Yet see this man's spirit, so prejudiced against us and all things we do, that he cannot choose but without reason find fault with divers innocent passages therein; as that we promise, willingly and meekly, to submit to Christian discipline without murmuring!' etc... He is angry with us also, p. 18, that we mention not, in our covenant, more particular sins and duties than we do; and yet is offended that we mention any at all: how shall we please him?.. He then flies from New England to some particular persons here, who, being ministers of churches there,' saith he, p. 19, accept of settled [fixed] employments, even charge of souls;' and how can they 'watch over' their church? I know but two ministers of the churches there, that are in England at this time; and how far both these are from settled employment,-much more from taking livings, as these words, 'charge of souls' imply,-God, their own consciences and the people to whom they, at present, preach, can testify; little to the comfort and credit of any that thus slander them. I advise him to reflect upon his words, and see if there be not something in them to be repented of, and recalled... That hand of Providence, that, upon weighty causes, and with their people's consent, first led them hither; and upon like necessary grounds, beyond expectation, still detains them here; takes them off, at present, from performing that duty of watchfulness over their people; as, in like manner, it doth to other persons, that are absent from their families and churches, by long sea voyages, wars, etc." T. W. p. 26, 27.

Art. xi. "This covenant, thus distinguished from the covenant of grace, they hold to be that covenant which is sealed by the sacraments, and, for the sealing and ratifying of which the sacraments were principally ordained of God; and therefore to be administered only to such as are first entered into this covenant, as seals thereof.-Apol. p. 15, 19, 31; Ans. to 9 Pos. p. 63, 66. And therefore, that such persons as, by their condition, cannot join in church-covenant, nor live in church-fellowship with a set society, are not bound to partake in sacraments.— Apol. p. 39, 41.

See Rob. Justif. p. 80, 110. Though I do not find the Brownists' so solicitously to distinguish between the church-covenant and the covenant of grace, as these our Brethren do.

Here is a piece or two of such divinity, as I never heard or read before; but uno absurdo dato, mille sequuntur!"

"I stand amazed at this report... All his proof we can see is 'Ans. to 9 Pos. p. 63, 66;' I will relate the very words: ..' Baptism,' saith the author, 'serves to seal our justification, as circumcision did; yet not that alone, but also the whole covenant;' that is, of grace, 'with all the privileges, as adoption and sanctification, fellowship with Christ; the salvation of our souls, and the resurrection of our bodies: Acts ii. 38; Gal. iii. 26, 27; Tit. iii. 5; Matt. xx. 23; 1 Pet. iii. 21. And not only the covenant of grace, which is common to all believers; but church-covenant also, which is peculiar to confederates, according to 1 Cor. xii. 13.' Now, here is not said that the church-covenant is the thing 'sealed,' much less the principal end of this ordaining the sacraments;' least of all, that the church-covenant, as distinguished from the covenant of grace, is the principal end of the sacraments: but all that is said is this, That, though justification and the whole covenant of grace, be the principal things sealed in their circumcision and our baptism; yet all the privileges' of the covenant of grace, and the

'church-covenant also,' are not without their share and benefit in the sacrament. How far this expression comes short of his assertion, let others judge. Now, see in his marginal note upon this Article.. I could retort, Here is such an absurd foisting in of untruths as I never hardly read in heathen or christian writers;' and having taken liberty in a few things at first, now they come in by troops. As he hath had very ill success hitherto all the chapter through, let us see if he will speed any better at the close." T. W. p. 27, 28.

Art. xii. "Such as were admitted into their churches Infants by the covenant of their parents, are not yet permitted to receive the Lord's Supper when they come to years, until they have first run through all the foresaid course of public and private examination; profession of faith, declaration of the manner of their conversion, and personal, vocal, express entering into the same covenant as others, of years, have before them done, and as if they had never been received members before.-Ans. to 32 Q., p. 20, 21."

"All that the author-whom only he cites,-saith, is this, that 'There ought to be a renewing of their covenant, or a new profession of their interest in the covenant, and walking according to it; and professeth modestly too, these are but their 'present thoughts,' not settled 'determinatively, for want of occasion to bring it into practice :' yet he brings him in as speaking conclusively; and, with a lumber of additions, deviations, alterations, of his own putting in: where is now, his running through all the foresaid course,' etc.?. Whose words are all these? The author expressly tells us that 'Children are entered into churchcovenant already, and do but renew their covenant;' and [but] he saith, They must enter in afresh, as if they had never yet been received at all! This, we must tell him, is not fair dealing." T. W. p. 28.

Chap. v. Art. i. " Any small number-almost-of persons, so fitted as before, they hold, may lawfully unite themselves into a church body, by entering into the church-covenant aforesaid; and so, may constitute themselves a true visible church of Christ, without any authoritative consent of the Christian Magistrate, supposing there be one, or of the neighbouring churches or their ministers.-R. M. to W. R.; Ans. to 32 Q., p. 43.

Rob. Justif. p. 181, 182.

Art. ii. "Yet a law is made in their general court, civil, That no church shall be there set up without the knowledge of the Magistrate and neighbour churches. R. M. to W. R. Yea, as Mr. H. P. informeth us, Not without the consent of five or six of the neighbouring churches at the least."

"He is at a set, in Art. i. and ii., and their marginals; and falls a wondering at the 'contradiction' in them... I will do him the favour to help him out of this strait, and salve his credit by telling him, There is no contradiction at all:.. do but distinguish of times, and you untie the knot. For there was a time in New England, for some few years' space, before such a law was made, and then churches did use to gather without any notice given to magistrates, or other churches. But after the opinions grew on, and experience discovered the danger, there was a law made, That none must constitute any church, but first give notice thereof to magistrates and churches; and since that, this course is duly observed. So both your Articles, W. R., you see are true, and your report honest and right! yet, withal, let me give you a few animadversions, by way of brotherly counsel: and, I pray you, take them well.

"See what it is to wrong so many godly saints and faithful churches, upon private various informations and your own mistakes, and so break that ninth commandment of our ever blessed God! While you live, undertake no more Narratives of 'Church Courses' in places you are no better acquainted withal; lest, at unawares, you speak evil of the things you know not! When a matter lies before you that admits a double construction, be sure you ever take it in the better, and not in the worse sense!

"In those two reports, you see one good sense, which indeed is the truth, and that I have given you; another, bad, and that yourself have taken for when you stood amazed, in your marginals, at the contrariety of the reports, in the conclusion who must be beaten, but either your informer, or else New England churches, for practising such 'foul,' yea, 'more foul, contradictions,' as you are pleased to speak? And yet note, you see neither he nor they, but yourself only is in all the blame. .. For Art. i. the Ans. to 32 Q., p. 43, there is not one word nor jot to prove that the churches in New England are erected without the magistrates' cognizance. Then, for the proof of both the Articles-where this contradiction lies-he makes R. M. the father of that monstrous birth of a foul contradiction.' Now this R. M. is a godly and reverend teacher of a church there, who would not write such a seeming contradiction without clearing of it some way or other. Ever have we found him sober and wary in all his expressions... Now, I beseech you, W. R.,.. to consider if this be an act of love towards your dear friend, without his consent to discover his Letters to the world, which were written to you in private,.. as one that reports to you such things for truth as they neither hold nor practise in New England... In Articles iii. and iv., to the end of the chapter, he reports, and that truly, excepting some few mistakes, the manner of the first constitution ['erecting'] of a ['visible'] church in New England." T. W. p. 32, 33.

Art. iii. "The persons intending to enter into church-estate do, beforehand, often meet privately amongst themselves, to be inwardly acquainted with each other's spirits, by conferring, praying together, and mutually examining each other, until they have approved themselves to one another's consciences in the sight of God: which, when they have thoroughly done in private, then they agree together to enter into a church-estate.-R. M. to W. R; H. W. to Mr. B.

Art. iv. "Which before they do, notice is given thereof to the Magistrate, and neighbouring churches, that so such as please may be present at the time and place thereunto appointed.-R. M. to W. R; H. W. to Mr. B; J. W. to T. S.

Art. v. "The number wherewith they usually begin, at the first constitution of every church, is about seven, eight, or nine.-Ibid.

Art. vi. "Notice being given, the magistrate and churches send their messengers or deputies to see how things are carried, and to give them advice, direction, approbation or disapprobation, as they shall see cause.-Ibid.

Art. vii. "The day appointed is kept with fasting and prayer; and sometimes, if not always, preaching of the Word, which is performed by some of the persons that now come to be combined into this church-society. In the latter end of the day, each of those persons now to be churched,-if I may so say,—maketh public profession of his faith; thereby showing his knowledge and opinion in the grounds and principles of religion, and declaring, from point to point, the work of God upon his soul in his conversion. And all this, in an extemporary—at least-conceived speech; that is, not in any set form.-Ibid.

Art. viii. "Which, when the messengers of the magistrate and churches have heard and considered, if they be unsatisfied,—or any stander by-they may inake

their objections, or propound further questions, as they think fit, until they be satisfied, if it may be.-Ibid.

Art. ix. "If in the end, the said messengers be not satisfied, then they, or so many of them, as concerning whom they are not satisfied, either in point of knowledge or grace, are forbidden to enter into church-estate and so remain still, as before, out of the pale of the church.-Ibid.

:

Art. x. "If at length, they be fully satisfied, and all doubts cleared, then the said persons proceed to enter into church-covenant; which, being written, one of them reads, and all of them subscribe it; and so they are become a true constituted visible church, as they say.—Ibid.

Art. xi. "Which being done, the said messengers of the other churches give them the right hand of fellowship, and own them for a sister church: and so, returning back, do make report to the churches that sent them, of all things done, and declare to them that they are to account of them as of a true church of Christ.-Ibid.

Marg. note, on Art. x. "If so much time, and so many circumstances, be needful to join seven or eight together into one church; how much time would be requisite to join three thousand together? But our Brethren will acknowledge the apostles went a shorter way to work, Disc. of Cov. p. 29, 30. The reason whereof they tender, Because the church was not then subject to so many hypocrites;' which is more than any man knows, when Christ saith, Many are called, few chosen.' Matt. xx. 16; many seek, but few find. Besides, this course is used, by our Brethren, not to ordinary Christians only, but to the most godly and approved. I believe, therefore, it was rather because the Holy Ghost had given them no such direction, nor was this manner of church-constitution then hatcht."

"Now, what can W. R., or any man, object against the substance of things done in this relation: some mistakes only excepted, in the laying of it down? One would think the godliness of the persons, joining the plainness and sincerity of their dealing, from the beginning to the end; their care and endeavour to do all'as becomes saints,' and to begin this holy and weighty business, as in the sight and presence of God, with fasting and prayer; at least, should stop men's mouths from speaking ill of them and their ways: yet W. R. fails in his dealing with them, in divers points, which I desire to advertise him of in the spirit of meekness... He speaks twice of the messengers of the magistrate,' Art. vi., viii... but there is no such thing done; the magistrates come themselves in person, if they can, or, if not, they send no deputies or messengers: the churches, indeed, send messengers,-commonly their Elders, to lend them a word of counsel, if they need; being more experienced in those ways than, commonly, new beginners are; to join their prayers with theirs, and to give them the right hand of fellowship. .. In Art. viii.,.. and his marginals upon it, .. are many unwise and uncharitable passages laid unjustly to our charge; and all those without any proof at all but only H. W.; J. W.;' and who knows where to consult with them ?.. None may speak a word, but soberly and orderly; and not without leave desired and granted; not how much he will, nor 'what he please,' but things very weighty and necessary, and not of any failings to their disparagement: for if they be unsatisfied with any of them, in point of 'discipline,' or matters of fact, they are first to deal with them in private; seeing they know before, both the persons that are then to join, and the time and occasion of that day's meeting. And, I am confident, never a godly, sober man will write otherwise... Art. ix., is as wide as the rest for the messengers' never arrogated to themselves such power to this day... The most they do at any time, in this

case, is to desire leave to be faithful in interposing their counsel; and that only when they see very great cause; and withal, leave them to their Christian liberty.".. T. W. p. 33, 35.

The unusual length of our representation of the present dispute, has induced us to defer the remainder to the next chapter.

CHAP. LII.

RATHBAND AND WELDE, CONTINUED.

THIS chapter being but a continuation of the subject which occupied the chief portion of the chapter preceding, is entered upon without further preface.

Chap. VI. Art. i. "They hold that every such Company, as aforesaid, though never so small, consisting of private persons only, that is, such as are in no church-office, and, perhaps, all illiterate too, yet is [are] rightly and immediately intituled to all the privileges of the visible church of Christ, and invested with all ecclesiastical power from Christ, as the first and proper receptacle thereof; have the keys of the kingdom of heaven committed to them, and may now forthwith administer and partake of all church-ordinances, except only sacraments,execute all church-censures; and, transact all their own businesses within themselves.-Ans. to 32 Q., p. 10, 41, 44, 48—50; Cott. Cat. p. 10; R. M. to W. R.; R. M. to E. B. p. 4; J. W. Ans. to 10 Quest.

See Rob. Justif. p. 106, 107, 112, 121, 122, 125–127, 138, 190, 113, 167, 184, 198, 331; Sion's Prerog. Royal, pref.; Barr. Discov. p. 39. Art. ii. "The particular sorts of which church businesses are these, Admission of more members into their society: Authoritative admonition of members offending: Binding; and excommunicating of such as, having offended, prove incorrigible: Loosing, and authoritative forgiving such as, upon admonition and excommunication, do repent; re-accepting them into the communion of the church again: Making, that is, examining, electing, and with imposition of hands ordaining their pastors, and all other their officers: Unmaking, that is, degrading and deposing them again, when they see cause so to do: Preaching, that is, expounding and applying the Word; with all authority, to the several uses of their members: And, generally, whatsoever else may concern the edification and spiritual good of that society, save only, the administration of the seals. And all this, before they have any officers; or if they have any, yet without reference to them as officers at all. And when they have ministers, then they have sacraments too.-Ans. to 32 Q., p. 10, 15, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48-50, 68; Cott. Cat. p. 10-12; Disc. of Cov. p. 23; Ans. to 9 Pos. p. 62, 70, 76, 77 ; J. W. Ans. to 10 Quest.; R. M. to E. B. p. 4; R. M. to W. R; Apol. p. 24.

Rob. Justif. p. 9, 111."

"He reports,-to recite such things only as most need answer, and let the rest pass,-Arts. i. ii., That we 'hold' that Christ hath invested with all power any that are in church-fellowship, etc. If I did delight

in retorting, I could say of these words as he, of Holland Ministers' Apology, they are a mere gull;' for almost so many words so many mistakes! The Narrator should have done well first to have proved all the churches and ministers in New England men out of their wits, and void of common sense; and then he might more easily have made the world believe they 'hold' and practise such a congeries of absurdities and impossibilities: for, else, many of them there being well known to