The Utter Routing of the Whole Army of All the Independents and Sectaries, Pages 500-610 (2 of 3)

The Utter Routing of the Whole Army of All the Independents and Sectaries · Pages 500-610 (2 of 3)

p. 537And firſt whereas they peremptorily affirme from the interrogation of Peter to thoſe that came along with him; where he p. 538ſaith, Can any man forbid water that theſe men ſhould not be baptized, &c. that it doth imply that the brethren have power alſo of admitting Members into the church and ought to have their voices, as in the receiving of them in ſo in the caſting of them out. It is a meer non ſequitur and a very groundleſſe illation and inference: for the interrogation plainly manifeſts the contrary: as will appear from other preſidents and reaſon: as for example in the eighth of the Romans ver. 33. 34. Saint Paul ſaith Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? Who is he that condemneth? who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? All the which interrogations do not imply as the Apoſtle himſelfe anſwereth, that any creature can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect, or that any creature can condemn, or that any creature can ſeparate the Elect from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus. Another inſtance (to omit many) we have of the ſame nature with that of Peter Acts 8. 35. Where the Eunuch ſaid unto Philip, See here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? I demand of any whether or no this interrogation of his doth not imply as much as if he had ſaid, no creature now can hinder me from Baptiſm, ſeeing that we have water that element that is appointed for it, and I do beleeve: And ſo much may be gathered from Philips Anſwer to him, who ſaith, nothing could hinder his baptiſm and admiſſion into the Church, if he did beleeve in Chriſt with all his heart; whereupon the Eunuch anſwered, I beleeve that Jeſus Christ is the Son of God; and he was forthwith baptized. So that by this it is ſufficiently manifeſt that that inference they would gather from Peters words cannot groundedly be made: viz. that it is in the power of the people to hinder any: as is yet more evident from Peters own words and reaſons when he was queſtioned about this buſineſſe in the 11. of the Acts, the ſtory whereof is there ſet down at large with Peters Anſwer to all their Objections, Who told them ver. 12. that the spirit bad him go with thoſe that came from Cornelius nothing doubting, &c. ſaying in the concluſion of his diſcourſe and that with an irreſiſtible reaſon, ver. 17. For as much then as God gave them the like gifts as he did unto us, who beleeved in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, what was I, that I could withſtand God? All the which diſcourſe of Peter and this his reaſon do ſufficiently prove that his interrogation, ſaying, Can any man forbid water, that theſe ſhould not p. 539be bapti…ed? Doth not imply as my Brother Burton and Maſter Knollys would have it, that it was in the power of thoſe that were with Peter or any other to have hindred their baptiſm and admiſſion into the church of Chriſt ſeeing they beleeved: For if Peter himſelfe ſhould have refuſed it he had been diſobedient to God himſelfe and had doubted, which he was forbidden and withall had reſiſted in as much as had been in him the ſpirit of God; For ſo ſaith Saint Peter, What was I, that I could withſtand God? From which I gather and that by very good reaſon that all thoſe of the congregationall way that will not admit all ſuch as beleeve and are baptized into their new gathered churches without they walk ſome time with them and without the making of a publike confeſſion of their faith, and the bringing in of their evidences of their converſion and entring into a particular explicite covenant and without the conſent of the whole church are all fighters againſt God and withſtanders of his ſpirit: And if they do not ſpeedily repent for all their wickedneſſe, and relinquiſh their ungodly, unchriſtian and unbrotherly practiſes the Lord from heaven will ſhew his wrathfull diſpleaſure upon them all, for he will vindicate his honour and the honour and priviledges of his people? Shall not he avenge his own Elect and that ſpeedily? Luke 17.

And this ſhall ſuffice for anſwer to that impious cavill of my Brother Burton, and Hanſerdo. Now for that inſtance that Maſter Knollys bringeth, it quite overthroweth their doctrine, for it is point banke againſt it and their practiſe. For although it be not denyed, but that all true beleevers may at any time make their complaint to the Church, that is to ſay to thoſe that are in authority in the Church; to wit, the Presbyters, as the extreameſt refuge upon juſt offence; yet it muſt ever be granted that it lyeth in the breſt of thoſe that are Iudges to determine of the buſines according to the allegations and probations, ſo that thoſe that complaine may not be both Plaintifs and Iudges; this I ſay is ſo known a maxime that none can deny it. Beſides, we muſt take notice that we never read inall the New Teſtament, that the diſciples ever ſo much as queſtioned any that deſired to be admitted into church fellow ſhip, or refuſed communion to any but Paul; & the reaſon was as the Scripture relateth, becauſe they knew that hee had beene a mortall enemy unto them, and had beene a great Perſecutor, and p. 540were then ignorant of his converſion, and therefore it is ſaid they were affraid of him; and upon the like occaſion I beleeve any of the brethren in any church may doe the ſame, and they may feare ſuch an one, and ſuſpect him, and complaine of him, and that is all they can doe, but power they have none to keepe him out of Church-fellowſhip if upon the Miniſters and Presbyters examining of the buſines they find that the man is a beleever, and converted from his ſinfull courſes; for by their ſole authority without their good liking, or the conſent of the people they may admit him into church fellowſhip; and if the people ſhould refuſe to receive him upon his aſſaying to joyne himſelfe with them, hee may appeale from them to the Presbyters and Miniſters who are Gods Stewards, and who have the power of the Keyes to open the doore of the church to whom they conceive are fit: and for this his ſo doing, and for the Presbyters accepting of his appeale they have the Apoſtles and Presbyters of Ieruſalem for an example; for when the Diſciples feared Paul, and ſeemed to be unwilling to admit him into communion with them: Hee forth with appeals to the Apoſtles, who upon his appeale admitted him into church fellowſhip according to their commiſſion, which was, that whoſoever beleeved and was baptized, hee ſhould be received into the church and that without the conſent of the people, or any of thoſe conditions the Independents now impoſe upon their Members, as by this very example and inſtance of Mr. Knollys doth abundantly appeare, which makes wholly againſt their doctrine and practiſe, and utterly overthrowes their tenent: for moſt certaine it is that the power of admitting of Members, and caſting out of offenders lies in thoſe mens hands only and ſolely that have the power of the Keyes, and are by God himſelfe made Stewards and Over-ſeers, and Guids of his Church his houſe, which when they peculiarly belong unto the Presbyters, and not to the people, they onelyonly, and not the people ought to have the managing of the government of the church; and this hath beene ſufficiently proved by the receiving in of Members, both in an ordinary way, and in an extraordinary manner, by all the examples I have produced, and by this very inſtance of Saint Paul, alleaged by Maſter Knollys himſelfe, who when hee was admitted into Church-fellowſhip, not onelyonly without the conſent of the brethren, but againſt their good liking it is abundantly manifeſt, that the people have p. 541nothing to doe with the government of the Church, but that it lyeth wholly in the Presbyters hands. And all this I ſay is clearly proved out of the good Word of God, within the wals of the which, it is ever ſafe to abide, and in the action of obedience to the which all men may promiſe to themſelves perpetuall ſecurity: and this ſhall ſuffice to have anſwered to all that Mr. Knollys and my Brother Burton had to ſay to all my Arguments.

And by all that I have now ſpoke, I hope it doth ſufficiently appeare that there is neither precept nor example through all the Holy Scripture to warrant the practiſe of theſe men in the gathering of their new Churches; and if a man will but looke a little more upon the practice of Chriſts ſeventy diſciples, & of all the Apoſtles in the gathering of Churches, they ſhall not find one footſtep through the whole Booke of God of the gathering Churches after the manner of their congregating of their aſſemblies: as for Chriſts Diſciples, they were all ſent to gather in the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, they went not to gather in converted men from amongſt converted men, for they were to bring the loſt ſheepe into Chriſts fold (and wee are taught there is but one Shepheard and one ſheep-fold) wee never read that after they were once folded and brought into the Church, that any true Paſtors came into the fold and flocks of their fellow-ſhepheards; and picked out all the beſt and the fatteſt ſheep, and the moſt wholſome, and molded them into an Independent Fold by themſelves, as ſeparate and diſtinct from the others, and with the which they would have no fellowſhip and communion in the Ordinances, this was never heard of before theſe dayes: Paul was ſo farre from getting away of others ſheepe that hee tooke it for a diſhonour to him to build upon anothers foundation, Rom. 15. and preached Chriſt in thoſe places where they had never heard of him before; and planted the Church of Corinth himſelfe, and left Apollo to water it, and committed all the flocks that he had gathered, as that of Epheſus, to the charge and care of faithfull Paſtors, and commands both the flocks and the Paſtors, and in them all Shepheards and Folds, to keepe unity and love one with another, Epheſ. 4. verſe 1, 2, 3, 4. &c. and forbids them to make ſeparations and diviſions, and ſchiſmes betweene flock and flock, and this method hee uſed whereſoever hee came; yea, as ſoone as hee was converted and entred upon his miniſtry, as wee p. 542may ſee in the firſt of the Galathians, hee went into Arabia, and preached there among the poore Infidels, hee got not other mens ſheepe from them, neither did hee ever make any ſeparation of ſheepe from ſheepe; yea, even in thoſe flocks and churches, as that of Corinth, Galatia and Coloſſe, where there were many that walked diſorderly and againſt the rules preſcribed, and taught falſe doctrine and hereſies, and made ſchiſmes in the Church, and were very ſcandalous, ſo that if ever there were in any Churches a juſt cauſe of making a ſeparation, it was then; and yet the Apoſtles bid not the Chriſtians ſeparate themſelves from the communion and aſſemblies of the Saints, and from the Ordinances for theſe mens cauſes, but onelyonly that they ſhould looke unto themſelves, and examine their owne conſciences, that they may not offend, and ſo make themſelves unworthy of the holy things, and gives them power to caſt out the prophane, but no way tolerates them to ſeparate; onelyonly hee bids them not be familiar with ſuch as walke diſorderly, that by this meanes they might learne to amend their lives, and tels them of what judgements have alwayes happened to ſuch as were wicked, and bids them by their example to take heed how they provoke God by the like, as it is at large ſet down in the tenth chapter, and commands them to make no ſeparation but from Idolaters and Infidels: and ſo likewiſe in his Epiſtle to the Galatians, he ſays for his own particular, he could wiſh that they that troubled them were cut off, yet he biddeth not the Galatians to ſeparate themſelvs into Independent congregations.

Nothing of all ſuch things were taught before theſe dayes, that true beleevers and the faithfull ſervants of God ſhould ſeparate from the Aſſemblies of their Brethren every way as dearly beloved of God as themſelves, and ſuch as with the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, ſerve their God night and day, and would ſuffer any thing for the Goſpell; and that anv Chriſtians I ſay, ſhould make ſeparation from the fellowſhip of ſuch, or that ſuch ſhould be accounted as en…mies of Chriſt, it was never heard of before our times; by which their ſo dealing, they have made the greateſt ſchiſm in the Church that was ever yet made, to the ſcandall of our holy profeſſion.

I have been ever taught in Gods holy Word, that thoſe faithfull Miniſters that preached Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified, and p. 543opened the eyes of the blind, and turned them from darkeneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and inheritance amongſt them that are ſanctified by faith in Jeſus Chriſt, and taught the people that they ſhould repent and turne to God, and doe workes meet for repentance; and that inſtructed all men that they being delivered out of the hands of their enemies, they ſhould ſerve God without feare, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him all the dayes of their life, and teaching them that the grace of God bringing ſalvation, hath appeared to all men, for this very end that they ſhould deny all ungodlineſſe and worldly luſts, and ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world, looking for that bleſſed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God of our Saviour Ieſus Chriſt, who gave himſelfe for us, that hee might redeeme us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himſelfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes. I ſay I have beene ever taught by Gods Holy Word, to beleeve that thoſe Miniſters that inſtruct the people to doe all theſe things, and where the people by faith imbrace and receive this doctrine, are the true Miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt, & thoſe congregations under them the church of Ieſus Chriſt, and of his ſheepfold, and that Chriſt in all ſuch congregations is ſet up as King in his Throne, as who rules in the hearts of his people, and the which are ſwayed and guided by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit, and deſerve none of thoſe contumelious languages the brethren aſperſe both Miniſters and people with.

Of the Miniſters they thus ſpeak and print, That they deny, diſclaim and preach againſt Chriſts Kingly government over mens conſciences and Churches, ſo that ſuch a converſion (as is wrought by them) comes not home to whole Chriſt; and ſuch with their converters do deny Chriſts Kingly government; or at leaſt and best they are converted but in part, and that main thing is wanting, to wit, Chriſts Kingly office; and of all the people and Chriſtian beleevers through the Kingdome that are not in their congregations and new gathered Aſſemblies, they ſpeak and print thus: We (ſay the brethren, the Independent Miniſters) exhort them to ſet up Chriſt King in their hearts: We exhort them to become and profeſſe to be thoſe Saints, of whom Chriſt is King; for he is King of Saints, Revel. 15. 3. but they will not beleeve us (ſay p. 544they) they will not depend upon Chriſt as the onelyonly Law▪giver and King over their conſciences: Now what would you have us to do in this caſe? (ſay they) baptize the Infants of ſuch Parents as will not in this respect profeſſe nor confeſſe Chriſt to be their King? Why▪ do you not know (ſay they) that no Infants have any title to Baptiſm▪ that are not within the Covenant viſibly? and how are they within the Covenant viſibly, but by vertue of their Parents faith outwardly profeſſed? and what outward profeſſion of faith is there in the Parents that refuſe Chriſt for their onelyonly King? that are aſhamed or afraid to profeſſe to be in Covenant with Chriſt, as their King? if therefore the Parents profeſſe not, yea, refuſe thus to be in viſible Covenant, can the children be ſaid to be in viſible Covenant, and ſo to have a right in Baptiſm, the externall ſeal of the covenant? here is an obex, a barre put. Theſe are their own words, which I have ſet down at large; the ſumme of them briefly is this; that all the Miniſters of the church of England that are not of their fraternity, do deny, diſclaime and preach againſt Christs Kingly Government over mens conſciences and churches; and that all the people under their Miniſtery are men unconverted, or at leaſt converted but in part, wanting the main thing, to wit, Chriſts Kingly office; men viſibly out of the Covenant of grace, who have not ſo much as an outward profeſſion of faith, who deny Chriſt to be their King; to whoſe perſons and infants the very Sacraments and ſeales of grace, with all church communion, may and ought to be denyed.

Another of the Independents, amongſt many of the contumelious and diſgracefull ſpeeches hee uttereth out againſt the Miniſters of the church of England, calling them the blackcoats in the Synod, who, he is afraid, will prove more cruell Taskmaſters than their Fathers the Biſhops, who cowardly ſit at home, and in his apprehenſion, for no other end but to breed faction and diviſion amongſt the well affected to the Parliament, promoting their own intereſt, which (ſaith he) is lazineſſe, pride, covetouſneſſe and domination, and amongſt many ſuch expreſſions as theſe, hee proclaimes them the ſworne enemies of Ieſus Chriſt: and deſiring that the Parliament may be put in mind of their Covenant, for he thinkes they have ſworne to root out Popery: he tels them they have eſtabliſhed Tythes the very root and ſupport of Popery which he doth humbly conceive is a contradiction to their Covenant, p. 545and which will be a greater ſnare than the Common-Prayer to many of the precious conſciences of Gods people, whoſe duty it is in his judgement, to dye in a priſon before they act or ſtoope unto ſo diſhonourable a thing as this is, to their Lord and Maſter, as to maintaine the black-coats with tythes, whom they looke upon as the profeſſed enemies of their anointed Chriſt, &c.

Theſe are ſome of his formall expreſſions, I leave the comment of theſe ſeverall paſſages to others: neither doe I rehearſe innumerable ſuch like ſentences as are daily vented, to the intolerable diſgrace, both of all the Miniſters of the Church of England, and of all thoſe beleeving chriſtians that are under their ſeverall charges, and that in every Pamphlet in the which they proclaime all the Miniſters to be the ſworne and profeſſed enemies of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and ſuch as deny, diſclaime and preach againſt Chriſts kingly government over mens conſciences and churches; and for the people and beleevers in England, they proclaime them to be men unconverted, or at leaſt converted but in part, wanting the maine thing, Chriſts Kingly office; men viſibly out of the covenant of grace, who have not ſo much as an outward profeſſion of the faith; who deny Chriſt to be their King, to whoſe perſons and Infants the very Sacraments and ſeales of grace, with all church▪communion, may and ought to be denied, &c.

By the which words, they not onelyonly unchurch all the congregations of England, Scotland, Ireland, but indeed all the reformed churches, and unchriſtian all chriſtians but thoſe that are in their owne independent aſſemblies, and account them as aliens and ſtrangers from the common-wealth of the Saints, and make Chriſt to be no King over them, or to have any Kingdome in or amongſt them, but onelyonly amongſt themſelves in their new congregations: whereas Chriſt ever had a church or Kingdome upon earth in all ages before they were, and hath without all controverſie a true Kingdome in many churches in theſe our dayes, where they are not. Had I not ſeene their expreſsions in print, and the Booke in which they are uttered, ſet forth by authority with approbation, I ſhould not have beleeved that they had all of them bin ſo uncharitable; but finding that booke not onelyonly printed by licenſe, but generally applauded by them all and much magnified, as the frequent editions of it doe manifeſt, I gather, it is p. 546the univerſall opinion of them all. Than the which, what could bee more uncharitably and unchriſtianly ſpoken? what comfort can any of the Miniſters of the Church of England have in the ſociety of theſe men, who (what ſoever outward ſeeming favour they ſhew to them) in their hearts conceive of them as the ſworne enemies of Chriſt and his Kingdome, and as men unworthy to live, and who count it a diſhonourable thing to their Lord and Maſter, to maintaine thoſe black-coats with tythes, whom they looke on as the profeſſed enemies of their anointed Chriſt? can I ſay, any Miniſters with joy and alacrity converſe with theſe men? no ſurely; what reall comfort can any poor chriſtian beleevers through the Kingdome either expect or looke for at theſe mens hands if they were in their power, whom they declare (and that in print, and in their Pulpits) to be men unconverted, or converted but in part, wanting the maine thing, Chriſts Kingly office, men viſibly out of the covenant of grace, who have not ſo much as an outward profeſſion of faith, who deny Chriſt to be their King; to whoſe perſons and Infants the very Sacraments and ſeales of grace, with all church-communion, may and ought to be denied? can any true chriſtians be reall friends to the enemies of Chriſt? He (ſaith Saint Paul, 1 Cor. chap. 16. v. 22.) that loveth not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be Anathama Maranatha; will any true Chriſtians bleſſe thoſe that God hath curſt? David ſaid, I hate them that hate thee, yea, I hate them with a perfect hatred.

And ſurely thoſe that are true friends to Chriſt, hate all his enemies; now they looke upon our Miniſters as the profeſt enemies of Chriſt, and upon all the people under their miniſtery as enemies of his Kingdome, and as men to whoſe perſons & infants the very Sacraments and ſeales of grace, with all church-communion, may and ought to be denied (they are their own words) can they therefore expect any reall friendſhip from them, whatſoever outward curteſie they ſeeme to ſhew them? no doubtleſſe; how can any poore chriſtian have any delight to come amongſt theſe men, or ſo much as to be in their ſociety, whom they account of as the enemies of Chriſt and his Kingdome? For my owne particular, I would not willingly come in any mans company, or be familiar with any that I thought a profeſt enemy of Chriſt and his Kingdome, neither ſhould I ever beleeve I could p. 547have any reall eſteeme from ſuch as thinke mee an enemy of Chriſt and his Kingdome.

It was the greateſt calamity to the poore ſufferers under the Prelats tyrannie, and to all thoſe diſtreſſed chriſtians that were haled into the High-commiſſion court, or into the Star-chamber, or before the Counſell-table for matter of Religion and conſcience (which was the lot of many thouſands through the whole Kingdome) that commonly their greateſt enemies were thoſe of their owne houſe; their parents, their brethren and ſiſters would be the chiefeſt calumniators and reproachers of them, and that in word and deed would moſt deſpightfully perſecute them, denying them the common humanity of hoſpitality, and would not ſo much as looke on them, except it were to revile them and inſult over them, and would ordinarily joyne with their enemies both privately and publickly, and deſert them in their greateſt ſtreights, as all of them can generally witneſſe, which not onelyonly encouraged their enemies againſt them, but added credit to their falſe acculations and calumnies; for they would uſually ſay, ye may ſee what manner of men theſe are, whoſe nigheſt friends are not only aſhamed of, but thus ſpeake of them; which was a greater affliction unto them than all the other miſeries and ſufferings they under-went; for had they beene their profeſſed enemies, as David ſaid, they could eaſily have endured it, and there would leſſe credit and regard have beene given to their words; but they were their parents, brethren, ſiſters and familiars, and therefore it added more ſharpely to their affliction: So had they beene our profeſſed enemies as Papiſts, Socinians, Arminians, or thoſe of the Prelaticall faction that ſhould have proclaimed us enemies of Chriſt and his Kingdome, and had they denyed unto us and our children the ſeales of grace, with all church-communion, it would not have troubled us; but tu Brute! that Brethren, that fellow-ſufferers in affliction, that had gone up to the houſe of God together, and had taken ſweet counſell together; that they ſhould now proclaime us the enemies of Ieſus Chriſt, and deny communion with us; oh let not this bee ſpoken in Gath and Aſhkelon!

This is that that grieves and ſads the hearts of their brethren more then all their former afflictions, and gives a great advantage to the common enemy, and ſcandalizes the Goſpel, and expoſes p. 548both themſelves and us to the ſcorne of the Malignants, who ordinarily jeere and ſay, ſee thoſe holy Brethren that loſt their ears together, are now together by the cares, and count one of another as a company of Infidels, and diſclaime all holy communion one with another, and will not ſo much as admit of their children to baptiſme, or ſuffer them to receive the Sacraments with them.

But this is that that makes all men wonder, to heare them proclaime all the Miniſters of the Church of England, to be ſuch as deny, diſclaime, and preach againſt Chriſts Kingly government, when it is apparently evident, both by all their preachings and writings, and all their practices, that they ever advance Chriſts Kingly government as really as any of thoſe that oppoſe them, who in preaching up the Kingly office of Chriſt, and ſetting Chriſt upon his Throne, are inferiour to none of them in this work: For we are taught out of Gods Word, that thoſe Miniſters ſet up Chriſt in his Throne, that open the eyes of the blind, and turne them from darkeneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they might receive forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and an inheritance amongſt them that are ſanctified by faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and that teach men to repent and turne to God, and doe workes meet for repentance; and when the people that heare them give themſelves firſt to the Lord and upto his Miniſters by the will of God, and after denying all ungodlineſſe and worldly luſts, live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world.

And this, the Word of God teacheth us, is to ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne; and thoſe Miniſters that teach all theſe things, ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, and thoſe people that embrace this doctrine, make Chriſt their King, as we may ſee 2 Cor. chap. 8. ver. 5. Tit. 2. verſe 12. For Chriſt ſits as King upon his Throne when hee is beleeved in to bee that horne of ſalvation, that was raiſed up for us in the houſe of David, that has ſaved and delivered all that beleeve in him, out of the hands of all their enemies both ſpirituall and bodily, that they may ſerve him without feare, and when Chriſt rules in all their hearts by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit, and when they owne him as their onelyonly Law-giver, and acknowledge him to be the onelyonly King in his Church, and the Saviour of all thoſe that truly beleeve in him; p. 549and this is to ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, and the brethren themſelves accord unto this.

Now when the Miniſters of England teach this doctrine, in their preachings and writings, how can they be truly ſaid to deny, diſclaim and preach againſt Chriſts Kingly government, over mens conſciences and Churches? and how can that people be ſaid truly to deny Chriſts Kingly government who do both beleeve and to the uttermoſt of their power practice this doctrine and follow onelyonly the guidance of his holy Spirit and Word, both for doctrine and government, who is King of the Church? whether therefore this be not an unjuſt and unchriſtian calumny, laid both upon the Miniſters and people of the church of England, I leave it to the conſideration of any moderate minded chriſtian! doubtles all charitable minded chriſtians if they conſider all things aright, will not think ſo diſhonourably neither of the Miniſters of England not of the people under their Miniſtery; for they deſerve not to be accounted the profeſt enemies of Chriſt, who are freed from that heavy accuſation by Chriſts own teſtimony; who when it was related unto him by Saint John, Mark 9. ver. 38. That they had ſeen one caſting out devills in his name, which followed them not, and that the Diſciples had forbad him becauſe he did not follow them: Our Saviour Chriſt replying, forbid him not, ſaith he, for whoſoever is not againſt us is on our part.

Now theſe Miniſters that open the eyes of the blind, and turne them from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan to God, they cannot be eſteemed enemies of Chriſt, and to be againſt Chriſt but for him, and ought highly to be honoured for their works ſake 1 Theſſ. chap. 5. ver. 13. and ſingularly, to be beloved, and deſerve not to be maligned and reproached, eſpecially by brethren who owe all their converſions next unto God, to their Miniſtery; yea, both the Paſtors and people of all the new congregated churches are beholding unto them for their converſion; for they admit none into their Aſſemblies but beleevers, and they were made beleevers and converted by their Miniſtery; and therefore they are friends of Chriſt and not his enemies, and they ought all of them to look upon them as their Fathers, and on the church of England as their Mother, and on the beleevers of England as their brethren, and ought not thus p. 550unchriſtianly and ungratefully to caſt dirt in all their faces.

Saint Paul in his Epiſtle to the Philippians, chap. 1. hath theſe words, Some ſaith he, preach Chriſt even of envy and ſtrife, and ſome alſo of good will; the one preach Chriſt of contention and not ſincerely, thinking to adde affliction to my bonds, but the other of love: What then? notwithſtanding every way, whether in pretence or in truth Chriſt be preached, I therein do rejoyce, yea, and I will rejoyce. Saint Paul ſpeaks here of ſuch as preach pure doctrine, though not with a pure mind, and was glad that Chriſt was preached, and counts them not the enemies of Chriſt, as he did the falſe teachers among the Galatians, who joyned the ceremoniall law and their own inventions with the Goſpel, and therefore he wiſht that they were cut off; but in this place he rejoyces that Chriſt and the Goſpell were purely preached, though it were of envy.

Now when the Miniſters of the Church of England, do not only preach the Goſpell purely, but of ſincerity and of love, and mingle not their own traditions and inventions with the Goſpell, but follow their commiſſion; how can any men without intolerable injuſtice proclame them the enemies of Jeſus Chriſt, and make them odious to the people under the name of Presbyterians, whom they perſwade all men, that they will prove more cruell Taskmaſters then the Prelates? yea and they have generally poſſeſt the people with ſo prejudicate an opinion of them all, as if they would more lord it over them than ever the Biſhops did, and cauſleſly have moved the people to hate the name of Presbytery: And notwithſtanding they themſelves pretend they contend for the ancient Presbytery, and by this make themſelves Preſbyterians as well as the other: What juſtice or equity then is there in their dealing, to make their brethren odious to the world for endeavouring to ſet up a Presbytery after Gods Word, when they themſelves are Presbyterians, and labor to ſet up a Presbytery of their own? and therefore if the name of Presbyters be odious in the Miniſters of the Church of England, no reaſon can gainſay it, but that they alſo ſhould be as odious to the people as their brethren, for they alſo are Presbyterians. But that the truth may the better appear, whether the Miniſters of the Church of England, or the Independent Miniſters, be moſt guilty of all the accuſations laid to their charge, it will not be a miſſe to compare p. 551the practice of the Miniſters of the church of England and the proceedings of the Independent Miniſters together, and that both for their doctrine and diſcipline, and in their ſeverall ſtudies and endeavours, for the advancing of Chriſts Kingdome; and by ſo doing it will be eaſie for any to judge, which of their governments and which of the Miniſters are more intolerable, and which of them are moſt guilty of thoſe foule reproaches the Miniſters of the church of England are aſperſed with by their Brethren; for he hath a ſhallow underſtanding and a very dim ſight that cannot diſcern, whether thoſe that advance Chriſts their Kings Word and Laws onelyonly, and follow his commiſſion and the example of the holy Apoſtles in their Miniſteries, and that of John Baptiſt and the primitive Preachers, or thoſe that ſet up their own inventions and prefer them before the Laws of Chriſt, and have neither precept nor preſident for their doings in all the holy Word of God: He I ſay, that cannot judge which of theſe moſt advance Chriſt for their King, either thoſe that obey Chriſts Laws, or thoſe that obſerve their own, neglecting Chriſts, is of a very ſhallow capacity.

But now let us compare them together; the Miniſters of the Church of England preach faith and repentance, the Law and the Goſpell, according to Chriſts commiſſion given to his Apoſtles, and they receive all into the Church that beleeve and are baptized, and ſuch as but deſire to be admitted, they demanding of them what they ſhould do to be ſaved; and in their ſo doing they have both precept and preſidents: For Chriſt in his commiſſion unto them hath given them authority ſo to do.

Neither did he ever ſay unto his Apoſtles and Miniſters, admit none into the church, although they beleeve and are baptized, without they walk with you ſome dayes weeks, moneths or years, that you may behold their converſation and manner of life, and after you have had ſome tryall and experience of them, ſee then that they make a publike confeſſion of their faith before the church and give in the evidences of the truth of their converſion before the congregation, and enter into a private and ſolemne Covenant and be admitted by the conſent and approbation of the Church; or otherwiſe, if they will not ſubmit themſelves to this Law, and come into the Church upon theſe conditions, p. 552receive them not into your Aſſemblies, nor admit of them for members.

Here is nothing of all this in Chriſts Commiſſion, nor in his holy Word, nor any preſident of the ſame in ſacred Authority; and therefore John the Baptiſt and the holy Apoſtles and primitive Miniſters admitted all that came unto them, and ſuch as but demanded of them what they ſhould do to be ſaved; and baptized them and received them into the Church without any gainſaying or queſtion; as we may ſee in the third of Luke, and in the ſeventh chapter of the ſame book, and in the ſecond of the Acts; and no ſooner did the Eunuch deſire baptiſme, but Philip granted it; the Goaler did but aske Paul and Sylas, What they ſhould do to be ſaved, and they ſaid, Beleeve on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and thou ſhalt be ſaved and thy houſe; and it is related that the Goaler and all his were ſtreight way baptized, Acts 16. verſ. 31, 32, 33. that is, they were forthwith admitted into the Church, without either walking any time with the Church for their approbation, or without either making a publike confeſſion of their faith before the Church, or giving in evidences of the truth of their converſion to the congregation, or entring into a private covenant, and without the conſent and allowance of the Church.

And Chriſt notwithſtanding was imbraced by them as their Lord and King, and was preached by Paul and Silas, as the Lord and King of his Church, and was ſet up upon his Throne as King by them, as well as he is in any Independent Churches, and yet they had none of all their new borne truths, and they could then ſee how to ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne without their new lights; and as Chriſt was then by Paul and Silas and the other Apoſtles ſet upon his Throne as King in all thoſe primitive Churches, ſo he is at this day in all the true Proteſtant Churches through the world, as well as in any of the Independent Aſſemblies, and yet they were and are all ignorant of their new way; ſo that any underſtanding chriſtian may gather, that all their new borne truths are no way requiſite for the ſetting up of Chriſt as King in his Church, nor for the advancement of Chriſts Kingly government; for if they had, Chriſt would have put them into the Apoſtles Commiſſion, and the Apoſtles who were led into all truth by the holy Ghoſt, who brought whatſoever Chriſt had p. 553taught them concerning the Kingdome of God (Act. 1.) into their memories, would have ſuggeſted all theſe things, The new way, the new borne truth, the new lights to them, that they might have been recorded, if they had been neceſſary for the ſetting up of Chriſt upon his Throne; but when neither Chriſt nor the holy Ghoſt, nor the bleſſed Apoſtles have preſcribed any of all theſe to the church, nor called for them, nor required them of any that deſire to be ſaved or made Members of the church; whether this be not a great temerity in any men, to preach all theſe things as the lawes of Chriſt, I leave it to the judgement of any ingenuous minded chriſtian? and whether this be not to preferre their own inventions and traditions before the commandements of God and the lawes of Chriſt the King of his church, and whether this be not rather to ſet up themſelves than Chriſt, I referre it alſo to any judicious and impartiall chriſtians to weigh and conſider.

I ſhall now demand of any moderate chriſtian therefore, and let him anſwer me candidly, whether of thoſe Miniſters and people moſt advance the Kingdome of Chriſt, and acknowledge him to be their onelyonly Lord and Law-giver, that both in their teaching and beleeving follow his commiſſion and Word, and teach nothing nor beleeve nothing (as they are injoyned) but what Chriſt their King commands them? or thoſe, that to the commiſſion and commands of Chriſt adde their own inventions and traditions, and preferre them before the lawes of Chriſt the King and Law giver of his Church? I am confident, if he will deale impartially, he will anſwer me, that thoſe Miniſters and that people moſt advance Chriſt for their King, and moſt ſet him upon his Throne, that own his Law, and that onelyonly, for the rule of their faith and obedience; for Chriſt himſelfe hath ſaid it, Iohn 10. My Sheep hear my voiyce, they will not liſten unto the voyce of a ſtranger; Chriſts voyce onelyonly the King of his Church is to be heard, and they onelyonly that obey it advance him for their King and ſet him up on his Throne, which when the Miniſters and Beleevers in the Church of England doe, and the Independents do not, they more advance Chriſt for their King than they; for the Independents to Chriſts Law and Commiſſion adde their owne traditions and inventions, and enjoyne all that will be admitted as Members into their congregations, beſides p. 554their beleeving and being baptized, to walke with them ſome time for approbation, and to make a publike confeſſion of their faith before the Church, and to bring in the evidences of the truth of their converſion, and enter into a private and ſolemne Covenant, and not to be admitted as members without the conſent of the Church, all which Chriſt the King of his church never commanded; and thoſe that will not ſubmit themſelves to theſe their traditions, they will not permit or ſuffer to enter into their church as joyned members, which they call the onelyonly true Churches of Chriſt, and count of all others that differ from them, as enemies of Chriſt and his Kingdome, and as men without the covenant: and if this be to ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, then the Phariſees ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, who preferred their own traditions before the commandements of God; yea, the Pope himſelfe and the Prelates ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, who preferred their owne traditions and idolatries before the Lawes of Chriſt.

Now if all the traditions of the Papiſts were juſtly abhorred and caſt out of the church as things de…ogatory to the Kingly and Propheticall dignity of Ieſus Chriſt, and as things repugnant to his Royaltie: I ſee no reaſon but all other popery under whatſoever name or title it be intruded upon the people ſhould be eliminated and caſt out of the church; and whether this be not a new kind of Popery, to bring in new wayes, and new borne truths, and new lights, and impoſe them upon the people as the commands of God, and to excommunicate and unchurch all churches in the world but their owne aſſemblies, I referre my ſelfe to the judgement of any intelligible chriſtian. Saint Paul writing to the Galatians, blames thoſe falſe Teachers amongſt them, that would have joyned but the ceremoniall Law with the Goſpel, and cals it a perverting of the Gospel of Chriſt, and wiſhes that ſuch Teachers were cut off, Gal. 5. v. 12. and blames likewiſe thoſe Galatians that received their doctrine, ſaying, Oh fooliſh Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you ſhould not obey the truth? and yet they onelyonly urged the ceremoniall Law which God by Moſes had appointed to remaine till the fulneſſe of time, but was now abrogated; they were not their owne traditions, they were no new borne lights, no new wayes, no new truths.

Now if Paul was ſo diſpleaſed, or God rather, with the Galatians, p. 555both teachers and hearers, the one for bringing in or joyning the ceremoniall Law to the Goſpel, and the other for admitting of them, how highly would God have beene diſpleaſed with them if they had ſet up their owne inventions for the Lawes of God, and had brought in new borne truths, and intruded them upon the people as neceſſary to ſalvation, and for the ſetting up of Chriſt upon his Throne? Without doubt the Apoſtle would moſt ſharpely have reproved them, and have given ſpeciall caveats againſt them, as hee did in his Epiſtle to the Coloſsians, the ſecond chapter of the which is chiefly ſpent in condemning all humane traditions; yea, in his firſt chapter of his Epiſtle to the Galatians, verſe 8, 9. Hee chargeth them, that though the Apoſtles themſelves, or an Angel from Heaven ſhould preach unto them otherwiſe than that they had received, they ſhould count him accurſed; and as J ſaid before, ſaith the Apoſtle, ſo ſay I now againe, if any man preach unto you otherwiſe than that you have received, let him be accurſed.

But none of the Apoſtles ever taught the Church, that chriſtians and beleevers, though baptized, ſhould not bee admitted as members into the Church, unleſſe they had walked ſome time in church-fellowſhip with them, and had firſt made a publicke confeſſion of their faith, and had brought in the evidences of the truth of their converſion, and entred into a ſolemne private covenant, and were admitted by the conſent of the church; none of all this did ever the Apoſtles teach, or the chriſtians of thoſe times embrace or beleeve, and therefore ſuch doctrines as theſe ought not to be received.

In the firſt of the Corinthians in many places he reproves thoſe that made ſchiſmes and brought in hereſies and ſects into the Church; and in the fourth chapter and ſixth verſe, under his owne and Apollo's name, hee ſets an example before them, that they ſhould containe themſelves within the limits and bounds of that doctrine and manner of preaching, preſcribed and ſet downe in the Word of God, and uſed by the Spirit of God; and commands them that they ſhould learne in the Apoſtles, not to preſume or to be wiſe above that which is written, and enjoynes all chriſtians to reject all wayes of teaching that have not Gods Word for their warrant: Now in all Gods Word there is nothing of all this written, that after men beleeve and are baptized, they p. 556ſhould not yet be admitted into the Church, without they had walked ſome time with them for their approbation, and without they had made a publike confeſſion of their faith before the congregation, and brought in the evidences of their true converſion, and had entred into a private covenant, and were admitted by the conſent of the church; none of all this is written in Gods Word, and therefore wee ought not to imbrace it.

And in the 2 of the Corinths, c. 11▪ v. 4. the Apoſtle ſignifieth unto the Corinthians, that no man can teach the Goſpel & the things of of heaven more exactly than he and the other Apoſtles have taught them, nor ſet before them a more perfect Doctrine of Jeſus Chriſt than that that they have taught them, for the converting of any unto Chriſt, and for the ſetting up of Chriſt as King upon his Throne, and for the making of them Members of the Church, and for the building of them up in their moſt holy faith, and commands the Corinthians to take heed of all falſe Teachers, whatſoever piety and godlineſſe they make ſhew of, calling them deceitfull workers, and ſuch as transforme themſelves into the Apostles of Chriſt: And no marvaile, ſaith he, for Sat an himſelfe can transforme himſelfe into an Angel of light; and therefore it is no wonder his Miniſters transforme themſelves, as though they were the Miniſters of righteouſneſſe.

Now if men will conſider what thoſe falſe teachers were, wee ſhall find them to be no other, but ſuch as under ſhew of holineſſe and piety taught their owne inventions and grolleries, and abuſed the ſimplicity of the people for their owne advantage, and brought them into bondage and devoured them, verſe 20. as the Phatiſees did the Widowes houſes, under pretence of their long prayers, which our Saviour Chriſt ſharpely reproves them for, and denounces a woe againſt them for their ſo doing; after the ſame manner did theſe falſe Teachers amongſt the Corinthians, who made their owne traditions joyned Members with the Goſpel, as if they had had a more fine, neat & eleganter way of gathering of churches, and admitting of Members than Paul and the other Apoſtles: But the Apoſtle bids the Corinthians take heed of all ſuch, how glorious ſoever they ſeeme to appeare, and tels them they cannot teach the way to Heaven and happineſſe better than hee and the other Apoſtles have done; and yet neither Saint Paul or any of the Apoſtles in preaching of the Goſpel p. 557taught them that they ſhould admit of none to bee joyned Members of the Church, although they beleeved and were baptized, except they walked ſometime in fellowſhip amongſt them, that they might have approbation and tryall of their converſation firſt, and after make a publick confeſſion of their faith before the church, and did give in evidences of the truth of their converſion to the congregation, and entred into a ſolemne private covenant, and were admitted Members by conſent of the church.

Not a word of all this in the Goſpel that Saint Paul and the other Apoſtles taught; and therefore all that teach their new wayes, their new-borne truths, and ſet up their new lights, are wiſe above that which is written, and teach otherwiſe than Chriſt and his Apoſtles have taught, or the chriſtians of the Primitive times had received, and therefore ought by the Apoſtles command, Gal. 1. verſe 8. 9. to be accurſed. Saint Iohn alſo in his ſecond Epiſtle to the Elect Lady, verſe 9, 10. ſaith, Whoſoever tranſgreſſeth and abideth not in the doctrine of Chriſt, hath not God; hee that continueth in the doctrine of Chriſt hee hath both the Father and the Sonne: If there come any unto you that bringeth not the doctrine of Chriſt, receive him not into your houſe, neither bid him God ſpeed; for hee that biddeth him God ſpeed, is a partaker of his evill deeds.

Now the doctrine that the Independent Miniſters teach for the gathering of churches and admitting of members, and joyning and jumbling of them together, was never taught by Chriſt nor any of his Apoſtles; for they themſelves confeſſe it is a new way, and a new▪borne truth, and a new light, and therefore not the doctrine of Chriſt; and therefore ſuch novelties are not to be entertained nor imbraced, nor the teachers of them, if we will be obedient to Apoſtolicall precepts: I deſire therefore thoſe of the Independent brethren to produce any one teſtimony, or any one preſident out of the Word of God, where theſe things following are taught or have beene practiſed.

Firſt, that although men and women beleeve and are baptized, they are not yet to be admitted as joyned Members till they have walked ſometime in fellowſhip with the church for approbation of their converſation; this is the firſt thing; I deſire of the brethren either a precept or an example for this in Gods Word.

p. 558The ſecond, where it is commanded that thoſe that beleeve and are baptized ſhould not be admitted as Members of the church, whithout a publike confeſſion of their faith before the church.

The third, where it is enjoyned, that to their Faith and Baptiſme, they ſhould bring in the evidences of the truth of their converſion before they can be capable of their memberſhip.

The fourth, where it is commanded that they ſhould enter into a ſolemn and private covenant before they can be admitted to church-fellowſhip.

The fifth, where it is impoſed upon thoſe that beleeve and are baptized, that they ſhould not be received into the church without the conſent of the congregation.

Sixthly, where it is commanded that the Miniſters of the Goſpell ſhall run about from their own places and charges into the ſheepfolds of their fellow-ſhepherds, and ſeparate and pick out all their beſt ſheep and bring them into their own folds, and debar them from all church-fellowſhip and communicating with the other beleevers in Gods holy Ordinances and Sacraments; or where ever it is commanded that the Preachers of the Goſpel ſhall gather beleeving Chriſtians from among beleeving Chriſtians, and ſeparate them from the other ſheep, into Independent congregations, and ſhall proclame all that are not thus moulded up after this new modell, to be people out of covenant, and to have no right to the ſeals of the new covenant, neither they nor their children, though beleevers.

All theſe things I deſire the brethren by evident places of the holy Scripture to make good and to confirme, or by any preſident or example to declare to have been practiſed either by Chriſt or his bleſſed Apoſtles; for I look for a law from Chriſt the King of his church, who was as faithfull in the houſe of God as Moſes was, and hath not left the ordering and diſpoſing of his church to the will of men, but hath commanded the church to hear his voice, who is the great Paſtor and Biſhop of our ſouls, and the teacher of his church; his Word therefore I look for, for a warrant for the ratifying of all theſe doctrines; and I have good ground and reaſon to demand of them a warrant and authority out of Gods Word for what they both teach and practice; for we are taught p. 559by Chriſt the onelyonly Prophet of his church, that they that ſerve God after the precepts of men, offer him a vain worſhip: and it ſtands with all good reaſon, that if all humane traditions, though of never ſo ancient ſtanding, and of never ſo long antiquity were all caſt out of the church, becauſe they had no footing or ground in Gods Word, that all novelties or new inventions of men (which notwithſtanding are impoſed upon the people as the ways of God) ſhould be abrogated and nullified and caſt out of the church.

It is recorded in holy writ, Ioſhua 9. that the Gibeonites deceived Ioſhua and the people of Iſrael, under pretence that they came from a farre country, and for proofe of that they produced their mouldy bread, and their tattered botles and their old ſhooes, and they taking what they ſaid, pro confeſſe, and not conſulting with the mouth of the Lord (as it is fully related in that chapter) were deceived by them, and entred into a League with their enemies: And thus the Papiſts and Prelates, for theſe many hundred years, have deluded the world, under pretence of their mouldy antiquities and tattered raggs of traditions, and in all this time they prevailed to miſlead the poore people, becauſe they conſulted not with the mouth of God, nor examined things by the Word of God and the holy Scripture, as the noble Bereans did.

Now whatſoever was written, was written for our inſtruction, upon whom the ends of the world are come; and therefore as it was the errour of the Iſraelites that they received things barely upon report, without conſulting with the mouth of God; and as it was the honour and praiſe of thoſe noble Bereans, that they ſearched the Scriptures to ſee whether the preaching of Paul were according to the holy Scripture: ſo if we ſhall receive theſe new borne truths, theſe new lights, theſe new ways without conſulting with the living Oracles, we ſhall offend as the Iſraelites did in beleeving the Gibeonites upon their words, and ſhall degenerate and be unlike to thoſe the renowned Bereans, who would not receive Paul's doctrine, though an Apoſtle, without ſearching the Scriptures, whether things were ſo or no, as he taught them: and ſurely now much more ought we to try all things by the Word in theſe erroneous times, whoſoever they be that preach them unto us, and if they be not evidently proved unto us out of the Scriptures, p. 560we may not admit of them; for it will be not only a ſin, but for our immortall ſhame to be deluded with novelties▪ much more then it was our anceſtors diſgrace to be deceived by pretended antiquities.

And therefore it is the duty of every Chriſtian ſeriouſly to conſider with themſelves, that theſe are matters of God, and concerne no leſſe then our eternall welfare; and in th… regard, we may not call mens ways, Gods ways, but we are to ſeek for the old ways, Jer. 6 we are to examine Christs and his holy Apoſtles ways in gathering of Churches and making of Members, and it we find no footſtep in all Gods Word of theſe new ways, we ought to relinquiſh them and turn again into the pathes that God hath commanded us to walk in, wherein we ſhall be ſure to find reſt for our ſouls and comfort in life and death, and it will be no diſgrace to any to be undeceived; for they are deceived, and that greatly and dangerouſly, that think or beleeve, that any men mortall can ſhew or teach a better way to Heaven, or ſet down a better way of converting ſouls and of gathering of Churches, and making of Members, and of ſetting up Chriſt as King upon his Throne, than that which Chriſt himſelf and his bleſſed Apoſtles have taught and ſet down to all poſterity; and from the which rule we ought not to ſwerve, though an Angel from Heaven ſhould teach us otherwiſe, Galatians 1. ver. 8. 9.

When therefore the Miniſters of the Church of England follow Chriſts and his Apoſtles way and method in their teaching and for the converting of men and hear only the voyce of Chriſt their King, and the Chriſtian Beleevers through the Kingdome under their Miniſteries, do all faithfully cleave unto the written Word and ſquare both their faith and obedience according to that rule; there is no juſt cauſe why the Independents ſhould proclame them all enemies of Chriſt and his Kingdome, and ſuch as oppoſe his royalty; and preach up themſelves and their congregations as the onelyonly people of God and his Saints, and account all thoſe that diſſent from them as oppoſers of Chriſts government, telling the people in their Sermons, that they come over from beyond the ſeas, thinking that they would have ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, and that they would have embraced him for their King, and would have eſtabliſhed his government, and have gone on in a church-way, and have ſet up the ways of God; but they find it p. 561otherwiiſe, that they deny & diſclaime and preach againſt Chriſts Kingly government, and perſecute the wayes of the Lord Chriſt; ſo that they can find more favour from moderate Papiſts and common Proteſtants than from them, by which their dealing, ſay the Brethren, they have ſo taken off the edge of Gods peoples affection from them, that the Saints and ſervants of God cannot pray for them, proclaiming themſelves the Saints and people of God, as if all the other beleevers through the Kingdome diſſenting from them in their opinions, were no Saints nor people of God.

Nay, they affirme it in their Pulpits, and in every Pamphlet, that both Miniſters and people are enemies of Ieſus Chriſt and his Kingdome, and all ſuch as will not joyne with them in their new wayes: And one of them not long ſince affirmed unto me, that the church of England was a Strumpet and an arrant Whore, and that ſhee being once a Whore, could never be preſented unto Chriſt as a chaſte Spouſe: which was an expreſſion not onelyonly uncivill and unbeſeeming a chriſtian, but untrue alſo; for grant ſhee had beene ſo, ſhee is now come out of Babylon, and has entred into a publicke covenant againſt her; and we reade of Judah, and Samaria, howſoever they had defiled themſelves and played the Harlots, yet upon their unfained repentance and true faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and renewing their covenant publickly of new obedience, were preſented unto Chriſt as a chaſte Spouſe, ſo that what is impoſſible with man is poſſible with God.

But this is the generall opinion of the brethren, and howſoever they will not all of them ſpeake it out in plaine words, as ſome of them doe, yet they preach and practiſe a ſeparation from all our aſſemblies and congregations, as from a people not to bee communicated with, and declare that by their deeds, which they will not as yet publiſh in their writings, nor in expreſſe words as hee did.

And one of the Independent Miniſters not long ſince, denouncing Gods judgements againſt all thoſe that would not aſſent unto their new wayes, nor light their candles at their new lights, nor embrace their new-borne truths, told them, that by their ſtanding out againſt the wayes of God (for ſo they ſuppoſe theſe are) and by their unkind uſage of the Saints, and perſecuting of them, they would at laſt drive from amongſt them the praying people (meaning themſelves, as if no other prayed p. 562but they onelyonly) and then they might looke that the judgements of God would ſpeedily come downe upon them, as it hapned to the Lutherans in Maydenburge in Germany, who thruſt out all the Calviniſts out of their Towne, a praying people, and immediatly after, the enemy came upon them with fire and ſword and deſtroyed them all.

With theſe and ſuch like expreſsions are their preachments ſtuffed, and to ſay the truth of many of their Sermons, they are like Taylors cuſhions, conſiſting of a hundred ſeverall ſhreds of various colours, all independent, making a fine ſhew, but comely no where but in a Taylors ſhop: and ſurely ſuch kind of expreſſions as theſe are may beſeeme their Pulpits, but no grave and learned honeſt miniſters: for they have no juſt cauſe to complaine of perſecution amongſt us, it is a calumny; neither deale they chriſtianly with us, to accuſe us that wee oppoſe the wayes of God, for we doe not ſo; we onelyonly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints, and againſt the wayes of Men, and ſuch as were brought into the Church by the cunning craftineſſe of ſome, and thruſt upon the people as the Lawes and Ordinances and wayes of God, when they are but their owne inventions, and tend to no edification, but to the trouble and diſturbance of Church and State, and ſuch as already have brought a confuſion upon us all, and if the Lord do not ſpeedily from Heaven ſend his helping hand, we can expect nothing but deſolation, and all from theſe diviſions, that their new wayes have brought in, and therefore it is high time for all good chriſtians and ſuch as love the peace of Sion, more exactly to examine all theſe new wayes; and to put them upon the proofe of them.

But that the Brethren ſhould complaine of perſecution amongſt us, and of evill uſage, it is againſt all reaſon and humanity, and ſheweth little gratitude in them to all the chriſtians both thorow citie and countrey; for if they remember when they came over, though they had deſerted the cauſe when they had moſt need of them, they were more honoured then any of thoſe famous and learned Miniſters that had undergone the labour and heat of the day, and they were preferred before them all, and ſetled in the prime Lectures of the Kingdome, and had more honourable maintenance then was uſually given to any Lecturers before them; and therefore they deale not brotherly in any of all their p. 563proceedings, nor humanely ſo to aſperſe them as they ordinarily doe both publickly and privately.

I am confident there is not ſuch a preſident in the world of humanity as that ſhewed here to them; it is well knowne, and their books & practices declare it, that they preach new ways, new-born truths, as they call them, and ſet up new lights: Now where was it ever heard of either in the Chriſtian or Pagan world, that it was ever permitted unto any Miniſters or Preachers to have all the Pulpits in any nation to preach a diverſe doctrine, to that which is ſet up by authority, and ſuch as tends to make a faction and diviſion amongſt the people? I doe moſt aſſuredly beleeve that there cannot the like preſident be produced.

Amongſt the Heathen, the Iewiſh Religion in many countries was tolerated; but they were confined to their owne Synagogues, they might not come in the Heathens Pulpits to preach up the Iewiſh worſhip amongſt them or to ſet up another ſervice contrary to the cuſtome of the Nation: It was an abomination to the Egyptians that the Iewes ſhould ſacrifice in their land, they would not have ſuffered them then to have preached up their Religion in all their Pulpits.

In Turkey at this day Chriſtians in many places have the liberty of their conſciences amongſt themſelves, and have their places for worſhip to aſſemble in; but they are not ſo much as permitted to come into their Temples, much leſſe to preach up their Religion in their Pulpits.

In France the Proteſtants are permitted to preach, but it is only in ſuch places as are appointed for them, they may not preach in Popiſh Pulpits, tha… is not permitted unto them.

In the Low-Countries there is liberty of conſcience, which they ſo much plead for (of which afterwards) and yet the divers ſects that are there, are not ſuffered to preach out of thoſe places aſſigned unto them, or to preach publikely in any of their Pulpits againſt the Religion eſtabliſhed by authority, neither are they permitted to unchriſtian them or unchurch them, and publikely and in print to proclame them enemies of Chriſts government; and if any ſhould dare attempt ſuch a thing, or go about to diſgrace their Miniſters and Church-government, or in the leaſt intrench upon the Magiſtrates authority, they would be made ſlie like lightning before thunder.

p. 564And yet the b…ethren …mong us have the liberty of all the Pulpits th…o…h the kingdome without controule, and vent all their new wayes and their new borne truths▪ and ſetup their new lights without any mo…eſtation, and have all reſpectfull uſage and the onelyonly eſteeme of the peo…le, and are more followed than all our learned godly and painfull orthodox Miniſters, and yet they cry out of perſecution, and unchurch and unchriſtian us all, and proclame both Miniſters and people all enemies of christ and his Kingdome, and count of us little better than of Infidels, and keep our children from Baptiſm, and debarre us from Communion with them▪ and exerciſe a kinde of abſolute Lordſhip over all their brethren, ſo as Diotrephes never did the like, nor the Pope mo…e, and yet they cry out of perſecution againſt the aints, and lay odious aspe…ions upon their brethren and fellow. Preſbyters, perſwading the people that the Preſbyterian way will be as bad or worſe then tha… of the Prelates.

But if we as duly examine the manner of the Independent government, and compare it with the Presbyterian, as we have done the manner of their preaching with theirs we ſhall finde there is little reaſon why they ſhould ſo vilipend the Presbyterian and magnifie their own, and why they ſhould make it ſo hatefull and odious to the people; laying aſide therefore all p…ejudice, let us examine things with deliberation, and then it will be ſoon evident, that the Preſbyterian government is not as bad or worſe than that of the Prelates nor ſo lordly as that of the Independent government which is alſo Preſbyterian, and they as well Preſbyters as their brethren.

It is well known that the Prelates aſſumed and arrogated unto themſelves to be the onelyonly Paſtors of their Dioceſſes▪ and ruled all the Miniſters and people under them by their own authority and ſpoiled all both Miniſters and people, and the ſeverall congregations under them of their liberty, and made them all both Miniſters and people their vaſſals and ſlaves, and from whoſe… ourts there was no appeal: Whereas the Presbyterian manner of government is not as that of Lords and Maſters o…er Subjects and Servants, but ſocial as between equalls, between brethren, friends and collegues, who all judg & are al… judged according to the Word of God, where no congregation is above another congregation, no Miniſter is above another Miniſter, but only for order-ſake, where p. 565every Presbyter is left to enjoy the whole office of a Presbyter, and each congregation to the freedome of a congregation, and what belongs unto them, and they able to performe it, and the claſſes to corroborate and ſtrengthen them.

And if any man be wronged by the Presbytery, he may have the benefit of his Appeal, and be cleared by more righteous Judges (a courſe ever followed by the Churches, and agreeable to the light of nature) ſo that I ſay, if men would without a prejudicate opinion weigh and conſider all things, and compare the government of the Prelates with that of the Preſbyterian, they would speedily be undeceived. And again, if they would compare the Preſbyterian Government Dependent with the Preſbyterian Government Independent, they would have more honourable thoughts of the one, and a leſſe eſteem of the other; for in the Preſbyterian Government Independent, they exerciſe a kind of abſolute power and ſoveraignty amongſt themſelves in every of their ſeverall Churches or Congregations; ſo that if two or three of the Presbyters be malicious or ſelfe will'd, or corrupt or hereticall, as it happens many times, and by their learning or eloquence, or great abilities of wit and ſchollerſhip, or by their wealth or power, the congregation perhaps conſiſting of many poor people, and it may be ignorant, who a…e relieved by them, and whoſe favour they dare not ſo feit, if they prevailing with the major part of the congregation (as commonly the poor people are like a company of wilde Geeſe, who which way ſoever their their leader flies they all follow) I ſay, if they do once deliver a man to Satan, and will not by any art of perſwaſion be induced to reverſe their un…ighteous ſentence, the innocent and wronged man muſt live under this doome all the dayes of his life without any remedy, and muſt be held by all the Churches of Chriſt (that are after that new modell to whom their ſentence is given notice of, as an excommunicated perſon and ſhun'd accordingly; they have no power to abſolve or helpe him, and from which he hath no benefit or appeal.

And this that I now ſpeak, there is not any of the brethren that is well verſt in the grounds of that kind of government, that either will or can deny it: And this rigor to my knowledge both in the low Countries in the ſeverall congregations of the Engliſh there, and in ſome here in England among us was the cauſe of p. 566making ſo many ſeverall ſects; for when they were caſt out of one congregation, for ſome particular opinion, in the which they differed from them, the other Churches and Congregations of the ſame mould and profeſſion could not abſolve them, nor durſt not receive them into Church-fellowſhip with them, without an atteſtation from the Church out of which they were excommunicated, of their Chriſtian walking amongſt them, or untill they had g ven ſatisfaction to that Church of which they had been Members, and that they would never be brought unto conceiving that the wrong was theirs who complained as unjuſtly excommunicated, neither would they relinquiſh their opinion, as being perſwaded it was grounded upon the Word of God; whereupon they finding others of their own opinion joyned themſelves into a new ſociety and congregation, and had a peculiar Church by themſelves; and this hath been one of the chiefeſt cauſes of all theſe rents and diviſions we now ſee every where; for when they are upon every ſlight occaſion, or for any difference in opinion caſt out, then they congregate a new Church by themſelves, and turn Paſtors.

The which, bleſſed be God, in the reformed churches of France and Germany, hath not yet been ſeen ſince the firſt reformation; for the governing of Churches by the Common-councell of their Presbyters, where they find ſuch brotherly dealing, and where they have their appeals upon any conceived wrong or injury, and have right and juſtice done them, makes them willingly ſubmit themſelves to that manner of government, without making rents and ſchiſmes: And truly if things were but maturely weighed, all men would readily perceive that there is no juſt ground of reproach to belaid upon the Presbyters, neither would they ſee any reaſon, why, in way of diſdaine, the Miniſters of the Church of England ſhould be more called Presbyterians than the Independent Miniſters; for they alſo are Presbyterians, and labour to ſet up a Presbyterian Government as well as the other, and profeſſe in their writings that they contend for the ancient Presbytery, ſo that they alſo are Presbyterians as well as the other; and if the one be made hatefull and formidable to the people, in the judgement of all ſolid men, the other alſo may be made as odious and hatefull; for if that odium and hatred they bring upon the Presbytery, be for the onelyonly feare they have conceived the Presbyters will lord it p. 567too much over them and that onelyonly I ſay, be the occaſion that ſo terrifies the people from that government; let all men here conſider and compare each kind of Presbytery together, both that of the Dependent and that of the Independent; for if the Independent Presbyters in the infancy and very firſt beginning and riſe of their government aſſume unto every ſeverall congregation and Presbytery of theirs, an abſolute kind of ſoveraignty and juriſdiction from which there is no appeal, and if they al…eady take upon them to unchurch all Churches but their own, and proclame all the Miniſters and people, but thoſe of their own congregations, profeſt enemies of Chriſts Kingdome; what would they do if they were once eſtabliſhed by authority in their ſeverall Juriſdictions and Aſſemblies? and if now they will admit of none into their ſeverall Aſſemblies, though never ſo eminent beleevers, but upon their owne conditions, and unleſſe they will be admitted members upon ſuch termes as they propound, without either precept or preſident out of the Word of GOD for their ſo doing (which is the greateſt tyranny of the world) how would theſe men lord it if their government were once eſtabliſhed by Parliament? It is well known and can ſufficiently be proved, that godly Chriſtians and people of approved integrity and of holy converſation, againſt whom they had no exception either for doctrine or manners, and who offered themſelves to be admitted members upon their own conditions, yet were not ſuffered to be joyned members, onelyonly becauſe they were poor; and this very reaſon was given unto them for their not admiſſion, that they would not have their Church over▪burdened with poore.

And others deſiring that their Children might be baptized in their Congregations, and going to the Miniſters of thoſe Aſſemblies to entreat this favour, that their children might be baptized among them.

For Anſwer, it was told them, that they could baptize none but ſuch as were infants of their joyned Members (which is their practice) and wiſhed them firſt to be made joyned Membert in one of their Churches: Whereupon they thought that there was no Congregation fitter for them to joyne to, than to that Paſtors Aſſembly that had given them this counſell, and therefore they applyed themſelves unto him, and deſired that they p. 568might bee admitted joyned Members: for anſwer, it was replyed, that the congregation of which he was Paſtor, conſiſted of great perſonages, Knights, Ladies and rich Merchants; and ſuch people as they being but poore, could not walke ſo ſuitably with them; withall hee ſaid, he could doe nothing without the conſent of the congregation; wherefore hee perſwaded them to joyne themſelves to ſome other congregation among poore people, where they might better walke, and more comfortably in fellowſhip with them, ſo that the laſt newes I heard of this buſines, was that the children were neither baptized nor the poore men admitted to be joynt Members of that congregation.

What their Miniſters have done ſince I know not, but I well perceive, it is as great a difficuly for a poore man to get into ſome of their congregations, as to get into Suttons-Hoſpitall; and that I conceive to be the onelyonly occaſion that makes ſome walke ſo long in many congregations before they come to be admitted members; for if they be rich they are ſpeedily received, nay invited to be Members.

It is too well knowne, that many godly and holy people have left their native countrey, and tranſported themſelves over into New▪England, where this government is ſet up, onelyonly that they might enjoy the Ordinances there in their purity; they were beleevers before they went, and were baptized, and ſuch as were knowne before they went thither to be the deare ſervants of God; but when they come there (eſpecially if they be poore) they make them walke ſome a yeare, ſome more, yea, ſome ſix or ſeven before they can be admitted Members of their Congregations, and they baptize none of thoſe children that are borne there before their Parents be joyned Members; and except they will in all things conforme themſelves to their owne conditions, they ſhall never be admitted.

And ſome time the man onelyonly is admitted, and his wife left out ſtill to walke; and ſome time the wife is admitted and the man left out ſtill to walke, and both theſe notwithſtanding are beleevers and baptized; and after with a great deale of difficulty, they are admitted to be Members; a very ſmall offence will be ſufficient to caſt them out againe, if they be poore. But for ſtories of this nature, I doe not love to multiply them; but I have heard many of this kind from thoſe places, and from ſuch as have beene in New-England, p. 569and men both then and now no way evilly affected either to the place or people, ſerving God there.

But it is too notorious, they lord it there over Gods poor Clergies in the ſuperlative degree, and every man that hath but eyes in his head may ſee it here in England in their congregations, what difference they make between the rich and poor, and that they have the faith of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in reſpect of perſons, a ſinne in Saint James his time highly blamed in Chriſtians, James 2. And as in their carriage towards the poor, they are very lofty, and look for great obſervance and attendance from them whereſoever they come, ſo likewiſe a little thing will diſpleaſe them; if they ſpeak a word amiſſe, it is enough to be caſt out of the Congregation; preſidents of this nature might be brought many: And if all this be not to lord it over Gods Clergies, I know not what it is; to admit of none, though beleevers, and already baptized, but ſuch as will come in upon their own termes, and keep out the poor either altogether, or as long as pleaſeth them, without any other reaſon but becauſe they are poor, and caſt them out again upon every ſlender occaſion; I ſay, if all this be not a moſt diabolicall tyranny and lording it over Gods Clergies, I referre it to any moderate man to judge of; and if to unchurch all Churches but their own, and at one blaſt to proclame them all enemies of Chriſt and his Kingdome, and to deny all Church-fellowſhip with them, be not more than a Diotrephian, Prel…ticall and Papall Authority, there was never any in the world, and if this be not to lord it over Gods Clergies, there was never any known.

Now I ſay, if the Independent Presbyters do ſo timely begin their abſolute lording of it, what would they do if their government were eſtabliſhed by authority? Their Miniſtery and government is farre different from that of Chriſt and his holy Prophets and Apoſtles; for they invited all the poor to come in and to buy milk, yea, to come in and buy milk without money, Iſaiah 55 … and Saint Paul for the encouraging of the poor to come in, …aith, not many mighty not many noble, but the meane and contemptible things hath the Lord made choyce of; intimating unto the poore, that they have as good right to Heaven as the greateſt and chiefeſt; and our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and ye ſhall find reſt p. 570unto your ſoules: Our Saviour hath no reſpect of perſons, but the poor are with him as acceptable as the rich, if they be weary and heavy laden with their ſinnes; for that is all the condition that Chriſt requires, in all that deſire to be admitted Members of his Church.

Now when theſe Presbyters already make ſo great difference between the poor and the rich, and between beleevers and beleevers, as they will admit none but at their own times, and upon their own conditions, I do conceive that this is a moſt tyrannically lording it over Gods Clergies and Inheritance; which when they dayly do it, and the Presbyters of the Church of England do it not, it is moſt apparent that their rule and domination is more prelaticall and more to be feared than that of the Presbyters of the Church of England; for from the Independent Presbyters they can never expect any appeal for releife and redreſſe, whatſoever wrong or injury they have ſuſtained by them; and therefore there is no juſt cauſe why any ſhould ſo traduce the Presbytery of the Church of England, as to think they will lord it over the people, from whom they may ever expect farre better meaſure than ever they can from the Independent Presbytery, which if it ſhould once be eſtabliſhed, would tend to nothing elſe but to enſlave the whole Kingdome, and to bring in a confuſion upon both Church and State.

But now it will not be amiſſe before the concluſion, as we have compared the Presbyters of the Church of England with the Presbyters Independent, both in regard of their doctrine and diſcipline; ſo now likewiſe here to paragonate them together, in their proceedings for the advancement of Chriſts Kingdome, that all men may ſee in that regard alſo, which of their endeavours tend moſt to the advancement of the Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt, and which of them ought to be preferred before other, and which of them doth more really and truly tend not onelyonly to Gods glory, but to the peace alſo of the Church and State: For the Presbyters of the Church of England, they … and endeavour, as there is but one body, one ſpirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptiſm, one God and Father over over all, who is above all, and through all, and one true Chriſtian Religion, Eph. 4. ſo that this onelyonly may be eſtabliſhed through the three Kingdomes; and that all erroneous ways of worſhipping and ſerving p. 571God, and that tends to lead men to perdition, and make diſturbance in Church and State, may not publikely be tolerated: The Independents on the contrary, both publikely and privately, and in all their bitter railing and intolerable Pamphlets, as that of the Compaſſionate Samaritan, the Storming of Antichrist, and that of the Arraignment of Mr Perſecution, & in many more of their ſcurrilous writings, plead for a toleration of all Religions (under pretence of liberty of conſcience) whatſoever they be, as Judaiſme, Turciſme, Popery, Paganiſme, and all manner of ſects, and for the confirming of this their diabolicall tenent, they bring in the example of the heathen Nations, who ſuffered all Religions amongſt them; and the example of Poland, Tranſſylvania and Holland, thoſe pantheons of all Religions, add tell us of the Parable where Chriſt commanded that the Tares and the Wheat ſhould be ſuffered to grow together till the harveſt, the day of judgement: And uſe or abuſe rather ſome other places of Scripture, which as they conceive make all for a toleration of all Religions.

To all which their pretences, I ſhall at this time briefly anwer, after I have ſet down ſome grounds out of holy Scripture, and produced ſome examples of Gods dear children, friends and ſervants out of the ſame, which muſt be the warrant of all Chriſtians to follow to the end of the world; for whatſoever was written before was written for our learning, 1 Cor. 10. Rom. 15. and by the Word of God, and from the example of Gods ſervants, we are ever taught, that diverſity of Religions amongſt Chriſtians ought not to be tolerated.

And firſt to begin with Abraham, the Father of the faithfull, and his ſeed, whoſe examples, all that are his and their children, ought to ſet before their eyes for imitation: The Lord called Abraham, as it is in Joſhua 24. out of his Father Terah's houſe, and from his kindred, when they ſerved other gods and made a Covenant with him, as it is at large ſet down in the 12. of Geneſis, and in divers other places of the ſame book; and in ſpeciall in the 17. of Geneſis, verſe 1, 2, 3, &c. where the Lord reneweth his Covenant with him and his ſeed, and ſets down the conditions of his Covenant with Abraham, which was, that Abraham ſhould walk before him and be perfect, and that then he would be his God all ſufficient to provide for him and protect him whereſoever p. 572he came; which covenant the Lord ever kept with Abraham and his ſeed, delivering them out of the hands of all their enemies, when they ſerved him according to the conditions of the covenant, walking uprightly before him (as he will do to all his children to the end of the world, walking in father Abraham's ſteps) and of Abraham the Lord ſays this, in the 18. of Geneſis ver. 17, 18, 19. Shall I hide from Abraham that which I doe. ſeeing that Abraham ſhall become a great and a mighty Nation, and all the Nations of the earth ſhall be bleſſed in him? for I know him, that he will command his children and houſhold after him, that they ſhall keep the way of the Lord, to do Iuſtice and Iudgement, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath ſpoken of him, &c.

In theſe words, we have Gods teſtimony of Abraham in the which he gives this witneſſe of him, that he would command his children and houſhold after him, that they ſhould keep the way of the Lord to do juſtice and judgement: Then it is manifeſt, that Abraham tolerated neither in his children, nor in his houſhold any Religion contrary unto that that God had taught him, nor ſuffered no idolatry nor Sects in his family; for this had not been to walke uprightly before God, for it had been unjuſt dealing with God ſo to have done; for Abraham and his ſeed were to walk perfectly and ſincerely before God, and therefore he would never tolerate all Religions or the worſhipping of a falſe God, or the worſhip of the true God after a falſe manner, which alſo is Idolatry, for this had not been to do juſtice and judgement; but Abraham ſet up the true worſhip of God whereſoever he came, as the whole ſtory of his life doth abundantly declare: And ſo did Iſaac after him, and Jacob after him, as in the 33. of Geneſis doth appear, where Jacob ſaid unto his houſhold and to all that were with him, put away the ſtrange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments, and let us ariſe and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an Altar unto God, who anſwered me in the day of my diſtreſſe and was with me in the way which I went; and they gave unto Iacob all the ſtrange gods that were in their hands, and Iacob hid them under the Oak that was at Sechem, and the terror of God was upon the cities which were round about them, and they did not purſue after the ſons of Iacob.

p. 573In theſe words we have a preſident for imitation, with the fruit and benefit that doth redound to all thoſe people and Nations that ſet up the true worſhip of God, and root out all Idolatry and falſe worſhip out of their families and Countries; for Jacob gives no toleration in his houſe nor amongſt his people for all Religions, or for any other but that which God himſelfe had appointed; he ſets up the true worſhip of God, and that onelyonly within his Juriſdiction, and buries all the Idols, of what price and how rich ſoever they were, and he found the comfort and benefit of this his ſo doing; for the Lord for this his faithfull ſervice, bleſſed him and protected him from the fury of all his provoked enemies; for the terror of God was upon them all, ſo that they durſt not purſue him.

And if we take notice in our reading of the holy Scriptures, we ſhall find and that through the whole Word of God that the Lord ever followed that people, and thoſe Kings and governours and their whole Kingdomes and Countries with ſpeciall bleſſings and ſingular favours that purged their Country from idolatry and all falſe worſhips, and ſtruck a terror into all their enemies round about them; neither did they ever purge their Countries from Idolatry, and root out Idolaters, but the anger of the Lord was preſently appeaſed by it; and it is alwayes recorded to the eternall praiſe and honour of thoſe Kings, Rulers and Judges that were moſt forward in reformation, and that ſet more throughly upon that good work of reformation; and thoſe that did things but to the halves in reformation, have not ſo honourable a teſtimony in holy Scripture as the other: and that God hath ever been pleaſed when Idolatry hath been rooted out, and Idolaters put to death, there be many preſidents of it in the Word of God.

Amongſt others, that in the 32. of Exodus, how highly was God diſpleaſed there with the making of that Calf? and how well was he pleaſed when execution was done upon the contrivers and authors of that Idolatry, that place ſufficiently declareth; yea, in the 13. of Deuteronomie, the Lord declaring how much he deteſteth Idolatry and all falſe worſhip, giveth a diſpenſation to children for diſobedience to their parents (who by his law they are bound to obey) in Gods matters; ſo that if thoſe of their nigheſt relations ſhould go about to intice any to Idolatry, or to the worſhipping of falſe gods, or the true God in a falſe manner, or ſhould p. 574endeavour but to bring in another Religion than that the Lord had appointed, that then they ſhould bring them forth and have juſtice done againſt them; ſo that God abhorreth that any Religion amongſt his own people ſhould be tolerated or ſet up beſides that he himſelfe hath commanded; and he had forbid in his law, that any man ſhould make to themſelves any graven Image, or ſet up any way of worſhipping him but that which he himſelf had ordained and injoyned, and commanded that they that ſhould attempt any ſuch thing ſhould be put to death.