Sermons nor yet by their bookes which are full fraighted with false doctrines and confirmed and countenanced not onely by the Kings authority and power but also by wresting and false interpreting of the Scriptures and by alledging of popish Fathers which through the great ignorance of the people doe greatly prevaile btt then shall be abolished through the word and spirit of god his two witnesses in the mouth of his servants Rev. 11.3 and 19.10 who by word and writing shall breed such knowledge that none of wisedomes children shall be deceived Another reason why so many good people are now deceived is because we that have most truth are most persecuted and therefore most poore whereby we are unable to write and print as we would against the adversaries of the truth it is hard to get our daily food with the labors of our weak bodies and feeble hands how then should we have to defray other charges and to write and print I have through the help of god out of his word made a scourge of small cords 2 Pet. 2.2 wherewith Antichrist and his Ministers might be driven one of the Temple of God Also a declaration of certain false translations in the new Testament but I want wherewith to print and publish it therefore it must rest til the Lord see'th good to supply it It is the kings honor to search out a thing Prov. 25. Exod 3.6 In mean while I humbly intreat his Majesty and Parliament to give me leave to prove the Bishops with one question by which you may perceive the ignorance of your Bishops 't is this how they will bee able to prove a resurrection from these words I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Onely from these words will they prove the resurrection if they be the Bishops of Christ for he proved the resurrection from hence Luk. 20.27 The question is hard I grant but if their Lordships be not able to interpret it according to the meaning of Christ as I am sure they are not then it will be another cause very sufficient for their deprivation from their Lordly and idol offices and princely livings But because most men do wrest and mis-interpret the Scriptures some of wickednesse and some of ignorance for the utterance of their doctrines and so deceive both Prince and people I will shew how you shall perceive it lest thereby you still be deceived Every Scripture therfore mis-interpreted do make a contradiction As for example M. Iohnson one of the Preachers called Brownists to prove Rome a true church alledgeth 2 Thes 2.4 where the Apostle sheweth That the man of sin and son of perdition sitteth in the Temple of God which words Temple of God he interpreteth to be the church of God whereby he doth greatly erre for then such interpretation will contradict this scripture which saith 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of God is the pillar and ground of truth But if the man of sin sitteth there Rev. 28.2 Rev. 18 4. then it is a hold of foul spirits a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird as the Scripture speaketh yea the pillar and ground of falshood and not of truth Neither would the Lord call his people out of her as he doth if it were the true Church Rev. 12.13 14. Also if the temple of God in that place be interpreted the church of God this foul absurdity and contradiction will follow viz. that the Church called the woman to whom were given two wings of a great Eagle that she might fly into the wildernesse from her persecutors for a time times and half a time was not persecuted neither yet did sly into the wildernesse so long a time Neither yet was the Church called both woman and whore Re. 17.1 5. also great Babylon the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth drunken with the blood of the saints and of the martyrs of Iesus as the Scripture testifyeth Again if that be the church of God where the man of sin sitteth then the winepresse was not troden without but within the Church and so it also crosseth this Scripture which saith Rev. 14.20 the winepress was troden without the City so that blood came out unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs Ergo a false interpretation Moreover we are not to understand the word Temple at all times to mean the Church for when Christ said destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again did not mean the church nor yet the materiall Temple wherin he was but meant his body yet the Jews understood the word Temple otherwise even as Mr. Iohnson c doe here understand the word Temple otherwise then the bodies of peoples multitudes nations Rev. 17.5 and tongues which they ought not to doe Likewise Paul when he said If any man destroy the Temple of God him will God destroy did not mean the Church but the members of the Church So when he said the man of sin sitteth in the Temple of God he did not mean so much as the members of the church much lesse the church Therefore it must be understood that all those in whom the man of sin sitteth are called the Temple of God onely in respect that the Lord hath bought them for the Lord hath bought all men 2 Pet. 2.1 1 Joh. 2.2 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 7.23 Lev. 18.6 even the false teachers that deny him Therefore no man is his own in that respect but the Lords Also the Bishops themselves to prove brothers and sisters children may marry alledge Lev. 18. But that Scripture do not prove such marriages but the full contrary for it saith none shall come near to any of his kindred to uncover shame But brother and sisters children are kinsfolks Lev. 18.17 therefore they may not come near to uncover shame for that were wickednesse This they must confesse or else prove that brother and sisters children are not kinsfolks which they cannot seeing then brother and sisters children cannot call cozen and so all cozenship is blotted out by their doctrine for uncles and Aunts call their brothers and sisters child nephew neece Thus many Bishops and preachers do deceive Kings Princes and peoples by wresting and misinterpreting the Scripture Col. 2 8.1â— Therefore I earnestly desire your Majesty and Parliament to beware lest there be any man that spoyle you through Philosophy and vaine deceit through the Traditions of men according to the rudiments of the World and not after Christ 1 Tim. 6. â— 20 21. â— And to avoid profane and vain bablings and Antithesis or opposition falsly called learning which while some professe they have erred concerning the faith And now O King Prince and Parliament open your eyes and listen your eares unto compassion and mercy 2 Cor. 5.10 Mat. 5.45 Ver. 21 22. Lu. 18.7 8. 2 Thes 14.8 Jam. 1.5 6.
for one of their preachers called Mast Rob. hath had a writing of mine in his hands above six moneths Now above 12 months and as yet I can get no answer it seemes hee knoweth not how better to hide his errors then by silence and this will bee the case of all false Bishops and Ministers Iohn 3.20 Iohn 3.10 who had rather be mute and dumb then to be drawn into the light with their errors Therefore permission of conscience and liberty of the gospel in our land of great Britain wil mightily further the advancement of the Apostolick faith and chiefly their bookes whereout sufficient matter will be drawn for the convincing of every particular Religion which is against the Religion stablished by Christ and his Apostles who by all meanes lawfull sought the conversion and salvation both of Jewes and Gentiles 1 Cor. 9.20.22 Act. 16.3 And they are unconstant and faith lesse men or at least very ignorant that think error will overcome and prevaile against the truth For the abolishing of such thoughts I desire such men to consider the mighty victory and prevailing of the truth in the time of Christ his Apostles which notwithstanding resisted and disputed against by the most part of the Priests and learned men both of Jewes and Gentiles yet overcame and prevailed against all the errors of the high Priests and great learnedmen both of the Jews and Gentiles and the Apostle faith we cannot do any thing against the truth 2 Cor. 13.8 but for the truth and seeing it is the same truth which all good men would embrace why should wee not hope the same victory by it Did not King Darius all the people both Iew and gentils cry out and say that truth is great and strongest 1 Esd 4.38.41 Why then should those that have the truth and those that would have the truth be afraid of error seeing truth discovereth dark and dangerous wayes of error though abroad in open books even as light discovereth dark and dangerous places though abroad in open high wayes And as the more darke and dangerous the wayes be the more necessary needfull will light be found of all that travel So the more darke and dangerous the errors be the more needfull and profitable wil truth be found of al that would travel to heaven But some may object and say let all this be granted yet it is no wisedom we think to bring dangerous errors into the light that so many men may stumble at them Which being not brought to light would not be so much as known to some I answer no more then a Rock that lyeth hid under water Answer which for want of bringing into the light many men may make Shipwrack there on and so stumble or fall neverthelesse though it be not so much as known to them before Therefore as a Rock in the Seas though not so much as known to some yet for want of being made known many men stumble and fal thereon and so perish both men and goods So an error though not so much as known to some yet for want of being made known many men may stumble and fall thereon and so perish both bodies and soules the which is more lamentable And as Rocks in the Seas the more they manifest themselves So errors in the world the more they manifest themselves the more furtherance in the way to heaven And you shall understand that errors being brought to the light of the word of God will vanish as darknes before the light of a torch even as the chaffe before the winde cannot stand so error before truth cannot abide therefore it is no hinderance but a great furtherance to have all erroneous Rocks in the haven to heaven made knowen and published And a great and sure argument it is Another true signe of false ministers that those Bishops and Ministers have not the truth that publikely dare not dispute or write against error as may be seene in the Bishops ministers in Queen Maries dayes which could not abide to have books written Printed of that which they called error and heresie but caused that if any such were written both them and the Authors to be burned if they could come by them Therefore if permission of conscience and libertie of the Gospel be not granted and burning lawes repealed then the Bishops ministers now may perswade and cause to be burned both the Books the Authors that have the truth instead of heresy and hereticks even as their predecessors have done already The Word of God the onely defender of the faith of Christ and so shed more innocent bloud and also provoke the Lord to further wrath against the King and State It is not the gallowes nor the prisons nor burning nor banishing that can defend the Apostolick faith indeed the King and State may defend Religions peace by their sword civil power but not the faith otherwise then by the word and spirit of God The dutch Princes and Peeres say that force sword gallows in matter of religion is a good meanes to spil bloud and make an uprore in the land but not to bring any man from one faith to another The Pagans will not persecute one another for religion though as I read there be above three thousand sorts among them And you know both King Henry Queen Mary thought themselves defenders of the faith and though they burned hereticks and heresy when they burned Men and their books Idol Bishops and false Ministers authors of persecution Rev. 16.14 but now you see and must acknowledge that they were peesecutors of the faith instead of defenders therof and also that they through the instigation of their bloudy Bishops burned the word of God and those that professed and wrought it instead of heresy and hereticks And thus it will be now if the Bishops and their Ministers may have their wils and therein they as their predecessors fulfill the word of God in gathering Kings of the earth to the battell of the great day of God Almighty For they perswade Kings to force their subjects Rom. 10.14.17 to receive the faith and to be of the Church whereas the word of God teacheth otherwise saying Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God and not by the Kings sword And Christ saith Teach of nations and not force all nations and this teaching is to be understood by the word and writing of the Prophets and Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Christ which is the Word of God For they that wil be of the true Faith and Church must be called thereunto out of the World by the Word of God in every nation and not forced and constrained in every nation as the Bishop of Rome and all other false Bishops and Ministers have and doe perswade Kings Emperors and Magistates And his Majesty and Parliament may please to understand that so to do Mat. 16. 16.
therefore Christ commanded his disciples to teach all nations and baptize them that is to preach the word of salvation to every creature of all sorts of nations that are worthy and willing to receive it and such as shal willing gladly receive it he hath commanded to be baptized in the water that is dipped for dead in the water and therefore the Apostle saith Else what shall they do who are baptized for dead 1 Cor. 15.19 Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 Luke 8.37 if the dead be not raised why are they baptized for dead And therefore he saith we are buried then with him by baptism c. and it is to be wel observed that when Christ would have preached the word of salvation to the Gadarens he did not compell them when they refused but finding them unwilling to receive him and his word Luk. 9.54.55 he turned from them without hurting them also when James and John saw that some of the Samaritans refused Christ they would have commanded fire from heaven to consume them as Elias did but Christ rebuked them and said Ye Know no of what spirit are for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them By all which it may please his Majesty and Parliament to take knowledg that Christ will have none consumed with fire and sword for not hearing and not receiving his Word And that howsoever it hath been the mind of Antichrist to destroy mens lives for Religion and therein have not spared neither Prince no people yet it is not the mind of Christ that Princes should destroy their subjects nor yet that Subjects should destroy their Princes for difference in Religion And therefore why should Bishops perswade Princes and people and why should King Prince and people be perswaded by their Bishops and Ministers to be contrary minded to Christ verily it is a notorious and plaine token of a false faith and discipline that is defended by fire and sword the power and authority of Princes And they cannot be Christs Bishops and preachers Christs Bps. will not bee Lords ever the consciences that perswade Princes and peoples to such antichristian tyranny and cruelty And it is very evident that those Bishops and Ministers which give over men and women to the Magistrate to be perswaded by persecution doe shew clearly that their doctrine is not good and that they want the word and spirit of God and therefore flee to the Magistrates sword for the forcing of them to their faith and discipline and as the wine is not good which we are forced to drink so those doctrines are not good which we are forced to beleeve But it may be by this time all those Bishops who unfainedly fear God and truly love the King wil haste and make speed to come unto his Majesty for pardon acknowledging the truth of this book confessing their ignorance and arrogance in the knowledge of Gods word and in compelling the people to heare the word preached and for imprisoning burning banishing and hanging for Religion contrary to the mind of Christ and also for stopping the mouths of men and burning their books that preach and write contrary to their minds and wils yea it may be they will also confesse and say Oh most gracious King we beseech your Majesty to shew us mercy and to forgive us our spirituall pride and ambition in that we have thus long usurped the blasphemous titles of spirituall Lords and Lords graces the which titles we now to the glory of God and honor of the King The Bishop â—…oe know in their consciences that this is true Iob. 32.22 Phil 2.9.11 do with unfained hearts confesse to be due and belong onely to Christ himself and that the name and title of spirituall Lord cannot belong to any earthly creature no not to the King or Emperor because it is an heavenly name and title how much lesse can it belong or be due unto us your Majesties unworthy subjects and scholars And for so much as we now understand the Lord be praised therefore that the holy and heavenly name and divine title of spirituall Lord is as much yea as high and great as the name and title of a spirituall God also that it is a name above every name which God the Father hath given unto Christ onely to the end that every knee should how unto that onely and heavenly name and that every tongue should confesse that Iesus is the Messiah the Lord unto the glory of God the Father that in all things Christ might have the preheminence for be alone is the head of the Church Col. 1.18 which is his body the which cannot bee so long as we or any other Bishops do hold and retain that divine high and superexcellent name and title of spirituall Lord because then it cannot be said that God hath so highly exalted him as to give him a name above every name seeing our names and titles are also spirituall and are called spirituall Lords so well as the son of God Iesus the messiah the remembrance hereof most gracious soveraign do make us to tremble before God and the King The Bps. in titles equall to the sonne of God And therefore we must earnestly desire your sacred Majesty and the whole Parliament to discharge and release us of these fearfull names and titles that do onely belong to the son of God Iesus the onely spirituall Lord that God hath given unto his Church Note Gods blessings iâ— expected unles these idols bee rejected who are exalted above all earthly Gods Moreover we do according to the truth acknowledge that if we should any longer retaine these divine and high names of spiritual Lords and Lords graces we should therein be intituled not only with a name equall to our Lord Iesus the onely begotten son of God but also we should be intituled with a name and title above your right excellent Majesty yea above all Emperors Kings and Princes of the earth the which alone we doe acknowledge to bee a sufficient cause to put us down and to deprive us of these usurped names and blasphemous titles Also we do confesse that our pomp and state wherein we now live is more like the Bishops of the Catholick church of Antichrist then any way like the Bishops of the Apostolick Church of Christ unto whom we acknowledge we ought to be made like and also to be qualified with the like gifts and graces of the Spirit or else in no case we can be meet Bishops for the Church of Christ as the Apostle plainely teacheth both to Timothy and Titus c. 1 Tim. 3. Tith 6.9 And we must further acknowledge and confesse that our houses housholds and revenues are more fit and meet for Princes Dukes and Earls then for the Bishops of Christ Wherfore being moved and stirred up hereto by the feare of God we earnestly beseech your Majesty and Parliament also to disburden us of this great