either they must say, that they are Infallible (which they cannot pretend to) or con∣fess that what they decide in matters of Conscience, is no further to be followed, then it agrees with every mans private Judgment. If Christ did leave a Church here upon Earth, and we were all once of that Church, how? and by what Authority, did we separate from that Church? If the power of Interpreting of Scripture be in every mans brain, what need have we of a Church or Church-men; To what purpose then did our Saviour, after he had given his Apostles power to Bind and Loose in Heaven and Earth, add to it, that he would be with them even to the end of the World? These words were not spoken Parabolically, or by way of Figure. Christ was then ascend∣ing into his Glory, and left his Power with his Church even to the End of the World. We have had these hundred years past, the sad effects of denying to the Church that Power in matters Spiritual, without an Appeal. What Country can subsist in peace or quiet, where there is not a Supream Judge from whence there can be no Appeal? Can there be any Justice done where the Offenders are their own Judges, and equal Interpreters of the Law, with those that are appointed to administer Ju∣stice? This is our Case here in England in matters Spiritual; for the Protestants are not of the Church of England, as 'tis the true Church from whence there can be no Appeal; but because the Discipline of that Church is conformable at that pre∣sent to their fancies, which as soon as it shall contradict or vary from, they are ready to embrace or joyn with the next Congregation of People, whose Discipline and Worship agrees with their Opinion at that time, so that according to this Do∣ctrine, there is no other Church, nor Interpreter of Scripture but that which lies in every mans giddy brain. I desire to know therefore of every serious Considerer of these things, whether the great work of our Salvation ought to depend upon such a Sandy Foundation as this? Did Christ ever say to the Civil Magistrate (much less to the People) that he would be with them to the end of the World? Or, did he give them the Power to forgive Sins? St. Paul tells the Corinthians, Ye are Gods Hus∣bandry, ye are Gods Building; we are Labourers with God. This shews who are the Labourers, and who are the Husbandry and Building: And in this whole Chapter, and in the preceeding one, St. Paul takes great pains to set forth that they, the Clergy, have the Spirit of God, without which no man searcheth the deep things of God; and he concludeth the Chapter with this Verse, For who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Now if we do but consider in humane probability and reason, the powers Christ leaves to his Church in the Gospel, and St. Paul explains so distinctly afterwards, we cannot think that our Saviour said all these things to no purpose; And pray consider on the other side, that those who resist the truth, and will not submit to his Church, draw their Arguments from Implications, and far fetch'd Interpretations, at the same time that they deny plain and positive words; which is so great a Disingenuity, that 'tis not almost to be thought that they can believe themselves. Is there any other founda∣tion of the Protestant Church, but that if the Civil Magistrate please, he may call such of the Clergy as he thinks fit for his turn at that time; and turn the Church either to Presbytery, Independency, or indeed what he pleases? This was the way of our pretended Reformation here in England; and by the same Rule and Authority it may be altered into as many more Shapes and Forms as there are Fancies in mens Heads.
This is a true Copy of a Paper written by the late King my Brother in his own Hand, which I found in his Closet.