Chapter XV: Introduction (15)

[Sidenote: _Answ._] I answer, All this saith nothing for a _stinted_ and _forced Maintenance_, for which there cannot so much as the Shew of one solid Argument be brought from Scripture. I confess _Ministers_ may use Exhortation in this as much as in any other Case, even as the Apostle did to the _Corinthians_, shewing them their Duty; [Sidenote: Paul’s _Labour was, that the _Gospel_ might be without Charge._] but it were fit for _Ministers_ that so do (that their Testimony might have the more Weight, and be the freer of all Suspicion of Covetousness and Self-interest) that they might be able to say truly in the Sight of God that which the same Apostle subjoins upon the same Occasion, 1 _Cor._ ix. 15, 16, 17, 18. _But I have used none of these Things; neither have I written these Things, that it should be so done unto me: For it were better for me to die, than that any Man should make my Glorying void. For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for Necessity is laid upon me, yea Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel. For if I do this Thing willingly, I have a Reward; but if against my Will, a Dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. What is my Reward then? Verily that when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without Charge, that I abuse not my Power in the Gospel._

[Sidenote: Reas. 3.] _Thirdly_, As there is neither Precept nor Example for this forced and stinted Maintenance in the Scripture, so the Apostle, in his solemn Farewel to the _Pastors_ and _Elders_ of the Church of _Ephesus_, guards them against it, _Acts_ xx. 33, 34, 35. But if the Thing had been either lawful or practised, he would rather have exhorted them to be content with their stinted Hire, and not to covet more; whereas he sheweth them, first, by his own Example, that they were not to [Sidenote: Paul _coveted no Body’s_ Silver _or_ Gold.] _covet or expect any Man’s Silver or Gold_; secondly, that they ought to _work with their Hands_ for an honest Livelihood, as he had done; and lastly, he exhorts them so to do from the Words of Christ, _because it is a more blessed Thing to give than to receive_; shewing that it is so far from a Thing that a true Minister ought to aim at, or expect, that it is rather a Burden to a true Minister, and Cross to him, to be reduced to the Necessity of wanting it.

§. XXX. [Sidenote: Reas. 4.] _Fourthly_, If a forced and stinted Maintenance were to be supposed, it would make the Ministers of Christ just one with those [Sidenote: _No _Hireling_ fitting the Gospel of _Christ.] Hirelings whom the Prophets cried out against. For certainly if a Man make a Bargain to preach to People for so much a Year, so as to refuse to preach unless he have it, and seek to force the People to give it by Violence, it cannot be denied that such a one preacheth for Hire, and so _looks for his Gain from his Quarter_, yea and [96]_prepares War against such as put not into his Mouth_; but this is the particular special _Mark_ of a false Prophet and an Hireling, and therefore can no Ways belong to a true Minister of Christ.

[96] Mic. 3. 5.

[Sidenote: _Moderate _Protestants_ and _Papists_ exclaim against the Excess of the _Clergy_’s Revenues._] Next, that a superfluous Maintenance, that is, more than in Reason is needful, ought not to be received by Christian Ministers, will not need much Proof, seeing the more Moderate and Sober, both among _Papists_ and _Protestants_, readily confess it, who with one Voice exclaim against the _excessive Revenues_ of the _Clergy_; and that it may not want a Proof from Scripture, what can be more plain than that of the Apostle to _Timothy_? 1 _Tim._ vi. 7, 8, 9, 10. where he both shews wherewith we ought to be content, and also the Hazard of such as look after more; and indeed, since that very Obligation of giving Maintenance to a Minister is founded upon their Need, and such as have Opportunity to work are commended rather in not receiving than in receiving, it can no Ways be supposed lawful for them to receive more than is sufficient. And indeed, were they truly pious and right, though necessitous, they would rather incline to take too little, than be gaping after too much.

§. XXXI. [Sidenote: II.] [Sidenote: _The Excess of the _Priests_ and _Bishops_ Revenues._] Now that there is great Excess and Abuse hereof among Christians, the vast Revenues which the Bishops and Priests have, both _Papists_ and _Protestants_, do declare; since I judge it may be said without any Hyperbole, that some particular Persons have more paid them yearly than Christ and his Apostles made use of in their whole Life-time, who yet wanted not what was needful as to the outward Man, and no Doubt deserved it far better than those that enjoy that Fulness. But it is manifest these _Bishops _and_ Priests love their fat _Benefices_, and the Pleasure and Honour that attends them, so well, that they purpose neither to follow Christ nor his Apostles Example or Advice in this Matter_.

[Sidenote: Object.] But it is usually objected, That _Christians are become so hard-hearted, and generally so little heed Spiritual Things, that if Ministers had not a settled and stinted Maintenance secured them by Law, they and their Families might starve for Want of Bread_.

[Sidenote: _Answ._] I answer, This Objection might have some Weight as to a Carnal Ministry, made up of natural Men, who have no Life, Power, nor Virtue with them, and so may insinuate some Need of such a Maintenance for such a Ministry; [Sidenote: _They wanted nothing whom God sent; they laboured with their Hands._] but it saith nothing as to such as are called and sent of God, _who sends no Man a Wayfaring upon his own Charges_; and so go forth in the Authority and Power of God, to turn People from _Darkness_ to _Light_; for such can trust to him that sendeth them, and do believe that he will provide for them, knowing that he requireth nothing of any but what he giveth Power to perform; and so when they return, if he enquire, can say _they wanted nothing_. And such also when they stay in a Place, being immediately furnished by God, and not needing to borrow and steal what they preach from Books, and take up their Time that Way, fall a working at their lawful Employments, and labour with their Hands, as _Paul_ did when he gathered the Church at _Corinth_. And indeed if this Objection had any Weight, the Apostles and Primitive Pastors should never have gone forth to convert the Nations, for fear of Want. Doth not the Doctrine of Christ teach us to venture all, and part with all, to serve God? Can they then be accounted Ministers of Christ who are afraid to preach him lest they get not Money for it, or will not do it until they be sure of their Payment? What serves the Ministry for but to perfect the Saints, and so to convert them from that Hard-heartedness?

[Sidenote: Object.] But thou wilt say, _I have laboured and preached to them, and they are hard-hearted still, and will not give me any Thing_:

[Sidenote: _Answ._] Then surely thou hast either not been sent to them of God, and so thy Ministry and Preaching hath not been among them in the Power, Virtue, and Life of Christ, and so thou deservest nothing; or else they have rejected thy Testimony, and so are not worthy, and from such thou oughtest not to expect, yea nor yet receive any Thing, if they would give thee, but thou oughtest to _shake off the Dust from thy Feet_, and leave them. [Sidenote: Mat. 10. 14. _If they reject the Testimony, shake the Dust from off thy Feet._] And how frivolous this Objection is, appears, in that in the darkest and most superstitious Times the _Priests Revenues_ increased most, and they were most richly rewarded, though they deserved least. So that he that is truly sent of God, as he needs not, so neither will he, be afraid of Want, so long as he serves so good a Master; neither will he ever forbear to do his Work for that Cause. And indeed such as make this Objection shew truly that they _serve not the Lord Christ_, but their own Belly, and that makes them so anxious for want of Food to it.

§. XXXII. [Sidenote: II.] [Sidenote: _The many _Abuses_ Priests _Maintenance_ brings._] But lastly, As to the _Abuses_ of this Kind of Maintenance, indeed he that would go through them all, though he did it passingly, might make of it alone a huge Volume, they are so great and numerous. For this Abuse, as others, crept in with the _Apostasy_, there being nothing of this in the Primitive Times: Then the Ministers claimed no _Tithes_, neither sought they a stinted or forced Maintenance; but such as wanted had their Necessity supplied by the Church, and others wrought with their Hands. But the Persecutions being over, and the Emperors and Princes coming under the Name of _Christians_, the Zeal of those great Men was quickly abused by the _Covetousness_ of the _Clergy_, who soon learned to change their Cottages with the Palaces of Princes, and rested not until by Degrees some of them came to be Princes themselves, nothing inferior to them in Splendor, Luxury, and Magnificence; a Method of living that honest _Peter_ and _John_ the _Fisherman_, and _Paul_ the _Tent-maker_ never coveted; and perhaps as little imagined that Men pretending to be their Successors should have arrived to these Things. And so soon as the Bishops were thus seated and constituted, forgetting the Life and Work of a Christian, they went usually by the Ears together about the Precedency and Revenues, each coveting the chiefest and fattest Benefice. [Sidenote: _The _Protestants_ having forsaken the Pope, yet would not forsake the rich Popish Revenues._] It is also to be regretted to think how soon this Mischief crept in among _Protestants_, who had scarce well appeared when the _Clergy_ among them began to speak at the old Rate, and shew that though they had forsaken the Bishop of _Rome_, they were not resolved to part with their old _Benefices_; and therefore so soon as any Princes or States shook off the _Pope_’s Authority, and so demolished the _Abbies_, _Nunneries_, and other _Monuments of Superstition_, the reformed _Clergy_ began presently to cry out to the Magistrates to beware of meddling with the Church’s _Patrimony_, severely exclaiming against making a lawful Use of those vast Revenues that had been superstitiously bestowed upon the Church, so called, to the Good and Benefit of the Commonwealth, as no less than _Sacrilege_.

[Sidenote: 1. _The _Clergy_’s Covetousness._] But by keeping up of this Kind of Maintenance for the _Ministry_ and _Clergymen_, so called, there is first a Bait laid for _Covetousness_, _which is Idolatry_, and of all Things most hurtful; so that for _Covetousness_ Sake, many, being led by the Desire of _filthy Lucre_, do apply themselves to be Ministers, that they may get a Livelihood by it. If a Man have several Children, he will allot one of them to be a Minister; which if he can get it to be, he reckons it as good as a Patrimony: So that a fat Benefice hath always many Expectants; and then what Bribing, what Courting, what Industry, and shameful Actions are used to acquire these Things, is too openly known, and needs not to be proved.

[Sidenote: _The greedy _Kirk_, a Proverb._] The Scandal that by these Means is raised among Christians is so manifest, that it is become a Proverb, that _the_ Kirk _is always_ greedy. Whereby the Gift and Grace of God being neglected, they have for the most Part no other Motive or Rule in applying themselves to one Church more than another but the greater Benefice. For though they hypocritically pretend, at their accepting of and entering into their Church, that they have nothing before them but the _Glory of God_ and the _Salvation of Souls_; yet if a richer Benefice offer itself, they presently find it more for God’s Glory to remove from the first, and go thither. And thus they make no Difficulty often to change, while notwithstanding they accuse us that we allow Ministers to go from Place to Place, and not to be tied to one Place; but we allow this not for the gaining of Money, but as moved of God. For if a Minister be called to minister in a particular Place, he ought not to leave it, except God call him from it, and then he ought to obey: For we make _the Will of God inwardly revealed_, and _not_ the _Love of Money_ and more _Gain_, the _Ground_ of _removing_.

[Sidenote: 2. _The _Clergy_’s Luxury._] _Secondly_, From this Abuse hath proceeded that _Luxury_ and _Idleness_ that most of the _Clergy_ live in, even among _Protestants_ as well as _Papists_, to the great Scandal of Christianity. For not having lawful Trades to work with their Hands, and being so superfluously and sumptuously provided for, they live in _Idleness_ and _Luxury_; and there doth more _Pride_, _Vanity_, and _worldly Glory_ appear in their _Wives_ and _Children_ than in most others, which is open and evident to all.

[Sidenote: 3. _The _Clergy_’s Cruelty._] _Thirdly_, They become hereby so _glued_ to the _Love_ of _Money_, that there is none like them in _Malice_, _Rage_, and _Cruelty_. If they be denied their Hire, they rage like drunken Men, fret, fume, and as it were go mad. A Man may sooner satisfy the severest Creditor than them; the general Voice of the Poor doth confirm this. For indeed they are far more exact in taking up the Tithes of _Sheep_, _Geese_, _Swine_, and _Eggs_, &c. and look more narrowly to it than to the Members of their Flock: They will not miss the least Mite; and the poorest Widow cannot escape their avaricious Hands. [Sidenote: _Poor _Widow’s Mite_ cannot escape the Priest’s _greedy Hands.] Twenty Lies they will hear unreproved; and as many Oaths a Man may swear in their Hearing without offending them; and greater Evils than all this they can overlook. But if thou owest them aught, and refusest to pay it, then nothing but War will they thunder against thee, and they will stigmatize thee with the horrible Title of _Sacrilege_, and send thee to Hell without Mercy, as if thou hadst committed the Sin against the Holy Ghost. Of all People we can best bear Witness to this; [Sidenote: _The Work of _Antichrist_ is Fury, Envy, Malice._] for God having shewn us this corrupt and Antichristian Ministry, and called us out from it, and gathered us unto his own Power and Life, to be a _separate People_, so that we dare not join with, nor hear these Antichristian Hirelings, neither yet put into their Mouths, or feed them. Oh! what Malice, Envy, and Fury hath this raised in their Hearts against us! That though we get none of their Wares, neither will buy them, as knowing them to be naught, yet will they force us to give them Money: And because we cannot for Conscience Sake do it, our Sufferings have upon that Account been unutterable. Yea, to give Account of their Cruelty, and several Sorts of Inhumanity used against us, would make no small History. These avaricious Hirelings have come to that Degree of Malice and Rage, that several poor labouring Men have been carried hundreds of Miles from their own Dwellings, and shut up in Prison, some two, some three, yea, some seven Years together, for the Value of one Pound Sterling, and less. [Sidenote: _A Widow for the Tithe of _Geese_ about four Years in Prison._] I know myself a poor Widow, that for the Tithes of her _Geese_, which amounted not to five Shillings, was about four Years kept in Prison, thirty Miles from her House. Yea, they by Violence for this Cause have plundered of Men’s Goods the Hundred-fold, and prejudiced much more; yea, Hundreds have hereby spilt their innocent Blood; by dying in the _filthy noisome Holes_ and _Prisons_. [Sidenote: _Some lost their Lives in nasty Holes, some wounded by the Priests_, &c.] And some of the _Priests_ have been so enraged, that Goods thus ravished could not satisfy them; but they must also satisfy their Fury by beating, knocking, and wounding with their Hands innocent Men and Women, for refusing (for Conscience Sake) to put into their Mouths.

The only Way then soundly to reform and remove all these Abuses, and take away the Ground and Occasion of them, is, to take away all _stinted_ and _forced Maintenance_ and _Stipends_. [Sidenote: _Whoso heap _Teachers_ to themselves, let them provide their Stipend._] As whoever call or appoint Teachers to themselves, let them accordingly entertain them: And for such as are called and moved to the _Ministry_ by the Spirit of God, those that receive them, and taste of the Good of their _Ministry_, will no Doubt provide Things needful for them, and there will be no Need of a Law to force a Hire for them: For he that sends them, will take care for them; and they also, _having Food and Raiment_, will _therewith be content_.

§. XXXIII. [Sidenote: _The Difference between the Ministry of the _Quakers_ and their _Adversaries.] The Sum then of what is said is, That _the_ Ministry _that we have pleaded for, and which also the Lord hath raised up among us is, in all its Parts, like the true _Ministry_ of the Apostles and primitive Church_. _Whereas the _Ministry_ our Adversaries seek to uphold and plead for, as it doth in all in Parts differ from them, so, on the other Hand, it is very like the false Prophets and Teachers testified against and condemned in the Scripture_, as may be thus briefly illustrated.

[Sidenote: _The true Ministers _Call.] I. The Ministry and Ministers we plead for, _are such as are immediately called and sent forth by Christ and his Spirit unto the Work of the_ Ministry: So were the holy Apostles and Prophets, as appears by these Places, _Matt._ x. 1. 5. _Ephes._ iv. 11. _Heb._ v. 4.

1. But the Ministry and Ministers our Opposers plead for, _are such as have no immediate Call from Christ; to whom the Leading and Motion of the Spirit is not reckoned necessary; but who are called, sent forth, and ordained by wicked and ungodly Men_: Such were of old the false Prophets and Teachers, as appears by these Places, _Jer._ xiv. 14, 15. _item._ Chap. xxiii. 21. and xxvii. 15.

[Sidenote: _True Ministers _Guide.] II. The Ministers we plead for, _are such as are actuated and led by God’s Spirit, and by the Power and Operation of his Grace in their Hearts, are in some Measure converted and regenerate, and so are good, holy, and gracious Men_: Such were the holy Prophets and Apostles, as appears from 1 _Tim._ iii. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. _Tit._ i. 7, 8, 9.

2. But the Ministers our Adversaries plead for, _are such to whom the Grace of God is no needful Qualification; and so may be true Ministers, according to them, though they be ungodly, unholy, and profligate Men_: Such were the false Prophets and Apostles, as appears from _Mic._ iii. 5. 11. 1 _Tim._ vi. 5, 6, 7, 8, &c. 2 _Tim._ iii. 2. 2. _Pet._ ii. 1, 2, 3.

[Sidenote: _True Ministers_ Work.] III. The Ministers we plead for, _are such as act, move, and labour in the Work of the Ministry, not from their own mere natural Strength and Ability, but as they are actuated, moved, supported, assisted and influenced by the Spirit of God, and minister according to the Gift received, as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God_: Such were the holy Prophets and Apostles, 1 _Pet._ iv. 10, 11. 1 _Cor._ i. 17. ii. 3, 4, 5. 13. _Acts_ ii. 4. _Matt._ x. 20. _Mark_ xiii. 11. _Luke_ xii. 12. 1 _Cor._ xiii. 2.

3. But the Ministers our Adversaries plead for, _are such as wait not for, nor expect, nor need the Spirit of God to actuate and move them in the Work of the Ministry; but what they do they do from their own mere natural Strength and Ability, and what they have gathered and stolen from the Letter of the Scripture, and other Books, and so speak it forth in the Strength of their own Wisdom and Eloquence, and not in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit and Power_: Such were the false Prophets and Apostles, as appears, _Jer._ xxiii. 30, 31, 32, 34, &c. 1 _Cor._ iv. 18. _Jude_ 16. [Sidenote: _True Ministers _Humility.] IV. The Ministers we plead for, _are such as, being holy and humble, contend not for Precedency and Priority, but rather strive to prefer one another, and serve one another in Love; neither desire to be distinguished from the rest by their Garments and large Phylacteries, nor seek the Greetings in the Market-places, nor uppermost Places at Feasts, nor the chief Seats in the Synagogues; nor yet to be called of Men _Master_, &c._ Such were the holy Prophets and Apostles, as appears from _Matt._ xxiii. 8, 9, 10. and xx. 25, 26, 27.

4. But the Ministers our Adversaries plead for, _are such as strive and contend for Superiority, and claim Precedency over one another; affecting and ambitiously seeking after the fore-mentioned Things_: Such were the false Prophets and Apostles in Time past, _Matt._ xxiii. 5, 6, 7.

[Sidenote: _True Ministers _Free Gift.] V. The Ministers we plead for, _are such as having freely received, freely give; who covet no Man’s Silver, Gold, or Garments; who seek no Man’s Goods, but seek them, and the Salvation of their Souls: Whose Hands supply their own Necessities, working honestly for Bread to themselves and their Families. And if at any Time they be called of God, so as the Work of the Lord hinder them from the use of their Trades, take what is freely given them by such to whom they have communicated Spirituals; and having Food and Raiment, are therewith content_: Such were the holy Prophets and Apostles, as appears from _Matt._ x. 8. _Acts_ xx. 33, 34, 35. 1 _Tim._ vi. 8.

5. But the Ministers our Adversaries plead for, _are such as not having freely received, will not freely give; but are covetous, doing that which they ought not, for filthy Lucre’s Sake; as to preach for Hire, and divine for Money, and look for their Gain from their Quarter, and prepare War against such as put not into their Mouths, _&c._ Greedy Dogs, which can never have enough. Shepherds who feed themselves, and not the Flock; eating the Fat, and clothing themselves with the Wool; making Merchandize of Souls; and following the Way of Balaam, that loved the Wages of Unrighteousness_: Such were the false Prophets and Apostles, _Isa._ lvi. 11. _Ezek._ xxxiv. 2, 3. 8. _Mic._ iii. 5. 11. _Tit._ i. 10, 11. 2 _Pet._ ii. 1, 2, 3. 14, 15.

[Sidenote: _The Ministers _Life_ and _Qualification.] And in a Word, We are for a holy, spiritual, pure and living _Ministry_, where the _Ministers_ are both called, qualified and ordered, actuated and influenced in all the _Steps_ of their _Ministry_ by the Spirit of God; which being wanting, _we judge_ they cease to be the _Ministers of Christ_.

But they, judging this _Life_, _Grace_, and _Spirit_ no essential Part of their _Ministry_, are therefore for the upholding of an human, carnal, dry, barren, fruitless and dead _Ministry_; of which, alas! we have seen the Fruits in the most Part of their _Churches_: Of whom that Saying of the Lord is certainly verified, _Jer._ xxiii. 32.--_I sent them not, nor commanded them, therefore they shall not profit this People at all, saith the LORD._

PROPOSITION XI.

Concerning WORSHIP.

[Sidenote: _What the true Worship is, that is acceptable to God._] _All
true and acceptable _Worship_ to God is offered in the inward and
immediate Moving and Drawing of his own Spirit, which is neither
limited to Places, Times, nor Persons. For though we are to worship
him always, and continually to fear before him_; [Sidenote: _How to
be performed._] _yet as to the outward Signification thereof, in
_Prayers_, _Praises_, or _Preachings_, we ought not to do it in our
own _Will_, _where_ and _when_ we will; but _where_ and _when_ we
are moved thereunto by the Stirring and secret Inspiration of the
Spirit of God in our Hearts; which God heareth and accepteth of,
and is never wanting to move as thereunto, when Need is; of which
he himself is the alone proper Judge. All other _Worship_ then,
both _Praises_, _Prayers_ or _Preachings_, which Man sets about
in his own Will, and at his own Appointment, which he can both
begin and end at his Pleasure, do or leave undone as himself seeth
meet, whether they be a _prescribed Form_, as a _Liturgy_, &c. or
_Prayers_ conceived _extempore_ by the natural Strength and Faculty
of the Mind, they are all but _Superstition_, _Will-worship_,
and _abominable Idolatry_ in the Sight of God, which are now to
be denied and rejected, and separated from, in this Day of his
spiritual Arising_: [Sidenote: _Superstition and Will-worship,
Idolatry._] _However it might have pleased him (_who winked at the
Times of Ignorance_, with a Respect to the Simplicity and Integrity
of some, and of his own innocent _Seed_, which lay as it were
buried in the _Hearts_ of Men under that Mass of _Superstition_)
_to blow upon the dead and dry Bones_, and to raise some Breathings
of his own, and answer them; and that until the _Day_ should more
clearly _dawn_ and _break forth.

§. I. The _Duty of Man_ towards God lieth chiefly in these two Generals. 1. _In an holy Conformity to the pure Law and Light of God, so as both to forsake the Evil, and be found in the Practice of those perpetual and moral Precepts of Righteousness and Equity._ And 2. _In rendering that Reverence, Honour and Adoration to God, that he requires and demands of us_; which is comprehended under _Worship_. Of the _former_ we have already spoken, as also of the different Relations of _Christians_, as they are distinguished by the several Measures of Grace received, and given to every one; and in that Respect have their several Offices in the _Body of Christ_, which is the _Church_. Now I come to speak of _Worship_, or of those Acts, whether private or publick, general or particular, whereby Man renders to God that Part of his Duty which relates immediately to him: And as _Obedience is better than Sacrifice_, so neither is any Sacrifice _acceptable_, but that which is done according to the Will of him to whom it is _offered_. But Men, finding it easier to _sacrifice_ in their own Wills, than obey God’s Will, have heaped up _Sacrifices_ without _Obedience_; [Sidenote: True _Worship and Duty to God-wards corrupted._] and thinking to deceive God, as they do one another, give him a Shew of Reverence, Honour and Worship, while they are both inwardly estranged and alienated from his holy and righteous Life, and wholly Strangers to the pure Breathings of his Spirit, in which the acceptable Sacrifice and Worship is only offered up. Hence it is, that there is not any Thing relating to Man’s Duty towards God, which among all Sorts of People hath been more vitiated, and in which the Devil hath more prevailed, than in abusing Man’s Mind concerning this Thing: And as among many others, so among those called _Christians_, nothing hath been more out of Order, and more corrupted, as some _Papists_ and all _Protestants_, do acknowledge. As I freely approve whatsoever the _Protestants_ have reformed from _Papists_ in this Respect; so I meddle not at this Time with their Controversies about it: [Sidenote: _The _Popish Mass (Idolatry)_ denied, with all their_ Trumpery.] Only it suffices me with them to deny, as no Part of the true Worship of God, that abominable Superstition and Idolatry the _Popish Mass_, the _Adoration of Saints and Angels_, the _Veneration of Relicks_, the _Visitation of Sepulchres_, and all those other superstitious Ceremonies, _Confraternities_, and _endless Pilgrimages_ of the _Romish Synagogue_. Which all may suffice to evince to _Protestants_, that _Antichrist_ hath wrought more in this than in any other Part of the _Christian Religion_; [Sidenote: _If_ Protestants _have made a_ perfect Reformation.] and so it concerns them narrowly to consider, whether herein they have made a clear and perfect Reformation; as to which stands the Controversy betwixt them and us. For we find many of the Branches lopt off by them, but the Root yet remaining; to wit, a _Worship_ acted in and from Man’s Will and Spirit, and not by and from the Spirit of God: For the true _Christian_ and _Spiritual Worship of God_ hath been so early lost, and Man’s Wisdom and Will hath so quickly and throughly mixed itself herein, that both the _Apostasy_ in this Respect hath been greatest, and the _Reformation_ herefrom, as to the evil Root, most difficult. Therefore let not the _Reader_ suddenly stumble at the Account of our _Proposition_ in this Matter, but patiently hear us explain ourselves in this Respect, and I hope (by the Assistance of God) to make it appear, that though our Manner of Speaking and Doctrine seem most singular and different from all other Sorts of _Christians_; yet it is most according to the purest _Christian Religion_, and indeed most needful to be observed and followed. And that there be no Ground of Mistake (for that I was necessitated to speak in few Words, and therefore more obscurely and dubiously in the _Proposition_ itself) it is fit in the first Place to declare and explain our Sense, and clear the _State of the Controversy_.

§. II. [Sidenote: I.] [Sidenote: _What _Worship_ here is spoken of._] And first, let it be considered, that what is here affirmed, is spoken of the _Worship of God_ in these _Gospel-times_, and not of the Worship that was under or before the _Law_: For the particular Commands of God to Men _then_, are not sufficient to authorize us _now_ to do the same Things; else we might be supposed at present acceptably to offer Sacrifice as they did, which all acknowledge to be ceased. So that what might have been both commendable and acceptable under the _Law_, may justly now be charged with Superstition, yea, and Idolatry. So that impertinently, in this Respect, doth _Arnoldus_ rage against this Proposition, [_Exercit. Theolog._ Sect. 44.] saying; _That I deny all publick Worship, and that according to me, such as in _Enoch_’s Time publickly began to call upon the Name of the Lord; and such as at the Command of God went thrice up to _Jerusalem_ to worship; and that _Anna_, _Simeon_, _Mary_, &c. were Idolaters, because they used the publick Worship of those Times_; such a Consequence is most impertinent; and no less foolish and absurd, than if I should infer from _Paul_’s expostulating with the _Galatians_ for their returning to the _Jewish Ceremonies_, that he therefore condemned _Moses_ and all the _Prophets_ as foolish and ignorant, because they used those Things: The forward Man, not heeding the different Dispensation of Times, ran into this Impertinency. [Sidenote: _Ceremonies under the Law were not essential to true_ Worship.] Though a spiritual Worship might have been, and no Doubt was practised by many under the _Law_ in great Simplicity; yet will it not follow, that it were no Superstition to use all those _Ceremonies_ that they used, which were by God dispensed to the _Jews_, not as being essential to _true Worship_, or necessary as of themselves for transmitting and entertaining an _holy Fellowship_ betwixt him and his People; but in Condescension to them, who were inclinable to Idolatry. Albeit then in this, as in most other Things, the Substance was enjoyed under the _Law_ by such as were spiritual indeed; yet was it veiled and surrounded with many _Rites_ and _Ceremonies_, which it is no Ways lawful for us to use now under the _Gospel_.

§. III. [Sidenote: II.] [Sidenote: True Worship _is not limited to Place or Person._] _Secondly_, Albeit I say, that this _Worship_ is neither limited to Times, Places nor Persons; yet I would not be understood, as if I intended the putting away of all set Times and Places to worship: God forbid I should think of such an Opinion. Nay, we are none of those that _forsake the Assembling of ourselves_ together; but have even certain Times and Places, in which we carefully meet together (nor can we be driven therefrom by the Threats and Persecutions of Men) to _wait upon God_, and _worship him_. [Sidenote: _Necessity of Meetings._] To _meet together_ we think necessary for the People of God; because, so long as we are clothed with this outward Tabernacle, there is a Necessity to the entertaining of a joint and visible Fellowship, and bearing of an outward Testimony for God, and seeing of the Faces of one another, that we concur with our Persons as well as Spirits: To be accompanied with that inward Love and Unity of Spirit, doth greatly tend to encourage and refresh the Saints.

[Sidenote: 1. Will-worship _doth limit the Spirit of God._] But the _Limitation_ we condemn is, that whereas the Spirit of God should be the immediate Actor, Mover, Persuader and Influencer of Man in the particular Acts of Worship, when the Saints are met together, this Spirit is _limited_ in its Operations, by setting up a particular Man or Men to preach and pray in Man’s Will; and all the rest are excluded from so much as believing that they are to wait for God’s Spirit to move them in such Things: And so they neglecting that in themselves which should quicken them, and not waiting to feel the pure Breathings of God’s Spirit, so as to obey them, are led merely to depend upon the Preacher, and hear what he will say.

[Sidenote: 2. _True _Teaching_ of the Word of God._] _Secondly_, In that these peculiar Men come not thither to meet with the Lord, and to wait for the inward Motions and Operations of his Spirit; and so to pray as they feel the Spirit to breathe _through_ them, and _in_ them; and to preach, as they find themselves actuated and moved by God’s Spirit, and as he gives Utterance, so as to speak a Word in Season to refresh weary Souls, and as the present Condition and State of the People’s Hearts require; suffering God by his Spirit both to prepare People’s Hearts, and also give the Preacher to speak what may be fit and seasonable for them: But he (viz. _the Preacher_) hath hammered together in his Closet, according to his own Will, by his human Wisdom and Literature, and by stealing the Words of Truth from the Letter of the Scriptures, and patching together other Men’s Writings and Observations, so much as will hold him speaking an Hour, while the Glass runs; [Sidenote: Priests _preach by Hap-hazard their studied Sermons._] and without waiting or feeling the inward Influence of the Spirit of God, he declaims that by Hap-hazard, whether it be fit or seasonable for the People’s Condition, or not; and when he has ended his Sermon, he saith his Prayer also in his own Will; and so _there is an End of the Business_. Which _customary Worship_, as it is no Ways acceptable to God, so how unfruitful it is, and unprofitable to those that are found in it, the present Condition of the Nations doth sufficiently declare. It appears then, that we are not against _set Times_ for Worship, as _Arnoldus_ against this Proposition, _Sect. 45_. no less impertinently allegeth; offering needlesly to prove that which is not denied: Only these Times being appointed for outward Conveniency, we may not therefore think with the _Papists_, that these Days are _holy_, and lead People into a superstitious Observation of them; being persuaded that _all Days are alike holy in the Sight of God_. [Sidenote: _Whether Days are holy._] And although it be not my present Purpose to make a long Digression concerning the Debates among _Protestants_ about the _first Day of the Week_, commonly called the _Lord’s Day_, yet forasmuch as it comes fitly in here, I shall briefly signify our Sense thereof.

§. IV. [Sidenote: _Of the _First Day_ of the _Week_, commonly called the _Lord’s Day.] We, not seeing any Ground in Scripture for it, cannot be so superstitious as to believe, that either the _Jewish Sabbath_ now continues, or that the _first Day_ of the _Week_ is the _Anti-type_ thereof, or the true _Christian Sabbath_; which with _Calvin_ we believe to have a more _spiritual Sense_: And therefore we know no moral Obligation by the _fourth Command_, or elsewhere, to keep the _first Day of the Week_ more than any other, or any Holiness inherent in it. But _First_, forasmuch as it is necessary that there be some Time set apart for the Saints to meet together to wait upon God; and that _Secondly_, it is fit at some Times they be freed from their other outward Affairs; and that _Thirdly_, Reason and Equity doth allow that Servants and Beasts have some Time allowed them to be eased from their continual Labour; and that _Fourthly_, it appears that the Apostles and Primitive Christians did use the _first Day of the Week_ for these Purposes; we find ourselves sufficiently moved for these Causes to do so also, without superstitiously straining the Scriptures for another Reason: Which, that it is not to be there found, many _Protestants_, yea, _Calvin_ himself, upon the _fourth Command_, hath abundantly evinced. And though we therefore meet, and abstain from working upon this _Day_, yet doth not that hinder us from having _Meetings_ also for _Worship_ at other Times.

§. V. _Thirdly_, Though according to the Knowledge of God, revealed unto us by the Spirit, through that more _full Dispensation of Light_ which we believe the Lord hath brought about in this Day, we judge it our Duty to hold forth that pure and spiritual Worship which is acceptable to God, and answerable to the Testimony of Christ and his Apostles, and likewise to testify against and deny not only manifest Superstition and Idolatry, but also all formal Will-worship, which stands not in the Power of God; [Sidenote: _The _Worship_ in the Apostasy._] yet, I say, we do not deny the whole Worship of all those that have borne the Name of _Christians_ even in the Apostasy, as if God had never heard their Prayers, nor accepted any of them: God forbid we should be so void of Charity! The latter Part of the Proposition sheweth the Contrary. And as we would not be so _absurd_ on the one Hand to conclude, because of the Errors and Darkness that many were covered and surrounded with in _Babylon_, that none of their Prayers were heard or accepted of God, so will we not be so _unwary_ on the other, as to conclude, that because God heard and pitied them, so we ought to continue in these Errors and Darkness, and not come out of _Babylon_, when it is by God discovered unto us. [Sidenote: _The Popish Mass or Vespers._] The _Popish Mass_ and _Vespers_ I do believe to be, as to the Matter of them, _abominable Idolatry_ and _Superstition_, and so also believe the _Protestants_; yet will neither _I_ or _they_ affirm, that in the Darkness of _Popery_ no Upright-hearted Men, though zealous in these Abominations, have been heard of God, or accepted of him: [Sidenote: Bernard _and_ Bonaventure, Taulerus, Tho. à Kempis, _have tasted of the Love of God._] Who can deny, but that both _Bernard_ and _Bonaventure, Taulerus, Thomas à Kempis,_ and divers others have both known and tasted of the Love of God, and felt the Power and Virtue of God’s Spirit working with them for their Salvation? And yet ought we not to forsake and deny those Superstitions which they were found in? The _Calvinistical Presbyterians_ do much upbraid (and I say not without Reason) the Formality and Deadness of the _Episcopalian_ and _Lutheran Liturgies_; [Sidenote: _The Bishops Liturgy._] and yet, as they will not deny but there have been some good Men among them, so neither dare they refuse, but that when that good Step was brought in by them, of turning the publick Prayers into the vulgar Tongues, though continued in a _Liturgy_, it was acceptable to God, and sometimes accompanied with his Power and Presence: Yet will not the _Presbyterians_ have it from thence concluded, that the _Common Prayers_ should still continue; so likewise, though we should confess, that, through the Mercy and wonderful Condescension of God, there have been upright in Heart, both among _Papists_ and _Protestants_, yet can we not therefore approve of their Way in the General, or not go on to the upholding of that _spiritual Worship_, which the Lord is calling all to, and so to the testifying against whatsoever stands in the Way of it.

§. VI. [Sidenote: _Assemblies of Worship in Publick described._] _Fourthly_, To come then to the _State of the Controversy_, as to the _publick Worship_, we judge it the Duty of all to be diligent in the Assembling of themselves together (and what we have been, and are, in this Matter, our Enemies in _Great Britain_, who have used all Means to hinder our assembling together to worship God, may bear Witness) and when assembled, the great Work of one and all ought to be to wait upon God; and returning out of their own Thoughts and Imaginations, to feel the Lord’s Presence, and know a _Gathering into his Name_ indeed, where he is _in the Midst_, according to his Promise. And as every one is thus gathered, and so met together inwardly in their Spirits, as well as outwardly in their Persons, there the secret Power and Virtue of Life is known to refresh the Soul, and the pure Motions and Breathings of God’s Spirit are felt to arise; from which, as Words of Declaration, Prayers or Praises arise, the acceptable Worship is known, which edifies the Church, and is well-pleasing to God. And no Man here limits the Spirit of God, nor bringeth forth his own conned and gathered Stuff; but every one puts that forth which the Lord puts into their Hearts: And it is uttered forth not in Man’s Will and Wisdom, but _in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit, and of Power_. [Sidenote: _Its glorious _Dispensation.] Yea, though there be not a Word spoken, yet is the true spiritual Worship performed, and the Body of Christ edified; yea, it may, and hath often fallen out among us, that divers Meetings have past without one Word; and yet our Souls have been greatly edified and refreshed, and our Hearts wonderfully overcome with the secret Sense of God’s Power and Spirit, which without Words hath been ministered from one Vessel to another. This is indeed strange and incredible to the mere natural and carnally-minded Man, who will be apt to judge all Time lost where there is not something spoken that is obvious to the outward Senses; and therefore I shall insist a little upon this Subject, as one that can speak from a certain Experience, and not by mere Hearsay, of this wonderful and glorious Dispensation; which hath so much the more of the Wisdom and Glory of God in it, as it is contrary to the Nature of Man’s Spirit, Will, and Wisdom.