and Ears some do little but Swear ordinarily commonly and vainly in all kind of Communication and Conversation not only in their usual outer Courses in Courts with Judges and Magistrates but in their hourly discourses also with other Men in Cities Townes Princes and great Mens Courts and Places Universities Colledges almost all Houses at least all Taverns and Ale-houses and in the open Streets and Assemblies almost every where are full of dreadful Oaths and Mens discourses interwoven with execrable and direful Oaths even as it were daring God to confound them and damn them and such like and though there be divers Laws against swearing vainly and forswearing yet these are not looked at but how should we exspect that they should look at the Execution of the Laws of Men which are good who heed not the Law of God and are so buzzed now a dayes with over-executing those intangling Laws that are extant for Oaths and forswearing to intrap and insnare poor Innocent Men who dare not Swear at all but keep the Commands of Christ so that there is no leisure lost to look after those most wholsome and profitable Laws of both God and the King which are against vain Oaths and forswearing which the Land abounds with the like hath not been in any Age which is a sad presage of the Judgment of God to be at hand And last of all A. S. says He hath done and he fears it 's more and time to have done with the Exposition of those words and so comes to Application and so he speaks to all in general who at that time or any other may be legally called to take their Oaths which you have heard Vindicated to be lawful notwithstanding the seeming opposition of these words Swear not at all but those must be understood of necessary Oaths and your Righteousness is to exceed the Scribes and Pharisees but they condemned Perjury in the verse immediately before my Text and your Warrant for swearing is in Jer. 4.2 which thence appears not only lawful but in some cases necessary Reply It 's more then time indeed to have done to pervert Christ's plain Doctrine with his imaginary Exposition and what he counts legally caled seeing Christ prohibited it is not of much force neither will A. S.'s Vindication stand against the real opposition of Christ's words Swear not at all but his seeming Vindication in the day of the Lord when the secrets of all Hearts shall be manifest by Jesus Christ when the Book of Conscience shall be opened will be found to be in real opposition unto Christ and his reward will be according to his works who hath by his work strengthn'd the hand of Evil-doers and Persecutors to the adding affliction to affliction upon the Righteous and if the words must be understood of necessary Oaths then there is none necessary among Christ's true Disciples who commanded Let your Yea be yea or your Nay nay for whatsoever is more comes of Evil and whether the Scribes and Pharisees condemned a Perjury or not we are sure the Law did which Christ's words hath reference to It hath been said of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self and if the Righteousness of Christ's Disciples be to exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees and they condemned Perjury and all false Swearing by God and the Law condemned all false Oaths and vain Oaths and Oaths by Creatures as A. S. hath granted then the Righteousness of the Disciples is to be another then the Righteousness of the Law which condemned all Perjury and vain Oaths then what is it but not to Swear at all any Oath but speak the Truth and confess it to the Glory of God in yea and nay and this is that which exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees and is only lawful and necessary under the Gospel and as for Jer. 4.2 this is pittiful proof and warrant for Christians to Swear under the Gospel for that was only spoken to Israel or Juda who were under the first Covenant and yet were revolted from the Ordinances thereof and were back-sliders as is to be seen Jer. 3.22 and hath not Reverence to the second Covenant But I shall come towards an end as well as A. S. and conclude and refer all what both he and I have said to the judgment of the Lord and the measure of God's holy Spirit in all Mens Consciences to be received or denyed by that as he and his Witness bears evidence so shall the matter stand eternally Yet I cannot but mind the Reader though A. S. hath had as appears certain Books of the Dissenters in which are weighty things about this particular of Swearing which he hath not answered at all as to their Arguments only carped here and there at a word which is not of great moment but though he may plead some reason that it was not possible to answer all things in so short a Discourse as a Sermon wherein he was limited as to time yet since he had I perceive by his Annotations time enough to have answered them having their Books extant by him but hath not in the most weighty Considerations therefore I refer the Reader to them for his further satisfaction viz. to the Answer of Bishop Gauden by that faithful Servant of God Sam Fisher where this point is largely discussed likewise his Antidote against Swearing in Answer to Heary Den and Jeremiah Ives likewise a Book published by Isaac Penington titled The great Question concerning the lawfulness or unlawfulness of Swearing under the Gospel stated and considered of wherein are weighty things declared in short 1st what an Oath is 2dly the Ground and occasion of an Oath 3dly the causes wherein an Oath was to be used 4thly the end of an Oath 5thly the suitableness of its NATURE to the end aimed at by it 6thly the Persons to whom the use of an Oath was proper and lawful Wherein also is clearly shown the state of man-kind from the Creation comprised in four Heads or particulars First The State of Innocency when there was no Oath Secondly An estate of Captivity wherein an Oath was proper and lawful Thirdly The estate of shadowy Redemption wherein it was lawful also Fourthly An estate of true and perfect Redemption wherein it 's neither needful nor lawful seeing it 's prohibited by Christ all which A. S. hath passed over and hath not answered Likewise a Book published by John Crook Titled The Case of Swearing at all discussed with and several Objections answered These things A. S. hath not answered I only instance them for the Readers further satisfaction if unsatisfied in what hath been said already all which great and weighty things are worthy of the Serious consideration of all Likewise a Book Titled Swearing denyed in the new Covenant by Morgan Watkins When all that hath been said is duly considered and weighed in the Righteous Ballance of God's holy Spirit they will not think it strange that some deny to Swear at all but
Lord Jesus their Saviour and Teacher there was Truth and Life by them And after Henry Cromwel the Deputy of Ireland banished him and Edward Burroughs out of Ireland through the Instigation of the Priests and other Magistrates but the Lord overturned them his Adversaries also And so continuing in the Labour of the Lord till the Year 1661. he was imprisoned at London when the Monarchy People rose with many others though clear and innocent from that bloody Act for his and their Weapons were spiritual and they sought another Kingdom And after he and they were set at Liberty he still continued in the Work of the Lord travailing up and down the Nations and coming into the North at Kendal the Magistrates sent for him out of the Market and tendred him the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy and because for Conscience sake he could not swear in Obedience to the Command of Christ his Saviour they committed him to Appleby Goal in the Year 1664. and there they kept him from Sessions to the Assizes in a smoaky Hole and at last they premunired him and his Body being almost spent in the Service of the Lord being a weak man there did he offer up his Life as a Sacrifice of his Faith for the Lord Jesus Christ's Truth and dyed a Prisoner for the Name of Jesus in the latter End of the Year 1668. and so laid down his Life as a Testimony against the Persecutors Breakers of the Command of Christ and his Blood doth cry for Vengeance though he could say The Lord forgive all hâ—â— Persecutorspunc who having the Mind of Christ desired the Good of all yea the worst of hâ—â— Enemies and in that Desire of the Good of all did he labour travail seeking their Good and their Eternal VVelfare in the Inheritance of Life that fades not away of which he was an Heir and is entred into Rest and the Possession of the same And now this peaceable Man the persecuting Priests and Magistrates have gotten their Desire to shut up in Prison this Servant of the Lord to Death for obeying the Command of Christ but how they will answer it before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the great Judge at his Tribunal Day which hastens apace let them consider with themselves for if they went into everlasting Punishment that did not visit Christ in Prison what wâ—ll become of such as cast him into Prison in his Members And so they made his Wife a Widdow and his Children Fatherless who have none to cry unto but the Lord who will relieve the Widdow and help the Fatherless The Place of his outward Habitation was in Greying in Westmorland a man known to be of good Report before he received the Gospel freely from Jesus which he declared freely and great Sufferings and Tryals and Reproaches and Scorns and hard Labours in the Work and Service of the Lord he went through and many vain Disputes Priests and Professors of all Sects rose up against him but the Lord in his Power gave him Dominion over them all Who ended his Dayes in Peace in the Truth of God and the Lord's Service and Testimony for his Name and for the keeping of and obeying the Command of Christ his Lord and Saviour And therefore all Friends and Brethren that are begotten by him through the Word of Life and others live in the same Word that lives abides endures forever that is a Hammer a Fire as a Sword to all that is contrary to that which is holy and pure so that in the Truth Power and Word of Life the Lord God may be glorified in you all the Dayes of your Life And blessed are all they that aye in the Lord they rest from their Labours and their Works will follow them G. F. Richard Pinders Testimony CONCERNING Francis Howgil AS concerning our dear Brother in the Lord Francis Howgil the Author of these ensuing Writings he was a Man so well known through the Churches of Christ in his Day that much need not be writ concerning him as by Way of Testimony to those that knew him and his Spirit and Manner of Life and Conversation yet I having had a full Knowledge of him especially in the time of his long and tedious Imprisonment in the Town of Appleby in Westmorland where for his Testimony sake he ended his Dayes and laid down his Life as a Testimony for that Truth that he had testified of so largely both in preaching the Gospel and in these ensuing Books which he writ at several times according as the Lord put it into his Heart and as there was Occasion to answer Truth 's Opposers and after many Years Travails and Labours in the Work of God he through the Envy of some great Persons in that Country was made Prisoner at the foresaid Town of Appleby they having nothing justly to lay to his Charge yet knowing that it was his Principle not to swear at all Christ having forbidden it they put the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance unto him and only for refusing to swear he was premunired they in the least laying nothing of Misdemeanour to his Charge and when the Judge pronounced the Sentence of Premunire against him he only replyed It is a hard Sentence being only for the Exercise of my Conscience but the Will of the Lord be done and prayed the Lord might forgive them all that had any Hand in it and so after the said Sentence being committed Prisoner he continued a Prisoner several Years in which time I was very conversant with him and I must give this Testimony for him that I never heard him in the least murmur or repine in all the time of his Imprisonment but alwayes appeared as a Man wholly given up inâ—o â—he Will of God and when at any time we had been speaking of his long Imprisonment constantly he would have said The Will of the Lord be done and such was his godly Behaviour and Conversation in the time of his Confinement that he greatly gained the Hearts and Love of the Goaler's whole Family and all others of the Town that knew him and had any Acquaintance with him and even to this Day when his Name is mentioned they are all ready to say he was a Man that truly feared God so that he left an exceeding good Savour behind him in that Place And as for the Course of his Time and Dayes in this World I have this to say he was born of honest Parents and brought up to some Learning according to the usual Custom of the Country and in his Youth and tender Years was one that sincerely thirsted after the Knowledge of God and the Lord was good unto him and gave him Discoveries of divine things unto his Soul 's great Comfort and he was an early Owner of the People of God called Quakers and walked with them and was alwayes ready to suffer with them as at any time called by the Lord thereunto he was one greatly
else according to those 〈◊〉 which hath been made in the Will of man in the Trangression under which we have suffered for the Truth 's sake and therein have peace And as for Ministers bringing Offenders before Magistrates that is an usurped Authority to make a Minister a Magistrate but Edward what was the offence because a company of People came to Cressage and declared the Word of Truth in your Streets and what if it had been in your Assembly this was no offence in the Church of Corinth where all might speak one by one although it 's become an Offence in your Mass-house at Cressage but the Reader may judge in whose steps thou and thy Priest walkes you have done the offence and then accuseth others to the Magistrates as Offenders Let shame cover your Lips you Impudent men Hath not Samuel Smith in his own Narration in his Book said that William Parrat Constable and Humphry Daile Church-warden according to the Ministers direction did pull down the Quakers Speaker charging some to secure him And others also of your own County secured by the Instigation of the Priest by his own Confession in the fourth page of his Book And here he and the rest of the Society at Cressage who had a Hand in this â—hing are manifest to be in the steps of the Pharisees whom Christ cryed Wo against which cast out of their Assemblies and haled the Disciples before the Magistrates and like the Envyous Jews that cryed Help men of Israel for these men turn the World up-side down but you are worse then they The Priest was the first fomenter of the Breach of the Peace the Constable and Church-warden his Executioners and yet thou tells of the Quakers being offenders Now all sober People will see your Envy and Decâ—it and that you are in Cain's way and by your false flattery and Deceit would justifie the Magistrate for your own ends and cause them to turn the Sword against the Guiltless which should be against the Transgressor And who was in the Transgression the Reader may easily judge by that which is forementioned and yet the Priest and you of his Congregation would make People believe that you did not Persecute the Priest did give order to pull down the Speaker the Constable and Church-warden they acted and secured your own Neighbours as Prisoners your own Congregation Swearing against them the breach of the Peace and getting them shut up into Prison and Sentence given against them and yet thou wouldst have this called equal proceedings but to that of God in all Consciences I leave to be Judge in this thing In the fourth and fifth Particular thou saist We have charged to be Envious and Bitter and Malicious against the most eminent Ministers of the Land Them whom thou calls eminent Ministers have charged us with many false things and have written many false things against us for which thou and they in the Dreadful day of the Lord shall give an account Envy Bitterness and malice is put away from us and we Envy no man but speak the Truth in Soberness and yet to say a lyar is a Lyar or a Deceiver a Deceiver or an hypocrite an Hypocrite when they are so is neither Railing nor Malice Christ in whom no Guile was found he said They were a Generation of Vipers and they were of their Father the Devil who were in Envy and went about to Kill him And the Apostle was not envious when he said O full of all Subtilty thou child of the Devil to one who was doing the Work of the Devil and many such workers we find and many Venomous Spirits who shoot out poysoned Arrows even bitter Words and these we must reprove sharply And those things which thou layest to our charge take to thy self for the ground of Iniquity is in thy Heart from whence thou hast uttered forth all these Disdainful Proud and Scornful words of which thou shalt be Convinced and also reproved when the Lord searcheth thy Heart when he brings Anguish and Perplexity upon thee then shalt thou confess to his righteous Judgment and so thy five Principles I have answered which thou sayest thou hast brought into thy Book to fill up the Blancks they had better have been blancks still then have spoiled so much Paper with thy Lying Disdainful Scribles which are not worth the answering In the third page thou saist Thou wilt restate the reputation of the Ministry of England to be Minister of Christ And for proof thou hast brought Col. 1.7 and Rom. 15. Those words prove that Epaphras was a faithful Minister and that Paul was a Minister of Christ to the Gentiles but what hath this proved as to the National Priests nothing at all and if thou hast no better proof then this to bring them into Reputation instead thereof thou wilt bring defamation upon them and when thou shouldst prove them Ministers thou provest that Paul and Epaphras were Ministers will not the least in the Truth see thee to be a busy-body but Fools will be medling Then thou art offended that we call them Priests for receiving of Tythes I say it 's the most proper for none but Priests and Levites did receive Tythes and how long since is it since they generally called themselves the Tribe of Levi For never Minister of the Gospel nor of the word of Reconciliation either received Tythes or commanded that they should be payed neither reproved any for not paying but said the Priest-hood was changed and the Law was changed by which Tythes were due but thou goest on and makest a sound Argument as thou judgest and sayst Abraham paid Tythes to Melchisedeck before the Law And thou askest how he did give it either by the Law of Nature which is called the Law of Reason or by the Light within or by Revelation Thou speakest thou knowst not what where readest thou of the Law of Nature called the Law of Reason except it be in the devised Fables and Stories of the Priests But what doth this prove Gen. 14. Abraham gave the tenth part of the Spoil which he had taken from his Enemies but Melchisedeck first brought forth Bread and Wine to Abraham and his company and greeted Abraham and his company Kindly and Blessed him and Abraham freely gave unto him the tenth part Melchisedeck desired none But dost thou judge that if Abraham had given him none that he would have taken by Force the tenth part of the Spoil from him Now what doth this prove for the Tything-Priests of this Nation they must first do as Melchisedeck did if they will have Melchisedeck for an Example he Blessed Abraham and brought forth Bread and Wine unto him and his Army but which of the Priests have done so which have received Tythes which is not a gift of the People but a forced thing from them If this must be thy proof for Tythes by the gift of Abraham then let the Priests cease forcing and taking them till People be
may properly be called unbelief and thou errst in thy Judgment who seekst to civil or Military Power to uphold Religion which as I said before belongs to him who is the higher and highest Power Civil and Military Officers are not for making Religion or setting up Religion but are to keep the Peace and to stop the Violent-doer and to be a Terror to Evil works and workers and a Praise to them that do dwell and that is their place to govern in Righteousness but not to exercise Lordship over the Conscience which Power belongs only to Christ and as for them who have delivered Books and Papers and words and writings to them who are in Authority to pull down the Ministry and Steeple-houses or publick Ministry and Worship if thou intendest the Quakers as I believe thou dost thy Arrows being shot only at them we have delivered or caused to be delivered divers Book and Papers wherein we have shewed them the grievous Suffering of the People of God by the heavy Oppressions which they did suffer under because of the Hirelings Wages and upholding of Mass-houses things which have been introduced since the Primitive times in the Apostacy which aforesaid things have been guarded and upheld by Laws made in the Beast's power now to make null those Laws which were the Ground of many Oppressions and an offence to many tender Consciences this is not to pull down Religionâ— and that Ministry which can be pull'd down by taking away of Tythes and forced maintenance is no Ministry of Christ but Ministers of Anti-christ and to deny paying to Steeple-houses Clark-Wages burying for the Dead and such other like invented Things which many have groaned under is not to pull down Religion for this I say to thee and that which I can say to all which no reasonable or equitable man will deny to be equitable or Just take the Hireling Ministry to thee and give him the fifth part of thy Estate if thou wilt and erect thy Steeple-house like Babel's Tower but trouble not us with none of these things and for declaring to the Magistrates that these things ought to be done away and the Law by which they stood which was made in Transgression ought to be taken away this is not to pull down the Ministry nor true Religion but to overturn deceit and Invocation which hath Obstructed and hindered pure Reformation which hath been talkt on for these are but the rotten Raggs of the Whore's Menstruous Garment so thy defence is made void and ours standeth true that the Magistrate or Military Power hath nothing to do to Prescribe any form of Religion to bind all unto for this is an Intruding into those things that belong not to them Thou say'st That thou dost freely and sincerely affirm that thou hast not knowingly wronged the Quakers in the least but dost engage thy self to make good every Thing thou chargest against them that shall require it of thee That we shall see afterwards how thou wilt make good that which thou hast charged some with hast thou not knowingly wronged us when thou hast brought all those which thou countest Hereticks all Europe over and some Parts else and whatsoever they did or said must be imputed unto us I know thy Envy in Times past with the rest of the Priests was as much agaâ—nst them who were separate from your Assemblies as now against us and all these Things that thou hast raked up in this Book out of Histories of Germany of New-England which I am not credulous to receive from thy Mouth no more then I shall thy History as thou callest it of the Quakers for thou who wilt lye of them which are so near thee may report many Untruths at a Distance and these Things the hireling Priests were wont to charge upon the Baptists and Independents but now we are become the Object of all your Reproach and your Butt to shoot at but we are in that which the Devil cannot prevail against neither the Gates of Hell In thy third Chapter thou say'st Thou wilt treat of the Predecessors of the Quakers and thou reckonest up Simon Magus Menander Saturnus how he taught that Marriage and Generation was of Satan and Arrias who denyed the Divinity of Christ and Pelagius a Monk who held that a Man without the Grace of God was able to fulfil all the Commandment of God and of Basilides that he taught that it was not Jesus but Simon of Cirene that was crucified in his Shape These are none of our Predecessors take them to thy self and whether hast thou not knowingly wronged us in these Things and how wilt thou make every Thing good which thou hast charged us withal These things fore-mentioned and many more which I shall pass over as not to trouble the Reader with in which thou hast charged us falsly wherein thou art required to make good the Charge or else cease thy clamorous Tongue these that thou hast reckoned up you use to call them Arians Saturnians and Pelagians but now thou hast made them all Quakers In thy 13th Page thou manifestest what Spirit thou art of thou tellest of the Old Church-Government being taken away to wit the Common-Prayer-Book tâ—ken out of the Mass-Book then began Sects to arise So that it seems thy chief Reformation and Religion is but the Old Lithurgy which is little better then the Mass and the Ministers the old corrupt Bishops that the Earth groaned with the Burthen thereof whose Ordination and Call is from the Pope their Original and from the Church of Rome your Mother from whence these State-hirelings which burthen the whole Creation sprang forth thou would'st have all confined unto this dark Mist and compelled to worship according unto those Popish Traditions held forth for publick Worship in that time Further thou bring'st a Heap of Lyes out of Baxter a Man at Enmity against all Goodness who hath written many lying Books against the living TRUTH for which the Lord God will call him and thee to Account Thou set'st down some of that which thou call'st our Principles in the 16th Page How that we deny all Officers in a Common-wealth and how we deny all Relation as Brother and Sister Magistrate Master Father Mother Son and Daughter Husband and Wife and that Husband and Wife should part assunder and that all Things should be common all these things shall turn upon thy own Head and now to the Light in thy Conscience I speak which thou despisest whether thou hast not wilfully wronged us And I require of thee according to thy Promise to make these things good but I believe thy Proof is out of our Adversaries Books Baxter's and the Priests of New-castle which things have been answered and their Lyes turned upon their own Heads In the 17th Page thou hast gathered some Words and Sentences out of our Books many of them are so evident and manifest Truths to all that are come to a good Understanding that they need no Vindication for they
Children of Sion do not fear thee neither do they regard thy Revilings for they dwell in a safe Habitation and 〈◊〉 at perfect Rest and are above all thy fiery Darts which in thy Envy 〈◊〉 shootest against them and thy Reward shall be according to thy Work and the multitude of men shall not be able to deliver thee from the Wrâ—th that cometh against thee from the Lord and all the false Prophets and Wolves in Sheeps Clothing with whom thou hast taken Part against the 〈◊〉 and his Fâ—llowers they shall be a broken Reed for thee to lean 〈…〉 why Alas the Determination of the Lord is against them and the Day of their Sorrow is approaching and hadst thou been wiâ—e for Gâ—d and for thy own Soul thou would'st not have endangered thine own Sâ—ul on Report and I am not altogether unacquainted with Ecclesiastical Histâ—riâ—â— their Defence and though we have no Goals Prisons Stocks nor Whips nor yet any unjust or cruel Way of dealing towards you as you have 〈◊〉 against us yet we have the Lord to be our Armour and he is the only Rock of our Defence and he is stronger then man and in him we trust and what are all thy Lyes and Slanders unto us And what though Balaam for a Gift may seek Enchantment against us yet there is no Divination found against the Elect Seed and seeing thou hast gone in Balaam's Path thou shalt reap his Reward who art an Enemy of Righteousness and a Perverter of the right Way of God whose End will be Wo and Misery Wherefore consider O thou vain mortal man that must dye and come to nothing wherefore hast thou set thy self against God and heaped up thy Multitude of envious Words Lyes and Slanders against his People What is the Fruit of such a Work but eternal Vengeance from the righteous God And though thou art come in the End of the Battel and hast helped Gog and Magog according to thy Strength yet Friend our City cannot be shaken its Foundation cannot be removed and what art thou vain ignorant Creature that hast fought against God and his People THE HEART OF New-England HARDENED THROUGH VVICKEDNESS In Answer to a Book entituled The Heart of New-England rent published by John Norton appointed thereunto by the General Court The Doctrine of the Quakers Vindicated his Arguments made void his Ignorance manifested and his lying Doctrine brought to Light and judged with the Word of Truth and Truth cleared from his Aspersions and Slanders By him that waits to see the Throne of Righteousness exalted above all Deceit F. H. And the rest of the Men which were not killed by the Plagues repented not of the Works of their Hands neither repented they of their Murders nor Sorceries nor worshipping of Devils Rev. 9.20 21. NOW when the Lord of Life and Glory is appearing in his Power as in the Dayes of old and his Goodness Mercy and Truth as in the Years past and the Riches of his Grace and Salvation which he maketh to flow forth and spring forth from the great Deep now when he is manifesting his Light from his holy Habitation and his saving Health from his dwelling Place that the Sons of Men might be Partakers thereof and praise him who liveth forever and ever who is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto them that believe the Pit of Darkness hath also opened its Mouth and out of it many Unclean Spirits do arise and Fogs and Mists of Darkness Ignorance and Error are also arisen out of it to hinder the Light from shining and to darken the Air that the Sun of Righteousness might not be beheld and would dam up the Way that the Springs of Life might not refresh the City of God and his tender Plants that so the Prince of Darkness and the King of the bottomless Pit might not lose his Dominion for this End hath he mustred up and is mustring up all his Men of War with their several Weapons and all the Engines of Wickedness to resist the Lamb of God who is risen to make VVar in Righteousness that so the Kingdom of Darkness might still be established and the Subjects thereof live at Ease and Peace in Egypt and Sodom where Christ and the VVitnesses are slain I say for this End hath he sent out his Men of VVar to resist the VVork of the Lord which is to destroy the Devil's VVork one of his Champions more stout then his Fellows is come out with his VVeapons of VVar which are most of them borrowed and not his own and the City in which he hath encompassed himself is a Refuge of Lyes but however he appears with the Face of Authority and subscribes himself John Norton Teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston in New-England who was appointed thereunto by the Order of the General Court his Book he calls The Heart of New-England rent at the Blasphemies of the present Generation or a brief Tract concerning the Doctrine of the Quakers shewing the destructive Nature thereof to Religion Churches and State Now whether John Norton was appointed of the General Court to be Minister of Boston or he was appointed by the General Court to tell Lyes how the Heart of New-England is rent whether he intends should be believed the Reader may judge for his VVords may be understood of both However John Norton hath manifested his Master that it was not Christ who appointed him to be Minister at Boston but the General Court that appointed him neither was it Christ oâ— his Spirit that set him to work to publish Lyes to the VVorld that the Heart of New-England was rent but the General Court neither was it Christ nor the General Assembly that ordered him to write this Book which he calls A Tract concerning the Doctrine of the Quakers but the General Court they have ordered thee to tell Lyes and thou hast received thy Commission and actest it and shewest it to the World and the Sign thereof is By the Appointment of the General Court before we go any further men of Understanding will judge whose Minister whose Souldier whose Warriour John Norton is and at whose Appointment and Commandment he ministers and wars and hath cleared himself to be no Souldier of Christ no Minister of Christ but appointed to minister and to war at the Appointment of the General Court and so what will be brought forth by him in his Tract as he calls it afterwards as to minister Grace to the Hearers and Readers the Reader may judge seeing that he is a Minister by the Will of Man and his Work is appointed by the General Court And doth John Norton believe that People will receive his Testimony as that the Heart of New-England is broken and rent whenas the Blood-thirsty Cruelty and barbarous Actions and inhuman Act of Cruelty and the noisome Smell and a bad Example have you given to the World and the LAVVS and APPOINTMENTS and ORDERS of that General Court of BOSTON and NEW-ENGLAND
a Company of wild Bears rending and tearing and stop Gloves and Napkins and bind Keys over their Mouthes that they may not speak the Word of Truth amongst yâ—u contrary to Primitive Order And as for the Doctrine of the Quakers many who know it better then thee know it to be dâ—structive to nâ—â—hiâ—g but to the Doctrine of Anti-christ and such ungodly Doctrines as thou hast laid down in this Book as that that Light which Christ hath enlightned every one withal is gross Darkness and worse then gross Darkness and that the Supper of the Lord is a visible Political Ordinance and suâ—h black Doctrines as these our Doctrines are destuctive unto And further thou goest on and tellest The Work against Order is Policy against Policy the Policy of Hell against the Policy of Heaven Answ. It seems your Order stands in Policy both in your Church and State and in Craft Fraud and Deceit and thou judged that Heâ—ven stands in Policy too but he that sits in Heaven laughs you to Scorn with all your Deceit and Policy And now thou comest to thy Proof and say'st That Doctrine that denyes Obedience to Magistracy in his due Subject in Effect denyes the Order of Magistracy but their Doctrine denyes Obedience to Magistracy in its due Subject therefore their Doâ—â—rine denyes the Order of Magistracy Answ. The Major and Minor are both false for we own Magistracy in its due Subject which stands in the Power of God and in the higher Power and that which leads into Order and out of Confusion and Destruction and thou must not think to fasten Stork and Munâ—er upon us for thy Proof what they did stands upon their Account and not upon ours and that mischievous Spirit of thine is that which presseth on the Magistrate to abuse his power and to intrude into those Things which belong not to him to keep up your confused Babel which thou callest a Political Church which must all be scattered with the Breath of his Mouth and with the Brightness of his coming whom thou yet judgest to be gross Darkness In thy 18th page and in the 44th page thou speak'st That visible Political Church Church-Officers and Church-Ordinances are Gospel Institutâ—ons appointed by Christ to continue to the End of the World and that Command which Paul gave to Timothy is to be kept and that visible Political Church Estate is to continue to the End of the World Answ. I see thou art ignorant of God Christ Heaven Church Church-Officers Ordinances and Institutions the Churches of Christ were established by and in the Power of God and the Ministers thereof ministred walked and ruled in the Power of God and the Ordinances and Institutions of the true Church of God are pure and spiritual but the Church that thou art pleading for the Continuation thereof is a Political Church Political Ordinances Political Officers Political Institutions Political Pastors and Teachers the Lord's Supper a Political Ordinance Bâ—ptism a Political Ordinance the spiritual Counsâ—l which Paul gave to Timothy about the Elders of the Church and about the Holy Practice which they were to walk in and the godly Conversation this thou calls Political nay furthermore thou saist Heaven stands in Policy and in thy fourth Chap. say'st To Christ belongs the Prerogative of being the only Politician these and the like damnable Doctrines and Heresies thou hast uttered forth and these must be proved from the first of Tim. 3.15 and Chap. 4. did Paul when he wrote to Timothy when he gave him direction about Elders and such as took care of the Church of God did he say a Bishop is a Political Officer and must be blameless or did he say a Deacon is a Political Officer and must be grave And therefore Reader thou may'st read these Scriptures 1 Tim. 9.14 1 Cor. 14.33 and thou maist see this Sophister and this man that is void of understanding who cryeth up the Scripture for a Rule of Life and yet holds such a Church such Pastors such Officers such Ordinances such Institutions which the Scripture makes no mention of and therefore this man having made a Monstrous Body a Politick Church he imagines a Head like it and therefore Blasphemously saith Christ is the greatest Politician much I need not say unto this black Dark stuff which is to be confounded which is imaginary and Deceit which the wrath of God must scatter but this I say to thee there were no Officers in the Church of Christ but they were Ministers made so by the Spirit and were made so by the Holy Ghost and were Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter and some were Elders and Ruled in the Church and Churches which was Sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus and these were spiritual and not Political but thou hast cleared and quitted your selves from being any such Church and that which you call the Sacrament which thou callst Visible and Political and bringst 1 Cor. 12. for thy proof did Paul say as often as ye eat this Political Bread and drink this Visible Political Cup shew forth the Lord's Death till he come and did Christ when he sent his Disciples to Preach and to Baptize in the 28th of March 16. which thou plead must continue until the end of the World did he send them and say go and Teach and Preach the visible and Politick Word of the Kingdom and Baptize them with visible Political Water and that this should continue to the End of the World And little marvel if the Throne of Satan be exalted among you and such Ministers as thou who Ministers deceit and Unrighteousness and Ungodliness art set to be a Teacher and appointed so by the General Court who canst not speak a Form of sound Words but like a Phylosopher a Star-gazer an Astrologian or a Stage-player which them that read thy Book will see thy Tract frothed with such black dark Sentences which are like Enchantments As for Beckold and Knipperdâ—lling and Quintinius and Poquius thou mightst have taken up thy Pen ere now and not have brought all this rambling stuff out of the History of the Germans which thou wouldst cast upon our Backs the Bishops used to cast it upon your Backs and you upon the Baptists backs but now we must bear all and thou in Envy unto us that thereby thou mightst represent us Odious to the World hast made them all Quakers and saist they are our Predecessours take them to thy self and joyn them to your Political Church and your Political Ordinances and your Politick Doctrines which is of the same Nature with theirs which you maintain and uphold with carnal Weapons as they did theirs And last of all thou art coming to the Magistrates Power in matters of Religion under the Gospel and thou saist Notwitstanding manifold Evils prevail and the Wiles of the Devil are great and malignant and Heresie which is a horrid aspect yet thou saith There is Balm in Gilead a Physician
and his Power amongst and their Adversaries will God rebuke for their Sake Therefore O Nation consider and take this one Warning more that thou proceed not further to thy Hurt and thou repent when it is too late ONE OF ANTICHRISTS VOLUNTIERS DEFEATED AND THE TRUE LIGHT VINDICATED In Answer to a Book called Ignis Fatuus published by one R.I. wherein he vindicates Edward Dod and Samuel Smith of the County of Salop in their Lyes Folly and Wickedness and hath added more of his own with divers of his false Doctrines Lyes and Slanders c. brought to Light and reproved As that the Law of the Spirit of Life is imperfect and not fit to be a Christian Rule and also Human Nature may be taken for the regenerate Part of Man and the Soul c. and likewise calls Idolatry Civility and Heathenish Complements Courtesie His Vindication made void and his Weapons broken and he taken Captive and left with E.D. and S.S. among the Slime-pits of Siddim near Sodom with his Ignis fatuus By F. H. a Witness to the perfect Law of the Spirit of Life The Wicked are estranged from the Womb they go astray as soon as they be born speaking Lyes AMâ—ngst all the Opposers of the Truth that yet have appeared among the black Army of the the old Dragon who like the Philistians have alwayes defied Israels God and also their Camp through their ostentation and Boasting and with their Clamorous loud Cryeâ— in the Ears of the People like Rabshekah to dish earten and dismay Israel none hath appeared more out-ragious and virulent then one who Subscribes himself R. I. who in Vindication of his Brethren in Iniquity Eâ—ward Dâ—d Drunkard and Samuel Smith an uprofitable Talker otherwise called a Minister at Cressage who hath preached that which he calls the Gospel these divers Years and yet sees no Fruit at all and yet this impudent R. I. whom I believe to be another Dreamer like him for his Language doth manifest him to belong to Mystery Babylon the great City the Mother of Harlots he saith One may Minister and preach the Gospel and the People not be profited at all as Samuel Smith hath done at Cressage And he saith further that they are barren Professors yet saith R. I. that S. S. need not be abashed at it And for instance he saith Was Pauls Preaching of less credit because there were many Runnagates in the End shewed themselves Hypocrites yet this comparison will not excuse S. S. neither E. D. nor R. I. who would cover them with an old patched Cloak some Pieces he hath scraped up out of Esop's Fables a Book full of Lyes and altogether compacted and patched up of fictions and some out of Oviâ— and Seneca Heathens in their own account and the like frivolous Stories and Plato and Diogenes they must serve for a covering if it will to the two former Opposers of Truth but stay R. I. Did Paul stay seven Years in any place and saw no Fruit And though there were many Unbelievers among the Jews notwithstanding the publication of the Word and the miracles of Christ yet some believed and though the Apostles and Ministers of Christ laboured in the Work of the Lord yet some believed and clave unto them but there is no Fruit at Cressage at all but they barren Professors as R. I. saith but if thâ—s will not serve tâ—ke another of R. I. his arguments that God sends his Word sometimes for the hardening of People and upon this account S. S's teaching and Ministry must be kept in credit A sad thing for the People of Cressage that they should Hire a man for seven Years together and pay him Wages for hardening of their Hearts and for counting them barren Professors yet I judge S. S. E. D. and R. I. counted them fruitful and abounding in Zeal and fervency to God when they came into the Meeting of the Quakers some ringing Pans some Candlesticks and Frying Pans and throwing Water like People void of Understanding and saith this R.I. these yielding a better sound then the Quakers So that thou mayst see what will not this R. I. Vindicate and what Wickedness as can be acted and spoken here they may look for a shelter rather then they shall want a Guardian as Pictures Images Crosses Cuffs Ribbons Laâ—e and such other like things invented by the Devil to draw People from serving and Worshipping the living God R. I. will Patronize them all being brought forth and when they are not brought forth he will reach forth his Hand to help to elevate Iniquity and to under prop the Devil's Kingdom which is exalted in the Children of Disobedience as all along may be seen in his Fabulous Scrole called Ignis Fatuus when like his two Brethren before him he goes about to Vindicate Idolatry Images Hirelings Mass-houses Cuffs and Ribbons Tythes Flattering Titles and vain Customs and Popish Practices Pride Persecution and Lying all those things he pleads for and hath used many vain Arguments and false Interpretations of Scripture so that the two former it may truly be said they have done wickedly but this R. I. Exceeds them all who is so stout-Hearted against the Truth and Power of God that whatsoever he can invent in his corrupt Heart against it and gathers up the rest of the Priests lyes that they have Vomited up before and cast in the Face of Truth and â—enders them as good proof and some Scriptures perverted with Eâ—op's Fables and Ovid and Diogenes's Stories and upon such materials he hath framed his Book called Ignis Fatuus which he hath writ in Vindication of E. D. his Book called A pair of Spectacles for a Dark siâ—hted Quaker and S. S. Malice Stripped and Whipt three Pamphlets whose Title will discover what the Substance of their matter is and whose Work they drive on so that I need not say much some of them Vindicating Persecution and incouraging the Rude behaviour of the People another mocking at Innocency and scorneth them who Tremble at the Word of the Lord and last of all R. I. who hath made a Fortress for both the other and hath cast up a heap of confused Darkness to guard his Brethren he mocks at the Light within and calls it Ignis Fatuus and the Law which is Light which God hath Promised to write in his Peoples Hearts this he calls an Imperfect thing and therefore to be ruled and not fit to be a rule of the Saints as may be seen in the 55 th page of his Book and so hath spoken contrary to the Spirit and Scripture of Truth Prov. 6. and the Law of the Lord which is the Law that endureth forever this saith R. I. is imperfect and the Letter or Law without written is perfect and is a standard as R. I. saith for all Controversies then if it be so perfect and so fit to decide all Controversies why doth R. I. borrow his proofs and raise his Arguments from Esop's Fables Ovid's Stories
the Apostle's Doctrine and so this R. I. is tryed by his own infallible standard to be a Deceiver who teaches contrary to that which he calls his Law and Testimony and the Law which is outward is the Law of the first Covenant which made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better Hope did by which we draw nigh unto God Heb. 7.19 Therefore the Lord sâ—â—d by the Mouth of the Prophet Behold the Dayes come that I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel not according to the Covenant I made with them when I brought them out of the Land of Egypt when I was as a Husband and unto them which Covenant they brake but I will write my Law in their Heart and put my spirit in their inward Parts I will be to them a God and they shall be unto me a People Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.9 10. Now this blind man who gropes as at noon-day saith This is imperfect which is written in the heart and so faulty with him and therefore to be ruled over and the other which is outward is perfect and faultless and so ought to be a rule but saith the Apostle contrary to R. I. If the first covenant had been faultless there had been no place for the second which second the Apostle saith is a better Covenant and stands upon better Promises but yet saith R I. this is not the rule nor fit to be a rule And furthermore the Apostle said as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and this was their Rule and the Law of the Spirit of Life made the Apostle free from the Law of Sin and Death and the new Creatures Rule by which they were led into all Truth and as many as did walk in it out of all Sin But nay saith R. I. It is not fit to be a Rule for this is imperfect and is that thing to be ruled and for his Proof brings Psal. 17.4 By the Word of thy Lips I have kept me frâ—m the Path of the Destroyer and how doth this prove that the Law in the Heart is to be ruled thou ignorant man who utterest forth nothing but Deceit and Error and so the Scriptures declare against thee for they say The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the Eyes Psal. 19.7 8. For the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light Prov. 6.23 and the Commands of the new Covenant are spiritual and not carnal and they are perfect and fit to be a Rule Guide to all them that believe in a perfect Way and not as this R. I. saith unfit to be a rule because of their imperfection and would in his blind Distinctions cast a mist before Peoples Eyes And all may judge not only of this R. I. his Mistake but of his wilful Impudence in preferring that which is visible and outward and may be seen which was given forth in time viz. the Commands outward and the Letter outward above the Law of the Spirit of Life which is invisible spiritual and eternal And as I said to S. S. so I may say to thee Lean Souls are they like to be who receive such damnable Doctrine as this for Atticles of Faith but however Reader thou mayest take notice of R. I. in his Epistle to the Reader he saith the Quakers Money is counterfeit Coin which he hath nailed on the market-post and instead thereof hath tendred other Money and that thou mayest see what kind of other Money the Priests is and what Image it bears by the Principles here discovered which is altogether Tin and Dross and reprobate Silver which will be received by none but them whom the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of that they should not see the things that belong unto their Peace And Edward Dod being sensible that he and all his Stuff or he and all his Arguments were carried captive and became a Booty and a Prey he is glad that any will step in and rescue him and flattereth R. I. and saith I am engaged to you to imbrace you as a precious Friend that of so weak Principles as mine have raised so perfect a Structure so absolute rational and demonstrative that more need not to be done Answ. R. I. his Vindication hath not redeemed E. D. his Principles at all but rather hath laboured in vain and spent his Strength for naught and hath brought forth such a Birth as sober men will blush at made up of Ignorance Blasphemy Derision and Lyes which they that have the least Moderation will abhor and detest and the Principles of E. D. and R. I. are not only weak and feeble but wicked and impious as is manifest in what hath been declared and the Structure that R. I. hath made is but builded with untempered Mortar Lyes Falshood Error false Doctrine which the stormy Wind of the Lord will rent and scatter and confound and exalt his Truth above it all But Edward Dod saith What can be said to reduce such a People I know not since so many convincing Arguments cannot prevail alas poor Men whether would you reduce us or bring us back to the slime Pits of Sodom where Edward Dod fell with his Stuff or turn us back again to Images Pictures and Crosses to Mass-houses Hirelings and Tythes to Lace Ribbons and Cuffs which both E. D. and R. I. have strongly pleaded for as faithful Servants to their Master who would not have him loose a Foot of his Territories however Edward Dod hath resolved to continue one in Life and death with R. I. who hath shaken Hands with the Prince of darkness and made a Covenant with death which must be broken and though S. S. E. D. and R. I. joyn Hand in Hand yet the wicked shall not go unpunished fore-very one shall receive a Reward according to their Works And so I have done with R. I. his Book called Ignis fatuus whose Arguments false doctrines errors and lyes are disolved into nothing his 〈◊〉 made void his Ignorance made manifest his false doctrine brought to Light and reproved by the Word of Truth only I shall return him a few of his Lyes back again for him 〈…〉 the second time and repent of them and remember the Sentence for all Lyars is The Lake that burneth Rev. 22.15 First That their Worship differs not in whole nor in Part in Matter nor in Manner from the Churches in the Primitive Times Secondly According to the Scriptures their whole Worship is framed Thirdly That Jezabel was never more madder against the Prophets then these Quakers are against Christ's Ministers Fourthly The Quakers contemn Magistracy and infect the Common-wealth with Faction Fifthly That the Quakers burnt some Houses at Oxford Sixthly That Timothy and Titus were setled in a Parochial Way in their Quarters Seventhly That F. H. complains of the Darkness of the Sun when the Fault is in his own Eyes Eighthly
New Covenant and the Everlasting Gospel proved out of the Scripture and Antiquity 19. Respecting of Persons and Complemental Bowings and worshipping of one another and flattering Titles are no good Manners but are in the Transgression and have been anciently reproved and condemned 20. University and Schools of Natural Learning are of no Use as to the making of Ministers of Christ in the Primitive Times but a Thing introduced and brought in in latter Ages by the Apostates who had erred from the Spirit who admired and set up Natural Languages and Philosophy that thereby they might be furnished to make Discourses Speeches and Sermons to get Money by and as they are holden up at this Day are made an absolute Idol and as to their Practice it 's generally known to be prophane and no Way meet to advance the Church of Christ. THE GLORY OF THE True Church DISCOVERED As it was in its PURITY IN THE PRIMITIVE TIMES CHAP I. The State of the true Church from the manifestation of Christ in the Flesh to the End of the Apostles Dayes briefly discovered GOd according to his determinate Will and everlasting Counsel in the Fulness of time sent his only begotten Son into the World to be the Light of the World and to be a Leader to the People and to be a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World who obeyed the VVill of the Father in all things according as it was testified of him by Moses and the Prophets and as it was said by David concerning him In the Volumn of the Book it is written concerning me I come to do thy Will O God Psal. 40.7 and so he did as it was written of him he fulfilled all Righteousness and ended all the Types and Figures and Shadows and VVorship of the first Covenant as the Apostle testifieth of him Heb. 7.21 The Law was changed and the Priesthood changed in that they were but Figures and Shadows of good things to come and in regard that they were faulty and did not make the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but the bringing in of a better Hope did and the better Covenant to wit the Covenant of Life and Peace which the Prophets by the Spirit had testified of from Moses to Samuel and till John and John likewise bore Testimony of him who was the Lamb of God that took away the sins of the VVorld John 1.29 36. And now he being come to whom the Prophets testified who was not made by a carnal Commandment as was Aaron and the rest of the Priests under the Law but after the Power of an endless Life offered up himself once for all putting an End to all the Offerings of the first Covenant for the perfecting them that are Sanctified Heb. 10.14 Now he being come into the Fulness of time manifest according to the Testimony of the Prophets he fulfilled all things which the Prophets testified of him and his VVorks did testifie of him that he was the Son of God now he declared the VVill of the Father and discoursed with them who were Doctors and Ministers of the Covenant declaring unto them divers times and shewing unto them in divers places that the Kingdom of God was at hand and to be manifest in Power and testified of himself and the Father also with him and his Works declared the same that he was the everlasting high-Priest which put an End to all the first Priesthood Covenant and Ordinances thereof and he preached the Word of the Kingdom and declared against them who sticked behind in the Figures and Types and Shadows and did reprove them to wit the professors of the first Covenant who were Searchers of the Scriptures and said you will not come unto me that you may have Life I am the Bread of Life that came down from above and came to fulfil the Law and all Righteousness and to publish the Word of Faith which did not make void the Law but establish it which was new And so he said while you have the Light believe in the Light that you may be the Children of the Light and this he spoke to the Pharisees which had the Law and the Prophets and were acting in the Types and Figures which are Shadows of the thing it self but not the very thing but he preached the very thing the Word of the Kingdom the Word of Power the Word of Life and many were quickned by it in their Hearts and Minds who believed and heard the Voice of him who was the Son of God and so came to live who could not be made alive in the exercising themselves in the Ordinances and many believed in him and he chose unto him Disciples who believed in him and sent them out to preach Repentance and to begin at Jerusalem though they were the chiefest Professors and Ordinance-Men and were for Conformity to the Ordinances of the first Covenant yet Repentance was to be preached to them and the first Principles of Religion though they had been and were the greatest Professors and Observers of the Ordinances of the first Covenant that were in the Earth at that time And afterwards he sent out Disciples and gave them Commandment to preach disciple all Nations in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost and these which he sent out to preach the Gospel unto whom he gave Power to cast out Devils and work Miracles prophesied after a Season the Word of the Kingdom both to Jews and Gentiles according as the Prophets had testified and these who were sent out and made Ministers by the holy Ghost and received Gifts from the holy Ghost for the Work of the Ministry they preached not up the Ordinances of the first Covenant but preached Christ the everlasting Covenant and the Power of God and the VVisdom of God for the Remission of Sin and the word of Faith they declared in the Mouth and in the Heart and went not to Tables of Stone to direct People thither but to bring People to believe in him who was the Light of the World and lighteth every Man that cometh into the World that all Men through him might believe And many did believe in him who was the Covenant and did believe through the Apostles words who were commissionated and fitted for the work of the Ministry and through their words which they declared many did believe both of Jews and Gentiles and as many of the Jews as did believe separated from the Temple Priests Sacrifices Ordinances of the first Covenant and they met together in Houses and other Places Aâ—ts 20.7 Chap. 28.30 31. And the Gentiles which believed separated from their dumb Idols after which they had been led formerly and from their Temples and ceased any more to offer unto Idols and they met together at certain Places in Towns and Cities not only at Jerusalem but also at Antioch Colosse Thessalonica Corinth and divers other Places which were long to enumerate Acts 11.9 chap. 17.1 2. chap. 18.4 But
and because all these things did not make perfect aâ— pertaining to the Conscience and was to continue but for a time until the time of Reformation and then an End of the Temple Priests and Worship of the Singers and Porters and Organs and stringed Instruments as in matter of Worship an End was put to all these when he was offered up that perfecteth forever them that are sanctâ—fiâ—d And the Christians and true Believers in the Primitive times who had received the Spirit in which they did rejoyce in and with what Words the Spirit was pleâ—sed to utter and they thâ—t had received the holy Ghâ—st did joy in the holy Ghost and they that did sing sang in the Spiriâ— and with the Spirit and with Understanding from the feeling of the living which they had in their hearts of God's Preâ—ence and his Assurance and he that had a Psalm might sing but all thâ— Church did not sing together a Psalm was a Gift of the Spirit every one had it not there was diversity of Gifts and diversity of Operations Prophecy Interpretation and a Psalm were Gifts which were received from the Spirit and not by tradition 1 Cor. 14.15 Ephes. 5.19 James 5.13 And they that overcame and were redeemed from the Earth who had followed the Lamb who had given the Victory over Sin Death and they Grave the sang a new Song which none could learn but those whose Names were written in the Lamb's book of Life Rev. 1.2 3. 19.1 6. and these were the Songs of the Redeeâ—â—d which God had delivered out of their Enemies Hâ—nds and they were witnesâ—es of his wondrous Works and praised the Lord in the Spirit and with understâ—nâ—ing and did not get a Form of Words of Daviâ—'s Words which he spake after his Victories and Triumphs over his Enemies and also they prayed in the Spirit and with Understaning and spoke as it gave utterancâ— and as they were moved by the holy Ghost were not limited as how short or how long but aâ— the Spirit gave Utterrance and not limited to hours and set times but when the Spirit of God which they had received moved thereunto and then their Prayers were accepted and were as sweet Incense Rev. 5.8 8.3 4. and were not stinted to set hours but as they saw in the Wisdom of God and were moved by his Spirit But since the Apostacy that the Spirit hath been lost by many and the Power some of the Form retained and then they began to imitate three times a day and seven times a day but Mâ—ttens at set times and hours was appointed by Hierome as Polidore and others say Also the Heathen they had Mattens as Apuleus saith which they sung at divers times of the day and so sorted the Hours of the day for Sacrifices which they did offer unto their Idols Pelagius the second was the first that command-Priests to say them daily and said as the just man falleth seven times so by instant Prayers and Mattens he might as often rise and amend Urbanus the second ordained the Mattens called the Ladies Mattens to be said daily and confirmed them in a Council which he had at Mount Clear in France and Damasus Bishop of Rome gave Commandment that Mattens should be said or Sung in all Churches and added Gloria Patrito the end of every Psalm Damasus also instituted that Psalms should be said or sung by Course Damâ—sus also commanded that the Creed should be said every hour And Vitilianus invented the decent times wherewith the Hymns be Sung and joyned the Organs but there were divers and sundry manners of Prayers and Forms and Mattens and singing devised by many as Bennets Monks had one use and Bernard another and Dominicks Brethren had one order by themselves and every Provincial Bishop made a several use in his Diocess and all was confirmed by the Bishop of Rome Telesphorus appointed that Lent should be kept before Easter and added another Week to it which we call Quinquagâ—sima and this Week he commanded Priests to Fast more then the Laity and thus one runs into one Invention after another and hath brought in all this mountain of Darkness so that the Practice of these things since the Apostles dayes hath been much what corrupted and Imitation at the best without Life and are either from the Jews and their Worship or from the Heathen or from their own Inventions and Imaginations which are many in their Mattens and their Prayers that at last Beads were glad to be got to tell them and so all who view these things and see them to be in the Apostacy come out from among them and them that are joyned to Idols let them alone and keep your selves from them and compare but the Worship and Practice of the Primitive times in the Apostles dayes with all this which hath been brought in since part of which is here Demonstrated much more might be said but you will see that these Practices are not Apostolical neither agreeable with the purest times but People have been corrupted with them and made two-fold worse then before And as concerning the Mass and Letany which are used in many Congregations there hath been so many Authors about patching them up that they are almost past numeration but take a short hint of the forming of them up near unto the Apostles time although they did celebrate the Sacrament as it was called it was done with little mixture or Ceremony but only repeating the Words of Christ and after the Consecration they joyned to it the Pater-noster Celestinus ordained some Prayers that the Priest should say when he revesteth himself to Mass or putting on his Cloaths and began Juâ—ica me Domine c. And in the Church of Greece they sang when the People Assembled together Damasius instituted the confession at the Beginging of the Mass and Gorgius caused confession to be said nine times over in the Latine-Church Gregory in excelsis is ascribed unto Telesphorus and Hilarius and also Telesphorus ordained Epistles and Gospels and Damasiâ—s divided them as they are read at this Day in the reformed Churches and Anastâ—sius ordained that People should stand at the Gospel Marcus ordained the first Part of the Creed to be read after it was made by the Council of Nice and the second Part and Spiritum Sanctum that the Council at Constantinople composed Eutichianus instituted the Oâ—â—ertory to be sung while the People offerâ—d something to the poor Galesius mâ—de the Prefaces in the Beginning they used but one Ansekius added the Sanâ—â—us out of the Prophet Isaiah burning of Incense that which was occupied in the old Testament by Aaron and the Panims in their superstitious Rites Leo the third ordained it to be had in the Latine-church and privity of Mass called the common was made by divers Persons as Galatius made Te igitur Satitious added Communicantes and Alexander made Qui pridie Hanc igitur Leo joyned to
take you into my Rest and Peace out of the Reach of the Oppressor Sixthly For the frustrating of the Purpose of them who decreed that unrighteous Decree for Banishment that it may not profit them neither answer their End and Unrighteousness the Lord the Lord hath cut them short of their Purpose and will cut them short of their Hope and in the End bring their Council to nought for that which is formed against the Lord shall not prosper Seventhly For the hardening the Hearts of this Generation who have devised Mischief from the Womb and have gone astray as soon as they were born after so many Warnings and evident Tokens of his Hand against them and of his Displeasure which have been set at nought and yet are resolved to go on to root out the Heritage of God I say that their Hearts might be hardened and their Eyes closed that they may not discern betwixt the End of the Righteous and the Wicked nor see a Difference in their States but as one dyes so dyes the other as to the outward Appearance though you beloved know a Difference both in Life and Death and I do believe many who have laid down the Body and put off this earthy Tabernacle have given great Testimony of God's Love unto them of his Favour Peace and Acceptation in the latter End in this which I have said I am satisfied and therefore could not but signifie the same unto you that we might not sorrow concerning them that dye in the Faith and sleep in Christ as them who are without Hope for these rest from their Labours and their Faith Works and Life shall live and we have and enjoy their Spirit and Life so it is only personal Absence of this earthly Tabernacle that we want so in that be comforted Last of all The Wayes of the Lord are unsearchable but as he reveals them to them that fear him and whatever may be manifest to any other this I am certainly perswaded of that God will have Honour and Glory through all these things as it shall be in the End for the Prosperity of the Gospel of Truth and I am perswaded of this though the Lord should permit many to be destroyed outwardly of all they enjoy yet they are resolved to trust in him forever And though the Day be dark and gloomy and the Devil be let loose to try the Faith of them that dwell upon the Earth and the Wrath of the Wicked be great yet the Bond is set that they cannot pass and though we that yet remain alive to this Day were all dissolved and rowled together in the Dust which is the End of all Flesh yet that Life and Power which we have believed in and that everlasting Truth which we have testified of and suffered for shall never be extinguished or rooted out but shall take up other Persons and Bodies from Generation to Generation while Sun and Moon endureth in this be all assured and comforted in the Lord and chearful in your Sufferings and comfort and strengthen one another in the royal Seed of God all live and dwell which cannot bow to the Seed of the Bond-woman which hath the Promise of Life and Immortality and everlasting Blessedness and all look unto the Lord over all and above all the Rage and Wrath of the Enemy and the Afflictions of this present Life and feel that which is without End The God of Power be with you comfort your in the midst of all your Tryals and preserve you that your Faith fail not is the earnest Desire of him whose Heart is knit unto the Lord and all his suffering People in the everlasting Covenant of Life and Peace pray all unto the Lord without ceasing that you may be able though through the Valley of the Shadow of Death the Peace of God fill all your Hearts that you may rejoyce in the Lord and trust in him forever The 16th of the 8th Moneth 1665. Yours in Life or Death F. H. OATHS NO Gospel-Ordinance But prohibited by CHRIST BEING IN ANSWER TO A. SMALLWOOD D. D. To his Book lately published being a Sermon preached at Carlile 1664 wherein he hath laboured to prove Swearing lawful among Christians his Reasons and Arguments are weighed and answered and the Doctrine of Christ vindicated against the Conceptions and Interpretations of Men who would make it void By a Sufferer for Christ and his Doctrine F. H. Because of Oaths the Land mourneth Jer. 23.10 11 12 c. By Swearing and lying and kâ—lâ—ing and stealing and committing Adultery they break out and Blood toucheth Blood therefore shall the Land mourn and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish Hosea 4.2 3. TO THE READER TRuth never had that Advantage nor Countenance from the Men of this World though Wise in their Generation since Sin entered into it to have the Approbation of the World neither of the Powers and Potentates thereof for it alwayes hated the Truth because it bore Witness against the World and the Deeds and Works thereof which ere evil for Wisdom is only justified of her Children and Truth is justified of her Children neither indeed doth it need any other Patron to shelter it self under but the God of all Truth from whence it proceeds neither shall I seek a Shelter neither run to any Mountain or Hill for Safety or Protection nor to the mighty of the Earth as many of latter Dayes have done to patronize their Labours and to make them the more acceptable and to be the sooner and more readily received But seeing the Apostle saith Not many Wise not many Rich not many Noble are chosen but he hath chosen the Weak and Poor and despised of the World who are Rich in Faith and good Works who are Heirs of the Promise and of the the World to come I chuse only to be approved to the Witness of Christ's Light in every Man's Conscience and to the Measure of his holy Spirit which he hath placed in every Man to that only I desire to be either approved or else by it reproved for wholly unto the Judgment of that in every Conscience I appeal and do commend this ensuing Discourse in the Sight of God and the Answer unto A. Smalwood's Book who hath sought to make void Christ's Command for to obey the Command of Men as is manifest in his Epistle Dedicatory to the Gentlemen of Cumberland for it seems by his Epistle they put him on Work to preach and print this Sermon whether upon this Subject or not I shall not determine but however he saith He hath obeyed their Commands though he hath laboured as much as in him lyes to make the Command of Christ void and the Apostles Doctrine by his Arguments which he hath raised to prove Christ's Doctrine one thing and his Intention another and so would blind the Minds of People only to establish the Doctrines of Men and the Traditions of Men in the Apostacy and hath put divers Constructions upon the
denyes the veracity of his word or the immutability of the most high yet notwithstanding I cannot set up the changeable Priesthood and Covenant and the Ordinances belonging thereunto against the unchangeable and everlasting Priesthood and Covenant and as hath been said before as though that all the precepts therein were so unalterable as that of necessity they must needs continue as obligatory to Generations I might truss up together many Scriptures and thwack them one on the Back of another which belong to the Jews and the first Covenant most properly till the Seed Christ was revealed and offered up and I might bring in Scripture to prove that many things were commanded by the immutable God and by him who is uncapable of alteration and multiply many words as A. S. doth to little purpose and say what was written in the old Testament was by the Inspiration of God and that his precepts are no more alterable then the Laws of the Medes and Persians and therefore they must needs still be observed by all Christians to the World's end or else conclude they that do not are atheistical and deny God's veracity and make the Law of God void and what would all this in arguing prove nothing at all the Jews will confess as much and plead as hard as A. S. can who yet have not believed in him of whom the Prophets prophesied neither have received him who is the Substance of what Moses and the Prophets bore witness and in whom the Law is fulfilled and the Promises made good and confirmed with and in whom all the Shadows end and the vail done away and all the Worship precepts belonging thereunto who hath manifested and revealed the Father in all that believe who is the new and living way whose Worship is not now in the Letter nor in the Shadows nor Types nor in any outward Observations but in Spirit truth is he worshipped for he seeketh such to Worship him for the great Promise of reward was to as ever was to Swearing yet when they resisted him whom the Father had sent all their observances though never so strict did not avail but their Circumcision became Uncircumcision and their Worship and service became Prophaneness when they despised the substance by whom Grace and Truth came to all the Children of promise and we grant with A. S. that he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it and to end both Sin and Transgression and the Law which was added because of it and to bring in everlasting Righteousness and it to rule in the Hearts of all that believe and against such there is no Law and though Christ enjoyned the Disciples Mat 23. to observe what the Scribes and Pharisees bad them who sate in Moses's Chair and read the Law and performed those services in part commanded that was the time before he was offered up and the Ministration of that Covenant was not fully ended yet I hope A. S. with us will grant that they were not to heed them or to obey them in their vain traditions and false glosses and Interpretations and Evil manners which he cryed wo against Mat. 23.13 14. neither after his Resurrection did he enjoyn them to hear the Pharisees neither to observe the Legal Ordinances of the first Priesthood but they declared against them and their practice which continued in the Observation of those things which did not make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience Heb. 8.9 Heb. 9.9 and for all these Texts he alledges out of the Old Testament Mat. 6.13 Psal. 63.11 Jer. 12.16 unto these it hath been answered that this proves nothing that Christians under the second Covenant should Swear as they did in the first for these Precepts were only to keep them from Idolatry for Jer. 12.16 If you will diligently learn the wayes of my People to Swear by my Name the Lord liveth as they taught my People to Swear by Baal then shall they be Builded in the midst of the People And the 6th of Deut. 13.14 is to the same Effect You shall fear the Lord and serve him and Swear by my Name And Verse the 14. Ye shall not go after other Gods All these only prove that the Nations went after other Gods and Sware by them and served them and Israel too prone to follow their manners did so also and therefore he gave them these Precepts to serve him and fear him and acknowledge him to keep them from Idolatry as hath been said in the state of their Minority and weakness and that before the Seed was revealed and that which A. S. calls a Prophecy by Isa. 19.18 of Christians Swearing under the Gospel it 's no such thing but a Prophesie of Egypt his joyning to the Jews and owning their Worship and their God and acknowledge him and do Sacrifice and Oblation yea and vow a vow unto the Lord and perform it ver 21. Which clearly hath relation to the Law and the Worship of the Jews and not to the Gospel so that A. S. might have as well said it was a promise how Christians under the Gospel should offer Sacrifice and Oblations as under the Law as well as Swear But the Doctor hath traversed many Paths which are crooked winding and turning to gather something together and hath fetched it far to prove Swearing under the Gospel but all his proof falls short of his matter by much And that of Isaiah 5.23 is a Prophecy of Israel's return out of the Captivity of Babylon in the days of Cyrus whom the Lord called his Anointed and shepherd Isa. 44.28.45 who made a Decree for all Israel to go out of Assyria to Jerusalem and build their City and their Temple and Worship their God according as he had commanded as may be seen at large in the Book of Ezra and Nehemiah and this was fulfilled then when they builded the City and the Temple in those days long before Christ was manifest in the Flesh and then did Israel return and every Knee did bow and every Tongue did Swear by the Lord which before the Captivity had not bowed nor served nor acknowledged his Name but Idols which provoked the Lord and therefore gave he them into the hand of the Babylonians for seventy Years till they were humbled and then brought them back according to Jeremiah Isaiah Haggai and Zachariah's Prophesies for this was fulfilled then is spoken by Isaiah in this Prophesie Isaiah 5. ver 23 24 25. without contradiction to Christ's command and his command entrencheth not upon this prophesie neither doth this make the Gospel thwart the Law beyond all terms of Reconciliation as A. S. vainly suggests in his margent for this Prophesie was fulfilled long before Christ gave forth this command Swear not at all Moreover if this prophesie have any relation to the state of the Christian Church as A. S. supposes upon what Ground I know not saving his own affirmation then we shall consider and see how it is fulfilled under the
Tythes like the Priests of our time but both they and the poor were relieved by Oblations of the People and by such Lands as were given by the Emperors to the several Churches so it was upon this account that Ambrose thus speaks And William Thorp of whom I made mention being examined in the Year 1407. being brought before Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor then of Eâ—gland gives a clear Testimony against Tythes how that they were no Gospel maintenance In his Answer he saith In the new Law neither Christ nor his Apostles took Tythes of the People nor commanded the People to pay Tythes neither to Priests nor Deacons and Christ and his Apostles preached the Word of God to the People and lived of pure Alms of the free gifts but after Christ's Ascension when the Apostles had received the Holy Ghost they travailed with their Hands and afterwards he saith Paul when he was full poor and needy preached among the People He was not chargious unto them but travailed with his Hands not only to get his own living but also to relieve others that were poor and needy And further he saith Tythes were given in the old Law to Levites and Priests but our Priests come not of Levi but since Christ lived and his Apostles by pure Alms or else by the travail of their Hands at the which the Bishop said God's curse have you and yours for this teaching And further William saith Those Priests that challenge to take Tythes deny Christ come in the Flesh unto which the Bishop said heard ye ever Lossel speak thus And further William saith That the covetousness and pride of the Priests destroyes the Virtue of the Priesthâ—od and also stirreth up God's Vengeance both upon Lords and Commons who suffer these Priests charitably And the Arch-Bishop said Thou judgest every Priest proud that will not go arrayed as thou dost By God I deem him to be more meek that goeth every â—ay in his Scarlet Gown then thou in thy thred bare blew Gown an Answer much like a tything Priest but I refer the Reader to the whole testimony of William Thorp which is large in the Book of Martyrs David Pareus in his Commentary upon Gen. 28.21 22. saith Tythes or Tâ—nths were freely arbitrary a Man might give them a Man might vow them or he might not as he pleased before the Law but under the Law they were commâ—nded to be given to the Priests and Levites hence saith he our Clergy-men infâ—r if they were so of old then they are so now but this doth not follow sâ—ith he they had a divine ceremonial Right but that is now ceased they had Tythes as a Compensation of that lot they should otherwise have in Land ours not so ouâ—s have Towns Villages Mannours yea Coutries and Provinces nor is there any end of their insatiable Covetousness and he concludes when the Levitical Priesthâ—od did cease then did Right of that Priesthood cease and the Right of Tythes did revert to God as Governour and Soveraign of the World Great and large are the Testimonies that might be given both out of Ancient and modern Writers who were the clearest in their Judgements in their Age against Tythes how that they were no Gospel-maintenance neither of Divine Right to belong to any Ministry under the Gospel who professeth Christ come in the Flesh What I have said in this particular might be sufficient seeing so large things by other Pens have been declared but I am the more willing to instance divers Authors who by our Protestants are owned as orthodox that they may be convinced that it is not a new Doctrine for which we suffer the spoiling of our Goods and our persons imprisoned but that Tythes have been testified against by many faithful in Ages past who died in the Faith who though they be dead yet their testimony liveth and will stand through Ages even forever take this of the primitive Bishop Antonius de Dominis the learned Bishop of Spalato de Repub. Eccles. Lib. 9. Christ himself though he were Lord of Heaven and Earth and the Fulness thereof yet would he not be possessed of great Lands and Incomes though he seeminly complained the Fowls of the Air have Nests and Foxes Holes but the Son of Man not where to rest his Head Luke 9.58 Yet did he not imbetter his Condition although to the effecting thereof there needed no more then that he should will it to be so nor did he demand Tythes though a Priest after the order of Melchizedeck indubitably but while be went through the Cities and Countries preaching the Gospel and instructing man for the Kingdom of Heaven and twelve with him several Women Mary Magdalen Joana Susan and others did minister unto him of their Substance Luke 8.1 2. Nor did he otherwise instruct his Disciples who were to be Embassadors on Earth towards Man-kind In the Beginning when he sends them out he did not bid them for to receive Tythes or teach People to pay them but bids them to live upon Alms carry not with you Gold nor Silver or any money in your Purses not a Scrip not two Coats not a Staff supernumerary for the Labourer is worthy of his Meat Mat. 10.9 The Disciples of Christ being thus taught by their great Master forsaking their livelihood and earthly Possession presumed upon the Goodness of God who would not so have sent them abroad but that he would dispose the Hearts of men accordingly in order to their Subsistance so they relied upon their Converts for their necessary Supplies and received the Benevolence of several pious men and Women who ministred unto them for so saith Paul have not I Power to eat and to drink have not I Power to lead about a Woman or a Sister as do the other Apostles and the Brethren of our Lord and Cephas 1 Cor. 9.5 He at large and very clearly sheweth how they who sow spirituâ—l ought to reap temporal things If one should ask the Ministry of thiâ— Age by what Right they claim Tythes they cannot say by a bettter Right then the Apostles had nor I hope will not for they pretend to be but Successors of them and if the Extent of their Commission be required you shall have it in these Words forthwith As my Father sent me so send I you or the like but if one ask if they will stand to this in all respects I have little Hope they will comply in Point of maintenance I have good ground so to judge even many at this day who have in time past vaunted and boasted of their call and Ministry and have thrown many in prison for these popish Tythes Now when thâ—y are like to be taken from them would give over publication of their Gospel if they knew how to subsist for their Books and Bellies which demonstrates that they had no mission from God or else why should taking of Tythes away from them invalidate it or do they judge all are
converted there is no more Work Now such will be tryed who have boasted of calls and Commissions and if all were gone they would preach for nothing or freely without Gifts I am afraid we shall hardly find one of five hundred but will rather then quite cease the gainful Trade traffick in such Merchandize as the time allows though they must now be content with eight for a night-wake and four for churching of a Woman and sâ—xpence for roading over a Grave or Tythe-egges at Eâ—ster and rather then they dare stand Christ's allowance will take this and such allowance as can be gotten under Hand and Seal as the time will afford them but to return to that which was in my Heart to shew out of Antiquity Tythes no Gospel mâ—intenance Prosper saith They do live upon the Gospel who will be Propriators of nothing who neither have nor desire to have any thing not possessing their own but the Common Goods what is it to live of the Gospel but that he who lâ—bours should receive necessary Supplies by them amonâ—st whom he labours without forcâ—ng though Paul himâ—elf would not make use of hâ—s Permission lest he should create an Offencâ— bâ—t laboured with his Hands being a Tent-maker and they that would receive it by voluntary Contributions were the Apostles and others who laboured in the Gospel Cyril of Alexandria speaking upon that Passage of Abraham Gen. 14 23. who after he had gained Victory over the King of Sodom's Enemies and rescued Lot when the King offered him part of the Spoils he would receive nothing but a few Victuals though saith he the holy Teachers do war in the behalf of perishing mankind and thouâ—h they undergo much pains yet do they not take anythâ—ng from the men of the World nor do they heap up unto themselves riches lest the World should say I have made you rich they only ought to receive their Sustenance from the Hands of those whom they have benefited for it is Christ's Command saith he that he who teacheth the Gospel should live thereby So that it is evident that very many of Ancient Fathers whom this Generation of Teachers have talked so much on did deny Tythes and forced mâ—intenance from the World but in this Point it is like they may be judged for erroneous or weak sighted as they do the Quakers or mâ—n of weak Understanding but I see many will trâ—duce them in Words but few in practice Peâ—er and John say Silver and Gold have I none Behold the riches of those who were Priests of Christ but let us quickly aply these things saith he unto ourselves who are prohibited by the Law of Christ if we have any Regard thereunto to have possessions in the Country or Houses in the City what do I say Possessions Houses no not to multiply Coats or Money if we have Food and Raiment let us be there with content Hierom writing to Nepotianus a Clergy-man doth much extol â—he Poverty of the Clergy As a Levite and a Priest saith he I love and am supplied with the Oblations of the Altar having Food having Cloath I will be content therewith and naked follow the naked Cross I beseech you that you would not transform our spiritual Warfare into a carnal one nor Imagine yourself in the Clergy as if you were in an Army getting Spoils nor seek after no more then whâ—n you came first into the Clergy lest it be said to you their Lot shall not profit them The Alâ—igenses Bedemontane Protestants have preserved their Religion incorrupt longer then any Church with a Ministry endowed with Tythes and Hire in the World and likewise the primitive times never wanted able Teachers as the best Histories say although they lived either upon their Labour or the free Offering of them that were converted and were not so disquieted with political complying Opinions and Curiosities and Niceties and Distinctions and Contentions until Constance began to enrich and give Lands and great Revenues to the Church and then they began to side and controvert in state matters and grew into Pride Idleness and Fulness insomuch that Histories say a Voice was heard from Heaven This Day hath Poyson been shed in the Church So you Protestants view over your Fathers whom the Ministers have talked on and so now if they will own their Practice so as to walk in it and let them never be reckoned as Ministers of Christ more who cannot be content with his allowance and let forcing alone about maintenance and the Tythes alone to the Priest of the first Covenant and let baâ—gaining alone for Wages and seek not Hire of them you work not for and if your Gospel will not maintain you you have good cause to question it whether it be the very same the Apostles preached and the primitive Fathers and never such a cry be heard more among People for maintenance and hire for wages and Tythes but he that hath the Gospel let him preach the Gospel and live of the Gospel not upon Tythes and forced maintenance and set stipends for the Gospel condemns this a Cloud of Witnesses is against it both in former and latter Ages yea it is inconsistent unto Reason to require Tythes in this Age by the Ministry First the Levites were one of the twelve Tribes if they were not the twelfth Part of the People but so are not the Priests now Secondly They had no Portion among the rest of the Tribes but the Teachers and Priests now have equal to other men in Lands and Revenues Thirdly The Priests were but to have the Tenth of all clean things but now clean and unclean Beasts Birds and Fowls Pigs Eggs Turnips and every thing which were not tythable under the Law Fourthly Their Service was great at the Tabernacle and Temple and in time of the War in sojourning it is not so with Priests who stay over a few Families all their Life long Fifthly Seeing the Service is abrogated for which the Levites had Tythes and none of the Service performed now no Reason that Tythes should be required now when the Work is not done unto which the Tythes belonged Sixthly The Levites were of Aaron's Priesthood of which Tribe Christ came not but of the Tribe of Judah but these Priests are not after Aaâ—â—n nor Levi neither their Successors therefore have no Right to Tythes Seventhly That which was given by the Command of God only to Aaron and his Sons and Levites and never to any other Priesthood or Ministry now seeing the Law is changed and the Priesthood changed Christ being câ—me these Priests are unreasonable who demanded them contrary to the Command of God which belongs only to that Priesthood CHAP. XIX Respecting of Persons and Complemental Bowing and worshipping one another and flattering Titles no good Manners but are in the Transgression and have been anciently reproved and condemned ALthough this Generation have so far run after every Invention and vain Custom and Tradition into Complements