alwayes set before them shewing that except they would believe repent and amend their lives God would not perform to them what I had said And therefore they ought not to blame me because the King came not in bnt rather to blame themselves for that they did not turn wholly to God which if they had done so God in mercy to them had brought in the King and would have setled all things in Church and State afore now I have not eaten the bread of idleness all this time my labour is beyond expression for I have taken more pains these three yeers then a dayly thresher whose morsel is sweet unto him and his rest pleasant but this sort of labour takes a man from all outward comforts for such a man delighteth in his sore labour so that Christ Moses and Eliah eat nothing in forty dayes as you see Exod. 34. 28. 1 King 19. 8. Matth. 4. 12. Therefore though natural men know it not the labour is great and of so much value that if men should give all they have to such a labourer it would not balance his desert I speak not this for my self because I look not for any reward from you for I believe God will reward me but having experience in the work I know the time doth not afford to the faithful labourer encouragement and that reward which he merits else the work that I began had been more foreward then now it is Wherefore ye ought to consider them Many are offended with me because I set a time for the King's coming into England I wonder what they lost by it if some being covetous to get have laid wagers upon it who advised them to do it I never read of but one wager laid in all the Scripture Judges 14. 12 13 17. but Sampson that laid the wager lost it through his own folly in telling his minde as the now-Plotters were spoiled because they could not keep their own secrets and they that won the wager got nothing by it for Sampson made them pay dear for it Judg. 14. 19. Judg. 15. And was it not meet that these men now should lose to teach them that they should not wantonly dally with secret things in those presumptuous profane ways and gambols they should have been wiser before they laid any thing upon it And take notice that when I first set down the time for the King's coming in in the yeer 1653. I told them plainly for any to understand it that if they did not leave their profaneness the King would not come in according to my saying and that God would alter the appointed time of the King's coming in as he did in the time of Moses alter it forty yeers Numb. 14. 34. as you have it in the Postscript of my Book called The Ecche And all the prophecies of God are conditional for when God sends a Prophet to pronounce destruction to a people and sets a time for it if upon it they repent and amend their evil wayes they shall not be destroyed at that time And when God sends a Prophet to bring good tidings of deliverance to a people that are in captivity for their sins and sets a time for their deliverance if that people upon it do not repent and amend their evil wayes they shall not be delivered at that time Jer. 18. 7 8 9 10 yet though God remove the decree for a longer time Micah 7. 11. that which the Lords Prophet hath spoken whether it be of mercy or justice it shall surely come to pass as we see in the case of Nineveh it was destroyed according to the saying of Jonas though not in the time God at first alotted for it Tobit 14. 4 8 15. and Israel came to Canaan though not at the first time that God had alotted for them Numb. 13. 2. Deut. 9. 23. Joshua 21. 43 44 45. And you of the King's Party I say pray Beloved take notice of the manner of God's fulling his promises to his people when they will not leave their sins Jeremiah prophefied that the Jews should be delivered out of their captivity in Babylon after seventy yeers was expired and his word was fulfilled in part for in the first yeer of Cyrus there was a Decree made for their freedom 2 Chron. 36. 20 21 22 23. Ezra 1. and according to it they came to Jerusalem and laid the Foundation of the Temple Ezra 3. 10 11. but they had many great sins among them Ezra 9. 1 2 3 4. Nehem. 5. Nehem. 13. 15 16 17 18. as we also have Therfore you shall finde that they were notperfectly delivered until the second yeer of Darius Ezra 4. 23 24. for the adversaries of Judah and of Benjamin wrote against them to Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes Kings of Persia and got Commissions to suppress them by force of Arms 1 Esdras 2. 30. Ezra 4. and also you shall finde 2 King 17. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Ezra 4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 2 King 19. 37. that these adversaries that then hindred the freedom of the Jews were such people as hinder you now for they were absolute Independants of divers Religions and all feared the Lord as now these fear the Lord but they served their several Gods 2 King 17. 29 30 31 32. And as the men of Babylon made Succoth-Benoth their God and the men of Cuth made Nergal their God and the men of Hamath Ashima their God and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartake their God and the Sepharvites burnt their their children to Adrammelech and Anammelech the Gods of Sepharvaim and they made themselves Priests of the lowest of the people so in like manner our Sectaries have their several Demi-Gods as the Prsbyters have Fairfax Knox Waller Love Calamy with many other the Independents Harrison Feak Vavasor Powel Rogers Simpson the Levelers Lilburn and the like yea there is not any Sect but fansie to themselves Gods or Leaders and make to themselves Priests of the lower sort which have neither Religion Reason Eloquence Learning or any other Ingenuity in them at all but a proud ignorant sort of zeal being in all things like the adversaries of Judah for as it is said of them 2 King 17. 33. they feared the Lord but yet it is said vers. 34. that they feared not the Lord because they worshipped him not according to the Law that God had prescribed for Jacob whom he named Israel so now the Presbyterians Independents Levelers or Brownists may be said to fear the Lord and yet not truely because they do not worship him according to the law that God hath prescribed for us as in the communion-Communion-Book vulgarly called The Book of Common-Prayer And to shew you a mystery of hope the Jews were hindred for the time of three Kings Ezra 4. 5 6 7. of which three Artaxerxes reigned thirty two yeers Nehem. 13. 6. Yet the Holy Spirit speaking of the same matter tells us that they were hindred but two yeers
people it is for their liberty but the people by following their disorderly wayes have brought and do bring themselves into bondage dayly There are too many such instruments in this Land and chiefly the Fathers of them are that withered Poet consulting with his Muses and that whited wall Lily consulting with his Stars or worst Angels and that double-tongu'd Walker consulting with his false Hebrew who shall have his reward as his brother had 2 Sam. 20. 1 21 22. the three unclean spirits Rev. 16. 13. which have brought such a confusion by striking at all Governours and Government in this Nation that it is almost past recovery The first comes like Faux with his dark Lanthorn to plot and blow up all in which he tells us of a rebellious perpetual Parliament that should continue for ever comparing it to the River of Thames But Gaffer Withers what is become of your Parliament now I believe God's providence by his Highness the Lord Protector hath dried up your infernal River Rev. 16. 12. Rev. 9. 14 15. that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared and Collen where those Kings or Wisemen Matth. 2. 1. were buried from hence is eastward and will they not now be raised up in warlike bodies to help King Charls to his throne Merlin saith as much not Lily's false Merlin nor the Scots Merlin but the true Britain Merlin which cannot be translated into English or any Speech verbatim nor cannot be understood but by some few Welsh-men which had the traditional rule to understand it from hand to hand ever since Merlin's time And about three yeers agone when the King was in France as I was saying That the King would come in an ignorant Welsh-man hearing me answered and said Not yet a while Why said I. Said he The King must first go to Collen and be saluted of the three Kings there who shall say thus unto him Art thou come thou art welcome Brother Said I How do you know this Said he I heard it from some that had skill in Merlin and Merlin doth not speak doubtfully to them that understand him Therefore how that welcome was to be performed whether by the Princes congratulating of the King there or by some Vision he was to have there or whether he is to be rebaptized there I leave that to a further manifestation Some think that Merlin meant that the King should die and be buried at Collen with those three Kings and that his Brother Duke James should reign and be that great King Merlin mentioneth yet Merlin saith nothing of the King's death but saith he shall be buried there and that is to be understood that he shall be buried in Water-baptism Rom. 6. 4. and then be raised into glory for the Spirit of God that moved upon the Waters and created the Light Gen. 1. 2 3. which Spirit was upon those three Kings that lie buried there who came to our Saviour Jesus Christ Matth. 2. 1 2. is to rest upon our KING when he is rebaptized then shall he prosper victoriously and his wisdom shall be glorious in setling the affairs of the whole Earth I heard another say who was acquainted with an old man that had skill in Merlin had foretold him many things which he found come to pass The old Man said That he understood the time of things coming to pass by the golden number which by Merlin's Rule consisted of twenty eight yeers And said to him further That the Book of Merlin would be out of date and of no use within this three yeers for before the end of 1657. all that he said is to be fulfilled And this Merlin though long before spake truer concerning the King then Withers did of his Thames-River-Parliament And what doth Lily but like a Monkey barke at the Moon he knows nothing nor never did know any thing but as the Parliament directed him to write for they consulted with him knowing him to be a cunning sophister and an enemy to the King and gave him notice of their designs and bid him that he should write in such a Month so and so and in such a Month so and so and they having Men and Money at command brought their wicked designs to pass and fulfilled his wicked sayings until Lily was looked upon as a rare Simon Magus that the Souldiery and others by his means were much encouraged against the King but when the Parliament got all to themselves and began to slight Lily he began to encourage the Army against them saying That they should fall Then the Parliament send for him imprisoned him and would have condemned him as a Witch or Conjurer and ever since Lily could foretel nothing but as a blinde man which throweth stones fast about him perchance may kill an unhappy Crow so he speaking much for and against the Power something of his words must needs come to pass and for his Book called Monarchy or no Monarchy who knows not that every one can tell that England must be either a Kingdom or no Kingdom that is no news and all that he doth in that Book is but spitting his venome against the Truth by perverting confounding and wresting some ancient prophesies And when all is done he can make out nothing himself but in the later end of his Book he directs you to enquire at a company of pictures of dumb beasts and other images which he hath pourtrayed saying to you That that is the ancient Aegyptian way of prophesie Truely it is the Aegyptian Bondage he would lead you in and he the beasts and their Pictures are all alike in their knowledge and expression being all void of any instruction therefore believe him not It is a wonder to see what mysteries there by God's providence that ye might avoid them is in these mens names all that are possest with Withers's Opinion may be called Witherds and all that are possest with Lily's Opinion may be called Lilyes as we call Lutherans and Calvinists after the names of Luther and Calvin who were the first of those Opinions but see how Christ hath designed by name both Withers and his party with Lily and his party to the fire Matth. 6. 28 29 30. John 15. 6. as for Walker that man of â—â—lial and son of Bichri he is designed to fall by the wisdom of a woman of Abel 2 Sam. 20 1 15 16 17 18. 19 20 21 22. for the Blood of King Charles like the Blood of Abel crieth against him Gen. 4. 10. because that he stirred up most against him when he wrote that wicked Pamphlet in 1641. entituled To your Tents O Israel to stir the people to rebellion and withal did fling it to the King as he went in his Coach using all the despite he could against him when all others at that time seemed to reverence him until that wicked Walker broke the way of rebellion to them and then they followed him like so many mad-men For my part I hate
not these men but I hate the evil Spirit that is in them and loving them I discover their wickedness if so be by it they come to repent and amend for a flock of Geese teacheth better doctrine then such men do And if you observe their goings their chief going before the rest following with their mutual chattering without division you shall finde that in all their wayes there is better order among the Geese then Withers Lily and Walker would have to be among men in the World Therefore God is pleased to judge such rebellious men by those Creatures which we count most foolish as we commonly say of one that is silly He hath no more wit then a Goose speaking as if a Goose had no wit but one Goose hath more wit then them three The Author's judgement touching Baptism BUt why do I trouble my self with these men it is onely to warn them to repent and to warn you not to believe such seducing Spirits that would divide the head from the body in Churches Kingdoms and Families for the end of my discourse is to bring all men to godliness order and unity under one visible Head or King as Jesus Christ hath said John 10. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 13. And now I must tell you That through the darkness which came upon the Church some hundred yeers agoe by reason when the corrupted Clergy who were without conscience or honesty got the power and records of antiquity into their own hands they destroyed Records which shewed the ancient Apostolical Custome of the Church that they might put upon us such a seeming Divine Law as pleased them and made most for their lazy ends and profits and through the malice and subtilty of the Serpent wrought much mischief by the corruption of the Popish Clergy for the destruction of mankinde yet unawares to them God hath reserved so much of the Records as clearly confuteth their practice in the Fundamental Point of our Religion even Baptism about which controversie begotten by the laziness of the Clergy many thousands lost their lives and themselves will come to ruine I finde that though Infants were baptized in old times by their sureties undertaking for them or christened which is a more proper word for them as I shall make it appear by St. Augustines own confession yet I finde that that which now we call confirmation or bishoping by the ancients was called The Baptism but our late Prelates being Lordly minded though they unjustly raised their hire above their Predecessors yet thought it too much labour and abasement for such as they were to baptize their flock again in Water being content to let that stand for Baptism which they received in their Infancy and onely to lay their hands upon them using a few words over them and so let them go making as though they could create a new Sacrament without its Element which properly is Water which is as if they should invite men unto the Communion-Table and then use the same Words as if they gave them Bread and Wine but give them nothing or just as Saint James saith Jam. 2. 13 14. If one see a man naked and destitute of daily food and say unto him Depart in peace be thou warmed and filled yet he gives him neither clothing nor meat and what is the poor man the better for his good words so your bishoping in like manner was unprofitable and the people finding it so did not esteem it nor did they care whether they had it or not for without Water it was but a starving of their souls And if the Bishops being ancient durst not for fear of danger go down into the water they might have commanded others to baptize the people Act. 8. 14 15 16 17. Act. 10. 48. Jeremiah fore-seeing the darkness that came upon the Church sends us to seek the good old way and bids us walk in it saying Then we should finde rest to our souls Jer. 6. 16. And when the Church had lost the way of Christs worship she enquir'd of him how she should come to his Saints rest he answereth her saying If she knew not the way to finde out their rest she must follow their foot-steps and so come to finde out their rest Cant. 1. 7 8. and this method is taker from shepherds which in time of snow finde out their sheep by following their foot-steps Therefore I say we must search the Scripture withal because we cannot agree in the understanding the Scripture for to help our understanding we must take notice how the Church did walk in those ages after the Apostles time when it came to its highest perfection by so doing we shall rightly understand the meaning of the Scripture which is the Apostolical rule of worship And I finde that Saint Augustine mistrusting the knavery of the Clergy that should follow in his discourse by God's providence did hide some things in secret which secret being now opened may shew us what they then did in what is most considerable and greatest in question now among us for so you shall finde it in the matter of Baptism if you observe Saint Augustine Confession 1 lib. chap. 11. saith he speaking of his Christening I was then signed with the sign of his cross and seasoned with his salt so soon as I came out of my mothers womb Whence it is clear this was his Infant-Baptism for you shall finde in the same Chapter that being come to some discretion and falling sick how earnest he was to have Christ's Baptism and speaking of Pontitianus Confession 8 lib. chap. 6. saith he He was both a Christian and baptized too Hence you may draw this conclusion that then they were called Christians from their Christening in their Infancy but not baptized Christians until they were manifest Believers and that they were baptized by their own consent and their Baptism was in those times deferred until men came to sobriety and that the heat of youthful lust and sin was almost overcome and commonly until they were married otherwayes though they were never so learned except they believed and were tempered or were in dying they were not admitted to have it as you may see if you will read and observe Saint Augustine's Confessions and the Rubrick that goeth before the Baptism in the book of Common prayer you shall finde that they say that in the old time the people were baptized at Easter or Whitsuntide and at no time in the yeer besides and if we compare this with Saint Augustine this must needs be their rebaptizing for Infants were not kept so long without it as you see by St. Augustine and see he was rebaptized at Easter and I am sure he was then about 30 yeers of age for he had a son was then 15. Confes. 9 lib. chap. 6. Here it is clear that the ancient Church though they baptized or christned their Infants by their sureties yet after they came to be men then they were baptized
be angry that he came not to them and between them they then set out a pamphlet abusing that Scripture 2 Sam. 19. 41 42 43. and taking it for a cloak to dislemble with the good innocent King wherein forsooth the English Presbyters took upon them to be Israel and the Scotch Presbyters took upon them to be Judah making as though according to the Text they strove who should be most forward in their love to bring home the King Shall not such Hypocrites be punished But in their bringing of him home the one proved to be more like Jezebel 1 King 21 7 8 9 10. then Israel and the other more like Judas Matth. 26. 14 15 16 47 48 49. then Juda for so they brought him to his long home and delivered him to Pilate And as the Pilate of our time had not the honesty to wash his hands from his blood so the other had not the honesty to take his blood upon them as by right it is Matth. 28. 24 25. and hath been required to the purpose of the Scotch Presbyters Therefore sure their English Brethren shall not escape though they be the cunningest Hypocrites on the earth the Scribes and Pharisees were but Fools in comparison to them for hypocrisic Yet God forbid that I should say All that go under the name of Presbyterians are so guilty of the Kings blood though they all be sufficient Hypocrites in other Cases but certain it is that a party of them contrived the way to bring the King to his end how many they were in number God onely knoweth and it is too a hard a thing for man to finde them out because all are perjured persons that are to witness it all honest men were excluded from that secret so that they can witness nothing Therefore I would not have the King to punish any of them for his Fathers blood but refer it to God for the evil name and shame they got by it and the guilt that lieth upon their conscience with the voice of his blood that followeth them withersoever they go is a greater punishment to them then all the torture the King can devise to put them to for if he punish them then it mitigates and lesseneth the aforesaid punishment And truely he cannot punish the guilty but he must also destroy the innocent for they were so link'd together in the work that if the Case of the King's blood come to be tried I believe the most guilty will escape best for they will say and swear and hire others to swear any thing and use all means to cast it upon the innocent Therefore I say let the King forgive all or none truely I am sure by a Vision that I had he must forgive all or none and if he forgive none I know not how he will ever come to enjoy his Kingdom We have a continual noise of Plots among us I am perswaded most men are more inclinable to that bloody way then to the way of peace yet these Plotters are so foolish in the managing of their Plots that their designs are discovered before they are laid The Presbyterians were not so in their Plots against the Church and the late King as not long since I heard a Sectary say That he knew of that Plot thirty eight yeers agone but said we had no drunkards nor tell-tales among us they covered their Plots with religious pretences they were so circumspect that they would not be seen in Taverns and Ale-houses left they should be suspected and they held it unlawful to fight against the King or for Religion but when at last they got strength they fought against both until they brought their Plot to effect yet you know how soon they lost that pre-eminence which so long with many Prayers was in getting God gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul Psal. 106. 15. that they are not the better but now much in a worse condition then when they began to plot Therefore let all the Plotters take the Presbyterians for an example and see what fruit they had for their long plottings and contrivings to shed blood and what they are like to have hereafter is to be lamented by them I am sorry to see men given to bloody Plots I am perswaded many care not what mony they spend to bring in the King that way yet I believe they are none of them that be in favour with him but such as think to gain his favour thereby are most ambitious and forward in these Plots Let them take heed they run a great hazard to little purpose for I am sure one man with his Prayer and Pen he having but one hundred pound to set him forward Eccles. 10. 19. shall do more good to bring in the King in peace then a thousand Plotters should do to bring him in after their manner though they had a thousand pound a peece to set them forward For my own part I have neglected my outward calling and done what I could spending my time and what I could get in writing and printing for the King these three yeers and now being brought low every way my best Friends forsaking me my outward calling failing for I was hindered in it because I gave my self to write and am yet hindered and lose my time with people that come to me dayly to be satisfied with Words but my Wife and Children will not be satisfied without bread and I must provide for them or deny the Christian Faith 1 Tim. 5. 8. Therefore expect not much more from me except God send me means which yet I know not of It is true Divers Persons of Quality paid me royally for my former Books else I had not been able to subsift And many came to keep me in talk not considering my time but thought I had my Books for nothing for they would have them at so small a rate and not onely so but many poor people had them for nothing though when my number was gone and I wanted Books I had paid dear to the Book-seller for them Therefore what I got from the one I spent upon the other Loath I was to offend any by denying them my company which many times came a great way to see me being also willing that the poor honest-hearted should should have freely what I had as well as others which paid me well Yet had any done to me as that most honourable Earl of Pembrook did to Matthew coker they might have been offended who for a less service then I have done for the King's Party when he was in distress the said Earl did send him a hundred pound But alass all that I had from them for Books these three yeers did not amount to half a hundred pound yet God be praised I live though poorly and men do expect great matters from me though by no means will they be obedient to God's word upon which the promise of happiness is grounded which Word in all my books I have
away the greatest wrath of God from a people if it be generally and commanded by their King and Governours otherwise it will not avail for in King Charles his time by some the Sabbath was kept more exact then ever and specially more then it is now when Families are broken into several Opinions that there is hardly three in a great Family of one judgement and all might have so kept it for any thing that he declared against it but he did not declare for it soon enough and therefore wrath came from the Lord upon his people A man in King Charles his time could not pass along the streets morning evening or at night on the Sabbath but he should hear them in most houses reading repeating of Sermons singing Psalms and praying yea and every day they had prayers in their Families both evening and morning and now such things are out of use Also how beautiful a thing was it to see them go to Church in those dayes the Master went before the Mistress Children and Servants following with one consent surely then they were in the way of God if I can judge but now the Master goeth one way the Mistress another the Children and Servants another every one goeth several wayes and when they come home Mum is best for they can neither pray together nor speak any thing of God if they do there is a hot house presently with their damning and confounding one another God is not the Author of such confusion but of peace and concord 1 Chron. 14. 33. and how can there be religious Government or a keeping of the Sabbath in Families when the Church is without Government for if the Foundation or Church-Government be destroyed what can the righteous Masters of Families do Psal. 11. 3. they cannot say with Joshua 24. 15. We and our Families will serve the Lord for there is a power above them that will nor suffer them to bear a compleat rule in their own houses Esther 1. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. The granting Liberty of Conscience was the overthrow of the late King for had he been severe to make all men keep holy the Sabbath he had not fallen and his tolerating men to use on that day their own Conscience and wills as they listed was his failing so that he and his lost all by it and now there is no way left to pacifie God's wrath but by fasting and prayer to seek the Lord in publick and private and specially to keep holy the Sabbath-day And to tell you which day is that day Bishop Bayley in the Practise of Piety doth witness from Scripture and Reason that it is the day commonly called Sunday and he gives you many instances of judgements on Towns and Persons that had profaned it And truely that Prophet for so I may call him foreseeing this judgement with an intention to prevent it directed his Book to King Charles But a lass that is nothing to what we can witness for the vindicating our Sabbath the Lord's day for we have seen since Kings and Kingdoms routed Parliaments and States destroyed and all for profaning that day Therefore now God hath resolved that Jews question so that it is without doubt our Sabbath and none but it is the Sabbath which God doth own Wherefore if you look to be saved of God strive and have a care to keep it holy and wait patiently upon the Lord we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6. 9. I know many good Protestant is now in Job's condition having his Family destroyed his House and Goods plundered and perhaps his Body smitten with sore Diseases besides his Friends being Independent Anabaptist or Presbyterian as Job's three Friends come to oppress accuse and condemn him falsly but Job for al this appeals to God for his integrity and saying through Faith that though his flesh should be destroyed and his body consumed yet that he did believe as many now in the same manner do believe that they shall see King Charles on his Throne and was assured that he should see his Redeemer in that very same body Job 19. 25 26 27. And you see God doth at last shew himself to Job and as his three friends were forced to have him pray for them Job 42. 5 6 7 8 9. so these that now condemn you as evil doers will be glad to lie at your feet and have you pray for them to God and also petition to the King for them But observe this vers. 10. that after Job had prayed for his Friends then and not afore God turned away his captivity and gave him twice as much as he had lost From hence learn thus much You that have suffered most are to pray earnestly to God for them that most wronged you then shall you be accepted of God for your selves and them Again you must likewise make their peace with the King for you onely are accepted fitted under God and none but you can do that and doing thus your captivity immediately upon it shall be ended and you shall have twice as much as you had before both of honour and riches I speak thus much in particular to you that were great ones if you do as abovesaid you will be far greater then ever you were And do this with all speed it will take but a little time if you be willing to do it but however do not despair wait patiently upon God until he frames your minde to do it for it is far from you to consent to what I say in these things David though anointed to be King of Israel notwithstanding the promise 1 Sam. 16. 1 13. it being deferred and he hotly persecuted he thought it would never be and that one day he should fall by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27. 1. and again said in his haste All men were lyars Psal. 116. 11. concluding that Samuel had erred in anointing him and in saying he should be King but at last when David came to be King indeed he confessed his error in being too hasty Psal. 31. 21 22 23 24. and exhorteth men in such cases not to be hasty but to wait patiently upon the Lord shewing that though sometimes he was hasty which was but folly yet most times he waited patiently upon the Lord Psal. 27. 13 14. Psal. 40. 1 2. A Reproof for Withers Walker and Lily THere hath been and there is certain ungodly men that devour this Nation by infusing into them the spirit of rebellion confusion and disorder Truely such men are no less then Witches 1 Sam. 15. 23. Gal. 3. 1. and of late yeers they have gained too much credit to the ruine of the Nation by setting the Subjects against the King the Church against the Bishops and Pastors the Wives against their Husbands the Children against their Parents the Servants against their Masters the Souldiery against their Commanders striving to set all in rebellion against God's Ordinances pretending to the
in his infancy he had had John's baptism and confessing when he was sick what then he had done saith confes. lib. 1. ch. 11. Thou sawest O my God! for thou wert my Keeper with what earnestness of minde and with what faith I importuned the piety both of my own mother and thy church the mother of us all for the baptism of thy christ my Lord God Mark the baptism of thy christ And observe for here he makes a distinction betwixt John's Baptism which he had received when he was an infant and the baptism of Christ which now being sick he would have had for he thought it not meet to term that Baptism which infants receive It was a wonderful providence that brought me to maintain this point by any thing out of S. Aug. and it was thus When I was about to write this two learned men the one a Minister the other a great student being at my house together and I perceiving they would be my great antagonists in it to hear what they would say I broke my minde unto them they began to oppose me in it with might main I held it forth against them both so that at last the student said Now I call to mind I think S. Aug. speaks of such a thing And he having the book in his pocket drew it out and it silenced them very much yet they would give me no encouragement nor would they tell me plainly what S. Aug. said in it Upon this I went into Pauls Church-yard to see if I could finde S. Aug. and hear him speak by means of some Latine Scholar but being there I found him to speak English and I brought him home with an intent that before he and I part to be better acquainted with him Thus Gods providence helps forward his own work that men may see that the practice of the ancient Church was agreeable to the New Testament and that by their practice we may the better understand the Scripture specially in the mysterious great Controversie about Baptism the foundation of Christianity to end and reconcile the difference of Christendom in that point of Rebaptizing commonly called Anabaptism which opinion being weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary hath as much truth in it yea more then the contrary yet the Ana baptists follow not the footsteps of the Ancients in Christning their infants and acknowledging the holy Spirit in their infants baptism to be of value but seeking another spirit in baptism and not the renewing of that holy Spirit which they had in their infants baptism for their punishment and to bring them home God sends them an evil spirit 1 Sam. 16. 14. that puffeth and vexeth them and sets them one against another so that there is no peace among them and though they do mighty things for a time prevailing yet at last they come to nothing because they deny and pitifully reproach the breathing of Gods Spirit upon them in their infancy On the other side because the Church of Engl. at the first appearing of the Anab. did not admit Rebaptizing it being Gods way take those people into the Church they confessing the Church and their infants baptism as the most eminent part of it the difference grew greater and they became a scourge so that all Heresies broke out in the Church upon its refusing condemning such a truth warranted by Scripture and Fathers which truth is the means appointed to bring men into communion with God for none ought to come to the Lords table before they themselves being at yeers of discretion do confess their sins repent and be baptized upon their own score And good reason for we see if a man himself be bound to pay a debt he oweth he will take special care to pay it lest his adversary cast him into prison but if sureties be bound for it the principal careth not but lets them suffer this is common among men So infants in baptism are not bound but their sureties and as they are bound to or promise nothing so they are as careless to perform any thing promised for them or in their name for pray where is any doth forsake the devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of the wicked world and all the sinful lusts of the flesh that doth believe all the Articles of the Christian faith that doth keep Gods holy will and commandments all the days of their lives Here are mighty things promised who performeth them Take heed God will not be mocked Gal. 6. 7 8. Now if Ministers had prest men to renew their Covenant with God and caused them with their own mouthes to promise such obedience as above said and rebaptized them upon that account shewing such as would not come in upon such terms their damnable condition and that their infant-baptism was but a figure to save them if they had died in the time of their ignorance surely men would not have been so careless in keeping Gods Word as now they are Therefore I give this as a Rule of truth to the Church for time to come which Rule is grounded as abovesaid on Scripture the best Fathers practice Reason and on the confession of our Church of England in the book of Common-Prayer as you have it afore Baptism in the Rubrick 1. I say that Infants ought to be by their sureties baptized in water as we formerly did in the church of England 2. That they should be catechized and educated in the faith and by all means perswaded to leave their sins 3. That they being come to the age of discretion should repent and confess their sins and shew their resolution to amend their lives before they come to renew their baptism 4. That they be re-baptized in water and then the Bishops to lay their hands upon them and all this to be done to them afore they be admitted to come to the Lords Table 5. That those Heathens or Jews that are perswaded to the faith converted and baptized they being of full age refraining from sin and stedfast in the faith need not be rebaptized but if they have young children or servants that are subject to youthful vanities notwithstanding they be baptized with their masters or fathers they ought to be rebaptized as abovesaid 6. That whosoever after re-baptizing opposeth the faith or breaketh the commands of God be excommunicated and not received in again until he repent and be willing to suffer a shameful penance If he will not come in but goeth about to seduce the people of Christ then shall the King put him to death speedily that others may fear the Lord and King 7. That the King and all keep holy the Sabbath not onely by forbearing servile work but by praying reading bearing speaking Gods word meditating on it and deeds of charity And let me tell you in the name of God that Gods Covenant in baptism is that perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten Jer. 50. 5. It is the quarrel of that Covenant
1 Esdr. 5. 37. surely this Prophesie is for us for they were hindred for a longer time And this sheweth you That since the Foundation was laid in 1653. you shall be perfectly delivered afore 1655. be expired and King Charles will be on the Throne by then provided That you unfaignedly turn to the Lord by fasting praying and reforming your wayes according to Gods Commandments and specially in not profaning but keeping holy and sanctifying the Sabbath day for therein lieth the promise of glory Isa. 58. 13 14. here and for ever Isa. 56. Now you will ask me How was the Foundation laid and wherein had the King's party any freedom in 1653. or in what manner doth it resemble Cyrus his decree for the Jews First I answer That in 1653. by all accounts the Foundation was laid for whereas before the power was in the State Parliament or People or where we knew not now it is in one single person again so that the Foundation of Monarchy which was destroyed is laid again in the Protector I hope for King Charles Secondly In 1653. the Ingagement was so taken off that the King's party that took it not now have the benefit of the Law from the which benefit by the Ingagement they were utterly excluded so that if one that had taken the Ingagement had robbed and killed one that had not taken it it had not been a Crime in those times for we have right to nothing but by she Law Thus you see what God hath done for you to fulfil my Propoesies in 1653. you must not despise the day of small things Zach. 4. 10. There came unto me a Gentleman a great Historian about two yeers agone who did affirm that Cromwel was Cyrus and that he would restore both our Liberty Church and King to us again This Gentleman was a West Country-man who had Commanded in the late King's Army and had suffered much I could wish all the King's Party were of his temper and minde Truely I believe That Cromwel is not onely Cyrus but will also prove Zerubbabel that did not onely lay the Foundation but will also finish the work of God and bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings I mean King Charles crying Grace grace unto him Zach. 4. 6 7 8 9 10. And not onely so but that Cromwel will be Darius that shall curse and bring a curse upon all whether they be Kings or whatsoever they be that hinder the work of God in establishing the King again and the true worship of God Ezra 6. 11 12. Therefore be not like the Jews that said Can there come any good thing out of Nazareth John 1. 46. for you see Jesus the most blessed came from thence John 19. 19. Wherefore let not the Independent think but that much good may come to them from the King Charles Steward and let not the Kings Party think but that great good may come to them from Oliver Cromwel now Protector who will restore the King and hath done as you see something already in order to it and more I could shew you Therefore I say to you again of Oliver Cromwel as the Prophet said Zach. 4. 9 10. to the Jews of Zerubbabel He hath laid the foundation of the work for the King's restoration he shall also finish it do not despise the day of small things that is do not despise what he did in 1653. when he turned the State into a Monarchy and freed you from the Ingagement that is somthing though it be but small in your eyes Oh that you had abated in your sins so much as that doth add to your deliverance You know the people of God fasted and prayed oft when they were in distress and that not onely privately but also publikely And you see the Independents and Sectaries do so though they be not yet the people of God and why do not you so seek the Lord that he may be merciful to you I am ashamed of you what can I say to God or Man for you when you neglect these things Once not long since as I was at Mr. Peters's Chamber on a Sabbath-day in the evening after Sermon he was disputing Cases of Conscience when all was done and the people gone except some few Gentlemen that staid to talk with him He asked me How I liked such meetings I said I liked it well if it had been done in and for the Church of God He said If you do not count us the Church why do not the Cavaliers use such holy meetings among themselves we should be glad to see them do so Said I The reason is because you will not suffer them to do it for fear they should plot against you as you formerly plotted in such meetings against them Said he we never hindred them to meet in this manner I answered That you did to my knowledge for not long since at a house in Coven-Garden there was a company of devout Cavaliers met to serve the Lord and you sent a company of Souldiers upon them for no other cause which took many of them prisoners to St. Jamses Then Mr. Peters remembring it had not a word more to say to that But he might have answered That was in the long Parliaments time the Lord Protector since he came in power did allow of no such thing for now you have the Church-door open you need not go into houses you may fast you may pray you may preach provided it be for peace and I am sure his Highness will rejoyce to see it yet if you fast for strife and debate as the Presbyterians did all for blood giving thanks when they kill'd many and fast to the end that they might kill oppress the more as the Prophet sets them out in their colours Isa. 58. 1 2 3 4 5. if you cause your voice to be heard on high and fast as they did then God and man will not allow your deeds but if you fast innocently being without malice and pray the Almighty God to send Truth and Peace to all Nations Zach. 8. 19. and specially to give a good understanding between the King and Protector and their Councels that they may make peace and confidently believe one the other and keep faith and a good conscience toward God and with one another for the time to come then will God grant your desire and no man can hurt you for so doing And the main cause why you are not delivered is because you have not a good opinion of Oliver Cromwel the man under God that is appointed to effect it by restoring your King and Church again If you look upon me as one sent of God you should hearken to me and obey my voice and and not tax me for things not coming to pass for your good when you would not believe and obey me for so the good people obeyed the Prophets of old and prevailed 2 Chro. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 2 Chron. 20. 14 15 16 17 18.