Not Lawful to Hear of Have Spiritual Communion With the Church of England, Reason 7 – Argument 2
The ſeventh Reaſon.
IF the preſent Miniſterie of the Church-aſſemblies of Engl. be not from heaven, but of men: then is it not lawfull in the worſhip of God to heare it or have any ſpirituall cōmunion therewith.
But the preſent Miniſterie of the Church-aſſemblies of Engl. is not from heaven, but of men.
Therefore it is not lawfull in the worſhip of God to heare it or have any ſpirituall communion therewith.
The conſequence of the Propoſition is manifeſt:
1. Becauſe the Miniſterie with which we may lawfully communicate is from heaven, that is, appointed by God and warranted in his word. Mat. 21.25.26. Ephe. 4.8.11.12. Heb. 5.4.
2. Becauſe the worſhipping of God by a Miniſterie framed by Man, is a breach of the ſecond commaundement: which the Lord hath threatned ſeverely to puniſh. Exod. 20.5. Deut. 12.30.31.32. Eſa. 29.13. with Mat. 15.15.9.
3. Becauſe ſuch a miniſtery is vncleane and lothſome in Gods ſight, ſo as the people of God can have no ſanctified vſe thereof. Num. 15.39.40. 2 Chron. 13.9. Eſa. 30.22. and 52.11. and 66.20. Zeph. 1.4.
The truth of the Aſſumption is evident: becauſe God hath not appointed the Miniſtery of the Church-aſſemblies of Engl. but Man hath framed and ſet it vp. Which may plainely be ſeen by comparing the Book of God, & their Books together: The Book of God, where their offices callings and adminiſtration cannot be found to be from heaven, ordeyned by the Lord: Their owne Books of making and conſecrating Biſhops Prieſts and Deacons; of Cō mon prayer and administration of the ſacraments; of Canons and conſtitutions, &c. where they are readily found to be of Men, erected and authoriſed by themſelves.
If any wil yet ſay, their callings & functions are frō heavē, let them ſhew it out of the word of God. Let thē ſhew (I ſay) that Chriſt the Lord hath ordeyned their offices, entrance, and adminiſtration: Their Offices of Archbiſhops, Lordbiſhops, Suffraganes, Cathedrall and Rurall Deanes, Prebendaries, Archdeacons, Subdeacons, Parſons, Vicars, Curates, &c. Their Entrance by the Prelates, by whom they are made Deacons and Prieſts and conſecrated Biſhops, according to their book of ordering and conſecration; as alſo, their preſentation to benefices by the Patrones, & inſtitution by the Prelates, &c. Their adminiſtration of the word, prayer, Sacraments, and cenſures, according to their Conſtitutions, book of Common prayer, Injunctions, Canons, &c. For this is the way, & this only, to warrant their eſtate, & ſtabliſh the cō ſcience of ſuch as are troubled about it. Yet this they doe not, but partly by cavils and exceptions againſt the truth and witneſſes of it, partly by vaine pretences of antiquity and humane authority, partly by abuſe and falſe gloſes of Scripture, partly by reproches and perſecutions of all ſorts, ſet themſelves to obſcure the light of the truth now manifeſted, and to turne away the people from the knowledge and obedience thereof.
Which is the more lamentable, conſidering what divers of them have judged and written of theſe things themſelves. One thus,*T. C. first reply. p. 83. The Miniſterie of the Goſpell, and the functions there of ought to be from heaven & of God, & not invented by the brayne of men. From heaven (I ſay) and heavenly, becauſe although it be executed by earthly men, and the Ministers alſo are choſen by men like vntounto themſelves, yet becauſe it is done by the word and inſtitution of God that hath †Note this.not onelyonly ordeyned that the word ſhould be preached, but hath ordeyned alſo in what order and by whom it ſhould be preached, it may well be accounted to come from heaven and from God. Seing therefore that theſe functions of the Archbiſhop and Archdeacon are not in the word of God, it followeth that they are of the earth, and ſo can do no good, but much harme in the Church.
Another thus,‖Demonſtr. of Diſcipl. in the Preface to the Reader. Albeit many nations that have renounced that whore of Rome, are heynouſly ſinful against the glorious Maiesty of Ieſus Chriſt; yet is there none in the whole world ſo far out of ſquare as England in reteyning that popiſh hierarchie, first coyned in the midſt of the mysterie of iniquity, and that filthy ſink of the Canon Law, which was invented & patched together, for the confirming and increaſing of the kingdome of Antichrist: Wherein as great indignity is offered vntounto Ieſus Christ, in committing his Church vntounto the government of the ſame, as can be, by meane vnderlings vntounto a King; in committing his beloved ſpouſe vntounto the direction of the miſtreſſe of the Stewes, and inforcing her to live after the orders of a brothelhouſe.
A third thus,*Removall of Imputations laid vponupon the Minist. of Devon: and Cornwall. pag. 22. It is a matter which by all the straynings of men therein employed, could never yet be cleared, that Provinciall and Dioceſan Biſhops are by Divine Right, rather then by Humane Pollicie. We for our parts hold theſe things firme: Firſt, that that Church-calling for which the ſcripture giveth no expreſſe warrant, is meerly vſurped and vtterly vnlawfull. The office of Iohn (though it were extraordinary) yet we ſee the care of the holy Ghoſt, to prove it by the Scripture, ‡Mat. 3.3….This is he of whom it is ſpoken by the Prophet Eſaias. Let any divine tell me what doctrine he would collect, if he were to preach vponupon that place. Secondly, that the Holy writt makes no mention of any ſuch B. as is now amongſt vsus. Shew me (who can) the title Epiſcopus or Biſhop given there to any mortall men in reſpect of other Paſtors, and not wholy and onelyonly in reſpect of the flock.
And divers others of them thus,†Admon. 1. and 2. Not onelyonly the office of Elders but their name alſo is out of this Engliſh Church vtterly removed, and in stead of them in every Church the Pope hath brought in and they in England yet mainteyne the Lordſhip of one man over many Churches. Which Lordbiſhops being not able (as the Elders) to execute their offices in their owne perſons without ſubſtitutes, have therefore their vnderunder officers, as Suffraganes, Chancelours, Archdeacons, Officials, Commiſſaries, and ſuch like. Alſo, They with their Canons and Courts are drawen out of the Popes ſhop, & take vponupon them (which is most horrible) the rule of Gods Church, thruſting away moſt ſacrilegiouſly that order which Christ hath left in his Church and which the Primitive Church hath vſed, yea robbing the Church of lawful Pastors, Elders, and Deacons. And, In a few words to ſpeak what we meane, Eyther muſt we have a right ministery of God, & a right government of his Church, according to the Scriptures ſet vp (both which we lack) or els there can be no right Religion, nor yet for contempt thereof can Gods plagues be from vsus any while deferred. Thus & much more have ſundry of themſelves written in former tymes, how ever it be that now they would ſeem to plead otherwiſe.
But to let them alone, by this may appeare how needfull it is for all, both Miniſters and people, to take heed to their wayes, and to lay them to heart. Towching the Miniſters, it ſhould herein be with them, as it was with Iohn Baptist, who proved his calling by the word to be from heaven, Ioh. 1.22.23. with Mat. 21.25. And they that are in deed true Miniſters, will have ſpeciall care and alway be able to ſhew their offices and callings to be of the Lord, from heaven, approved by his word. So were the Prieſts and Prophets in the tyme of the Law: So were alſo the Apoſtles and Miniſters of the Primitive Churches vnderunder the Goſpell: Yea & Chriſt himſelf likewiſe. And if we may certainely affirme, that the Chriſt who cannot approve his calling by the Scripture is not the true Chriſt, but a falſe Chriſt, and therefore to be avoyded, notwithſtanding any truth he profeſſeth and publiſheth: then may we as ſurely conclude, that the Miniſters which cannot prove their callings by the word of God are falſe Miniſters, and therefore not to be joyned withall, whatſoever truth they teach or bring with them otherwiſe. And if the Prophets, Apoſtles, Iohn Baptiſt; & Chriſt himſelf would not take this honour vntounto them, to be priviledged from having and ſhewing warrant of their callings out of the word of God: who and what are the Miniſters of the Church of England, that they ſhould be exempt from this ſo equall, ſo needfull, ſo generall a condition? And if they be not exempt, why are they not ready and carefull to ſhew it, for the ſatiſfying of others, and defence of themſelves?
And for the people (howſoever the Miniſters do) it ſhould be with them, as it was with the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half tribe of Manaſſes, who ſayd, God forbid, that we ſhould rebell againſt the Lord, & turne away this day from the Lord to build an altar for burnt offring, for meat offring, or for ſacrifice, ſave the altar of the Lord our God, that is before his tabernacle. Ioſh. 22.29. So ſhould all Chriſtians be likewiſe mynded and ſay, Far be it from vsus, that we ſhould rebell againſt the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, & turne this day from him, in appointing for our ſelves (or ſubmitting our ſelves vntounto) any office or calling, for the adminiſtration of the word, prayer, or Sacraments, ſave onelyonly that Miniſtery which Chriſt our Saviour hath appointed in his word. Of which ſort becauſe theſe Miniſters of the Church of England are not, far be it that we ſhould rebell againſt the Lord our God, and turne away frō him in receiving of them, in mainteyning or ſubmitting our ſelves vntounto them, by hearing of them or communicating with them in their Miniſtery any other wayes.
If it be ſayd, that all that theſe Miniſters do, is to the Lord; and that the things which they do are ſuch as he hath commaunded, as reading the Scriptures, teaching the truth, praying, baptizing, &c. yet this doth not help them, nor covereth their ſinne. For beſides that which hath ben ſpoken before concerning this poynt, we may ſee here by this example, how the Reubenites and the reſt confeſſed, that although they had built their Altar for the true God, and to ſerve him by no other ſacrifices then he required, yet their attempt therein ſhould notwithſtanding be rebellion againſt the Lord, and apoſtaſie from their God. The ſame likewiſe is to be mynded for all falſe Miniſteries & deviſes of men in the worſhip of God vnderunder the Goſpel. For whatſoever things ar written aforetyme, they are afore-written for our learning and inſtruction. Rom. 15.4. And hitherto of theſe Reaſons.
Now the God of all grace give vsus to agree and be like mynded in the truth and ſyncerity of the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt: that wee may ſet our hearts to receive & keep whatſoever the Lord hath commanded, and in one accord with one mouth may praiſe God even the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: To whom be glory and dominion for ever & ever. Amen.
OTHER ARGVMENTS and Reaſons, taken out of divers Books, old and new, written by the forward Preachers concerning the Ceremonies, Miniſtery, and government of the Church of England:
Tending to the ſame end and proving the ſame thing with the Reaſons here before alledged, vidz, vide licet That it is notlawfull to heare or communicate with the preſent Miniſtery of the Church-aſſemblies of England.
The firſt Argument, taken out of Mr W. Br. Twelve Arguments, made by him againſt their Ceremonies; and thus applyed vntounto their Miniſtery.
ALl Wil. worſhip is ſinne:
To heare or communicate with the preſent Miniſterie of the Church-aſſemblies of England, in Church Service in maner and forme preſcribed, is a Wil-worſhip. Ergo
To heare or communicate with that Ministerie is ſinne.
The Propoſition cannot be denied, for the Apoſtle Paul plainely condemneth Wil worſhip.
The Aſſumption may thus be proved:
All pars of Divine Service and Worſhip, impoſed onelyonly by the will and pleaſure of Man, vponupon the communicants in Divine Service, and that of neceſsity to be done, is Wil-worſhip.
But to heare or communicate with the preſent Miniſtery of the Church-aſſemblies of England, in Church Service in maner & forme preſcribed, is 1. a part of Divine Service and Worſhip, 2. impoſed onelyonly by the pleaſure & will of Men, vponupon the Cōmunicants in Divine Service, 3. of neceſſity to be done therin. Ergo,
To heare or communicate with the preſent Miniſterie of the Church. aſſemblies of England in maner and forme preſcribed, is a Wil-worſhip.
The Propoſition is as cleare as the Sunne at noone day.
The Aſſumption hath three parts:
1. The firſt is, That to heare or communicate with the preſent Ministerie of the Church of England, &c. is a part of Divine worſhip and Service. Which cannot be denyed.
2. The ſecond part of the Aſſumption is: That it is impoſed onelyonly vponupon the pleaſure and will of man. Which is evident, ſeing Man impoſeth it vponupon man, & God hath not in his word appointed their Offices callings and adminiſtration, neyther required any to cōmunicate with them in Church ſervice, in maner and forme preſcribed. Towching which, beſides that we have ſpoken in the former Reaſons, ſee in their owne books what themſelves have publiſhed: a proof whereof in ſundry particulars we have given both heretofore, and in this preſent Treatiſe.
3. The third part of the Aſſumption is: That it is of neceſsity to be done in Divine Service. Which is alſo out of all doubt: For the people ſtand bound to heare & cōmunicate with them, vponupon payne of ſuſpenſion, excōmunication, paying twenty pound a monethmonth, &c. and God muſt have no ſolemne Worſhip in England, except it be in communion with the ſame.
VponUpon all this it followes, That to heare and communicate with the preſent Miniſterie of the Church-aſſemblies of England in maner & forme preſcribed, is to do that which is a part of Divine worſhip impoſed onelyonly by the will of Man, &c.
The ſecond Argument, taken out of the ſame Treatiſe.
IT is a ſinne againſt God for Christians to partake with the Miniſterie of ſuch, as accounting themſelves to be ſervants of Ieſus Christ, yet do in the execution of their Miniſtery, give ſpeciall Honour to Antichrist and his Officers.
But the Ministerie of the Church of England is ſuch, as the Ministers account themſelves to be ſervants of Ieſus Chriſt, and yet in the execution of their Ministerie, give ſpeciall Honour to Antichrist and his Officers. Ergo,
It is a ſinne against God for Christians to partake with the Miniſterie of the Church of England.
The Propoſition is manifeſt and cleare to any that have an eye of Reaſon and any light of Divinity ſhining in it. For which ſee, 2 Cor. 6.14-17. Rev. 18.4.
The Aſſumption hath two parts; Firſt, that the Ministers of the Church of England, account themſelves to be ſervants of Ieſus Chriſt. Which themſelves will freely graunt. For here they ſay, that by way of Excellency they are ſo.
The ſecond is, that they do in the execution of their Miniſterie, give ſpeciall honour to Antichrist & his Officers. Which is proved (If our adverſaries will graunt, that the Pope is Antichriſt, and the Prelates Antichriſtian officers) by this reaſon.
Such a conformity to Antichriſt and his Officers in the Miniſterie, as is not onelyonly beſides the word of God, but in a ſpecial maner derogatorie to all reformed Churches that have departed from the Synagogue of Rome, is a ſpeciall honour to Antichrist and his Officers.
But the execution of the Miniſtery of the Church of England, is ſuch a conformity to Antichrist and his Officers. Ergo,
The execuion of that Miniſterie, in the manner aforeſaid, is to give ſpeciall honour to Antichrist and his Officers.
The Propoſition is without exception.
The Aſſumption is thus proved:
To execute a Ministerie vnderunder Antichriſts Hierarchie, and that alſo by vertue of a calling received according to the popiſh ordering of Miniſters, which is not onelyonly ſtraunge from the word of God and the vſe of all well reformed churches in the world, but is alſo drawen out of the Popes pontificall, wherein he ſheweth himſelf to be Antichriſt most lively; that is to have conformity with Antichriſt and his Officers as is aforeſaid.
But ſuch is the execution of the Miniſterie of the Church of England. Ergo,
It is to have conformity with Antichrist and his Officers as is aforeſaid.
The Propoſition they will not gaineſay.
The Aſſumption they have graunted and publiſhed, vidz vide licet , That they have an Antichristian Hierarchie and popiſh ordering of Ministers, straunge from the word of God and the vſe of all well reformed Churches in the world; And, that their Ponticfiall whereby they conſecrate Biſhops and make Miniſters and Deacons, is nothing els but a thing word for word drawen out of the Popes pontificall, wherein he ſheweth himſelf to be Antichriſt most lively. Admon. to Parliam. treatiſe 2. ſection 14. and 20.