The Hireling Ministry None of Christ's, OR A Discourse touching the Propagating the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS. Humbly Presented to such Pious and Honourable Hands, whom the present Debate thereof concerns. By ROGER WILLIAMS of Providence in New England. London, Printed in the second month, 1652. In this Discourse are briefly touched these Particulars. 1. THe national and Parishional Constitution of Churches, is found to be the Grand idol of the Nation. 2. The enforcing of the Nation to such a constitution, is the greatest soul oppression in this Nation. 3. The Hireling ministry attending upon such assemblies or others, is none of the ministry of Christ Jesus. 4. The Universities of the Nation, as subordinate and subservient to such ministries and Churches, are none of the Institutions of Christ Jesus. 5. It is the absolute duty of the civil state to set free the souls of all men from that so long oppressing yoke of such ministries and churches. Yet 6. Ought the Nation and every person in it, be permitted to see with its own eyes, and to make free choice of what worship and ministry, and maintenance they please, whether parochial or otherwise? 7. The Apostolical Commission▪ and ministry is long since interrupted and discontinued. Yet 8. Ever since the beast Antichrist rose, the Lord hath stirred up the ministry of prophecy, who must continue their witness, and prophesy until their witness be finished, and slaughters probably near approaching accomplished, 9 The provocation of the holy eyes is great in all courts throughout the Nation, by millions of legal oaths, which if not redressed, may yet be a fire kindled from his jealousy; who will not hold him guiltless which taketh his name in vain. 10. The free permitting of the consciences and meetings of conscionable and faithful people throughout the Nation, and the free permission of the Nation to frequent such assemblies, will be one of the principal. Means and expedients (as the present state of Christianity stands) for the propagating and spreading of the Gospel of the Son of God. To all such Honourable and Pious hands, whom the present Debate touching the propagating of CHRIST'S Gospel concerns: AND TO All such gentle Bereans, who with ingenious Civility desire to search whether what's presented concerning Christ Jesus, be so or no. All humble respective Salutations. IT being a present high Debate (Honourable and Beloved) how the Gospel of Christ Jesus might more be propagated in this Nation: 2. And being desired by eminent friends, The Author's Call to this Endeavour. to cast in my mite towards it: 3. And having been engaged in several points of this Nature, in my former and later Endeavours, against that bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of Conscience: 4. And also having been forced to observe the Goings of God, and the spirits of Men, both in Old and New England, as touching the Church, the Ministry and Ordinances of Jesus Christ; I did humbly apprehend my Call from Heaven; not to hide my Candle under a Bed of Ease and Pleasure, or a Bushel of Gain and Profit; but to set it on a Candlestick of this public Profession, for the Benefit of others, and the Praise of the Father of all Lights and Godliness. 2. For the Substance and most of this, I suddenly drew it up, and delivered two Copies unto two eminent friends of Jesus Christ, Contrary to Intention and Desire. and this Nation: But being importuned for more Copies than I was possibly able to transcribe, and being (therefore) advised by some honourable Friends, to use the help of the Press; I am thus beyond my first Intentions and Desires) held forth in public. 3. If ought I have expressed seem harsh, dissatisfactory, or offensive; I am humbly bold (I hope in the power of the Most High) to profess my readiness to discuss; debate; dispute; either by Word or Writing, with whom, or before whom soever the present Debate concerns, with all Christian meekness, and due submission. 4. It is true, I do absolutely deny it (against all comers) to be the burden of the Civil State to take cognisance of any Spiritual cause; The Civil Power in all Ages, deceived by the deceived and deceiving Hirelings, and I do positively assert it, to be the proper and alone work of the holy Son and Spirit of God in the hands of his Saints and Prophets, to manage Heavenly and Spiritual causes (and that only with Spiritual Weapons against Spiritual Oppositions.) And therefore that the Higher Powers have been constantly deceived by the Mercenary and Hireling Ministry; who being themselves deceived, deceive; and tack about (as the Wind, and Time, and Advantage blows) from Popery to Protestantism, from Protestantism to Popery, from Popery to Protestantism again! From Prelacy to presbytery, from presbytery, many to Independency; and will again to presbytery and Prelacy, if not to Popery (in some cases) rather than lose (as they say) the Liberty of Preaching. But what that loss is of somewhat else (Gain, Honour, &c.) let themselves, and all men, judge impartially in the fear of God. Yet 5. I humbly acknowledge (as to Personal worth) I deal with men, for many excellent gifts, elevated above the common rank of men; yea, and for Personal Holiness (many of them) worthy of all true Christian Love and Honour: In which respects when I look down upon myself, The excellent Gifts and Spirits of many, who are yet captivated with a mercenary spirit and principle. I am really persuaded to acknowledge my unworthiness to hold a Candle or a Book unto them. And yet, if I give flattering Titles unto men, my Maker (said Elihu) would quickly take me away; and why therefore (since I have not been altogether a stranger to the Learning of the Egyptians, and have trod the hopefullest paths to Worldly preferments, which for Christ's sake I have forsaken) since I know what it is to Study, to Preach, to be an Elder, to be applauded; and yet also what it is also to tug at the Oar, to dig with the Spade, The Author's humble advice to such excellent and worthy Spirits as are ●et captivated in the Trade of Hirelings. and Plow, and to labour and travel day and night amongst English, amongst Barbarians!) why should I not be humbly bold to give my witness faithfully, to give my counsel effectually, and to persuade with some truly pious and conscientious spirits, rather to turn to Law, to physic, to soldiery, to Educating of Children, to Digging (and yet not cease from prophesying) rather then to live under the slavery, yea and the censure (from Christ Jesus and his Saints, and others also) of a mercenary and Hireling ministry? 6. To which end, my humble and hearty cry is to the Father of Lights, to plead with all his Children of Light effectually; so that they may look up, wonder, and say, Am I a Child of Light? Holy persons most unfit for unholy places: Is the Father of Lights my Father, and the Saints my fellow Brethren and scholars in Christ Jesus, the children of Light also? What make I then in dark places, like those that have been dead of old? What make I amongst the Graves and Tombs; the Livings, Benefices, Promotions, Stipends & c? I have been told a quick passage between the truly Noble Earl of Essex (in Queen Elizabeth her days) and a truly able and zealous Nonconformist: I have said the Earl, been studying a great while these two points; First, the Persons of the Bishops; and I have laboured with the Queen to prefer none but good men to her bishoprics. The next thing is their Places; which if I find them to be as bad as their Persons be; then, then &c. But they soon cropped off that Noble head &c. That same blessed Spirit breathes (I doubt not) in many heavenly spirits of our Times in Parliament, in council in the Army; and their holy desire hath been to prefer the choice and flower of Able and Godly men to Places in City▪ God most wisely disposeth of his work, some to the Fathers, and some to the Children. in Country, in University. It may yet so please the Father of Spirits, to stir up their Noble minds to meditate as well Hirelings places, as they have too well known their persons. It may also be, that his most holy and pure Eye sees they have been highly honoured, and enough already: More work is left for growing sprigs, for whom some crowns are kept to which their father's heads were not so fitted. 7. And yet although I humbly give the Civil state it's Right, to wit, to take down places or persons which themselves or Fathers have erected: yet am I also far from taking off a yoke from one, Impartial soul freedom to all the people of the Nation. to clap on the neck of others. Let the towns, the Parishes, and divisions of people in the three Nations be undisturbed by any civil Sword, from their consciences and worships; though traditional, though Parochial: and let their maintenance be by Tenths and Fifths, or how they freely please. 1. Only let it be their soul's choice and no enforcing Sword, but what is spiritual in their spiritual causes. 2. I plead for Impartiality and equal freedom, peace, and safety to other Consciences and Assemblies, unto which the people may as freely go, and this according to each conscience, what conscience soever this conscience be (not transgressing against Civilities) whether of Jews or Gentile. Object. But would you have say some, Jews, Turks, and Papists live in Protestant countries? I answer, I judge it here only seasonable to say, that I humbly conceive, that this objection, and all that can be said (as to piety or policy) is satisfied in my late unwashing of M. Cotton's washing of the Bloody Tenent: in that late endeavour, I humbly hope, I have made it evident, that no opinion in the world is comparably so bloody, or so blasphemous as that of punishing, and not permitting, in a civil way of Cohabitation, the consciences and worships, both of Jews and Gentiles. Ireland hath been an Akeldama, a field of blood; probable it is, that the guilt of all that blood, Protestant and Papist, Where the guilt of all the blood spilled in Ireland lies. will fall upon this Bloody Tenent, of which both Papist and Protestant are guilty; to wit, of not permitting the heretics, the Blasphemers, &c. as the Sword falls either into the hand of a Popish or a Protestant Victor. What a voice from heaven is there, in the forepast ages of our Fathers, now rotten under us! From Henry the second his time, when England's first yoke was clapped on poor Ireland's neck, I say from Henry the second his time, unto Henry the eight, while their consciences had freedom under popish Kings of England, how little blood was spilled, English or Irish, compared with the showers and rivers both of one and the other, spilled in the few years of our Protestant Princes, while the consciences of the Catholics have been restrained by the civil Sword and penalties? Eightly, In the discourse it will appear, how greatly some mistake, which say I declaim against all Ministries, all Churches, The ministry of Prophets, and the People of God have assembled with them all the reign of Antichrist. all Ordinances; for I professedly avow and maintain, that since the apostasy, and the interrupting of the first ministry and order, God hath graciously and immediately stirred up and sent forth the ministry of his Prophets, who during all the reign of Antichrist, have prophesied in sackcloth, and the saints and people of God have more or less gathered to and assembled with them: they have prayed and fasted together, and exhorted and comforted each other, and so do, notwithstanding that some are not persuaded and satisfied, (as others conceive themselves to be) as touching the doctrines of baptisms, and laying on of hands. Lastly what ever be the Issue of all their public agitations, my humble and hearty cry to the Father of mercies, is for every soul in the three Nations, that desire to fear him; whether of higher or lower rank, that we may more and more cry and endeavour for assurance of personal reconciliation in the blood of the lamb, more and more for participation of the divine Nature in the purity and holiness of the spirit of God: more and more lament (with Jeremy) the division and desolations of God's people and the holy Ordinances and Worship of God in Christ Jesus; The duty of each particular child of God in the midst of differences and dictractions. more and more press after love and all possible communion with God's people in the midst of many differences: more and more abound in mercy and compassion to the souls and consciences; and woeful conditions of others, Jews or Gentiles, and more and more prepared with the golden shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of peace, ready for all the good pleasure of God in Christ Jesus; for prosperity, for adversity, for abundance, for want, for liberty, for imprisonment, for honour, for dishonour for life for death, as knowing that they that suffer with Jesus, shall not only reign with him, but here also in the midst of outward sorrows, be filled with Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. Being Desired by some Loving Friends to cast in my Mite as to that Heavenly Proposition of Propagating the gospel of Christ Jesus, I am humbly bold to Propose these Conclusions, and their Consectaries following. THe two great Prophets of God's Revealed 1. Conclus. council, Moses & Christ reveal from God a Visible Worship. Moses (the Servant) and Christ Jesus (the Lord) as they have both declared unto us a Creation, a creator, the shipwreck of Mankind, the Restauration, the Restorer, so have they both revealed unto us a visible Company of the holy Worshippers of this one most glorious creator and Redeemer, and that as for his own most glorious praise, so in opposition to all false Gods, who also are attended with their visible Worships and Worshippers. In order to God's visible worship the Lord Jesus hath 2. Conclus. broken down the Wall of Division between the Jews and the rest of the Nations of the World, Prov. 9 and sent forth his Ministers (wisdoms Maidens) unto all Nations, to bring in (by the gospel's Invitation) proselytes, Christ's Messengers sent into the World. Converts, Disciples, such as should Eternally be saved, to begin that heavenly and eternal Communion in Heaven, here in an holy and visible Worship on the Earth. This going forth of the true Ministers of Christ Jesus is represented under the Figure of the white Troopers The white Troopers. in the opening of the first seal where the Lord Jesus in his first Messengers rode forth upon the White horse, or Horses of the word of truth and meekness (Psal. 45.) Conquering and to conquer in the souls of Men. 3. Conclus. Thirdly, From the 6. of the Revelations to the 19 we hear no more of those white-horsemen, that is (as I conceive) of the Apostles or Messengers of Jesus Christ, (the whole stream of the Intervening Prophecies, from the 6. to the 19 insinuating a total Routing of the Church and Ministry of Christ Jesus, The White Troopers Routed. put to flight, and retired into the wilderness of Desolation). 4. Conclus. Fourthly, during the dreadful apostasy and Desolation, the Lord hath not left the World without witness, but hath graciously and wonderfully stirred up his holy Prophets and Witnesses, such as were before the Waldenses more obscure, A state of Witnesses during the apostasy, Revel. 10. & 11. but more eminently the Waldenses, the Wicklevists, the Hussites, the Lutherans, the Calvinists (so called) who have as Witnesses prophesied and mourned in sackcloth 1260 days or years (prophetically) I say mourned for the routing▪ desolating of the Christian Church or Army: and panted and laboured after the most glorious Rally thereof, and Restauration. This Testimony is probably near finished, and the Saints by their late and yet following wars (I say probably) must in rage the Antichristian world, so far as to provoke the Nations, to their great and general slaughter, called the slaughter of the Witnesses, Revel. 11. After which and their shame three years and a half, followeth their most glorious and joyful Rising. 5. Conclus. These Witnesses, these Prophets, are probably those one hundred forty four thousand Virgins, The 144000. Virgins, the twelve times 12000. mystical Israelites, Prophets and Witnesses. mystical Israelites, twelve times twelve, which stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, against the Romish Beast, and are the same Number sealed twelve times twelve, Revelations 7. But there is in the same seventh Chapter, A twofold famous number of the followers of Christ Jesus in these times. a numberless Number, which no man can number, to wit, the Converts of the Nations of the world, which must yet come flowing unto Christ Jesus, after this his famous second Conquest over the Devil, the Dragon in the Roman Popes having before triumphed over him in the Roman Emperors. The World divided (say our ablest Cosmographers) into thirty parts, The fullness of the Gentiles, and Conversion of the Jews. as yet but five of thirty have heard of the sweet name of Jesus a Saviour: His Messengers must yet go forth into the other twenty five, after the downfall of the papacy, when also at the fullness of the Gentiles, or Nations coming in, shall be the joyful Raising us from the Dead of the (Accursed, and yet Beloved Nation of the) Jews, 6. Conclus. Rom. 11. Revel. 18. & 19 The civil state of the Nations being merely and essentially civil, The civil state cannot restrain or constrain in spirituals. cannot (Christianly) be called Christian States, after the pattern of that holy and typical Land of Canaan, which I have proved at large in the bloody Tenent, to be a Non-such and an unparalleled Figure of the spiritual State of the Church of Christ Jesus, dispersed, yet gathered to him in all Nations. The civil Sword (therefore) cannot (rightfully) act either in Restraining the Souls of the people from Worship, &c. or in constraining them to Worship, considering that there is not a Title in the New Testament of Christ Jesus, that commits the Forming or Reforming of his Spouse and Church to the civil and worldly Powers. Seventhly, no man ever did nor ever shall truly go forth to Convert the Nations, nor to Prophecy in the present state of Witnesses, against Antichrist, but by the gracious Inspiration and Instigation of the holy Spirit of God; according to 1 Cor. 12. where the holy Spirit discoursing of those three [Gifts, Administrations, Operations] tells us that No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit: And Revel. 11. I will give power to my two Witnesses, &c. I prejudice not an external Test and Call, which was at first and shall be again in force at the Resurrection of the Churches (as Mr. COTTON himself calls it in Revel. 20. No other present Sender but the holy Spirit of God. ) But in the present State of things, I cannot but be humbly bold to say, that I know no other True Sender, but the most Holy Spirit. And when he sends, his Messengers will go, his Prophets will prophesy, though All the World should forbid them. consectary. From the former Conclusions we may first see upon what a false Sent or Word our Fathers and ourselves have run as to the true Ministry appointed by Christ Jesus: Pretenders to that Grand Commission▪ Matth. 28. mistaken. How many thousand Pretenders have been and are (Protestants and Papists) to that Grand Commission, Matth. 28. Go into all Nations, Teach and Baptise, & c? In the poor small span of my Life, I desired to have been a diligent and Constant Observer, and have been myself many ways engaged, in City, in country, in Court, Not the true Begetting or Feeding Ministry appointed by Christ Jesus, yet extant. in Schools, in universities, in Churches, in Old and New-England, and yet cannot in the holy presence of God bring in the Result of a satisfying discovery, that either the Begetting Ministry of the Apostles or Messengers to the Nations, or the Feeding and Nourishing Ministry of Pastors and Teachers, according to the first Institution of the Lord Jesus, are yet restored and extant. Quest. It may then be said, what is that Ministry that hath been extant since Luther and Calvins' time (especially what is that Ministry that hath been instrumental in the hand of the Lord, to the conversion of thousands?) I answer, The Ministry of Prophets or Witnesses, standing with Christ Jesus, against his great corrival, and competiour Antichrist, Revel. 10.11. The whole Books of Martyrs (or Witnesses) is nothing else but a large Commentary or History, The Ministry of Prophets immediately stirred up by God. of the Ministry of Witnesses, during all the reign of the Beast, to this day. Look upon Berengarius with the Saints enlightened by him; Look upon Waldus with his Waldenses in France, Wickliff in England, John Hus, and Jerome of Prague in Bohemia; Luther in Germany, Calvin in Geneva; what were they but the holy Prophets of Christ Jesus, in those Parts, and other Places, and Countries, now examine their Witnesses in two Particulars. 1. Negatively, The two Prophets in sackcloth. wherein they Witnessed against the False, against the usurpations and Abominations of Antichrist; and therein they were the Infallible Witnesses, and Prophets of Christ Jesus, Preaching and oft times Suffering to the Death for his Names sake. But, 2. View them in their Positive practice and Worships, as they have assumed and pretended to such and such Ministries, and Titles, and Churches, and Ministrations, and there is not one of them, no not Calvin himself (the greatest Pretender to Church-Order) but the Father of Lights, in our times of Light, hath been graciously pleased to discover their great mistakes, and wanderings from the first patterns and Institutions of Christ Jesus. I know the multitudes of Interpretations given upon Revel. 11. as touching the two Witnesses, A glance on Revel. 11. and that many, if not most, incline to believe, at least to hope and desire, that their slaughter may be past and over: unto which in all humble submission to the holy counsels of God, for Zion's sake, I most heartily say as Jeremy once said in another, something a like case, Amen. But all the Interpretations extant, that ever I have yet heard or read of, they seem to me to look up the Sun in a Chamber, they are too narrow and particular, and like some almanacs, calculated for one Meridian and Climate. The apostasy the witness the slaughter, the after rising all universal. For Antichristianism is an universal plague-sore spread over all the Empire that was Roman: The Roman Popes, as Vicars of Christ Jesus, pretend to a Roman Catholicism, or universality also. The Lord Jesus his cause therefore, and the cause of his Saints, is of a a more general and universal concernment, such hath the witness of his Servants been in all Ages and Countries of Europe. Now notwithstanding many particular slaughters (as the Book of Martyrs and other Catologues of Christ's Witnesses testify) yet I see it not possible that that Scripture can be satisfied, but that after the universal finishing of the witness, there must follow an universal persecution and slaughter unto which an universal provocation, and Exasperation by the Saints must probably precede and give Occasion. Quest. Wherein hath the former and latter Ministry been defective? I answer, In all these four, their Gifts, their Calling, their work, their Wages. Gifts. First, In their Gifts, for notwithstanding they pretend to the Apostles Commission, and to succeed them, Mat. 28. yet they have never pretended to the Gifts and qualifications of such a Ministry, Pretences to Mat. 28. examined. nor have they ever been able to clear up those two Foundations of the Christian Religion (Heb. 6.) the Doctrine of baptism, and the laying on of hands. Cal●ing. Secondly, Notwithstanding that some plead their Succession from the Apostles or Messengers, yet are they forced to run into the Tents of Antichrist, and to plead Succession from Rome, and neither such nor others which plead their Calling from the People, can prove to my conscience, from the testimony of Christ Jesus, that either, Christ's succession did run in an Antichristian line, or that two or three godly persons might first make themselves a church, & then make their Ministers, without a preceding Ministry from Christ Jesus unto them, to gather, and to guide them in such their Administrations. Thirdly the work of that Commission (Mat. 28.) was exercised and administered to the Nations, work. as Nations, and the World, A stupendious M●stery of Preaching to convert the converted. but all our professed Ministrations, former and latter have been carried on (in a grand and common mystery) for the converting of a converted people, for if we grant all Protestant Nations to be Christians, and so act with them in prayer as Christians, and the children of God; how can we pretend to convert the converted, and to preach unto them to convert them? One or other must be denied, to wit, that they are converted, or if unconverted, that we may offer up Christian and spiritual Sacrifices with them. No herald, no ambassador sent to a city or army of Rebels did ever (constantly lest of all) perform such actions of state with those Rebels, which represents or renders them in a capacity of honest and faithful Subjects. Oh the Patience and Forbearance and Long-suffering of the most High, whose Eyes yet are as a flame of Fire. Fourthly, Wages. In their Wages, whether by Tithes or otherwise, they have always run in the way of an Hire, and rendered such workmen absolute Hirelings between whom and the true shepherd (Joh. 10.) the Lord Jesus puts so express and sharp a Difference: so that in all humble submission, I am bold to maintain, that it is one of the grand designs of the most High, to break down the Hireling Ministry, that Trade, Faculty, Calling and Living, by Preaching, and that if All the Princes, States, Parliaments and Armies, in the world should join their Heads and Hearts and arms and Shoulders to support it, yet being a part of Babel and confusion, it shall sink as a millstone from the angel's hand into the deeps for ever. Object. But is not the Labourer worthy of his Reward? I answer, There is no Reward (by infinite degrees) comparable to an hundred fold (though with persecution) in this Life, and in the world to come eternal life, to all that deny themselves in this Life, and do, and teach, and suffer for the name of the Son of God. More strictly and particularly I answer, First, He that makes a Trade of Preaching, that makes the cure of Souls, and the charge of men's eternal welfare, a trade, Christ Jesus never made bargain with his Messengers or Pastors. a maintenance, and living, and that explicitly makes a covenant or bargain (and therefore no longer penny no longer Paternoster, no long pay no longer pray, no longer Preach, no longer fast, &c.) I am humbly confident to maintain, that the Son of God never sent such a one to be a Labourer in his Vineyard: Such Motions spring not from the living and voluntary Spring of the holy Spirit of God, but from the artificial and worldly respects of Money, Maintenance, &c. Qu●st. Wherein consists the making of the Hirelings, explicit, and implicit bargain. I answer, 'tis explicit, express and plain, when there is a mutual declaring and agreeing, The Lands & Countries divided for gain as Daniel speaks, and men know in a way of Hire what to be sure of expressly. for so much or so much, in one kind or another, as the Levite agreed with Micha in the judges. Of this sort of explicit and plain bargains by way of Tithes, stipend, &c. How is our own and other Nations full, and how many thousands are there of the instances of moving and removing from Leaner to fatter Benefices, like the former Levite, from the poor Chaplain-ship of Micah's family, to the more rich and eminent Devotion of a Tribe of Dan, just like Servants hired by the year (more or less) stay not when they hear of proffers of more Ease and better Wages. Secondly, an implicit or implied bargain or Compact is when there passeth no express Agreement for so much or so much, An implicit bargain (like an Onion) is a bargain enfolded and wrapped up with more subtle peelings, &c. but having been brought up (as we say) to that only Trade, they must make their living of it, and therefore being something convinced of the Grosser way, they are content as watermen, Porters, and the like, with some kind of Intimations by word of mouth, or in course which shall amount to such a promise as this express: I know your Fare, your Due, I will content you, &c. Trust to my courtesy: The trial of this is plain, for without such an Implication or implicit promise, the Hireling will not, indeed he cannot (having no other way to live on) move his Lip or Tongue, no more than a Waterman or Porter, his Hand or Foot. Secondly, as to the Labourer worthy of his Reward, I answer, The first pattern of Ministers Maintenance. we find no other pattern in the Testament of Christ Jesus, but that both the Converting (or apostolical Ministry) and the Feeding (or pastoral Ministry) did freely serve or minister, and yet were freely supported by the Saints and Churches, and that not in stinted Wages, Tithes, Stipends, salaries, &c. but with larger or lesser supplies, as the Hand of the Lord was more or less extended in his weekly blessings on them. Thirdly, when either through poverty or neglect, support and maintenance failed, yet still they eyed (as Sea men and soldiers say) the Good of the Voyage, and the battle (the common Cause of the Lord Jesus) and their own hands day and night, supplied their own and others Necessities. And this was and will be the only way of the Labourers of the Son of God. Objection. The Priests and Levites under the Law had settled and constant Maintenance. I answer, Blessed be the Father of Lights who hath shown his people of late times, the great difference between the stated and settled national Church, the Ministry, and maintenance thereof, and the (ordinary) afflicted, moving, flying, state of the Church, and Churches of Christ Jesus all the world over. Objection. Although it be granted that the Hireling Ministry, both explicit and implicit, is none of Christ's, yet this is wonderful, what should be the Reason why so much good hath been wrought thereby, as the conversion of thousands? &c. I answer, All the wisdom, mercy, goodness, and piety that is in us, is but a drop to the Ocean of that which is in the Father of mercies, God's infinite patience in bearing with his people's Failings. who with infinite pity and patience, passeth by the ignorances and weaknesses of his Children. Hence Luther and other Monks, Cranmer and other Bishops, Calvin and other Presbyterians, God hath graciously covered their Failings, and accepted his own Grace of good Desires, good Affections and Endeavours, though many ways defiled with sin. Thus was his infinite goodness pleased to overlook the sin of polygamy, or many Wives, in which so many of the Fathers or Patriarchs of Israel, were brought forth. Thus was he pleased to pass by the sins of the High places, where Solomon himself offered Sacrifice. And yet as to this great point of good being done, we may with truth assert two things. First, where God hath been pleased to bring in one soul to himself by the Hireling Ministry, many more have been brought home by the voluntary and more single preachings of some, The most voluntary preaching ever most fruitful. whether public or private; by the endeavour of private christians, by the reading of the holy Scriptures, by godly examples, by afflictions, &c. Hence woeful experience hath made it evident, that many excellent men (in their persons, and the graces of God's Spirit) have laboured a score of years and more, Excellent Prophets of God, who never knew the pretended School of the Prophets. in an Hireling way, without the birth of one child to God: while others singly out of Love to Christ Jesus, have despised bargains and Hire, and been more abundantly blessed with merciful success and fruitfulness. Hence sure it is that there have been and are many excellent Prophets and witnesses of Christ Jesus, who never entered (as they say) into the Ministry, to wit, Lawyers, physicians, soldiers, Tradesmen, and others of higher and lower rank, who by God's holy Spirit (breathing on their meditations of the holy Scriptures, and other private helps) have attained and much improved, an excellent Spirit of knowledge, and utterance in the holy things of Jesus Christ, which spirit they ought to cherish, and further to improve, to the praise of Christ. Amongst so many Instances (dead and living) to the everlasting praise of Christ Jesus, and of his holy Spirit, An honourable remembrance of a despised witness of Christ Jesus, Samuel How. breathing and blessing where he listeth, I cannot but with honourable Testimony remember that Eminent Christian, witness, & Prophet of Christ, even that despised and yet beloved Samuel How, who being by Calling a cobbler, and without human Learning (which yet in its sphere and place he honoured) who yet I say, by searching the holy Scriptures, grew so excellent a Textuary or Scripture learned man, that few of those high rabbis that scorn to mend or make a Shoe, could aptly and readily from the holy Scripture, outgo him. And however (through the Oppressions upon some men's Consciences, even in Life and Death, and after death in respect of Burying, as yet unthought and unremedied) I say, however he was forced to seek a Grave or bed in the very High way, yet was his life, and death, and burial (being attended with many hundreds of God's people) honourable, and (how much more his Rising again) glorious. But secondly, True and Right prophesying and Preaching, at first was, No success in Preaching now comparable to the first, and why. and shall be (because after God's own way and Ordinance) beyond all compare with present Times, gloriously and wonderfully successful. Thus Acts 2. & 5. &c. poor Sinners came mourning after a Saviour by thousands. The Church and people of God since the apostasy, is an Army routed, and can hardly preserve and secure itself, much less subdue and conquer others, like a vessel becalmed at Sea, which though it make some way by Rowing and Towing, yet not comparable to what it doth when the mighty gales of God's holy Spirit breath (as most he useth to do) in the ways of his own most holy Appointments. 3. consectary. Thirdly, We may see a great mistake as touching that great point of Conversion: There is a great breathing in the souls of God's people after the Conversion of the English, No remarkable Conversion of the Nations, as yet to be expected. Irish, Jews, Indians, and blessed be God for those Breathings. Yet doubtless the first great work is the bringing of the Saints out of Babel, or confused worships, and the downfall of the papacy, after the witnesses slaughtered. Hence it is probably conceived by some upon Revel. 15. that until the Vyals be poured forth upon Antichrist, the smoke so filleth the Temple, that no man, that is (few of the Jews or Gentiles) shall by conversion enter in. Some will say, Quest. have there not been great and mighty conversions of whole Nations, England, Scotland, French, Dutch, &c. from Popery to be good Protestants, & c.? I answer, The bodies of Protestant Nations yet unconverted. If the holy Scripture, the first pattern, and doleful experience may be judge, as an eminent Person lately spoke (upon occasion of a Debate touching the Conversion of the Indians) we have Indians at home, Indians in Cornwall, Indians in Wales, Indians in Ireland, yea as to the point of true Conversion, and Regeneration by God's spirit, who can deny but that the body of this and of all other Protestant Nations (as well as Popish) are unconverted, and (as formerly) ready to be converted and turned forward and backward, as the weathercock, according as the powerful wind of a prevailing Sword and Authority, shall blow from the various points and quarters of it. By the merciful Assistance of the most High, I have desired to labour in Europe, in America, with English, with Barbarians, yea, and also I have longed after some trading with the Jews themselves (for whose hard measure I fear the Nations and England, hath yet a score to pay) But yet (as before) I cannot see but that the first and present great design of the Lord Jesus is to destroy the Papacy, The present designs and purposes of Christ Jesus. in order to which, two great work are first to be effected. First, His calling of his people more and more out of the Babel of confused worships, Ministries, &c. and the finishing of their Testimony against the Beast. Secondly, the great sufferings and slaughters of the Saints, upon occasion of which Christ Jesus in his holy wrath and jealousy, will burn and tear the bloody whore of Rome, in pieces. After which effected, the numberless number, Rev. 7. the fullness of the Gentiles or Nations (Rom. 9) together with the Jews, shall flow to Jesus Christ. Thirdly, we may hence see our great mistakes, both of ourselves & our forefathers, 3. Consectary. as to the pretended Seed-plots and Seminaries for the Ministry, the universities of Europe, and the universities of this Nation, for alalthough I heartily acknowledge that among all the outward Gifts of God, human learning and the knowledge of Languages and good Arts, are excellent and excel other outward gifts, as far as light excels darkness, and therefore that Schools of human Learning, aught to be maintained, in a due way and cherished; yet notwithstanding, In ordine ad ministerium, as to the ministry of Christ Jesus (any one of those ministeries, Universities as to the Ministry of Christ Jesus, none of his Institutions. Ephes. 4. & 1 Cor. 12.) upon a due survey of their Institutions and continual practices compared with the last will and Testament of Christ Jesus, they will be found to be none of Christ's, and that in many respects. First, as to the name scholar, although as to human learning, many ways lawful, yet as it is appropriated to such as practise the Ministry, The title scholar appropriated to the Ministers, a sacrilegious title. have been at the universities (as they say) It is a sacrilegious and thievish title, robbing all believers and Saints, who are frequently in the Testament of Christ, styled Disciples or scholars of Christ Jesus, and only they as believers, and this Title is so much theirs, that both men and women believing, were called scholars, Act. 9 There was a certain Disciple or scholar called Dorkas. Secondly, As to their Monkish and idle course of life, partly so gentile and stately, partly so vain & superstitious, that to wet a finger in any pains or labour, it is a disgraceful and an unworthy Act: But the Church is built upon the Foundation of the Apostles & Prophets, who were Labourers, Fishermen, Tent-makers, Jesus Christ (although the Prince of Life yet) a poor carpenter, Universities in order to Christ's ministry but refined Monasteries. the chief corner stone. And I cannot but conceive, that although it should not please the most holy and jealous God to stir up this renowned State, and their renowned Cromwell (the 2d) to deal with our refined Monasteries, as that blessed Cromwell the first did with the more gross and Palpably superstitious in Henry the Eighth his days: Yet in his time the Lord Jesus whose is all power in Heaven and Earth will spew out these Seminaries of Hirelings, and mystical Merchants out of his mouth, as he hath done their Fathers the superstitious and bloody Bishops before them. Thirdly, pharisaical and Popish Titles, As to their Popish and vaunting Titles, so strange from the New Testament and language of Christ Jesus, or any word of title that came forth of his blessed mouth, [bachelors of Divinity (or godliness) Doctor of Divinity, so clearly and expressly opposite to the command of the Lord Jesus: Call no man Father, Doctor, &c. that is, by way of Eminency in spiritual and heavenly regards, and Ceremonies in their Creatings and commencings. Rabbi, Rabbi, Doctor, Doctor, &c. I omit (because possibly for shame left off in these days) their childish ceremonies (used even by the most holy and conscientious) in their superstitious commencings and creatings, &c. Their holy gowns (black and red) holy cassocks, holy caps,, holy scarfs, holy Rings, yea, and holy boots also, &c. All as far from the purity and simplicity of the Son of God, as far as the honest-Attire of some sober and chaste Matron, from the wanton and flaunting vanities, of some Painted Harlot. Fourthly, spiritual exercises proper only to the Churches and Assemblies of Saints, the true Schools of the Prophets. As to their (pretended) spiritual and holy exercises proper only to the Churches and Assemblies of the Saints (the only Schools of the Prophets appointed by Christ Jesus:) How have they been by Courts imposed upon every natural and unspiritual man, who (in Truth) perceives not the things that be of God: How have they been prostituted to every profane and unclean lip; unto whom saith God (Psa. 50) What hast thou to do to preach my word, and to take my name into thy mouth? Fifthly, As to their being prepared and fitted by these means, as in a way of prenticeship, to set up the Trade and way of Preaching, The Hirelings woeful Trade and merchandise. the science or faculty of spiritual merchandise (Revel. 18. in a deep mystery) of all sorts of spices and precious things, the precious sweet Truths and Promises of holy Scripture; yea, (which we may with holy trembling add) a trade of selling God himself, Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Heaven and hell, and (too too often) their own Souls, and the Souls of thousands. Object. But have there not come excellent men from thence, famous for Learning, holiness, Labours, success in the Souls of thousands, & c? Answ. I say, There have been excellent men (some say Popes and Cardinals, and we are sure) Lord Bishops and Monks in their personal holiness, Excellent & holy men in the bondage of sinful Institutions, Superstitions. gifts, Learning, Labours, success, and therein famous Prophets and Witnesses of Christ Jesus; yea, they have sealed the holy Truths of God, which they have learned from the holy Scriptures, and which they have declared to others, I say they have sealed them with their heart blood, but that's no justification of their evil standings, Institutions, Administrations, &c. which (as by degrees it hath pleased the Father of Lights to discover unto them) they have come out of such Bondage with shame and sorrow, and laboured after the purity and simplicity of the Son of God. Quest. But extraordinary gifts be ceased, how shall now the people of this Nation be supplied with Ministers, but from such Seminaries of Learning, which fit men both with Learning to know, and Eloquence to utter the heavenly Mysteries: Or would you have the people be of no Religion at all, mere Atheists, without God, without his Word, without a Ministry, & c? I answer, 'Tis true, those glorious first ministerial gifts are ceased, The counterfeit of the Apostolical Ministry. and that's or should be the lamentation of all Saints, to wit, the desolation and widowhood of Zion: yet I humbly conceive that without those gifts, it is no ground of imitation, and of going forth to Teach and Baptise the Nations, for, the Apostles themselves did not attempt that mighty enterprise, but waited at Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit descended on them, and enabled them for that mighty work: lest of all is that a ground of counterfeiting, and of suborning a liveless picture of that first Ministry (like jeroboam's Institutions) when every one that hath Friends may be preferred to Fellowships in colleges, to the superstitious Degrees and Titles of Divinity (as they call it) and by these stairs ascend up the Gospel preferments of rich and honourable Benefices. Yet Secondly, Far be it from me to derogate from that honourable civility of training up of Youth in Languages, and other human Learning, whether in the City of LONDON, or other towns and Cities, &c. All that I bear witness against, Institution of Youth in human learning withal instructing them with the knowledge & fear of the Lord, most christian and honourable. is the counterfeiting and sacrilegious arrogating of the titles and rights of God's Saints, and Churches (as before) which are the only Schools of the Prophets: As also against their sacrilegious and superstitious Degrees (as they call them) in the profession of Divinity, as if they only knew Divinity, godliness, holiness, and by such skill in godliness, and by such Degrees might succeed the ancient Scribes and Pharisees, in the uppermost seats in Synagogues and Feasts, in Reverend titles and salutations, as the only Masters and Teachers of Religion and godliness, and all this in the way of the Hireling, dividing (Dan. 11.) the whole Land for gain: so that there hath not been room (without some special and extraordinary privilege and licence) for the poorest Cottager to live in England, out of the Bishop's diocese and the priest's Parish, and Payments: therefore, Thirdly, In all humble reverence and due submission to the Higher Powers, The civil State never made good work in spirituals. I affirm, there was never merely civil State in the World (for that of the Jews was mixed and ceremonial) that ever did or ever shall make good work of it, with a civil sword in spiritual matters, and therefore have but builded & plucked down, planted and plucked up, Churches, Ministries, Disciplines, &c. I acknowledge with thankfulness, that many heavenly Spirits, in K: Edwards, Q: Elizabeth's days, and since that, have been forming and reforming the states and nations, Religion, Worship, Ministry, &c. Doubtless Intentions were holy (as David's) labours great, & God's mercy, and pity and patience infinite: yet experience long and ever hath told us That there was never a Nation yet born in a day to God, That the bodies of all Nations is a part of the world, and although the holy Spirit of God, in every Nation where the Word comes, washeth white some blackamoors, The body of a civil State or Nation, and the elect or chosen of God out of each Nation, must be rightly distinguished. and changeth some leopard's spots, yet the bodies and bulks of Nations, cannot by all the Acts and Statutes under heaven, put off the blackamoors skin, the Leopard spots, &c. O why then should the wisdom of so many Ages, still each after other, be preached (by the prevailing Hirelings of each time, again and again) into the selfsame delusion of washing the blackamoor, & c? There is not a town, nor a Parish, nor a person in England, but judge themselves christian, and to that end challenge the right and use of (a Minister, in sacris some (as in all Religions in the world it is) to serve the deity they worship, ex officio, as Sacerdotes, or holy persons for and with them, in prayers and holy Rites. This mine eyes have often seen among thousands of the wild, yet wise Americans, who yet (alas) as all the Nations of Europe, and the world are utterly uncapable of forms and Ministers (or Officers) of Christian worship, while yet in their natural and worldly capacities, not borne again, made spiritual and heavenly, by the holy spirit of God. Yet, Fifthly, Absolutes f●●●●dome in ●●●●ters meer●● spiritual 〈◊〉 all the consciences i● the world. I desire uprightly to be far from divers weights and measures in the things of God (especially): and therefore I desire not that liberty to myself, which I would not freely and impartially weigh out to all the consciences of the world beside: And therefore I do humbly conceive, that it is the will of the most High, and the express and absolute Duty of the civil powers to proclaim an absolute freedom in all the 3 Nations, yea in all the world (were their power so large) that each town, and Division of people, yea, and person, may freely enjoy what worship, what ministry, what maintenance to afford them, their soul desireth. To this end I am humbly bold to offer, The people ought not to be forced to nor from the paying of Tenths, or Fifths, according to their Conscience. that it is not the will of the Father of Spirits, that all the consciences and spirits of this Nation should violently (Vi & armis) be forced into one way of worship, or that any town or Parish (so called) in England, Scotland, or Ireland, be disturbed in their worship, (what worship soever it be) by the civil sword: If the people freely choose that way of worship, and ministry, and maintenance they walk in, yea if they will freely pay them the Tenths or Fifths, I shall not envy their Ministers maintenance, nor disturb either minister or people's conscience by any other sword, but with that spiritual sword of two edges, the sword of God's spirit, the holy word of God. Objection. Grant the bodies of the Nations to be but natural, but civil, and therefore cannot without the changings of God's spirit, be possibly fit as spiritual flocks of sheep, for spiritual Pastors, or shepherds to feed and build them up with the spiritual Ordinance of Christ Jesus? yet, need they not a converting or begetting ministry of Christ Jesus, to preach Repentance to them, to spiritualise and change them? And if so, where shall ten thousand Ministers be had to go to (about) that number of Parishes in England, without the constant supplies of the seed-plots and Seminaries, the universities of the Nation? I answer, First, there are great Disputes among God's people whether Apostles or Messengers sent out to teach and baptise, that is, to Convert the Nations, be yet an Ordinance of Christ Jesus continued, or being extraordinary ceased? There is a great dispute whether the Ministry of the twelve (Matth. 10.) or of the 70 (Luk. 10.) be continued since they both had an immediate call from Christ. And secondly, Such excellent gifts, abilities, and furniture from Christ, which now we find none are furnished with, as healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out Devils, The apostolical Ministry to the lost Nations interrupted. &c. Further, whether all these gifts and administrations, Ephes. 4. & 1 Cor. 12. be to be expected? For myself I am sure of two things. First, It is but little of the World yet that hath heard of the lost estate of mankind, and of a Saviour, Christ Jesus, and as yet the fullness of the Gentiles is not yet come, and probably shall not, until the downfall of the Papacy. Yet Secondly, Yet of the Prophets and Witnesses mourning in sackcloth continued. The Ministry or Service of Prophets, and Witnesses, mourning and prophesying in sackcloth, God hath immediately stirred up and continued all along the reign of the Beast, and Antichrist of Rome. This witness is (probably) near finished, and the bloody storm of the slaughter of the Witnesses, is yet to be expected and prepared for: But this, and the time, and many passages of Revel. 11. is controversial, and something like that of Christ's expected personal presence, the state of the New Jerusalem, the new Heavens and Earth, &c. However this is clear, that all that are betrusted with spiritual or temporal talents, must lay them out for their Lord and Master, his Advantage. That, The Ministry of Prophets more opened. all (of what rank soever) that have knowledge & utterance of heavenly Mysteries, & therein are the Lord's Prophets & Witnesses against Antichrist, must Prophecy against false Christ's, God's Prophets of high or low condition, must not keep silence, and hide their Talents, &c. false Faith, false Love, false joy, false Worship, and Ministrations, false Hope, and false Heaven, which poor souls in a golden dream expect & look for. This Prophecy ought to be (chiefly) exercised among the Saints in the companies, meetings, and assemblies of the fellow-mourners, and witnesses against the falsehoods of Antichrist: If any come in (as in 1 Cor. 14.) yea if they come to catch, God will graciously more or less vouchsafe to catch them if he intends to save them. But for the going out to the Nations, Cities, towns as to the Nations, Cities, and towns of the World, unconverted, until the downfall of the Papacy, The apostolical ministry to the Nations and Peoples. Revel. 18. and so the mounting of the Lord Jesus, and his white Troopers again, Revel. 19 &c. For the going out of any to preach upon hire, for the going out to convert sinners, The apostolical Ministry to the Nations and peoples. and yet to hold communion with them as Saints in prayer: For the going out without such a powerful Call from Christ, as the twelve and the seventy had: or without such suitable gifts as the first Ministry was furnished with, and this especially without a due knowledge of the Period of the Prophecies to be fulfilled, I have no Faith to act, nor in the Actings and ministerings of others: for There is but one God, Lord and Spirit, from whom those Gifts, Administrations and Operations proceed, 1 Cor. 12. without whose holy & heavenly concurrence in all those three, The Lord's work only in the Lord's way. both Gifts and Administrations and operations, instead of Glorifying the name of Christ, and saving Souls, we may blaspheme his Name, and grieve his spirit, and hinder and harden poor souls against Repentance, when by fellowship in prayer with them as with Saints, we persuade them of their (already) blessed state of Christianity, and that they are newborn, the saints, and sons, and daughters of the living God; therefore. Lastly, If it shall please our most Noble governors, to search into the institution and constitution (as they have done of the Diocesan so also) of the National and Parish Churches▪ The grand oppression of the whole Nation is the Parish enforced constitution. (concerning which I shall humbly subjoin some Queries in the close of all;) If they please to take off the yokes, the Soul yokes of binding all persons to such parochial or parish forms, permitting them to enjoy their own belief, whether within or without such Parish worships, Parish maintenance, Parish marryings, Parish Buryings, by which the souls and consciences of so many have been inbondaged in life and death, and (their bodies, in respect of buryings) after death. If they shall please so far (if not to countenance yet) to permit impartially All consciences, Freedom for the people to frequent the word in other Assemblies beside the Parish, a great and hopeful means of blessed and soulsaving fruit to the Nation. and especially the consciences, the meetings and assemblings of faithful and conscionable people, (the volunteers in preaching Christ Jesus): so as that what people and persons please, may peaceably frequent and repair to such spiritual meetings and assemblies, as they do the Parish Churches: I am humbly confident, that as to the point of converting souls to God (so far as the present state of Christianity can be so promoted) the souls of thousands will bless God more, then if Millions of Hirelings were sent abroad from all the universities, both of Popish and Protestant Countries. Fourthly, 4 Consectary. Upon the grounds first laid, I observe the great and wonderful mistake both our own and our Fathers, Christ Jesus no Founder of Covill power, in spiritual causes. as to the civil powers of this world, acting in spiritual matters. I have read (as blessed Latimer once said) the last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus over many times, and yet I cannot find by one tittle of that Testament, that if he had been pleased to have accepted of a temporal crown and Government, that ever he would have put forth the least finger of temporal 〈◊〉 civil power, in the matters of his spiritual affairs an●Kingdome. Hence must it lamentably be against the Testimon● of Christ Jesus, for the civil state to impose upon the souls of the People, a Religion, a Worship, a Ministry, Oaths (in Religious and Civil affairs,) Tithes, Times, Days, Marryings and Buryings in holy ground, yet in force, as I have (I hope) by the help of God, fully debated that great Question with Master Cotton, and washed off all his late washings of that bloody Tenent of Persecution, &c. What is then the express duty of the civil Magistrate, Quest. as to Christ Jesus his gospel and kingdom? I answer, I know how woefully that Scripture, Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers, &c. hath been abused, and elsewhere I have at large discussed that, and other such Objections: At present, I humbly conceive, that the great Duty of the Magistrate, as to spirituals, will turn upon these two Hinges. The civil Magistrates duty, as to spirituals, turning upon two hinges. First, In removing the civil Bars, Obstructions, hindrances, in taking of those yokes, that pinch the very souls and consciences of men, such as yet are the payments of Tithes, and the Maintenance of Ministers, they have no faith in: Such are the enforced Oaths, and some ceremonies therein, in all the Courts of justice, such are the holy Marryings, holy buryings, &c. Secondly, In a free and absolute permission of the consciences of all men, in what is merely spiritual, not the very consciences of the Jews, nor the consciences of the Turks or Papists, or Pagans themselves excepted. Quest. But how will this Propagate the gospel of Christ Jesus? I answer thus, The first grand Design of Christ Jesus is, to destroy and consume his Mortal enemy Antichrist. This must be done by the breath of his Mouth in his Prophets and Witnesses: The breath of Christ Jesus by which he consumes Antichrist, stopped by the Nations. Now the Nations of the World, have impiously stopped this heavenly breath, and stifled the Lord Jesus in his Servants: Now if it shall please the civil State to remove the state bars, set up to resist the holy Spirit of God in his servants (whom yet finally to resist, is not in all the powers of the world) I humbly conceive that the civil state hath made a fair progress in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Quest. This Mercy and freedom is due to the (Merely) religious consciences of all men in the world. Is there no more due from the Magistrate to Christ Jesus his saints and kingdom? I answer, While I plead the Conscience of All men to be at Liberty, doubtless I must plead the Liberty of the Magistrates conscience also, The Magistrates and all men ought to excel in fruits of Piety and Mercy, according to conscience. and therefore were his bounties and donations to his Bishops and Ministers, as large as those of Constantine; who, but the holy Spirit of God in the mouths of his Prophets can restrain him? Only let not Caesar, (as Constantine in his settled prosperity did) rob the God of Heaven of his Rights, the consciences of his subjects their heavenly Rights and Liberties. But under the pretence of propagating the gospel of Christ Jesus (it may be said) what horrible opinions and Spirits will be vented, Object. as woeful experience hath manifested: I answer, Opinions offensive are of two sorts: some savouring of Impiety, and some of Incivility. Against the first, Christ Jesus never called for the Sword of Steel to help the Sword of the Spirit that two-edged Sword that comes out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus: And therefore if a world of Arrians deny the Deity of Christ Jesus: If a Maniche his human nature: If the Jews deny both, No sword to be used against the most horrid Blasphemies & Heresies, but the two edged sword of the Word, the sword of the Spirit of God. and blasphemously call our Christ a Deceiver: Nay, if the Mahometans the Turks (the greater number by far of one Religion in the World) if they I say, pefer their cheating Mahomet before him, What now? must we rail, revile, &c. and cry ou Blasphemers, heretics? Must we run to the cutler's shop, the armouries and Magazines of the Cities and Nations? Must we run to the Cities or Nations, and Senates, and cry, help you men of Ephesus, help O Inhabitants of Jerusalem, &c. Or must we fly up to Heaven by Prayers and Curses, to fetch down Fire upon the persecuting Captains and their fifties? This do the Nations, this do false Christ's and Christians, but this did not, this will not do the lamb of God, the lion of Judah's Tribe, who with his Word and Spirit alone (which the Father hath promised to put into his Mouth, and the Mouth of his Seed, and the Mouth of his Seeds Seed (Isa. 59) will either kill or save the gainsaying Opposite. The Second sort, to wit opinions of Incivility, doubtless the Opinions as well as practices, are the proper Object of the civil Sword: according to that Magna Charta for the civil Magistrate, Rom. 13. and that true apothegm or saying, Ex malis moribus bonae leges: Good Laws occasioned by evil manners. Quest. But ought not the civil Magistrate to repeal their Ordinance for Tithes, Tithes ought not to be enjoined, or forbidden. and also to appoint some course for the maintenance of the Ministry? I answer, Upon that Ground of Removing soul yokes, and not Restraining, nor constraining conscience, I humbly conceive, that the civil State cannot by any Rule from Christ Jesus, either forbid the payment of Tithes to such whose conscience is to pay them, or enjoin them where the conscience is not so persuaded: For the further clearing of which assertion, I distinguish of the People of this Nation into two sorts. First, Such as have a freedom in their mind to frequent the public Parish Assemblies of the Nation, and they are also of two sorts. First, Such as conscientiously frequent such places, either out of a conscientious zeal of worshipping of God, The people of this Nation according to their several Consciences distinguished. or out of a superstitious and traditional awe. Secondly such as can go or not go, and care not what Religion themselves and the State be of. There is a second sort of people in this Nation, which out of conscience dare not frequent such Places, and they are such; First, Such as indeed fear God, and are in their consciences persuaded of an indelible Character of holiness upon such Temples, as Temples dedicated to a Parish worship. Secondly, Such as out of an utter dislike of all Protestant Worship, and an high esteem of their own Catholic Faith, are as far from love to such places as the former sort. Now all these Consciences (yea the very conscience of the Papists, Jews, &c. (as I have proved at large in my Answer to Master Cotton's washings) ought freely and impartially to be permitted their several respective Worships, their Ministers of Worships, and what way of maintaining them they freely choose. But if the civil state enjoin not the maintenance of the Ministry: Objection. If they quite let lose the Golden rains of Discipline (as the Parliament expressed, and the Scots objected) What will become of the Ministry of the Gospel; and the souls of men? For if each man's conscience be at Liberty to come to Church or not, to Pay to the Minister or not, the profane and loose will neither pay nor pray, but turn atheistical and irreligious: The Ministers of Worship will be discouraged and destitute, and Parents will have little mind to expend their moneys to make their children Scholars, when the Hope of their preferment is cut off. I answer, First that supreme Court in their Declaration never Declared to bar up all the Doors and Windows of that honourable House, The Sun of righteousness is able to shine more light upon the wisest and the highest. so that no further Light from Heaven should break into their Souls and counsels from the most glorious Sun of all righteousness the Lord Jesus, Although the Loose will be more loose (yet) possibly being at more Liberty they may be put upon consideration and choice of ways of life and peace yet however it is infinitely better, Some profaneness better than enforced hypocrisy. that the profane and lose be unmasked, then to be muffled up under the veil and hood of traditional hypocrisy, which turns and dulls the very edge of all conscience either toward God or Man. Thirdly, It is not to be doubted, but that each conscience, the Papists and the Protestants, both Presbyterians and Independents will aemulously strive for (their not only conscience but) credit sake, several consciences sometimes emulate each other. to excel and win the Garland in the fruits of bounty, &c. Thus a Jesuite once in Newgate boasted of the Papists charity to a Protestant (put in also for his conscience by the Bishops) for, pulling out his hand full of Gold, look here (said he) are the fruits of our Religion. Fourthly, Such Parents or children as aim at the gain, Gain godliness and God belly and preferment of Religion, do often mistake gain and Gold for godliness, God-belly for the true God, and some false for the true Lord Jesus: I add, such Priests or Ministers as can force a maintenance of Tithes or otherwise, by the Sword, or else cease preaching for want of such or such a maintenance, or can remove from bishoprics or Benefices (as Calves and Bulls of Bashan) for fatter and ranker Pastures: or wanting spiritual work and maintenance, are too fine to work with their hands, as the first patterns, Christ first Ministers did, how can they say as Peter to Christ Jesus, Lord thou knowest all things, Thou knowest I love thee? &c. therefore Lastly, The Father of Spirits graciously be pleased to preserve the Spirits of our higher powers from laying on of Hay and Stubble, though upon the Golden foundation Christ Jesus, The wonderful burning of Hay and Stubble in this Nation. for all such work in matters spiritual, which our Forefathers either Popish or Protestant in their several changes in this Nation have made, they have been consumed and burnt (like Hay and stubble) and come to nothing. The Summa totalis of all the former particulars is this, First, since the people of this Nation have been forced into a national way of Worship, both Popish and Protestant (as the Wheels of times revolutions, by God's mighty providence and permission have turned about) The civil state is bound before God to take of that bond and yoke of Soul-oppression, and to proclaim free and impartial Liberty to all the people of the three Nations, Soul-Liberty, aught to be impartially restored to the three Nations. to choose and maintain what Worship and Ministry their souls and Consciences are persuaded of: which Act, as it will prove an Act of mercy and righteousness to the enslaved Nations, so is it of a binding force to engage the whole and every Interest and Conscience, to preserve the Common-freedom and peace. However, an Act most suiting with the piety and Christianity of the holy Testament of Christ Jesus. Secondly, The civil state is humbly to be implored, to provide in their high wisdom for the security of all the respective consciences, in their respective meetings, assemblings, worshippings, preachings, Disputings, &c. and that civil peace, and the beauty of civility and humanity be maintained among the chief opposers and dissenters. Thirdly, It is the duty of all that are in Authority, and of all that are able, to countenance, encourage, and supply such true volunteers as give and devote themselves to the service and Ministry of Christ Jesus in any kind: All Christ's true Followers, and especially the Leaders among them, are a willing people and volunteers. although it be also the duty, and will be the practice of all such whom the Spirit of God sends upon any work of Christ's, rather to work as Paul did, among the Corinthians and Thessalonians, than the work and service of their Lord and Master, should be neglected. Such true Christian worthies (whether endowed with human Learning, or without it) will alone be found that despised model which the God of Heaven will only bless; that poor handful and three hundred out of Israel's thirty two thousand by whom the work of the God of Israel must be effected. And if this course be effected in the three Nations, the bodies and souls of the three Nations will be more and more at peace, and in a fairer way than ever, to that peace which is eternal when this World is gone. A few Queries subjoined as to the former high Question, of propagating the Gospel or glad news of a Saviour. 1. FIrst, whether the yet remaining Division of the whole Land, into national and Parish Churches, and the centuring and assembling of People into a Parish Church, be suitable to the true Religion and Testament of Christ Jesus: Or rather an invention of Satan and Antichrist, to divide the Land for gain, Dan. 11. into national, provincial, Diocesan, parochial, so that there is not a foot of land left in the whole Nation, Queries as touching the parochial Division of the whole land. for the holiest or the highest (without some extraordinary privilege) where to find a resting place out of such a Church compass. And whether is not such a Profession of Christ Jesus, a denial of Christ Jesus, whether is it not to make a State-Religion and the ministry thereof (like the Dutch) state Ministers, as it was truly said of late, that the Bishops were the King's Bishops: And if so, since the Head of the national Church, or Parishes is civil, the body be not so likewise, and consequently the whole frame of Worship, but civil and political, and consequently the Grand idol of jealousy, before the flaming eyes of the Son of God. 2. Whether this national and parishional form of Worship be a State-Act, and so removable at their pleasure. Or is it the people's Act and choice, and not removable without the people's free consent: To which end, The enforcing of a national way, a national oppression. can the Nation give, or the Parliament take a power of framing and imposing a Religion upon the people, any more (if not comparably so much) then of choosing and imposing Husbands and Wives (in way of Marriage) to all the people of this Nation: And whether therefore to enforce an uniformity of a Nation to one Religion or Worship (after the Jewish pattern) be not a soul oppression and usurpation, not after Moses, much less after Christ Jesus the Son of God. 3. If such an holy Division of the Land be a State-Act, and removable at pleasure, whether the not removing of such a form will not be set upon the Parliaments score, and be a controversy from the God of Heaven against them; For sure it is, being a plant which neither God nor the Son of God ever planted, it must irresistibly be plucked up and cast into the Fire. 4. If the State be found the Founders and Owners of the Parish Churches (the meeting places) whether ought they not to demolish them as Jehu did, or at least slight the holiness and form of them by reducing them to a civil form and use, The Parish Churches, Idol Temples. as the Army of late dealt with some such Holy places. And whether is it possible for all the men in the World, There is a strange Prophecy extant, Henry the 8th Abbeys and cells, Henry the Ninth Churches and Bells. or Angels in Heaven, to wash off that Popish Character of holiness while still only reserved for holy use, which both Papists and Protestants (successively and interchangeably) have made of them, as the Temple for the Parish worship, and so consequently the High places, and Idol Temples. 5. Is it not more conducible a thousand fold to the people's eternal welfare, that each town and Division of people in the Land, traditional Religion the Nurse of hypocrisy and Destruction. be impartially permitted to make a stand, to examine and choose their way of worship Ministry, and Maintenance: yet whether or no is it not absolutely better that they did freely choose rather a false Religion (Jewish, Popish, Turkish, &c.) then without their own free choice, to be nuzz up in a way of traditional and Customary Religion, or else in an enforced hypocrisy against persuasion and Conscience? 6. Whether that policy that refuseth to search into these things, Dangerous State-policy. pretending danger of discomposing the present Government and peace of the Nation, the dismounting of the present governors, the miss of State-Ministers in every town, to keep the people in Obedience, by publishing their Acts unto them; I say, is not such policy, ungodly, irreligious, unchristian, and the next way to provoke the jealousy of the most High, against both State and Statesmen, and to cause from Heaven, some other turn upon this Power and commonwealth. 7. Whatever the duty of the civil State be found to be, as touching the Parish forms and Churches, yet is not the unquestionable duty of the State to take off the soul yokes from the Necks of all that do or may inhabit this Nation, Jews or Gentiles: and as to civil things (the proper object of the civil state) to cast the Nation into a civil form, The want of civil Officers in this Nation as to birth of Children, Marriages and Burials being all but natural & civil things. and to appoint civil Officers throughout the Nation; To Record the Birth of children: to take order as to marriages and buryings of all people impartially in a civil way: The want of which civil Ordinance, as to the latter, hath been a second death in this Nation to multitudes of Yoak-fellows, Parents, &c. who being not able to walk in the Parish ways of burying in holy ground, and by the Parish Officers, they have been forced (not without danger also) to the highways for succour to their own consciences, and to their Dead-beloveds. 8 Whether since the most high hath made bare and naked his holy arm from heaven for this Nation, this Parliament, this Army, in most wonderful and singular deliverances, preservations, victories. And since this Nation is set in the midst of the Nations of the world, Singular mercies call for singular Acts of Exemplary and singular Gratitude. wearing a crown of advantage to be exemplary and presidential to the whole world about us: Whether hath not the most High reserved some wonderful and singular Acts for the trial of their singular love and gratitude: And since he rewarded Jehu with temporal honour to many generations, and will not forget to pay richly for a cup of cold water, &c. since he hath promised an hundred fold in this life, to such as lose for his sake, and in the world to come life everlasting: Is it not the best Policy, wisdom and reason under Heaven to search out only what is his only and acceptable pleasure in Christ Jesus, and to trust his infinite power, wisdom and goodness, what ever be the present success or consequents. An Appendix as touching oaths, A query, ALthough it be lawful (in case) for Christians to invocate the Name of the most High in Swearing: Yet since it is a part of his holy worship, and sometimes put for his whole worship, and therefore proper unto such as are his true Worshippers in Spirit and Truth: and persons may as well be forced unto any part of the worship of God as unto this, since it ought not to be used, The Holy name of G●d highly dishonoured by the legal Oaths of this Nation. but most solemnly, and in most solemn and weighty cases, and (ordinarily) in such as are not otherwise determinable; since it is the voice of the two great lawgivers, from God, Moses and Christ Jesus, that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses (not Swearing) every Word shall stand: Whether the enforcing of Oaths and spiritual Covenants upon a Nation promiscuously, and the constant enforcing of all persons to practise this Worship in the most trivial and common cases in all Courts (together with the Ceremonies of book, and holding up the hand &c.) be not a prostituting of the Holy Name of the most High to every unclean Lip, and that on slight occasions, and a taking of it by Millions, and so many millions of times in vain, and whether it be not a provoking of the eyes of his jealousy who hath said it, That he will not hold him (what him or them soever) guiltless that taketh his name in vain. An Humble and Christian proffer of Disputation. WHereas in the Epistle I intimated my readiness to debate the Particulars of this Discourse, &c. I am here humbly bold to profess, as in the holy presence of the most High, that I am not Conscious to the least design or aim, but that of a Conscionable and Peaceable presenting Verbum opportunum (an Apple of Gold in a Picture of Silver) into those honourable hands whom it so highly concerns. 'Tis true, my long Exile into and in America, have rendered me now a Stranger, and (after the Dispatch of some civil affairs) I should unspeakably rejoice to be gone to morrow; But while the Most High is pleased to force my stay: He hath also (as I believe) enforced my Spirit, again to proffer, in all Christian meekness and humility to agitate with whom or before whom soever, these following Proposals. First, Since the remoulding of this Nation into the model of Protestantism: the Clergy or Ministry (so called) of this Nation, both prelatical, Presbyterian and Independent, and (however in their persons many of them precious and excellent, yet) as to their Functions and Offices, as to procuring the Magistrates actings in spiritual cases, as to the Worships and Consciences of this Nation, they have been bewildered, if not wholly blinded: For as the Hireling way of Ministry is none of Christ's: So for this Hire, have not only the Popish, but the Protestant Clergy, tossed up and down (even like Tenis-bals) the Magistrates and Laws, the Consciences and Worships, the Peace and War, the weal and Woe of this Nation. Secondly, In all ages since Constantine, the Hireling Ministry have must woefully mislead the Consciences of the civil state by Preaching them out of their civil sphere and Line, sometimes into an Headship, sometimes into a Footship, (now over and above, and again as the Revolutions have been) inferior to, and under the Church: Out of this civil line or sphere as this present Age is forced to confess, that the civil Magistrates our Fathers before us never made true Christian work of it, so I am humbly bold to maintain they never shall: and therefore Thirdly, As the civil permission of all the Consciences and Worships of all men in Things merely spiritual is no ways inconsistent with true Christianity and true Civility: So is it the Duty of the civil Magistrate to suppress all violences to the Bodies and Goods of men for their soul's belief, and to provide, that not one person in the Land be Restrained from, or Constrained to any Worship, Ministry or Maintenance, but peaceably maintained in his Soul, as well as corporal freedom, To which end I add, that the violent putting in, and putting out of the several sorts of the Ministers of Worship in this Nation (if against the people's Free choice and desire) hath ever and will be yet, while so practised, a Grand oppression, and a powerful occasion, both of civil Insurrections, and Soul mischiefs. Fourthly, The Lord Jesus Christ, hath not forgotten to be infinitely faithful, and infinitely Wise and Tender to the souls of his Chosen, but hath in all Ages, and in all Conditions and Changes of his Spouse, stirred up by his holy Spirit, and sent such Voluntary Labourers into his Vine-yard, and so will, as have been, and shall be abundantly sufficient for this Nation and all Nations, as may best suit the Holy ends and Periods of his Time and kingdom. Fifthly, As he never appointed, so he never needed the casting of whole Nations into ecumenical, national, provincial, parochial or Parish forms and Classes: To feed which Churches and the Ministries thereof, he never appointed nor needed, the Divinity (or godliness) degrees of Universities and colleges, Nor the enforcing of all the People of a Nation to come to Church (as they call it) nor the Distinction between enforcing to some Ordinances, but not to others, as to the Word and Prayer, and Singing and Paying, but not to the Lord's Supper. All which are Plants which God his Father never planted, and therefore (as all such like, though ●●irer Plants and Inventions) must all in his holy Season be plucked up, and cast into the Fire. FINIS.