of the Sacraments also to priâ—ate persons The solemnizing of marriage they give to parents but divorces they commit to the parties themselves They make every Congregation Independent and of soveraign Authority Their Judgement of Synods Their high conceit of their own way and injurious depressing of all others Churches Bells Pulpits Tithes Glebes Manses and all set maintenance of Ministers are unlawful Not so much as a Church-yard must be kept up for burial but all must bury in the fields They drive the abolishing of Church-rents so high as to make all goods common The days of the weâ—k the moneths the yeer of God they will not name No pulpits no hour-glâ—sses no Churches no Gowns All set prayer even the Lords prayer and all Psalms in meeter yea in prose if used as praises are unlawful Their opinion of preaching Sacraments Their straâ—ge way of celebrating the Lords Supper They reject catechisms the Apostles Creed and all reading of Scripture without exposition After preaching they prophesie Then comes the conference Brown for liberty of conscience His followers against it Their carriage towards the Magistrate They spoil Kings and Parliaments of their Legislative power They obliege the Magistrate to kill all Idolaters But to spâ—re all theeves They wil have the Universities destroyed Secular authors and learning must be abolished Preachers must studie no book but the Scriptures Independency the smallest of all the Sects of the time for number but greatest for worth of its followers The division of the following matter Independents the Separatistâ— off-spring When the fire of Brownism was dying out in Holland a little of its ashes carried to New England broke out there into a lasting flame By what means these ashes were kindled Master Cotton at first a great opposite to that way Master Cotton with little ado became the great patron of that Errour Master Cotton the misleader of Master Goodwin and others Master Cotton often deceived hath given his patrociny to divers grosse Errours Why God permits great men to fall in evident Errours His Prelatical Arminian and Montanistick Tenents His Antinomy and Familism Independency large as unhappy as Brownism Wherefore so much of the Independent way lies yet in darknesse The fruits of Independency in New England 1. It put thousands of Christians in the condition of Pagans 2. It marrs the conversion of Pagans to the Christian Religion 3. It did bring forth the foulest Heresies that ever yet were heard of in any Protestant Church A few examples of the many abominable Heresies of the New-English Independents The greatest part of thâ—ir chief Churches were infected with these errours Thâ— piâ—â—ty of these Hereticks seemâ—d to be singular Their malice against all who opposed them was singular especially against all their Orthodox Ministers and Magistrates Their Errours in opinion did