and 40. 23, 25, 27, 29. Levit. 8. 9, 13, 17, 21, 29. Numb. 8. Exod.35.10,29. & 36.1, 5. Ifa. 29. 13.

Fourthly, That this Church, gathered by the Lord, and wonderfully feparated from the rest of the world (though they had him nearer to them than any people, had his Law made known amongst them) did notwithstanding quickly depart from his pure Inftitutions, mingling therewith the Inventions of men, and Customs of the Nations (after which they went a whoring) is frequently remarked in the Scripture: Of this the Lord forely complains, Deut. 32. 18. Fer. 2. 32. and 13. 25. and 18.-15. and 23. 27. Hof. 4. 6. and 8. 14. and 13. 6. 2 Chron. 13. 10. Isa. 1. 4. Fer. 1. 16. and 2. 17, 19. and 9. 13. and 15. 6. Dent. 29 25. 1 Kings 11. 33. and 18. 18. and 19. 10. 2 Kings 22, 17. Ezra. 9. 10. for this he feverely threatens and punisheth them, Deut. 29.25. Fudg. 10.10. 1 Sam. 12. 10. 2 Chron. 12.5. and 24.20, and 34.25. Fer. 16. 11. and 19.4. the very truth is, the Contests of God with that People from firft to laft, are to be bottomed upon this foot of account.

Fifthly, That notwithstanding their dreadful Apoftacy from God, they were usually confident, That they were the only People, Had not forfaken the Lord, nor done any evil, and could not bear the Prophecies and Rebukes of the Prophets and Servants of the Lord against their abominations: Whom they perfecuted and put to death (as at laft they did the Prince of Life and Glory) for no other caufe, but for telling them the truth, and bearing teftimony against their Innovations, and Apoftacy from God (the ufual practice of persons degenerated from the Way and Spirit of the Lord)Mal.1.6. Jer.7.4. Luke 3. 8. John 8. 39. Matth. 5. 12. Act.7. 52.

Sixthly, That they had all along their corruption in Worship, and degeneracy from the pure Wayes of God, falfe Prophets, (who ran before they were fent, prophefying fmooth things to them in the Name of the Lord, feeing lying vanities for them, according to the defires of the hearts of them and their Rulers, who were therefore in great efteem amongst them) Ifa.9.15.& 28.7. Jer.6.13.& 23.11,28. & 28.10.Hof. 9.8. Fer.2, 8, 26. & 5.31. & 14. 14. & 23.13,21. Ezek. 13.2. & 22.25, 28. Mic.3.5, 6,7. Zeph.3.4.2 Pet.2. 1. Seventhly, That in the height of their Apoftacy, God left not himself without a Witness, having one or other extraordinarily raifed up and spirited by him, to teftifie for his Name and Glory, against

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at their Abominations and felf-invented Worship, referving allo a Remnant unto himself, that were not carried away with the spirit of Whoredoms and Delufions, 1. Kings 19. 14, 18. 2 Kings 17. 13. Rom. 11. 3, 4. Fer. 18. 11. and 25. 5. & 35. 15.

Eighthly, That it was the fin of that People, to hearken unto the teachings of fuch as were not fent by the Lord (though they pretended never fo much to be fent by him) and the unquestionable duty of the Lord's perfevering Remnant, to feparate from them, as alfo from all the falfe, felf-devised Worship of that day, though commanded by their Kings and Rulers, 2 Kings 17. 21, 22. Hof. 5. 11. The former is evident, fuch Prophets were to be cut off from the midst of them, Deut. 18.20. and they are exprefly forbidden to hear them, Deut. 13.3. Fer. 27. 9, 16. So is the latter, their devised Worship being a breach upon the Sovereign Authority of God,muft needs be a greivous fin, as the names of Adultery, Whoredom, Idolatry, Fornication, by which the Spirit of the Lord doth frequently fet it forth, abundantly demonftrates; Pfal. 73.27. Ifa. 57. 3, 8. Fer. 9. 2. Ezek. 23.45. Hof. 3. 7. and 7. 3. Lev. 20.5. Fer. 13. 27. Ezek. 16. 17, 20, 30. Hof. 1.2. Rev. 14.8. & 18.9,19,20. which without controverfie, the People of God were to feparate from, and have no communion with any in, upon what pretence foever: Which is folemnly charged upon them as their duty in the Scripture, Hof. 4. 15. Amos 5.5. Prov. 4. 14. and 5. 8. Cant. 4. 8.

What may rationally be inferred from these Pofitions, fo evidently comprized in the Scripture, and by way of analogie at least, be ar gued from them, is evident to any ordinary understanding; for our parts being refolved (as was faid) to try out the matter in controvefie, from fuch Rules and Soveraign Inftitutions, as our dear Lord hath left his New-Teftament Churches to walk by, we shall not stand to make that improvement of them,as elfe otherwife we might: A few Queries upon the whole that hath been offered, fhall put a close to

this Preface.

1. Whether fince the Apotomie, or Unchurching the Nation of the Fews, the Lord hath ever fince fo efpoufed a Nation or People to himfelf, as that upon the account thereof, the whole body of that People or Nation may be accounted his Church? whether there be any National Church under the Oeconomie of the Gofpel? iffo,let it be thewed when, and where it was inftituted by the Lord; what is pro

duced

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duced by fome to this purpofe, is (but upon a flight view thereof) of no moment,it is Ifa.49.21. Kings shall be your Nurfing-fathers, &c. which Prophecy waits the time of its accomplishment; hitherto, both before and fince the rife of Antichrift (being made drunk by the Whores intoxicating-cup) they have been, for the most part, cruel Butcherers of the Saints: and were we under its accomplishment, a National Church would be far enough from being its refult. Of a Nations being born at once, we shall not fure hear pleaded in this matter, it be ing a Prophecy exprefly relating to the Jews, and their miraculous Converfion: if there be no fuch thing as a National Church of the Inftitution of Chrift, as moft certain it is there is not (the Affertion whereof is wholly deftructive of Gofpel-Adminiftrations) Then,

2. Whether National Minifters are the Minifters of Chrift, or whether there can be a true Ministry in a falfe Church, as a NationalChurch mutt be, if not of Divine Inftitution, upon what pretence. foever it be fo denominated?

3. Whether God doth not bear as much love to, and exercise as much faithfulness over, his New-Teftament-Churches, as over the National-Church of the Jews? If fo, Then,

4. Whether he hath not (as of old he did, with reference unto the then Church) determined the whole of the Worship, appertaining unto them, to whofe Inftitutions, without any humane additions, its the duty of fouls foley to conform? Yea,

5. Whether he hath not now (as then) defigned the feveral Officers, and Offices, his Wifdom thought fufficient for the management of the affairs of his Houfe, fo that the invention of new ones by the fons of men, is not only needlefs, but a daring advance against the Soveraignty, Care and Wisdom of God over his Churches?

6. Whether the Priviledges of Saints, be not every way as great and extensive under the Gospel, as thofe under the Law? if fo, then Whether the folemn deputation of men, fignally pointed out by the Lord, for the adminiftration of holy things in his House, by the Body of his Church, be not now (as then) their peculiar Priviledge?

7. VVhether any Church in the World (we fpeak of a vifible, inftituted Church) hath greater fecurity against Apoftacy from God, and that fore Judgment of having its Candlestick removed (and be ing unchurched) than that People of the Jews had? if not, then whether, fuppofing a National Church to be of the Inftitution of Chrift, it

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may not fo come to pafs, that it may be fo over-fpread with corruptions, that it may lofe the Effence of a Church, and juftly be disrobed of that appellation?

8. VVhether the Ecclefiaftick and Spiritual Rulers, Governours, and Officers of fuch a Collapsed Church, may not righteously, as of ofd, be accounted and efteemed as falfe Prophets that go about to cause the people to forget the Name of the Lord (or his pure Worship) by their Lies (or unfcriptural Traditions, Innovafions, and Ceremonious Pageantries.)

9. VVhether Separation from fuch a Collafped Church, in respect of its Worship, Minifters and Miniftry, be not only justifiable, but, as of old, the duty of the Lord's faithful Remnant, that defire to worhip him according to his Appointments? Yea,

10. VVhether, fuppofing a Church (fo called) thus dreadfully, as aforefaid, departed from the pure Inftitutions of Chrift, never to be according to Truth, a vifible inftituted Church of Chrift, and the Lord's poor People living in the Nation, never by their free confent Members thereof, as it is on the pretended Churches part,moft unheard-of-Cruelty to compel them, fo it be not on the part of the freeborn Children of God, moft ftupendous folly, and difvaluation of the Inftitutions of Chrift, and ingratitude to God, for the Light and Liberty from the Yokes of men, received, imaginable, to joyn affinity with it in Worship, or attend upon the felf-invented Miniftry that appertains thereunto? Many more Queftions of the like nature and importance might unto thefe be added..

CHA P. I.

The great care of Souls in their Acceffes to God, fhould be to fanctifie his Name. Divine Inflitution to be heeded in the whole of our Worship. The Question propofed. That 'tis lawful to hear the prefent Minifters of England, denied one Argument propofed to confideration. Nothing may be practifed in inftituted Worship, but what is warranted by the Scripture: The Teftimonies of the Ancients produced. That Hearing is part of inftituted Worship, proved.

His is that which the Lord hath faid, I will be fanctified in all that draw nigh me, and before all the People will I be glorified: The great care of Saints in matter of Worship, is to fanctifie the Name of the

Lord

Lord therein: This is the great thing that God looks at, the omiffion whereof he often feverely punishes the children of men for now in order hereunto, it's neceffary that in all our approaches to God we fee to the Inftitution of the Lord, both in refpect of the matter and manner of Worship,that it be according to Divine Prefcript, else we cannot fanctifie the Name of God therein,nor glorifie him before the people. Hearing (as was faid, and fhall beyond contradiction in its proper place be evinced) is part of inftituted Worship, it therefore. more nearly concerns Saints than many are aware of, to have their confciences refolved from the Scriptures of God, in the matter under enquiry, Whether it be lawful for the Saints to hear the prefent Minifters of England? 'Tis the Negative, we have received under our maintenance; because we are fatisfied Chrift hath fo; To the proof whereof we now addrefs our felves.

Argument 1.

That which there is no warrant for in the Scripture, being part of inftituted Worship,is not lawful for the Saints to practife: But there is no warrant in the Scripture for hearing the prefent Minifters or England; and hearing is part of inftituted Worship. Therefore.

The major (or first) Propofition is evident.

1. From the nature of inftituted Worship, which confifts in this, that it be of Divine Revelation; elfe whatever it is, it is not inftitured Worship.

2. From the Verdict of Chrift, who pronounces all the Worship of man to be vain and fruitleß, and fo unlawful, that is bottom'd on any thing but Divine Revelation, Mark 7.7.

3. If it be lawful to conform to any one part of inftituted Worship without warrant from Scripture, 'tis alfo lawful to conform to another, a third, the whole, which would banish inftituted Worship out of the world.

4. To affert that it is lawful to conform to any part of inftituted Worship, without warrant from Scripture, reflects fadly upon the Wisdom and Faithfulness of Chrift; for either he was not wife enough to foresee that fuch a part of Worship was, or would be requifite, or had not faithfulness enough to reveal it, though the Scripture compares him to Mofes for faithfulness, who revealed the whole Will of God, to the making of a pin in the Tabernacle.

6. It pours out contempt upon the Care of God over the NewTeftament