THE Temple's Foundation LAID: OR, A Way for SETLEMENT OF RELIGION. Humbly Presented unto the PARLIAMENT.  
By M. T.  
LONDON, Printed by G. D. for Giles Calvert at the Black Spread-Eagle near the West End of Paul's 1653.   

THE TEMPLE'S FOUNDATION LA OR, A Way for SETTLEMENT OF RELIGION.  
Let your Moderation be known unto all men, for the Lord is at hand.  Phil. 4. v. 5. 
IN Church discipline or the affairs of the Church, it was the great expectation of the people of God, and the grant of Authority they rejoiced in, that there should be a due regard had to tender Consciences: Yet Episcopacy, Presbytery, etc. having, as they conceived, the sword of authority in their hand, made some Saint's groan, and their cry hath come up into the ears of the Almighty, who hath said, Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm: For, if ye touch them, ye touch the apple of mine eye. And having taken to himself his great power, and pouring forth his Viols of wrath, most have blasphemed and not repent, and in the confidence of their ways, have not eyed, whether Moderation hath been found in them, and that Righteous Law, Quod tibi ne feceris, alteri ne facias, (the Perspective Glass into all Laws) hath been by them neglected. And hence come Wars, Fightings, Backbitings, etc. and who knows how soon the criers of Hosannah may cry, Crucify, Crucify?  
And the ground of this hath been Zeal, (but not according to knowledge. Therefore it is necessary to consider Zeal, First, As it hath been contrary to God and his People. Secondly, As it may, and aught to be, every Christians practice.  
Zeal then considered, as contrary to God and his People, will not need much labour to prove, as having been by most of the people of God granted, and by their practice, in opposition to the Laws in force under Episcopacy, and Presbytery, made manifest. For the slying of some to New England, to Holland, and to secret Coverts, to avoid the High Commission, testifies clearly, the truth of their sufferings, rather than to conform to the Act of Uniformity. And the keeping up of the same Laws in the time of Presbytery, shows the same spirit active then.  
But it may be Octjected, That those very Ministers, that cost many vast estates, to carry and maintain them beyond the Seas, do come and enjoy the fattest live in the land now, and perform every thing those Ministers did against whom they cried, Separate, and be ye separated, and therefore it will be necessary to inquire, whether there were a true ground to separate, and whether those things, so zealously imposed, were against God and his People.  
The Tracts are many and large against mixed Communions, which to every understanding man (to whom these are intended) are so clear, that I shall forbear to to urge any more texts than, come out of her my people, and, what fellowship hath light with darkness. And my opinion is, that whosoever shall command any thing in the worship and service of God, sits in the Temple of God as God, and if he does command Tables to Altars, making of Churches and Ministers thereto, jure divino, He is Antichrist in the height, and sits in the Temple of God, against God, an Enemy ready for destruction: And whosoever obeyeth such commands is to be separated from, in it.  
But it will be Objected, That there was never any thing imposed yet, but under colour of Scripture Authority.  
To which I Answer, Their works accordingly were burnt up and they suffered loss.  
It will be Objected again, That fear of flying to high may cause a flying to low, therefore if no course be taken by Authority in Settlement of Religion, the consequences appears already to be very dangerous.  
To the which I Answer, That the most disputable points (most commonly insisted on for settling Church Government) about the visible Churches, the Ministry, and Sacraments, will not be found any ways conducing to the ends proposed. For the great advantage to the civilising of People to extirpate all viciousness, and to increase knowledge in the Scriptures, hath been the Preaching of the World, or the Saints of God giving forth their apprehensions of the Scriptures, which are the Preach of the Prophets and Apostles, and as they were sent, so by their writings do preach to the end of the world. And this present age hath been much puzzled, labouring to find out, and set up men as their successors, which prosecuted, vi & armis, with their interests, hath caused the Judgements of God, who will vindicate his own way.  
And therefore before I go to lay down that Order of Preaching or searching the Scriptures necessary for the Nation, I shall briefly set forth the true and false Ministry.  
The true Ministry seems to be held forth to me, in Ephes. 4. v. 11, 12. And he gave some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors, some Teachers, for the jointing or grafting in of the Saints into the work, of the Ministry. And the Lord accordingly hath owned the Ministry in this Land, qua Saints, and disowned and punished that which was set up Authoritatively, as an Idol, or as one having a gold ring, and as it stopped the mouths of other Saints, met in the fear of the Lord. And as the Observator upon Clement, Paul's fellow-labourer, the best piece of Antiquity in the world shows, that in his time, when there was a visible Church, a visible Ministry, etc. That even then, as he writes, omnes Sancli sunt Cleri; And the word Laicus had not to this day obtained a place in our Lexicons. It would certainly be dangerous to set up a Ministry of man's making. But as this is dangerous to assert, in these times wherein we hope better things, I am bold to adventure the danger, not knowing that I err from the most Orthodox Writers, Scriptures, or Counsels.  
As for Writers to the point of the visible Church, never any of note, or worth noting, answer Bellarmin, and the Papists, otherwise, than that it is not necessary the Church should be Visible: Willet in his Synopsis Papismi uses it, and so does Calvin, and all the chief Writers. Which seems to me a weak answer, and this day it is the first point, and only one, a Jesuit insisteth on against us, and our unhandsome dealing therein wiling to keep our Hierarchy, hath sent thousands back to Rome.  
For in truth if a visible Church (most commonly by lovers of Truth) adjudged theirs for the Channel, laboured to be cut by divers, seems to have the impregnable Alps in the way. But if no visible Church, no visible Ministry, being as inseparable as the soul from a living man. And many of our late Orthodox Writers say expressly, that the Church was invisible, as Brightman, and divers others. And the Scriptures are evident for it; for upon the opening of the seventh Seal, the Sun was darkened, the Moon lost her light, and the Stars fell from heaven, which was doubtless the ceasing of the visible Church, foretold by our Saviour in the Evangelists, to follow immediately after that Generation was passed away.  
And Scripture seems to hold forth clearly the Church to be invisible, if the Covenant of God be that formale esse of a Church, which gives the being, then as the Covenant is spiritual so is the House; for the Covenant of Circumcision was visible, if that such did show forth the death and resurrection of Christ, they were legal, and being shadows must pass away, the Substance being come. For says the Apostle, The Law hath the shadow of good things to come: by which we know, what was legal and ceremonious, which Laws and Ceremonies, the Apostle writing of them, as they were under divine institution, terms them, beggarly and weak: and if we did truly know and weigh the new Covenant, and the enjoyment thereof, we should be so fare from contesting about meats, and drinks, and days, and washings, that if there were divine institution upon them, yet to be valued no further than as to fulfil all righteousness, and not to be looked upon as serving to purify the Conscience, whereas the New Creature is All.  
And if it appear then, that the Covenant is altogether spiritual, doubtless the House is spiritual; one Holy Catholic Church, as the first, and all Counsels, worthy the name, conclude. And doubtless the Counsels of England, making those new Distinctions of the Church of England, and Parish Churches, used the word as Heathens did, or as some of our late Counsels, to be so jure humano, by which they were in a fair way to settle the Nation, but the violence of some spirits, if not self interests, that they might give law to them that made them, by a Law would be jure divino, till divine Justice vindicated his own honour.  
And if the Lords going through the red Sea, in destroying those enemies, be worthy our observation, and if so much can be said, as before, to show the invisibility of Church and Ministry, for quatenus a Saint, he is invisible from a hypocrite.  
I say then, if that Ministry of Saints under bondage, hath been so beneficial to the Nation, and the only means of good, to the ends before proposed, let true Zeal propagate it to freedom.  
Zeal then truly considered, to propagate the Gospel to freedom, admits of a Quaere, Whether it should be Coercive or not Coercive.  
To which if I should positively answer, I know my doom, the judgements of men standing on each side like Scylla and Charybdis. And because I intent to show the unnecessariness of a Coercive power, I might well pass it by.  
But if I put in a word, it may not be altogether unnecessary. I shall say then, that if the Magistrate may Coerce any civil assembling, why not this? why not a metting to read a Chapter? etc. under the same stamp of jure humano; and if upon any other account, as jure divino, to order any thing in God's worship, my opinion is, he sits in the Temple of God as God, and if he Coerce, God will grind him to powder.  
But I shall proceed to show the unnecessariness of a Coercive power, the Independent, and Anabaptist, and all Church-fellowships of the same nature need it not. The lost sheep only stand in need; and what's their cry? When will the State settle Religion? we live like Heathen; and indeed their case is sad. And if the State would but appoint them a way for acquainting them with the Scriptures, and order a Discipline for ruling their lives and conversations, I am confident the fore named fellowships would not outshine them, and thereby the Divisions in the Land, upon the account of one more holy than his fellow taken away: and only a holy emulation remain, as who should be most holy in truth. It will be necessary then, to proceed particularly in the appointment of a way for the acquainting of the lost sheep of the Nation with the Scriptures.  
The persons necessary to be employed in such a work, are worthy our consideration.  
First, If they be members of Congregations, it will break the Congregations.  
Secondly, Such as are likely to extend the appointments of Authority to a yoke, and heavily impose it, will overthrow the intended work.  
Thirdly, If the lost sheep be prejudiced against such persons, the ends proposed will not be effected.  
Fourthly, Conveniency of time and place suits not with Church-Members.  
Fifthly, The emulation to holiness is taken away betwixt them.  
Sixthly, The enlargedness of spirit to each others good, appears not in them.  
Seventhly, It may be much feared, that the precious opportunities in such meetings, will be devoured in vain janglings, and questions, about Church-form, neglecting the substance.  
Eighthly, If the lost sheep shall not partake of the Sacraments, etc. with those sent unto them, it will cause breach of love, etc.  
Ninthly, In settlement of Religion, Peace and agreement is chief to be sought, which cannot be betwixt persons so different.  
Tenthly, If persons of enlarged spirits, as Mr. Sterry, Mr. William Sedgwick, Mr. del, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Sprigg, etc. be appointed a Committee into several Counties, for putting in force the Order intended, as to time, place, persons, and the work to be done, quam facile est.  
The time most suitable will be the first day of the week.  
The place would be most convenient suitable to the persons.  
The persons intended, are one, two, or more Parishes, as those Commissioners shall see fit, wherein will be be found some 4, 6, or 8. fit for Moderators, to preserve the meeting from confusion, being wise, holy in life, knowing in the Scriptures, that whatsoever is done may be for edification.  
The Work intended, wherein the Nation would rejoice, is the reading of the accustomed Psalms and Chapters in the Old and New Testament; and I should argue, if my child loved History, as the Chronicles, so he read in the Bible, I should like it, and not doubt to be able to show him something very profitable; and if he should inquire and search after the meaning, I should rejoice in it, and think myself happy, and why not the meanest in the Nation have the same privilege, though it were good civil policy to disown such children as live disorderly. And commending the word of exhortation and instruction to the Moderators, I shall (intending brevity all along) forbear a more exact form in the Method, conceiving such persons named more fit.  
There remains, in Order to a more excellent shining of the Nation, a Discipline, which was never practised but in the nonconformable Churches, which causes their shining, but drawn forth into Questions of Church Ministry and Sacraments, by the Church of England. And the severity of that Discipline, for such questionable things, from their own mouths, runs so in their Disciples mouths, that it would make a man tremble, especially if they are in authority, that it strikes like lightning. And under this Discipline, most commonly a Heretic judgeth a Saint a Heretic: And therefore all judging for matter of Opinion I forbear, conceiving as the Apostle, That if such a one comes in he will be judged of all, and, that Truth seeks no sword for its Protector.  
The Copy of the Order to the Commissioners, and the Act of Parliament intended hereunto necessary also set down.   

The Magistrate, as Parents to Children, and Masters to Servants, aught to exhort and correct evil doers and therefore sends Letters, and gives his authority to some Deputies, Moses himself not being able to bear the burden himself.  
TO A. B. and C. D. We desire and require you to go through such a County, appointing Parishes, as you think fit, to meet the first day of the week at the most convenient place, or places, at accustomed hours, and to appoint such whose lives, in your judgement, do render them to be Saints, to read the Psalms and Chapters, in the Old and New Testament, as was accustomed to be read, and that according to their best abilities they do first of all inquire into a right understanding and meaning of the words read: And to avoid confusion, there shall be with your consent, four Moderators, or more, who may afterward give forth such instructions and exhortations as are pertinent to the said Scriptures. And we require you further to inquire into the lives and conversations of People, sharply reproving such as live disorderly, in a continued scandalous way of sinning against God: And that you leave order in writing for the Moderators of one hundred, to choose four from amongst them to go into the next hundred, every six months, Viz. June 24. and December 25. and enquiring for, and sharply reproving such as live in a continued scandalous way of sinning against God. And if after such reproof they amend not, to give notice of their names and crimes to the next justice.  

Authoritate Parliamenti.  
And whereas it is a shame that Christians should come to be judged by Heathens,  
Be it Enacted by Authority of this present Parliament, that no man within this Commonwealth, that is not adjudged a Saint, shall be of any Iury. And that the justices of the Peace do appoint a jury of the Neighbourhood to fine any person being found guilty by them, upon the Oath of two sufficient Witnesses, of his living in a continued scandalous way of sinning against God. And it shall be lawful for the said justices to mitigate the said five: Which shall be to the only use of the poor of the Parish where the Offender liveth. The fine not exceeding the fiftieth part of any man's visible Estate, or the half of his yearly Revenue. And only in default thereof a Corporal punishment.   
FINIS.