An Answer to Eight Queries Propounded by the House of Commons, Text
Whereas it is Reſolved by the Houſe of Commons, that all perſons guilty of uotorious offences ſhall be ſuſpended the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; the Houſe of Commons deſires to be ſatisſied by the Aſſembly of Divines in theſe particulars.
1. WHether the Parochiall and Congregationall Elderſhips, appointed by Ordinance of Parliament are Jure Divino, by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt.
2, Whether all the Members of the ſaid Elderſhips are Members thereof, or which of them are Jure Divino by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt?
3, Whether the Supreame Aſſemblies or Elderſhips viz. the Claſſicall, Provinciall and Nationall, whether all or any of them, or which of them are Jure Divino, and by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt.
4. Whether appeales from Congregationall Elderſhips to the Claſſicall, Provinciall and Nationall Aſſemblies, or to any of them or which of them are Iure Divino, and by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt?
5. Whether oecumenicall Aſſemblies are Iure Divino, or whether there be appeales from any of the former Aſſemblies, to the ſaid oecumenicall Aſſemblies, Iure Devino by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt?
6. Whether by the word of God the power of judging, and declaring what are ſuch notorious and ſcandalous offences as aforeſaid, and conventing before them, trying and actuall ſuſpending from the Sacrament ſuch offenders accordingly, either in the Congregationall Elderſhips or Presbytery, or in any other Elderſhip of Presbytery preſented to the Houſe as the advice of the Aſſembly, and whether ſuch powers are in them only, or any of them, or in which of them Jure Divino, and by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt?
7. Whether there be any certaine and particular rules expreſſed in the word of God, to direct the ſaid Elderſhips, or Presbyteries, or any of them in the exerciſe and execution of the powers aforeſaid, and which are thoſe rules?
8. Is there any thing contained in the word of God, that the Supream Majeſtracy in a Chriſtian ſtate, may not judge and determine, what are the aforeſaid notorious and ſeandalous offencet, and the manner of ſuſpention from the ſame, And in what particulars concerning the premiſſes is the ſaid Supreame Majeſtracy by the word of God excluded?
In Anſwer of theſe particulars the Houſe of Commons deſires of the Aſſembly of Divines their proofs from Scripture, and to ſet down the ſeverall texts in the expreſſe words of the ſame.
Ordered that every particular Miniſter of the Aſſembly of Divin… that is or ſhall be preſent at the debate of any of theſe queſtions, de upon every reſolution which ſhall be preſented to this Houſe concerning the ſame, ſubſcribe his reſpective name either with the Affirmative or Negative, as he giveth his Vote, & thoſe that do decent from the major Part ſhall ſet down their poſſitive opinions, with the expreſſe Text of Scripture upon which their opinion is grounded.
For Anſwer to the firſt Quaerie, the Churches of Chriſt were conſtituted, and gathered out of the world by the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, according to that great Charter thereof, Mat. 28.19.20. Mark. 16.15.16. Lu. 24.47. And not by any Authority or Miniſtry of the civill Magiſtrate, and as they were thus gathered, & planted in the premitive times, ſo are they in like manner by his Servants to be gathered after the Apoſtacie whom by his power he ſhall in an extraordinarie manner raiſe up, and by the Servants of the Churches that ſhall be by them ſent forth to preach the everlaſting Goſpel for the inlightening the earth, diſcovering the Miſtery of iniquity, and the Miniſtry of Antichriſt, gathering his people out of ſpirituall Babylon, as out of Babylon of old, and planting them into Church fellowſhip and order, having their Commiſſion from Chriſt and his Church, and not by Command and Authority from Pope, Councel, Synod, or civill Magiſtrate: the Church of Chriſt being his ſpirituall Kingdom, conſiſting of a company of Saints, or holy people, Rom. 1.7. Cor. 1.1.2. Pet. 1.1.16. called out of the world, John 15.19. Rev. 5.9. By the preaching of the Goſpel, Mat. 28.19.20. Mark. 16.15.16. by a free & voluntary conſent, Pſ. 18.43.44.110.3 Acts 2.41. & 13.48 & 17.11. entring into Covenant, Pſal. 50.5 Zep. 2.1. Acts 3.23. to 26. Heb. 8.8.9. to diſcharge duties to God, & one to another, Iohn 4.24. Phil. 3.3.1. Pet. 2.5. 1 Cor. 12, 12. to 28. putting on Chriſt by Baptiſme or dipping. Gal. 3.26.27. for ye are all the Children of God by faith in Chriſt Jeſus; for as many of you as have been dipt into Chriſt, have put on Chriſt, compared with Epheſ. 4.4.5. There is one body & one ſpirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one dipping, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. This is Chriſts ſpirituall houſe under the new Teſtament, whereof he is Lord, as Hab. 2.20. Heb. 3 6. & head. Eph. 1.22.23. & King, Iſa. 33.22. and Law giver, James 4 12. and prophet, Deut. 18.15. Mat. 17.5. Being that Prieſt, Alter and Sacrifice, by which all that believe and obey, are for ever ſanctified and perfected, Heb. 10.14. and 5.8 9. for it is not the voice of the Church, much leſſe the voice of the Synod, or Parliament, that we are to hearken unto in ſpiritnall worſhip, but Chriſts voice in the Church, and that in all things whatſoever he ſhall ſay unto us, Tim. 1.3.15. he ſpeaking in his Servants, as Luke 10.16. he that heareth you, heareth me, and he that heareth me, heareth him that ſent mee.
Theſe where ever gathered together under Heaven, in the name of Chriſt, according to his order, conſiſting of Jewes or Gentiles, Col. 1.18. have power from him their head to receive in, deale with, or caſt out of the Church, by the only Lawes and Statutes, of King Jeſus, heir only King and Law-giver, as Iſai. 9 6. and 33.22. Acts 2.41.42. Mat. 48.15. to 20. and 1 Cor. 5.4.5. and 2.2.4. to 9. They being under Chriſt their King, the freeſt Independant Corporation or ſtate under Heaven, Iohn 8.36. If the Sonne therefore ſhall make you free, ye ſhall be free indeed, Cor. 1.3.5, 6, 7. compared with Iſai. 2.17. The Lord alone ſhall be exalted in that day. Now the parochiall Churches or Elderſhips that are appointed by Statute Lawes, or Ordinances of Parl. and thereby forced thereunto, cannot be Jure Divino, Churches of Chriſt by his will and appointment, but all the people of God are as truly called out of ſuch Aſſemblies, as out of Babylon of old, to the free voluntary worſhip of the Goſpell.
To the ſecond quaerie I anſwer, The Pariſh Churches or Aſſemblies being not gathered according to the Commiſſion of Chriſt in that great Charter of the Goſpell, and by his Miniſters and Servants, but by the Authority of the civill Magiſtrate, through the importunity of Austin the Monck, ſent over from Gregory the 7. from which roote and foundation the nationall Miniſtry now extant, ſtill retaines their Ordination, having ſtill kept their firſt ſtate and conſtitution, although reformed in divers particuler Doctrines, whereby they cannot be Jure Divino, Churches of Chriſt by his will and appointment; but are conſtitutions of men through the ſubtilty of the man of ſin, or beaſt riſing out of the earth [to wit] by his earthly inventions, who by the ſlight of men, and cunning craftineſſe they lye in wait to deceive, having 2. horns like a Lamb, but ſpeakes like a Dragon, exerciſing all the power of the firſt beaſt, &c. Rev. 13.11. having a ſhew of wiſdom in will worſhip and humility, Col. 2.23. of whom the Apoſtle bids the Saints, beware of being ſpoiled through their philoſophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the Rudiments of the world, and not after Chriſt, in whom dwells the fulneſſe of the God-head bodily, and ye the Saints [to wit believers dipt] are compleat in him, &c. and Mat. 15.9. Chriſt ſaith, in vain do they worſhip me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandements of men, from whence it appeares [as the Churches, ſo the Members alſo] are none of them Jure Divino, Members of any Church of Chriſt, by his will and appointment.
To the 3. I anſwer, for any ſupream Authority of Aſſemblies or Elderſhips, viz. the Claſſicall, provinciall, or nationall, whether they are Jure Divino or no. In all the Goſpell I do not find any more jurisdiction of Churches over Churches, then there is of brethren over brethren, but the contrary is clearly proved, Mat. 23.8.9, 10. but be not ye called Rabby, for one is your Maſter, to wit, Chriſt and all ye are brethren, and call no man your Father upon the earth, for there is but one, your Father which is in Heaven; be not called Doctors, for one is your Doctor, even Chriſt, and Cor. 1.5 4 5. That Church of Corinth had power, as to caſt out the Inceſtious perſon, ſo upon his Repentance to receive him in again, without the authority of any other Church, or any others contradiction, & James 2.1. he ſaith, my brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord of glory with reſpect of perſons, and Chap. 3.1. he ſaith my brethren, be not many Maſters, knowing that we ſhall receive the greater condemnation; but this ſpirit of pride is no new thing, for it began in the Diſciples, Luke 9.46. when there aroſe a reaſoning amongſt them, which of them ſhould be the greateſt, but Chriſt perceiving the thoughts of their hearts, anſwereth them by ſetting a little Child in the midſt of them, to teach them humility, there being too many now a dayes of their ſpirit v. 46. 47. 48 as he taught them, againſt perſecution, verſ. 54.55, 56. when they would have had ſire come down from Heaven to conſume the Samaritans, ſaying, ye know not of what ſpirit you are, for the Sonne of man is not come to deſtroy mens lives but to ſave them, &c. Therefore theſe ſupream Aſſemblies are not Jure Divino, by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt, but are all by humane Authority not known in Scripture, being againſt the freedom, which every Church of Chriſt hath given them, which they ought to injoy, none being before or after another in their priviledge or prerogative, which liberty and freedom every proteſtator and Covenanter is ſworn to ſtand for and maintain.
To the 4. Concerning Appeales from Congregationall Elderſhips to the Claſſicall, Provinciall, and Nationall Aſſemblies. The pariſhionall not being proved Iure Divino, but of humane Authority, appeales to them, and from one unto another muſt needs be unlawfull. Beſides, how contrary is this to the primitive practice, as Acts 15. when there aroſe a difference about Circumciſion in the Church of Antiochia, they ſent up to the Church at Ieruſalem for their advice, (not that they had any authority over them), and they as humbly and truly ſent their advice, ſaying, it ſeemed good to the holy ſpirit, and to us, to lay upon you no other burthen then theſe neceſſary things. Now if theſe could ſay thus, and would do as they did, their Councell ought evangelically to be received in like ſort by believers; but theſe as they were never called and gathered by Chriſts Authority, ſo have they not the promiſe of his preſence by his ſpirit with them as his Churches have, Mat. 18.17. to 20. & 28.20. 1 Cor. 3.22.23. & 1.5.4.5. Iohn 14.16.17. & 15.26.27.
To the 5. I find no oecumenical Aſſemblies in Scripture under the Goſpel to be of Gods appointing, but an invention of the man of ſin, rayſed by thoſe Locuſts that came out of the ſmoke that aroſe out of the bottomleſſe pitt, Rev. 9.2.3. who had power as the Sorpions of the earth have power that ſo by force, As Eze. 34.4. flatteries as Dan. 11.21.22.34. And cunning craſtineſſe whereby they lye in wait to deceive Epheſ. 4.14.15. Tranſforming themſelves as the Miniſters of righteouſneſſe, Cor. 2.11.15. whoſe end ſhall be according to their workes by which meanes they cauſe all the world to wonder after the beaſt, who had his wound and did live Rev. 13.3. to 7. for the firſt beaſt, being thoſe heathen bloudy tyrants who worſhipped the Draggon which gave him his power, to whom was given a mouth, ſpeaking great things and blaſphemies againſt God, to blaſpheme his name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven &c.
This beaſt being thus wounded, there ariſeth another beaſt out of the earth (to wit) out of thoſe earthly inventions of Popiſh aſſemblies counſells and Synods, Re. 6 13.14. the Starres folling from Heaven to the earth, they leaving thoſe glorious inſtitutions of Chriſt, the dipping of actuall believers, upon confeſſing ſins and profeſſing faith, as alſo the volentarie contribution of the Saints, or as Fox in his acts and monuments renders it, the puer almes of the Church, and bringing in baptizing or rather ſprincklin of Naturall Infants, and paying … …iths, hereby raiſing national Churches wichout the which they could never have done it, neither could they now retaine them, thereby contradicting the Appoſtles rule Cor. 1.4.6. in preſuming a bove that which is written; but ſhould theſe 2. pillars be taken away according to our Proteſtation and Covenant, and a reformation ſet up according to the word of God [as is pretended] the Kingdome of Antichriſt like the Philiſtins houſe will fall upon their heads, as that on the Philiſtins; upon Sampſons that glorious …pe of Chriſts pulling away the 2. pillars whereupon the houſe ſtood, Iudg: 16.29.30. That whereas by the authority of the Civill Magiſtrate, they having inſinuated into there affections, like Pharoahs froggs into his and his ſervants Bedchambers Exod. 8.3 4. by being their Chaplains as they call themſelves, a ſervice not known in the Goſpell of Chriſt for his miniſters; whereby the Magiſtrates being by them deluded, give that power, which was given thē of God for the puniſhment of evill doers; but for the praiſe of them that doe well, to the upholding of this beaſt and his Image, and they having received it put it forth to the uttermoſt cauſing all, both ſmall and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a marke in their right hand, and in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or ſell, ſave he that had the mark or the name of the beaſt, or the number of his name &c. This ſecond beaſt conſiſting of the whole ſtate hirarchie or clergy, as they call themſelves with the Image even all that receive the ordination from that ſtate there being not ſoe much as one of there names, much leſſe their practice or maintenance heard of in the Goſpell of King Jeſus: from the Pope or Prelate to the Sexton, and yet they do as that vile perſon ſpoken of by Daniel, Dan. 11.21. That come in peaceably and obtaine the Kingdome by flatteries, pretending they are the miniſters of Chriſt yet are not content with his ordination, nor maintenance and wages, and therefore obtaine ordinances, as doctor Burgis &c. and Statute Lawes from the ſtate though ſome of them had little need having enough before, which have cauſed more breach of the proteſtation and Covenant, and tedious ſuits in the Courts of Juſtice then any one thing in the Kingdom; and therefore to ſay no more to this all appeales to them are humaine, and not Iure Divino, neither in the particular or generall.
To the 6. I anſwer, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt having ſatisfyed his Fathers Juſtice, and thereby wrought everlaſting rightcouſneſſe for all them that obey him, it being teſtified from Heaven by the Father, that he is his beloved Sonne, in whom he is well pleaſed, And having received all power both in Heaven and in earth, by which Authority as then he ſent forth his Servants, ſo hath he alſo given and ſetled this power only upon and in his Church, and that to the body [not the Miniſters] conſiſting of a company of dipt Diſciples, not the Servants diſtinct from the Church, as they new pretend and aſſume, but as they derive it from the Church, they giving it to them; and therefore theſe Presbyters not being Members of any Church of Chriſt, according to his inſtitution, and yet claiming ſuch power as diſtinct from the Church, have nothing therein but what they have from the man of ſinne, by tradition of men, and not lure Divino, by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt.
To the 7. There are no rules at all given in the Goſpell of King Ieſus in queſtion, giving power to the ſaid Presbyters or Elderſhips, or any of them, for the putting in execution of any the power aforeſaid, ſeeing their conſtitution is not from God by Chriſt tha… great prophet of the Church, but from their reverend Fathers the Prelates, and ſo conſequently from the Pope, or civill ſtate, who hath no more power to Command or ſet Lawes in the Kingdom of Chriſt, then the King of Spain, or the French King hath in the Kingdom of England, which is intire and Independant of it ſelfe; But for a Church of Chriſt truly ſtated there are rules, as to receive in, ſo to deale with and caſt out if need require, as Tim. 2.3.16.17. All Scripture is given by inſpirtaion of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for reproofe for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſſe, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good workes.
To the 8. We are to take notice, that under the Goſpel the Lord Jeſus is not only a King, but the only King and Law-giver to his Church, Iſai. 33.22 Iames 12.4. Tim. 16.15. Rev. 17.14. and therefore the civill Magiſtrate under the Goſpell ought no more to intrench upon his prerogative in Church Government, then he did upon theirs in civill things, as Luke 12.13, 14. where he would not ſo much as divide the inheritance between the 2. brethren, & therefore Mat. 22 16. to 21. when the Pharices took Councel how they might intangle Chriſt, asking him whether it was lawfull to pay tribute to Caeſer or no▪ … …aith unto them, ſhew me the tribute money, ſaying, whoſe Image or ſuperſcription is this, they ſay unto him, Caeſars he ſaith unto them, render therefore unto Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, and unto God the things that are Gods, and Rom. 13.1. to 7. the Apoſtle injoynes obedience from the Church unto civill Magiſtrates or higher powers, not only to Chriſtians, but as they were Magiſtrates though Heathens, which they then were, ſhewing that they are of God, ordained of God as Mrs. of our fleſh, and that thoſe that reſiſt them, reſiſt the Ordinance of God, whether Chriſtian or Heathen, & ſuch as reſiſt ſhal receive to themſelves damnation; for Rulers are not [to wit appointed of God] a terrour to good works, but to the evil, wilt thou thē not be afraid of the power, do that which is good; but if thou do that which is evill, be afraid, for he beareth not the ſword in vain; for he is the Servant of God, a Revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evill; wherefore ye muſt needes be ſubject not only for wrath, but for Conſcience ſake.
Now what this evill is, the Apoſtle ſhewes, to wit, not Heriticks, and Schiſmaticks, as ſome fondly dream, and would if they could maintain, though with fire and ſword, although indeed more to uphold their own honour, Kingdom, power, places, greatneſſe, and benifices, then the civill Magiſtrates as is clearly diſcovered to moſt men already, whoſe eyes the Lord hath in any meaſure opened, and may eaſily be proved to all that are not wilfully blind; for in the Conſcience concerning worſhip, the Lord only raigneth as King and Lawgiver; wherefore the Apoſtle ſaith, The Law is not made for a righteous man, but for the Law leſſe and diſobedient, for the ungodly, and for ſinners; for unholy and prophane, for murtherers of Fathers & murtherers of Mothers, for Man-ſlayers for Whoremongers, for them that defile themſelves with mankind, for men-ſtealers; for lyars, for perjured perſons [oh that the Miniſters that preſt the Proteſtation & Covenant ſo cagerly, would take notice of this!] and if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholſom doctrin, according to the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed Ged, which was committed to my truſt &c. 1 Tim. 1.9. to the 11. Now the civill Magiſtrates are called fathers of our fleſh, to whom in all theſe civill things we ought to be obedient; But ſaith the Apoſtle ſhall we not much rather be in ſubjection to the father of ſpirits and live; to wit, to his laws given forth by his ſonne the great prophet of his Church, ſpeaking from heaven, Heb. 1 1. Deut. 18.15. Act. 3.22.23. Who hath given a rule for his people to walk by, as Mat. 28.20. which rule the Apoſtle exorts the Galathians, and in them all beleivers to obſerve as Gal. 6.16. they thus walking having the promiſe of peace and mercy upon them, And Phil. 3.16. he exorts the Church, to walk by the ſame rule, and to mind the ſame things.
Thus I have made appear, that the Congregationall or Pariſhlonall Elderſhips appointed by Ordinance of Parliament, the members thereof, or any of them, the ſupream Aſſemblies or Elderſhips, viz. the Claſſicall, Provinciall, oecumenicall or Nationall, are none of them Jure Devino, by the will and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt.
Wherin, I have alſo proved from the word of truth, that the Civill Magiſtrate hath nothing to do as a Magiſtrate, to judge of any cauſe in the Church of Chriſt, it being there to be judged and tried by thoſe ſervants, and in that order and manner that is ſet down in his word, by the will and appointment of Ieſus Chriſt.
And what was required by the Parliament of the Synod or Aſſembly, I have in ſome weak meaſure anſwered from the ſcripture, & ſet down the ſeverall texts in the expreſſe words of the ſame, according as was deſired, ſubſcribing my ſelf your honours, and the Churches Servant in the Service of the Goſpell of King Jeſus.
E. Barber.
Conſider of it, take advice and ſpeake your minds, Iudges 19.30.