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Obj. Presbitery is a Government which all or most of the refor∣med Churches now enjoy, and have done for many yeares, and therefore without doubt, it is according to the will and appoint∣ment of Jesus Christ.
Ans. Antiquity cannot make errour truth, neither is it a sure* 1.1 marke of the true Church of Jesus Christ, unlesse fetched from the Radex, or the first root of it, (viz. from himselfe, and his Apostles;) for if Antiquity any other waies should carry it,
the Papists would have it cleere both from Prelates, Presbiteri∣ans, and Independants. Againe, that Antiquity is no sure marke of the truth, may be proved by severall instances, viz.
1. In the time before the Law, where we finde that Laban* 1.2 pretended Antiquity for his Gods, Gen. 31. 53. whom his Father, and Grand-father worshipped; but Jacob sweareth by the feare of his Father Isaac, he ••iseth no higher, neither to Grand-father, or Grand-fathers Father; Terah Abrahams Father, being an Idolater, Joshua 14. 2. and it is likely that Abraham also had a touch of the same superstitious worship before his calling from his Fathers house; for the Lord appearing unto Jacob in a Visi∣on, Gen. 4••. 3. calleth himselfe, The God of thy Father; Jacob then could not at the furthest goe beyond Abraham, for divers hundred yeares to fetch his faith, though the most ancient Pa∣triarkes, Noah, Sem▪ Heber, was not of the same faith and Reli∣gion, Antiquity therefore is no sure marke, unlesse as before; for so indeed the truth is more ancient then error.
2. Stephen (under the Gospel) could not prove his faith from* 1.3 the immediate discent of his Parents▪ for of them saith he, Yee have alwaies resisted the Holy Ghost, as your Fathers did, so doe ye••, Act. 7. 53. he ascended up to Abraham, Moses, and the Pro∣phets time, and so must the Government of Christ be now fetched from its primative purity, viz. from Chr••st and his Apostles, and not from Prelacy or Presbitery, they being the Reliques of Po∣p••ry, as I have and shall prove. Againe▪ we are not to worship God any other way, then he hath prescribed in the Word; for as he is only to be ••or••••ipped, ••o he is only to prescribe a rule how he wil be worshipped, and therefore all will-worship (as the Apostle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 i••, ••••l. ••, ••3.) is condemned, seeing he wil not be* 1.4 worshipped, according to the ph••n••••sie of men, as our Saviour also ••••••••meth. It can then be no warrant for us, to be of the same Religion with our Fathers, or Grand-fathers, because all the worl•• hath been blinded with Superstition, and ignorance, for divers hundreds of yeares▪ and therefore we are to acsend up to the first Originall, viz. to Christ and his Apostles.
Obj. Doubtlesse the Presbiterian Government is according to the will, and appointment of Jesus Christ, in regard it hath past so many refinings?
Ans. I shall prove there is but one step betwixt it, and Pa∣pacy* 1.5 in grosse (viz. Prelacy) and therefore until it be purged al∣so from its drosse, we are not to joyne in League with it, viz. un∣til they conforme unto the rule prescribed in the Word.
Antiquity how a sure mark of the truth, and how not.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 be¦••or•• ••h•• L••••
Under ••••e Gosp••l.
Ma••. 15. 8 9.
But one step betwix•• Pres∣b••••ery and Papacy