A vindicaton of churches, commonly called Independent, or, A briefe answer to two books the one, intituled, Twelve considerable serious questions, touching church-government, the other, Independency examined, unmasked, refuted, &c. : both lately published by William Prinne ... / Henry Burton ...

The sixth Interrogatory.

This Interrogatory hath sundry branches: the answer where∣unto respectively, will intimate what they be.

1. Wee say, as before, None of our Ministers doe by any usurped authoritie gather Churches.

2. We cannot conceive, that any law of the Land is against the setting up of Christs kingdome in the hearts of his people; and in those Congregations called and gathered by the voyce of his Word. Nor doth the Ministery of Christs word more in this, then it did by John Baptist, Christ himselfe, and his Apostles, when they called Christian Congregations out of the Jewes Na∣tionall Church. Even the Imperiall heathen Roman Lawes gave way to the preaching of Christs kingdome, and gathering of Churches within their Territories, Provinces, Cities.

3. For Church-government, Covenant, wee have said enough before.

4. Concerning a Nationall Church also, we have spoke already in the former Answer. And I desire brevitie, and not to answer all your repetitions and aggravations, lest I may nauseam movere.

5. It is one thing for a State to set up a new forme of Eccle∣siasticall Government, and another to pull downe the old. This they were bound unto by the Word of God: but not so that, unlesse it be the same Church-government which Christ sets downe in his Word; besides which none other ought to be set

up, though never so much pretended, and by men conceived to be according to Gods Word, when made sutable to the Lawes, Customes of every Nation, and manners of the people, as you affirme; of which before.

Lastly, This Church-government, which we professe, you shall never be able to prove ridiculous and absurd, as you conclude your Interrogatory.