A New Quaere, At this time seasonably to be considered, as we tender the advancement of truth & PEACE; Viz. Whether it be fit, according to the Principles of true Religion, and State, to settle any Church-Government over the kingdom hastily, or not; and with the Power commonly desired, in the hands of the Ministers.  
By John SALTMARSH, Preacher of the Word at Brasteed in Kent.  2 Cor. 10. 8. Our authority (which the Lord hath given for Instruction, and not for destruction.) 
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert, at the sign of the Black Spread-Eagle, at the West-End of S. Paul's. 1646.   

A Quaere:  
Whether it be fit, according to the Principles of true Religion, and State, to settle any Church-Government over the Kingdom hastily, or not; and with the Power commonly desired, in the hands of the Ministers,  
1. THe Rules laid down in the Word for practical Obedience, are these in part; Let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind, Rom. 14. 5. ver. 23. and whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. Now the settling of any Government upon a people who are yet generally untaught in the nature and grounds of it, is to put upon the people the practice of that wherein it is impossible they can be fully persuaded in their minds, and so either on a necessity of sin or misery.  
2, There is great danger of bringing people under a Popish implicit Obedience, by forcing on a practice of that which they scarce know, or know but in part: And this is against the national Covenant, to side with any Principles of Popery: And we know it by experience, that the people have been ever devoted to any thing the State sets up; all the disputes or conscience of the common people usually ending in this, Whether it be established by Law or no; and going usually no higher nor further than a Statute or Act of State for their Religion.  
3. Christ Jesus himself could as easily have settled his gospel-government by miracle, as any can now by a civil power, if there had been such a primary or moral necessity of establishing it so soon upon a people scarce enlightened for any part of it: But we see the contrary, first in himself, he taught long, and John before him, and so the Disciples; and the g 〈…〉 for Government were not given till he ascended, and the model for Government not brought forth but by degrees, and as people fell in and were capable of the yoke, and would mould more easily to the commandments of Christ's; and whether then or no, is yet a Question which some who have sit out the debates too, 
See in M. Coleman's Sermon.  though not with me, who am fully assured of a power of order which the Apostle rejoiced to behold; though a power with as little dominion in Government as tradition in Worship.  
4. We never read in the new Testament of a gospel-government settled upon any that were not brought first under gospel-obedience by the power of the Word and Spirit, which thousands of Congregations in this Kingdom are not: For as in material Buildings Stone and Timber are not to be clapped together without h●w●●g and squaring, so nor in the spiritual: And whereas in the Temple there should neither be Axe nor Hammer heard, because things were fitted before hand, and so laid together: I question how this could be in our Congregations now: I believe there would be now more of the Axe and the Hammer heard, then of the building seen.  
5. We have found by experience, that the speedy settling of Government upon the Nation, hath made Reformation take little root, save in the out ward man, or formal Obedience; and the reason was, Because they received not Reformation first in the power of the Word, but of the State, which went not so deep into their Consciences, but they could part with it at any time upon a Law: Oh then, Why do not days speak, and multitude of years teach knowledge?  
6. It is against the nature of Christ's description of himself, and against that suitableness which he presses for, amongst all such as should submit to his commandments; He shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets, Matth. 11. 19 My yoke is easy, and my burden light, Matth. 11. 29. His commandments are not grievous, 1 Joh. 5. 3. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles. All which cannot be fulfilled in the parochial Congregations.  
7. The more time for trying the spirits, and proving all things, there is less danger to that State of errings in things received and authorized, and of involving itself into the designs of ecclesiastical power, than which nothing hath sooner broken the civil power, as may be seen in Popish Kingdoms, and our late prelatical. There can be no great danger in the not sudden incorporating the two powers: Since Moses is not alive to bring down the just pattern of the Tabernacle, there may a new Star arise, which was not seen at first; which, if we shut up ourselves too soon while the smoke is the Temple, cannot appear.  
8. We have not yet any experiment of our new clergy, who are many of them branches of the old stock, and so may wield the Government too much of the episcopal Faction, as the Samaritans did with the Jewish Government, because they were not natural Jews. It is not safe trusting a power too far into those hands. Our Brethren of Scotland have been more used to the way of Presbytery, and may better trust one another upon mutual experience, than we can yet.  
9 We experience in part some remainders of Prelacy working in many, which shows a constitution not so clear nor pure as the Disciples of Christ should have; then whether it be safe committing the power too suddenly: For though I question not but some may be like the ten, yet there are others like the two Brethren who strove which should be greatest, till the Lord ended the difference, It shall not be so amongst you. We find the hottest controversy is now moved about Church-government; and there hath been most written and spoken this way, and in most violence: Now when the contention for power is so much, and the controversy streams most in Government, we may soon discern dispositions. Well, is it good parting with the stakes yet while there is such quarrelling for them, & when one party cannot but take it for an injury, if wholly given to the other? It is to be feared, there is too much of man, because the bias runs most in these times towards this one truth of government, & many other are wholly set by, which might well be looked upon with it; which if there were not a Principle in man more fitted for a truth of this kind than any other, would not be: But every truth hath its age and season. This only for caution.  
10. There is no Religion established by State, but there is some proportion in the two Powers, and some compliancy betwixt the civil and ecclesiastical; so as the establishing the one, will draw with it some motions in the other: And we all see how hazardous it is to disinteresse any in the civil part, even in kingdoms that are more firm, as France, where the Protestants are partly allowed their Religion in pay for their civil engagements; and so in other States. And sure I am, that State is most free, where the conscience is least straightened, where the Tares and the Wheat grow together till the harvest.  
11. Our parties or dissenting Brethren being now together, and clasped by interest against the common enemy, this foundation of common unity is such as may draw in both affections and judgements▪ if not too suddenly determined into heretics and schismatics: It is possible, while a controversy is long suspended, and time given for conclusion of things, Opinions may be sooner at peace: A fire let alone, may die out under that wood which stirred in would kindle it. The Contentions of Brethren are like the strong bars of a Castle; and a Brother that is offended is harder to be won then a strong City, Prov. 18. 19  

Objections.  
I.  
But the Temple was builded with all speed in Nehemiah's time; and therefore, &c. And Haggai calls to the building, Is it time? Hag. 1. 4.  
Answ.  
Yea, but the material pattern was more clearly left and known then the Gospell-patternes: The other were more in the letter, and these more in the Spirit. Now there must be a proving all things, else there may be more haste then good speed; and the Temple may be built by a false pattern as well as a true, and then better no Building, than no right Cedar to build with. And there were Prophets then, who knew the periods of times, and could prophesy, as Haggai and Zechariah; but none so exactly now; and these knew both the fashion and the time for Building. Yet who ought not to hasten the Temple, if the Timber be ready, and if the Apostles and Prophets be there for a foundation, and Jesus Christ for chief Corner-ston? Ephes. 2.  
Object. II.  
But Vice, Heresies and Schisms will grow too fast.  
Answ.  
So they might have done from John's first Sermon to Paul's Epistles▪ and the sending of the Spirit; but yet you see there was no Government, till after, settled upon the people of God. And if Heresies stir up their Patrons against the State, the Magistrate bears not the Sword in vain? And if moral transgressions, let the Magistrate be set on in every place to quicken the Statutes; and Preachers everywhere sent forth to publish the gospel. And what if the Prince of Persia withstand for a while? Truth is otherwise armed from heaven: Though Satan be in the wilderness with Christ, yet Christ shall conquer. It is the Papists and the Prelates Jealousies, to keep up their supposed truths, by suspecting every thing that appears for an enemy. The gospel dares walk abroad with boldness and simplicity, when Traditions of men, like melancholy people, fear every thing they meet will kill them: For the angel that comes down from heaven hath great power, and the earth is lightened with his glory, Rev 18. 1.  
FINIS.