Wherein, amongst other things, these ensuing particulars are contained:

  1. That there is a Church-Government, by Divine Right.
  2. That the Magistrate, is not the Fountain of Church-Government.
  3. That the Presbyterial-Government, is by Divine Right.
  4. The Inconveniencies of the Congregationall-way.
  5. That the Ruling-Elder is by Divine Right.
  6. That it is the will of Jesus Christ, that all sorts of persons should give an account of their Faith, to the Minister, and Elders, before admission to the Lords Supper; together with Answers, to the usuall Objections made against it.
  7. Directions to the Elders for the right managing of their Office.
  8. Directions to such as are admitted to the Lords Supper, for the right sanctifying of Gods Name, in that Ordinance, & for their carriage one towards another.
  9. Rules to preserve People, from the Errours of these Times.
  10. That Separation from our Churches, is justly charged with Schisme.
  11. That Ministers formerly ordained by Bishops, need no new Ordination.
  12. The Necessity and usefulness of Catechizing.

Licensed, Entred, and Printed according to Order.

London, Printed for C. Meredith, at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard, 1650.

IT hath been the chief stratagem of the adversaries of the Church, in all Ages, to erect a throne for themselves, in the hearts of people, by casting reproaches and slanders upon the Doctrine, Government, and Godly Ministers of Jesus Christ. In the old Testament, when the Jewes came first out of Babylon, and began to build the second Temple of Jerusalem, their enemies most falsly, and maliciously, suggested to King Artaxerxes, [1]That the City of Jerusalem, was a rebellious City, and hurtful unto Kings and Provinces, and that they had moved sedition within the same, of old time, &c. And thereby caused the work of the house of God, to cease for many years. And in the New Testament, when the Holy Ghost came down from Heaven in a most miraculous manner, for the solemn inauguration of Christian Religion; and when the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, even then, they were charged to be full of new wine. And in after-times, the slanderous accusations of the Heathen Idolaters against the Christians, are observed to have been one of the chiefest causes of the ten bloudy Persecutions, raised up against them by the Romane Emperours. And this was that which forced the Godly-learned of those days, to write Apologies, in defence of Christians, and Christian Religion.[2]