A Dissuasive from the Errors of the time, Chapter 2

A Dissuasive from the Errors of the time · Chapter 2

p. 20CHAP. II. The Doctrine of the BROWNISTS.

THe peculiar Tenents of the Browniſts wherein they differ from other Proteſtants, are many: Thoſe that occur to my minde from ſome ſlight and curſory reading of ſome of their Books, ſhall briefly and plainly be ſet down; but with this premonition, That every thing mentioned, be not taken for an Article of Browniſm; for it is needful at ſome times to interlace Tenents which are common to them with others, for the clearing of thoſe which they have peculiar.

Their differences run moſt upon the Conſtitution and Government of the Church: They have alſo divers Singularities about the Circumſtances and Parts of the Service of God; alſo concerning the Magiſtrate, and Schools, and divers other things. Without affectation, or curious ſearch of Method, we ſhall propound matters as they come to hand.

They hold that all Churches in the world but their own, are ſo polluted, that they muſt be ſeparate from.Concerning the Conſtitution of the Church, conſider their judgement, firſt, what they think of others, then what of themſelves. All other Churches they condemn, ſo far, as to profeſſe and practiſe a Separation from them. The edge of their Arguments, is uſually directed againſt the Church of England alone; but when their Doctrine or Practiſe is looked upon a little more neer, it appears they ſhoot their Bolts at all other Churches in the world which refuſe their Way.

Their injurious ſlanders of the Church of England.For the Church of England, they ſay it ought not to be called a Church; or at beſt, that it is a falſe and Antichriſtian Church, out of the which every one (though not perſecuted) muſt flee, as they would avoid damnation. (A)

Sometimes, in their calm mood, they will give better words, and acknowledge it to be a true Church, That the Doctrine and Sacraments thereof are true,Yet ſometimes they ſay that communion may be kept therewith both in preaching and prayer. That many thouſands of its members are gracious and elect people. (B)

But their ordinary language is of another ſtrain, to wit, That the Church of England is a meer Harlot, divorced from Chriſt, (C) That the Worſhip thereof is groſſe Idolatry, and the Service of p. 21the devil, (D) That all the members thereof are unclean beaſts, and the limbs of Antichriſt, (E) That her beſt Preachers that preach moſt for Reformation, are but Phariſees and Deceivers, (F) That the Faith, Grace and Comfort which by their Miniſtery they ſeem to bring to the hearts of the hearers, is but meer deluſion, (G) That their Sacraments are Seals, not of Grace, but of the wrath of God, (H) That all Communion with her, even in the Word and Prayer, is to be forſaken. (I)

The Unconformiſts did always zealouſly plead againſt the Corruptions of that Church, but never againſt the truth of her being, or the comfort of her Communion: When by the force of perſecution they were driven out, then they did flee: Of their own accord they did never ſeparate, but were ever moſt glad to live and die in her boſome, willing to partake of her Worſhip and Sacraments, whenever they were permitted to diſſent in Doctrine, and to abſtain in practice, from thoſe things which they conceived to be corruptions. (K)

Concerning other Reformed Churches,Their like dealing with all the other reformed. though free both of Liturgies and Biſhops, and many other of the Engliſh ſtumbling-blocks, notwithſtanding all their Reformation, yet they pronounce their Worſhip to be idolatrous, (L) their Government tyrannous and Antichriſtian, (M) yea, their very Conſtitution both in matter and form to be ſo vitious, (N) that with a good conſcience they cannot communicate with any of them, (O) that the reformed Presbyteries and Synods are no better then the Engliſh Epiſcopacy; (P) yea, to Epiſcopacy they are ſo favourable, that they profeſſe their willingneſſe to acknowledge all their Civil Power, and much of their Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction; (Q 1.) that the Presbyterian Divines have ever been as evil as Epiſcopal; (Q 2.) that the vitious conſtitution and government of the moſt reformed Churches in Europe, hath flowed from the ignorance and obſtinacy of unhappie Calvin. (R 1.)

We muſt not be deceived with their pleaſant words,Their ſt…ing of … Chu… … when they make fair profeſſions of their hearty agreement in ſo many things with the other Reformed Churches, and of their willingneſſe to communicate with them both in Word and Sacraments. (R 2.) Theſe flatteries are contradictory both to their Doctrine and Practice; for when they had left England, they were ſo far from joyning with any of the Reformed, that they ever erected new p. 22Churches after their own way, and made it an open and avowed cauſe of Excommunication for any of their Members to communicate with the Churches of Holland, among whom they did live; (R 3) alſo the crimes of the Church of Holland, which they cry out upon, are ſuch which none of the Reformed Divines do condemn. (S)

On the other ſide, the Nonconformiſts whom the Epiſcopal perſecution did baniſh out of England, were ever well content without erecting of a new Church, to joyn themſelves as Members to any of the forrain Churches, Scottiſh, Dutch, or French, according as they underſtood their Language, or had occaſion of abode among them.

The matter of a Church they make to be real Saints onelyonly.Thus they do judge of others. As for the form of that Tabernacle which they profeſſe to build for themſelves, thus we may conceive it: The matter or members of that Church, they avow to be Saints; but the Members of other Churches, they pronounce them for the moſt part to be wicked and flagitious. (T)

Their unreaſonable ſtrickneſſe in this one point, is the great cauſe of their Schiſm.The Nonconformiſts with all the reformed, are willing to admit of no others to the Lords Table but theſe who are Saints by calling, in whom they require three qualifications: Firſt, That they have a good meaſure of knowledge, and profeſſe to beleeve the truth. Secondly, That in their life and converſation, they be without ſcandal. Thirdly, That they be ſubmiſſive to the Diſcipline of the Church: But the Browniſts preſſe a fourth qualification; Were a mans profeſſion never ſo fair, and his knowledge never ſo great: In all parts of Doctrine, let him be moſt Orthodox, and in his Converſation moſt harmleſſe, and inoffenſive; were he never ſo willing to joyn in all the Ordinances of God, and to be governed according to the ſtricteſt Diſcipline of Chriſt; notwithſtanding all this, they count him not qualified to be a Church Member, except he declare publikely in the face of the Congregation, ſuch clear and certain ſignes of his real Sanctification, and true Regeneration, as gives full ſatisfaction, not onelyonly to the Miniſter and Elders, and many of the people, but to all and every one, or at leaſt the major part of the Church. (V)

If any prophane perſon ſhould be admitted, he ſhould quickly ſo far pollute the whole Church, that every Member thereof muſt needs become partaker of his ſins; (X) And if upon admonition they did not excommunicate him, they themſelves ought p. 23to be ſeparated from, as an infected and leprous Society. (Y)

They tell us yet more,The leaſt ſin of any Member of a Church defended, is a juſt cauſe of Separation. that not onelyonly the profaneneſſe of one perſon doth pollute the whole Church, but any one ſin or errour of any one Member, though godly and regenerate, if after admonition he continue therein, and be not excommunicate, doth ſo defile the whole, that it muſt be ſeparated from. (Z) To diſtinguiſh here betwixt ſins greater and leſſer, to make ſome errours Fundamental, and ſome preter-Fundamental, it is to them a following of the Papiſts in their abſurd diſtinction of mortal and venial ſins; the leaſt Errour joyned with obſtinacie, to them is an Hereſie, and a juſt cauſe of Separation. (AA)

They acknowledge it is the fancy of the Anabaptists to ſeparate for every fault and errour; but that which alone diſpleaſeth them in this fancy, is a fault whereof the Anabaptiſts ſeem not to be guilty, the not advertiſing of the Church of the fault and errour of the Member they complain of before they ſeparate; If this neglect be helped, the reſt of the fancy they ſeem to approve. (BB)

Thus much for the matter of their Church; the form of it,They place the Form of their Church in an expreſſe Covenant. not Accidental, but Eſſential and Conſtitutive, they place in an explicite Covenant, (CC) wherein, all and every one of the Members, by a voluntary Aſſociation, without the Authority of either Magiſtrate, or Miniſter, do binde themſelves under a ſolemn Oath to walk in the wayes of the Goſpel. (DD.)

When two or three, or ſome very few,Seven may make a perfect Church, yea, two or three. (for they require no more then ſeven to a full and perfect Congregation; (EE) and they profeſſe it unlawful to admit any more then can commodiouſly at one time in one place, partake of all the Ordinances.) (FF) If when theſe few, I ſay, have departed not onelyonly from the Engliſh, and the reſt of the Reformed, but alſo from every Church of their own way, wherein they finde the leaſt errour or ſin of any of the Members, whereof they have complained, not to be amended, either by the Repentance or the Excommunication of the party: (GG) The Aſſociation of theſe men,The erecting of a Church requireth, neither the Magiſtrates, nor Miniſters aſſiſtance. thus ſeparate into a Covenant, is the eſſential form of their Church.

But the aſſociation muſt be ſo voluntary and free, as not to wait for the countenance of any Authority, either Eccleſiaſtick, or Civil; to ſupplicate the Magiſtrate for his favour in the gathering p. 24of a new Church, is to them a ſin; (HH) and to erect a Church by the help of any Miniſter, to them is a contradiction: For the Church newly erected, makes the Miniſter; but no Miniſter can gather or erect a Church. (II) If a perſon, who elſewhere hath been a Miniſter, become the Author or Inſtrument of erecting a Church, he is not then a Miniſter, but a meer private man▪ till the Church ſo erected by a new call and ordination by themſelves, doth make him again a Miniſter.

They put all Church power in a handful of people, without any Paſtor.Unto their Church ſo conſtituted in matter and form, were their number never ſo ſmall, before it attain to any Officer, either Paſtor, or Doctor, or Elder, they aſcribe great power and fair priviledges; not onelyonly the power of Doctrine, but of Ordination, and all Juriſdiction; even a full right to all the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and every priviledge of any viſible Church, how perfect ſo ever. (KK)

The Election, Ordination, Depoſition, and Excommunication of the Miniſter, belongs to the flock, and to it alone.This their new Church, they will have to elect the Paſtor, and all other Officers; if a Paſtor ſhould come to them by the preſentation of a Patron, or nomination of a Presbytery, however they did not oppoſe, yea, did conſent to his admiſſion, yet if they were not the Electors, and firſt Nominators, the man ſhould be an intruder and a Woolf, whom they might not lawfully hear. (LL)

The Paſtor being choſen, and that out of their own number, uſually ſome Artificer, or Tradeſman (for they do not require Letters in their Paſtors:) and ſo far in their Elections, they tie themſelves to their own Members, that if any other were found meet and willing to be an Officer among them, he muſt firſt enter into their Covenant, and become a Member before he were capable of any Office. (MM) When I ſay they have elected him a Paſtor, the ſame, and no other then who did elect, do give him Ordination; for the right and exerciſe of Ordination, (NN) they aſcribe to the people, that is, according to Ainſworth, and others, (if we beleeve Johnſon) every Member of the flock, even Women and Children. (OO) But according to Johnſons minde, onelyonly the men of the flock, excluding Women and Children; yet including the meaneſt and moſt ignorant of all the men who are Communicants: To theſe they aſcribe the power of Ordination, who in the exerciſe of it, appoint ſome of their number, whom they think fitteſt to ordain the Paſtor, that is, to examine him in all the p. 25needful qualifications of his life and doctrine, to exhort him to all the parts of his duty, publikely to pray for him, and at laſt to lay hands upon his head. (PP)

The Paſtor ſo elected and ordained, becomes a ſervant, not onelyonly of Chriſt, but of that flock from whom he hath (as they ſpeak) originally (QQ) all his power to Preach, or celebrate the Sacraments, or to do any other part of his Office: wherein if he fail, any one of the people hath power to admoniſh and reprove him publikely; (RR) and the greater part of the people in any Congregation agreeing (ſuppoſe they were four, when the whole makes ſeven) have full power to depoſe and Excommunicate him (SS); much more have they power to cognoſce, and definitively to determine upon the nature of Hereſie, Superſtition, Errour, or of any crime which procures theſe cenſures.

When the major part of the people have caſt out the Miniſter,Every man of the Congregation may Preach and publikely rebuke, not onelyonly the Paſtor, but the whole flock, yea and ſ…parate from it. and all the Officers, and ſo many of the flock as adhere to them, no part of their power by this ejection is loſt, ſtill they keep their full right to all the Ordinances of Chriſt; any of them who is thought able, may prophecy, that is, publikely expound the Word, and apply it for inſtruction, reproof, comfort, and all other uſes: (TT) Any of them may pray in the Congregation, any may Ordain, any may Excommunicate; they give expreſſely a full power to every one of admonition and rebu…e, yea, of cenſuring ſo far the whole, that if they refuſe to follow the juſt admonition of any one, he ought to denounce the judgements of God publikely againſt them all, and ſeparate from them as from an obſtinate and curſed ſociety. (VV)

The onelyonly queſtion remains about the Sacraments;Some of them give the power of the Sacraments alſo to pri…ate perſons. all of them agree, that the ſmalleſt and weakeſt Congregation may chooſe and ordain one of their own number when ever they will, to be Paſtor, and ſo to celebrate the Sacraments to the reſt; (XX) …ut the moſt of them ſay, that unleſſe they have appointed a Paſtor for that end, none of the reſt can lawfully celebrate a Sacrament: (YY) Yet others of them make a Quaere hereof; (ZZ) for ſay they, ſince the Church without Officers hath the free exerciſe of all other power, in Preaching, Prayer, and Cenſures; why may not the like be ſaid of the Sacraments? Theſe men after their ſcrupling for ſome time, as their cuſtome is, come up at laſt to conclude and practiſe celebrating Sacraments without any Paſtorall p. 26charge, of Baptiſm it is certain; for Maſter Smith profeſſing himſelf a meer private man, having renounced his former Miniſtry and Baptiſm alſo, took upon him to baptiſe himſelf; and who lawfully may celebrate the one Sacrament, may as lawfully celebrate the other.

The ſolemnizing of marriage they give to parents, but divorces they commit to the parties themſelves.When all the power is aſcribed by them to their Church, yet peremptorily they deny to it the power to ſolemnize marriage; (AAA) for marriage to them is not onelyonly a contract meerly civil, but ſuch a one as concerns the Church nothing at all; ſo they remit it wholly to the Magiſtrate, or elſe to the Parents, (BBB) to be ſolemnized in private Families; and as their marriage is private, ſo likewiſe muſt their Divorces, without the cognizance either of Magiſtrate or Miniſter. (CCC) They were wont to teach that adultery, did ſo far annul marriage, that it was a ſin, and the cauſe of excommunication for the innocent party to forgive, and cohabit any longer with the party nocent; albeit, they profeſſe their retractation hereof, making it now fr…e for the innocent party, either to depart or abide with the nocent, as they finde it expedient, and all this without any legal proceſſe. (DDD)

They make every Congregation Independent, and of ſoveraign Authority.The power which they grant to their ſmalleſt Congregations, is very great; but they adde one circumſtance to it that makes it high above meaſure; All the power of their ſmalleſt Congregations muſt be Independent and Soveraign, that is, abſolutely Supreme upon Earth, depending immediately upon Chriſt; and none elſe; for they deny all Eccleſiaſtick Authority above a particular Congregation, which goes beyond a meer advice and councell. (EEE)

So that if the moſt part of a people in a Congregation ſhould turn Heretical, and extremely wicked, excommunicating their Paſtor, their Doctor, their Elders, and whole Conſiſtory, onelyonly for truth and righteouſneſſe: For all this, no perſons on Earth, not an Oecumenick Synod ſhall have any more power to controle them, then the meaneſt of their own ſervants; for to the meaneſt ſervant they give power to admoniſh, reprove, rebuke, and to ſeparate from the whole Church, when it is obſtinate in any evil, and more power then this they will not give to the greateſt, and beſt Synods, over a Congregation of a very few, ſometimes very ignorant and weak perſons. (FFF)

p. 27They do not deny that Presbyteries and Synods are the Ordinances of God, which have many profitable uſes;Their Judgement of Synods. (G G G) but the Synods they allow of, muſt have theſe conditions.

Firſt, They will have them onelyonly occaſional and elective, not ſet or ordinary, but as any Church ſhall have need to call together whom they think meet for their help and advice, in what matters they think good to propound. (H H H)

Secondly, The Members of their Synod muſt not be onelyonly Miniſters and Elders, and men cloathed with Commiſſions; but all who pleaſe to come without excluſion of any. (III)

Thirdly, All who come, as well People as Officers, muſt have free liberty, both of debate and voting deciſively. (KKK)

Fourthly, Nothing muſt go by number, or pluralitie of voices. (LLL)

Fifthly, In their Synods there muſt be no Moderator, no Prolocutor for the ordering of the Action. (MMM)

Sixthly, They will not be content that any Synod ſhould have the leaſt power of juriſdiction to cenſure the wickedeſt Heretike who is infecting all about him far and neer with the vileſt Errors. (NNN)

In theſe their fancies they pleaſe themſelves ſo well,Their high conceit of their own way, and injurious, depreſſing of all others. that they avow the very Crown, Scepter, and Throne of Chriſts Kingdom to conſiſt in them: (OOO) That the Churches ſo conſtituted and governed, are nothing leſſe then the new Jeruſalem coming down from Heaven: (PPP) That all the Reformed Churches for their aberration from this Conſtitution and Government, are either no Churches at all,Churches, Bells, Pulpits, Tithes, Glebes, Manſes, and all ſet maintenance of Miniſters, are unlawful. Not ſo much as a Churchyard muſt be kept up for burial, but all muſt bury in the fields. or but Babyloniſh and Adulterous Churches, or at beſt, but corrupt Societies from which a Separation is neceſſary.

In things concerning the Worſhip, they have crotchets not a few upon the Maxime that all Monuments of Idolatry muſt be aboliſhed preciſely, according to the Laws of the old Teſtament; they will have all Churches that were builded in the time of Popery, made level with the ground, (QQQ) their Bells to be broken, yea, all Bells to be unlawfull, being Humane and Popiſh inventions. (RRR)

Not ſo much as a Church-yard muſt be kept up for Burial, but all muſt bury in the fields. (SSS)

What ever of old was dedicated to the maintenance of the p. 28Worſhip of God, they will have it all rejected as an Inſtrument of Idolatry: But herein they ſeem to deal ſcarce fairly with the Law; for howſoever they preſſe the caſting down of the Churches, the breaking of the Bells, the aboliſhing of the Idols, and all that belonged thereunto; (TTT) yet they do leave to the Magiſtrate, or to any, who in this are ſerviceable to their humour, the rich rewards of the Gold, Silver, Braſſe, Veſtments, Timber, Stone, Lands and Rents, which belonged to theſe Churches, to be poſſeſſed by them with a very good Conſcience, and without the leaſt ſcruple of any Sacriledge. (VVV)

However they do maintain, that all the Officers of their Church, not onelyonly Paſtors, and Doctors, but every one of their other four ſorts of Miniſters, Elders, Deacons, Helpers, Widows, (XXX) ought in Conſcience, and by Divine right to be (by the Congregations, which they ſerve) (YYY) provided for; yet they are ſo far from permitting any of them to enjoy the leaſt portion of the old Rents of the Church, that they avow Parſonages and Viccarages, Glebes, and Manſes, to be altogether unlawfull. (ZZZ) That for a Miniſter to crave any Tithes, or for any man for all that either Laws or Magiſtrates can command, to pay any Tithes, is a ſin which aboliſhes from Chriſt. (AAAA)

They drive the aboliſhing of Church-rents, ſo high as to make all goods common.They adde further, That all ſet-maintenance to Church Officers, is againſt the Goſpel; that it is the Will of Chriſt, that Miniſters now be provided for in that ſame way as himſelf and his Apoſtles were of old, onelyonly by the voluntary Contributions and meer alms of the people: They d…ive on this point ſo far, as to come up in termes to the Anabaptiſt… Tenent of making all goods common. (BBBB)

The days of the we…k, the moneths, the yeer of God, they will not name.Their hatred of Idolatry is ſo great, that they profeſſe it unlawfull, ſo much as to mention in any civil way, the names of places or times that carry any footſtep of any ancient Idoll, Saint Andrew, Saint John, Peter or Pauls Church: Munday, Tueſday, Wedneſday, Sunday; January, February, March; thoſe and the like words to them are profane and unlawful (CCCC): The very yeer of God diſpleaſeth them; they will have it called, The yeer of the Saints last patience (DDDD).

No pulpits, no hour-gl…ſſes, no Churches, no Gowns.They will have no Circumſtance in the Worſhip determined, not ſo much as by cuſtom, much leſſe by Law; there muſt be no limitation of Preaching either to time or place. Pulpits they p. 29ſcorn, they call them Priviledged Tubs (EEEE). They laugh at preaching to an Hour-glaſſe (FFFF). To preach in a Gown, is to them little better then a Surplice, or a Fryars Coul. That Penitents in their publike confeſſion ſhould ſtand in a peculiar place, or in any habit diverſe from ordinary, is to them a matter of mockery (GGGG).All ſet prayer, even the Lords prayer, and all Pſalms in meeter, yea in proſe, if uſed as praiſes, are unlawful.

As for the parts of the Worſhip, in all of them they have ſome one ſingularity or other: They make all ſet-prayer, the very Lords Prayer it ſelf uſed Prayer-wiſe, not onelyonly to be inconvenient and unlawful, but to be Idolatry, and the worſhip of the devil HHHH; howbeit Maſter Robinſon here corrects his companions, and profeſſeth that ſet-prayer, in ſome caſes, is very lawful worſhip IIII.

The ſinging of Pſalms in meeter, not being formal Scripture, but a Paraphraſe, to them is unlawful (KKKK); much more the ſinging of any other ſongs in the Church, which are not expreſſe Scripture. They permit to ſing Pſalms in Proſe, not as an act of immediate praiſe LLLL; for ſet-Praiſe would be as idolatrous as ſet-Prayer; but as a matter of inſtruction and comfort, whereby God is glorified, as by all other actions, whether natural, moral, or ſpiritual, which are done in faith.

But herein Maſter Smith is wiſer then his fellows, telling us, That all Songs in the Church out of a Book, whether in Verſe or Proſe, are Idolatry (MMMM); yet he admits of ſinging ſuch Pſalms as the Spirit dictates to any perſon immediately without Book (NNNN).

It ſeems the Browniſts at Amſterdam have recanted their error in this point; for all of them ſing now in ſtrange tunes the Pſalms in meeter, of Ainſworths exceeding harſh Paraphraſe.

Preaching of the Word, to them is no Paſtoral act,Their opinion of preaching & Sacraments. but is common, not onelyonly to all the Officers, but to every gifted Brother of the Flock (OOOO).

The word Sacrament to them is traditional, corrupt, and not to be uſed (PPPP).

The Baptiſm of the Engliſh Church they make to be vain, and nul, the ſeal of no grace, but onelyonly of wrath and condemnation (QQQQ); yet they will not have it repeated.

They teach,Their ſtra…ge way of celebrating the Lords Supper. that the Lords Supper ſhould be celebrated every Lords day (RRRR): So preparation-Sermons before, and Sermons for Thankſgiving after the Lords Table, to them are needleſſe. They p. 30will have all to ſit at the Lords Table with their Hats on: uncovering of the head in the act of receiving, to them is Idolatry (SSSS). In this the preſent practice at Amſterdam contradicts their Doctrine; for however they ſit covered in time of all the reading and diſcourſe; yet when it comes to the participation of the elements, every man, during the time of his eating and drinking, ſits uncovered.

They reject catechiſms, the Apoſtles Creed, and all reading of Scripture without expoſition.They count it lawful to joyn with the Lords Table Love-feaſts (TTTT).

They reject all Catechiſms, being ſet, and ſo unlawful forms of inſtruction ( Ʋ Ʋ Ʋ Ʋ ). After a member is once received amongſt them, they enquire no more for his knowledge, having once gotten ſatisfaction, at his admiſſion to Memberſhip, of his ſufficient knowledge.

The Apoſtles Creed they deteſt, as an old Patchery of evil ſtuff (XXXX): Chriſts deſcent into hell, they count a blaſphemous Article (YYYY).

They reject all publike reading of the Word which is not backed with preſent Expoſition (ZZZZ): They do not any way ſcruple the Office of Readers and Expounders; for they give full liberty of publike and ordinary Preaching to any gifted man of the Flock, though he have no Office.

After preaching, they propheſie.When the exerciſe of Reading, Expounding, Singing of Pſalms, Praying and Preaching by the Paſtor, is ended, they will have one, two, three, or four, to propheſie in order AAAAA; and all to have a free liberty of continuing ſo long as they think meet.

Then comes the conference.After all this is done, they have yet another exerciſe, wherein, by way of conference, queſtioning and diſpu…ation, every one of the Congregation may propound publikely, and preſſe their Scruples, Doubts and Objections againſt any thing which that day they have heard BBBBB.

And, as if all theſe Exerciſes were not enough to tire out a ſpirit of Iron, the moſt of them being repeated again in the afternoon, for a concluſion of all, they bring in the laborious and long work of their Diſcipline, for which the whole Flock muſt ſtay till they have heard, debated and diſcerned every cauſe that concerns either the Officers,Brown for liberty of conſcience. or any of the people, whether in Doctrine or Manners CCCCC.

Concerning the Magiſtrate, Maſter Brown teacheth, that he hath p. 31no right to meddle at all with any matter of Religion, but to permit the liberty and free choice of Religion to the conſcience of every one of his Subjects DDDDD. The moſt of Browns followers do leave in this their Maſter,His followers againſt it making it a great part of the Chriſtian Magiſtrates Office to ſuppreſſe, within their own Bounds, Idolatry and Falſe doctrine EEEEE; To compel all their Subjects, if they will not be perſwaded, to hear the Word preached, albeit no way to enter themſelves members of any Church, or to hinder any to enter in any Church they will, or to erect new Churches of their own framing FFFFF. Further, if the Magiſtrate be a member of any Church, they will have him,Their carriage towards the Magiſtrate. were he the King himſelf, to be ſo far ſubject to their Church-Cenſures, that a little ſmall Congregation ſhall have power, upon his obſtinacy in any ſin or errour, to excommunicate him, and that without all delay, without any reſpect to his Crown, more then if he were the pooreſt ſervant of the whole Flock GGGGG; and, which is worſt of all, the Prince his Excommunication by the hands of ſo ſmall & weak a company, muſt be without all poſſible relief; for he hath no liberty of appeal to any upon earth HHHHH; an oecumenike Councel may not aſſay to looſe the knot of that Cenſure which the hand of the Congregation hath tied.

But their great Tenent about the Magiſtracie, is this,They ſpoil Kings and Parliaments of their Legiſlative power. That no Prince nor State on the earth hath any Legiſlative power; That neither King nor Parliament can make any Law in any thing that concerns either Church or State; That God alone is the Law-giver; That the greateſt Magiſtrate hath no other power, but to execute the Laws of God ſet down in Scripture IIIII; That the Judicial Law of Moſes bindes at this day all the Nations of the world, as well as ever it did the Jews KKKKK: They tell us that whatever God in Scripture hath left free, it may not be bound by any humane Law, whether Civil or Eccleſiaſtike; and what God hath bound by any Law in Scripture, they will not have it looſed by the hand of any man.

They lay it upon the Magiſtrate to puniſh by death,They obliege the Magiſtrate to kill all Idolaters. without any diſpenſation, every Adulterer, every Blaſphemer, every Sabbath-breaker, and above all, every Idolater LLLLL. And here is the great danger, that by Idolaters they will have underſtood, not onelyonly Pagans and Papiſts, but the far greateſt part of all Proteſtants, all abſolutely who are not of their way; for, the uſing of a p. 32ſet Prayer,But to ſp…re all theeves. were it the Lords own Prayer, to them is clear Idolatry MMMMM 1. For all this, they will not permit any Magiſtrate to hang any th…ef at all MMMMM 2.

They wil have the Univerſities deſtroyed.Againſt the learning of the Times, they make large Invectives; the Univerſities, and all the Colledges in them, they will have razed to the ground; they profeſſe them to be worſe then the Monaſteries that juſtly were aboliſhed NNNNN: whatever Arts and Sciences are taught in the Chriſtian Schools, they count them idle and vain: Grammar, Rhetorick, Logick, Philoſophy, are all unlawful Arts OOOOO.Secular authors and learning muſt be aboliſhed.

The Heathen Writers which are uſed in any Faculty, ſuch as Ariſtotle, Plato, Cicero, and the like, they would have them all burnt, as the Authors of unlawful Arts. They reject all School-Degrees, ſuch as Batchelors, Maſters of Art, Doctors of any faculty PPPPP. They wil have no Students of Divinity QQQQQ. They tell us that youths miſ-ſpend their time, and exceedingly abuſe themſelves,Preachers muſt ſtudie no book but the Scriptures. by ſtudying of thoſe things which uſually are recommended unto them as preparations for the Miniſtery, whether Common places, Commentaries upon Scripture, or Proteſtant writers of Controverſies; all ſuch Books they will have laid aſide RRRRR; yea, it is their advice to reject all Books but the Bible alone SSSSS. As for Divinity-Diſputations, they make large Invectives againſt them, as Paganiſh and very ſinful Exerciſes TTTTT; notwithſtanding all this, they proclaim themſelves great Patrons of all true Learning Ʋ Ʋ Ʋ Ʋ Ʋ ; albeit, as yet they have not been pleaſed to let the world know what kinde of Letters and Books they will be pleaſed with, when all that hitherto have been known, are laid aſide by their perſwaſion.

The Teſtimonies.

A. Barrows Diſcovery, p. 26. In this eſtate, what communion is to be held with the Church of England? What fellowſhip may the children of God have with ſuch Rebels and Apoſtates? Can the name of a Church, without blaſphemy unto Chriſt, be given unto them in theſe ſins? They then not being under Chriſts, protection, nor in the ſtate of Grace, while they continue in their ſin, I have often wondred how any man of ſound judgement could give them the name of a Church.

p. 33Ibidem, in the Preface. Let the reſt no longer tempt God, or be held under the dint of this dreadful Milſtone, by any perſwaſion; but let them ſave their ſouls out of this accurſed falſe Church, and joyn themſelves to the faithful ſervants of Chriſt with all ſpeed.

The Confeſſion, Art. 31. Theſe Aſſemblies ſtanding thus in confuſion, cannot be ſaid truely to have Chriſt their King, Prieſt and Prophet, neither in this eſtate can be eſteemed the true, viſible, orderly, conſtitute Church of Chriſt, whereof the faithful may become or ſtand members, or have any ſpiritual Communion with them in their ſpiritual Worſhip and Adminiſtrations: Therefore are all that would be ſaved bound by Gods Commandment with ſpeed to come forth out of this Antichriſtian eſtate, leaving the ſuppreſſion of it to the Magiſtrate, to whom it belongs.

A light for the ignorant, p. 8, 9. This Whoriſh Citie hath a Body of falſe Prophets; whoſoever heareth theſe, or any of theſe, breaks the firſt Commandment; for in hearing and obeying theſe, they hear and obey the Dragon, Beaſt and Whore that ſent them, and gave them their Authority and Office; they uſe ſome Divine Truths, to help to ſet a gloſſe on their Inventions; but both divine and invented are conſecrated and dedicated by the Beaſt, and adminiſtred by his Office.

(B) Robinſons Apologie, pag. 78. Convenit nobis quatenus reformatis Eccleſiis Belgicis & aliis cum Eccleſia Anglicana in Articulis fidei hujus Eccleſiae nomine ſcriptis; idem in his Book of the lawfulneſſe of the hearing of the Miniſters of the Church of England.

Barrows Refutation of Giffard, p. 21. We never doubted but the foundation of God ſtood firm, the Lord having many thouſands of his elect among you known to himſelf. Idem, in his Diſcovery, p. 119. The errours and fauls of Baptiſm being purged by Repentance, it pleaſes God, in pardoning the faults, to reſerve, and not to have repeated the outward action. Their Apologie, p. 93. We gladly embrace the common faith profeſſed in this Land, as moſt holy and ſound: We have a reverend eſtimation of ſundry, and good hope of many hundred thouſands in the Land. Their Confeſſion, p. 8. We teſtifie by theſe preſents to all men, That we have not forſaken any one point of the true, ancient, Apoſtolike Faith profeſſed in our Land, but hold the ſame grounds of Chriſtian Religion with them.

(C) Barrows Diſcovery, p. 26 There is no cauſe to doubt but any of Gods ſervants may avoid that Congregation which rejecteth Gods p. 34Word preſumptuouſly, as a wicked Aſſembly, and an adulterous Church▪ Ibid. p. 29. I deny theſe aſſemblies to be true Churches of Christ, ſeeing they have broken the Covenant, and caſt off the Yoke of Chriſt.

(D) Barrows Refutation, p 33. We further conclude from the ſecond Commandment, That whatſoever Worſhip is deviſed by man, and whatſoever device of man is put in the Worſhip of God, it is Idolatry: But a great part, if not the whole Worſhip of God in your Church, is deviſed by man. If God be not worſhipped with this kinde of Worſhip: Then, to ſpeak as the Prophets and Apoſtles do, the devil is worſhipped thereby.

(E) Apologie, p. 54. None can ſubmit unto, or have any ſpiritual Communion with the Hierarchie aforeſaid, but they worſhip the Beaſt and his Image, and ſo make themſelves ſubject to the wrath of God. Barrows Diſcovery, p. 180. Here would not be forgotten the ſweet Pſalmodical harmony of the Vultures, Cranes, Owls, Geeſe; of the Leopards, Boars, Wolves, Dogs, Swine, Foxes, Goats. Pordon me; for thus the holy Ghoſt termeth the profane confuſed multitudes in falſe Churches.

(F) Barrows Diſcovery, p. 52. Diſguiſed Hypocrites, ravening Wolves, that come to us in ſheeps clothing, under the glorious titles of Paſtors and Teachers, Miniſters of the Gospel, men of great Learning, holy Life, ſighers for Reformation; theſe Phariſees, theſe Sectaries are they that miſlead the people in their crooked paths of death. Ibid. p 112. No middle courſe can here be taken; we muſt either make the Tree good or evil; Theſe Miniſters of the Church of England are true or falſe: if falſe, then deliver they no true Sacraments; then is all their Adminiſtration, Sacraments and Sermons accurſed, how holy ſoever or neer the Truth in outward ſhew; then are they the Miniſters of Satan, of Antichriſt, ſent by God in his wrath to deceive and destroy ſuch as are ordained to death; then ought not the Prince to repair to their Sermons for comfort; then is all the comfort ſhe taketh there, but deluſion, even the deceit of Satan; then are they ſeducers who perſwade her to go to them, as whereby they draw her to the wrath of God, and imminent danger and inevitable deſtruction, except ſhe forſake them.

(G) Vide f. alſo Barrows Diſcovery, p. 154. The comfort received from their Preaching, their whole Miniſtery being accurſed, is a fearful ſigne of the effectual working of their deluſions: From their p. 35Miniſtery in this estate, no comfort is to be looked for, but aſſured deſtruction; they being of God in his wrath ſent to deceive the children of death, the Reprobates.

(H) Barrows Diſcovery, p. 29. I deny their Sacraments to be the Ordinances of God, ſeeing to them, in this eſtate, belong not the Sacraments and Miniſtery of Chriſt, but the curſe and judgement of God. Ibid. p. 31. Such Sacraments can no ways be called the Ordinances of Chriſt, but rather ſure Seals of his wrath to as many as profane his holy Ordinances, and joyn together in that ungodly and accurſed action, until they repent.

(I) Vide f. alſo Barrows Diſ. p. 43. There can be no greater allowance of joyning to them, then to make them our mouth or Miniſters unto God, or together with ſuch to joyn in any action concerning the Worſhip of God.

(K) See Maſter Balls Confutation of the Browniſts.

(L) Barr. Diſ. p. 66. This Book being a publike preſcript Liturgie, were it the beſt that ever was deviſed by mortal man; yet being brought into the Church, yea into any private houſe, would be an abominable ſacrifice in the ſight of God, even as a dead dog. Truely I am aſhamed to write of ſo groſſe and filthy abominations ſo generally received, even of all States of theſe parts of the world, who of a Popiſh Cuſtom and Tradition have received it one of another, without any warrant from the Word. Ibid. p. 75. Other more ſmoothe hypocrites, yet as groſſe idolaters, uſe the Lords Prayer as a cloſe of their own.

(M) Canns Neceſſity of Separation, p. 66. It is all one, whether turning on the left hand we embrace the Idolatry of Biſhops, or turning on the other hand we follow the new devices of mens fooliſh brains; for utter deſtruction certainly follows both.

(N) Robinſons Apologie, p. 89. Quae nos ad Separationem ſolicitant, ipſam Eccleſiae materialem & formalem conſtitutionem ejuſdemque politeiae adminiſtrationem eſſentialem ſpectant.

(O) Johnſ. Enquiry, p. 25. Seeing by the mercy of God we have ſeen and forſaken the corruptions which remain in the French and Dutch Churches, we cannot partake with them in ſuch caſe, without apoſtacie from the Truth.

(P) Johnſ. Plea, p. 231. Every particular Church, with their Paſtors, ſtand immediately under Chriſt the Arch-Paſtor, without any other ſtrange Eccleſiaſtical power intervening, whether it be of p. 36Prelates, or other unlawful uſurping Synods, or of any ſuch like, invented by man, and brought into the Church. Barrows Diſ. p. 261. If we would but lightly examine theſe ſecret Claſſes, theſe ordinary ſet Synods which the Reformists would openly ſet up, they ſhall, no doubt, be found as new, ſtrange, Antichriſtian, and prejudicial to the Rights of the Church, as contrary to the Gospel of Chriſt as the other, what ſhew ſoever of former antiquity or preſent neceſſity they can pretend. Idem Refut. of Giff…rd, p. 137. Theſe are the antient Sects of the Phariſees and Sadduces, the one in preciſeneſſe, outward ſhew of holineſſe, hypocriſie, vain-glory, and covetouſneſſe, reſembling, or rather exceeding the Phariſees; the other, in their whole Religion, and diſſolute converſation, like to the Sadduces, looking for no Reſurrection, Judgement, or life to come; the one removing from place to place for their advantage and beſt entertainment, in the errour of Ba'aam, for wages, ſeduce and diſtract the people of the Lord from their own Churches and Paſtors. Sions Royal Prerogative, in the Preface. Whereas the Papiſts place the power of Chriſt given to the Church, in the Pope, the Protestants in the Biſhops, the Reformed Churches, as they are called, in the Presbytery: Neither of them hath right in this thing, but contrarywiſe Christ hath given the ſaid power of his to all his Saints, and placed it in the Body of every particular Congregation.

(Q 1.) Robinſons Apol. p 83. Perſonas Epiſcoporum vel autoritatem qua potiuntur civilem in rebus vel civilibus vel etiam Eccleſiaſticis non averſamur.

(Q 2.) Vide ſupra F.

(R 1.) Bar. Diſ. p. 33. Such like deteſtable ſtuff hath Maſter Calvin in his ignorance brought to defend his own raſh and diſorderly proceedings at Geneva, whiles he at the first daſh made no ſcruple to receive the whole State into the boſome of the Church: yea, that which is worſe, and more to be lamented, it became a miſerable precedent and pernicious example to all Europe, to fall in the like tranſgreſſion, as in the confuſed eſtate of all thoſe Regions where the Goſpel is thus orderly taught, is more then plain.

(R 2.) Robinſ. Apol. p. 7. Profitemur coram Deo & hominibus adeo nobis convenire cum Eccleſus reformatis Belgicis in re Religionis, ut omnibus & ſingulis earundem Eccleſiarum fidei Articulis prout habentur in harmonia Confeſſionum fidei, paratiſimus ſubſcribere. Ibid. p. 11. Eccleſias reformatas pro veris & p. 37genuinis habemus, cum iiſdem in ſacris Dei Communionem profitemur, & quantum in nobis eſt colimus; conciones publicas ab illarum paſtoribus habitas ex noſtris qui norunt Linguam Belgicam frequentant; Sacram coenam earum membris ſi qua forte noſtris coetibus interſint nobis cognita, participamus: Malis illarum ſerio ingemiſcimus. Apol. for the Browniſts, pag. 35. We are willing and ready to ſubſcribe thoſe Grounds of Religion publiſhed in the Confeſſion of Faith made by the Church of Scotland, hoping in the unity of the ſame Faith to be ſaved by Jeſus Chriſt, being alſo like minded in points of greatest moment with all other Reformed Churches; and on the contrary, for Anabaptiſts, Familists, and all other Heretikes, new, and old, we utterly reject them, and all their Errours and Hereſies. Johnſ. plea. p. 245. I acknowledge the Reformed Churches to be the true Churches of Christ, with whom I agree, both in the Faith of Chriſt, and in many things concerning the Order and Government of the Church.

(R 3.) Johnſ. Inquiry, p. 57. Having declined to divers Errors of the Dutch, the Church did excommunicate him, and ſo ſtill he remains. Ibid. p. 59. Yet it is falſe that we have excommunicate any for the hearing onelyonly the Word preached among the Dutch or French; for theſe that yet we have caſt out here, it hath been partly for revolting from the truth which they profeſſed with us, to the corruptions of thoſe Churches, and partly for other ſins. (S) The Confeſſion, p. 26. The ſtate of the Dutch Church at Amſterdam is ſo confuſed, that the whole Church can never come together in one; they read out of a Book certain Prayers invented and impoſed by man; the command of Christ Matth. 18. they neither obſerve, nor ſuffer to be obſerved rightly; they worſhip God in the Idoll-Temples of Antichriſt, their Miniſters have their ſet maintenance, their Elders change yeerly, they celebrate marriage in the Church, they uſe a new cenſure of Suſpenſion.

(T) Robinſ. apol. p. 81. Eccleſiae Anglicanae conſtitutio materialis eſt ex hominum flagitioſorum colluvie, paucis ſi cum reliquis piis admiſtis conferantur.

(V) Canns neceſſity, p. 167. He is to come himſelf into the publike Aſſembly, all looking on him with love and joy, as one that comes to be married, and there he is to make publike Confeſſion of his Faith, to anſwer divers queſtions; being found worthy by the conſent of the whole, he is to be taken into the Communion.

(X) Bar. diſ. p. 34. I have ſhewed, that the known and ſuffered p. 38ſin of any Member, is contagious to all that communicate with them in that eſtate, and maketh them which communicate in Prayers or Sacraments with ſuch an obſtinate offender, as guilty in Gods ſight as he himſelf is.

(Y) Bar. diſ. p. 34. I have ſhewed that the whole Church hath no power to dispence with the breach of the leaſt Commandment, and that ſuch obſtinate ſin in the whole Church breaketh the Covenant with God, and maketh it ceaſe to be a Church, or in Gods favour, till it repent.

(Z) Vide ſupra. X, Y.

(AA) Bar. diſ. p. 157. They make this part of Gods Word ſubſtantial, that of Form; this Fundamental, that Accidental; this neceſſary to Salvation, that needleſſe; but if the whole Word of God be holy▪ pure, and true, then is this deep learning of theirs, devilliſh and blaſphemous. Ibid. They thus to colour their wickedneſſe, make ſome part of Gods Word Fundamental, Subſtantial, neceſſary; other Accidental, Superficial, needleſſe, which makes ſome ſins openly and manifeſtly convinced, yet obſtinately perſiſted in without any repentance in this life, not to be mortal as the Papiſts do.

Barrows refut. p. 24. We have learned to put difference betwixt Errour and Hereſie. Obſtinacy joyned to Errour after it is duely convinced, maketh Hereſie: And further we ſay, that any Errour being obſtinately holden and taught, after it is duely convinced and reproved, maketh an Heretike; and Hereſie in that party, and in that Congregation that ſo holdeth and teacheth, doth ſeparate from the Faith and Communion of Chriſt. Ibid. p. 27. It is his Scholaſtical, or rather Sophiſtical diſtinction of Errours Fundamental, &c. They who obſtinately hold any Errour or Tranſgreſſion, and will not by repentance be purged, there from loſe Chriſt, and ſo hold not the Foundation.

(BB) Bar. diſ. p. 33. Such like deteſtable ſtuff hath Maſter Calvin in his ignorance, partly to confute that damnable ſect of Anabaptiſts, which fantaſtically dream to themſelves of a Church in this life without ſpot, and for every Tranſgreſſion that ariſeth, are ready to forſake the fellowſhip of the Church, without due and orderly reproof.

(CC) Rob. Apol. p. 81. Formalis eccleſiae conſtitutio eſt ex fidei & reſipiſcentiae confeſſione orali per adultos facta conſociatio in particulares coetus.

(DD) Confeſſion of faith, p. 34. Being come forth of this Antichriſtian p. 39eſtate, to the true profeſſion of Chriſt, beſide the inſtructing of their own Families, they are willingly to come together in Chriſtian communion, and orderly to Covenant and unite themſelves in viſible Congregations. A light for the ignorant. p. 12. This voluntary uniting, is the form and being of the politick and viſible Ʋnion and Communion.

(EE) Robinſ. Juſt. p. 107. This we hold and affirm, that a company conſiſting, though but of two or three gathered by a covenant made to walk in all the ways of God, known unto them, is a Church, and ſo hath the whole power of Chriſt. Ibid. p. 111. Two or three thus gathered together, have the ſame right with two or three thouſand; neither the ſmallneſſe of the number, nor meaneſſe of the perſons can prejudice their rights.

(FF) Johnſ. plea. p. 250. The conſtitution of every particular Church ſhould be ſuch that each of them may ordinarily come together in one place for the worſhip of God and all other duties belonging to them, by the Word of God. Rob. Apol. p. 12. Statu…mus non debere eccleſias particulares ambitu ſuo plura membra complecti quam quae in unum locum ſimul coire poſſunt.

(GG) Vide ſupra. X, Y.

(HH) Bar. diſ. p. 190. They ſuite to bring Chriſt in by the Arm of Fleſh, by ſuiting and ſupplicating to his vaſſals and ſervants▪ If ſo be they can imagine them Chriſtians, that will not ſuffer Chriſt to reign over them by his Laws and Ordinances. If they judge them no Chriſtians, then they ſuite and ſtay on his enemies, till they will ſuffer Chriſt to reign and rule over his own Church.

(II) Confeſſion. p. 34. Beſide the inſtruction of their Families, they are willingly to come together, and unite themſelves in viſible Congregations: Then ſuch to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures, may, and ought by the appointment of the Congregation, to prophecy, and ſo to teach publikely the Word of God, untill ſuch time as God manifest men with able gifts to ſuch Offices as Chriſt hath appointed for the publike Miniſtery of the Church, but no Sacrament to be adminiſtred untill the Pastors or Teachers be choſen, and ordained to their Office.

(KK) Barr. diſ. pag. 34. Which people thus gathered are to be esteemed an holy Church, and hath power to receive into and cast out of their fellowſhip, although they have attained to have yet among them neither a Miniſtery nor Sacraments, providing it be not by any p. 40default in them that they be wanting. Ibid. It is manifeſt, that all the Members of the Church have alike intereſt in Chriſt, in his Word, in the Faith; That all the affairs of the Church belong to the Body together; That all the actions of the Church, Prayers, Sacraments, Cenſures, Faith, be the action of them all joyntly, and of every one ſeverally, although the Body to divers actions uſes divers Members which it knows moſt fit for the ſame; all the charged to watch, admoniſh, reprove, and hereunto have the power of the Lord, the Keyes of the Kingdom, even the Word of the moſt High, whereby to binde the Rulers in chains, and their Nobles in fetters, to admoniſh the greateſt, even Archippus, to look to his Miniſtery, and if need be, to plead with their Mother.

(LL) Canns Neceſſity of Sep p. 29. None may hear, or joyn in ſpiritual Communion with that Ministery which hath not a true Vocation and Calling, by Election, Approbation, and Ordination of that faithful People whereto he is a Miniſter. Ibid. p. 46. So neceſſary is a right election, and calling, to every Eccleſiaſtike Office; that without the ſame, it cannot poſſibly be true or lawful. Barr. Refut. p. 30. The Minister muſt not onelyonly be called to a true Office, but must have a lawful calling to that Office; otherwiſe he is but an intruder, a theef, and a murderer: Every particular Congregation ought to make choice of their own Pastors.

(MM) A Light for, p. 17. In the falſe Church, the particular Congregations have no Authority to produce or raiſe Officers out of themſelves; for the Clergy is a distinct Body, and ſent by their Eccleſiastical Heads, and bring their Office and Authority with them.

(NN) Bar. Refut. p. 19. This power of Ordination is not as the unruly Clergy of theſe dayes ſuppoſe, derived from the Apostles and Evangelists, under the permanent ministery of Pastors and Elders. Ibid. p. 130. Ordination is but a publiſhing of that former contract and agreement, betwixt the whole Church and theſe elected Officers, the Church giving, and the Elect receiving their Offices, as by the Commandment of God, with mutual vow to each other in all duties. Canns Neceſſity of Separ. p. 29. None may joyn with that Miniſtery which hath not a true calling, by Election and Ordination of that faithful people to whom he is to adminiſter.

(OO) Johnſ. Plea. p. 316. It is to be underſtood according to Ainſworth, Robinſon, and Smith, of men, women, and children, in p. 41their own perſons, who are bo…d in their own perſons to be preſent, to hear and judge controverſies.

(PP) Rob. Juſtifi. p. 9. alſo p. 111.

(QQ) Light for the ignorant, p. 17. Theſe Officers have not onelyonly their Authority from particular Congregations, but do ariſe originally and naturally out of the ſame.

(RR) Vide ſupra. KK. Alſo Bar. Diſ▪ p. 125. The leaſt of the Church hath as much power by the Word of God, to binde the Sin of the Pastor; and upon his Repentance, to pronounce comfort and peace to him, as he hath to binde or looſe the ſins of the least.

(SS) Confeſſ. p. 23. As every Congregation hath power to elect and ordain their own Miniſtery, ſo alſo have they power, when any ſuch default in Life, Doctrine, or Adminiſtration breaks out, as by the rule of the Word deprives them of their Ministery, by due order to depoſe them; yea, if the caſe ſo require, if they remain obſtinate, orderly to cut them off by Excommunication.

Canns Neceſſity, p. 155. If they ſhall ſin ſcandalouſly, the Congregation that choſe them freely, hath free power to depoſe them, and put another in their room.

(TT) Johnſ. Inquir. p. 7. We have in our Church the uſe of the exerciſe of Prophecy ſpoken of, 1 Cor. 14. In which, ſome of the Brethren, ſuch as for Gifts are best able, though not in Office of the Ministery, deliver from ſome portion of Scripture, Doctrine, Exhortation, Comfort; ſometimes two at a time, ſometimes more.

(VV) Bar. Diſc. p. 26. Their is no cauſe to doubt but any of Gods ſervants may cenſure, judge, and avoid that Congregation which rejecteth Gods Word, breaketh Gods Law, despiſeth his Reproof and Mercy, as a wicked Aſſembly, and an Adulterous Church. Ibid. p. 38. Who can deny but that every particular Member hath power, yea and ought to examine the manner of administrating the Sacraments; as alſo, the Eſtate, Diſorder, and Tranſgreſſions of the whole Church, and to call them all to Repentance; and if he finde them obſtinate in their Sin, rather to leave their Fellowſhip, then to partake with them in wickedneſſe?

(XX) Vide ſupra. MM.

(YY) Vide ſupra. ll.

(ZZ) Smiths Differences, p. 56. It may be a queſtion whether the Church may not adminiſter the Sacraments before there be any Officers among them.

p. 42(AAA) Bar. Diſc. p. 121. I have alwayes found it the Parents office to provide marriage for their children; and that the parties themſelves ſhould affiance and betroath one another in the fear of God, and in the preſence of ſuch witneſſes as are preſent; and that in their Parents or other private houſes, without turning to the Church or to the Prieſt.

Confeſſ. pag. 45. The Dutch Church at Amſterdam celebrates marriage in the Church, as if it were a part of the Eccleſiaſtick Adminiſtration, while as it is in the nature of it meerly Civil.

(BBB) Vide ſupra AAA.

(CCC) Vide ſupra AAA.

(DDD) Johnſ. Inqui. p. 33. Theſe of our Members that you cenſure, they avow that they accuſed themſelves of adultery, not for that end to be quit of their wives, but being perſwaded in their minde that they ought not to continue with their wives, having by their adultery broken the bond of marriage. Ibid. This indeed we held the moſt of us heretofore, and ſome of us are ſo perſwaded ſtill; and while we were generally ſo minded, we thought it our duty to walk accordingly (he means to excommunicate even the innocent party who was pleaſed to dwel with her Husband after he had ſinned) taking the innocent party that retained ſuch offenders, though upon repentance, yet to be defiled and live in ſin.

(EEE) Johnſ. Plea, p. 231. Every particular Church with the Paſtor, doth ſtand immediately under Jeſus Chriſt the Arch-Paſtor, without any other ſtrange Eccleſiaſtical power intervening, &c.

Vide ſupra P. Alſo Robinſons Apol. p. 17. Non magis erat Petrus & Paulus homo integer & perfectus ex partibus ſuis eſſentialibus & integralibus conſtans, ſine relatione ad alios homines, quàm eſt …oetus particularis recte inſtitutus & ordinatus tota integra & perfecta eccleſia, ex ſuis partibus conſtans immediate & independenter quòad alias eccleſias ſub ſolo Chriſto; non itaque movendi ſub humanae prudentiae, antiquitatis, unitatis, aut alio ullo colore eccleſiae viſibilis ſeu Miniſterialis termini antiqui quos poſuerunt Apoſtoli.

(FFF) Canns guide to Sion, about the midſt. It is ſure that Chriſt hath not ſubjected any Congregation of his to any ſuperiour Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction then to that which is within it ſelf; So that if the whole Church ſhall erre in a matter of Faith or Religion, no other Church or Church-Officer hath any warrant from the Word of God, or p. 43power to cenſure, puniſh, or controle the ſame, but are onelyonly to adviſe them, and ſo to leave their ſouls to the immediate judgement of Chriſt.

Robinſ. Apol. p. 18. Licet imò incumbit Paſtori unjus eccleſiae ut & reliquis membris quod donum accepit ſive ſpirituale ſive temporale prout datur occaſio, id aliis eccleſiis & earum membris impertiri, ex charitatis vinculo quo illis adunatur, non autem exequi in iis munus publicum ex authoritatis prerogativa quam in ſuos ſolos habet.

(GGG) Johnſ. Plea, pag. 251. To this end, and in this manner may be had a profitable uſe of Synods, Claſſes, and Aſſemblies for mutual help and advice in caſes of queſtion, controverſie, and difficulty about Religion, ſo that they do not challenge or uſurpe any unlawful juriſdiction or power over the particular Churches, and their Governours.

(HHH) Bar. Diſc. p. 261. Theſe ſecret Claſſes, theſe ordinary ſet Synods which the Reformiſts would ſet up.

(III) Bar. Refut. p. 81. In a Chriſtian Synod no Chriſtian ought to be ſhut out, but all have equal power to ſpeak, aſſent or diſſent, without diſturbing the Order of the Holy Church, by preſuming to ſpeak before the Ancients, or againſt any thing ſaid by them without juſt cauſe; who ſo doth, is reproved of all, judged of all as a disturber.

(KKK) Vide ſupra. III.

(LLL) Bar. Diſc. p. 261. In their Synods the matters being debated, the greateſt part prevaileth, and carrieth the judgement.

Ibid. p. 78. This balloting by ſuffrage or pluralty of voices, might well be a cuſtom among the Heathen in their popular Government, but it is unheard of, and unſufferable in the Church of Chriſt.

(MMM) Ibid. p. 261. The order and manner of theſe Counſel… ▪ is, firſt to chuſe a Prolocutor, Moderator, or Judge to govern, and order the action, who, and when they ſhall ſpeak, and when ceaſe.

Ibid. p. 191. Not here to ſpeak of their ſolemn Order obſerved in theſe Counſels and Synods, as their choice by ſuffrages among themſelves of their Archiſynagogos or Rectorchori, their Preſident as they call him.

(NNN) Vide ſupra. FFF.

(OOO) Bar. Diſc. p. 38. Every Member of his Church is to pronounce upon them the judgements that are written, and to throw upon them the Stone of his judgement and conſent: Therefore hath the Lord raiſed up the Thrones of David in his Church, and ſet his Saints in ſeats round about his Throne. A Light for the Ignorant, pag. 10. The true power which Chriſt our King hath received of p. 44the Father, and communicated to his Saints; and theſe onelyonly is that dominion which the Ancient of days hath given to his Saints, Dan. 7.19.

(PPP) Johnſ. Plea. p. 321. The Lord hath promiſed to raiſe up his Church again to the former integrity, and to ſet up the new and heavenly Jeruſalem in the Ancient beauty thereof.

(QQQ) Bar. Diſc. p. 139. Their Churches ſtand in their old Idolatrous ſhapes, and can never be purged till they be laid on heaps as their youngest Sisters, the Abbacies were.

Confeſſ. p. 39. It is the Office of the Magistrate to deſtroy all Idol-Temples: The Dutch Church of Amſterdam worſhips God in the Idol-Temples of Antichrist.

(RRR) Bar. Diſ. p. 133. Some of their old Relicts are yet in uſe, as their Bells, Surplices, &c. We may reſolutely deteſt all ſuch as abominable Idols, ſuch as by the Law of God are devoted to utter deſtruction; the very Gold of them, Deut. 7. is to be destroyed; in ſuch detestation ought Idolatry to be. God hath ſuch Idol places, and all their furniture in deteſtation, ſo that he hath commanded the Magistrate to raze and deface them; ſo that, neither they can be uſed to the worſhip of God, nor we have any civil uſe of them, ſeeing they are execrable and devoted to deſtruction; if the moſt precious matters be forbidden, how much more the baſer Iron, Braſſe, &c.

Canns Neceſſity, p. 122. He that ordained firſt Bells, was Sabinian the Pope, in the yeer 603. Whatſoever cometh from Antichrist, cometh from the devil and out of the bottomleſſe Pit.

(SSS) Bar. Refut. p. 38. Where learned you to buried in hallowed Churches and Church-yards, as though ye had no Fields to bury in. Idem. Diſc. p. 126. Me thinks the Church-yards of all other places ſhould be not the convenienteſt for burial; it was a thing never uſed till Popery began: It is neither comely, convenient, nor wholeſom….

(TTT) Confeſſ. p. 39. It is the Office of the Magiſtrate to deſtroy all Idol-Temples, and to convert to their civil Ʋſes not onelyonly the benefit of all ſuch Idolatrous buildings and monuments, but alſo all the Revenues, Poſſeſſions, Glebes and Maintenance of any falſe Miniſtry within their own Dominions.

(VVV) Vide ſupra, TTT, alſo Bar. Diſc. p. 61. Being given to the maintenance of a Popiſh Miniſtry, they ought to be put to civil Ʋſes, and not to the maintenance of Chriſts Miniſtry.

(XXX) Confeſſ. p. 19. Chriſt having inſtituted and ratified to continue to the worlds end, the Miniſtery of Paſtors, Teachers, Elders, p. 45Deacons, Helpers for Inſtruction and Government of his Church.

YYY. Johnſ. Plea, 316. Whether it be not the duty of all Churches, and of the members thereof, every one according to their ability, to give maintenance unto their Miniſters, and as there is occaſion, to the Elders alſo that rule the Church, and to the Deacons and Deaconeſſes that ſerve and miniſter therein.

ZZZ. Bar. Diſc. p. 5. Parſonages and Vicarages, in Name and Office, are Popiſh and Antichriſtian. Ibid. p. 61. Here alſo by the way, the unlawfulneſſe of their Glebes is well noted.

AAAA. Thoſe men, whether Prieſt or People, which either pay or receive the Tythes, ſtill keep the Levitical Laws for the maintenance of the Miniſtery, and thereby aboliſh the Goſpel, and are aboliſhed from Chriſt, whom we deny to be dead, riſen, or aſcended, while we maintain the ſhadow or any part of the Ceremonial Law to be revived. Ibid. p. 91. The Prince demandeth my goods; I am ready and willing to depart with all to him, without all enquiry: But if he command me to give my goods to ſuch an Idol, or after ſuch a wicked manner as by way of Tythes to a Miniſter, or by way of Penſion to an Antichriſtian Miniſter; I may not obey, but rather ſuffer his indignation, yea death.

BBBB. Bar. Diſc. p. 53. This Shepherd is not limited, nor the ſheep conſtrained to a tent or any ſtinted portion, but according to the preſent want of the one, and the ſtate of the other, they together relieving him, and he together bearing the burden of their common poverty; every one that is taught, freely imparting of all his goods to the competent maintenance of ſuch as inſtruct them, not unto exceſſe, but ſufficiency: Which contribution, as it is the duty of the Saints, ſo the manner of it, it is a free offering of their benevolence, an holy Alms unto the Lord; by contribution and alms, our Saviour Christ, and his Apostles, and all the Officers of the Church, were and are to be maintained. Ibid. p. 61. They are not by rated proportions, as Tenths or Third, but in love to make him partaker of that little or much the Lord ſendeth, according to his preſent wants and neceſſary uſes; who, if he have but food and raiment, ought to be therewith content. Confeſſ. p. 45. At Amſterdam their Miniſters have their ſet-maintenance in another manner then Chriſt hath ordained.

BBBB 2. Rob. Ap. p. 36. Omnia etiam bona corporalia ſuo modo communia habenda, prout cuíque opus aequiſſimum videtur.

p. 46(CCCC) Bar. Diſc. p. 132. The dayes of their week ſtill are devoted to the gods of the Heathen, having utterly loſt the name and order of their Creator: As the firſt, ſecond, third day of ſuch a week; the firſt, ſecond, third monethmonth of ſuch a yeer. Idem. Refut. p. 34. If Luke ſhould call it Mars-ſtreet, ſpeaking in his own name, and for himſelf, he ſhould commit idolatry by naming the creature of God after an Idol. David ſaid he would not take the names of their Idols in his lips, but Luke recordeth onelyonly the ſtory, and the vulgar name of the place.

(DDDD) See the Preface of the Confeſſion.

(EEEE) Bar. Diſc. p. 180. They have a preſcript place like a Tub, called the Pulpit. Ibid. p. 138. In that his priviledged Tub be may Preach what he liſt.

(FFFF) Ibid. p. 180. They are preſcribed the time when they begin, they dispute to the Hour-Glaſſe. Ibid. p. 54. He muſt Preach a Sermon an hour long.

(GGGG) Bar. Diſc. p. 232. He may peradventure do his pennance before all the Sodomites of the Pariſh in white ſheets.

(HHHH) Johnſ. Plea, p. 245. Book-Prayer being mens invention, in the worſhip of God, is a breach of the ſecond command. Theſe Books and ſtinted Prayers, become indeed to be Idols, ſupplying the place of the Word and Spirit of God; in which reſpect ſuch manner of worſhip becometh Idolatrous and Superſtitious, and not to be communicate with; for what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols?

Vide ſupra. D. L.

(IIII) Rob. Apol. p. 20. Non dubito quin rite & pie uſurpari poſſit haec ipſa forma in precando Deum, modo abſit opinio neceſſitatis & perfectionis.

(KKKK) Bar. Diſc. p. 180. Here would not be forgotten the ſweet Pſalmodical harmony of the Vulturs, Cranes, &c. All theſe t… gether with one accord ſing ſome pleaſant Ballad, or elſe to Davids melodious Harp ſome Pſalm in rythme, well concinnate to the ear, though never a whit to the ſenſe, purpoſe, or true uſe of the Pſalm. Idem. Refut. p. 254. I have not ſpoken againſt that moſt comfortable and heavenly harmony of ſinging Pſalms, but againſt rhyming and paraphraſing the Pſalms as in your Church, and againſt Apocrypha and Erroneous Ballads in rythme, ſung commonly in your Church inſtead of the Pſalms, and other Songs of holy Scripture.

(LLLL) Rob. Apo…. p. 20. Nego eandem eſſe rationem precationis & cantionis; ipſi Pſalmi quorum materia precatione aut p. 47gratulatione conſtat, in hunc finem proprie & primo formantur a prophetis in cantiones & Pſalmos ſpirituales, ut nos edoceant, & quae vota illi in anguſtiis conſtituti ad Deum fuderint, quaſque liberati eidem Deo gratias retulerint, ut nos eoſdem Pſalmos ſive pſallentes ſive legentes, inſtitueremus nos ipſos ſive publice ſive privatim ſive docendo ſive commone faciendo ſive conſolando ad Dei gloriam in cordibus noſtris promovendam.

(MMMM) Smiths Diff. p. 4. That the reading out of a Book is no part of ſpiritual worſhip, but the invention of the man of ſin; that Books and writings are in the nature of Pictures and Images; that it is unlawful to have the Book before the eyes in ſinging of a Pſalm.

(NNNN) Smiths differences. Vide ſupra, cap. 1. E.

(OOOO) Confeſſ. p. 34. Such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures, ought by the appointment of the Congregation to prophecy, and ſo to teach publikely the Word of God, until ſuch time as God manifeſts men with able gifts to ſuch Offices as Chriſt hath appointed to the publike Miniſtry.

(PPPP) Bar. Diſc. p. 116. Shall I ſpeak according to the times and ſay, Be no true Sacrament? or rather leave that traditional word which ingendreth ſtrife rather then godly edifying, and ſay, Be no true Seal of the Covenant?

(QQQQ) Vide ſupra. F.

(RRRR) Johnſ. Plea, p. 291. Whether it be not beſt to celebrate the Lords Supper where it can be every Lords day; this the Apoſtles uſed to do; by ſo doing we ſhall return to the intire practiſe of the Churches in former ages.

(SSSS) How corrupt is the ſigne of the Croſſe, kneeling and uncovering of the head at the Lords Supper, and ſuch things which Scripture preſcribes not, but men have taken upon themſelves, thus breaking the ſecond command, and joyning their Poſts and Threſholds with the Lords. Men are thus drawn away from the ſimplicity of the practiſe uſed by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, who ſat when they ate and drank and did no more diſcover then before.

(TTTT) Johnſ. Plea, p. 294. To have love feaſts on the dayes of the Lords Supper, it is a thing indifferent to keep or leave them, as they ſhall be uſed or abuſed, or as every Church ſhall finde them to be moſt expedient for their eſtate.

(VVVV) Bar. Refut. p. 43. Not here to mention the binding of the Faith of the Church to an Apocrypha Catechiſm. Idem. Diſc. p. 142. They are not aſhamed to Preach and publikely Expound in their Church, their fond Apocrypha Catechiſms.

p. 48XXXX. Bar. Diſc. p. 76. Their forged patchery, commonly called The Apostles Creed.

YYYY. His Refut. p. 48. What Scripture can you bring for the blaſphemous Article of Chriſts deſcent into hell?

ZZZZ. Cans Neceſſity, p. 44. Bare reading of the Word, and ſingle Service-ſaying, is an Engliſh Popery; and far be it from the Lords people to hear it; for if they would do ſo, they would offer to the Lord a corrupt thing, and ſo incur that curſe of Malachi.

AAAAA. Johnſ. Enquiry, p. 7. We have in our Church the uſe of the exerciſe of Prophecie, ſpoken of, 1 Cor. 14. in which ſome of the Brethren which are for gifts beſt able, though not in Office of the Miniſtery, deliver from ſome portion of Scripture, Doctrine, Exhortation, Comfort; ſometimes Two at a time, ſometimes more.

BBBBB. Johnſ. Enquiry, p. 7. Then, if there be occaſion, upon the Scriptures treated, or queſtions propounded and anſwers made. Bar. Diſc. p. 139. In that his priviledged Tub, he may ſpeak of what be liſt; none of his auditory have power to call in queſtion, correct, or refuſe the ſame preſently or publikely.

CCCCC. Rob. Apol. p. 38. Prorſus inauditum ante haec noſtra ſaecula ſive inter gentes, ſive inter Judaeos, ſive inter Chriſtianos ut Judicia publica aliive actus naturae publicae privatim aut ſecluſa plebe exercerentur. Ibid. p. 51. Per plebem cujus Libertatem & Jus ſuffragandi in negotiis vere publicis aſſerimus, non intelligimus pueros & mulieres, ſed ſolos viros eoſque adultos.

DDDDD. Browns Life and manners of all true Chriſtians, in the Preface, or Treatiſe of Reformation without tarrying for any; and of the wickedneſſe of thoſe Preachers which will not reform till the Magiſtrate command or compel them, p. 8. Know ye not that they which have their full and ſufficient authority and calling, are not to care for a further authority? And hath not every lawful Pastor his full authority? Ibid. p. 8. The Lord did not onelyonly ſhew them the Tabernacle, but bade them make it: But theſe men will not make it at all, becauſe they will tarry for the Magiſtrate. Ibid. p. 10. They could not force Religion, as you would have the Magiſtrate to do: And it was forbidden to the Apoſtles to preach to the unworthy, or to force a planting or government in the Church. The Lords Kingdom is not by force, neither durſt Moſes nor any of the Kings of Judah force the people, by Law or by power, to receive the Church-Government: But after they received it, if then they fell away, and p. 49ſought not the Lord, they might put them to death. They do cry Diſcipline, Diſcipline, that is, for a civil forcing to impriſon the people, or otherwiſe, by violence to handle and beat them, if they would not obey them. Ibid. p. 11. The Lords people is of the willing ſort, they ſhall come unto Sion, and inquire the way unto Jeruſalem, not by force nor compulſion, but with their faces thitherward: And p. 12. Becauſe the Church is in a Common-wealth, it is of the Magiſtrates charge, that is, concerning the outward Proviſion and outward Juſtice they are to look; but to compel Religion, to plant Churches by power, and to force a ſubmiſſion to Eccleſiaſtical Government, by Laws and Penalties, belongeth not to them, neither yet to the Church.

EEEEE. Confeſſ. p. 32. Leaving the ſuppreſſion of this Antichriſtian eſtate to the Magiſtrate, to whom it belongeth.

FFFFF. Bar. Refut. In the Preface. We acknowledge the Prince ought to compel all his Subjects to the hearing of Gods Word, in the publike exerciſes of the Church; yet cannot the Prince command any to be a member of the Church, or the Church to receive any without aſſurance by their publike Profeſſion of their own Faith, or to retain any longer then they continue to walk orderly in the Faith.

GGGGG. Bar. Diſc. p. 245. When Princes depart from the Faith, and will not be reduced by admonition or reproof, they are no longer to be held in the Faith of the Church, but are to receive the cenſure of Chriſt, as any other, and to be cut off as withred branches: The Church cannot, neither hath in her power to defer the ſentence of Excommunication any longer, on hope of further tryal, becauſe they have had already that tryal which God alloweth; it is a Leaden rule to proceed to the ſentence of Excommunication with a Leaden-heel, when the ſin is ripe. Ibid. p. 15. Which cenſures, if the Prince contemn, he contemneth them againſt his own ſoul; and is thereupon, by the power of the Church disfranchiſed out of the Church, and to be delivered over to Satan, as well as any other offender.

HHHHH. Johnſ. Inqui. p. 70. We hold it Antichriſtian to entertain or admit any appeal from one Church to another; the higheſt ordained by the Lord for all ſinners, is that Church whereof the ſinner is a member. And therefore, in urging our Church to ſubmit to another Church, they ſought to draw it to Antichriſtian bondage.

IIIII. Bar. Diſ. p. 84. I am perſwaded, that the Magiſtrate ought not to make permanent Laws of that the Lord hath left in our Liberty. Ibid. p. 255. We approve all the Laws of God, to be moſt p. 50holy and inviolable, and all-ſufficient both for Church and Common-wealth, and the perfit inſtruction of every Member and Officer of the ſame, in their ſeveral duties, ſo that nothing is now left to any mortal man of what high dignitie and calling ſo ever, but to execute the Will of God according to his Word.

KKKKK. Bar. Diſc. p. 108. God will have his Laws and Statutes kept, and not altered according to the State and Policy of times; for theſe Laws were made, not for the Jews eſtate, as Maſter Calvin teaches; but for all mankinde, eſpecially for all the Iſrael of God, from which Laws it is not lawful in judgement to decline to the right hand, or to the left. By the neglect of theſe Laws, the whole world overflows with ſin. Ibid. p. 212. In the Common-wealth they have abrogated all Gods Judicial Laws, and cut them off at one blow, as made for the Common-wealth of the Jews onelyonly, as if God had no regard of the converſation of other Chriſtians, or had left the Gentiles in greater liberty to make Laws and Cuſtomes to themſelves.

LLLLL. Ibid. Hereby it cometh to paſſe that ſo many ungodly Laws are decreed, and the whole courſe of Juſtice perverted, that ſo many capital miſchiefs as God puniſheth by death, ſuch as blaſpheme the Name of the Lord, open Idolatry, Diſobedience to Parents, are not by Law puniſhed at all: Inceſt and Adultery, are either paſt over, or puniſhed by ſome light or triffling puniſhment. Ibid. p. 155. The High-Commiſſion puniſhes the moſt execrable Idolatries but with priſons or forfeitures, making it a pecuniary matter, contrary to Gods Word.

MMMMM. 1. Vide HHHH.

MMMMM. 2. Bar. Diſ. p. 211. Theft, if above thirteen pence, is puniſhed by death.

NNNNN. Bar. Diſ. p. 55. The Ʋniverſity of Oxford and Cambridge have the ſame Popiſh and Idolatrous beginning with the Colledges of Monks, Fryers and Nuns; and theſe Vermin had, and ſtill do retain the ſame inſufferable and incurable abuſes; therefore Queen Elizabeth ought by good right to aboliſh them as her Progenitors did the Abbeys.

OOOOO. Ibid. p. 177. They repair to the Ʋniverſities to be inſtructed in Heathen and vain Arts: The Churches of Chriſt have not ſuch Heatheniſh and Idolatrous cuſtomes; they have no ſuch prophane Arts, vain Education and Literature. Ibid. p. 56. We finde them all generally the Seed of Ʋnbeleevers, nouriſhed in all manner of p. 51Prophaneneſſe, Heatheniſm, vain and ungodly Sciences; their Education from their cradle is ungodly in the common Schools, where they muſt learn their Greek and Latin from laſcivious Poets or Heatheniſh Philoſophers: With this Liquor are their Pitchers at firſt ſeaſoned; there are they trained up in Logick, Rhetorick and Philoſophy; which Learning they draw from Ariſtotle, Cicero, and ſuch like; there they learn to ſpeak by Art Syllogiſms and Tropes.

Idem. Refut. p. 89. This I dare affirm, that from the Book of God, they never derived theſe their Colledges, Schools, Halls, Orders, and Degrees; that I may not ſay Arts, Authors, Exerciſe, uſe of Learning, Diſputations, Commencements. They fight with their School-Learning, vain Arts, Philoſophy, Rhetorick, Logick, againſt the Truth and Servants of God.

PPPPP. Vide ſupra. N, O.

QQQQQ. Vide RRRRR 2.

RRRRR 1. Bar. Diſ. p. 179. In the Church of Chriſt, the name and offices of Chancelor, Vice-Chancelor, Dean of Faculty, Maſters of Colledges, Fellows, Beadels, Burſours, and all their ſeveral Statutes and Cuſtomes are ſtrange; as alſo, their manner of Degrees, Disputing for their Degrees, and Order of Teaching: Neither have any ſuch Ʋniverſities, Colledges, Society of Schollers, any ground of the Word of God. I ſee not why they ſhould have any more toleration then their elder Brethren, the Monks, who every way had as great colour of Holineſſe, and ſhew of Ʋtility to the Church, as they: They have all one and the ſame Helliſh Original they had; and theſe ſtill retain the ſame blasphemous incurable abuſes, which can no ways be reformed but by their utter diſſolution.

RRRRR 2. Bar. Diſ. p. 177. The Engliſh of Christian Religion, and Profeſſion of the Goſpel, I can well away with; but this Engliſh Romiſh abſtract of Divinity, I am aſſured, came forth of this ſame Forge that the Title of the ſupreme Head of the Church; and cannot by all the gloſſes they can deviſe, be made other then moſt high blasphemy againſt the perſon of Chriſt, who is the onelyonly Ʋniverſal Doctor of all his Diſciples. Ibid. p. 56. If they continue ſtill, and give their minde to the ſtudy of Divinity as they call it, which is as much as to ſay, The reading of mens writings; with theſe Feathers they flee, with theſe eyes they ſee; which Books being taken from them, they are as mute as fiſh, as blinde as moles. Ibid. Their Divinity is traditional, wholly derived from other mens Books and Writings, both p. 52for the underſtanding, dividing, and interpretation of all Scripture; as alſo for all Queſtions, Doctrines, and Doubts that ariſe; and not ſpringing from the Fountain of Gods Spirit in themſelves, according to the meaſure of Knowledge, Faith and Grace given unto them.

SSSSS. Bar. Diſc. p. 146. It were much better for the whole Church, that for Prophecy and Doctrine, Preachers would lay aſide all Authors, and be take themſelves wholly to the Book of God: So ſhould that Book be more ſoundly underſtood, ſo ſhould they ſee with their own eyes, and not other mens.

TTTTT. Bar. Diſc. p. 56. Theſe Queſtions, as alſo the whole Scripture, muſt in theſe their Schools and Diſputations, be inſufferably corrupted, wreſted, blaſphemed, according to the luſts of theſe Philoſophical and Heathen Diſputers, which here muſt handle, divide, diſcuſſe according to their vain affected Arts of Logick and Rhetorick: All theſe prizes muſt be played in Latin, that the Learning may the more, and the Folly the leſſe be perceived, least even the common people ſhould hiſſe them off the Stage if they ſpoke in Engliſh. Ibid. p. 52. They give liberty to their wits in their learning to deface, ſtrive, and dispute against the holy known Truth of God, toſſing it as a Tenice Ball amongſt them, both publikely in their Schools, and privately in their Colledges amongſt them.

VVVVV. Bar. Refut. p. 124. I would not here that any ſhould think we condemn any lawful Art, or any neceſſary Science, or any Holy Exerciſe, or Schools of Institution. Let their Arts and Sciences be neceſſary and Godly, not vain, curious, unlawful: Let them be taught, not in a vain-glorious or ſuperſtitious manner, but in all ſobriety, and the fear of God; If their Ʋniverſities were framed to theſe Rules, it were good.