"Now, brother, you have since published a third book;a partly in answer to your first answerer, and partly touching Mr. John Goodwin. I leave the parties interested to acquit themselves; only your stating the question, in the conclusion of the book, I could not omit: Whether a whole representative church and state hath not a great, or greater, ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the whole realm and churches, with all the members, than any one Independent minister or congregation challenge over their members ?.. If the jurisdiction' of the churches you call 'Independent' be good, as having Christ for the founder and owner of it, as we have clearly proved,-then, certainly, it will prove the greater; for magna est veritas, et prevalebit: Christ's kingdom shall stand up when all opposite, earthly, kingdoms, like earthen vessels, shall, with His iron rod, be dashed in pieces. This for the clause. Another passage, in the same book, is touching my person; where you say, that none of us three brethren-sufferers suffered for opposing bishops' legal authority; or any ceremonies, by act of parliament established.'.. I openly, for the space almost of a twelvemonth, immediately before my troubles, preached.. every Lord's day out of Col. ii. 8-23; so as when I was summoned into the High Commission Court, the articles read against me were not only for my two sermons, Nov. 5th, but also for those other sermons against the Ceremonies... And concerning my opposing of Bishops themselves; not only their extravagancies, for which I also was censured, and suffered; you may remember one passage, in that book For God and the King,' affixed to the Information, 'Were there a law in England, as once among the Locrians, that who should come to propound a new law he should come with a rope about his neck; I would be the first, myself, to petition the parliament that the government of bishops might be abolished, and another set up more agreeable to the Scripture.'. . I confess, were I to make such a proposition now, I should as much alter my style as the condition of this present time differs from that I should mount much higher! And do you not think, brother, that this helped to put the hangman's knife-though not the 'halterso close to the very roots of my ears, that it opened the wider sluices for the blood to stream out-with yours, my dear fellow-sufferers,-to fill the Whore's cup ?'. . Although the more cautelous and self-wise, or discreet, any of us, but especially myself, then was, to avoid the 'fear' of men or force of law, certainly now, brother, it abates so much the more of the honour of that suffering: and the less honour, the more shame... Let us now make it up, by being zealous for our Christ in

:

e

"A full Reply to Certain Brief Observations and Anti-Queries on Master Prynne's Twelve Questions about Church Government:' Wherein the Frivolousness, Falseness, and Gross Mistakes, of this Anonymous Answerer-ashamed of his Name, and his Weak Grounds for Independency, or Separation, are modestly discovered, refelled. By William Prynne, of Lincoln's Inn, Esq. Lond. 1644." 4to. pp. 24. This "third book," spoken of by Burton, was replied to under the title of "A Modest Answer to Mr. Prynne's Full Reply,' &c. 1645." 4to.

b Supposed to be Henry Robinson, in p. 4, 6, &c. of Prynne's "Vindication of Four Serious Questions of Grand Importance, concerning Excommunication, &c. 1645." 4to.

e See back, vol. i. p. 555.

d Rev. xvii. 4.

e Prov. xxix. 25.

labouring to advance the throne of his Kingly government, in all our souls, and over all the churches of the saints; and, with those 'fourand-twenty elders,' cast ourselves and crowns before Him that sitteth ' on the throne,' a saying, 'Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power,' for evermore: Amen. And let this be our main contention, Who shall most honour Christ, and most love one another! Farewell."

CHAP. LVI.

APOLLONIJ.-BAILLIE.

MUCH of the matter which will immediately follow the particulars of the piece about to be examined here, will be greatly increased in interest by juxtaposition, notwithstanding the apparent discrepancy in dates. At present we have to do with "A Consideration of Certain Controversies at this time agitated in the Kingdom of England, Concerning the Government of the Church of God. Written, at the Command and Appointment of the Walachrian Classis, by Guilielmus Apollonij, Minister of the Word of God at Middleburgh. And sent from the Walachrian Churches, to declare the sense and consent of their Churches, to the Synod at London. Octob. 16, 1644. Stilo novo.— Translated out of Latin according to the printed copy. Lond. 1645." 16mo. pp. 151.

The Dedication, dated Nov. 1, 1644, is set out with the styles and titles of three "Most excellent, most noble, magnificent, and most illustrious Lords" of the United Provinces of the Netherlands; and they are told in the name of the chief author, that "The Pastors of the Churches of the Walachrian Classis, being moved with the deplorable face and condition of the English Churches, would gladly contribute some assistance for the quenching of that flame of controversies risen amongst them, concerning the Discipline and Spiritual Government of the Kingdom of Christ; and afford not their prayers only, but their counsel and assistance also, meet for composing these contentions, whereby the billows of dissensions might be assuaged, and happy peace restored to those troubled churches. By their authority, therefore, and command, they have employed me in this present work; and out of pure zeal and brotherly love to those churches, have lately enjoined me to exhibit to the Assembly of Divines at London our Ecclesiastical Government, proved by the Word of God, and confirmed by the grounds of holy Scripture and the consent of Reformed divines. Which work being now finished, and, after a diligent examination by those Pastors, approved, I offer to your most noble and most excellent Lordships."..

a Rev. iv. 10.

"Consideratio quarundam Controversiarum, ad Regimen Ecclesiæ spectantium quæ in Angliæ Regno hodie agitantur; ex mandato et jussu Classis Walachrianæ conscripta. Lond. 1644." 16mo. pp. 180.

This is followed by an Epistle "To the Synod at London," dated as on the title-page.

"Reverend and Beloved Brethren in Christ,-We have received by your most courteous Letters, written, some months since, to the Churches of Zealand, an express testimony not only of your entire friendship, but also of your confidence and sincere affection towards us, into whose bosom you were pleased to pour forth your fluctuating minds... O that our eyes were resolved into fountains of waters, that we might lament, day and night, the desolations of the people! Our mind trembles to hear the desperate counsels and wicked attempts of those whose endeavour hath been to blot out from amongst you the whole face of a Reformed Church, and totally to hinder all better counsels; and have brought it thus to pass, that the band of the kingdom being broken, all things are now involved in a cruel war; all hope of peace and agreement taken away, and the happiness of church and kingdom overthrown. But, as God doth by his favour prosper right counsels, so, for the most part, he brings the wicked plots of men upon the heads of those who contrive them... We pray, therefore, that He who knoweth what is conducing to the good of mankind, of his church, of you, would vouchsafe to inspire such counsels into the hearts of Princes which may restore to you godliness, together with holy agreement and prosperity; since we see we have nothing but prayers left for the assuaging the floods of troubles amongst you... God hath sent a fire into your lands, not to consume the golden and precious vessels of the Lord, but to purify the sons of Levi, and to cleanse his house from the dross and filth of false and adulterate worship, superstition, schisms, errors and offences; that there be offered, in all your borders, a pure offering of spiritual worship according to God's institution. For how great a thing are we to judge this, that these troubles of your churches have produced this holy Covenant' between the three kingdoms,.. and engaged you all really, constantly, sincerely, and to your utmost power, to labour and endeavour to defend and maintain the Reformed religion of the Church of Scotland.. against the common enemies: .. as likewise to bring the churches of God in these three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in the Confession of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory for Divine Worship, and Form of Catechism; that all you, and your posterity after you, may as brethren live in the true faith and mutual love, and that the Lord may be pleased to dwell in the midst of you... We beseech you, therefore, in the Name of God, that-denying all human affections, you deal faithfully in this business-you do wholly cast forth of the House of God not only the Bishops' tyranny, and superstitions already suppressed, but also heresies and schisms, and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness, as your oath asserteth... Unless you do timely withstand the spreading gangrene of Separatists, and the unlawful conventicles of schismatics, farewell all sacred discipline of the church, due policy, and spiritual government! We have had experience, in the troubles of our churches, of the subtilty of those who, being day and night intent on innovating, leave no stone unmoved; go to and fro by sea, by land, to gain disciples and patrons

of their cause; and so, at last, by force and fear, curb and oppress the Cause of Truth and of God. The remedy comes too late, when evils have gotten strength by long delays: the heavenly affairs of the church go to ruin, when, by worldly reasonings of human wisdom, they are protracted, abated, retarded; settled and unsettled... You must therefore speedily withstand their designs at first... Lord Jesus! digest this chaos of confusions; let thy Spirit spread itself upon these waters of evil fluctuating opinions. Thou, by thy Spirit, hast reconciled earth and heaven; by it Thou hast joined so many tongues, nations, and several sorts of men, into one body of the church, which, by the same Spirit, is knit fast to Thee her Head; vouchsafe, therefore, to renew that Spirit in the hearts of our Brethren, that all these confusions and calamities may cease amongst them, and may tend to the advantage of godliness to thy church.

..

"Reverend Brethren, We are desirous to repay you our debts. When our country was on a flame, by the intestine dissensions about religion, by your help, counsel and assistance, were our wounds healed, our griefs assuaged: when you, therefore, lie under the same disease, we labour, in way of gratitude, to heal you: this is our end; this is that we aim at. We join, therefore, with these Letters, our judgment concerning certain controversies now agitated in your kingdom:.. not that we would call you to give an account at our tribunal; far be it from us; for we acknowledge that there are amongst you, and those Brethren who maintain the contrary part in these controversies, men learned, godly, lovers of peace, who are abundantly sufficient in judging, explaining, and deciding all these controversies; but, in quenching a common flame in a city, they, not without cause, run to help, even uncalled, whose neighbour's house is on fire!.. You have called upon us, in your most courteous Letters, that we would be helpful to you, in your shaken condition, by such remedies as by our common advice should be thought meet; and we have judged it at this time most suitable to show to you who are in conflict, your diseases and their remedies; to signify the practice and laws observed by our churches in their spiritual government and public worship of God, and to vindicate them by the Word of God against the erroneous conceits of some. Of'some,' we say, for we are assured that the whole body of the church is not yet infected with this ulcer. And therefore what we have gathered out of the public writings daily published amongst you, we desire not to impute to any but those who defend, nourish, and maintain, those perverse opinions, or receive them into their churches. If some of those Brethren of the contrary opinion do in ought differ from them, we wish they would declare so much by public writing, and express it by common consent; that the Reformed churches of Christ might be freed from the just fear which their writings have caused them to conceive. For, not without cause do the godly conceive that those are hatching some monster, that use shifts and dare not with open face clearly set down and maintain their opinions. Therefore, by the name of Christ and the love of the Spirit, we beseech those Brethren, that they would clearly, sincerely, plainly, and distinctly, without the vizard of rhetorical flourishes, declare and describe to us their Ecclesiastical Policy and

form of public worship; not here and there a piece, but in the whole frame of it: and, that they would not vent doubtful expressions in public, but, in due order, which tendeth to edification, manifest it to the Reformed churches of Christ, if there be ought deficient in their Ecclesiastical government; that with a peaceable, brotherly mind, and in due manner, the Truth may be searched out, and held forth in public to the eyes of all.".. "Subscribed, in the name of the Walachrian Churches, by us, Jacobus D'Herde, President of the Walachrian Classis, pro tempore: Iodocus Larenus, Assessor, pro temp.: Isaacus Hoornbekius, Preacher at Middleburgh: Cornelius Beuckelarius, Preacher at Vere: Melchior Burs, Minister of West Souburch.”

The topics said to have been considered by these several oracles, inquired of by an active knot of confederates, and professedly "moved" at the "deplorable" grounds of the solicitation, concern-The qualifications of Church Members: The absolute necessity of a Church Covenant: The kinds of an instituted Visible Church: The depositories of Ecclesiastical Power: The supremacy of the Ecclesiastical Ministry; and the Exercise thereof, in three particulars: Classes and Synods, and their Authority: Set Forms of Prayer.

The sum of their judgment, regarding the first head, or chapter, is, "We affirm, that to the external and visible church, the pastors are to admit those who profess the true religion and faith of Christ, lead their lives without scandal, or being fallen into scandals, do by repentance wash them away in foro ecclesiæ-at the church's tribunal,-submit themselves to discipline, publicly frequent all exercises of divine worship, and desire church-communion with us; although they do not manifest such evident signs of regeneration which may convince the consciences of the church of their true faith in Christ." They state honestly the diversity of practice among themselves: "In our Reformed churches of the Netherlands, members of churches are admitted by a confession of the true faith and religion, a solemn protestation to submit themselves to the discipline of the church, a testimony of an unblamable and inoffensive life: as also Ames himself affirmeth, that 'men are duly admitted into the church by a confession of faith and promise of obedience.' And, in some more numerous churches in the Netherlands, it is the custom and practice, for the churches' greater prudence in admitting members, that those who desire admission into church-communion before their solemn profession of faith, are, for some weeks, several times privately exercised; and instructed, if they be not sufficiently exercised. And this instruction is by the ministers, in the visitation of their several precincts; and is also publicly offered to all, when notice is given of celebrating the Lord's supper. The ministers inquire, likewise, of the integrity of life and conversation of those who expect communion with us: afterwards they use to undergo an examination before the consistory in their consistorial meeting, or before the delegates of the consistory; which is performed by the minister through all the points of catechism: and, last of all, having been thus tried, they do in public, before the body of the church, by a bare

a P. 3.

b Medulla, Lib. i. cap. xxxii. thes. 17.