Christ on his throne. Or, Christs church-government briefly laid downe and how it ought to bee set up in all Christian congregations. Resolved in sundry cases of conscience.
      
       
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             Christ on his throne. Or, Christs church-government briefly laid downe and how it ought to bee set up in all Christian congregations. Resolved in sundry cases of conscience.
             Burton, Henry, 1578-1648, attributed name.
          
           [12], 78, [2] p.
           
             Printed [by Richard Hearne?],
             [London] :
             in the year 1640.
          
           
             Sometimes attributed to Henry Burton.
             Printer's name conjectured by STC.
             The last leaf is blank.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Catholic Church -- Controversial literature.
           Church polity -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A04417  S107732  (STC 14541).  civilwar no Christ on his throne. Or, Christs church-government briefly laid downe; and how it ought to bee set up in all Christian congregations. Resol [no entry] 1640    14351 5 30 0 0 0 0 24 C  The  rate of 24 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           CHRIST
           ON
           HIS
           THRONE
           .
        
         
           OR
           ,
           Christs
           Church-government
           briefly
           laid
           downe
           ;
           and
           how
           it
           ought
           to
           bee
           set
           up
           in
           all
           Christian
           Congregations
           .
        
         
           Resolved
           in
           sundry
           Cases
           of
           Conscience
           .
        
         
           
             IER.
             6.
             16.
             
          
           Thus
           saith
           the
           Lord
           ;
           Stand
           ye
           in
           the
           wayes
           ,
           and
           see
           and
           aske
           for
           the
           old
           paths
           ,
           where
           is
           the
           good
           way
           ,
           and
           walk
           therein
           ,
           and
           ye
           shall
           finde
           rest
           for
           your
           soules
           .
        
         
           
             LVKE
             19.
             27.
             
          
           But
           those
           mine
           Enemies
           ,
           which
           would
           not
           that
           I
           should
           raigne
           over
           them
           ,
           bring
           them
           hither
           and
           slay
           them
           before
           me
           .
        
         
           Printed
           in
           the
           yeare
           1640.
           
        
      
       
       
       
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           To
           the
           Reader
           .
        
         
           IT
           is
           an
           observation
           as
           true
           as
           antient
           ,
           that
           such
           workes
           of
           God
           as
           are
           done
           immediatly
           by
           himselfe
           alone
           ,
           though
           for
           their
           excellent
           greatnesse
           farre
           surpassing
           not
           onely
           mans
           apprehension
           ,
           but
           even
           admiration
           it selfe
           ,
           yet
           are
           done
           by
           him
           without
           any
           rubbe
           or
           difficulty
           at
           all
           .
           Such
           was
           that
           glorious
           and
           magnificall
           worke
           of
           Creation
           .
           But
           such
           workes
           as
           God
           doth
           by
           instrumentall
           meanes
           ,
           as
           by
           man
           ,
           the
           greater
           they
           be
           ,
           the
           greater
           difficulties
           they
           are
           attended
           with
           ,
           and
           meet
           with
           many
           impediments
           .
           And
           this
           is
           most
           seene
           in
           great
           and
           generall
           
           Reformations
           of
           Churches
           or
           States
           .
           Even
           Christ
           himselfe
           ,
           The
           
             onely
             Potentate
             ,
          
           
           the
           
             Mighty
             God
             ,
          
           when
           hee
           came
           to
           restore
           and
           re-erect
           the
           Tabernacle
           of
           
             David
             ,
          
           which
           was
           fallen
           downe
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           his
           spirituall
           Temple
           or
           Church
           ,
           what
           opposition
           did
           hee
           meet
           withall
           ?
           what
           sweat
           did
           it
           cost
           him
           ,
           before
           hee
           could
           finish
           this
           glorious
           and
           wondrous
           worke
           ?
           In
           which
           respect
           the
           Antients
           were
           wont
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           God
           with
           his
           word
           alone
           created
           the
           world
           ;
           but
           it
           cost
           the
           life
           of
           his
           onely
           begotten
           sonne
           to
           redeeme
           the
           world
           for
           this
           was
           opposed
           by
           Devills
           and
           men
           .
           And
           so
           it
           was
           with
           the
           type
           of
           Redemption
           ,
           Israels
           deliverance
           from
           Egypt
           ,
           where
           Gods
           mighty
           wonders
           and
           plagues
           upon
           Egypt
           ,
           found
           a
           proud
           and
           hard
           hearted
           
             Pharaoh
             ,
          
           with
           his
           blinde
           Egyptians
           obstinately
           resisting
           to
           the
           very
           last
           .
           So
           in
           the
           reparation
           of
           the
           Temple
           in
           Jerusalem
           ,
           there
           wanted
           not
           most
           malignant
           spirits
           ,
           
           envious
           men
           ,
           is
           
             Tatnai
             ,
             Shether
             Boznai
             ,
          
           
           
             Tobiah
             ,
          
           and
           
             Sanballat
             ,
          
           who
           
           mocked
           and
           accused
           the
           Iewes
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           and
           by
           force
           sought
           to
           hinder
           the
           worke
           .
           And
           therefore
           can
           wee
           wonder
           ,
           when
           in
           the
           proceeding
           of
           so
           great
           a
           worke
           of
           reformation
           as
           we
           see
           begun
           in
           our
           dayes
           (
           nothing
           inferior
           (
           all
           circumstances
           considered
           )
           to
           that
           deliverance
           from
           Egypt
           ,
           or
           to
           the
           restauration
           of
           religion
           after
           Babylons
           captivity
           )
           difficulties
           and
           impediments
           both
           great
           and
           many
           have
           and
           doe
           interpose
           themselves
           ?
           which
           when
           wee
           see
           wee
           should
           not
           be
           discouraged
           ;
           
           for
           discouragement
           in
           such
           cases
           is
           an
           argument
           and
           consequent
           of
           a
           mind
           too
           much
           relying
           upon
           outward
           meanes
           ,
           which
           while
           they
           prosper
           ,
           they
           are
           as
           a
           good
           gale
           filling
           the
           sayles
           of
           our
           hope
           to
           attaine
           the
           wished
           Port.
           
           But
           when
           an
           adverse
           winde
           begins
           but
           to
           whistle
           a
           little
           up
           ,
           we
           are
           afflicted
           ,
           and
           are
           ready
           to
           cast
           away
           our
           hope
           ,
           being
           left
           as
           a
           ship
           without
           an
           Anchor
           floating
           ,
           and
           without
           a
           rudder
           driven
           with
           every
           winde
           ,
           ready
           to
           bee
           split
           on
           every
           rocke
           or
           shelfe
           .
           But
           in
           such
           a
           
           case
           ,
           we
           must
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           first
           place
           look
           up
           unto
           God
           the
           great
           master
           of
           the
           winds
           ,
           yea
           and
           mover
           of
           the
           mindes
           of
           the
           violent
           men
           :
           So
           herein
           behold
           and
           observe
           the
           beaten
           wayes
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           how
           hee
           is
           pleased
           in
           all
           such
           great
           works
           to
           suffer
           himselfe
           and
           his
           people
           to
           bee
           opposed
           .
           And
           this
           he
           doth
           for
           speciall
           reasons
           ,
           as
           to
           shew
           forth
           the
           deepe
           wisdome
           of
           his
           providence
           ,
           in
           circumventing
           his
           adversaries
           ,
           to
           crosse
           and
           thwart
           them
           even
           in
           those
           great
           and
           good
           workes
           which
           himselfe
           will
           have
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           and
           certainly
           purposeth
           to
           accomplish
           ,
           &
           which
           he
           calleth
           them
           unto
           ,
           and
           commandeth
           them
           to
           doe
           ,
           that
           so
           he
           may
           take
           them
           off
           from
           trusting
           in
           the
           outward
           meanes
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           faire
           ,
           and
           might
           teach
           them
           still
           and
           stedfastly
           to
           trust
           in
           his
           helpe
           ,
           in
           his
           strength
           ,
           in
           his
           faithfulnes
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           cease
           to
           call
           upon
           him
           and
           depend
           on
           his
           promise
           ,
           who
           will
           certainely
           save
           ,
           and
           fully
           answer
           the
           prayers
           of
           his
           people
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           happy
           issue
           of
           the
           work
           ,
           that
           his
           glory
           may
           in
           all
           shine
           forth
           the
           
           more
           clearely
           ,
           when
           nothing
           shall
           be
           left
           in
           man
           to
           glory
           in
           ,
           but
           that
           we
           may
           give
           all
           the
           honour
           and
           praise
           of
           the
           worke
           to
           him
           alone
           .
        
         
           Againe
           ,
           in
           all
           such
           great
           workes
           of
           generall
           Reformation
           ,
           especially
           of
           Religion
           ,
           the
           difficulties
           prove
           to
           be
           the
           greater
           ,
           by
           how
           much
           the
           vices
           and
           corruptions
           to
           be
           purged
           out
           (
           as
           we
           see
           in
           naturall
           bodies
           )
           are
           and
           have
           been
           of
           longer
           continuance
           ,
           and
           such
           also
           as
           have
           received
           strength
           (
           under
           pretence
           at
           least
           )
           even
           from
           the
           Lawes
           themselves
           ,
           and
           by
           universall
           consent
           of
           the
           whole
           State
           .
           Nor
           only
           this
           ,
           but
           there
           is
           also
           in
           our
           natures
           a
           kinde
           of
           Antipathy
           against
           that
           purity
           and
           power
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           ought
           to
           be
           the
           maine
           end
           that
           all
           true
           Reformations
           should
           aime
           at
           .
           And
           besides
           all
           this
           ,
           although
           the
           corruptions
           be
           so
           grosse
           ,
           and
           of
           so
           high
           a
           nature
           ,
           as
           they
           proclaime
           themselves
           intollerable
           grievances
           ,
           no
           longer
           to
           bee
           borne
           ,
           but
           doe
           by
           a
           kinde
           of
           necessity
           presse
           to
           a
           Reformation
           :
           yet
           there
           
           stands
           so
           great
           a
           gulfe
           in
           the
           way
           ,
           as
           untill
           it
           be
           removed
           ,
           or
           so
           made
           up
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           made
           passable
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           found
           no
           easie
           matter
           to
           compasse
           so
           great
           a
           worke
           .
           Now
           this
           gulfe
           is
           ignorance
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           a
           long
           standing
           ,
           contracted
           partly
           through
           a
           generall
           security
           and
           sloth
           ,
           and
           partly
           through
           the
           want
           of
           meanes
           ,
           while
           through
           the
           subtilty
           of
           the
           Prelates
           ,
           and
           cowardise
           of
           their
           inferiors
           ,
           the
           Light
           hath
           been
           put
           under
           a
           Bushel
           .
           So
           as
           though
           the
           sense
           of
           our
           Aegyptian
           burthens
           hath
           at
           length
           let
           us
           see
           in
           a
           great
           measure
           our
           misery
           ,
           yea
           ,
           and
           though
           God
           in
           his
           great
           mercy
           hath
           put
           into
           our
           hands
           such
           an
           opportunity
           of
           Reformation
           ,
           even
           armed
           with
           a
           kinde
           of
           necessity
           to
           worke
           it
           :
           Yet
           how
           unresolved
           are
           many
           men
           of
           the
           manner
           and
           measure
           of
           this
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           what
           God
           requires
           at
           our
           hands
           herein
           ?
           Yet
           can
           we
           not
           be
           otherwise
           perswaded
           ,
           but
           that
           all
           good
           men
           would
           joyne
           together
           ,
           quickly
           to
           goe
           through
           with
           this
           great
           worke
           ,
           did
           they
           but
           apprehend
           it
           to
           bee
           
           as
           well
           a
           matter
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           as
           of
           grievance
           .
           For
           which
           cause
           ,
           I
           have
           in
           these
           straits
           of
           time
           ,
           thought
           it
           one
           part
           of
           my
           duty
           which
           I
           owe
           unto
           Christ
           ,
           and
           to
           his
           Church
           ,
           to
           propound
           ,
           and
           briefly
           to
           resolve
           (
           as
           God
           hath
           enabled
           me
           )
           some
           important
           Cases
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           which
           (
           hoping
           they
           may
           conduce
           to
           the
           furthering
           of
           the
           great
           businesse
           now
           in
           agitation
           concerning
           Religion
           )
           I
           have
           adventured
           most
           humbly
           to
           recommend
           unto
           the
           serious
           consideration
           of
           this
           most
           just
           ,
           sage
           and
           grave
           Senate
           ,
           as
           to
           which
           not
           only
           I
           ,
           but
           all
           the
           people
           of
           the
           Land
           doe
           owe
           our
           best
           service
           ,
           and
           for
           whose
           happy
           successe
           of
           all
           their
           grave
           Counsels
           ,
           we
           are
           all
           bound
           daily
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           a
           more
           than
           ordinary
           manner
           to
           solicite
           (
           as
           we
           still
           doe
           )
           the
           throne
           of
           Grace
           ,
           that
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           may
           be
           abundantly
           poured
           forth
           upon
           this
           most
           Noble
           Assembly
           ,
           in
           all
           wisdome
           ,
           and
           understanding
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           judgement
           ,
           zeale
           ,
           courage
           ,
           constancy
           ,
           unity
           ,
           unamity
           in
           the
           love
           of
           the
           Truth
           ,
           that
           
           such
           a
           perfect
           Reformation
           may
           be
           wrought
           as
           Christ
           at
           this
           time
           calleth
           for
           ,
           as
           his
           word
           appointeth
           ,
           as
           all
           Gods
           people
           every where
           thirst
           after
           ,
           and
           as
           the
           whole
           Antichristian
           faction
           is
           afraid
           of
           ,
           that
           so
           ,
           when
           Christ
           alone
           shall
           be
           set
           upon
           his
           Throne
           over
           our
           soules
           ,
           to
           rule
           us
           according
           to
           his
           word
           ,
           and
           to
           dwell
           among
           us
           by
           his
           Spirit
           ,
           the
           Kings
           throne
           may
           be
           for
           ever
           established
           in
           justice
           and
           judgement
           ,
           and
           Gods
           people
           in
           this
           Land
           may
           enjoy
           both
           inward
           and
           outward
           peace
           unto
           the
           day
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           so
           our
           posterity
           after
           us
           may
           blesse
           God
           ,
           and
           for
           ever
           call
           this
           Parliament
           ,
           
             The
             blessed
             Parliament
             .
          
        
      
       
       
         
           Let
           the
           Reader
           correct
           as
           here
           he
           sees
           cause
           .
           Errata
           .
        
         
           PAge
           4.
           line
           1.
           reade
           3.
           
             hundred
             .
          
           l.
           11.
           blot
           out
           1.
           p.
           6.
           l.
           12.
           r.
           
             possibly
             be
             .
          
           l.
           20.
           r.
           
             as
             is
             usuall
             .
          
           p.
           7.
           l.
           10.
           r.
           
             may
             be
             proved
             .
          
           p.
           11.
           l.
           19.
           r.
           
             truly
             ancient
             .
          
           p.
           16.
           l.
           8.
           r.
           
             order
             sake
             .
          
           l.
           ult.
           r.
           
             of
             false
             .
          
           p.
           20.
           l.
           10.
           r.
           
             of
             Prelates
             .
          
           p.
           16.
           l.
           11.
           r.
           
             forme
             of
             Liturgie
             .
          
           p.
           24.
           r.
           
             in
             the
             Test.
          
           l.
           26.
           r.
           
             Commandements
             of
             men
             .
          
           p.
           28.
           l.
           23.
           r.
           
             grievances
             .
          
           p.
           31.
           l.
           18.
           r.
           
             accommodate
             .
          
           p.
           34.
           l.
           11.
           r.
           
             and
             is
             surest
             .
          
           p.
           38.
           l.
           9.
           r.
           
             out
             of
             the
             way
             .
          
           p.
           50.
           l.
           16.
           r.
           
             said
             Articles
             .
          
           p.
           66.
           l.
           4.
           r.
           
             and
             lay
             .
          
           p.
           67.
           l.
           14.
           r.
           〈◊〉
           .
        
      
    
     
       
       
       
         
           CASES
           OF
           CONCIENCE
           .
        
         
           
             CASE
             I.
             
          
           
             Whether
             Diocesan
             Bishops
             (
             as
             they
             are
             commonly
             called
             )
             be
             by
             Divine
             right
             .
          
           
             THe
             answer
             is
             negative
             ,
             They
             are
             not
             .
             The
             reasons
             are
             :
          
           
             First
             ,
             Because
             the
             Scripture
             knoweth
             no
             such
             creatures
             as
             Diocesan
             Bishops
             ;
             for
             the
             Bishops
             mentioned
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             are
             none
             other
             than
             Presbyters
             ,
             whereof
             one
             or
             moe
             were
             set
             over
             their
             several
             congregations
             respectively
             ,
             as
             we
             clearly
             reade
             ,
             
               Tit.
               1.
               5
               ,
               7.
               
               Act.
            
             20.
             17
             ,
             ●8
             .
             So
             
               Act.
            
             14.
             23.
             compared
             with
             
               Philip
               .
            
             
             1.
             1.
             
             So
             as
             Presbyters
             &
             Bishops
             in
             Scripture
             are
             convertible
             termes
             ;
             every
             Presbyter
             a
             Bishop
             ,
             and
             every
             Bishop
             a
             Presbyter
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             Because
             all
             such
             prelaticall
             jurisdiction
             and
             domination
             as
             our
             Diocesans
             usurpe
             and
             exercise
             ,
             is
             expresly
             forbidden
             by
             Christ
             himselfe
             ,
             as
             
               Mat.
               20
               ,
               25
               ,
               26.
               
               Mark
               .
               10.
               42
               ,
               43.
               
               Luke
            
             22.
             25
             ,
             26.
             
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             Because
             the
             Apostles
             condemned
             all
             such
             jurisdiction
             and
             domination
             as
             our
             Prelats
             use
             :
             As
             2
             
               Cor.
               1.
               24.
               2
               Cor.
               11.
               20.
               2
               Thess.
               2.
               4.
               1
               Pet.
               5.
               3.
               3
               Joh.
            
             9.
             10.
             
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             Because
             Apostles
             themselves
             ,
             whose
             successors
             Prelats
             pretend
             to
             be
             ,
             never
             used
             any
             such
             jurisdiction
             as
             the
             Prelats
             doe
             ,
             neither
             in
             Ordination
             of
             Ministers
             ,
             nor
             in
             excommunication
             ,
             (
             both
             which
             they
             doe
             most
             grosly
             abuse
             )
             nor
             in
             making
             of
             Canons
             ,
             or
             setting
             up
             or
             imposing
             of
             Ceremonies
             ,
             both
             of
             meer
             humane
             invention
             ,
             which
             the
             Apostles
             
             utterly
             condemned
             ,
             
               Gal.
               4.
               9.
               10.
               
               Col.
               2.
               8
               ,
               &c.
               
            
          
           
             Fiftly
             ,
             Because
             the
             Prelats
             are
             never
             able
             to
             prove
             by
             any
             demonstration
             from
             Scripture
             ,
             that
             their
             jurisdiction
             is
             of
             Divine
             authority
             :
             their
             allegations
             are
             meere
             pervertings
             of
             scripture
             ;
             
             as
             they
             alledge
             first
             ,
             Christs
             ordaining
             twelve
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             seventy
             Disciples
             ;
             here
             was
             an
             inequality
             (
             say
             they
             )
             
               Ergo
            
             a
             superiority
             of
             jurisdiction
             .
             But
             neither
             can
             hee
             prove
             here
             any
             such
             authority
             ,
             as
             they
             pretend
             ,
             or
             much
             lesse
             any
             subordination
             of
             the
             seventy
             ,
             unto
             the
             Twelve
             ;
             for
             the
             Twelve
             neither
             ordained
             nor
             sent
             forth
             the
             Seventy
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             they
             alledge
             the
             post-scripts
             after
             the
             second
             Epistle
             to
             
               Timothy
               ;
            
             and
             after
             that
             to
             
               Titus
               ;
            
             which
             say
             ,
             That
             those
             two
             were
             Bishops
             .
             But
             't
             is
             cleare
             ,
             that
             those
             postscripts
             are
             no
             part
             of
             the
             Text
             ,
             as
             
               Beza
            
             well
             sheweth
             .
             Nor
             are
             they
             to
             be
             found
             in
             the
             vulgar
             Latine
             translation
             ,
             
             which
             was
             at
             the
             least
             an
             hundred
             yeares
             after
             Christ
             .
             
               Timothy
            
             and
             
               Titus
            
             were
             both
             Evangelists
             ,
             not
             resident
             anywhere
             ,
             but
             as
             the
             Apostles
             called
             them
             from
             Country
             to
             country
             ,
             as
             we
             read
             in
             
               Pauls
            
             Epistles
             :
             and
             if
             they
             were
             to
             bee
             called
             Bishops
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             scripture
             ,
             they
             must
             have
             beene
             Bishops
             over
             one
             Congregation
             respectively
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             they
             aledge
             those
             seven
             Angels
             ,
             1
             
               Revel
               2
               &
            
             3.
             
             These
             (
             say
             they
             )
             were
             seven
             Bishops
             .
             This
             they
             can
             never
             prove
             .
             And
             if
             Bishops
             ,
             yet
             Diocesans
             they
             were
             not
             ,
             seeing
             for
             some
             hundreds
             of
             yeares
             after
             ,
             there
             were
             no
             such
             Diocesse
             extant
             .
             And
             our
             last
             Translation
             ,
             in
             the
             contents
             of
             the
             second
             Chapter
             of
             the
             
               Revelation
            
             calls
             those
             Angels
             the
             Ministers
             of
             those
             Churches
             .
             And
             for
             the
             Angel
             to
             be
             meant
             of
             one
             single
             man
             ,
             doth
             imply
             many
             absurdities
             ,
             as
             that
             God
             should
             destroy
             a
             whole
             Church
             for
             one
             mans
             sake
             :
             for
             God
             threatneth
             
             the
             Angell
             of
             Ephesus
             ,
             if
             hee
             repent
             not
             ,
             to
             remove
             his
             Candlesticke
             out
             of
             his
             place
             ;
             to
             wit
             ,
             that
             whole
             Church
             .
             But
             God
             never
             doth
             so
             ;
             there
             is
             not
             in
             all
             the
             whole
             scripture
             any
             one
             example
             ,
             that
             God
             ever
             rooted
             out
             a
             whole
             State
             or
             Church
             ,
             generall
             or
             particular
             ,
             for
             one
             mans
             sinne
             ,
             be
             he
             Magistrate
             or
             Governor
             .
             And
             if
             God
             for
             one
             pretended
             Prelates
             sin
             ,
             should
             remove
             or
             destroy
             a
             whole
             Church
             ,
             as
             that
             of
             Ephesus
             ;
             as
             there
             he
             threatens
             the
             Angell
             ,
             who
             alone
             is
             charged
             with
             one
             onely
             sinne
             ,
             which
             was
             a
             declination
             from
             his
             first
             love
             :
             Then
             what
             security
             or
             safety
             can
             the
             whole
             Church
             or
             State
             of
             England
             long
             promise
             to
             it selfe
             ,
             so
             long
             as
             it
             harboreth
             in
             the
             bosome
             and
             bowels
             thereof
             such
             a
             crew
             and
             confederacy
             of
             most
             notorious
             and
             apostatised
             Prelates
             ,
             who
             have
             not
             now
             declined
             in
             some
             degrees
             from
             the
             faith
             formerly
             professed
             ,
             but
             have
             
             openly
             oppressed
             and
             persecuted
             the
             Preachers
             and
             preaching
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             that
             even
             unto
             bloud
             ?
             And
             againe
             ,
             to
             goe
             about
             to
             proove
             the
             lawfulnesse
             of
             Prelacy
             by
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             from
             a
             word
             of
             a
             darke
             and
             figurative
             signification
             ,
             against
             cleer
             and
             expresse
             testimonies
             of
             Scripture
             to
             the
             contrary
             ,
             is
             most
             absurd
             and
             too
             presumptuous
             .
             For
             ,
             for
             Angell
             here
             to
             signifie
             a
             Prelate
             ,
             cannot
             possibly
             ,
             because
             the
             Scripture
             elsewhere
             (
             as
             before
             )
             damneth
             all
             Prelacy
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             Christ
             .
             And
             there
             be
             many
             other
             reasons
             to
             confute
             them
             ,
             that
             these
             Angells
             were
             no
             such
             Bishops
             ,
             other
             than
             Scripture
             Bishops
             ,
             as
             aforesaid
             :
             and
             that
             which
             was
             spoken
             to
             one
             ,
             was
             by
             a
             Senechdochae
             spoken
             to
             all
             ,
             as
             is
             usually
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             cleare
             in
             all
             those
             seven
             Epistles
             .
          
           
             Sixtly
             ,
             The
             wisest
             and
             learnedest
             of
             the
             Prelats
             at
             this
             day
             among
             us
             ,
             doe
             warily
             decline
             the
             Scripture
             in
             
             this
             point
             ,
             &
             dare
             not
             stand
             to
             their
             authority
             ,
             as
             being
             point
             blanke
             against
             them
             :
             but
             they
             fly
             to
             Custom
             and
             antiquity
             ,
             as
             the
             Papists
             doe
             for
             all
             their
             unwritten
             Traditions
             .
          
        
         
           
             CASE
             II.
             
          
           
             Whether
             the
             next
             Age
             immediately
             succeeding
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             be
             not
             a
             sufficient
             warrant
             for
             Prelaticall
             jurisdiction
             ,
             seeing
             it
             may
             be
             mooved
             (
             say
             they
             )
             that
             there
             were
             then
             Bishops
             .
          
           
             THe
             Answer
             is
             negative
             :
             first
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             not
             a
             sufficient
             warrant
             to
             build
             the
             government
             of
             the
             Church
             upon
             any
             Humaine
             example
             ,
             which
             hath
             not
             expresse
             warrant
             from
             Gods
             Word
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             Because
             those
             who
             were
             there
             called
             Bishops
             ,
             cannot
             be
             proved
             to
             have
             been
             Diocesan
             Bishops
             ,
             
             or
             to
             have
             had
             or
             exercised
             such
             a
             jurisdiction
             as
             our
             Prelates
             usurpe
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             could
             that
             be
             proved
             ,
             yet
             being
             not
             according
             unto
             ,
             but
             directly
             against
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             we
             ought
             not
             to
             regard
             it
             .
             Fourthly
             ,
             the
             very
             next
             age
             after
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             produced
             many
             grosse
             errours
             and
             superstitions
             ,
             as
             
               Eusebius
            
             tells
             us
             ,
             and
             as
             the
             Apostles
             premonished
             ,
             
               Act.
            
             20.
             29.
             yea
             ,
             they
             complained
             of
             it
             in
             their
             own
             times
             ,
             
             while
             they
             yet
             lived
             :
             
               For
               the
               mysterie
               of
               Iniquity
            
             (
             saith
             
               Paul
               )
               doth
               already
               worke
               ,
               &c.
            
             which
             mysterie
             was
             ,
             that
             of
             Prelacy
             ,
             as
             appeares
             clearely
             from
             that
             Text
             ,
             where
             the
             Man
             of
             sin
             who
             exalts
             himself
             over
             the
             Church
             ,
             is
             set
             forth
             as
             the
             head
             and
             top
             of
             that
             mysterie
             ,
             namely
             of
             the
             Hierarchy
             ,
             which
             is
             and
             hath
             been
             the
             
               L●rna
            
             or
             source
             of
             all
             iniquity
             .
             And
             
               Jerome
            
             who
             lived
             in
             the
             fourth
             Century
             said
             ,
             That
             
               Prelation
               over
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Ministers
               ,
               was
               a
               thing
               of
               humane
               presumption
               ,
               and
               not
               
               of
               Divine
               Ordination
               :
            
             and
             though
             it
             was
             first
             devised
             for
             a
             remedy
             against
             schisme
             ,
             yet
             it
             proved
             in
             time
             the
             greatest
             schisme
             that
             ever
             was
             ,
             namely
             the
             schisme
             of
             Antichrist
             ,
             and
             all
             his
             crew
             of
             Prelates
             from
             Christ
             ;
             the
             Hierarchy
             being
             a
             meer
             enmity
             against
             Christs
             kingdome
             ,
             betweene
             which
             two
             there
             is
             as
             great
             a
             Chasma
             or
             gulfe
             as
             between
             Paradise
             and
             Hell
             .
          
        
         
           
             CASE
             III.
             
          
           
             But
             seeing
             Episcopacy
             is
             of
             very
             great
             and
             reverend
             antiquity
             (
             as
             they
             say
             )
             is
             it
             not
             best
             to
             reduce
             the
             present
             Prelacy
             to
             the
             antient
             condition
             of
             Bishops
             in
             the
             Primitive
             Church
             .
          
           
             NO
             ;
             unlesse
             they
             can
             proove
             these
             Bishops
             to
             bee
             such
             as
             Gods
             Word
             alloweth
             .
             Wee
             
             reverence
             that
             antiquity
             which
             is
             joyned
             with
             verity
             :
             But
             antiquitie
             without
             verity
             is
             oldnesse
             of
             error
             ,
             as
             said
             old
             
               Tertullian
               .
            
             When
             one
             asked
             
               Christ
               ,
            
             
             
               If
               it
               were
               lawfull
               for
               a
               man
               to
               put
               away
               his
               wife
               for
               every
               cause
               ?
            
             Christ
             gave
             no
             indulgence
             at
             all
             ,
             but
             reduced
             that
             antient
             abuse
             among
             the
             Iewes
             ,
             to
             the
             primitive
             institution
             of
             God
             in
             Paradise
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             The
             matter
             in
             hand
             is
             of
             higher
             moment
             ,
             than
             to
             be
             regulated
             by
             any
             humane
             ordinance
             ,
             or
             reduced
             to
             any
             antiquity
             ,
             other
             than
             the
             Scripture
             it selfe
             .
             For
             the
             thing
             here
             in
             question
             concernes
             no
             lesse
             than
             the
             honour
             of
             Christs
             Kingdome
             ,
             and
             his
             royall
             prerogative
             in
             the
             government
             of
             his
             kingdome
             ,
             as
             we
             shall
             further
             see
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             that
             which
             is
             originally
             vicious
             ,
             cannot
             by
             tract
             of
             time
             bee
             made
             good
             .
             Custome
             ,
             we
             see
             ,
             hath
             not
             made
             Prelates
             better
             ,
             but
             worse
             and
             worse
             in
             all
             ages
             .
             An
             evil
             egge
             
             brings
             forth
             an
             evill
             Bird
             .
             And
             Christ
             saith
             ,
             
             
               An
               evill
               tree
               cannot
               bring
               forth
               good
               fruit
               .
            
             And
             ,
             
               Every
               tree
               that
               bringeth
               not
               forth
               good
               fruit
               ,
               shall
               bee
               hewen
               downe
               and
               cast
               into
               the
               fire
               .
            
             And
             
               Every
               plant
               which
               my
               heavenly
               Father
               hath
               not
               planted
               ,
            
             
             
               shall
               be
               plucked
               up
               by
               the
               roots
               .
            
             
             And
             ,
             
               Either
               make
               the
               tree
               good
               ,
               and
               the
               fruit
               good
               ;
               or
               make
               the
               tree
               evill
               ,
               and
               the
               fruit
               evill
               .
            
             If
             therefore
             the
             tree
             of
             Prelacie
             be
             originally
             ,
             and
             in
             its
             owne
             nature
             evill
             ,
             as
             having
             no
             foundation
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             as
             being
             none
             of
             Gods
             planting
             ,
             it
             ought
             to
             be
             so
             far
             from
             being
             a
             patterne
             for
             its
             antiquity
             ,
             as
             it
             ought
             utterly
             to
             be
             rooted
             up
             ,
             as
             being
             a
             novelty
             ,
             and
             not
             antiquity
             :
             for
             that
             only
             is
             truly
             currant
             ,
             which
             is
             antiently
             true
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             CASE
             IV.
             
          
           
             But
             if
             the
             Prelacy
             be
             plucked
             up
             and
             quite
             taken
             away
             ,
             what
             government
             shall
             be
             left
             for
             the
             Church
             of
             God
             ?
          
           
             FOr
             resolution
             whereof
             wee
             are
             to
             consider
             these
             necessary
             things
             :
             First
             ,
             That
             that
             Government
             alone
             be
             set
             forth
             ,
             which
             Christ
             himselfe
             hath
             left
             us
             in
             his
             Word
             .
             For
             who
             but
             the
             King
             and
             Law-giver
             of
             his
             Church
             and
             kingdome
             of
             Grace
             ,
             should
             give
             Lawes
             ,
             and
             appoint
             how
             it
             shall
             be
             governed
             ?
             Secondly
             ,
             we
             are
             not
             to
             think
             that
             Christ
             who
             was
             the
             Law-giver
             of
             the
             Old
             Testament
             ,
             was
             not
             also
             the
             Law-giver
             of
             the
             New
             ,
             and
             hath
             left
             us
             sufficient
             direction
             therin
             for
             the
             government
             of
             his
             people
             both
             for
             faith
             and
             manners
             .
             Now
             
             in
             the
             Old
             Testament
             all
             must
             bee
             done
             according
             to
             the
             Pattterne
             shewed
             to
             
               Moses
            
             in
             the
             Mount
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             least
             pin
             in
             the
             Tabernacle
             .
             So
             also
             for
             the
             Temple
             and
             the
             forme
             thereof
             ,
             
               David
            
             received
             all
             in
             writing
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             1
             
               Chr.
               28.
            
             12.
             19.
             
             No
             place
             is
             left
             ,
             nor
             power
             given
             to
             men
             to
             invent
             any
             thing
             ,
             or
             impose
             the
             least
             ceremony
             in
             the
             worship
             of
             God
             .
             So
             in
             the
             New
             Testament
             is
             layd
             downe
             a
             perfect
             platforme
             of
             wholsome
             words
             ,
             
               which
               is
               profitable
               for
               doctrine
               ,
            
             
             
               for
               reproofe
               ,
               for
               correction
               ,
               for
               instruction
               in
               righteousnesse
               ,
               that
               the
               Man
               of
               God
               may
               be
               perfect
               ,
               throughly
               furnished
               unto
               every
               good
               worke
               .
            
          
        
         
         
           
             CASE
             V.
             
          
           
             But
             we
             see
             great
             difference
             in
             mens
             opinions
             concerning
             that
             forme
             of
             Government
             which
             Christ
             hath
             left
             in
             his
             Word
             ;
             What
             then
             shall
             we
             do
             in
             this
             case
             ,
             or
             what
             is
             that
             forme
             of
             Governement
             which
             we
             shall
             pitch
             upon
             ?
          
           
             FOr
             answere
             hereunto
             :
             first
             ,
             however
             all
             such
             governement
             as
             is
             contrary
             unto
             ,
             and
             expresly
             condemned
             in
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             such
             as
             the
             Hierarchy
             is
             ,
             ought
             in
             no
             case
             to
             be
             admitted
             or
             maintained
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             as
             wee
             cannnot
             doubt
             but
             that
             Christ
             hath
             left
             an
             exact
             prescript
             forme
             of
             governement
             in
             his
             Word
             ,
             for
             the
             Church
             of
             the
             New
             Testament
             ;
             so
             we
             ought
             diligently
             ,
             in
             the
             use
             of
             all
             good
             meanes
             ,
             to
             enquire
             after
             that
             good
             old
             way
             ,
             and
             
             to
             finde
             as
             much
             of
             it
             as
             wee
             can
             ,
             and
             to
             follow
             what
             we
             know
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             if
             after
             all
             our
             search
             ,
             there
             be
             not
             a
             full
             agreement
             in
             all
             godly
             mens
             judgements
             ,
             in
             some
             things
             which
             seem
             somwhat
             more
             difficult
             or
             doubtfull
             ;
             we
             must
             not
             therefore
             either
             reject
             so
             much
             as
             is
             cleare
             ,
             or
             yet
             breake
             Communion
             and
             fellowship
             with
             those
             Churches
             which
             differ
             from
             us
             in
             judgement
             or
             practise
             ,
             so
             long
             as
             they
             maintaine
             not
             any
             government
             which
             cannot
             be
             warranted
             by
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             :
             holding
             that
             rule
             of
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             
             
               Let
               us
            
             (
             saith
             he
             )
             
               as
               many
               as
               be
               perfect
               ,
               be
               thus
               minded
               ,
               God
               shall
               reveale
               even
               this
               unto
               you
               .
               Neverthelesse
               ,
               whereto
               we
               have
               already
               attained
               ,
               let
               us
               walke
               by
               the
               same
               rule
               ,
               let
               us
               mind
               the
               same
               thing
               .
            
          
        
         
         
           
             CASE
             VI
             .
          
           
             How
             can
             the
             Church
             be
             without
             prelates
             ,
             in
             these
             respects
             especially
             :
             1.
             
             For
             ordaining
             of
             Ministers
             .
             2.
             
             For
             inflicting
             of
             Censures
             .
             3.
             
             For
             calling
             of
             Synods
             .
             4.
             
             For
             determining
             of
             doubts
             arising
             in
             matters
             of
             Faith
             .
             5.
             
             In
             appointing
             of
             Ceremonies
             .
             6.
             
             For
             Orders
             sake
             .
             7.
             
             For
             Confirmation
             of
             children
             ,
             8.
             
             For
             dedication
             of
             Churches
             .
             9
             For
             the
             forme
             of
             Doctrine
             .
          
           
             FOr
             answer
             hereunto
             ,
             First
             in
             
             generall
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             need
             at
             all
             of
             any
             such
             Officers
             in
             the
             Church
             as
             are
             not
             of
             any
             divine
             Institution
             ,
             as
             Prelats
             are
             not
             ,
             as
             aforesaid
             :
             yea
             ,
             such
             officers
             ,
             in
             stead
             of
             any
             profitable
             usefulnesse
             ,
             are
             most
             unprofitable
             and
             pernicious
             :
             as
             the
             Lord
             saith
             to
             false
             Prophets
             ,
             
             
               I
               have
               
               not
               sent
               them
               ,
               therfore
               they
               shall
               not
               profit
               this
               people
               at
               all
               .
            
          
           
             Secondly
             and
             particularly
             ,
             First
             ,
             
             Prelates
             are
             no
             way
             requisite
             or
             necessary
             for
             ordaining
             of
             Ministers
             :
             First
             ,
             because
             they
             ordaine
             rather
             a
             new
             order
             of
             Priests
             ,
             than
             true
             Ministers
             ;
             for
             which
             cause
             the
             Booke
             of
             Ordination
             calls
             them
             Priests
             :
             whereas
             true
             Ministers
             are
             never
             called
             in
             the
             new
             Testament
             priests
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             They
             ordaine
             no
             true
             Ministers
             of
             the
             Gospell
             (
             if
             wee
             may
             beleeve
             their
             practise
             )
             but
             rather
             a
             sort
             of
             dumbe
             Priests
             :
             for
             when
             they
             have
             ordained
             a
             full
             Minister
             ,
             (
             as
             they
             call
             it
             )
             having
             put
             the
             Bible
             into
             his
             hand
             ,
             saying
             ,
             
               Take
               thou
               authority
               to
               preach
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ;
            
             yet
             for
             all
             this
             hee
             may
             not
             ;
             must
             not
             preach
             at
             all
             ,
             till
             he
             have
             obtained
             the
             Prelates
             License
             ,
             which
             he
             must
             purchase
             for
             a
             good
             fee
             .
             Again
             ,
             they
             make
             such
             Priests
             as
             are
             dumb
             dogs
             and
             cannot
             barke
             ,
             being
             meere
             Ignoramuses
             
             and
             Sir
             
               John-Lacke-Latines
               ;
            
             abusing
             those
             words
             ,
             
               Receive
               thou
               the
               holy
               Ghost
               :
            
             And
             ,
             
               Take
               thou
               authority
               to
               preach
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               .
            
             And
             lastly
             ,
             They
             make
             no
             true
             Ministers
             of
             Christ
             ,
             seeing
             they
             bind
             all
             with
             the
             Oath
             of
             Canonicall
             obedience
             ,
             to
             be
             subject
             to
             their
             lawlesse
             laws
             ,
             in
             the
             execution
             of
             their
             Ministry
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             There
             is
             no
             use
             nor
             need
             of
             Prelates
             for
             inflicting
             of
             Censures
             .
             Their
             power
             &
             practise
             of
             Excommunication
             is
             altogether
             unlawfull
             ,
             a
             meere
             usurpation
             ,
             and
             contrary
             to
             Gods
             Ordinance
             ;
             and
             that
             in
             many
             respects
             .
             First
             ,
             because
             the
             Prelate
             is
             not
             the
             Pastor
             of
             that
             Congregation
             whose
             member
             is
             cut
             off
             by
             Excommunication
             .
             Because
             the
             Prelate
             doth
             it
             alone
             ,
             hee
             or
             his
             Surrogate
             ;
             and
             this
             perhaps
             either
             a
             Lay-man
             ,
             or
             a
             dumb
             priest
             ,
             without
             any
             consent
             of
             the
             people
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             he
             excommunicates
             a
             man
             for
             every
             triviall
             cause
             ,
             &
             that
             without
             
             due
             summons
             ,
             &
             rashly
             ,
             and
             for
             his
             fee
             absolves
             him
             without
             any
             repentance
             or
             reformation
             ,
             &
             without
             satisfaction
             to
             the
             people
             offended
             .
             Whereas
             excōmunication
             is
             the
             highest
             censure
             ,
             &
             is
             to
             be
             done
             by
             the
             Minister
             &
             congregation
             joyntly
             ,
             
             after
             much
             means
             used
             to
             reclaim
             the
             offēdor
             ,
             &
             for
             grievous
             scandals
             ;
             &
             not
             to
             be
             restored
             without
             hearty
             repētance
             ,
             in
             a
             sad
             ,
             serious
             &
             solemn
             maner
             .
             Lastly
             ,
             if
             Prelats
             for
             the
             causes
             here
             alledged
             be
             of
             no
             use
             for
             the
             high
             censure
             of
             excommunication
             ,
             how
             much
             lesse
             need
             is
             there
             of
             thē
             for
             inflicting
             corporall
             or
             criminall
             punishment
             upon
             reputed
             Delinquents
             ,
             as
             deprivation
             of
             liberty
             by
             imprisonmēt
             ,
             of
             the
             ministry
             by
             deprivation
             ,
             degradation
             ,
             suspēsion
             ,
             deprivation
             of
             means
             and
             livelihood
             ,
             by
             imposing
             of
             intolerable
             fines
             ,
             and
             restraining
             men
             from
             the
             exercise
             of
             their
             particular
             Calling
             ,
             to
             the
             undoing
             of
             them
             and
             theirs
             .
          
           
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             for
             calling
             of
             Synods
             ,
             cannot
             this
             bee
             without
             a
             Prelate
             ?
             may
             not
             this
             be
             by
             a
             Law
             dormant
             ,
             giving
             liberty
             when
             occasion
             shall
             be
             ,
             to
             have
             a
             Synod
             ,
             for
             the
             better
             ordering
             whereof
             ,
             a
             Moderator
             for
             the
             time
             being
             is
             by
             votes
             elected
             ?
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             For
             determining
             of
             doubts
             arising
             in
             matters
             of
             Faith
             ,
             what
             need
             is
             there
             for
             Prelats
             ?
             Are
             they
             fit
             or
             competent
             Iudges
             in
             such
             things
             ?
             Yea
             ,
             are
             they
             not
             herein
             egregious
             usurpers
             ,
             presumptuous
             and
             arrogant
             men
             ?
             Yea
             Antichrists
             ,
             in
             sitting
             thus
             in
             the
             Temple
             of
             God
             ,
             over
             mens
             consciences
             ,
             as
             Lords
             over
             mens
             faith
             ?
             Is
             not
             this
             a
             meere
             evacuating
             of
             the
             authoritie
             and
             sufficiencie
             of
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             sole
             judge
             and
             rule
             of
             Faith
             ?
             Yet
             this
             Prelates
             presume
             to
             doe
             ,
             and
             challenge
             as
             their
             proper
             right
             :
             so
             as
             in
             the
             twentieth
             Article
             ,
             which
             is
             of
             the
             Authority
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             these
             words
             have
             beene
             of
             
             later
             dayes
             foisted
             in
             ,
             namely
             ,
             that
             the
             Church
             hath
             authority
             in
             Controversies
             of
             faith
             .
          
           
             Fiftly
             ,
             Neither
             in
             appointing
             of
             Ceremonies
             are
             Prelates
             needfull
             :
             Yea
             ,
             for
             prelates
             or
             Church
             ,
             or
             any
             humane
             power
             to
             ordaine
             and
             impose
             Ceremonies
             to
             binde
             the
             consciences
             in
             the
             worship
             of
             God
             ,
             this
             is
             expressely
             condemned
             and
             forbidden
             both
             by
             Christ
             himselfe
             ,
             
             and
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             
             and
             by
             the
             Apostles
             .
             
             Man
             may
             not
             impose
             the
             least
             Ceremony
             in
             Gods
             worship
             :
             if
             hee
             doe
             ,
             he
             therein
             denies
             Christ
             ,
             
               Col.
               2.
               19.
            
             he
             holds
             not
             the
             Head
             .
             And
             yet
             the
             aforesaid
             Article
             boldly
             affirmes
             saying
             ,
             The
             Church
             hath
             power
             to
             decree
             Rites
             and
             Ceremonies
             .
             So
             as
             this
             Article
             ,
             whether
             meaning
             by
             Church
             the
             Prelates
             (
             as
             they
             meane
             it
             )
             or
             any
             other
             humane
             power
             ,
             ought
             to
             be
             to
             Christians
             no
             article
             of
             Faith
             ,
             or
             binding
             any
             mans
             Conscience
             .
          
           
           
             Sixtly
             ,
             For
             orders
             sake
             :
             for
             what
             order-sake
             are
             Prelates
             necessary
             ,
             or
             any
             way
             requisit
             ?
             what
             order
             they
             keep
             all
             men
             know
             :
             &
             what
             order
             can
             there
             be
             in
             a
             Babylonish
             goverment
             ,
             as
             the
             prelatical
             altogether
             is
             ?
          
           
             7.
             
             For
             confirmation
             of
             children
             :
             This
             also
             is
             a
             Babylonish
             Sacramēt
             ;
             as
             if
             it
             did
             confer
             some
             grace
             
               ex
               opere
               operato
               ,
            
             or
             some
             vertue
             dropping
             out
             of
             the
             Bishops
             Lawn
             sleeve
             .
             Indeed
             this
             confirmation
             is
             a
             pretty
             knack
             to
             win
             credit
             to
             the
             Prelacy
             frō
             the
             blinde
             Vulgar
             ,
             which
             to
             everie
             wel
             taught
             Christian
             is
             both
             superstitious
             and
             ridiculous
             .
          
           
             8
             For
             dedication
             of
             Churches
             ;
             this
             is
             a
             most
             notorious
             Romish
             ,
             Popish
             superstition
             ,
             &
             is
             rather
             a
             meer
             prophanation
             ,
             than
             any
             dedication
             ,
             except
             it
             be
             to
             superstition
             &
             idolatry
             ,
             as
             they
             at
             Rome
             do
             use
             their
             Temples
             :
             &
             they
             would
             make
             the
             world
             beleeve
             ,
             that
             by
             their
             many
             superstitious
             ceremonies
             ,
             in
             crossings
             ,
             censings
             ,
             
             adorations
             ,
             &
             the
             like
             ,
             which
             they
             use
             in
             their
             dedication
             ,
             there
             goes
             forth
             a
             vertue
             ,
             by
             which
             holynes
             is
             infused
             into
             the
             wals
             &
             pews
             ,
             especially
             into
             their
             sacred
             chancel
             .
          
           
             Ninthly
             ,
             for
             the
             form
             of
             Liturgy
             ,
             if
             we
             goe
             no
             farther
             than
             our
             Service
             booke
             ,
             which
             is
             an
             extract
             out
             of
             Romes
             Latine
             service
             ,
             Missall
             ,
             or
             Masse-booke
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             confessed
             in
             the
             Booke
             of
             Martyrs
             ,
             
             the
             Romane
             Latine
             being
             turned
             into
             English
             :
             if
             there
             were
             no
             more
             in
             it
             than
             this
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             forme
             of
             Romes
             Worship
             ,
             and
             so
             (
             as
             King
             
               Iames
            
             once
             called
             it
             )
             an
             ill
             sayd
             Masse
             ,
             it
             might
             a
             little
             startle
             such
             Christians
             ,
             as
             hold
             that
             Christianity
             to
             be
             the
             purest
             ,
             which
             hath
             least
             conformitie
             with
             Antichrist
             and
             his
             superstitiōs
             .
             For
             if
             wee
             be
             commanded
             to
             come
             out
             of
             Rome
             ,
             &
             to
             have
             no
             communion
             with
             her
             idolatrous
             service
             ;
             let
             it
             then
             be
             well
             considered
             ,
             whether
             Christians
             may
             with
             a
             good
             
             conscience
             be
             present
             at
             the
             English
             Liturgy
             ,
             which
             is
             for
             the
             maine
             ,
             the
             Masse
             turned
             into
             English
             .
             For
             although
             it
             be
             objected
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             purged
             from
             the
             Popish
             drosse
             ,
             yet
             if
             it
             should
             be
             brought
             to
             the
             Touchstone
             ,
             or
             tried
             in
             the
             Text
             ,
             let
             the
             wisest
             then
             judge
             how
             free
             from
             Popish
             drosse
             it
             is
             ,
             when
             therein
             they
             shall
             finde
             Romish
             superstitious
             Ceremonies
             maintained
             and
             prest
             upon
             mens
             consciences
             ,
             as
             the
             Surplice
             ,
             Crosse
             in
             Baptisme
             ,
             kneeling
             at
             the
             Sacrament
             ,
             standing
             at
             the
             Creed
             ,
             attended
             with
             their
             severall
             significations
             ,
             as
             if
             man
             had
             a
             power
             to
             set
             up
             any
             significant
             Ceremonies
             in
             Gods
             worship
             ,
             
             when
             as
             wee
             finde
             all
             kinde
             of
             signes
             and
             ceremonies
             in
             Gods
             service
             under
             the
             Old
             Testament
             ,
             
             though
             ordained
             by
             God
             himselfe
             ,
             to
             be
             utterly
             abolished
             by
             Christ
             ,
             and
             forbidden
             to
             Christians
             under
             the
             New
             Testament
             :
             and
             much
             more
             all
             such
             as
             
             are
             of
             humane
             invention
             :
             all
             which
             are
             of
             that
             nature
             ,
             
             as
             the
             Apostle
             cals
             them
             ,
             the
             
               Yoke
               of
               Bondage
               ,
            
             to
             such
             as
             are
             intangled
             therein
             ;
             exhorting
             all
             Christians
             to
             stand
             fast
             in
             the
             libertie
             wherewith
             Christ
             hath
             made
             us
             free
             .
             And
             
               Col.
            
             2.
             he
             plainly
             shewes
             all
             such
             ordinances
             to
             be
             an
             evacuation
             of
             Christs
             death
             ,
             and
             so
             an
             apostacie
             from
             Christ
             .
             And
             no
             Christian
             ,
             I
             hope
             ,
             will
             plead
             for
             the
             use
             of
             humane
             ordinances
             in
             Gods
             worship
             ,
             when
             Christ
             hath
             abrogated
             all
             ceremonies
             of
             divine
             institution
             ,
             and
             hath
             left
             no
             footstep
             for
             any
             one
             Ceremonie
             in
             the
             New
             Testament
             ,
             and
             flatly
             condemns
             all
             commandements
             of
             men
             in
             Gods
             Service
             :
             It
             beeing
             also
             a
             strange
             presumption
             for
             any
             man
             to
             think
             ,
             that
             either
             he
             hath
             authority
             to
             prescribe
             how
             God
             should
             bee
             worshipped
             ,
             or
             that
             God
             should
             be
             pleased
             with
             any
             such
             will-worship
             ;
             when
             in
             stead
             of
             being
             pleased
             ,
             hee
             saith
             ,
             
               In
               
               vain
               they
               worship
               me
               ,
               teaching
               for
               Doctrine
               the
               Comments
               of
               men
               .
            
             For
             surely
             with
             vaine
             worship
             God
             is
             neither
             pleased
             nor
             honoured
             .
          
           
             Againe
             ,
             seeing
             we
             are
             here
             fallen
             upon
             the
             consideration
             or
             examination
             of
             the
             Service
             booke
             ,
             let
             all
             wise
             hearted
             and
             well
             instructed
             schollers
             in
             Christs
             schoole
             ,
             that
             have
             learned
             the
             art
             of
             separating
             the
             pretious
             from
             the
             vile
             :
             but
             tell
             me
             what
             they
             think
             of
             Apocryphall
             bookes
             ,
             publiquely
             read
             in
             Churches
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             were
             the
             holy
             Scriptures
             ?
             What
             of
             the
             whole
             Letanie
             ,
             so
             stuffed
             with
             Tautologies
             or
             vain
             repetitions
             ?
             What
             of
             the
             prayer
             in
             the
             Letanie
             and
             of
             the
             Collect
             ,
             wherein
             Bishops
             or
             Prelates
             are
             prayed
             for
             ,
             being
             Antichristian
             and
             false
             Bishops
             ;
             and
             all
             other
             Ministers
             are
             prayed
             for
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             Curates
             of
             those
             Bishops
             :
             than
             which
             what
             can
             be
             a
             greater
             reproach
             and
             shame
             to
             the
             Ministers
             of
             the
             
             Church
             of
             England
             ?
             What
             of
             so
             many
             carvings
             of
             Scriptures
             into
             Epistles
             and
             Gospels
             ,
             with
             their
             severall
             Collects
             ,
             for
             the
             maintenance
             and
             celebration
             of
             Saints
             days
             ,
             called
             Holydayes
             ?
             What
             of
             the
             lame
             and
             incongruous
             ,
             yea
             senseles
             translations
             of
             those
             sundry
             Scriptures
             with
             the
             Psalmes
             ?
             What
             of
             prayers
             at
             the
             buriall
             of
             the
             Dead
             ?
             What
             of
             Churching
             of
             women
             ,
             
               aliâs
               ,
            
             Their
             Purification
             ,
             as
             some
             call
             it
             ,
             and
             which
             answers
             to
             that
             under
             the
             Law
             ?
             What
             of
             Priestly
             absolution
             ?
             with
             many
             more
             particulars
             ,
             too
             long
             here
             to
             rehearse
             .
             And
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             What
             of
             so
             many
             prayers
             injoyned
             to
             be
             read
             ,
             enough
             to
             blunt
             the
             edge
             of
             any
             true
             devotion
             ,
             and
             so
             to
             tyre
             out
             the
             strongest
             sided
             Minister
             ,
             as
             hee
             hath
             neither
             strength
             nor
             time
             left
             for
             Gods
             Ordinance
             ,
             namely
             the
             preaching
             of
             the
             Word
             .
             And
             (
             to
             say
             the
             very
             truth
             )
             this
             kind
             of
             long
             Service
             was
             devised
             by
             the
             
             Popes
             successively
             ,
             to
             that
             very
             end
             ,
             namely
             to
             entertaine
             the
             people
             with
             a
             blinde
             devotion
             ,
             and
             to
             retaine
             them
             in
             ignorance
             ,
             when
             now
             no
             roome
             was
             left
             for
             preaching
             ,
             which
             was
             by
             this
             meanes
             thrust
             by
             the
             head
             and
             sholders
             out
             of
             their
             Churches
             .
             And
             thus
             what
             a
             deale
             of
             pretious
             time
             is
             taken
             up
             with
             a
             long
             ,
             dull
             ,
             and
             dead
             forme
             of
             prayer
             ,
             which
             might
             and
             ought
             to
             be
             spent
             to
             edification
             of
             Gods
             people
             on
             the
             Lords
             owne
             Day
             ,
             which
             should
             be
             sanctified
             not
             in
             humane
             devises
             ,
             but
             in
             Gods
             owne
             Ordinances
             ,
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             Him
             who
             is
             the
             Lord
             of
             the
             day
             .
             I
             say
             againe
             (
             for
             I
             speake
             nothing
             definitively
             ,
             as
             passing
             myne
             own
             private
             judgement
             of
             these
             things
             )
             let
             this
             wise
             and
             grave
             Senate
             (
             now
             assembled
             for
             a
             thorow-reformation
             ,
             and
             removall
             of
             all
             abuses
             and
             grievanand
             primarily
             in
             the
             matters
             of
             God
             and
             of
             Christ
             ,
             maturely
             judge
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             CASE
             VII
             .
          
           
             Whether
             any
             set
             forme
             of
             a
             Liturgie
             or
             publique
             Prayer
             be
             necessarie
             to
             bee
             used
             in
             the
             publique
             Worship
             of
             God
             ?
          
           
             FOr
             answer
             :
             Indeed
             if
             it
             bee
             necessary
             to
             have
             unpreaching
             Ministers
             ,
             and
             dumb
             dogs
             over
             the
             people
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             who
             can
             nor
             preach
             nor
             pray
             ,
             then
             it
             will
             bee
             no
             lesse
             necessary
             to
             have
             some
             form
             of
             Booke
             prayers
             or
             Liturgy
             for
             such
             to
             officiate
             by
             .
             And
             for
             this
             cause
             the
             Prelates
             have
             had
             some
             reason
             to
             hold
             up
             their
             Liturgy
             to
             the
             full
             ,
             as
             without
             which
             there
             had
             beene
             nothing
             for
             their
             Mutes
             to
             do
             in
             the
             Church
             .
             Now
             though
             dumbe
             Priests
             have
             need
             of
             such
             a
             Liturgy
             ,
             yet
             it
             doth
             not
             follow
             ,
             that
             therfore
             able
             godly
             Ministers
             ,
             that
             know
             
             how
             to
             fit
             their
             prayers
             to
             all
             such
             severall
             occasions
             as
             do
             continually
             present
             themselves
             (
             which
             a
             set
             prayer
             in
             a
             booke
             cannot
             do
             )
             should
             be
             tied
             to
             any
             such
             precise
             set
             forme
             .
             For
             otherwise
             ,
             
             this
             were
             to
             quench
             the
             spirit
             of
             prayer
             ,
             and
             to
             muzzle
             the
             mouth
             of
             prayer
             ,
             and
             to
             stoppe
             the
             course
             of
             Gods
             spirit
             ,
             which
             doth
             wonderfully
             improve
             it self
             in
             all
             those
             both
             Ministers
             and
             people
             ,
             on
             whom
             God
             hath
             powred
             the
             spirit
             of
             grace
             and
             supplication
             ,
             and
             who
             do
             by
             daily
             exercise
             grow
             unto
             such
             a
             habit
             of
             prayer
             ,
             and
             which
             doth
             powre
             it selfe
             forth
             in
             such
             a
             life
             and
             power
             ,
             as
             is
             not
             possible
             for
             any
             set
             read
             prayer
             to
             exercise
             or
             have
             .
             For
             true
             ,
             fervent
             ,
             effectuall
             prayer
             is
             that
             which
             is
             the
             hearts
             expression
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             .
             As
             the
             Apostle
             saith
             ,
             
             
               I
               will
               pray
               with
               my
               Spirit
               .
            
             and
             
               (
               Phil.
               19.
               )
               Prayer
               is
               supplied
               by
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Jesus
               Christ
               .
            
             This
             is
             that
             prayer
             which
             is
             first
             in
             the
             
             heart
             ,
             before
             it
             come
             to
             the
             mouth
             ,
             and
             is
             dictated
             by
             Gods
             spirit
             ,
             before
             it
             be
             uttered
             with
             the
             lippes
             :
             whereas
             a
             read
             prayer
             is
             in
             the
             mouth
             before
             it
             can
             come
             unto
             the
             heart
             ,
             which
             in
             prayer
             is
             a
             speaking
             unadvifedly
             with
             the
             lips
             ,
             before
             the
             heart
             hath
             first
             digested
             and
             suggested
             the
             matter
             .
             This
             is
             an
             abortive
             birth
             which
             never
             had
             a
             right
             conception
             ,
             But
             a
             godly
             Minister
             that
             is
             best
             acquainted
             with
             the
             state
             of
             his
             flocke
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             church
             of
             God
             ,
             can
             accordingly
             so
             inlarge
             and
             apply
             his
             prayer
             ,
             by
             the
             supply
             of
             Gods
             spirit
             ,
             as
             may
             be
             most
             usefull
             to
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             as
             beeing
             most
             occmmodate
             to
             their
             spirits
             ,
             when
             they
             finde
             the
             matter
             of
             the
             prayer
             to
             be
             that
             ,
             the
             want
             whereof
             they
             are
             most
             sencible
             of
             :
             so
             as
             there
             is
             here
             a
             concurrence
             of
             the
             spirits
             both
             of
             the
             Minister
             and
             people
             ,
             which
             causeth
             a
             prayer
             to
             bee
             so
             much
             the
             more
             effectuall
             ,
             lively
             ,
             
             powerfull
             ,
             and
             operative
             ,
             and
             that
             not
             onely
             with
             God
             ,
             but
             in
             the
             hearts
             of
             all
             those
             whose
             joint
             praier
             it
             is
             .
             Whereas
             a
             read
             prayer
             is
             in
             comparison
             ,
             a
             dead
             and
             dull
             formal
             prayer
             ,
             without
             any
             life
             or
             power
             either
             to
             prevaile
             with
             God
             ,
             or
             to
             profit
             the
             people
             :
             as
             beeing
             such
             a
             prayer
             as
             suits
             only
             such
             Readers
             as
             are
             destitute
             of
             the
             spirit
             of
             Grace
             ,
             and
             supplication
             ,
             and
             of
             faith
             and
             sanctification
             ,
             and
             therefore
             such
             as
             God
             regardeth
             not
             .
             So
             as
             a
             true
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             tyed
             with
             the
             bonds
             and
             lines
             of
             a
             written
             forme
             of
             prayer
             that
             must
             bee
             read
             ,
             forasmuch
             as
             hereby
             the
             spirit
             of
             prayer
             in
             him
             is
             bound
             up
             ,
             and
             both
             he
             and
             the
             people
             of
             God
             deprived
             both
             of
             the
             benefit
             of
             such
             a
             gift
             ,
             and
             of
             that
             profit
             also
             which
             the
             prevailing
             prayer
             of
             Christs
             spirit
             procures
             of
             God
             .
             Yea
             ,
             not
             even
             a
             set
             written
             prayer
             which
             the
             Minister
             makes
             ,
             &
             saith
             by
             heart
             ,
             though
             
             he
             reade
             it
             not
             ,
             and
             though
             it
             bee
             better
             to
             say
             it
             by
             heart
             ,
             than
             to
             read
             it
             out
             of
             a
             booke
             ,
             yet
             is
             ▪
             or
             can
             be
             so
             lively
             and
             powerfull
             as
             that
             prayer
             which
             is
             not
             tied
             to
             a
             set
             forme
             of
             words
             .
             From
             such
             a
             prayer
             as
             is
             uttered
             by
             heart
             (
             as
             we
             say
             )
             the
             memory
             is
             more
             exercised
             ,
             than
             the
             understanding
             and
             affections
             within
             him
             ;
             there
             beeing
             now
             a
             suspension
             of
             that
             worke
             of
             the
             spirit
             of
             supplication
             and
             grace
             ,
             which
             breatheth
             forth
             with
             a
             lively
             power
             in
             a
             conceived
             prayer
             ,
             wherein
             not
             the
             memory
             so
             much
             ,
             as
             the
             whole
             mind
             ,
             soule
             ,
             spirit
             ,
             &
             affections
             ,
             have
             their
             joint
             operation
             .
          
           
             But
             it
             may
             be
             objected
             ,
             That
             the
             Reformed
             Protestant
             Churches
             beyond
             the
             seas
             have
             their
             set
             formes
             of
             publique
             prayer
             and
             sacraments
             'Ts
             true
             :
             but
             I
             take
             it
             that
             the
             Ministers
             are
             not
             tied
             to
             those
             forms
             ,
             further
             than
             they
             will
             themselves
             .
             As
             we
             see
             the
             Ministers
             of
             the
             Kirke
             of
             
             Scotland
             now
             in
             England
             ,
             use
             no
             set
             formes
             of
             prayer
             ,
             but
             doe
             discharge
             the
             duty
             of
             prayer
             with
             an
             excellent
             freedome
             of
             spirit
             ,
             &
             with
             such
             an
             apt
             accommodation
             thereof
             to
             the
             present
             condition
             of
             the
             hearers
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             state
             of
             Gods
             church
             ,
             as
             that
             it
             serves
             greatly
             to
             the
             edification
             and
             raising
             up
             of
             the
             spirits
             of
             Gods
             people
             sympathising
             with
             it
             ,
             and
             is
             first
             (
             of
             all
             other
             kindes
             of
             prayer
             )
             to
             speed
             with
             the
             Prayer-hearing
             God
             ,
             who
             best
             knowes
             the
             meaning
             and
             language
             of
             that
             spirit
             of
             his
             ,
             by
             which
             such
             prayers
             are
             poured
             forth
             .
             And
             surely
             were
             this
             well
             exercised
             by
             our
             Ministers
             in
             England
             ,
             in
             publique
             ,
             as
             I
             know
             it
             is
             by
             many
             both
             Ministers
             &
             people
             in
             private
             ,
             it
             would
             no
             doubt
             much
             facilitate
             and
             hasten
             the
             accomplishment
             of
             that
             great
             worke
             of
             a
             thorow-reformation
             ,
             so
             happily
             begun
             ,
             and
             hopefully
             proceeded
             in
             ,
             if
             flesh
             and
             bloud
             bee
             not
             too
             
             much
             consulted
             with
             ,
             and
             humane
             policy
             (
             which
             should
             have
             no
             hand
             in
             setting
             out
             or
             authorising
             any
             devised
             forme
             of
             Gods
             worship
             ,
             imposed
             on
             the
             conscience
             )
             too
             much
             relied
             upon
             .
          
        
         
           
             CASE
             VIII
             .
          
           
             What
             is
             the
             most
             ready
             and
             easie
             way
             or
             Method
             ,
             of
             finding
             out
             or
             obtaining
             Christs
             government
             ?
          
           
             FOr
             resolution
             :
             It
             is
             usuall
             with
             those
             that
             stand
             for
             the
             Hierarchy
             ,
             to
             stop
             all
             ways
             of
             finding
             this
             out
             ,
             by
             laying
             many
             stumbling
             blocks
             in
             our
             way
             .
             But
             if
             we
             will
             goe
             roundly
             to
             worke
             ,
             first
             of
             all
             ,
             of
             necessity
             all
             false
             government
             ,
             as
             that
             of
             the
             Hierarchy
             ,
             must
             be
             quite
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             as
             the
             maine
             stumbling
             blocke
             .
             As
             hee
             that
             intends
             
             to
             build
             a
             new
             house
             in
             the
             place
             where
             the
             old
             standeth
             ,
             must
             first
             pull
             downe
             the
             old
             ,
             and
             rase
             it
             from
             the
             very
             foundation
             ,
             that
             hee
             may
             lay
             a
             new
             foundation
             to
             beare
             up
             the
             new
             fabricke
             .
             But
             because
             he
             that
             thus
             intends
             to
             build
             ,
             doth
             usually
             make
             a
             draught
             or
             model
             of
             his
             house
             before
             named
             :
             so
             it
             is
             thought
             necessary
             by
             some
             ,
             that
             a
             modell
             of
             Christs
             government
             be
             first
             drawn
             up
             ,
             according
             to
             which
             the
             new
             fabrick
             may
             be
             in
             a
             readinesse
             to
             bee
             erected
             presently
             upon
             the
             removal
             of
             the
             old
             .
          
           
             This
             indeed
             stands
             with
             good
             reason
             ,
             especially
             for
             the
             satisfaction
             of
             all
             doubts
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             better
             accommodation
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             as
             a
             preparation
             of
             the
             materialls
             to
             the
             more
             speedy
             setting
             forward
             of
             the
             worke
             of
             Reformation
             And
             yet
             this
             I
             dare
             say
             ,
             That
             if
             in
             the
             first
             place
             the
             Hierarchy
             ,
             with
             all
             the
             trumpery
             and
             baggage
             of
             their
             Ceremonies
             
             &
             will-worship
             in
             Gods
             service
             ,
             were
             quite
             abandoned
             and
             taken
             away
             ,
             so
             as
             the
             ground
             where
             these
             degenerate
             plants
             doe
             grow
             ,
             were
             cleared
             and
             purged
             ,
             that
             not
             a
             root
             of
             them
             were
             left
             ,
             the
             work
             of
             Reformation
             were
             more
             than
             halfe
             done
             ;
             so
             as
             Christs
             governement
             would
             even
             
               sponte
               sua
               ,
            
             of
             its
             owne
             accord
             come
             in
             ,
             and
             be
             set
             up
             without
             the
             noyse
             of
             so
             much
             as
             a
             hammer
             ;
             especially
             in
             all
             such
             Congregations
             where
             godly
             and
             discreet
             Ministers
             are
             .
             Yet
             not
             so
             ,
             as
             that
             we
             can
             expect
             such
             a
             perfection
             at
             the
             first
             ,
             specially
             in
             this
             land
             ,
             which
             hath
             been
             so
             long
             pestered
             and
             corrupted
             with
             the
             tyrannous
             and
             licentious
             prophane
             government
             of
             the
             Prelates
             ,
             and
             where
             godly
             Ministers
             are
             so
             scarse
             ,
             and
             most
             men
             through
             long
             custome
             ,
             and
             want
             of
             meanes
             (
             as
             before
             )
             are
             not
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             ignorance
             (
             though
             perhaps
             too
             quicke
             sighted
             in
             worldly
             matters
             )
             
             so
             well
             fitted
             to
             apprehend
             ,
             and
             to
             entertain
             such
             an
             exact
             government
             as
             God
             requires
             ,
             and
             his
             Word
             prescribes
             .
          
        
         
           
             CASE
             IX
             .
          
           
             Whether
             ,
             though
             the
             Prelacy
             with
             its
             usurped
             jurisdiction
             ,
             Lordships
             ,
             Tempralties
             ,
             Power
             ,
             Pompe
             ,
             &c.
             be
             quite
             removed
             out
             of
             the
             wayes
             ,
             yet
             it
             be
             not
             expedient
             at
             least
             ,
             if
             not
             necessary
             ,
             to
             retaine
             the
             name
             of
             Bishops
             ,
             as
             a
             title
             appointed
             to
             those
             who
             are
             to
             be
             the
             principall
             among
             ,
             and
             above
             other
             Ecclesiasticall
             persons
             in
             the
             government
             of
             the
             Church
             ?
          
           
             FOr
             answer
             :
             First
             ,
             we
             ought
             not
             to
             abuse
             those
             titles
             which
             the
             Scripture
             appropriates
             and
             ties
             to
             the
             persons
             and
             office
             of
             the
             true
             Pastors
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             by
             impropriating
             
             them
             from
             the
             true
             owners
             ,
             and
             transferring
             them
             to
             such
             ,
             as
             at
             the
             best
             (
             beeing
             considered
             as
             Pastors
             over
             their
             severall
             Congregations
             respectively
             )
             have
             but
             a
             common
             right
             with
             other
             Pastors
             ,
             and
             no
             peculiar
             title
             as
             proper
             to
             themselves
             alone
             ▪
             And
             wherefore
             shall
             such
             onely
             be
             still
             called
             Bishops
             more
             than
             others
             ?
             As
             having
             the
             only
             oversight
             over
             all
             other
             Churches
             ,
             and
             their
             Ministers
             ,
             and
             that
             by
             being
             invested
             in
             a
             perpetuity
             of
             such
             a
             dignity
             ?
             What
             is
             this
             ,
             but
             a
             clipping
             of
             those
             wings
             ,
             and
             a
             payring
             of
             those
             clawes
             ,
             which
             will
             in
             time
             grow
             againe
             .
             
               *
            
             
               Can
               the
               Aethyopian
               change
               his
               skinne
               ?
               or
               the
               Leopard
               his
               spots
               ?
            
             Can
             we
             so
             quickly
             forget
             ,
             what
             spirit
             the
             spirituall
             ambition
             of
             these
             men
             is
             of
             ?
             Or
             can
             we
             imagine
             that
             they
             will
             leave
             their
             old
             haunt
             ,
             in
             frequenting
             the
             Court
             ,
             and
             in
             courting
             the
             favor
             of
             great
             ones
             ?
             and
             from
             whose
             corrupt
             flatteries
             
             not
             the
             eares
             of
             the
             best
             Princes
             can
             plead
             an
             exemption
             ?
             And
             may
             wee
             not
             justly
             feare
             ,
             that
             if
             but
             the
             stump
             of
             this
             banefull
             tree
             be
             left
             unstubd
             up
             by
             the
             roots
             ,
             so
             as
             not
             so
             much
             as
             the
             bare
             long
             usurped
             name
             thereof
             do
             remaine
             ,
             may
             not
             the
             root
             still
             spread
             it selfe
             under
             ground
             insencibly
             ?
             and
             the
             stem
             through
             the
             sent
             of
             water
             put
             forth
             such
             sprouts
             and
             fruits
             ,
             
             as
             by
             the
             bitternesse
             thereof
             therof
             the
             whole
             land
             may
             be
             troubled
             ?
             And
             may
             it
             not
             be
             just
             with
             God
             ,
             yet
             againe
             to
             bring
             more
             plagues
             upon
             this
             State
             ,
             by
             its
             suffering
             of
             such
             miscreant
             remainders
             ,
             when
             hee
             had
             given
             so
             faire
             an
             opportunity
             to
             cut
             them
             off
             ,
             root
             and
             branch
             ?
             
             Did
             not
             
               Saul
            
             for
             sparing
             one
             
               Agag
            
             lose
             his
             kingdome
             ?
             And
             did
             not
             
               Ahab
            
             for
             sparing
             the
             life
             of
             his
             false
             brother
             
               Benhadad
            
             lose
             his
             owne
             life
             ?
             
             And
             were
             not
             those
             Canaanites
             thornes
             and
             prickes
             in
             the
             Israelites
             eyes
             and
             sides
             ?
             Nor
             is
             it
             so
             
             small
             a
             matter
             to
             alienate
             the
             property
             of
             a
             name
             or
             title
             from
             the
             right
             owners
             ,
             to
             whom
             alone
             God
             hath
             made
             it
             peculiar
             and
             proper
             :
             For
             such
             an
             alienation
             is
             an
             alteration
             not
             onely
             of
             the
             true
             property
             of
             the
             name
             ,
             but
             also
             of
             the
             nature
             of
             that
             office
             to
             which
             it
             was
             first
             given
             of
             God
             .
             For
             (
             as
             is
             shewed
             before
             )
             the
             name
             of
             Bishop
             is
             proper
             
               quarto
               modo
               ,
            
             to
             every
             Pastor
             over
             that
             Congregation
             to
             which
             hee
             is
             lawfully
             called
             :
             and
             the
             name
             
               Episcopus
               ,
            
             or
             in
             English
             ,
             Bishop
             or
             Over-seer
             ,
             sets
             forth
             the
             office
             of
             such
             a
             Pastor
             over
             his
             flocke
             .
             So
             as
             to
             take
             away
             this
             name
             from
             the
             Pastor
             ,
             and
             to
             appropriate
             it
             to
             one
             single
             man
             set
             over
             other
             Ministers
             ,
             to
             wit
             ,
             one
             that
             is
             by
             man
             stiled
             and
             denominated
             a
             Diocesan
             Bishop
             ;
             What
             is
             this
             but
             utterly
             to
             pervert
             &
             overthrow
             Christs
             ordinance
             ,
             and
             the
             nature
             of
             his
             true
             Church
             ,
             and
             the
             office
             of
             a
             true
             Pastor
             ,
             who
             being
             stripped
             of
             
             his
             proper
             title
             ,
             is
             withall
             stript
             of
             his
             office
             ,
             and
             so
             of
             his
             flock
             ,
             wherof
             another
             now
             is
             made
             the
             Overseer
             or
             Bishop
             ,
             and
             the
             title
             and
             Office
             of
             a
             Curate
             onely
             is
             left
             him
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Collect
             for
             Bishops
             and
             Curates
             .
             Or
             if
             there
             be
             a
             mentall
             reservation
             to
             every
             Minister
             of
             a
             congregation
             ,
             of
             the
             office
             of
             Pastorship
             ;
             yet
             when
             the
             title
             of
             Bishop
             is
             given
             to
             one
             above
             him
             ,
             even
             thus
             also
             is
             an
             invasion
             made
             upon
             Christs
             owne
             title
             and
             prerogative
             ,
             
             who
             is
             the
             onely
             
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
            
             the
             chiefe
             Shepheard
             or
             chiefe
             Bishop
             of
             his
             Church
             ,
             besides
             whom
             and
             above
             whom
             all
             the
             Pastors
             acknowledge
             none
             .
             And
             if
             of
             Pastors
             ,
             some
             onely
             be
             called
             Bishops
             ,
             and
             the
             rest
             not
             ,
             here
             also
             Christs
             sheepehooke
             is
             wrung
             out
             of
             his
             hand
             ,
             as
             where
             he
             is
             called
             
               the
               Shepheard
               and
               Bishop
               of
               our
               soules
               .
            
             
             So
             easie
             a
             thing
             it
             is
             by
             the
             alienation
             or
             impropriation
             of
             a
             name
             ,
             to
             set
             up
             such
             
             an
             office
             and
             government
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             as
             wherby
             Christs
             government
             &
             the
             proper
             office
             of
             his
             true
             Ministers
             ,
             are
             cast
             to
             the
             ground
             &
             trampled
             under
             foot
             .
          
           
             Moreover
             ,
             if
             ever
             this
             governement
             of
             Bishops
             ,
             falsly
             so
             called
             ,
             shall
             bee
             set
             up
             or
             continued
             in
             maner
             aforesaid
             ,
             yet
             farre
             bee
             it
             from
             those
             Worthies
             of
             the
             land
             ,
             whose
             justice
             is
             so
             cleare
             and
             unpartiall
             in
             other
             things
             ,
             and
             namely
             in
             the
             cutting
             off
             of
             all
             Monopolies
             in
             the
             civill
             State
             ,
             to
             erect
             or
             ratifie
             ,
             or
             any
             way
             to
             countenance
             such
             a
             Monopoly
             in
             Christs
             kingdome
             ,
             so
             derogatory
             to
             his
             incommunicable
             prerogative
             ,
             and
             to
             that
             stile
             and
             office
             wherein
             he
             hath
             so
             highly
             dignified
             and
             intrusted
             all
             faithful
             Ministers
             .
             For
             what
             a
             Monopoly
             is
             this
             ,
             to
             take
             away
             the
             title
             wherein
             the
             Office
             of
             all
             true
             Pastors
             is
             comprehended
             ,
             and
             to
             transfer
             it
             to
             one
             alone
             among
             many
             ?
          
           
           
             
               Ob.
            
             But
             here
             it
             may
             be
             objected
             ,
             That
             the
             Reformed
             Churches
             beyond
             the
             seas
             ,
             as
             even
             Geneva
             it selfe
             ,
             have
             their
             Overseers
             ,
             which
             is
             a
             title
             and
             office
             equivalent
             to
             our
             Diocesan
             Bishops
             ,
             
               Episcopus
            
             signifying
             an
             Overseer
             :
             why
             then
             is
             it
             not
             as
             lawfull
             to
             have
             the
             like
             in
             England
             ?
          
           
             I
             answer
             :
             The
             case
             is
             farre
             different
             ;
             for
             such
             Overseers
             or
             Moderators
             ,
             as
             in
             other
             reformed
             Churches
             they
             are
             called
             (
             as
             in
             the
             Kirke
             of
             Scotland
             )
             are
             chosen
             by
             the
             Ministers
             and
             Elders
             ,
             and
             that
             but
             for
             one
             yeare
             ,
             and
             whose
             office
             is
             to
             call
             the
             Synods
             at
             certaine
             fixed
             times
             ,
             and
             to
             collect
             the
             votes
             ,
             &
             the
             like
             .
             But
             some
             say
             ,
             that
             our
             usurping
             Bishops
             shall
             bee
             perpetuall
             for
             their
             lives
             ;
             and
             how
             farre
             the
             power
             of
             their
             place
             and
             dignity
             may
             be
             extended
             ,
             especially
             when
             they
             have
             their
             election
             from
             the
             Court
             ,
             either
             immediate
             and
             absolute
             
               per
               se
               ,
            
             or
             by
             the
             means
             of
             a
             
               Conge
               de
               lier
               ,
            
             as
             
             whom
             so
             designed
             above
             ,
             the
             Ministers
             of
             the
             Diocesse
             (
             in
             stead
             of
             the
             Deane
             and
             Chapter
             )
             are
             bound
             to
             elect
             .
             Or
             if
             they
             be
             but
             Triennial
             ,
             &
             so
             to
             come
             under
             the
             visitation
             of
             a
             Trienniall
             Parliament
             ;
             yet
             who
             knows
             but
             such
             spirits
             may
             so
             work
             as
             in
             time
             to
             make
             Parliaments
             as
             geason
             as
             heretofore
             ?
             when
             some
             of
             them
             have
             confessed
             ,
             that
             they
             never
             dreamed
             to
             see
             a
             Parliament
             againe
             .
             Or
             if
             they
             shall
             be
             continued
             from
             three
             yeare
             to
             three
             yeare
             ,
             yet
             this
             is
             also
             more
             than
             is
             used
             in
             forreine
             Reformed
             Churches
             ▪
             And
             however
             ,
             for
             them
             to
             retaine
             the
             name
             of
             Bishop
             still
             (
             as
             before
             )
             is
             against
             Gods
             Word
             ,
             and
             not
             onely
             derogatory
             to
             Christs
             true
             Ministers
             for
             the
             present
             ,
             but
             also
             very
             prejudiciall
             to
             their
             liberty
             ,
             when
             such
             Bishops
             holding
             their
             favor
             in
             Court
             ,
             and
             their
             neerenesse
             to
             the
             Chaire
             of
             State
             ,
             may
             by
             that
             means
             grow
             awfull
             to
             those
             their
             Curates
             ,
             
             among
             whom
             some
             ,
             and
             perhaps
             too
             many
             ,
             may
             be
             found
             ready
             to
             prostitute
             their
             officiousnesse
             unto
             their
             Bishop
             ,
             in
             stead
             of
             Christ
             ,
             out
             of
             a
             hope
             to
             be
             made
             the
             heires
             apparant
             of
             the
             Bishopricke
             ;
             which
             though
             it
             be
             now
             cropt
             and
             deplumed
             ,
             yet
             will
             be
             still
             a
             bait
             for
             ambition
             ,
             which
             must
             be
             doing
             ,
             and
             will
             rather
             play
             small
             game
             than
             sit
             out
             .
             All
             which
             considered
             ,
             I
             leave
             it
             to
             the
             Wise
             to
             judge
             what
             may
             bee
             the
             consequents
             thereof
             ,
             &
             whether
             by
             this
             means
             either
             we
             or
             our
             children
             may
             come
             to
             see
             as
             great
             corruption
             both
             in
             doctrine
             and
             manners
             ,
             as
             now
             we
             doe
             .
             For
             (
             as
             I
             sayd
             before
             )
             the
             time
             may
             come
             ,
             when
             God
             in
             his
             justice
             may
             deny
             this
             State
             the
             like
             opportunity
             (
             so
             armed
             with
             a
             necessity
             of
             reformation
             ,
             as
             we
             neither
             could
             have
             wished
             ,
             nor
             any
             more
             can
             hope
             for
             )
             to
             reforme
             Episcopall
             insolencie
             .
             Or
             suppose
             a
             possibility
             of
             Prelates
             to
             become
             no
             
             worse
             than
             as
             the
             Parliament
             shall
             leave
             them
             ,
             yet
             the
             least
             rag
             of
             Prelacie
             making
             a
             rent
             in
             Christs
             coat
             ,
             (
             as
             it
             beeing
             the
             head
             of
             such
             a
             Government
             as
             is
             condemned
             by
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             )
             ought
             no
             more
             to
             be
             pieced
             to
             Christs
             livery
             ,
             seeing
             it
             destroyeth
             Christian
             liberty
             ,
             both
             in
             Ministers
             and
             people
             .
             And
             all
             this
             (
             I
             say
             )
             ariseth
             from
             the
             very
             name
             of
             Bishop
             so
             misplaced
             ;
             for
             which
             cause
             it
             ought
             to
             be
             with
             the
             whole
             Bishopricke
             utterly
             extirped
             ;
             and
             that
             no
             lesse
             ,
             than
             the
             heathen
             Romans
             rooted
             out
             the
             very
             name
             of
             the
             
               Tarquins
               ,
            
             for
             the
             tiranny
             which
             they
             had
             exercised
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             CASE
             X.
             
          
           
             Whether
             the
             whole
             Hierarchy
             being
             abolished
             ,
             the
             39
             Articles
             which
             were
             agreed
             upon
             in
             62
             ,
             by
             the
             Archbishops
             and
             Bishops
             ,
             &c.
             in
             both
             Provinces
             ,
             doe
             any
             longer
             binde
             ?
             or
             that
             Ministers
             are
             bound
             to
             subscribe
             unto
             them
             ?
          
           
             I
             Answer
             :
             First
             ,
             That
             these
             39
             articles
             taken
             
               conjunctim
            
             together
             ,
             no
             man
             can
             with
             a
             good
             conscience
             ,
             rightly
             informed
             ,
             subscribe
             unto
             them
             .
             For
             secondly
             ,
             There
             be
             some
             of
             those
             articles
             which
             are
             very
             false
             ;
             as
             Article
             20
             ,
             which
             saith
             ,
             
               The
               Church
               hath
               power
               to
               decree
               Rites
               and
               Ceremonies
               ,
               and
               authority
               in
               Controversies
               of
               faith
               .
            
             Both
             which
             are
             false
             (
             as
             before
             is
             noted
             )
             and
             were
             added
             since
             the
             same
             article
             was
             first
             made
             in
             King
             
               Edward
            
             the
             sixt
             
             his
             dayes
             .
             Againe
             the
             36
             Article
             is
             no
             lesse
             false
             ,
             which
             saith
             ,
             
               The
               booke
               of
               ordination
               of
               Archbishops
               and
               Bishops
               ;
               and
               ordering
               of
               Priests
               ,
               &c.
               doth
               containe
               all
               things
               necessary
               to
               such
               consecration
               and
               ordering
               .
               Neither
               hath
               it
               anything
               that
               of
               it selfe
               is
               superstious
               and
               ungodly
               .
               And
               therefore
               all
               so
               consecrated
               and
               ordered
               according
               to
               the
               Rites
               prescribed
               ,
               &c.
               wee
               decree
               to
               bee
               rightly
               orderly
               ,
               and
               lawfully
               consecrated
               and
               ordered
               .
            
             Now
             to
             this
             article
             all
             Ministers
             subscribe
             ,
             although
             they
             be
             false
             Bishops
             consecrated
             after
             the
             order
             of
             Rome
             ;
             and
             false
             Priests
             that
             are
             by
             false
             bishops
             so
             ordered
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             Art.
             3.
             it
             is
             sayd
             ,
             
               As
               Christ
               died
               for
               us
               ,
               and
               was
               buried
               ;
               so
               is
               it
               to
               be
               beleeved
               that
               he
               went
               down
               into
               hell
               .
            
             Which
             going
             downe
             into
             hell
             ,
             imports
             a
             locall
             going
             downe
             into
             the
             place
             of
             hell
             ;
             which
             hath
             no
             proof
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             nor
             holds
             any
             proportion
             or
             analogie
             of
             faith
             ,
             but
             crosseth
             
             the
             truth
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             the
             current
             of
             all
             sound
             interpreters
             ,
             and
             therefore
             not
             to
             bee
             beleeved
             as
             Christs
             death
             and
             buriall
             .
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             some
             Articles
             are
             made
             of
             late
             by
             the
             enemies
             of
             grace
             ,
             the
             Prelates
             ,
             of
             so
             doubtfull
             and
             double
             a
             sence
             (
             as
             those
             especially
             about
             Grace
             and
             Freewill
             )
             that
             they
             have
             procured
             a
             Declaration
             prefixed
             before
             the
             Articles
             ,
             in
             the
             Kings
             name
             ,
             prohibiting
             the
             free
             preaching
             of
             those
             points
             according
             to
             the
             Scriptures
             .
             So
             as
             Ministers
             canot
             resolve
             what
             it
             is
             they
             subscribe
             unto
             in
             the
             sayd
             Article
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             is
             necessary
             that
             the
             said
             false
             Articles
             be
             wholly
             expunged
             ,
             and
             the
             doubtful
             (
             as
             they
             pretend
             )
             more
             fully
             explained
             ;
             and
             so
             the
             said
             Declaration
             prefixed
             ,
             taken
             away
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             CASE
             XI
             .
          
           
             Now
             all
             this
             done
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Antichristian
             yoke
             in
             the
             Prelacy
             ,
             with
             the
             burthen
             of
             all
             their
             Rites
             and
             Ceremonies
             removed
             from
             Christians
             neckes
             :
             what
             is
             that
             particular
             form
             of
             government
             which
             is
             to
             be
             set
             up
             ?
          
           
             FOr
             answer
             :
             First
             we
             premised
             something
             hereof
             in
             generall
             ,
             namely
             ,
             That
             Christs
             governement
             alone
             is
             to
             be
             set
             up
             in
             all
             true
             Christian
             congregations
             ,
             and
             so
             his
             yoke
             to
             be
             borne
             ,
             as
             our
             glory
             ,
             upon
             our
             neckes
             .
             But
             secondly
             ,
             for
             further
             ,
             and
             a
             more
             particular
             unfolding
             of
             this
             government
             of
             Christ
             over
             every
             true
             Church
             or
             congregation
             :
             First
             ,
             we
             are
             to
             enquire
             what
             the
             true
             Church
             of
             Christ
             is
             .
             And
             secondly
             ,
             what
             is
             that
             governement
             
             which
             Christ
             hath
             appointed
             over
             every
             such
             Church
             .
          
           
             For
             the
             first
             :
             A
             true
             Church
             of
             Christ
             is
             a
             congregation
             of
             true
             beleevers
             men
             and
             women
             ,
             who
             by
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             preached
             ,
             are
             separated
             from
             the
             world
             ,
             and
             the
             reigning
             lusts
             thereof
             ,
             and
             declared
             to
             be
             such
             by
             the
             open
             profession
             of
             the
             true
             and
             right
             faith
             ,
             and
             by
             the
             conversation
             of
             Christian
             life
             conformable
             thereunto
             .
             Such
             is
             a
             particular
             visible
             true
             Church
             or
             Congregation
             ,
             and
             so
             is
             (
             as
             farre
             as
             wee
             can
             judge
             )
             a
             true
             branch
             of
             the
             holy
             Catholique
             Church
             ,
             which
             is
             invisible
             ,
             comprehending
             the
             number
             of
             Gods
             Elect
             ,
             and
             is
             apprehended
             only
             by
             faith
             ,
             &
             not
             by
             sight
             .
             Now
             every
             such
             particular
             Congregation
             as
             aforesaid
             ,
             consisting
             of
             professed
             beleevers
             of
             the
             knowne
             truth
             of
             God
             ,
             according
             to
             which
             they
             frame
             the
             course
             of
             their
             life
             and
             conversation
             ,
             is
             in
             it selfe
             an
             absolute
             
             Church
             ,
             whose
             onely
             Governor
             for
             matters
             of
             faith
             ,
             and
             the
             true
             worship
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             Iesus
             Christ
             .
             He
             it
             is
             that
             as
             King
             reigneth
             in
             this
             congregation
             ,
             and
             in
             all
             the
             members
             therof
             ,
             they
             acknowledge
             none
             other
             Governor
             for
             matters
             of
             Religion
             ,
             but
             Christ
             onely
             .
             For
             herein
             stands
             his
             kingly
             Office
             :
             and
             the
             Laws
             by
             which
             this
             King
             reigneth
             ,
             and
             governeth
             his
             Church
             ,
             is
             his
             written
             Word
             .
             And
             his
             Vicegerent
             ,
             by
             whom
             Christ
             is
             alwayes
             present
             with
             every
             one
             of
             his
             severall
             Congregations
             ,
             is
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             ,
             which
             who
             so
             hath
             not
             is
             none
             of
             Christs
             .
             
          
           
             Now
             having
             thus
             defined
             what
             a
             true
             Church
             of
             Christ
             is
             ,
             namely
             a
             congregation
             professing
             the
             known
             true
             faith
             ,
             every
             member
             thereof
             being
             able
             in
             some
             measure
             to
             give
             a
             reason
             of
             the
             maine
             points
             of
             faith
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             proofe
             of
             their
             profession
             by
             walking
             in
             a
             holy
             course
             of
             life
             :
             hence
             it
             appeares
             who
             they
             be
             
             that
             are
             not
             admitted
             to
             bee
             members
             of
             this
             congregation
             or
             church
             of
             Christ
             ,
             therein
             to
             participate
             of
             the
             holy
             Sacrament
             ,
             untill
             their
             repentance
             and
             reformation
             ;
             namely
             all
             ignorant
             and
             prophane
             persons
             ,
             which
             neither
             beleeve
             a
             right
             ,
             nor
             live
             accordingly
             .
             For
             the
             congregation
             of
             Christ
             is
             called
             the
             Communion
             of
             Saints
             ,
             
             being
             sanctified
             by
             faith
             in
             Christ
             ,
             and
             by
             his
             word
             and
             Spirit
             .
          
           
             The
             second
             thing
             is
             ,
             to
             enquire
             and
             consider
             how
             this
             Church
             of
             Christ
             is
             to
             be
             governed
             .
             To
             finde
             this
             out
             is
             no
             difficulty
             .
             First
             ,
             sure
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             none
             but
             Christ
             is
             supreme
             and
             immediate
             Lord
             ,
             King
             ,
             and
             Governor
             of
             his
             Church
             ,
             whether
             of
             the
             Catholique
             ,
             or
             of
             every
             particular
             church
             or
             congregation
             rightly
             constituted
             (
             as
             aforesaid
             )
             so
             as
             no
             power
             on
             earth
             hath
             any
             authority
             to
             prescribe
             Lawes
             for
             the
             governement
             of
             this
             Church
             ,
             whether
             for
             
             doctrine
             or
             discipline
             ,
             whether
             for
             faith
             or
             worship
             ,
             but
             onely
             Christ
             ,
             whose
             written
             Word
             and
             Law
             is
             the
             onely
             rule
             of
             this
             government
             ;
             which
             Law
             all
             Princes
             (
             who
             are
             therefore
             called
             
               Custodes
               utriusque
               Tabulae
               )
            
             are
             bound
             by
             him
             ,
             whose
             Vicegerents
             they
             are
             ,
             to
             see
             well
             observed
             both
             by
             Ministers
             and
             people
             .
             Here
             then
             wee
             will
             speake
             of
             the
             Officers
             which
             Christ
             hath
             appointed
             over
             every
             Christian
             congregation
             :
             and
             those
             are
             either
             Ministers
             or
             other
             officers
             of
             the
             people
             .
             First
             for
             the
             Ministers
             ,
             they
             are
             called
             by
             sundry
             titles
             ,
             as
             
               a
            
             Bishops
             or
             Presbyters
             ,
             
               b
            
             Pastors
             and
             Teachers
             ,
             
               c
            
             Ministers
             ,
             
               d
            
             Labourers
             ,
             and
             the
             like
             .
             Their
             principall
             office
             is
             to
             *
             pray
             to
             preach
             the
             word
             to
             administer
             the
             Sacraments
             .
             And
             these
             Ministers
             ,
             however
             stiled
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             are
             all
             of
             equall
             authority
             ,
             not
             one
             over
             another
             ,
             nor
             one
             over
             many
             ,
             nor
             many
             over
             one
             ,
             each
             being
             
             in
             his
             place
             &
             peculiar
             congregation
             under
             Christ
             alone
             ,
             as
             the
             King
             of
             his
             Church
             ,
             to
             whom
             he
             is
             accountable
             :
             
             and
             under
             Christ
             ,
             to
             the
             civill
             Magistrate
             ,
             as
             being
             a
             subject
             .
          
           
             But
             here
             a
             question
             may
             be
             moved
             ,
             
             whether
             a
             Synod
             of
             Ministers
             ,
             or
             of
             the
             churches
             ,
             have
             not
             power
             over
             any
             one
             Minister
             ,
             and
             so
             over
             all
             the
             Congregations
             ,
             either
             to
             censure
             particular
             persons
             or
             congregations
             ,
             or
             to
             prescribe
             and
             impose
             orders
             ,
             Rites
             ,
             Canons
             ,
             or
             the
             like
             ?
          
           
             For
             answer
             :
             
             Some
             are
             of
             opinion
             that
             a
             Synod
             hath
             authoritie
             to
             binde
             particular
             churches
             to
             such
             rites
             as
             they
             shall
             prescribe
             and
             impose
             .
             And
             they
             alledge
             that
             Synod
             or
             assembly
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             
             wherein
             were
             determined
             certaine
             observances
             which
             they
             sent
             and
             imposed
             on
             the
             churches
             of
             the
             new
             convert
             Gentiles
             ,
             as
             necessary
             for
             them
             to
             observe
             ,
             some
             wherof
             were
             
             Iewish
             ceremonies
             .
             Hence
             they
             conclude
             ,
             That
             a
             Synod
             collected
             of
             the
             churches
             ,
             hath
             power
             over
             particular
             churches
             ,
             to
             ordaine
             and
             impose
             ceremonies
             as
             necessary
             to
             bee
             observed
             .
             But
             this
             act
             of
             the
             Apostles
             is
             no
             president
             or
             patterne
             for
             succeeding
             ages
             .
             The
             reason
             is
             first
             ,
             because
             the
             Apostles
             were
             inspired
             with
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             ,
             which
             wholly
             guided
             them
             in
             all
             matters
             of
             the
             Church
             ;
             so
             as
             in
             that
             their
             determination
             they
             say
             expressely
             ,
             
             
               It
               seemed
               good
               to
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               and
               to
               us
               ,
               to
               lay
               upon
               you
               no
               greater
               burthen
               .
            
             Now
             what
             Synod
             in
             any
             age
             after
             the
             Apostles
             could
             ever
             say
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             infallibly
             inspired
             and
             assisted
             by
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             ?
             If
             any
             can
             infallibly
             assure
             me
             hereof
             ,
             that
             a
             Synod
             after
             the
             Apostles
             cannot
             erre
             ,
             but
             that
             they
             can
             truly
             say
             ,
             
               It
               pleased
               the
               holy
               Ghost
               and
               us
               :
            
             then
             I
             will
             obey
             all
             their
             Decrees
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             injunction
             of
             the
             
             holy
             Ghost
             and
             of
             the
             Apostles
             was
             but
             
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
            
             ,
             for
             that
             present
             time
             ,
             for
             the
             avoyding
             of
             offences
             betweene
             Iewes
             and
             Gentiles
             ,
             who
             in
             every
             city
             conversed
             together
             :
             Which
             
               James
            
             the
             Apostle
             alledgeth
             for
             the
             only
             reason
             of
             that
             determination
             .
             
             But
             we
             reade
             not
             in
             all
             the
             writings
             of
             the
             Apostles
             afterward
             ,
             that
             they
             either
             ordained
             or
             imposed
             the
             least
             rite
             or
             ceremonie
             to
             bee
             observed
             in
             any
             of
             the
             Churches
             of
             God
             ;
             yea
             ,
             they
             expressely
             condemned
             all
             such
             ordinances
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             shewed
             .
          
           
             But
             here
             another
             question
             ariseth
             :
             If
             particular
             congregations
             be
             not
             subject
             to
             bee
             ruled
             by
             Synods
             ,
             or
             the
             like
             jurisdiction
             ,
             what
             order
             can
             be
             expected
             ,
             or
             what
             meanes
             is
             left
             for
             ordaining
             of
             Ministers
             over
             every
             congregation
             ?
          
           
             For
             answer
             ,
             briefely
             :
             First
             for
             order
             ;
             What
             better
             or
             surer
             order
             can
             be
             ,
             than
             that
             which
             Christs
             
             Word
             hath
             set
             down
             ?
             And
             if
             in
             any
             thing
             doubts
             arise
             in
             a
             Congregation
             ,
             they
             have
             other
             congregations
             with
             the
             Ministers
             to
             consult
             with
             .
             For
             although
             every
             particular
             congregation
             be
             an
             absolute
             church
             ,
             having
             no
             jurisdiction
             over
             it
             but
             Christs
             alone
             ,
             and
             that
             immediatly
             ;
             yet
             it
             is
             not
             separated
             or
             divided
             from
             the
             neighbour
             churches
             ,
             so
             as
             that
             it
             should
             not
             hold
             communion
             with
             them
             ,
             or
             a
             consociation
             ,
             communicating
             together
             in
             all
             mutuall
             offices
             of
             helpe
             ,
             counsel
             ,
             comfort
             ,
             resolution
             in
             doubts
             ,
             advice
             in
             difficulties
             ,
             and
             the
             like
             :
             this
             beeing
             the
             priviledge
             and
             benefit
             of
             the
             communion
             of
             Saints
             ,
             which
             is
             not
             limited
             to
             one
             particular
             congregation
             onely
             within
             it selfe
             ,
             but
             comprehendeth
             all
             the
             Members
             of
             the
             Catholique
             church
             ,
             wheresoever
             they
             are
             visible
             in
             any
             assemblies
             :
             so
             as
             if
             any
             one
             congregation
             fall
             into
             an
             errour
             ,
             it
             is
             by
             others
             to
             bee
             admonished
             
             and
             conuinced
             ,
             that
             it
             may
             be
             reformed
             .
             If
             it
             fall
             into
             any
             foule
             heresie
             (
             which
             yet
             is
             not
             easie
             in
             a
             well
             constituted
             Church
             )
             it
             must
             bee
             dealt
             withall
             accordingly
             as
             the
             case
             shal
             require
             :
             the
             churches
             assembled
             must
             labour
             to
             reduce
             it
             ,
             and
             if
             after
             all
             meanes
             it
             proove
             incorrigible
             ,
             when
             there
             is
             no
             remedie
             they
             must
             renounce
             communion
             with
             that
             congregation
             .
             And
             if
             that
             congregation
             shall
             bee
             further
             troublesome
             ,
             in
             breaking
             the
             peace
             of
             the
             Churches
             ,
             or
             of
             the
             civil
             state
             ,
             it
             is
             liable
             to
             such
             punishments
             as
             by
             the
             good
             lawes
             of
             the
             land
             are
             allotted
             to
             such
             and
             such
             offences
             .
             For
             although
             no
             power
             on
             earth
             hath
             power
             over
             mens
             consciences
             in
             matters
             of
             religion
             ,
             yet
             God
             hath
             in
             his
             ordinance
             set
             up
             civil
             powers
             and
             Magistrates
             ,
             
             whom
             he
             hath
             armed
             with
             authority
             to
             punish
             such
             as
             doe
             openly
             transgresse
             either
             the
             Lawes
             of
             God
             ,
             or
             the
             just
             Lawes
             of
             
             the
             civil
             state
             .
             For
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             
               Gods
               Minister
               ,
            
             
             both
             
               for
               the
               punishment
               of
               evill
               doers
               ,
               and
               for
               the
               praise
               and
               protection
               of
               them
               that
               doe
               well
               .
            
             And
             for
             the
             better
             and
             more
             easie
             way
             for
             the
             civill
             Power
             to
             take
             cognisance
             of
             things
             of
             that
             nature
             ,
             it
             will
             become
             the
             duty
             of
             all
             the
             churches
             ,
             in
             a
             Synod
             or
             otherwise
             to
             convince
             the
             parties
             offending
             ,
             and
             if
             obstinate
             ,
             to
             complaine
             of
             them
             to
             the
             civill
             Magistrate
             .
             Thus
             it
             is
             with
             a
             congregation
             as
             it
             stands
             in
             relation
             to
             other
             Churches
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             subjection
             to
             the
             civill
             power
             .
          
           
             Now
             for
             a
             congregation
             considered
             in
             it selfe
             ,
             if
             a
             member
             therof
             do
             offend
             in
             any
             kinde
             ,
             what
             is
             to
             be
             done
             ,
             or
             who
             shall
             censure
             it
             ?
             I
             answer
             :
             If
             the
             offence
             bee
             against
             the
             Law
             of
             Christ
             ,
             or
             his
             governement
             over
             that
             congregation
             ,
             then
             the
             same
             congregation
             hath
             power
             given
             from
             Christ
             to
             censure
             the
             Delinquent
             ;
             when
             after
             all
             due
             
             means
             he
             remains
             obstinate
             and
             incorrigible
             ;
             as
             1
             
               Cor.
            
             5.
             
             But
             if
             the
             offence
             be
             against
             the
             law
             of
             the
             civil
             State
             ,
             he
             is
             then
             punishable
             according
             to
             that
             law
             ,
             by
             the
             civill
             Magistrate
             .
          
           
             But
             here
             another
             question
             ariseth
             ,
             Whether
             the
             Minister
             or
             Pastor
             of
             the
             congregation
             alone
             have
             power
             of
             censure
             committed
             unto
             him
             ,
             or
             together
             with
             the
             congregation
             ?
          
           
             I
             answer
             :
             Together
             with
             the
             congregation
             ;
             which
             therefore
             electeth
             certaine
             officers
             ,
             such
             as
             are
             most
             eminent
             for
             integrity
             ,
             gravity
             ,
             holinesse
             ,
             knowledge
             ,
             and
             judgement
             in
             matters
             of
             the
             congregation
             ,
             to
             represent
             the
             congregation
             ,
             and
             to
             assist
             the
             Minister
             in
             government
             and
             correction
             of
             manners
             :
             And
             who
             fitter
             to
             take
             knowledge
             of
             home-delinquents
             ,
             than
             such
             as
             best
             know
             them
             ?
             And
             who
             are
             likeliest
             to
             use
             mercy
             ,
             compassion
             ,
             and
             moderation
             in
             such
             censures
             ,
             
             and
             better
             means
             of
             the
             delinquents
             amendment
             ,
             than
             such
             as
             are
             their
             godly
             neighbours
             ?
          
           
             And
             these
             officers
             ,
             either
             for
             the
             gravity
             of
             their
             yeares
             or
             manners
             ,
             are
             called
             Elders
             .
             The
             
               *
            
             Prelats
             cannot
             endure
             the
             name
             of
             lay
             Elders
             ;
             but
             in
             Scripture
             we
             find
             them
             .
             For
             
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
            
             ,
             an
             Elder
             ,
             is
             taken
             both
             for
             a
             Minister
             of
             the
             Word
             ,
             and
             for
             a
             Lay
             Elder
             ,
             as
             they
             call
             it
             :
             as
             ,
             1
             
               Tim.
               5.
               17.
               
               Let
               the
               Elders
               that
               rule
               well
               ,
               bee
               accounted
               worthy
               of
               double
               honor
               ,
               especially
               they
               who
               labour
               in
               the
               Word
               and
               doctrine
               .
            
             Where
             Elders
             plainly
             signifie
             both
             such
             as
             rule
             ,
             and
             such
             as
             preach
             ,
             distinct
             one
             from
             the
             other
             .
             So
             
               Rom.
               12.
               6
               ,
               7
               ,
               8.
               
               He
               that
               ruleth
            
             is
             a
             distinct
             officer
             from
             him
             that
             teacheth
             &
             prophecieth
             .
             And
             so
             ,
             1
             
               Cor.
               12.
            
             28.
             
             After
             Prophets
             or
             Teachers
             ,
             are
             set
             Helps
             ,
             governments
             ,
             or
             helps
             in
             government
             ,
             as
             our
             Translation
             hath
             it
             .
             These
             Governors
             then
             simply
             considered
             ,
             were
             not
             Ministers
             
             of
             the
             Word
             ,
             but
             Lay
             men
             ,
             as
             they
             call
             them
             .
             We
             could
             produce
             some
             Antients
             that
             speake
             of
             these
             lay
             governors
             or
             Seniors
             ;
             but
             at
             present
             for
             brevities
             sake
             wee
             omit
             them
             .
             The
             antient
             Church
             of
             the
             Iewes
             had
             such
             Elders
             ,
             as
             we
             reade
             ,
             called
             Masters
             of
             the
             Synagogue
             ,
             
               Act.
            
             13.
             15.
             
             And
             if
             antiently
             ;
             in
             and
             after
             the
             Apostles
             time
             ,
             there
             were
             not
             such
             Elders
             ,
             how
             came
             it
             to
             passe
             afterward
             under
             Antichrist
             ,
             that
             the
             government
             of
             every
             particular
             congregation
             was
             delivered
             unto
             those
             of
             the
             Laity
             ,
             whom
             we
             call
             churchwardens
             and
             Side
             men
             ,
             who
             are
             to
             assist
             the
             Minister
             in
             matters
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             though
             not
             in
             matter
             of
             censure
             ,
             which
             the
             Prelacy
             hath
             wholly
             usurped
             and
             monopolized
             to
             it selfe
             ,
             having
             thrust
             out
             and
             utterly
             exterminated
             ,
             as
             much
             as
             in
             them
             lieth
             ,
             the
             very
             name
             and
             memory
             of
             Lay
             Elders
             ,
             had
             wee
             not
             some
             records
             thereof
             in
             the
             lasting
             
             monuments
             of
             the
             Scripture
             ?
             Yea
             ,
             let
             the
             Prelates
             tell
             us
             ,
             how
             all
             that
             Lay
             Eldership
             (
             as
             I
             may
             call
             it
             )
             of
             Chancellors
             ,
             Commissaries
             ,
             and
             the
             rest
             ,
             came
             to
             be
             set
             up
             ,
             but
             to
             supply
             (
             in
             some
             sort
             )
             those
             antient
             Lay
             Elders
             ,
             whom
             the
             Apostles
             had
             set
             up
             ,
             and
             whom
             Antichrist
             puld
             down
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             main
             hinderance
             of
             the
             setting
             up
             of
             his
             Hierarchy
             ?
             For
             how
             had
             the
             Prelacie
             mounted
             to
             that
             height
             of
             power
             over
             the
             whole
             Church
             ,
             had
             the
             Lay
             Elders
             still
             continued
             in
             governing
             ,
             with
             godly
             Ministers
             ,
             the
             several
             congregations
             respectively
             ?
             So
             as
             the
             removing
             of
             the
             Lay
             Elders
             ,
             and
             the
             bringing
             in
             of
             Churchwardens
             and
             other
             Lay
             Officers
             into
             the
             church
             ,
             all
             subject
             to
             the
             Prelates
             jurisdiction
             ,
             and
             made
             their
             sworne
             vassals
             ,
             was
             the
             very
             up-setting
             of
             the
             Antichristian
             Throne
             in
             the
             Temple
             of
             God
             .
             And
             this
             is
             that
             order
             of
             government
             ,
             without
             which
             the
             Prelates
             
             cry
             out
             ,
             There
             is
             no
             order
             .
             Whereas
             that
             order
             which
             the
             Apostles
             left
             ,
             in
             governing
             the
             Church
             by
             Ministers
             ann
             Lay
             officers
             ,
             is
             the
             onely
             true
             Order
             .
             Those
             words
             of
             Christ
             ,
             
               Goe
               tell
               it
               to
               the
               Church
               ,
            
             doe
             shew
             ,
             That
             censure
             of
             incorrigible
             faults
             was
             in
             the
             power
             of
             every
             Congregation
             .
             So
             1
             
               Cor.
               5.
               4
               ,
               5.
               &c.
               
            
          
           
             In
             the
             second
             place
             ,
             to
             the
             former
             question
             concerning
             the
             ordaining
             of
             Ministers
             in
             every
             congregation
             ,
             in
             case
             there
             be
             neither
             Diocesan
             Bishops
             ,
             nor
             Synods
             to
             perform
             it
             :
             I
             answer
             ,
             first
             ,
             That
             most
             men
             doe
             greatly
             mistake
             that
             here
             which
             they
             call
             Ordination
             of
             Ministers
             .
             The
             Romanists
             have
             scrued
             it
             up
             to
             one
             of
             their
             seven
             Sacraments
             ,
             making
             the
             Imposition
             of
             hands
             upon
             the
             Priests
             head
             by
             the
             Prelate
             ,
             to
             be
             the
             outward
             signe
             of
             that
             inward
             grace
             ,
             which
             
               ex
               opere
               operato
            
             (
             as
             they
             say
             )
             is
             conferred
             upon
             the
             Priest
             .
             
             And
             even
             many
             Protestants
             are
             of
             opinion
             ,
             that
             Ordination
             cannot
             be
             performed
             but
             by
             a
             Prelate
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             by
             Ministers
             onely
             ,
             as
             without
             whose
             imposition
             of
             hands
             it
             were
             no
             Ordination
             ,
             or
             as
             if
             it
             did
             confer
             such
             an
             order
             .
             Whereas
             the
             prime
             and
             proper
             conferring
             of
             this
             Order
             is
             by
             Christ
             himselfe
             ,
             inwardly
             calling
             and
             gifting
             a
             man
             for
             the
             work
             of
             the
             Ministry
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             then
             ,
             what
             is
             that
             
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
            
             ,
             ordaining
             and
             appointing
             of
             Ministers
             ?
             and
             
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
            
             ,
             the
             Imposition
             of
             hands
             ,
             which
             the
             Scripture
             speakes
             of
             ?
          
           
             I
             answer
             :
             
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
               {non-Roman}
            
             ,
             signifying
             properly
             a
             stretching
             out
             of
             the
             hand
             ,
             it
             was
             used
             either
             in
             lifting
             up
             of
             the
             hands
             in
             token
             of
             sufferage
             in
             election
             of
             officers
             ,
             or
             in
             stretching
             out
             of
             the
             hand
             upon
             the
             head
             of
             the
             man
             chosen
             ,
             for
             confirmation
             .
             Also
             when
             it
             was
             used
             by
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             it
             pleased
             God
             to
             bestow
             therwith
             
             the
             gifts
             of
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             ,
             
             and
             on
             some
             recovery
             of
             health
             .
             
             This
             was
             very
             frequent
             in
             the
             Apostles
             times
             :
             But
             afterwards
             in
             successive
             ages
             there
             was
             no
             such
             gift
             annexed
             to
             the
             laying
             on
             of
             hands
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             Therefore
             it
             was
             of
             use
             according
             to
             its
             antient
             and
             ordinary
             custome
             in
             sufferages
             in
             elections
             of
             officers
             ,
             to
             declare
             assent
             and
             approbation
             of
             those
             for
             such
             and
             such
             places
             ,
             when
             after
             prayer
             hands
             were
             layd
             on
             them
             .
          
           
             But
             by
             whom
             was
             this
             Imposition
             of
             hands
             used
             at
             the
             choice
             of
             Ministers
             ?
             I
             answer
             ,
             By
             those
             who
             gave
             their
             sufferages
             or
             votes
             to
             the
             election
             ;
             and
             those
             were
             sometimes
             the
             congregation
             it selfe
             ,
             and
             sometime
             others
             at
             their
             request
             joyning
             with
             them
             :
             as
             we
             reade
             ,
             
               Act.
               cap.
               6.
               5
               ,
            
             6.
             
             And
             all
             Ecclesiasticall
             stories
             tell
             us
             ,
             that
             antiently
             the
             election
             of
             Ministers
             was
             by
             every
             congregation
             respectively
             .
             So
             as
             to
             them
             also
             
             of
             right
             belonged
             the
             laying
             of
             their
             hands
             ,
             as
             a
             token
             of
             their
             approbation
             and
             confirmation
             of
             him
             that
             was
             so
             chosen
             to
             that
             office
             .
             And
             though
             we
             reade
             in
             one
             place
             ,
             That
             the
             Apostle
             layd
             his
             hands
             upon
             
               Timothy
               ,
            
             as
             2
             
               Tim.
            
             1.
             6.
             yet
             in
             another
             we
             reade
             ,
             (
             as
             1
             
               Tim.
               4.
               14.
               
               )
            
             that
             the
             Presbyterie
             layd
             their
             hands
             upon
             him
             .
             Which
             Presbyterie
             comprehends
             as
             well
             the
             Elders
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             as
             those
             of
             the
             Ministry
             .
             Accordingly
             ,
             wee
             exclude
             not
             the
             Elders
             or
             Ministers
             of
             other
             neighboring
             congregations
             from
             joyning
             in
             that
             worke
             ,
             for
             assistance
             especially
             in
             prayer
             ,
             for
             a
             blessing
             upon
             the
             new
             chosen
             Minister
             .
             For
             so
             farre
             must
             we
             be
             from
             excluding
             any
             in
             this
             kinde
             ,
             that
             wee
             highly
             commend
             consociation
             and
             communication
             of
             gifts
             for
             assistance
             ,
             where
             it
             may
             be
             conveniently
             had
             .
             Onely
             reserving
             to
             each
             congregation
             that
             peculiar
             interest
             and
             right
             ,
             which
             
             every
             true
             Church
             of
             Christ
             hath
             in
             chusing
             their
             owne
             Ministers
             ,
             and
             other
             Church
             officers
             .
          
           
             And
             this
             stands
             with
             good
             reason
             :
             for
             not
             onely
             antiquity
             both
             in
             and
             from
             the
             Apostles
             times
             pleadeth
             for
             this
             ,
             but
             even
             naturall
             reason
             and
             equity
             .
             For
             reason
             willeth
             that
             such
             as
             chuse
             should
             ratifie
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             Those
             who
             give
             the
             maintenance
             should
             chuse
             the
             Officer
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             Who
             have
             commonly
             better
             Ministers
             than
             those
             Congregations
             ,
             that
             upon
             good
             advice
             and
             counsell
             chuse
             them
             themselves
             .
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             Where
             is
             greater
             love
             betweene
             Minister
             and
             people
             ,
             than
             where
             the
             liberty
             of
             such
             a
             choyce
             is
             enjoyed
             .
          
           
             Fiftly
             ,
             What
             vertue
             at
             any
             time
             doth
             a
             Prelates
             imposition
             of
             hands
             adde
             to
             Ministers
             so
             ordained
             by
             him
             ?
             Or
             what
             bee
             those
             Ministers
             whom
             Prelates
             usually
             place
             over
             
             the
             people
             ?
             And
             I
             would
             aske
             any
             reasonable
             Christian
             ,
             whether
             hee
             would
             not
             rather
             have
             the
             approbation
             ,
             prayer
             ,
             and
             imposition
             of
             hands
             ,
             of
             the
             poorest
             godly
             man
             ,
             than
             of
             the
             most
             glorious
             Prelate
             ?
             Yea
             ,
             though
             hee
             were
             stiled
             even
             Grace
             it selfe
             ?
             For
             as
             
               James
            
             saith
             ,
             
               The
               effectuall
               fervent
               prayer
               of
               a
               righteous
               man
               prevaileth
               much
               .
            
             
             It
             is
             not
             sayd
             ,
             The
             prayer
             of
             a
             great
             or
             learned
             man
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             CASE
             XII
             .
          
           
             How
             far
             may
             and
             ought
             true
             reformed
             Christian
             Congregations
             to
             hold
             communion
             among
             themselves
             ;
             and
             with
             other
             Reformed
             Churches
             ?
          
           
             FOr
             answer
             in
             generall
             :
             First
             in
             generall
             ,
             it
             is
             agreeable
             to
             good
             and
             approved
             examples
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             to
             make
             firme
             leagues
             and
             faithfull
             Covenants
             for
             the
             maintenance
             of
             the
             true
             faith
             and
             religion
             of
             Christ
             .
             See
             for
             this
             ,
             2
             
               Chron.
            
             15.
             12
             ,
             13.
             and
             Chapter
             34.
             31
             ,
             32
             ,
             33.
             
             
               Ezra
               10.
               3
               ,
               Nehem.
               cap.
            
             9.
             38.
             
          
           
             Severally
             ,
             in
             particular
             :
             It
             stands
             
             both
             with
             Christian
             piety
             and
             prudence
             ,
             for
             all
             the
             members
             of
             a
             particular
             Church
             or
             congregation
             ,
             to
             enter
             into
             a
             firme
             covenant
             among
             themselves
             ,
             to
             maintain
             a
             holy
             communion
             together
             in
             the
             profession
             of
             the
             truth
             ,
             and
             practise
             of
             a
             holy
             life
             ,
             as
             becommeth
             the
             communion
             of
             Saints
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             It
             stands
             with
             the
             like
             Christian
             piety
             and
             prudence
             ,
             to
             hold
             a
             sweet
             and
             inviolable
             bond
             and
             communion
             with
             all
             other
             churches
             or
             congregations
             rightly
             constituted
             ,
             as
             we
             conceive
             ,
             according
             to
             Christs
             ordinance
             ,
             and
             walking
             according
             unto
             it
             .
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             If
             there
             be
             any
             Christian
             Churches
             that
             doe
             in
             some
             small
             circumstances
             differ
             from
             us
             ,
             in
             that
             forme
             of
             government
             which
             wee
             conceive
             and
             beleeve
             Christ
             hath
             set
             up
             in
             his
             Word
             ,
             so
             as
             therein
             they
             may
             seem
             to
             come
             short
             of
             that
             exactnesse
             that
             is
             required
             ,
             nor
             yet
             
             are
             able
             to
             attaine
             unto
             it
             ,
             either
             in
             regard
             of
             some
             outward
             difficultie
             or
             human
             imperfection
             and
             frailty
             ,
             the
             judgement
             being
             as
             yet
             not
             fully
             enlightned
             and
             perswaded
             (
             concerning
             which
             the
             Apostles
             rule
             is
             ,
             
               Let
               every
               man
               bee
               fully
               perswaded
               in
               his
               owne
               minde
               )
            
             wee
             do
             notwithstanding
             not
             with-hold
             from
             them
             the
             right
             hand
             of
             fellowship
             ;
             but
             hold
             communion
             with
             them
             as
             the
             churches
             of
             Christ
             ,
             they
             holding
             the
             Orthodox
             Truth
             ,
             and
             the
             substance
             of
             the
             government
             ,
             which
             is
             suteable
             to
             the
             Church
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             joyning
             with
             us
             against
             the
             Common
             Adversaries
             of
             the
             Gospell
             :
             concluding
             with
             that
             excellent
             saying
             of
             our
             Savior
             Christ
             ,
             
             
               They
               that
               are
               not
               against
               us
               ,
               are
               on
               our
               part
               .
            
          
        
      
       
       
         
           The
           EPILOGVE
           ,
           or
           Conclusion
           .
        
         
           HAving
           thus
           freely
           and
           faithfully
           (
           though
           briefely
           ,
           as
           the
           present
           straits
           of
           time
           would
           permit
           )
           declared
           what
           I
           have
           and
           doe
           conceive
           and
           beleeve
           concerning
           Christs
           kingdome
           ,
           and
           that
           forme
           and
           frame
           of
           the
           government
           thereof
           in
           his
           Church
           ,
           as
           I
           finde
           it
           recorded
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           whereof
           I
           am
           in
           my
           conscience
           fully
           perswaded
           :
           as
           my
           earnest
           prayer
           and
           trust
           is
           ,
           That
           Christ
           by
           his
           spirit
           and
           Word
           will
           leade
           his
           into
           all
           truth
           necessary
           to
           salvation
           ;
           so
           my
           hope
           is
           ,
           that
           however
           perhaps
           those
           things
           which
           I
           have
           here
           delivered
           according
           to
           the
           simplicity
           of
           my
           
           conscience
           ,
           will
           not
           so
           bee
           relished
           of
           all
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           wil
           seem
           bitter
           ,
           especially
           to
           the
           ignorant
           and
           carnall
           minded
           ,
           who
           savour
           not
           the
           things
           of
           Christ
           :
           yet
           my
           confidence
           is
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           wise
           hearted
           and
           wel
           affected
           to
           Iesus
           Christ
           (
           For
           ,
           
           
             If
             any
             man
             love
             not
             the
             Lord
             Iesus
             Christ
             ,
          
           (
           that
           is
           ,
           love
           not
           to
           have
           Iesus
           Christ
           set
           up
           as
           Lord
           over
           their
           soules
           )
           
             let
             him
             be
             Anathema
             Maranatha
             )
          
           will
           embrace
           Christs
           yoke
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           uttermost
           of
           their
           power
           labour
           to
           advance
           his
           throne
           in
           all
           Churches
           ;
           or
           if
           that
           ,
           through
           Sathans
           malice
           cannot
           bee
           effected
           ,
           yet
           that
           they
           will
           set
           him
           up
           as
           sole
           Lord
           and
           King
           over
           their
           owne
           soules
           ,
           and
           so
           will
           joyne
           in
           communion
           with
           all
           those
           that
           doe
           or
           shall
           desire
           heere
           to
           serve
           Iesus
           Christ
           according
           to
           that
           purity
           of
           conscience
           which
           is
           required
           in
           every
           true
           Christian
           (
           as
           the
           Apostle
           professed
           of
           himselfe
           )
           
           and
           in
           that
           way
           wherein
           the
           name
           
           of
           Christ
           shall
           bee
           most
           magnified
           ,
           and
           his
           kingdome
           exalted
           heere
           on
           earth
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           shall
           the
           better
           be
           done
           ,
           if
           a
           Law
           be
           made
           this
           present
           Parliament
           ,
           that
           as
           Antichrists
           kingdome
           in
           the
           Prelacy
           shall
           and
           must
           be
           cast
           out
           ,
           so
           Christs
           kingdom
           may
           bee
           freely
           set
           up
           in
           this
           kingdome
           ,
           while
           his
           people
           (
           even
           as
           many
           as
           will
           )
           are
           suffered
           freely
           to
           enjoy
           Christs
           Ordinances
           in
           their
           puritie
           ,
           and
           so
           may
           at
           length
           recover
           that
           Christian
           liberty
           wherewith
           Christ
           hath
           made
           us
           free
           ,
           and
           for
           which
           his
           precious
           bloud
           was
           poured
           forth
           ,
           and
           whereof
           this
           Land
           by
           the
           Hierarchy
           hath
           beene
           till
           now
           deprived
           :
           it
           being
           our
           hearts
           desire
           ,
           rather
           to
           live
           under
           Christs
           governement
           in
           this
           our
           owne
           native
           Countrey
           ,
           than
           for
           want
           thereof
           ,
           bee
           forced
           to
           flye
           into
           forreigne
           parts
           ;
           where
           how
           can
           wee
           
           so
           sweetely
           enjoy
           Christ
           ,
           without
           the
           bitter
           remembrance
           of
           our
           Native
           Soile
           ,
           which
           wee
           shall
           never
           cease
           to
           wish
           worse
           unto
           ,
           than
           to
           our
           owne
           Soules
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A04417e-120
           
             Acts
             15.
             16.
             
          
           
             Ezra
             5.
             6.
             
          
           
             Nehem.
             4.
             
          
           
             Cum
             reflavit
             affligimur
             .
             
               Cic.
               
            
          
        
         
           Notes for div A04417e-500
           
             So
             D.
             
               Hall
            
             in
             his
             Booke
             of
             Episcopacie
             .
          
           
             2
             Thess.
             2.
             7.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             19.
             3.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             7.
             17.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             15.
             13.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             12.
             33.
             
          
           
             2
             Ti.
             1.
             13.
             
             &
             3.
             16.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             3.
             15
             ,
             16
             
          
           
             Ier.
             23.
             32.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             18.
             17.
             
             &
             1
             Cor.
             5.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             15.
             9.
             
          
           
             Ecc.
             29.
             13.
             
          
           
             Col.
             2.
             8.
             18.
             
          
           
             Vol.
             2.
             p.
             667.
             print
             .
             ed.
             1631
             
          
           
             Gal.
             4.
             9
             ,
             10.
             
          
           
             Col.
             2.
             16.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             5.
             1.
             
          
           
             1
             Thess.
             5.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             14.
             15
             
          
           
             *
             Ier.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             12.
             
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             
          
           
             1
             King
             .
          
           
             1
             pet.
             5.
             4.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             2.
             25.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             8.
             
          
           
             Act.
             26.
             
          
           
             a
             Act.
             20.
             
             Tit.
             1.
             5.
             7.
             
          
           
             b
             Eph.
             4.
             11.
             
          
           
             c
             Luke
             .
             1.
             2.
             2
             Cor.
             11.
             23.
             
          
           
             d
             Luk.
             10.
             7.
             1
             Cor.
             3.
             9.
             
             Act.
             6.
             4.
             Mat.
             28.
             20.
             
             Act.
             20.
             7.
             
             Mat.
             20.
             25
             ,
             26.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             13.
             17.
             
          
           
             Quest
             .
          
           
             Answ.
             
          
           
             Act.
             15.
             
          
           
             Act.
             15.
             28.
             
          
           
             Act.
             15.
             21.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             13.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             2.
             14.
             
          
           
             *
             D.
             Hall
             ,
             in
             his
             Episcopacy
             by
             Divine
             right
             .
          
           
             Act.
             8.
             17.
             
          
           
             Mar.
             16.
             18.
             
          
           
             Iam.
             5.
             16.
             
          
           
             Mark
             .
             9.
             40.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A04417e-2970
           
             1
             Cor.
             16.
             22.
             
          
           
             2
             Tim.
             1.
             3.