A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Table of contents
The Contents.
In the Epistle to the Readers
Sect. 1. Prefaces needful by reason of Readers prejudice.
Sect. 2. Prejudice against the Author, as favouring Separation causless.
Sect. 3. The evils consequent on the tenet of Separation urge to an examination of it.
Sect. 4. The motive and end of this writing.
In the Answer to the Preface.
Sect. 1. Of the Worship of God, and how hearing is worship of him.
Sect. 2. Of hearing how instituted worship, and to be devolved on the Scriptures of the New Testament.
Sect. 3. Hearing not a meer positive or ceremonial worship.
Sect. 4. The judgment of the Ancients not useless in this controversie
Sect. 5. No approved practice of the Saints afore the Law countenanceth Separation from the present Preachers in England.
Sect. 6. Jewish Laws admitted some dispensation and addition.
Sect. 7. The Election or Ordination of Levites is no rule for election or Ordination of Ministers now.
Sect. 8. The texts injoyning the things appointed, prove not that some things undetermined might not in Gods Worship be ordered by men.
Sect. 9. The defection of the Jews to Idolatrous inventions of men, is of a more hainous degree, than the use of humane Ceremonies with us.
Sect. 10. Such testimony as the Prophets gave against the Jewish defection, is not now to be given against the Conformists.
Sect. 11. The Conformists not chargeable as the false Prophets of the Jews.
Sect. 12. Invectives against Teachers and Worship now, may be from another spirit, than that of the Prophets.
Sect. 13. The forsaking of false Prophets and worship among the Jews, is no justification of Separation from the present Teachers and Worship.
Sect. 14. The arguing by analogy in positive rites, not rational.
Sect. 15. The first Querie about a National Church instituted, answered.
Sect. 16. National Ministers may be Ministers of Christ, and National Churches true Churches.
Sect. 17. Mr. Parkers arguments that the form of Churches is of Divine Institution, are answered.
Sect. 18. The Ministry of the Gospel is a true Ministry of Christ.
Sect. 19. A true Gospel Ministry may be in a false Church so deemed
Sect. 20. Gods love to us is not less in not determining the whole of his Worship to us, as he did to the Jews.
Sect. 21. Christ designed Officers and Offices for his Church (not as were in the Jewish) which are the same while their work is the same, though some titles be new.
Sect. 22. The solemn deputation of Ministers, is not the peculiar priviledge of Saints.
Sect. 23. Corruptions in Non-fundamentals unchurch not.
Sect. 24. Every errour makes not a false Prophet.
Sect, 25. Separation by reason of some corruptions unwarrantable.
Sect. 26. It is prudence to joyn in worship and hearing, where some errours and corruptions remain.
Chap. 1. Arg. 1.
Sect. 1. Some scruples of Conscience are of ill consequence.
Sect. 2. There is warrant in Scripture to hear the present Ministers of England.
Sect. 3. Accidentals of Instituted Worship warranted without command in Scripture.
Sect. 4. Prejudice is no argument, nor personal motives good proof.
Chap. 2. Arg. 2.
Sect. 1. Preachers may be heard as teaching truth.
Sect. 2. They may be heard as Ministers of the Gospel, who are not rightly called.
Sect. 3. Preachers may be Ministers of the Gospel, who are not chosen by a particular instituted Church.
Sect. 4. The present Ministers may be heard as Gifted Brethren.
Sect. 5. Tender Consciences may call the Bishops Rev. Fathers.
Sect. 6. It is not proved that the best of the present Ministers are to be separated from as walking disorderly.
Chap. 3. Arg. 3.
Sect. 1. That which is by some termed Antichristian, is not always unlawful.
Sect. 2. The names given to the Ministers of England prove not their Office not to be from Christ.
Sect 3. The term Priest proves not symbolizing with the Popish Order of Priests,
Sect. 4. The parallel particulars prove not the English Ministers symbolizing in Office with Popish Priests.
Sect. 5. The Office of Bishops is not proved to be Antichristian, but may be found in Scripture.
Sect. 6. The Office of Lord Bishops is not contrary to express precepts of Christ in the Scripture.
Sect. 7. The Office of Lord Bishops not from the Papacy.
Sect. 8. The Ordination of Bishops is also of Presbyters.
Chap. 4. Arg. 4.
Sect. 1. They that deny not Christs Offices doctrinally may be heard.
Sect. 2. Every not hearkening to Christs Order is not a denial of his Office.
Sect. 3. It is not proved that Christs Sovereign Authority is rejected by the present Ministers.
Sect. 4. Ministers oppose not the will of Christ, by not joyning in the separation pleaded for.
Sect. 5. Election and Excommunication by the Church are not Christs Institution.
Sect. 6. No contempt of the Authority of Christ is in the Church of England by setting up Officers and Offices.
Sect. 7. Election of Ministers by the common Suffrage of the Church is not proved to be Christs appointment.
Sects 8. Prophecying is not opposed by the Ministers.
Sect. 9. Ministers service may be Divine and Spiritual in the use of the Liturgy.
Sect. 10. Things objected against the Ministers are not such as justifie separation.
Chap. 5.
Sect. 1. All owning of orders different from, or contrary to Christs, proves not a denial of his Offices.
Sect. 2. Ministers submitting to Canons is unjustly censured.
Sect. 3. Making Canons in things undetermined, and subjection to them, agrees with Scripture.
Sect. 4. Its no derogation from Scripture, or Christ, that such Canons are made and obeyed.
Sect. 5. All particularities of Decency and Order in things sacred, are not determined in Scripture.
Sect. 6. Its not proved that the Ministers of England own constitutions contrary to the Revelation of Christ.
Sect. 7. A prescript Form of words in Prayer devised by man is not contrary to Rom. 8.26. 1 Cor. 14.15.
Sect. 8. The admission of vitious persons to Communion, justifies not separation.
Sect. 9. Receiving of the Lords Supper kneeling, is not directly opposite to Christs practice or precept of abstaining from appearance of evil, 1 Thess. 5.22.
Sect. 10. Forbidding to Marry or eat Flesh at certain times are not Characters of Apostates, as 1 Tim. 4.3. is meant.
Sect. 11. No such headship is owned by the present Ministers as is a denial of Christs Offices.
Sect. 12. Conformity to Laws opposite to Christs, proves not owning another King co-ordinate to him.
Sect. 13. Headship of the Church under Christ not monstrous.
Sect. 14. The Kings Supremacy is such as was allowed the Kings of Israel.
Chap. 6. Arg. 5.
Sect 1. False Doctrine only makes a false Prophet not to be heard.
Sect. 2. The Ministers not false Prophets, because not sent, as Jer. 23.21. Rom. 10.15. is meant.
Sect. 3. The Ministers not proved to commit Adultery and walk in lyes as Jer. 23.14. is meant.
Sect. 4. The Ministers are not proved to strengthen the hands of evil doers, as Jer. 23.14. is meant.
Sect. 5. The Ministers are not proved such daubers as those, Ezek. 22.28.
Sect. 6. Ministers changing of places, sadning some mens hearts, not characters of a false Prophet.
Sect. 7. Pressing rigid Conformity no proof of the Ministers being false Prophets.
Sect. 8. The charge, Ezek. 22.26. reacheth not the Ministers of England.
Sect. 9. The Ministers are not the false Shepheards, meant Ezek. 34.4.
Sect. 10. The Ministers of England are not the second Beast, foretold, Rev. 13.11.
Chap. 7. Arg 6.
Sect, 1. All Idolatry is exhibiting Divine Worship to a creature.
Sect. 2. All will-worship of God is not Idolatry.
Sect. 3. This Authors Argument as well proves himself an Idolater as the Conformist.
Sect. 4. Prayer in a stinted form may be worship of God of his appointment.
Sect. 5. Common-Prayer Book worship shuts not out of doors the exercise of the gift of Prayer.
Sect. 6. Common-Prayer Book worship is not of pure humane invention.
Sect. 7. Common-Prayer Book worship is the same with the worship of the Reformed Churches.
Sect. 8. No particularity instituted is a meer circumstance; yet particularities undetermined are.
Sect. 9. Praying in a form may be praying in the Spirit.
Sect. 10. The Forms of Prayer imposed are not made necessary essential parts of Worship.
Sect. 11. Acting in the holy things of God by the Office, Power, and Modes of Idolaters may be without Idolatry.
Sect. 12. The English Ministers oppose Popish Idolatry as other Protestants.
Sect. 13. The Ministers of England act not by vertue of an Office Power from Idolaters.
Sect. 14. The Common-Prayer Book worship was not abused to Idolatry.
Sect. 15. Kneeling in the receiving the Sacramental Elements is not Idolatry.
Sect. 16. The crimination of the Ministers as Idolaters is not excusable.
Sect. 17. The Martyrs are unjustly made Idolaters by this Author.
Chap. 8. Arg. 7. and 8,
Sect. 1. Every offence of others makes not sinful that which is otherwise lawful.
Sect. 2. Hearing the present Ministers may be the Saints duty.
Sect. 3. Sinful scandalizing is not by hearing the present Ministers.
Sect. 4. It is not scandal given but when the offensive action is done blameably.
Sect. 5. Offending some sincere Christians by hearing the present Ministers, is not the scandalizing threatned, Matth. 18.16.
Sect. 6. The Separatists give more just cause of offence to godly sober Christians, than the Conformists do to them.
Sect. 7. Hearing the present Ministers may be without participation with them in sin.
Chap. 9. Arg, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Sect. 1. Separation of some from other Christians is no institution of Christ.
Sect. 2. Meeting of Christians as a distinct body is not Christs Institution.
Sect. 3. Separated Congregational Churches in opposition to National, are not of Christs Institution.
Sect. 4. To attend only on the Ministry of Ministers of Congregational Churches is not Christs appointment.
Sect. 5. Hearing the present Ministers casts no contempt on Christs Institutions.
Sect. 6. Hearing the present Ministers hardens none in sin.
Sect. 7. Gods people are not called out of the Temples in England as places of false Worship.
Sect. 8. There is ground to expect a blessing in hearing the present Ministers.
Sect. 9. Hearing the present Ministers is no step to Apostasie.
Sect. 10. Pollution in one part makes not the whole worship polluted Chap. 10. Fifty Arguments for hearing the present Ministers.
Sect. 1. Christs direction, Matth. 23.2, 3. warrants hearing the present Ministers.
Sect. 2. The Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moses his Chair as Teachers, not as Magistrates.
Sect. 3. The Pharisees were not Church Officers of Gods appointment.
Sect. 4. Christ allows hearing the Pharisees while they taught the Law of Moses.
Sect. 5. Hearing Pharisees teaching Moses Law, not attendance on their Ministry as Pastors is allowed by Christ.
Sect. 6. Christ and his Apostles going to the Jewish Meetings is opposite to the Separatists opinion and practise.
Sect. 7. Pauls rejoycing at the preaching Christ of contention, warrants hearing the present Ministers.
Sect. 8. The truth Ministers teach, warrants the hearing of them.
Sect. 9. Evil persons may be heard as true Ministers.
Sect. 10. It is a sin not to encourage good men in their Ministry.
Sect. 11. The example of the learned godly Non-Conformists is some inducement to hear the present Ministers.
Sect. 12. The Magistrates command to hear the present Ministers is to be obeyed.
Sect. 13. Conformists Ministry instrumental to convert souls.
Sect. 14. To the observation of the Lords Day hearing the present Ministers, as the case now is, may be requisite.
Sect. 15. An appendix containing forty additional reasons against denying the lawfulness of hearing the present Ministers.
Sect. 16. Some passages in the writings of Mr. John Goodwin opposite to the Book, entituled, Prelatical Preachers none of Christs teachers.
THEODVLIA: OR, A JUST DEFENCE Of HEARING the SERMONS And other Teaching of the present Ministers of England. In Answer to the Book, entituled, A Christian and sober Testimony against sinful Complyance.
An Answer to the Preface to the ensuing Discourse of that Book.
HAving premised so much as I suppose may be of use to the Reader, concerning the Title and Epistle to the Reader of the Book which I intend to examine, I proceed to a discussion of the Book it self: which is more Scholastical than the other Treatise. Entituled [Prelatical Preachers none of Christs Teachers] or any other that I have met with of late Composure, and therefore more fit to be sifted for the bolting out of the Truth by Argument. It is distributed into a Preface and ten Chapters. I shall follow him in his method as being suitable enough, and comprehensive of that which may be said in this matter.