Some seasonable and serious queries upon the late act against conventicles tending to discover how much it is against the express word of God, the positive law of the nation, the law & light of nature, and principles of prudence & policy, and therefore adjudged by the law of the land to be void and null ... / by a friend to truth and peace.

First, As to the Law of God:

1. Whether in the particulars following, relating to Preachers and Hearers, the Law of God is not manifestly contradicted and im∣pugned?

1. Doth not Gods Law require all men that hear, learn, and keep it, having a Gift from Christ, of what Rank, Condition, or Quality soever, (high or low) should be Teachers and Publishers of it? Mat. 5.19. 1 Pet. 4.10. 2 Tim. 4.2. And accordingly have we not had, of high degree, preaching Kings, Princes, Judges, and Levites, Psal. 40.9. Eccles. 1.1. & 12.10. 2 Chron. 17.7, 8, 9. And of low degree, mechanick Carpen∣ters, Herdsmen, Fishermen, Tentmakers, that have preached and pub∣lished his Word and Law? Mark 6.3. Amos 1.1. Mark 1.16, 17. Acts 18.2.

And doth not this Law forbid any, high or low, to preach and pub∣lish Gods Law, but such as conform to the Traditions and Commands of men, viz. By Reading the Common-Prayer, Renouncing the Co∣venant, submitting to humane Services, Ceremonies, and Inventions, Mark 7.7, 8, 9. however otherways fitted by Christ, with never such Ministerial Gifts and Attainments?

2. Doth not Gods Law say, You may all prophesie (or preach, 1 Cor. 14.1, 2.) one by one? 1 Cor. 14.31.

And doth not this Law say, You shall not so prophesie, no not one?

3. Doth not Gods Law pronounce wo to his Preachers, if they preach not the Gospel? 1 Cor. 9.16.

And doth not this Law pronounce wo to them, if they do?

4. Doth not Gods Law give promised Rewards and Blessings to

those that teach it to others? Mat. 10.41. & 25.21. & 5.19. Ja. 5.20.

And doth not this Law threaten a 20 l. & 40 l. Curse, yea, utter ruine to those that do?

5. Doth not Gods Law admit of preaching in Houses, Streets, and Fields, to great Multitudes, with promised mercies to the Owners so receiving his People and Preachers? Acts 20.20. & 28.31. Luke 13.26. Mat. 3 1. & 10.40, 41.42.

And doth not this Law forbid such preaching, with threatned ruine to Owners and Hearers, as well as Preachers?

6. Doth not Gods Law denounce cursing and wrath to the uttermost to those that reject and forbid, and that mis-use and abuse his Preach∣ers, and beat their fellow-servants? 1 Thes. 2.16. Mat. 24.48, 49, 50.

And doth not this declare promised Blessings and Rewards to those that shall be most active in pursuing and persecuting the Preacher, and prosecuting and vexing the Hearers?

7. Doth not Gods Law enjoyn men frequently and stedfastly to as∣semble together, and to maintain and keep up their Fellowships and Meetings? Heb. 10.25. & 3.13. Acts 2.42. Mal. 3.14, 16.

And doth not this Law not onely forbid, but tear and break up such Meetings and Assemblies, loading them with heavy Mulcts and Penal∣ties Toties Quoties, as often as they so meet?

8. Doth not Gods Law admit of Popular Meetings, the assembling of great numbers to worship him, and attend his Ordinances, five thou∣sand and eight thousand at a time? Joh. 6.10. Act. 4.4. & 2.41. yea, the more the better, without any limitation, or scandal of sedititon in so doing.

But doth not this Law limit those that must so worship and hear the Word, to four persons onely, beside the Family, unless they will be re∣puted seditious, and dealt with accordingly?

Q. II. Whether if it appears that indeed this New Law, and Word of Man, doth contradict the Old Law, and Word of God; the People of God ought any more to regard it now, than the three Children and Da∣niel did the Persian Law in like Case (Dan. 3.16, 17. & 6.10.) in those days; or the Disciples (Acts 4.) did the Edicts, Threatnings, and Pro∣hibitions of the Council then? And whether, if God be God, he ought not to be followed and obeyed rather than man, though Goods be spoy∣led, Liberties infringed, and Lives-hazarded in so doing?

Q. III. Whether in case the Maxims of our English Laws in favour of the Word and Law of God, be of force, this Law is not to be deem∣ed void and null? Which do assert for good Law, sound Doctrine, Rea∣son,

and truth, That no Act of Parliament, or Law, repugnant to the Law of God, is of any force, Finch, p. 3. And that no man, of what Estate, Degree, or Condition whatsoever, hath power to dispence with Gods Law, as all the Clergy of the Realm, and most of the Ʋniversittes of Christendom, and we also affirm, 28 H. 8. And that against Scripture Law, Prescription, Statute, nor Custom may avail; and if any be brought in against it, they be void, and against Justice. Doct. & Stud.