Thirty and two Extremes of these times discovered and reduced to sixteen Golden Means, tending to the reducing of Strayers the establishing of Waverers, and the uniting of Judgements and Hearts together in the Truth. Mat. 5. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers. Rom. 14. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Job 32. 9 Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged understand judgement. Old Extreme Job 27. 11. I will teach you by the hand of God, that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. Golden Mean Job 38. 2. Who is this that darkneth counsel by words without knowledge. New Extreme 1 Old Extreme. I Cannot abide to hear of your whimsical ways, and your new lights, which are so much talked of and set up now adays; for mine own part I am resolved to go on, and live and die in the old and true Protestant Religion, and do you take all your whimsical ways to yourself. 2 New Extreme. And I do so esteem of our new ways, and new lights, that I have no regard at all to any thing that is old, 2 Cor. 5. 17. considering that the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. 4. 6. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. And that God who commandeth light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 1 Golden Mean. It is not good so to adhear to any Old truth, as to cast away any clearer discovery thereof, neither is it good so to catch at any new notion as to cast away all Old truths because of a clearer discovery, Jer. 6. 16. but it is good to stand in the ways and see and ask for the Old paths which is the good way and walk therein, And yet when any clearer discoveries of that light which shineth in a dark place, 2 Pet. 1. 19 comes by means of the daystar arising in our hearts, we are not to obscure it; but yet say I to the Law, Isa. 8. 20. and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 3 Old Extreme. Well my desire is that Archbishops, and Bishops, might be restored again to their places and dignities, and that all things in the Church might be ruled and governed by them and their Officers as they have formerly been in this Kingdom. 4 New Extreme. You speak like an old simple and ignorant man, and do well deserve to be questioned for your speeches, for that were to bring the Saints of God into bondage again. 2 Golden Mean. Doubtless the constitution of a Diocesian Bishop hath no footsteps in the word of God, Luk. 22, 25, 26. and that Lording or magistratical power which they have exercised in the Church, 1 Pet. 5. 3. especially of late years, hath rather been Antichristian then Christian, and therefore we are not to desire their restoration again; notwithstanding if any one through ignorance do wish for such a thing, let us bear with his weakness, and endeavour to instruct him better. 5 Old Extreme. I wish in mine heart, that the Service-booke might be read again in our Churches as it hath formerly been, for therein as I conceive the true Protestant Religion is contained. 6 New Extreme. But rather than I would come into a congregation where any of the Service-booke is read, I would never come into congregation whilst I lived. 3 Gold. Mean. Undoubtedly the true Protestant Religion is contained in the old and new Testament, and not in the Service-book, and therefore a man may live and die in the true Protestant Religion though he never hear leaf of the Service-book read in all his life, nor one line of it be read at his death, yet rather them I would omit the hearing of the Word, I would hear much of it read. 7 Old Extreme. I wish in mine heart that every man and woman might be freely admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as formerly they have been. 8 New Extreme. But rather than I would receive the sacrament in the company of any man or woman, whom I do conceive are carnal, unregenerate, and unconverted, I would never receive the Sacrament whilst I lived. 4 Golden Mean. Surely none but such as are in the state of grace, are to be admitted unto the Sacrament of the Lords supper, Rom. 4. 11 it being a scale of the Covenant of grace, notwithstanding though I should be jealous that such a man or woman were in the state of nature, yet they being admitted by the Eldership, I should rather choose to think that they upon Examination had found more evidences of their being in the state of grace then ever I imagined, and therefore would not omit the receiving of the Sacrament because of their presence there. 9 Old Extreme. I would have all infants that are borne alive, to be Baptised presently, because I am persuaded that none can be saved which die without Baptizme. 10 New Extreme. But I say, that Believers are the only subjects of Baptism; but infants cannot believe, and therefore no infant is to be baptised. 5 Golden Mean. All elect infants shall undoubtedly be saved though they be not Baptised, for they are saved by virtue of Christ's blood, and not by virtue of Baptism, nevertheless I would have all the infants of believing parents to be Baptised; Act. 2. 39 first, because the promise is made both to them and their children. Col. 2. 11, 12. Secondly, because Baptism is come in the room of Circumcision. Act. 16. 33 34. And thirdly, because we read in the new Testament, that when the Master of the house was turned to the faith, all his whole household were Baptised, and that the household is taken for man woman and child, is evident, Gen 18, 19 Genes. 49, 8. 11 Old Extreme. I would not have any man to take upon him to preach or expound, or any way to do the Ofice of a Minister, except he be endued with human learning, and have taken some Degrees in the University, and be ordained and set apart thereunto. 12 New Extreme. But for my part I am so out of conceit with humane learning and degrees in Schools, that I could wish every Minister of the Gospel were without them; for I verily think a man cannot be a right Gospel's Minister that makes any use of them, and I would have every man to whom the Lord hath given any gifts, to take all opportunities to exercise the same either publicly or privately, whether he be ordained or no. 6 Golden Mean. The truth is, that humane learning and degrees in Schools, neither make a man a Saint, nor an able Minister of the New Testament; and yet considering that the original of Scripture cannot be attained unto without the gift of Tongues, and that in these last days the Lord doth deny men that immediate gift: humane Learning and degrees in Schools may stand a man in stead; and surely it is lawful for any gifted man to exercise his gifts privately, either in his own Family or elsewhere for the good of others, provided it be not in the time of public exercise; yea, and publicly also before he be ordained, if he intent to be ordained. 13. Old Ext. Our Minister preacheth now and then for the lawfulness of people's paying Tithes to their Ministers for their maintenance, and urgeth it very much, and I think he doth very well in so doing, for surely it is meet that Ministers should be thereby maintained. 14. New Extreme. But though your Minister, and all the Ministers in the Kingdom should press it never so much, rather than I would give a Minister a penny under the notion of Tithes, I would see him starve for lack of maintenance, for that were in effect to deny the coming of Christ in the flesh. 7. Golden Mean. I would not advise any Minister of the Gospel to require any maintenance under the notion of Tithes, because some men do take offence thereat; neither is it material whether any man give him maintenance under that notion, so he give it him, because the Apostle, or rather because the Lord by the Apostle saith, Let him that is taught in the Word, Gal. 6 6, 15 communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 15. Old Extreme. Our Minister doth well deserve maintenance, for he is a very honest painful man, continually pressing us to repent of our sins, and to do good works according to God's Commandments. 16. New Extreme. But I should like him much better if he were continually declaring unto you what is the Kingly Office of Christ in his Church, and what Discipline and Government he would have set up there. 8. Golden Mean. But that Minister is best of all to be liked, who doth chief endeavour to inform his people in the Mysteries of Jesus Christ; for though to handle the points you speak of, 1 Cor. 2. 2. be sometimes expedient, yet the Doctrine concerning Christ and him crucified, is that one point necessary. 17. Old Extreme. I am persuaded that the Civil Magistrate is to have a hand in reforming the Church, and in ordering and doing all things in the Church, for it is said, Isa. 49. 23. That Kings shall be nursing Fathers, and Queen's nursing Mothers to the Church. 18. New Extreme. I know no other Reformation that Christ requires in his Church, but only the Reformation of the heart, and I am sure the Civil Magistrate hath no power to do that; and therefore it is clear to me, that he hath nothing at all to do, neither in nor about the Church of Christ, but only about the Commonwealth. 9 Golden Mean. In the Church of Christ, besides the Reformation of the heart, which indeed is the chief Reformation, and Christ's Work only, and not man's, there is required a Reformation of Religion in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, and this the Civil Magistrate is to have a hand in, by compelling to the means, and to the external acts of Worship and Government, as you may see, Nehem. 13. 31, 32. 2 Chron. 34. 32, 33. and indeed the Civil Magistrate is to do much about the pale of the Church, as to punish the wicked, and encourage the godly, and the like; but how they are to be nursing fathers and nursing another's to the Church, is, are I conceive, a hard matter rightly to determine. 19 Old Extreme. Some men do talk very much of worshipping God in the Spirit, and not with outward forms; but for mine own part I am resolved to stick to my outward forms of hearing, reading, praying, fasting, and other such like Religious exercises, for I know no other way of worshipping God. 20. New Extreme. But I am all for the Spiritual Worship of God, and to tell you truly, I use no outward forms at all, for I know very well that God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth, Joh. 4. 20. 10. Golden Mean. As we are not to content ourselves with outward forms without the inward power, and spiritual Worship of God, so are we not to conceive, that the inward power, and true spiritual Worship of God can be where outward forms are wilfully neglected, when God calls us unto them, therefore surely he doth best that doth both. 21. Old Extreme. I am persuaded that Christians are bound to observe the Sabbath day very strictly, for we are forbidden so much as to kindle a fire on that day, as you may see Exo. 35. 3. or to gather a few sticks to lay thereon, as you may see, Num. 15. 35. 22. New Extreme. I find not in all the whole new Testament any command to keep any Sabbath at all; and therefore I do believe, that now in the days of the Gospel, every day is to be kept as a Sabba●h, and a Christian is not to restrain it to one day more than to another, nor make any difference of days at all, but all days are to be alike to him. 11 Golden Mean. Indeed the precise and strict rest of the Jews on the Sahbath Day was Ceremonial, and therefore now by Christ so taken away, that a Christian is not so bound to rest but that he may do works of urgent necessity, as you may see in the Disciples plucking the ears of Corn, and rubbing them an the Sabbath Day 〈…〉 Saviour's defending them for so doing, Luk. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. yea, and a Chr 〈…〉 also do works of mercy on that day, as you may see, Mat. 12. 11, 12. 〈…〉 st day of the week, or Lords Day, is to be kept as a Sabbath to the Lord, for surely Christ had no other reason to bid them pray, Mat. 24. 20. that their flight should not be on the Sabbath Day, but for that it would disturb and hinder them from attending upon the Worship of God. 23 Old Extreme. I cannot abide your assembling together, and your preaching in private houses, for I am persuaded God's Word ought not to be preached any where else but in the Church of God. 24 New Extreme. But I had rather hear a Sermon in a private house then in any of your Steeple-houses. 12 Gold Mean. Certainly the place appointed for Public Worship cannot properly be called the Church of God, Mat. 18. 20 for the Church of God is, where two or three, or more of the Saints of God are gathered together to worship God, nevertheless for as much as the Apostle willeth, 1 Cor. 14 40. that all things be done decently and in order; I think it meet we should assemble together to hear the Word, rather in public then in private, because it is so appointed by authority. 25 Old Extreme. There is much talk now adays about liberty of Conscience, and many men seem much to desire it, but for mine own part I know not what they mean by it, and therefore I regard it not. 26 New Extreme. Liberty of Conscience is so dear and precious a thing to me, and I do prize it so highly, that I would spend my blood rather than I would want it, for to live without it were to live in slavery. 13 Golden Mean. The Apostle, Gal. 5. 1. willeth Believers to stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free, that is, from the yoke of the Cerimoniall Law, and the condemning power of the Moral Law; and this may truly be called, Liberty of Conscience, and this we are to desire and plead for, and yet we must beware that we use not this liberty for an occasion to the flesh, as the same Apostle adviseth, verse 13. and this we shall do if we truly say with David, Psal. 119. 45. I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts. 27 Old Extreme. I have heard some men speak, as though there were a great defference to be made betwixt the Old Testament and the New, and much to undervalue the Old in comparison of the New; but for mine own part I do believe that they are both of them the Word of God, and therefore I see no difference that there is to be made betwixt them. 28 New Extreme. But for my part, I do make such a difference betwixt them that I do believe the Old Testament is utterly to be abolished, and that a Believer is to have nothing at all to do with it; for doth not the Apostle say in plain terms that the Old Testament is done away, 2 Cor. 3. 11. Heb. 8. 13. 14 Golden Mean. Indeed it is true, the Ceremonies, and the circumstantial Administrations of the Old Testament are done away, but yet the substance remains; so that we are not to imagine that the Book itself is done away, for therein is contained the Law of God, and Word of God, even the perfect Will of God, which shall remain for ever. 29 Old Extreme. Surely the Presbyterian way of Church-Government must needs be now the only way to Salvation, seeing that Authority is pleased to set it up in this Kingdom. 30 New Extreme. And I am confident that the way which they call the Independent way is the very way to Heaven, for I have been more confidently assured of my Salvation, since I entered into that way then ever I was before. 15 Gold. Mean. Assure yourselves that no man shall be saved simply, because he is under such a way of Church-Government, whether it be Episcopacy, Presbytery, or Independent, nor damned simply because he is under any of them; but a man shall be saved if he believe truly on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Joh. 3. 38. and damned if he do not, which way of Church-Government soever he is. 31 Old Extr. I would have every man constrained by Authority to conform himself to the Presbyterial Government, because it is established by Authority. 32 New Extreme. I would have all men to have liberty of Conscience, of what Opinion or Religion soever they be. 16 Gold Mean. I would have all men to have liberty of Conscience who are sound and Orthodox as touching Fundamentals, and godly in their lives and conversations, though they do not conform themselves of the Presbiteriall way, but none else. Printed at London for John Wright at the King's Head in the Old Bailey. 1647.