A Christian Plea, Treatise 3 · Chapter 23
CHAPTER XXIII. Of the generall duety of all Churches and people (in theſe parts) concerning Religion.
VVHether we ought not to leaue the preſent eſtate of the church of Rome, and to returne againe to the auncient eſtate of the ſame Church, and of the other primitiue churches, in the integrity thereof, as they vvere firſt planted by the Apoſtles: And then alſo, Whether al churches and people (vvithout exception) are not bound to receiue and ſubmit unto that Faith in religion, and to that conſtitution, Miniſterie, worship, & order of the church, vvhichwhich Chriſt as Lord & king hath appointed thereunto: and not to any other deviſed by Man vvhatſoever. Rom. 11.17 — 22. 2 Theſ. 2, 3, 4. and 1 Tim. 4, 1, 2, 3. and 2 Tim. 3.1 — 5. and Revel. 14.6 — 12. and 18.4, 5, 6. and 19, 1 — 9. and 21, and 22 chap. compared with the Epiſtle to the Romanes: and with Mat. 28, 18, 19, 20. Act. 1, 3. and 2, 42. and 3, 22 — 26. and 5, 31. and 6, 1 — 6. and 14, 23. and 15, 1 — 35. and 20, 17, 28. and 21, 18 — 22. 1 Cor. 4, 17. and 5 chap. and 10, 16, 17, 18. and 11 chap. and 12, 4, 5, 6, 28. and 14 chap. Gal. 1, 8, 9. and 3, 15. Epheſ. 4.4 — 13. Ihil. 1, 1. Col. 2.5.6.7. and 4.17. 1 Theſ. 5.12.13.14. and the Epiſtles to Timothee, and Titus. Heb. 5, 9. and 12.28, 29. and 13.17. Iam. 5.14. 1 Pet. 5.1 — 4. Iude ver. 3. Rev. 2 and 3 chap. and 22.18.19. compared with Deu 4.1.2. and 12 32. Prov. 30.5.6. Sal. ſong. 6.4 — 13. Ezech. 40— 48 ch. Ier. 6.16. Eſa. 60, 12. Ioh. 3.36. and 14.6.
1. Becauſe the church of Rome was at firſt rightly ſet in the faith and way of Chriſt: and is ſince fallen into great and deepe apoſtaſie; which the Lord hath begun to diſcover and conſume by the light of his word; and from vvhichwhich he calleth all his people, to returne to the auncient way, to keepe the commandements of God, and faith of Ieſus, Rom. 1, 7, 8. &c. throughout that Epiſtle: compared with 2 Theſ. 2, 3 — 8. 1 Tim 4, 1, 2, 3. Rev. 8, and 9, and 10, and 11, and 12, and 13, and 14, 1 — 12. &c. throughout the book of the Revelation: with which alſo compare the Scriptures here noted before, and other the like.
2. The Lord alſo hath promiſed not onelyonly to conſume the man of ſinne, to condemne the vvhore of Rome, and deſtroy the Beaſt, and falſe Prophet that ſeduced the world: but alſo to raiſe up his Church again to the former integritie, and to ſet up the nevv and heauenly Ieruſalem in the auncient beautie thereof. Which all therefore should further (what in us is) and endeavour to attaine unto: being aſſured that ſuch as come neareſt to the ſynceritie of the Primitiue Churches (both in the faith, and order thereof) they are in the beſt eſtate: and that the nearer and nearer vve come thereunto, it is ſtill the greater bleſſing of God upon us, and the more acceptable to God, and comfortable to our ſelues: hovv ever it be with us othervviſe for our eſtate and troubles in the vvorld: as was alſo the lot of the Primitiue churches of old. For vvhichwhich, ſee the Scriptures before alledged.
3. The like may be obſerved in other ſuch caſes of apoſtaſie, that were in Iſraell heretofore: hovv the vvoonted courſe of God ſtill was to call his people from ſuch eſtate, to the auncient way of integrity, wherein at firſt he had ſet them: And that the godly hauehave alſo (in their ſeveral ages and occaſions) ben carefull to hearken to the Lord, and to returne and practiſe accordingly: though ſome vvith more vveaknes and wants then others. Hoſ. 14, 1, 2, 3. Amos 5, 4, 5, 6. Jer. 6, 16. Eſa. 8, 11 — 20. and likewiſe in other of the Prophets: compared vvith the hiſtorie of Iſraell, in ſundry ages and caſes: as with Iudg. 2, 1 — 5, … 1 Sam. 7, 3 — 6. 1 King. 12, 26 — 33. and 13, and 14 ch. &c. with 2 Chro. 11, … 6. and 14, & 15, & 17, & 29, & 34 ch. with 2 King. 22, & 23 ch. Ezra 3, and 9, and 10 ch. Nehem. 13 chap.
4. And there is ſtill but one vvay of trueth, and of the true ſervice and ſyncere vvorship of God: And that in Chriſt, vvho onelyonly is the vvay, the truth, and the life. Joh. 14, 6. and 17, 17. And all are bound (wholly & continually) to that faith, vvhichwhich was once (for all) giuen unto the Saints: & that ſo, as if an Angell from heauen should teach otherwiſe, vve might not receiue it, but ought to hold him accurſed. Jude, v. 3. 1 Tim. 6, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14. and 2 Tim. 1, 13. and 2, 2. Gal. 1, 8, 9.
5. Alſo the conſtitution, miniſterie, worship, and order appointed by the Lord, is that onelyonly which hath the promiſe of bleſſing frō God. Mat. 28, 20. Whereas the refuſall or deniall of ſubmiſſion to the Lord, maketh ſubject to the wrath and curſe of God. Luke 19, 27. with Eſa. 60, 12. Ioh. 3, 36. Rev. 14, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. and 22, 18, 19.
6. Els Princes and people might novv doe that, againſt the faith and ordinance of Chriſt, vvhichwhich they might not doe in Iſrael heretofore, concerning the faith and ordinance which then they had giuen them. Which were contrarie to the Scriptures, Heb. 3, 1 — 6. and 12, 28, 29. and 13, 8. with Deu. 4, 1 — 24. and 17, 18, 19, 20. Eſa. 49, 22, 23. and 60, 3. vvith Rev. 21, 24. Beſides that Antichriſt alſo should hauehave that yeelded unto him in the ordinances of the church (the city and kingdome of Chriſt) vvhichwhich no godly Prince will yeild unto him in the Common wealth: As to appoint lawes, offices, orders, &c. for the government and adminiſtration thereof. And it vvere alſo contrarie to 1 Tim. 6, 13, 14, 15, 16. Eſa. 33, 22.
7. And vve should els hold our Religion at the pleaſure of man, and not at the preſcription and commandement of the Lord, vvho is king of kings, by whom Princes reigne, and under vvhom all are ſubject, to yeild obedience unto him: As we doe alſo look for ſalvation by him, Mat. 28, 18, 19, 20. with 15, 9. 1 King. 12, 26 — 33. with 2 Chro. 13, 8 — 12. Pſa. 136. Deu. 4, 1, 2. and 12, 32. with 17, 18, 19, 20. Joſh. 1, 8. Gal. 1, 8, 9, 10. Joh. 3, 36. Heb. 5, 9.
Yet notvvithſtanding this hindreth not, but that all perſons, of every eſtate, both eccleſiaſticall and civill, ought to be ſubject to the Princes & higher powers, in the Lord. Rom. 13, 1 — 7. Tit. 3, 1. 1 Pet. 2, 13 — 17. with Act. 4, 18, 19, 20. and 5, 27 — 32. And it is the duety alſo of Princes and Magiſtrates, to ſubmit themſelues and their ſcepters to the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who is Prince of the kings of the earth, and to ſee the truth of God mainteyned, and his ordinances obſerved, in all things. Neyther may they at any hand or by any meanes be drawen to oppoſe any truth or ordinance of the Lord, nor to abridge the churches of any rights and benefits belonging unto them, nor intrude themſelues into the peculiar dueties of the Miniſters, &c. but muſt rule over men in the feare of God, doing nothing againſt the truth or vvay of Chriſt, but what they can for it: knowing that they are for the Lord, and under him: and remembring vvhat judgements came upon Ahaz, Ieroboam, Achab, and other ſuch Kings of Iudah and Iſraell, vvho ſinned herein greatly againſt the Lord: and againe what bleſſings came upon David, Hezekiah, Ioſiah, and the other good kings of Iudah, vvho were faithfull with the Lord in the ſervice of his name. Pſal. 2, 10, 11, 12. and 72 Pſal. Joſh. 1, 8. 2 Sam. 23, 3. 1 King. 12, 26, 27.33. and 13, and 14 ch. &c. 2 King. 16, and 17, & 17, & 18 ch. &c. 2 Chron. 19, and 28, and 29 chap. &c.
Finally, let us here alſo obſerue, that*Lev. 4 ch. Ioſh. 1, 7, 8, 9. and 9, 3 — 21. 1 Sam. 15, 1 — 33. and 22, 17. 2 Sam. 21.1, 2. 1 King. 11, 3 — 9. and 12, 28, 30. 2 King. 16, 10— 16. 1 Chro. 13, and 15 ch. Dan. 3, & 6 ch. Amo. 7, 10— 17. Mat, 15, 9. Gal. 1, 8.9. Col. 2, 20, 23. no Princes, nor Prelates, Synodes, Churches, or any perſons whoſoever, can make that lawful, which God hath made unlawfull, nor that unlawfull vvhichwhich God makes lawfull. But†Eſa. 49, 22, 23. and 60, 3, 16. Rom. 13, 3. 1 Tim. 2, 1, 2, 3, 4. Act. 9, 31. Princes and Magiſtrates may graunt outward peace & help to the Church: for which (whereſoever it be had) we are bound to be thankfull to God and them. And‡Mat. 28, 18, 19, 20. and 1 Tim. 6, 13, 14. compared vvith 2 Chro. 24, 17 — 22. Eccleſ. 5, 8. Eſa. 8, 11 — 18. Dan, 3, 15 — 18. and 6, 6 — 22. Act. 4, 3, 18, 19. and 5.28, 29, 40. and 17, 6, 7. 2 Tim. 4, 6, 8. Heb. 10, 32, 33, 34. and 11, 24, 25, 26. 1 Pet. 3, 14, 15, 16. & 4, 12, 13, 14. Rev. 2, 10, 11, 24 — 29. and 6, 9. & 12, 11, 17. & 14, 12, 13. & 22, 16 — 20. if they vvill not ſuffer us with peace to walk in the faith and way of Chriſt, according to the vvord of God: yet ought vve notwithſtanding ſo to doe, obeying God rather then man; and patiently to ſuffer what they shall lay upon us, euen to impriſonment, banishment, confiſcation of goods, and death it ſelf: leaving them to God, who is higher then the higheſt; and knowing that he doth regard, and will require it at their hands; and vvill giuegive a crovvn of life to ſuch as are faithfull to death.
The Concluſion.
NOw to conclude, let us in theſe queſtions, and the like, ſtill obſerue (what vve can) vvhat was preſcribed and received in Iſraell of old, according to the writings of Moſes and the Prophets: together vvith that which is recorded by the Apoſtles, touching the Primitiue churches ſince. And let us vvithall carefully reteyne and follow that manner of reaſoning, vvhichwhich is taken from the example and eſtate of Iſraell, and often alſo uſed in the Scriptures of the New Teſtament, how ever it be rejected, or litle regarded by divers, in reſpect of the uſe and account which all should make thereof. Which vve may learne by the Apoſtles manner of reaſoning, when he ſaith, Behold Iſraell, &c. 1 Cor. 10, 18. Whither alſo may be referred the many anſwers, arguments, and reaſons which Chriſt himſelf and the Apoſtles took from the eſtate of Iſraell, and from Moſes and the Prophets, in ſundry caſes, from time to time. As may be ſeen in theſe and the like places: Mat. 9, 10— 13. and 12, 1 — 7. and 15, 1 — 9. and 19, 3 — 8. and 22, 23 — 32. Mar. 9, 43 — 49. Luke 4, 24 — 27. and 16, 29, 30, 31. John 3, 14, 15. and 5, 10. with 7, 21 — 24. and 10, 33 — 36. Act. 1…, 2, 3. Rom. 9, 6 — 18. and 11.2.5. and 15.1 — 4. 1 Cor. 5.1 — 6.7.8.13. and 9.8 — 14. and 10.1 — 11. and 14.34.35. 2 Cor. 6.14 — 17. and 8.13.14.15. Gal. 3.7 — 13. and 4.21 — 30. Epheſ. 2.11.12.19.21. Col. 2.11.12. 1 Tim. 2.11 — 14. and 5.17.18. 2 Tim. 3.8.9.16.17. The Epiſtle to the Hebrevves. 1 Pet. 1.15.16. 2 Pet. 1.19.20.21. and 2.1 — 6. 1 John 3, 11.12. Jude, ver. 3 — 9. Rev. 2.14.15.20.21.22.23. and 3.4.12. and 5.8. with 8.3.4. and 9.13. and 10, 9.10. and 11.1 — 6.19. and 15.2 — 8. & 16, 2 — 8. and 18.2 — 21. and 20.7.8.9. and 21, and 22 chapters.
To the Law and to the teſtimonie: if they ſpeake not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them. Eſa. 8, 20.
All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſnes: that the man of God may be perfect, being throughly furniſhed unto every good work. 2 Tim. 3, 16, 17.
Bleſſed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tryed, he ſhall receiue the crowne of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that louelove him. Iam. 1, 12.
FINIS.
End of the text · Francis Johnson, A Christian Plea (1617)