The Storming of Antichrist, To the reader
THE PREFACE To the READER.
LE…ſt that proverbe ſhould be turned upon me, Prov. 26.17. He that medleth with ſtrife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a Dog by the eare: The Reader may underſtand, that I entred not upon this controverſie without a ſufficient call, the which was this: There being a Sermon preached at Cranbrooke in Kent, by Mr. Francis Cornewell, againſt Paedobaptiſme, therein was by him aſſerted, that it was an Antichriſtian Innovation, a humane Tradition, and that it had neither precept, nor example, nor yet true deduction from the Word; or words to the like effect. Divers of the Miniſters thereabouts; (Some whereof were preſent, and heard him) being much offended hereat (my ſelfe meane time being ſilent on both ſides) agreed together, that we ſhould in our private ſtudies examine the queſtion, & at our next meeting, which was within a fortnight, bring our collections according as we found it; according to which agreement, I ſtudying the queſtion at large, found that it was a humane Tradition, and that it contained more evill in it then ever I could have imagined; according to our agreement, I brought in my arguments againſt infants baptiſme, nothing being brought in the defence thereof; the Miniſters being hindred through forgetfulneſſe, and interruption of buſineſſe as they ſaid. The Collections being then and there read, a Reverend brother ſtood up in the name of the reſt, who ſpake to this Effect. That they ſought for truth rather then for victory; and therfore he deſired that the arguments might be left with one of them, that ſo they might be examined; whereunto all the reſt of the Miniſtres, then and there preſent, did accord; the arguments having lyen five weeks, and ſeeing no anſwer of any kinde given to them, I ſent for them home, and with ſome additions tranſcribed them for the Preſſe.
I am conſcious of mine own inability herein, eſpecially in this learned age, but partly knowing that it is the Lords manner of working, to chooſe the fooliſh things of the world, to confound the wiſe, and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are, that all the glory may be his, 1 Cor. 27, 28. and partly being convinced of the uprightneſſe of the cauſe I maintain, being thereunto led by a cleere light, though not favoured by times, nor accompanied with any temporall ends that I know of: I have adventured for the ſatisfaction of doubting conſciences, to publiſh theſe my thoughts; what I have cited out of Antiquity, I have done it in ſincerity as in the ſight of my conſcience. If in any thing elſe there bee a miſtake, let the reader conſider in what untrodden paths our way lies.
I was not ſo incogitant as not to forethink, that the Croſſe of Chriſt was like to attend the confeſſion of this tenent, for I well foreſaw it, but the evidence of truth ſhining cleer unto me, the Lord taught me not to conſult with fleſh and blood: I know it will be no little guilt at the day of Chriſt for the gaining earthly goods, and eſcaping temporall hazards, to wincke at light for feare of convincement, nor will then a Scholaſticke frivolous diſtinction, nor a Logicall fallacye, ſtop the mouth of that Conſcience from barking, which now thereby is layen to ſleepe.
There are divers things alleadged againſt this tenent, or tenents;
1 Antiquity; To which I anſwer, infants baptiſme is ancient, but nothing neere ſo ancient as the world is borne in hand, the name of it is not in the world in the Apoſtles time nor many yeers after.
Was not Epiſcopacie, giving the Lords ſupper to infants, ancient; putting away wives was ancient, but from the beginning it was not ſo, thoſe things which have not been in force from the beginning, cannot be in force by ſucceſſion of time.
2 The fewneſſe of thoſe that defend this: I anſwer, its true: But,
1 Truth hath often been locked up in the breaſt of few, who in competition of voyces could not make their party good. In the firſt Nicene Counſell, Athanaſius almoſt alone did oppoſe the Arguments of the Arrians, Mort. de concil. author lib. 4. cap. 8. pag. 361. Conſtantine the Arrian the ſon of Conſtantine, did upbraid the orthodox, that Athanaſius with four or five more troubled the peace of all the world, to whom Liberius Biſhop of Rome, ſaid; The word of faith is not diminiſhed by my aloneneſſe: Theodoret lib. 2. hiſt. Eccle. cap. 16. whereby wee may ſee the uncertainty of ſtabliſhing Religion by plurality of votes.
2. T…ere are but few that will examine things, when times and preferment ſtand thwart; few there were that ſtood againſt Nebuchadnezzars Decree: Where loſſes are on the one hand, and ſufferings on the other few will examine in ſuch caſes, not one of many will reaſon the matter with his own conſcience, and of thoſe that doe reaſon, not one of many will ſuffer conſcience to ſpeak out, and of thoſe that doe ſuffer conſcience to ſpeake what it can, not one of many, but he ſtifles conſcience with a diſtinction.
The teſtimony of a few that are not blinded with temporall ends, but ſwim painfully againſt the ſtream, is not to be ſlighted.
3 Might not the ſame things ſeven yeers agoe have been alleadged againſt the Prelacie, Common prayer Booke, few oppoſed theſe; Its an hard thing to get an open heart to receive truths, when Magiſtrates are oppoſite, and the receiving hereof, ſhall expoſe our ſelves and families to want and miſery.
3 The vniverſality of thoſe that defend infant baptiſme, both churches and learned men; Though many of them have defended it, as Luther, Calvin, &c. Yet there have been many that have oppoſed it, who have not wanted learning to defend their cauſe. For churches I ſhall hereafter ſhew how they have erred. I will now give one inſtance, viz: Their miſtake in the matter of the church, for ſo many hundred yeers, taking mixt multitudes for the matter thereof, when the Scripture makes Saints in profeſſion the matter thereof. Baptiſme being appointed of Chriſt, for differencing the matter of the church from all other ſocieties, ſurely a right baptiſme failing, in reſpect of the ſubject, a right matter muſt needs fail; theſe two errors like Hypocrates Twins, were borne at the ſame time, and will dye together.
Now that the Saints are the matter of the church, peruſe theſe places: 1 Cor. 1.2. To the church which is at Corinthus, Sanctified in Chriſt Ieſus and called to be Saints, 1 Cor. 14.33. God is not the God of confuſion but of order, as in all the churches of the Saints. We ſee, All the churches conſiſted of Saints, Gal. 1.22. I was unknowne to the churches of Iudea, which were in Chriſt, 1 Theſ. 2.14. You became followers of the churches of God, which in Iudea are in Christ Ieſus, 1 Theſ. 1.1. Paul and Silvanus, unto the church of the Teſſalonians, which is in God the Father and in the Lord Ieſus Christ. We ſee what perſons were churches, even ſuch as were deemed to be in Chriſt and in God. 1 Cor. 10.17. We being many are one bread, and one body; Now how can carnall and civill men make one bread and one body with the Saints.
Apoc. 1.20, 12. The Seven churches of Aſia are called ſeven golden candleſticks, which ſhowes what kinde of matter the churches ought to conſiſt of.
In a word to this objction of Churches, I will onelyonly oppoſe the calve worſhip in Iſrael, that continued 200. yeares backt with authority, and the many idolatries and corruptions, that were univerſally upon every v…ſible church in Antichriſts Apoſtacy. And for learned men, I oppoſe the learned Fathers for the firſt 300. yeares, or near upon, not regarding the …thority of following times herein.
The fourth thing objected, is that there are ſo many godly men among …s, that have ſuffered ſo much in the dayes of the Prelacy, for ſtanding out againſt them; and theſe are contrary minded, both thoſe in the Synod, and others out of it.
Anſ. 1. The examples of the holieſt men, are not rules for worſhip or conſcience, further then they follow the Scriptures; Chryſoſtome ſaith, there is more heed to be given to the Scriptures, then to the voice of Angels.
2 Godly men through ſlaviſh fears of povertie, diſgrace, &c. may be ſlow in receiving convinceable truths.
3 One thing that may hinder godly men from receiving truthes, may be the diminution of their own repute, when they have formerly taught many glorious truthes, and now they muſt come to be aſhamed of their ſetting their poſts againſt Gods poſts. Pezelius in his book of the Sacrament (if my memory fail me not, I having not the book by) ſaith; That wh…n none from Franckford Mart, brought Calvins Inſtitutions to Luther, and after asked him what he thought of it? He anſwered, Profecto non inepte hic Author dixit. Yet would he not recant what he had ſaid, leſt the truth of all his doctrine ſhould be cald in queſtion; but ſecretly as I have heard, communicated his miſtakes to Melancton.
4 Many godly men (eſpecially thoſe of the Synod) have had little time to ſtudy this controverſie, being overburthened in their daily conferences, and weekly preachings, and the controverſie was but newly begun to be inquired into, in the beginning of their ſitting.
5 Theſe godly men, nor any other godly men in the world, that I ever heard of, ſuffered any thing for the defence of this point. But many have ſuffered for proteſting againſt it, and thoſe of Gods dear children. And this I am perſwaded, were times now, or ſhould they be hereafter, againſt Infants baptiſme, there is hardly that perſon to be found, that would loſe a Living, much leſſe his life, for the defence hereof. And yet I doubt not, but many perſons who hold the ſame, in defence of a plain and clear truth, would not ſpare to ſacrifice livings, credit, life, and all for Jeſus Chriſt. For when a perſon is put upon loſing ſome dear enjoyment, and ſuffering ſome great hardſhip, a man will not go a jot further then he hath cleere light, nay in point of danger the fleſh ſeekes to winde out it ſelfe all that it can; So that if there be not a plain command from God, a man will not ſuffer.
5 Its objected we know not what we would have, neither do the Reformers know what we deſire?
Anſw. The deſires of all I know not, but my own deſires, and the deſires of divers of Gods Saints, I ſhall propoſe, in all humility to be conſidered of; which may be conſidered under theſe par…iculars.
1 We deſire pure worſhip; that we may have wherewith to anſwer the conſcience, when it queſtions who hath required theſe things a… your hands? Eſa. 1. We know how hot the jealouſie of God is in caſe of ſtrange fire, as we ſee in the caſe of Nadab and Abihu, Levit. 10.1.
2 We deſire that it may be enquired into, whether the diviſion of Aſſemblies, which was in uſe in the time of the firſt Nicene Councell (and how long before I cannot tell, probably thought to have continued from the Apoſtles time) wherein congregations were divided into three ſorts. 1. foreign Hearers, 2. foreign perſons catechiſed, or fitted for memberſhip. 3. foreign Officers and Communicants; be not ſuitable to the Scriptures, and a practiſe ſeriouſly to be thought of in theſe times of Reformation,
That this was the manner of dividing Congregations, we ſee, concil. Nicen. can. 14. de catechumenis la…ſis. concil. Ancyran. canon 6. de his qui timore ritus Gentilium peregeruat. See the ſame more fully, canon 4 de his qui Gentilitatis ritus aliquid peregerunt. In which Canons, Aſſemblies were divided into Hearers, Catechumeni, and Communicants.
1 Hearers; and the neceſſity of the times (did it not agree with the Word and the ancient Councel, as it doth cleerly) require one rank of perſons to be only hearers, what are the whole rable of ignorants, drunkards, ſwarers, worldlings, fit to be, ſave hearers? & theſe are far the greater number; nor will a little ſtupifactive divinity, in taking them and theirs to baptiſm, and keeping them off from the ſupper, promote them to a higher rank.
2 Catechumeni; Theſe were perſons of whom there was ſome good hope that they would embrace Chriſtianity in the tru…h and power, who thereupon were inſtructed in the principles of chriſtian Religion, before they were baptiſed. Cypr. l. de bapt. haeret. ſaith, If any of the catech…meni ſhall be ſlain for the conf…ſſion of the name of Chriſt, before he be baptiſed; it hurts him not that he was not dipt in water, becauſe ſuch an one is baptiſed with the moſt glorious and principall baptiſme of bloud, of which Chriſt ſaid, I have another baptiſme. Hence there was an Officer in the ancient church, who was called a Catechiſt, whoſe Office was to prepare perſons for the receiving of baptiſme and the ſupper, and for other duties. Such an one was Origen at Alexandria, Euſ. l. 6. c. 12. who ſeeing the burthen to be too great for himſelf alone, took in one Heraclus to be a fellow helper with him, and this Office was according to Gal. 6.6. foreign, &c. duplicate page duplicate page Let him that is cat…chiſed, make him that catechiſeth pertake in all his goods.
3 Offerers or Communicants, who being once taken in by baptiſme, remained in full communion, till they were cut off by death or cenſures.
The third thing we deſire, is puritie in conſtitution of Religion.
1 We deſire not a reformation of the old, which ſeemeth to be falſe for theſe two reaſons.
1 Becauſe of the univerſall defection of Antichriſt, whereby all Ordinances, Officers, and Conſtitutions of Jeſus Chriſt were put out of place, and new ones come in their ſtead: In ſtead of Paſtors, Elders, Teachers, Deacons, &c. there hath come in Dioceſan Biſhops, Prieſts, Archdeacons, Deans, Prebends, Churchwardens, Sidemen: Inſtead of preaching and prayer; Mattens and Even-ſong and Lyturgies, of I know not how many ſorts.
2 B…cauſe the matter of the Church hath been ſo erronious, that ſuppoſe the power of all Ordinances and Keyes in a time ot univerſall defection, ſhould reſolve it ſelfe radically into the Church? Yet there being not any Church right for matter, which is part of the Eſſence; this power could not reſolve it ſelfe radically into a Church: And therefore if it be any where on earth (as doubtleſſe it is) t muſt needs be in believers, who joyning themſelves together in Aſſemblies, may ſtirre up and take again that power which was committed to the Churches, and after cheated away by Antichriſt.
If Idolatry, will-worſhip, falſe matter, can un-church Churches, then doubtleſſe all the Churches ſo overſhadowed by an Antichriſtian veile, have ceaſed to be Churches, and if neither Idolaters, will-worſhip, nor falſe matter, ſingularly, nor collectively, doe unchurch Churches; then the Churches under the Papacie, may perhaps be found to continue true Churches to this day, who have had a ſucceſſive, though not of preached doctrines, yet of perſons, ſuch as they were; which ſucceſſion hath been like a ſhip which the longer it went to Sea, the fuller it was of leakes. Yet if any pleaſe they may querie further of the two laſt branches.
2 We deſire a ſetting up of conſtitutions according to the Scripture; or in plaine termes, to have a Church deſcribed by ſuch notes that cannot be applyed to any other ſociety in the world, the taking away of one of which, deſtroyes the eſſence of the Church. That ſo Gods people may know how to recollect themſelves by theſe ſignes, as Captains in war uſe by military ſignes; to recollect their routed and ſcattered forces. Only we muſt conſider by way of premiſe, that which Zwinglius long agoe obſerved, that there are but two ſorts of Churches mentioned in Scrip ure.
1 Catholick, comprehending all the elect or body of Chriſt, borne or unborne, which were purchaſed with Chriſts blood; Eph. 5.25. Many men dream of a Catholick viſible Church: Jewes and Gentiles are taken into one body, Epheſ. 2.14. But not in reſpect of miniſteriall diſpenſation, but of myſticall union. The Fathers were wont to call the Church Catholike, in oppoſition to Heretikes; and in oppoſition to the Churches formerly cloſed up in Judaea, but not dreaming of any ſuch united viſible body here upon earth, alſo in reſpect that all beleevers had one and the ſame faith. If all the Churches in a Nation make one body Nationall, and all bodies Nationall make one body Catholike, then muſt there be a ſutable ſoul to animate this body; but this cannot be Chriſt nor his ſpirit, therefore muſt it be Antichriſt; who hath overſhadowed the whole world, under the cloud of a viſible catholike Church.
2 Particular church or churches; which is no other then a company of Saints in profeſſion, explicitely or implicitely conſenting together, to worſhip God in the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer, and all other duties of Religion.
Now whereas there is mention made of churches in ſome particular mens houſes, as in the houſes of Philemon, Aquila, and others; I ſuppoſe the churches in thoſe houſes were no diſtinct kinde of churches, from thoſe that were named in Townes and Cities; but they were ſo called, becauſe the brethren did meet to worſhip God in theſe principall mens houſes, and becauſe its like there were divers beleevers in thoſe houſes. When the Apoſtles came to this or that City, we muſt not think that multitudes were converted at once, but now one and then one; ſo that often the conſtituted churches were ſo ſmall, that they could well meet together in one place, in one private houſe.
Now whereas ſome others have laboured to find a Presbyteriall church, in no place in all the New Teſtament, are the Elders or Presbytery cleerly ſo called; though many have laboured with all their power, herein to finde it.
Much leſſe is there any ſhadow of a parochiall church, but it hath been brought in by Antichriſt of late dayes: Inſtead of a Parhagiall church conſiſting of Saints, Antichriſt hath brought in a Parochiall church, conſiſting of a multitude, meaning the cohabiting multitude.
Theſe things being thus premiſed, we will ſet down theſe ſignes of a Church, as they do in order of nature preſent themſelves; Theſe are ſixe, the three former neceſſary to the being; the three latter, to the well-being of a church.
The firſt is a right matter, viz. viſible Saints, as was proved before; 1 Cor. 14 33. Matter towards the production of being, is in order, though not in time before form; therefore it is eſſentially requiſitie to a well conſtituted church, that there be a right matter: We will not here diſpute, whether churches failing in the matter, ceaſe to be churches? But this is enough, that we know God requires ſuch a matter; henceforth ſuch matter muſt the churches have to be right, as the Apoſtolicall churches had; but they had Saints for the matter of their churches, therefore ſo muſt we have. Beleeve it, we are beholding for the recovery of this truth, to our brethren (nick-named Independants;) which is as precious a truth about church order, as ever was recovered from the ſpoiles of Antichriſt; for if the matter of churches be wrong, let the wiſeſt and holieſt do what they can, they ſhall never bring things into a comfortable order.
2 The ſecond Eſſentiall requiſite to a conſti uted church is agreement, conſent, or covenant, call it what you pleaſe, the foundations of all ſocieties are and have been eſtabliſhed herein, nor can this nor any other ſociety be accidentally ſhuffled together as Cards in a pack, or Lo…s in a Lot box, therefore ſanctified reaſon requires, that a particular or viſible church (for theſe are terminis convertabiles) be eſtabliſhed by ſome kinde of covenant or agreement, which to me ſeemeth ſufficient, if it came under no other precept but the precept of order, yet have we examples, both of the 3000. added to the Church at Jeruſalem, Acts 2.41, 47. and the Apoſtle Acts 9 6. Paul aſſaying to joyne to the church; who could not be admitted, till Barnabas gave teſtimonie of him, for thoſe places which ſome alledge for this covenant, from Deut. 26.17, 18. and 29.10, 11, 12. Ier. 50.4. &c. They were peculiar to the church of the Jewes, and were uſed in point of Reformation, not of Conſtitution, and belongd onelyonly to the church of the Jewes, which did, totâ ſpecie, differ from Evangelicall churches, as having both Ordinances and Officers different, they having Prieſts, we Miniſters, They bodily Sacrifices of beaſts, We ſpirituall, They having the preſence of God confined to one place eſpecially, We having it where two or three are gathered in Chriſts Name; Their ſervice for the moſt part ceremoniall, till time of Reformation, Ours Morrall and perpetuall; Their paſſeover eaten by all the family, confined to a certain day, with many other differences.
Yet when I ſpeake thus of this covenant, its far from me to thinke that it doth give being to the Church: Its one thing to give being to a thing, per ſe, or by it ſelfe, and its another thing to concurre to the being of a thing; meate and drinke doth not give being to the life of man, though without it he could not live, for if he had not reſt, and Phiſicke and ayre, and Stomack, and digeſtive power, he could not live, though he had never ſo good meate and drinke: So this covenant, or agreement, doth not give being to the church, for a company of Arrians, Socinians, Papiſts, &c. may have a viſible Sanctitie, and enter thus into covenant, yet will not we call them a church, but a Synagoue of Satan, becauſe they want a right diſpenſation of doctrine, and Sacraments. This is ſuch a neceſſary ſigne, that one Church cannot be ſevered from another without it; ſon why are you of this Church rather then of that? Becauſe there was ſuch an agreement betwixt the Elders and members of this Church, which was not betwixt the Elders and members of another.
The third ſigne is, a right diſpenſation of the word and Sacraments. That whereby the Apoſtolicall Churches were known from other ſocieties, is a ſigne of a true Church of Chriſt; but they were known by this,
See this note, firſt in conſtitution of Churches, Acts 2.42. they continue… in the Apoſtles doctrine and fellowſhip, and breaking of bread, and in prayers, Matth. 28.19. Chriſt ſending forth the Apoſtles to convert and conſtitute Churches, bids them only teach and baptize them; as if he ſhould ſay, word and Sacraments are eſſentiall to his Church.
2 In reformation, when Ioſiah would reform the Church of the jews, he declares the doctrine of the law unto them, 2 Kings 23.1, 2, 3.2 Chron. 34.30, 31. when Ezra was to reſtore the Church after the captivity, he layes this foundation for reſtoring of it; he expounds the law to the people, a practiſe well to bee thought of in theſe times, fit for many congregations in this Kingdome, who are not fit to pertake of any thing elſe ſave the word: ſhortly after Ezra reſtored the worſhip of the Paſſeover according to the preſcript of Moſes, Ezra 6.19.
Apoc. 11.1. There was in the reformation of the Churches, a reed to m…aſure t…e Temilo and the worſhippers therein, this was no other but the word of God; and Paul 1 Cor. 11. reforming the Church of Corinth, teaches them the doctrine of the Sacrament of the Supper, as he had received it from Chriſt. verſe 23.
There are b…ſides theſe three eſſentiall ſignes, three others; which though not eſſentiall primarily, yet ſo neceſſary that I cannot ſee how a Church can ſubſiſt without them.
1 Profeſſion, when any man would joyne to a Church, let him ſhew his right to the holy things of God by profeſſion; So the Eunuch Acts 8.38. 1 Pet. 3.17. be ready to give an anſwer to every one that askes you a reaſon of the hope in you, if to ev…ry one, then much more to thoſe perſons with whom you deſire to remaine in Church-communion, Rom. 10.10. with the heart man beleeves unto righteouſnes, and with the tongue confeſsion is made to ſalvation. Iohn lookt for this confeſſion or profeſſion before he would baptize them, Mat. 3.6. they were baptized of Iohn in Iordan confeſsing their ſins, the Epheſians Acts 19.19. many that beleeved came and confeſſ…d, and ſh…wed their deeds. As faith makes us members of the Catholick, ſo the profeſſion hereof concur…es to make us members of the viſible Church, now whether this prof…ſſion be before the Elders, for the Eunuch onelyonly profeſt before Philip; ſo the Elders may relate what profeſſions have been made, which I think expedient in reſpect of womens baſhfulneſſe, and the weakneſſe of expreſſions in ſome, though otherwiſe godly; or whether it be done before the whole Church is duplicate page duplicate page not much materiall, chriſtians muſt not onelyonly look to lawfulneſſe, but to expedien…ie in reſpect of the times and places where we live, 1 Cor. 6.12. and for chriſti…ns let them not be aſhamed to prof…ſſe their faith, and confeſſe their ſins in this way, ſeeing Chriſt cals himſelf the High Prieſt of their profeſſion, or foreign, …onfeſſion, Heb. 3.1. alſo cap 4.14. Seeing we have a great High Prieſt that is entred …nto t…e heavens, Jeſus the Son of God; let us hold faſt our prof…ſſi n or confeſſion: what profeſſio…? truly that which we have ever held from the hour of our baptiſme.
2 Miniſtry; the church of Coloſſe had Epaphras, and ſome think beſides Ar…hi…as; the chu c… of Philippi Epaphroditus; all the ſeven churches had their ſeverall Angels, the Holy Ghoſt makes them overſeers over the flock, Acts 20 28. (For the calling of the Miniſtery, ſee Acts 6 2 4. Heb. 13.7) Paul cals it a di…tinct Office, 1 Tim. 3.1. If a man deſire the Office of an overſeer or Biſhop (for they are both one in the Greek) he deſireth a good work. Alſo, verſ. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. he ſets down ſundry qualifications of an overſeer; So doth he, Titus 1.6, 7, 8. I will not derogate from Propheſie, but that ſome wiſe and ſober minded men may now and then propheſie, tha… in caſe of need the churches may have continuall ſupply; but let men elevate propheſie as high as they pleaſe, and degrade miniſtry as low as they pleaſe, yet I fear me I ſhall propheſie too truly, in ſaying, the downfall of miniſtry will be a ſpeedy preſage of the ruine of the churches.
Obiect. But if the Miniſtry be a note of the church, then when the miniſtry dies, the c urch ſhould die.
Anſw. We muſt diſtinguiſh betwixt a Miniſter and the miniſtry, the Miniſters may dye hundreds one after another, and yet the miniſtry remain by the ſupply of others. Its good to walke in a mean, betwixt Presbiteriall and popular ingroſſement, and I hope upon triall, it will be found to accord with the word.
Nor is that lightly to be paſt over, that ſending of Miniſters is the higheſt foregoing requiſites of faith and prayer; the inſeperable adjuncts of all true members of churches, ſo far as man can judge. Rom. 10.14.15. How ſhall they hear without a Preacher? And how ſhall they preach, except they be ſent? A… it is written, How beautifull are the feet of them that preach the Goſpell of Peace? No ſending of Preachers, no preaching; no preaching, no hearing; no hearing, no believing; no believing, no prayer; no prayer, no ſalvation. By which gradation it appeares, it is exceeding neceſſary to ſalvation to have a ſent Miniſtry; and in vain is reformation, where not onelyonly matter, but alſo perſons for miniſtry, is wanting.
Q…ſt, What is requiſite to right ſending?
Anſw. 1. Something from God. As firſt, gifts of learning, memory, knowledge of the Scriptures, ability to divide the word, and to preach ſeaſonable truths. Chriſt aſcending to receive and to give gifts to, and for the Miniſtry, Pſal. 68.28. compared with Epheſ. 4.8. We cannot think him a Miniſter that wants theſe, this is abſolutely neceſſary. 2 If it may be, alſo let him be a man of a gracious ſpirit; for though it were granted that a wicked man might convert and build up, yet can there not be like bleſſing expected from thoſe who preach out of other mens …ee… lings, as from thoſe who preach out of their own experience.
2 Something from men.
As firſt, Election of the people, Acts 14.23. And when they had ordaine… them Elders, foreign, which doth not ſignifie every church as it is tranſlated but according to the church; which is an ordinary Graeciſme and Latiniſme. Th… Oratour ſaith, Faciam ſecundum te, I will do it according to thy minde, ſo they ordained them elders according to the Church, that is, according to the minde & wil… of the Church; the force of church Election lyes not in the word foreign which in Grammaticall conſtruction, can agree with no other then Paul an… Barnabas, verſ. 22. and was onelyonly their act but in the word foreign.
2 Ordination, that the Elders of the churches do examine him, to know hi… parts and fitneſſe, and finding him fit, do allow and ordain him, Acts 14.23 If they know his fitneſſe without examination, then may examining be omitted Timothy being ordained, 2 Tim. 1.6. was warned not to partake in ordaining a unworthy man, 1 Timoth. 5.22. Lay hands ſuddainly no man, neither be partaker… of other mens ſins.
The third ſigne is diſcipline or government. If the common-wealth, nay if family, cannot ſubſiſt without government, how then can the church of God ſubſiſt without it? Godly men have many unmortified reliques in them, which muſ… be curbed.
The fourth thing we deſire, is Liberty of conſcience; That we behaving ou… ſelves peaceably in the common-wealth, and yeelding due obedience to the Civill Magiſtrate (To whom wee acknowledg… our ſelves ſubject in our good and bodies, not onelyonly for fear of their wrath, but for conſcience towards God Rom. 13.5 1 Pet. 2.13.14.) may have liberty to worſhip the Lord according to that light revealed unto us, againſt which we cannot go, without manifeſt ruin… of our own ſoules, and with which we cannot practiſe, without the apparent hazard of our perſons and families, unleſſe protected, permitted, or connived at b… the Magiſtrate. Herein we ſhall deſire all chriſtian ſpirits, who have any credi… with the State, and have themſelves felt the weight of an oppreſſed conſcience to mediate for us; (as we are men, as we are Chriſtians, as wee have been fellow-ſufferers, and fellow-helpers, to breake off the common yoke) tha… we may enjoy Liberty to worſhip our GOD according to our light, whic… if not granted, the bloud of us and ours, muſt needs cry aloud in the eare of God; But if granted, we ſhall have cauſe daily to bleſſe out GOD fo… ſuch a merciemercy, in inclining the hearts of our Rulers to breake off former yokes and our common affections ſhall be more indeered towards them, to aſſiſt them to the utmoſt of our eſtates and lives, if need ſhall require, with our daily prayers powred up to heaven for them.
6 We d…ſire that neither the headin…ſſe and tumultuouſneſſe of ſome mens car…iages, nor the exaſperating ſpeeches of ſome printed pamphlets, whom Satan …oubtl…ſſe hath ſtird up thereto, may be charged upon peaceable and ſober minded men who do no leſſe mourn for thoſe paſſionate diſputes and diſtempers, then the men that ſeem to be blemiſhed by them.
6 The ſixth and laſt thing objected is, theſe things be truth concerning infants …aptiſme, &c. How falles it out that theſe things were no ſooner diſcovered?
Anſ. People through ignorance may live long in errour, Neh. 8 11. God commanded by M…ſ…s, the children of Iſrael to dwell in boothes, in the feaſt of the 7th. month, yet had the people lived in the omiſſion of this duty, from the dayes of Io…hua, to the dayes of Nehemia, verſ. 17. which was about 7. or 8…0. yeares. 2 It …s Gods priviledge to open miſteries, when and to whom he pleaſes, Mat. 13.11. Whether in opening miſteries of godlineſſe, or in diſcovering the miſtery of ini…uity. 3 The ſame things might have been objected in the dayes of Luther and Calvi, and may now be objected againſt the Hierarchy ceremonies, &c. 4 The tumultuous cariage of the Anabaptiſts in Germany (as Sleydan and other contrary minded Hiſtorians write, if it be lawfull to beleeve a Hiſtory from the mouth and …en of an enemy) might keep many good men from ſearching into theſe things. … The great hazard and apparent ruine which thoſe preachers and profeſſours who firſt proteſted againſt infants baptiſme muſt incurre, doubtleſſe hath cauſed that men …ave no ſooner fitted this queſtion, the fear and foreſight hereof, made my ſpirit to ſtand nor a little averſe, till God overpowred my heart by his ſpirit, and by a cleer light, as I ſuppoſe. 6 The ſtream of learned men in theſe latter times. …he farre greater part defending it, though the learned men extant for the firſt 300 …eares, or very near upon, were for the Generality otherwiſe minded, ſo farre as I can ſee, upon a ſtrict ſearch of antiquity herein.
Reader, I fear I hav… been tedious in this long Preface, wherein I have inlarged my ſelf far beyond my expectation, the Porch being ſomething too big for a Houſe ſo little, but the ſcope of my ſtudy being edification, not the pleaſing of fancie, I hope thou wilt …eare with me; conſtrue theſe notions in good part which conſcience principally moved we to make publike. The Lord in mercy diſpell thoſe miſts of darkneſſe that are upon our mindes, and fill our hearts with ſuch ſincere intentions, that we may deſire alwayes to …ook at his eye in the things which we do. Where the bent of my reaſons are againſt the arguments of Mr. M. I ſhall deſire thee to compare them together, retaining ſtill a reverend eſteem of the perſon againſt whoſe argum…nts I write, whoſe guifts and grace in …ther things, I deſire to reverence and acknowledge, and I hope thou wilt do the ſame. Lord in mercy lead us into all truth, and bring us into his everlaſting Kingdome, where all difference of judgement ſhall be taken away. mean time I rest.
Thine in all Chriſtian duty, C. B.