received and used in England: but such is not the pastor's office appointed by Christ; Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12; 1 Cor. xii. 28; Acts xiv. 23; Tit. i. 5—9; Rom. xii. 4-8.

3. "The popish priestsare capable of the offices of archbishops, lord-bishops, archdeacons, suffragans, deans, etc., retaining still their office of priesthood withal: so are the priests of England. but so are not pastors whom Christ hath given to His church; 2 Cor. vi. 15-17; Rev. xiv. 9—12; Gal. ii. 18; Rom. xii. 7; Eph. iv. 11, 12 ; 1 Cor. xii. 5, 18, 28.

4. "The popish priests may in their constitution, notwithstanding their ecclesiastical office, take upon them civil offices and callings-as to be justices of peace, county-palatine, lord-president, lord-chancellor, etc.-and be honoured likewise with the titles of kings and nobles; as grace, lord, honour, metropolitan, primate, etc. so is it also with the priests of England in their constitution: but so is it not with the pastors ordained by Christ in His church; Luke xii. 14; xxii. 25, 26; 1 Pet. v. 3; John v. 44; Rom. xii. 7; 2 Tim. ii. 4.

5. "The popish priests in their constitution are inferior officers to archbishops, lord-bishops, archdeacons, etc.: so are also the priests of England: but so are not pastors in the constitution and churches of Christ; Eph. iv. 11, 12; Rom. xii. 7, 8; 1 Cor. xii. 28; 1 Tim. v. 17; Acts xiv. 23; xx. 17, 28.

6. "The popish priests must be ordained to their office by a lord-bishop or his suffragan: so must also the priests of England: but so may not the pastors of the churches of Christ; but either by the eldership or,-at the churches' first growing into order, when yet they have not elders,-by some of the fittest members, in the church's name, and by the church's authority appointed thereunto; 1 Tim. iv. 14; Num. viii. 10.

7. "The popish priests at their ordination must be presented to the lord-bishop by an archdeacon or his deputy:.. so likewise must the priests of England be presented but so may not the pastors, appointed by Christ; Rev. xiv. 9, 11, 12; 2 Cor. vi. 14-17.

8. "The popish priests must be ordained to their office according to their pontifical, devised by themselves: in like manner must the priests of England be ordained to their office, according to their pontifical; that is, according to their Book of Ordering Priests and Deacons : . . but so may not any be ordained to the pastor's office, but only according to the Testament of Christ; John x. 1, 2, 7; Acts xiv. 23; 1 Tim. iii. 10, 15; iv. 14; Heb. v. 4; Rev. xxii. 18, 19.

9. "The popish priests at their ordination must kneel upon their knees at the feet of the lord-bishop that ordaineth them; and he must say unto them—though blasphemously-Receive the Holy Ghost, whose sins, etc. :' so must the priests of England likewise be ordained, humbly kneeling at the prelate's feet, and with the same blasphemous words spoken unto them by the prelate: but so may not the pastors of Christ be ordained; Rev. xiv. 9-11; 1 Cor. xii. 4—7, etc.; John xx. 22, 23; Isai, xlii. 8, with 2 Thess. ii. 2-4.

10. "The popish priests are not ordained in and before the congregation where they are to have charge and minister, but in metropolitan or cathedral cities, or at some of the prelate's palaces, or where else he pleaseth to give 'orders,' as they call it; sometimes forty, or fifty, or sixty miles from the place where they are to minister; so are the priests of England: but not the pastors of the churches of Christ; for they are and must be ordained in the face and presence of the congregation whereof they are chosen pastors; Acts xiv. 23; vi. 2, 3, 5, 6; i. 15; Num. viii. 9, 10.

11. "The popish priests are taken and ordained without fasting and prayer of the congregation where they are to minister: so are the priests of England: but pastors not so; Acts xiv. 23; xiii. 3.

12. "The popish priests taking charge of souls, are not elected by the congregation whereof they are to take charge, but are presented by a patron to the lordbishop, to be instituted and inducted into a benefice, being deacons or priests before, so made by the prelates: thus also are the priests of England: whereas, contrariwise, the pastors of Christ are elected by free and voluntary choice of the church whereof they are to be overseers; Acts xiv. 23; vi. 2, 3, 5; 2 Cor. viii. 19; Num. viii. 9; Ezek. xxxiii. 2.

13. "The refusal of the whole parish cannot debar a popish priest from having charge of their souls when he is presented by the patron, and instituted by the

prelate neither can it the priests in the parishes of England: but so it is not with the pastors and churches of Christ; Acts xiv. 23; vi. 2, 3, 5; 2 Cor. viii. 19.

14. "The popish priests may at their pleasure, without consent of the people, resign or give over their benefices and, commonly, betake themselves to some other of greater value: so may also the priests of England: but pastors may not give over or leave the flock over which the Holy Ghost, by the churches' calling, hath made them overseers, except it be with consent of the church, and for such cause as is warranted by the said Holy Ghost in the written Word; Acts xx. 28, with xiv. 23; Col. iv. 17; Rom. xii. 7; 1 Pet. v. 1-4; Isai. lxii. 6, 7; Ezek. iii. 26, 27, with xxxiii. 22; Num. viii. 25.

15. "One popish priest in their constitution may and doth take the charge and commodity of many parishes and benefices at once: so also may the priests of England whereas pastors have but one only flock depending upon them, whereunto they must attend with all faithful diligence; 1 Pet. v. 2, 3; Acts xiv. 23; xx. 28; Rom. xii. 3-7; Tit. i. 5; 1 Thess. v. 12-14; Heb. xiii. 17; Ezek. xxxiv. 1—31. 16. "The popish priests wait not the churches' calling to the ministry, but seek and make suit to some prelate to be ordained priests, giving money also for their Letters of Orders: so do also the priests of England: but so do not pastors, but stay till the Lord by His church call them to that office; Heb. v. 4; Acts xx. 28; with xiv. 23; Isai. lxii. 6, 7; Ezek. xxxiii. 2, with Jer. xxiii. 21, and 2 Chron. xiii. 9.

17. "The popish priests are ordained to their office though they have no flock to attend upon; yea, commonly, twenty or thirty of them are ordained at once, whereof no one is called to any particular congregation; but they must afterward, like masterless men, seek and sue for places where to be employed: so is it also with the priests of England: whereas pastors are always ordained to the attendance of a certain particular church for the work of the ministry therein; Acts xiv. 23; xx. 28; Tit. i. 5; 1 Pet. v. 2; Rev. i. 20.

18. "Such be popish priests and have cure of souls among them as are not at all able to preach the Word: such be also priests and have charge of souls in England: but none such be pastors but they only that, being 'apt to teach,' are lawfully called to that office; 1 Tim. iii. 2; Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12; Tit. i. 7, 9; John x. 1-5; Num. xvi. 5, 40.

19. "Of the popish priests that can preach it is required that, besides ordination to their office, they have special licence from the prelates to preach: so is it also required of the priests of England: but not of the pastors of Christ; Acts xx. 28; 1 Cor. vii. 23; ix. 16; xii. 5, 28; Eph. iv. 12; Rev. xiv. 9-12.

20. "The popish priests are subject to be silenced, suspended, deprived, degraded, by the prelates: so are also the priests of England: but not pastors; Rev. ii. 1; xiv. 9, 12; 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2; Isai. lxii. 1, 6, 7; Zech. xi. 17; Jer. xlviii. 10; 1 Cor. ix. 16; xii. 28; Acts iv. 19, 20; xx. 28.

21. "The popish priests at their institution must swear to perform canonical obedience to the prelates their ordinaries: so must the priests of England: but not pastors; 1 Cor. xii. 5; 1 Pet. i. 2—4; Rev. ii. 1; xiv. 9, 12; Acts v. 29, 31; John xv. 14; Rom. vi. 16; 2 Cor. vi. 14-16.

22. "The popish priests are tied to a book of stinted prayers, and a prescript order devised by man, for their worship and ministration: so likewise are the priests of England bound to a prescript order of service and book of commonprayer, taken out of the pope's portuis: whereas the pastors of the churches of Christ are free to use their gifts received from Christ for the work of His ministry, being tied therein to no inventions of men, but only to the rule and order which Christ, in his Word, hath appointed thereunto; Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12; 1 Cor. xii. 4-8,11; Exod. xxx. 9, with Psal. cxli. 2, and Rev. viii. 3; Isai. xxix. 13; Matt. xv. 9; 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11; 2 Tim. i. 6, 7; Rom. viii. 26; John iv. 24; 1 Tim. iii. 15; vi. 13, 14, with Gal. iii. 15; 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17; Rev. xxii. 18, 19.

23. The popish priests are bound in that office to perform such actions as Christ never appointed for the work of his ministry; as to church women, to bury the dead, to solemnize marriage, etc. : so are the priests of England: but so are not pastors; Eph. iv. 11, 12; Rom. xi. 7, 8; 1 Tim. iii. 15; v. 17; 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17; Rev. xxii. 18, 19.

24. "The popish priests be not of like and equal power, degree, and authority, among themselves; but are, some of them, inferior to other herein, as parsons to

archdeacons, archdeacons to lord-bishops, lord-bishops to archbishops: so is it with the priests of England: but not with pastors, for they have, all of them, like and equal power, degree, and authority, under Christ the only Archbishop and great Shepherd of the sheep; 1 Pet. v. 3, 4 ; ii. 25; Luke xxii. 24-26; Rev. i. 20; Eph. iv. 11, 12; Acts xx. 28; Heb. xiii. 17, 20

25. "The popish priests, together with their people, stand subject to the ecclesiastical courts, canons, citations, excommunications, absolutions, and other the like jurisdiction of the prelates and their officials: so stand also the priests of England and their people: but so stand not the pastors and churches of Christ; Rev. xiv. 4, 9, 12; Matt. vi. 24; xxviii. 20; John iii. 35, 36; x. 4, 5; Gen. xlix. 10; Isai. xxxiii. 22; Jas. iv. 12; Heb. iii. 1-3.

26. "The popish priests have, joined with them, in their charge, churchwardens and sidemen, which are sworn to present to the ordinary's court, as also to his chancellors' and commissaries' courts, all such offences, faults, and defaults, as be committed among them against the prelates' articles and injunctions: so is it also with the priests of England: but not with the pastors of the churches of Christ, wherein they are not only freed from all antichristian bondage, but have also joined with them teachers and elders for the instruction, oversight, and guidance of the church, according to the ordinances of Jesus Christ, and no other; 1 Tim. v. 17; vi. 13, 14; Rom. xii. 7, 8; Eph. iv. 11, 12; 1 Cor. xii. 5, 28; xiv. 37; Acts xv. 2, 4, 6, 22, 23; xx. 17, 28; 1 Pet. v. 1-3; Matt. xxviii. 20.

27. "The popish priests, with their churchwardens and people, have not the power of Christ to cast out any from among them; neither have in this, nor anything else in their constitution, the keys of the kingdom of heaven to open and shut, to bind and loose, to remit and retain, according to the Word and ordinance of Jesus Christ; but the chief ecclesiastical power and authority among them is in the hands of the prelates, and their chancellors, archdeacons, and officials, to be administered according to their canons and constitutions, as before is said: so is it also with the priests, churchwardens, and people of England: but contrarily with the pastors, elders, and people of the churches of Christ; Matt. xvi. 16, 19, with xviii. 17, 18; 1 Cor. v. 4, 5; 2 Cor. ii. 6-8 ; x. 4—6 ; Psal. cxlix. 9; Num. v. 2, 3; 1 Thess. v. 12, 14; 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14, 15; Eph. iv. 11, 12; 1 Tim. v. 17; Acts xx. 28; Rom. xvi. 17; Rev. xix. 14, 15; 2 Cor. vi. 14-16.

28. "The popish priests must be discerned from the other people by surplice, tippet, square cap, etc.: so must also the priests of England: but not pastors; Isai. xxx. 22; lii. 11; 2 Cor. vi. 17; Rev. xviii. 4; 1 Tim. iii. 2; iv. 12, 16; Num. xv. 39.

29. "The popish priests, by virtue of their ordination to that office, are capable of induction and institution to any benefice whereto they are presented, to receive the tithes, glebes, chrisms, oblations, and such like maintenance belonging thereunto: so are also the priests of England: but so are not any by virtue of ordination to the pastor's office; neither is the pastor's maintenance to be by tithes or any other Jewish or popish manner, but only of the Gospel, as Christ hath ordained; 1 Cor. ix. 14; Gal. vi. 6; Rom. xv. 27; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13, with Heb. vii. 5, 12; Col. ii. 17.

30. “The popish priesthood was never appointed by Christ, but is a new ministry devised by man, even the man of sin, in the office, entrance, administration and maintenance thereof; 2 Thess. iii. 4, 8; Rev. ix. 3; xiii. 16, 17; xiv. 8—11; xvii. 1-5: xviii. 11: such is also the priesthood of England: whereas the pastor's office, Eph. iv. 11; Rom. xii. 8; entrance, Acts xiv. 23; vi. 2, 3, 5; Num. viii. 9, 10; Heb. v. 4; 1 Tim iii.; iv. 14; Col. iv. 17; administration, 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17 ; Eph. iv. 8, 12; Rom. xii. 8; 1 Tim. iii. 15; v. 17, 21; vi. 3, 13, 14; Tit. i. 7, 9; Acts xv. 6, 22; xx. 28; 1 Thess. v. 12-14; 1 Pet. v. 2, 3; 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2; Gal. i. 8, 9; and maintenance, is not any invention of man, but the appointment of Christ set down in his Word; 1 Cor. ix. 14; Gal. vi. 6; 1 Tim. v. 17, 18; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. 31. "The popish priesthood is such in their office, entrance, administration, and maintenance, as princes and magistrates may and ought, by their authority, to abolish it out of their dominions; Rev. xvii. 16; 1 Kings xxiii. 5, etc.; Deut. xii. 2-4; 1 Tim. ii. 2; Psal. lxxii. 1, etc., Rom. xiii 4: such is also the priesthood of England, in all those particulars: but such is not the pastor's place and function; Eph. iv. 11-13; 1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 28; Rom. xii. 8; xiii. 3; Heb. xii. 28; 1 Tim. ii. 2; v. 17; vi. 13-15.

32. "The popish priesthood is such in all the particulars aforesaid, as the Lord Jesus will consume with the brightness of His appearing in the light and power of his Gospel, before his second coming; 2 Thess. ii. 8; Rev. xiv. 6-8; xvii. 1; xviii. 20-23; with Jer. li. 60–64; Rev. xix. : such is also the priesthood of England: whereas, on the contrary, the pastor's office and function is to continue to the end of the world, even till we all meet together in the unity of faith, and acknowledgment of the Son of God, to a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; Eph. iv. 11-13; Rom. xii. 5, 8; Heb. xii. 28; v. 20; 1 Tim. iii; Matt. xxviii. 17; vi. 13, 14.

33. "Finally, therefore, the popish priesthood is such as none may have any spiritual communion therewith, but all ought to forsake and depart from it, though all princes under heaven should command the contrary; John x. 5; Rev. ix. 3; xiv. 9-11; xviii. 4; Amos iv. 4, 5; v. 5; Num. xvi. 24, 26; Matt. vii. 15; Psal. cxix. 113, 128; 2 Cor. vi. 14-17: such is also the priesthood of England: whereas, on the other side, the pastor's function is such as is not to be left but to be joined unto in the service of God, notwithstanding the prohibition of princes or any other whomsoever to the contrary; Eph. iv. 11, 12; 1 Tim. v. 17; vi. 13-15; Rom. xii. 4-8; 1 Cor. xii. 5, 28; xiv. 37; Matt, xxviii. 20,"

CHAP. LI.

RATHBAND AND HIS OPPONENT, WELDE.

AGREEABLY to our resolution, at the commencement of this our undertaking, that we would work our way steadily through "evil report and good report; and that it shall never be said truly of us, Ne aspectum quidem hostis sustinere valuerunt; here, though having but just rid ourselves of one species of encounter, we enter upon another, with unshaken purpose. It is embodied in "A Brief Narration of some Churchcourses held, in Opinion and Practice, in the Churches lately erected in New England: Collected out of sundry of their own Printed Papers and Manuscripts, with other good Intelligences. Together with some short Hints, given by the way, of their Correspondence with the like Tenets and Practices of the Separatists' Churches: And some short Animadversions upon some Principal Passages, for the Benefit of the vulgar Reader.-Presented to Public View, for the Good of the Church of God; by W. R. 1644." 4to. pp. 55.

That this editor or publisher, is W. Rathband, the same as the foregoing, there can be no doubt; from the initials, from the bookseller's name, and from an allusion, in the Postscript, page 53, to the "Grave Confutation." If it be the same, there is, however, an effort to conceal it, for some cause which is not explained. His Preface opens thus :"Christian Reader; Give me leave, before I present thee with the Narration following, to apologize something for myself. I have not fallen upon this task for want of other work, nor out of any itching, much less ambitious desire to appear in print, which, as I never affected, so much less now, when it is become no singular praise; for, scribimus omnes, indocti, doctique: nor out of any malignancy of spirit against the men See back, p. 272.

a
* 2 Cor. vi. 8.

whose church-ways I here relate, whom, so far as I know them, I profess-God and my conscience bearing me witness-highly to love and honour in the Lord. But the first occasion of my thoughts, in this kind, was that a solemn agreement being, a good-while since, made between the Brethren of the Independent way, then, and still, residing in London, and those of the opposite judgment; wherein, amongst other things on both sides agreed upon, those Brethren promised then shortly to put forth a Narrative of their doctrine and practice in church-courses, that so it might appear where the differences lay. Which Narrative being once published, the materials whereof they then professed to be all ready, they also promised to join with the rest, in preaching against the Brownists, Anabaptists, and other sectaries. But the said Brethren -though sundry times called upon to put forth their Narrative, according to promise,"-have yet not only delayed, but at length altogether denied to do the same. Upon which denial, I began to entertain some thoughts of making a Narrative myself: and began so to do, but through many discouragements I laid it by again; till, of late, some of the said Brethren, that had formerly promised the Narrative, published aNarration Apologetical,' which seemed, in title, to me, a performance of the former engagement; but when I had read it, I found it nothing less [than Apologetical,] as being neither full nor clear, as a Narration ought to be but touching that, I will say no more, because others better able have [dealt,] and I hope will, deal thoroughly with it.

Only I let the Reader know, that upon this occasion I resumed my former purpose; considering, now, the necessity of such a course, in regard, That not only themselves continued in that way, but also others, both ministers and people, out of ignorance or inconsideration were daily drawn aside thereto: new churches were erected according to their model; our churches and ministry, and God's ordinances in them, began to be neglected, slighted, deserted, yea contumeliously and scornfully reproached as 'Antichristian, Babylonish, false, and null, that many were distracted and doubtful what to hold and do, and to which side to cleave some thought better of their ways, and others worse, than they deserved; and both sorts, for want of right information what they were! That, the full relation of their ways, if it did not turn men quite off from them, yet, at least might so far prevail as to make men pause awhile and inquire further into them before they were too far engaged; espe

a "It would grieve a tender heart to hear this man call 'God, &c.' and by and by to assault with horrible untruths and bitter invectives."..-Welde's Answer, p. 1.-See it hereafter.

b"Some of us profess, solemnly, we never so much as heard of any 'promise.'.. If they did not this so soon as he would have them, let him know, the extreme distractions of these times, and the public service of some of these Brethren who were employed by the State, for a good space together, might justly hinder greater things than this." Ibid. p. 1, 2.

"Such contemptuous speeches and reproachful carriages cast upon the Brethren of the churches here, neither are nor ever were allowed by us... They are not alone in these reproaches; ourselves also are fellow-sufferers with them herein, from divers Sectaries now in London, whose usual tones and dialects these words he men tions, are, and not the voice of Independents." Ibid. p. 2.