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♦4» ♦!» xte.
1
THE
J }
K.
d
acrea an
dS
ovcraigne
»ei
Church-Rcmcdic:
OR,
The Primitive and Apoftolicall way of
compofjne Ecclefiafticall DifFcienccs , and
eftablifliing the Churches of Chrift*
Wherein the authority, and utility of lawful! Counccls
and Synods is aflerted and vindicated^ and divers
of the £ad Controyerfics of the times
modeftly debated \
Firftpreachcd in the Pari(h*Church bfgreatr^riwottt^,
and now publilhed for a prefervative againft the poyfon
of Anti-Synodall fuggeftions> and a preparative to the
receiving of what mcrcy/jod fliall plea^ to convey unta
his Church in this Kingdonie^through the hands
of the piefent reverend Aflenibly
of Divines.
A3l
»<
i4;
^^
•X
N
Concilionan inEcckfiafalfd^errima oHtboritaf. Auguft. Epift. 128.
^u,)d a tmthif qHjsritur^ facilitis im&ntur, Whittak. c^mr^ £e/-
"^y John Brinfi^.
i^^Ji
■AM^M>«iV«
LONDON, . „^,
Printed by Mofes Bell Sot Edward Brewpjiery and are to be pi
fold at hB (hop on Ludgate hill, at the figneof the g^
Bible, neere Fleet-bridge. 1645.
>'f.
>r
»'* '
♦ *
\
X
*• V
■ 3X
^^33 7
52.
^ J
» • * •
. 4 • « « *•■<
N\
r
f ■ -
<\'
►5 -. f '
■ •• v^ . .» i 4
■v J
•l(
. • '1
V. i. "
Viru tam Erudiiim ^udmTietttt eenjti^
tuii, G\XLi*iuo Twuio S.T.D.
ntmchora in Synodali c(mvmtii,D<iSritue Simtati, __
'Haice Qjociliortwri ,Synp<ronim<|)e Trolfcjas ', «f
teralquede dejilbtanffis quiboHim pGEfentSs stvi con^
?rpvafiisp«ididas8sa»iabiles difceptationes, quale^
'qtule^ D-D>P>'
'vaiuiei[pmjim*i
ft. a THE
•
^.
I^ave petufid diligently diis Tieadfe, called, Tht
Saeredand SgVtrMgnQbmrcb^Remedic, and find'
ine it penned widnAuchilrdfgdi, candor, andmo^
^y , and if&aag fbme healifigplaifiei for put fad
i)iVilions,aSi&i^A^tobadon, and
' -' ' -'■'•■■;•■ ifxtxgAtmXftiirCrmfird.
Ianli£. i<44.
a:;T
^HE SAGRED
■:■■■.■ AND
SOVERAIGNE
Act s i6, yEB.SE4.5. :
MHdatthtymentthorffwtbe Citiei, they Mi^nvd them thk^
'" ■'■ deirt»if&r foijtep ^ thit •eeert ordained ■^' the ApoHkt
and El^f tphich were at Hiervjalem.
Jndfo mere the Churches efiahlijbcd m the faiths and imrtA-
Jed itt nxmhir dajty*
g (faiths, f**/^ for '^<»»-'5»-
dittliimi fiM- thein-
[e/tmiity ioF t}x eega-
yf Scripture wluch I
forth i whcrdn we
o us ,7bf Sfstraipu ''
^f(> b^iKlivttiiig;;tx> -
- , , . worslt
I The Sacred arti Soy eraigne
WQ/fi^Q^iAc^m^^tl^^ Mvendiim
: the decrees^iitc* , ' »
And f^ were they diat delivered theft decrees ? vphat decrees
did they deliver ? to whom did they deliver them > to what end did
they djeliver them } what was the jXiccej^ and fruit of this delive-
ry X TUt thefe five (ci've for the farts of the Text ; all which I &ilH
(Gad wiUiijg) jg^Hf oyer ))y wav QJcMxf^i^atm, Oi^^i^'aa^^^^
c^w^^i with as much brevity and peripicuity as poffibly I can. Let
your 4tiemiopfy jpur e^jrex ^ and J?eartJi gpe along with we^^- ju]4~
^at withqut either prcmdicfe, orjp^rtialjty. It fliaU be n^hr agahift
my isdll ifia handling thtUbbjtS: I^fftt^y violenee to the Tht^
doe any in urie to the ^r«/A,'4ny/difricrvice to the Cbttrchy or yet
give any juft ofience to any wfiofe Yaces^are ^ijw-w^rds.
Pari I. ^8^" ^^^ tfiefirft, bf wh|ch net nnich: ;Tht Jkfejfingers^ v4}$
they were that lindeitooke, and ipadedelivti^qe of thele decrees to
the Churches 5 vizifi^9pij(^jy^ if^J^J leamc from the
Afls 15.40. laftverfe but one jof the" Chapter foregoing. T atd (htft Silas and^
4^' depsrtedyfSfx. gaii^tbra^bSynaMdCilieia (as the laft wocds have
it ) cmjimunfi the Chftrchefy confirming them in tjic faith by their
Voiirim 5 withall'ha^ing a fpcclAll rc^ixf todiefcr unity and feace.
' This the Afioiiteeve^^ wh^re A«iviy &snQi3Sc:!ieeff^ laffti:
Rom.i:7. Solicitous for, esiKneiuyWiihings)^. '^^
iCor.ij. (alutarion to the Churches. NowKth^ htrd <f pe^ btmj^e j^ ym
^Thcf.ai^ |iejce ^/n^tfjfte/ iy^.iZ«ie*»ae/, itis his&rewell to ^^ihejfakmanx Ip
\' both meaning not onely (thdugh-piihcipally) tmpdrtL but atfa out^
SlCof. i^.ii. v^ard peace, ferioufly exhorting to it, fnaUf brkihrettik cfottthtinde^
iThcf. Saj- live in^pLOce^ 2 G&ir. 13. Be atfeacemmf^om:[tlvu^lV^^^ ^^
., ingJtcc*fo«rferthdrjjfeiitfe, lieisas jeabufoi their <foi/(W5 rccei*
' D9f^tbe inc^M^nireof them notwithpnt great x^greet and foi-t
i/Cor.x.Ti. row- Somueh be intimates to his Cmntbianr^^ Jb bath beeit$ d^lmA
xQot*ii.i2.J9tue»fyiftfy ktjfiMhwj\thi$t there ^di^ mm^y-HyJtfCcif.itiif
4t*aUlhyj%Mrti«^ t hiS^t^K/ ^Iiet!| tf6t!ctt
af^nDtwithoutafadnefenoiient, Whieh h$e:qpre0eth by^taxbig
.\(erra7- . and reprovii^ th^n^ Lttbif I fi^a^tym not <(faiih lie iitjdfe veriS
feiiegoiiig) i»#i^^»«-Thefei5 a mh^m^t trottf j fclfei^cl;.
m^ iotenikd. t fraifiymnf^^9:k* I Uame yt^> diQ)ra£(e ycxl
Rqprwihgtttetti, hechax^eh thS«ii{Mi^hem as an Hlfyinfiom,.
s Cot. 3.3. aa acjgmieiK; aQ4ei44m€e of th^ eoroiiig^ U^htrpttkrc^re rnnongg^
in<w/#w»j|«»«*tinorec«««ipdpnAciigPacej cbitff^that
^vificmsko^e upon dvmixrUch gatie way todieM, hechargem
i;h«mi9C(t4tioiiw«iontltorcwliow«c tlie«'4«M^ And>^^
ijjfi«ngiu«|i4«i«a4»fcW«wIi^>^ ««%i«i«»«»*»« Rom. 15. 47..
«a^ Mtiifi«iir warmj u tbtdtSrim writbjt have Jeairmd, 'atid amd
ihm. I,to l)e cucoti^ J mMtbtji tMt emt mt «f*iat mtAUyoK^ Galois.
faklihc tp Che GtlMbimt^ %»iting <»f the fkife apoftlcs, who by
inti^4Md|^ C^BSUttdioti!, knd ^pi«feg k' as atKcdra^ CMih
naiu% hMl troiitidltiirtMiciences efnTCaktlGhtK&mvind^t^ . . r
^pwoed ttK peace of tlw C^iuiick : Thefe he 1«4(hecbthk ihej^Avere
(;ut o£^ .tb« the Giuith vert li^ed- tf£ them bM ifrkfdr otheift
Sp^tfulj ju^AfiiK V4s t^ Uefled Apdftle of the ChiUtlies fe^
ao4 f9><!&W bf <h^4^>«Ay thftc ike -«vull»fllu^ and i^ndt
io doe^^y^tiiii^ vhJebM^icIn llk90We^ te^ frtmr the^ai^ts^Ad td
htaleiiaic other. Upon this grotaid it yns that he ciititnu»{ed Ti- x& 1^.3^
ifiofi^lnth^^r^thce^theTeibi Tkk ijeedldy noe^hitt'hei^
41^ riligiottjli^ e^g^pahtoded amftma^^ thut^^ken MttgCe^ Adfem^
the ^M v^c(^ Mc4s^ of ttr JEnns^wiib. thii £e m^^ take that! -^dJac,
j^cai»i«dl o^cof thdc »i7> aac^ . .
<>f ^le^ip^uf^i Andilipoii die fime ground % isj- tbae here in the
Te3^^ltlg.^«^a*etUt>iQtti^ih« de&^Mkt the(^ .^^^mr to the^
Chiuj^^s* 9f& i^iaac'lHMaht-iaiilidMre ^pa^i aiid nia£;e W
diote :rea(Srii^idiiibi«uliftiN^ffts1tt «^^
^m. ,... r-. . ,'i'.v {.'i-:iv .■.■■•• r:i"?- »; -■;. _. ■ " •
ta|t»^i9ia(0i«fF9tM^>£aK«^ teaching' . ' •
|ied[cei..j^t0ra»inidneMil^ l<y^A:i^.€kiid ha^^
tbep[*^i^j;.T»wft^<«fi'««e3.tt .ifet^art^ ,.,..
der,efpcciaUythcMiniftcKof theGofpeU, who arc Mfauftcrs, as '^
^ Tnwffe ^<)f , fii^afc.iet tha»«i«ke it tiid^^ojrnt wtwke, as to ,. . 1
defqid a94 Yindkatt the oMi'Hy tblfi^ctre. and >rbairrthe *^••S*•^
other} .tad^b«eda£t«tiiig aiff 'wayt^'-'accdQiy to th&nfaking*
«c C9p)tM«|ifl^o^; hoKbtTr «ke hrMdisg W fceifii% of e^ifiMt. A '
• . . greater .
•t. «. •-
jpCbr. til
ti.
m^jmy wke«« jtJtm^W f#pift«,r. :>&^i /^««r ihiSS
,: ,P^ M«f tH« 44 «KM«e«h»brthe tibiis'trafcnoc K)6 tfeaii too'
tanly f«M-tM^.m,nr««taUi.i»tefto
rpome ror maoeff o« ««Step,cono«^^lne!ifc^ So fcs'he«^T dii
cleartlt.i. «onttjbaong^^^vra« of « wh*tifg«Linj^ ;»t^ heajg^ of
Chmh-Rmifdiel . ' ?
Aefe breaches^ Where they are mtde : partk^ with much of oOr nnw,
I, what arer is our on^ne^ our owne ml by our. owne Libenies^our owne
^fropsy our ownc credit and repHtatim ; I^ neede were^our owne lives^
fortheefie£dngof this cure : Readily imbracing all oppartmitiesy
miely improving all advantages which Cod fiiali put into our
handS) for tiie ^paeting^Jhlwgy yftablijhingof tiie Churches. So doe
Tofd and Silas here in the Text, having the SymdicaU decrees in th<ar
hands, in all places where they come they deliver them , (o apply-
itig that rmeire which providence had pitymod for the healing and
compo&ig thofe difierences which were then brokoi in upon the
Churches ^ to the difquietmg of Agirftace , and endangering o£
iharfiaHn Hereis a/^^^enBeforallof usof ihtMimfierie.
• Andinpan3CUlarherieisa»'4rr^»irformefor taking up this por- f^iicnlatM
lion of Scnpmre at the prefeit* What fad divifions both in Judgt^
tnatt znd JpSiom zre orokein upon the Chwch of God in this
Kingdome, as well as upon iheftate at this day, I (hall not neede to
tellyou. YJcfeele of them, and the v^ole Chiiftian world rwgx of
them. As it is in the naturall/o wc find in this JPoliticall & Afffiieall^
bodie. JnimafiqmtHrten^amemwn corporis^ The fittle foUoweth the -
tacmperatoire of the bodie 5 and theC^«rcfe the temper of the ftate.^
This Vyferafiiy like a feveriflidifteitiper, % id to be felt moreor lefld
in every member of tHs bodie- Touch where we will, we fliall finde
die Churches/nZ/e beating veiy unequally. We in this remote an-
gle, thb toe ( as I may fay ) ^f the Kingdome, however ( blefl^
be God ) we are not fenliple of Gxchfaroodfrnesy do hot feele of 10
(o much as ^ fome other parts do^ yet can we not fay, we are free. -
. Now in this cafe Ltannotbut lck>k upon it as a dutie, in imltati-f
on of the Apoftle here, to take cveric of^rtunide toi:ontributc what
I am able to the ftaying, and if it might be;, to the t^ietingy and
qnellingof thefe differences, atleaftin tliis place. This being the
marke whereat I aime, and tbiatwith a fihgteeye, let me now in thii
name and feare of God advance, paffing to the ftcond particular^ -
wherein we meet with the ^/<«/?erwhi(5h this skilfoll fitrgeon appli-
eth to this fire 5 the remedj^ which this wift Phyfitim minifteris to
thk fH^ladkyvixi. a receipt of SymdicaU I>e&ees^{o it £ollow€xl^
And as ^ty tiMm thr&fma^ the Citiesy they delivered them the Decrees Tart* ^
ithuiftpereiifdMnedof^eApejiles and Elders at Hierkfalem,
Hereis the ^t^dk What it was that Vanl here maketh deliverie of:
\izJ)ecnfS : Hecrees enadeiy tbejtpefiles ondElders ; Pectus made by fhe\
B Jpojllu
• *:
jtpPes and Elders at HUy^aiefk AhdW^^ were thefe^/i)/A./ awl 1^
ders ?»*^ were thefc Decree/? wlyvB^dc^tWerHfaim ? upaathcfe
thrcelOiallinftftfevcraUy. * ^
g^#^/, I. I. Who »v>r thfiApofiksandElderf?^ A. Fordw^mcrJAall
not necde to fpciid time or words about it. Tliere «eFe not fo ma*
»y of thatJiighfifl: forme of ExtraoreUna^k Mmfttrs, but that they
may b% andarc well known, both «*i? thw were, and wA^ they
were. ' r
, ^/. Biitwhoorwhatwcj«thcfe£iifc/^thc«W€ fcallMect
with fomc icrupk.
lfcem.Am Anfw, Elders^mfifffy%tpl^Prejlyterf^l€.(kjt^
j^^n^Aft, So they ijcndcr it in the fecondverfc of the Chapter foregdng^Uo:
^•^ ' fbeAp9jikf andPrUfis ] a word, iav they, ecchwng and anfwcring
t<)thc QrteuiaU both in found and fenfe. BuivJeaving them witfr
their affcftcd tkic, favoudng too ftrong oi Juddjmi the woid
properly fignifieth (as thrjr themfclves ( with what reafon I know
not) in all other places wh«tt it is u(ed in that fiftttnt^Chaptery
"^^MiM^ as alfo here in theTexc, Wi6i^tit^AMcUuu 5 a Fjrench w(»tl, which
•wKhf our EngUih renders, Eifer/.
' The woid in Scripture feafcdnroji»>^^
eitber for Elders bk4^^othj^^. ISHAtn inags^ Ancimtf $ Xe^
i T' < ^^^ Eldtr^ faith tlie Apome to Tmt^fy, i Tim. 5; meamng an El^
|iTfm.5.t* cleriiiiage,a$thc AndAe&fatb^«jUttopartof the^v^
hy KeM»fi^4intJdery hu^jmre^km 4t sfatbtr^ and tht younger
nien ai4?rewren*
Elders in ^j^are of two forts y CitiB^ Eeckfiafi^l (UvUl^im^
V iporall tul&rs^xA CKmermnrs amongft die jews 5 Thus in the book
Eicod.4.ap- > of JEw^ we often read of the Elders oflfiael^ efeft and fo in the
24,^^- fourth of the ^£^ we rsade of znAjfmbfy oftylerf and Elders^
Afts4 $• lir^ i.e. lay Elders, civill Elders, whom for 4iftin^cni fake wc
findf(f(xnetimescalkd wf^^fiyf^^lA k£ r the elders of the fe^Jhs^
Sy|i|tb.di.s3« langthempaOe. ^
Cartwriih in J^UfiapicJl Elders 5 Chorchiofficers let over the fiock' ( the
Amsu piper Church ) to teoA i% tQ govern it^ Of tkefe oiir reveiend Cartmigbt*
Afiayytr (as many others) maketwokindsv €aait7eacbing^nA Governing^
oth^ oa^y Govmongy giwrniiiiC Ills difiin€yk>n n^ that
kndwne place in Timm^ I Tm. ?• 17. out of- which h>xeiblves tho^
Qyeftion now propounded , who were thefe Elders uriuch wei^
)oyncd^«ithtbe.^J^^^wb7,€i^
tatters .
■•♦-«,^.
r^ . 7
; latter;) t^ii& the gmjmm^ Elders 5 canfidefflig ' f fiiith he ) tlwit ft-
fiifs (which were ^e frtacbwg Elders J were ibpplyed by the
To tl^is lafl ckn(e of h!s I catmoe (ubfcribe-Ceitainlyl^e^tt the
Apofiles here weir other j^«&'«g;£fiEr/^P^j7(jrx, an
mult net beieXcIuded out of thi« word-'JE/j/er/JFcrthe former, whe-
ther there were two fucb diftoid kinds of Elder/ ^t that time ; and ^ ^
^whether both of them are to be iinilerftood by the word here in the
TexcJ wil not p(e:remptorilydetennme.My txirpoft bdbe to waTe Sc
decUne Cas much as may be>li eoUaS^
ivhich, I do not meet with ftdl in the Text. Let this be (iiifieknt^
'CburS^offic^s they weie ; Ecckfiafiicall Ehkrs. Such were the Jfofil^
cfaemielves (though in an higher formie^ having in their fun£^h
Something extraoniinary^ and (u£h were the other Jl^mfers pf the
Churchy to whom was committed die charge^ of the /?<x^ to feede
and nde it* Both Elders : fo Saint Peter ealleth liimielf and them^
bothinoneverfi^iPef.5, 1. Tbe'EUerrriiijub are amfng joh I eodfort^ xVetXil
jgpho am aljb an'Elder^ ^. feed the JM^'Hf Gmi^ f(d^7^ the overjrght
thereof And dieie Elders we here finde meeting together in this n
SjnodythhCnmceU^MsAffenAJ^X^i^^^
And frin fo ft to mm^t^nfi^ ^ occajmar ferfim rfthat ""^kality f (ftfy.
Whd to fit to debace> determine^ ^B^^ n^gulave Cifm^cb^afairs^ as -^
Ci^jrclHOj^evr/^peribns devoted/ andltet apart to the (ervice of the
t^uKh ? SiKh were dbe Menlbers of thif firfl S^n^^
cutqaeftipnwasitotte^
all £xpomour% uU lome few withm the lait iif^ years have loo-* ftmmn ^^an»
ked upon it) ./(if^fe/ and £/^i»v ; ,{^ CbHtch^Opcers as the times dimrnin^o^
then afforded. 'T<rdicm Saint Id^ in the Chapter foregoing le* ^— *^^"^*
fcrs the negotiating and handling of this Synodicall confutation. fcJb^o^^
They were tlicy Which convened. So you have it, veif. 6. V[be,Apo-' A€t&x^^, '
pies and Eld&'scame together to cmfiderefthif matter. The Apofiles and Condfiomm
Elders. Nm didtLucat totamEcclefim (faith Calvin upon it. ) The f*^Jf^^ff&,
Evang^ft doth n6t fay the jvhole Churdf mettogether , but the A^ jnm!Mtth^
pofties and l^ders. And by them wiis die buiineffe debated^decided^ Aa:cap.7$l
determmed. Soyotihaveitexpre%intheText« Thej^ delivered them in AmfyL
the J>e&ees xi^bicb were ordairied of the Apofiks and Elders 5 not of the A0.r5 ;^. -
whole Church, but of the Chnreb-Offieers in the name of God con- ^^^; *'^
vcncd together. '
-And who ib fit to deal in bufitlefle of that nature as perfbns of
'^ B a that
J
Blliem. An-
nor. in Ad.
Deu.i7.8*
Hag. 2.1 zv
M(mran
Hi.
£di3m, ASt.
X.2,
CW^. ihi£
I-
The Sacred and SiiHrMgne
. that polity? Who (b ft (x> cooiiili^ d^bace^ decennifie ChmJt^&f^
^Jtrenc€s^ a^od fb to fettle the a£&irs^ of the Churches CburdhCfficerj?
viz. Tik€ Eld^rsim^icbnde welly (zs the Apoftic fpcaiis) ^edal/^ they
j^.i^bichlah(UirintheVr(n'dandT)xfBrhKf Thofe Texts alledgcd by the
Khemifls in their Annotations upon the place latt cited^ how ever
they are by them drawn beyond the ftaple^ and prefled beyond
their intention^, yet are they not wholly to be ^(lighted ; there be-
ing enough in them to bear out tki$cau(ej^ and to give fome Rea-
vibaforitXlndertheL^w theOrdlnwcewasexc^^ Hard) and'
difficult Controverfies v^ere to be determined by the Tmfls^ &c.
Deut.17.8. Jf there arij} a matter too hard fir tbecy &c. Thoufiah come t§^
the Friefisythe Levites : i*c. Priellsof the Leviticali ftocfc. A like
word was that which came to the Prophet Haggai from the Loidt^
Ha^ai 2,. 7hw fdth the Lord of bofies j Askjiot^^ht Triefls concerning
ibeLajVyfajingy &c* To the iame purpose is that known place of the
Prophet MalachieyChaf.i.v.'j.Tbe Priefif lipsjhallfrefervei(gon>ledgeyaftd
they jhall feekjbe haf» at bk mouth* Cufiodientyre^rout ^ Co the Qrigi'-
nall hath it. They J&^il?^^ '^nith!^' jhall Jid{} or 2(s our Tran£«
tion renders ito Thejjhould k^th^jhouldfid^ This is God? Ordi-
nance^that the Priejts lips ihould be a PromptHorifim^ Celtar^ Bntteryy
a fametyy z Store,-hou(eof alDdnde of leaning and hpaivledge:
What ever it is oftimes Pe FaSk^ Ve Jme, thus it fiiodd be. And id
ihatrefpeft:
Firft, They (bould be themoft ik to be Imployed in bufinefl^ of
this nature^, in ChiihAf'-differenceSy^Cburch-i^M^ j beii^ fiich as do
VoUrina ^judidofolkre 3 (to uie Calvins words) Excell and go be*
yond the ordinaiy ibrt of people in Divme learnings and iblid
Judge^nent : Such theyeither are^ or ought to be : ^beir Ups JhouU
ff^ferve hjfmledge.
Secondly^ This \s more proper for them (ChurchOfBccrs) then
any others; atidthatinre(pe£^of their Oj^ce. Upon this ground
dH tbe Ghurch at Amioch here refer their differences to the Apoftks
and MJders, And upon this ground did they undertake the hairing'
ahd determining of them* This they did» Nom tantum ex Charitate^
' fedex Officio ; not meerly out ofCbarityy but odt oiVmy ; in as mucjh
as this properly aroertained to their Office. Katume Officii (faith-
€ahnn^biqt0 could legitim erantjfidiees.. In regard of their Office
they were the proper Judges in this cauft. And fo muft Church^
iffficers iatUfuccmlii^ age^of the Chl«:eli be allowed to be in
Ecclefi*
\
Cburcb-Remediffl 5
Ecctefiafticallmatters^Cbarch-differences^ oxt^Av%^jHdga^ not
chizfy and principally (for that is the fVordk felQ but 'MimfieriaU ; Job.33,a3;
haerfrittrs rf tbeLojv^ declarifig the minde ana meaning of God
in it i and fo determining cohtroverfies^ and ordering all things
according to the rale of the Word.
Sec here then a warrant for that courft which the Statt of this j ..
Kingdom hath pitched upon, in gathering together a fcleft com- ^^ ^'
pany 3 though not of Apoflks^ yet of Elders^ fiich as the prcftnt
condition otthc Church affords, to confult about the affairs of the
Church ; to examine and decide the unhappy differences which
difquiet, andindangertheStateof i^ andto regulate and order
if. rn all things according to the Word. Let not this be looked
upon by any as a maw, or yet humane Invention. Sure I am for the
fitbfianct of it, it is not fo. As for fome circumftanceSy if there be not '
(hat formality in them which were to be deiired, the pre.'ent nc
eeffitymuft plead an excufe for that defeft. But for thefubftance
of it^is no other then a Divine Ordinanceyvrzrr^ntcd and preiidt^n*
ted by this firft pattern, this firft Synodicall jiJfenAlj of the Apofikf
and Elders at Hierufalqn.
I iuiow, againft this divers things haVe been, and will be ob;e« Objeli.
Qed. In this jirfiCottnceU^ here rpere Apo&les at well as Elders 5 andmt
4meljthejyb$itotherSy even the whole Churckmet together. But it is n^fo
ia oac Synods^ oar A jjimhlies^ \ .
Obje^. I. Here were ^/'(^far, men divinely and immediatlyin-
fpired j men oiinfalhble fpirits juipon whoie Jixlgements the Church
might fafely rily, and to whofe determinations others might fafo*
ly hd>fcribe. But we have none iiich, neither hath the Church had
in any age iince their lime. ' ^
An^. To this I (hall have occifion (God willing) toan(wer
more fully in the (equell of the Text. For the prefent,onely know
we, that though the Church hath no Afofiles^ nor TttffbetSy yet it
hath P^Mir/ and Te^er/, fiich as do (iicceed the ^/7/7/ej, though
not in their CiEr^fre, yet in their P^fi^/ie, and (>r^&ijr^^;iiJ7e^^^ £/«
^/,to whom God hath committed the chief care and overfghtofi Vet 2.5.
the Church to^ei ai^d govern it.
Beffdes, as forth? ^JJ/ej-,*^how ever they were Members, and ^^•2®***^
cWef Members of this Co«»ce/i[>yecai:« we not to look upon as ^^"
fitting there in the capacitie efApoftteSy as men immediatly in^ired^ *
hot as ai&mblihg togethcrwith the reft of tht Elders to aebatc,and
JB 3 lletcr- / "^
io TbeSaeredandSoTfmigne
dctemiin^ the controvcrfes prcfiaitawl to them in zSjttadkaH
v:>jff. But of this (GoA, willing) more hereafter*
OhjeS. 2. .For the latter Branch ofjthe Ob;eftioni viz^ThtM
the Coimcell at JeruTalem did notconfift.ohely of Apofitcs ^ndr
A^.i$.2. JEWer/j Ectlcfiafticall perfbns, hat 6lt other f. For this ^t^.verJlo£
the 15. Chab. ftemeth.to exprcQc j where it is 6id,That the Ci!!«Brc6
at Amioch aefermmd to find Paul and Bamabat^ and certain [^ tubers of
fbem.'] ,
Aretiut 0d jinf But who Were thefc others t Artnta^ not whhoat good pro*
juTs expose lability, conccivcth them to be fome of theij^^e/jriyfjwhom they
miverfa Ce- ^^^t together with the Apoptes^ that they might have a £iir hearing
rimhi^jur and proceeding. So mucn (me thinks) the former part of the*
dai^miwn. V^rf^p, comprai with the latter^ (eemeth toimmrt : ^hen Tanl and
\S^^*' B^imjfc^ (faith the Text) badhad no (mall dijention [^mththemyj
(via^ thoie falie teachers^) tbaCbufA merminedtba Tad and Bama^
bofy and certain [other of tbemlfhould^o t$p to ^ersdakfn. Whereof J^ ««/-
Tfc|^ 8c i| «ur»r, [mtfhfhem^ znA^pfthem] ieeme to relate the one
to the other. Certainly (ome of them wet^ there prefent in that
AA^S^io. Coiincell$ towhomelfe fpeaketh the Apoftle Saint Peicr in the
tenth Virfc of that Chapcer, Now therefore tvhj tempt ye Gody ^?
And the(e(as Itakeit^ were tho(e rirti ^^f/, x\i<£tfimK others there
ipokenof.
Anfv^ 2. But let it be granted that there were fome other ient^
(bme from amdngfl themfelves^ vet whom (hall we conceive them
to be ? Certainly ibme of their Elders delegated and comniiffiona-*
? Con24. ^^ by the Church for that fcrvice ; Mejfengersof^e Churcb^ as the
Apoftle phraftth it, fpeaking of (bme (whether Bamabai or 'Sila^^
or l4f%, it is variouffy and uncertainly conJeAured J who were im-^
ployed from the Church of Hiemfalem to the Church at Corimh^ he
calleth them ATcrS^vir tKvnMv^ ApojHes^ Ambaffadonrs^ Jkfe^ngerr
of the Churches. And furely (iich muft thefc (certaine others) be*
0bkU* ^ ^^ ^^ ^ '^E^X?^* ^^ t\ii% ConnceU here were not only Ecekfi^
■^ * ^/ir^Zf£/^er/ andOmcers^elegatesoftheChurch^, buthereila
nhl- ChzTchy even the whole Church of JerHfalem 5 fb it (eemeth by
the 2 3 . verf of that 1 5 • chap, where Mcflcngcrs are chofen^and (cnt
away from the Councell by the wholi Churchjlt fkafidtbe Apofiks
'A!Ui^' 23. ^^^ Elders^ mth the vpbok CbrtrSy tofendchofinnimofiheirorfin confa^
mtoAiUidS* ,
4^fiv* For.anlwer to this ^ what is therp meant by the CImrAy
Cbttrcb-'Remedii. . i%
k tinfCeruiife, whether the whok fmlmnJe of bellcv«-s belonging
to the Chvaxh^t Hter^falmiy or only'*' the Officers of the Churchy * ^'^ 2f(/r* ^
orclfeAat%w&^^/^^ Elders. For the latter ot' g j^'j j'^^J- "^
thefc, and agaiaft the former it is argued not without (bmc pro- Ec^hfilm
l>ability . the whole CkuJ!) of Himffalem incannot be. ferviens. Jim.
. Fii ft, that CWc/> being fbnumeixHis, all the membm of ic Animad. in
could not poffiblvnicet at one iSy«w£ * deCi^'*'
;^. Butlccondly fuppoft fuch a poffibifitjr, yet what autho- ^^ ,^^p.
ri^rhad the ChuA:h *Qf JemfakfHto iend uich hinding decrees to yid.M'BM^
any. other Churches ^ Far inparem moibabet paiefiatem ; one Ghiirch dierfind.
irathno power over another. The Church at Hierujalem ki^d no
more power over the Church at Amkchy then th<i Chutich at Atiti^ * ilI :
0d) had over the Church at HiemQJem. And therefore it is proba- ^^-^k^*^-
bly concluded, tfa
Sjmdicall jiffembfy^ ^ — ^,^_ ^ ^^ . _ _ ^j»«^./.^
titnde ofbdievers. 5^$9^^tf*
But itis faid expreflely, the rmkimde was there ; fo it is faid, Mdtnudhas
-wf; 12. All the mHltitHdel^tf knee y and gave astdienee to Tmd and^"^^"^^^^
'Barmbm^^ ' Ecdejlat^ fed
X To this it is an(wered, that by riw/Sief'jihc fmdtitstdethtvc we t«m AmJIb-
are to underftand not'the whole nmlticudeofbelievers, but of the /•fumierSe-
Afofiles and Elders mettogether Synodically from divers Churches, jSud lS?
being in number many, io Mailer "^ Beza and divers other £Kpofi« Similiter Pif*
tors concdve of it,, rcfening theft words to the ftxth verfot the caibr. ScboL
cJ&^.Oruinhr, as for the wholo^ multitude <^ believers (as^I faid) i^i.Iiin.Ani*
they were at tiut time too numerous to convene at fiich a meeting. |^ 1*^ ^^* '
Ob. R t k is rcplyed, though not all,yet fomc,and many of theai CaScil cf is
m%ht.be there Dreient,.though not the whole Church, yet a good Scd i ^.
part of ic , fo tne woid rCA^rd!?] isufedSvnecdochically vxterf 3. y^r ^^,
of that d&^. where it \&Uidyt\uttaMlaniBamabas tpere hrmgbton
tbeirtp^yhjjbeCbHrd}. t
Anfw. In anrwertothistake theft foure things. /
Firft,whether^/e/i^0theyweitroornOj^isuiicertaine: the evi-
dence brought for it is not demonftrative.
Secondly, fuppoft (bme of them were there preftnt. Which for
my pwne part (I conftfft) I am not unwUling lo grant, the word ' '
^Ar^#f,iw//i/M^',ftemingtometoimpQitromuch, by comparing
it with ^£^* 2. 6. wher^'the fame word is nftd, %vA>JH rl vA>«r,>
3f^i»«i^i^i^C4Mie/4g<^.^,.(^ I acknowledge
■ ^ ■ "... the-- ^ :
jti TheSaeredahdSolferMgne j
tkt v9ord ChnrS in the pkce forenamtd ' fccmcth moft genuine!^ ^
to be undcrftood^s appearcth by comparing it with verf, 4. of the
c^^j^.where thcChircb isjdiilinguiflicd frort thc^foflles icElders.JYet
was it only de faSo^ not idejftre'j hj permiffim^not comndfp&rf-jthcy were
• not called thither, nor by any law required to be there ; their pre-*
fence there was only acddnuaOjof reafbn of their vicinity and near-
ncfle, dwelling in the City where the Synod did fit 5 othemiie ^e
Church ^tAmiochy and fbme other of the Churches had as miich
both right and reafbn to have been there, as they; being as neer^
■ ly , or more neerly concerned in the bufineUe there agitated
Fieri v^dem ^henthcy. T
^ramvlebe bi^ Thirdly, admitting them to be there prefoit , as ^feBators and
^kita fuerit beorers^ct can it not be proved that they were adipicted any wayes
di^wio^ to joine in the debate or difcufllon of the matters in cohtrovert
fed mad fie , the Ikth verfof the chap, appropriates this, to the Apofiles ani
^tr^^ Fourthly, However (irt the fourth place) they had no power of
Je admijfum ^ing or cUtermimng^ that was peculiar to the Apofiks and Elders :
qw^imputar fo you have it in the Text, which tells us, that the Vecreef which
m. Cal. in ^^^^ j^g j.g delivered, were Decrees orddned'hy the Apofiks and Elders^
/}f''fl^' ^thy the rmdtimJey notby the rdfole Church.
I ^*' * But why then are the -^^^(^JicjffLct/frj* written in their name, if
they had no voice in making the Decrees ? fb the tenor of theni .
jfjfy, ivi\SylheApofilesyandElders^andBrethenJhidgreetif^&c.verf.2^.
Aprftoli & To this it is answered. Firft , who or what thefc Brethren weri
fenioresfid' is.uncercaine, the vulgar Latiney (which all the -Romiih Interpret
>/ f J. V. 1. ^ tei's follow} by uking away tlie eofmloymakts them all one with the
P%^het^ turn Elders 5 Ihe ApofikSy and EldersyBrethren : but thatj may not be al-
pyLrji^]w% lowed,the originall making them diftinft, 3^ ol «V«ApJ and Bretbr^y
, Metapkorice. paffiog by thatj by the words immediately foregoing it fliould fceni
Com. a Lap- that Judof called Barfabofy and Sylas w;ere two of thefe Br£threny Co
J'ropbcts 3t^ ^.j^^y ^j.^ ^j^gj,g called, dfiefmen(iyi.<j)f''ot prUney leadingmeri) among the
iherfords Due Bretlmn. Now what they were you may lea me from the ^2. verf. of
jv'fghr. /^4oo. tie chap, viz^ TrophetSy (Judof Mid Silas being Prophets') Firil, DoHores
Dolores in Ecclefiay Teaehers^ of the Church, (of which fort they had then ma-
^clefii ^y^ jis you may fee verf. 35.)^ whether of the Cliurch at Antioeb , or
'^^^ Beza ad ^^ J^^f^^ is not agreed: but Pr^/wfjr they werq, perfons in office,
Loc! vid. foc^ w^^ they,and probably fuch were the reft of tlie Brethren there
A4I15 3S' JWntioncd- .;-•.« .
. ^ jBmT ( ABOdiKHy) fiqppofeoi^ tkat by Bmhreit thew "tv% ^ ^
urei^^tpdeift^l^dmoiis j^ can^it not be cofH^bided
th^iKCj that diey had their iwt&f id thkA^^^ onely^ (asrCj^
vi/{ con;e£hires with good probability) they aflenting and^bicri*^
Ifj^ to what:^ CMMCi^i hdtlloiitf 9 ^suiJf/^akdllderr make
ui^4^.tli^0Oacui9tQtfl^lqe6fl^^ coak
^uItatk>flstQthe<idb(ifcf th&Cbareli^ CkattaUiljr> imam: cheiithk ^ffff^^
4aniu* bettiade of i^^fi* bdicrwifc what power had the tnAnni fj^^^'^'
Cfu^ppofethe whdbCtmrch of Jemfskm) to make Ekicreei foi^and ^,<^,t^ „j^^
ImpAA^ lawes tqioa other of the Chutches^ . .» ^/it^m /«rtf
i • i% fiut jFtki^wbTidMnifl^ i!h& Jd^Sqgsrf be ftnt^ the.Xaeier/ /W^ & /'tr-.
mtoni inkfaeir naoaap^) fiioclf atcaanoc be , but that the^ fI|iQdkl jj^^'^*
havea {slactani^^in thaa€«onDcelUn vyfaoic names thc^^^mcfi^ S^Y ^jl
40d{^er*srci«re writietitfab^ reveccndand learned profeflbur de.ConciL
' jd* Tx>lthis tof^ainfiiiBtiwI b3rdiefnfcht WKnrei|d 8r learned pro^
ik0^j^tS&j*2d&»tt^yth^cSc.PM^ ^' K.11
othcis with himielfiiltheii^^i^ SaluMmna%hrinfk;inui ^* ^^^* '
ifae fitft £pi^ tothe Criorih^^
Fof^l ealkd to k an AfofU^y ^^N-«tt< Safiemr me ^raOfer. The fo» '>«'^^-r?- «
«oddiE^t(&yiifMibftlmt40tbei^^ as.€;ir.i4if.n
thc7hefal(ndammnyPaulmdSjlvant4t and Tj^fto$hem ta the Church .
^; ftff^u ^^ l^ha&tui ^Tfibf ah^^9dua?s ]«jiijiBiiI with hint^ as partners > ' t
^iJhftii^b^iaaLf^th«iS^ die Ep^s were none of ttidrSibut Fa$dfii .
Asforthem,thcywereiiancofdicart1i«»»i*^ . .^,,
.9nA'0fci(i^uenil]ir<OQkli>ftiK>€^^ ain]^ b«ind , . ,
in&hiifA^aiKipMini^di^ -
tnth ^> as briiffi a^MUsrj or the do^iines ami exhortations t hei:^
iielivertd) that tneMbpc^e moire reQ)eft might be procured thei9":
hHiaxifi^to ^eChmaiitii^ lOfeJfA/mag^ 4 to l^f :5;t-l
jfo tMtfii^i Irtftantingf in t hfc {Mtkdar cafe we have itow in h%tA \ " ^ . ^ ,: , *, )
3*t AfMiuiMd miep^ ^trethm^ (iaich he) go jdKlliy iA^dtW |. .; , ^,
Cttts^^f^rupdimy thftt ^ imycrftil'cwi&nrGodsp^c^ might fe^ *^- v . \ ^^ >
inbi?e»i^ted*t^«db^i»ie1 tkcicettciirrewoe of tlic- BriA^^en-is* '^^ iv^ . v \
iftiite«feVte*4tfftebdi»g ^,;r", M>i
j^thtjrbitdrt64ltfttdJ*Add>a«tftgahdUte ' * '^'^ ^r hm )
- fi The Sacred and Soyifdi^ne
Ktgulajurk. ^fjU ij0idejun It oc^t to be fe .* ^mdmmeSj Ammbm; fiji
n^kbcinuxrmsjJI^pHgb^ ail : It is thd vSxiA
all plea for Pcfular Govammem (X e* N^ov&ttmem) in Congrega^
tionali Churches. "'
H^^ttin (bme<>thier cafes) in dhi&caiie it plQ^s^fatf^ain impoflObifity :
'^■' for ail tio meectc^gekheriiiL k ftviimiall^ ftxich more in>a Nmt^gaff^
much more in aiAUectmienkall and generaS Cbuncdl dr Synod 3 is a
tbUig altosecbe^ im^oflible : and therefore of necdfinriomeare to
be feleftedand choien fbr all. I fliall notneedto tell vou h(m it
is in our Fiirti/m^i^^^^l^
. of genemll and unii^iall coQceniment^ 1p^^
notthemeaneftpertonbucisinteidMintliem^ yet in as much as
the wholeKingaome caiuiot meet together^ the traft is commibcd
. toafew^whoaretocondiltanddeterminein^eiumeofthereft^
furel^, of nec^^iakmullbc ia tbc ChtrA « becaufe all cannot
mctt4n^SywlkaB'mY% tber^bre fotibe pdrlbos of truft a»ie to h^
(elected and im^oyod about that fervke : for which who can be
conceived fo fit as dio(e,who Iqpthdir ofitee aiicpttr^
Kicemmpri. V fct over them by GxAtofi^ and togweme them?
mmftr cmf Sff#« But whatdxeti^re all others wfa<rfIyClicltidedfrcttriha«^
a£S(^po^ viiiganythingtodbiafuch4(ll»»t&xi* what fay we firft to the
manper'tbeth Anfw. Tohlm wewillin^yaUowwhatGodhath^ifiMBtem^h^
dofmjm. iiitereli, 9^p9tifiafive inte^eft> an interdl of pamr ^ aaat|iac bothia
Choice dtmmfe'^^^^^,,,^^^ ;
nmMd^' I. In<»>wwii^5thatthdC&urchc$mGayin€ct!ii t^^^^
Pic&t. Con- maborityy under his Mng% by his cSimanct^ ^sApi\mp€i^im \ thu&
ciL were tli^ ancient gerier^ CotmceUf called by the authodty of the Sm^
jmperdteres f^^^ Ma^ifirattp the CbrUHan Im^muts ; ibme of them graced amL
crebr^of^- hpn^MreavfidijAidrwnons^^ aiid thus
Twtu arc ^lum ^ t^ic^i7Coiincell% (as thi^ ^U i&cm) paidcuUi*^ Claffic^. Tro^
KSSST j^i»c1tf*, N4*i(wwiySyiiods, fwhcwit may be had>he concurreii«e of
Titus jam tfa^iChiiftian M^ifir^^is fiill )Do be looked at and defired^: who
Epifcoph fiib' kgzper^n^pMedifr qfl^J^kso ^ad ^fatbet^^OiSto th^ Si^^Jto)tQ
J^MaiTlLoc. ^^^^4^^^fi>^^^^^fi^ fatbits^) ought fCpnf^picritl^^
dun in virtHte efficij^ to comply with all waies and means whlcl) npiay^
f 49. aj. procucc the peac^ ^mwelfare ofthe on$^ a$ of (hp Other-
J ' 2, As
Cbureh'Vimediel " fi
% As in conVfeningi fo in oOT/frwiwgj tkis did t^^
ferowrs to,thofc gincrallCoHnceBsy andtliis honour we willingly give
to the CiviU Magiftratty that hef fliould be under Chrill fwhofe
Vice-gerent he is) the Alpha and Om^d^ the beginning and endin^xbn:
firfi and the laft^ in dieft Eccleiiailicali meetings : which being con^
gregafed by hi$ autho^it7^ by the fame authority oulht to be ratified
and confirmed ; that (o the greater obligation may' be layd upon
all forts of peribns for the obferying of thofe decrees which are fo
ordained^herein alfo the Magiftrats concurrence is to be defired^ in
>smuch as hcis by vertuc of his ofSce^fk JlShifier ofGod unto biffeo-^ Km. x 3. 4.
fie for gtyid^ and that not only their njanrall good > to prclcrve their
IrWjbr thar civiJl good^ to maintaine their efiates and liberties 5 or
wotdl good> to reftr^in them from vice^ and incoui*age them to ver^
l»f ; but alfof fiMvEccleJtMfiicalistnd^irituall goody to maintaine
their it?%/(^ the true m?^^ and (ervice of the true God. Thus v
thdithe 3/j^^r^e is not ex^^
^titfi. Bat then it feemeth the reft of the jpeop/e are. 1'
"- Arfp^. Not fo neither: to them'Iffaall freely allow whattever a ^
they may juMy chajtenge^ if not more, willing rather to yeeld &
^Jb7K^£? to di^n, then takea ^^'Mfroni them. As ] ' -
Firft, an iptereft in the ^3im 4nd delegation of perfons to be
tctruftcd with that (crvice, j ! .
'■ Secondly, alii>ert7tocommunidate theii* doubts and defres in
%iraics fitting and convenient. . - < ^
' Thirdly 5 a liberty of frefince t& fome , (as convehicncie will
^nrtitf)' tnat thty^niay be bearers zh^^aAitKjfis'bfdkc. proceedings.
' ' FdirtKIy, % liberty of J^ic* imtoXutfa as (hall be after a ipcciall
mannei^ ihterd^ in tbe^$u(!rieflies agiotted*
' FifthlV, atld laftly, the imfint^anad&ncurrence of Cnch perfons or
t^hmches, as may iTvKure'rclfcft unto the truth, may^D^ deiired
«ildihadei^fcof. ■" y -
' AMthiftfformybwnpart3ramn6tuni;^iIMngta grant, and
methinks'Of.niy eyes deceive me not J Ijtce them all layd fortfi
before m^in this pattern whidt I-havenow in hand, this jprfi Gjkn^
cellatHierufakm. Whei^" ^ . ....
\f^iJ^PM^ndBjmc4afi^ind\^^ it V
ftnt'i)y • tfce Churth^ C^*^} defemuned thaf Taut and ''B^ahas] &*c. Chaj^ if ; ] \
JN^uldgb lfij> to Hievifaknf^ \€tC 2. vid* the Church , as the next Verf. •• . ;
xplaincsie, ^ - • • *- . .-.r ^ ,.,..., ^
C 2 Secondly,
"p. The Sacred and Scnfsr^igne
Secoadly^ Ending thejpfrjS^^^th^ &nd their .c<i^|Se with thfim»
.C0r/>iM- cum canfa^ thp determmd theyjhould gp nff about this fueJUui^ .
Vcrf. a. viz. touching CircjwHc/^di^' whether neoeflaiy or no*
! Thirdly 9 here was the t> ^taSI^^ the nmbUiuk^ a jconvenieiit
iiumber ot the p^ople^ to heare^ aiid jfec^ and hear wknefle o£ their \
ptKeedhaR^ Ijif ^- 1^* ^
Fourthly^ acre was thc<jp/^fl^/ej»tfrfy/who ha4 a Jiheirty to de-
clare their judgemeixts^ and to pkad fer theai&Ives 9 as I have al-
ready cleered it from the ^ . & 1 o. Verleirof that Chapter^and majr «
appear fiinher hy th>t heatpf dx^>ui4tiQa whidi wask Couiir
• ^ £pli>Verf.7«
. Fifthly and latfly, hefe V!^n\it,empm ^ndconmmme of tbei^re^
tkren arid the nbok Chrch of^ Jerujalm taken u^ and made ui of to
procaine themoie rcCfcSc iQtbt decrees of the CkmnceU » with the
reft of the Churches^ VerH a^,^5,
' Ih all thefe we find eipopol^K coucmiwce and infitem wilfa and
i^n this C(m»ce//: but Qosr what wii^Jbqr thi^i as the defim?^
^pA(kl^rjmmng of the difierence^and ordarimoi ikcre^s that was
^e jipoltlesand EiJer/ $ (bypu have it (scpre£&l in the,. Text > 7|R9^
dithered them the deormfarto hj^^fbat wtn atiSmd d tbiyJbqfikf
y/ '^Elders.' _
Arid thus yoo iee who were the proper^iicw^of ttu* fifi Cmm^
all or ^;w4 wnich I have itififted a little the Ion«^ upon i ^as to
i^a good found2(tioi> for iuch &prifcaii^ure$ as Ihall afixmaid be
built upoii i^ fo^ tQiik^ y^^ the £nw)4leriie(!e of that. OttimH^
' which 0y fbme utife^ A>i^aj^ ^^}^ ^^ pot pi^y ^poQ-thcMpreieoi;
^jpmblyin this Kon^il^mev^^^ aUCfa^;-*^^ lia*
^ Cpapsi^'^ ture^ t/fi^. becaiile they conuft chioS^ aii4 flUj^^V ot&JefiafiUaUjkrm
natc Samat;^ Jgsx^ * 2)izJ4»Cf> C^s )diey fcornfiflly teaiiatijtfQiJ Pd/7^J andTit^mr/^
^awis ' fuch Chufc^ officers,, as theprefent ftatp of the Chiircfa^fioi^sv
herein what iiew thing do they fee } what more then is to be feei^
iu this fir(t CouaceO. > wn^e |% membcrs^f theOwiieill wi^riif/c-
- j^fcx and E/^/ot? . : .
O^z;. By them were thefe decree; ^qrdai^
KMaPctr^ yEw^^^Qtbyanyoneof them^notby^e/^Tjijotbyy^ww^norby^ny.
«rFtf/>4 Or«. ^j^g, other;fiKwi whcnceit B»y be righfJy co^ agajijift c|at
^[^X:^ ; -(rfi^icj^/^i^ufujiationof th? P^, who takes uppn hiipirto fn^kft
Boa jp Text, bindimg decrees tor thdChurche^ alon^. Tkli h more then his pre^
tendedrrye4ece0W St. fct&r would d. But thau I paflc by*
, 2.Comc
^
: ^ CimcJhRemedigl T t t^
*^ aw :Catm tvciRW^to thri^cnd fanmc^i of tiiis 'iecmct' pditieii^
Ktr^ Wk 'y^AT n^en tk^ Jecfmswhub-xiiaT^daimd iy ^i Jfpfilef and
Sdav^amlkiftMioered iy Paid n tin CimtAty ? For anfwer ^ will
yoa kooSBir eke ptmcoiars} read the 2a or a^ Verf. of th< Chapfei'
iboecomg^ chtte yaailiall find aifntunat^ of them, ^1^ ^hat they
Qunud uifiM$tfi9m mm9ffsrikUi> Jdols^ fiom^bhod^franiHiingt ^tm^
kd^^mdfi^mfaimcMim^ The rhMe former of them things hi tieli*^
mmimmnmdijfmm : The lkxx^t(ffmcaiuui) efteenied little ti^r&cmubimus:
^itlccmeth^iii dx)ie tkiie^ fat IcaftJ ainon^ fome of tiie Gen* cujustamm
fiks^w^owccoantb^M afifta yec:avciy venkiU oi^ 5 thcfe the^^''^'^'''*««»
GJoncrilAyalointwjfoit^nttJ^^
hibitions the t/van^ehf here cdieth bjr tne mme ^f PtareeV(>fi«7« rn/tfr /f^/x
: EitiSa^ptcms^^Aii i^uiie word we findufidinthe iecond of/cm.Caiv.
Lidi;*^ Veii^ i« Tlunwm 4fU a decree fivm C^fat Jhtp^m ^ J^fi^ ^^ ^o^*
And foagaiiM^ ittf 7- ytA%tC r- wketxsj^aiid the left of th<^ ^Tf¥"^'
tomh«ttawa€«Wthatt*ieyiW '^^ #».i*« »^> :4C^if^5-35 iwj^^^^
Afl47jtrr^Br£K i*y|iilf4ir^ Thtt6 Wtttis die ^'^^decM^ of IV^ixr^r and rm«/M;r^ .
S$aUs then caUed, and bjr tte fame name the iSMngHjt here oll^eth /^orMr/. Tcr. ^
the Ecci^j^TjcAtf 4etm&laation of tUs Synodicall Aflembly, ^'^^^*
flijim, iX^ Wha»ffo)^overthf)its^lU^ mayy^ike
we no^^iistiie firft place;) of the • mtuonc^ion and tnitlaking'
of (broe> who look upon this firft Councell^ o^ ai a fatt&H afant.
Si^fr Cbmi ptdfig^adMxiftdcmi^tw mfhet^ ^ were tberi no other
aigmtieiiYt todifecrr^ the^ahedoe&of tiiis ttva&^ > this one word ^
in^ iWtlOM^veitt ihfHcbnc ) vthemih^ Eiko^fi'^^^ing of.
ti^tefolt^of «hcircOA<aiidni^^)e«^ll^ not
kr(»beri^Midcis^batJiyjfu(l»9 IWcw / iW^jrare more thfeh Conn-'
JitU^ and foftly fiich were the Jtfeminatimf of this firft «%« 4» nior^
then bai>e 09^/?//^ $ here were cut^itmom and d^cms^ Hyfi^A u^-
Afi i^AJh&tmsy^Mf it^e t?nA«iw4D *^ ^1^^ deci^s they kre tmp:>^ a.
jW upon the Charehcsi not otAjp^pmukd and commndeixo thctiii
bm: iik'djej^iipcm them : not only ptv)poiinded by my of ^«^'cep hue
imposed by wayof injw^ion^hjeemedgoodtothe'HBfyGbt^pr^'A^
w»s ttiore then the adince of a j?j^«r^ c*iwvk what had a fifttr churchu. 1
to do to make deems ^^ and imp<^ irmr^intf' upon a ^fef^ ihnrch?
the church at Hi«r»fi/ep«up<^ the Church at j^ii^W:^ 3 bein^ in re*
^ftoff^nyauthoritattwpowerjc:verywayeqiaaflto'h:r fel^ TtiS y
If theSaereiandSottraitiii
i
fell or Synod bii^hy lanffidl ambori^ in tht ilatm of Chriji cmemd.
^ nkt together^ have in manersof. Ecckfiafiicall concenumm^vijs^ A
power not onely to cmfuk^ and dxkate^ and advifi 5 bat to d^unmnt .
Ecclcfiafticall di&rences , and to in'daine decrtti which may bc^ \
binding to the Churches. Such power the Afofiles^Md EUkrs being. *
hereatthein^M'^io^ and by dC?/^4i^i^ from the Churches met to-n
gether, aflume unto themfelves. Tbej came togetber #<^ cmpder rfAift^
matter^wrfS.cbaf, 15. aiKl having coniiderea of the Church diP
fereuccs^ they det^mum them ; detemumng thein> they draw up Or^
" ' diuances and Ikcr^u concerning theob which are here by the Apo*
ftlesdeliveredtotheChurcheaitoAg?* ' I
Ob jet. True fit may be iaid^thcY might doc it^ but(amaynoc
< any other Councell ox Synod in any fucceeding age of the Cfaurch.v
Apdwhynot? why, they verr ^oin^dinJio P^J^^ endued witli^
. /an extraprdmry ami infidUble Spirit^ b^ wbl^h they were ^tnded:
\,.,'aiKrdice4^iiidiewhok pisDcedure-of t^^^ Andicoa'-L
(equently might doe that which is hot to be drawne into pise&ienc
by any aft^r thon^ who are not afliAed with tihe (ame Spirit. The^.
^ Vfkxtkpofilesy having an Apoftolicall authorities and fo might €(r<%
' daSm 'Deer^^ and'iill^e Lsm^ for the :Churt:h«$, whidh .fi»^ any
others after th^mi'to attempt were no leljfe theii hi|^ and Unwar^
rantable prefuaiptioii* -^ ' »
A»/a^« Here is the maine and princl]p2dl cvaiion wherd>y all the
Arguments taken fix>m this firft nattprne of Symdicall KffinAHts
aredippoted tob^.eIud^^odn)^dQ:void. Give me leave to clf>ie
widi it as l>ric3y C an4.yet as fidly } as i I can; Iji - way of aniwer
averring the contrai^to this cpnndfent fuppoiition^ via. That the
Apofles^ however tby, were extraordino/y perfansyond in feming off acred
Sci'/ptu^'£s nere aJfified.anddireSedhy an ifmnediate Spirit ^ yet inibk,
hifim^tbey didmf proceed Iff mrtmof (tny ApoftolicalJ ambomjy ^
men irw^^ately in^ired^ h^t onely as Fafoars and Teachers, ajjifi^d hy the
\ dneBio(i'of an grdmary fplr^u Tliat it was (6y the evidence is cleas^
L. :,'5.^^ and .1 think undeniabk.
Arff^ment i . . For firit, W;herefore elfc Cbould TjhI have made this 'oiimey from
Jmhkh taHiemplm ? Paj4,M ^n ^oflle^ he was able to have, deci^
ded an4 %^fi4 ^^^ ^^^^ coiitroveri^^s aloiie as well as ail the Apo^^
files. with him 5 all b^ing glided liy one and the fame Spirit. So as» ■ ^
bad he herein made life of his ApoJ^olicall aintborltyy he Ihould not
> have
,••■• •
Church- "SCemeMe. ^ H
ilawnc^clidd'l^llaVefeohctdconf^^ ahy other of the 4j(^to
about it. This couf^ Weinke h^d beftfre decHtted in a matter
of fitr gmtfP€<Mi(eq»encc ihferi tKiSj tfe. \ip<m his firft recdving
bt'tfae&»j^//, iuvin^r<^dVt^itby/6Vi^ and immediate
infpifiaiidny he did? not addifeflfe himftlf ta the Jlpaftles^ or any other
fM€heini^ra6^g>ndcdnfirm}iig6fh!thin that do&rine. So he
tcishLisG)0liabia$t^^ tj: &al.i6. 17.^ JfiyhitpkiifidGadto reveak bis
Smifimi^i^amftrf^m^^ i. e. not with his qwik Rm'^nefuM
tamaU tt^ ( {oTarjcm ) or rather (^as diQin and Bizd) not with hummu ^ Tar
any fnmallmm whate^r ^Neither we^ 1 1^ ta Hiintfakm to tbtm rMft^Cwmquo^
T^ jpcre Jtfafilltfiefihe ak. Tttic 5t WaS, aft:«r feme time he went up J^Xstrl
thich|:ronce3nd^gaiIM^asf6u4jl^^e^Ci^i^. Uffo^ii^. CbapL ^f gdhc.
t;.!. Furftfibm_ytercrafe«ythen^/M^ ^
(le had comrmoucatim and anrfenmt wteh die Apoftles ; Biit as f<»
any M^AvSiiAar from them, or con^m^^ by them> <h: asiyothertas
]lej^^^icno^j(bneitbe^didhe/Me&i& mf^tuimWintm^ Gai.2.^
/tirme (faidihe j/j^ A^trf^A^iftln^^ Certainly then bad
P^ii/ ftodd iqp6n his ApDApIicalt^Jirir, as be needixi Hot; fo he
nroiild not b«» gone uptfso' Himij^Umxo hold a conference with
other Affks flibuc this bu(in<fl^ being <if far lefl&r conccmiteni
2. SumAfefacdid 4iohdelcend^beneath hiatreif for the fati^ Atg$mL%.
la&ion of the tpeakjnrediroh and for the^pping of Che mouthes of , v
Afofi^^to hold aicon&rencemth the Apomes about this bufines^
iototakein their concurrence aiid mutnall coi^ent s yet why
ibi)uldtfaie*£/^/)be7ovi]^^ diem f That they .werejbyned
with them in the whole procedure of this bufineflcy both hi the
xsmftdtadm^^ad dttenad^^ vs naoft appaitnt froih the &cth verfe .
ol the Chapiter foregoing 9 and from the wonis of the Texts. In ..
bodi tbefe they w^re iapn aSors with the Apoftles> jcynt commjfi*'
«^ier/..NowincaiekheApoiUe$.hadpro€oede^^ as men immediatl]^
]nipired> what need had thn to have made u(e of thdr concur^
rehcc ? Orwhatcoidd:dieJEAiriany wayes contribtxe to them I
If the ApoiUes themljelves could iheanfewKe adde nothing unto Fml^
much IwTcouId the Uders adde ^ny thing to the ApofHer.
3, But Cthiidly ^ Si^ypofe. that as Panl requirea the concur^ ^
rcnce<3f tht other J^fikfy fothc.Apoftles required the concur. f^^Sf^-^^
renee of. other Ithkrs ftill for the more full fatiflaffion of alT
pardes ; yet why (hould they proceed after that manner, by way
. .. . of
of ;Af^^/and*J^^'^ ^^ Jfei^^
fmdf di^mn§^ Hew WHi HQt 9?wly fii{imfH^ \mn^ ^fc^wo-i^
dcd wereronq^vtfttd a^id agita^ ttv ai)4f^Pii both .fides, tt
blot out the trutt^ Now Wmt n^^.t^ biid^ Ap^dtetlbool
iouMdiately Inspired \ kmm^^. u^.mtim ajr Uce^e fimr^hoAn
y. : • ./ wbkh are norbraughtiiatoikf; ^eby ^niy Xiich «r«d^ and swUn
tfltn^ri^^Othcywe^ioimeikti^ but b}r diiriaft liiies. Tinia
^^ tibe jU»aE cane inr<r ^! ftffkdiS^^fUfi^ .^ tt fiamfc omb^tbie: i^pofUb^
' '. , ..v^ha bcdnginlinediat^yJn^H^^bjjjMs ^
.a Pcci.ix. finu^cmmimC) hj'A^MfsQh^y^^ ^thiUt V&hout: tiif^s fish co»
fiiltadons wkh theoD|(Mv«> (*^Qthc^ ^. .^
. ' ]Hit th«fe>. tbi*9e^ togedier) 9^ AaU ncod ^la cither evidence^ t<^
^ :^ c}eatothistruth3ifaat:theu^j}fcA|Ojehi$Ck»^^
in checapaichie of 2^jl/9TeMail9r#9QdE^^ 'ChcoTh^
noiclito^did ^they pratedl <m k^i^ liafio^ mkiaik^lfit^fHL ^
.' Oi»;0& No f youitn;]^ iaQ^f^ whf^dus^ vfu^
k plahie, expxioqr arerdng ta^ heti^thcy con^
eluded and agreeed upon ^^ it #ai»ii9^ .Abe dtstfiabit and ^iii^il*
^^'^ ' tiMbftbe'SfOiSDiAinthektttox^
fiwMgi ToJtherSplrkast^^adffS^ tothem as(ri^
blngcathdri»aTOrsD]ftatis. Qr^ ^o Athffy^Ghfikmdfo^ur^j^i.
r/umeflSpj^ tOtts being affifted ztid^iMi±hfi4aii^tina(2C^^ xrf thfc
fpirhmjanSi. ht deniod. &ic what kmde b£ iafHiiS or fifjpfiim Mms xhh > Wasit
Hind.FiJcat. ytmSoH othmiedioitf^ orSaotyii osrextrikrSa^^'Vbttt is die iaot
^^'^"- ^ ^^?- of the cootrovcrfc. . l^afifis gmkadlj ctaweni for dye tatter, iiip^
Com. a Lap. "P^*^?- i^' ^ nlake ibou^ng fi>r the hfidBhk^ nf their Caiokftb^
jUrttu 'which they lotkcponay ^cBr<sfted bV tho^ihb tmening Spiritv But
ihis (whoever be the Patrons ©fit) oor i^^
might in his aftfwer.» die IRiem^t X who Wfa'e<jf thefame opini«^
§d49c. fowlfypnma^^ th^ tktf swtmmfdimfy imifiiinsd^Gmj ■ This bf
i - avers
Iters tas^jl^iee) wkhs^c^tcotlfidehce} : Ahdi this! hflsd !&iakieA>
good by an argumm^ (which as yet hath not, neither doe I thinke
^cyer will be CoiHulIy and f^dsfaftorily anfwcred) taken from the .
words thcaifdve^ wWchfayas machofthe E/i^yasofthc^/«H
Jlfe|i. itfitmedigw4toiiiiihlj(^jk'andl»ks.'^ But this wiil nOf^
tcsnttot li^&Hf^f the £A/ir/*/93^^t ^y were i]a»mediat3el7m{piredf
much Icfle of the /^(?;^/(r,' whole ^^^ heconcciveth ' ^ *
thcnito hdW maac 1^ o£ .. -
^ Aiir hHm^aieiHffiriM0hth then it was not.* What then > Why, MRuthrf.
caUfitUle '^ ikmnfthc&^^ifk which is prorti&d to aM th^ feith-* Prestytene^
^ fhll JWfiw^cr> of tfaeCjkuiina to die end of the world *^ [^Lae I mk ^^ ^^ ^
pfkhyaJi^ ahv4^es}t)^tki,^mi(^tben>(3rld{] Efjsecfally being (b coilve- fgf^
iled and met togethwin tbeNxmeofChrill : ff^ere tm (»^ thr^ ^ ^ .
sre met together in ng name ( in my aut1o(3irk}\ ^inert ami m themidji n^ ^^ *^^*
¥im^Aimy M^t. t8v^ AjptmoLmf nfrhick {thoagb not oneIyj> ;^t )
piimariiy J^d;|f>r<;^l3^4t to be liridedibod of (och Ecchfia^M "
mee$inff iJE^hmKh^ffieetx aflembled toM^er to exm^It abont the '
jtffiitr^ of theCbiWph; Chrlft pramiietl to be in the midft amongft
^fem, fewh^^jW^M^ ^Tbm was he pwfftnt with tihife , ^
£^ft Cv^neett: Afid tbosis hie'q[t thk day pt^fent with iOrAgm^Ka , . !
ofliicfe namre, ineeth^ atid pwKt^dedfog after the fame manner thiit v
tteycfed. ' * ^ .
i^jK Bfttiii^ttkett^.iMay alii or ahy Other ^JfewWi^^^^ . .^ .
C$m^ ifi fuecdfcdkig xjgefs ^tifitttte to tike Up thcii* words :^ and
lay the farttc^tiidMtscfttt , 1tfeih»idm>ddik th HiJy ijhdfl aMib
m ? Mwi ts a» ^fwiiti^t xt4^kji h looked U^ bsTmai^) t^s not
^^ly MU^Mnt^imfri^fHpkant^ ;:*
jf»/J^. In Anfwer hereunto I lift ftck to lend ah eare to what Setbcrm. i*
*:
^ __„ ,^„^ , Mcf^i^k^'^\T.^h^ tofy - ;. ';
M ^ ^^ ft ***^^ fkafei the fii>fy (SfeojJ ir;^rf iafJ] LfcttiiijE; that paffc
^hlcfc ciiitt^t be madi gtK>d, unldfie it be utw^ttot:^ of that hpfy smdry ^
6j^_^ Whidi th« ftxsfty telh us Wascariyed fronl ^rme to T/e;* in a tfieCottfttd
Clo^ifha^^ F^WifoWiitart^ *1hai4i^ttfn;toi^ c: <Jt IVfjii^.
Ott^ioftj thfe«tete4bld A*!^f^
"i. VifaBff itftttrit bfc acknowliedjBjcd that the C^so^fr of old>
fOfttt3l»amp<^thttttliWfexfi&deiire^f a tot uh* . ' .: .
- D ^ like
%% n The SaeredandSoyerdi^^
I&e tathis.- The ancient Father Cypri^ mt\x fome odfer of t6V;
CjpUn Epifi' Fathers of an African ComceUy isakin^ report unto Corndiuf thenr-
54. dd Come/. Bifhop.of R(«tt what the Gpuncell had^ agreed upon, they u& theie .
IT b nc^'^^^^ flacHk mbk^fa»B9 Sphit$i'fiigg^ It hutbfiemsd^oiid h m '
(drnMiTim lrj^'tb.^filgg^fii(9iofthe]tIolf<^ this \
vfitiu in C9R- was no new thif^^. but a form of fpeech anciently and comn^nlp
dlik.TfmgL ufed in Caimcels : This they have, (aii And
Jmou men. 2. Ve debito. This all Councels and Synods flKnildte able toi
> . ; >. {ay^Pecreerngriothinghatwhatt&eymaybeabletd^^
^ -.'. \j4pofiJetitid Eiders dc^h^rch^^
^rdJ^rigk Heiieiathis firft fcouldbc a pattern co all fiiGceedihg CouncAs and:^
effitsbytm^ ^jn^ds^f!^^^^t^^ thcfPidffdte^ but what dr
t4r. I//-37.5,- dibho-^ty (hmldJocyvizifo to proceed^ as!tbq^mftyfa]i3.^iir^fde^^
* ' '' ffodto$heHolyGhojiamlt(Km. .:; .
A / ^. DeUfihp^ this cbey with holy cevei^nceitiayiay^^
€dp. tf .-v. 7, proceed as lAktApafikr and £Wer/ here dldy t^s. by the 'Direiiw»
».t/fr/:^.i4, efthtWaK\d. Sadidthe Appfil^them&Iveshere proceed^ grounr:
X55 i6i 1 7. ding and bottoming their Decrees upom5a-iiw»rc^ieamded witb
„ ^ £bnif^evidi^ces froni:^ Heated. » Aod thu»dia^that Ajricm CotmeH-
mifMm!^ proceed: %/^>»^i^i^iibeF^t*^jo/A>ic<fa^^^
Ad I $ . 2 8 . ^*^ <!fcc/^e «w^ Cormlius Eijbap of R«|f e* iij>9ii wbast ambmty of Scrips
. /lire/ their determination was pounded fiic^ And beretfon it was (faithi
2S^'^|N«^-^«^^»^^^»^^^ *i^'th^^ftte^fdi4:4at-it'pleafid the
' Holy Ghofty.yh, the Holy Gh^^^^Afpg im^^ Scripiure^i ^Crlptwes^
<(we jcnow) they are no other but th? M^ of the Holy Ghofl^ndi^
jxd by him. And hence it is> that the one is fbmeeimes laut for the
Gal. ? . ?. other. Scripture fometimes put for the Holy Gbofi. The ScriPHtro,
«fcb,.9.r- '■ /flr^iogCuithS-Fiw/) i.c. the HoiyGhojl the A»thoroftnem.
;'She,>H6l]r And the Holy Ghofi i<H^etume&pijtt for^tho Scrifmrt 5 fFherefore^^ ^
^3^ **^"^ ^eMoly Gbdfifa^tb^ Tht^da/ ifyo^ willheare bis vaj^^ ^..-liitjt^e A-»
Shat^ft poftledting that of the Plalmc, which was endited by the Holy
tiadtiortai^t^hoft. .And thus in theText> h bath feemd good to the^HolyGbofi^
this^ but dif > and ttTusi^ viz. to the Hofy 6boft fpeaJdng to .us< in the Scripture
Counccill^- So the Greek Scboliafl (cited by M. Carftm^r)expoiin4« the plate.
wotmdedwi -^^' *^"^ whatever lawfull C/wKwe// or ^S^wrfmettcg^th^r in
^ Jtaws in the Name of Chrift (hall proceed after the fame manner^ as the
£4rtwriibt^ex At^oMcs here did^making the JT^^r^/ their wAr and dire£doni groun*
oernnfm^d diqgtheir detaimnations and decrees thereupon^ either upon tliAr
cxpjcflc
'«prcffc7««eroFit,Qruporijuftan • ^
^ftr^cer drawn from ivhowever they may for reverence fake to ^
4hat firft Council (which in fonre refpeas) is not to be patterned
• 1^ any fnciecding Synod, trf^ 'in re(p?Q: of the pcrfons of the A-
poftlcs thcitprcfcnt, men of an extraordinary fun6Eion» and aflHlr
-cd at tins time (rio-qucftion) diough not with ah immediate^ yet
with a mbrc^en ordinary mdfure of an ordinary Iprft, proporti-
onable to that higheft i)Iace, wKch they ^en occupied in the
Church and in that CoancelUCdccIinc the forme of words by them ^^^ ^^^
• tiftd, fas MriCarmigkt obfenres, that the A^^«rCk)anccli upon j^gcvtwrii^
t that ground (asiie conc?dhres) did) yet without cither Blajphem/ ibid.
^>r Pre^wiprf^ it is conccivedtha the fame cflfeft fay TOsCounccl
^f their decrees, that they are the nani^oH)xt'Hoh/Gbofy as well ^*Jy^li
as their minde 5 for which thtf f/merm may bee their War*- ^f ^^^y^ ^
Ir^m. . licrciifcdto
• And thus! have (its Fhope) fuflfcicntly clfcredthis fcruplc;, as all other
^alfo ahfwercd this objeaipn touching thtexffjw'^&iay jw^%,and S^'j^Jf^n-
imnetkate mftance of the ApoMes in this lirftCouncelL Soasthife focvrr called
'beaten ^1^ being now /o/>^^ and t^^^ what and confir-
retnaines butthatthc conclofion <honld ftiind firme?: yijj. That a incd, except
Id^futtanmcellaf^'Synamng^mty or the 'A0kfandEUe^T in'Mm *c'«^ ^«^«-
^Cotmcellmre, ^fro^difigl^ermMfnai^a^ S^wrrwSS
nenmne Chwdf^ffefencer \ and aridtk I)ecrees far the Chtrches to ^5 this was,
}^efe. ' . by the Holy
" ^eff. But how farre rcachedi this Spodicall fotper f and in Scriptiurcs.
^b^tafestnSyiiheyihakeiruch Decrees? / . :^ Sr^n/^^
A«j»^ In 'aniweiphereuntSo I (Ball ourpoftly declihcf ( 2(s rmch
as may be) all coUaterall controverncs, as^'«. whether fiich Sj-
«K)ds be inveftei* vrith a power of JuriJSiSion^ reaching to the <reii-
funv^^fferpu t^^ Ivdllndtgoe from what
the Text dii^y'feadeth- me to. "The Pm^er here ddi^rercd by
fmli^SU^ to theChmthcs, wer A^ll fiiide'them. dineftly con*
^tertiingtwo things^ liift'iwaiKf PtdSice^ D'drine^ whether cfr-
cwnc'^m mistbmmce{payf<dvno^ FraOive^ whether they flionld then
eate things ojfere J to laolsy or m^ tic* "R^th theft the CoU|icelI Jierc
ftatesandAtemiine^''^''"; •- ' • '-, * '•'• • •■'- '
\ Firft,deckring4Jre errorieotifi^^ and danj^onfiiefle of that
opinion^ which fome would have obtruded iipon the Chtuchcs un-
der .their wme^ t;i;^ DOiiching WrciWfajww^diklaiimpg it as hone of
* D 2 xhcios;- _
tlxeif^ t- This they dQe./^//VV5^y/eEfv^t^^ wcC-^S; Tficn
^'28! uitcxdi&ing'Wd pA)hibiai3jg tB0ji4i^
,Ycjrf. 55>. were, or wcj« acccHint^l «M^O!tf unto tba%Terij 25^ Tififc t>w
thficfcntenccofthe Coiniccll here <5^wff^ jita£kctb> (iWJttofiieaJqc
srhat U doth oUiptelji^kom it ^o xeachetb thtparfmf of xholEc vho
bad bceaaa the i?^r^<jwfeer/ ,^^^ nepf i>4£lrim^ idiamltj^Aflieth^^
fiLaipceuTiwi^pkm 4^(^rii|g.wd]piraaau9d^
Trmhknf' $J tht C'hmj}^. and j^mmtsts ^Jsstks^ . y«f* ^4^.^ Aod..
dielc two the fencoKire of lasiifi&H <}oimcd[t$^ «uid %:uom oiqf
jce^hi thf^b^gitweOiedx/vi^
i/W^ clje^jOphcr PirpS^V; ( nfat^afp«ijc,af jd^ powff,,.
tjK.^2«i:€r ^ftjT vc^^w > . whiMX tf it "^e w)t JFwiMi§|i';>. yet Vtm^r^.
ff»7^ and 'imixemlj jx xmA h^cQtxcdwsA to rhee ia&ch Cbua-
A I. They have a T^ogmaticall or DoHrinaU power indeclatdog;
/.. ^qddedd^m at>aE^^u^^
Ciaifes ar^moA toidar jand jeoj^
y ^a0idiiQa : And it 'a$- uq 4Q0£set then .what ^he aeaoaoipfe of the :
ChiiiKihiM; Jnfhd) feadi^th as4»i^ aai^iouM Pi^fikVM^^piouit of ^dj^ie^
i:e9Ge y^likh ponldn^^
- t^ve%,tb^rcfe£i:eittotli^i^
ii^^ mc^ together .m a ^^^'ix^^ .wboi^Qia ^iiid^^
able to Scripure ^nd ^afon^ they acquiejce^ arid reft fetisficd. A
mtterp far the«Ghurehes mail (u<cse(W%'agei5,(hewii^ them wh ai»
^ey are to do in like cafes. Biitxto let this f^iSs ^m •drUth coi^e8eg{ :
fey all .who , ai^ not vaorc weddj^ to ^M^ <iwi>f4yateiaiod«&^nd
Wiila>.tltcn dither to Scripturc^tt- R«afon-
,< 2. Tbei^ondJ^ranchaf thi&%nodk%[tjpOf^
matters pFJP^^ijfiEifle. Siich a powei? we^fipd the Gouncett •hesc'^cr^ ^
iifiqg upon the Churches ;jK^
fiticj: : And fnrcly thii^niasy J^wfoH ^w^'^^ layistitthe'Ghupr
ches way for theob order tteoni in aaatte^ tmdaim^
Vecreef touching whattbey are to do^.Qri)0ttQ<doe^ which JB«-^
/ €i?ces «ay be i^qEwyy^ipon the Ch«|^
"^ep. But what then l Hathfiicha Connrellor^aioditn ^
jpleaie upon the Church } . .
i^ Jbgjm^ dn nsmng.agfi6»^ of^ the miAj ^
Laffesibe»grin^ tiioiihoaaij^'^ ibiqr iiiay>xiQt^ fi> mf^\i
JIB tmpead iradt>Dy Jisijjpafttajlar f^jdrtttm^ 4ifir jrit Jpq^ 4oy .qqoiM^ Deur.4 2 .
nxaotisdQfJU»ja:4vg^ Re11.12.18;
2. IbgnKgordaimipthing bat nba$ -4)^ haiit ditntri^ jh^
jwpirfiT^iKfnn^iiPW thr^-hiy*^>^ W wfagit ibey imd a nrai^si nc
MS^iim^sff^^ bf
n expiofy condoonit^ m the rwm Or dl&^a geoen^ ^nraixanc^ *^
Tdib tjiqriuidi£(M:.aUitlr FeAg|iShe wcdubhin^i^
inrthdboiimiiaom^mdl^^ym fiut«hetsft(af:thQm\iiQasatitbefii^
(ent become^^cm^dn^ screak (bmshjpea^ anaji^
tending ricBbflr^iOu^riiiSiiiV 4^^ }Eicrai^X)ii» rtboiigh 2 Cor. 10.8.'
tbqrthad nofacfwffiniravdxifScrt^^
tfcat ^enecaU^omxd) > dmy^re^fiJnc the u& c^ tbcm fiaw^ diac tioie^ ^
tliongh^hcinme^an tfaemi9ves.i^
.Byths)&lmfllks«»i^i(H:he^C(«^ And
Qoa&qtsehdyougbtiioctdimp^ b^
vAut tbej? cooceiwaiio be^woff^im. Sodid fl^ Councftlhhere. J/jacf
fnedgood to the Holy GM and to tmpti^$tfmj^m\griatGr.}mtdk»i ihes y^r j ^.,
^feiiic^Sifsitibmgt* Tbe :tbihgs i^ tbomibecc 'impoC^ were all
wes^stk. Kbcfifi4i»eitber&sipljr ^aui^dfakaefy hsjiziximrmfecdl iie«-
feihtie^necedarie at all times. Of this kii)de:9a« ibeal^laining from
ce0arie/Qr^.iter7i^^4^ V0)ent«he&>odMr things
liAyeTprdlttbked^ eboughiaa tbemielvcs^infdudi^cywne natujfe iW^^
D 3 th<^
•A^ The S4ered a»d ^oyerii^ne
they were tor tlie time mcejfdrle to be ciedincd, and afsiAkinedlFro^^
And fiirely fhch ihoiild tlK ZXeeneer and Cmfiitutims of aUl Coimcels
and Synods be, viz^ touching tkings mceffatiey aeceflarie to be obfer^
ved or avoided. Mece&aiie ( a$ I fity ) either)&«^$r in themrelves9 in
their owne nature> at all times ; or neceflarie in re(peft of the^^
fern fate and amdititm^ necedaric S&t the dme : which things in tneir
owne nature indifierent maybe ^ as ithe words of irhe Coonceli
here make it plain^ which fpeaking of things in themfelves ind^e^
rieaf, yet (iailetii them )»cq(p^ . .
Sa^fi* Vf h^ then'i do$b she au^mriecf the Cam^U or Sj^iAangt
the noHux d/tbe thif^s^ cf inMfferm\kai^^ tbemnecejfarie i This ooc
■' ' ' Adterfanes of Rjome contend Ifipp iris their GloflS" uponxhc
twentieth verfc of this fifteenth pnapcer. See here ( fay they ^ jbei
m.Amat. P^^ \AmbaiHe vfGodr Chufid^^and CqwJfeU rdnth vug commdfarjevery
L9.x5«2o. or far ^tim^ Such things as hefitJ»'thefiaU(^timaamlnananr mtbumi
i^dmdfahf eommanAmimjnalig tbingrnee^larie
rzf. And thisiiia]^ bf'ixirdttines have on**
aafti(pe£kdly (wallowed. Ourlearned and judicious
J>r. FMAa- Do&orf'uS^thztMalletisb£refian70npm
m^Lcc. ^oflc of the Rhcmiftsj^ftidb hottogcantthem whatiiic^cin they
deiire ; in \mkmts ifind^j^rencie^Csath he }' rptpdd u vmr oifirvasim^
And it luth been (fpeciaUy oflate dmes) .a recdVed maxime^ that
\ n mabmtie contming upim tbwgfin their aame nkm imUffenm:, Aangeth
the nature (ffhedy m mak^ tbem of wdiff^^
V^ w(j* JBat]to.this we cannot fid^nbe-C^ka^
fiKhppwertot^angeoraltsrftJie^i^r^ things^ dtherJto make
idungs tkce^ievid^fferent^ dt:^^ ind^entmceffarie^^gklch in
*^^: ^'^ M. C^fti-Yigi&f/ judgemeittis/allonr* 'Thcreafbh whickh^
^jf ' "^^^ fbrlt, is convincing. To give the Cburdf any fitch potper^ wert^ to give
it ap ytf^er pv&r md Mxrve thtfifiptmiei ^ in as nnich as the indifieceocie
of thingstis' founded upon i me Scfipairefi>: frixn whence they have
thdribiddleand indi&xent natune; '
<^ff^- But was itiiot ib iftthisiirftCbuncell > dki notthqrl^im^
^iing of tfaefe things upcm the Ciuirchcs make tiieBi veo^arie
wvbkh wtvt before Mmij^r&k f ^* .' ,>.
Jnf. lani^r, N%d^ey were ^ec^fprrebofw^ tfaem»
^ How ran that be ? Mhzt^fmffarifi^mdindiff^ both ? '
jinf, Yes;lndiflS3«htih't^em^h«/,biitneceiIarxeinrel]^
frefenf occ^fieu^And heqi^o it-was ijutf ^c ipdcinceil impD^ them^
1 bccauft
Church-Jtemediel \ ^7
bcra^tfa^ apprdiended thusfnTo tso be* Maikc it; 7befi thingt v^^r^ \
Jibe nine mcejfariey therefore tbgf imfofidthmn. As for the things them-
fdvca^ the nature of them was not changed, nor altered by their
comniaiKlcomminc^ upon them. As they were usdiflPerent befbre^fb
thsy re^iained indl&rent ftiil*^ viz. indj^ermt in tUmfilvefy and in
n^S cfcmfiieme : oncly made necefiaiie by acddent^- in regard of
ring and preferving of the P^jce and Vtdtu of the Ghurchr y
jAmlftlHi&havel^sbdefiy^ aa^plainlyj asfutty laisIi^Hldjendea^
^QUi:edto4e£»:e'i^untoyouthisinuch cQnt«)ye«t^ i»:#)f touchr» . .
iiig the power of UwtiiU Comtceh and ISyhods in pipdaiuhig t)c^
€r^.s ii^hich may be impoied .upon the Churches, Thatwhich ro*; ^
maines Is.the ^//i<2^>ia^ wherein I Chall be as brief as t m^^y,
: UthtVf^Mfih^VO^tni^w^ andySynodsi? then take Jfplir^ .
"^eiheod: fsTCi^ of ushpw we (0afi 00 ftjfi/^.tMa -^j^flf- Wc kaow
yfl^t thpJpofik , ^h of CwV/Ipdwcr^idie. ppwf c offMagifirackyxnd
I think I piay fs^y the feme of Eelefa&ioaU power, (he power of
Comcels^ and Synedf Ijiwfiilly convenecC. lawtulty pcgcceding^^ an<i
lawfiilly conS^Wfd^efiever n^iifthps^st^^^^h,0rdin4i^e of Rom.ig:2*'
c>f the Churcbhitfifert<i j An4 iiireI:afi(%^M<^.^^^ rtrummth afm^
beam bjtbe^ finger ^(^odt^^l^^^ T%^^^ ua
: T<9^ bring «he Applkmoniiomit fo tjii prc(ent tknes^ Jihall not '^^^conMcd
need? to t^l iti?PM th^itl^?. is. dic.wjiy .that the State ofthis King- p^* f^ ^^'^
dome have at thU day p^cjM upon^ fw the ci'IK!|;>{^ Ecckfiap^ about^to^;
<^Wi^e?<ce/ji and fOjif the r^^
\qtJI^O(X^m>^^ |o^alltogoihti:» Afl«Hb|ypf this, na^
.tore, wlicieii^ wfy hd^yci^fubfidmeey: C>nd I think for eiramfian^^ —
Jo foe ?A4}heprefcnt ttate of |H<i.ta|ies would peiTnjtv) cndcajvoufiod
to follow this Pr««/ri^e;j»i^^cr« : kt\mo.9nly,p(»*iwaa^ with ypu to
. take heed of admitpn^/enteminifig. £^ nr(f j^dici^l tho^hts /i-
. gainft thi$ way : fucfa WQUgbts thore.i^iva bdetb and daily are let
< tall by fome ill adviftd tongue^ and nensCfio queftiibn) iecretly Cct
-a work by. Satan^ (as Peter wa^ to dlilwade his matter from going
up.to Kerftf/^/ewiXif it might be5.^oXuff^ Matdwr'^a.
./ "the
J
1^ The S4isredMd Sourer aigne
th^Wimibe^wtafla&tt/emiliish^btrcfei.^ take Vre hevd: ficc^we
take them up^ how we give ^ny lodging to thei^ ; &r be it Adm
every of us, who profiEflfe our felvcs the kyaUfubyeBj' ef Jefm Cbri^
to harbour titch a mbilliouf rifilmkuy as that of thofe in the Pl^lmc^
Pfill.2.3
Zacbk IX. 7-
br^akjk^ bmdf c^mder^
( Bmhrei) ) firft kt as fee what the(e &(( W/^what t befe e<fri^ wtil b&^
befow we offer^ny fiich intentioaall violence to them$ poiGbly,
they may b^ fuch bmds as will have Af jw/7 for their companion 1
boms like htMigku $ which by hinJing may alio xdEtrxje and wri^ ^
Spcktie of Oh^ft^ no other then the boadsof? J^/k Ci^i/}: hitn^li^
wWeWltk to beboumi isthe tmeft libeptie ; p^^bly ^^ maybtf
fiich cinrds^ is yt)u4&all find ihade^H ofSe^^nsft th^^df^^ti of Gods
iy^n^imlng^cfi\\yfmpiui^iiA bm together Dy«irti 5aAdihaIlw©re*
fojve afofebarid to bteakjhefibM^imdc^ m^opfibefi cw^ j?
irtg p6*refi» <:>^ to dfty deBrtiiffiadeby fe^h api^weir, wh^ Wli^i^
hntfr>$^0t:^^dpfik&m' ^rifiiak'tiimhJ it Is. the known plea
which thi* :s*^^^iij?rt4kej^ii^nft^^^^
• ttfedf fcymahy*giiiiift^*»;fed^^ Por* Answer.
and dfd#htfeeifc' havetklfciidflptli^fiie jAeaA^dsiAey appfehettdcd
.. . arty Wfei^f Ml ki'or re^bft fei^t^'tt^n tilH* l>e,^m here fpokeh of
Wtrfcteri(fiSi^'teth^tobyRJ|rf^ild^)iir^t^ ^h^tjkfray ^hOi^
' . '", But we hc^r no fiich r^ords from them, neither let therein any fiicfa
'T; ei6i%hts^ii*«i^a§%^wy(*>lsi» fe iri? jtltf i/^ind:
'•^' ThtA will foort ^p^p^*5 fr'W^^ovbitt'^ 3^igh^ itttderftem* whrft
^^?»jb and^Jj^e^i^ ifl^j^^^^fld'^Whatth^^Miafe ft*i«%^eSr'^«#-
tetfi^nthefe Jic^nei6U^tf»iMfe^ifeM^^^ c(d^eive (^itjnbry«tant^
«AiMoh fi«rathi6'yi>i4c<<k^ il^ whether cMZ/dt
let wliattnattw*^f<b^me^gQf^iuhf<^ p^chi^^iy
XM^fi^'S'f^^^^ are Jh fkty here is the
. ■ fit)p«tr Teat of this Itfe*^^
the
the figdm and mrfisA cbe mofoU hm^ and from the Mkatlais of the
cmmmii^t law» To ^fterally fropi all cbligadoiis and bonds , fave
only {och as God himielf fliall impofe upon w this is Srifiian libera ^
ffMow this liberty is no waies intiinged^ither by any chill or £c^
ekfiaJHeaB jmnF^ in a9 much a$ neicher of them ckymeth any Jtfi^
iFitdiSkm or ponpfr orcr- the cmfciemi^ either to hiuik pr abfblve it. A $
for the l>€0rterefOmcell/ & Sjmdi^to hold to them ) tncy do not
properly and immedia^lyd as comming from them » reach tfaie coj^
fcUfm : it i$ b«tt a miibke (to make thp moft charitable conjUniftion
of it) whicfi is charged upon Af&mblies of this nature; that thy tG.tyimmJ^
. tmmmmd all mmf jt^men^ ^ eoj^cwicer u haw icw^ at tbifmofhA^\
. abur d^termmatimi : What Proteftam: Cowicell or Synod ever yet ,
daymed fuch a Jarisdiftion 7 tnie it ih the wMter of their i^eo'ecs
may reach the confcience^ being (iich thiings as are<:ommanded or
^rbidden in the Jf^Jk fiimgcmk\m^ Is bound to dj^fervq js^nd o^
4bef»biitnotby vnrtueof anyikwtf^ \mtoh\)k iiwje Lojp^
-which hath laid that obligation upon c^imc€.As £3^* Qther things
ivhkh are in their own ifttore i)it(S^|^«^ nether commanded nor
fnrohibired in the Woid) but pnly made trnpry for itm , in re-
ipedllof (boae pi*eieitt o^caiiop) tbeie may.pje mPoftd\ but how? ^
vhi^poncM^ieM0i^as{hia^siiece0^ Jlcck*
f^^aUDtcmtj^Si^ I rai4 fcierore)/^ ^ mt df^a^ the fMure (fthingr^
hat impoie them) and leave t:hem as they finde them \ finding them
-"•fiTbe aec^iry in them(y yes, (made & by ^
^ofe them afi metffofy % £ndiqg them to be indi^erem in themfelve^
^'Lefi: (6 by the tvor^^yi nm im^fc diem ^ tndiJ^er^tt-^cxAy made
fieceflaiy&irthetiaae« inthemeane time no waies touching tht
xenfdoKe,^ fiirtker then as (he Woixl bindeth it. ^T
To inftani^ in thejfe Decrees which the Texf, pointeth at ; here;
^j0tl^tttsoriain£if^tbeCha$r(;hutol^ef^^^^
-waies txtnding imjcienct fiirtfa^ then the Law of Ood bound it. The " •
Councell Decrees thtycihaiild ahftaimfromfimieation^ now t!>i$ the^
were bound to before^ by an eo^rf^ and particular Law of Ood :
The Councell DecreeS;)tney ikxild abftaiQe from eating things Ja^'-
ftJt0ld$ils^&e. and diefe thgr weiie now bouaid %o bf^ge/isratl
LaiWs the Lafp af ^^i^^ which ^jjp^^piired they i Lpuld ( as mudi $^
might be)ayoidwbat was )cWWtfi^ aod olS^iiiiv* tQ the weak bfc;-
ihi«n> axtfi apply themielv^ tpi^ch. waic^ ajn[^ courf^^ isUf irdght
E ' procure
i^ The $dcred and ^<> Wr^/gv
procwre and maintainc the/e^KTff slvlA unity 6f die Churches 5 thuj
were they bmnd^ yet Without any hnpeachm«nc to their chnftiofi i-
hmyifov in the former of thefe theit Chriftian liberty had no plaCQ
ftbcinga thingfimplyneceflaryto abftaine from fornication 5 in
the latter thck Chiiftian liberty was ftill prefei-vcd and maintained
ihtire and whole^.in as mueh as thefe things were not impoied upon
tonfcknccy arthihgs neceflary in themfelves 5 ^ Only the outward ujt
and exercije of that liberty waa for a tunelihdted or refrai?ied^v^hick
(morall neccffi«y fo requiring) qucltibnlefle without any wrong or
injuiy may be done, either by«a mans fclf, or others in authormi ci^
vill or EcclefiafUcalL . . .
Where (by the way, befoiv I paffe any further)let me only give^
,touch upon aii ^ror^then which 1 do not know any that thefe Iiocu^
Want times Have put forth of more dangerous confequsnce , 'vhs.
that things htdifirentjvhen ctmmandedyfhofMhecome unlanful^fnch rockf
tHefhiftihg of the wind'of latehath carried men upon : not long
* fince thetenet was 1 Things indijferentytn^en commanded , . become mc^
foTj: how onthc other faand> things iu^^ent^tfihen commmdedy bet>
come unlawfidl^ extreamesboth^ like ^S'gr/H and Gharybdis% it is not
eafie to f^ whether of the two the more dangerous^ I have given*a
ciipveat touching the one already, let me now do a$ mucii for the o^
ther : That authority by commanding ^things indij^rent ponU^jfud^
them unlaFpfully how can this be Mf ^ , iure ttie ground and reafoA
of this unlawfullneflcimuft be dtlicr in fie amhmty commandingjor ia
• tiifc thing commanded, or inthe perfonobg/ing : now for the former of
thefe, the authority being la^;(ri(u]| cannot leave- fuch a; taira- upon
things, that by touchmg of thcm,^ mcdling with them , ib (hadd
-f-ihakc them oilatvfidl unlan^fidL As for the fe€ond,the things themt>
-felves they arenot changed, the nature of them is not altered 5 if
-they were Wi^er«i« before^ they are -w«^^
Xk^l. lit ^^^ confiience. As for the third, die perfins obe!pig being Jmre , aH
things are pure to them. ^ How then can it be, that by.patEng tho-
row the hand^ of authority, things fliould contraft fiicha iff>*
ligne quality^ that of ihdiflferent they ftiould become unloftffkll ? for
my own part I muft profcfle, that amongft all the monftrous and
mijbapen con<:eptibns which thefe brooding teeming times have
latched and brought forthj I do not know any more prod^ous
then this-Ceruinly the Primitive times were never acquainted with
fiicha DoftriM* The Pecree/ pointed at in the Text , they were
^^ mpl%
' Churcb'.^/mediel ' - i i
moftly about things in their own nature indi^emy yet the. Coun^
cell impoiech them, {)rohibdting the Churches fpr a ttnie the ufe of
things otherwife lawfiilL NowrfurelyJ had they apprehended
' that their impoiition would Have chang^ the nature ofthlngs^ fo
zi to make them oTindlfferent mdawftu^th^. would ttir have had
any hand in camnuntUngj^oT yet the Churches In obying* But I for-
Jbeare to reafon any further againft that,for which^f fupj^fejicarce
aftadoW of rea(bn can be given: Iratherpafieonto lome other
ObjcQims and AUegaHms^ wriich finding tiieni to be but bladders
fiiU of wind, I fhaU only prick them^ ai2l leave them to evaporate
of thcmfelves.
£^^je£f.2. In the ftcond pUce it is alledged that this im^
Jbdng allowed to any foch Symdicall Secreex, it may prove prejadt-
x:ialltpthe Chwdfysmd to the Truth ^y a thing wmch experience
xnaketh. good. The Coimcels which we i«ad of in the new Tefta^
ment> wherein there was a concurrence of the CivilkmA. Ecclefia^ Mm.Mnl^
fiicall power^ did they not give (entence againft Chrift hioiielf^^ a- ^*
..gainft his Apfiles^ againft theirn^i^y and VoSrine f Of latter times ^** ^^^
liow prejudiciall have many Councels been to the Church vx \
condeilming the tnah^ in countenancing and confirming oferrort / . >
Inftance but in, that one Councell of 7re;^3 thtn which never w;as >.'
there any undertaking more threatning to the Cfei»rc^>more pcriii- . '■"''
clous to the *r»^^«
A/ifiV' Weanfwer : It is true, thus it hath been, and thus k
may be ^ but what of this ? Things thtmreexcelkntintheirufe they^,g^ ^ , .
are^hemore iangerow thy maj/ be in, their ndjcarriage : Great Ordnanci ^fi 1 , f^^ •
in a Fort or Caftle , being well managed and plyed againft the D^ra GreJ;
enemy, they are theftrength and fecurity of a Citie 5^ but being ^if^fan^efti
turned againft it,they batter it down : Even of fiich u(e ape Cam- "r^^^^ji
tels and their Vecreer^ Ecclefiatticall Ordinances^ to the Church ; now , f 2*/"
wfio will thinke Forts and Bulwarks fit to be flightecf,ind all their Aitfiiw/DiU
Ordnance to be difinounted, becaufe poffibly'they may pixjve dif- Syndchbomn
advantaccebus* cxitum w-
OhjeB. 3. Butitwillbefortherur^ed, Experience hath found ^•^^^^^
Councels of this naau'e to be often prejudicial], feldome advanu- hocm^^rmA
glous to the Church -> witnefle that f now trite and threadbare^ ^^^Mii^
teftimony of that ancient Father* Greg.Nazianzefh that Vura J^*^?*? t^
ximonia^ (as Calvin tiidy callcth it) that harlh and rigorous com- ^^ 2[fL^ *
' ^a&it ofttis whefein he ph^ffith^ tlilat for lih part, 6f liilfitpmM
good tndy Of €kfirakkj!iccej^ rf^^ff Cometll^ dr thft fhy froemndjmy, di^
jbiffP. To thl^ home char^ fet 6h by a fiogletadfHmony, take
anfwerbri^Jr- v
fibm^ opto^ tnui^ttotit jitiyinim. Hope&K undeitaktegs , though never ib
nJfyHif ^b wifely prt>jfcft^, and wdU tnteikjed,, may yet poffibly mHcarfy r
fffCTiw fi»i;u- \it^(^\\^nfi(mry hot onely tmnmt^hvs: dmm^ may at fometimcs
*^^* prove un£bccel&fidl aiidindfi^^ r And fo may it poObly
Cmcih }6cin, ^^ cwt.with the moft prpmifing Sjmds or amneelT. But where i^
mh. Atuf^ ^e feult ? t^fcit lit ttie aodertaking) ih theinJHimm it ielfc ? Not
^go. Cfri^. To^butlntlieperib'nspenrertingsOroppofmgit. So faith om: lear«
^«^4fr ^n«- jittl. and jodkidii^ Dr. tHntJ^g^:. concerning diat firiJ and great
lu Anno 371. tkmAceH of Kfet . h!*la fittfe MxM Nasdanzmt dtj^Sy of all
25JW^»f^ tlouncelitlfenrottfitiirinafi^ «a«7
STiSS^^^^ did nbtfiacfct!latiikceffiirhichi*a$dcfircdand
^2J^^„^5«^" hcTP^ for- ; The e>^ of AeCli»rch were not decreafiod^ but ratiiec.
nodm^mtit inciiearedbyit: (ad ftonnes and tempefts followed upon it Bm
' ^f^ Whcnce*ast^ii^ A'ii^^a^yiMeli amdfmy 8tc. Tfic fadt was^nc^ia-
J... . . . i^ev^»SM^ but in \H<$»d'aiKiperver<c men opptiSng and makihg
p^^Zt IwadagiinlHtj Evtnasitiswiththc^Jtjij^itfelfejWteieh com^
dtMoitJtiiks mcthic hath ordinarily a ^^nwrtf attendulg t^KMi it > f 1 emm tat t*
mt^o^^^^paetiimafmrdi Mat. 10.34.^ Botvhacirthe cao&ofchisi
■-' ?Tr ' Not the Goj^U "Which isinit felfc the Go^t tfpeacti hoc thofe «-
J'^jjff WUoitt ones *ho w!M not fubmitto the Gofpcl.
dumdijmfif cmmnen efi^ dim in aihfenfkiSfficnlfdf tfl^ Am iher tfmi AnmtkmtL efi'cMfh , pr9fi^
M0nS^t»dtqMdem^ffdhmiiiMniw^ y^hhskp'cmrnlHPMmdiCoiidlris^ ilgflmk
2* As for this teftinK>ny of ^iTiifttM^ei^ the learned cannot but.
wonder tlut fiich a paflage (hoiild £dl from fiicb a pen. 1 cannot bnt
:_,^^ wondxf ffaith our worthy T^hUiA^ ^ ihat AaiFatba^Jhald jndgt fr
fJJ^ffiSr^ fmi^fyy0»dmmfihhterlfeomernhgCi^ But herein be was
alonct
I - -
Churclhttinudii. j j
aitimt. As fw ^ reft of AeJPafkifr^ we fiuH ityje il^m ckali
of atidlbcr fmnde> jadgingaiid fyt^kingiks h^mnraklrof Cxnmctlir
and Syoods, as Natiauaysm did owii^/y ^ concluding them tcTbe not
oncly ufifi^lxbot in (bme cafcl: mecegarj. Tkat efAttff$fiim is well A^^- ^'^^^
kn(>wn> CMciliemm im icekfia fakikirtms amhritof ^ 'Tbi Aiuho*^ ^^(jL^
Geherall Councelk : And Cjf^i^ faith as much or knore ofT^picsH
particular <^jmiu& : Nifctffe kdmmnt^c Wt htU h meeffjyj^(lMth he)
to gather amt etlebrstii sCotmcM of ma^ Frieflf (or Mhufiers) ajfenk*
hhm togethf : So as agaiitft this one fingulai' tefiimpny ofrhls
fih^e Father we may weU c^ftofe the dim»i3ng judgement <^ aU
thereft.
3- Suppoie th^t Father IB his time never (aw any good end rf i^lrr e Jf Ai^w-
^1^ ;^ What ftall we thence coi|clude agamft them > Upon the S2^T
my fame* ^^ound might the promoters .of this chaise as well umpiurimis
conclude a^iift otir tarliammtjrj Af^mMkf in this Kiagdome. fi^erdontms^
Touching ^^ich^ for our parts, many of us here onefent may fay 95 ^k^^ & ^/^
Ni<dutt«»doth there 6f Cwwrt6> tha* in^xir^imc we haw not ^c^^mI'
fccn a defirabk fiiccefle of thetns they have not an(wered our hopes ^^ 2^ep. u
andexpe&rtiofiS) hitferaoftanendtia¥«leftasin)}4ii^f«»^iiKfyin
the fame, if not in a worfe condition then tkey found i|s ; and yec
I hope ne^er they^ nor ai^y other who are true-heaited to dbeir
Countrey, vnll ^are to fpeake a word, or enteitain a thought a«
jgalttft the uAr, utilijhr, and ncceffity of than.
4. Suppo^ that A^M?M might fay that he had not> fcen AfXff
eood Cwct& of Councells in his times. Shall we therefore fay the
Mtc of aU other Ctamcells? What fay wccf to this firftCounccU =>
held by the AjjoMes and Elders at Hltmfiilem ? had not this a good ; -^
Wid? LcttheTeJitinformcuswhatwas theiiiccefle of it. And fi
wen the Churches efahUfitdy&c.'] What fay we to many other • i\
Councels in after ages f intftance in thofe 4. nrft gmerdl Canncelsjo
unrvcrially received and appixyved of by the Church. However
t&e immediate iiiccefle of fonle of them did not an(wer expefbr •
tion for the fctling oiF Fe^ceand TCmtb in the Church, yet ihall^^
tre fay, Aat the Churches of God in after ages are not behold- •^^ r^.^wvu^^;
ing ^tfaem f Cwncelt SLfidSjfmdf in this are fometlmes ItteiHit^ y ^
C(muts{}tt not any pervert or abuic the eomparifon ) which- hil^
not their cfl^ till fomc yccrs after their amearihg. I 'reiMihb%-
«itat the AfN^ftte :£iitk of faretHs^ they doc (or ought to dot > i^
E 3 1^ —
:i4 The Sacred and SoyVriaigHe^
2 Cor.i 2.14. $f, fof, $he'4. chMrm. Aad- tbi§^ -have rihe faihtt^s of thbfc Comceh-
done:) laid up for pofterky^ laid up mai^ precious truths, which
have been uiefiill to the Church of God in all fucceeding ages*
lliigratefull ftiould weibe, fhould We not acknowledge our felves
beholding to them, and many other Councels and Synods fiace
tbofe times. Not to go far back- What think we of thofe^Syw^
^ or con'^KT^^/flBij (call them as you pleafe) in this Kingdcra ^.
in the Articles of diiir Beligion were drawn up and agreed upon^and
by Law eftabliflied? What think we of the late 5) Wat Dm?
or^f the htcrA£hf^lj in Net^Tinglandy to which ilxditTlammon
(under God) owes not a little of her preftnt fubfiftenqe ^ . . . .
- I^ot to multiply words. Certainly fueh is the utility, .fiich is
the necdfity, if not of Generall Councels^ ' yet of Tapicdll^ Particular^
NationallyPravinciall Synods^ that the Church in this declined con^
. didon cannot weE fubfift without fheni. And thci-efore let all
take heed how theygoe about to prejiidicgte either thefnfelves or
* ' others againil this SoveraigneC/?i«rc^-£cwie^i€, Which what is it,
* - .but as if one iho^d endeavour to loat;h a fick man of his potion
before it come at him? Then which, what gfcater dif-fervice and
jnjuiy can poffibly be offered and done both to Piyfitiaa and
, Patiint?
*- / I know there arp yet fomc other -^n^^j* let flyc at thcfe -"yy/wirV^l/
^jjemhlies 5 but I finde them filch, as light a« well upOn this firft
Councell at tiierufalent^ as upop thofe which have or ftiall iiiccecd
\it, and in that refpeft the lefle to be regarded. As via^
nemoKp.^z p/yefi?. i. That they are prejudiciall to mensgi/i/, and parts^
«*7ivf4r0- and induflry^ conjm'ing them auimo a Symdicall drck (as one unhap-
^jytfhy^ pilyexprellethit) ^^i/^g^^e»«<7;2e/y ,«:tf^jwce//;ere.
i^ovT»u ' ^^r^' And might not the Churches to whom PohI heremar
jffom. kcth delivery of thefe.Synodicall V^crees^ have taken up the fame •
S:<ccption againft this CounceUiait Himefalems' to which (as it is al-
eaged ) fome of them were not called fo much as to fliew their
^ Judgements.
ObjeS. 2. Not unlike is that other ; that Aflemblies of this na*-
-- f * turc arc commonly ftvaycd and canied by a few. It U ufmll (faith
' ^7' l|j^fj^lll^AutJ|jC3fr) tbatinfuchC^tincels^fonieoneorfewoffredonuHant
:^p^^fir jjKthoritj amongU themy jwaf afi4 jf^^^ ^^^ ^he froceedings^ and
.^^-tbeytdgmkras and affiHions of the refi^ though confcientious andkar^
ja^dto a ]degref. So that upon the matter andjnftaccom^^ the refubttums rf ,
CoH9*
Ckurcb'RcmUie* %t
Ctomctls and Synods ibemftlves^ are hut the fruits and futtwgs f&rth of tbt
learningandjudgememofa'veryfnpmen. "
; Anfw. And was it not fo in this firft Coimcell at Hierufakm ?
Wcit there not here (bmc kadit^ mm amonglt them ? Is not that
the very Epichcte which the holy Ghoft givpth unto Judas and ^i- Aa.15.22.
Ijh ? that they were iy^^^'^i^ cbiefe men (or kjdingmm^ as the word
properly fignififcth) amon^ the brethren^ at whom no queftion the /.>
Teft had a Ipeciall eye. And were not the Apoftles^ Pe/er,ahd Jzimefy .
, and PaulyAxxch as by v/hoCcp^eJontinant parts and authority the pro-
ceedings of that Coimcdl were n^inly fwayed and fleered ? And
yet for all that was that a fiee and orderly CoumxlL And fo may
^ others a fterJt be. But I will (ay no more in this caiife : ndther wa«
I willing to have fa id fo mclchi Onely taking notice of a danger om
defgnekt on footbyfome^ and driven on- by others, forthepre-
pofieffing and foreftalling the minds and hearts of the people
with prejudicate opinions againft the determinations of the prefini
jijjimbly in this Kingdomc, *.»^hat ever.Acy may be, and thereby ta
blall all the hopes which the Church of <3od may conceive from
thence , I could not but thinke it my duty to (ay what I have done,
that it might ferve both as an ^»^idl7/tf and Pre^^^m unto you of
this place, to preserve you from the danger of this infeSiony and
to prepare you for the recdving ^nd entertaining bf fiich fn^ffages
as God (hall fend unto us by the hands of tho(c whom at che pre"
fent by his providence he hath Xet a worke as his Inftiumehts foF
the finding Out and revealing of his minde and will unto his
people.
Ciomc wc in a word or two to the third and kft branch of this . 3.
(econd particular, which I will but opely touch upon, therein ma-
king amends for my ncceffitated prolixity ih the two former, viz^
Replace where this CkAmcell was neld,and thefe Decrees ordained^
%da^ zt Hierofalem^
Sa^fi* And why there rather then elfewhere ?
Anfa. Take a rea(bh or two*
I. Toletpaflc the conveniens of the place, which being the
mmvpolky the chiefe City of that Kingdom ( as London is of this)
wasmoft commodious foriiich a meeting,whither per/bns from all
p^rts were wont to rc(6rt.
2* In the (ecottnd place, ( as it was the chief Citie , ix> it was
liie^chiefCiEwriir, being the /r^ Chuichs ThefirO:. J.Fot timii the
. firfl
Vf The SderedandS^lograigne
fr(t place where the Apoffles after the Afc^im of Chijft gathenfl'
and conftituted a Church. 2. the &fi for namher^ the number of be-
leevers belonging tothat Cteircfa being veiy great ( as I fluill have
occafion C God willing) toflicwyou anon ). 3. the firft fw HmQi^
and ^i^izi^ie^highly accounted of by all other of the Churches.' In
fbme Unfc ^Mothir^hwd?. So the reft, of the Churches (many of
CdMnmAS. them) looked uponit. NanfiAis ac Matrem coldfomy ( faith Cduin.)
15.1/.2. Th^ refpcftcd and honoured that Church as a Md^er^bwcb.
And fo indeed (he was : i. In as much as theGd(pell firft went out
jP£d.x 1 0.2* from thence. So it was foretold|. 7Z« L&rdjbaUjiad the K/fd (or Scep^
ter ) ofthyfirength <mt cfSimy PfoRte 1 10. b is fpcJcen of Chrift. Now
what is the Rod (or Samr) of Chrift ? why^his m?r^which is called
, thr Scepter ofhifjtra^tbjbecznic it is the power&ll inftmment wher-
by Chrift bringl^am keeps the world in fiibjeftion to himielf Now
this Rod^ this Scepter was to go out afSiony out oiHiemfakm. So the
njii.a^. Prophets both Efay zndMiciA explain both the one & the otherjTi&e
Micah 4.2 • La»jhdlgofmb ofSi^n^and the word ofi.\ Lord from Hiernfakm : Jfa.2»
Mical) 4. Thus it Was foretold, atid thus it came to pa0e. Behold
the accompli(bment of thefe prophecies at the day of Pinteenfp
A& 2. when the ApofUes being filled with the Holy Ghpft preached the
- Gofpell at once to allnationsy to fome almoft of everie nati<^n. By
Hvhich meanes the Go(pell was conveyed through the world. Like
SxsnfcMf ^^^^ 0^ i* Cahim fimilitude) which is conveyed from ontfmntain
fjuangdium through many cMm?^, and conduit*pipe$ to divers places. Thus
Vi^a^ ^l^^' ^^^ ^^^ ^^ of the Lord go forth from ^Hierttfalenu And in that
lr^c!^hih rcC^z mother Church., 2. AmotherChuirh out of whofe loinef
M. W/ tri- C^^ 1 tnay lay ) many other Cllurchcs wereifiued^ liaving their
ail of Sepc- Originalt from thence, being bitt as fo mzny Jim and off^^ts from
tu.i^,.26i. that firft Root. In which ref{^ theCiiunch of Hiemlal^ is called
by fome Ecclefi£ Sftrcularii^ being like a Tree full of yong (hootes^and
branch >Sy many of which are in time traniplanted elf\diere. So wa$
it with that Church ^ many of (he members thereof were in time
tranflatcd to other parts, bywhich means the Gofpell was dUper-
fed, and the Chut chesincreafcd. And hereupon at was that the
reft of the Chivches ^ave (6 much honour to that Church, being
(ji%y<m fez) 2i mother CbarS. 3« AgaineamotherChuix:h,asirce^*
ing of Cliiirches, Ho feeding them, like a naturall mother ready : up*
on all occaiions to draw forth her krejfls to give them (iick. Ready
to Contribute her he^cotmfils and advices {qv thdr Jf^fhrMSion 2Lr\ii
Wi/^<;^iiw. Bui'xhis was not all. "^ ^' la
pofks '^nd^Elders ordinarily to be met with. For bcfides thofe whkk
KeptaaardiasirK icsnAxM ik&Senem and In^Atjbtmk tiiercp (of
whkh tbocf wccdrioc a ;ftnr^, Ibrdbrt Ckorcit bdng^>;^<«^^ IWp oi& -
cerS v^iuiVMflDr.) i hoc wai a ftinokr. €£ gmfM R&^^am ^ wh&»
IsMhy^jlibyandotfaars^iqfiODte^ As^for
j^o/ib^ how many* were hffi^f^^
WonM'we giw an ear to that okl cotmoerfek Ckmerts^ he would teH c/<^/7. OnjF. .
ij^tiat.dilSmV(0dvc^bM^^e^ tbrotsgh the world, yet tb.6,c^.i2.\
at this time by a divine iaffinft ihe^ it^re bi^^ that ,
!t]bey nn^; JG^nc in tftis Coiiiiedll torpleftc! the diu^e <^ C^ri-
-fiiamtk.z^itiSi Jmidfim. But tfaig Legend our vei^ Adverfaritti
of Xmt ( though Mhorwifir rtadfo eMogh m htatifen to fech S^'^^jA
Ti'siEAbKiMr ^ ^nd wjilas^ t^ omie and m«^ ai^ of that forged ^^ ''^
Amhav Ima&aoifid ^ and: i«r^s poflage ( ^tmongft othct^ ) <dif
the booke alfo. And Wjdl thfey may ; In as much as ottc of th#
tadhre %Nf hkae J^wer th& bimlaff o£ jMit ( a^ ihetMives t&ke
iiotkeoHt)ii^is^bd(oi«4Jriiid^ bni^fNit€^cksa«hl]^Hn«a4 a$
3MitaiaYfdrh^:j4f^Aya./AftoCtlicm Not AA-rs 2:
to hearten to the con]cftures of others who will tell us of J*#c»^ f ^. J- ^ J^*?-
jSttKJ^atid Jflfar boHig^tboitu The ibnr hei-^ rAafeffe inen^n £^^)^ -^^ ,
' p
I «
oiieiyaf th)rcawlbrfMkv(bBfi«^ thcf one ai^
:^pofile^ the other an Evattgdi^} What .£&^ wiepebtf^fittiiiyi^ W9
finos it a^keiidciertaiaff f, b«i( cmtainfy, »ttitf fmH^^ to the ;i^*
• M^ W^'ybmhmmiMy fobretth^ twit; it fttoM^ by thii'
.^4^. Mot ioL Ttds viU oBiw be prov«i^ ncit her doth^ the T^nt
«ttfec ai^rhinigifoE 1^ kKit, ibtiifce a§aoi|; it- ftfe«^ the word^y ^ ii,ijfer-
- .K. \
Jmr^tAm-, i&ii:; iiio^^d> ii^'lM^tibl^fii^^ ^12,18
dl»ife;€il«is«u.j^ 114.^^5^;^ tmAia^ikk SmOtt'^.m':^ kai^w^^i^ AA.^i.2s«
J» . The Sacred and Soipieraigm
"\
un and c(?«/««W,} faith he» fpeaking to TsiA (ioncermi^thefii-
•JL/ccrceSj' . ^
^»/fe. Weanfwcr, this James fpeaks not e»:/«/it;e§f^as excluding
otherS:>,whether/wj&«/ or Churchefy who had any hand far that buli^
Bclfc: certainly >.a8 for Piw/^whom he fpcaketh it to,. he had a^^^^
- mainc aftroke in thcdebating anJ? determining thereof as Jamef
itd.if. 12. himfelf, and B^^^tlie^likc>befides many other £&fov andPr^
e^/, and that not only of the Chai^h of Ja^akm and AntiocHy
It fas is Ycfjr prohable) of otherChilrches clfwhra^whowere all
interefted in the majdng of thefe Decrees. .
Trueitis>aperfta:fi^andCi#tf%«rwe havcnot, ckhcr of the
fcverall /^jS;^ which were fent, or of the fevcrall Clmrchef fending
7^* f « ^«^w* are named: but in all likelyhood there were others as^U
^•^ *' ^3 they j ;twa reafcyas are alka(%M Ibr the grawi of this
' ' conje^bre* . , ,: .-.. •- ;: ; . . • . ; • >
I* Other Churcl^es were^concemed ^ and intereftedln Ais bnfir
»el&> a$ well as Amkfib^ t^ the Churches in %iuiand dlicioyViho
2. The tof w o/i^^e cowmeU sac direSied to them asr well a^ unto
A* lA ->• >*>^^i^3 and WiiJiwg^iTecf fern ttnto them: both tlueie yonmay fee
^V'^*^^ mth^23^&24,VerfeoftI»ti^Chapter. ^.
• J^low from hence wc^reafon : Firft^ Je ^€i. that o£ righ thefc
Churches ought to have (ent their delegates z^nin»(feng€rs about this
Vufia^fle as wdl as the Cbrikxrhof AmioA^ accoi^cOng to the fore-
namedMaxime^^^ omms eoacarntt^&eSha^ wbid^^dneaitetb dlljm^
u be bandied of ally which is true, beii^ ilghdy uhderftood>.vf ic;. fm
modo etp'ad^iy every one according to their place SLnAinrder.Socotidlf^
>, defaSo it ieemeth^that they did lo, in astmich as the Councell di*
Chay. ifi i^^ their Xe^^/aJikieii^todiQti hj namcsV as 9tfm t^ bretbrem
]IC<if. 1$, minS are of tbe Gentiles in Jnriacb^ wnich feemeth to import , that
all of them joyned in the refeiiingof tins ptefiim and eatifi to the
decennmationof that Councell ;andib accoidingly h^
the Apoftles and Elders o£ BiemfiUm.imlf9 bat by the Apoflleaand.
Eldersiii or ^ Bierujalem^mxi. aflcnA^ there at that ^tirne : but3i
it was my promife, not to infift upon this^and therefore having c^y^
cl^ered that imi^9 1 {faaU now difmiileit^ .^ndttrithitthe&ond
J^articular ii\^the TcsKt.*^
ayPaflfe;
^« PafleMnQWt3Dthetkk4>ttf£.tomlE^^mthe&dect^^
If vcred : the Text anrweivth h^ Ai theji wem tbrm^ ihe cities ^ de^
liveredibe'Deertuumo4henu] Unto ti^an? what) to the whole ciVie/^'
Not fo : but to the thurAts in tho(e Citijos : (b the next Verie ma?
kethitout) jindfitperetbedmrSesejlabl^d.
' Obferv. Cities and churchej in phraie of Scrk)Ciii« are (bmetimes
put the one for die other5in tha€ 14. of the j<£&9 Veri^ 23. it is iaid, A(t 1 4. :^^
tjiat Fatil andrBamabdf ordained Elders in eiwy dmrtb^ wff hiM^mriaw,
dfurAb} chtrch ; In the 1 7k Verf. 5. it is faid, that Pa$tl left Tim in ^jj, j ^^
Cnet to ordMne EUers in emj city^ np^MffCitjibfdSfy fo as tbfdc
e^Oimeveiycbm'cbySLndm every citj^yZrtif9^v7Aft^^^ phra(es adt^
fM#e and eqmfolUnt^ u(ed indiffisrently the one for th@ other : As
tbej^ tptnt tbrottgh the cities they delivered the decrees wuo tbem^ u e, tQ the
dfHTchesjxiAo&oities.
. 'Reaf. The phraft will notbeunfniitifalf) dfkr and Amches put
ene for the otlier i how fo ? what) were they ahieaies of the fame
I If ilWe and extent ^ was evexy whole cttyzdurA^ (b ^ all that
dwelt within Jthe one^ were alfo members of the other ) Not lb;
ibmejmesindeed it (b happened, that (if not the wnverf^ty, yet)/<
the generalitjf of a c%f , imbraced the Gofpell in an outwa^ protefC*
on of it : thus we reade of Samaria^ that whm fbilif came and
preached dieOofpell to Aemyfhefetfk mth one ixora (^ (aith the Aft 5. f
vory) gave heed unto thofe things ivbubbe^al^e^ AS. 8. (b as k is moft
liikely, that the wbok city in a manner received the Gofpdl , even ais
l^forethe whole City tiad given lieed to Simo^t Magm ^ and were
carried away with hisfirceries and enchantments^ (tbej/ gaiehe^d to him Vcrfl i ^
foqliifibel^totbegredefiyyerC lo.) So now they were generally
bfoughc to imbrace and profeSe the faith : (b much may be colle*
£faed from the ra. Verfl where it is faid> nhen they believed Philif^ viz*
thof<jwhichhadbeenicdaccdby^iii»;%eventhc»iE^d/i?ci(jf5 whibh
is further conBrmed from die 14. Verf. wfaeoelt is foid , that the VcrC '12:
Apofiies^ at Hiernfalm beard that S^mtaria had rm ff^ord^ io^rt ^^* H*
tlttg^thAtthe- Word ted zgtmnil (i^ not an u|iiveifall) enter-
tainment in that City. , Now in this cafe, (which Jet it bebbferved)
a whole City was taken ifi^and af&dated into a Church': . thus we
T&idto( Samm^th^^\i^^^ 9^e b(^mti bo^ Verf. 12,
vieh and mmet^ Vcrf< i% rTh^ jgctef^Uiy of tbe psOi 1 i W^re all Jo^"
ned to the Chii*chkHo(ty^cr Ibme^of ' tbeovw^ utiWotfthy^ and af-
ierwTards upon difcQveiy l^rcwej^a:^ and calt<>ttt againe , afs you ^,
. F 2 , niay
/
I
' 4p The SatnfdmdSojferJigne
Ycrf. 21. '^ nu^ Gsck-iR S,wmMAmm^m the &i^af AfeKlkosfm- And
iRm€ca&^.k/Saa)f and on^tto fa^
' . iaitk ^<d <(albodknoc^tu>fec]kic cm C^irM^ axiAtxi Itu^mit to Ihb a^
yernment. In this cafr die.wMe ifpdNfMie^ Mst only maj^.^ frnt
^ ' be oaift <KTt jj^oae % ^ ^s&ms «f idbe XMnttdbi 4ittfy esw<^.
ly tke £^9 tmAAn^ takm^v^bm ni(D4dlffib Aidban^ t)br>«fnefsr lotv^;
get thea cheaiiiiat'^nWi^sm
Col. 4. 5 • tilde. P^W writing to his CalofiaftSy willeth them m «a% tae^fy t»^
' fl^ttradty ali h^ideSs and viMiejiBtt^ic^iiimi^
tM iririiaitt«fae^dS?iQtf^
iCafie k'laa^craK^ faecadfe ii i ie wl i iri e oomj^T^ 1^ Ofl^
tbttCi^iMid ite.4»%' jw a » <«Tib< ww iwc w triaiiii. to3)eltaiD«iui^«esae'
;*^ ' ^ bitt te^t bis i«hBi^^teiiie «*«^^*i^ «i«it "whfch move divers and
,*'... ii<finaatediUntQusiiixfaiit{rfitu&.L<^^
I. // the«v^k)ntbw T^fbtKlent^aridVfi^^
ivhere
•^..'«r
..u^
I
>
I
I -
I
i
f'
$oMUJmm9t, tjic^OBelMk tMirai«t* of ii^Igrmrs t^ig is t;bc i^row:
worAhne^ftboi^fo^ ^ ^riws iMnng^ tk^ '^^"^^^^^a ^»<^(vvi£0 jkmfBmy vide Corml
vcth it fhodd be fo, (to me both ytryift»MAc»^' For^AyMiroaky
oiling of the fojoaiw^lm ji^j^^ ::dbe ifi^i^^isfl i4id ;nDi; taJs» in
i«]K>€cft (Qba^tor^ b«:t>ii^^tiet^avm,i^)«w i^d^irwn wJsdoh was Aa. r. i>.
tBfOide'yfoh^h^^&Wo^^Wtn ^e ^ ibmfavd ^ naKjr &em iDi),
ipfpsmtor^-At iticreftfe <i^ tii£'G&i^& ifeciorA^ ibrtit :4£Qridie in-
(creafe of thctj^cng^.fff jf Ae ^>y/, which jgpew ftipnger and rih^nger,
ileibchingifl firfttbiveirhc^^
t^(?/tifff. ;If fc^ -wkatthenr flia^l w^ concehic d&e -naoibef of the
-ijll^ic^fv^^^-tocomeihpnt^ btttistthcrto.fo.ferbe3rondfeheo7 ^^frfvms
therSexTogoan^afterthis we yet itade of jocw additions, AB.'y ^"J"^-^^ y
ifinm&imfnmiin fo mdch that in a fliort tknetthe number pftheiD Aft. ;. 1 4. ^
vas gisowi Vtt^jr ff^^iaxmkh idiat%eech ofjmies & the £^/.«f ^
4% TbelSikfeiand^oierm
Aft.^i., ^ km untoP^ mmnt^AB.ii. where fpcaking of the believing
Vcrf. ao. J^en^/, who Joyncd tbemfelves to the Church, of Jmifalem : tlhm
' j^ejl brother ^fay thcy^ fctnv n^x^ Aoufimd Jemes there 0rer»hi(h be^
Miridscomj"^^^^^^^* Thcwoidinthcbriginallis 4rJ<r#/ f<wp**/if ; andkwo-
fJtdecemtwl- P^ty fignifieth bm many ten thtmjands'i and fo we findc ittranmtM
ila. clfcwhere^-^fif. 19. Where the conjtering £^i^ which werejnimc
are eftimated^ the total! is computed to be shoot ffy thmfand pU^xs
A&, 19.19* (ffi^'^^^>y^' ^9" l*««f«'«^^ rnirr^ y fi^t Afyria^^ tmtbm-
fandj (o in the 14* Verf* of the Eipiftle of Jftde^ we reade oUm tba/^
Jud. vcrf. i 4. fond f£ Saints^ iyUu ; fivftiny* W hether the word ihodld be (b (hi*
^ Cdy taken in this place of the AQs^ I will not contend : but certaiii-
' ly, take it how we will> it imports an exceeding gi^tDttmber^Wdll
- nigh inmtmeirabk: fo I finde the word in two places tFanflated»
Liik.x2.z- Luk^i2. 1. it fs faid, that A&ere were gathered^ogethn' an inmamrabk
multitude offeofle^ the woxd is die iame^ trnt fAUfiJfmjr^ So agaih^
McD. IX, %%f jq^y^ J 2. 22. we iieade of an innumerabie eomfarg^ of An^Bfy'fivfiJft^
myyi\m. And fuch was the ntitnber <^ the believing Jea»es which
had joyned tbemfelves to the Church of Jeirufalem^ almoft an innu^
merable company^ib as they could not poffiUjF meet all together in
one place to partake of the Ordinances. Tome it is no queflion}
theyWdlcvcrall CcMigrejgaiions. ' ■ '
g^/?. But were not thefe then ftverall Cburobes ?
> Jf/fip. No. SeverzllCokgi'isgati&nfy hm fheChurS^
Jernfakmy even zskhm?igjXAtChx* then m^j be ftfverall ^ocfe-.
^ie/ and c0iK^j7if&r, according to 'derail tr.adef and mffierw^ and
thole ib many petty eotfotstionsy who may have their ieverall U^^
•and their feverall f^eef^x^ and yet all iriakm
e^a;pz, to which thqr are ail fuborainate becauteall under one and
thti^zmeG vernmem 2ind Gtwemourr: even thus may it be in the
ChurchjCand in the Primitive flate of it,! conceive fo it was.)In one
City^ and the adjacent territones there may be many Congregationsy
and yet bii^ one -^jhurchy] iiiafmuch a& they may be united b^iAe
VJ, in Baals fame Loaves^ have communion in the 6me (Minances^sitvi he linked
-^ry^lJj^ *H ^^S^^^^*^ under the fame (pirimall Ciddes, and Officers^ Surely in all
?!^r!!f^!f.« probability thus it was.at leaft in fome of the Proto^PrimitiveCikw:^
>r*tipn.p^2^(^. ches. An^ why not now? .
Bat(not to wade too &rre into this colIa^raliControverlie^
from which I have bound my feifc before ) however, certainly to
inultiply Churches in one T(W»e, one Citify efpeciaJly to Jet up
' ~ ji ChHr4^cs
i
\
\
€hifi£hiim Churches^ th« onaixtxttdoBd out of thdodicr> this hatti'
no FrejUemy np warranty no fndmwanee, no cotrntenana from any
idEr^Je of Scripture, orptaSke of the ApoftoAcall times* .
Ohjeik No-?it will be faidj What faj^we then to tlie Jemjh
Church ? J>id mat the Afefilts.fit tf Chftrcha in thaf Chnrch^ md
thoJee^aSedotn^fatf .-■.:. i
Aj^riK Tothis.ibadow of In-; Argaoiept it is foon anftvered.
HerewasnotamChtitchJhHp^maitJtber^ hM^manffcPvpt^oHtbermms^
nfom : Xo as the/ei^^iM^ of the one was the pMing down of the
other* Even as«,tbe Appfile faith of the dvo Covmants^ old and ?ietiifj
Th'Jiffi WJstaiffi^n^ th4'^tbifi(^ndm^t.h:tftMififedyHd^ Hebiio. ^
So Was^^it with thefe twoC^nr^^ef . :.. that 1^^ this M^vangilicaU. As
fc>r the Jewifif ChkrA^yKzi now like the Jem^kgaUctrixnatttyV^hkh ^ •
the Apoftlefpcakftthli^flei. 8. calling it »i ^*^4w^>.of x«i j.fp^'.^*^*'-^^^^^
#ib«r» ^itfijMMiim ft^: &feafjcmf , a thtAf «which was Ami^Hotedy
4od tpopcffi M: fy^i ^p^iftwiS y- mgbxtihki^amfiing^.tesLAY'XodiG^
apdear^ and icome to nothing ^ fo' as hcr0 1^ onelyaritcw ei/r^
to Deeredetdupbn thoie ruiiMy, a new Churchito be ietup in an
Mvaoffilkall wtgi where that xjtgdl CWeb had been. Now I con-*
fefie, had we to 4eale with ri^' dowii-rigitt: SepM^atifisy who lookc
t^K>!) ^ Ql^h§f^B no true Chim:Kes Qi^hd% but Anti-dm^m
Smagoffiisfix, to be diflblved and pulled down^faying of them inthe;
t4(mtesUsiff^%^%^tbmirafithimie^ tbeiko/'y PC1LZ47. 7;
then mifibuhis Ai^memhaveiome colour ofAren^init* fiitit ,
cfaes, in this cafe tofet up a CbtsrS in a CJmtch md'O^ttoQtrjtS the^ne<
m 4f^!^«i!^A%:iba^ii^ and I wi^jiNUiy 'be taken tiotice^
it iS: a thing wluch Soriftme MM ^v«i nOv^attant^ no fnjidtn^
^j^/ But (u|^& a C%ird(» be ^a^f^fiStv^ te
wihacfeaJlwedod? .r;/,:! .:■•:•,, ; • -■ > . )^
' .4^^« y^ prc^^tly think Q^M^A ilfin^ and . fetdng 1% a-*
nodicr,(Was it npcthe v^ cK^eof ocCfaprcEof Gmn& f inA ^ Cor; n;
j^wedoe not, read pfan^ tfaaftwent about tpiet t^a dbiun:hin»
that Cb^(tttfa^> nndecpretcriceof w^3iiSgs« ajM^ but liathis:
endeavour by all meanes to furge and reforme it. Tlijs williwe doe
fcgf pm ^H^i^fi^flSf ^f^ :W^ witt^^f^rthertu; if decked and iw-
j^yr^thcioghitJiN^ln)^ nocprefent^y
. t^^ oCpuUitfg titon doisnia^andpiQldli^ othciis out of uieir tim«
- [ y. \ ■ " bcrt^
44 The
s
2 King. 1 2. ^ ^M^ o6 hmCifi^iAit imfb r finding k mmmr^ hs gave order
14. (not to yoll kdcmn sinibaAtz mwix»y but y tx> rep^re it. CX
ttm^vre wauid all <^os. ememabie 6d»»thoiKfa^ concerning the
Ci»r (:& oKI&vrs^ Kis^athoR^&twbidi'
God hath alrcad5rput into the heart of the fiat&^fkSs^^h^dtfm^
fiiall not need ta tell jiaJ I hopR) tiitie «ie ton^ v^l decl^ it.
^ Herein thm let aU oar hearts ciote and comply with tlieir&j everf
^ QneiaouF places doing' what we may to^ former fa>p«Hi6.an>iindef«^
• takdog; iot tiie meanr timiB^ taking med of adventuring Wponf ^;irii^
w^es^ which w% fiaye ndthet7^eicp>n©f /^jS^itf ih ScripaiPfe for/ ;
What way oigathmngStfittp^ nf of CmMclies the Scnptiut bal-*
dedi foeth Hniio us^ ym^ may iSc by what \Mh beeil ali^dy ^K£r
Thoie^whicbaaifiracedj^Bbefeithwkhinf^ widiki«thr>
boiindB'ctf a Ci^^aivd the ^4^<i«^
•o^^edber ttix>^nfiCh3ifti»ii^»^ An^^ bdAea -is h^ tbdir*
Ci^ier anciCiwirafcnr |n pb<ht^ of ^^ipnire ^* ' ^aUs yen (ee ^ - piiir
thr one. ibr tbr other^ as .irli«whenri> fiii bepe In the Tea^^ A9^
tSsHk'} ;• O • ••' ^\/ '.-^^-J '^ •' -"- '■-•''' ' ' • '-'^^f^^^ <•> /*• • V • ■ ^- '.
- . : . > . .^fo^. \. Ibe Text' laytdHt' if 4«^wn« k ^£«r^'ie^ti^id^
indefinitm^' wzith thcoi thrfon:€'of m i«ifiz^e»^ th^^
(> . ^jfc; f Heft .4 imT|rik{|i«iy^'^rt(€^* Wbyii^ A^fii^^ kenr^
^ -
when as all of them did not apgeare at this Councell ? As for
m^dak'mAJm^fh:^ zl^^^^m^k^^yiria^^ Ci&iJi^. t$6(e
Decrees were proper for th6ni>in as much asthcj^hftildbrttllbMhi
didhrCJKircinA. Bow HftMi ciiiM«kd&$>iBciide^be^
tuBtrbusUnrto ilmpfir$^iud^ykt\Jti^ mm
Ar.&fiiJ^>^bHiMst Jfcril^ J8Uyi»«|liS«dfa40ivkl^
red
A ■*■.'
nH with them in this Affc^lt^ jhcy were bounci jfJr«^§F by an Eccfe-
fiafiicall bond or tye : Even as thofe which put a buiinefic to AAfi-^
tratiM, they dj:cfmmdlj bound to ftand to what thdr JrbitratJ'r
(hall agree upoo^ folt be not againft Lam and ReaforK Beiides the
^nd oi^E^tj^ tbqr ha^ A(o a Civtlly Fomall Obligation , under
wluch thgr lye : So was it with thofc Chnrches which had referred ^,^.
their caule to this GwoicW/, and had fent their Velegaes thither, ,l!'Jli;^
they were now bound by a double bond^ not onely that generall j^g^i •fFref*.
MofdSt bond of ILfutj ahd T^^^ but by a FarmalU Ecckpafiicall fy/m>/^.^09
bond to fuhmit to the Detenainations of that QoancclU Co fiirre
as they they were agreeable to the Woixl. But now for other
Churchcs^though they did not lye under liich a double obligadonj
yet under a fingle one they did. Though they were not Cojarm^j
bound as ihe other, y^ vertuaUj they were^ and nmalif^ in regard
<>f the i^iy ^i^^ ^^f^^ <>f ^^^ 1^^^^ ftisDr../Jmexhisdetep-
tninaucm tf)|Khing.Ci7iiatc«/i[r, and their Peo*^^ TaMm valet Pedr^ n i^, m^i.
tnm cmdluquamLvalttyHsratia. AJ^ecneofa Ctmc^U carrittb fo fj^;^
nmd) rm^t vrith ity as there is IReafon in it. Now cheie Decrees here 4e ^wcU. c^.
agreed upon in this Cou&cell, they were all Rational Decrees, a*
greeabletOi^ez-i^irr andj(M0f/iU(^: And beipg iii^h, they were
In this reipeft d>ligacoiy to the xtft df the ChnrckeSi^ even to thofe
whodidnotappe^xeatthat Counceli: And upon this ground it
vrsis that the j1fof:le here m^kah deliveiy of them wherefbever he
«ame^ they rvem iborox» tbifities thg delivered the Decrees ttnt0 them.'] 4f
.^9fefi. But yet it may bis^iaid saine, Jfl^rfm deliver them to all f
Poflil^^, and pro^bly ibme of the Churches were not interefledg^
and cohcernod in tbefe difiei^nces :. And if thqr were , yet whf
might tbg not be /e/% to their Chrifitia» liberty^ to doe as they (aw con-
ivenient in thefe indijferent things I Why niAs they not rather be left
£Verj one to their onm way in thefi matters, tfjejfar differe?Kfe ?
Jnfw. • Nc;^ (his theC^TWce// thought ni^tconveniept f they ^ake
3^n Or^agai^it ^ and] in pro^u^tion pf that Order the Ajpoftlp
here where-^yer hee commeth maketh delivery of the(e Vecrees^^
And wherefore this 'i why,that he might by this meanes bring all *^
the Churches to "Vnisy jund Vmforsfdty \ Unitie mjudgemem andr
/ffeSiott^ and Upi^ormQ inpraiHce^i that ihffjvp^f^ all be. of 0(ie>
iftw^andofoncw^y^ . . r • / .» :' ' T ^ .
' OVjero. An ukfull obfervation which meetingme lb fiill in the Ofirrv^
W^y,InuynotfcauIkit» Vmt} audVmfarmty ammg tbeCbttrcbes is
sibfng to be earmfilj iepred and endeavoured. This was a thing which
G . diis
4^ TheSAcred^nd.SQ'^raign
tbis^blefled JfoJHt.{(^ much by. His regucfts tc^ ^nd praycrg^foi .the
fi.om.r$. f,^: Churches are well knowne. AW/k God of patience imd'aonfolatroH
grant jou to he. liki fftiud^dj &c. thatj^mtf mth (fmmindkandonemomh
gkriptGod.s it is his prayer, for Ms Romans^ Kom. 15. Non> J. ^e-
X Cor. 1. 10. fe^hyou^Bretbren^by the nam^ of the Lord ^efi4S CbrifttJmye al^fieal^ th
fame things andthere betid dipijkhsym'f:^ but that jehk
perfe3iyj(yfied together in this finfemi^^
■ ^ is his fitft rcqucl t which hjs maketh io hi^ CprintbianJp i Cor. i .And a^
2€or..i^i*.. itis.£hc;^r/f, foitis.the/^J(Ji,hi$ AlfhaznAOfn^a. Fin^lj^ ^rethyejiy
^ • firempeHy be^tfeB^ be of good comfm^ be of one fninde^ live m peaos^ ^
Phil. 1. 27. it is his farewell tp th^ fattK^ Churchy ? Ga^a^i ' Oneljfkt'j^cdfwer^
fation be Oi ifbecmmstb the Go^HfCl^if^^.$Vat ye frond f^ iH SHeJpi^
Vhil 2.>,2. fjt and one rmndc. It his cBarge.to ksPhili^anf^ ?M.t. If there bl
0i^ confol^ion in Chrif^&cJ^ulfiUyee ptyjoy^ that ye be Hkt minded^ Scci
So hec profecutctjt th« (amc charge with mpf^ ^thcticaW ear.
forccmcnts in the chaptcrTolIowing. Thus cfidi^i«f/ ftarid affefbdT
tpwards the Vmtie orthc Churched to whom he iVriteth, v ^ * *'
And us to thdr Vnitjfi> %o thdrVrtifortrntyi hereupon it was^that
what be ordered in one Church, hcv^Hicd that it fhodd b^ otr-
fcrved by all. Thus iatl^at iCw.yi having an^Wercd and ftated
^ certain doubtis and qu^toijs: prppoundiDd to him by his' Corinthi-^r
aps, as viz. tOjlchixiQj^h fi/c '^nafnjtrri^t^ the co^abitatim ^per-'
Jms umquatfypal^d^iiletvers and Inj^ls^ &c. he tefls them that the
«,GjMr.r*x7- Orders and Vire&ions, which hee fent unto them were nq otircr
* then what he gave in .common to all. the reft of dip Churches. Jf^
fi^ordainlin dlCbHrchesjrtti^Aj. TTxtis agaiite chapter: il5.' taking,
Grder toucBi^ thb titne and mahnerdf iiiaking coBmUnfir thepoore
t Couijfr X. &w»f/,brprcfcribeth one i9r^rfer:^ ktttne Ghjttrchi^s, ^i^mrcohcemng'
cdfieBimfor the Sdnts^ oi I }>m;e giym order to tki Churches ofGalatioy
, ev^fo ddey et^ytr(. i. A«d upon the dmctgrouiid it was,that havihg
th:e pecrees of the C(mnceH>^t Hfer^i^rlemmlis faa|ids> he maketh d^*-
AA. I $ . 2 3 . ^^^ of them ^Kfh^ ever he commeth 5 nqt onely to the Chbrclies
to whom ttrty were b^ riJ^lne dircfted , but to. aU bther Chur«;
ches. Aslsbgfa^tbt)T0i0tht Cities^ they deliperetPthe Decrees to tkm^
jMkat. " And was Tamfo aSive^ fo forward in.this bufihcflc > let not any
^^ * (}f us be ^ici^W wit|) it, much I<jflc avtrfe againft it.. Certain^
-VniPf ^nAVnifi/ui0^ are a i^atler oif gktatter concernmem to the
G^urche,^ then commonly they are^ taken .to be^ mak^ ' iwcii
iypth for their j2[f»ty ^nd ^^* .
x.^ Foribwfafity: It is liot ^ notbiQg that ?**/ writite t6\
.'<r
CburelhRmedie. i?
' fais fblliffimit in the {Jace^Mvnamed piictcth thibfe t^o together ;
7batjeftafidfafimanejpin^y mtbme nunde^ ftriving together fir ffe PM.X427,*t.
'fjkb (f the Go^l j And in mtbii^ terrified by your adi'erjaries. 3 were
it fo that the Churches were of one minde^ and would -^i'AtMif,
Jhive t<^etber for the Goffdli, g^f^ OHt as me man againft the com-
mon enemj^ 3LS dxe tribes tflj^ael^re fiiid to hare gathered togc- t^ - ^» .
thcragaittftBewjiw«w,J«d55. 20. then would 'they be terrible as an Canti^^^
jirmy mtb bamters : Co as th^fliould not need to fear the Adver-^
faiy. Their Vmty under God would bfe a ipisciall mbanesi>f their A '
iafety* Whereas theilr drtnfims are Viii breaches in a common bank^y
letting in a '•^etf of evila upon thism: or like the breaking of thb
rjdtf/inUn<m»f)swhidhisdienextwaytoletih the ejunpfy andib
to routthe whble boe^. Unic^in judgetMnt and affeHiims ( the on^
of which much depends upc^ the other, for ywhere judgements are
divided^ though it oughttiot to be fb^ yet fuchis the corruptiofi
in the Heart of man^ whicbis like Unto ^nder ready to take fye
by die leaft fpafk th^ falleth into it, thete will oidinarily be foftie
alienation hi i!^fi&Vnr)maketh much for the Churches jec/<^i/)r. v
2. And fo doth 'i^'ixi^m/y mkke much for the ^e^i^ Eveh
as in a Ciky where the buildings are unlforme, much of onip height
andonefalhion^ iti^a gracaill profpeft. So rs it ^n theChur*
ch^.l To ftc them not onely worffaipping tht fam \Gody but '
worfhipping him^altcr ^he fame manner ; all worjhifping before one
Altvr^ a$*i*«ei^ commanded all Judah and Jemfakm to doc, 2Chto.32.xi
And that not onely enjoyning the Czxtie^^dinances for fubfiance^ but
as much as may be> the faihfe admifdfiratujns for drcmnfiance j cer-
>tainly there is a Aej«g» hi thils Hmformity. It was hot for nothing that
the ten ^^rin the tempicy the fiipportcrs to the we4^ locator ie^ the' x Kth^f.'^yi
m9lten Sea^ were all alike ; alPof them bad one meajm^^ and one cafiittg^
and one fize. This made them the more comljr. And fois it with
the Ordinitnce^ of Gcdn when they are ( as it weJre ) call into the
fame tnonidy dHpenera'after the ume htanner^ h addeth an exter*
nail grac^and ie^awrj^ to themv
To tfade two Itnight yet adile'4:wo'more^ and I thafl not need '
togofartofcckforthcm. Ifinde them both in Che cloft of the
Text* This maketh much for the eftal^pment and at^mentation dp
the GhurchesV. ' - ' ' '•. • .^ •• • • • :/ ■
. 3. Forthidr e^jt^ifbhiefit. Arid p trert ife ChHtches efiablifhed']
viai by and through the means of that ttnity and uniformity:, which *
weriejprocunal by the making aiid.ddivering of th^ Decrees. - ' .
iZ The sacred and Sgyeraighi
4. For their of/g/nrntatim tud mt^fe^ Sa w&t the Churchif m^
\areafi(i '] Afrmt (faith Chtjfi^omh cited by Lorhmf upon the Text')
qf Fouls condefcentim andcomffHanc^ marcHmckd^ Jmoit^^ of whicli
yw read? in the vcrfcs fc»iegolng^ This did he ibr the prcfcmng
of Huity and conanrd^ to wtuch end alio he delivered theie Decrees*
^ And behold the i0ue and frulit of botfi. 4ndfo iwer^ tfce Chmdns^ m^^
a^eafed.'^ dmccrt&ar^'fttrvs:-^^ Thingsihiall In their bc^ntungs-
by concord and agreement rjiie oft^tiines (o an ^vicd height* So
y^ it is with 'S'^^e/, ami fo it 49 with C&i^cr^.
Affli^* And is it fo? why then let not any oFu$ be backward or unwilling
with wh<u: may be fo advantagiou$ 1:0 icheChurches of God Jn the£e
Kingdoms.Surely k is not without re^&pti that otherChurches have
. had fuch an eye hereupHi* The Church ;£S ^n FrOwe, L&of-Cmtnri
tries 9 elfewher^ none more then the Chittrches in Nefi^Engla^,
where we may iee all the Churches within one and the fame ja^
ii(Hi£tion precifely put into the iame poihire> the^^ yr^9 as foif
poEtrhe and J^^ipj (o for Dijcifliw^ ^d Gmntminu O I^ it; bet
.^ the joynt defirc ana endeavour of us^, and of all the Lord$: pec4>Ie
^ amongft us, that it nj^ay Jl^ fo widb the Churchcf^ of God in Aisy
and Qf it may be) in the migbbem Kingdoms*
Toietonthi$ma^M»j let me take up and make uieoF a d<yui>fe
moHve. The former taken from the pF^mifepf God* ,Gods frondj^
an or of^ tcii^om VireBiom W Mcutrajgpmmf^ ih^wing u$ t)odi~
whatwearetofedc, and what (iiccefie we may expefi; in&ddngt
Now this isonethlnfi (amongft many) whicb God haiH prcHni*^-
(edto.hispeoplet to hisCfailrchestBiaer theCofpell (abrancfaoC
ou hive it^ Jcr. 32. 3 j^imi/giw tbem cne H^andane^afi^ htk
^as die Geneva Gl(^ €X{^ins it) am Gonj^ Mdom 'ReUgion \ w
gvt them one Aart. J Uniformity in ff^arfiip^ and {k^fif) m Bif-h
^ plim^{^lmB^%f^timQmnfiS.\ ThlsprofniTe^forniyoirapart,!
look upon as not' yet having had the full accompIKhmcnt* Gerr
lainly both theft ifnll^Godaoe for liis CJiurtfa, and tfaitt notonlv'
in the pium^kamSidtt of it in Heofvtn (where there is and ever flutt
be a per&ft Vmiy and a^erfeft Vmformifj* No difference in Jmif/h
mtm^ no Jar in AffeSions^ flkre Lntbcr and ZwrngUtu apumi
•mm^ \ no di&rence iii vpfffiiif Or fr^Siit. All wwhip the Qme
6ff^ afkr theiamc iRMmr* Nothing bur a perfeft barmomeyhoi
fkm^tis alfo ia.i^ milUm w aiber trnm^tmAo^ ^ it vofoatarfb. ,^h
9a.
Monvt u
|cr-ja.39
I
I •
Cburch-Remedii. '^ ^9
« lh«e (I verily belcev^) there ftallbe^ when the Church (hall'
triumph x>ver her conquered eneinleS) Cog gmd Magog. And then
(hall tnere be a blefled harmony amongft the people of God thenv-
felves. Then fhall tkt m)lfe dw^U mth the lamie^ ami the leopard fyt lCrn»i^
i(wm mth the l^dy &c. Chrifttans though naturally of diffisi'ent
tempers and di(po(itions 9 yet their fpirits fhall clofe together,
JThierc Qiall be no rooi-c fucn diffei*ences as now there arc. Thqr
(ball think and (peak one and the (ame thing^there (hall be but one ^
lif\ and they (hall walk in the fame waj. As for tho(e odious and
opprobrious sic^ame/ which have been^ and yet are^ not without
fo^e unkinde and .unchri(tian heat caft in the faces one of anof
ther by fuchasprofefle the Name of Chrift, they (hjU then be
taken away and forgotten. There (hall be ho more mention oJF
thofe differing and di(lingui(hing titles y whereby the leverall <?/«-
mons or rPi:yes of the Churches are notified and lignified unto us ;
jis pf Lntheran^ Cahinian^ Vtocefauy Treshjterian ^ Clajfically Congrt"
^atimoHy Independent^ &c. Certainly tliere is a graz^e a dicing tor
all the(e^ wherein they (hall i>e biuied 'm everlauing forget(iilne0(^
$iever to ri(e again^ wnlch fhall be after the de(bii£tion of Ami'^
chrijl. Then (hall there be a iweet and heavenly confbrt and har*
{nopy amoMft tbc^ who have oyeroHne the beaft : Thej/JhaH (tboij Rcv.x s^;
0U^ng ('the fame fi>n^) even the fom ofJIdofesj and fmg of the Latnb^
^^ouhaveit^ ^ev. 15,3. O blened times ! which mcsthinks all
l^e Lords people (hould look at ( in (bme nieafiu^e } as Abrdfom is
laid to have done at the day rfChrift^ the day ot Ids htcamattHn^ Joh»9.$r.'
^ohn 8* with dej^re and exfdt^im ; or as^ the crtatttres ^re faid to
rook at the time when the fans of God fhall he tnamfefied (which (bm^
refer to the times I am now fjpeaking of) -mt^ an i/ntjutf*J^9xiA,
gn earmfi e^Hatim and looking out for , earnefllv defirins and R:om.8.i9i
. lon^ig to Jee what wc bekeve ; that ( if it be the will of God) we
may yet reap (bme of the fiH^fhdt/ of. the accpmqolKhment of this
prc^feeveninourdayes. Hereunto let all of us pe itirred up to ^
contributQi as wr fri^fersy (b our joint endeavours for the tffeEda^
of this great work> this blefled mky and smfamuty amongft the ^ ^^
Churches^ particidarly and fpeciaUy among the Churches of God^f
In this and the nei^bmr Kingdoms. "^^. ; , fk ^*
To which (let this be a fecoml motive) we are bound l^ ^ ^p0* Mnh^ 2f
ciall ingagement^ viz^hy the late filemne Nationall VwMidCow* ^ ^. 1
nan^^ mierdn (amongfl other things ) we haVe promiied this for ^ * ^
' .^ • The Sacred and Sdyerai^tte
Jbmsto the nearefi conjun3im and umfcrmi^ in ^ligion^ confejfim ct
faith^forim of Cbterch^avermnenty &q. This is oitr Fr»Wy a folemloi
Vowr, from the obligation whereof rto power under Heaven cm
abiplve and di(charge us. In the fcace of God then remember our
Vow> and fct our (elves to pay it. In the meane time taking heed
of .adventuring upon any (iich waycs or courfeS;) as may at feaffi
feeme erode and contrary hereunto. Amongft which I (hall ear-
peftk defire that this may be ferioufiy and mlly confidered by all
conlcientious Chriftians amongft us ; vobether in this interim of timey
whilefi that one waj iffetkfpg outy nhicb being mofi agreeable to the
iB^tdes of theWirrdy may be ayb mojl expedient to the frefent fiate of theje
King^^msy whether (Ify in this cofgmQure of time) tqfet up new X^bwr-*
ch^s in nen^ wpt^eSy and thofe fitch m we ateXaf leaft frobablj) perjhaded
wilt not be imbraeed by ary of the three Kingdoms* Whether this cim be
conceived to be apvfer w^ and means to eompdjfe thaijptdy and to bring
\Mhmn that defgne. Whether wayes ofDivifion and Separation can be
thou^t to tend and lead to this defired ConjitnBion and VnifomAtie.
Cvcry of us, in the prcfcncc of God, before whom we now ftand,
puttniscafetoourfclvcs, and let Cbnfcience pafle a free inditti-
partiall verdift upon it 5 which if it pafle againft it (as fiircly if ic r
. . • • proceed according to the evidence of Reafbn , k muff) theti take
vrt heed not only how we jyne in fiich wayes, but how we give
any comtenance to them, left wc'ihould (eeme to be acceflaty to Co
gi^at an evill, as the breach and ;\aolation of (b folenme a vow
Mid covenant.
^ ObjeH. But it will be (aid^ SiMofe awojf to he the wy of Gody jmaj
it not then befet upymaugre all fuchpre'^fjgagements ?
^- . -/l»/te: To this let me aniwer theft three things^ *
I. This is but ^jkppofition (as touching any parpcular way^ not
^it>unded upon apparent evidence 5 at the i>eft a doubtfuU and
'qiieftionable tnith, not granted nor yet nleadcd.
'2. iut fecondly, fiippofe^his foppoled way ^^
:-yetdoth it not thereupon foHow^ttrat itihould l^'{the}^way ofGo^y
^ the way fo laid out for all the Churches;^ as that thq^ fhodld all
1 3>3 found to walke precifely in the fame path, fo as notto vaiy ^
\faairs breadth from it. I^remembcritisanobftrvation ofour.latc
r , , .^ yUx^' sttid -^fcverend Do^orfrefion touching ihtwaj^s of Gody that
- at thereof a length and ajiraitnejjeyfi alfo there k a latitsidey a breadth
New Cove* i^^b^^ So it is in refpcft of particular peribns. 2& waj/ tofomman
nanr. p««og« !(Taidihe} is broader then to othersy and to the fame man in pme places
broader
- — I
Cburfb^Rimedii* ii
haader^-^ m.j^m^f/^mm^er.^ Om ni|«& may doe that wfalcb another : ^ <
nuynotdoe; aiKltheianie manmayaotbatatfbmetimc^nclia. ^ ]
{jbme place, which in others he may not doe. And why may it not '
he To wirh' Churches t Or why fliouid the common Chfr(^rp4f-bCi
thought ftraiter then s. privet path i ' Fpr^piy oi/rn liiirt^ I miift isie\
ly. profcflc ( if ^t bean eijouraiyaji|t ii^af tiarirat^onO
tmtconcjBiveand apprehend ^Cjh a ;/^^^ ;the/way oiCkffifthr*
govemmemi as that ieveraU^Qhuixfaej^ may i^ve ieyef all ^ayds^
in divers dercumftanccs d^erj^g tbf onfc from the other , amdgroi>
eaichhe:^ m^jy of God -y in .as much aS: eaphof theiH Ui^fia^ht^'
may be conformed (;o the; fa^ e:$re£i'and pMticidiiii' x\&^
Word, and in circHmfiamf^s to thofp gauraiifiiles ,of Qirt^^cPirf
Hncfy and idij^afiony which oft-times in - the c^icatUn and,# of;
them differ and vary acconling to the difference of time/ and fta^*'
^iLT, and conditions of per(bn% ^nd fuch other circumfiances^' &> as
aiway may he a w^ of Cod, and y^|^^ fo ti>^'^^-^. that it nmft
of nece(fityb^/e$ op in all thp ChurPls. , . • V
, And herein I do not go alone. MF.C^lvin^l^mCurei^iwW^lK^t'
ihecompany, who in molding aad (etting up th^t firm of govenir^:
pmu in the GhuKh at Genevoy was far fitmi any thoughts of bind-* ^
ing all the Churches to follow thatL^e/A&nt^ and tf^ conform them* -
ielv^s^to that|»V^»vs. He did qot dreani that tt^t w^ the /^^^^ ^^
i^ th motmt. Np> herein he profede^ to leave what he took^ a li* f
bcrty to the Churches to mold themselves into fuch wayes as nlay .
be moft expedient for them» His words are not onJdiQWtb writing iScinm emm< A
upon I QcTn 1 1 .2. Scimttf enim fmeniqfu Ecclefis lUfer^m n^^ <^. H^ wScwqw Ec* -
%w(faith he} that then is a Hbertykftto ev^ ChnfcktofihupfUch^^j^'^^^^^^'
dform of Tolicie^ or Goverwmnty asmofbe tnofi apt, andfro^J^kfor ;yj5^^iB^/.
itjdfey ( viz». in refpeQ of Circumftantial^. } And he aUeadgeth fMrrc/^4^
thisrea^nforit: ^^aTionunusnihi.lc€rtipr£ijcripJhrit ^ Becanje okrjionffy^nti'f
Lord and Mafier Chifi bath mtpm^imlly and pr^iftlyjrefcribed atg {f"'*^^*!/ >
.j^uAform as all the Churches ibould be obliged ta This was his ceni^fcri^
jqdgemeut after a long (earch to iinde gut what was revealed in,(fr»KC4[Af^»»3
this particular, andl^Khit were received amongft theChurches* i*j09f.n.2. .
I know no ondprinciple that would conduce more to a happy and
hlcffed pacification then this. Whereas on theother hand> the ftam*-
ping or a J^hs divinumy a Pi'nm 'Ri^t iqpon any one^ forme^ lb as *^
tpmake it in mtmibm a fiandard forall other Churches ; I cannot
h\x^ look upon it as a gronnd or occafionof an tv^lafiing jbgral^l ne-
vtrtobededdedandtakehnp^lillfW (aathe jewsiay)pr.tbe MaLt.x7.tx.i
\ Megiat. '
ji . The Saartd and Sorer aigne
Joii42$. A*jlifCaftthcwammof ^dw^
^ 9* BittthirtUy^(uppdfctWswaytofcc#Ae iifj)|r<?f w
ftech you kt il M efiquiitd whedier ^1? jr 11^^ W ^fmmgh'
«E|^ be die way di God or no. At ihch a time^ Mrliileft autbtfrttf, is at
^slfcAp duig the bdl ifid ii!k^ for the difco-'
Teiifig and finding out' What i^ayiimoft' agreeable to the ^R^
^ Sc^ptore, Knd moftei^)edient fei^he ftate of the three King*
UomS) with^&ll purpofe toiet itu^ in a regular an21 ordeny
vvay in this bttMn^ for private peribns to anticipate and forcftaU
thole rel^i^s intentions 3 by letting up a fuppofed way of Xjfod
Wltho^> if not againft the authotity of the Chrifiian Magiflrate^
and thait to the preftnt dilbuietmetit (^ the Churches peace^ the
indan^ing of her future uib^ence, and the eimnent hazard of
* b^raying both Cibj»*(rlr an d^S^j^ e into the hands of the commou
eneny/- i wheAia* this (3 i^fl^b^ ^ tp^ of' God orm^ I phspoapd"
^ it to the (erious and fad coimSeration , 6i all thoil who are cgn* *
fcieiftibii% wife. Arid to leavhig this third maihe pardcular with ^
thesi9 1 (hail now pafle on to thefburth.
tan 4. 4* "^^^ fiiurth maine pardculai" in rfic Text ( wherein I will be
asi>Fi€fe as pofflbly Inuy , halHng towards the coiiclufion of the*
Text} Is the immediate end wherefore taut and Silof h^re maki: de« [
Ihiidry of diel# Decrees, viL f-Jki^^fiy^ to kfep. Thy delivered them '.
it^p^fT^ifi^fbkffp^ Tokecp^ not only \n memory^ noryetoncly
;K sy-y. ^- uport re^^but to ohfiroe thmi jcofiikmt & yccld obedience to them.
* — ' Here fs the geherall end of all Vecreer^ ill Laups and. CoMituti^
' V V \\^^9Vifhxt\uTphm^orHumaney Politicall or Ecckfiajticall y they are'
.W/Ufltttadeto^^^ We have to deal with the latter, Ecclefiapcall.
&k^i^' UecreeKmdCmfittHtionff whkh' ( being fitch at theje here in Hfe TCvit^
^ tbg) hffthm^andim^ t^ be k^* It is that wh&h P^/ praifeth
i^r. tx.a. his Cmmhians for, i Cmmh. ri. Nn» Ifraifeyou^ Brethren^ that ye re-
^ .member ift ait things- ( or as the Geneva readeth it aidcording to the
Wfi 9M?« f0 •. Originally ^ a^my thingf )' andkgep the Ordinances as IdeUvered them
- Ateymu'^ The OiJLimmcer^ ^^t^fi^eity liieTraditions. So Pant aJr
lah the J>Pr9Sims andJdmces which he delivered to the Churche$5
whether fay tmmth^ orby pen^ or hy hand 'y by mouth or word inhis^
aTheCa.25. gjwdfciajgj by/«»orfl»»'m«5f i^his£^i^^^ hy hand, as here in the.
* Text he delivered the D&:rc« of the Councefl with his own hand
to the Chutches. And ^(e Ordinances^ thejfe TradiiiiW of his the
• ^^Church of C«fi»xi& kept*
,^^^» But what 6riii»^«mx:/j what Tr^irf(7fZfW - r>, sjater
^«j"»!^. Tothhitmaybean(wered>P*w///rjJififw«/whichhcdc- S/h
livcrcd to the Churches^ were of two forts* dogmaticjU or ritujiU : ^'Cor. i r. ^
iJL^matkaU conccmmgfdth ^nA g^^^ fpeakech the
J\poftlcin that 2 Tkejl2. 1 5 JNarv therefore h^thjsnjia^dfafi^ & hold the
traditions which yee haue hten taught^ wheth^ by Word or by Epijile*'] BS" ^ ***^** ^ • ' J^»
iuaV^ concerning rites and orders^ eivillor religioufj which againe are
4ift|nguiflied into two ibrtSjfomc ferpetuallp others temporofy ^ the
fprn^er to be obfervod at all times in all places ) fuch are thofe or^
^r/, which he delivereth to the Churchot Corinth^ touching the ad- i Com 1,2 j^
cniniftraddn of ^i&e Saarament of the Lords Supper^i Cor, 1 1 •23 J have r^
jctivedofthe Lord that which alfit delivered jmto yoH^ The latter ro be
oblerved only for a time , fuch were thefe decrees which here in the
Text he maketh ddivery of to the Churches^they were ordinances to ^^^'^^'^ ^
jbc wfcrvcd but^Sr a time^txcK for cvcr^forf as Cahi^i well oblerveth) '
/< Taul himf^lf af^rwards^ when the grounii & rea(bn of thefe injm^
Siions was ceafed^he fet theChurches at libeity from the oWcxvation
of them>asyou may fee i Cor.io^ 25. where he giveth his Corimhiam
a generall. /ic^iice touching mt^xs^hatfiever ispldin thepambles that i CoMe.ss^
xat^ albjngtuf Mcfiionfor cmjiienceja^ - '
; l* l^qsyoufte what P(mls traditioHs were^nd in thefe you may fee
what lEcckfiaflicaUpecrHS may htyviz. coimcells and confiitutiom both
dogmatkall and rituall^ conceiTLinz faith and good worl^^ concerning
rites and orders to be dbferved in the Churches. Now all theft(being
inch as Tauls traditions werc^^ they are to'be kept. As for the two
.former) I fiippofc therf will be no difference about them : Vognutti^
call doBrines^ arid ■ptrpetnaU orders having the Word for their exprdflc
and cleare warranty (as they ought to h*ive5)they challenge an abi-
folate obedience. TheQucftioh will be all about thefe laft fort of traditicnes ad
Pecreer^ ^tmll ordinances or (fr^rs of tensor ary obfirvation^ whether Ordinmet
ihe(c,lpci9giiypo£yj|ihoul4be^^^ .^^HHmfeif
Now to this cafe die Text pmcth home. Such were the Decrees ^^^^^^-Cal
("as I haveflicwn you) which were here delivered j and yet we fee j^^>.
them here deliveied to the Churches to kgep ; and even luch were ^xi^^m, »"
tkc(£ Ordinance/, thefe Tradition , which Paul (peakcth of to his decomm in
Cor.inthiamJififiMfeyoHthatygH}^epd:)eOrdi rituallOr" cdt.buiEccte^^
dinanees;, thofe Orders wjiich he Had prefcribed.tliem to obferve, lii fi^ft^J^^ obfers
thciv'Cbitrch'-m^tingSy io the p^^ undcrftood by. all )f^^,^
Expofitors that I meet with; and theft Or^^rx that Church gene- sMt. y^l
jrally bad obfervcd ; however in fome particulars they (at leaft ad Lacy
H • ' fpmc
•w«l
Co n. (bineofthcm)^tffcftcdanunapproTaHcandumIccttit^gu^
J - J*^, jtc, viz.thtmmpajedandp'ofhepedmththri Whlleftthc
women fate by with their heads and faces tptcavtrtdf unrailedx for
w kich the Apoftlc rcproveth them in the Verfts following : yet ge-
nerally they had a rcipcft to all the flri/crj' pneicribcd by him 5 3^
V ' remendfted aU his things^ (his orders^ andt^ oBhis ardinanctSyXnd that
with a fieciaU obfirvancey fo mach the Word in the oridhaIl(as F«yi
notes upon it) imports, Mtriaxi-n , i. e.fitmmo fiiedio c^rvatis , thc^
obftrvcd them vcty ftudioufly, and heoiftdly^and that not only for
matteryhat for manoei* ^ndjfmne y as the nexit clanfc cxprcflcth it -
nt9m; 'TFAfi<t»K%yafIJeUvendthem^thisSidxhef.
-And furc?y (belove4) where we rtect with the Jike crSnanceSyiiit
Vii f^.^ likcEcckfiafiicainyecrees f^Coj^MHomyCommeadedrto^uswith at leaft
Lk. . ' z general! nwram from the Word, withall banded unto us hy Jari^r
full Mohmtyyhtre we ought to yield a like obcdicncc.So much thofi
A generall Texts bdng ri^tly nnderftood trfll cxt;ortfrom us, jkl^
mitynurjelves to every ordinance of man for the Lords fakfy^ Pet. 1. yee
. ffwjf needs befubjeBy not onlyfornrathy hufor confciencc faf^y Rom. 15.
15^' iCt^ Both which places howevcrpropcrly relating to civilly yet by way
of parity they may alfo be extended to Eccfepajficall authority , (&
fpecially when backed with cm//) which now muft be iubmftted^
ks and that for confdence fak^ » though not for confciencc of the
irJb»^conimandcdi yet of tbc/^twer commanding: the thing itfclf
may be i«Ji|fere»f, and yet our obedience wece/Jiy, inz. in regard of
the generall conmtmdy arid therefore faith the Apoftle there, ^'Afiynk^
V um$]Jia^t^iAilyoH mujiofmceffigf befitbjeS'.To likepurpoiealfo is that
Text to the Hzbrefioesy (howicver too rigidly prelted by Ktwf^i^/ to
inforce or countenance a blind d>edieQCe^) fei. * 3; Obey fhem that
areoveryoH in the Lotdy ( ret? iy^^ihotiy jyi^iorH^us^yaar Leaders^ ybur
K^/erx,3-^^i^^'*'J'^^y^^'^-^J which is meaptpnjpcrl^ of Ecckji*
«cb» «f* tf. ^pcall Glides and GovernourSyvAio are to be heancencd td'hnd obey*
cd in what they reqtiirc j'rwi God and /if'God. '
':^ " And with fucbanofe^'c^ce let not any of us be unwilling. We
j^ucai^ know not (my brethren)how foon fonie Decrees of the (ame ns(-^
tuf e with thofe in the Text, may be brought unto Us , agreed upon^
& recommended hy a d(^ble 0/wi;e//,thc one Eeclefiajticall^the other
civilt. Now take we heed how we take up i-efofutions afcMhand,
/s whether of offofng or not obeying. Certai^, however ^et and
confcientious not obeying both may and ought to findci very fivou*
jcaWeand kduIgBMintoijr^on} yet/re^^
(ibjeftsi
^ I
iUbj^As a mall txy the i&i^)t cfcmfiertf. ExpreSe for this purpofe Is
that Judieiall Lan^ (wMch hath a great deale of Morality couched
in \tjDtHi.i7.Tbi man tha^wM do prefiimptuo:tjlyy& tpUlnot hearken wt^ Deut. Z7* ^^^
t^tbiPrkfl^ofjothJiuklfytvmfbaffnjn jballdye^ and thou pah pa'
gBf^jy the eviUJr$m Ijrad^TAt we heed then how we encertaine stnf
thoughts that way^ but rather prepare our earei and hearts to hear"
1^ ondMare T»hat the Lard Gad wUlfy to i» 5 what meflage he will ^^ * $• ••
fend by the hands of thole his iervants^ who have been fo long a
lime enqmring after his pleafiire, which beins made known unto
US) rtfwrc (in whatwe may) to iiibmit and obey. So did the Chnr*
ci^€/ hewi to *4iom F^l and ^iit deKvcrcd theft Decrees, they de-
livered them'tp be k$pt by them^ and ft) they were. For , as it fol- y
lowethinthettCXtwoids;-rf»rfJiiivre the Chnrchts efiMJhed^ viz.
tipon the delivering and ohjirving of thefe Decrees.
&Ht^. But whai: thca»apc wc^to (hew the like refpcQ: to^LEccfr^
jfafitcall Decrees now, as the Churches did to theft ?
AnfrP. I anfwer, (as before^ whei^ they arc like unto theft;, pi-*
OHS andfrojitahk Ordinanfxs^ffOcaaAfiA upon the Word immediatefy or
mtMa$^ynoi fanpoied upon eonjcienceyn^ ienjoyniog any thing itsne^
cejfary^not ohtmdingzny thing ^^2L part or meanes o£rmjh^y but
what the ff^ord hath made Co : now they challengff a }lke re(pe£k as
theft Decrees did.
j^Jh But* what then 9 muft we yeeld a blinde ohedtehce^ Jitb^'
mning without i»j«ijjiag / So it feemeth the Churches here did.
Af^* Neither fo, nor fo: as for the Churches, they indeed rfce/-
ved thefe Decrees, and kfpf them accordmgly as they were deliver*
ed* But td imagine^ that eitherthe^j^^/^ in dbfiz^i/i^, or they in
TMivingy requincd or ycclded a tUndeo^dterkx^ is fouly injurious to
both. Sureh*^ if Fmls Polfrine m^ht he examined as it was by the
Rr#ii«r, and they highly commended for it much more might theft Ad. if. ttS
Pecrees be fcanned by the Cluirches, ta whom they were broaghti'
they being not thtJmmediate ijjptes of an eoctraotdinary in^iratioa ^ as
the other was, (as I have already fliewn you;'), and fb may it , and
ought it to be with all Vtcrces: of the like namrc* To think of yceld-
ing a blinde obedience to them, were as great a wrong and ln|aty t^
i^m, as tO'OW iielves : Vecrees^ (bdngfoch as th/qr ought to bc,J
they ever bring light with thenty whereby they may tic diftern^d ana
diftovercd to beas tbcy are. Ami Ixy thisl|ght CHrirtiiins:both may
and ought to jndg^ of them, vix^jttakio dipretionis , ( fo'It hedone- ' •
modeftly aind humUy}^ brii^ag them to
H 2 the
$.f. The Sacred and Soy eraigne
Ba.J.sp. Thisisthe oW ji'jjr, and itis^n cverUjU^.Waj/: la ihe Latv an. to .
the. Teffimon^y. ifthej j^tak^ not accordii^ to thif ff^ordt it it haaufe thrrt
\ ^ m tight intbim.^ Shall we fiiide Any'D.tcteti ofmeii tobe iKhe
not oQ-eeahk to the tf^orJgto tXa^artimlar pr ^tt^aU rules of it, but
A0.5a9' clearly contrary to it t nowthecafeis r}^cd^vM?'-^^'^'''ft^M'ir-ttt:
♦ f^j/VVhfn obey Gqdiike^t men- Better now mfli^^^ and j»««//,npt:to.abey men,.
^^^orfor- tbenf reJ«m;«»o«/7)' and J^ffwiRg^ to difobey God,. But finding them ,
bid us iny ^o ^c fiich as arc not contrary to thiis wonl, but conibnant the^V:
ihingconira- u'ntp, now look Upon OUT pattcrnj, iind4pe lik<9»ifci jls.th^mmi
ry to ihe thra»^t!}eCiiiutU}deUv<Ted^tpntbtT>tcr£ejfiffpitQ^iVl})L^-iiC--
^o^OlTad cardinglytheydid.i So.mucK appeares ('asttoldyou) fi-pmtbcj,
lf(. ' rt*w and/«:cf]/( of this undertaking) wliich is the fiiuj and lalt gar-'
licularintheTextjtowhichlnowliaftcn. '
Andfo tven tjie Churches ejiabli^td itktht faith a»dincreafed>
in nmaker dtil^^
SEE here the JSK«||e of tills firftCouncellsfo mM^tdt Co.pr.olettfi
■Kiiasyouhavchcard. SmaffilepkvtAiHot^jiltGotiaceHjtben
"'J",*'' gremtf*. if anV of diem at any time prove foi let it not be impatcd:
^ ne. acciderUally perfinall milcarriagc. O-
fclfe isw;i7promifing,,vefyuftfiiII and
id adv^ntagious to the Church .• Sowas^
1 efCmmeellti thejuecejje Andrvent whcre~
s) .wasdoublc Heneuponthenc acciucd'
cblcfling: The one of Conftwarioff, the;
. ' ■ 'mjiirmatim i they v/ac eftablifhed in the.
saeiacrtajidiamanhir daily, Upontbefe
:s^ firttyfiveTaily And fmjilyi.then jfffntly
ai'id filaiivelfyyiz, as they both ftand in a joynt reference to that firlt
particle in the verft j [^Sq"^ Sowert the Chutes tfiablijbedy zadp
_Wiftthe, Churches inere^iUc. A word of each:. Banning wiufr
the fomjei J the Chi^u Cmfirmatiott.
: jHdfon>trt'th(.CbttrxieJtfiahlifiedinthe- faith'] They •wot tfiahli'*
' ■ Jtcdf and (hey were efiablijhed in tbefajtb^; (o I break ^em in twa
I. Thij viitt rfi ^UJhtd) irif f'rT9,cmfirmJ^Mttirfthty'v/en com
' Cbttrcb'Itgmedi/, 57.
£medyfifkd: Suli§9g^fveRf.yf^^^ An^ fiirclyfiich was
ihc&ucoftl^^fcQha^xJ^fis >Uj^fQ^^ thefe Vecrens uata
them, they i^ere unftded^j^^i^ii.,
'Bd^oUiht proper fruit ofJ)iviii^ma^ where they take ObOriM
place^ tX\ty Hiifiittk^ theyji&ai^ 5 uiiG^e a ^/^e, un(ectle a Churchy
fiiake both. Thif: JD<^i^ ^ihd ^fue by exjiefleiice in^^is K^ngdqme.
flcalttbe.j7reachi^ thfF^afyfir itfi^figtb^ Pftl. ^- Bpth Chtrch and ^Jj^^e
wcreunfetleiby rcafonpfthpfe CiviU. hroyks^ thofe hofme-bfed di* Pfal.^0.2.
viCons in his^ngdomer And I fhall not need tp tell you :tba^.wec
have found the like m.this Kingdome* Was ever State^vf^^ ever
Chntdj more unreeled then ourfaf^ this day }. And' whence is this>.
why> this have oiir. home-bred aipifigu , diflenfions dqne^ To
hold to the Text^thc ipiictlinR o^che C^ci&,This will Dhjhjms doe>.
Diviik>ns injitt^afie;^^ 5 I>- andf thoitc fometimes. /ei^i^/^ ones. Such
wercat leaft (bme of thof)b which badbroke in upon thefe Chur-
ches y fleight dxScrmct&iOiK. woul4. $hhik ^ whether they fhould
cat iuch or fuchTWcjffri bloocL thingrfir.angkdy 8cc. yet even . thefc had
anii>i^ucnce upon the Churches, for the unfetUng of theni.
AppL Let not Jleight differtTices then bejleightcd pfm^ much kjji perti^
nacimjlj andobfiinattly maintained hyuf. But da what we may all of us
for .the healing^for thecompoiing even of them. So long as thefe con:*
tit^je, and bfcak forth, tipeic is Tittle hope of the. Churches , efiaBliJh-
tnent^ which is a thing that all the Lords people ought YeriouiOy both
to defire and endeavour, let that be a fecond Ohf&rvation.
Cbwdrifiahlijhnient is a thing nmch to he defired and fou^ after. It is Obkr. 2-
theXords promifc. to his Church under the Gofpcl, If. 2. repeated
Jl^tc.^.TiefKOHraainof4heLordsboHfeJbaUbe,e^ thetopofthe Ifa^. 2.
Motintaim. A bicffing much to be deiired for all particular Churches, W^c* 4-. '•
that they may be eftabliflied, fetled in a quiet and fteady way^piit in-
to ay5/i<J^ and-conftant frame and temper ( as the woid in the Text
fignificthO Such aframe and temper I fhall not.need to tell you what
ji hlcffing it is in the naturalt body^ it is no lefle in the myfiicall.
. Eeaf Not to ufc many Avgumatts and Reafom about it 5 I finde
one iniinuated in the text- Cburchrconfrmation mak^tb nm:hfor C})wrch^
augmentation. Mark the connexion of thefe two together^ So were,
the Churches efiablijhedand increafed. The latter depends much upon
the former, Chnrch-^ncreaje upon Chtrch^fiablipment : where Chuc-
((b.s are divid^d^ (U^raded, unfetled, there can be nothing more
prejudiciall to the gr. n?/^ of thcm^and of re/igww in them. Their imi-
on^feulemieni;^ eflablifhment maketh much for the encreafc of -both.
W3, ' jfplic.
J I The Saered andSoytraigne
^ AffHU. Anddodik; fo) Thdfilttefiag^^of usWwitiii mindet^
ftckthis grcatbleffing for theChuitfar or Ghurches \iv4iereif!^ wc live i
T4kmjg heed of being any wayes accefloiy to the unfeiling hereof y'
whether by hatdfing or brooj&ng any new opmions^or (etting up any
new n'(yesi which have not cleare Ikht and warrant firofn the wordL*
In thefe cafts let that of the^ A|K)ftJk take place with us ; Hafi thore
BdSL X4.22. fahh?have it t6 thyfdfi. Haft thoU a ftrong artprehenfion and firm per^
(wafion touching ibmething which is not lb folly and clearly revea-
led in Scripturcjj as that others may fee it ? have tldsfinth tp thy (elft j
^njoy thiiic own oftmm and cmjciencty but let it not birak forth to
the offence and fiandall of otkerS;^ ^ much leflfc to the irouBk and dijP
<i[lii^fnicnt of the Chuirch^ tHc fettlertiewt whereof ^t^ht to be cxcw
ding precious in bur <ty^s. And To let it be. Every of^jle^itl Scck;!^
It. tf 2 . ^,7. by frojier : Te that are tht Lords Kemmbranars k^ep not filencey give him
no refl^ tmtiBhe efiablip^ and till he md^ Jemfalem a praije in the earthi
and cajcefully improving Wha? ' ever advantages or mortmities God
(hall put into any of our hands, for the efiefting^the farthering of fo
V greiJf,foga(?«/awdrk» SodoththeApoftleherein thcTex^^ Here-*
ceiyct!\ the Vecrees from the Councell 5 . and i^cei ving them, deliver
feth thetrt wher^r he eom^rieri^. And what was his aimethertint
ivhy, that the Churches might hifitledy mijght \>e efiabliped.
^efif^ Bat what cftaWiftqnent Was it that Paul here principally
I Tim. X. Tp. Q^cd and looked zt} A. The next WOid refolves it, t? ir/r«i ; ^0 wert
IS'?' the Churches efiakHped inFaithJ] t e. in th^ Th^ne ofFaith^ the tiitlC
' 4- *• ReUgion of God :'Sq the word is frequently ufed in Scripttu-e^Fd^^
-' . put for the whole 'Religim of God : C^ihin gives a rcafon for it, viz^
/S"S ^<^^^^^ Faith in Cbriji if the foHndatim and ground-tParh^of all And
^'r;?j?J«,Ca/z;. this it was that P^//^e was here mainly upon 5 not lb much the
Mdloc, fctKng of an extci:nall Order in the Churches. This ind^ he endea*
vour^q, but (as Calvin faith of it)' this w^as but vebtti farergony & ac^
CaJv\ ibid. c(prim^ a thing which he undertook by the by, as being conduclble
aiid fuij foment tohisiii^iuedefign, which was the Efiahlijhment cf
the Chmihes in the Faith.
Obfirv. - As for E:);ternaliPr derlndccdy it li a thing of great concernment
to the Churches, without which rf\cy wijl never be throughly efif-
blijhed, ' Thence is it thie Prophet JE/% jputs thefe two together, Jfa,9i'^.
[&. 9. ?• Jo OrdfT aii4 toefiabtifl:^^ fpeaking of the Chnrch :' But the Kingdome
^glv.itid. ofCloJis2ihGvtJt* F:e^mml>ei e;ctemo (niline alti»s ejf^ac frafiantiusi,
ChtrcJhRtnuditi ^ 4}
/r^fiffce of J^^ilit 8t Hdlimfe^) It h ithing of k ttore triilfccfident and
fietaf0 (So he go^th on^) ^tligim hnd trac^%are to ht lodked dn ai
things in a h^her fphear^ta be £^ preferml before Ofi^ Sc VijcifUntu
: lU^jSft. A^greatReafonth^ihoddbefh^ihd^ltiachasthecme
tnaketh dnly for the heke t^i^ the other for the rjje : the 6ne for thi
nviif-^e/^ the other for the i^ife^ of the Chtireh. Thefe ttiz!^}^^\
CbarAy^nE^.kJiafikM Church i I, and an I«fe^^W oiie tOo) with^
Odt^Wr^butnotwitboOtFrfi/i, th^VoSrtue and Pf^fipm of tht Ecclefyper ^
Faith, wherein Ivtth the Effemiatl Sim of 'iChufch. N6t to AyfidijfidefH hal^ ;
tiponit. . -■ ' ;• ; ' VlfT'X
u4/f/ic. Learne We hciftc how to look upon thefe mo^ faith ^tid or- l^f J^^^
Jler^ vis^ Upon the One ai thb^MtjtreJty the other ^%X\x€handrMdd-^ fo ©wm, lkrf^<?
thcyare^andfoletusatoountof themi giving to each that r^efpeft i?m.D: Amet.
which fe due onto them t hot prcftrring tjie h^hd-roaid ht^tii i}\t z^-^^^^-
.Miftriflci not ftattding (6 mtiA opon OivJ^^ asthaJc in the ^iie^h time ' *' ^' '^'
we (hould (cem to iie^Ieft tht faith. True it is. Both arc to be ftoOd
Upo*,andcoBtendedfor,biitinotwith alike heat. As for x^efldfb^
we have an exprcfle warrant fOr that, 'Tj&^r jefi contend eatmfih m , tf>i
f4tiWjid.\. Idonotfindi^the1l.kc fof- Ofifo*::Hfdto;ter tifo heeij^ >* v^j;
left our wer-" ei^ conteftaiioh? iifetout the dne, Vhidh fe Itof 'ift^ i^
^jJJry, prove prtfudldali ahd^dctrimentkll to the other ;'wfateh rs thti
FrincifalL Ltt ourfirft and maine care be for tki^ faith: fo wsis . fonts
here in the Text^he delivcreth thefe Decrees foflhe regolatirig 0^ tfii
Churehes in thefe externall obfervail*$: wherefore? ? wh^jih^t they
ni%te be efahlip^iin thefdth : this Was'the jf^^^ \\\ his eye, t*fe maSA
thing whi^h he iiiiied at The other Was Only in order, . ik a wiy of
fubfervicncy unto this.
A pattern in fpociall tb the Ifdhufim of thcGofpell, fliewing them AtpKc
What fliould be their mairic defigne in fheccwreof their Miniftety,
As formatted of o)*der^ having )uft oecafion, they m^y and <Kight ti
deale with them, that fo they may appiwc themfdvcs faithfM Ste--
wsris^ not detaining any part of the.troth, notfln^wigh dictate wtt^
fhtir f€(^ thewhdlt Omcdltf God^ C^s trnt fiUh of himfelfc A^. io.)
lktt:thcirmahie»andprindpaU workefhoiy httheefiMiptrtg ofth
Cbttfchismthe faith : this is the maine end of our Miniftecy , k) faith:
f iJiK^of fair A|K>ftidbip^>K«Ai^ i. 5 • Wthm)e meived g'oce^andAfoftU&Ap^ Rortt. x . fi
I Cor. 4- i4^r
i.e^
r
<ro ^ theS<KtedanA$&lnr'dgne
Q^ e. tlu^gcac^ ,or gift <|f . Apoftkfhip) for ohe^jMe ($hhe:fiith^m$n^
^11 'Natiensi i. e. th^t^y Jiis Miniftw the Gcmtiles fjtdght be brought;
tp imbracc thtfaith^ the Dofkrine of the Gofpell. The bcft fcrvice
th3itthch/imi&ersofChnAcsLndo(otthdcI^ hew-
by is his na^ecxstXted^ hereby is his Scepter ^n4 Kingdom ^dvaoceci.^-
herdjy is he f^t jupoii the Ihrom. tt U a miftakft ^buttoo comtnoA in
the times) to think that' the KingJome o( Chrift (hepld confift either
; wholly or chiefly in the Extemall Politic and Govtarmnem of the
Churdi. No, our Saviour himfelfi LuL. 17* teacheth the Fharijies tot
. entertaipe higher thoughts and more (iiDlin)(; conceptions, touahij^
Huk/iyA. ,. his.^fWi^^/teUmgth^a^ »
X. 2o,2rJ ' withobfirv'ati(m^verJJ2oli. e. (faith Beza) itaut obfervari pojpt^ XosLsiti
may be obferved and taken notice of by *aay« ouovfard garbe that, it
hath J or (as others) it doth not confift. in cs^temall obferyation^
Vcrf 2f . t hcn,th^titis aliquld intus^ Tl^i Kingdom of Cod h l?^'*^«»i^ivf' (^5
Vid^Mtsii^ id |t is' cownppnly c^ppijindeli) in ycmxc bians andjf&s^^j^Vrfych ,f ;xp^^
^^^' vd>ctjier^ijt.f>e progcf fqr th^t pla<?c oi%hp9 twill not inow coptcm!.
Biit this I am iiireio be a truth ; the Kit^^dpaie of God and of
Chrifti$.cbief]yj^/Vi^»^andim'^^%Co^^^ ei^erciicd in the
hi^arps ^nd fouls €>£' men. where Chcift f^ttetji i|p \ns throng i^^ ff^^Pjf
fclicmimder^ap^lfee^ paging cyety tfti^bt into
o&edienge^to the ifb^dience cfffithf Asj fbr the cXtprnall <?r^ and
Vifciplmof the Churck if it do b^ong properly tP;thc %ingly 0§c^ -
pf Chrift, yet it is one of the leaft parts oi it. So lc€ MirtifteiSB.
;j\nd fo lee the geoj^e Ipojk upoo .ic,:n^
^heir ume>about matters oiClmcb^-f^fver^me^^
:di(cpui^ipg of nothing but this,, a^f this wjere the. C|irdkdairhuiir
neffcDthe'maine hinge, upon which all Religion turned j nor yet fif
overzealoufly affeft^i^ this, that for wflfnt of^what herein they would
> 5haye5^hcyfliou|d,rq?ounceCWc^-Ca^^ and.diftaifte all other
'x!l^^OiiiiTWKesf^is(^ V(4ierei|i thi^
T>otirli^'of finiiji%)^^ ei^acy, ^w-^jlanfl ^^
crametAs. No, let yciu* mainc care (my brethren) be for the^i^i, the
Gofpell of life and falvatlon, that you may, eJiahUJhed in tha^ gfinof;
'2 Pet V. lift* imuDmthH:^Gronfingrace^mdin^i^^^^
.;-*..! dA ^tfUs)C^ifi^^^^ St. fet^lvL the ]^e,cidatwe:^nd exferimeniall know*
iPef. $.^ . ledge of Jcfus Chrift. This is theknowJedge wiiicb^^m^ft ^d; wil-
j?jf?tfWi/&you5 be yee therefore ellabliftied in it 5 that you may be (as
, liic fame Apoftle esdiorts) ? «/t« J rf min, feadfafl iatbefaitky inot j^
•" ' . ' children
carrie4 ^mmi^ '^j t^mk&f J^pSrine^ by. tbejl^ht^ ftktt^ ^ini timing ^P^- *- H
h'^if^ qfthem wbiA lye in v^aitetp iecdtt^i Tbi^ is j| Umii Biultit^des
of weu meaniDg folds at i3us dlay, whobbeing unftabk 9 ungroiwied
Ml the fiiiti^ are cacdecl ^way^Xome 1^ the it^^^i/^ otbcrs ^ich
jtl^e Anhnmua^^ a tHijcd 3^id\ ^ ^^)^>^^%^<H That ii uta^p tio( be fb
ii^thus,UtK>iir wc toW^ni^^
Vijerv* Thuweanstx><doMaUajnes^» ip^btn
G^od aifbniedi IIS niom^^'^i"^ wkvi
«?«it![4sitiveij«)jyf^ei^ ufhet0^^ml^ltp^ r^sf^ ^fde^^^rsi^, bk
fervams, Xti8anob&rvati<mliiiltedt^Eei<^byMilfl^^ c h ud L
word^^npon PWa^iul «Sij^ connniAg to t^e Cfaarcb<S^imd MWt¥ing ^ ' '
their labcAir^upofttheii^i^^ n^rei^ ^he faiih • Wiieit
ineatLs of XiOfiwti^don ji^ry wnn^f^^. jilif rf ii^eakiidle a»d emptied*
peile are tLe maiiepa^ tb^Q^^^^^^S hUL
where God doth lend his iervantS;; able & niithS^ Uiftnitwnt%M)»6
doputfordithem&lveffmtb^iUeofiiU^pofibk^^ forthe
ifethng and eftat^ljAu^g o£ a |)eople la dkefidth ^ be(^ Gpd tsi^;)e^di
{romidietni^rowth^d^ . .
: > ji)^ic,. Talw tl3Li5;tr^ ^ndfffitisi; jifftu^m
tlcularj the £ec0ud ipj^x of tl^^ Apoiles^deav^iun^ 9Jki that li the
be und^ri^ood tjAQ w^% W^lJ^ i^ej^e^f^f kfa^. t4C> J^ Cbm^ih^
the mimBer dprfim was JDOw^icdb^ or thi^ dLwbtNTxOf Qmrths^ Was
increaftd. - "^ •
_ ., , i^^tfe&>«i«feof f^ GOnf^^enfe^, .T^
heare of C^idies i^/ij)^ fliamiEier49^he^eJrfa«4
iC|iM§hi^
i neccflar/,
- (IftWisaV-^Wfifc*'""- Bi,ttavinBonlyWKathis,IleweT^^^
]^;K,no the B.»«.Jf»„d S,f^alilljthifirp and Uf Authors of it. '
llie 1 ext(asl conceive) confinramc to the former, 7*1, am 1^
Mng ihemMves tol*efr Comtamaon • So tie 6Ai„jfi caSffilP
;_and Wtoab,m4,f,ay.^SQ m, tt wkh the eto?cRes-WTew„S
It was with theGtarthftrf /*«(i(™Beftre, the^jhteh of tktSs"
la. = . u«. of them ) woBderMl ones, Tfc I.,rf«iti ,„fc ^ej„^ ^^,., ^^ Jj
tr,«h,klk>6. Sowasiln-otowiththeph^rchfflofWife^/,"
04^. A goodand a blrfSd hcirthg, to heare of 6ch a iwWrfM
U , a« B<«»>,^kan <»m.^,. ItWastteWltelHngwhichGodpronolu-
Ben.,.a«. ced upon »»/s»A , Cr,/<i«> »«rfrif fc«„-,^^ l^^^c ,^ ™t
.«;jr^*»A,tt4t<fcrK a »^ a:^^Ai!o*a%4 i4^^
T«fh a baj-reWMnd a frtuffUl Ch,^. Where God elv.« to a ChurcK
Sots .4. ("■h«P"P'>«*«f">'*athew«Jddoto7yi^»y ^«ifcm,im,r
» •>■■'■•■ fo,T(» »toS„ W*! ire»;l/,_fo as there is no increafc, this is Vradincf
omtaous|Udgenie«i;whereaK<)ntheother*ahd)to(eeaieChhr-
cheS3(!w>>iZ(tteilie>»««hi the e»«iW,,i whereif «s^ eSiS fa?3
Ca«. 4. .. «''?"' '«'*'.*«'** w*"^^"-™*?/ !*» i an'briiwing fbitlf
cfcWrfre«unt:oOod;OKre«/ra^inM«wi«.^AF; itisonc of the createft
. Weffingst?hwS*tttanWcrfvefi«m'^tliw«..^ * ■ i '
4},iV.a ^#fc AiidAitfi MijOfflM
«>fiBt(lertM6»»wii> f!oo56f*aS>-^
..... . •Sitjwhttbeffcyaw lleh^»ft tilhii
laufe the Churches w n eidU rcpord-
.ufon the good *a9!Sl inadVenturina
nponthemjwhOjirma tJatmehieJ
'eftissjof Wiigai^ i„tSiSkii6
, . ■whst«i*ay't6fi#ii places lAfe,;-'
€01.4.15. ;/?»^inttieirp]acescndeavCwringas';^W((w]ir^i&erj- ib begeifij^ and
Ea.I.23r dm^mstMaGed^hythe-iHca^li^ihkfied'ii/f^-tUWm-d^xhAtio-mTnAi
., CTeiyofusbcablewfayaltlMt great day, aS'theftophaJtiiJi
- ' ''" ' . oiict
6hce iiA^yAi^i^yfTt am I, 4«e//i&e cbildrenwhom thou hsjl given W, !&• ^- 1 8-
Jldagifir^ ia their places^flicfwing ithenxlelves rtt0jfng fathers smd mcrJ
Jpi!3giJwf)&er/totheCnurch,foas t^on their ^gees the Churches may q^'^^Iq*!^^
l^are Sildren^^tx^ B^hel,once faid of her ftlf and her maid Bilh^^ / f •
Gen. JO.) Varmtf and Mafiers of familkf in their places^endeavouring
to bring cq) their cluldren and (ervants in the Icnowledge and feare^
of God, th^t fq they-may be tme litdng members of the Chuxxrb^ not'
. i^hlyVkemoden legs or armes tyedon to the body,, having only aa
outward vlfible communion with the Church, bqt like nafHtaB mem-
bers^ they may be knit bojpb to the head and bo^ by joims and ligar
ments^{p as the Churcli may l)c incrcafed with the increafe ofweL CoL *. ip.'
hrivateferfms in their [flaces, jnot only joyriing themselves to the true
Churches^of God, bnt endeavouring what in them lyctJi , to winne
and rain others, (pccialty by their holy and exemplary converiation -,
and demeanour, £f/^ww Ujgf^tfofln^b^e men^ that thy feeingyoHf goo4 ^^' *' ^'
»ork& fn^ ^ifefiter biMehlyfaber. ^ Gforifie him, 'asty other w^es«
(b by compiing in and puqang thei^i^ves^under his government j to
which purpofe there is (carce anV one rneans mpre dBeftually availe-
able, theh for ChrMKAns to tliifvc ^r^ffrme in grocer So much Maftei; /
G4tei« coUefts out 6? theTcxt-fydrii the <fonnc3ciorf pf th^fe tw:o to^ .
gctlher 5 the Churches Vftrteil('al^]^im^ and increafed in nimk Aw'^ ?«^^
let daHj.Ji The growth and proficiendy df^.thofe wdich were fu-ft cal- J*^ fi^P^^o-, ;
!cd to the faith in th^fe Churches i^s^/^dall, aicanes\o brini^^jSr'
inothers. _^ ^Z ' . -' ^ voaoiy plure§
^ Oldmemhers hi a Church (itls a compariipn which Calvin givetji, ^Chrijhm
' nje the hint of) they are lik6 dld.fian^ jh a C(^/ce, bV hk^old Vines] ^^^* C'^A
or foplars^ or the like trees,Which bcinig orice throughly rooted thcm-^ ^^*
fclvcs, they put forth many imps and jioungfiootes from their roots : I
So was it here in thelfe Churches. The fii5 members of th'ofe Chur-
clies being r()(?fe<i and ejJtffe/i/i&e^ in the fai^ '
R^lncreaied iniiumber; Ac Ji prbf^aghe fdes latins ad altos ferperet^ Calv.7hid.
yaidi my Authbr) As if their iaitn being fpre^d abroad had been a
liieans'topi'opigatcitlcif unto othersjfo it often commeth to pafle/
It is that which PW tclleth his Corinthians y concerni^ig their for- ^^ v
wardncflc in works of chanty and mercy. Tour zet^le ^ith he) bath 2 Cor. 0. o.
ffffvoh^d vzt^pijt^. And (b J^ it.with/i/V^' and holimffe* 10 be zealous,
iff profeffioivand cbnfci«itibus in praSice,it is a moft efle&ull in-
cyfement to provoke, to draw, to win others: and in this 1^ all ^
mvateChriflians be a'dtivt arid forward,that fo they may do what
^'^"''' \% •in
^
V
/ :. inrf»cmIye«*,o?h(dpforHr»r4t;l^U<W^
VoftheCharthfiS. • .
And thus tare! looked upon tfeefc w<>f!NfttQf '% Ajfi^es ctt»
deavours (everafly^ andfinply. Si r«njafne^«owtfeaJtWo»uttlicqi'
eo^ether, cp^Aetm^thtmj^mfy a»(t re/^tizA^^j^ the? ibi^ w/oijB*
leterence tbtHatfirftparwcfe iii me Tcjctv T^^mre Se Cbml>M 4m
So')^ Whatj, ttieeriyby the 4eliy?t7 of th^ftr Z>«?rw ^ Wasthl*
Ac proper arid Irpm^ate owft of dwj Clmrch« con^m^Jm gjoil
. ;^ifj;/:NotfoVj^^ 4€Uy?w4wdre,o<:^ nu«ciSQ£
F^/fJ, bln^.df' (iS-i^^ »pd coh%^^^ po* mtp^pMwie fiicb JaobJr
cfiefts as thdh ^l9/brc^ %q work foch an ^^lUWWnt^fil^
being but Decrees tc)uchjpg,wgj?^A Jpiqw ( a^ tKc Apoftl^ f^ttlQ Tk
eoi|>ei t6 tb<^^ i 'V -ii^^ ^ • ' ■ •
' ^ejf • Wfcw influence thea^i^dHfiLQje. Pecw/ ftcwKpwx ^
jet renmt^ s^d^ommns i^ tkfi^nQ% ^^imx^fidm^lK^m cau^
of botli tUefr^ y^t thcj^warii^i f n4ii»^«'f^^
|«din>entsj^andpi^^ tlw^QnurctesJintaiiicb a. goftajx^fe<3t*a ftai3C;i'
as t hey might Be fit to be wrought i^n by the preaching of x!^
WcMvi-Eucp a?« is withP*]e^how«cijijt felf ti^Oi;J(Z«;^fc^^^^^
removing okpruSiou{y U^i^txe^ th« body iQtQ j(5i<;h ? ft^te a«a i^m-;
pcr^$ it may bQ 4pt, tp receive ooiiriteiflat ffcsipiwQh wcawsas fhalf
pt applyed qnto h^ proper for that piicpole,; Evoifo wa« it hciJCK
The Churches bein^rfi/^cw^e^^^Moitt^c^ imfijaoffbiOife
«*•,•• \\
them into' fiich a tcmper^a^ tfiathife Wnift^iWght t;akcp^CC WJtl^
.V them:> both for their cmfirm^jjm^n^ i»*re^. -
$hfinf^ And of fiicb uft Ecck^ftcall Pwew ^^y VrfHidoftCAami thu^:
they Unot ma^jet th^ tf^ay he m^m • iPApP j;?ipch iqr tftl? »:<)»-
laive to it, Of thU>l4ttt^x: w^ feaye had but «» luufth wp^w^vHow::
n
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