in** &2>. L. 2 6" T*t a. j* y< ^ c ' V ') ' /<**>•<,■ w "1^ * CHRIST ON HIS I THRONE. I 0R ' *| ChriftsChurch-government brief- ly laid downc ; and how it ought to bee fet up in allChriftian Con- gregations. Refolvcd in fundry Cafes of Confcicncc. I E x. 6.16. Thus faith the Lord 5 Stand \j§ in the wyes ^audfeeani atks fa the eld paths, where is the /rood waj x and walkjhere- £ tn^andjojhall ftnde reft fir jour joules. LVKE I9.27. But theft mine Enemies , which would not that I [hould £ r aipte over them, brmtg them hithtr and flay them before me. Printed in the yeare 1640, £$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding froiu Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://archive.org/details/speechofmriohnwhOOwhit »* • ', ^— S P E E C H o F M c lokn White. Qounfellor at L^madc in the Commons Houfe of Parliament Concerning ETiSCOPjCT. Printed by his owne Copie, ISSlll LONDON, Printed for Thomas Nich$les , and arc to bee fold at his fhop , at the figne of the Bible in Popes-head Alley, 1*41 , cong. A Speech of Matter Iohn Wh ite Collnfeilour > concerning Epifcopacy. EPifcopacy as it (lands in this Kingdome, comprehends/ in it twea refta > thefe 4. degree -s,V he Deacon, the Pref- byter, the Bifhop and the A^chtifhop 3 Every Archbiihop wades through every o( thefe ordinarily. Ofthe firit & laft vye have no veitigiu n in the holy Scrip- tures. This Deacon may Preach and Baptifeand helpe the Presbyter to adminifter the Lords Supper,but may not con- /cerate the elements in the Lords Supper * : contrary to the * Bcoke fo r Scriptures,by vyhich Preach andj}aptife,is a fullcommiffion j cr j^oto^ for the exercife of all the minifteriall fan&iQn.Mat.iH. 19. * The Deacon mentioned in holy Scripture, is the fame in Office with our Church-warden , to looke to the Church goods and the poore, A8s6. 1 Tim. 3. The Presbyter is of all hands acknowledged to bee 3 lure Divino. The Bifhop is confiderable in refpedl of his traine and fecondly, inrefpe&of himfelfe. His frame are thefe, firft the Deane and Chapter (called Prebends,^/* praberenc auxjlium Epi{copo)m to prcfentunto him fuchas are to be made Deacons and Presbyters, and to indu<5t fuch as hec admits and mftitutcs into Benefices. Thirdly , his Chancellors ," Vicars Genarall , Com- rr . _ mHTaries Officials ,• Surrogates, Regifters , Promotors> and others belongingto bis Cathedrals. Thefe be all meerely humane , and may be taken away without offence to God or confeience, if there appeare juft caufeforit. The Bifhop in refpeA of himfelfe is confiderable in his Barony and temporaries and his fpiritualties. The firft, is merely Ex gratis Regis , and in this King- dome begin q-oftrMiamthe Conquerour :*Andby vcr- tue hereof 5 t hey have had place in the houfe of Peeres in Parliament. 7. H. 8. 1 84^ Kel. it is refolved by all the Judges of EngUid, that the King may hold his Parlia- ment by himfelfe ,his temporall Lords and Commons* without any Bifhop , for a Bifhop hath not any place hi Parliament by reafon of his Spiritualties , but meerely by reafon of his Barony, and accordingly Ads ofPar- ] iament havebeene made, 2. Rick. 3. cap. 3. and at divfcrs other times. They have ufurped the name of Spirituall Lords , Tnit oflate,ani were firft called fo 16 Rich. 2. cap. 1. in our Statutes. By his fpiritualties , I meane thofe wherein he is more then a Presbyter, & therein / confider his authority over Presbyters by the Oath of Canonicall Obedience, v by which he may command them tocolled tenths graunted in convocation, &'c. 20. Hen. 6. 13. p. 25. Secondly 5 his Office which is partly Judicial!, and pirtly minifterialt , Judiciall, by which he is Judge in his Courts of all mitters Eccleliafticall and (pintuall within his Diocefk, Cok.Rep.S.Trcl/opj.c. Secondly, Ifers JiulgeofthcfirnclTeoffucIi as arc prefenfed unto him to be inftituted into' benefices, Cok.ref. 5. Specott.cap. Mini Aerial I > and tkertby he is to Sictq places Bedi- cateto DivineServicc.^.tff*. 6. 17.^.8. Secondly, he is to provide for the officiating of Cures in the a voy- dance of Churches on negle& of the Palrons, piefea- ting thereunto. Thirdly , He is to certifie loyall Matu- fliony^enerall biftarJy and excommunication. Fourthly to execute Judgements given in quAreim^dtt y upon the vv*rit Ad adthtendjm Clericwyznl other judgments againft a Clarke ♦ Fiftly, to attend upon tryals oflife, to reporr the fuffi- ciency or insufficiency of iiich as demand Clergie. Sixt- ly, ro ordaine Deacons and Presbyters. Ali thefe 1 conceive to be furt tummo , given to thefe Biftops, and may upon caufe be taken away from them. q^ p Birfiops havcbeenc in the Primitive Church , and are Apoftolicall and from thebeginning. Sot, To this I anf*vere,firfl,that in the pure primitive times of the Church the hillory wherof is recorded in the A&s and Epiftles of the Apofties , (in which the firft and beft pit-erne of Church government is exprefled) there is no Attrition ototherBifhops t'.xm thePrcsbyters>as ^ppeares. Firft, the holy Scriptures decbre the duties and office ofPrcbyrers and Bifhops robe one and the fimc. The 3i (hop is to teach and rule his Church or Congregation *j T\m. 3, 2. 5.andrhe Presbyter is to teachandfeed his itackc,andto overfee,carc for^nd rule them, 1 iVr.5,2 . 3, Secondly, the Presbyters are in holy Scriptures,. Lid to be the Bilhops ofthc Flo'y Ghoil, Atli 20. 28. f a J •charges the Presbyters of Ephfa to take heed to the flock whereof r!:e Ho:y Ghofthid rmdc them Bithops. Apd other Biihops the Holy Ghoft never made. Thirdly , Epkefwtt 4. :i. God isfoid to have givefl. to \his Church for ttjc pcrfedh'ng ofthc Suets, for the work of the Ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Chrift, Apoftks, Prophets, Evangclifts,Paftor<>and fca- chcrs!ii re is an exprefleenumcrationof rhe Officers God JurbgiyeOi .vhcreof the firft 3. a re extraordinary ^cd-cea- (cdj aud the hit OLely remaiuc:, and is to rcwaigc unt;ill (4) ' ' \veC2tttome.to perfection ] as it is ver, 13^ and.thisper- petruall Officer is called Pallor , in relation to his flocke \v\iottx hee is to governe in SpttitHatibus , and Teacher in refpe&ofhis'duty to feed them with the word of truth, art'd is thevery lame with the Pres by terras appeares above, jirguwentum a divijione eft fortijtimum. The Bifhop as hee is any more thetV a Presbyter , is none ofthefe,'no Officer given by God,and theriore ought not to be in the Church; Chrift the King of his Church was fatthfull in his Houfe, not only as a fervarit as Mofes was,but as the Son in an ex- . cellency and emtnency , Heb. p 5. and to his kingly Office it pertaines to appoint the Officers hee will ufe for the go- vernment of his Church in fyirituslibus 9 and it agrees not with his faithfulnes , to negleft or omit the appointment bfthem,and leave hts'houfe,hisChurch3without fuchOffi- cers. Heeisonely wife, and therefore beft knowes what Officers are ufefull for his Church, and infinitly loving o£ his Church 5 and therefore hath not left her without any officer fit for her. OU Thwiw the'end of Pauls Epiftle unto him, is faid to be thefirft Biffo?p of Creetc 5 and fWtotbj in theendof the s Epiftles tintcHum, to be the firft Bifhop ofEphefu*. *Perk.upon Thole addit tons, are fpurious , and no part of the holy Gtitinfrtc Scriptures, and as Beza obferves 3 are not h\many Greekc j/£? rTiln -^Wltaft copies to bee found , and this is fd'evident as- it is i6.io..-\ctsi7. granted-* by mo ItD^vines. 2, Andas they beeno part of M.ir.&i9^ theSeriptufesof God 3 fo they be apparantly contrary un- f'Thctllu6. tot herp,forby them it ippearesjthat they namely Titm m ought to be taken leringPricfts.'ffom them. Firft , I conceive fuch Lordfliip, and intermedling is againft the Law of God,Chrift refufed to intermeddle in dividing inheritances(though moreableand fit.for it then anyBifhop) Luke 12.13. and faith his Kingdome is not of the world , I$hn-iS. 3 tf.'and the Difciple is not above his Mafter, Mat. 10. 24. and ASs 6. The ^poftles refufe to intermeddle in the Deacon or Church-wardens office, ] though of all earthly imployments the neereft to the Church, and the region they give is remarkable for this purpofe 3 becaufe they were to attend to Prayer and Ad» rainiftration oftheword 5 and therefore not meet for them to attend fiich fecular matters , and 2 Tim. 2, 4. The Apoftles layes downe a rule in this cafe , that nemo mili- tans Deofe imf>licatnegotiishujusfeculi i & upon this ground, even the Popes Canoji-lawes are againft thefe things , as inconfiftent with the minifteriall fun&ion. And the due execution of the Commiflion goc preach and baptize , is qfitfelfe burthen and worke enough for any man what- foevcr his gifts and parts be 5 and made Paul though of a more excellent and able fpirit, crie out under the fenfe of the waight of it , vvho is fufficient for thefe things ? 2 Cor. 2. 16. (7) Secondly 3 it is againft the fondamentall Lawcs of this **#«**] Land, whereby they that are within holy Orders , that they l^^lll may the better attendupon, and difcharge their duties , uim&fmy are not to bee intangled with temporall buiinefle, and there- M'+tom fore if any fuch bee chofen to any temporall office , tbe^ ffl n r^ Law hath ordained a Writ to difcrarge them thereof, Rf\ *>* m&foti 1 87. 6. fcUctm.vidt TheKing may command the r ervice o r mcn in orders,and then it is to be given him by natural! aHe^iance. This rule admits two exceptions an J both are in thisca(e: firft,except the fervice from tfiat peribr bee againft the Law of God as here it is , and then it is better obey God then man, in prefentia maj^^ts cfjjat potejlis minerti. Secondly , if the fervice concerne the Common-wealth > and theperfon of whom it is required, bee not diffident for it, nor brought upunto ir,the command is againft law,8cthc Service not to bee done , if the King grant the Office of the Clarke of the Crowne to one not brought up to it, it is void , and the fervice not to be intcrmedled withill by him, 9- Edtv. 4. <$6. winters cafe. Secondly , that part of the Bifhops fpirituill office by which he claimeth fupcriority over Presbyters ought to bee taken as I conceive from them, as being againft the will of God. The Apoftles queftioning among themfclves which fliould bee the Superiour , are fharply reproved by our Sa- viour for it , and hee tcls them plainely it rtial! not bee fo amongthem, Mark 10. 42. Luke 22. 25. and Diotrophes y 3 John 9. isbnndcd for it, that he fought prebeminence in the Church. The my fterie of iniquity in the Popifh Hie* rarchy , in the Presbyters exalting themfelves , began to worke * in the purcft primitive times , ( as wee feu in Dio- 1 Th.f.i, tropbes and Petes caveat ; 1 Pet. 5. 3.) and never left till it came to the Pope, the higheft degree and top thereof; By which it feemes to me "evident that to leave t;;e pat- - . . . ■ (8) terne of Church government fct dovrne in the word of God, to follow the examples of after ages upon a falfc crie of pri- mitive times,is to iorfake the pure fountaine,md wallowin the muddy & corrupted ftreamsofantichriftian ambit ion« Thirdly., that parr o f the fpirituall office of the Bifhop vvherby he isto inftrud the people committed tohis ch rge> with the holy Scriptures, as upon the 2. queftion put unto him at his confecration, he undertakes to doc ought, (as I conceive ) to be reduced to a poflibility for him to pcr- forme it. Ic is iiupoifib!e for him to doe it to a whole Dio- cefle, therefore hee.-ifhould.be limited to Come pirticular Congregation unto which he might per forme this tru-ft which requires Sufficiency , attendance and diligence. Fourthly, Ordination in the Scriptures is ever cxprefled to be by them in the Church , that had authority and were officers in the Clwch, as ApoftW,* Evaugelifh* anAaf- Afts 14.13. rer by the Presbytery, i7/«. 4. 14. 2 T/w. r. 6. Anda Thus 1. y, fliadow of this remaines in our Law , for the Bifhop onejy is not to lay hands upon the party to be ordained 3 but the Bootes of cr- presbyters there attending* are to joynewith the Bifliop king rnefta t i :erc j n# ^bis J COhce ive is not. fit to be in the hands of any one ordinary officer in rhe Cluirch, the difcerningofrhe gifts,ibilities &: laithfulnefle ofperfonsto be ordaineiPres- • byrers,requiring great judgement ,care, & ciraimfpo&ion . TJm vident oculi quamcculw. The like I lay of deprivation. Fiftly, Excommunicatiqnby the Scriptures ought to be only in cafe of enormous offences Scobftinacy inthem,and I onely in the Congregmon whereof the p.rty 10 be excom- municate is a member,.; Cor, 5.4. Tell the Church,canntjr be meant of one man,-44*r. 1 8. 17. Diotref'vcs is branded -for taking upon him alone to caft any.out of the Church. This alio abufed as well as yfurped by die Bifliop is to be. refor- med.. Sixtlyjnftituuon&inducii6nareufurpedby:theBifnops (9) m the Patron after his Clerke was ordamed, diet without any moic- inveft him into the Church. See Selden of tithes 85. And a rclicfe of this weretaine ftill in Churches that be donatives. Seventhly, The jurifdi&ion of tithes, caufes matrinronialf, and caufes teftamentary in the times of the increasing power of the Pope,when the Bifhops thereby grew more forrnidablc,were taken from the Civill Magiftrate , to whom originally they be- longed, upon pretence, that the tithes were Jure dwtm , the Churches patrimony and marriage a Sacrament , and that rhedif- pofing the goods of the dead , moft properly belonged to him for the good of the fou'e in purgatory to redeeme it thence, to whom tie cure of tie foule appertained in his lite time , vide 2. ^.3. 7 eHamenti 4. 1 1. ft, 7 2. B.Plowdr* ijj.B. Foxes c. Cok.y t j.. ?. 37. B. H,»jloe\ caff. Daziesrep. ?j.B. Lalors'c. SJdcn ot tithes 41 5. 421, Eighthly, The matter* which are mecre^ and only fpirinn!!, (which are properly otEcclcfiafticall coi.izai ce^wcre anrlently by the Lawes of this Kingdome, heard and determined in the County and hundred Courts by theShcriffcandtheBirhop^a-id by William the Conquercur thefe matters were taken thence and appropriated to the Biftiop alone, 2. R. 2. Rotul. Parliament, num. 12. St l&in of ritbs 412. Booke of Martyrs, 154. And by the L-nv of God (as I conceive) they ought to behcarU ' and determined by them that have rule in the particular congre- gations and churches, Mtt. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. which ifir wcrqfo among us would be a wonderfulleafe,and fave great charges to thefubjefl. * ,J ' And where the difficulty of cafe or greatneffe of the perfon> whom it my concerne, or where the Govcrnoursin particular Congregations demeane not tbemfelves as they ought, it ought to be referred to a Synod of Presbyters , fo m-ny as (half be thought meet, as Arts 1 5. a queftion of difficulty arifing in the particular Church oiAntiocb y and the ditfenrion growing great about the fime, they fent to ftierufalcm^ and there the Apo'Mes and Presbyters convened , debited, concluded , and decreed 11 ^ *ky (to) the matter , and impofed the obfervation thereof upon A*tmb and other Churches, ver, i. 2. 6. 28. The Apo flics would not meddle in the queftion without the Presbyters and other. Bi- fhops, there were none there nor in the Churches. Andftlicius exftdiunter negotia commlfia fltiribm , in ;the multitude of Cou*> fellors, there is fafety, Proverb \ n . 1 4. ■ And the change of our Lawes (in cafe this Houlc fhall fee caufefor it ) will not be fo great or difficult as is conccivcdby fome. For Ordination, admonition, fufpention, and depriva- tion of Presbyters, and tie judgement of the ifitnefleof perfons to be invefted into Benefices Ecclefiaftic ill, and the care of pro~ viJing for the fervin.* of Cures , during the vacincyand ?voy- dance of Churches; and the taking of the fubferiprion of Mini- 15, fterstothe Articles of Religion -. and the vifi ion of Hofpi- tals, whofe Founders have appointed no vifitors, vhic 1 ) are no>v *• * in the Bifhop, may be fettled in a convention of Pre bytos , to be appointed for every hundred, fronwh-rn appealemay be had upon every gravaman to a greater AffcmMy ot then, and thofe Presbyters , or any one ofthem , may beinabled to cr' lvc the oaths of Supremacy and alleaga nee, where the BiiWp is author I fed to give the- fame. * And Excommunication may be • l * - ordered to be certified by the Parfon , Vicar, or Stipendary of that .Church where the party is excommunicate. And* all' Chur- ches prefentative may be filled by inveftureof the Patrons, and all queftions concerning them be determined by the fameru:es of Law as Donatives are , And loyal t Matrimony be tryed by a Jury where the woman is party to the fuite, as now it is where fhe is not party, 50. E. 3, 15. p # 5 # 1 1. H. 4. 4. Bp.30. and as it is now, where the iffue isNient fafem. 12. E. 2. Breete 481. 50 £. j. i5.B.7 # f/.^.i2.aJune tf«H.6.9.'P.ioJCbokc-8.E.4 m 1 2 . a Lac$n. And Baftardy generall and Baftardy beyond Sea r within the Statute, % 5. E. 3. I>* rtstU ultra mare , May be made treble by jury , as row fpeciall Baftardy is 11. A(T.20. 38.afH 24. 39. E. ?. 31. 6. & 7.E. <$* Dier. 72. P. 5 2. So tithes may be reduced to the common Law and be lued, for there, as it was (II) ^ I ever in the cafe or the King or his debtor 38. aflT. 2c. Cok. rcf>,$ m x6.aCawdreucafc> and is it is by the Stat, pf 2. and 3, E. tf.cap. 1 3 .And for theBiihops attendance on trials of life,it is nccdleffe Ire being no Judge in it , but the Court , who m ?y appoint any other , or doe itlhemfelves. And for. facring of Churches and other dead things , it is fit to bee negle&ed and left off', being a Popiftivainefuperftitiou^-and without colour ofcounrcnance from the word of God , the Lcviticall conftcrations being tvpi- call and ftiaddowes of the good things we enjoy under the Go- fpel, Htb. 9. i?.&cc» The Biftiopbeingthus reformed and reduced to a condition and ftate agreeable to the word of God ( the onely right * rule * lf 1 ofreformation. 40. The Deanes Chapters, Vicars General!, Chancellors , and the x Crt reft of his Traine, qua tale> (being Whru inutile yondm) are to be L*ck removed and taken away alfo as fuperfluous andufelcfle. *o^ Wee h ive intruded the Epifcopury thefe fourefcorc and two yeares with the cure of (ou es r a truft ofthe 'ugheft concern- ment, if we confider^the price of foules* Our Saviour is at a ftand in it^lVa fbafla man give in recompencefot bis foulcl * the h price ofit is beft (Irene in the price given for it , God and man muft become a curfcroredcemc it. How have thevdi (charged this truft ? Survay the Churches throughout the Kingdome, and you Avail find nere eight parts of tenne of them, filled with Idoll, idle,or fcandalous Minifters, whom the Bifhops might have by law refilled, if difcoveredunto them before hand, and ought to have removed being difcovered Unto them afterwards. And it hath aboundantly appeared this Parliament iupon examinations taken in this Houfeof Com- mons and the Commitdes thereof; that when Minifters cx- treamely fcandalous , havebeene difcovered to the Bifhops and their officers , and lntheHigh-commiffion Court, they have received no further cenfure rhen admonition , or to be put to purgation, and fo fent home to deftroy more foulcs , as if they ad not done futficiently in that way before. But if any godly y learned , . painfull Prcacfcer hath beenc dis- covered by them , they have Iqught out all occafions againft fuch , to thruft them out'ofthe Church , J and lay their Congre- gations waft and defolate [ and every trifle, though, indifferent in their owne account ,' hath beene made ufe of, and fufficcd them fortius , yea , they have made occafions and traps to overthrow fuch worthies without Law and againft Law. And herein they have inherited* the vertues .of J>htrephts their firft Predeceffor , who would not receive the Brethren, and for- " bad them thatwould,andcaft both out oftbe Church, 3^* 10. And though fome of the Bifhops have beene and are good men , yet looke into their Diocefte , and the Churches in their gift , and judge whether they be good Bifhops or no , you fhall find themas faulty concerning this great truft as any of the reft. And whether it be not frotn hence evident , crat leaftgreuly tobefufpefted, that tome curie cleaves to the very office of Bifhops ^ when good men cannot manage it to any better pur- pofe then the bad , let any man judge. This fpirituall Monarchy hath two incidents inseparable un- to it, firft that it rs alwayes incroaching and ufurpmgupon other powers , and (wallowing them up ; as the feries of all ages aboundantly tnanifefts. Secondly, that it isever inclining and returning to Popery, and the religion of Antichrift, as'hath moft clearely appeared, even in our dayes as well as before fince the reftoring of Religion ; fhall for this time inftance ojaely in three places of the Rubricke corrupted by Bifhops r fr\ the Rubrike confirmed by *St of Parliament , in the beginning of it, It is directed, that prayer fhall be in fach place of the Church or Chancel! , and the Minifter fhall fo turne him, as the people msy beft heare. In the Rubrike as it is now Printed , prayer fhall be ufed in the accuftomed pi ice, &c\ except it fhall be oftberwife deter- mined by the Ordinary. Whereby they have introduced the Popifhpraftice of rea- ding prayers at the upper end of the Chancell at their Altar, where few in the Church can fee them , and fewer heare them, and of turning their faces to the Eaft, and their backes to the peo- ple in reading in theDeske, and colour all with the determina- tion of the Ordinary. Secondly, in the Lcrany there are thefe words in the Bookt of Common-prayer confirmed by the Statutes of 5. and 6. £d:v. 6. and of 1. £//*. From the tyranny 6f the B'lhop of Rewe , and alfhis deteftable enormities, good Lord deliver us, and that the Bifhops in the latter bookes have cauicd to bee left out wholly. . ; • Thirdly ; in the Rubncke concerning the admiruftrat ion of the Lords Supper,as it ftands now altered,an excellent declaration of the rexfou why .kneeling at this S xxament was left in the reforma- tion,^ a renunciation of Tranfubftantiation 3 qon-^bftantiation, adoration of the bread and wine , as abominable Idolatries , are wholly obliterate and left out • that the ufe of that geftunrtherc might bee rer-dred the more fufpicious and fupcrftitious, and a more cleare way might bee made , to induce the Popifli iiiper- fiincus innovations j that have bene .fiiice obtruded upon us , concerning the Table 5 , Altar y fupereminent prefence of God Almighty the re, cringings , Altar-worftrips anil the like. And I conceive thefe alterations were made by the Bilhops , as appeare unto meeby the Proclamation they prqcutvd to bee fet forth 5.Martii, 1. Jac. concerning the booke of Common- prayer. And how can things proiper betrer in the hands of the Epi- fcopacy , when Gods blefffng alone giveth out profperity , and the Lord difpofeth his blcfling in his owne way onely , and not in any other. And this being no plant planted by God in his Church , how can it be cxpe&ed it fhould yecld us any better fruits then we haw received from it. Agair.e, (iflfoeenot much deceived) the Epifcoptcy in whatsoever it exceeds the Presbyters office (in which fence CH) of the Antichfift : and of that confider what isprophefied IU- vel. 14. 11. They, fhall not have any reft day nor night , that re- ceive any print of the name of the Beaft , and examine the for- mer and prefcnt rimes, whether the fame hath not beene verified among us , and in all fuch places where that Hierarchy hath 6in entertained 3 whether the moft troubles and miferies of the Churches , ana in great part alfo of the Common-wealth , have not fprung from the faid Epifcopacy and the fruits there* of? Therefore let us proceed to the perfe&ingofthe reforma- tion of our Church , and to the gathering out of it every ftone that offends, even whatfoever is not according Goi , and the ftandard of his word 5 and reduce every thing in the Go- vernment to the rule, and walkc in it in Gods way , which is the fure way to have his pretence with us , and blefling upon us and ours for ever. It'hath ever beene a point of higher honor from God , and 174 ' of greater acceptance and efteeme with him to advance *the*e- formation of his Church and.worfhip ; and was, and ever will »sxy« bee a reproach from him, and blot upon fuch as have left & lz ' any thing not agreeable to his word imreformed*and not taken Li,t£. away 3 up then let us be doing* and the Lord will goe before us, and make plaine all mountaincs*that may occurre in our way , and eive a blefled ilfue and fuccefTe. lfa.49.4* C15O we will hear thee again of this matter. Jiowheit certain men clave unto him, and believed, &e . We doubt not but there arc many within the Province; whofe hearts rtor Lord will open,te attend to what is here [aid. Our defirc is to do good unt© all, even unto thofe that are our grea- teft adverfaries 5 and not to be overcomeofevilM » over- come ivil with good. If chey mock at us ( as they did at p4»/)yet furely, Our judgment is with the Lord, andoir work with our God h m that is filthy, let him be pithy Itili -, and he that is unjufl,let him be un\uftftill •• But we hope f better things of you, that have fubmitted to the Prei- byterian-Governrnent. For whom we pray, That the God of 'peace ;that brought again from the dead our Lord Je- fusChrift, that great Shepherd of his fheep, through the Heb.ij.19,10. yi m j j t y e ever latfing Covenant, would make you perfect in every good work, to do his Will ; working in you that which is well-pleafingin his fight, through Jefus Chnit; to whom be glory for ever and ciw, Amen. Subfcribed in the Name.and by the Appointment of the Affembly, George tVtlker, Moderator. %f 2"*g#*-^ Edmund CaUmy, FINIS. iinaiion. . ..other-, ■ REader, be pleafed tfctY unwilling r - -•» h- ' ' ' 'let every tne&t'vb" ' ' jn ' ,T the!; v"'J t&K ^ * -^ per the Prelatical • • Jio ** f