A letter of many ministers in old England requesting the judgement of their reverend brethren in New England concerning nine positions written Anno Dom. 1637 : together with their answer thereunto returned, anno 1639 : and the reply made unto the said answer and sent over unto them, anno 1640 / by Simeon Ash, and William Rathband.

The Letter of those Ministers in England, who requested to know the judgement of their Brethren in New England, in Nine positions, wherein the reasons of this their request, are truly reported.

(Reverend and beloved Brethren)

WHiles we lived together in the same Kingdome, we professed the same faith, joyned in the same Ordinances, laboured in the worke of God to gaine soules unto his kingdome, and maintained the puritie of worship against corrupti∣ons, both on the right hand and on the left. But since your departure into New England, we heare (and partly beleeve it) that divers have embraced certaine vain opinions, such as you disliked formerly, and we judge to be groundlesse and unwarrantable. As that a stinted forme of prayer, and set Liturgie is unlawfull; That it is not lawfull to joyne in prayer, or to receive the Sacrament, where a stinted Liturgie is used. 3. That the children of godly and approved Christians, are not to be Raptized, un∣till their parents bee set members of some perticular congregation. 4. that the Parents themselves, though of approved piety are not to be received to the Lords Supper, untill they bee admitted as set members. 5. That the power of Excommunication, &c. is so in the body of the Church, that what the major part shall allow, that must be done, though the Pastors and Governors, and part of the assembly be of another minde, and peradven∣ture, upon more substantiall reasons. 6. That none are to be admitted as set members, but they must promise, not to depart, or remove unlesse the Congregation will give leave. 7. That a Minister is so a Minister to a particular Congregation, that if they dislike him unjustly, or leave him he ceaseth to be a Minister. 8. That a Minister cannot performe any ministeriall act in another Congregation. 9. That members of one Congregation may not communicate in another.

These and other such like (which we omit to reckon up) are written and reported to be the common Tenents in New England, which are received with great applause, maintained with great confidence, and applauded, as the only Church way, wherein the Lord is to be worshipped. And letters from New England have so taken with divers in many parts of this Kingdome, that they have left our Assemblies because of a stinted Liturgie, and excommunicated themselves from the Lords Supper, because such as are not debarred from it. And being turned aside themselves, they labour to ensnare others, to the griefe of the godly, the scandall of Religion, the wounding of their owne soules (if they did advisedly consider the matter) and great advantage of them, that are wily to espy, and ready to make use of all advantages to prejudice the truth. (Beloved brethren) if you stood in our places, we are well assured it would be no small griefe unto you, to heare and see the people led afide to the disgrace of the Gospell, upon weake and ground∣lesse imaginations, and in rash and inconsiderate zeale to deale with that which is of God▪ as if it were of man. And if it be to us griefe of heart to heare that you have changed

from that truth which you did professe, and embrace that for truth which in former times upon sound grounds you did condemne as erroneous, we hope you will not be offended. You know how oft it hath beene objected, that Non-conformists in practice are Separatists in heart but that they goe crosse to their own positions, or smother the truth for sinister ends. They of the Separation boast that they stand upon the Non-conformist's grounds. A vainglorious flourish and sleight pretence. But both these are much countenanced by your sudden change if you be changed, as it is reported. How shall your brethren bee able to stand up in the defence of their innocencie and the uprightnesse of their cause, when your example and opinion shall be cast in their dish? Must they leave you now, with whom they have held society? Or will you plead for Separation, which you have condemned as rash and inconsiderate? You know that thy who have run this way have fallen into ma∣nifold divisions, and may not you justly feare, lest the same befall you? Some warnings you have had already, and have you not cause to feare every day more and more? Errour is very fruitfull and will spread apace. A cracke in the foundation may occasion a wide breach in the building, where there will not be means, or mind to amend it. Experience e∣very day may tutour us herein. But to let passe all inconveniences, our request in all meeknesse and love is, that if these, or any of the forementioned opinions be indeed your Tenants you would be pleased to take a second review of your grounds, and send us your strongest reasons that have swayed you in these matters: and if we shall find them upon due examination to be such as will carry weight, we shall be ready to give you the right hand of fellowship; if otherwise you shall receive our just and modest animadversions in what we conceive you have erred from the truth. You will not judge, if we cannot ap∣prehend the strength of your grounds, it is because we love not the truth, or bee carryed with by-respects (though these conceipts prevaile too much:) Such rigid and harsh cen∣sures, cannot lodge in meeke and humble breasts. Weighty reasons promote the truth not unadvised judging. You your selves have judged that to be errour, which now you take to be truth when yet you were not blinded with by-respects, nor hudwinked your eyes, that you might not see the light. And if you have just warrant from God to pull downe what you have builded, and to build what you have pulled downe, we desire you would loving∣ly and maturely impart it▪ for as yet we have scene none, which we are not ready to prove, and shew by the rule of truth to be too weake to carry any burthen.

We adore with you the fulnesse of the Scripture, and we know the Counsell of the Lord shall stand: if you can shew that you walke in the wayes of God, we shall heartily rejoyce to walke with you: but if you have turned aside, we shall earnestly desire that you would be pleased seriously to consider the matter, and speedily reforme, what is out of order. Thus not doubting of your favourable interpretation of this our motion, for the prevent∣ing of distraction, maintenance of peace, and searching out of the truth, whereby we may be directed to live to the praise of God the good of his people, and comfort of our soules, beseeching God to lead and guide us into all truth and holinesse, and keepe us blamelesse untill his glorious appearance, we rest

Your loving Brethren.