, but finds not guilty; and of
three men taking an oath to deliver in their opinions of church government
(where, by the way, he lets fall that I hold the national synod to be
above all courts in the kingdom; which, if he means of ecclesiastical
courts, why did he speak so generally? If he mean, above all or any civil
courts, it is a gross calumny.) But now, if this be the sense which he
gives of that first article in the covenant, then, 1. All that is in the
second article might have been put into the first article: for instance,
we might, in Mr Coleman's sense, have sworn "to endeavour the reformation
of Prelacy, and even of Popery itself, according to the word of God, and
the example of the best reformed churches;" that is, taking an oath to
deliver in our opinions of these things according to the word of God, and
to inquire into the evils of church government by archbishops, bishops,
deans, &c., whether guilty or not guilty. I strengthened my argument by
the different nature of the first and second article. I said, "The second
article is of things to be extirpated, but this of things to be preserved
and reformed." Why did he not take the strength of my argument and make a
reply? 2. By the same principle of his we are not tied by the first
article of our covenant to have any, either doctrine or worship, but only
to search the Scriptures whether the word hold out any; for doctrine,
worship, discipline and government, go hand in hand in the covenant. 3.
His own simile hath this much in it against him. If a jury, sworn to
inquire into the felony of an accused person, should, after such an oath,
not only find the person not guilty, but further take upon them to
maintain that there is no such thing as felony, surely this were
inconsistent with their oath, so he that swears to endeavour the
reformation of religion in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government,
and yet will not only dislike this or that form of government, but also
hold that there is no such thing as church government, he holds that which
cannot agree with his oath. 4. This answer of Mr Coleman, leaving it free
to debate whether there be such as church government, being his only
answer to my first argument from the covenant, must needs suppose that the
government mentioned in the covenant, the reformation whereof we have
sworn to endeavour, is understood even by himself of church officers'
power of corrective government, it being the corrective part only, a