13. Rom. 1. V. 5. the same God that made us is he that hath commanded allegiance obedience to them and that for Conscience sake 13. Rom. 5. to rebell against the King is not only contempt to the person of an earthly King but high contempt to God the King of the world Rebellion more peculiarly a Devilish sin by whose appointment it is that Kings reign And thus Rebellion is as the sins of Witchcraft and Idolatry Thirdly Witchcraft and Idolatry are sins desperately and more peculiarly above other sins Devilish and Diabolicall They are sins that smell more of Hell then other sins do As for Witches it is known by their own confessions that they are in compact with the Devil he hath them in speciall bonds above other sinners of other ranks and degrees And so for Idolaters they have more immediate relation to the Devil then others and the Teraphim were Images in which the Devil spake and by which they consulted with the Devil as hath bin shewed before Thus is Rebellion as the sin of Witchcraft and Idolatry it being nothing else but an instigation of the Devil who to his power is as much for murder and confusion as God is for love and for order Rebellion is a sin that doth more smell of Hell then other sins as Witches and Idolaters are most like unto the Devil so are such as rebell against their King and Magistrates and indeavour to throw down civil and Ecclesiastical Government The first Rebell against his King was the Devil Who rebelled against his God and King this was the Devils sin as Witches and Idolaters drive a peculiar trade with Hell so do Rebels the same Rebellion is a special Trade driven with Hell and is a sin eminently transforming persons into the likenesse of the Devil himself Thus Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft and Idolatry Fourthly Rebellion a plague as well as fin Witchcraft and Idolatry are not onely sins but extraordinary plagues too Witches and Idolaters are the very plagues of a Nation thus is Rebellion as Witchcraft and Idolatry Rebels are the woful plagues of a Nation What greater plague can light upon a Nation then the plague of Sedition and Rebellion a plague which strickes immediately at the very life and Vitals of Church and State Like as it is in the members of the body naturall a man may loose an arme an eye a legge c. and yet the body live but the head cannot be struck off without present death It was not without good advise that the Israelites preferred the life of David their King above ten thousand of their own lives 2 Sam. 18.13 ten thousand of them might loose their lives and yet the life of the body politick continue if inferiour members be cut off the body may live and doe indifferently well but if the head be taken off if the King through Rebellion be laid aside if Magistrates and Governours in Church State laid aside actum est de Republica actum est de Ecclesia That Church and State cannot long stand thus Rebellion is as the sins of Witchcraft and Idolatry 5. Rebellion a spreading sin Witchcraft and Idolatry are sins of an exceeding spreading nature all sins are spreading but above others these sins are spreading and infectious one Witch will make a great many as hath been experienced and confessed and as for Idolatry we see through the word of God in many examples of what a spreading nature it is How soon were thousands of the Israelites infected with Idolatry when Moses was in the Mount How soon did this spread over the ten tribes of Israel and how is it at this day spread over great part of the Christian World it were easy to enlarge upon it in this Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft and Idolatry Odious and abominable to God as these sins are How suddenly will seeds of sedition and Rebellion spring up How soon will a few Rebell 's increase and cover a whole Nation Num. 6 Particularly one Corah with a Rebellious design soon draws in two hundred and fifty into his Rebellious Conspiracy Secondly I come now to shew you more particularly and distinctly wherein this sin of Rebellion is as the sins of Witchcraft and Idolatry And first wherein Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft Rebellion as Witchcraft now Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft in three particulars First in the cause of it Secondly in the natural effects of it Thirdly in the prognostick of it First In the cause or ground of it In the cause the cause or ground of Witchcraft for the most part is extraordinary spleene malice inveterate Envy and irreconcileable hatred conceived against a person This upon experience hath been found true and been confessed by several that have been Witches and Wizards and have dealt in this vile unnatural way with the Divel when they have been asked how they came to be Witches they have confessed that they had upon injury received c. conceived implacable malice and hatred against some person on whom they sought Revenge but had not power to accomplish it on which occasion Sathan hath appeared unto them and hath upon conditions and Contract between them to satisfie their envious and malicious humour given them his assistance Now in respect of the cause and ground of this sin Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft the cause and ground of it being Ambition and Envy stirring up inveterate hatred and malice and so seeking of revenge on those persons whom they have thus hated see this in those notorious Rebell 's you read of in the Numb 16. Num. 16 where you read of Corah Dathan and Abiram and their adherents for it seems they had made a considerable party to carry on their Rebellion Two things at present I shall touch concerning this design first their design and project secondly the cause and ground of it First Their design and project was Rebellion against their Superious and Governours their Magistrates and Ministers Vers 3. Vers 3. They gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron Moses was their Magistrate Gods Vicegerent he that under God did Rule and Govern the Civil State Aaron was their Priest and chief Minister now these persons lay a Rebellions design they gather together and rise up against Moses and Aaron their magistrates and Ministers as our late Rebell 's against the King their lawful Magistrate and against the Ministry and Rulers of the Church Secondly And what was the ground of this Rebellion against their Governours in Church and State the cause and ground of this was the very same as the ground of Witchcraft Envy they saw how Moses and Aaron were honoured by the people because they were above and themselves below because they moved in the higher Orbe of Government and themselves in the lower Orbe of Subjection hereupon they Envyed them for that state of Superiority wherein God had set them
Mot. From the Church is not the good of both involved in the welfare of the King and doth not his welfare depend on his Subjects conscientious allegiance to him and therefore let me beseech you as you are men as you are Christians if any fear of God if any love to Christ if any respect to the Gospel if any regard to the Kingdom and Church in which you live if any care of your selves and the Eternall welfare of your precious souls take heed of this odious sin of Rebellion give all due honour and allegiance to the King God hath set over you I shall only adde a word or two by way of direction and conclude 2. Use Direction wherein I shall lay down two or three helps against Rebellion 1. Take heed of the sin of Covetousness it is the ground of Rebellion it * Remember the King and Bishops Lands was the sin of Balaam who for desire of reward proved a Rebell against God desire of gaine will carry a man to all wickednesse it neither fears nor forbears any sinfull course it is the root of all Evill and hath bin the cause of our seditions and Rebellions of later years 2. Take heed of pride and Ambition this is another cause of Rebellion which you see in Core and the other Rebels They would fain have bin Vppermost themselves and therefore rise up against Moses and Aaron whom God had set over them 3. Chiefly take heed of Seducers of being led away into erroneous opinions in matters of Religion No Rebels like Schismaticks and Hereticks above all Heresy is the root whence naturally springs Rebellion and of all persons those are most cruel in their Rebellions in the 11. of Iude you read of the seduced 11. Iude. and Seducers how they went in the way of Cain the way of Cain what way was that why the way of hypocrisy the way of envy the way of murder the way of blood and cruelty Here I might tell you of the Donatists what cruell Rebels they were as is noted by Augustine these pretended much purity as if there were no Church in the world but theirs in chat corner of Africk as many of our Rebellious persons are upon the same straine Aug. Cont. Donat. Aug. relating their cruelty tells us how that among these Donatists the masters stood in fear of their servant that was of this Sect and though their great plea was for Toleration and Liberty of Conscience yet when they got power in their hands never none so cruel as they filling whole Africa with blood and desolation Look among the Papists if heresy be not the spring of sedition and Rebellion how desperately bent are they against Kings if not of their mind making nothing to depose them as they are able consider that of the Anabaptists in Germany was there ever such a crue of bloody cruel Rebels in the world till this crue of our own sprung up of late and not easily to be paralleld Nor is it wonder that those who are left of God to Schism Errour Heresy should rise against God by sedition and Rebellion have a care of errors in judgement in matters of Religion this will lead directly in a little time to Rebellion oh therefore you that are gone aside and separated from the Church return return again to that Church from whence you are fallen they that will not return to the Church there is little hope that they will return to their Allegiance And thus much I have thought good in duty to my God in duty to my Lord and Master King Iesus in duty to my King in duty to my Country and in duty to your precious Souls to acquaint you with concerning the sin of Rebellion out of Gods Word From which Devilish sin and from all Plotters and Actors of it the Lord of his Mercy deliver us FINIS
and hence their Rebellious design and practises All their fault was God had advanced Moses and Aaron not that they had opposed God or hurt Israel so that indeed the trouble of the Rebells was not the badness of their Governnours but the goodness of God this you have clearly expressed Psal 106.16 Psalm 106.16 They Envyed Moses in the Camp and Aaron the Saint of God Thus is Rebellion as the sin of Witchcraft in respect of the cause and ground of it Secondly Effects Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft in respect of the proper effects of it what is the proper work business of Witches are they not altogether bent upon mischief Casting away of Ships making away their neighbours cattel murdering their neighbours against whom they have conceived spleene and hatred these are the natural and proper effects of the sin of Witchcraft in which respect Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft for what is the work of Rebell 's their natural and proper work but to fire and kill slay murder massacre and to do all manner of Hellish wickedness Thirdly Inrespect of its Prognostick Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft in regard of the prognostick Witchcraft of any sin next that against the Holy Ghost is the brand of a vild reprobate Wretch given over to destruction and Damnation Gods power is infinite but scace in an age that you hear of a Witch converted so near is the Conjunction between Witches and the Devil that it is hardly to be found where any of them are convinced of their sin reduced converted In this respect also is Rebellion as the sin of Witchcraft it is a wofull Prognostick of a Reprobate wretch and firebrand of Hell one destined to Damnation when given up to the sin of Rebellion stubbornness Mistake me not I undertake not positively to determine of the eternal State of every one that hath a finger in Rebellious designes and actions nor any way dare I undertake to limit God as if he were not able to make a Traytor a good Subject and a Rebel to become Loyal he that is Almighty can do all things yet I know not through the Scriptures many more dangerous Prognosticks of a firebrand of Hell and one given up to a Reprobate sense then for one to be a Rebell against God and his King against Governours of Church and state 1 Io. 3.15 Rom. 13.2 Thus you see more particularly how Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft I now come to shew distinctly how this sin of Rebellion and stubborness is as the sin of Idolatry Rebellion as Idolatry Rebellion looks like Religion now this will eminently and evidently appear in this one particular for I shall forbear lanching out farther into these resemblances least I be prevented in what I have further to deliver Superstition and Idolatry of all sins is a sin that carries the fairest Varnish of Religion upon it in so much that many are deceived take Superstition and Idolatry for true Religion and Piety as I doubt not many may be deluded to take Rebellion for Religion Idolatry I say is a sin that carries a brave varnish and high pretences of Religion upon its and so doth this sin of Rebellion it is a sin for the most part Varnished with Religion it is an old trick of the Devil to varnish over the vilest actions with Religion faire glozing words Saint like words and pretences to carry on his Hellish designes In nomine Domini incipit omne malum but especially this evil of Sedition and Rebellion you know how it is with the Papists those Idolatrous Rebels who will kill Kings and tell you they doe God good service murder Magistrates and all under a notion of Religion Cambd. Eliz. It is observed by Cambden concerning Parsons that Arch Traitor and Rebell when he was hatching mischief against his King and Country set forth as if he had bin wholly made up of devotion an excellent piece of Christian Resolution and now for Zions sake I will not hold my tongue saith one so saith another so a third Zion at the tipp of the tongue and Babel at the root of the heart Religion without Rebellion within so Num. 16.3 those Rebels before mentioned Numb 16.3 their design was fowle but their pretence was faire yea take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them Wherefore lift you up your selves against the Congregation of the Lord See here how Religion is the cloke for their Rebellion against Moses and Aaron Religion was all the Cry but Rebellion was all the designe This was the Snake under the grass Idolatry is a sin that carries a fair show of Religion upon it thus Rebellion comes under the mask of Religion and holinesse Thus you see the first thing promised sc How Rebellion is as Witchcraft and Idolatry by which you may see what a hainous and odious sin the sin of Rebellion is I now come to the second thing promised and that is to give answer unto the severall pretences under which many in the world carry on their Rebellious designes and practises to the ruine of King and Country Church and State as much as in them lyes 1. Pretence for Rebellion wickedness of Governours Which I mention and answer not so much for the strength of their Arguments as for the weakness of many Christians who are deluded and cheated by these fair pretences I shall particularly speak to four And first the first pretence for Rebellion is usually the naughtiness of the person or persons governing in Church or State A Generation there are that take upon them to whisper into the Eares of one another as if our * Like that of the Donatists vid. apud Aug. cont petil l. 2. c. 92. p. 174.175.176 in 8. whom S. Aug. answers at large Answer King were a wicked King and as if our Bishops that are now to govern the Church were wicked men and therefore they look upon it as their duty to remove such Governours as these are Now I shall say some thing particularly to this pretence and show you the falshood of it and the unwarrantableness of this ground to raise sedition and to Rebell against our King and Governours Civil or Ecclesiastical I shall chiefly speak to this as Relating to our Sacred Soveraign If a private person and neighbour be prejudiced we are bound in our places to vindicate him when but his private good name is taken away much more when there are such wicked suspicions and whisperings concerning our King are we bound to vindicate him these tending to the prejudice of the whole Church and State And first for any thus to speak or whisper directly or indirectly concerning his Majesty thereby to stir up sedition or Rebellion is highly uncharitable usurping the place of God who alone is able to search or judge the heart of any no man is able to reach
of him who is Your Honours obliged servant though unworthiest among the Ministers of Christ THO. MARRIOT REBELLION AS WITCHCRAFT and IDOLATRY 1 SAM 15.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft and stubborness is as iniquity and Idolatry THat which God gave in commission to his Prophet Esaiah 58.1 is well known unto you Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgression and the house of Iacob their sins What kind of people these were against whom God doth commission the Prophet with this tarte and severe message you see partly in this verse more fully in the following verses They were a Generation that did make a great profession of Religion They seek me daily saith God they took delight in approaching to God and in the following verses you see how they fasted They were a sort of people that made a great shew of Saintship they sought God high pretences there were to Religion but in the mean time they made their Religion but a cloak to their wickedness they lived in gross crying sins against God now God being exceedingly displeased with and highly provoked against these hypocritical wretches he sends his Prophet to cry aloud or as the word notes to cry in the throat and not to spare What Cry aloud against such Saints as these who were thus Religious and sought God after this manner Yes Cry aloud saith God fear them not spare them not for this Calvin in loc lift up thy voice like a Trumpet which doth not onely note the loudness of the voice but the tartness of the reproofes with which he was to scourge these notorious hypocrites shew my people their iniquities and the house of Jacob their sins Note When such especially who make high pretences to Religion and keep a howling at their prayers yet commit horrid crying sins Gods Prophets and Ministers are then ingaged by commission and duty to cry aloud and not to spare such for fear of their pretences to Piety and Holiness but to lift up their voice like a Trumpet against their horrid impieties and wickednesses What this last week hath brought to light concerning the horrid transactions of hypocritical professors blasphemously intitling God to their murders and Rebellions impudently fighting the Battailes of the devil though pretendedly under the banner of Christ whilst Rebell 's against God and their King and Traytors to their Countrey yet calling Iesus their King is too well known to all of us If ever we that are Ministers are to cry aloud in the Pulpit it is when wickedness cryes aloud when the blood of Innocents cryes aloud in the streets shall such Rebellious designes and practises and massacres be carried on and executed under pretences of Religion and Gods Prophets not cry aloud Shall we hear the name of God openly blasphemed see the people of God openly and murderously massacred the name of Christ wickedly and devilishly prophaned and not cry aloud against such wickedness Better that our tongues should for ever cleave to the roof of our mouths then that we should not at such time stand up for our Lord and master Iesus Christ whose Embassadors we are What hath been the occasion of all our former disturbances for several years together was it not Rebellion and Rebellion under a mask of Religion and shall we see the same Rebellious designes on foot nay practises yet more black horrid and Barbarous under the same cloak and pretences of Religion and not cry aloud against such wickedness Sure if Ministers should not now cry aloud the very stones in the streets would cry out against us If we should not now cry aloud and plead the cause of our Lord and master Iesus Christ how shall we ever appear before him with comfort For Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and Idolatry These words may be considered two wayes either Relativè as they stand in relation to what goeth before denoted by this word for in the forefront of the Text or else leaving out this word for they may be considered Absolute as a distinct and intire proposition by themselves Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft and stubborness as iniquity and Idolatry Let us first in a word look upon them in their Relation to what goeth before God had sent unto Saul by his Prophet Samuel to goe against the Amalekites and gave it him in his Commission to slay all When Saul had obtained the victory you find he spares and saves Agag alive and spares also the chief of the cattel thus rebelling against that God that had advanced him where we see by the way how dangerous a thing it is for Kings and Princes to save those alive who are by expresse command of God to be executed nor is it to be passed over without observing how Saul doth indeavour to palliate this his Act of Rebellion and to cover it with a Maske of Religion he tells Samuel Vers 21. he had kept all the commands of God and in that the people had saved the cattel alive it was onely to Sacrifice with them unto God in Gilgal v. 21. upon which Samuel sharply reproves him V. 22.23 And Samuel said hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord Behold to obey is better then Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of Rams For Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry Leaving out this first word for we shall consider them as an intire and distinct proposition by themselves Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft c. where we shall first speak something as to the reading and explication of the words and so we shall proceed to the more full and particular handling of the odiousness of this sin of Rebellion from the words Rebellion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some read it pugnare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fight is as the sin of witchcraft which if meant of fighting either against God the King of Heaven or against our earthly King is the same in sence with our Translation which hath more properly rendered it Rebellio Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft of Rebellion there are severall sorts Rebellion may be considered as a Genus with severall species contained under it There is a Rebellion against God Several sorts of Rebellion the God of Heaven the King Soveraign of all the world when God who is the great King Soveraign of Heaven and earth doth lay his Commands upon the children of men and they shall follow their own counsel prefer their own humors and wils before the will and command of God their Soveraign pertinaciously prosecuting the Dictates of their own wicked hearts in opposition to the known just holy righteous commands of God This is Rebellion against the God of Heaven and King of all the earth There is likewise a
the heart it is uncharitable for to judge upon light grounds any man to be wicked much more his King 2. As to what some would be surmizing and whispering as to his Majesties introducing of Popery if they were not wilfully blind his Majesties standing fast to the Protestant Religion when under so great Temptations to the contrary is sufficient evidence rationally to clear him of that nor can it rationally or honestly be in the least suspected by any that he should be Popish whom the greatest and strongest temptations could never shake 3. Me thinks the extraordinary workings of God for his Majesty the many Miraculous deliverances wrought for him Gods Miraculous Restauration of him should be some ground to think that God would scarce have wrought so Miraculously for one whose heart is not right towards him God doth not usually such great things nor is at the expence of such strange deliverances for those who have not some more then ordinary Relation to himself 4. If the tree be known by its fruits methinks his Majesties Christian care of Religion since his Restauration his faithfulness in keeping promise his Integrity in governing by Lawes and Councels his incomparable meekness and gentleness to the worst of his Enemies his unparalleld Charity towards those that have most provoked him his readiness to forgive and pardon so many thousands sometime desperately ingaged against him against whom he had so strong an advantage these visible fruits might be sufficient evidences of the goodnesse of the Tree that bears them had we but eyes to see them and were not above measure censorious and uncharitable 5. Suppose indeed a King were never so wicked as Rebels will be ready to pretend what then must we therfore Rebell against him and swim through a Sea of Blood to dethrone him must we take Gods work out of his hand is it not a work peculiar to God I say peculiar to God and God alone to set up or cast down from the Throne I am sure the Scripture gives it to God as his speciall Prerogative Know therefore least any of you should be deluded that it is unlawfull for any subjects to Rebell against their King under pretence or surmize that he is a wicked Governour Should he be wicked Pray for him as a Christian subject Rebell not against him that 's the Devils work That is a considerable expression of David Psal 119. v. 161. Ps 119. v. 161. Note Princes have persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy word Mark what he saith Princes have persecuted without cause Saul to whom this speach of David very likely doth relate he did persecute David to the high he hunted him up and down as a Patridge upon the mountains he sought all wayes to ruine him and this without cause too David never gave him any just occasion so to doe what then doth David say Saulis a wicked King and therefore I will make a party and rebell against him and dethrone him It is not fit for such a wicked man to reigne or be in such a place doe you ever hear any words of this nature fall from Davids mouth nay though he was himself by extraordinary commission from the Lord anointed to be King yet not such a word no no David renders not evil for evil but overcomes evil with good when he had Saul in his power and might have slain him Nay and was thereunto instigated by his servants yet he would not he detested he abhorred it when he had but cut off the lapp of his Garment Oh how did his conscience smite him What a Hell then may we imagine would David have had in his conscience had he cut of his head No God forbid that I should touch the Lords anointed Davids heart stood in awe of Gods word which told him as he answered his men That it was not lawfull for him to touch the Lords anointed What saith Daniel to that wicked Idolatrous King Darius 6. Dan. 21. Oh King live for ever 6. Dan. 21. Note though a wicked King yet Oh King live for ever though an Idolatrous King yet O King live for ever Though one that forced others to Idolatry yet O King live for ever Though one that had unjustly cast him into the Lyons Den and offered him personall injury yet O King live for ever He did not therefore make a party to Rebell against him because he was thus nor did he seek to throw him out of his Throne what was Casar but a wicked King an Idolatrous King nor yet doth King Iesus instigate or stirre up any to Rebell against him So that you see that pretence of the wickednesse of a King or Supreme Magistrate is not a sufficient ground of Rebellion which Pretence yet we have great cause to conclude is desperately wicked and false as to our perticular case And as to our Ecclestastical Governours The Bishops whereas the pretence of their wickedness must be a cloke for Rebellion the like might be said to these as to the former it is highly uncharitable to judge those of them to be so whom we know not nor never so much as saw their faces most of us and as to some of them I shall be bold to say that it is most notoriously false nor dare I believe other but that some of them are of such eminent Piety and integrity that the very Devil himself cannot have the impudence to call them wicked But if they were yet the impersection of the person destroyes not the sunction nor is it any just cause wherefore any should raise Sedition and Rebellion and such will do well to consider who are over free in words of this nature for many will presume to lash their Ecclesiastical Governours who will scarce dare to do the same to their Civil Governour that it is no small sin to revile a private Christian but much more to revile Gods Ministers the Shepherds of our souls A second Pretence of some for Rebellion is the business of Ceremonies 2. Pretence Introduding of Ceremonies c. Common-Prayer and way of worship which some count and call Popish and hence take occasion to inveagle silly people to sedition and Rebellion against their Governours God hath set over them and the Government they ought to subject themselves unto under the notion of throwing down these at least the Reformation of them too great pretence is made for Rebellion Answer To this pretence I answer first I must needs confesse if it be my ignorance the Lord inlighten me It remaines yet to be proved for ought I can understand that the Ceremonies of the Church of England or the form of publick Prayer are contrary to the Scriptures that some of them being used in the Church of Rome should undeniably prove them Popish is an Argument so weak that it needs no answer the rule we are to go by is to find whither there be any thing in the word of God against them
for else I know not why we may not eate a meale dressed Italian fashion supposing there be no poyson in the meat nor sawce no doubt the Church of Rome may have something good in her if we retaine what is good and not contrary to the Scriptures shaking off what is bad and contrary to the same I see not but that the charge of Popery is false irrational and unchristian Secondly It is a pittiful piece of rashness to cry down that for superstitious and Popish which we our selves do not presently understand Thirdly But suppose indeed something smelling of Superstition be attempted to be introduced is this a sufficient ground for Sedition and Rebellion look into the Text doth not God say Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft and stubborness as superstition and Idolatry I but it may be you wil say it is fit such things should be prevented and what is amisse should be reformed To this I shall offer these two things First Suspected evils to be prevented in Gods way Whatever we would prevent we are every one to labour to prevent in our own places those that are private Christians are to indeavour the prevention of such things they suspect will be a miss by their prayers not by Rebellion Prayers teares were wont formerly to be the Christians Armes not Pikes and Muskets and be sure of this God needs not our sin Rebellion Murder Bloodshed Regicide to uphold or carry on his cause it is too grosly reflecting upon his Glorious Majesty to think or imagine that God cannot doe the work he hath to doe in the world without our sin nor hath God ever appointed Rebellion as a way and means for prevention of evils suspected Secondly As to the business of Reformation if there be any thing amiss there is no good Christian but will heartily desire it may be reformed Reformation is indeed a faire word but alas who knoweth not how cunningly and closely Rebellion is sheltered under the wing of pretended Reformation Where it is truely intended and indeavoured in wayes warrantable and Scriptural it is worthy to be embraced by all but when pretended for the better carrying on mens corrupt interests and is made use of as a Stalking horse to mens wicked designes it is no better then in one word Diabolical nor is this the first time that Rebellion hath been masked under pretence of Reformation hath not our own time showed us beyond all Contradiction what hath crept in under this Mask and what hath been introduced under this cloke was not Reformation some years since pretended as high as any can pretend to it now and what was it did not experience shew us In stead of one faithful Religious King had we not a hundred Tyrants and was this reformation instead of one uniform way of serving and worshipping God had we not all manner of errors Heresies and Irreligions introduced was not this the reformation Instead of order had we not confusion and was this indeed Reformation while we over furiously contended about the removal of shadows did we not Tantum non loose the Substance and our selves too was not this the reformation me thinks the people of England having so bit upon the Bridle should abhor all the like Seditious and Rebellious practises although coming under never so specious a pretence of Reformation Thirdly 3. Pretence Liberty of Conscience A third pretence for Rebellion is Liberty of Conscience a faire cloke which many cover over their Rebellious designes withall and whereby they delude poore silly people Conscience is a tender thing and Liberty is a specious pretence Answer To this I shall briefly speak these four words 1. That Government we are under doth not as far as I understand abridge any person of the liberty of his conscience so far forth as his conscience is Regulated by the Rule of the word you may be as holy as you will so you keep in Gods way and what ever is not in Gods way is no holiness nor can conscience be rightly pretended for it 2 How easy were it to answer ad hominem and say that indeed there is no such thing as Liberty of Conscience intended by those that make the highest pretences to it it is nothing but a juggle and cloke for Rebellion sure were these persons indeed conscientiously seriously for liberty of conscience they would have given more liberty to others when time was is this their principle indeed that every Christian ought to have Liberty of Conscience then why did they not give liberty of conscience to others who were as conscientious in some things as they themselves can pretend to be in others 3. I might further also give you to know that there is nothing more repugnant to the Scriptures dishonourable to King Iesus destructive to Religion pernicious to all good Civil or Ecclesiastical Government then unbounded Liberty of Conscience universal Toleration and Liberty is most contrary even to the light of nature Cam Hist med lib. 3 c. 18. the Romans were alwayes carefull to retain their Religion and still punished those that attempted to bring in new worship and superstition and to the same purpose was the advice of old Mecanas to Augustus to punish those that would of their own heads attempt to bring in innovations into Religious worship and so the Scythians as Barbarous as they were yet upon foresight of the after claps might follow if all men were suffered to bring in and follow after their own pleasure new devotions strictly forbad it and severly punished it Nothing more directly destructive to the peace of the Church then unlimited Liberty in matters of Religion I will appeale unto all that are inlightened with the least beam of reason if it be not the highest piece of non-sence in the world for any to affirme that the way to preserve the peace of the Sheep is to tolerate Wolves among them this universal unlimited Liberty of conscience is contrary to the law of God and to the law of nature not to be indured into any much less a Christian Kingdom 4. It is evident this day how the pretenders to liberty of conscience make use of their liberty to the destruction and murder of their neighbours therefore high time to restrain and limit them by good discipline to the rules of the word Fourth Fourth pretence King Jesus and the Saints Reigne pretence for Rebellion this odious and devilish sin is King Iesus and his personall reigne on earth Which pretence makes my heart to tremble within me to hear the name of my Lord and master Iesus Christ thus dishonoured and blasphemed by wicked and ungodly men who intitle the Lord Iesus to their Rebellion which you have heard is as the sin of Witchcrast This must be carried one under pretence that the Saints must rule the earth and that Iesus is their King and I know not what such filthy stuff not fit to be named Answer 1. To this you