A34501:13
A Copy of a remonstrance lately delivered in to the assembly
A Copy of a remonstrance lately delivered in to the assembly by Thomas Goodwin, Jerem. Burroughs, William Greenhill, William Bridge, Philip Nigh, Sidrach Simson, and William Carter declaring the grounds and reasons of their declining to bring into the assembly their model of church-government.A Copy of a remonstrance lately delivered in to the assembly by Thomas Goodwin, Ierem. Burroughs, William Greenhill, William Bridge, Philip Nie, Sidrach Simson, and William Carter declaring the grounds and reasons of their declining to bring into the assembly their modell of church-government.
London : s.n., 1645
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As also our earnest contending to have some questions (which you all know are the greatest and most fundamental points) fairly disputed and debated, is a sufficient testimony of this our willingness. As in the entrance into the dispute of Government, the first day, we pressed the handling of this, That there is a platform of Government for the Churches, under the Gospel, laid down in the Scripture, and desired to have discussed, what are the sure and certain ways, whereby we may judge what of Government, is held forth Jure divino therein, which should have been fundamental to all the disputes that were to follow: and this was professedly laid aside by you, which therefore in none of the subsequent debates, we could renew, and thus Arguments were cut off, It being that great and necessary Medium, by which the particulars should be confirmed, and in a manner, the whole controversy decided; the greatest difference that were likely to grow betwixt us, being this, That the forms of Government, you pretend to, and we deny, are asserted to be Jure divino.
As also our earnest contending to have some questions (which you all know are the greatest and most fundamentall points) fairly disputed and debated, is a sufficient testimony of this our willingnesse. As in the entrance into the dispute of Government, the first day, we pressed the handling of this, That there is a platform of Government for the Churches, under the Gospel, laid down in the Scripture, and desired to have discussed, what are the sure and certain wayes, whereby we may judge what of Government, is held forth Jure divino therein, which should have been fundamentall to all the disputes that were to follow: and this was professedly laid aside by you, which therfore in none of the subsequent debates, we could renew, and thus Arguments were cut off, It being that great and necessary Medium, by which the particulars should be confirmed, and in a manner, the whole controversie decided; the greatest difference that were likely to grow betwixt us, being this, That the forms of Government, you pretend to, and we deny, are asserted to be Jure divino.
In like manner that other next great question, about the entire power in Congregations, that have a sufficient Presbytery for all Censures, which as it is in order the first that presents it self for discussion (as was urged) so also it is one of the greatest points in difference betwixt us and you: Yet the debate of this was not only denied the first place in the dispute, but was to this day declined by you; Although to have it argued was contended for by us, and not by us only, but by many of those, that are for a subordinate government thereof to Synods. And though earnest desires and motions for it were renewed and inculcated, yet were they as often laid aside. Yea and this, although it was once expressly commended by the grand Committee of the Honourable Members of both Houses, joined with twelve Divines of the Assembly, to be next disputed, as the best means, both of expedition, and of ending the Controversy.