Holy things FOR HOLY MEN OR The Lawyers Plea Non-suited his Evidence proved insufficient his foul mouth civilly wiped and his arrogant railings admonished and bridled IN Some Christian Reproofe and Pitie expressed towards Mr PRYNN'S Book Intituled The Lord's Supper briefly vindicated or rather indeed by him therein exposed vilified and profaned and the Conscientious Ministry therein abused injured and affronted By S. S. Minister of the Gospel Titus 1. 13. Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith â— Tim. 3. 14. But continue thou in the things which thoâ— hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them Mr. W. Pryn. Perpetuity pag. 344. The Sacraments do never convey any inward and spiritual grace which may truly regenerate and engraft men into Christ but where there is a hand of Faith to receive them and the grace conveyed by them Cupio propitiis auribus quid sentiam dicere sin minus dicam iratis Sen. Epist 59. London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside over-against the great Conduit 1658. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER And more especially to Mr Will. Prynne Esquire A While since I met an absurd ignorant Pamphlet under the name of one Dr Swadlin pleading for a Promiscuous receiving the Lords Supper by promiscuous sinners a Term as new as unsound and silly I meant to have said somewhat to his madness But perceiving by a later Pamphlet of his own that he is Fame infamia periturus and that 't is likely he writeth such trifles to get a miserable living I waved him not thinking it strange to read what I found there because they were his Neither hath it cost me any great expence of patience to hear such a Spittler as Joh. Spittlehouse in name and deed call us Judasses and all the ill-names that his worse heart hath invented and his loathsome throat spit forth against us Neither have I regarded the ignorant blarings of so base and silly an Almanack-maker as Will Lilly not worth his worthless profession I can as easily slight the ravings of Papists Anabaptists and pitiful Jesuited Quakers as the Lion the bawlings and yappings of a little Cur But to see a petty-martyr an old Professor and a learned one even a Mr. Prynne to fall from his own stedfastness to behold him watching over us like a Leopard and helping the Sons of Lot and hear him even him using as Mr. John Goodwin called it the very language of Dragons against us this grievs once for all and sick as I am I cannot but say to him as dying Caesar to his Brutus Etiam tu Prynne What is our Saul amongst such Prophets even such Prophets as the old Prophet was 1 Kings 13. will he bring us into a praemunire against God and our high trust and calling whilst he tells us a fair tale of what is our duty to do and indure when we find not one word for it in our Commission When I first saw Mr. Prynns book of the Lords Supper vindicated in the Title which came to my hand some few daies since I beheld it with such a spirit as Paul the Athenians Altar to the Unknown God for I perceive Mr. Prynne doth adore a conceit of he knows not what whilst under the Inscription of Vindication hee defameth profaneth and prostituteth the blessed Sacrament Therefore whilst he gives the empty name of a Vindication to his book let him give me leave to do the thing to vindicate the Lords Supper indeed from all wicked unholy bold intruders and usurpers and wherein he ignorantly mistakes himself I will declare unto him if he Please to trust me as willingly in mine as I would him in his Profession In his Book I am very sensible of his change of Spirit since he wrote his useful Book of the Perpetuity of the regenerate had some man then shewed him such a Book as this of his and foâ—etold him You shall one day write thus he would have cried out What am I a Dogg that I should do such a thing Then he would have plucked out his eies for the godly Ministers zealous of Reformation but now they are become his enemies because we tell him the Truth And hereunto I cannot but note his fury railing impertinencies and false principles in his book and have laid down better not from my own judgment but from former and later judicious sound Divines at home and abroad I have also observ'd his pomp and confidence the matter and form of his whole book and to satisfie my self I have dared gently to prick his ratling full blown bladder to consider the paint of this Butterfly the feather of this Ostrich or rather the squallid wings of this flitter-mouse whereby I can easily judge according to the old rule Qui se habet pro sapiente hunc Deus homines habent pro ignaro For the profest refutation of the Book I do not look upon it as my work I know the Lawyer hath learned and pious Antagonists with whom I number not my self in point of ability yet a smal measure might be sufficient to answer 100 such Pamphlets or any other that I have had the trouble to see upon their subject My present writing and further I never intend is onely to enter my dissent and protest and not without good evidence to the truth against Mr. Pryns erroneous conceit for which I am grieved and for the reproaches he casts upon conscientious Ministers for the reproaches of those that reproached them are fallen upon me whilst our enemies rejoice that they have found our friend and Brother to be an Executioner rather to grieve then torment us that they have gotten our Demosthenes to write angry Philippicks against us even our own Prynne to implead us and open his mouth against us with a tongue of falshood and compasse us about with words of hatred and fight against us without a cause for our love he is our adversary but we give our selves unto praier vide Psal 109. and our praiers return into our own bosome our hearts are fortified his spittings upon us are wiped off and soul-establishing consolations and promises are applied to the condition calling and person of every godly Minister They shall fight against thee but they shall not prevail against the for I am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee Jer. 1. 19. In nothing terrified by your adversaries which to them is an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God Phil 1. 28 vide Genev. Bezae not as I know thy works behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and not denied my name Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not but do lie Behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have
rushed him upon such absuâ—dities and wild conceits Scaliger tells us In homine docto tria omnino excellere debent morum integritas at que civilitas eruditio varia ac multa ingenium summum cum accerrimo judicio conjunctum a learned man should have intire good manners and civility various and much learning and a high wit joined wit a piercing judgment You have had Mr. Prynns integrity good manners and civility expressed freely against the conscientious Ministers before his multiplicity abundance of reading if his Scriptures had been right applyed in the quotations of places cited of which we have had a tast an unsavory one Now to his Ingenium summun cum accerrimo judicio cujunctum high and huge wit and judgment Where I wish I could justifie the latter as I can affirm the former But I hope this is but his disease of his fancy and some distemper and heat and not a perfect calenture of his conceit that may prove curable and that 't is not the very constitution of his serious and more considerate soul I do wish heartily for I loved him as a great Puritan a strict and regular professor he may out-live this discracie that is at present fallen upon him and be more useful to the Church of God then thus Yet to see and pitty the discomposure of Spirit that he is under hear the man talk a little and observe his strange kind of unreasonable reasonings and remember what the Spirit of God saith Eccl. 10. 1. Dead Flyes cause the oyntmen of the Apothecarie to send forth a stinking savor so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour Pag. 9. M. Prynne saith this position of some That to deliver the Lords Supper to such as have no pre-existent saving grace and faith within them is but to set a seal to a which cannot work any saving grace and conversion in them This position he saith is as false as God is true Doth Mr. Prynne understand no more of the Truth of GOD then thus where is non sence in Divinity and what is an impious Paradox Mr. Prynnes words if this be not Let him no more talk of untheological and almost blasphemous assertions except he will justifie the madness as Irenaeus calls it of Marcion and his followers that affirmed there were two Principles at first or two beginning of good and evil that were equally poised Else I hope Mr. Prynne will as the distemper wears off return to his former right mind And that he will live to affirm the great and glorious Truth of GOD to bee truer then the mistake of any weak and sinful man can be false 2. But that which aggravateth the matter is this That what Mr. Prynne saith is as false as God is true Is indeed a very truth according to God an undeniable serious holy truth Yet this must bear Mr. Prynnes brand for an infinite unspeakable incomprehensible falshood as false he saith as God is true This I suppose is ignorant bold and false enough And yet brethren this bold affirmer of alas he knows not what for I am angry at such palpable stuffe takes upon him to adjure us to acquiesce in his conceits and follow his advise and fancy in no lesse matters then in tremendis mysteriis in the managing and administring the Lords Supper Let Mr. Prynne give counsel in the Law with an honest mind and good successe wherein they say he hath good skill but God forbid we should no better understand our Theological work then to take our Institutions and precepts anew from him that though never so learned in his own is but very jejune and empty as to these great and holy things of our Calling and Ministry and is therein but like him that Prov. 13. 7. maketh himself rich and hath nothing In his seventh page he gives a very mean answer to another position that he cavils at viz. That Sacramental Seals serve onely to confirm pre-existent not convey non-existent grace This he quarrels at and miscalleth it a grosse Solecisme in Divinity and Law Corrigit magnificat nescit quid significat To confute the Position he tells us the primary p. 8. original most usual end of Seals and sealed writings is to convey and transfer new rights titles c. and their secondary end to confirm corroborate enlarge estates formerly conveyed How shal Mr. Prynne teach us in our Profession that falls short in his own For doth not experience teach us and do not as wise Counsellors affirm that the Seal and Writings are matters of Record that of themselves properly convey nothing but are a lasting memorial of what was bargained demised purposed and conveyed and on what terms before 'T is the act and deed of the parties concerned and agreed before that is the conveyance And if it cannot be proved that there was no personal actual conveyance as well as a Seal and a Writing Mr. Prynne himself for a small fee will give it for Law that such a Writing and Seal is little better then a blank and signifies nothing It makes me smile to hear him Romance it so gallantly in p. 14. and 15. where he relates how the three Knights Mr. Maurice Mr. Humphrey and himself kill'd the Gyant that still liveth At least he shews you the ropes of sand where with they bound him thus Saith Mr. Prynne Because preaching and hearing may sometimes work damnation yet doth sometimes work and convey by the concurrence of Gods Spirit faith grace and repentance so doth the Lords Supper likewise as he saith he shall prove anon or to morrow or never Mr. Prynne retains and constrains thirty or forty Scriptures to bear up the bedabbled train of this vaporing conceit but to prove it indeed I find not a word in his Book nor is there a word for it in the Bible But we are commanded to preach and teach to rebuke exhort c. and by such means and by walking like lights c. to indeavour the conversion of the Unregenerate And for this we have evidence of the Word and abundant witness in the conscience of many blessed be the Lord. But for Mr. Prynns conceit and his fellows of a proper work of Conversion by the Sacrament for all the rich flourishing applause that their own mouths give it it is but but a failing bankrupt conceit And pag. 17. he offers to compound at half a crown in the pound with a Why should they not constantly and frequently administer the Lords Supper to them viz. the Unconverted because some of them may possibly may probably be converted really reclaimed from their sins renued saved by it And pag. 18 and 19 hee followeth the same importunity Possibly saith he some may be converted by it and pag. 24 he saith 'T is usually and properly wrought by the Lords Supper And if he hath not proper proof for it there is none in all â—he Bible for he proves it from the Queen of Sheba 1
and his Histriomastix yet you see now this Demosthenes hath the Squinacy Let me not say an evil heart hath deceived him but hee 's retained on the other side whilst he makes a wide mouth at us he bears the best affection to the worst case and doth now but despise what formerly he printed and professed I see it and am sorry that such great wits and great parts often fall into great madness magna ingenia magnas dementias and the greater age and height a man attaineth unto the greater and more dangerous is his fall when he lets go his hold Let no man therefore think himself safe but strengthen himself in the Lord and the knowledg and obedience of the Gospel Thinking still that he reads upon Mr. Pryn's books that which some found upon the Statue of Zenacherib Look to me and learn to be godly to be stedfast to hold the truth in love and let him that thinketh he standeth take heed least he fall And why amongst many reproaches are we so often and again in his book branded for self-seekers The man goes barefoot himself and yet planteth thorns hee 's made of glasse and yet throws stones at others A man clad in Birdlime crieth out against self-interest Shall I say Lawyer cure thy self Shall I cry out in a passion as Scaliger once did Hodie Proh dolor juris Prudentia ex matrona facta est meretrix ex regina tyranna ex matre noverca No verily good manners and better experience of some honorable persons of Mr. Pryns society and of many of his Profession have told me that worth and desert and nobleness deservs and commands respect in all The profession of the Law is good if a man use it lawfully but yet the Gospel is better and the faithful Ministers of it as low as we are are too high for the reach of Mr. Pryns scurrility and procacity Truly the Slander that Mr. Pryn is pleased to deform us with in the day of his sin and our reproach is such as neither would be alleged by the Divel nor wicked men for the very incredibleness of it For if we be self-seekers 't is we and not our office and zeal and Ministry Is it self-seeking to procure adversaries To rebuke reprove and reject Daring and confident spirits that are thereby provoked against us Is it self-seeking to put on the spirit of an Elias a Jeremy or a Chrysostome I have alwaies feared that flattery and self-seeking had rather been whelps Mr. Pryn's expression of the same Litter I thought that to crie peace peace and to heal deceitfully and daubing with untempered mortar had been self-seeking to say to the wicked by inviting or admitting him in his prophaneness to the Lords Supper it shall go well with him had been self-seeking If this be to bee vile and self seeking we will be more vile and self-seeking It is our zeal and honor and duty 't is our evidence of faithfulnesse in our Stewardship both before God and men But I shall follow the game no further upon this stinking sent that his Rancorous breath hath left but do heartily wish him a better tongue a milder spirit and if he be indeed better learneder then other men he ought to be the more modest inoffensive not full of ferocity rudeness giving such great just offence to the Church of Christ The Second thing I have observed in his book is his weak impertinent and failing proof which he bringeth for his grace begetting soul Converting way we know the Scriptures are indeed the holy and soul-establishing Word of God and proofs from thence sitly applyed are like apples of Gold in pictures of Silver But as the wringing the nose bringeth forth blood so wresting and forcing the Scripture extenuateth the Proof Mr. Pryn hath brought above 500 quotations into view about his opinion in his little Pamphlet but not so much as any one evidence given by any of them but a slight vapor he maketh of what some good men have granted that 't is possible that Conversion may be wrought upon some persons at the Lords Table p. 25. How poor a shift is this after he hath filled his book with with quotations as full as the Turks their ditches and trenches with their slaves and captive Souldiers to argue from what God in his Infinite mercy and prerogative may do to our duty what we must do I shall give you some Instances of his distortings and misapplications and yet by him conceited to be the most pat prest and convincing Proofs in all his book He undertakes to prove that the Apostles admitted Infants to the Lords Supper pag. 11. from Acts 2. 44. 46. Is it not a convincing proof and to the Purpose yet such kind of proofs are constantly produced quidlibet ex quolibet Again pag. 12. 38 39. he saith these Scriptures prove viz. 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4 5 and vers 16 17. and 1 Cor. 12. 12. 13. The Lords Supper to be a converting grace-begetting Ordinance and that all baptized Christians ought to receive the Sacramentall seal of the Lords Supper without secluding any for ignorance scandall unregeneracy or want of saving grace the universality of all Christians have right to and actuall duty in Communicating together at the Lords Supper Thus doth he imprison the truth in unrighteousnesse who ever hath bin so confident as Mr. Prin to assert that none baptized are to be excluded from the Lords Supper at least who ever hath been so shameless as to bring such Scriptures to prove it as never had any the least acquaintance with his conceit He produceth pag. 38 another Proof from Joh. 6. 27. to 53 a good long Proof and saith that not onely most Popish writers wholly but all Protestant writers equally apply it to the Lords Supper and is not this his huge bold ignorant confidence when as Protestant writers declare the contray Must ad Loc. manifestum est non loqui Dominum hoc loco de Sacrament ali carnis suae esu c. it is manifest that our Saviour in this place saith Musc speaks not of the Sacramental eating of his flesh Of the same mind is Chemnitius Rollock and the later laborious Hutchinson The English Annotations Diodat Fulk and Cartwright in their answers to the Remish Testament Protestant writers that have the clear mind of all the rest But surely M. Pryn conceivs us unacquainted with Protestant writers or too lazy to follow him and convince his impertinent quotations Let any that understandeth judg whether those words Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life be properly applyed to the Vnregenrates eating of whom I tremble to speak it the Apostle saith they eat and drink damnation to themselves Learned and copious Gerhard de sacra coena cap. 21 num 229 saith Dictum Johannis Cap. 6. 53. non de sacramentali sed spirituali corporis sangninis Christi manducatione bibitione tractat And the like I
King 10. 6. and some like instances and no lesse nor more pertinent And he after all from the weight of his bare word charges it upon our consciences from a single instance far fetcht from the West of England with a confident assumption thereupon that some nay many have been converted by the Sacrament Answ We answer What God hath done of his meer grace of prerogative is not the matter in question but we are to regard what is in our Charge and Commission where we have no command nor leave that I know to administer the Lords Supper according to Mr. Prynnes Institution What if the Lord Christ were pleased to promise a Thief mercy upon the Crosse may we therefore admit of Thievs to the Lord's Table Mr. Prynne tells us in his sounder times and Writings of two Mimicks or Stage-plaiers converted whilst they were blasphemously dishonouring Christ in their ridiculous and Mimical acting and administring the Sacrament of Baptisme I mean Porphyrius and Arddion Would therefore Mr. Prynne if he were a Minister himself that can lay such a heavy burthen upon us admit him to the Lord's Table that had lately committed but a Mimical rape or acted the Divel upon a Stage If nay then Mr. Prynne is ours If yea What meant Mr. Prynne to make or my self and others to buy at so dear a rate that seven stringed whip a book of great reading and then of as great zeal called Histriomastix Hath not Mr. Prynne heard of that famous Cook in the Church-history that was converted by beholding the very flame and feeling the heat of his fire hath he not heard of some that were converted by the receit of an alms why will he not then be as bountifull of his own as hee would have us be of Gods Table Hath no Mr. Prynne heard that just Suspension hath had it's numbers of Converts If not I could tell of rich and plentiful experience that way And if the worthy Mr. Prynne as once I thought him were under my Ministry I should try the experiment if he should obtrude upon himself for all his Law-tricks as I have successfully and most happily done upon others And rejoyce not that he were made sorry but that he might be sorrowfull to repentance that he might be made sorry after a Godly manner that he might not receiv damage in any thing For the sin of the man is very great and his book very sinfull the Rubrick it self being judg and for my so doing I should not be afraid to refer the action to GOD and the judgment of a nationall Synod Pryn. Pag. 3. he objecteth the Lords Supper is no where called a seal in Scripture Answ What if it be not called a seal in expresse words of Scripture is it therefore no seal what we find a seal and a sealing Ordinance in the effect is so in truth though we find it not named nor our own names in Scripture That which hath a power of witness to evidence confirm is a seal without exception so the blood of the passeover was a seal of the promised safety protection of the Israelites houses being sprinckled on the side posts and lintel of their doors 2. Mr. Prynne confesseth pag. 4. that circumcision was a seal if so was it a seal as a Sacrament or onely under some other consideration if the latter what was the consideration if the former why should not that which was common to one Sacrament be common to the other 3. Is an impression upon the shamefull part of the body a seal and is not an impression upon the sanctified heart and soul of a believer a Seal nay doth not the very face of a holy Communicant bear a seal of a holy refreshing cheerfulness 4. The Lords Supper doth also confirm and therefore Mr. Pryn being judg it is a seal if but secondarily pag. 8. and so are all the instances by him mentioned in a sort But there is no need that every thing that sealeth onely should confirm nor every thing that confirmeth be a seal properly but the Sacrament doth both seal and confirm the believer that receiveth in faith and therefore is a seal 5. M. Prynne confesseth an immateriall and invisible seal set on the soul or fore-head by the Spirit of God or his Angels pag. 5. I hope then to say Sacraments or Seals may be as tollerable as to say soul or fore-head for where doth M. Prynne find them put one for the other or Angells for the Spirit of God 6. What absurdity will follow if we say that in the Communion God doth annoint us and seal us and give us the earnest of his spirit I hope some of us have found it so And though M. Pryn knows not â—or the present for his neutralizing in this lamentable fashion whose image and superscription is sealed upon the believing soul in the receiving the Lords Supper in a strict and most examinate manner yet there are many humble poor Saints of God that do know and can say and affirm that their feeding at the Lords Table leavs a seal indelible upon their hearts 7. After all M. Prynn's cavilling at the word Seal and the materiality immateriality properness and improperness of it he granteth the Lords Supper to be a seal but not affixed As the Jews sometimes said to Pilate write not the King of the Jews but that he said I am the King of the Jews so M. Prynne to extenuate what may be and diminish from the glory of the ordinance though he must call it a seal yet will not have it called a seal affixed Doth not himself know a seal is not a seal otherwise then affixed and yet he hath the audacity to call this a false improper unscriptural paradox pag 7. for proof refers you to another pretty piece of his that like the shepherds Calender will perhaps refer you to this again Pryn. Pag. 25. M. Prynne confesses a competent knowledg and historicall belief at least of the death passion and merits of Christ and of the matter and ends of the Lords Supper are pre-required of all such who are admitted thereunto pag 34. the Communicants must be worthy pag 26. there must be an externall profession of the Gospel And then he gravely concludeth it must therefore now be duly administred to all unregenerate Christians as a converting Ordinance and pag. 39 Whether regenerate or unregenerate ignorant or knowing scandalous or unblameable Is this good sence in divinity sweet M. Prynne Pryn. Pag. 37. You have more to as good sence and purpose at large that because the Lords Supper is part of the Ministers office as well as preaching therefore it is doubtlesse a faith-begetting soul-converting ordinance and pag. 42. in prosecution he tells us in brief there is not any means or motive to faith or conversion in the Gospell preached which is not included in the Lords Supper Therefore saith he is' t not a good inference our opposites must either grant the
the divine Institution Antonius Praetorius expresseth himself In Homiliis de Coena pag. 248. Vana est questio c. 'T is but a vain question whether the wicked and unbelieving eat the Lords body when the very Symbols of it belong not to them and 't is as impossible that they should eat the flesh of Christ as for a monster without eie hand or mouth to see take or eat And there further The Sacraments are seals of the promises and Covenant of God therefore no man ought to use them but such as find themselves in Covenant and believe the promises of God pag. 246. Bastinguis in his Catachisme quest 82 puts the question May they be admitted to the Supper that declare by their life that they are unbelievers or ungodly No in no wise for by that means the Covenant of God is prophaned c. and by and by in the Explic. saith he if they provoke the wrath of God who without examining themselvs do come to the holy Supper how much more shall God be provoked to wrath if the Church it selfe do wink at such grosse sins in those that receive Which saith he being so if they do offer themselvs to communicate with the rest of the members of the Church it shall be the duty of the Pastors to use the keys given by Christ too that end and by the Authority of them to bar such men from the Supper till there appear in them Testimonies of repentance and change of life This is not like Mr. Prynns Doctrine GERHARD In Loc. Com. de coena cap. 20. numb 215 enters a vaste and learned dissent from Mr. Prynne Num nostra sententia est What saith he do we say that in the Eucharist those that continue in sins and persevere in them against conscience and retain a purpose of sin nor bring the fear of God nor repentance do receive remission of sins No verily but we teach in expresse words that impenitent ones and such as continue in their sins against conscience eat and drink judgment to themselvs And in cap. 21 Numb 223. hee 's larger yet but 't is worth the reading even of Mr. Prynne himself Notorii peccatores c. Notorious sinners which obstinately continue in their sins and wickedness against their consciences nor give any evidence of repentance such are not to be admitted to the holy Supper As well for the dignity of the Sacrament Matth. 7. Give not that which is holy to doggs nor cast your pearls before swine for such are impenitent persons that continue in the filth of their sin As also for the danger that redoundeth unto them for unworthy receiving 1 Cor. 11. 27. Who eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation As also lastly for the Communication of anothers sin of which a Minister makes himself partaker that admitteth notorious impenitent sinners to this holy Banquet 1 Tim. 5. 22. Be not partakers of other mens sins These are the words of Gerhard unto which he adds the expression of Chrysostme in his 83 Homily on Matth. before mentioned that that zealous Father would rather lose blood and life then to the wounding of his conscience admit unworthy persons to the holy Supper yea saith he further if the unclean were kept from the passeover Numb 9. 6. How much more are they that abide in the defilement of great sins without true repentance to be kept from the holy Supper If one that is called a brother 1 Cor. 5. 11. be a fornicator c. with such a one no not to eat how much lesse are they to be admitted to this heavenly Banquet And so he goes on as Mr. Prynne may read more then heart can wish unto which he may add the perusall of 22 and 23 chap. and in cap. 23. num 251. There was saith he in the antient Church a publick confession of Publick scandalls and a private confession made to the Minister of the Church that he might try the examination a man had made of himself whether he did acknowledg his sin with serious remorse and embraced Christ with faith and had a serious purpose to mend his life for by this means not by M. Prynns way the impenitent were reformed the negligent excited the the rude instructed the dejected were comforted with evangelical consolation and the unworthy use of the holy Supper was prevented This is the large and faithful testimony of Gerhard Our own excellent Whitaker is larger then to be transcribed Tom. 1. fol. 94. We must not say that he ears the body of Christ which is not in the body of Christ for they cannot be accounted members of Christ and a little further he addeth He that comes without faith to the Sacraments doth not onely not beget grace but doth make fearfull shipwrack of grace and salvation he that hath no faith receiveth damage by the Sacraments but obtains not grace and salvation Mr Hooker Eccl. pol. lib. 5. Speaking largely of the Sacraments as I noted before Saith Sacraments are not physicall but moral instruments of salvation duties of service and worship which unlesse we perform as the Author of grace commandeth they are unprofitable for all receive not the grace of God that receive the Sacraments of his grace c. Mr. George Gelespie did with his Arons Rod point to more learned and better principles then Mr. Prynn had the happiness to receive I shall note him nothing in particular but refer him to the book it self and the earnest perusall of it once more Dr. Feild lib. 5. cap. 22. M. Perkins Dr. Preston Calvin Musculus Zanchie Amesius Scharpius Willet Bishop Andrews Medit. Lord's Supper cap. 18. Reynalds And lately the Reverend and most industrious Mr. Baxter and a very great number of other witnesses of the truth of God whose names are in the book of Life might be produced If the case required it or this smal tract contain them Onely I crave leave that I may produce one materiall witnes more whilst I must affront Mr. Prynne Gentleman the Author of that Book called the perpetuity of the regenerate mans estate Printed 1626. To Mr. Prynne Esquire the Author of the Scandalous pamphlet now under censure O that ever any mans vast abilities should be so blasted and dwindled into such a pittifull piece of nothing upon such an unworthy if not ungratious subject and in such a scambling pamphlet See whether he hath not don by us what he then complained of in others Then he pitied the Puritan Ministers now with Caligula he wishes surely wee had all but one neck and at his mercy He saith there in his Preface There alwaies hath bin are and shall be a generation of men upon the earth which shal be hated scorned persecuted reproached reviled accused slandered and condemned even of all sorts of men for Mr. Prinn's own worship for no crime no cause oâ— sin at all but onely for their new gratious godly holy lives and for their detest and hatred of all kind
of Sin and amongst other the sin of prophaning the Lords Table such were once his words therefore See I beseech you the character that Mr. Prynne then gave of us and the contempt that now he casts upon us M. Prin Perpetuity p. 344 saith The Sacraments do never convey any inward and spirituall grace which may truly regenerate and ingraft man into Christ But where there is a hand of faith to receive them the grace conveyed by them Again Pag. 346. he saith The Lords Supper is a cause of grace to none but such as receive in a worthy manner Mr. Prynn in his Epistle and perpetuity pag. 348 calls this an Arminian popish Doctrine That the Sacraments do Ex opere operato convey grace to men or that the bare act of Baptism or receiveing the Lords Supper should of it self without any respect of the persons and of the Sacraments convey grace to all that come unto them so far Mr. pryn against himself Nay in this very Book Lords Supper vind pag. 58. Sacramenta consistunt in eorum vsu c. out of Ames The Sacraments consist properly in the use of them so that a Sacrament is not a Sacrament but in it's Sacramentall receiving it doth then an unregenerate person receive it as a Sacrament Doth he indeed Communicate really and worthily receive the Body and blood of Christ with all the benefits of his death and passion as Mr. Prynn concludes his long assertion of it pag. 39. for else if the unregenerate receive not worthily They receive not the body and blood of Christ at all and so Mr. Prynn's great talk amounts onely to a nihil significat Wee willingly confesse and imbrace what he saith out of Dr. Ames that was the world knowes far from Mr. Prynn's opinion as light from darknesse in this his tenent Our sentence is that the Sacraments have all efficacy in respect of grace which a practicall soul can have by any relation but cannot effect grace immediatly but by the mediation of the Spirit of God and of Faith Let Mr. Prynn shew us the relation and the Faith of an unregenerate person if not let him not write crafts-master over his so impertinent quotations Or will M. Prinn apply that his Capitall quotation out of Jewell to which true believers onely have a title to the unregenerate also By the partakink whereof we be revived strengthened and fed unto immortality and whereby we are joyned and incorporated into Christ that we may abide in him and he in us c. If Mr. Prynn affirmeth yea that the unregenerate are here intended he expressly opposeth Scripture Fathers and all Protestant writers that I have seen and as in some part I have cited If it be nay Then what doth so long a quotation of no lesse then two pages to so little purpose 'T is true Jewell saith the Sacraments do serve to aid and direct our faith But where doth he or any other Protestant affirm that they beget faith where there was none at all before Such a proof clear and full and backed with Scripture would say something but all other affirmations beneath that are but clouds without water and Mr. Prynns book but a Tree without fruit and himself but like a raging Sea foming out of his own shame and his partners whom I recommend to the perusall of the last Paragraph in his own Epistle to those who falsly and maliciously traduce calumniate and slander vid. Epist to his Perpet you see now how scandalous how slight how false and forged all these your accusations are you see they are but shifts to evade and colours to oppose the truth and such as do professe it and defend it they are but meer impostures and pretences whereby the devil and your own deceitfull hearts do labor for to blind your eyes and to keep you still in darkness to stupifie your hearts and consciences and so to set you in opposition against all grace and goodness that so they may deprive you of your souls at last Consider who and what it is that sets you now on work to slander and traduce the Saints of God and to oppose his truth and know that it is not the God of peace and union the God of grace and truth but the very Devill himself the very spirit of Antichrist and the enemie of all grace and goodness who out of some carnal wicked sinister and by respests hath put you on this service ask but your own breasts and the secret whisperings of your own consciences and they will tell you so And therefore though I have spoken somewhat sharply to you before to make you know your selvs the want of which knowledg is the cause of all your errors so now I do beseech you by the mercyes of God and by the death of Jesus Christ your Saviour And these words I say of Mr. Prynne in diebus illis I do heartily commend to Mr. Prynne and his fellows now in this day of their change and hatred against what they are changed from Finally I shall desire both them and my Fathers and Brethren to take it as my Prayer to God and Apologie unto them all what I shall only add as they may copiously find in the Conclusions of Peter Martyrs Tractate of the Supper and of Beza's against Westphalus My prayer shall be Faxit autem Deus The Lord grant of his goodness that the Church of Christ may at the last obtain both peace and truth as to this Sacrament Which I wish because the Lords Supper hath been so injured buried and deformed with lies impostures and superstitions that one would indeed rather think it any thing then that which the Lord instituted in his Supper which least we should reform the Devill the grievious enemy of all peace and truth hath sown so many opinions contentions differences heresies and contests onely not bloudy that humane reason can scarce hope for a consent worthy Christians But this alas is not onely our grief for we lay a double reproach upon this Sacrament for some of us rear an Idoll out of this excellent and singular gift of Christ and others that have little sincere faith and a conscience defiled with grievious sins without lawfull examination of our selvs do even usurp the holy mysteries The Lord pity this great calamity and vouchsafe us at last the Eucharist restored to his Church with the good use there of even for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake Amen vid. Tract de Euchar ad finem My Apology shall be in the words of Beza Obtestor vos omnes qui hanc Apologium estis inspecturi ego omnium infimus serio tandem non quis ista incendia excitarit sed quâ tandem ratione penitus extingui possint consideremus Plus satis est litium plus satis convitiorum plus satis criminationum Apologiarum infra neque vero quam haec scribo mihi in mentem venit ut ego homuntio inter tantae doctrinae
Authoritatis homines arbitri disceptatoris partes agam quis sum enim ego ut hanc cogitationem suscipiam Sed tamen quando ita tulit occasio QUIS MEUS SITANIMUS Quae QUOTIDIANA SUSPIRIA volui ecclesiae Dei Testari I do intreat those that shall looke upon this Apologie even I indeed the lowest of you all that wee may consider not who kindled these flames but by what manner of way wee may thorowly quench them there is too much strife and railing too many criminations and Apologies neither whilst I write these things have I any thought that such an inconsiderable person as my selfe may take upon mee to be an Arbiter or Judg amongst men of such learning and Authority for who am I to have such a thought Yet because the occasion hath thus hapned I have thought fit to testifie to the Church of God what my mind is and what my dayly prayers are FINIS Bookes Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Sign of the three Crowns c. A Learned Commentary or Exposition upon the first Chapter of he second Epistle to the Corinthians by Dr. Richard Sibbs published for the publick good by Thomas Manton Folio The Journal or Diary of a thankfull Christian a Day-book of National and publick personal and private passages of Gods providence to help Christians to thankfulness and experience By John Beudle Minister of the Gospel at Barnstone in Essex large 8. Mr. Robinsons Christian Armor in large 8. Book of Emblems with Latine and English verses made upon Lights by Robert Farly small 8. A most Excellent Treatise concerning the way to seek Heavens Glory to flye Earths vanity to fear Hells horror with godly prayers and the Bell-mans summons 12. Johnsons Essayes expressed in sundry Exquisite Fancies The one thing necessary By Mr. Thomas Watson Minister of Stephens Walbrook 8. Sion in the house of mourning because of Sin Suffering being an Exposition on the fifth Chapter of the Lamentations by D. S. Pastor of Vpingham in the County of Rutland Groane of the Spirit or a Trial of the truth of Praier A Handkercher for Parents Wet-eyes upon the death of their Children or Friends Four profitable Treatises very usefull for Christian practice viz. The Killing power of the Law The Spirituall Watch The New Birth Of the Sabbath By the Reverend William Fenner late Minister of Rochford in Essex Peoples Need of a living Pastor at the sunerall of Mr. John Frost M. A. by Mr. Zach. Crofton Catechizâ—ng God's Ordinance in sundry Sermons by Mr. Zachary Crofton Minister at Buttolphs Aldgate London the second Edition corrected and augmented A coppy-Coppy-book methodized and ingraven by Thomas Crosse where in fair writing is exprest by which one may learn to write of himselfe that can but read The godly mans Arke in the day of his distresse discovered in Divers Sermons the first of which was preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Elisabeth Moore Whereunto is anexed Mrs. Elisabeth Moores Evidences for Heaven composed and collected by her in the time of her health for her comfort in the time of sickness By Ed. Calamy B. D. Pastor of the the Church at Aldermanbury Enchiridion Judicum or Jehosaphats Charge to his Judges Together with Catastrophe Magnatum or King David's Lamentation at Prince Abners Incineration By John Livesey Minister of the Gospel at Atherton There are going to the Press some new pieces of Mr. William Fenners late of Rochford in Essex never yet Printed preserved by a special Providence oâ—e of which is a Second part of his wilfull impenitency being five Sermons more that he preached upon the 18. of Ezâ—kiel and the 32. ver A theatre of flying Insects wherein â—â—pâ—cially the manner of right ordering the Bee is excellently described with discourses Historical and Physicall conceâ—ning them with a Second part of meditations and observations Theological and Moral in 3 Centuries upon the same subject by Samuel Purchas M. A. in 40. The Gale of oportunity and the Beloveb Desciple by Thomas Froysell in 80. Moses unvailed with the Harmony of the Prophets Reformation in which is reconciliation with God and his peopl By William Guild Mr. John Cotton his practical Exposition on the First Epâ—stle of John the second Edition corrected and inlarged The Wedding Ring fit for the Finger in a Sermon at a Wedding in Edmonton by William Secker FInding my labors have found such kind acceptance such good entertainment amongst my honest Countrey men it hath incouraged me this seventh time to write for their benefit although this book may prove fruitless to many because not understood nor regarded yet some few may be of that spirit as to comprehend it imbrace it if not openly profess it yet secretly believe it for upon my soul it is truth written in love to those that are afflicted with these distempers commonly called New Diseases And I have taken up the Cudgils in defence of my Predecessor Dr. Culpepper intending to amend his deficiency in point of Art or better to finish where he left off He besieged the Diseases I hope I shal storm them cause the Enemy to fly or yeeld to my medicines which medicines the Colledge if they please may use for the good health of poore Christians Next I am to advertise you that no books are printed without some faults There is not a writer in the world but if Critical fools will he may find some fault or other with his writings to carp at Every man may look into himself before he despises another and whosoever he be let him either allow or amend anothers writing I fear no mans rash censure nor will I plead for the Corrector and Compositor the ingenuous have not onely judgment to discern but courtesie to pass by smalâ— faults The most remarkable are these following IN the Apologue l in 18. r. prove l. 20. r. my l. 26. r. Azotus In the book â— 12. l. 7. r. Conarion p. 37. l 26. r. Aurum Potabile p. 38. l. 1. r. D. Culpeppers Varlet l. 15. add by Impostâ—rs and Quacks that know not any thâ—â— in learning p. 39. l. 18. r. which we have at wil p. 4â— l. 7. r. Veagle p. 4â— â— p. 42. l. 26. r. these mischiefs I shall prescribe a cure p. 44. l. 33. r. do not thiâ— by E. A. I mean not Elias Ashmolt p. 46. l. 1. r. which taketh p. 47. l. 30. r. â—â—ming P. 50. l. 29. for Booker r. Cooper p. 58. l. 9. r. this l. 27. r. could tâ—â— them to their faces p. 56. l. 30. r. torment many p. 62. l. 10. de in l. 21. â—â—lâ— E. Theodidact is l. 27. r. Castle