DICTATED THOUGHTS Upon the Presbyterians late petitions for complete and universal power (in Divine Ordinances) to be conferred upon the PRESBYTERS by Humane Authority.  
SUrely if these Presbyterians did but know indeed what the true Religion is, and did account it the life and crown of all their I berties and privileges (as they pretend) they would not so endeavour to infringe the outward (much less the inward) liberties and privileges of the professors thereof, as they have done and do. If the manner of a pure and perfect reformation in all Christ's ordinances were not hidden from their eyes, which they pretend to account the beauty of Religion, they would never seek, thus to compel by civil sanction, uncivil persons to divine obedience, but hate the casting of holy things to dogs, and pearls before swine, and not torment those by constraint to worship God, whose worship is abhorred by God. A mind well informed, knoweth that God's true worship must proceed from the mind: The mind must be moved by reason, not by rigour. To constrain men to the positive duties of the first Table of God's Law, is not man's, but Gods. It's the divine unction of the word (not the civil sanction of the world) that frameth men in a spiritual posture pleasing to God. Those persons that go this way to work, and whom God hath so much honoured to promote and accomplish such a reformation lay the foundation of the Lords house upon the rock, and are to be accounted as those famous witnesses were in the days of King Edward, and Queen Elizabeth of happy memory. Those that do otherwise, are sandy foundation-layers, friends to the midnight of Popery, and enemies to the sweet dawning day of reformation. What double honour, divine providence hath devolved upon this age, by causing the light of the truth of jesus Christ to shine in the world exhibiting wholesome directions according to the perfect directory of the word of God, we desire to accept from the directors with all thankfulness. But in this work of such high concernment, all the axes, hammers, and tools of men's inventions, we utterly reject, knowing that such polishers are no good reformers, but great poluters of the sanctuary of the most High.  
Spiritual minded men (not persecuting spirits) know that jesus Christ is the Lord of all administrations, and that he hath established the government and discipline of his Church, sufficiently and firmly in his Word, and hath cursed those that add thereunto, or detract therefrom. To it all persons must yield subjection, and not dance about the golden calf of their own invention, much less desire it to be established by a civil sanction, for that will not ease the extremity of their perplexed and amazed spirits, nor heal the distempers of our distressed Nation. Neither can the Parliament, though excelling former Parliaments, preserve Christ's precious ordinances (and in particular the Lord's Supper) from all contempt and profanation (as these Presbyterians speak) for that cannot be in this world: If they do their utmost endeavour to keep all ignorant and scandalous persons therefrom, are we to desire (or doth God require) any more of them in that particular? But surely, if it be true as these petitioners say, that English Parliaments never had such a learned, pious, and faithful Synod, to hold forth sincerely the mind of Christ, and the model of Church government agreeable to his will, as this Parliament hath, and yet Church government and discipline to this very day doth remain unestablished. Then by this it may appear that the Synod hath been either very negligent, and would not, or deficient, and could not establish it, and so have not held forth sincerely the mind of Christ agreeable to his will, as is pretended: and these Presbyterians themselves affirm, that their confession of Faith, & public Catechism, must necessarily take up a far longer time than can possibly be spared from settling of government, without many unavoidable and desperate mischiefs: And whereas they would have it brought to pass by civil sanction, that is Temporal power, to constrain all men of and in the Nation, both high and low, rich and poor, bound and free (under pain of corporal punishment) to do according to their determinations, in matters of worship; And therefore do they in their petition, call out for a complete power to be established upon the Presbyters; It appeareth they conceive that the government of their Church will not be established without it, at least in their way, and according to their mind; for without the Temporal sword, their Kingdom; Power, Glory, Pre-eminence, and Maintenance, which they stand for, falls to the ground. But their pressing argument is, that no Parliament ever had such, and so many forcible engagements upon them from God, and unto God, as are upon this And I wish the Lord would engage them to him and his more abundantly. And whereas these say, that the City of London did never so flourish with such a conscionable and painful ministry, as at this day: I desire they were all more conscionable and painful in good, and then the City of London would flourish indeed But whereas these question whence then should it be that the children being come so near to the birth, there is yet no strength to bring forth? If they mean their two children, viz. power and maintenance; it is because the Man child jesus Christ with his rod of Iron, is about to crush the Priestly power and maintenance, which they have conceived in their minds, and so much cry out for with their mouths.  
But these men who will not be content to bear with others in Religion, call out for others to bear with them; saying, Bear with us a little in this fervour of our spirits (it is for our Religion, Reformation, and the House of our God, & we cannot hold our peace) They cannot hold their peace! and why? because they have not temporal power, to stop the mouths of those who stand for their Religion, and the House of their God, and cannot hold their peace, more than they; though not in craving for temporal power against the Presbyterians, as the Presbyterians call out for it against them. What way soever we cast our eyes (say they) we cannot but see most sad fruits of the not settling of Church government to this day: Here they still lay their old creeping accusation, as if Church government were not established! Surely, If the Angels of the Lord had not smitten them with spiritual blindness, they would before this, have found the door of the visible Church; And if their hearts had not been hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, they would ere this have entered into it: for Church government was established by jesus Christ, and put in execution by his Saints long ago, though contrary to the minds of the common multitude, and their blind guides; yea, they waited not for the power or command of civil Magistrates, [for Queen Mary, and such as she, would never assent unto the true Religion] but the Saints did set themselves to do the work which Christ had sent them about, and do remain, through the power of God, unto this present day, executing the Ecclesiastical and Ministerial power of the Gospel, though contrary to the decrees of men. And it is not the want of settling Church government, which causeth so many heresies, which they speak of. Heresies do arise, that those who are approved, may be made manifest amongst us: 1 Cor. 11. 19 convincing the sinful sects with sound positions, and not with satanical persecutions, which will neither provoke them to good, nor deter them from evil, peoples persecuting them with the sword, and not convincing them by the word, hath hardened their hearts, and made them to bless themselves in their own seducing ways, supposing them to be the persecuted ways of God, and all men as they do perceive this Presbyterian way to be a persecuting way, do endeavour to draw back their shoulders, and stand a far off, and beware of such an envious monster, that will suffer no man to dwell peaceably by him in the world, unless they be of the same Religion with him, yea, by this means some precious truths of Christ, taught by the Presbyterians, are by some (not credited, but) suspected, by othersome exceedingly contemned as falsehood, because handed by persecuting sensual spirits, whereas, if these would content themselves with the gift of God, not tormenting, but admonishing such (by the Scriptures) in the spirit of meekness, without ranker, malice, envy, evil speeches, or rigorous actions, the deceived would be undeceived, Heriticks may be converted, and heresies suppressed, though as damnable and dangerous as these their positions are false and scandalous: But these Presbyterians taking it for granted that Church government is not settled to this day; They conclude saying, that hence many abominable errors, and damnable heresies are broached amongst us without control, without control! (say they) Hereby it appeareth they would have power from the civil magistrate to control, as if the word were not a sufficient weapon, but suppose the blind Presbyters were all made controulers, they had need of good spectacles to discern who to control, lest they control truth instead of error, and control their betters, who excel them in wisdom, piety, and honesty; Their arms must be long and strong, lest they in controlling of others, are controlled themselves, and their own weapons fly in their own faces. O old malice! the feeder of faction, and breeder of division, that dost so eye and envy the sweet unity, harmony, fidelity, and victory of the English Armies under the command of the Parliament, when wilt thou come to an end? Thy forefathers the bloodthirsty Bishops, and their sharking shavelings, would never be quiet, till they were ensnared (as they are) in the vain works of their own hands, surely as they did, so dost thou; and as they are, so shalt thou be; The precious truths which jesus Christ hath sealed with his blood, are trampled under foot by thy children, thy servants profane the pure and holy ordinances of Christ. Is there any of these presbyters that do not pollute, profane, and trample under foot Christ's precious truths? are they not their own witnesses against themselves? who have cast down the Bishops, and are set in their seats, build up superstitiously, what before they pulled down; cast down the Prelate's callings as Antichristian, yet from them do they derive their ordination, who have it from the Pope of Rome, that second beast, mentioned Rev. 13. 11. which risen up out of the earth, having 2. horns like the Lamb, but speaking as the dragon And hence I believe the ordinances of Christ are woefully profaned by persons grossly ignorant and scandalous, and also by persons of knowledge, that do not walk up to their light: for the Presbyterians have had time enough, and have not yet excommunicated their profane comunicants, nor separated themselves from them, but have their children baptised by, and receive the Supper from, such who are scandalous in their callings, time-serving popelings, wand'ring stars, Antichristian Priests, who have no calling to the work of the ministry, more than jeroboam priests; They say multitudes of unstable souls have fallen off, But from whence? not from the Church of Christ, but from the Church of England, in which they were before unstable, but not the more for falling off therefrom. And if any one maintain strange Sects, (as they speak) It is not the Separates; for they withstand them all, and particularly the sect of blasphemous persecuting treacherous Presbyterians, and will not pray with them, much less suffer them to be incorporated into their separated Assemblies, unless they renounce their erroneous opinions; and therefore these Presbyterians charge the separates falsely: neither do they set up illirerate persons to be their Pastors, but such, that the meanest of them is able to confound the greatest popish Presbyter in the world, and that by sound arguments from Scripture, without carnal weapons. And though thy manage their meetings with boldness, because they are righteous, and confide in those who are called Gods, and children of the most High, (Psal. 86. 2.) yet they are far from insolency (as these insolent Presbyterians lyingly speak) and furthest of all from contempt of all authority: for they acknowledge authority, knowing it is the ordinance of God, and therefore they will not resist the higher powers, but protect them with their lives and estates, as is apparent to this day; but the Pope conceiveth that all power is given unto him, and that therefore whosoever he be, whether magistrate or other, that contemns his authority, he contemns all authority, even so say the Presbyterians, in contempt of all authority, to the disturbance of the City, every one doing that which is right in his own eyes, and there is no course to reclaim them; all which accusations are notorious false: for the separates bring not the least disturbance in the City, but it is Demetrius and his craftsmen, who incite the rude multitude to disturb them at their meetings, to the danger of their lives; And if any transgress the second table of God's law, it being made known to the magistrate, he hath power immediately to punish him as it is meet according to the law And those that transgress the first table of God's law, means is used by the ministers of the Gospel to reclaim them also (by the spiritual sword of God's word, which is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness) 1 Tim. 3. 16. whether they be none-Churchers, omni Churchers, Anabaptists, the sect of the Libertines, profane Presbyterians, Heathens, jews, Turks, Papists, or any sect under heaven; And if any of all these rebel against the rules of morality, the magistrate (without the minister) hath power to punish him according to his offence: and the minister without the magistrate may (and doth) use the spiritual power which the Lord hath given him, to persuade the Conscience; and therefore these Presbyterians in saying that every one doth that which is right in his own eyes, and there is no course to reclaim them, do thereby cast an aspersion not only upon the people in general, but on the magistrates and ministers in special. And such firebrands as these Presbyterians, cause the unnatural stames of division (especially about Church government) In the same kingdom betwixt people and people, In the same City, betwixt minister and minister, in the same congregation, betwixt Pastor and flock, yea, in the same family betwixt master and servant, betwixt Parents and children, betwixt husbands and wives: And it appeareth thus, because when some differ from othersome, and walk up to their light, then do the Presbyters, teach the Presbyterians to persecute them divers ways, seeking to draw them back by carnal compulsion, and the tender consciences not being willing to be forced, further than the light of reason in them: immediately the fire of contention, proceeding from the Presbyterians sacred consciences, breaks forth into a flame, as it is spread over Kingdoms, betwixt people and people, in the same City one minister vilifieth another, in the same congregation (or parish) the minister and the people are at it, yea, in families, the Presbyters set the master to persecute the servant, and encourage the servant to despise the master, who is not of their mind, hence ariseth persecution against the children by the father, and against the father by their children, yea the husbands are taught by the antichristian Presbyters, to lord it over the consciences of the wives, and wives to persecute their husbands: insomuch as when any one declareth himself to be a separate, or an independent, immediately their nearest Presbyterian friends alienate their affection, because he differs from them in judgement, and break out into many bitter and reproach full contentions, and open persecutions, no marvel then that God hath of late manifested divers sad and remarkable tokens of his displeasure against England and Scotland, both by sword and pestilence, and destroyed many thousands, what may the impenitent remnant then expect, who are not killed by these plagues, Rev. 9 20. but the cup of the wine of God's wrath, to be poured out without mixture, Rev. 14 10 judgement without mercy, upon them who show no mercy; jam. 2 13. Surely it is laid up in store with God, and sealed up among his treasures: To him belongeth vengeance and recompense, their foot shall slide in due time, for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste, Deut. 32. 34. 35. And surely the divisions between minister and minister, pastor and flock, is not amongst the separates but rather in the Church of England: neither do the separates despise Orthodox ministers, nor discourage them in their ministry, nor dishearten or deter hopeful plants from the ministry: But it is the monopolising Presbyters, who seek to bind all preaching in their own hands, as if none had the spirit of God to divide the word aright, but they, and such as are authorized by their patentee-licencers for preaching, even like unto those 4. Angels which John saw, standing upon the four corners of the earth, to hold the 4 winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the Sea, nor on any trees, Rev 7. 1. Therefore if it were tried and examined the Orthodox all ministers would prove to be the independent preachers, and not the Presbyterian praters, that think when they have got up in the pulpit, they may crow without control, And instead of godly ruling, fall to ungosple like railing, at the people of God, to the sadding of the hearts of their own hearers, and causing the best affected amongst them, to forsake their public assemblies of England, and go where they may be better edified, even amongst those who are by the Presbyterians pretended to be teachers of new Gospel, but as the Presbyterians do by the separates, so the Epicurian Athenians did by Paul, some said, what will this babbler say? othersome, he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange Gods,? because he preached unto them jesus, and the resurrection; Acts 17. 18. But Paul was not so as they would have had him to be, but reproved their superstition, even so the separates are not as the Presbyterians would have men think them to be, they plead not for the universal toleration of all religions and opinions, but would have all to profess and practice the true Religion (not that any religion is to be persecuted) but all rebellions prosecuted, neither do they wilfully contemn the sabbath, and month-days of humiliation, backed by the authority of Parliament, much less do they open a wide door to all profaneness and licentiousness, as these Presbyterians maliciously speak, if that were true, the hearts of the truly godly, would groan more than they do, and our brethren of Scotland would have more cause of astonishment than they have: And as for the enemies scorning and insulting, we are not to regard it, but walk so in offensively, that they may be convinced, and acknowledge the Spirit of God in us, and not aspirit of giddiness, which (if these speak true) they say the Presbyterians are given up to: And whereas these say, those look at this City as a stage of faction and herifie; that is a slander put upon this honourable City (for no better end (as may be well conceived) then to breed a combustion amongst the Citizens, by rasing persecution against honest well affected men, under the notion of independants) merely out of spite, to mischief the City, which hath been so active in defence of the Kingdom, against those rebels and traitors, and their assistants, who irriligiously scorn and inhumanly fight against both Church and State, the true Religion, and professors thereof, But herein the proverb is verified, he that walketh uprightly in his way, is an abomination to the wicked, And yet, though their distempers should grow more incurable, and the reformation of the generality of the people, every day more difficult and improbable, yet no doubt but God will have his number, in spite of all malignant opposers, the remnant shall return to the mighty God of Jacob, and he will save them, The consummation decreed shall overflow with righteousness, from God to them, which people he hath form for himself, and they shall show forth his praise, and hastily, according to their holy Covenant (when the great mountainis become a plain) complete the reformation in all the  perfections of it, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.  
Surely if these Presbyterians did but seriously consider these things they would (do, what they say they could do) even pour out their very souls in them, and be in bitterness for their sweet Saviour, the crimson blood of whose tender heart, they have spilt, by their piercing spear of persecution, and in this concerning cause of God and Religion, they would join peaceably and unanimously with the Parliaments cordial friends, against their mortal enemies, and spare neither their prayers, nor tears, nor outward estate, nor limbs, nor blood, nor their dearest lives, for the public, But endeavour in the way of holiness, highly to pro●…rte a speedy and perfect reformation in all matters of Religion, and value it above their worldly comforts, and cast out fear of all worldly crosses, and resolve rather to suffer persecution, with God's people, then persecute them, and behave themselves meckly, lovingly, and moderately towards all men. Then may they justly expect to have the favour and countenance of heaven, and to be accounted by the holy inhabitants of TSion, of that celestial number, whom God shall fully bless with complete deliverance.  
Wherefore they might do well to importune the Parliament, not for persecution, but for a public toleration.  
1 That as they tender the happiness of the miserable members of the Church of England (which these term a miserable Church) the true prosperity of this afflicted City, and distracted Kingdom, the timely comfort of all their real friends, the seasonable cure of all their deep distempers, before they grow remediless, the hastening of the Kingdom's enlargement from all its pressing distresses, its enjoyment of all contrary blessings from the Lord, the exaltation of the name of God, whose glory is now by the members of the Church of England, profaned to the dust, and their Faithful performing of Covenant and promises, they would make all possible haste forthwith to suppress by their civil sanction, all such persons, who violently break the bounds of civility, and morality, by oppressing tender consciences compulsively, against the very light and law of nature, and right reason, which being done, will be more forcible for bringing a speedy reformation, than a thousand such Synodian models these Presbyterians boast of, and say the Synod according to their wisdom have presented. And let them cause a confession of Faith [according to the word of God] to be produced forthwith, and a Catechism, according to it, that so ignorant persons may be rightly informed in their minds, and persuaded to enter into aright spiritual order, which is the readiest way to establish Church government, and not seek to settle Church government first, and make a belief and Catechise afterwards, which disorderly manner of proceeding, it seems these Presbyterians can patiently endure, yea, greedily swallow down, approve of, and justify. But away with all tenets that make way for this popish maxim, that men must believe as the Church believes, surely they are happy who are far enough from such a Church, that cannot spare time to produce a confession of Faith, lest unavoidable and desperate mischiefs should (as these say) come unto them The Presbyterians, take heed what ye do, enter not into the fellowship, before you are in the faith, lest your latter end be worse than your beginning, examine, try and prove yourselves, come not into the holy assembly, sit not down in the Lord's Sanctuary, without the wedding garment, lest the wrath of God fiercely seize upon your poor souls, and make you as miserable in punishment, as you are in sin, and bind you hand and foot, and cast you into the dark dungeon of everlasting perdition, to be tormented evermore in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb, where the victory of the Saints, shall not be the glory of sinners. Then that harlot Tyre shall sing no more melodious songs of remembrance, but shall be utterly forgotten. And all the sermons of her false prophets (which preach for hire) shall be as sentences of condemnation unto them, when the mountains and hills of magisterial power and authority shall not be able to hid or cover them from the wrath of the Lamb.  
2. These Presbyterians should not have petitioned unto men for power and authority, to confer upon the Presbyters, that which is only in the power of God. Divine right must be sought for only from God, Humane power from men in authority. The greatest men on earth can give no more than what themselves have; but these would have the Parliament to give them such a complete measure of power and authority, as may fully enable the Presbyters to maintain all Christ's sacred ordinances, in their highest splendour and purity, held forth in the word, etc. This is God's gift, and none other,— and he will give it to his Church and Presbytery, and to none else in the world. It's an inheritance which cannot be purchased by the temporal sword, all the carnal weapons in the world will not procure it: for the Lord will fight against such fighters, who instead of a holy and glorious reformation, bring a sinful and shameful defamation, adding to these distractions, more destructions, and ruinations, in whose secrets, let not the souls of the Saints enter, their glory let them not unite unto them in their impure, imperfect, and impious ways: for though the path of the just, is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day, yet the way of the wicked is as darkness, they know not at what they stumble. Prov. 4. 18. 19  
O that the Lord would open the eyes of these Presbyterians, that they may see their sin, and turn unto him, and behold that holy mount Zion, which the Lord will more and more establish upon the top of the mountains, and exalt above the hills, that they may discern the light of God, and walk uprightly therein, than they may with holy resolution say, that though they repent of their former sin, yet they shall not repine at their future do, or sufferings, in reference to the possession and practice of the glorious truths of God, But expect constancy from God to continue triumphing in his praise, for crowning his spouse with spiritual glory, and for lifting up the hearts of his Saints in these sacred things to do worthily.