The Nonconformists Plea for Peace Part 2, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
The true and eaſie terms of Vnity and concord ſlated more particularly.
1. I Et every one ſubſcribe his Aſſent and conſent to the ſacramental Covenant, and to the Creed, Lords prayer and Decalogue, verbatim; and that he believeth all the Canonical Scriptures which the Chriſtian Churches concordantly receive to be the word of God, of infallible truth, and that he will faithfully endeavour to underſtand and practiſe them. (Read Chilling …orths Reaſons at large for this cauſe).
2. Let every Church have its proper faithful Paſtors; related to them and ſet over the… by the joynt conſent of the Ordainers and of the flock; (and all this under the Magiſtrates overſight and rule.)
3. Let the Magiſtrate be the only Governor by the ſword, and Biſhops and flock be ſubject to him: and let him be the keeper of the Peace in all the Churches, And take all prudent care that both Paſtors and people do their duties; As he ruleth Phyſicians, Philoſophers, and all other profeſſions in his dominions.
4. Let there be Articles, or a Catalogue written of ſuch great and clear and conſiderable points in Religion, which are not ſit to be contradicted; and becauſe Paſtors muſt know more, neceſſarily, than the people, and muſt not corrupt the ſacred doctrine under pretence of preaching it, Let every Paſtor before his Ordination be examined of his underſtanding of thoſe articles; and let there be a Law that no one ſhall preach againſt any of them. But be ſure that they contain no uncertain or unneceſſary things. We can conſcionably forbear preaching againſt many points, which we cannot conſcionably ſubſcribe Aſſent or conſent to in themſelves.
5. Let men be puniſhed according to the quality of their offence, who preach againſt the Government Civil or ſpiritual, and againſt the Laws and eſtabliſhed order of the Churches; or that rail and revile their brethern, and turn the preaching of the Goſpel into the preaching down of mutual Love. After the firſt and ſecond admonition, let the heretical and turbulent be avoided by the Church; and let the Magiſtrate reſtrain them at his diſcretion as is meet.
6. Let Homilies or forms of preaching and Liturgies or forms of Prayer, &c. be impoſed (at leaſt ordinarily) on none but the leſs ſufficient that need them; and let able Paſtors have liberty, ſometime to uſe more, and ſometime leſs according to the time, occaſion and auditory. And let ſuch forms have nothing in them doubtful or needleſs; But for matter, method and phraſe, be as much fitted to the peoples caſe and to the Scripture as may be done.
7. Let all other circumſtances, which are variable according to variety of occaſions, and belong to the office of the Paſtor, be left to his diſcretion (as what Chapter, Pſalm, tune, ſubject of preaching, method, &c.) ſo he be reſponſible for groſs abuſes and mal adminiſtration.
8. Let it be the work of every Paſtor, to baptize, to preach and pray and adminiſter the Lords ſupper; refuſing the groſly ignorant, Infidel, Heretick, and proved ſcandalous by groſs ſin, till ſuch time as they Repent; ſo be it that for his abuſe of his power he be reſponſible to the Magiſtrate, or Eccleſiaſticks after mentioned: Alſo let him Catechiſe, viſit the ſick, and perſonally inſtruct the ignorant, exhort the obſtinate, and comfort the weak.
9. Let neighbour Churches keep ſuch correſpondence, as is neceſſary to their concord, that he that is caſt out of one Church, or that communicateth with it, may not be cauſeleſly uſed contrarily by others. And thoſe Paſtors and Churches that ſhall prove heretical or impious, are to be admoniſhed by the reſt, and diſowned if they continue impenitent.
10. If it be thought meet by Chriſtian Rulers that theſe neighbour Paſtors have often meetings or Synods, they are to be improved only for concord and unity and corroboration of all, and for the edification of the younger and weaker ſort of Miniſters.
11. If it ſeem good to the Magiſtrate, that any one Paſtor in every Church have the chief overſight of that Church, or any one be the conſtant moderator in the Synods, or any one in a Dioceſe or Province have a General inſpection over all the Miniſters and Churches; Let none be forced to ſwear him obedience, nor to profeſs or ſubſcribe to the Lawfulneſs of his place; but only Actually to obey him, upon ſuch moderate penalties that hinder not the Goſpel. And if this Prelate claim only the Spiritual power, let him not exerciſe it as a Prince without the Counſel of the Paſtors; and let him go no further than the ſpiritual power goeth, which reacheth but to Conſcience and conſenters; And let not the Magiſtrate be his executioner with the ſword; nor put any forcing power of the ſword into the Clergies hands. But if the King will needs make Clergymen Magiſtrates, let it be declared ſo, that they and their Courts do uſe Civil power in Eccleſiaſtical matters, only as the Kings officers, and then we ſhall readily obey them. And let no lay Chancellors or others exerciſe any of the ſpiritual power of the Keys.
12. Let all Miniſters and people ſwear or promiſe Allegiance, Loyalty and fidelity to the King, and take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to that end; and be puniſhed according to Law if they offend, either againſt the perſon or honour of the King, or againſt any inferior Magiſtrates, or fellow ſubjects, or againſt the quiet, peace or ſafety of the Kingdom.