The True Form of Church Government, To the reader
To the Reader.
INfinite and unspeakable (Christian Reader) are the miseries from which Iesus Christ our Saviour hath freed us, and the benefits and blessings, wherewith in this life he beginneth, and for ever will continue to adorne us. The consideration whereof (if our thankefulnesse unto his Majestie, were any way proportionable, to that which wee endevour unto towards men) should make us continually to devise, and all the dayes of our life to studie how we might shew our selves (at least in some sort) carefull to glorifie his blessed name, above all things that we desire, by how much as his love towards us, excelleth whatsoever can e…se (according to our wish) befall unto us: but if we doe with equall ballance (on the other side) looke into the course of mans life▪ how well this dutie is performed, we shall see, that men declare themselves rather bent to spit in his face, and to defie him, then any way to honour him as their head and Soveraigne: for (to say nothing of the prophane life, and godlesse conversation, wherewith the generall number, that professeth Iesus Christ, is wholly defiled) we see that many Nations▪ people and languages are very willing to receive Iesus Christ as the…r Priest to sacrifice for their sinnes, but that he should become their King, to prescribe lawes unto them, whereby they may be ruled, is of all other things the most unsavoury, yea (if it be offered) the most grievous tidings▪ and unreasonable request: wherein, albeit many Nations that have renounced that where of Rome, are heynously sinfull against his glorious Majestie, yet is there none in the whole world so farre out of square as England, in reteyning that popish Hierarchie, first coyned in the midst of the mistery of iniquity, and that filthy sink of the Canon law, which was invented and patched together▪ for the confirming and increasing of the kingdome of Antichrist· Wherein as great indignity is offered unto Iesus Christ, in committing his Church unto the government of the same, as can be▪ by meane unde…lings unto a King; in committing his beloved Spouse unto the direction of the mistresse of the Stewes, and enforcing her to live after the orders of a brothel-house. For the reformation whereof while some have w…itten, and others according to their Callings, c…efully st…od▪ how heinously it hath beene taken, how har…ly they have beene used, and what …hamefull reproches have beene off…red (even unto the course of the Gospell) for spite that hath been …rne unto Ref…mation▪ almost by all estates and degrees, lamentable ex…i…nce …th ta…g… many …f us· but our posterity shall know it more p…ticularly, and the Church th…oughout the world shall discerne and …udge of it more evidently, when their bodyes are rotten in the dust, and their …en…es (if they repe…t not) in eternall and intollerable torments; who have re…ected a request so holy, profitable, and reasonable; yea, and handled the intreaters for the same so cruelly, unchristianly, and unlawfully: but th…y would gladly perswade themselves (if their conscience would let them) that they have onelyonly executed justice upon us as malefactours, and they perswade men that we desire a thing, not warr…nted by the Word, not heard of in the Church of God, untill within this few yeares, nor tollerable in any Christian Common-weale whatsoever: The which monstrous slanders, albeit they have beene many wayes, and by many men of most worthy gifts detected, and made knowne in those severall bookes that have beene published concerning the same: … have I thought it necessary (in another course) to write also of it. The course of my enterprise, is first in respect of the favourers of the desired reformation; Secondly of the adversaries of the same; the favourers of it are also of two sorts; ministers of the Word, and private persons, and both I hope, may have profit by it. Concerning the former▪ when these wofull troubles that were renewed upon us (by that wretched su…scription, that was every where urged) and begin to incre…e, … thought it meete to bet…ke my selfe unto that which I had read or might any way by study find out, concerning the cause, and collected all into a briefe summe, and referred every thing unto some head; whi…h being ever present with me, might furnish me to answer in the defence of the truth, th…ugh it were of a sudden, by which (through the bl…ssing of God. I found such profit in my severall troubles, that I thought it a course not altogether unprofitable for others also, and upon that occasion betooke my sel…e unto a more seri…us meditaion about the matter, and communicating the thing with divers very worthy men, I f…und encouragement and heartening on, generally by … whom I made acquainted th…rewith: so that I trust the iudgements▪ yea and … al…o of others, so …ping with mine) many Min…st…rs that love the cause, and have not throughly studied it as were meete they should, may reape some profit thereby. Now concerning private men that love the cause, some have great affaires in hand, and have no leasure to reade the severall bookes of this argument: some when they reade, are not of sufficient capacitie to conceive the force of a reason, or to make use of it, to enforme themselves in the grounded knowledge of the cause thereby: some (which is the generall fault of our religious Gentlemen) will take no paines to reade, some are poore and not able to buy the bookes which might let them see the cause, all these (I hope) may find helpe in some measure hereby. Now concerning the Adversaries unto the cause, they are of two sorts also, they that know is, and they that are ignorant of it: the former, if they write any thing against it▪ are contented to deale in so roving a course as may rather arise unto great volumes, then soun…ly to say any thing against the cause: Wherein D. Whith…ft, but especially D. Bridges, have given us an evident example: and these with others of their judgement (though none in these latter dayes, have written more unlearnedly then they, of any argument of divinity whatsoever) are contented to make the world believe (if men will be so wilfully seduced) that our arguments be no arguments, that they be grounded upon false foundations, and that we are not able to conclude our cause in any forme of reasoning The course that is here taken (I trust) shall shew that they are liars. The other sort of Adversaries be they that be meerly ignorant of any thing, either for it or against it; and perswading themselves that the sway and shew of the world must needs carry the truth with it, doe (like blind bayards) boldly venture to say any thing against it, and thinke they, doe well. Now of all these sorts of people, I have to request something; I hope I shall obtaine my request (at the le…st) at the hands of some of them. The first sort of favourers (which be the Ministers) I intreat, that as they tender the glory of God, and honour of the cause which they stand in; so they would diligently imploy themselves in this, that they may be found able to defend the same by sound and evident grounds out of the Word, and so much the rather, for that the Adversaries doe greatly triumph, when they meet with one that professeth the cause, and is not able to defend it, and confute the gainsayers of it. The second sort of favourers, be the private persons that l…ve the cause, whom J beseech to be carefull (as of all other points of religion) of this, that they grow in the knowledge of the Word of God, whereby they may be able▪ upon their owne knowledge to defend the truth, and not give the enemy any occasion to thinke or say, that they be of that mind, because such and such Ministers, whom they doe affect, doe think… so. Now concerning the former sort of Adversaries, to wit, they that know it, J pray them to looke into their owne hearts, and they shall find they mislike it; either because it correcteth their excessive pompe and maintenance, or requireth more travaile in their ministerie, then they are willing to undergoe, or at the least, controlleth that dissol…enesse of behaviour, wherein they willingly wallow: and if it would please God to bring them to a serious meditation of this, that it is the will of the mighty God (before whom they must be called to give an account) which they doe resist, they would (I doubt not) more carefully looke about them. And lastly for them that being ignorant of the cause, speake evil… of that they know not, let them (if they will be admonished) vouchsafe to reade this little Booke, and weigh the reasons with an upright judgement, which shall cause them (at the least) to suspend their sha…pe censures, which so usually appeare i… their ordinary communication: and concerning us all, let us know (for one day we shall be sure to feele it) that the controversie is not about Goats w…ell (as the Proverb saith) neither light and …fling matters▪ which may safely bee followed or re…ected (as indeed the enemies of this cause doe confidently affirme) but about no lesse matter then this, whether Jesus Christ shall be King or no; for if none is said to bee a King, but he that ruleth by the Scepter of his lawes, then the turning out of these orders which Christ hath prescribed in his Word, for the ruling of the Church, is to give him the tytle, and deny him the authority belonging to the same, and so (in truth) to make him an Idol, making him to carry a shew of that which he is not, and (with the crucifiers of him) to put a Reede in his hand, in stead of his Jron rod; and crowning him with thornes, in stead of the Crowne of greatest glory; which is the cause that so many Atheists spit in his face, and so many godlesse persons, doe make but a jest of him: but when hee commeth to shew himselfe in his glorious Majestie, it shall be said unto all these sorts of Adversaries, Those mine enemies which would not that I should raigne over them, bring hither, and …lea them before me, Luke 19.27. The which fearefull sentence, that wee may avoid, let every one of us (as may stand with our severall Callings) carefully endevour, to advance this kingdome here, which (among other assurances given us from the Lord) shall be a testimonie unto us, that we shall have part in that glory, which shall be revealed hereafter. Now concerning the order of this Booke; to direct thee (good Reader) unto thy further instruction, in the points thereof, Thou hast in every Chapter, divers proofes out of the holy word of God, which must be the things wherewith thou mayest safely informe thy conscience: then shalt thou find also arguments drawne from reason rightly ruled by the same Word: and lastly, (because our Adversaries charge us, that we desire a thing not knowne unto the old Writers, nor agreed upon among the new) thou hast here the witnesse of them both in so plentifull and uniforme wise, as may plainely declare, that all godly learned men of all times, have given testimony unto the truth of it. If thou be satisfied therewith, give God the glory, and promote the cause by prayer, and all other good meanes that thy Calling may afford: and pray for us, that we may never shrinke, nor be overthrowne by the strength of them that fight against it.
FINIS.