every ones Estate with th ir Wives and Children The cause of the War is most just and had be not been assured that the work had been acceptable unto God Rom. 13.2 3 4 â— who hath put the Sword into the hand of the M gistrate he would not have been there This Oration being finished they came to close and no sooner were the Artillery and small shot discharged but these poor people as men amazed and deprived of understanding neither defend themselves nor set themselves to flight for safety but sang their vulgar song to invoke the aid of the holy Ghost some trusting in the promises of Muntzer waited for succour from Heaven The Harquebusses being discharged they began to re-inforce the battel and to slay them right down then they betook themselves to flight all in a rout toward Francuse some of them drew off to the other part of the Mountain and some the while bare the brunt of the battel in the Valley against the Horse of whom there fell one or two but so hotly were they pursued 5000 Slain that there were 5000 left in the place soon after this slaughter the City of Francuse was taken and near 300 prisoners 300 Prisoners which were beheaded Muntzer having gained the City by slight hid himself in an house near unto the Gate whither by accident there came a Gentleman whose Waiting-man going up to see the rooms he found a man laid upon the bed who asked him who he was and whether he was not fled from the Battel and whether he was not one of the seditious By accident there lay a Purse near unto the bed the other taketh up the booty and having opened it he found therein Letters whereby Albert of Mansfield did admonish Muntzer to desist from his enterprize and not to cause the poor people to mutiny these Letters when he had read he asked him if the Letters were not directed to him which he denied very stifly untill being sharply threatned craving pardon he confessed that he was Muntzer being taken he was brought before George Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave Muntzer taken being asked of them what had moved him so to abuse the poor people he replied that he had done but his duty and that those Magistrates that would not receive the Gospel were so to be dealt withall The Lantgrave puzled him proving by Testimony of Scripture that the Magistrates ought to be had in reverence and that all seditions were forbidden by God and that it was not lawful for a Christian to avenge his private quarrel whereunto Muntzer had not to answer Afterwards he was put unto grievous torture and as by greatness of the pain he cried out Tortured George Duke of Saxony said unto him Truly Muntzer you endure at present but think also upon the ruine of so many people which this day by occasion of thy sedition are slain He answered much laughing that they would so have it He was afterwards brought to Welderung a City of the Signory of Mansfield where he was sharply drawn and put to torture and confessed what was his deliberated purpose and who were the Complices of his Conjuration The Princes being come to Welderung and Mulhuze they caused many of these seditious persons to be beheaded and among the rest that bold fool Phifer of whom there hath mention formerly bin made then afterward Muntzer was brought into the field who found himself very much discouraged and overwhelmed in this extremity so as without help he could not give account of his faith as it commonly falls out with such in the like case Henry of Brunswick to help him caused him to say after him when he was ready to die he confessed clearly loudly his fault and errour and being surrounded with Souldiers he exhorted the Princes to use greater pity towards the poor people and that by this means they should not need to fear he admonished them also to reade diligently the Book of Kings which are in the holy Scripture his discourse being ended they cut off his Head Executed From this marvellous defeat and discomfiture several escaped who seeing their sedition profited them not and that the Prophets were slain with their brethren and companions instead of repenting and acknowledging the pestilential venome that lay hid in their Sect they assemble at Munster the chief City of Westphalia Those that escape get into Munster Pretend humility cry out against the Magistrates power and at first made semblance of humility holding forth nothing in them that was splendent or magnificent yea they reproved and cried out against all excellency greatness and magnificency they held forth outside-holiness and cried out against the sword and power of the Magistrate Riches and honour were rejected by them as loathsome vomit at least as they made shew of they spake of nothing but of the mortification of the old man and of the renewing of the Spirit and of a life wholly dedicated unto God above all they despised the world and the things that are therein but it was because they could not yet play their pranks nor themselves have dominion nor make a new world according to their model as they afterwards shewed unto all Bern. Rotman preaches the Gospel with success He and other Ministers present Articles against Popish errours In the year 1532 Bernard Rotman began to preach the Gospel without the City of Munster in the Temple of S. Maurice and that not without great effect insomuch as that there being certain Ministers they presented thirty Articles unto the Magistrates wherein all the errours of the Papacy were contained submitting themselves unto all punishment if they did not prove all these Articles to be false and repugnant to the Word of God The Senate sent for the Papists and proposed unto them those Errours and because they had alway given them to understand their Doctrine was pure Papists are convinced and founded upon the Word of God which these Preachers denied and upon their lives would evince the contrary the Magistrates asked them if they would by holy Writ confute what was said unto them being thus questioned and seeing the Senate laid the matter much to heart in brief they answered that they had not wherewith to defend their Doctrine and as for what they had said of their Ordinances and manner of doing to be good it was but upon opinion ignorance And by the Senates command resign their places to the Ministers whereupon the Senate forbade them from that time forward not to meddle with preaching seeing they were convinced of Errours and false Doctrines and commanded them to resign their places unto those Teachers which had discovered their errours and abuses Soon after there was assigned to each his Temple to preach in by the consent of the Senate and all the City was in peace and tranquillity But Satan the enemy of peace and truth Satan sâ—â—s up Anabaptists who disturbs their peace could
THE RISE SPRING AND FOUNDATION OF THE Anabaptists Or RE-BAPTIZED of our Time VVritten in French by Guy de Brez 1565. Minister of the Word and MARTYR And Translated for the use of his Countrymen by J.S. Eccles 1.9 The thing that hath been it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the Sun CAMBRIDGE Printed and to be Sold by Marmaduke Johnson 1668. To the Reader AS the reviving of this Root of Bitterness in the Quaker after its being dead above an hundred years caused the Translation and first Impression of this small Book under another Title so the sprouting forth of its fruits of gall and wormwood and the issuings from this corrupt fountain of those streams which make sad the City of God have occasioned its second Impression under the Name and Title put upon it by its Author Guy de Brez whose praise in the Churches by his laborious planting and faithful watering of them by his blood is largely set forth in the famous Book of Martyrs the third Volume in the Continuation of the History by Dr. Edward Bulkly pag. 37 38 41 42 43. where he is described to be not onely an eminent Witness of Christs Truth unto the death but his Labours Prayers and Sufferings are there recorded to posterity his rejoycing in God when hands and feet were so laden with Iron Chains as they eat through his Flesh to the very bones his glorying in their ratling more then if they had been Chains of Gold his fulness of God when shut up in the Dungeon which for its darkness was called Brunain where he had no more air but at one little hole where drunkards vented their urine even then his heart leaped for joy provoking his wife to comfort in that God had not onely given her a Husband who was a Minister of Christs Gospel but to be honoured with Martyrdome A Dignity said he which the Angels of Heaven are not capable of All which declare him a more then ordinary Man of God and how worthy of credence thâ—se Relations by him held forth are There also is mention made of this Book he being engaged in an holy Conflict as the Author calleth it against the pestilent Sect of the Anabaptists which as Cockle mingle themselves among the good Corn. This Translation is a small part of the Book the rest is Doctrinal and a solid Conviction of their Tenents which whosoever shall intelligently reade and compare his Reasons with those of our Worthies in these our dayes he will finde that as Satan is the old Serpent so Christ Jesus is the same yesterday and to day and for ever A threefold Character he giveth of them in his Epistle to his Book 1. That they multiplied quotations of Scripture against their true sense and meaning to gain applause of the weak and unstable 2. That they gloried in their specious Holiness of Conversation 3. That they professed their readiness to suffer unto death Of these he warneth Christs Flock scattered in Flanders Brabant c. being his own Country If by any thing the faithful then might be preserved from the scandal which hereby is cast upon the Gospel and that they might be provoked to a more affectionate inquiry and cordiall closing with the truth of Faith and Order of the Gospel which as then was his so now is the weak desire of him who is Thine in Christian duty J. S. The Rise Spring and Foundation OF THE ANABAPTISTS IN the year 1521 and the year insuing there arose a certain number of mutinous and seditious persons who secretly made Factions they chiefly dwelt in the quarters of Saxony which bordered upon the River Salah among whom their chief was Nicholas Stork They dreamed dreams and said Nicholas Stork and his accomplices they preached dreams That they spake familiarly with God by Visions they preached their dreams for truths and Divine Oracles and because that there should come a new world wherein should dwell righteousness Therefore they ought to exterminate all the wicked with all the Princes and unbelieving Magistrates oppose Magistrates from off the earth they called all those unbelievers which were not of their Sect and Faction From out of this School came Thomas Muntzer Dr. Balthazar Hubmore Melchior Rink John Hutt John Deuter Lodovike Hetzer c. All these boasted that they familiarly conferred with the Lord. In their teachings they with heat of affection did defame and detract from the Ministers of the Gospel and Ministers afterward with the like violence fell upon the Magistrate thinking that if they could make void these two Orders unto the Church the wolves might safely fall upon and dismember the Flock wherefore these wolves i. e. these false Teachers have alwayes principally set themselves against the Ministers of the Church and the Magistrates to see if they could drive them out from the Flock or at least disgust some of the sheep against their Pastors that so estranging them from them they might undo them Thâ—ir Doctrine spreads Rebaptize thousands Their Doctrine suddenly spread throughout all the Country and in a little space they gathered much people after them and Rebaptized many thousands insomuch as many simple people were led by a zeal without knowledge being by their fair appearance insnared They tyed themselves unto the only simple and naked Letter of the Scripture They varnish over their soul intentions with fair pretences without regard to the sence thereof they carried it very fairly before all men for they had alwayes in their mouths the love faith and the fear of God the mortification of the flesh and the cross which were the garnish wherewith that they might be of value to the simple they painted and adorned themselves but inasmuch as such colours were false they lasted not long but they soon began to fade and without fraud to appear what they were Muntzers Doctrine Thomas Muntzer of whom we formerly spake said That whosoever would be saved must firstly flye all manifest vices Murders Blasphemies against the Name of God that he must chastise and macerate his body by fastings and mean apparel that he must hold forth an austere visage speak little c. he called these things the Cross the Mortification of the Flesh and Discipline after that he had so fashioned his people he said That they must withdraw from the multitude and conversation of men and often to think upon God who he is and whether he hath care of us whether Christ suffered death for us and whether our Religion were to be preferred before that of the Turks moreover that we ought to ask a sign from God to be assured whether he hath care of us and whether we owned the true Religion if instantly he gave not a sign that we ought to persist and pursue in prayers yea lively to complain of him as of one that doth us wrong for seeing the Scripture promises
Senate of their own party with Consuls among whom were Knipperdoling and Cipperbrok soon after they fell upon the Temple of S. Maurice Bera the Church of S. Maurice which was near unto the City and burnt it with the neighbouring Edifices and pillaged all the Temples and spoiled the chief Temple Within a few dayes after they flocking together ran about the streets and in a dreadful manner cried out Cry Repent repent depart if ye will not die Drive out all the Citizens that were not of their Sect. In this flight many women with child miscarry They Pillage Repent repent and suddenly changed their tune saying Quickly depart ye wicked if ye will not die and at that instant in arms ran to and again and drave out of the City all that were not of their Sect without having regard either to Age or Sex so as many women miscarried in these troubles and confused slight These being driven out they fall upon pillaging their Estates by this every one may know by what spirit these Anabaptistical Hypocrites were led there is no act so fellonious horrible cruel and wicked that ever was done which they did not commit In the beginning they talked of nothing but the Spirit and Holiness they said it was not lawful for a Christian to be a Magistrate and that it was not lawful to bear Arms but after they had brought all under their paw and in their power then it was lawful to take the Publick Arms with the Town-house and to chuse a Magistrate to their minde yea with rejection of him that was ordained of God and thrust themselves into his place and to make themselves Consuls and Senators as they have done there is not need of much speaking for the world knoweth it Where now are the fair speeches of those Anabaptists Do not resist evil He that will take away thy coat give him thy cloak also These have not only pillaged and stript honest men of their clothes but of all that they had and have driven them miserable out of their houses with their wives and little ones and have exposed them to death by the Besiegers of the City At that time there arose in the City of Munster a great number of Prophets for they usurped that name the principal of whom were John Matthews of Harling and one Pistor Their Prophet Joh. Matthews commands all their goods to be common who were both audacious and prating fellows they boasted of Visions and of the Spirit of Prophecie By Prophetical Authority this holy Prophet commanded all the City to bring in all their Gold Silver and other moveable goods to be common and that none upon pain of death should reserve any thing for his own private use and to this end there was a Publick house appointed The people were very much astonished at the rigour of this Edict yet notwithstanding obeyed it it was not possible to retain or conceal any portion for there were two Maides Diviner esses who did reveal it Divineresses reveal such as retained the good and all books besides the Bible to be burnâ— if there were any that did retain any thing Afterwards these Prophets commanded that none should keep any books except the Holy Bible and that all others should publickly be brought forth and abolished he said that he received this Command from God wherefore great numbers of books were brought together and consumed by fire It came to pass that an Artificer named Hubert Trutelin Hubert Trutelin calls them Prophets of a T and staiâ— who being displeased with the acting of these Prophets reproached them calling them Prophets de Merde he was accused and all the people were caused to come together in their Arms they sentenced the poor man to death whereat the people were marvellously frighted John Matthews the chief Prophet laid hands upon the poor man and when as he was thrown down gave him a stab with a Pike without wounding him mortally whatsoever his endeavours were then he commanded him to be taken from thence and that he should be carried to another place and taking the Musket of another young man that was neer him he shot him through with a bullet when he was falling to the ground the Prophet said That it was revealed unto him from heaven that the time of his death was not yet come and that God had accepted him to favour though he died a few dayes after whereof when the Prophet had notice he took a long Pike and violently ran through the City crying out that God the Father had given him in command to repulse the Enemie from the City As he drew neer unto the Camp John Matthews slain a Souldier called Mesnicus faced him and shot him quite through the belly This was the woful end of this mad Prophet and although the fraud of these Prophets was well known yet the people were so bewitched by them and so deprived of their reason that they much bewailed this their goodly Prophet saying That there would some mischief befal them because such a Prophet was taken from them John Becold of Leyden commanded the second Prophet after him to be of a good courage because that of a long time before it had been revealed unto him that he should come to such an end and that he should marry his widow Two dayes after Easter they ran to the Churches and rang all the Bells together Knipperdoling prophecieth some dayes after Knipperdoling prophecied that all lofty things must be laid low and the poor and the mean and the low things must be exalted and forthwith commanded that all the Churches should be demolished with a very great gravity assuring them that this command came from God wherefore he was without delay obeyed and the heavenly command as he called it put in execution At the same time John Becold gave the sword unto Knipperdoling Becold makes Knipperdoling Hangman and appointed him to be executioner because it so fell out that he was the Consul and had administred the chief Magistrates place Being now made Hangman he is put in a lower rank Knipperdoling made no scruple of it which he accepts They sally forth and make a great slaughter to the number of 4000. and received this place very acceptably and whereas the Camp had now been some months before the City they stormed it and of the chief Nobility and best Captains and Souldiers there were slain before the City about four thousand then all hopes of taking them by force failed A few dayes after Whitsontide John Becold of Leyden after that assaults had been given without effect Becold for three dayes dreams and feigns himself dumb as Zachary and writes the names of 12 chief Commanders he went to sleep and laid and dreamed three entire dayes together and when he awaked he spake to no man but as Zacharias John the Baptists father so he made signs that they should bring him paper wherein he wrote the names
the calling wherein he is called 1 Cor. 12.29 He asketh also Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers Every Christian may or ought to reade and discourse of Scripture it followeth not therefore that all Christians are Preachers and Ministers of the Churches but onely those which are lawfully called nor doth the calling cease for any failing that may be found in the life of the Called which is not spoken to give occasion to make Ministers negligent God forbid but the exhortation of the Apostle Paul is alwayes necessary to the Ministers no more then Peter ceased to be a true and lawful Apostle Acts 6 6. Acts 13.3 1 Tim. 5.22 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 when he so grosly failed Gal. 2.11 12. It is well known our Ministers are called to Office by the voice and common consent of all the Church and that after fasting and calling upon the Name of God according to Apostolical institution and are confirmed in their Office by imposition of hands what reason is there for these Sectaries to say That their Ministers are called of God but ours onely by the world and men if their Ministers have a special calling as the Apostles had let them prove it by signs miracles gifts of tongues and Apostolical Doctrine as they did The Church hath no need of your Ministers for the Doctrine of Repentance Amendment of life and of Remission of sins in the Name of Christ is abundantly declared in the Church of Christ to teach the same thing is superfluous if you teach any other Doctrine then you and your Doctrine is accursed and not to be heard I shall say no other thing then what the Apostle Paul before spake to the like glorious Ministers as theirs be Gal. 1.18 If their spirit be so full of knowledge and light so as they cannot contain themselves from preaching without calling why do they not preach where the Gospel was never yet declared they insinuate themselves into such places where the Gospel hath been preached to the people with great labour and hazard of life unto the poor Ministers It is a marvel how they will vouchsafe to enjoy and partake of the labours of those Ministers whom they so much hate they secretly by fraud and deceit seduce and disturb in such places the poor sheep of Jesus Christ which ought not to be withdrawn from their true Pastors I pray all the Flock of Christ not to give heed to such strangers but rather hearken to the voice of the Apostle 1 Thess 5.12 13. Heb. 13.17 These Sectaries do defame and reproach the Ministers and speak all evil of them but it is because they touch them at the quick because they cry out upon these Wolves and pluck the sheep-skins from off their backs that none might be surprized by their fair appearance Seeing the Gospel-Ministers are styled Salt of the earth none must think strange that the Salt biteth and pricketh and maketh it self to be Salt the Salt biteth not where there is no wound but it is felt where there is a raw place It will appear then that they have lost their spiritual senses who say That our Ministers are not called of God God hath put singular honour upon the Ministers yea what greater could he put upon them then by saying He that heareth you heareth me and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me the Lord not only by words hath recommended the Ministers unto the Church but also by example hath shewn what honour and reverence all ought to have them in The holy Ghost could have taught the Ethiopian Eunuch without the Ministry of man Acts 8. but he would maintain this order So Cornelius God could have taught him by the Angel Acts 10.5 but he is bid to send for Peter When our Lord called Paul he could have instructed him himself yet he is sent to a mortal man to receive the Doctrine of Salvation and Baptism behold a case which fell not out by rashness that an Angel of God should withdraw from entring upon the Ministry Acts 9.6 and should send him to a man a Minister to preach unto him Who with a good Conscience dare then despise the true Ministry so highly honoured of God and to disgust men from the same and to cause men to run after those which were not lawful Ministers but thieves robbers and grievous Wolves which spare not the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ Let us now come to the second Point Muntzer after he had spued out his poison against the poor Ministers of Christ he falls upon the word of the eternal God and there that he may leave nothing intire with open throat he spits out his blasphemies It is no marvel if he fall upon the Ministers of the Word to speak evil of them seeing he dareth so outragiously to set himself against the very mouth of God Behold his own words Object That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and the external preaching of the word is not the word of God and that we must search for the word in the internal part in the heart and that the Ministers are much deceived thinking that faith cometh by reading of the Scriptures or by hearing them preached seeing all the Scripture saith that they shall be taught of God These are his own words Answ We plainly confess and are not so ignorant thanks be to God and who knoweth not that the external word i. e. that the Letters written with ink upon paper by the hand of the Writer and that the voice sounding out of the mouth is not the Word of God inasmuch as it is written and spoken by man yet we do notwithstanding affirm that the sense of these words written and spoken by the mouth of the Minister is the true and indubitable Word of God as it more plainly appeareth Jer. 36.4 6 8. where the Prophet Jeremiah commandeth Baruch to write from his mouth all the words of the Lord. The words of Jeremiah written with ink in a Book are called the Word of the Lord. How often do we hear in the Prophets Thus saith the Lord reade these Scriptures Jer. 25.15 Jer. 20.33 1 Pet. 1.23 Isa 40.6 1 Thess 2.13 Deut. 10.18 Acts 4.31 Acts 6.2 Acts 8.14 25. Acts 11.1 Acts 13.5 7 25. Acts 17.13 Acts 18.11 Heb. 13.7 Ephes 1.13 We ought rather to give credit to so many evident Testimonies of Scripture then unto such Ravers who do nothing but rave and dream Muntzer careth not for that but dareth give the Apostle Peter the lye Now they which leave the Scriptures finding out another means to come unto God through pride they are deprived of their senses They pretend unto Revelations of the Spirit and despising all reading they mock at the simpleness of those which yet follow the dead and killing Letter as they call it By what spirit is it by inspiration whereof they are so highly rapt as that they dare reject all the Doctrine of the Scriptures as a
babish and childish thing They say It is the Spirit of God but it is plain mockery so to speak For they must needs grant us that the Apostles and the faithful in the Pâ—â—mitive Church were inspired by the Spirit of Christ yet none of them durst contemn the Word of God and the holy Scriptures but rather each of them had them in very great reverence as we may see it by their writings which are furnished with many testimonies from the Old Testament and certainly thus was it promised by God through the mouth of the Prophet Isa 59.21 where we see that the Lord joyned these two together his Word and his Spirit wherefore should we separate what God hath by an inviolable bond conjoyned Moreover Paul who was rapt up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.4 and there heard things unlawful for man to utter notwithstanding gave not over diligent reading nor profiting by the Books of the Old Testament Commanding Timothy to bring with him the Books which he had left at Troas with Carpus 2 Tim. 4.13 2 Tim. 3.15 1 Tim. 4.13 Yea he exhorts Timothy who though he was an excellent Teacher and well instructed in the holy Scriptures to give himself to reading and what praise doth he put upon the Scripture 2 Tim. 3.16 I would ask these men whether they have received another Spirit then our Saviour promised to give his Disciples they will not dare to vaunt of another spirit now what Spirit our Saviour promised to send unto his Disciples he sheweth plainly when he saith John 14.26 This Spirit shall not speak of himself but should bring to their remembrance what they had formerly heard of him It is not the Office of the holy Spirit that which Christ promised to dream of dreams of new and unknown Revelations or to hold forth new Doctrine but it is the work of the Spirit of God to confirm us in that which he hath already spoken by the Prophets and Apostles seeing also that the Lord promiseth not to send us another Doctrine saying Hold fast that which thou hast untill I come Revel 2.24 Gal. 1.8 9. whereby it appeareth that we ought diligently to travel as well in hearing as in the reading of the holy Scripture if we will feel the benefit and fruit of the Spirit of God Luke acknowledgeth the diligence of those of Berea in searching the Scriptures Acts 17.11 To this purpose tend these Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.19 John 5.39 Luke 4.21 Matth. 4.4 Eph. 6.16 Mat. 22.19 Luke 24.27 John 2.22 And Paul would have a Bishop to hold fast the faithful word Titus 1.9 c. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures c. Acts 14.24 28. If it were otherwise how could we take heed to the deceits of Satan who daily transformeth himself into an Angel of light whereupon should our faith rest we should be carried to and fro without any stability Object But they do alledge It were a great absurdity to subject the holy Spirit unto the Scriptures to whom all things are to be subjected Answ As if it were a shame and ignominy to the holy Ghost to be alway like unto himself and to be constant in the same word without wavering at all If any should reduce the Spirit to an Humane or any other Rule it were debased yea brought into servitude but when we say That the holy Ghost having once spoken is not mutable and changeth not discourse now speaking one thing and then another as men are wont to do who will say that we offer any injury to the holy Ghost Object But they say He is by this means examined which belongeth not unto men to do Answ It is very clear that it is such an examination as he hath pleased to establish in the Church that we may not receive the spirit of Satan instead of him wherefore it must needs be that the Spirit abide for ever such as once he hath revealed and manifested himself to be in the holy Scriptures It is no shame nor opprobry to the Spirit for any to say of him That it is no dishonour for him not to be mutable nor to renounce himself As for that which they tax the Ministers to be Ministers of the dead letter one may plainly see the Lords taking vengeance upon the outrage offered unto his holy Word smiting them with a spirit of giddiness for having despised the true and only means of coming unto God which is the Scripture and the Word of God In the passage of the Corinthians where Paul saith The letter killeth and the Spirit quickeneth let any closely consider against whom the Apostle disputeth 2 Cor. 3 6. and they will understand his drift It is very evident that Paul in this place had to do with false Apostles who preached and extolled the Law without Christ and caused the people to recoil from Salvation purchased by Christ and the grace of the new Covenant whereunto the Lord had promised to write his Law in the heart of the faithful Jer 31.33 Ezek. 11 19. Ezek 36. Heb 8.10 the Law then being separated from Christ as a body without a soul and nothing cometh from it but death to those that are under it it doth nothing but beat and strike the ears without any quickening the soul until by faith we are sent from it unto Christ as from the Usher unto the Master and then the Law will be found such as David sings it The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Psal 19 8. the testimony of the Lord is faithful making wise the simple the commandments of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart c. Thus must we understand how it is said The Letter killeth Paul calleth the Law The killing Letter and saith The Spirit quickneth i. e. The Ministry of the Gospel which he opposeth unto the naked Law and he himself calleth his preaching The Ministry of the Spirit we must not understand this place as those dreamers who as often as they meet with an obscure place that maketh against them say The Letter killeth i. e. According as they say to understand the meaning of this Scripture this killeth but we must come to the Spirit i. e. to forge Allegories Paul never thought of such fopperies Luk. 24 27. as we may see in reading the same Chapter 2 Cor. 3.8 It is then wretchedly and wickedly done to cast off the Scripture upon such pretence of the Spirit seeing our Lord giveth us his Spirit to understand his word as we see Christ opened the understanding of the two Disciples not by making them wise in themselves nor setting them to look for a new kinde of word or natural and innate in them in rejecting the Scriptures but that they might understand the Scriptures After this manner the Apostle Paul exhorteth the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit he would not have them fly in the air after vain and unprofitable speculations without the word of God but consequently