The True Form of Church Government, Title page – Preface
THE TRUE FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT, FIRST INSTITVTED BY CHRIST, NOW USED AND PRActised in all the reformed Churches of Germanie, France, and Scotland: humbly presented to the High and Honourable Court of Parliament, at this time most happily assembled. Plainly proved by Scripture, rectifide reason, and the Testimonie of the Church, some hundreds of yeares after the Apostles time, and the generall consent of the Churches rightly reformed in these latter times, contrary to the Romish, and our Archiepiscopall Government.
Printed at London 1642.
To the supposed Governours of the Church of ENGLAND, the Archbishops, Lord Bishops, Arch-deacons, and the rest of that order.
MAny, and most evident have our declarations beene concerning the truth of that government, which Christ hath prescribed in his word for the ruling of the Church; which we have manifested unto you, both by our writings and speeches, as occasion hath beene offered: never hath any one of you taken in hand to say any thing against it, but it hath made his eyes to dazle, as the clearest sunne-shining; whereby hee hath beene driven to wander hither and thither, groping for evasions, and yet could not escape, but hath fallen into infinite most monstrous absurdities, and blasphemous assertions, (as by their writings yet extant it may appeare) so forcible is the truth, to amaze the gaine-sayers thereof, and so pregnant is falshood to beget and bring forth thousands of absurdities, and every one worse then other. And will you still continue in your damnable▪ and most devillish course? Have you sold your selves unto Sathan, to fight for him untill you be damned in Hell with him? Have you morgaged the salvation of your soules and bodies, for the present fruition of your pomp and pleasure? is it because you see not what you should doe? It may be so, for many are so blinde, that they grope even at noone day; but mee thinks it can hardly be so, unlesse you be they that have eyes and see not, for the cause hath beene (by the blessing of God) so managed, that many ploughmen▪ artificers, and children doe see it, and know it, and are able by the word of God to ju…tifie it, and condemne you to be adversaries unto the Gospell in resisting it. But you think that government not so needfull, and your fault but small (if it be any) in continuing your course begun. The necessity of the thing is many wayes apparant, b…th in th…t it h…th so plentifull warrant from Gods owne word, (as the course of this Book doth evidently declare▪) and also in that the Gospell can take no root, nor have any free passage, for want of it: and the greatnesse of your fault appeareth …y this, that in so doing, you are the cause, of all the ignoran…e, Atheisme, schismes, treasons, poperie, and ungodlinesse, that is to be found in this Land, which we challenge to prove to your faces, if wee may ind…fferently be heard, and whereof in the meane wh…le we will give you a taste: for the first it is cleare, that you are the cau…r, of that damnable ignorance, wherein the people are so generally wrapped, for that you have from time to time stopped the streames of knowledge in th…se places where the Lord in mercy bestowed the same, and in stead of able and painfull Ministers, have pe…ered the Church, either with presumptuous proud persons, that are esteemed learned, and take no paines to bring the people unto the knowledge of Iesus Christ, or (which is the greatest …u…ber) such ignorant asses, and filthy swine, as are not worthy to live in a well ordered Common wealth: and that you are the c…us… of all Atheisme, it is plaine, for one may (as in deed many doe) p…o…sse it, and you say nothing to him for it. If the most filthy liver will …awne up …n you▪ and bribe your servants, you will not onelyonly favour him, but assist him against any godly Mini…ter whatsoever: but if any that feare God, refuse to come under the least of your Popish c…remonies, he shall be molested, till his purse be empty, or else …y your tyrannous dealing, hee have made shipwrack of a good conscience. And are not you the cause of all Schismes, that make a h…tch-pot of true Religion and Popery, and so give some an occasion to fall into this course, and others into that? And it is as cleare, that you are so far…e the cau…e of all treasons, …s without you they had not beene: for if every Church had had her govern…ent according to Christs i…stitution; our young Ge…tlemen, and Stud…nts, had not beene (f…r want of teaching and carefull oversight) mad a prey unto the seducers; and consequently to th…se pract…s…s▪ wh…ch have brought the bodies of so many unto Ty…orne, and their soules into hell; and who …ut you be the caus… of Popery, whi…est you use them so wel, let them doe what the li…t yea▪ and keepe them in office and authority under you, yea (which m…re is) give them such offices as none that … Popish can execute: I speake not of the ignorance which by▪ … every wh…re, which (as they confe…e) … their devot…n, and you are the wretched father… of that … wh…r…by you mu…t needs …e grandfathers … kind of Popery. And who can (without blushing) denie … be the cause of all ungodlinesse, seeing your government is that which giveth leave to a man to be any thing, saving a sound Christian. For certainly it is more free in these dayes, to be a Papist,Omni… cum … bonum. Anabaptist of the Family of Love, yea any most wicked one whatsoever, then that which we should be; and, I could live these twenty yeares, any one of these in England (yea in a Bishops house it may be) and never be much molested for it; so true is that which you are charged with, in a Dialogue lately come forth against you, (and since burned by you) that you care for nothing but the maintenance of your dignities, be it to the damnation of your owne soules, and infinite millions more: Enter therefore now at the last, into the serious consideration of these things: remember that one day, you must be presented before the tribunall seat of Iesus Christ, to be arraigned for all the Soules that have gone to hell (seeing you will needs be the Rulers of the Church) since the Gospe…l …irst appeared in this Land, then shall you not be excus…d with this. The Queene and Councell will have it so: nor with that; Our state cannot beare it. For it shall be sa…d unto you, why do you not informe them better of my will; why taught you them not to worship with trembling and feare, and to kisse the Son lest he … angry; why did you not tell them, that all States must be rul…d … my Word, and not my word by them and their polic…e…. Whe… these things shall be laid to your charge, your con…ci…nces sh…ll …n…wer; that if you had done so, you should have lo…t your dig…i…ies, which you loved and sought for especially: then shall you wish, that the mountaines would fall upon you▪ and the h…l…s cover you …rom the pre…ence of the Lam…, and from the presence of h…m that … upon the throne. And I am perswaded▪ that you are … league with Hell and have made a c…venant with Death; yea, y…u doe pe… swade yourselves that there is no Go…, neither sh…ll … be any such day of …count; or it were …, that you … give you … Disputations by, and then shal it easily appeare, who hath the Lord on his side, and who not. The Truth will prevaile in spite of your teeth, and all other adversaries unto it, (for God disdaineth to be crossed, by dust and ashes.) Therefore be not obstinate so long, as untill you be found fighters with God; but prevent his wrath, lest it break forth against you like fire that none can quench, because of the wickednesse of your Inventions. Venture your Bishopricks upon a Disputation, and wee will venture our Lives, take the challenge if you dare: if the Truth be on your side, you may hereby, be restored to your dignities, and be no more troubled by us: but if the Truth be against you, what shall it profit you to win the whole world▪ and afterward lose your owne soules. If you refuse still our offer, then must you needs be guilty either of this, That you know your cause will not abide the triall, or of this, That you will take no paines to confute us that keepe such a stirre in the Church. Doe not think that because you have humane Authority on your side, therefore you are safe; for hee, whose authority is on our side, is the greatest, to whose voice all the Devils in Hell shall stoope; much more the silly arme of sinfull flesh. Wee have sought to advance this cause of God, by humble suit to the Parliament, by supplication to your Convocation house, by writing in defence of it, and by challenging to dispute for it; seeing none of these meanes used by us have prevailed. If it come in by that meanes, wh…ch will make all your hearts to ake, blame your selves; for it must prevaile, maugre the malice of all that stand against it, or such a Iudgement must overtake this Land, as shall cause the eares that heare thereof to ti…gle, and make us a by-word to all that passe by us. The Lord open your eyes, that you may see the confusions whereof you are the cause, and give you true Repentance, or Confound you in all your purposes that be against Him, and the regiment of his Sonne Iesus Christ. The same Lord, for the love hee beareth to his poore people, open the eyes of his Majestie, and the Honourable Councellers, that they may see your godlesse practises, and in pitie to Gods people, rid us from you, and turne away his Iudgements, which the rejecting of his holy yoke hath deserved, not punishing them that mourne for the desolation of Sion▪ with those that spoil and make havock of the Lords inheri…ance. Amen.