be neither they nor their Minister understands what he reads nor they what they hear No more then the Eunuch did that was reading the Prophet Isaiah but confessed he understood not that which he read Acts 8.30 31 34 35. Be not angry with me I pray you for I have not spoken to upbraid you for at my heart I am sorry for you for it is a miserable thing to be learned in the Letter onely or to be a Minister of the Letter onely and no more or to be a hearer onely of the Letter and not to be acquainted with Jesus Christ in the Spirit The Eunuch he read the Letter as the most in our times do and neither he nor they understand the minde of God in the Letter The Eunuch he read of Jesus Christ before he was come into the flesh As a sheep led unto slaughter and like a lamb dumb before the shearer so opened he not his mouth Now in our times we read that Jesus Christ hath come in the flesh and is gone again and now he is to be looked for in the Spirit and of this the most in our times are as ignorant as the Eunuch was nay some in our days will jeer at the Spirit which the Eunuch did not We indeed can read so many letters as to make up two or three words as Jesus Christ our Lord and this is as common as the Light and doth distinguish us from the Turks And though we may read the Word of God and the words of Christ yet I and our reading Ministers of the Common-Prayer Book nay our Preaching Ministers may remain as ignorant as the Eunuch did for he read but he understood not what he read until the Spirit said unto Philip go and guide him that he may understand what he reads Nay it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ alone that opens the understandings of men to understand the Scriptures as you may read Luke 24.45 CHAP. XII The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. Phil. chap. 1. Acts 8.35 Mark 14.3 Acts 17.22 23. Jere. 50.6 2 Cor. 3.6 2 Cor. 12.14 15. 1 King 18.23 24 25 26 27 29 33 38. Phil. 1.15 16. 3.2 Jere. 4.22 5.31 Ezek. 34.2 3 4. Phil. 3.18 19. Luke 4.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Nehe. 8.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Matth. 7.21 22 23. Isai 29.11 12. Mark 14.3 Luke 6.45 46. 1 Cor. 14.14 15. Rom. 8.26 27. Rom. 7.4 6. Act. 2.13 15 16 17. 26.24 25. 1 King 22.26 27. Matth. 27.63 John 17.21 23 24. Ephes 4.23 24. 2 Cor. 6.16 Psal 25.14 Ephes 3.3 4 to the end Colos 2.9 10. John 1.16 17. Ezek. 2.1 2. Psal 82.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Jere. 31.23 24 25 26. Psal 85.1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 13. Prov. 8.14 15 16. James 3.17 1 Pet. 4.14 15 16 19. Luke 3.14 Isai 9.6 Luke 10.6 John 11.27 Luke 10 38 39 40 41 42. Luke 10.40 41. John 4.24 James 1.17 John 14.10 11. Heb. 11.27 Col. 2.9 10. 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Joh. 3.9 Act. 2.24 Acts 2.36 Revel 1.11 1 Tim. 1.17 Joh. 1.13 14. Matth. 5.48 Colos 1.17 18. Revel 19.12 13. 1 Corinth 1.24 Colos 2.3 Matth. 1.21 Heb. 7.25 26. Heb. 9.14 Acts 20.28 Ephes 2.15 Psal 113.6 7 8. John 10.29 30. John 16.32 Iohn 11.42 Acts 2.22 23. 4.26 27 28. Iohn 19.10 11. Psal 35.19 20. 2 Thes 2.3 4. 1 Iohn 4.2 3. Acts 4.27 30. Luke 1.31 32 35. Mark 12.4 5 6 7 8. Acts 4.25 26 27. Acts 2.36 Iohn 11.47 48. NOw I shall crave leave for to whisper a word or two in the ear of those that are Ministers of the Common-Prayer Book or some others that can Preach yet are like unto them My two words are these There are three sorts of Ministers The first is The Ministers of Christ and those that he doth send are lively spiritual and soul-comforting Ministers And the second sort is the Magistrate Now these two sorts are true Ministers of God But there is a third sort of Ministers which lyes between the true Ministers and the Magistrate And these men are imitating Ministers like unto those that Paul speaks of in the first of the Philippians Some saith he read Christ even out of envy and some saith he preach Christ out of envy and strife and out of ostentation and for the applause of men or else they would not take that humming of the simple people as they do for when they have spoken a word that doth tickle their brain then the most of the people cry a hum and say O he is a brave Schollar And thus they read and preach in a plausible way and in an historical way full of legality Object but little or no spirituality Now I know that some will object and say That knowledg comes by reading but it seems that I would deny the use of such means as the reading of the Service Book I answer Answ Use reading by all means for Christ bids us search the Scriptures but a Minister onely of the Common-Prayer Book cannot search the Scriptures for he can but onely read them and so can I at home as well as he doth at Church But you will object and say Object Though I can read them at home yet there are thousands of men and women in this Kingdom that cannot read at all is it not fit then that they should come to Church and hear the Minister read over the Service Book and say some Prayers I answer Answ It is fit that they should come and it is fit that such as cannot read should not be so slightly put off as with bare reading of the Word but with reading and expounding and instructing out of the Word of God as Philip did to the Eunuch Act. 8.35 It is well if the Book be not sealed so that they cannot expound nor preach Jesus to the people If it should be so then I shall give my second answer That such men or Ministers as these Answ 2 are like unto a man that comes to a Market and brings a box full of very precious commodities and when the people come to hear of the commodities they desire for to see these commodities but he that should shew these commodities hath no key to open this box Now by this Box I mean the Scriptures the Word of God which is full of the precious graces of Jesus Christ But such men as I have spoken of have no key to open this Box they cannot break the bread of life to the hungry people they cannot do so much as Mary Magdalen did for she brake the Box of precious oyntment and poured it on Christs head Mark 14.3 Now the bare Letter of the Scriptures is as a Box and we have many men in this Kingdom that have got this Box and no more I mean the Letter of the Word which being drawn out into a form of the Common-Prayer Book These men are excellent outside men they can read the Letter of the
to take content in outward observations and say O! the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and the ordinances of the Lord are these and yet we know not the good will of him that dwelt in the bush Jere. 7.4 Exod. 3.2 6 7 8. And thus we outwardly appear before men but inwardly we are ignorant of God and of Jesus Christ as it will appear in most Parish Churches for one saith he hath believed ever since he could remember and another she saith she hath as good a heart as the best and another he hopes to be saved for his good meaning and for his good thoughts and another saith he believes as the Church believes and another saith he believes what the Preacher saith and whether it be true or false he cannot tell but God forbid but he should believe his Minister Now such people are soon drawn to a form of Religion of any fashion for as the State changes so they wil change Now there are some others that can talk learnedly they think they know much but indeed and in truth they understand but little of Jesus Christ yet they may have a curious form of Religion and a glossie form of religious words which they may get by a customary way of Religion and by the abilities of nature and by reading in good Books as in a Catechism and the like and so they may speak the words that other men hath labored for and learn them and so much a Parrot may do and doth do Mistake me not I speak not against the using of good Books for I know those that are lame must have a crurch But one word with understanding and grace is better then a thousand words in a Catechism without understanding And so likewise Sect. 2 we may be like to the Jews in seeming to take delight in approaching to God upon our Fasting days as the Prophet Isaiah speaketh Isaiah 58.2 If we do that which is like unto the Jews then we are like unto the Jews and if we do not fast unto the Lord then we do fast unto our selves but if we do fast unto the Lord then what meaneth this bleating of the sheep saith Samuel to Saul what meaneth saith the Prophet Isaiah this putting forth of the finger and speaking against our neighbors and brethren what meaneth this strife and debate and this biting and devouring one another and this smitting with the fist in private Is not this wickedness to bow down our heads as a bull-rush and yet these things remain and we seemingly call upon the Lord. But this is not to fast unto the Lord. Read Zech. 7.5 6 7 8 9 10. Now if it would please God to help us but to keep one right Fasting day then we should loose the bands of wickedness and undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free and break every yoke and deal our bread to the hungry and cover the naked and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother Then this would be a fast unto the Lord and a feast unto men Read Isai 58.6 7. Now the Elders that are not able to feed the flock of God they outwardly appear to be religious before men as Christ speaketh so you may read Matth. 23.27 28. And so saith the Prophet Micah concerning the Prophets and so saith the Lord They make my people erre they seem to be that which they are not that bite with their teeth and cry Peace and he that putteth not into their mouths they even prepare war against him Have not we had many such Prophets and Elders in our days read Micah 3.5 6. And so likewise the Lord takes notice of the people as well as of the Prophets and the Priests The Prophets prophecy falsly saith the Lord and the Priests bear rule by their means and this is a horrible thing committed in the land and my people saith the Lord love to have it so Mark this O ye people of England for the Lord takes notice of you that call truth error and error truth Jere. 5.30 31. Now the Elders that are not able to feed the flock of God and the priests that teach for hire and the heads of the house of Jacob that abhor judgment or neglect to do justice to the poor and so pervert all equity yet saith the Prophet they will lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us none evil can come upon us My desire is that these things were not to be found amongst us at this day read Micah 3.9 10 11 12. Zeph. 3.3 4. Mark what the Prophet Micah saith They lean upon the Lord that is they lean upon the ordinances of the Lord in a carnal way they lean upon being outwardly baptized and the hearing of the Word preached and the outward receiving of the Sacrament and they lean upon Church-fellowship and upon an outward Confession of Faith onely in words But mark now what our Saviour Christ speaks John 6.63 The flesh profiteeh nothing mistake me not I say to lean upon the outside of the ordinances of God profiteth nothing which the most part of the world doth to this day The leaning upon being baptized with water either young or old profiteth nothing but the being baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire that will teach you and help you to profit and that will refine you and thorowly purge your hearts and gather you as good wheat into Christ garner Luke 3.16 17. And so to lean upon the outward preaching of the Word that will not profit us until Christ open our ears and speak in our hearts and say this is the way and I will inable you to walk in this my way and you shall spiritually hear this voice and I will wait saith the Lord to be gracious unto you and I will turn a pure language unto you and you shall serve the Lord with one consent read Isai 35.5 6. 30.18 19 21. Zeph. 3.9 And when this is we shall profit and with Samuel we shall say Speak Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3.9 10. And so likewise to lean upon the outward receiving of the Sacrament it will profit nothing A blinde man that 's bid to a feast though he cannot see the excellence of the feast yet he may tast of the goodness and sweetness of the banquet but in this case of coming to the Sacrament it is otherwise for a man may see carnally but he cannot tast spiritually but he that cannot tast spiritually of the Lords banquet he cannot see spiritually and so he sits naked not having faith to see the want of Christs righteousness and so he sits naked before the King and the Saints Now Christ is the King of this banquet and a man not having faith is speechless when Christ speaks unto him read Mat. 22.11 12. Now a Saint and a true Beleever are in a better condition for they both see and tast of the sweetness of Christ and of the infinite love
not thy brine teares nor thy legal fears nor thy sad countenance when thou makest confession of thy sin not it is not thy saying that thou art sorry for thy sin but it is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 CHAP. VI. The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. John 5.10 16. John 9.16 Isa 581 2. Jere. 7.4 5 6 14. Luke 17.20 Neh. 8.8 Matth. 23.2.3 4. Matth. 15.12 13 14. Phil. 1.16 Phil. 1.15 16 17. Rev. 2.2 Rom. 14.23 Rom. 14.15 2 Thes 2.4 7 8 9 10. Jere. 32.40 41. Ephes 5.27 Rom. 13.5 Dan. 3.18 19 20. 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Rom. 15.23 2 Pet. 2.1 Matth. 17.15 Matth. 7.16 1 Cor. 1.19 20 28 29. Matth. 23.28 Ephes 4.21 22 23 24. Ephes 2.10 Joh. 15.4 5. 1 Cor. 2.9 10 14 15 16. Act. 4.2 3 13 21 23. 1 John 5.20 Nehe. 8.2 3 5 8. Acts 4.13 20. Luke 24.27 Matth. 13.3 34. John 3.3 4. Luke 8.10 Psal 25.14 John 3.1 3 4. Rom. 1.16 Psal 110.2 3. Psalm 116.7 Heb. 10. 2 John 9 Heb. 10.23 Heb. 2.14 Acts 22.22 23. John 4.20 21 22 23 24. Acts 5.45 Isai 29.11 12. Matth. 13.11 Eph. 4.20 21. Matth. 13.34 35. Jere. 1.5 1 Cor. 14.23 24. Rom. 14.19 Jude 1.20 Revel 19.10 1 Cor. 2.10 15 16. Numb 11.29 Luke 10.5 6. Luke 6.22 23 26 1 Thes 2.7 8 9. Acts 20.33 34. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. John 4.10 Revel 5.5 Isai 29.18 23 24. 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Isai 29.11 12. Acts 22.3 4 5. Phil. 3.4 5 6. John 3.1 3 4. Acts 26.9 10 11 12. Luke 7.37 38 47. 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. Cant. 1.2 3. Mark 14.3 4. Matth. 15.1 2. John 7.47 48 49. John 12.42 43. 1 Cor. 13.6 1 Pet. 3.4 2 Pet. 1.7 Matth. 13.27 28 29. Mal. 3.1 2 3 4. Matth. 13.30 James 3.8 9 10. James 3.17 18. John 8.42 John 17.8 Ioh. 16.27 Ioh 15.4 5. Ioh. 14.9 10 11. Phil. 4.13 Gal. 2.20 Gal. 4.19 1 Cor. 6.17 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Ioh. 1.3 Rev. 5.8 9 10 11. Mat. 7.15 Mat. 7.16 2 Pet. 2.3 Eph. 4.14 2 Tim. 3.6 Acts 5.42 Micah 3.5 Mat. 7.15 Col. 2.8 18 22 23. 1 Cor. 2.14 Rom. 8.7 8. Ioh. 16.2 3. Ier. 23.21 30 31. Ioh. 18.2 3. Acts 20.29 Ier. 5.31 Sect. 1 NOw the Pastors and Elders that are not able to feed the flock in a spiritual way are such sent of God or only called of men or by men and no more And if so then what do such men imploy themselves in for the good of the flock In spiritual things they cannot but in external things they do what they can They are strict in visible forms of Religion which have a seeming shew of piety as for instance The Scribes and Pharisees came to Christ to complain of his Disciples that they transgressed the Traditions of the Elders Mat. 15.1 2. Now these Elders did assume unto themselves to be much for the glory and worship of God and to have much zeal for the Sabbath day and yet they knew not Christ the Lord of that day and the Rest of the day but sought to persecute him and to slay him Ioh. 5.10 16. 9.16 And is it not so now in our Kingdom and Cities at this day Do we not seemingly seek and delight to know the ways of God as a Nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of God and take delight in outward approaching to God Isa 58.1 2. And do not we rest upon the outward observations of these things as the Jews did and cry The Temple of the Lord and the ordinances of the Lord are these And thus the Jews did Jer. 7.4 5 6 14. And thus the Pharisees did but Christ told them That the Kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shews Luk. 17.20 And do not the Pastors and Elders of our Kingdom for the most part insist and go on in observations and outward shews which are as wels without water As for instance How many blind and ignorant Ministers have we in the severel parts of this Kingdom and may not one say in this City also that please themselves in outward shews and observations and times and it may be read the book of Homilies and the book of Common prayer But now the time is altered for that yet they have a good mind for to do it stil because they cannot indeed do any thing else as they should do in the work of of the Ministry They cannot pray without a form they can but only read the letter they cannot give the sense of the words they read as Ezra the Priest did Neh. 8.8 And thus the most people are kept in ignorance by those that are only Ministers of letters and no more and may not a boy of eight years old do as much as such men Now the second sort of Ministers are such that have strength of natural parts and no more as a strong memory and a large utterance and the gift of humane learning and the help of a great Library and so sit at that all the week and so by this means a man may get one or two hours discourse for one day in a week Now such men are Ministers only of words And have not we experience abundantly in these our sad times of their frothy and empty words May not one say now of such men as Christ said of the Pharisees They only say Mat. 23.2 3 4. And may not one say Let them alone as Christ said of the Pharisees they be blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind what danger are they both in And are not the most parishes in this Kingdom in such danger and in such a ditch Mat. 15.12 13 14. Witness Cornwal and Wales and Oxfordshire And may not one come neerer even into London and find the most people in most parishes so sotish that they wil be led any way and be pleased with any thing as formerly with the reading of the Common prayer Book which is a form of words that a boy may read And so likewise they wil say such a man is a brave Teacher or an excellent Preacher a great Scholar or a mighty learned man not knowing that Christ may be preached by help of the Natural Arts that are among us though grace may be wanting And thus it comes to pass that Christ is preached out of contention amongst us and not sincerely but in strife as you may see plainly Phil. 1.16 And thus the most people are pleased with outward shews but little acquainted with the true preaching of Jesus Christ which is the inward Substance Now the third sort of Ministers they profess themselves to be of the Kings party and they have their followers and they say they preach the truth and they stand for the truth I ask Is Christ divided whose Ministers you say you are You say those that preach against that which you preach are rebellious for you preach the Truth and you
in your heart read Zech. 7.10 What mean these filthy reproaches you cast upon honest men Mr Edwards I think they were in your heart before they were in your mouth Take heed Mr Edwards and not only you but others as wel as you for it is a dangerous thing to take up a reproach against ones neighbor read that place Psa 15.2 3. Mr Edwards I have drawn up * the Devil Judas the chief Priest and proud Pharisees Cain Pilat the young man in the gospel and so likewise Adam and Eve For they sought to be better then GOD had made them M. Edwards I think you are the fitest to bring up the rear ten Independents into a file an the Devil is their Captain whose works they do Iohn 8.44 And Cain he which slew his brother Gen. 4.8 he is the half file leader and now Mr Edwards you may if you please bring up the rear for that is a Lieutenants place to bring up the rear But I hope you wil be taught to face about and to leave that company as Saul was taught when he was going post to Damascus with his letters read this place Acts 9.1 2 3 4 5 6. And when you are taught thus Mr Edwards then you wil be another manner of man then you are now and so fare you wel for the present Now those that are usually called by the name of Independents whether they be Ministers or other men they are not Independents and this is their vindication which David doth express Lord saith he thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee Psa 119.11 Or rather thus Christ had lodged himself in Davids heart and Christ was a lamp of spiritual light in Davids heart and this light did shine in Davids heart as a bright candle in a clear lanthorn to guide Davids earthly feet and this light did shine as the Sun at noon day in Davids soul and was his light to guide him in his heavenly path-way which way is Christ Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Psa 119.105 John 14.6 Thus much by way of vindication of those which are called by that reproachful name of Independents which wil live under no Government as they say But here I have shewed you what spiritual Government they live under and what light they walk by and depend upon it is even the Light and Government of Christ which the chief Priests and Pharisees those Independents the others which were afore-named would not live under nor endure them that did Witness Cain who slew his brother Gen. 4.8 And witness the chief Priests and Pharisees which consulted that they might put Lazarus to death also Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away from them and beleeved on Jesus John 12.10 11. And thus much shal serve for the internal part of Dependency which those have in Christ and upon Christ which are falsly so called by the name of Independents Now this internal part of wisdom is a mystery which none of the Princes of this world know none of your great learned Rabbies chief Priests and Pharisees know For had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.6 7 8. But I beleeve Christ is a crucifying in his members all Europe over to this very day In the next place these Independents falsly so called and these Antinomians foolishly so called and despised all their Dependency for external things is upon that form of doctrine which Christ taught his Disciples to say Lord give us this day our dayly bread and this is their dayly prayer which you cal the Lords prayer Mat. 6.11 And so likewise they depend upon a word of promise against all their sins and against the devil and wicked men and they hope in a Word that hath power in it to deliver them from all troubles straits and difficulties of what kind soever I wait for the Lord saith David my soul doth wait and in his Word that is in Christ do I hope For in him there is plenteous redemption and he hath redeemed me from all my iniquities Psa 130.5 6 7 8. Sect. 4 And shal such as these be reproached with the name of Independents and Antinomians and called Hereticks and Sectaries and made as loathsom as a plague-sore as Mr Edwards doth in his â—angraena pag. 172. These things ought not so to be In the Prelates time all that went from them were called Separates and Brownists and jeered for Puritans and so now all that are not of the Presbyterians judgment and one with them must be called Independents that would live under no Government or else Antinomians that wil have the Law of God to be no rule to walk by And thus honest men that are sound in judgment are become a scorn and a reproach even among fools and no other name can be given them but these Sectaries these disturbers of the peace Let me speak a word in the behalf of these men that are so reproached They have been faithful to the State in time of trouble they are peaceable among their neighbors they desire the Kingdom may be in peace they are subject to the Magistrate in all lawful demands and for the worship they ow to God I think they are the neerest to the Word of Christ and the practice of the Apostles But if there be any that do walk contrary to found doctrine as I beleeve there are many amongst you Presbyterians both Ministers and people I say the Word of Christ gives neither them nor you any such order I am sorry to hear such reproaching one of another I shal instance in some particulars And the first is this saith one Presbyterian to another you would little think M. Nye the Minister to be a Jesuit and so likewise the many reproaches that have been cast upon Mr Saltmarsh in printed books and by word of mouth a man eminent for meekness of spirit like unto Moses and excellent in the mysteries of the Gospel like unto Paul And so likewise Mr Burton a man wel known he is counted as a mad man and such like reproaches as these may be found in the Gangraena's of Mr Edwards and by word of mouth up and down Put but the name of Antinomian or Independent upon a man and then you may speak as bad of him as you please as some feather-braind poetical man hath done in Print who with his Poet Theam and in his Verse against an Independent as he cals him he sheweth great disdain and in his verse breathes out a Cross and saith Let him be cross'd and hang'd and so I pray That every wilful INDEPENDENT may When once the gallows he is hanging on He hath got something to depend upon Gentle Reader This is a verse that strikes at honest godly men under that name of Independent Such bitter and unsavory spirits have we now adays that under a shadow and outside form of
Word with a humane courage but they cannot give the sense of the Pearl in this Box or Cabinet or Field They cannot expound the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ as Paul did and for want of this in many places of this Kingdom the people are like the Athenians ignorantly worshiping God or more grosly and superstitiously setting up Altars to the unknown God Acts 17.22 23. Yet these people have had the Service Book all their days and they will have it still and remain ignorant with it and so the proverb holds true Like Priest like people But mark you dark-sighted Ministers Sect. 2 over such a people My people have been lost sheep saith the Lord their shepherds have caused them to go astray Iere. 50.6 A Minister to be unskilful in the Gospel of Grace begets ignorance in a people ignorance in a people makes them unstedfast Now such a people will sooner fight against the Truth and speak against the Truth then they will entertain the Truth or speak a good word for the Truth Happy is such a people that have an able Minister of the New Testament A Minister sent from the Spirit of Christ is the most excellent Minister not of the Letter but of the Spirit for such a ministry or such a Minister is the most excellent Minister for he cares for the souls of men and would be spent for them and the more he loves them the less he is loved of them 2 Cor. 3.6 12.14 15. Now the reading Minister onely of the Common-Prayer Book and the imitating preaching Minister that preaches litterally legally historically and artificially These two are both alike and they both seek themselves But it may be some will take exception at this word imitating But I shall give you two instances for it One in the Old Testament Two instances and another in the New The false Prophets of Baal did imitate to do as the true Prophet Elijah did they could chuse one Bullock for a sacrifice and cut it in peices and lay the wood together and lay the Bullock upon the Altar but they wanted fire from Heaven they had no light in them as the true Prophet had read 1 Kings 18.23 24 25 26 27 28 29 33 38. The second instance is out of the New Testament Some indeed imitate to do as the true Apostles did but they cannot so then they preach Christ out of envy and some out of strife Phil. 1.15 16. 3.2 Now these two sorts of Ministers are self-seeking men as I shall give you instances both from City and Country and from Scriptures Now these self-seeking men seek great Benefices of six or seven hundred pounds a yeer and then they will take the Charge and the Cure of twenty or thirty thousand souls as you may take an instance in Cripplegate Parish London And so likewise in divers places of the Country where there are great Benefices and their Minister takes this but the poor people have little or nothing but the Book of Common-Prayer or the reading of a Homily or the like And thus they cure themselves and take the charge of the people but the poor people are still uncured This the Lord takes notice of and complains and saith His people perish for want of knowledg they are sottish children they have no knowledg of God in Christ Is not this the condition of a great part of this Kingdom They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledg read Iere. 4.22 5.31 A ministry taken up onely from men or a Minister sent out onely from men such kind of men seek themselves and not the flock they feed themselves and not the flock they heal themselves they wound the flock they bind up themselves they break the flock they bring in to themselves they scatter the flock they seek themselves and they lose the flock they are not able to strengthen the weak but with force and with cruelty have they ruled them or do rule them and is not this the seeking of vanity and the speaking of vanity read Ezek. 34.2 3 4. Phil. 3.18 19. Sect. 3 Shal I now crave leave to speak a word in particular unto you that are Ministers only of the Common Prayer Book I tel you that you are not like Ministers of Christ nor like Christ in his Ministry For he stood up to read a place of Scripture unto the people And when he had read the verse he closed the Book and sat down to teach the people And the eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were fastned on him and all bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth read Luk. 4.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Now it is to be feared that you which are Ministers only of the Common Prayer Book if the book should be closed up to you all the people might bear you witness that they could not hear one word of grace from you and so you would not be like unto the Ministry of Christ nor like unto the Ministers of Christ For Ezra the Priest and those that were with him caused the people to understand the Law so they read in the book of the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading read Nehem. 8.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Now if the people should expect as much from you that are Ministers of the Common Prayer Book as Ezra the Priest did who was a Minister of Jesus Christ how unlike the Ministers of Christ would the people find you Now I shal desire to speak a word joyntly unto you that are Ministers of the Common Prayer Book and unto you that are imitating preaching Ministers A note agreeable for our times Historical men Litteral men such a Christ wil not own for the present read Mat. 7.21 22 23. I desire likewise to joyn your hearers unto you and so to speak a word unto you all three Now the word is by way of question as the Prophet Isaiah speaks of Now the question is unto you that are Ministers only of the Common Prayer Book and no more and you that are imitating preaching Ministers and no more and you that are hearers and discern no better Are not the Scriptures that you so much read over and talk of The lively part of the Scriptures is as a book sealed to natural men though never so learned become as the words of a Book that is sealed which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed And this book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned read Isa 29.11 12. I would it were not so now in our days with the Ministers of the Common Prayer Book and with the imitating preaching Ministers which are historical men artificial men fine Theoricians to whom the Scriptures seem to
be as a book sealed or as a box that hath far more precious ointment in it then that of Mary Magdalen as you may read Mark 14.3 But such men want a key to open this box A literal reading of preaching Minister doth but speak empty words in the ears of people or they want heavenly art to break this box that the sweet smels of Jesus Christ may come forth into the world amongst men Such men can speak of the letter of the Word which is as a Cabinet but they can speak little or nothing of Christ in the Spirit which is the Pearl in this Cabinet and this is one reason why your hearers are so ignorant and there is so little love to God in the world and love unto our neighbors Now I shal give your hearers one Caution Sect. 4 which is this It is not enough to cal Lord Lord but to have the grace of Christ to inable them to do his wil read Luk. 6.45 46. It is not the hearing of the Common Prayer Book read nor the verbal reading of it your self A form of Prayer only taught by men doth but beat the ayr that wil profit you It may be you may hear it read and be zealous in that and pray and yet remain ignorant in what you hear and in what you pray and your understandings ful of darkness But the Apostle saith He wil pray with the light of the Spirit and that light wil enlighten his understanding that he may edifie others 1 Cor. 14.14 15. And so likewise you may learn to say over the prayers in that book The definition of prayer viz. nay it maybe say over many prayers without the book but this is not prayer herein you are mistaken for prayer consists not in length of words nor in strength of words A true and a comfortable prayer comes from the spirit of grace returns to the spirit again but in the breathings of the Spirit of God into the soul and the souls breathings back again unto God And this is that which the Apostle saith The Spirit it self maketh intercession for us or in us with groanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 27. because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the wil of God Now this grace of Christ in prayer comforts every soul that hath it and makes them able in the publick for the Kingdom and it makes them able for their families in private This grace of Christ makes those that are the Ministers of his Gospel sufficient and able in the newness of the Spirit to bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 6. Now I know that you that are readers and hearers of the Common Prayer Book and of those imitating preaching Ministers which can preach but little or nothing at all of the mystery of Christ and of the unsearchable riches of the sweet grace of Jesus Christ but they can speak pleasingly of the history of Christ and of the letter only I know now that you wil plead liberty of conscience to hear and to have this manner of reading and preaching And for my part you should have the liberty of your conscience A people delighting in a litter alministry are sotishly ignorant for the most part of them and ful of segality but I am sorry that your understandings are so dark that you are not able to discern the natural artificialness that is in some mens reading and preaching and I am grieved to see that you are not able to discern between the naturalness and the spiritualness of Ministers Some by the principles of nature can preach elegantly and use plausible words and this pleases you wel and this you cry up and magnifie But the spiritualness which some Ministers have from the Spirit of God this you cry down and say it is new light or new wine and with mockings say these men are ful of new light or with a jeer as Festus did to Paul saying Too much of this learning makes men mad And thus natural parts are advanced and true Ministers of the Gospel discountenanced as you may read Acts 2.13 15 16 17. Acts 26.24 25. 1 King 22.26 27. Mat. 27.63 Sect. 5 Now I shal speak a word in the behalf of those Ministers which are made able by the grace of the Gospel of God as Paul was such Ministers have the mystery of God manifest in the flesh revealed unto them by the spirit of God They are ful likewise of knowledg of the mystery of Christ in God and God in Christ and Christ who is God and the new man dwelling in the Saints now this is a glorious mystery read John 17.21 23 24. Eph. 4.23 24. 2 Cor. 6.16 Now such Ministers are made able by the gift of grace and the effectual working of the power of God that they may preach the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ unto a poor soul A ministry built on Christ doth administer grace to the hearts of the people now such Ministers have the secrets of the Lord revealed unto them Psa 25.14 And they do declare unto all the world the mystery which hath been hid in God from the begining of the world but now in these last times it shal be made known by the Church of Christ the manifold wisdom and love of God in his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and access with confidence that we shal be filled with all the fulness of God And thus the true Ministers of Christ are furnished from God to speak the things of God Evangelically and to speak spiritually what they hear and see of Jesus Christ and this you may read at large Eph. 3.3 the whole Chapter And so likewise every poor member of Christ is compleat in Christ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily and of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Col. 2.9 10. Joh. 1.16 17. Now if the Lord would be pleased to let this grace come down from above as an overflowing stream of love into our Land it would heal our breaches it would move the Kings heart to be easie to be intreated by the Parliament for the good and peace of his subjects that they might enjoy their own with quietness and the freedom of free subjects though he as a King lost something which is his own to purchase peace for his people and then he would be as a nursing Father unto his people which I desire to see all this a tender-hearted father doth for the good of his child he wil part with much of his own because he loves his child And this grace must move the Parliament if they be like unto a tender-hearted father Now those that are like unto a tender father If they see any one lie under a burden though it be but light they go speedily they make no delays in taking off
City for they can neither give this good thing nor hinder the one thing needful nor take away this free gift of God which wil make a man free in troublesom times An Use of sweet comfort Now Christ is the good thing and the one thing needful and the free gift of God and the substance of Religion within a man and by his Spirit he wil be a Wel of living water springing up into everlasting life within the soul and spirit of a man And this wil be meat and drink spiritual which the world knows not of This wil refresh a man in the time of greatest troubles and the world cannot take this sweet food away Psal 27.4 5. Luke 10.42 John 4.10 14 32. And though men of all sorts be striving now for externals in matters of Religion meer circumstances shadows that wil flie away Yet amongst these men there are two sorts of men which may be divided into four sorts of men and these four sorts of men may be all the servants of Christ as those four beasts were which you may read of Rev. 4.6 7 8. And these four sorts of men may be divided into two parts comparatively as Presbyterians and Independents Now if you wil divide the Presbyterians into two parts you shal find them acting like unto those two first beasts which I before spake of And the first beast is like a Lion and the second beast like a Calf and the third beast had a face as a man and the fourth beast was like a flying Eagle Now the first part of the Presbyterians did not they begin to move Lion-like with majesty speed and roughness and did not some of them say as the chief Captain said of Paul Let him be brought into the Castle and be examined by scourging only they wanted power read Acts 22.24 25. The second part of the Presbyterians moves like a Calf that is more slowly more moderately and with less harm Now divide the Independents into two parts and the first of them moves and hath a face like a man that is more rational more temperate more condescending in the worship of God to do as he would be done by Now the second part of the Independents moves like an Eagle that is flying high even unto the third Heaven where Christ is where they see things unutterable and ful of glory and for this they depend only upon God and herein they are not Independents as some cal them But now the Lion-like and the Calf-like and he that had the face like a man begin to raise troubles and jealousies against him that is Eagle-like because say they he flies too high we cannot discern him nor agree with him But shal I now Sect. 2 as a friend give you a reason why you cannot discern him that is like an Eagle it is because you are dul of hearing and are unskilful in the word of righteousnes for ye are as babes for strong meat belongeth to them that are of ful age even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil as you may read heb 5.11 12 13 14. And thus our dul-headed Prelatical Clergy for the most part were wont to cal those that were Eagle-like Puritans and now at this time they cal them Roundheads and others there are that cal them Familists and Sectaries Now here are three that are striving in the world and make a great deal of stir about circumstances and things which wil change And the first is the Presbytery and they are striving for preeminence and for a form to sit easie on Now the second is the Independents which would fain have their own way but they shal suffer for it if some had but power Now while these two are striving the third party which is the Episcopal or the Prelatical party or Priests comes in with their long black gowns coats A ministry not coming out from Christ is not Christian but Antichristian that loves not the flock for they cannot feed the flock Mar. 13.21 22 23 1 Joh. 4.1 2 3. John 21.15 16 17. skarfs and girdles with roses at them as though they were singular above all other men and they bring in their easie common Service Book and an old Homily or a Sermon preached over and over and it may be never the better a piece of art which they for the most part study and this art doth consist of Rhetorick that is to be elegant and to speak plausible words though it may be they are but little acquainted with the lively part of divine Theology but only the Theorick they are fine Theoricians that is they can speak much of that which they can practise little or nothing of and with this the most people in this Kingdom are wel pleased Take an Instance Jere. 5.30 31. 4.22 And thus these three are striving for external things meer outsides circumstances fig leaves And thus these three feed upon low mean food but some of them I hope do feed upon true food though like babes weakly But for the most part of these three which I have spoken of they feed upon low earthly food as outside forms with little or no love in them or as it were A ministry that hath Christ in possession witnesseth a good profession of Christ in Faith Verity 1 Tim. 6.11 12 13. with gilded fig leaves and the like But now the Eagle-like or the man that is like the flying Eagle he is about the throne of God and feeds upon Angels food Isai 6.1 2 3. Now such a man doth the work of Angels because he is in the Spirit as John was on the Lords day which day is Jesus Christ Rev. 1.10 13 19. 4.6 7 8. Now such a man feeds upon delicate spiritual food in the heaven of God Sect. 3 which heaven is Christ Now such a beleeving man or woman takes no delight in the box except the pearl be therein It is not the beautiful box that such a soul takes delight in but it is the pearl Christ or Christ the pearl that the soul is fixed upon as you may instance in Mary It was not the two glorious Angels sitting in white that gave Mary content but she remains weeping and enquiring for her Lord Christ and when Christ began to speak to her he so spake to her heart that her soul ecchoed again to him and she said Master O Master thou art he whom my soul loveth John 20.11 12 13 14 15 16. Now the only good thing in troublesom times and in the hour of distress and in sad temptations is to have rivers of living Water living comforting water of life which Christ gives Now this water is the Spirit the Spirit of comforts or the gracious comforting Spirit read John 7.37 38 39. Now this sweet water of life is comfortable in sickly times but especially upon the sick bed when a man comes to lie upon his dying pillow then to have this sweet Spirit
which is God to lift up his head that he may look into heaven and see the glory of God and Jesus Christ the right hand of God opening himself to receive his poor weary soul O what a refreshing comfort is this unto a dying man to see the heavens of God in Christ opening A beleeving soul sees it self happy and compleat in God through Iesus Christ and the Son of man God-man standing with the souls of men which he hath made just and perfect and they standing as the right hand of God in Christ as a Queen in gold of Ophir All this you may have an instance of in Steven if you do but read Acts 7.55 56. And so likewise in the whole Church of Christ if you do but read Heb. 12.22 23 24. Psal 45.9 And thus a poor soul is received from misery unto glory even into Abrahams bosom that is into the bosom of Jesus Christ where it takes up its rest as Steven did but while the poor soul doth live in this world it shal find trouble For all that do live the life of God in Christ Iesus shal suffer persecution in this world 2 Tim. 3.12 All relations under the Sun variable as the relation to a wife to a family in Church fellowship in professed friends in parents and in children in riches and in outward contentments but in Christ all these are constant and dureable For a mans enemies shal be they of his own houshold Mat. 10.36 Nay in Church fellowship which is like an houshold if they differ in judgment read 1 Pet. 4.16 to 19. If it be so in a mans houshold and in Church fellowship as there is experience between the Presbyterian and the Independent I shal conclude and say as David said It is good for me to draw neer to God and to desire him to plant my confidence and my joy in him alone for in every external condition in this world I shal find trouble But my fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ and spiritually there I shal find good cheer read these Scriptures Psal 73.25 26 28. 1 Iohn 1.3 4. Iohn 16.32 33. Sect. 4 I shal speak now of a precious balsam and a sweet cordial that wil heal all our diseases in this Kingdom that is if the Lord would be pleased to raise a flood of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and cause it to run with a mighty stream into the hearts of the King and the Parliament this would enable them to bear one anothers burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ that is to restore the poor groaning subjects in the spirit of meekness that they may rejoyce once again Gal. 6.1 2. Now he that ruleth over men must be just mark this ruling in the fear of God read 2 Sam. 23.3 Now my hope is and my desire shal be that God would be pleased through Christ his strong arm to make good that Prophesie in our days which is spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah That Kings may be nursing Fathers and Queens may be nursing mothers in these our days O that we might truly say once out of experience that we are beholding to them as nourishers or for their good nursing Isai 49.23 For this end God did set up Kings at the first as David and Solomon who were types of the spiritual King Jesus and fed their people with wholsom and sweet food that is with a peaceable life as good Magistrates and preserved them in all godliness against those that would harm them and disquiet them Psa 78.70 71 72. But of this we have had but little these many years instance in those domineering Bishops and the high Commission Court which was of long standing and persecuted godliness under the name of Puritans or some other names but I hope it will not be so now therefore let us follow the Apostles Exhortation That prayer be made for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty for he or they that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 1 Tim. 2.1 2. and 2 Sam. 23.3 Courteous Reader Sect. 5 I shal speak a word or two in my own defence and so conclude Now my first word is When I first set my pen to paper it was not with any sinister respect or by-end but it was for the glory of God Neither was it for profit nor the applause of men for that to me is as a vain thing I speak the words of truth and soberness But seeing the customary and the outside Pharisaicalness which most men and women of all sorts use in matters of Religion Ministers as wel as others this I saw and was at a loss within my self but the Lord did teach me to consider of it and then I went to glean as Ruth did into the field of Boaz read Ruth 2.7 8 9. But the field that mine eyes was upon to glean in it was not the field of external Art nor the field of a great Library for that is to learn to speak other mens words which I disclaim But mine eyes were upon that only one field where I gleaned among the sheaves and that field is the Scriptures the only one Book which I had and no more and that is the Bible which is the Word of God Now courteous Reader I have gleaned and am satisfied and I commend that unto you which I have reserved and as Naomi did make use of the barley which Ruth did glean as you may read Ruth 2.18 so I desire that you may be wise to make use of what hath been said for your own good and I shal be glad Sect. 6 Now my second and last word is to the Christ-baptized man or woman for I speak unto thee O man or woman who art inwardly taught by the sweet Spirit of God hast that unction from the holy One which wil teach thee to know all things for that anointing abideth in thee anâ— teacheth thee all truths and thou shalt abide in him or it 1 Iohn 2.20 27. Therefore I speak to thee O man or woman who art baptized with the Spirit of Christ because thou art the best able to discern between wheat and chaff True Christian Reader when I first set pen to paper my heart was inabled to indite of matter concerning the Lord of Lords and I spake of things touching Christ the King and my heart was stirred within me as the water is when it bubbleth up or the water which the fire boyleth And I was made able by the sweet Spirit of God who did blow sweet gales of wind spiritually into my heart Ioh. 3.8 And I was so refreshed by them for they so comforted my heart that my tongue became as the pen of a ready writer The knowledg of the mystery of God in the flesh of Christ the Saints and the givings forth of the Spirit are not got by