A Necessity of Separation from the Church of England, Chapter 1

A Necessity of Separation from the Church of England · Chapter 1

p. 2CHAPT. 1.

DOctor Burgeſſe, having read, and ſereouſlie (as it ſeemes) examined the nature, & true conſequence, of the many particular arguments, publiſhed to the world by the Nonconformiſts, againſt the great abuſes in the ministerie, worſhip, and Church government of Pag. 5.England. Affirmed in his Rejoinder to D. Morton, that the ſame are the maine grounds of ſeparation, and for his part, if he beleeved them to be true, he would (in all good conſcience he proteſteth) proclaime ſeparation Pag. 232.from idolatrous worſhip and worſhippers before he ſlept, and not halt as theſe men (by their owne poſitions doe) betwixt idolatrie and religion: Doctor Ames in his new booke, intituled a freſh ſuit againſt Ceremonies denyeth that any ſuch thing can be neceſſarilie concluded from their principles: but I will here ſhew by evident and ſound reaſons, that the former aſſertion is true and certaine, and all the arguments brought by the other to the contrary, are of no weight or force to p. 3make good his deniall thereof. And becauſe I much deſire, that the reader may well underſtand our points in diſpute. I ſhall therefore (if God will) write in order, of them. And firſt I will begin with their ministerie: and touching it will lay downe 4 things.

1. How the Nonconformiſts doe deſcribe a true miniſtery.

2. How far that of England by their owne confeſſion differs from, and is contrary to it.

3. I will ſhew what inferences and concluſions doe neceſſarily follow upon it.

4. Anſwer the reaſons, brought by Doct. Ames, in defence of their miniſterie.

NOt to ſpeake of Apoſtles, Prophets, and Evangeliſts, Neceſsit. diſcip. 38, 73, 74.which were extraordinary ministeries, and therfore (as themſelves ſay) are now wholy ceaſed. The ordinarie Offices perpetually belonging to all true churches, are onelyonly theſe five, 1. a Pastor or Biſhop, which is the Offer. cō fer. pag. 2. T. C. l. 1. p. 22. & l. 2 pa. 3. & p. 5. 15. Demonſt. diſcip. 46▪ Mr. Bates 27.higheſt ordinarie Ecoleſiasticall Officer in any true conſtituted viſible church of Chriſt, and they are all equal by Gods inſtitution: and are forbidden to exerciſe authoritie one over another; or exſpect any ſuch title as may import it, or affect preeminence.

His giftes, properties, and conditions in doctrine and manners, are diſtinctly ſet downe in ſcripture. He muſt be apt to teach & exhort, no yōg ſcholler, able to devide the word aright. Have a continuall care to watch over the ſoules of thoſe, for whom he muſt give an accompt. p. 4Diſcerne their diſeaſes, and apply the word, according to every diſeaſe, and every time and occurrant. BrieflyInformat. frō Scott. p. 28, 29. Neceſſity diſcip. 71. Defen. ag. Slaund of Bridg. 127. Forme eccleſiaſ. govern. p. 123, 124, 125, &c. Demonſt. diſcip. 53, 54. he muſt love, cheriſh, & defend his ſheepe frō ravenous beaſts, feed them in greene and wholeſome paſtures of the word, pray for them, and ſeale up to them the promiſes of God by the Sacraments. Secondly, the Lord hath ordained, that there ſhould be in every congregation Doctors: which is an Office (they ſay) different from that of the Pastor; the reaſons which they give, are theſe, 1. Becauſe the Apostle doth ſo diſtinguiſh them one from another Rom. 12, 7, 8. Epheſ. 4. 11. 2. Their giftes appeare to be divers, 1 Cor. 12. 8. 3. The Paſtor is commaunded to take one courſe in teaching, the Doctor another, Rom. 12, 7, 8. 4. This diſtinguiſhing of them makes more for the building of the church, then to unite and makechem one.

His office is to deliver ſound and wholeſome doctrine,Inform. frō Scott. pag. 30. convince the gaineſayers, preſerve knowledge, and build vponupon the rock (which is Chriſt Ieſus) gold, ſilver, and precious stones, &c.

The third Officers, as they name them from the ſcriptures, are Governors or ruling Elders, who are toForme eccleſ. Govern. 128, 129, &c. Rom. 12, 8 … Cor. 12, 28. 1 Tim. …. 17. Mr. Bate 89, &c.Rom 12:8 look to the manners of the people, and to be aſſiſtant to the miniſter in Government. This Office was eſtabliſhed by the Apoſtles in all churches Act. 14. 23. and it ſerves to helpe forwarde the building thereof, 1 Cor. 12, 28. and without it the body can not be intyre, Rom. 12, 4, 8. To juſtify this office, many ſcriptures, reaſons, & teſtimonies taken from the learned, are alleged by them, Ignat. ad Trall. Tertull. de Baptist. Ierom. cont. lucrf. p. 5Ambr▪ upon 1 Tim. 5. Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 22. Bucer de reg. Demonſ. diſc. p. 56.Chr. l. 1. Pet. Mar. vponupon Rom. 12. Cal. instit. l. 4. c. 3. Sect. 8.

Theſe muſt be men of wiſedome, knowledge and ſound iudgment, ſober, gentle, modeſt, loving, temperateInform. from Scot. p. 13. &c. Able to diſcerne, and all wayes vigilant, for the quietnes, wellfare, peace, purity and good order of the Church.

Eccleſ. gover. p. …9.Fourthly there ought to be in every congregation certaine deacons endued with thoſe qualities whi… the word of God deſcribeth. That is, they muſt … men of good report, indued alſo with the Holy Gho… ▪ grave, temperate, not covetous &c.

To prove this office theſe Scriptures are alleged Act. 6. 1 Tim. 3. 6. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 12, 28. Phil. 1. 1 And alſo theſe reaſons for it, 1. the Lord takes care both for the bodies and ſoules of men, and therefore inſtituteth, ſuch offices peculiarly ſerving for that purpoſe. 2. That the faythfull may be the more free from feare, and follow their owne callings diligently. 3. That the Church may be the more inriched with heavenly, and ſpirituall bleſſings, for ſhe receives grace and gifts for the diſcharge of each calling. 4. That men may be ſtirred vp to help the poore the more willingly, conſidering that the Lord hath appointed a ſpeciall office for that purpoſe. 5. That their ſhould be no complaints,M. Bates p. 117. but that all the poore might be comforted againſt their poverty, and wants. Their office onelyonly conſiſteth in receiving the liberality of the ſaints, and diſtributing the ſame vntounto the neceſſity of the poore: and howſoever the Engliſh booke of ordering Preiſts, p. 6Anſw. to Bancr. ſer. p. 14. T. C. l. 1. 190. 2. Admo. p. 61.&c. Makes this a degree of the miniſtery, yet the Nonconformiſts, profeſſe that that practice is naught and vnlawfull, and the deacons office is (not to medle with the word and ſacraments but) onelyonly to collect the benevolence of the faithfull, and faithfully to diſtribute the ſame, and to prove this, they render theſe reaſons.T. C. l. 1. p 190. diſc. Eccleſ. 119 Infor. Scott. 31▪ demonſt. diſcip. 61. 62. &c. 1. By the Apoſtles inſtitution theſe were onelyonly to attend vponupon the proviſion for the poore. Act. 6. 4.

The Scripture maketh it an ordinary & diſtinct office … others in the Church, and not to be mingled with any other. Rom. 12. 8. 3. No man can in any tollerable meaſure diſcharge the office of a miniſter, and deacon alſo. Act. 6. 2. 4. The miniſteries of the word be perfect without it. They have alſo to prove this thing, the learned generally on their ſide. Concill. conſtant. cap. 16. Chriſost. vponupon Act. 6. Bulling. decad. 5. ſer. 2. Buc. de reg. Christ. 14. Pet. Mar. Rom. 12. Cal. inſt▪ l. 4. cap. 3. ſect. 9. Beza. confeſſ. cap. 5. ſect. 23.

Sixtly widowes, or deaconeſſes whoſe proper office is to looke to the weake, impotent, and poore ſtrangers, and ſpecially to helpe ſuch who in their ſickneſſesD. Chat. Rom. 12, p. 64. M. Bates. p. 66.Rom 12 have neither friends nor kins folkes to adminiſter vntounto them. This office is proved of them by theſe Scriptures. 1. Tim. 5. Rom. 12. 8. Rom. 16. The grounds or reaſons, which they bring for it are theſe.

1. Wiſedom, to imploy ſuch, as being to receive maintainance, from the church, are fit for nothing but this, and fitteſt for this. 2. That none may lack any thing for their good and preſervation. 3. That men may be the rather incouraged to goe about the churches p. 7buſineſſes, having ſuch to attend them. TheſeDef. of diſ. p. 59. 68. Def. coun. 124. Eccle. Gov. p. 7. are the neceſſarie and onelyonly ordinarie functions, and offices which our ſaviour hath ordained in his church, vntounto the due adminiſtration whereof, he hath promiſed his bleſſing to the end of the world, and theſe are perpetuall and to continue for ever, and beſide theſe it is vnlawfull, for men (following the deviſes of their owne braine) to inſtitute and ordaine any in the Churches of God. Now the election and ordinationAdmon. 1. p. 3. Off. of confer, p. 2. of theſe officers, muſt (as they ſay) neceſſarily … made, by the free choyſe of the congregation wherein they are to adminiſter: The Elders going before, the reſt are to manifeſt either by ſome outward token, or elſe by their ſilence, their allowance, if they like of the action, or gaineſaying, if they judge it not juſt and vpright. Yea not onelyonly may they gaineſay it: But ifNeceſsit. Diſcip. 28. there be juſt cauſe of diſlike make it altogether voyd and of none effect, vntill at the laſt a meet one be choſen, by the authority and voyces of the Elders, and allowed of by the generall conſent and approbation of the reſt of Church.

And this was, the Churches continuall practice inT. C. l. 2. p. 1. 193. Eccleſ. diſc. 40. firſt book diſcip. 27. 29. M. Bates. 66. Demonſt. Diſcip. 24. 25. &c. the time of the Apoſtles, and therefore an ordinance of God to be followed for ever. Moreover the thing appertaineth vntounto all: And it is a courſe moſt effectuall to bring the people to obedience, when they ſhall ſee him teach or rule, whom they themſelves hauehave choſen. Yea this procureth greateſt reverence of the people to their officers. It is alſo affirmed that this manner of chuſing and making officers, continued ſo long p. 8T. C. l. r. p. 59.in the Churches of God, as there was any light of the knowledge of him, ſo that indeed it ought to be perpetuall,Forme Chur. Gou. p. 40. and vnchangeable, and may not at any hand either by Church, or Magiſtrate be altered: For it is a greater wronge to hauehave any Eccleſiaſticall officers forced upon a people againſt their will, then if theyEng. Putan. p. 6, 7. ſhould force vponupon men wives, or vponupon women huſbands againſt their will and liking: Here alſo generall counſels and many old and new writers are broughtin by the Nonconfor. to ſpeake for them in this thing. Concil. Nicene Teſt. Theo. Conc. Const. test. tripart. hist. l▪ 9. c. 14. Concil. Carth. can. 1. Con. Toletan. test. dist. 50: Concil. Gabil. Can. 10. Cyprian. l. 1. Ep. 3. Amb. Epiſt. 82. Ierom. ad Ruffin. Baſil. Epiſt. 58.

And whoſoever condemnes the making of miniſters, after this ſort what doe they elſe, but open their mouths againſt God and againſt the truth. Defence of admon. p. 2.

T. C. l. 2. p. 1, p. 174 Eccleſ. diſ. 35. D. Am. caſ. conſ. l. 4, c. 25. Inform. Scott. 26. Ioh. 10. 1, 2John 10:1John 10:2Moreover every officer in the church muſt be ordained by impoſition of hands of the Elderſhip, the whole Church joyning with them in faſting and prayer; and without a lawfull calling no one muſt preſume to exerciſe any ſpirituall function, or miniſtery, nor dare to enter in any other way, then by the doore.

A notable Example for this purpoſe, is rehearſed by Moyſes in Numb. 16. Whereby it ſeemeth, that the Lord meant to ratifie the Law of a neceſſity of a true vocation for ever. For there we ſee, that neither the heavens could abide to ſee, nor the earth beare ſo ſhameleſſe boldneſſe, but the one melting conſumed p. 9with fyer, ſuch as without a calling would take vponupon them the presthood, and the earth gapeping, opened it ſelfe and ſwallowed them vp alive, which ought to be a leſſon to vsus for euer, that no man preſume to pervertNeceſsit. diſc. 10, 11, &c. T. C. l. 1. 54, 63, or alter that order which God hath eſtabliſhed in his Church, nor arrogate to himſelfe that honor which he hath by no right and lawfull calling obtained: &c.

Moreover none muſt be ordained vntounto any officeT. C. l. 1, 61, Neceſ. diſ. 19, Demonſt, diſ. p. 16, in the Church, vntill there be ſuch a place voyd for him, as is meet, and fitt: for as the Apostles did in planting of Churches, ſo muſt it be don in the building thereof for ever: but they ordained neither Paſtor., Teacher, Eder, nor deacon, but to ſome certaine congregation, that had preſent vſe and need thereof. A roving and Tabl. div. Rea. in Camb. demo. id.vnſettled miniſtrie therefore, is a new and falſe miniſterie, meerely, instituted by men. And never read of to be practiſed, but by idolaters. Iudg. 17. 8.

Againe great care muſt be taken, before conſent be given, vntounto any calling in the Church, that it appeare by ſufficient trial, and due examination, that the perſon is qualified with thoſe gifts which the word ofEccle. diſ. foll. 44, T. C. l. 2. p. 1, p. 368, Tit. 1, 9, Hoſ. 4, 6▪Titus 1:9Hos 4:6 God requireth, in one of that place: For elſe there will follow a manifeſt breach of Gods commaundement: Beſides, God will not owne his ministery, thirdly, if he want abilityes, he cannot doe the things required of him. As to divide the word aright, eſpy the Demonſ. diſ. p. 35, 36.enimy, and give warning a forehand to the people how to reſist him: But contrarywiſe will lead himſelfe and his people into hel fyer. The truth is, no vnſkillfull or vnlearned man, may be called to the ſteering of this p. 10…ceſ. of diſc. pa. 47. 6.helme, vnleſſe we would have the ſhipp not onelyonly to be in daunger, but willing, to runne it vponupon the rockes. Theſe officers choſen, and made as aforeſayd: ought to execute the office committed vntounto them, with allT. C. l. 1, p 65. faithfull diligence, and conſequently muſt be continually, reſident vponupon their charge. This later poſition, to wit, the neceſsity of perpetuall reſidence, & the vnlawfulnes of Nonreſidence, is confirmed of them by goodDem. diſc. p. 20. 21. D. Tayl. Tit. 3, 11, Dr. willet 1. Sam. 14, 28▪Titus 3:111 Sam 14:28 reaſons. 1. A miniſter is a ſheepheard and his charge a flock, now a ſheepheard hath a flock to feed it continually. 2. Whereſoever God placeth a man, there is dayly need of his labour and care. 3. The people are in daunger of harme if they be not watched over day and night. 4. The Church requireth an officers reſidecy with her as a duty of him. 5. If they do otherwiſe, they cannot give their people a good example, neither will there be love, and familiarity between them. &c. Breifly, they hold it, as great an injurie, to force a congregation, or Church, to miantaine as their Paſtor, with tiths and ſuch like donations, that perſon, which either is not able to inſtruct them, or that refuſeth inEng. puri. 20, 21, his own perſon ordinarily to doe it, as to force a man to maintaine one for his wife, that either is not a woman, or that refuſeth in her owne perſon to doe theDem. diſc. p. 21. duties of a wife vntounto him. And thus much for the firſt point, wherein we and they in iudgement doe accord, but our practiſe as yet is contrary each to other.

p. 11SECTION. II.

NOw it followes that we truely relate, the preſent ſtate of the Engliſh miniſtery, how far it diſagreeth,Defene. Godly miniſt. ag. Bridg▪ …2…. pref. adm. & p. 1…, 27, 47. (by their owne Teſtimonies) in every particular thing from the poſitions, before named, & touching it in generall, they affirme confidently, that it is a baſe miniſterie which God never erected in his Church, but came wholy from the Pope, for ſay they, not onelyonly is the calling of the Hierarchie, but alſo their dependent offices all vnlawfull and Syons plea. 3,Antichriſtian, obſerve the largneſſe of their ſpeach, how they comprehend, and ſo conſequently here cōdemn all their Eccleſiaſticall functions▪ for indeed they take all their originall of one roote, namely the Praelarey, from it I ſay, they have their ryſe, and by it onelyonly they adminiſter vntounto the people. And whoſoever ſhall deny this, may with as much reaſon, deny that fyre is hott, the ſea ſalt, the ſunne ſhines. &c.

But let us heare what reaſons they give, to prove their miniſtery falſe and Antichriſtian; and every way contrary to that true ministery, of which we have before ſpoken; Firſt, they ſay, that the Church of England, Wanteth her Paſtors, Teachers, Deacons, and Elders: For which cauſe ſhe hangeth downe her head, for heavineſſe; her eyes be bleared with teares; her cheekes be defiled with the water of her eyes, her heart is heavy with ſorrow, her bones are withered with dryneſſe, her whole body is clothed Doct. Chat. on Rom. 12. 33.Rom 12:33with ſackcloth, ſhee lyeth in caves and dens, being aſhamed to ſhew her face, haveing ſo deformed and maimed a body; If p. 12her caſe and ſtate be ſo, ſhe hath reaſon enough to greive: For to want theſe true officers, and to have counterfeits placed in their ſtead, is one of the heavieſt and fearfulleſt miſeries, that can poſſibly befall anyEſa. 3.Isa 3 people. Yet this thing is affirmed by others of them alſo. Of which more hereafter.

Bright. Rev. 3. p. 168. Chr. Mar. p. 41. Admon. p. 2. Soldier. Bar. M. Bates pag. 60.Rev 3Now concerning elections & ordinations. In theſe their church ſtandeth vnderunder a Romiſh regiment, and hath not left Babylon, but partaketh of her ſinnes, in the choyſe of Miniſters. For neither are their Ministers proved, elected, called, or ordayned, according to Gods word: But their entrance into the miniſtery is, by a Popiſh and vnlawfull vocation, ſtrange from the ſcriptures, and never heard of in the primitive church. All authority is give into the hands of the Prelates alone, & their booke of ordination, wherby Adm. p. 14 Act. 13. 45 & 14, 23. Def. of Godly mi. ag. Br. 124.Acts 13:45Acts 14:23they make Biſhops, Prieſts, and Deacons, is againſt the very forme of the ordination of the miniſtery, preſcribed in the ſcriptures; and nothing elſe but a thing word for word, taken out of the Popes Pontificall, wherein he ſheweth himſelfe to be Antichriſt moſt lively.

It will not be amiſſe if I here briefly relate, in what manner, and forme, their Biſhops make miniſters, as the Nonconformiſts doe deſcribe it. When the time (ſay they) of giveing orders draweth neere, the B. Bull is ſett upon the Church doore, to give warning, rhat if any be minded to receive orders, that he repaire to the Prelate at ſuch a time and place. Now this Bull is in latin, ſo that the people can not underſtand the ſound of the trumpet, neither indeed are they deſired to come, and object againſt the perſons to be ordained, &c. When p. 13the day of ordination is com, after an exhortation made, and the communion celebrated, the Epistle & Goſpell read, and the Hymne veni creator ſung, or ſayd, the Archdeacon preſents to the B. all thoſe that are to take on the order of Prieſthood that day, with theſe words, Reverend Father in Christ, I preſent to you the perſons here preſent, to be admitted to the order of Priesthood. Then after ſome demaunds and anſweres, of the B. and the other, who are to be admitted, he demaundeth of the people, who are preſent there, if they know any impediment, which may hinder any of theſe preſent to be admitted, to the order of Prieſthood, which is a manifcſt mockage. For it may be, that none there preſent either heard or ſaw any of them, or all of them before that day, &c. Then after the oath of the Kengs ſupremacie is taken, there followes an exhortation again, with other demaunds and anſweres. After this the people, who are preſent, are deſired ſecretly to commend the buſineſſe to God: For which cauſe they are all ſilent for a little ſpace. This don, the B. readeth a prayer, which beeing finiſhed, they who are to be ordained, ſitting on their knees at the Biſhops feet; the Biſhop and the reſt of the Prieſts, who are preſent, lay handes ſeverally upon the heads of every one of them, the B. uttering theſe words, Receive the Holy Ghoſt, whoſe ſinnes thou doſt forgive▪ …y are forgiven, & whoſe ſinnes thou doſt retaine, they are retained, and be thou a faithfull diſpenſer of the word of God, and of his holy Sacraments in the name of the Father, &c. Thus he commaundeth the ordained to receive the Holy Ghoſt, as our Lord & Maiſter did.

p. 14Now as well may they imitate his breathing, as to vſurpe theſe words. Is any of their curats after the pronouncing of theſe words either the holyer or more apt to teach: And whereas he puts a Bible into their hands, he might rather put their ſervice booke: for either they are ignorant and cannot preach, or if they can, yet may not, till they procure by mony a licenceAlt. dam. 165. from them. When all this is don the company ſing the creed, and receive the communion together. But it muſt here be obſerved that they ordaine not any man wholy at once to the office of preiſthood: but lead him by degrees vp to the pulpit: for they muſt firſt be deacons (as they call it) for a yeare, that is to ſay, they muſt receive authority to ſay prayers, read the Scriptures: but in no wiſe adminiſter the ſacraments, or preach, without further licence: then at laſt he isNecel. diſ. p. 81. Againſt Brid. 125. Def. diſc. 133. Id. p. 33. Admo. 15. Alt. d. 161. Neceſsit. diſcip p. 20. Eccleſ. Gov. 127. made a full miniſter. This practiſe is profeſſedly affirmed of the Nonconformiſts, to be a vaine invention of mans braine, taken from the manner of Popiſh orders, and cleare againſt the expreſſe appointment of the Scriptures. Moreover, they will make miniſters in their Galleries and Cloyſters at their pleaſure; give orders to whome, & to how many they liſt, without any triall, either of their judgment in Religion, or of their honeſtly in converſation: and ſometime make 60, 80, or a 100 at a clap, whereof …o one is called or deſired to any particular congregation, and when they have done, ſend them abroade as rogues, vagaboundes, or maiſterleſſe ſervants, into the country, giveing them their bull to preach in others mens charges p. 15where they liſt, or elſe get benefices by freindſhip, mony, flattery, where they cā catch them, or if this faile, they may goe vp & downe like beggars, & fall into many vile follies or ſett vp bils (as many have don) at Pauls, the Royall exchange & ſuch like publick places, to ſee if they can heare of ſome good maſter, that will hyre them, and vſe their labour, or to conclude, tary in their colledge to lead the lives of loytering loſels ſo long as they live. What a horrible and wicked doing is this! Indeed ſuch times are ſpoken of in the ſtories of the Iudges, when Ionathan the Levite, wanting a high place and an Altar, went roving vp and downe to let out his ſervice to any that would hyre him. But it is added in the ſame place, that there was no King in Iſrael O Not without cauſe may they ſay (if theſe things be true) that all reformed Churches bluſh, and are aſhamedBright. Reve. 3. 181.Rev 3 of them. Yea and I am perſwaded that if they were fully and truely informed hereof, they would no more communicate with their miniſtery, then they doe with that of Rome: For if they did, it would be certainly their great ſin, ſeeing both of them appeare to be falſe and vnlawfull.

Thou haſt heard (reader) who makes their miniſters: and allſo how they are made: now in the next place, thou ſhall heare what they ſay touching their gifts, and qualificatiōs & if thou wilt in this beleive the Nonconformiſts:2. Admo. p. 47. Sold. Barw. Church Polic. 236. 237. Boyes and ſenceleſſe aſſes are their common miniſters for the moſt part. yea notorious idolaters, halting hypocrites, openly perjured perſons, idle bellied Epicures, manifest Apostates, old munks and friars, drunkards, p. 16Abſtr. 83.ideots, idols, ſuch as know not a B. from abattle dore: or the Lords prayer from the articles of faith, nor how many ſacraments there are: For he that will weare a ſurpleſſe, a cloake with ſleeves, a gowne, a cap, a tippet (ornaments fitt enough for ſuch deformed coxcombs), read a goſpel, Church women, bid faſting dayes and holy dayes, Prophane the ſacramēts, pray at the buriall of the dead, pronounce a curſe againſt ſinners vponupon Aſhwenſdday and at no time elſe, ordaine a new ſacrament of the croſſe in the Prophanation of Baptiſime, viſit the ſicke with a wafer cake, and a wine bottle, readExhortat. Gover. Wal. 42. homilies, pray for the proſperity of theeves, pirats, murderers, yea a Pope, a Cardinal, an Archbiſhop, a Lord B. or any other enimy of God and his Church: he is a creature fitt enough to receive their orders, and by his outward calling is bound to doe no more.

There are beſides theſe, others of them which witneſſe Neceſ. diſ. p. 81.the ſame, to make ministers according to their faſhion, is nothing elſe but to make a ſervice ſayer, or a readerBrigt. Re. 3. p. 187. of prayers out of a booke, ſo that a ſtarke foole, or an arrant knave, may fulfill all the conditions which they require ofPrefa. p. 3. him. It is certaine ſayth Mr. Gilby, he that will vſe Antichrists ragges, may be made an Engliſh Priest, be he never ſuch a dolt or villaine. The truth is the conditiō of thoſe men, whome the Prelates for the moſt part thruſt into their miniſterie, is ſo contemptible and baſe, as they affirme, that Ieroboom never made worſe Prieſts Eccleſ. Gover. 127of the refuſe of the people to ſerve his goulden Calves. Nay they ſay more, If the devill did make and ſend forth miniſters, he could not finde worſe men upon p. 17the earth: and if he would have worſe, he muſt bring Dial. ſtr. Ch. p. 82.them out of hel. Mr. Cartwright ſayth of a certainty, that all the Eccleſiaſticall hiſtories extant, are not able to furniſh vsus of ſo many vnworthy miniſters, choſen by all the churches throughout the world, which have beene ſince the Apoſtles time, as have ſwarmed theſe few yeares, out of the Palaces (as out of the Troian horſe) of that ſmall number of Bbs, which are in England▪ &c. and there is as much difference betweene them and the miniſters, choſen in other congregations2. Rep. 1. p. 537. 148. beyond the ſea, as betweene gold and copper, or any other refuſe mettal.

I have not yet declared what the Nonconformists write, touching the moſt ungodly courſes, uſed by their Prieſts, to procure benefices, and how extreamely they tyranniſe over the poore people, and will be officers to them, though they conſēt not unto it, nay howbeit they be wholy againſt it, & have good reaſō for it, yet if the Patron (whether Popiſh prophane or religiousPreface dioc. T. Freſ. ſuit. l. 2. p. 412. all is one) & the Biſhop doe accord in the buſineſſe: they muſt neceſſarily put their necks under the yoak of this wicked uſurper, or remove their dwelling, though it be to their utter undoing: beſide the congregation knowes not, what the converſation is of him, who by the arme of fleſh is forced upon them, neither his fittneſſe in gifts for the miniſtery: This cannot be denyed Aſſertion. Chriſt. Ch. pol. p. 252.(ſay they) that there is not any one man or woman amongſt 40, in any one Pariſh among 40, that can tell that ever he, or ſhe, did ſee, or heare of the minister appointed, & ſent by the Ordinary to be parſon, or vicar of the Pariſh vacant, before ſuch time as he or ſhee did heare, or ſee the Pariſh Clarke p. 18t… trudge with the Church do… ke…e… to let in the S…xtin, to ring the bells for the ſayd parſon or vicars induction, and reall poſſeſsion. Oh intollerable bondage! that men ſhould be thus bought and ſould like beaſts; and yet there is little hope of reformation, in regard too many will rather ſubmitt to thoſe ſlaughterous & inhumane courſes, then ſeeke to redeem their pretious liberty, by good and lawfull meanes. And for that baſe and ſhamefull beggerineſſe, which they uſe to gett benifices, it cannot be better ſhewed, then Mr. Brightman hath truly done it. Thus he writes▪

VponUpon the Apoc. ch. 3. p. 181. Edition. 3.Rev 3Let vsus take a view and make a generall muſter as it were of the whole Cleargie, and if you will let vsus begin at the baſeſt vnderunder lings. The Curates, as they cal them are both in very deed, and in all mens account a company of beggarly fellowes▪ In whom a man may ſee that verifyed, which was threatned againſt the family of Eli men bowing themſelves to the ground for a pecee of ſilver and a morſell of bread, and craving to bee put into one of the Prieſts offices, that hee may have a ſnappe at a cruſt of bread▪ 1. Sa. 3. 36.

Now for the reſt, thoſe that by meanes of their more full purſes walke more luſtily, ſuch as wee call ſturdy beggars, what running vp and down is there among them, what bribing what importunate and impudent begging▪ what flattering offers do they make of all their obeiſance▪ and all duetifull complements, that they may come by theſe Eccleſiaſticall promotions? You may ſee many of them that poſt vp to the Court, or to the houſe of the right honourable. The Lord keeper of the great Seale: For ▪theſe two places are like p. 19the beautifull Gate of Salomons Temple, Act. 3. 2. Men come in by this way apace, thicke and threefold, and they are in great hope to carry away ſome good releife. Others there are that become followers of Noble men and Peers of the Land, whoſe Chaplines they become, either houſhould, or retayners, as I may call them, that live vnderunder their potection; for what end trow ye? Even for this and no other, that aſſoone as any Benefice, as they call it, ſhall fall voyd, they might enioy it by their Lords gift. And doth not this I pray ye ſoeme to be an honeſt way to get a Churchliving, no ſuch baſe and beggarly one, as you ſpeake of? But is not this currying of favour meere beggary? Is it any whit a leſſe…ilt…sy thing, to come to a Rectory, that is of Gods appointmēt, by favour, then by money? If wee will iudge indifferently, it is all one fault to creepe inc, whither it bee by bribing and Symony, or by fawning and flattery.

The reſt of the rout in the Country are diligent in attending the common ſort of Patrones; whoſe threſholds they by watching at, whoſe wyves they brave and court as if they were their Miſtreſses, whoſe children they cogge with, whoſe ſervants they allure with faire words and promiſes to bee their Spokeſmen, and in every place and point they play the partes of miſerable beggers. Some there are that begg more craftily; like to thoſe that ſit in the high wayes or in places where two wayes meete, and there they offer pilled roddes to paſsengers, to get a peece of money therewith, as it were a penniworth for a peny: So do theſe men make way for their ſuits, by large giving of money in hand, or els by compacting to give ſome of their yearely Tithes for a gratification▪ But ſome man will ſay▪ all this is not the corruption p. 20of lawes, but the corruptnes of men. Nay ſurely, as long as that manner of conferring Eccleſiaſticall charges taketh place, which hath been in vſe among vsus to this day, there can bee no remedy applyed to cure or prevent, this beggerlines. Doe wee not ſufficiently finde it to bee true in experience? In the late Parliament, lawes were enacted ſeverely againſt it; but what came of that? Nothing truely; but that it made men deale more cloſely and cunningly to coſen the law. Wee muſt not think to do any good with our laws, where Chriſtes laws are not obſerved, But to proceede, when once the living is by beggery obtayned from the Patrone, what a deale of begging worke is there to come, for thoſe Sir Iohn Lack-latines, that Inſtitution might bee had from the B b. Here hee muſt ſupplicate, not onelyonly to the right reverend Lord B b; but to Maſter Examiner, to my Lords Grome of his Chamber, his Regiſter, the yeoman of his Buttery and Larder, yea the meaneſt that belongeth to him. Not that want of latin and learning will keepe him from entrance into his benefice, but that hee that hath neede of more favour for diſpatch, or ſpeach with my Lord, or the like, muſt fee the ſervantes the better, whoſe gaine cometh trowling in this way. There is no Caſtle ſo defenced, which a latin-leſſe Aſſe laden with golden metall may not ſcale and conquer. Neither is there any almoſt ſo vnfit that hath the repulſe, but by what engines hee prevayleth, let them looke to it.

The like is the condition of Prebendaries, Archdeacons and Deanes, Nay are the Lord Biſhops themſelves cleare of this baſe beggery? What meaneth then that continuall haunting of the Court, and banging vponupon the Nobles? p. 21Why doe they not ſtay and wayte, till they bee ſent for? Yea why are they not rather pulled away from their ſtudyes againſt their wills? Nay rather if a man ſhould appeale to their conſciences, whither are not ſome of thoſe fat demeaſnes of their Biſhopricks let out of their own accord, to ſuch as they ſeeke and ſue to, that they might farme and hire them, or els are there not other large bribes covenanted to bee given to ſuch as ſhall stand them in ſtead, for attayning of theſe dignities? But are they onelyonly thus beggerlike in their ambitious ſuing for theyr promotions? Nay truely; Some of them are grown ſo extreemly baſe this way, that if they be to change their Sea, they pay not their firſt fruites, but by raking together in a filthy faſhion an almes from the poore Vicars, which yet must go vnderunder the name of a Benevolence to make a cleanly cloake withall.

Pref. dioc▪ Tri.Thus (reader) thou ſeeſt how wickedly and baſely they come buy benefices, and yet thou haſt not heard of all their abomination▪ For the Nonconformiſts will tell thee further: that after they have gotten one liveing, they will take another if they can: yea, & in ſpight too of that congregation, to which they were firſt, and are ſtill perſonally tyed; And after all this they may beDefen. Godl. miniſter ag▪ Brid. p. 5. Nonreſidents, abiding or preaching at none of their many liveings. But forſake their Flocks, moneths, yeares, yea ſometime for ever, and leave them to hyrelings & unlearned men. Yea they may chop and change, ſel, & buy like marchants, ſo they doe it cloſely; which is ſuchSo they are in Rev. 18, 11. 12.Rev 18:11Rev 18:12 an abomination, as Rome & Trent condemneth, and hell it ſelfe will ſcarſe defend. And as the people are in bondage thus to their miniſters, ſo they are intollerably to p. 22Def, diſci. 92.the Prelates. For all power and authority is taken from them, as that they may not preach to their people except they have their licence; and if they have that,Alt▪ dam. 175. yet their preaching is hedged in with penalties, injunctions, caveats, canons, advertiſ…ments, that they may not deliver the whole counſell of God. Beſides, they can not receive the beſt of their congregation to communion, if he be cenſured in the ſpirituall courts: though it be but for not paying of ſixpence be the man otherwiſe never ſo innocent, nor keepe one from the communion, that is not preſented in thoſe courts, or beeing preſented, is for mony abſolved though he benever ſoDef. Pet. for Refor. p. 206. ſcandalous. Thus are they the Chanc…llours and Officials ſlaves to doe what they commaund them: If not they thēſelvs muſt hurry up preſētly to their ſpirituall court, there to ſtand with cap in hand, not onelyonly before a B. but before his Vaſſalls, to be rayled on many times at their pleaſure, to be cenſured, ſuſpended, and deprived, for not obſerving ſome of thoſe Canons, which were of purpoſe framed for ſnares▪ when fart more ancient & honeſt Canons are every day broken by theſe judges themſelves for lucre ſake: as in the making of viopian ministers, who have no people to miniſter unto, in their holding of commendams, in their taking of monyPref. dio. Tri. even to extortion for orders, and inſtitutions, in their …ymony as well by giveing, as by taking▪ and in all their idle, covetuous, and ambitions pompe. I omitt heere to relate the innumerable prophane ſcoffes, and reprochfull names, given (as they ſay) by their Prelates, to their gravest Miniſters, when they are brought before them, for they ſhall be called aſſes …eeſe, fooles, dolts princock boyes▪ beardleſſe bayes yeaſter dayes bayes, new com out of▪ the ſhel, &c. And after much rayling in this ſort ſilenced▪ and put out of their meanes, to the utter undoing of themſelves, their wvies, children, and others. As I read theſe things in their writing…, I thought upon the great ſlavery of the Iewes under the Philistins, 1 Sam. 13… 22.1 Sam 13:22when there was not a ſword found amongst them in the day of battle. I confeſſe in this their condition & caſe was miſerable & bad: but alas, both the ministers and people of the Church of England (as theſe men report) are in a caſe ten thouſand times worſe▪ For the Prelates▪ under whoſe Antichristian bondage they are have quite unfurniſhed them of the chieffeſt weapons, needfull for the Lords battle▪ yea▪ and have ſo faſt tyed them up, with their▪ Romiſh Canons Articles, excommunications, impriſonments▪ &c. that they can not or at leaſt dare not give a blow againſt their ſpiritual enimies▪ though there be a neceſſity thereof and theire ſoules otherwiſe are likely to periſh▪ Now I wiſh that theſe people were ſenceable of theſe things and that Gods houſe & his ordinances were deare to their ſoules▪ then doubtleſſe they would breake aſunder thoſe chaines of unrighteouſneſſe: ſh…ke Antichrist of, and make any ſhift▪ to come out of Babylon, for to enjoy that light and liberty, which Christ hath ſo dearely purchaſed, with his precious blood.

Neceſ. diſ. p. 86▪But to the point in hand. By the former paſſages it plainely appeares, that the reformiſts not without great cauſe, have made humble ſuites unto Princes, & Parliaments, p. 24for a lawfull ministery to be eſtabliſhed, throughout the realme, and that their preſent miniſtery mought vtterly be aboliſhed, with the reſt of Romiſh abominations; For2 Admon. Exhort. to Biſh. and their Clearg. P. 27. not onelyonly have they indited their Cleargy, to be followers of Antichriſt, and avouched their miniſterie to be from the Pope: But alſo they prove this (as we have ſhewed from their writings) by infallible and undeniable reaſons; ſo that every upright & ſincere perſon (if he well underſtand what they ſay) muſt neceſſarily conſent unto it.

I could produce many others of them, which affirm the ſame thing, but it needs not, ſeeing enough hereof hath beene allready ſpoken. Notwithſtanding it cannot be amiſſe to ſett downe the words of one more: becauſe the Author was a Nonconformiſt of note: generally well beloved, and not undeſervedly: now thus he ſayth, What a miſerable pickle are our miniſters in, when they are vrged to give an account of their calling: to a Papiſt indeed they can give a ſhifting anſwer, that they have ordination from Biſhops, which Biſhops were ordained by other Biſhops, and they or their ordayners by Popiſh Biſhops, this in part may stop the mouth of a Papiſt: But let a Proteſtant, which doubteth of theſe matters, move the queſtion: & what then will they ſay? if they fly to Popiſh Biſhops, as they are Biſhops, then let them goe no longer maſked vnderunder the name of Proteſtants: If they alledge ſucceſsion by them from the Apoſtles, then to (ſay nothing of the appropriating of this ſucceſſion vntounto the Popes chaire, in whoſe name, and by whoſe authority our Engliſh Biſhops did all things in times past) then I ſay they muſt take a great time for the ſatisfying of a p. 25poore man concerning this question, and for the justifying of their ſtation: For vntill that out of good records they can ſhew a perpetuall ſucceſſion from the Apoſtles vntounto their Dioceſan, which ordained them, and vntill they can make the poore man, which doubteth perceive the truth and certainty of theſe records (which I wiſſe they will doe at leaſure) theyPreface Dioceſ. Trial. can never make that ſucceſſion appeare. If they fly to the Kings authority, the King himſelfe will forſake them, and deny that he taketh vponupon him, to make or call ministers. If to the preſent Biſhops and Archbiſhops, alas! they are as farre to ſeeke as the other. The effect of his ſpeach is: that thoſe which receive their miniſterie from the Prelates (as all doe in the church of England) they can not any way juſtifie the ſame to be lawfull; For howſoever they may ſay, this or that in the defence of it: notwithſtanding, it is all either falſhood or vanitie, which they ſay, and herein doe wholy deceive themſelves, and every one that beleeveth them.

And thus much in generall be ſpoken concerning the ſecond point; namely, the differences manifeſted by the Nonconformiſts, betweene a true miniſterie, and the miniſterie of England; as alſo their judgment of it, that it is Popiſh & falſe, and the many reaſons, which they ſhew to prove the ſame. Now in this we and they doe alſo accord, and our difference ſtands onelyonly in practice; For they thinke (as it ſeemes) that a people may communicate lawfully in a falſe ministery: But our judgement and practice is otherwiſe, both which I undertake here to prove. 1 by ſcripture. 2 by reaſons. 3 by the teſtimony of the Learned: And ſo we come to the p. 26third point, which is to lay downe our inferences & concluſions, which neceſſarily doe follow upon their principles, to wit, that our ſeperation from their miniſtery is (by their owne grounds) warrantable and holy; the ſame beeing (as they themſelves acknowledge) falſe and Antichriſtian.

SECTION. III.

ANd firſt of the Scriptures. To communicate in a falſe miniſtery, is certainly a breach of the ſecond commaundement. For what doe they, but indeed ſett vp an idoll, yea and bow downe vntounto it, which ſerve God in, and by, a deviſed or vſurped miniſterie. In Song. 1. 7. 8. The faithfull intreat Christ to be ſhewed where he, by his miniſtery, with his ſpirit, word, ſeales, cenſures, &c. feedeth his flock, that there they might place themſelves for inſtruction and government, and not turne aſide to the flocks of his companions, that is, theMatth. 24. 5 24.Matt 24:5 congregations of falſe Chriſts and falſe Prophets, which come in his name ſaying, I am Chriſt and deceive many: Hoſ. 4. 17. ſee Iunius on the place.Hos 4:17Againe. Ephraim is joyned to idols, what were they? among other, the new Preiſts which Ieroboam, ordained for the high places: what followes? let him alone, that is, have no communiō with him either in his falſeIer▪ 23. 6. Pro. 5. 3. Mat. 7. 15. Ioh. 10. 4. 5. Phil. 32.Jer 23:6Prov 5:3Matt 7:15John 10:4John 10:5 miniſterie, or other idolatrie. Often do the Prophets, Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, forbid men to heare thoſe which thruſt themſelves into miniſteriall offices not beeing ſent of God and from the Church.

Secondly the reaſons. 1. To communicate in a falſe p. 27miniſtery is to doe a vaine worſhip: and therefore vnacceptable altogether to the Lord. 2. In this, menIoh. 4. 23. Rom. 12. 1. 2. Numb. 10. Pſa. 50. 18. Tim. 5. 22.John 4:23Rom 12:1Rom 12:2Num 10Ps 50:18 doe abet the party in his ſin, and ſo make it their owne by imputation, and inwrap themſelves in the ſame guilt with the offender. 3. God hath promiſed no bleſſing to his word but in his owne ordinance, though I confeſſe he may, yea and doth grant oft times that, through his infinite goodneſſe, which no man can chalendge by an ordinary promiſe. 4. To doeMat. 28. 20. Luk. 10. 16▪ 2. The…. 2. 2. 3. 4. Rea. 13. & 14. 9. 12. & 18. 4.Matt 28:20Luke 10:16Luke 10:2 otherwiſe, is to rebel greivouſly againſt the Lord, and to vphold what in vsus lyeth that which the Lord will conſume, therefore as no good ſubject ſhould aſſiſt or communicate with any perſon in the adminiſtration of civil juſtice to the Kings ſubjects (no not though he adminiſtred the ſame never ſo legally, juſtly, impartially) except the ſame perſon had a commiſſion from the King ſo to doe: ſo neither ought the ſubjects of Chriſts Kingdome, to partake with any perſon whatſoever in the diſpenſation of any ſpirituall ordinance (though in it ſelfe never ſo holy) without ſufficient warrant and commiſſion from the moſt abſolute and ſovereigne King of his Church Chriſt Ieſus. 5. Such as have ſpirituall communion in a falſe miniſtery, doe embrace the boſome of a ſtranger, and ſo committ ſpirituall whoredome againſt the Lord. 6. Chriſt ſettethIoh. 10. 5.John 10:5 it downe as a property of his ſheepe to be obſerved, that they follow not ſtrangers, but flee from them, for that they know not their voyce.

Thirdly, the Learned generally doe affirme this ſame thing. Par…s in his Commentary upon Mathew, p. 28Chap. 7. 15ſayth: that all thoſe without doubt, are to be taken for deceivers, who take vponupon them the office of teaching without a true calling; and a little after he ſayth, that ſo much being diſcovered: a Christian muſt ſhutt his care againſt them, and fly from them as from wolves. Muſculus on the place ſayth the like: One note of a falſe Prophet is, that he comes, not beeing lawfully called and ſent, and whereas Chriſt bidds us to beware of ſuch, he meanes, ſayth he, that we ſhould not heare them, but avoyd them as moſt certaineIn Pro. 10. 20.Prov 10:20 plagues. Cope, a learned miniſter in France, ſpeaketh as much: and gives this reaſon for it, becauſe they destroy both bodies and ſoules of as many as either beleeve or reverence them. And thus much is acknowledged of the Rhemiſt Toſt. Ioh. 10. An. 1.John 10Papiſts; For thus they write, whoſoever taketh vponupon him to preach without a lawfull ſending, breaketh in by force or favour of men, and by humane Lawes, he is a theef and a murderer.2 Ioh. 10.2 John 1:10 And how men are to walke towards them, they ſhew in another place of that booke: In matter of religion, in praying, reading their bookes, hearing their ſermons preſence as their ſervice, partaking of their Sacraments, and all other communicating with them in ſpirituall things, is a great damnable ſinne to deale with them. And heere it is to be obſerved, that M^r. Cartwright on this place in Anſwere to the Rhem. Test. grants all this to be true.

Exhort. Gover. W. p. 46. Admon. p. 27.Other Teſtimonies I could alleage, but it needs not; For the Nonconformiſts affirme as much: We may not (ſay they) adventure to goe vntounto him for thoſe things, which he hath no commiſsion to deliver. Another ſayth, that whoſoever preacheth by an unlawfull calling: p. 29ought not to be heard, although he ſpeaketh the truth, no more then the devill was to be ſuffered, although he profeſſed Chriſt. As the firmeneſſe of the ſeale, ſtandeth not in the print or forme it maketh: but ſpecially that it be ſett on by one that hath authority therevnto: So much more it is in the caſe of the Sacraments: for to receive the ſame in a falſe miniſtery, is to deny Gods miniſtery, and to give the glory ofNote. it there, where he hath not given it: and to deprive our ſelves of this comfort; that our hearts may ſay: Gods ſolemneFenner Doct. upō the Sacra▪ p. 127. voyce ſpeaketh, his ſolemne hand offereth and giveth, which is here the lively ſtay of our fayth.

By this it appeareth, that the daunger is marvelous great, to communicate in a falſe miniſtery, a man would pull a ſore puniſhment upon his head, if he ſhould have a hand to putt by a Princes lawfull officer (whether Iudge, Mayor, Bayliefe, &c.) and ſett up a rebel in the roome thereof, and come to him for juſtice. He that receives in a falſe miniſtery denies Gods miniſtery, ſayth the former Author; And ſo puts a traitor in his place, and takes the holy things from the handes of a traitor, which is a fearfull tranſgreſſion, and ſurely will procure extreame wrath, without true and ſound repentance. From all that hath beene before ſpoken, we may here frame this Argument.

None may heare or joyn in ſpirituall communion with that miniſtery, which hath not a true vocation and calling: by election, approbation, and ordination of that faithfull people, where he is to administer. But the preſent miniſtery of the eccleſiasticall aſſemblies of England hath not a true vocation and calling, by election, approbation, and ordination of a faithfull people, where they adminiſter. Therefore none may hear or joyne in ſpirituall communion, with the preſent ministerie of the Eccleſiaſticall aſſemblies of England.

Which of the propoſitions the Nonconformiſts will deny I know not: but ſure I am, they are both Theirs: Howbeit (it may be) they doe not ſo well weigh their owne principles, as they ſhould; And hence it is, that their practice is not ſtrictly anſwereable to their profeſſion, and therefore doe give juſt occaſion (I ſpeake it with greife) unto the Prelates and their Paraſites, to inſinuate againſt them, hypocriticall ends, in condemning ſo greivouſly the miniſtery, worſhip & government of the Engliſh Church, and yet to partake in the knowne evills and abuſes thereof. But for my part I am otherwiſe minded then the Biſhops in this thing, and doe thinke, that they doe of conſcience condemne the ſtate of that Church: But doe not maturely conſider the reſponſive concluſions, which follow upon their principles.

For which cauſe I hauehave written of purpoſe this treatiſe, to prove that they cannot juſtify their Tenets againſt that Church, and ſtand members lawfully thereof. Concerning their miniſterie, I have ſhewed before, that by their owne confeſſion it is falſe, and ſo not to be joyned with. And if I ſhould here end the point, I thinke every indifferent reader would ſufficiently be ſatisfied. But becauſe I judge the ſame to be of importance, to juſtifie a ſeperation from them: and alſo that their miniſters, are of ſundry ſorts & degrees, therfore I will ſpeake a little more thereof and prove p. 31further from their writings that every kind & degree of their ministery is falſe and Antichristian.

Preface▪ before the forme and man. of ord. B. P. & D.According to the Prelates Canons, their miniſters are divided into. 3. Heads or orders. Namely Biſhops, Preists, and deacons. The firſt comprehends the ſuperiour, the other two the inferior miniſters. What the ſuperior are, few but know, viz. Archbiſhops, and Lordbiſhops, againſt whoſe courſes and callings, whole books have beene written, to manifeſt the ſame to be evill and vnlawfull. I ſhall onelyonly here breifly lay downe ſome of their paſſages touching both, referring the reader for more full ſatisfaction, to that which is publiſhed at large by them. As for their Biſhops if they be as the Nonconformiſts report of them, ſurely they are not fitt for Church or common wealth, for they oppoſe (ſay they) with tooth and nayle every thing that is good. TheySyonsple… p. 216. have had their hand in all the great evils that hath befallen their Church and ſtate: never any good thing proſpered that they put their hand too, the King & ſtate ſtood never in need, but they allwayes deceived thē: & if oppertunity ſerve, they will make peace with their head (he meanes the Pope) if it be with the loſſe of all their heads, if they continue their places: And hence it is that all the profeſſed enimies of ſtate and Church make vſe of them to effect their evill ends as David ſayd of Goliahs ſword, there is none to that, fo ſayth the Pope, Spaniard, and Arminian, for overturning ofId. 232. a ſtate, and making havock of a Church, there is none to a Biſhop, give them that.

To the ſame purpoſe others. They are the greateſt and moſt peſtilent enimies that the state hath, and are likely p. 32Hay any work. p. 14. &c. 2. Admon. to parl. 54. Syons pl. 342. & 337. & 292. Alt▪ Dam. 35. Rep. to Mor. p. 21 Pref. Anſ. Bancr. Pref. offer for conf. Demonſt. diſ. 79. Mart. Epiſt. & 33. 37. M. Bates 84. D. State Chu. 20. Offer for confor. 20. 7. 4. Syons pl. 292. Curt. Ch. pow. 49. Fall Bab. 22.to be the ruin thereof. Take them for better who will they are no other then a remnant of Antichriſts brood, a viperous generatiō, Caterpillers, Moaths, Canker wormes, ſonnes of that monſtrous Giant the man of ſinne, men of bloods, baſe fellowes, murderous tyrants, vſurpers, time ſervers, cages of vncleane birds, vnnaturall, falſe, and baſtardly governors, Lordly Epicures, proud, Popiſh, preſumtious, perfidious, Prophane, Paltry, and pernitious Prelates, open enimies to the ſincere preaching of the goſpell, the ſcepter of Chriſts Kingdom, and the glory of the Land, men contented to be bawdes vntounto all kind of ſinnes, and therefore all the profeſſed and notorious, Atheists, Papiſts, blaſhemers, adulterers, drunkards, and moſt infamous perſons in the Kingdom are with them, they have further with them the counſell of Achitophel, the courting of Shebna, the roaring and brawling of Goliah, the cruell pride and vanity of Hamon, the flattery of Amaziah, the falſhood of Samaiah, and the bloody cunning of Doeg, theſe wax worſe and worſe, and growe to a height of iniquity, greiving at the encreaſe of good men, and perſecute nothing more then holineſſe, they care not for King, country, nor their own ſouls, but for a Biſhoprick. And therefore if they can by flatteries invectives, whiſperings, or other evill courſes, keepe the King and counſel, ſo ignorant and blind as to be firme on their ſide, they care for no more, to be ſhort, the beſt of them, in ſome ſort are the worſt, becauſe, they hold vp the reputation, of that vnlawfull office and make way for more wicked ſucceſſours and their traditions.

p. 33Much more then this, yea and worſe too, is ſayd ofRead Martin Mar-Prelates works. their Bb. but I paſſe it over, as bluſhing to ſpeake it. Only I here thinke of that ſaying in the Proverbes, when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. It was juſt ſo with the Iſraelites, when Pharaoh ſett cruell taſ kemaiſtersPro. 29. 2. Exo. 2, 23.Prov 29:2Exod 2:23 over them: And it ſeemes their caſe is much like unto it: indeed ſome difference there is, for the Egyptian Def. peti. 261. Epiſt. Syons plea &c. p. 26…Lords, onelyonly beate the Lords people; But their Prelates (ſay they) impriſon and kill them alſo. I ſhould wonder at ſuch horrible injuries, committed in any common wealth; but that the ſcripture ſayth, the Kings of the earth ſhall give their strenght and power to the beaſt; Revel. 17. 13.Rev 17:13The truth whereof many can witneſſe by wofull experience: For Princes generally in thoſe dayes, have given ſo much authority unto the Hierarchie, that they have ſcarſe left themſelves power to defend many times, the innocent cauſe of their beſt ſubjects, or to puniſh juſtly the vileſt offender: We would thinke him a man ſenceleſſe, that ſhould give up willingly his weapons into the hand of his enimie; For to doe ſo, were to be murdered himſelfe, and to be acceſſarie to it: The Biſhops are proved to be the greateſt enimies that the King and State hath; Surely then (with reverence be it ſpoken) it is not wiſely done, that any power is given unto them. For by this meanes in all likelihood many will be killed: and not in their bodies only, but in their ſoules alſo.

But enough of their perſons: Let us heare what they ſpeake of their callings: The offices (ſay they) of Arch-Biſhops and Lord Biſhops, &c. be rather members and p. 34part of the whore and ſtrumpet of Rome, then of the pure virgin D. Chad. Ser. Rom. 12. p. 33. Vdal. Diol. 2. ſtat. Ch. p. 20. Offer confer. 2. 1 Admo. p. 13. T. C. li. 1. p. 88. Curt. Ch. po. 76. Diſc. of abuſ. Ch. 71 & 91. Defen. diſc. 71. D. Ch. ſer. Rō. 12. 37 Curt. Ch. po. p. 64. Repl. to Mort. 85.Rom 12& ſpouſe of the immaculat Lamb. Their calling indeed is meerly Antichristian, falſe, diveliſh, contrary to the word of God, taken out of the Popes ſhop, with their names alſo; yea it came frō the bottomleſſe pit. I ſay frō heathens, frō darkneſſe, & the devil, a thing degenerate, and grown out of kind, a humane creature, an addition, an inſtitution, an ordinance of Kings and Princes; As it began with oppreſſing the onelyonly lawfull pollicy and adminiſtration of the church, ſo the end of it hath been the moſt proud and ambitious tyranny that ever was in the world. It is as clear as the light, that they are no brā ches of Gods engrafting; their miniſtery hath no root in Chriſts teſtament, but of the earth, new deviſed, and which can doe no good.

As for the Apoſtles they never knew them, Syon hath not heard of them, Ieruſalem, which is above, will not acknowledge them, and no marvail, for Antichriſt, and they are of one, and the ſame brood and offſpring, of one and the ſame foundation, his ryſing was their ryſing &c. and their traditions and ceremonies are his,Syons pl. 69. they had them from him, they are inſtalled, after the ſame manner of Popiſh Biſhops, creäted with the moſt of the ſame ceremonies, they are trimmed up with the ſame trappings, they have the like attendants, the like armes and obſervancy, they vſurpe the ſame power & juriſdiction, and exerciſe the like tyranny over miniſters and people. All their principall reaſons broughtDef. diſc. p. 165. to prove their ſtanding, are the ſame that Turrianus & other Popiſh writers alleadg for the Popes ſupremacy, p. 35as indeed they muſt ſtand or fall together. It is evident therefore, that they are no miniſters at all in the Strife of the church Prefa. Reprofe of Mart. Iunior. Mr. Bates 55.church of Christ, but have and doe uſurpe and invade the name and ſeat of the miniſtery, beeing doubtleſſe very theeves, robbers, wolves, and worriers of the Flocks: The Magiſtrate therefore is to doe to them as our Saviour dealt (Ioh. 2.) in whipping out buyers, and ſellers, and mony changers, thoſe might better come into the Temple then theſe Biſhops into the church of God, and had more neceſſarie uſe: but they had abuſed holy things, and made it a den of theeves.

Not only is this barely affirmed of them: but alſo they doe lay downe many ſingular arguments and reaſons to prove it; To inſtance theſe. Thoſe offices and callings are Antichristian, without which all forms of Governments are perfect, ſave onelyonly the government of the Kingdome of Antichriſt.

But ſuch are the callings of Lord Archbiſhops and Biſhops, as all forme of Governments may be perfect without them, ſave onelyonly the Antichriſtian Kingdome where in no caſe they can be miſſed. For the Government both of the Church and common wealth can well ſpareAnſw. to Bancr. Ser. p. 30. T. C. 85. them, and be never a whitt the more unperfect.

Therefore the callings of Archbs. and Bs. doe only belong vntounto the Kingdome of Antichrist.

Thoſe Governours are juſtly called Antichristian, who areSyons pl. 11. aſsiſtant to the Pope in his vniverſall government.

But Biſhops, Archbs. &c. are aſsiſtante to the Pope in his vniverſall Government.

Therefore Biſhops, Archbs. &c. are juſtly called Antichristian.

p. 36Demonſt. diſc. p. 12. 13.That ministerry, which all Chriſtian men and women are bound to ſubmitt and yeeld obedience unto, is to be found in the word of God.

But the miniſtery of Archbiſhops, Bs. is not to be found in the word of God. Ergo, there ought not to be obedience yeelded to it. He that deſires to ſee the Prelates arguments anſwered, and ſoundly refuted, which they alleadge to uphold their vnſanctifyed places and ſtandings. Let him read Mr. Baynes his Dioceſans triall, the firſt and ſecond reply to Doct. Downenams Sermon, M^r. Parkers Eccleſ. Polit▪ and there he ſhal receive ſatisfaction to the full.

Preface demonſt. Defen. Ec. gov. ag. Bridg. p. 88. Proteſt. Scott. p. 11 T. C. l. 1. p. 96. D. Cha. Rō. 12. 33. Second book. diſ. p. 85.Moreover ſuch is their certainty of this thing, that they have often chalenged, yea dared the Prelates vntounto diſputation: offering to adventure their lives, if the other would but their Biſhopricks, to prove that they are neither Paſtors nor Teachers, but officers erected againſt the word of God, the ancient fathers, & the moderne moſt learned, and godly divines: And the like they ſpeak of Archdeacons, deanes, prebanes, canons, and the whole Hierarchye: of which more hereafter.

If this be ſo, then by the reaſons before ſhewed, it is evident, and moſt certaine, that no man can lawfully cōmunicate, at any time, in the miniſtery of theſe men, and ſo much they acknowledge. Why ſhould GodsSyons plea p. 283. people of what degree ſoever ſubject their neck to a Babiloniſh yoke, ſhould they not ſtand faſt in the liberty wherein Chriſt hath ſet them free? if they ſit not in Moyſes chayr, why ſhould they heare them? If they bring not a lawfull warrant of their calling, p. 37why ſhould they be obeyed? to heare and obey Chriſt, coming in his fathers name, and Antichriſtian Prelates coming in their owne name, cannot ſubſiſt together.

But becauſe the thing is allready ſufficiently proved, we will therefore proceed to a ſecond ſort of their miniſters. Yet by the way I deſire the reader to take knowledge of one thing. To weet, that the Nonconſormiſts, by theſe poſitions laid downe againſt their Prelates, doe herein certainly condemne their whole miniſtery allowed by the Lawes of the Land: for if the calling and office of their Biſhops be (as they ſay it is) of the earth, falſe, diviliſh, Antichriſtian, &c. Then it followes, that their calling and office, muſt neceſſarily be of the ſame qualitie, nature, and condition, to weet, of the earth, falſe, diviliſh Antichristian, which is wholy derived from it, which receives (I ſay) and takes its life and beeing of it onelyonly: and no where elſe. For if their Biſhops have not a right power in themſelves, then can they not transferre it to an other, as the Law ſaith, nemo poteſt plus juris transferre in alium, quam ſibi competere Rex Iuris. 79.dignoſcatur. No man can give more to another then he hath himſelfe. If Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, when they vſurped the Preiſthood and GovermentNum. 16.Num 16 of the Church, ſhould (by that falſe power which they aſſumed) have ordained ſome of the people vntounto the Preiſts office: no doubt all the Iſraelites which feared the Lord, would have judged their place and ſtanding vnlawfull: and why: becauſe they which made them had no commiſſion from God ſo to doe: the caſe of their miniſtery is juſt ſo. And it muſt needs p. 38be vnlawfull, ſeeing it is made by them, who like the rebels before named, doe vſurpe the Preiſthood and Government of the Church: and therefore have no more authority to give an Eccleſiaſticall function vntounto any man: then the former had, and ſo much is teſtifyed by themſelves, for they ſay that their Prieſts and Deacons, Biſhops and Archbiſhops, are not made according to the word of God. And they give reaſons that it is not lawfull for any one to be ordained by them.

Cathol. confer. p. 130. Yates mod. of div. p. 257. See Mr. Maſons booke of ſucceſſion of Biſhops, publiſhed by authority Anno 1614.And here I muſt confeſſe that the conformiſts, keepe much better to their grounds then the other doe: for they profeſſe downeright that their miniſtery is from the Church of Rome: ſo that if the Popiſh Biſhops, Preiſts and deacons, be good: theirs are good alſo, they beeing from them. Now no doubt theſe men doe wel perceive that their miniſtery cannot poſſibly be juſtified, vnleſſe it be by this way of diſpute: in this reſpect their judgment and practice is one, and ſo far they are to be commended, and I verily thinke, that if they were ſure that their miniſtery brought into the land by the Prelates from Rome is falſe and Antichriſtian, as the Nonconformists affirme it to be▪ that many of them would not hereafter ever have any ſpirituall communion with it. Truely it would make a man admire, if he ſhould vnderſtandly compare together, the writings of theſe two companies, touching a church miniſtery, for in their opinions about it, they are as contrary each to other as light is to darkenes, Chriſt to Belial, righteouſneſse, to unrighteouſnes, notwithſtanding though p. 39ſo different in judgment, yet they will communicate together in one miniſtery, but one of theſe againſt knowledge offends ſurely, and let them look well to it. for to him that knoweth to doe good and doth it not, to Iam. 4. vlt.Jas 4him it is ſinne, that is, his fault is ſo much the more, and proportionablie his condemnation ſhall be without repentance.

Modeſt. off. Adm. 10. Eccleſ. Gor. 45. Syon pl. 107. T. C. l. 134. pref. dem. de Eccleſ. 60. 47. 50. 39. Rem. imp. D. C. 277.We come now to their inferiour ministers, and will begin firſt with their bare readers: theſe poore creatures the Nonconformists doe call idle idols, yea bastardly idols, greedy curres, dumb dogs, ſlayers of the people, wolves, ignorant aſſes, ſilthy ſwine, ſuch as are not worthy to live in a well ordered common wealth, fooliſh ſheapheards, vnſaverie ſalt, good for nothing, but to be cast out to the dunghill, cankers of their Church, a ſwarme of caterpillers, the traſh and rifferaffe of their nation, a wofull crew, a ragged regiment, which have even covered the Land like the frogs of Aegypt, leading many thouſands with themſelves into the ditch. It can hardly be expreſſed how baſe and vile Atterſ. Phile. v. 6. p. 136.theſe are generally reputed, indeed they are held no better then theeues and murderers, which live by the ruin and ſpoyle of the people. Somtime ye ſhall heare them in their pulpits ſo terribly ſpoken againſt, that one would thinke they would rather returne vntounto their old former occupation of huſbandry, cobling, coo…ery, &c. then ever come againe to their Churches or to read, mattens, and evening ſong. And touching he Prelates they are eſteemed as baſe and contemptible, …very way for putting ſuch dunſticall and vnlettered … ^r. Iohns in their miniſtery: I could relate many inſtances p. 40of their infamous caryages therein but it is not my purpoſe to rake into their dung. The Nonconformiſts have don it ſufficiently, in ſo much as they doe ſtinke horribly for it in the noſtrels of the people. But to our purpoſe: If things be ſo, is not the miniſtery then of ſuch men to be left? Yea ſurely. A man that is fallen into the hands of theeves & murderers, if by any means he can eſcape with his life from them, ſhall therein be juſtified by the Law of God, of nature, and nations, now by how much a ſpirituall life is better then a corporall: by ſo much are they to be commended above the other, which come away from theſe ſoule ſlayers, and place themſelves vnderunder the miniſtery of true and lawfull Paſtors.

And for further proofe of what I ſay, I deſire the reader to marke well, what is ſayd firſt againſt the calling of theſe men. 2. what, againſt that worke and ſervice which they doe. Their calling, is ſayd to beAdm. 15. 16. Eccl. Gov. 44. Neceſ. diſ. 45. Exh. Gov. 10. 14. M. Bates p. 155. from the Pope a meere human invention, taken vp without any warrant from Gods word, and brought into the Church by the boldneſſe of men. And to prove that theſe are vnlawfull miniſters, many reaſons are rendered for it. 1. Becauſe they want the very life, eſſence, and beeing, whereby a miniſter, is a miniſter. 2. The common law, Provinciall law, civill law, and ſtatute law, pronounce all with one voyce and conſent, that they have no approbation or allowance, no favour or entertainment from them, or by their authority &c. But beeing found culpable they are by definitive ſentencs on the part and behoofe of the law, not onelyonly to be p. 41adjudged guilty of voluntary intruſion into the right and poſſeſſion of others, but alſo to be puniſhed forAbſtr. p. 16. 19. Eccl. Gov. 46. 47. T. C. l. i. p. 70. Eccleſ. Gov. 46. Firſt book of diſc. 30. 31. taking vponupon them offices without any lawfull calling. 3. They can doe nothing, which appertaineth to the charge and office of true and faithfull ſheepheards, and therefore juſtly called idols. For they ſtand for that, and make ſhew of that which they are not. 4. It is a like to have no miniſter at all, as to have an idol in the place of a true miniſter, yea and in ſome caſe it is worſe, for thoſe that be vtterly deſtitute of miniſters will be diligent to ſearch for them: But thoſe which have a vaine ſhadow, doe commonly without further care, content themſelves with the ſame, and ſo remaine they continually deceived, thinking they have a miniſter when in very deed they have none. For we cannot judge him a diſpenſator of Gods miſteries, that in no wiſe can breake the bread of life to the fainting and hungring ſoules, neither thinke we that the ſacraments can be rightly adminiſtred by him, in whoſe mouth God hath put no ſermon of Exhortation.Sol. Barw. Adm. p. 47 T. C. l. 1. p. 33. dia▪ ſtr. Ch. 93. 5. God rejecteth them and pronounceth that they ſhall be no miniſters to him. Hoſ. 4. 6. The retayning of ſuch is a manifeſt token of the vengeance of God againſt all them which do it. 7. Their name & office is taken only of the Pope that Roman Antichriſt, never by God erected in his Church.

Many other reaſons they give, to prove them to be vnlawfull and falſe Officers, not ſent ofDef. per. for ref. 98. 99. 106. Chriſt (forall whome he ſendeth he furniſheth with gifts) no better then Ie…oboams Preiſts. And therefore p. 42vtterly to be removed, if ever ſuch a reformation be minded as God ſhall be therby glorified and his Church edified.

If any ſhould object that the Prelates, have layd their hands upon them, and therefore they are miniſters. To T. C. l. 1. p. 61.this the Nonconformists doe anſwere, that when the Biſhop hath laid his hands on them, that then, they are no more miniſters then they were before.

But there is no need, to ſpend much time, to proveM. Bates 154. theſe mens miniſterie, falſe and vnlawfull: ſeeing none will replie for thē, that have any ſpark of pietie to God, or pittie towards his people: onelyonly ſome non-reſidents that keepe poore vnderlings, or greedie Patrons, that would have the light of the goſpell die: or poore ignorant people that would live at their owne wils, in all licentiouſneſſe, theſe happilie would vndertake the plea againſt Chriſt, but it were better their tongue ſhould cleave to the roofe of their mouth, then that they ſhould once dare goe about the overthrow of Chriſts miniſterie.

And is not this a ground of ſeparation? yes verely, and if the Nonconformiſts will ſtand to it, I will hence prove a neceſſity to ſeparate from all ſpirituall communion, with the greateſt number of their pariſh aſſemblies: and thus I reaſon.

A dumb miniſterie beeing vnlawfull and falſe, is to be ſeperated from: their miniſters for the greateſt part are dumb miniſters: therefore it is lawfull to ſeperate from the greatest part of their miniſters. The propoſition is manifeſt and cleare, and I dare ſay they will not deny it: For beſides p. 43the reaſons already given, it is confidently by them affirmed that a reading miniſtery cannot deliver the Lords holy ſeales vntounto the people without great ſacrilege, nor the people, receive at the hands of ſuch without dreadfull ſinnes, and whoſoever liſteth to read the place, heExhor. Gov. W. 26. ſhall ſee many effectuall arguments laid downe by the author to prove it, and this is not the judgment of one alone, but others of them affirme it to be an vnlawfull thing, to joyne with reading miniſters in any miniſteriall duty, either in praying, or adminiſtringMr. Bates, p. 159. 160, &c. the ſacraments, and he gives 10 worthy reaſons for it.

The aſſumption I prove alſo by their owne teſtimony: For they ſay, that generally throughout the Land Repl. to Powel. 74. Petit. Q. 5.there are ſix reading Preiſts to one preacher. Yea others of them doe affirme, that where the Bb. ordaine one miniſter that can preach, they make twenty that can not; ſo that there are many thouſand churches in England without preachers, (Defenc. Pet. for refor. 130.) and in ſome ſhyres, people muſt goe 14 or 20 miles to heare a Sermon. defenc. Againſt Bridg. p. 49.

Now, I wiſh them to conſider well of thes things, & to labour what they can for their brethrens deliverance out of theſe ſpirituall robbers and murderers hands.

He that ſhould come to a deepe pitt or wel, wherein doe lye many people, almoſt periſhed, if he ſhould ſee there, ſome of them com forth from the reſt, would we not judge him an unmercifull and cruell man, if he ſhould rather ſeeke to caſt them in againe, then to help out the other behind in miſerie: Such as live under a p. 44dumbe miniſterie (by the Nonconformists confeſſion) are in a farre worſe caſe; Therefore I hope hereafter they will give no more carnall counſell, to perſwade thoſe, which are eſcaped, to com back into that pitt againe, but rather will ſeeke to draw out the reſt, as their duty is to doe.

Secondly, for the work which theſe idle readers doe, we ſhall have a fit place herafter to ſpeak of it. Only by the way, I thinke good to ſett downe heere one of their paſſages, which is, that bare reading of the word, and ſingle ſervice ſaying, it is bare feeding, and rather an Engliſh Sol. Barv.Poperie, than a true Chriſtian miniſterie; yea it is as evill as playing vponupon a stage, and worſe too: For players learn their parts without booke, but theſe (at leaſt many of them) Admon. p. 10.can ſcarſe read within booke; how! is their ſervice ſaying as bad as ſtage playing? What, and worſe too! truely then it is bad enough▪ and farre be it from the Lords people to heare it. For if they ſhould doe ſo, they would ſacrifice vntounto the Lord a corrupt thing, and ſo be lyable juſtly tochap. 1. 14. that curſe in Malachi.

Thus much for their dumb ministerie. It followes next, that we ſpeak of their parſons, vicars, pariſh preiſts, stipendaries, and chaplines. If you will know (ſay the Nonconformiſts) whence all theſe came, we can eaſilyAdmo. p. 15, 16. anſwere you, that they came from the Pope, as out of the Trojan horſes belly to the destruction of Gods Kingdom, It is certaine, that their names and office is wholySol. Barv. from that Roman Antichrist, never inſtituted, either by Chriſt or his Apoſtles. For the church of God never knew them, neither doth any reformed church in the p. 45world know them. Theſe are clouds without raine, trees without fruit, painted ſepulchres, full of dead bones, fatted in all abundance of iniquity; Such as ſeeke not the Lord Ieſus, but their owne bellies.

M^r. Bale, in his expoſition upon the Revelation,Chap. 13. ſpeakes the ſame, that theſe are the very names of Blaſphemie, written upon the Beasts head, againſt the Lord and his Christ: Their offices are not appointed by the holy Ghoſt, nor yet mentioned in the ſcriptures.

Here is enough ſpoken for the condemnation of their calling, and for the juſtification of ſeperation from all communion therewith: From hence I might frame this argument, Whoſoever he be that dealeth with the holy thinges of God, and worketh vponupon the conſciences of men, by vertue of an Antichriſtian power, office, and calling, him the people of God ought not to receive, or joyne themſelves vntounto. But all the parſons, vicars, Pariſh Preiſts, ſtipendaries, &c. that stand over the church aſſemblies in England, deale with the holy things of God, and worke upon mens conſciences, by vertue of an Antichriſtian power, office, and calling; Therefoee the people of God ought not to receive them, or to joyne themſelves vntounto them.

The firſt part of this reaſon the Nonconformiſts do yeeld willingly unto, as it is to be ſeen in a Treatiſe betweene Mr. Fr. Io. and Mr. Hild, about the miniſterie of England: As for the other part, I hope they will not now deny it, ſeeing they have publiſhed it openly and often to the world: yea and many of them ſuffered greevous perſecutions at the hands of the Prelates, for affirming it, and other truths of this nature.

p. 46But to keepe them to their owne grounds, in the aſſumption: I will here lay downe another argument. If their parſons, vicars, pariſh Preiſts, ſtipendaries &c. Be neither in election nor ordination made ministers agreeablie to Gods word, thē is their ministerie falſe, vnlawfull, Antichriſtian, and ſo conſequently they deale with the holy things of God &c. As is before ſayd. But neither in their election nor ordination are they made ministers according to Gods word. Therefore is their miniſtery falſe vnlawful, Antichriſtian, &c. Both theſe propoſitions I will prove true by their owne writings, of the firſt thus they ſay. A due examination of learning and life, going before the free conſent of the Church, whome it concerneth: and ordination or laying on of hands by theſe to whome it appertayneth is ſo required, as if default be made either in the examination or election, the whole action is diſanulled and made voyd. I deſire the reader to note Defen. of diſcip. aga. p. Bridg. 109.well, what they ſay here: viz. ſo neceſſarie is a right election and ordination, to eueryevery Eccleſiaſticall office▪ p. 108.that without the ſame, it cannot poſſibly be true and lawfull. The ſame they doe againe affirme, a little before the place cited. Indeed if their evill had bin onelyonly in life (meaning Popiſh Preiſts) or in ſome principall points of doctrine it were ſomthing: but their defect is in the very calling: For Chriſt beeing the doore, and God that openeth to the Paſtors that enter by it, and all that enter otherwiſe are theeves and murderers.

We have alſo to prove the minor, their owne teſtimony, for they ſay directly that not any one of the…. Adm. 17 forenamed officers are either, proved, elected, called or p. 47ordained according to Gods word, but after the old Popiſh Prefac. Admon to the Parl.order, and for this cauſe, doe confeſſe that they have not a right ministerie among them.

It was a great fault in Pharaoh, when he had given his conſent vntounto the Iſraelites, that they ſhould freely depart out of Aegypt, and goe vntounto Canaan according to Gods appointment, that he ſhould afterward vſe all the meanes he could to gett them back into their former miſerable ſervitude: I hauehave ſhewed by the Nonconformists grounds, that our ſeperation from their miniſtery is with their leave and approbation: and therefore they doe not well to ſeeke our bondage and miſery again, the ſame thing we ſhall prove, touching their worſhip, Government, and Church, in order and place.

If therefore they would have vsus in earnest, returne vntounto them: Let them firſt by the Scriptures juſtify the things which they hauehave condemned, I ſay refute their owne bookes, and build againe the thinges which they have deſtroyed: and when they have made themſelves tranſgreſſors: if we be not able by Gods word to prove that the things, which we refraine from, are every way as evill as they have teſtified, we will (by his grace) acknowledge our error and returne againe vntounto them, in the meane while we ſhall judge wel of our order and manner of walking: and put vp our dayly petitions, vntounto the father our of Lord Ieſus C. in behalf of all Gods elect yet in Babilon, that they may com out from that vnholy ſtate, and doe the Lords worke in his owne way.

It remaines to ſpeake now of their deacons office, p. 48the which (as the reſt before) is wholy condemned of the Nonconformiſts. For they …ſay, that thoſe ordained deacons in their Church, Never purpoſe in their life, to execute any part of a deacons office, neither are choſen for that end: but onelyonly that within a ſhort time after they may be made Preiſts: nothing in the world, differing fromNote. the ſuperſtition of popery: where the office of a deacon was conferred onelyonly as a ſtep vntounto Preiſthood, as though it were neceſſarie, that every one which is ordained an elder ſhould firſt be deacon, and yet when he is made a deacon, he is but an idoll, yea ſcarſe an idol of a deacon, having noreſemblance at all vntounto a deacon indeed, but that he is a man. This prophaningDiſ. Eccl. Gov. p. 108. of Gods inſtitution, God will not allwayes ſuffer vnpuniſhed, eſpecially when it is not maintained of ignorance or infirmity, but defended againſt knowledge & vponuponTab. div. Rea. Ca. Deſ. diſ. 92. def. Godly mi. ag. Br. 108. Adm. 1. p. 5. & l. 2. p. 61. willfulneſſe. Others of them doe affirme the like: That they have thruſt vponupon them a counterfeyt and Popiſh deaconſhip, a meere humane inſtitution: Fooliſh, and made according to Antichrists Canons, without any ground for it out of the Scriptures, nothing like the ordinance of God for the releefe of the poore. And therefore they have deſired that it might be vtterly aboliſhed and taken a way.

That a man from thoſe principles may inferre a lawfull ſeparation, from all ſpirituall communion in the miniſterie of their Engliſh deaconſhip, I think every one (if he vnderſtand what a principle is) will freely grant it. But if there be any that beleeves the former poſitions to be true, and yet will vndertake to prove by Gods word that it may warrantably be joyned with, p. 49I ſhall be willing to read what he can ſay herein; promiſing (if I live) either to yeeld, or reply againe, according to the worth or weakneſſe, which I ſhall ſee to be in the writing for the thing: And becauſe he may not want matter to begin with, I will lay downe this argument for him.

If the preſent deaconry of the Church aſſemblies of England be a meere human institution, and no ordinance of God, but an office taken onelyonly of the Pope, that Roman Antichrist, &c. Then it is not lawfull in the worſhip of God to have any ſpirituall communion therewith. But the preſent deaconry of the Church aſſemblies of England, is a meere human inſtitution, and no ordinance of God, but an office taken onelyonly of the Pope, that Roman Antichrist, therefore it is not lawfull in the worſhip of God to have any communion there with.

The propoſition is evident and certaine, and cannot be denied. for no man can lawfully joyne in communion with a falſe miniſterie. As it hath bin formerly proved, by Scriptures, reaſons, and the teſtimony, of the Learned. The aſſumption is wholy taken from their owne writings. The which if they ſhould deny: yet can we juſtify the ſame againſt all men.

It may be ſome will exſpect that I ſhould write ſomthing of their Lecturers: And the rather, becauſe they in the judgment of many, are thought to be the beſt miniſters, of their life and doctrine I ſay nothing: but as for their miniſterie ſurely it is new and ſtrange, as King Iames, was wont to ſay of it. For the original of their name, manner of enterance, and adminiſtration, is vnknowne p. 50wholy to the Scriptures, & I thinke never before heard of till in theſe later broken and confuſed times.

Therefore it is no marvaile, when the queſtion hathIoh. 1.John 1 been propounded to ſome of them, as it was by the Phariſes, to Iohn, Who art thou? that they have not been able for their life to anſwere the point, neither could agree among themſelves, what kind of ministerie it is that they have taken up; and beeing hard preſſed for reſolution, they have ingeniouſly confeſſed, that unleſſe they be Evangelists, they could not ſee how their miniſtery doth accord with any ministerie mentioned in the New Teſtament. This I write upon my owne certaine knowledge, the perſons I thinke are yet liveing, whoſe names for ſome reaſon I forbeare to expreſſe. Howbeit I can and will doe it, if I ſee there be a juſt and neceſſarie occaſion.

I doe not thinke it ſtrange, that they ſhould thus ſpeake: For indeed, I know not what they can ſay better in defence of their ſtanding; Paſtors, I am ſure, they will not ſay they are. For firſt they doe not take any particular charge of a flock upon them. 2. They performe not the office thereof: For they agree with the people only, to preach, & not to adminiſter, either the ſeales, or cenſures to them. 3. Their comming unto the people is in a ſtrange ſort: for they make a covenant each with other, for ſome certaine yeares; and when that time is out, both parties are free, and ſo may leave one the other, and doe many times. But a true Paſtor may not doe ſo; For if he ſhould he were p. 51worſe then an hyreling, which leaves not the ſheepe till he Iohn. 10. 12.John 10:12ſee the Wolfe comming. But many of theſe, when they ſee a richer lectureſhip comming toward them. 4. He that is the parſon or vicar, is taken generally for the miniſter of the place; And truly howſoever their calling be falſe and Antichriſtian (as the Nonconformists ſay) yet in many reſpects they doe better reſemble a true miniſter, then any Lecturer whatſoever; Therefore not without juſt cauſe doe the Reformists utterly condemne this extraordinarie office of preachers, and affirme,Neceſ. diſc. 74. that they are neither Paſtors or Teachers, which the ſcripture alloweth off. And this may be eaſily proved.

That miniſterie which is inſtituted and ſett vp beſides thoſe, which God hath appointed in his word, is vnlawfull and falſe: But …he miniſterie of the Lecturers in England is inſtituted and ſett vp beſide theſe, which God hath appointed in his word. Therefore that ministerie is vnlawfull and falſe. The propoſition is plain and undeniable, and we have their owne words to confirme it; For thus they ſay: All the miniſtery is by the word of God, and not left to the will of men, to deviſe at their pleaſure, as appeareth by that which is noted of Iohn, where the Phariſees comming to him, after that he had denyed to be either Chriſt, or Eltas, or another Prophet, conclude if he be neither Christ, nor Elias, nor of the Prophets, why Baptiſeſt thou? which had been no good argument, if Iohn might have been of ſom other function then of thoſe which were ordinary in the church, and inſtituted of God, and therefore Iohn to eſtabliſh his ſingular and extraordinarie function, allegeth the word p. 52of God, whereby appeareth, that as it was not lawfull to bring-in any ſtrange Doctrine, ſo was it not lawfull to teachMind this ye Lecturers. the true Doctrine, vnderunder the name of any other function then was inſtituted by God. Let the whole practice of the church vnderunder the Law be looked vponupon, and it ſhall not be found, that any other eccleſiasticall miniſtery was appointed then thoſe officers of high Prieſt, & Preiſts & Levites, &c. which were appointed by the Law of God, and if there were any rayſed extraordinarily, the ſame had their calling confirmed from heaven, either by ſignes or miracles, or by plain and cleare teſtimony of the mouth of God, or by extraordinarie exciting & movings of the ſpirit of God. So that it appeareth, that the miniſtery of the Goſpell, and the function thereof, ought to be from heaven and of God, and not invented by the braine of men: From heaven I ſay, and heavenly, becauſe although itT. C. l. 1. p. 83. Eccl. Gov. p. 7. Demonſ. diſc. 7. Mr. Bat. 102. Cartw. Chr. rel. ch. 16. p. 28. be executed by earthly men, and the miniſters alſo choſen by men, like vntounto themſelves, yet becauſe it is done by the word and inſtitution of God, that hath not only ordained that the word ſhould be preached, but hath ordained alſo in what order, and by whome it ſhould be preached, it may well be accounted to come from Heaven and from God.

Againe, to deviſe any other miniſtery then that which God hath appointed, is condemned by the ſecond commaundement.

The aſſumption is thus proved, firſt if their Lecturers, have taken ordination from the Biſhops, and exerciſe by that power onelyonly then is their office falſe by the reaſons before laid downe. Secondly if it be objected that they never received the Prelates orders, or have repented thereof; I anſwere, yet this proves not that they are therefore true miniſters: For as Iehu, though p. 53he did wel to ſuppreſſe, Ahabs idolatrie, yet in that he followed the wayes of Ieroboam, he himſelfe continued ſtill a groſſe idolater. Even ſo, howſoever ſom may privately report, that they ſtand miniſters by no relation to the Biſhop: yet are they notwithſtanding, vnlawfull miniſters, ſeeing they were never elected choſen, and ordained according to Gods word: If any reply that they have their calling of the people. I anſwere the thing is ſurely otherwiſe, as ſhall be manifeſted preſently. But if this were granted, yet I deny that any Church vnderunder heaven, hath power from Chriſt to ordaine ſuch a kind of miniſterie, and therefore if any people ſhould doe it, ſeeing it is againſt the Scripture, it muſt needs follow that it is an vnlawfull ministery, & ſo conſequently not to be communicated with, and that it is ſo I prove it thus.

That miniſtery is vnlawfull which none may lawfully give, but none may lawfully beſtow the miniſterie of a lecturer. Demonſ. diſ, 13.Therefore that miniſterie is unlawfull. The propoſitiō is evident by their owne principles: The aſſumption cannot for ſhame be denyed if the nature of it be conſidered. For as we but even now ſayd, their Lecturers take no charge of a flock vponupon them, they make covenant with the people but for a certaine time, the peculiar works of a miniſter is not by the people laid vponupon them, neither exſpected of them: If any object that they preach the word; To this Doctor Ames gives an anſwere fully, that the preaching of the goſpell is not a worke peculiar to a miniſter: For ſuch as are private men and out of office, may and ought to preach p. 54the word as occaſion is offered, and not only privately,De conſc. l. 4. c. 25. p. 215. but (ſaith he) in the publick congregation, and for this thing he citeth theſe Scriptures, 1. Cor. 14. 23. Act. 13. 15. And yealdeth many good reaſons for it alſo.Mr. Bates. 134. Def. of diſc. ag. D. Bridg. 129. Other of the Nonconformiſts affirme the ſame thing. As the Church hath need of all mens gifts, ſo all ought to imploy them at publick ordinary meetings, yet ſo, as good order be still obſerved.

SECTION. IIII.

THus reader thou ſeeſt how the preſent miniſterie of the Church aſſemblies of England, both the greater and leſſer, is by the Nonconformiſts profeſſed and proved to be all and wholy falſe. Now we com to the 4. point according to our diviſion which is to anſwere the reaſons laid downe by Doctor Ames, in the defence of their miniſterie, and they may be caſt into two heads or branches. Firſt what he ſpeakes for it himſelfe. 2. The reference which he hath for helpe to M. Bradſhawes booke, entituled the vnreaſonableneſſe of ſeperation. We will firſt treat of the Doct owne arguments. Or rather argument. For I find but onelyonly one, touching this thing in his booke. The wordsFreſh ſuite l. 2. p. 207. are theſe, we vtterly deny that the calling of our miniſters doth eſſentially depend vponupon the Biſhops calling.

I know the word our here hath in it a miſterie, which every bodie knowes not. For D. A doubtleſſe meant to ſpeake onelyonly for ſom particular churches, becauſe in his later dayes he would not vndertake to p. 55juſtifie the ſtanding, but onelyonly of ſome miniſters in theI have good teſtimony for this thing. Land, which were moſtly vnconformable. Now it had been wel, if he had publickly declared ſo much, and ſhewed the differences, between the true and falſe, and proved ſoundly by Gods word, ſuch to be true miniſters whome he ſo judged: For a little of this kind of writing, would have profitted more the profeſſors in England, than a multitude of wordes, and yet all but one thing, about 2. or 3. fooliſh ceremonies, and which are the leaſt evils of many hundreds among them. There are others of them to my knowledge in this thing of the D. mind, to weet, that ſome few miniſters onelyonly in the land are true, and privately they doe expreſſe ſo much. But in the meane time the people are ignorant hereof, and therefore walke diſorderly, and ſo greivouſly ſin againſt God, and their own ſoules: But of this enough elſewhere. Therefore to the matter.

I wiſh the D. had declared what the …ſſence is of a miniſter in his judgement, and whence the calling of his ministers doth eſsentially depend, if not upon the Biſhops calling. For then to uſe his owne words, this queſtion would eaſily be decided: but ſeeing he thought it beſt in this to be ſilent. I anſwere directly: 1. The miniſtery of England, as it is eſtabliſhed by law, doth certainly depend vponupon the Biſhops calling wholy, & no mans elſe; & if any in the Land ſtand otherwiſe, he cannot properly be ſaid to be a miniſter of that church, but rather is a ſchiſmatick from it, according to the formall conſtitution of it. And for this we have the teſtimony of another p. 56other Doctor, and a man better experienced then ever Mr. Ames was in the making of Engliſh Preiſts, and Deacons. If you (ſayth he writing againſt Mr. Penry)D. Somes laſt Treat. c. 10. p. 123. repel the vnpreaching miniſter, becauſe of his outward calling, you may by the ſame reaſon diſcharge the worthieſt miniſters in the land of the holy miniſtery; For all have one, and the ſame externall calling in the church of England. This witneſſe is true: all their miniſters indeed have one & the ſame outward calling. I ſay their beſt preachers no other then their ignorant aſses & idols have; the difference betweene them is onelyonly in their qualification for a calling, and in the execution thereof, and not in the outward calling it ſelfe. For in this reſpect, if any miniſterie be falſe and Antichristian, there is never a miniſterie then true among them all.

And ſo much D. Ames ſeemes to acknowledge in p. 410. for there he ſaith, that power of ordinatiō is not given (by our lawes) to individua vaga, that is to ſay vagrant men, of whome the law taketh no notice, ſuch as were wont to be called, Hedge-preiſts, but to authorized Prelates. Now if none by their law have power to ordaine, but Bb. then are his miniſters, either made officers by them, or elſe (as I ſaid before) they are not of that church, and ſo he ſpeakes not any thing to the matter in hand.

Secondly, there is not any congregation in the land that hath any power to ordaine a Church-officer, neither is this either formallie (nor I thinke intentially) any where practiſed; For the moſt free Pariſh hath but only a liberty to admitt of a miniſter, before made by the Biſhops, ſo that the people give him not any part, p. 57much leſſe the ſubſtance of his calling…, as Mr. Paget vntruely ſpeaketh, but a bare permiſſion, onelyonly to exerciſeArr. ag▪ Br. 93. by vertue of that calling, which he had of the Prelates: Such therefore doe horribly abuſe the people, which aſcribe that unto thē, which they neither doe, can doe, nor intēd to doe, we blame juſtly the Familists, for their idle pretence of inward devotion, they manifeſting no outward obedience, whereby we ſhould judge well of them. Yet truely as bad as they are, this in them, can better be juſtified, then Mr. Doct. new principle, to wit, that the calling of their ministers doth eſſentially depēd vponupon the peoples calling. For ſo I know he meanes: for it is ſo palpably falſe, as there cannot be a leafe found to cover the nakedneſſe of it; For as I ſaid, how can it with any coulorable ſhew be affirmed, that the people ſhould doe that thing, concerning which they neither doe, nor intend to doe any thing belonging to it, nay more, which they make account, is done before, and not only ſo, but doe thinke (at leaſt moſt of them) that it doth not at all appertain unto thē. VponUpon this ground a man might deviſe and ſay any thing, but I ſpare to urge it further, becauſe the man is not alive to anſwer me. If any liſt to make a rejoinder, he ſhall heare morePro. 25. 8.Prov 25:8 in my next anſwer. But before he goe forth hastily to ſtrive, let him firſt make diligent ſearch among all the Pariſh aſſemblies in the land, whether there be any that doe make their own miniſters, according to Gods word; that is, chooſe them by a generall and free conſent, ordaine them by impoſition of hands, with faſting and prayer, &c. For about this is our queſtion, and not of their p. 58fittneſſe to be miniſters, neither of the leave, which the people give to adminiſter among them, after they are made miniſters by the Biſhops.

Moreover I thinke, that D. Ames in pag. 412. doth contradict himſelfe, his words are theſe. If the rejoynder, would have brought a fitting example, he ſhould have ſhewed vsus, that Paul, or Barnabas beeing at Ieruſalem, ordeyned a miniſter, and ſent him to Antioche, Iconium or Liſtra, ſignifying by letters, that ſuch a man was appointed their Pastor, though they never knew or heard of him before: for that had been ſomthing like vntounto the practice of a Biſhop who vponupon the Patrons praeſentation, whereſoever he be, ſendeth his minister, from the place, or Palace of his reſidence vntounto a congregation, 20. 30. or 40. miles of, which poore deſpiſed people, muſt be content with towling of a bell, as ſufficient notice given of their miniſters fittneſſe, and their neceſsitie to acknowledge the ſame: he ſpeaketh ſo generallie, as I take it, his miniſters are here comprehended, and I have good reaſon ſo to thinke, in regard of a buſines which he writes of his experience: I was (ſaith he) once, and never but once, I thanke God before a Biſhop, and beeing preſented vntounto him, by a cheife Mageſtrate of an incorporation, for to be a preacher in their towne, the lowly man firſt asked them, how they durſt chooſe a preacher without his conſent? you (ſaid he) are to receive the preacher that I appoint you. For I am your Paſtor, though he never fed them. And then turning to me, how durst you (ſaid he) preach in my dioceſſe without my leave? ſo that without any other reaſon, but meer Lordſhip, the whole incorporation, and I, were diſmiſsed, to wait his pleaſure: which I for my p. 59part have don this twenty yeare, and more. By this little the reader may judge, whether the calling of their miniſters, doth eſſencially depend vponupon the Biſhop, or peoples calling.

3. If it ſhould be granted that the Doctors miniſters, have their calling onelyonly from the people: yet what is this to the point betweene him and the rejoinder, I may uſe his owne words, truely the anſwere doth not looke towards the queſtion. Now marke all readers that have ſence, it is affirmed by Doct. Burgeſſe, whereas the Nonconformiſts ſay the calling of their Biſhops, and conſequently of the miniſters is Antichriſtian, that ſeparation muſt herevpon neceſſarily follow. How is this anſwered? not at al: if the proverbe be true: as good never a whit, as never the better. For D. Ames ſpeakes of a certaine miniſterie which the ſeparatiſt never to this day, yet ſaw in their aſſemblies, neither have they left any ſuch. If therefore he would have anſwered the rejoinders charge indeed, he ſhould have proved that thoſe miniſters, whoſe calling doth eſſencially depend vponupon the Biſhops calling: which have, I ſay, no other election nor ordination, but what they had from them, in a word, which doe adminiſter to the people only by that power and authority, may (notwithſtanding for for all this) warrantably by ſcripture be judged true miniſters, & be lawfully cōmunicated with in their miniſterie, & yet the Nonconformiſts grounds, publiſhed againſt them, all juſt, true & good. This is the very point indeed: for ſuch miniſters we have onelyonly left, and we know no other. If there be, let them be manifeſted to p. 60us; tell us their names, their places; And if we finde by ſcripture their miniſterie to be lawfull, we will ſurely have communion with it, as occaſion ſerves. Till then, we purpoſe by Gods grace to live as we doe, and to practiſe that which the Nonconformists profeſſe to be the order, and way which the Lord commaunds all his ſervants to walke in.

4. If the Doctor ſpeake here truth, then have the Nonconformiſts greatly abuſed the princes and ſtate of England, in complayning ſo often to them, againſt the Biſhops, and for what thinke you, forſooth becauſe the Prelats take away the powr of the people, make miniſtersDefen. Admon. alone, hēce none are either proved, called, or ordaind according to Gods word, &c. Now how doe theſe things agree together? Is not this yea and nay? It is ſo indeed. But imagin, there ſhould be a Parliament againe in England, and the Nonconformists ſhould there petition: that the calling of their ministers might not eſſentially depend any more upon the Bs. calling, would not the Bb. have matter to perſuade both houſes, not to harken unto them, yea to reprove them ſharpely, for moving this thing, ſeeing they confeſſe they have it allready? But it may be they would ſay ſome congregations doe not ordaine their miniſters; to this the Prelates might reply, that is then their fault; For they give liberty and power to all alike, and that is none at all; I am ſory they have laid ſuch a ſnare, whereby to undoe themſelves. But uſually, this is their courſe, when they have any hope, to have the Magiſtrates helpe for reformation, they will truely declare the abuſes p. 61and corruptions among them to the full, afterwards (nothing being amended) when they are put in mind of their principles, that is, if ſuch things be true, then neceſſarily muſt they leave the church of England; what doe they, but goe quite from them againe, as I ſhall in convenient place, prove it clearely; And is not that a miſerable caſe, which cannot be maintained, but by groſſe contradiction. I may well here uſe the Doctors owne words, Such turning, winding, and running Freſh ſuit l. 2. p. 132.againſt walls, you ſhall ſeldome ſee an ingenious man to vſe in a good caſe.

Laſtly, howſoever Doct. Ames thought to have croſſed much the courſe of the Separatiſts; yet if his words be underſtandingly weighed, he hath juſtified them, and made way to a generall departure from their ministerie. For thus I reaſon:

None may heare or have any ſpirituall communion with ſuch a miniſtery, whoſe calling doth eſſentially depend vponupon the Biſhops calling. But the calling of the miniſters of the church aſſemblies of England doth eſſentially depend vponupon the Bb. calling. Therefore none may heare or have any ſpirituall communion with the miniſterie of the church aſſemblies of England.

Neceſ. …efor. …1.The propoſition by good conſequence is the D^s. own; and herein he agrees with the reſt of the Nonconformiſts; For in opinion they all hold this thing, as we have from their writings manifeſtd. And whoſoever ſhould deny the aſſumtion, mought with as much reaſon deny that there is any idolatrie at Rome, although it is there both taught and practiſed: therefore I thinke no man p. 62will have the forehead to oppoſe it. But have not now the people of the Land good cauſe to looke about them ſeeing thoſe who count themſelves the only men to refute the Separiſts, are come to that ſtreigth, as that they will not juſtifie it to be Lawfull, for to joyne to any miniſtery in the land, but to that, which a man ſhould not find among them, if he ſought all theirZep. 1. 12. Pro. 14. 15Prov 14:15 Churches with candles, as the Prophet ſpeaketh. I hope Gods elect yet there, will take Salomons counſell, which is, to looke well to their going.

And thus much for anſwer to the Doct. reaſon: now next we ſhould ſpeake of Mr. Bradſhews booke, but becauſe I have been long vponupon this chapter, and the reply to it will be large. I will leave it therefore till laſt, and handle other things in the mean time.

SECT. V.

BEfore I end this point I thinke it convenient to anſwere breifly to a few objections, which I have often heard ſome to make in the defence of their ſtanding. Object. 1. Compaſsion towards the people conſtraineth many preachers to keepe their places: For if they ſhould not, alas what would the people doe?

Anſ. 1. we may not doe any thing againſt the will and pleaſure of God, vnderunder pretence to ſhew mercyEphe. 4. 32 1 Pet. 3. 8. 1 King. 20 42.Eph 4:321 Pet 3:81 Kgs 20:42 to others. But we are bound to doe that which is good and honeſt, by juſt and lawfull meanes: that pitty which Chriſtiās are to ſhew, muſt be foreign rightly bowelled, that is required of God, both for the matter and manner of it.

p. 632. God needs no mans lie. For he hath power enough to accompliſh his owne purpoſes. He may thus ſay:Pſa. 50.Ps 50 If I be hungry I would not tel thee, that is, what need I thee, or any thing thou canſt doe? I am Allſufficient.

3. The truth is, the people are not holpen by this meanes, but rather hindered: For if they ceaſed from preaching in their vnlawfull offices, the godly generally throughout the land, would ſeeke where Chriſt feedeth his flock, and ſo their ſtate would be much better then now it is.

Object. 2. Though they will not plead to juſtify their miniſtery, yet they hope to glorify God by preaching Anſ. ſo thought the Leper when he publiſhed abroadMar. 1.Mark 1 the matter of his healing, but he not beeing called to do it, ſinned greatly therein therefore it is certaine, that▪ men doe then glorifie God, when (leaving theirIohn 15. 8John 15:8 owne, wiſedome) they doe whatſoever they are commaunded, for as M. Perkins ſaith, the intention to Firſt. vol. p. 699. 1 Sam. 2. 30.1 Sam 2:30honor God is not good, vnleſſe it be an intentiō to honour him by yeelding that obedience which he commaundeth, now ſeeing theſe refuſe to keepe ſtrictly his order and ordinances: they take not the right courſe to honour him. And in this reſpect can have little aſſurance to receive glory and honour of him. Therefore it is better a man never preach then doe any evil in preaching.

Rom. 3.Rom 3Object. 3. But they hope to doe much good by ſtaying in their places. Anſ. 1. The leaſt ſin may not be committed if one were ſure the whole world might be ſaved thereby. 2: It is a great diſhonour to God to doe any ſin to a good end, as though he could not provide p. 64for mens ſoules without ſining againſt him and ſerving the devil. 3. Although we invent a 1000. wayes, yet we have no reaſon to thinke that we ſhall profit others, but onelyonly by thoſe meanes and inſtruments which he hath appointed for his worke. For with thoſe his bleſſing is joyned: but if we paſſe the bounds ſett by God himſelfe, and inſtitute of our own head, meanes and inſtruments to doe good by, not onelyonly may we feare the want of his bleſſing, but the fearefull exſpectation, both of temporall and eternall judgments.

Object. 4. But the people doe much deſire that they would retaine their office. Anſ. Beit ſo: yet ſeeing God commaunds them to leave it, they ought to obey him rather then men: If one had borne armes a while againſt his prince, yet ſhould he doe wel, to lay them downe, though his father, mother, and a thouſand more ſhould counſel him to the contrarie. I leave the application of it to others. It was worthily anſwered by Gideon when the Kingdome with the Alteration of the Government which God had ſett over his people, wasIudg. 8. 23Judg 8:23 preſented vntounto him: I will not rule over you, &c. The Lord ſhall rule over you, to weet, according to ſuch order, as he hath appointed. Such a holy anſwere ſhould they give the people. We will not ſtand over you by an Antichriſtian authority, but exhort you to forſake the falſe wayes of the world: and to make a covenant with God, that ſo Chriſts Ieſus may raigne, as King, Preiſt, and Prophet over you. 2. Let it be conſideredGal. 6.Gal 6 that every one ſhall beare his owne barden. Though Adam p. 65took the womās counſel, & ſhe the devils, to ſin againſt God, yet they both in their owne perſons caried the juſt puniſhment thereof. 3. The people vnderſtand not ſo generally the vnlawfullnes of their miniſterie as the others doe: for if they did, I thinke they would as much perſwade them, yea more, to leave it by repentance, then they ever vrged them to retaine the ſame.

Object. 5. many of them have good gifts, great learning, and able to preach the word profitably: therefore in this reſpect they may be true miniſters. Anſw. 1. Be a man never ſo godly, never ſo learned, indued with never ſo many lively faculties of the miniſtery, yet he is no miniſter indeed, vnleſſe he have the ordinance of God vponupon him, by a true outward calling. He which vnderſtands wel the office of a juſtice, and could ſufficiently execute the place, yet is he not a lawfull justice of peace,Heb. 5. 4.Heb 5:4 except he be rightly called thervnto? even ſo &c. 2. If gifts onelyonly make men miniſters, then many of the Popiſh Preiſts are true Paſtors. For they (as the Nonconformists acknowledge) have great learning and gifts,M. Dayr. pref. trear. of the Ch. very great knowledge and ſkill in the arts, and in languages: are of excellent vtterance, exp…rt and ready in holy Scriptures; can ſpeake and write truely agreeing with the Scriptures, of ſundry of the ſe…rets of the Kingdome of heaven: as of God, his nature, perſons, attributes, of Chriſt Ieſus his incarnation, his birth, life, preachings, ſufferings, coming to judgment, of the reſurrection, of the life to come, with many other of this kind. The like may be ſaid of many Lawyers, Phiſitians, &c. Theſe by the former reaſon are miniſters alſo.

p. 64Lev. 4. 27. 28. & 19. 17. V. 51. 26. Mal. 3. 16. Mal. 18. 15 1. Cor. 14. 24. 25. Eſ. 53. 1. 2 King. 17. 13. 14.Lev 4:27Lev 4:28Lev 19:17Mal 3:161 Cor 14:241 Cor 14:25Isa 53:12 Kgs 17:132 Kgs 17:14Object. 6. many are converted by their doctrine, therefore it ſeemes they are true ministers.

Anſw. 1. men in no office may, and often doe turne their neighbours from much euill. If this be not ſo, to what purpoſe ſhould privat perſons exhort, instruct, and reprove, any vponupon any occaſiō whatſoever. 2. Good Prophets have ſeene little fruit to follow their labour: Therefore if this had argued a true note of their calling, they might have been judged falſe. 3. If fruit be a ſigne of a true miniſter. Then are many of the Biſhops in England, and Rome too, true miniſters. For without doubt ſome of both have been inſtruments vnderunder God of mens converſion. 4. It hath been the manner alwayes, of wiſe and learned men, to eſteeme of things by the cauſes, and not by the event, and that ſpecially in matters▪ of Religion: for if they ſhould be eſteemed of the event, who would not commend the midwives lying vntounto Pharoah, for much good followed amongſt the Iſraelites: But what if the Lord give his bleſſing vntounto his word, is it to be thought therfore, that he liketh wel of a falſe calling? nothing leſſe, but rather a man might reaſon thus: for as much as thoſe which preach in an vnlawfull office, doe ſomtime edifie their hearers: ſurely then ſuch would doe much more good, if they ſtood in a right and true calling. 5. To convert is not the moſt proper worke of a Paſtor: but to feed Chriſt ſheepe, with ſound and wholeſome doctrine: and therefore if it ſhould come to paſſe, that he never converted any, yet his miniſtery nevertheleſſe would ſtill be true and lawfull.

p. 67Object. 7. Many worthy men did never leave their miniſterie in England, and yet dyed comfortablie.

Anſ. 1. Without doubt they never ſaw fully the vnlawfullneſſe of it. 2. Men muſt doe as they are further inlightened and guided by the ſpirit of God, who from ſtep to ſtep leads his people. 3. Many of the fathers vnderunder the law had many wives at once, the which thing if any now ſhould practice he could not exſpect the mercy which they obtained, becauſe they did it ignorantly. 4. No mans …xamplie muſt be further followed then the ſame agrees with the Scripture, for where David, Peter, &c. doe differ from the truth, therein we ought to differ from them. 5. Had they duly conſidered the concluſions of their owne grounds, layd downe againſt the abuſes of their Church, I am perſwaded they would have changed their courſe.

Object. 8. But many have their gifts tried by ſome godly miniſters, and ſo have their conſent and allowance▪ and this gives them (they thinke) the true ſubstance of a true calling.

Anſ. 1. Theſe muſt conſider, that it is againſt rule, to make that which is in queſtion, the ground of the thing in diſpute. For we doe deny, that thoſe here intimated, are true miniſters, and therefore their conſent and allowance is nothing to make the thing warrantable, 2. If they were miniſters, yet is their officiall power confined within the freedom of their owne church, and ſo have no authority delegated to them from Chriſt, to give the ſubſtance of the miniſters calling p. 68to another people. For to doe thus, were to be like unto the Pope and Prelates, the which practice in them they doe abhorre. 3. It is a fearefull mocking of God▪ and a high prophanation of his ordinance. When men will take a holy worke in hand, & pretend they doe it, and yet doe nothing touching the true ſubſtance thereof.

A man which hath but a little path to keepe, and great ſea lying on both ſides of him, would ſurely be drowned, if he ſhould turne out of his way, but a little, either to the one hand or other; the like may be ſaid of Gods pathes, and institutions: if a man keepe not full in the way, doe not every thing according to the patterne. It is all one, whether turning on the left hand, he embrace the idolatry of the Biſhops, or turning on the other hand, follow the new deviſes of mens fooliſh braines, for utter deſtruction certainly followes them both.

Now for concluſion, if theſe lines, by Gods providence, ſhall come to any of your hands, which ſtand at this preſent miniſters in the church of England: my deſire truly is, that you willbe pleaſed ingeniouſly to conſider the things here written, and ſpecially how the Nonconformists (ſuch as you cannot but much reverence and love for their learning and graces) have by invincible reaſons and arguments proved clearely your offices to be falſe, vnlawfull, & Antichriſtian. Now if you cannot juſtifie your ſtanding before men, ah how doe ye think that ye ſhall be able to ſtand comfortably before the holy God, if you ſtand longer therein. The Lord give you eyes to ſee how exceedingly you p. 69have broken the ſacred order of the Goſpell, and hearts tender againſt every ſinne, that the evill may be put away. And thinke not ſcorne (I pray you) to take any fruitfull counſell of me; but harken to the Lord that it may goe well with you. And looke as the men which had maried them wives of the Heathen, did put them quite away, at Nehemiahs commaund: Even ſo, ſeeing you have taken upon you a ſtrange miniſtery, put it away at Gods commaund, and doe not continue one houre in it. If you ſay, what ſhall we doe for the hundred talents? how ſhall we? our wives and children be releeved?2 Chro. 25. 9.2 Chr 25:9 if we leave our benefices, our ſtipends, freinds, & benefactors. I anſwer you as the man of God did Amaſiah, the Lord is able to give you more then this. Chriſt ſayth (as you know well) he that will forſake father and mother, houſe and land, for his name ſake, ſhall receive a hundred fould in this world, beſide the poſſeſſion of life and glory hereafter. Truly there is a great reward in this promiſe, & me thinks you ſhould value it to be much more worth then all the perſonages, vicarages, Lecture-profitts, &c. in England. Mind well therefore (good freinds) what a large offer the Lord makes, tobuy …ou out of your vnſanctifyed places, whereas he might caſt you forth headlong, and inflict upon you many viſible and ſencible puniſhments, as he did on Corah, vzziah vzza, &c. for their uſurpation and intruſion. But he offers you a hundredfould profitt, which is a great matter indeed, and therefore ye are alltogether unwiſe, if ye doe refuſe it.

I may ſay to you, as David to the men of Iudah: Why p. 70are ye the last to bring home the King? Surely ye are too flow in helping forward Chriſt to his Kingdom. YouAnſw. Banc. ſer. p. 17. doe indeed complaine, that the office of Chriſt, as he is King, is no wiſe acknowledged vnderunder the jurifdiction of your Biſhops in many places of the Land. But are not you in part the cauſe thereof, in walking hand in hand with the rebellious Prelates, to ſupport that diviſed miniſtery, which they have received from the Pope, and doe thruſt upon the people. Thinke therefore, oh what a blow it would give to Antichriſts Kingdome, and how it would even ſhake and overthrow the very foundation of his houſe: if ſuch as you would breake the bonds of iniquitie, & draw your necks out from the Biſhops yoke, and bring your learning and other good gifts (as the people did the Lords Veſſells, which had beene a long time kept in Babilon) to the building and beautifying of Sion: This would make your faces to ſhine, and make your names to floriſh in all ages after, as thoſe doe in our generation, which according to that light received, did powre out their vtals upon the ſeat of the beaſt, to the great diſcovering of his lies and beaſtly vanities. Ye know that ſome, who were ſometime cheif among you, have layd downe their miniſtery, as unlawfull: For it beeing a dependent office of the Hierarchie, they found it by ſcripture unwarrantably to beEphe. 4. 12Eph 4:12 uſed for the edifying of the body of Chriſt.

If you have theſe for an example, you ſhall doe wel, otherwiſe, if either for cafe, profit, credit, liberty, or other worldly reſpects, you retaine ſtill this …iverie of Antichriſt and Popes creature, you will looſe that honour p. 71and reward which the other (if they make ſtraight pathes for their feet) ſhall vndoubtedly obtaine: notwithſtanding as Mordecay ſayd to Eſther: enlargement and deliverance ſhall ariſe to the Iewes from another place. Eſther 4. 14.Esth 4:14For God ſurely will fulfil his word, in aboliſhing vtterly that great ſcarlet whoore, and all the accurſed offices and miniſteries, which ſhe hath deviſed, in ſpight of all humane policie and power to the contrarie, and eſtabliſh one day his owne ordinances more largely and perfectly, to the ſingular joy and comfort of all true beleevers both Iewes and Gentiles.

Moreover let it be conſidered whether thoſe miniſters, which have taken orders, and offices of the Prelats, and ſtand by their power and authoritie, are not in this, tranſgreſsors against the King and the Lawes. Yea and might be legally executed for treaſon and felony if the King and ſtate were not pleaſed to interpret the ſtatute, contrary to the very letter, form, and truth of the ſame.

The words of the ſtatute. (Eliz. 27. 2.) are theſe. It ſhall not be lawfull, for any Seminary Preiſ…, or other Preist, or Eccleſtaſtic all perſon whatſoever, made, or ordained without or within any of her Majesties dominions, by any authoritie derived, chalenged or pretended from the ſea of Rome, by or of what name, title, or degree ſoever the ſame ſhallbe called, or knowne, to be or remaine in any part of her highneſſe dominions. And every perſon ſo offending ſhall be judged a traitor, & ſhall ſuffer as in caſe of high treaſon. And every perſon which ſhall wittingly and willingly receive, releive, comfort, and or maintaine any p. 72ſuch Preiſt or Eccleſiaſticall perſon, ſhall be judged a felon without benefit of Clergie, and ſuffer death, looſe and forfeit as in caſe of felony.