Church Government and Church Covenant, Title page 1 – To the reader
Church-Government AND Church-Covenant DISCVSSED, In an Anſwer of the Elders of the ſeverall Churches in NEW-ENGLAND To two and thirty Queſtions, ſent over to them by divers Miniſters in England, to declare their judgments therein. Together with an Apologie of the ſaid Elders in New-England for Church-Covenant, ſent over in Anſwer to Maſter Bernard in the yeare 1639. As alſo in an Anſwer to nine Poſitions about Church-Government.
And now publiſhed for the ſatisfaction of all who deſire reſolution in thoſe points.
LONDON, Printed by R. O. and G. D. for Benjamin Allen and are to be ſold at his Shop in Popes head-Ally, 1643.
To the READER.
IT is not hard to believe that ſuch diſcourſes as this wil meet with divers cenſures, the prophane and ignorant loathing Chriſt, and any thing concerning him; the Formaliſt accounting ſuch truths troubleſom that may ingage him in the change of his opinions and practiſes, and ſome of the wiſest will be apt to question the tyming ſuch light as this: yea doubtles this pamphlet-glut…ed age will ſo looke upon it, and lay it by.
But becauſe I doe conceive that this ſword will not be ſheath'd which is now drawn, till Church-work be better known, and more countenanced, and ſince ſafety is laid up in the Temple, Pſa. 27. 3, 4, 5. I could not but help on this, which attended and practiſed may prove our ſecurity next to Chriſt. Theſe were either ſudden anſwers to our doubting and inquiring Brethren, or ſome ſatisfaction rendred about our ſo much ſlighted Church-Covenant, which wee could not but thinke might come to view, for the preſent ſtay to ſome faithfull ſoules, that call for light, and intend to uſe it well: for others, of what kind ſoever, we muſt beare their harder thoughts, among th…ſe uſuall loads of ſcandals, that men of our judgement muſt carry, eſpecially if zeale for the Truth draw them forth to publike obſervation; nor doe we purpoſe (God helping us.) to ſuccumbe under calumny, being the livery of quieter times then theſe, let us bee viler ſtill, ſo God and his Arke may be more glorious. Yet this I doe profeſſe for my ſelfe and Brethren that as we have not bin dealt with, nor convinc'd of any offence, ſo we ſhall ever be ready to give an account of that hope which is in us, being call'd thereunto; in the meane time we over looke theſe barkings of black mouthes, and wiſh a good Comment be made upon the text of our plaine meaning.
The onelyonly way I know to reach Gods mind in Worſhip will bee to love the truth for it's owne ſake: yea to love it when it ſhall condemne our practiſes and perſons alſo: Who hath not obſerved that the firſt ſtep to error is the declining the truth in love to it?
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Hence Popery begat her firſt brat, and hath nurſt it up with theſame milke; we would earneſtly deſire that none would call that unſenſonable or unreaſonable, which God ſeemes even now to call for, at the calling of this Synode, and will carry ſo much Reaſon with it, as God and his truth will owne; more tendernes and reſpect to our Brethren we know not how to ſhew, who ſent us theſe 32. Queſtions, no other dealing would we have from our brethren not conſenting with us. Some Rivers have bin noted to differ in the colours of the water, yet running in the ſame Channell: let Jeſus Chriſt be lifted up by us all; let us love him whilſt wee diſpute about him.
Presbytery and Independency (as it is cal'd) are the wayes of Worſhip and Church fellowſhip, now looked at, ſince (we hope) Epiſcop … out, and will be buried without expectation of another reſurrection. We are much charged with what we own not, viz: Independency, when as we know not any Churches Reformed, more looking at ſiſter Churches for helpe then ours doe onelyonly we cannot have rule yet diſcovered from any friend or enemy, that we ſhould be under Canon, or power of any other Church; under their Councell we are. We need not tell the wiſe whence Tyranny grew in Churches, and how common wealths got their preſſure in the like kind.
Theſe be our ſighs and hearty wiſhes, that ſelfe may be conquered in this poore Nation, which ſhuts the doore againſt theſe truths. Know (good Reader) we do not hereby go about to whiſtle thee out of any known good way of God. Commonly Queſtions and Anſwers cleare up the way, when other Treatiſes leave us to darknes. Read them, and what we ſay for a Church-Covenant, it may ſave charge and time in reading other Bookes, remember wee ſtrive not here for maſteryes, but give an account of our practiſe wherein if thou know'ſt we faile Candidus imperti; if we agree let us worke by our plat-forme; and may thy ſoule flouriſh as a greene heath or watered garden. So prayeth
Thine heartily H. PETER.