QVERIES OF HIGHEST CONSIDERATION, Proposed to the five HOLLAND Ministers AND THE Scotch Commissioners (SO CALLED.) Upon occasion of their late Printed Apologies for themselves and their Churches. In all Humble Reverence presented to the view of the Right Honourable the Houses of the High Court of Parliament. LONDON, Imprinted in the year MDCX. IV. QVERIES OF HIGHEST CONSIDERATION, Proposed to Mr. Tho. Goodwin Mr. Philip Nye Mr. Wil Bridges Mr. Jer. Burroughs Mr. Sidr. Simpson. AND To the Commissioners from the General Assembly (so called) of the Church Of SCOTLAND; Upon occasion of their late Printed Apologies for themselves and their Churches. In all Humble Reverence presented to the view of the Right Honourable the Houses of the High Court of Parliament. LONDON, Imprinted in the year MDCXLIV. TO THE Right Honourable Both Houses of the High Court Of PARLIAMENT. Right Honourable, IT is a woeful Privilege attending all great States and Personages, that they seldom hear any other Music but what is known will please them. Though our Music sound not sweet but harsh, yet please you first to know, it is not fitted to your Ears, but to your Hearts, and the bleeding Heart of this afflicted Nation. 'Tis true, we have been humbly bold to presume as Ester into Ahasuerus his presence, against your Order: For who can pass the many Locks and Bars of any the several Licencers, appointed by you with such a Message? By such Circumscribing and immuring of yourselves by such a Guard (their Persons we honour and esteem) it is rarely possible that any other Light, but what their Hemisphere affords, shall ever shine on your Honour's Souls, though ne'er so sweet, so necessary, and though it come from God, from Heaven. These Worthy and much esteemed Persons unto whom we Quaery, we have heard to be Men of Conscience, of Abilities, and are in this worthy of double Honour, that (according to their Consciences) they appear in the Front, and present their Moulds and Patterns of Church Government, from Holland, from Scotland, to our enquiring England. Their mutual just Exceptions which they have already, or may further express against each others Tenants we leave to themselves, (though we might express them to our advantage.) We shall be humbly bold in the name of the Lord Jesus; and the many thousand precious souls, for whom he hath paid so dear a Ransom; to present such Queries to your Honour's view, as respect their joint Agreement (Pardon the I hrase) like Ephraim and Manasseh (though fight each against other, yet) both against Christ Jesus the Lion of judah's Tribe; we mean so fare as they appose the Truth and Purity of his last will and Testament. Most Renowned Patriots, You sit at Helm in as great a Storm, as ere poor England's Commonwealth was lost in: Yet be you pleased to remember, that (excepting the affairs of Heaven, of Religion, of Souls, of Eternity) all your Consultations, Conclusions, Executions, are not of the Quantity, of the value of one poor drop of water, or the little dust of the Balance, of Elaiah were a true Prophet, Esa. 40.15. Yet concerning Souls, we will not (as most do) charge you with the loads of all the Souls in England, Scotland, Ireland: We shall humbly affirm, and (by the help of Christ) maintain, that the Bodies and Goods of the Subject is your charge: Their Souls and yours are set on account to those that profess to be the Lights and Guides, the Messengers and Ambassadors sent from Heaven to them. You will please to say, We are constantly told, and we believe it, that Religion is our first Care, and Reformation of that our greatest Task. Right Honourable, your Wisdoms know the Fatal Miscarriages of England's Parliaments in this point; what setting up, pulling down, what Forming, Reforming, and again Deforming, to admiration. Three Instances are dreadful, yet to express Seasonable. First, The last and best of England's changes, established Lord Bishops: they and two more (Priests and Deacons) are by Law the established Ministers of England's Church: The former makes the latter, so far as concerns a lawful external Calling. The Lord Bishops themselves, are now Voted Antichristian; Your Wisdoms than see what Callings by Law, the other two sorts, Priests and Deacons have all this while been furnished with. Secondly, if he that eats and drinks the Body and blood of Christ unworthily, eateth and drinketh his own judgement, and all English souls are bound by Law to eate that Body and Blood at sixteen, who sees not, since (as 'tis confessed scarce one of a thousand, but is found ignorant, Impenitent, Unregenerate at those years) that the Body of the People are compelled by Law, to eat and drink at sixteen their own judgement. Thirdly, for Nonconforming to these and other practices, the English Mass-book, etc. what heavy Persecution have thousands felt, and that by Law established? We shall in all humble Reverence, suggest our Fears, that for the very Laws and Statutes of England's Parliaments concerning Religion, and happily for some not yet suspected, the Lord jesus hath drawn this Sword, that's daily drunk with English Blood. It shall never be your Honour to this or future Ages, to be confined to the Patterns of either French, Dutch, Scotch, or New-English Churches We humbly conceive some higher Act concerning Religion, attends and becomes your Consultations: If he whose name is, wonderful, Counsellor, be consulted and obeyed according to his last Will and Testament (as you may please in the Queries to view) we are confident you shall exceed the Acts and Patterns of all Neighbour Nations; bighly exalt the name of the Son of God; provide for the Peace of this distressed State, engage the Souls of all that fear God, to give Thanks and Supplicate for you; further the Salvation of thousands, and leave the sweet perfume of your Names, precious to all succeeding Generations. QUERIES PROPOUNDED To the five Holland Ministers, and the Scotch Commissioners. WORTHY SIRS, IN serious Examination of your late Apologies, we shall in all due respect and tenderness humbly Querie: Querie I First, What Precept or Pattern hath the Lord Jesus left you in his last Will and Testament for your Synod, What warrant from the Lord jesus for the Assembly of Divines? or Assembly of Divines, by virtue of which you may expect his presence and assistance? If you say (as all Popish Synods and Counsels do) the Pattern is plain, Acts 15. Acts 15. examined. We ask if two or three Brethren of one particular Congregation at Antioch, sent to that first Mother Church at Jerusalem, where the Apostles were, who being (immediately) inspired from God, could say, It seemeth good to the holy Spirit and Us, to lay upon you no greater burden, etc. as also who had power to make Decrees for all the Churches, Acts 16. We ask whether this be a Pattern, A Nationall Assembly necessarily enforceth an Assembly of the whole world. for a Nation or Kingdom (and so consequently for more Nations and all the World if under one Government, as in Augustus Caesar's tax) to send their several Priests and Deacons (for other spiritual Officers than Bishops, Priests and Deacons you know we have not) to reform or form a Religion, & c? We pray you to consider, Dan. 3. daniel's Image, a type of State Religions. if the golden Image be not a type and figure of the several Nationall and State Religions, which all Nations set up and Ours hath done, for which the wrath of God is now upon Us? We pray you also to answer in what part of Christ's Testament is found that title, The Title, the Assembly of Divines examined. The Assembly of Divines; and whether it be not in English, The Church of Godly ones? And as we Queried your ground for such a Church, so have we also cause to pray you to tell us, Where Christ Jesus hath given you power to assume and appropriate such a Title to yourselves, which seems in Scripture to be common to all the Children of God? Some express it in Print and pulpit, That title, the Assembly of godly Divines examined. the Assembly of godly Divines; we derogate not from the worth or godliness of any of them: yet you know the Assembly of Saints, or godly Divines, is no other in English then the Assembly or Church of Saints, or godly godly ones. All that will live godly in Christ jesus must suffer persecution: We presume you will grant others to be Saints and godly too in that sense: but Oh that that whole Assembly or Congregation were truly resolved, (by way of Eminency) to lead all the godly in the Land in such a Christian practice. QUERIE II. Whereas you both agree (though with some difference) that the Civil Magistrate must Reform the Church, establish Religion, and so consequently must first Judge, and Judicially Determine which is True, which is False: or else must implicitly believe as the Assembly believes, and take it upon trust, and so consequently is he the Head, Root and Fountain of the Supremacy of all Spiritual power, and hath the power of the Keys of opening and shutting heaven gates, etc. Of which power upon a grudge (as 'tis said) about his Wife, King Henry despoiled the Pope, King Henry the 8. set down in the Pope's chair. and with consent and Act of Parliament, sat down himself in the Pope's Chair in England as since his Successors have done? We now Querie, since the Parliament (being the representative Commonwealth) hath no other power but what the Commonweal derive unto, The Commonweal, yea the world the head of the Church. and betrust it with; whether it will not evidently follow, that the Commonweal, the Nation the Kingdom, and (if it were in Augustus his time) the whole world must rule and govern the Church, and Christ himself as the Church is called, 1 Cor. 12.12? Furthermore, if the Honourable Houses (the representative Commonweal) shall erect a Spiritual Court, for the judging of Spiritual Men and Spiritual Causes (although a new Name be put upon it, A new High-Commission. yet) whether or no such a Court is not in the true nature and kind of it, an High Commission? And is not this a reviving of Moses, and the sanctifying of a new Land of Canaan, of which we hear nothing in the Testament of Christ Jesus, nor of any other holy Nation, but the particular Church of Christ? 1 Pet. 2.9. Is not this to subject this holy Nation, this heavenly Jerusalem, the Wife and Spouse of Jesus, the pillar and ground of Truth, to the vain, uncertain and changeable Mutations of this present evil world? Who knows not in how few years the Commonweal of England hath set up and pulled down? The Parliaments of England's wonderful changes in Religion. The Fathers made the Children Heretics, and the Children the Fathers. How doth the Parliament in Henry the 8. his days condemn the absolute Popery in Henry the seventh? How is in Edward's the 6. his time the Parliament of Henry the 8. condemned for their half Popery, half Protestanisme? How soon doth Queen Mary's Parliament condemn Edward for his absolute Protestanisme? The present Parliament would have been esteemed Heretical in former times. And Elizabeth's Parliament as soon condemn Queen Maries for their absolute Popery? 'Tis true, Queen Elizabeth made Laws against Popery and Papists, but the Government of Bishops, the Common Prayer, the Ceremonies were then so high in that Queen and Parliaments eye, that the Members of this present and ever renowned Parliament, would have then been counted little less than Heretics. And oh! since the Commonweal cannot without a spiritual rape force the consciences of all to one Worship, oh that it may never commit that rape, in forcing the consciences of all men to one Worship, which a stronger arm and Sword may soon (as formerly) arise to alter. QUERIE III. Whether since you profess to be Builders, The only true Matter for a true Church are living Stones. you have not cause to fear and tremble, lest you be found to reject the Corner stone, in not fitting to him only living stones? 1 Pet. 2. Of these living stones, (true Believers) the costly Stones of the Temple were types: and without true matter, which (as it is in all works in the World) it is impossible to build a spiritual House unto God? This matter, the One of you confess and practice, the Other questions and mingles Sheep and Goats together, contrary to the spiritual nature of the Lord Jesus, and his true Pattern; contrary to the nature of God, who is a Spirit, and will be Worshipped by Spiritual Worshippers; contrary to the peace and safety of any natural Soul and conscience, hardened in a dream of Fellowship with God, who saith to the ungodly, What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth, and hatest to be reform? Psal. 50. QUERIE IU. Whether in your consciences before God, you be not persuaded (notwithstanding your promiscuous joining with all) that few of the People of England and Scotland, Few of the people of England or Scotland, living Stones. and fewer of the Nobles and Gentry are such spiritual matter, living stones, truly regenerate and converted; and therefore, Whether it be not the greatest Courtesy in the world, which you may possibly perform unto them, to acquaint them impartially with their conditions; and how impossible it is for a dead Stone to have Fellowship with the living God, and for any man to enter into the Kingdom of God, without a second Birth? John 3. QUERIE V. Although the fame and sound is great of Reformation, we Querie, Impossible to reform the dead in sin, the spiritually living, are only capable of reformation according to Christ. Whether a dead soul is capable of any Reformation, until the first principle of Christianity, Repentance (Heb. 6.6.) be found in him: otherwise, as a thousand several renewed Forms of Apparel, altars not the condition of a dead man: or a thousand new Forms of Postures of an Army of Cavaliers cannot make a Parliament Army: So we Querie how possible that a person or persons, visibly in a state of nature, dead in sin, in a state of enmity and opposition against God (Ephes. Definitions of aught must not be from the corruption, but Institution of it, according to which missed be the reformation. 2. Rom. 8.) can ever please God, be visibly married to God, fight for him under the Banners of Love? etc. Allegations may be brought from the corruptions of the Church of the Jews, and the Churches of Christ: but We do not use to define a Man by his Diseases, nor a Garden by Weeds, nor a City by a Tumult, or an Army by a Rout or disorder, especially when we treat upon an Institution or Resturation. QUERIE VI. Although you both profess your Holiness, Diligence, Zeal, Courage, Self-denial, Patience, and the one of you the incomparable spirit of your Fathers in the work of Reformation; yet we Querie, Excellent Witnesses of Christ jesus, who never proceeded to a Church-estate Whether there hath not been as Holy, Able, and Zealous Men since the Apostasy; Men like Antipas, Rev. 2. faithful Witnesses of the Lord Jesus (in what Light they saw) even to Death, who yet never came up to such a work of Reformation as you speak of: Yea (without offence be it spoken) have there not been as excellent and heavenly Reformers as yourselves and Fathers, whose professed Reformation you now dislike? Who shall outshine many of the Waldensian Reformers for Holiness, Zeal, Excellent reformers, whose work now seems to be beside the first Pattern, and this Age dislikes, forsakes, etc. One of the greatest Parliaments that ever was, after all rejoicing and triumphing in it found God's anger for their errors, in reformation of his worship. patience? Where is, or hath that precious man been found, who hath (for personal excellencies) outshined Luther? and who shall o'retop those glorious Cedars Bishops, Doctors, etc. burnt for Christ Jesus in Queen Mary's days? Yea, where the Church we grant to have been true (according to its Instistution, for the time of it) What Assembly, what Parliament can compare with that of David and his Captains of thousands, Captains of hundreths, and every Leader, and all the Congregation of Israel from Shishor of Egypt, to the entering in of Hemath assembled together to reform the Worship of God, in that true, but Nationall. Typical, Church estate of Israel? What rejoicing, what playing was there of David and all Israel with Harps, Psalteries, Timbrels, Cymbals and Trumpets, and yet how angry was God, what a Breach did he make? for David and all Israel transgressed the due appointed Order, 1 Cron. 13. 1 Cron. 15. QUERIE VII. Since the Law was given by Moses, A Nationall Covenant, and a Nationall Church, not found in the Doctrine of the Son of God but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ, by whom (though God spoke divers times and divers ways to the Fathers) he hath now revealed his council in these last times, Heb. 1. We Quere, where you now find one footstep, Print or Pattern in this Doctrine of the Son of God, for a Nationall holy Covenant, and so consequenty (though we conceive the one of you stumble at it) a Nationall Church? Where find you evidence of a whole Nation, Country or Kingdom converted to the Faith and of Christ's appointing of a whole Nation or Kingdom to walk in one way of Religion? If you repair to Moses, Such as hold a Nationall Church of God must needs disclaim Christ and follow Moses. consult with Moses and the old Covenant or Testament, we ask, are you Moses or Christ's Followers? or do you yet expect the coming of the Son of God to set up the Christian Israel, the holy Nation, the particular Congregation of Christian Worshippers, in all parts of the world? 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 12. etc. We further Quere, Whether a Nationall Covenant, lead not (in case, If one whole Nation, where should we stop, why may not many and the whole world? etc. and as is practised) avoidable to a holy Covenant of many Nations? 2 Pet. 10.20. yea, to a holy league or Covenant (in case of Augustus his Government) of the whole world, which should then turn the Darling and Spouse of God, between whom and it there is such enmity, that if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him? 1 John 2. The Doctrine of Christ Jesus tells us that, Acts 10.35. That in every Nation he that fears God, The nature of the true Church or Congregation of Christ jesus etc. Not every Nation that fears God. Christ Jesus tells us that his Church may come together to break bread in One place, 1 Cor. 11. which Nations and Countries cannot possibly do: Christ Jesus tells us this his Congregation is now the Commonweal of Israel, invested with the true Kingly power of the Lord Jesus, to put forth every wicked person (though King or Keysar) from amongst them. We Querie, There cannot be 2 true kinds of Churches, no more than 2 true Parliaments. Whether it be possible there should be 2 true sorts or kinds of Churches, any more than 'tis possible there may be 2 true Parliaments in England, though many scores or hundreths should be called? There are indeed 3 score Queens, and 4 score Concubines and Virgins without number, which seem to imply (and that even in these times, as some also have interpreted) several kinds of Congregations or Churches, Several sorts of Churches like Brazen, Silver, and Golden Candlesticks. and yet Christ's Dove is but one, and the only one of her motherr, Cant. 6. The Light of much Truth may shine forth on the brazen Candlesticks of strong Nationall Churches, maintained and held up by the seeming strong Sword of Steel in an Arm of Flesh etc. There may be silver Candlesticks more refined and pure in respect of the Matter of which they are constituted, viz. godly persons, etc. But Christ Jesus only walks in the midst of his Golden Candlesticks, Gathered and Governed after the Golden Institution of Christ's Word, which is like fine Gold, Rev. 1. Psa. 19 Again, we ask, A National Religion must rack Souls and Bodies, Whether in the Constitution of a Natinall Church, it can possibly be framed without a racking and tormenting of thè Souls, as well as of the Bodies of persons, for it seems not possible to fit it to every conscience: sooner shall one suit of Apparel fit every Body, one Law precedent every Case, or one Size or Last every Foot? Lastly, The dangerous consequences of it. Whether it be not the cause of a world of Hypocritets, he Soothing up of people in a Formal State Worship to the ruin of their Souls; the ground of Persecution to Christ Jesus in his Members, and sooner or later, the kindling of the devouring flames of Civil Wars, as all Ages testify? QUERIE VIII. Whether, No Wars for Christ but Christian or Spiritual. although (as is expressed) the godly in the 3 Kingdoms desire a Reformation: yet since the Lamb of God and Prince of Peace hath not in his Testament given us a Pattern, Precept or Promise, for the undertaking of a civil War for his sake; we Querie how with comfort to your Souls you may encourage the English Treasure to be Exhausted, and the English Blood to be spilt for the Cause of Christ? We readily grant the Civil Magistrate armed by God with a civil Sword (Rom. 13.) to execute vengeance against Robbers, War lawful in civil cases. Murderers, Tyrants, etc. Yet where it merely concerns Christ, we find, when his Disciples desire vengeance upon Offenders, Luke 9 he meekly answers, You know not what spirit you are of, I came not to destroy men's Lives, but to save them. Christ jesus forbids fight for his sake. If ever there were cause for the servants of Christ Jesus to fight it was then, when (not his Truth, or Servants, or Ordinances, but) his own most holy Person was in danger, Math. 26. yet then, that Lamb of God checks Peter beginning to fight for him, telling him, that all that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword, for with one Request to his Father, he could have been rescued by more than 12 Legions of Angels: The Reasons of it. He renders the Reason of his unwillingness to have Fight for his sake, which was his Father's good pleasure in the fullfilling of the Scripture: Unto which also may be added, john 18.36. My Kingdom is not of this world, if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered, etc. If it be said his Kingdom then was not of this world, but now it is, or shall be: then was the hour of his Suffering, but now of his servants Reigning: Christ's sufferings to be filled up by his Followers. we Querie, What filling up of the sufferings of Christ Paul speaks of, Col. 1. when he mentioneth that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ? What means that general Rule of the Lord Jesus Luke 9 If any man will follow me, let him take up his Cross or Gibbet: and that of Paul, 2 Tim. 4. all that will live godly in Christ jesus must suffer persecution? We Querie (if Security may be taken by the Wildome of the State for civil Subjection,) The consciences of Idolaters not to be oppressed by the Sword, why even the Papists themselves and their Consciences may not be permitted in the World? For otherwise, if England's Government were the Government of the whole World, not only They, but a world of Idolaters of all sorts, yea the whole World must be driven out of the World? We Querie, Whether the Common Body of Protestants, impenitent and unregenerate, be not further off Salvation, and lie not under a greater guilt (like Chorazin and Bethsaida) then does the body of ignorant Papists? Ignorant Papists not such great sinners as knowing Protestants. And we humbly desire it may be deeply pondered what should be the kindling of the Jealousy of God, to pour forth the Blood of so many Thousands of Protestants, by the bloody hands of the Papists (since most just He is and righteous in all his Judgements) whether or no the Laws enacted, and Violence offered even to the Consciences of the Papists themselves, have not kindled these devouring flames? 'Tis true, the Prophecies are great concerning Christ and Antichrist throughout the Prophets and the Kevelation, but can you sufficiently demonstrate these to the consciences of men? The Prophecies of Daniel and John not so easity demonstrated. Are you those our blessed Prophets which can tell us how long? Psal. 74. Can you clear up the mysteries of daniel's 2300 days, Dan. 8. daniel's 7 weeks and 3 score and 2 weeks, his one week, and his half week, daniel's and John's mystical Numbers. Dan. 9? His time, times, and half a time, his 1290 days, and 1335 days, Dan. 12? Can you unlock those mystical numbers of john's 42 months, 1260 days; the 3 days and a half, Rev. 11.12. the time, times, and half a time, Rev. 12. and the thousand year, Rev. 20. with divers others, which may establish the Judgements and Consciences of Men, and give them Warrant whereon to venture their Souls, and shed their Bloods, for the present destruction of Pope and Popery (not by the breath of Christ's mouth, and the Sword of the Spirit, but) by the breath of murdering Canons, and a flaming Sword of steel? Otherwise, we Querie, The wonderful slaughters of Papists and Protestants in the famous wars of the Waldensians. Whether the blood of so many hundreth thousand Protestants, mingled with the blood of so many hundreth thousand Papists, as was spilt some hundreth years in the Waldensian wars, when all the Protestant party that took the Sword perished with it, be not a warning to us their offspring? 'Tis true, john tells us of Christ's great Battles against the Kings of the Earth, The great battles of Christ jesus yet to be fought. against the Beast and false Prophet against Gog and Magog: but where speaks he of other Ammunition and Artillery, used by the Saints, but what we find in Paul's Christian Magazine Ephes. 6? Where read we of any other Horse and Arms but those all white? Rev. 19 And yet the Lamb shall have the Victory over the Beast, and false Prophet, and over Gog and Magog in the appointed season. God's children have been successful witnesses against the Abominations etc. but never did well in Church Reformation, which their children after them discover, to vary from the Pattern. QUERIE IX. You both profess great Sufferings, etc. We Querie, Whether any of the Sufferings of God's Witnesses since the Apostasy, have been only right against the dark part, the Inventions, Abominations and Usurpations of Antichrist, according to Rev. 11? As for the light part, who sees not but to this day the children's Reformations in new changes condemn their Fathers, whose Zeal and Patience against the dark part, have hitherto exceeded the children's. We Querie, Whether the finishing of the Testimony, with the slaughter of the Witnesses, and their 3 days and half last great oppression be over and past, that so the light part may arise in its brightness? Martyrs, that is, Witnesses, not peculiar to those that die for Christ. And though you commonly and only call those Martyrs, who lost their lives for Jesus: yet we also Querie, Whether Martyrs, that is Witnesses, Rev. 11. be not appliable to all the servants of Christ, who Witness against any part of the Beasts Kingdom and Tyranny, although they never Witness to the Death? QUERIE X. Since you report your opposing and suppressing of Heresies, and glorious success, etc. We Querie, Whether that be a demonstrative argument from the Scriptures, for a Truth of a Church, or Government of it, since even the Church of Rome may boast of the same against many Schisms and Heresies, and doth try umph with wonderful success, even against the Truth, and the Witnesses of it, according to Daniel and John's Prophecies? Dan. 11. Rev. 13. Thus it pleased God in his Providence to turn the scales of Victory (with a relief of their Armies) to the Idolatrous Israelites and Edomites against the Moabites, God sometimes gives great success of Victory, even to Idolaters. 2 Kings 3. and miraculously to deliver Idolatrous Apostate Israel from the mighty Armies of the Syrians, 2 Kings 7. Thus he also rewarded hypocritical Jehn for his temporal service in destroying Ahabs' house with a temporal Honour to the fourth generation, though himself and his continued in the Schism, Apostasy and Idolatry of the house of Israel. We pray you also to call to mind how it pleaseth God, out of the bottomless Ocean of his Goodness, to cause his Sun to shine, and his reins to fall upon the righteous and the wicked; and time and chance (saith Solomon) happens unto all, and one event. It pleased the Lord to hear the Prayers of wicked Ahab, God sometimes hears the prayers of legal cries of Idolaters, and the Dwells themselves. and to remit his temporal Affliction upon his temporal Humiliation. Thus the Lord Jesus heard the prayers of the Devils themselves, Luke 8. Upon the cry of the Idolatrous Mariners God mercifully provided to answer their prayers, and cease the Storm by the casting out of Jonah. Thus upon the external legal Humiliation of Niniveh, it was reprieved and spared a season; and Sodom had not been burned to ashes, but had continued until Christ's time, upon a supposition of their legal Humiliation, Matth. 11. Thus although the Idolatrous Assyrians feared Jehovah, judgements taken off from the Assyrians, upon the least shadow of God's worship. and served their gods (2 Kings 17.) yet we hear no more of the Lions amongst them when the King of Assyria had taken order for one of Israel's Idolatrous Priests, to teach the Assyrians something of the manner of God's service. We Querie, Whether all these Instances amount to more than Evidences of the infinite Mercies, Goodness and Patience of God but are not proofs of their Worshipping of God according to his Ordinance, that their Institutions were from him, and their Reformations according to his Appointment? Yea, we further Querie, Whether the power of godliness, shining forth in persons may evidence their state and Worship good? The power of godliness may shine in some persons living in great profanations of God's worship. You both confess the great profession of the power of godliness in England: yet we believe the one of you acknowledge the Church of England as a Nationall Church not true; and both confess the Government, Governors, and the Common Prayer (the Service and Worship of it) to be abominable. Yet it is confessed that England's false National Church, with her Bishops, Common Prayer, ceremonies etc. had more evidence of the power of godliness in her Children, than was to be found amongst the Scotch, French Dutch, who pretend a Reformation purer. It seems therefore evident, that neither opposing of Heresies, nor success in Victories Deliverances, nor power of godliness in some persons, can evidence and prove their State and Worship to be right and pleasing unto God, according to his Ordinance in Christ Jesus. QUERIE XI. Since you both seem to magnify the Seals of Baptism, and the Lords Supper, with a difference and excellency above other Ordinances, We Querie where the Lord Jesus appointed such a difference and distinction? And whether there was not as full Communion practised by the first Christians in the Word, Prayer, and Community, as in the breaking of Bread? Acts 2.42. Further we Querie, since Baptism is one of those Fundamentals, Heb. 6. and every one that will be saved is bound to prove his Faith and his Baptism true (Mark. 16.16. he that believeth and is baptised shall be saved.) We Quere, how a Baptisms or 2 Great Seals can be true in the Kingdom of Christ Jesus, any more than 2 Great Seals can be true in the Kingdom of England? And whether a Christian Commission, Patent, Pardon, Writ, can be truly sealed (as is maintained) from Rome, any more than a civil Commission, Patent, Pardon or Writ can be truly Sealed at Oxford? To insist upon a late instance: since the Bishop's power and Calling is condemned as Antichristian, how can we evidence the Seal of Baptism true, which we have received from them? Furthermore, since a true Baptism giveth Right to all the Ordinances of Christ Jesus, we Querie, how any Protestant or Papist, whose Baptism you acknowledge to be true, can be denied Communion in the Supper also, according to 1 Cor. 12.12. By one spirit are we all baptised into one body, and consequently into the participation of the Ordinances thereof: and if so, we Querie how fare off Rome and the Pope himself is from our bosoms? QUERIE XII. Since you both profess to want more Light, and that a greater Light is yet to be expected; yea, that the Church of Scotland may yet have need of a greater Reformation, etc. we Querie, how you can profess and Swear to Persecute all others as Schismatics, Heretics, etc. that believe they see a further Light, and dare not join with either of your Churches? Whether the Lamb's Wife have received any such Commission or Disposition from the Lamb her Husband, so to practise? Whether (as King JAMES once wrote upon Re. 20.) it be not a true mark and character of a false Church to Persecute? It being the nature only of a Wolf to hunt the Lambs and Sheep, but impossible for a Lamb or Sheep, or a thousand Flocks of Sheep to persecute one Wolf: we speak of spiritual Sheep and spiritual Wolves: for other Wolves against the Civil State, We profess it to be the Duty of the Civil State to persecute and suppress them. And lastly, whether the States of Holland who tolerate, though not own (as you say) the several Sects amongst them which differ from them, The States of Holland in permitting other consciences, obey the Command of Christ of permitting the Tares. & are of another conscience & worishp, whether or no they come not nearer the holy Pattern & command of the Lord Jesus, to permit the tares to have a civil being in the field of the world, until the harvest the end of it. Mat. 13? Whether those tares can possibly be taken for Hypocrites in the Church, or Scandalous persons in the Common weal, but are most properly false worshippers, and in especial, and punctually intended by the Lord Jesus Antichristians, the Children of the wicked one, opposite to the true Christians, the Children of the Kingdom? Whether for this very Truth which those States profess, Noctate for the time bathe been blest by God as that to admiration. beyond either England or Scotland, it hath not pleased the Lord to prosper the State, above any other State in the word, for the time, since such their wise Permission? Whether there can possibly be expected the least look of Peace, in these fatal Distractions and Tempests raised, but by taking Council of the great and wisest Politician that ever was, the Lord Jesus Christ, in this particular? We know the Allegations against this Council: the head of all is that from Moses (not Christ) his Pattern in the typical Land of Canaan, the Kings of Israel and judah, etc. The danger and mischief of bringing Moses his Pattern into Kingdoms now since Christ jesus his coming. We humbly desire it may be searched into, & we believe it willbe found but one of Moses shadows, vanished at the coming of the Lord Jesus: yet such a shadow as is directly opposite to the very Testament and coming of the Lord Jesus. Opposite to the very nature of a Christian Church, the only holy Nation and Israel of God. Opposite to the very tender Bowels of Humanity, (how much more of Christianity?) abhorring to pour out the blood of Men merely for their Souls belief and worship. Opposite to the very Essentials and Fundamentals of the Nature of a Civil Magistracy, a Civil Common-weal or combination of Men, which can only respect civil things. Opposite to the Jews Conversion to Christ, by not permitting them a civil life or being. Opposite to the civil Peace, and the lives of Millions, slaughtered upon this ground, in mutual persecuting each others Conscience, especially the Protestant and the Papist. Opposite to the Souls of all Men, who by persecutions are ravished into a dissembled Worship, which their Hearts embrace not. Opposite to the best of God's servants, who in all Popish and Protestant States, have been commonly esteemed and persecuted, as the only Schismatics, Heretics, etc. Opposite to that Light of Scripture which is expected yet to shine, which must by that Doctrine be suppressed as a new or old Heresy or Novelty. All this in all Age's experience testifies, which never saw any long lived Fruit of Peace or Righteousness to grow upon that fatal Tree. FINIS. Errata. Pag 6. line 13. deal Peter. p. 9 l. 12. r. years since. l. 26 r. have not been.