Not Lawful to Hear of Have Spiritual Communion With the Church of England, Argument 3 – Argument 5
The third Argument, taken out of the ſame book of Mr Bradſh. Twelve Arguments, and out of the London Miniſters Exceptions, and Lincolnſhire Miniſters Abridgement &c.
IF ſuch be the eſtate of the Ministery of the Church-aſſemblies of England, as they are bound in their Ministration vntounto ſuch things, as the vſing of them in Church Service in manner and forme preſcribed, is a Wil-worſhip; a giving of ſpeciall Honour to Antichriſt and his members; a performing of Honour more then civill (even a Religious) onelyonly to an humane Power and Authority; a warranting of the like vſe of Iewiſh, Turkiſh, Paganiſh, or Popiſh obſervations; a doing of ſchiſmaticall Actions; an having of ſpirituall Cōmuniō with the Idolatrous Papiſts in the mysteries of their Idolatrie and Superſtition; a mingling of Profane things with Divine; an vſing of vnlawfull things in Divine worſhip; an adminiſtring of Sacraments that are not of divine institution; a ſolemne acknowledging of ſpirituall Homage, to the ſpirituall vſurped authority of Lord Archbiſhops & Biſhops; an vſing of humane Traditions and Rites enioyned to be performed in Gods worſhip, as neceſſarie to ſalvation; an apparant meanes of the Damnation of the ſowles of infinite numbers of men, confirming them in Superſtition and Idolatry; a diſgracing of the holy Scripture; a profaning of the Sacraments; an approving of Popiſh errours, and manifest vntruths; an obſerving of a Leiturgie which in the whole matter and forme thereof, is too like vntounto the Maſſebook, and hath in it ſundry things contrary to the word of God, &c. If ſuch (I ſay) be the estate of the Miniſterie of the Church-aſſemblies of England, then is it not lawfull to communicate with them therein.
But ſuch is the eſtate of the Miniſterie of the Church-aſſemblies of England. Ergo,
It is not lawfull to communicate with them therein.
The conſequence of the Propoſition is proved by ſundry reaſons alledged*Abridgement of the book delivered to his Maieſty, by the Lincolneſhire Ministers. p. 17. &c. by the Lincolneſhire Miniſters, though vrged by them but againſt the vſe of their Ceremonies: which we will now apply vntounto the communicating with their Miniſterie and miniſtration aforeſaid.
1. By the ſecond commandement, which forbids all provocations vntounto ſpiritual fornicatiō, as the ſeventh doth vntounto that which is carnall.
2. By the commandement and direction God hath given vsus in his word, † to ſeparate our ſelves from Idolaters and Antichristians, and to be as vnlike vntounto them as may be, ſpecially in their religious obſervations; ‖ to aboliſh not onelyonly all Idols but all the inſtruments of Idolatrie, and that ſo as we may beſt ſhew our ‡ vtmoſt deteſtation to them and *root out the verie memory of them, &c. †Levit. 18.3.4 and 19.19.27, 28. Exod. 23.24. Deut. 14.1. and 12.4, 30, 32, 2 Cor. 6.14-18. Apoca. 18.4. ‖ Gen. 35.2, 4. Num. 33.52. Deut. 12.2.3. 2 King. 23.4, 5. Eſa. 27.9. and 30.22.23. Zeph. 1.4. Apoca. 2, 14.20. ‡ Deut. 7.25.26. and 9.21. 1 Chron. 14.12. 2 King. 18.4. and 23.6.8. Eſa. 30.22. Iude, 23. * Exod. 23.13. Deut. 12.3. Ioſh. 23.7. Zach. 13.2.
3. By the equity & reaſons of theſe commandements which we find ſet down in holy Scripture. vidz vide licet , 1. The deteſtation which the Lord our God (being a jelous God) beareth vntounto Idolatry and all the inſtruments and tokens thereof, as vntounto ſpirituall whoredome. Exod. 20.5.6. Deut. 7.25.26. 2. That we cannot be ſaid ſincerely to have repented of the Antichriſtianiſme Idolatrie or ſuperſtition whereby we or our forefathers have provoked the Lord, vnles we be aſhamed of and caſt away with deteſtation all the inſtruments and monuments of it. 2 Chron. 33.15. Eſa. 1.28.29. and 2.6.8.9.20. and 30.9.10.11.22. 2 Cor. 7.11. 3. That we ſhalbe in danger to be corrupted in Religion and doctrine, and to be brought to ruine and deſtruction, if we conforme our ſelves to Idolaters & Antichriſtians in their Miniſterie, miniſtration, ceremonies, & reteyne or partake with the monuments of their ſuperſtition, yea if we ſhew not al deteſtation vntounto them. Exod. 34.12.15. Deut. 7.4.25.26. Iudg. 2.13. Gal. 2.5. Rev. 18.4. 4. That our keeping of communion with the Miniſters in ſuch Miniſtration, will be a ſpeciall meane to harden them in that vngodlynes. Ezech. 16.54. 1 Cor. 8.10. 5. That ſeing the Prelates are reveiled to be great Antichriſts, and their Miniſterie and conſtitutions to be great troublers of the Church at this day, it cannot but be very ſinfull and hurtfull to reteyne or communicate with them. 2 Theſ. 2.3.4.8.9.10.11.12. Apoc. 17. and 18. chap. Lev. 18.3.
4. By the judgment of the godly learned of all Churches & ages, who have conſtantly taught and given teſtimony to this truth, that Chriſtians are bound to forſake and caſt of the Miniſtration ceremonies & religious cuſtomes of Pagans Iewes Antichriſtians Idolaters & Hereticks, and carefully to ſhun all conformity with them therein.
And hitherto of ſuch reaſons as are alledged by the Lincolneſhire Miniſters, as is aforeſaid. Now for further confirmation of the Propoſition, I will alſo annex theſe following; being of like nature with the former.
1. The conſideration of the many ſinnes, and thoſe alſo great and grievous, which enſue vponupon ſuch practiſe: as may appeare by the particulars noted here in the Propoſition, & proſecuted in their Books.
2. Becauſe the ſecond commandement forbiddeth not onelyonly the making, but alſo the bowing downe to any inventions & conſtitutions of men in the worſhip of God: And this prohibition of bowing downe, includeth not onelyonly thoſe that vſe them, but ſuch alſo as communicate with them therein. Exod. 20.5.
3. Becauſe the Lord requireth of vsus to ſhew all vttermoſt deteſtation and forſaking of them, both by word & deed, even caſting them away as menſtruous cloths, and ſaying vntounto them, Get you hence. Eſa. 30.22.
4. Becauſe the impoſition & obſervation of the things aforeſayd, is not onelyonly vponupon the Miniſters, but vponupon the people alſo, & that both in their own perſons and in their children. And why ſhould not the people aſwel as the Miniſters ſtand faſt in the liberty wherewith Chriſt hath made them free, and not be intangled agayne with the yoke of bondage? Gal. 5.1.
5. Becauſe the Lord hath not required this at our hands, that we ſhould ſerve him by ſuch a Miniſterie and Miniſtration. Eſa. 1.12.
6. And finally, becauſe the Lord hath ſtraitly enjoyned vsus to forſake all humane deviſes in his worſhip, and not at all to partake with any of the ſinnes of Babylon. Deut. 4. chap. Rev. 18.4. and 22.18.19. Of which ſort, both they and we have proved that theſe are: as may be ſeen in their books and ours written hereabout. And thus much of the Propoſition.
The Aſſumption is proved by Mr Bradſh. in his Twelve Arguments; by the London Miniſters in their Exceptions; and by the Lincolneſhire Miniſters in their Abridgement of the Book delivered to his Maieſty: pag. 2-70. &c. compared with the Canons of Anno 1603. &c. The Arguments & other Treatiſes of the Miniſters, ſhew the nature and vſe of the things enioyned to be of ſuch conſequence. The Canons of the Convocation and other Lawes and conſtitutions of their Church, ſhew that the Miniſters are bound to ſuch a Miniſtration: And that vponupon payne of ſuſpenſion, deprivation, degradation, excommunication, &c.
Wherevpon ſome of them have written, that*Removal of Imput. of Devon & Cornwall Minist. p. 36. not Paul himſelf, if he were living, ſhould be permitted to continue his function, if he would not conforme: And,‡Mr Bradſh. Argum. 11. the whole Solemne Worſhip and Ministerie of Ieſus must ſtoupe and yeeld to theſe; And theſe must not stoupe or yeeld to them. Which howſoever they apply moſt vntounto their Ceremonies, yet the grounds of their Arguments imply it alſo vponupon their Miniſtery, and vponupon the partakers therewith: as may appeare by that which hath ben ſayd before; & which hereafter followeth.
The fourth Argument, taken out of the Admonitions to the Parliament, written by the Preachers ſeeking reformation,
IF the Offices of the Archbiſhops, Archdeacons, Lordbiſhops, Suffraganes, Parſons, Vicars, Pariſh priests, Stipendaries, and the reſt of that ſort in the Church of England, be Antichristian & contrarie to the Scriptures: then the people of God may not heare or otherwiſe partake with their Ministerie in the worſhip of God.
But the Offices of the Archbiſhops, Archdeacons, Lordbiſhops, Suffraganes, Parſons, Vicars, Pariſh priests, Stipendaries, and the reſt of that ſort in the Church of England, are Antichristian and contrarie to the Scriptures.
Therefore the people of God may not heare or otherwiſe partake with their Miniſtery in the worſhip of God.
The Propoſition needs no proof. For what communion hath light with darknes? And what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? 2 Cor. 6.14-17. Rev. 14.9-12. and 18.4. and 22.18.19.
The Aſſumption is their owne ſaying, and their plea for reformation many yeares ſince. Admonition to the Parliam. treatiſe, 1. and 2. ſection, 14.18.20. &c.
The fift Argument, taken out of the Offer of Conference or diſputation, tendered by ſome of the ſilenced & deprived Miniſters, to the Archbiſhops and Biſhops, &c.
IF theſe Propoſitions be true, 1. That all matters meerly Eccleſiaſticall, which are lawfully impoſed vponupon any Church, are ſuch as may be concluded neceſſarily from the written word of God: 2. That all humane Ordinances vſed onelyonly or ſpecially in Gods worſhip, wherevnto they are not neceſſarie of themſelves, are ſimply vnlawfull: 3. That every true viſible Church of Chriſt is ſuch a ſpirituall Body politick, as is ſpecially inſtituted by Christ or his Apoſtles in the New Testament: 4. That every true viſible Church of Chriſt or ordinary Aſſembly of the faithfull, hath by Chriſts ordinance power in it ſelf, immediately vnderunder Christ, to elect and ordeyne, deprive and depoſe their Miniſters, & to execute all other Eccleſiasticall Cenſures: 5. That the Paſtor of a particular Congregation is the higheſt ordinary eccleſiaſticall Officer in any true constituted viſible Church of Chriſt: 6. That it is the Office of every true Pastor to teach and to governe ſpiritually onelyonly one Church or Congregation immediately vnderunder Christ: 7. That the Office & Calling of Provinciall and Dioceſan Prelates is contrary to the word of God: If (I ſay) theſe Propoſitions be true, then it is not lawfull to hear or have any ſpirituall communion with the preſent Miniſtery of the Church-aſſemblies of England.
But the Propoſitions aforeſaid are true.
Therefore it is not lawful to heare or have any ſpirituall communion with the preſent Ministerie of the Church-aſſemblies of England.
The Major is of neceſſary conſequence, and not to be denyed: 1. Becauſe their Eccleſiaſticall matters Conſtitutions Offices & Miniſtration, called into queſtion, cannot be concluded from the written word of God; but are Humane Ordinances, never inſtituted by Chriſt or his Apoſtles: And therefore are vnlawfull to be received or bowed vntounto in Gods worſhip. Exod. 20.4.5. and 23.13.24. Deut. 12.28-32. 2 Cor. 6.14-17. 1 Tim. 5.22. and 6.13.14. Iude, ver. 3. & 23. Rev. 22.18.19.
2. Becauſe by the conſequence of theſe Propoſitions, they have not in their eſtate eyther true Churches or true Miniſters. And with falſe Churches and falſe Miniſters, we may not have any ſpirituall communion. Hoſ. 4.15. Amos. 4.4.5. Ioh. 10.5. Reve. 14.9-12. and 18.4.5.
3. Neyther can it be but that ſuch practiſe muſt needs imply in them which do it, that eyther they hold the Propoſitions aforeſayd to be falſe (which they averr to be true) or at leaſt that they walk corruptly & halt between two opinions. 1 King. 18.21.
The Minor is profeſſed and publiſhed by themſelves, and offered to be mainteyned againſt the Archbiſhops and Biſhops and all their adherents, by the late ſilenced and deprived Miniſters in England. Offer of Conference, pag. 1.2.
Where alſo note, how themſelves hold it lawfull, vponupon the Prelates proceedings, that*Offer of Conference, pag. 39. both the Miniſters and people of the Church-aſſemblies of England may leave their ordinarie standing in thoſe Churches. Which if it prove not a lawfull ſeparation like ours, it wilbe found to be a very ſchiſme among themſelves.