Certain Observations, Section 9
SECTION. IX.
FRom this wh…ch hath been ſhewed both againſt Dioceſan Biſhops, and in juſt fying the wiſ…dom of God in lay Elders, as they are called, each may ſee what we are to judge of the Officers now in uſe amongſt us; I will ſpeak of two, as being both the cheif, and containing under them all the reſt.
The firſt is the Chancellour under whom there are Archdeacons, Offic…als, and all that rout ſpringing up with the beaſt, about which I need not ſpend ſo long time in confuting of their office, conſidering the former grounds againſt this Dioceſan Diſcipline.
Before I come to handle the arguments againſt them, conſider well theſe grounds.
1 The name of a Church doth belong to every congregation, not properly to the clergy, as they are now called; ſo the holy Ghoſt ſpeaks in the Scripture.
2 That ſuch callings are Antichriſtian, which ſprung up w th Ant chriſt, and ſerved …m a long time onelyonly, and uphold ſuch a government as his is, though they maintaine not ſuch doctrine. So though Cardinalls ſhould profeſſe the Goſpell, yet their office is Antichriſtian, becauſe of the former ground, which is plain; for Antichriſt is not a perſon, but a ſucceſſion of men oppoſing Chriſt in his Ordinances, and Offices, as well as otherwiſe.
3 Some good uſe that a calling may hauehave, and ſome benefit that it brings, is no ſufficient ground to warrant it in the church of God. 1 Becauſe there is nothing, but at leaſt is well intended, and carryes a ſhew of good when it is brought into the church. 2 It may be that keeps out ſome other calling, that would bring farre more profit and benefit to the church. 3 It may be it hath ſome inſeparable evill annexed or coupled with it.
Now upon theſe grounds ſufficient and weighty reaſons may be founded from the Scriptures to proue the unlawfulnes of this office, which is for one in a Dioceſs to hauehave authority for keeping courts, to proue wills, to right men for diſorders, and ſcandalous ſinnes, eſpecially breach of their traditions, and to cenſure men with their kinde of penance and excommunication.
Arg. 1. Every man in the Scriptures tha… hath office in the church, muſt be able to juſtifie it by the Word: So Iohn Baptiſt, Mat. 3, Ioh. 1. So the Apoſtles themſelues, Act. 2, out of Ioel 2, Gal. 1.1. In the old Teſtament, the very porters of the houſe of God, and ſingers were ordered by the Spirit of God in David; and in the new Teſtament Deacons and Widdows are mentioned, but theſe men hauehave no pattent from the Lord, there is no place once to mention their name, nor the like in all the Scriptures; therfore their place and calling is not from God.
2 Diſcipline belongs to every particular congregation, without which though men may be a church (deſiring it after they are convinced of it), yet they lye open to miſerable dangers of their ſpirituall enemies, and cannot be ſo compacted and knit together as a congregation and church of Chriſt ought to be. This is plain in thoſe churches, Revel. 2 & 3, that are each both commended or diſprayſed for their exerciſing of diſcipline. 2 Chriſt hath given the keies to every particular congregation that hath the Miniſtery of Word, and power to uſe them Mat. 18. Therfore theſe mens office is ſacriledg, for it ſteals the holy things of God from each congregation wherby their ſoules are miſerably impove…ed.
3 It is a thing moſt abſurd, inconvenient and burdenſom that the Paſtor in each congregation ſhould hauehave authority from Chr…ſt to abſolue and remit in the Miniſtery of the Word, and retain and binde, and having part cular knowledge in his own congregation of the manners of men, according to which hee propounds the doctrine of the Goſpell, releaſing ſome, and adjudging others; yet that this man muſt ſtand to the arbitrament of a ſt…anger, that never happily ſaw any in his congregation, who ſhall be abſolved, who retained: by whom for the moſt part hee is enjoyned not to admit ſuch as wholly clean to the Lord, and ſuffered and forced to admit ſuch as he in his Miniſtery hath condemned, and the world ſeeth to be filthy ſwine. This argument is grounded upon the ſentence and maxime of our Saviour Chriſt, What God hath conjoyned, let no man ſever. He hath joyned the miniſtry of the Word and the exerciſe of Diſcipline together, therfore no man ſhould ſever them.
4 Theſe came in with Antichriſt, and are part of that Hierarchy. When that Prelats had gotten that ſpirituall ſword into their hands, and backed with Princes authority, had eſtabliſhed themſelues, and made their kingdom like the Princes of the world, as in other things, ſo in this, they muſt for their ſtate hauehave their Chancellours and Officialls &c. This is plain in Hiſtorie: and the Argument is firm againſt them, becauſe all mans inventions, Antichriſts eſpecially, are abon inable, unprofitable, and exceeding hurtfull to the church of God, and contrary to Chriſts own Ordinances.
5 Theſe chancellors, men cannot bring into the church, being meerly ſecular, as they are termed, and civill, and therfore no ſuch power belongs to them to caſt out and excommunicate, eſpecially ſince they never proceed by the rules of the Word, but by their own will and canons. Th…s is his Maj…ſt…es argument in the conference againſt their practiſe, which is one ſpeciall part of their office. This is grounded upon th s, that no man hath any authority, but hee that is elected and aſſigned by the Church to that governm…nt he exerciſeth in the ſame. But theſe are not elected nor approved by the church.
2 To bring in, and caſt out belong to one and the ſame calling.
3 It is reb…llion againſt God for to innovate any thing in the government of the church eſtabliſhed by God: th…s was Corah, and h…s complices ſin, that not content with the office of the Levits, they would come neerer the Lord then the Lord called them; by taking that upon them which he committed not unto them. Therfore reproof, …ame, & great puniſhment, ſhall be their beſt reward.
6 As Chriſt is the onelyonly K…ng of his Church, ſo it is his inſtituting of any Calling, that makes it a member of h…m, and the church: and that union and dependance which a Calling hath w th Chriſt, puts life into it, & makes it effectuall for the good of the church. Now this call ng hath no un…on with Chriſt, being not a member inſtituted by him of his body the Church; therfore it is not, nor can be profitable. This is pla n in ſenſe; for the member that is not united to the head and heart, can receiue neither life nor ſenſe from them. And 2 as men cannot make any one member of his body, nor couple any to the principall member, the originall of life and motion; much leſſe can they adde to Chriſts body, they may as men doe, put to a wodden leg, or a glaifie eie, when they cut off the ſtrong and proportioned members, that would hauehave carryed the body ſurely, quickly and eaſily.
7 Their call ng is maintained by the cenſures of the church, turning them into pecuniary mulcts, which ought not to be, theſe things not being ſaleable. This cauſeth ſo great corruption and ſin to be ſo lightly paſſed over: And the rather becauſe they muſt liue in ſome pompe and worldly dignity, and hauehave ſo many in their courts which liue upon the ſame meanes.
By this we may diſcerne what to judge of their excommunications: for there ought to be for open ſinnes unrepented of, the perſons being admoniſhed therof, and to be denounced by the M…niſter, and agreed upon by the whole Church. Wheſe therfore the cauſe is meerly good, for which men are excommunicated, that is to ſay, either for performing ſome Chriſt an duty, or refuſing ſubjection to mens trad…tions, in the ſervice of God, there Chriſt abſolues, Ioh. 9.
2 When it is not done by the church that hath the keies, but by ſome uſurper that hath no right unto it, it is like the ſentence of a drunken man, upon an other to be hanged or ſtabd, becauſe he will not pledg him or carrouſe. No mans ſentence but the Iudges condemns; nor any but they that God appoints judges: Neither may men ſeek abſolution from them, for they hauehave no authority. 2 Their excommunication is the croſſe the Lord would hauehave men bear if we cannot avoide. 3 They ſever us but from the world, and driue us neerer to Chriſt. 4 It maintaines them in their uſurpation, covetouſneſie, and pr…d…, to ſeeke unto them.
Queſt. 2. Whether a man may ſue in their courts? Anſw. For cauſes Eccleſiaſticall, o… criminall, which come within compaſſe of the to be puniſhed, I think …s unlawfull. For, 1 men muſt rather proteſt againſt this wo…k of darkneſſe. 2 Theſe things may, and ought to be ordered by Arb…t…ators, if it be poſſible: if the lawfull Magiſtrate fail, ſuffer all &c. And the a gument againſt ſuing one another, 1 Cor. 6, holds more firmly againſt this: firſt, thoſe were lawfull courts, theſe unlawfull: ſecondly, it was ſcandalous then; ſo it is here: for they are as great enemies to ſincere Religion as theſe were: thirdly, though a mans cauſe be never ſo good, yet thou being one that feareſt God truely they will ſentence thee, and pronounce unrighteous judgement againſt thy perſon, not minding the juſtice of thy cauſe. For a good man makes a good cauſe bad there, as an evill man procures favour to a bad cauſe: fourthly, their authority is as Eccleſiaſticall, which is not in the K…ngs power to grant, but muſt proceed from Chriſt: fifthly, they hauehave loſt the keyes to whom they were g…ven.
Wee hauehave ſpoken of the firſt of thoſe call ngs, which flowing from the office of Dioceſan Biſhops is unlawfull. Now of the ſecond, that as, Church wardens, comprehending thoſe other, bound to the ſame things they are enjoyned to.
Againſt which, though the former grounds overthrow the…r call…ng, yet more ſpeciall are to be adjoyned; becauſe it …s hard to root out any ſuch long cuſtomary office, though unlawfull. For beſides, that moſt men preferre cuſtome before the law of God, they doe not once make ſcruple of any thing …ſtabliſhed, but ſwa…low all that is preſented unto them, without examination. Wherfore that with more facility wee may end this controverſie, obſerue theſe grounds.
1 That all men are bound to preſeru that liberty which Chr…ſt hath purchaſed and beſtowed upon them, Gal. 5.1. And we are expreſly b dden, that men ſhould not hauehave dominion over us, e…ther over our ſoules to beleeu & ye ld to what they teach, Col. 2, or bodies, in ſpiritual conſideration, for we are Chriſts. 2 Every ſubject is bound to fight and ſtriue with ſpirituall weapons, …or Chriſts Government and Kingdom to be ſet up where he is. 3 That the meaneſt office under an un…awfull forme of gove…nment, …s part of that government, and though not to deeply p…nged in ſin as oth…rs, yet g…ilty of the…r ſinns that are chief in a meaſure. 4 That the…e …s no part of Chriſts Kingd m, nor no truth of the Word ſo ſmall, b…t …t is worth ſuffering for, and dying for; as the godly Iewes ſurfered b…cauſe they would not cat Swines fleſh.
VponUpon theſe grounds and the like, how diſcrepant and oppoſite theſe are to the government of Chr…ſt? Fo…, 1 theſe keep out the Lords own Officers of ruling Elders, which we ha…e proved Chriſt hath left in h…s church, they being in the Apoſtles t mes not contradicted b…t approved, and therefore of Divine Inſtitution. In this reſp…ct t…erfore they are like Dioceſan Biſhops, who keep out Miniſters and people too, from their right in government of the church, though they doe not equall them. That they doe k…ep them out it is plain, for they take upon them now to order things for the churches government, ſo that ignorant people can diſcern no want. This argument is firm, becauſe one ordinance of God doth not hurt, nor keep out an other. 2 That which keeps out Gods ordinance keeps out the Lord (w…th ſome ſpec…all bleſſing) for his children, preſent in each of his o…d nances. 3 This in part ſ…uts the Kingdom of God.
A ſecond argument againſt Churchwardens is, becauſe theſe are corrupted and degenerated, like the office of the m…niſtery that was quite changed …nto a Prieſthood in times of popery. So as now they ha…e loſt their right in government of the church, and yeelded ſhamefully to Ant…chriſt, whoſe ſervants and vaſſals they were ſo long time together. So as it is not more lawfull to be a Church warden then a Maſſe-prieſt; for both of them receiu their preſent being from the man of Sin. This argument is firm, becauſe ſuch retain the Mark of the b…aſt in part 2. The ſame l ght comming, and the ſame ſpirit in a great and powerfull manner that was in the Apoſtles times, all darkneſſe and corruption ought to be removed.
3 Theſe keep out the Deacons, who are expreſly commanded and appointed, Acts 6, 1 Tim. 3, and confound this with their office, which ſhews both their office to bee new and unlawfull. For that the Holy Ghoſt eſtabli…hed, the Apoſt…es both gaue charge th…y ſhould be elected, and they were in the p…m…t…ue Church many yeares tog…ther, t…l Ant chriſt got the day, and ſ…t up …s throne. This is no ſmall wrong to the church to keep out thoſe that were to d…ſtr…bute to the poore ſo carefully in each congregat…on, that there ſhould be no want to any: they ea…d the Mini ſters, and therfore are called Helps, of which hereafter. Wherfore, as Eſter ſpake of Haman in procur…ng the overthrow of the Iewes, The enemy could not recompence the Kings loſſe; no more can they: fo… they wrong the poor, giuegive not ſuch teſtimony of their louelove, and liberall…ty wh…ch the office of the D…acon doth proclaim, and make v…ſible to the world. Neither muſt wee think it enough that there are good lawes eſtabliſhed. For experience witneſſeth the neceſſity hereof, n…ther ought men to confound what Chr ſt hath ſevered. The Chr…ſtian Mag ſt ates duty is to ſee both Min…ſters and people ſubject to Chriſts Ordinances, not to invent any new.
4 An office dev…ſed by man, ever ſerues man, not God; witneſſe all the Hierarchy dev ſed by Pope, who ſerved but mens amb tious thoughts, never furthered the Kingdom of Chriſt. Now this office is meerely deviſed by man: For they deny them to be Elders mentioned in the Scriptures; and how far different they be, any man may ſee that compares them together. Churchwardens hauehave no ſtroke in the diſc…pline, or excommunication. Elders were to tend mens ſoules, and procure their good by admonition, reproofe &c. Churchwardens are to tend the church walls and ſee that there be a fair ſurplus prov…ded, and ſuch Trumpery: Elders ſprung from Chriſt, and m…ght look for a b…eſſing and protection in their calling Theſe are from Rome and cannot expect any ſuch bleſſing or protection from God in their courſe. Elders were not annuall as theſe are.
5 Theſe officers uphold an unlawfull Hierarchy and Government, they receiue their oaths, wh ch is their enſtalment from them, wheras the church and congregat…on ought to chooſe, and ordain them. 2 They preſent all to them again, giving them the power to puniſh and cenſure. 3 They muſt obey every edict and precept that comes from them, or the rurall deanes, poore ignorant ſotts, more unlawfull officers then themſelues.
This argument is firm againſt them, ſince they that maintain Chriſts enemies, are juſtly to be reproved and accurſed, if they doe not repent.
6 Churchwardens, as the government ſtands now are bound to moſt unlawfull conditions, to preſent the true Min ſter for not uſing ſuperſtitious rit…s; to keep other Min…ſters from preaching there, except they hauehave licence; to preſent men for not joyning with a dumb Miniſter: and in a word, to ſee that their Canons be exec…ted to the full: and herein they are inſt…uments of ſin, and m…anes of troubling the ſ …vants of God; which brings woe upon men. This cannot be denyed. The ſerpent was accurſed for b…ing but the inſtrument of ſinne.
7 This is a great ſtumbling block to the Separation, making them th…nk all our Church is and ſtands ſubject to Ant…chriſtian government. For theſe depend of the Biſhop a…d Deanes, and hauehave a k…nde of Regency in the Church.
Wherfore conſidering theſe things, brethren, who hauehave been through ignorance or want of conſideration hitherto m ſlead, hearken, and leaue off hence forth. Your witneſſing of the truth of Ch…iſts Government, without all doubt, will bring more true reſt and peace to your ſoules, then you can finde comfort in your outward peace, which you may reap by conforming to mens wills and pleaſures.
Conſider how you undertake the profeſſion of Chr…ſt with a full pu…poſe to …eau all to enjoy him. Let me int…at you for your own good, that you will throughly and ſeriouſly conſider of theſe things in your own hearts, and cover not your ſelues with ſome fig leaues, that you or others may find for you. What a daunt ng will it to be the oppoſits, when the peopl… ſtand againſt their courſes? And goe they cannot that want legges or feet, which you are to them. Think what every age hath given for Chriſt and his pure worſhip, and ſhall wee giuegive nothing? So metimes reformation and diſcipline beginnes with the ſervants, who for ſhame driue others from their unlawfull courſes. Howſoever, keep your ſelues that no unclean th…ng touch you, and that you k…ep nothing unclean to defile others withall.