tian
the office of magistracy should cease as well as that of the ministry. And
if he make the magistrate a church officer, he must also give him
ordination, except, with the Socinians, he deny the necessity of
ordination.

HIS ABUSING THE REVEREND ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES.

Whereas I had objected that his sermon had given no small scandal and
offence, he replieth, p. 3, "But hath it given offence? To whom? I appeal
to the honourable audience." Is this candid or fair dealing, when he
himself knew both that he had given offence, and to whom? I shall give him
no other answer but his own declaration which he gave under his hand after
he had preached that sermon:--

"For much of what is reported of my sermon I utterly deny; and refer
myself to the sermon itself. For what I have acknowledged to be delivered
by me, although it is my judgment, yet, because I see it hath given a
great deal of offence to this Assembly and the reverend Commissioners of
Scotland, I am sorry I have given offence in the delivery thereof. And for
the printing, although I have an order, I will forbear, except I be
further commanded.--THO. COLEMAN."

Page 33, I had this passage: "And where he asketh where the Independents
and we should meet," I answer, "In holding a church government _jure
divino_; that is, that the pastors and elders ought to suspend or
excommunicate (according to the degree of the offence) scandalous sinners.
Who can tell but the purging of the church from scandals, and the keeping
of the ordinances pure (when it shall be actually seen to be the great
work endeavoured on both sides), may make union between us and the
Independents more easy than many imagine." What reply hath he made to
this? P. 6, "Sure I dream (awake then); but I will tell you news: The
Presbyterians and Independents are (he should have said _may be_) united;
nay, more, the Lutherans and Calvinists; nay, more yet, the Papist and
Protestant; nay, more than so, the Turk and Christian." But wherein? "In
holding that there is a religion wherein men ought to walk." No, Sir. They
must be united upon the like terms; that is, you must first have Turks to
be Christians, and Papists to be Protestants; and then you must have them
as willing to purge the church of scandals, and to keep the ordinances
pure. We will never despair of an union with such as are sound in the
faith, holy in life, and willing to a church-refining and sin-censuring
government in the hands of chur