¥Sf* 2.^. L. 2S r* f ^' ' /y/^l ^ % ON HIS CHRIST THRONE. O R, ^ ChriftsChurch-government brief- ^ ly laid downc • and how it ought to bee fet up in allChriftian Con- gregations. Refolvcd in fundry Cafes of Confcicncc. ^ lEK. 6.16. ^^ Thus fdith the Lordr, Stand je in the rvAjes , 49d fee dttd asks ferthe eld paths, where is thef^eod way^and walkjhere^ #», andjejhallpnde refifer jour foulee , LVKE 19.27. But thefe mine Enermes , which reeu/d net that I fheuld r^ raipte ever them^ lfrm£ them hithtr andjlsy them before me. Printed in the yeare 16^0. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://archive.org/details/conformitiesdefoOOburt CONFORMITIES T) E F %^M f T Y. In a Dialogue between CONFORMITY, and COHSCIEHCE. Wherein the main Head of all the Controverfies in thcfc times, con- cerning Church- Government, is affertcd and maintained ; as without vvhich,all Reformation is headleffe,and all Reconciliation hopelefle. Dedicated by Henry B u r t o n, to tie honour of Jefus Chrift^ as rhe firft-fruits of his late recovery from death to life ; as a teftimony of his humble and thankftdl acknowledgement of fo great a mercy : And publillied for the fcrvicc of all thofe^ that love the Lord lefiis v^hrift in finccrity. Serif ture-Warnings for England, if not too late. Es A, I. 5. Why lliould you be ftricken any more ? Ye will revolt more and more ; the whole head is lick, and the whole heart faint. EsA. zp. 9, ic. btay your felves, and wonder ; Ciy ye out, and cry, They-art dnmken_,butnotwithwine5 they ftagger, but not with ftrong drink: For the Lord hath poured out upon you the fpirit of deep fleep, and hath clofed your eyes : the Pro- phets^ and your Rulers, the Seers hath he covered. Exec H. 2 z. 13, &c Son of man, fay unto her, Thou art the land that is not clean- fed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation : 1 here is a confpiracie of her Prophets in the midft thereof, like a roaring Lyon, ravening the prey. Her Priefts have violated my law, and put no difference between-the holy and profane. Her Princes in the midft rficreef are like wolves ravening the prey, to flicd blood,and to deftroy fouls, to get dii- honcft gain. And her Prophets have daubed them with untempercd mortar, feeing va- nity, and divining lies, faying, Thui fmh the Lordy when the Lord hath not fpokcn. The people of the land have ufed opprefsion, and excrcifed robbery. And I fought for a man to ftand in the gap,that I ihould not deftroy the land, but 1 found none. H0S.7. II. tphraim (fo Eng^lAiid, London) is like a filly Dove without heart; they call to Egypt, they go to Affyria. E s A. I. 2 1. How is the faithful City become an harlot ? It was fiUl of Judgement, RightcoufnciTe lodged therein, but now Murtherers. * hy filvcr is become droife, thy wine mixt with water : thy Princes are rebellious, and companions of thecves. O bomhtes, dd fetvimcm pMrati! Tacitus. O men, fitted for JIavefji ! faid Tii>mM of the Roman Senate j fo yielding he foimd their degenerate fpirits to become flaves to his tyranny. As Rome was in LivUi time, of which he faid, Tbdt ncithef the MaUdiUtVor Remedies sould be tndured : $0 ii EngUid now. London^ Printed (or Giles Cahert, at the Black Sprcad- Eaglc neer the Weft end of Pauls. 1646. j To the T^ight Honourable, The Lord Maior of the City of LO :i^T>o J\C^ Right Honourable : His Title falutes you as Lord Major ^ in relation to your Place & Office 5 which being Honourable, then much more, when true worth and vertue makes the Pcrfon Right Honour able, as in title, fo in reality ; Ochcrwife fuch ufual Titles are but empty founds, being but Civil complennents, ancf not of any Moral notion. As ic was the cuftome of the Heathen to ftyle thofc their Bcnefadors, who wert their Opprcflbrs. Chriftians (hould not ufe fuch flat- tery. For my part, I hav€ taken this boldnefTe to fa- lutc your New JLordfliip , without giving flattering titles, leji (as Elihu faid) my (Jlfaker flwddfoon /^ii'iir native Country^ the Honour of this ^jcy and- Nation > you would improve the whole power of your Office (among other evils; for the not only The Epi[tle Dedicatory. only fupprefling, but utter obliterating out of all fc* cords of memory, or mention, that late Remonfirance oi London y which like the Trojan horfe is fluffed with fuch matter,as,if the importunity of feme might hav^ its defile, would unavoidably hale in ruine both to City and Country. Nor doth any thing more clearly demonftrate th^ fpiritual Judgement of blindncfTc, and bardneffe of heart to be upon all thofe who nave their heads and hands in that Remonfirance^ and wilfully ftill pcrfift in the profecution of it now in cold blood : Than the unnatural! hating, and hunting after the deftru<^ion of thofe very men, as ©ur mortal enemies, who have with the extreme hazard of their lives, been honoured of God to be the Prefervcrs both of Them, our City and Country ^ and on the other fide, the high eilcem and honouring of thofe, as our faithfuUeft friend?, who arc part-takers with Mtarthcrcrs, with Rebels^ vvidh Traitors, Incendiaries, Undcrminers of our Parliaments, and confcquently of the State of the Kingdom,DividcrsbctweenthePaTliamentand Cicy, ^ thatthemfclvcs may reigne, ivhofc violent and frau- dulent pradifes proclaim them to be not friends, biit fuch, as in whom to put the leafl: confidence, is to truft inthe Recdof£^7/?r, whereon if a man lean, it will pierce him through. And therefore, for theiic many and weighty confide rations, both in a due re- fped to your Lord fliip,and hearty SLcal for the honour and fafcty both of Parliament, City, Kingdome^ fuller of dangers and enemies at this day, then (by reafon of that Ipirit of blindncjflc, and deep floep, wherein our City hath of late been fwectly lulled by the ftrong charms of fair falfc friends flaucrics) we arc aware The Epijlle Dedicatory. ^ aware of: I have in the name of Jefus Chrift humbly commended this fmall Book to your Lordftiip, that therein I might difcharge the duty of a poor Watch- man, to awaken you in the firft place5and conftquent- ly all of that Court and Counfel with you, to look out, and inward too, for the fpeedy preventing of all thofe imminent dangerSjWhich othcrwife will fudden- ly furprife us, and take us napping in the deep of our Kct.xr. ^oo credulous fccurity. For the Spirit of that Ten- horned Beaft is now making war with the Lamb, (which is likely to be his laft war, Babylons fall fol- K.ev.i8, lowing in the next chap,) & this Spirit warreih under new colours^ not red,but white, whofc Word is, R E- FORMATIoNy and this under a fair colour of a Cove* nanty by vertue whereof pretending a juft title to the War, he hopes,by the help of the Remcnfirmce^ and the prime authors thereofjand their adhercnts,to ered a new Beftial tyrannic over fouh,bodics & cftatcs, un^ der hew names and notions. But the ifluc is,The Lamk ftiall overcome them (for he is Lord of Lords, and King ef Kings) and they that are with him are called Chofejt and FaithfuU. And, my Lord, you fhall find in this Book, Conformity to be the Myftery of iniquity^ the mo- ther of all mifchicf, the caufe of all our prcfent cala- mities, and the forerunner and haftcner of our ruinc, if yfc repent not, & if our Lord lefus Ghrift prevent nor, which certainly he will, bec'aufe himfclf is the Great and Almighty General, whofe Caufe and Name is tnainly engaged in this warre. Now the Lord Icfus , Chnft give you the Spirit of wifdom,well to confider and lay to heart thefc things: which that you may do, is, and fliall b^ the hearty prayer of Jour Lordlhifsmofi humble fervahty HENRY BURTON. J A DIALOVGE Between Conformity and Conscience. Conformities Soliloquic. Conformity. Who is this that ccmes along ? Surely by his hahtt and gate y it fhouldbe one^ that^ according as I have often heard him defer ihed by many^ is called^ Con- fcicnce. And to be fur e^ 1 mil bef$ bold^ as tofalute him^ and ask his name. And if tt he indeed that Confcience / mean^ and that he will afford me fo much patience , / mti enter into further dtfcourfe mth him. Conformity, Ou are well met, Sin ConfcU-ce, And you alfo. (^onf. Sir. I pray you pardon my boldneflfe to crave your Name. For as I came along, I conceived from what I had heard, that you fhould be the man called Confcience, Confc. My name is Confcience. C^nf, Now I am glad of this happy opportunity to meet you, of whom T have heard fo much talk abroad in the world. Confc, ^ hy, what talk hath the world of me ? Conf, Sir, i pray you be not offended, and 1 will tell you. B Ihc 2 Conformities Deformity. The World generally faith of you, that you are the only tr ou- bleroftheState. Confc, Is it therefore true , becaufe the world faith it ? So Jhah called the Prophet Eliah, i\itTrouhltrof Ifroil : fothc Luke 13. J ewes faid of Chrift, that he was a prrverur, andftlrrer up ofthi ^'^' piople. So when this Laffibe of God, the King of the J ewes was born, H^ro^i and all J ern&lcm were troubled at it- Whyfo? Was it this King that troubled them,or their own guilty confci- cnces in ufurping this Kingdom ? Alas I Sir this is no news, that where ever the fame of this King and of his kingdom commeth, in the powerfull preaching of the Gofpel of the kingdom, it brings with it troubfe and terrour to the wOrld,or to any State. And as it was with H^r^df and the Priefts at Jerufalematthe birth of this King,fo at his death: they could not endure to hear Eufeb of this King of the Jews. So the Heathen Emperour Dow/f^^f, Eccl.Hift. o"t of jealoufie of his Empire, fought to root out the whole Race of jC H R I S T S Kindred,until two of them were brought before him that -got their living hardly in the husbanding of 'a few acres of la-nd jandunderftanding of Chrifts kingdom, that it Was altogether fpirituall and not of this world, hedifmifled them, and ceaffedhis perfecution. An example fufficientto fhame thoufands that glory in the Name of Chriftlans, and con- trary to this Heathen, cannot endure to hear of Ghrifts kingdom to be fpirituall; but under fome fair colourable pretences of Spiritualty, and Clergy, and I know not what, endeavour no- thing more then to fet up a worldly kingdom, which yet they muft ("forfoothj call Chrifts kingdom, wheain nothing it is fpi- rituall, but as it is a Tyranny fet over mens confciences, fouls, andfpirits. But fir, before I proceed any farther with you, let me alfo crave your name. Conf. Sir, my name is Conformity. Confc, Conformitf. Sir, if you be the man, I know none more ready to raife (landers upon me then your felf ; and may I not fay truly of thee, that thou art one of the greateft troublers oflfrael? For what can more trouble the world , then when thou (conformity) would'ft force all mens confciences to dance after thy Pipe. Conf Why, Mr. Confiitnce^ do not ye think that I have a confcicnce Conformities t>efomtty\ ^ eonfcience srs well as you. ? fliould I therefore be an enemy to Confcience .' But indeed , I confeffe my eonfcience is not fo ftrid, or ftrait- laced, or felf willed, as obftinately toftand upon mine own fingular opinion, in oppofition to the general! /iidgementof moft men, and thofe not only learned^ but pious too, fo far as I can judge. Confc. It feems then that ever^^ confcience by your vcrdid, muft be ftrait-laced, and felf willed, that will not follow the multitude, feeing you ground your confcience upon men for their number, learning, piety, making them the rule of yoin* confcience, and not Gods Word alone. Conf, sir I hold this the fafeft way : for I may mifunderftand the Scripture, which many learned cannot fo eafily do. Confc. This indeed is a good plea for Popery, who boaft of their Uiiivcrfality,Learning,Councel?, & Synods, and therefore Cbefidcs the Peps infallible Oracle j not eafily fubjed to mi. underftand the Scriptures. Or you are lik€ thofe Jewes, who would not believe in Chrift, unleffe the Rnlers did k>taw indttd -tj^^ thit he vf/u the very C^rijt, Or as the Pharifees faid , Have any 15.48. ef tht RfUerSy er efthe ^harifees Relieved on him ? Thus, do you not pin your faith, and fo your fouls upon mensflecves , when you will believe as moft believe, or as the Church or Nation' believes? ' - Conf^ But fir, I piit a great d ifferencc between a Counccl of learned Papifts, or a Synedrion of Jcwifh Priefts, and a Synod of leaf ncd Proteftants. Cenfc, Indeed the 'vcr^'' names of Papift and Proteftant im- port no fmall difterence ; although a Papril and a Proteftanr at large are at no great odds in matter of Faith, Confcience, Re- ligion; only fuch a Proteftant is apter to turn Papift , them Papif>, Proteftant. And take your Protelbnts at the beO, call a Synod of the learnedefi-, and highcft efteem in the worWi yet even fuch a Synod may in fomc thmgs and thofe fundamental! too, pf^fllbly runinto , and wrap thmrfelves in foul errours. (1 onf. How (ir ? iliew mc any one inftance hereof, that ever any learned Proteihnt Counfel or Synod hath erred in any ftin- damentaM of faich, or mnth le(Tehath nrwintaiiK'd futh an Error or Hcrcfie, and 1 will not henceforth be fo con^denc in depend* B 2 ing I 4 Conformities Deformity. ing and reftingupon mens judgements, be they never fo lear- ned, godly, or manvr. Cot^fc, Seeing you thus put me to it , what think yc of Jefus Chrift ? Is not he a prime fundamental! ? I Cor.?. ^^'^f' ^^ doubt, for he is the only foundation: Per othsr II. foundation c An no man Uj, Confc, Is not Chrift then as well in his three Offices (as he is King, Prieft, and Prophet ) as in his two natures united in one Perfon of the Eternal Son of God, a fundamentallof faith, fo * I Job.4. as, as well he that denieth any one of his three Offices , as * he ^* that denieth that Jefus Chrift is come in the flefti , is an Anti« chrift and grand Heretick, as overthrowing a principall founda- tion of faith? Conf\ 1 conceive this cannot well be dcnyed. Confc, Nay, of neceflity it muft be believed. For the Papiftj in joyning their Traditions with the Scripture, deny Chrifts Prophetical! office ; and in equalling their Satisfadions with Chrifts merits, they deny his Prieftly Office ; and in exalting their Hierarchy fcall it Papal!, or Prelaticall, or Sacerdotal!) * Theff. 2. * over the Temple of God, mens confcicnces, they deny Chrifts. 4- Kingly Office : AH wliich Officestogether, or any one of them; ^ Joha 1. jj^-jjg denied ; is, * with Antichrift, to deny, that Jefus is the Chrift ; feeing the Chrift is he, that is anointed Kingy Priefty znd Profhttf of which to deny any one, is to deny that Jefus is thf Chrift, Do ye not believe this, Mr. Conformity ? Conf. I confeffe there appears to me a truth to be in all this. But yet, Mr. Confcience, 1 hope yo\x do not go about to en- fnare me with mine own confeilions. Confc. Why Mafter Conformity , are you confcious to your fclfe, that while you confeffe the truth, the truth * John 8, (hould enfnare you? Certainly the bonds of * truth willing. 3^' ly taken upon us, become the robes and livery of our true free* dome. Conf, Sir;takemenotatthe worft; I would not willingly- utter words to my prejudice. Confc, Speak the words of truth then, and fear nothing. Conf. Well fir , proceed then to what you have more to fay. Confc. Conformities Deformity. < Confc, I fay then, that to deny any one of Chrifts Offices (as afore) is to overthrow a Foundation of faith. Conf, I grant it. Confc, Hereupon T jnferre, that it is poffible for a learned Synod of Proteftant Divines to deny one of thefe three Offices, and fo to ovenhrovv a foundation of faith. Co*tf. Though it be pofTible, yet it is not probable. But fir, remember what ye undertook, namely, to prove by inftance, that a Proteftant Synod of Orthodox Divines hath thus erred. Confc, Nay ftay, N^r. (^onfrmin, remember your lelf well : Did I fay, a Prottftant Synod of Orthodox Divines ? For how Orthodox, if they overthrow a foundation of faith ? then they ceafe to be Orthodox. Conf. Well, however, yet they might in other fundamentals be Orthodox. Confc, But in any one fundamental! to be Heterodox, is to ceafe to be Orthodox, and, obftinately perfifting, is hereticall. Conf. I confeffe, that any one Herefie maintained, makes a man a Heretick, hold he otherwifc never fo many truths, and fo he overthrows the faith, as thofe did who * denyed theRefur- * i Cor. region, though all other truths they held. But fir, all this while '^* I cxpcdyour proof or inftance , that a Synod of Proteftant Di- vines fhould fall into any fuchfoul errour, or herefie, as (hould overthrow the foundation. Confe, Mr. Conformity, for inftance we need not go beyond the feas, or over our Englifhbounds tofetch it. What if the generality of the Viaifters and people in England be found to be wrapped in fuch a deftru(5live Herefie ? 1 call it deftruftive, ufingthc * Apoftles word, where he faith, That thtrt fbaUhe *»?«.». fa/fetea(h€rj Among (7c^/;'^#p/r,whol'hall cunningly bring in^- ^^-^ ftrrying Herrfies, And what are thefe ? Even denying the Lord '^ "^/^ that hoHght thrmf bringing upon themfelvis * fvfift dcfi uUion, f^xf^r^s Ard. muny fhaH (0110"^ thtir dcftruUive wrtyes^ or their dtftrnUt-. viftittes. cnSy by v^hom the "^ay of truth /hall he * evili /p'>ken of, or bUfthe- * ^ct}ivljj med. A Prophefic f by the way) which if well weighed, and ^'^^'J'^' rightly applyed, may be found to be in a great meafurc fulfilled *^^^,\^^^' in thelc our times. For here is firft a deftrudlve , or (as our ^i^^cltat' commonTraiiflationJ damnable Herefie. Secondly, this Herefie ^«^/n^^ is. As thofc infamous books of Tko. Ed- wards and Icbn Baft- VPtcfi, too tfclknown to all. Sotm ni- mk omnib. Horar. Conjormittes Veformity. is, in denying the Lord Jcfus Chrift. Thirdly, here is z-mafiy fol- lowers. Fourthly, among this many there be fome at leaft^ who have their mouthes open in Pulpits, Streets, Tables, and their Quils in Preffes, in Pamphlets, blalpheming, fpeaking all man- ner of evill againft the way of truth; even that way of truth, which holdcthforth,confe(leth,profeffeth, maintaineth (againft all the worlds reproaches^ Jefus Chrift in that very particular, wherein he is at this day lo mightily decried, and denied hyfalj'e Teachers and their followers. Nor can any Age, as touching this one particular, be paralleld with this of ours for Pens and Tongues of blafphcmy ; laftiing out, and running over all the bounds and banks, notonlyofChriftianity, but even of com- mon modefty and humanity fas men bereaft of their wits j and all this againft the aflertors and maintainers of the Kingly Office of Jefus Chrift. And laftly, a deftrudive Herefie, in that not only it deftroyes foules , but is in a precipice to deftroy King- doms, to fuch a height of rage it is now grown. . Cenf, But Mr. C^fiience, what means alltliis ? What ? In that your generality, do you charge us all. Synod, sion, City, Countrey, as lying under the guilt of (Lich an Herefic ? ^hatif All denying the Lord Jefus Chrift ^ Confc, Mr. (Conformity , cannot a man fpeak of a generality, but he muft needs name particiUars ? And you know that gene- rals have their exceptions. And when a generality is mentio- ned, let all particulars look to it. But what if there be a gene- rality, and that of Proteftants (fo called) in the land, which will be found to overthrow Chrifts Kingly Office ? Conf, What if, fay you ? what if the sky fall ? Nay I dare fay,yea, and fwear too, that not any one of this generality you m«an, doth, or dare deny Chrifts Kingly office and prerogative. I have often heard them in publick to. give Chriit the title of King, and to fpeak of his kingdom ; and they every where con- fefle and profelTe him to be King of his Church. So as fuch a charge would argue as much malice, as untruth. Cci0/c. And I nave heard them fay as much as you fay. But is faying fufficient ? Yea, 1 have heard them. fay, 7 hat ail Church- nttmh4,rs mujhbe^ Saiyits: thut ail Clourchrs he eqteaiy& none have JHrijd^tlim ^vt^Jothcr : thof (Jedi i^ord H tht only rptie of Refar^ maiion : Conformities Deformity. 7 matioft: and many fuch principle's about Churches they confefle in words. So, C/rr//? to he King3\it if this be all,it may prove lit* tie better,then the Jews putting a furfU robe upon Chrift. with z^crOTPH of thorns on his loea^^zni. a reed for zfcefter in his han^^ with Hail Kiff^ of the fewes j but for all this, cnicified him ; fo that you confefle Chrill to be King , andcrucifie his true fub- jcfts Again, you know the Pharifces faid many things well, but they did them not. And doth not the Scripture ^ak of fuch as * p^cf'ffe thfy ("i^.^W God, hut in works deny h'.m ? Whence * Tit. i. id we obfcrve a twofold denial] of God : one in vfprds^d>i another in deedf. Now I do not fay, that the generality doth in words deny Chrifts Kivgly office : but this 1 affirm, that /» ^or\s they deny him* Conf, Sir, how do you prove that ? or how doth that Scrip- ture reach to thofe you fpeak of? Confc. A queftion opportunely put. And therefore if you turn to the 14& 15 verfes immediately foregoing , you may Tit.1.14, obferve what manner of perfons thofe were, whom the Apoftle M. there Ipeaks of, and upon what occafion. For that Chapter being to fet forth the office of a Billiop or Paftor of a particu- lar Church or Congregation, and how he fliould be qualified and gifted, and the Church governed; the Apoftle willeth Titm to warn the Chriftians , Not to give heed to leyvipj fables and comm an dements of men, that turn from the truth. Where he xz.vksi\itcommandements of ffien in C'hurch-matters,manners, and government, ^ith lewifh fables, as which do turn men away from the truth, and fo from Chrift, as he alfo flieweth at large, O/.258. 20.22. and throughout the whole Chapter. So as to fet up the Commandcmtnts of men in formes of worfhip, or of Church-government, being Chrifts fpirituall kingdom, is to fe- parate m^n from thrift, {Cd.i.ip.) and to make thcmunbt' lievingy (Tit. 1 . 1 4.) and impure in minde andconfcience, V.l 5 . yea, abominable and dif obedient, and unto every good reork^ re- probate^ Verf. 1 6. All which I commend to your more fad and ferious confideration, Maftcr Conformity, .. Conf. I confcffe this is a terrible Scripture to thofe that lye under the condemnation of it. But I hope thofe whom you mean , are no fuch men : for firft, you confefle they deny not in words 8 Conformities Deformity. words Chrifts Kingly office : and for any deniall in works^you have not yet proved, nor I hope can. Confc. I have nothing to do with your hope. But whereas you would make it my confelfion , that they deny not in words Chrifts Kingly office , neither doe I abfoiutely confefle fo much. For though I confeffe I have heard them upon occafi« on (being put to it) in words to confeffe Chrift to be King of his Church : yet I have heard them again fay, and have read it in their books, and they maintain it tooth and nail, that Chrift hath left the forms ofworlliip and Church government unto men, to be fo framed as ismoft fuitable to the conditions of the people, or the laws of eacli State, binding all the fubjeifls thereof (and that under fevere penalties) to an univerfall con- formity, or uniformity. Cotff, Why fir, hach not Chrift left that power ^nd liberty to thofe that are in authority ; as Synods, to frame and com- pofe forms of worfhip and Church- government , fuch as they judge fitteft. having an eye to the Scripture, and the civill Ma- giftrate to confirm the fame by law ? Confc, The Pope indeed arrogating to himfelfall power in Heaven and Earth over Churches and Kingdoms , makes his *Mat.i^. ^la^i^ fi"on^ Scripture. As * Thou art Petir^ ^c. Therefore i8. his fucceffor, the Topey is the Rock , whereon the Church is built. So, here are t>^ofwords : therefore the F^p^hathpowct ^Lukezz of both the/«'^r^/. So,* The Helj GhofiJhallleadyoHintoall iK truth: Therefore the Apoftolick Chair at i?<7w^ cannot erre. * John i6. j^ere Mr. Coyformitj^ caft your eye a little upon the Scripture, '^* and fee there what one place you canfinde to ferve your turn, that hath any more likeneffe or probability in it , for what you claim, then thofe places which the Papifts are not afhamed to build their Babel-lowre upon. You have talked much oijure U)ivinffy but are not able to crane it up higher then to ^/ir^ ffumnno : and therefore , 1 uippofe it is , that of late dayes, fince the Houie pui their nine ,^r> .- r to the ^ynod, the mention of fare Dtvirn is quite hufht. AninoW oafcicnce challengeth you to produce but one teftimony from Scripture for you, which Will not make you as ridiculous, as the forcnamed Scrip- tures do the i'ope, /\nd for .-.yiiods, they have no fuch authority as Cofiformkres Deformity. as you fpeak of. Give us one Scripture. That in e^f^/ i ^. will not fervc your turn. And the Apoftlcs fought not to humane authority, and laws, to confirm the Gofpel^or to give power to the cxercife of their miniftery. Conf. Why Mr. Confcienc9^ you your felf cannot (hew us from Scripture a model of your way, though promifed , and long cxpeded ; and therefore why (hould you require one of us ? Confc, We do not require fo much of you,but to fhew us one only place of Scripture for you, which you cannot do. And fir us, though we do not give you fuch a model, as you dcfire, or rather dream of ffor no fuch model is left in the New Tefta. ment, as v;as given to Mofrs and Davidin the Old ; which con. fifted altogether of externall things, being (hadows of the fpi- rituall now under the Gofpel , t^e pattern whereof was Chrift. But this we both have done, and yet further are able to do, to prove our way, with all our pradifes in every particular, out of Gods Word, which you are not able to do for any one of your pradices, much leffe for the whole way of your Claflicall Pref- bytery , as which hath no footing in scripcure. For ( becaufe you thus urge me) iTiew us, if you can, in all the New Tcflament, any one National 1 Chriftian Church. Or fhew us any one ground for either Nationall or Parochiall Chriilian Churches,or yet any Church fixed to a place, fo that all people fucceflively comming to dwell there, be they what they will, godly or pro- phane, Protcftantsor Papifts, becaufe inhabitants there, muft therefore make up the Church there, whether Nationall or Pa- rochiall. Or Qiew us that Churches ihould comebynaturall propagation, or locall habitation and fuccefllon, and not by fpirituall generation only. Or ihew us in Scripture either rule or example for a Claflicall Presbytery. Or lliew us in the whole Scripture a Stare church government allowed of God. Or (Lew us out of the Word , that the Apoftles conflituted no Churches without leave obtained from the civill State. Or whether thofc Chriftian Jews that conftraincd the GuLtUm to dc cirtumcifed, for the avoiding of perlecucion, did well or no, io to conilrain, and that onlv to avoid perfccution : or whether this example will wauant you to conftrain all to conform to you j cither be- C caufe 10 Conformities Deformity. caufe conformity is free from perfecution, or b^caufe all muft ht pcrrecuted5that conform not. Or laftly, fliew us, what bet, ter rule or example the f'cripture affords, for wrefting from the Magiftrate through the force of importunity by men both many and mighty, ftirred up and egged on by a CoUedge of Priefts, to rejed Chrift and his government, and deliver him up to their vvils to be crucified , then that CoUedge of Priefts in Jeru- falem, who fo incenfed the people againft Chrift ,jhat nothing would fatisfie them, but he muft be crucified ; fo as the Magi- ftrate is neceflitatcd even againft his confcience , what through fear ofCafar on the one fide, and what for favour of the peo- ple on the other, to gratifie them with a Barabbas in ftead of Chrift. Now to all, or any of thefe, we defire your anfwer. Conf, Sir, I only urge this foi* the prcfent , that though the Scripture hath not expref!ed a power given to men by Chrift, yet we findc examples of it in the Old Teftament, as fehofaphat^ Ezeki^hy lojiuh, A/a, Kings of Judah, w'ho reformed Religion, and are commended for it as good Kings for their labour. Confc. They did not fet up any ne.w forms of Religion of their own head, but they commanded the Priefts and Levites to reftore and repair Religion in all things according to the pre^ fcript, and precife pattern given by God himfclf. And note withall, that the kingdom odudah or o^David, was a type of Chrifts fpiritual kingdom,ind all the Kings of Judah were types of Chrift. So as no other Kings or States are to be paralleld with them. But yet {I fay) for all that , they went not beyond the precife rule of Gods law , as you may fee by all thofe ex- amples you alledge. For Chrift gave thofe Kings, though types of himfelf, no fuch power, as you pretend. Yea, the Scripture every where, in both the Teftaments, hath pundually preferved inviolate and entire^that Kingly prerogative of Chrift, as being as incapable of being communicable to any humane power, as his omnipotcncy is, or his other offices, as High-Prieft and Pro. phet. For proof hereof : c^c^yr j for all his wifdom, and learn-' ing, and'piety, though he were a great Prophet, and a type of Chrift, yet had not this power granted unto him, to frame the Tabernacle^ with all things pertaining thereunto, as himfelf pleafed; but a ftrid charge God gave unto him^ faying. See thoH Conformities Deformity. w thou do alt * things according to the fattirne fhewtd thee in tht *Exo.2j. MoHnt, So T>avidy though a King, and a man after Gods own ?o. heart, yet was not entrufted for the framing of the pattern of Heb.S.y. J the Temple for his fon Solomon^ but * God gave him the patient * ^ chro" thereof both by the Spirit, and in writing (io carefidl was God, zS.i 1^19! left David fhould forget any thing J which he delivers to his fon Solomon to do in all things accordingly. So in E^kielyNZ rcade, Chap. 45, where the reformation of the Church under the Gofpcl is typed, 10. there is a pattern to be meafured, as £^^40.5. to which, an- fwereth that in Kev, i i.i . a place worthy our beft obfervation, as pertinent to thefe times of Reformation, which muft be mea- fured by the golden reed of the Word of God. And for any the leaft dominion over the confcience by any humane binding Jaw in matters of faith, Chrift would no more entruftthe Apofties themfelvesjthen he did Mofes and "David, And there- fore * Paml difclaimed it. And * Peter diffwaded it to the Pref- >* 1 Cor.i: byters or Elders, being himfelf an Elder. And herein even fer- 14. vants muft not be fervants to men, as being bonj^ht ^ith a price, "^ ^ ^*^*^ ^ndfo chrift s free-men. And remarkable is tSat* Scripture, 1*^ ^^^ where Chrift, fpeaking to the multitude, and to his Difciples, 2g. he tels them of the Scribes and Tharifeejiitting in Mofeschatr^ * Mat.zj. and io to be heard : but when among other their pradifes they hinde heavy hnrthens , then and there he faith , C^U no man Fa^ ther upon estrth ; that is, therein obey them not , that's for the wuftitudei And for the Difaples^ Be ye not ca&ed R^bbiy for one u your Mafier^ even ^hrifl; And that no man hath power over anothers confcience, the Apoftle (heweth, fpeaking to the very fame purpofe ; ivho art thorn that jud lufall of him to be their King , was hatred of him, and fo to rc- fufe him, is to hate him. Thirdly, the manner of their rcfufall. I. Thejfent a menage after him (as the vulgar "{ranflation ren- ders 14 Conformities Deformity. ders itj but the Originall is, They fent ts^ia^iiA^^ anambA^agt after him , which is more then a meffag-* It miift be done by a publick a(3: of State, to make all cock- lure. And 2. the matcec of the Ambaffage, fVe ^ill not have this man, or thufeilov^ *yiix.i6. (* 7«7o;/) this, noting their contempt of him. Andthereafon ^^' hereof was their mil^ We wiH not. But what was the iflue? » - *^*^ read, and mark it, v. 27. Where Chrift not long after returns ia judgement againft them,w^^ he executes by thofe very Romans, whom they fo feared, to whom he gives this commiffion ; Ent thofe mine enemies that wonldnot that I Jhould reign over them, bringhither^ and Jlaj them, &c. Which was done accordingly. Conf. But good fir, neither are we as thofe ten Tribes under aq idolatrous government ; nor as thofe Jews, under a Roman Governour, with a Synedrion,or (^otenfel ofPriefis^ Scribes and ' Bk^rifees : but we live in a happy time, under a Frotefhant Go- . vernment^ a Trotef^ant Parliament^ a Protefiant Synod : and therefore there is no fuch danger by allowing fuch a power to ipen, as you pretend, ., (^dnfc. Although the prefent State be Proteftant, yet you |re not fure it will be alwayes fo. What if a ^#sr/avid Conformities Deformity. 1 5 DmvU, nor the Apoftle?, with a power in fetting up what forms of worfhip & frames of government they pleafed, though they were both wife and faithfull, and free from all private ia*. terefts, in feeking themfclves^to become Lords Paramount: Can we finde in any age of the world, trow you,eithcra Parliament or Synod, whereof all the Members , yea, or the greater part, are fuch as Mofes^ IDdvi^, and the Apoftles were, fo as to be cntrufted with fuch a power? And in cafe this State (houldaf- fume to it felf fuch a power (^as we fpcak of j fo as to ena^;^ law to binde all to conformity; either you muft produce ibme Scripture authority for it, that the Parliament may be fatisfied qu»jurey and that it is Jure Divino as they require of you , and which you have promifed,but have not performed it: Or in the mean time give me leave to put \t unto you, or to the founded judgements, how yon can clear your felf from falling under that marvellous judgement of God, which we finde in EJaj 2^. The matter was v. 1 3. Tloat their fear towards God "^as tnu^ht hy tht precept ofmetti 1 hey had fct up a worQiip of God according to the preeept of men. This was all. And is this, in your judgenKnt, nothing ? But what They, were they, that did this ? Surely, the ^rcphetf. Rulers, and Seers. What ? the Guides and Leaders of the people ? How came it to pafle ? The Lord faith there fas a matter of wonder, and to be proclaimed by alowdcry) that tJeej were drunker^ btit net ^ith ^ine, andfiafrgered, hut not with f^rong drin)^', and that the Lord hddclcfedthtir ejes^a*idpcured upon them the fpirit ofdeepjlrep t/.p,! o.so aS; neither the learned nor unlearned, could imderffcand thevifion, v.i 1,12. And all rheir religion is turned into hypicrifie, v. 23. Forafmuch,^ r /j/ir f'ear towards Gcd "^as taugh tby the precept ofmen.Y'OX a religioi) of humane inftitution is hy^pocrifie ; while pretending ^owor;. fliip and fear God, they fear and woriLiipmcn, which is both hypocrifie and idolatr}^ And what's the liluc of all this? v.14. Therefore beheld, faith the Lord, I Will proceed to d-j 4 mirvelLud wcrk^among thi4 people, even amArvellous wo>\andawoijdiin\ For the wtfdom of their W'ife ntenfhall perijh, and the under ftand* ing (j their prudent men foali bt hid, Cotif. And what of all this ? Corfc, What think you of itj Mr. Conformity ? Is here no- thing that concerns you ? Conf, 1 6 Conformities Deformity. C^nf. Nothing that I fee. Confc, See ye nothing of all this ? And arc you not then in the number of thofe, whofe eyes are clofgd^ ttnd on rvhom the Lord hath poured theffirit of deep (leep ? Conf, But do ye not know, that this was a Prophcfie fulfilled many hundred years agoe, even in E fay's time by thofe of Jeru* falem ? How then can you apply it to thefe times ? Confc, Though it was then flilfilled, yet it is written for our learmng,and to admonifti us, upon whom the ends of the world are come. And the fame Prophefies may have liindry fulfillmj^s upon the like occafions. And for application of ir,l only made it a ^uere^ howyoucould acquit your felf from having it verified of you in thefe times. Conf» But the Prophefic making mention of the Prophets^ Rulers y Seers of Jerufalem, as drunken and bltnde j all that I can apprehend hereof is, that you thereby mean the Prophet f^ Rulers, Seers of this famous City , and perhaps alfo (to Ipcak more plainly) the Parliament, Synod, Sion.Colledge, the Com- mon- counfel,&c. For who are the Prophets^ or %ulers^ or Seers^or who are the learned and wife men, but thefe ? There- fore Mr- Confciencei deale ingenuoufly with us, and ipcak no more in the clouds. Confc, What Mr. Conformity^ would you have me to doe here, as you do with your Parifh people, when you mingle all together at your Sacrament ? What ? good and bad ; thofe of the Militant, and others ofthe Malignant Church together ? I would have you to know , that I put a difference between the Parliament on the one fide, and, the Synod, Sion-Colbdge, Goriimon counfel, on the other; And Secondly, among all thefe I put no fmallodds, between the truly wife and prudent that truly fear God, and thofe that are felf- wife, or worldly- wife. And thirdly, I put a difference between Sion-Colledge, and Common counfel la as between Seers and not Seers, between the leaders, and the led. Nor fourthly, do I apply the forefaid Scripture to any one jn particular ; but my delire is. that every ^ one m all thele Coinpanies , would by due examination of him- felf make the application. For it is a mater of high concern- ment. And for their better diredion herein. Firft, Let all thofe that Conformities Deformity. t^ that by LettfrSy T^ttitionty Remonfl-ranas, C9mpliancefi Conff derdcifSy Connfeh^ fccret and open, noifhirnall, and diiiraall, do wring blood out of the late Covenant ; by prefling, importu- ning,*' and plotting, the fctting up and eftabliOiing by a law, {uch z£orm of Chffrch-^rovernment, IVorJhify Difcipiine, as not only is the higheft affront, and difhonour to C hrift, but necel- farily tends not only to the enflaving of the peoples confcien- ces, but to the undoing of this whole Englilli Nation, by vaOfal- lizing it to vileft of men, apply it. Secondly, Let all thofe who 2. would have our vidorious Army in all the haftc disbanded, be- fore our peace be well fetled, and our land cleared from the one end to the other of all thofe dangers which do threaten it , by the treacheries offo many malignant enemies, who carry two faces under one hood, and do but watch for fuch an opportuni- ty to wreck their envie and malice upon us , which the only ter- rour of our Army hindreth, holding them at a bay ; apply it. Thirdly, Let all thofe who with fuch violent and potent im- 3. portunity do preffe the Parliament for an Ordinance, to bring themlelves and the whole Land under the greateft fin of unna, turali, inhumane,and more then heathenifh ingratitude, impiety, injuftice, cruelty, by not only difhonouring, difcountenancing, abafing, as the vileft out-cafts , thofe men , who have not only, freely laid out their eftates, but even prodigally, if not prodigi- oufly, to wonderment, hazarded, yea poured out their deareft life-blood ; but alfo (as if they would defpight GodJ by tram- pling upon thofe whom he hath highly honoured , and not fuf^ fering them to breathe in their native aire, by whom vVe yet breathe j and by making them underlings and ofF-fcouringsof the land , who have been the prefervers of it, and that they Oiould be defpicable in their own mother countrey, whom fo many glorious vicflories have made admirable to the neighbour Nations, yea, to the whole world; and terrible to their pro, fefl'cd enemies, and ours ; yea, and to pretended friends too, who would maftcr us at home, were not'thefe mafters of the field : So as God having thus made them the great inftruments of the prefervation and deliverance ofour Countrey and City from the moll defperutc, bloody, and beftiall enemies that evier the Earth bred, or Hell hatched; enouoh to have for ever D obliged ^S Conformities Deformity. ever obliged a people of any ingenuity, & not wholly given up toteftifie their approbation at leal>, and congratulation of that great favour & honor God hath vouchfafed to caft upon them .* and'that as he hath crowned them with fo much glory, and they have caft their crowns at the feet of the Lambe that fits upon the tl>jone : So thcfe fhould come, and firft, giving all the glory to . God, gather up thofe crowns, and fet them upon the heads of thofe their prefervers and deliverers , and put chains of gold a» bout their necks ; fo far off lliould they be from trampling fuch Pearls under feet, or cafting them out of our gates and ports ; that they might Solum ve^tere , fpend the remainder of their life in fome inglorious exile, to the eternall infamy of our Eng- ^' Hfh Nation ; let thefe apply it. Fourthly y let all thofe, who endeavour by their ftrong fadions to make wide breaches, be- tween Parliament and City, between Houfe and Houfe, yea, between Cods bleiling and this Land, which was wont of old ^^Flla ^^ ^^ called Gods kingdom ; and io by thefe breaches would 'Rmuhd. ^^^ ^^ again our bainfull enemies. Let all thefe, thefe fifayj Poiydor. make the application to themfelves ; while as they have wrefted Virgil, out of the Alagiftrates hand a form of worfhip and govern- Cbfon, ment, and fo, as it is eftablifhed by the precept of men : fo God hath deprived them ofwlfdom and underftanding, while they would pull upon their own heads, and upon the Land, the guilt of fo much innocent blood of fo many hundred thoufands both in Ireland and Enjjrland , to be made the footftooll of a bloody Tyranny ; and while their eyes are fo clofed up, as no charmc, be it never fo wife, can make them either to hear^ orfee, or ««- dcrfidftdy or their brains, or bowels, to be fenfible of all thofe notorious and palpable outrages, rapes and robberies, violence and oppreflion , extortion and exadion in the land , even at noon day , unworthy affronts done to our Parliament by fcdi. tious fpirits ; or of all thofe cryes and complaints of fundry Countries and Counties , and no redreffe, no juftice, as if Goi had now forfaken us & left us as a filly Dove without heart,full of flavifh and degenerous fear of fhadows,forgetting the mighty God that hath done io great things for us, and will do more, if we by faith ftill depend upon him : And although the faction is ftill working, and machinating the mine of this Nation (if our Conformities Deformity. ^9 our God miraculoufly prevent not) yet the god of this world harh fo blinded the eyes of thefe men, through the jnft /udgc- mcnt of God, that they fee nothing at all hereof, but are them- felves the main fomenters, abettors, countenancers, promoters, advancers, encouragers, and helpers on of thofc, that hope to be the inftruments of our ruine. So ftrong is the poyfon of this one fm, h^^pocrific, and Idolatry^ in teaching and letting up a fear or vforjhip towards Godhy the precept of men ^ which, as it is a removing of the heart fromGod , fo it caufeth him to remove his Spirit from us,and to give us up to fuch a fearfull * dementa- * "S^' ,. tion, as IS the forerunner of dellrucbonr And, Conf.rmitj^iii^^j^ f^^ thou haft any of thy right fenfes left, confidcr ferioufly with thy prm' de- felf, what that religion is, which turns men out of their very na, menm, turals, to become brutifh, and worfe then Heathens j and which the Holy Ghoft brands for hypocrifie, then which, nothing is m.ore abominable in the fight of God, Certainly, the true Re- ligion and Do(flrine of Chrift produccth no fuch fruits as thofe fore-mentioned are ; asTreafon againft the State, unnatural. neffe towards our native cpuntrey, unthankfulnefle towards our beft deferving friends, our Benefador?, our Prefervers : yea, injufticc and cruelty towards them, facftious plottings and un* derminings, hatred of thofe that be good, enmity againft thofe that are the friends of Chrift, and fo perfccutionofthewayof Chrift, deftroying of Chrifts kingdom , by fetting up a worldly kingdom of men, * having aformofgodliyie([ei hnt denying the *2.Tim.jI poXiper thereof ; yea, and feeking to overtop theSupream Power. 5. Are we not then(as the Apoftle admoniflieth and commandeth) to turn arvay from JHch} Cvnf. Nay here, Confcience^ I have you upon the hip. For, Fiift, how do we feck to overtop the Suprcam Power. And Sccondly,who doth more go about to overtop the Civil power, then you, while you fct up a Religion without it, and above it ? C'jnfc, Firft, For you : Do you not feck to overtop the Supreme Poyver^\s\\\\^ you would havc your Church-government to DC framed after the pattern of that, which fees up a Power (called a Generali A^emblj) above the PuW'ercfPariiaments f Now the fuprcme power in tngland, is the Parliament ; {o as jto fet up a iiipcrior power over this, is to overturn the very Fun- D 2 da mental 20 Conformities Deformity. damental laws of the Kingdom. And this you labour tooth and nail to do, while nothing will ferve you,but the Scotifh church* government. I wifli you would all confider well of it, and be- ware of falling into a Prentunir e^'if you be not deep in it already. And I could wiili it were well weighed by the wifeft, and thofe in higheft place of authority j whether the importunate preffing of the Covtnant^ for Uniformity, in the Scotifli fenfe, tend not to undermine and overthrow the liberty and priviledges of the fubjeds of Fngland, when once a fuperior power therein, con. fifting of more Clergy- men, then of Lay, is predominant over the Parliament of England ? And fo much the rather, when we read and confider their own publique and authentique Books of their Kirk- government, Orders, Difcipline, Confeflion of faith, &c. wheremthey give to their General or National AfTcmbly fupreme power, not only over their Parochial, Claflical, and Provincial affemb lies, but even over the Parliament it felf. For not only they take the power to appoint both time and fUce for the convening of their Ecclefiaftical affemblies C as 2. Book^ of DifcifUneychaf.j.) But they fay moreover in the fame chap. "For this Orders caufe, they may make certain Rules and Con- ,"ftitutions,appertaining to the good behaviour of all the mem- *' bers of the Kirk in their vocation.] And this they do without the Civil Magiftrate. Nay more, rib<«^.^*^#^. 'They have power •* alfo to abrogate and abolifli all Statutes and Ordinances con. " cerning Ecclefiaftical matters,that arc foimd noyfome and un- *' profitable, and agree not wish the time, or are abufed by the *< people. And again in the fame book, r)b^^. 1 2. The National •* Aflemblies of this Countr^r, called commonly the General ** Aflemblies, ought al waves to be retained in their own liberty, 5* and have their own place ; with power to the Kirk to appoint ** times and places convenient for the fame : And all men, as *' well Magiftrates,as Inferiors, to be fubjed to the Judgement ** of the fame in Ecclefiaftical caufes, without any reclamation, **orappellation to any Judge civil or Ecclefiaftical within the ,at "Realm. Thus in reference to the Spiritualty, or the Church ai Stintu they make no bones to fet up in their National Afiembly the ^' ^- fame Papal power^which the Pope himfelf claimeth, over Kings •Princes, tates,Kingdonis,Commonweals, AndMr.RnthfrforJ^ in Conformities Deformity. 21 in his* Government of the church of Scotland, chap.20. p.311. *Andiftlie tels us, " That though none in this grand afl'embly have decifivc ^rl^'^furthe* "voyces, fave only Commiflioners : yet the Ads of the Af- fatif^aion, " fembly obHge all the abfents.not prefent in all their members; nj^JI^fto and that becaufe, whatfoevcr is by thofe Commiflioners deter the wi c) milled and concluded, is w^ffrrwrffjf^r;, and agreeable tg Gods Ihc^'j^te"*^ jpjr^;as being no leffc infallible,then thofe decifions of the Apo- book, enti- ftles,/4^.i5. All whichfCow/cr/i^fVy;! commend to thee, when rloinl^.'fs in thy bcft fenfes. And becaufe thou art apt to be overtaken •ftheTref- with a fupine drowfines, pleafing thy fe If with thy dreams of be- tC»;^fnf1" commiug a King, when once thou art gotten up into the faddle nnb^yvtUtd, or throne of a Kirk- National- Affembly : let me awaken thee by pricking thy dull fides, that thou mayeft be at leaft convinced of that fpirit of Antichriftian pride and tyranny, of rebellion and treafon in lifting up a Papal thror.e above the Kings and Kefars, above Kingdoms and Commonweals, to the enflaving of the whole Nation inthdr fouls,bodies,and eftates. For who- foevcr (hall not in all things conform to the conftitutions of that general 1 Kirk affembly, when once the horn is blown, then, tpfofachoy imprifonment, confifcation of goods, banil'hment,and what not ? Now, Cenformttjy doth Gods word hold forth any fuch Kirk falliions ? What ? To overrule Civil States and King- doms ? What ? That all Kirk laws and conftitutions muft needs be fuch, as are both neceffary and agreeable to the Word of God ? What ? To fet up in the Kirk an Oracle of Infallibility, and a PontiHcian fupremacy,and Antichriftian tyrannic ? and all under the name of a Chriftian Presbyterian Kirk- government? But becaufe this perhaps moves thee not > I will remit thee to the fupreme Bar of this kingdom, there to receive thy doom, in cafe thou doft obftinately and madly perdft in thy importu- nace clamours to have that Presbyterian government fet up, and thereby our fundamental lavvcs, privilcdgc>,and power of Parli- aments, liberties and freedom of all tiue bred EnglilTi fubjeds brought under perpetual bondage, worfe then that either of Egypt or Babylon. But I pafle on : 2. For us : You may know, Conf.rmi^j, that wc are not the fetters up of that Religion you charge us with; but it is that, which we find to be fet up by Chrift and his Apoftlcs : which they 22 Conformities Deformity, they did,wkhout leave from the Civil power,or from the Ecdc- fiaftical, or mixt Synedrion •, as before. Secondly, though the Kingdom of Chrift be indeed over all the kingdoms of the world ; yet all the fubjeds of this kingdom, as they are the fub- jeds of this or that civill State , fo they owe civill obedience thereunto ? but as they belong to Chrifts kingdome, they arc free from the civil power in point of religion , owing fubje(5li- on only to Chrift : and if the civil power ufurp over any of them, they yield themfelves to fuffer, with patiencc> without re- (iftance. Conf, Confcience,T like thee well for this, yet. But you tell us ftrange things of Church-aiTemblies. Cenfc, Not more ftrange,then true : Read their books, and be wife. And for our fuflfering,which thou likeft fo well, it is no more then what Chrift and his Apoftles both taught & pradifed, and -wherein all the Martyrs followed them. Corf, I will better confider of v^at yon fay. But do you not condemn the MagiftrateyWhtn you fay he ufurps over you? Confc. No, I condemn him not ; that is for God to do, who is the fupreme Judge of the world. Conf. Why, what limits hath God fet to the Magiftrate } Confc. Read 1)?»M 7.18,19. and that from t/. 13. to the end of the chap, to w^it, the whole law of God. So alfo what bonds and bounds their own confcience, and the terror of the great Judge, and their facred oath and folemn covenant and fti- pulation with the people, and not only Gods law, but the civil lawes of the kingdome, do put upon them, you cannot be ig^ norant. Corf But what if the Civil ftate hath made a law, to inhibite and reftrain all men, and that under fevere penalty, from the obfervation of any other form of Religion and Church govern- ment, then that which it hath eftablillicd by law,\v!th a nccellity ofuniformity and conformicv thereunto, impofed upon all the fubj'ecfls of the kingdom : Doth thf M.igjftratelin, in feeing this law executed? ^nd without fuch a government, what Order will you have in your i hurchcs, or what coercive power in the cafe either of hereiiejOrfchifme ? Confc. Do you qacftion the Magiftrates (in, when his law is againft Conformittes ^Deformity. t^ againft the law of God, and the liberty of a Chriftian, who is the fubjed of Chrifts kingdom > For here we arc to diftinguifh be- tween a fubjed of Chrifts fpiritual kingdom, and a meer fubjedl of the civil State. He that is a mcer fubjed of the eivil ftate, ac- knowledging no fuperior power above if,his conrcience(^thoiigh blind) bids and binds him to obey : but he that is a true fubjed of Chrifts kingdom, being alfo a fubjed of the civil State,owes a twofold obedience, one to the Civil >tate, & another to Chrift. According to that of Chrift, Rentitr u*!to Cx^ar tin thtngs thju are Ca^arSy and unto God the things th't are Gods, Nor doth the order or difordcr in churches ( as churches) put any difference between the having,or not having of a civil power. Jn the Apo- ftolick churches there were botkherefies andfchifmes, (iCor, 11.18,19. 1 f'yh,2.i^,) vvhith the civil power took no cogni- farce of: Nay,ic wa?, and may be as apt to perfecute the truth, as to cenfur^ or reftrain either hercfic, or fchifme,or apoftacie. And Chrifts government is futHcient in all ChurcLcafes what- foever- (^onf, But,who in a Chriftian civil State do not acknowledge Chrift as fuperior ? Cortfc, 1 his is fufficiently refolved before. Such as conform to a State religion, or a State church-government, make that the fuprcme law and lord over their confcicnce, and fo exclude Chrifts fupremacie. Enough is faid of that. But you cut me off from what I was about to adde. Mans nature is too prone to idolize the Power fo, as to make it as iht/hadow of the bramble j j,^^^ ,^^ in Jothams parable, under which to eafe tbemfelves of the la- 15. hour to fcarch into the Scriptures, and fo to come to know what they believe ; moft men pinning their Religion upon the fleevc cither of the Prieft, as the Papifts do ; or alfo of the Magiftrate,. as our common Proteftants do, wrapping all up in an implicite faith and blind obedience, according to your Rtmortji ranee. i\\3it urgeth conformity to the rehgion and government of Chrift aheadyeftablifhedjOrwhichfliallbe fetup. fhus it was enough ,^-r l lor the Pharifees to fay, * fTe have a Uw^ and by that Ia>» Chnft '^^'^ i^ttght to dye- Thus Chrift muft not be God, becaufe the Roman Senate, according to their law formerly made, had not hrft mo- tion'd it, or paffcd their vote for it, before Tibtrtw Cdfar had commended x^ Conformities Veformitj. commended it to them, namely to admit of Chrift into their Pantheon , to take place among their gods. And is it not even fo with us? Miift not Chrift be King of the Jews, onlybe^ Luke ip. caufe by an aun ftaines ; but firft to thine at home, as thou fay eft. But thus much let me intreat of thee. i. That thou wouldft not do any thing this way in malice, left thou addeto thy fin. Secondly, that thou wouldft fpeak noching but truth, and the whole truth> and that without aggravations whereof there is no need efpecially when thou fpeakeft to thy friends of Cc»jcteKicf, and much more of things of this nature, too harfli for delicate ears. And third- ly, alluie them from Confctencci that what I have hcrefpoken to thee Conformities Deformity] ^^ thee, it Is out of pure zeale for the honoojr of Chrift, out of pure charity to the perfons concerned, out of pure piety to fee my native country in fuch a perifhing eftate, and the honour of BngUndx.0 lie in the duft ; out of pure hatred of hypocrifie, k idolatfiy, pride, covetoufnes, ambition, treachery and treafon, p walking up and down in long robes : And in a word, to deliver ' (if no more, yet ) mine own fouL in difcharge of my duty to ^ v'^i God and my country, as a poor Minifter of Chrift, by witnefling the truth,and convincing error. Andforaclofeofall (Confer^ mity ) If thou delireft Peace with Truth (as we all fhould do) If thou wouldeft have me to holdcorrefporidence with thee,and to give thee the right hand of fellowlliip ; If thou delireft t that defirable reconciliation of our differences : Firft renounce thy name o^ Conformity . in thy fenfe, and conform not to thU p^oj^^jj^ "^orldy but to Gods word, let that be the Cynofure or Pole-ftar chhditVmformityofChffrchef, ACCORTUNG TO THE 3V0HM> of GODy as in our late Covenmt, And this thou {halt do, if (I fay not, if thou doft (hake off the fear and favour of men, the love of the world, of honours, pleafures, riches, pre- j fermencs, ambition of greatnefle, of domination over Oods ; people , Nor if thou cafteft out that old fpirit of bondage under the k'relates, left it turn into a more dangerous tyrannie, then that of the Prelacie,as being more refined, and going under the plaufible name of Reformation : Nor do 1 fay,if thou becofnmeft a fclf denying man, taking up thy erode daily to follow i hrift : without all which, notvvithftanding, thou canft not be his true difciple & follower,or enjoy true fellowihip with him.) But this 1 fay,and urge, as being the main Fundamental and Eirential of a true & righ^ilible church of Chrift : If thou confcfleft C hrift in all that he is; If thou givcft him his due honour, in fubmitting thy confcience only and wholly to him, with profcHion thereof, and not to any humane power, and as to the only Lawgiver of his church and kingdom, to ordrr 4indej}ahlifif it rvtth jud ement - andjufliceforevtr: and to his Word, as the only law and rule *'^*'^' ' of the government of that kingdom, and the only J udge to ap- peale unto in all doubts and controverlles of faith : And if thou Oialt confefle every church and congregation of (thrift to be H onlv 26 Co>iformttks Deformity^ only and immediately under Ghrifts jurifdidion, and not fiibje^ to any other church or churches, which are fo many Sifters, not Miftrefles ; left otherwife we fet up the Spoufe above,, or in ftead of her husband Chrift. If (l fay J thou wilt con- fefle and hold forth this in thy publike profelfion, preach- ing, and pradice of it ; Then, though thy Churches have" itiany other defeds^ yet if they have the beeing and confti- tution of true churches of Chrift, for matter and form, I fliall not fcruple to hold communion with thee. But other, wife, fo long as thou walkeft not up to Chrift, in not ac^ knowledging and avowing all that he is, in not giving him his due honour in all things , and efpecially in not fetting him up in his Royal throne , without a confort : How can we entertain communion with you? For, 'k^^um * Farewell Relliion, ^here Gods glory fttfftrs the Uafi ej^dtRcit^ dimiftHtion, vet mini- ITn^'dr "^"^ therefore (Conformity) now that you are about the in'guria, fetting forth of your Conftjfion of Fatthy let not this one caJvin. Article be miffing : That y OH do believe^ confejfe^ andprofejje before all the world^ that ^BSFS C H R 1 S T ts the fole King and LaW'gtver to every partkularvifible church of his^ and ever every particular mans confcience : So as no Pojver on earth may tifurp authority^ upon what pretence foever^ to make andimpofe what laws they fleafe to bindthe Confci- cnce^or to regulate the Churches ofOed-^ hut ourht to leave both Co:ifcience and Churches to the only yule, and law of Chrfjl, the Scripture, to which alone every mans confci- ence mufi be confined^ all Divine worjhp in all things con- formed^ and all Church. GavemrMm reduced. And Conformities Deformity, 27 And for a clofe of all, I pray thee ( Conformity ) advifc all thy Colleagues, that they would abftain from ftirring up fedition in Pulpits, and great Tables, againft the Parliament ; perfwading to hold the Parliament to it,till you obtain your defires, to retain the Scots in Bngland, till their Government be here fetled : which would unfettle and overthrow our fundamental lawes and liberties, which you go about, in thus feeking to force the Parliament : but learn to be wife, honeft, loyal, good Chriftians, true Patriots, true-bred Englifh-men ; left it prove bitterncflc in the latter end : For God is urutnger of allfuch. And fo farewell, ConformUj, "f I n I s. THE CONTENTS of this D I A L O G V E. HO W Chrijls kingdome is the trotthler of States, p. 2. How a }VorIMj kingdome comes to he [et up for C/jn/lsfpn it u alt kingdome* ibid . The Heathen Em per our aJl)ameto Chnjli- ans. ib. How Conformity is a trouhler oflfrael. ib. The op in. on we have of men , no good ground for confci- ence to huiU upon. ^ p.j . Small difference between a Pap/Ji and Protejlant at large. lb. How a Sjnod of learned Protejlants ma) erre in fome fun- damehtals'offaah. ib. Many in England under a grand herefje^ and what it t^. P.5 Fa.flj The Contents. ■Vdth diniedno k^c inpr^ake^then in mrds. p. 7 -Thecvth ofpraCttcalldemall of the truth I I conform^ can fndc no better proofs for it in Scnl'uri then the Pope for his Pafality. '^ ' Confornnty.anfr.cred concerntng the model, rvhertnh Confaencctsfo much caflinthe teeth. ibid '^'%f"'7, ^"""r '^' ^ ''''"" "" '^' 0^^ Tejlameni, and the model tn the New. ' ■( ^'s^r^irir "'f"''^''^'''yf^'*^'"^^rs of hi, Church by ""'a^i' "^^'"^''"^ ^0"">^r>insfome Kings offldah\ Confaence free from mem yeaks. _ "'^Z7h:}jjj!:^^^^^^^^ -%ii; conformity the (lutcel *r inlet of all fuperfitton md^flve- S'^^pfe^rfullexamplesifCodsiudgementsupnCon^^^^^ Conformtty a necefiry introducer of Popery, rvhenlsute hathapop^Jh Prince and Parltame J, L' England hatl ^ had, and may have again for ought m know. n r^ Conforrnn^ tn mrjhtp to mens Precept , hmgs a rvondet f«ffp'rmallptdge„,entofbltndne([e,and%rivatL ofmjdomeandunderfland,n^. ' ^ ^ All forts put to try and examne themfelves in Ldrl rveightypamculars, whethe- that prophefie CE.iy 29 13 ,i^.)faU not heavie upon them ., wheretn Cenfcienc'e fevers the mnocent from thegmlfi. \ , / ^'farfromcS " ^^''"''^"' '"'^'^ ''"''^irigofthj heart The many bad fruits ofConformit-j. I' ' Son The Contents, How Conformity feeks to over to f the [uf re am pwer^^.ig, Horv the Scctijh Church-governrJtent ^ f& much crjeduf by the En^liflj Clergie^ is.wcomfatihle rvith the fund Awen- tall laws and liberties of our Englijh Nathn^ p. 20. Bow church orders, or dif orders, as Herefie^ or Schtfme^ may be, or not be ^ for all the Civtlfower* P-2 3- Bow Conference clears it felffrom any withdrawing of due obedience to the Magi ft rate, ib. what limits Cod hathfet to the Magi [Irate, ib. Bow frone mans nature is to idolize men in getting up a St ate- Religion , and how flothfull tofearch the Serifs ture, the only rule of faith , and the evill confequence hereof, P-^J- I'he connfel that Confcience gives Conformity at their farting •, and what he muft of necefity do^ to ?r/akepeace^ and hold communion with Confcience. P • ^ ^. FINIS % 1 we wiH hear thee again of this matter. Howieit certain wen clave unto hi^^ and helteved^ (^c. Wc doubt not but there arc many within the Province 5 whofe hearts //;