A copy of a remonstrance lately delivered in to the Assembly. By Thomas Goodwin.…

Likewise our frequent complainings of the stating of questions, so that we could not fully argue for our Judgements, we being bound up to the questions as stated by you. The usual answer to our Complaints herein being, That the Assembly sate not to argue the ⟨p. 5⟩opinions of a few men, but that if we had any thing to say to the assertion brought in, we might.

Likewise our frequent complainings of the stating of questions, so that we could not fully argue for our Judgements, we being bound up to the questions as stated by you. The usuall answer to our Complaints heerin being, That the Assembly sate not to argue the ⟨p. 5⟩opinions of a few men, but that if we had any thing to say to the assertion brought in, we might.

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 Governmert, you pretend to, and we deny, are asserted to be Jure divino.