The Clear Antithesis

The Presbyterie.

I. T His is found in Holy Writ, and the Holy Ghost is pleased to mention it by name, (1 Tim. 4. 14.) for the due honor thereof.

II. This consists of Presbyters, called Elders, 1 Tim. 5. 17. or Parochial Bishops, or Bishops of particular Congregations, Acts 20. 17, 28. Phil. 1. 1. of equal authority among themselves, not Lording over God's heritage.

III. These have a divine Institution by the Holy Ghost, Acts 20. 28. and are ordained by the Apostles, Acts 14. 23. and by the Apostles commandment, Titus 1. 5. 7. and have warrant we see from the Canonical Scriptures.

IV. These were joined with the Apostles, and sat in the Council at Jerusalem with them; and with them made and sent out by the direction of the Holy Ghost the Decrees, Acts 15. 4. 6. 22. 23. 28. & 16. 4. & 21. 18. 25.

V. These Elders were they who by divine authority did rule, they were called Elders that ruled, of such speaketh the Apostle, 1 Tim. 5. 17. Heb. 13. 24. and the people had an Apostolical charge, to know them to be over them, in 1 Thess. 5. 12. and to rule over them, Heb. 13. 7. and the people were to obey them, and submit to them, Vers. 17. What can be more clearly delivered out of the Text.

VI. The rule of these was Aristocratical and conjoynt, and therefore we read plurally of Elders; the Bishops in one City, Acts. 20. 17. Phil. 1. 1. Yea, Elders were ordained in every Church and City; Acts 14. 23. Titus 1. 5.

VII. These rule after God, according to his Word, and according to such Constitutions as shall be genera • lie (with one consent) agreed upon, and warranted by the Word.

VIII. These can and do rule spiritually after a spiritual manner, Without pomp and great revenues, Without a train of domestic attendants; Without their Chancellors and Archdeacons, Commissaries, and Officials, Surrogates; Without Advocates, Doctors, and Proctors; Without charge of great fees, and pecuniary mulcts; Without their prisons corporally to punish Delinquents.

IX. These use no base nor no lewd companions to come to call Delinquents before them.

X. These calling offenders before them, proceed religiously with them only, seeking their reformation and amendment; (and so they find it) and not to ma • e game of the people, nor do they ever excommunicate any for not paying fees.

XI. These oppose all corruptions in God's worship, the life and doctrine in all sorts, as well in the Clergy as Laity, without respect of persons, to honor thereby their Christian profession, and to procure glory to God, and salvation to many souls.

XII. These make and ordain a preathing Ministry, setting over every particular Congregation a sit Pastor, resident and painful, only attending his •• ecke, and wholly giving himself unto his Ministry, and not putting off his charge to a Curate.

XIII. These allow not any one of them upon himself to ordain.

• 1. Any Minister alone.
• 2. Nor any man altogether to be Minister, without a particular slock to attend upon.
• 3. Not to be made to pay anything for his Ordination, for a License to preach, for Institutions and Inductions.
• 4. Not to swear Canonical obedience to them.

XIV. These Ordaining Ministers do thoroughly try them, not childishly by asking of questions read out of a book, and answers made thereto upon the same book; but in wisdom as shall be thought fitting for them to ask, and the Ordained to answer unto with understanding, and this is done with fasting and prayer very solemnly.

XV. These having thus ordained Pastors over Congregations, press them to preach unto their flocks, and thereof to be very careful, or else shall they be called before them, and censured for neglect of their duty herein.

XVI. These impose not needless Ceremonies; Cross, and the Surplice, and such like, to be used in the time of God's worship; for they observe the Apostolical rules for indifferent things, and know how grievously they should sin in imposing any such things upon Ministers, not sufficiently persuaded of the lawfulness thereof.

XVII. These punish no Ministers for neglecting any indifferent, but for neglect of performing necessary duties to God and men.

XVIII. These seek Pastors for to feed the people, and to fit them for the Congregations, as they are less or greater, and learned or otherwise, and may be most for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the Ministry, and the edifying the body of Christ, Ephes. 4. 12. such they carefully prefer without sinister ends.

XIX These study carefully with all diligence to hold up goodness, and that sin in all sorts may be speedily cut off.

XX. This Presbyterian Government therefore admitteth of four kinds or degrees of Assemblies, for the well government of all in only causes Ecclesiastical.

XXI. The first is the Assembly of the Parish, called a Session or Consistory; this consists of one Minister, commonly approved for his learning, his life, and discretion in government. Secondly, of certain men called Elders, men of best knowledge and holiest life in all the Parish: their number are moe or fewer, according to the largeness or sinallnesse of the Parishioners; they are chosen with the people's consent in their presence, and solemnly admitted to their charge: their meeting is weekly, by these (to wit, the Pastor and Elders) are Parishes well ordered, as the Law of God, and Law Ecclesiastical of the Land appoint them, according to the Word. To these Assemblies come another sort called Deacons, to receive directions in their duty concerning the poor; for about them is the Deacons employment, men grave, holding the mystery of faith in a good conscience, 1 Tim. 3. 2.

XXII. By this Assembly weekly at home among themselves, the spiritual estate of the people is looked into; their walking also towards God, and one towards another in love: Religion is upheld, and the exercise thereof; God's worship kept and upheld from pollution, Sacraments from being profaned by the keeping back of unworthy persons, scandals and offenses removed, abuses reformed in breach of the Sabbath, virtue nourished, & vice is suppressed, in persons and in families by the office of these Elders, throughout the whole Parish, to the joy of well-doers, and without chargeable expenses to the Delinquents.

XXIII. The second is, The Presbyterial or Classical meeting: which consists of particular Pastors of particular Churches in a certain circuit, much like to our several Deanaries; and as with us there be many Deanaries, so are there to be many Presbyteries.

Here an Elder of every Parish, appointed by the particular Session thereof, doth come and meet with the Ministers; and with these others also intending the Ministry, who here exercise their gifts.

This meeting of theirs is somewhere once a week, but it may be once a fortnight, or at farthest once in a month.

This hath the power of Jurisdiction and Ordination, Deprivation, Visitation, trial of Processe, of Excommunication from the Parochial Session, and direction to the Minister of the Parish to excommunicate, if need be.

Here the life and doctrine, the diligence of Ministers (within the Presbyterie) is looked into, and so the lives and behaviours of their Elders, and the disobedience of any one to the Session, is with authority censured.

This is begun and ended with Prayer, as religious meetings should ever be.

XXIV. The third is called A Provincial Synod: there be many such with us as Dioceses.

This consists of all such Presbyteries within such a circuit, as may be like our Dioceses, and every Synod is kept twice a year.

Hitherto come all the Ministers, and one Elder from every Parish. It's begun with Prayers and Preaching, by a Moderator of a former Synod, who is ever here chosen; and when he hath done, another is chosen for the present.

Then they proceed to try all the Presbyteries, how they have ordered themselves in their meetings, and faithfully discharged the power and authority committed to them, and this trial is by the records presented to the Synod by the Clarke of every Presbytery. In the end they conclude with Prayer.

Here is no calling for Procurations, nor purchasing of Licenses; no paying of money to an Apparitor, nor to a Register to show letters of Orders for better, and not for such base ends is this pious Synod kept.

XXV. The fourth and last meeting is, The General and National Assembly, the highest Ecclesiastical Judicatory, and kept commonly once a year at the place appointed.

This consists of Ministers and Elders, from every Presbytery, where are also present persons of highest place, and of the Nobility.

This is begun with a day of Humiliation: after which is chosen by the Assembly, a Minister to be Moderator or President. Here is handled all causes Ecclesiastical, concerning the whole Church of God, everyone hath his free voice: ••• hes 〈◊〉 ••••• les are propounded, and satisfied; and whatsoever is ordained, is with consent of all: there be also chosen out certain Commissioners, to present what of all is thought fit to the Parliament, the King, the Counsel of the King, or the Convention of the Estates.

XXVI. By this most happy subordination of these four, stands the beauty and strength of the Church Government, comfortable to all godly Pastors and Professors; only distasteful to Prelatical spirits, to Papists, Atheists, Heretics, Schismatics, profane and Machiavillan Statists; for by this Governement all these are crushed in them, first appearing in Parishes by the Session weekly, or in the Rurall Presbytery monthly, or by the Provincial Synod in the half year; but if these be not so prevalent on a sudden, yet are they mightly suppressed once in a year by a National Assembly.

XXVII. Under this Presbyterian Government godly Ministers and people are much encouraged, in preaching, in hearing, in frequenting Sermons in conferring together after Sermon, in fasting and praying, no hindrance of neighborly and Christian meetings, to read godly means books, allowed to be printed. No lett, but rather heartening for one to instruct another; to build up, to edify one another, without wicked jealousy of unlawful conventicling, whereby knowledge of God increaseth, and brotherly love among the people.

XXVIII. This doth allure none unto it, but only the warrantableness of it, the goodness of it; the singular benefit which cometh thereby to the Churches of Christ, where it is erected; to wit, the safety of souls, the beating down of sin and iniquity, the humbling of the people by often set fastings, and other holy duties, which all that fear God should more affect in Ecclesiastical government, then all earthly preferment.

XXIX. This is the government of the Churches of Christ, the reformed Churches, with which we confess ourselves to be one; and never was it east out, where once it was erected, and carefully practiced among them, as any way hurtful to religion, or the Civil State.

XXX. This, since the beginning of Reformation, hath been desired of painful and conscionable Teachers, and in following their desires to enjoy it, have suffered much, as all know, for their writing and preaching, praying, and petitioning to Sovereign Authority and Parliament for the same.

Lastly, this could never yet be endured here; to make a trial of it, and to discern it in the happy fruits of it, as is humbly desired by many thousands to be admitted.

The Prelacie.

I. T His is not to be found in the Apostles writings, nor doth the HolyGhost vouchsafe to name it, as being an over-topping title which Christ approves not of.

II. This consists of Prelates, called Diocesan Lord Bishops, Lording over their brethren contrary to Christ's forbidding, Mat. 20. 25, 26. and Lording over their people, contrary to the charge of S. Peter, 1 Peter 5. 3.

III. These have no divine Institution▪ there is for their present standing no warrant from Christ's word; but what they rest upon are two false Postscripts, Apocryphal writings added to the end of the second Epistle to Timothy, and the other to Titus.

IV. There is no mention made of these kind of Bishops, they had then no being; nor was there in this Council then any mention at all of any Bishop, nor any as yet had that name till Paul's preaching at Ephesus, who first mentioned the name of Bishops, Acts 20. 28. and yet meaning no other then Elders, Verse 17. neither then, nor long after, Titus 1. 5. 7.

V. These Lordly Diocesan Bishops have no rule over us in the Lord; if they have, let them from Holy Scripture show it as the Elders can; the truth is, the rule which these exercise is merely human, and from the authority of men; as hath heretofore been acknowledged by themselves.

VI. The rule of these is Monarchical, and but one in a City, and over a great Diocese, extending their power very far beyond that they are able to perform.

VII. These rule after the will of man, and according to either Popish, or their own devised Canons, thrust upon the people after the pleasure and lust of some, without warrant from Holy Scripture: the truth of this appears from their former and late Canons.

VIII. These neither can, nor do rule spiritually after a spiritual manner; but with pomp: they cannot bear up their Prelacie, but with great revenues, with many attendants; and all these fore-mentioned, which the Presbyterian government hath utterly shaken off, as both needless and very burthensomely grievous.

IX. These use Apparitors and others to cite men unto their Courts, very lewd and base fellows all of them, of an evil report among the people.

X. These make gain of the people's sins by their fees, in all and every of their Courts, and seek not their amendment; for what one is made the better by them? and if any of them pay not fees, they are excommunicated by them.

XI. These tolerate many corruptions in God's worship, in men's doctrine and lives in the Clergy; as is known by shameful instances to the House of Parliament, and in the Laity, who if great, fearing to meddle with them; if rich, by making gain of them; if very poor, neglecting them because no money is to be had; to the great disgrace of profession, to God's great dishonor, and to the fearful damnation of many souls left to themselves: of the truth thereof God and men can witness.

XII. These make and ordain a reading Ministry, allow Pluralists, Nonresidents, idle Ministers, many giving themselves unto the world; not a few Master Doctors intruding themselves into secular affairs, putting off their Cures to some poor Curates.

XIII. These take upon them to ordain alone.

To Make a Minister without a charge: to be some Curate, or to employ himself otherwise till a Living fall.

To be made to pay his fees for Ordination, and License; and when he is to be admitted into his Living, to pay for Institution and Induction, with other gratuities to the Prelates servants, and their gentlemen Apparators; and are forced to swear Canonical obedience to their Lordly Authority.

XIV. These make Ministers upon slight trial, and in their Ordination the Bishop out of book readeth his questions, and the Parties to be Ordain'd answer them, by reading in the book very babishly; and instead of fasting, the Lord's day after Ember week; and for prayers, they read the Litany and some short Collects out of the book: thus slightly doing one of the weightiest works of the Ministry in the Church of Christ.

XV. These having ordained Ministers, Instituted and Inducted them, allow them not to preach, except they come and procure a License so to do: Which when they have gotten, though they seldom or never preach, they are never called into question for the same: so be it they read their Service.

XVI. These impose these Ceremonies, as so necessary, that they cry out No Ceremony, no Bishop, though they know what S. Paul saith touching the use of things indifferent; they neither observe his Canons, nor fear to lay a stumbling-block before their brethren, nor to wound consciences, nor to cause them to perish, for whom Christ died, nor do they care to sin against Christ: of all which four evils Saint Paul speaks in the 14. of the Romans, verse. 13. 1 Cor. 8. 11, 12.

XVII. Yet these sinners against Christ do not only seek to kill souls, by wounding of consciences, making them to perish; but have ruined many faithful Ministers in their estates, by suspensions and deprivations; yea, they have killed their bodies by imprisonment, and all this only for not-conformity, passing by many others neglecting necessary duties, being conformable. O ye heavens stand astonished and wonder.

XVIII. These seek out and search for the fattest Parsonages to feed themselves, and to fit their carnal minds, carefully preferring their Sons, their Chaplains, their Friends, Kinsmen, and Favorites; endeavoring sometime to deprive true Patrons by cunning shifts of the right of Patronage, to place in whom they please; respecting men's persons, and not the spiritual good of the people.

XIX. These study carnally to their utmost power, that they may hold up their own greatness, and not nourish people in goodness: they strive not against sin, but rather how to secure themselves in their Lordly standing.

XX. This Prelacie therefore alloweth of no such Assemblies, for that they fear thereby their own downfall; and for that they only would have the guiding of all, in all matters Ecclesiastical.

XXI. This is not allowed at any hand under this Prelacy, but instead thereof, in many Parishes is a blind Shepherd, or a profane Minister, without learning, honesty of life, and discretion to know how to govern. Secondly, there are two Church wardens, and with them two Side men; not chosen ever for their knowledge and godly life, but by house rous chosen they be, as the house falls, and in some places otherwise, but admitted to their charge not after a solemn manner, but by their names set down in a book their common office is known; neither Pastor nor these have any rule Ecclesiastical, but the Church-wardens must appear twice yearly to forswear themselves at Visitations, to pay money for a book of Articles, and to make presentments to the Ecclesiastical Courts, according to these Articles, only to help the Ordinary, the Registers Apparitors with money, but nothing reformed in men's lives, but perhaps glass windows, and Church walls amended, Bells broken, and Ropes prepared, Pulpits, Seats, Surplices, and Communion Tables to be all fit; weighty matters.

There be also in every Parish over seers of the poor, such as they be.

XXII. By this their Prelatical way, and want of the Parochian Session, all things go awry, and great is the spiritual misery of the people; they live in much ignorance, little power is there of the life of religion, their worship is but customary, the Sacrament is greatly profaned by unworthy Communicants, open drunkards, known adulterers, common swearers, &c.

On the holy Sabbath the Lord is dishonored, much vice reigning among them, in them; their families, (to the great grief of such as fear God) who complaining of them, shall be heard; perhaps it may be for the Court to get money, but if others complain of these, they shall surely feel the weight of malice and ill will.

XXIII. Under this Prelacie is no such Presbyterial Assembly.

Here are certain Deanaries, in every of which is held an idle Visitation by an Archdeacon, or his Substitute once in half a year, to this resort all the Ministers within that Deanery where the Visitation is kept.

Hereto come the Church-wardens and Side-men, and such as have Wills to prove.

Where we have a Sermon made by such a one as the Archdeacon shall get & appoint, after which all the Ministers by name are called to show their appearance, but no trial of their gifts, nor any such things as be mentioned in the Presbytery: they pay there their Paschals and Procurations, but none hardly know why. Then the Churchwardens & Side-men are called, & an Oath administered, with Articles to make their presentments by; then if any have Wills to prove, they bring them, and an Oath is also administered to the Executor.

Which done, the Assembly breaks up to go to dinner; after which, the Church-wardens and Side-men do come again before the Judge of the Court to give in their presentments.

This done, all is ended without a blessing.

XXIV. Here is no such Provincial Synod, but the Prelates trienniall Visitation, whither do come all the Ministers out of every Deanery, one day after another, where the Prelate is, which commonly is at the Cathedral Church, where he sits with his Chancellors. It's begun with a Sermon, after which the Prelate makes a Speech, such as he pleaseth to utter.

Here is calling of Ministers and Church-wardens, but no trial of Ministers gifts, nor enquiry of their proficiency; but here is paying of Procurations, & buying of Licenses to rade prayers and to preach, and giving money to the gentleman Apparitor.

The Church-wardens made to swear, and are to buy a book of Articles, and make presentments to the Chancellor, who receives their Bills.

Here the Ministers show their Orders and Licenses (such as have them) to the Register, who gets much money for them.

If the Prelate have any private business with this Clergy, or to crave a benevolence, (which dare not be denied him) he calls them together in private by themselves.

Which ended, they may depart and go as they came, without any religious care of them: the Prelate goes to his Palace with his train, and the Chancellor by an Apparator invites the abler sort of Ministers to dine with him at an Inn, to their proper cost.

XXV. Here is no such National Assembly, but a meeting called a Convocation, when we have a Parliament, which is in two Provinces; one at York, in which the Arch-Bishop of York is President; and the other at London, where the Archbishop of Canterbury is President; ruling and commanding, or cunningly contriving to bring about what ever pleaseth him.

Here meet all the Prelates, all the great Deans and Archdeacons, and the rest of the Prelatical body; and to these come two Ministers called Clerks out of every Diocese, to represent all the rest of the Ministers: chosen these should be freely by the rest of their brethren; but are appointed by the Lording Prelates, such as they best like of▪ The Nobles and Gentry have nothing to do here; the Prelates have ever had the Laity, as they call them in contempt, scorning they should meddle in causes Ecclesiastical, though never so learned and wise: here their corrupt dealing need not to be further laid open, it's so openly known and condemned by the Parliament.

XXVI. By the unhappy want of such lively means here, and the overtopping power of this Prelacie; many painful Ministers have been suppressed, many people have been grieved, Papists, Atheists, Semi-pelagian Heretics have increased; Separatists (through the Prelates severity in pressing of Ceremonies) have multiplied, the profane have grown into much baseness, more and more by their proclaiming of liberty to profane the Lord's day; and by their corrupt Courts: the proof hereof is the common experience of all this Land.

XXVII. Under this Prelacy and Prelatical Government, much preaching is not valued, but rather suppressed, as it of late hath been.

They give no heartening to people to follow the means of knowledge conferring after Sermons, reading together of good books, singing of Psalms, and praying together, and such Christian meetings, fill Prelatical spirits with the spirit of Jealousy, & causeth them to hunt after such persons, and to cite them for Conventiclers; whereby they hinder the growth of grace, and the increase of Christian love, knowledge, faith, and godly watchfulness one over another, much to be wished.

XXVIII. This hath all worldly allurements whatsoever may entice carnal minds to entertain and hold it up, as greatness, riches and pomp, glory, high estates in dignity, pleasure and profit, ease, and what not, that may favor of the flesh, the fruits whereof are people's ignorance, profaneness, licentiousness, liberty, neglect in most, and contempt in many holy duties, privately and in families, reigning sins in public, to be with tears lamented, no way to be suffered nor is suffered in a right ordered Church Government.

XXIX. This is the government of the Papal power, under that Romish Antichrist, against which we make open profession; and is a government rejected by all the Churches reformed, and cast out as hurtful to the Church of Christ, and to a Civil State; and is now so judged to be by many worthies in Parliament, and that very justly.

XXX. This hath been upheld by seldom preaching Prelates, by the like Doctors, by Pluralists and Non-residents, Idle Ministers, Dependants upon Ecclesiastical Courts, such as eat of the fat, and hope for preferment to themselves and to theirs; these have been persecutors, but voluntarily never came to suffer for mere Prelacie, but for other misdemeanors, if they have suffered.

Lastly, this hath stood up full fourscore years, and is well known with the unhappy fruits of it; and therefore voted against in the House of Commons.