A Copy of the Independants Declaration to the Assembly of Divines .

TO make known what ever we hold , concerning Church-government , as wee have had publique testimony in this Assembly , so we have manifold instances and evidences of it ; Witnesse that constant , free , and open expressing our selves upon all occasions , and in all questions propounded to the debate , with offers to give an open Account at any time , in what ever should be asked us by any Brother . Our proffering divers times to bring in Propositions , stated to our sense for the dispute , and when we were made a Committee to that purpose , in the point of Ordination , and did bring our Iudgements concerning it for a dispute , It was laid aside . And at another time , when we our selves brought in Papers , giving the state of the question , about that extraordinary way of Ordination , which were read , and returned back unto us , it being publiquely professed that that was not an allowed way and course of this Assembly , for any of the Brethren to bring in papers , unlesse they were made a Committee by the Assembly it selfe . And so we were prevented of doing the like for time to come .

Likewise our frequent complainings of the stating of questions , so that we could not fully argue for our Iudgements , wee being bound up to the questions as stated by you . The usuall answer to our Complaints herein being , That the Assembly sate not to argue the opinions of a few men , but if wee 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 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 wee may judge what of Government is held forth Iure Divino therein , which should have been fundamentall 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 patticulars 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 Iure divino .

In like manner , that other next great question , about the intire power in Congregations , that have a sufficient Presbytery for all Censures , which as it is in order the first that presents it selfe for discussion ( as was urged ) so also it is one of the greatest points in difference betwixt us & you : Yet the debate of this was not only denyed 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 expresly commended by the grand Committee of the Hon. Members of both Houses , joyned with twelve Divines of the Assembly , to be next disputed , as the best means , both of expedition , and of ending the Controversie .

And over and above all this , to argue this our willingnesse to dispute our way , In the aforesaid Honourable Committeee appointed by an Order of the Honourable House of Commons , to find out wayes , of accommodating different Iudgements in the Assembly , the Sub-Committee of Divines , consisting of two of us , and foure others , appointed by that Honourable Committee to prepare wayes and Propositions of Accommodation , brought in the main and most of what practically we desired , and we therein added , That if such a liberty shall seem in the wisdome of this Honorable Committee , to be so prejudicical to the peace of the Church as not to be permitted , we humbly desire , the doctrinall principles wherein we differ about Church-Government , may be taken into serious consideration , and some other way of accommodation in practise thought upon , as shall seem fit to this honourable Committee : and this was presented to that honorable Committee and those twelve of the Assembly , to be transmitted , whether to the honorable Houses , or the Assembly as they should think meet .

After this , when upon occasion of something brought in by one Brother , and entertained , we took hold of that example , and one of us , with consent of the rest , brought in 7 Propositions , which contained matter of difference betwixt us , professing , That if this Reverend Assembly would debate them , or any one of them , we would bring in more , untill we had brought in all the Frame , and the Assembly themselves should pick and chuse what they would debate , & what not . But these Propositions were rejected with a refusall to debate any one of them .

And after all this , though the main parts of a Presbyteriall government ▪ had been then voted by the Assembly , and sent up to the honorable Houses ( as , namely , that about Ordination , and the Presbyteriall government over many Congregations , as also concerning the Subordination of Nationall , Provinciall and Classicall Assemblies ) and there was not much remaining about Church-government , to be concluded in this Assembly : yet this Reverend Assembly requiring , ( by occasion of a book published , that reflected on these proceedings , that we had no hand in nor knowledge of ) a whole Frame of Government , with the grounds and reasons thereof , to be brought in by us , and voted us hereto to be a Committee , we yeilded our selves to be a Committee to bring in part by part , in like manner as the Presbyteriall Government was brought into the Assembly , and disputed : but that was not accepted . And then it being said , that there was something in Church-government , remaining undiscussed , and unresolved ; and it being further alledged that the Assembly had not sent up all that which they had concluded , but meant to present an entire Frame and Body to the Honourable Houses : And that we might take away all occasions of any such jealousies that we were unwilling to discover what we held ( which were commonly in mens mouths abroad ) we yeilded to be a Committee , to bring in the whole to this Assembly , though upon all the fore-mentioned disadvantages , & were purposed & resolved amongst our selves so to do , and that in as convenient a time as a work of such a compasse could , ( in such a manner as was proposed by you ) be dispatched by us . And as in the debate about making us a Committee , the Assembly would not declare ( though pressed by us ) what they would do with that Modell , and those Reasons we should bring in ; so the voting of what yet remained in Church-government , was hastened by you .

And when not long after , upon occasion of the debate of one particular point , in which we differed from this Assembly , we moved it might be deferred , because we should present our Judgements and Reasons about it , with the rest , ( for therein lay that which we accounted the favour of being made a Committee by you ) it was publiquely answered , that therefore the Assembly should the rather go on to the concluding of it , because we intended to bring it in ; and before we could dispatch that Body we intended , so as to report it unto you according to your order ; ( the collection of the materials whereof , spent us two or three months , and we could not obtain the liberty to bring in any thing but the whole ) this Assembly had presented to the honourable Houses , as well what had been sent up by peeces afore , as what was since concluded , in one intire Frame . By all which we perceived , that that which was the main end and use of presenting such a Modell to this Assembly , would be frustrated .

And furthermore , we having given in ( as this Assembly knows ) but two heads of dissenting reasons : The one against the Presbyteriall government over many Congregations : The other against the subordination of Synods . By the successe of the latter we see , that this Assembly can assume the liberty ( if it so please ) to reserve those we shall now present , unanswered , as they have done those our dissenting Reasons against subordination of Synods , although it contain a great and main part of that wherein we differ , as also is of all other , the greatest moment , both to this Church and State , and hath been given in to this Assembly ten months since , and their votes concerning these Subordinations , as long since presented to the honourable Houses , but have not been answered by any reply brought into this Assembly , and so not ready to have been sent up to the Hon. Houses .

And if These we might now bring in , should be undertaken to be answered by this Assembly , yet we still retain the sense of so much remedilesse prejudice , by being bound from replying again , as doth make us justly wary : we may for ever lie under whatever mis-interpretations may happen , ( suppose but through mistake of yours , or imperfection of our expression ) without clearing our meaning , and wee may be bound up from further urging or driving home that wherein the strength of any argumenr lies , if the dint thereof should be avoided by some specious diversion . And although our former Reasons given in after dispute to both the honourable Houses , according to their Order , were therefore not our own , but to be disposed of according to their appointment ; yet what we should now give in , we conceive to be in our own power .

Upon these considerations we think that this Assembly , hath no cause now to require a Report of us , nor will that our Report be of any use , seeing that Reports are for Debates , and Debates are for Results to be sent up to the Honorable Houses , who have already voted another forme of Government then what we shall present . However it may be of more use some other way , which by this course may be prevented , And therefore we are resolved to wait for some further opportunity to improve what we have prepared .

FINIS .