The Hirelings Ministry None of Christs, Epilogue
An Humble and Christian proffer of Disputation.
WHereas in the Epistle I intimated my readiness to debate the Particulars of this Discourse, &c. I am here humbly bold to Professe, as in the holy presence of the most High, that I am not Conscious to the least Designe or Aime, but that of a Conscionable and Peaceable presenting Verbum opportunum (an Apple of Gold in a Picture of Silver) into those Honorable hands whom it so highly concernes. 'Tis true, my long Exile into and in America, have rendred me now a Stranger, and (after the Dispatch of some Civill Affaires) I should unspeakably rejoyce to be gone to morrow; But while the Most High is pleased to force my stay: He hath also (as I beleeve) inforced my Spirit, againe to proffer, in all Christian meekness and humility to agitate with whom or before whom soever, these following Proposals.
First, Since the remoulding of this Nation into the Modell of Protestanisme: the Clergy or Ministry (so call'd) of this Nation, both Prelaticall, Presbiterian and Independent, and (however in their persons many of them precious and excellent, yet) as to their Functions and Offices, as to procuring the Magistrates actings in spiritual cases, as to the Worships and Consciences of this Nation, they have been bewildred, if not wholly blinded: For as the Hireling way of Ministry is none of Christs: So for this Hire, have not only the Popish, but the Protestant Clergy, tost up and downe (even like Tenis-bals) the Magistrates and Laws, the Consciences and Worships, the Peace and War, the Weale and Woe of this Nation.
Secondly, In all ages since Constantine, the Hireling Ministry have must wofully mislead the Consciences of the Civill state by Preaching them out of their Civill Spheare and Line, sometimes into an Headship, sometimes into a Footship, (now over and above, and againe as the Revolutions have been) inferiour to, and under the Church: Out of this Civill line or Sphear as this present Age is forced to confesse, that the Civill Magistrates our Fathers before us never made true Christian Worke of it, so I am humbly bold to maintaine they never shall: and therefore
Thirdly, As the Civill permission of all the Consciences and Worships of all men in Things meerly spirituall is no wayes inconsistent with true Christianity and true Civility: So is it the Duty of the Civill Magistrate to suppresse all violencies to the Bodies and Goods of men for their Souls beliefe, and to provide, that not one person in the Land be Restrained from, or Constrained to any Worship, Ministry or Maintenance, but peaceably maintained in his Soul, as well as Corporall Freedome, To which end I add, that the violent putting in, and putting out of the severall sorts of the Ministers of Worship in this Nation (if against the Peoples Free choice and desire) hath ever and will be yet, while so practised, a Grand oppression, and a Powerfull occasion, both of Civill Insurrections, and Soul mischiefs.
Fourthly, The Lord Jesus Christ, hath not forgotten to be infinitely Faithfull, and infinitely Wise and Tender to the Soules of his Chosen, but hath in all Ages, and in all Conditions and Changes of his Spouse, stirred up by his holy Spirit, and sent such Voluntary Labourers into his Vine-yard, and so will, as have been, and shall be abundantly sufficient for this Nation and all Nations, as may best suit the Holy ends and Periods of his Time and Kingdome.
Fifthly, As he never appointed, so he never needed the casting of whole Nations into Oecumenicall, Nationall, Provinciall, Parochiall or Parish forms and Classes: To feed which Churches and the Ministries thereof, he never appointed nor needed, the Divinity (or Godlinesse) degrees of Universities and Colledges, Nor the enforcing of all the People of a Nation to come to Church (as they call it) nor the Distinction between inforcing to some Ordinances, but not to others, as to the Word and Prayer, and Singing and Paying, but not to the Lords Supper. All which are Plants which God his Father never planted, and therefore (as all such like, though …irer Plants and Inventions) must all in his holy Season be plucked up, and cast into the Fire.
FINIS.
End of the text · Roger Williams, The Hirelings Ministry None of Christs (1652)