Lord to anger That you sâould dare to send such a lâme and bl nde mâssânger to the Lord of Frosts and such sacrâfices withall comming from the drowned in ignorance and superstâtâon and that you should put the Lords name upon such a Mânister which is not sâât nor allowed by him Doe you nât depriue your seluâs of those excellent and pâecâous treasures in the Gospell of Christ because you want a man to preach them Epâes 3 Doe you not hereby ândanger and loose your soules which liue in ignorance 2 Thess 2. Doe you know the anger of the Lord will be upon you for this Hos 6. Would you chuse for the bodies sake such a Physitian as hath no skill at all nor any good report to haue cured any under his hand Or such a Counsellour as could not advise but reade you a statute or book-case at all adventures Would you trust your sheep with an Idoll-shepheard that cannot tend them And will ye make so small account of your soules thus to passe them over O return and seek the Lord ye haue hitherto sitten in ignorance and in the shadow of death you never knew what the Gospell meant nor what a God the Lord is witnesse the base and wicked conceiving of him and carriage towards him in publique and private Wherfore let this moue you to provide you a man of understanding that may be able to fâed you Turn you therfore from all your evill waâes that yee may be brought to Sion the place where the Lord will be found and seen of all his people Let none be so hardy as to maintain these in their Callings SECTION XIIII THe next sort of Minâsters wherof some doubt whether they may hear them or no are such as conforme to these ceremonies now controverted Which howsoever it come in them from an utter hatred of Popish devises and an heart carefull to keep themselues unspotted of the world yet without all questâon they erre Concerning thâs therfore that morâ clearly the truth may be boulted out we will propound some grounds to stay upon 1 The Ordinances of God remain pure and holy though men be corrupt that administer them and so are like the Lord. 2 Private men are bound to try the doctrine of Mânâsters and look to that rather then be examinâng of their entrance into that Calling they are in this all the Scriptures run upon 3 God doth good to his Church by the gifts he hath given to wicked men for his people For they are fâom the Holy Ghost given to restore the Saints and for the work of the Ministry These things considered it may appear upon sufficient grounds that men may lawfully hear 1 Such as are conscionable in their Ministery though they erre in judgement for the Ceremonies and be ordained according to the manner of the times For first these haue the substance of a lawfull calling electâon and approbation from the people 2 Dissention in lesser matters hath never hindred either Communion nor estâemâng one of another twixt the servants of God Phil. 3. 3 These are sent of God though not by this way they are not unlike to Iacob whose the blessing was though he should not haue sought ât by lying 4 Their sin in admission is their own personall sin and cannot hurt others not partaking with it 5 Men may and ought to receiue their sendâng not from men but from the Lord of the Harvâst Object It seemes to approue theiâ sinne since men pertake with them in their Ministery which they haue gotten unlawfully Is it not to communicate in stollen goods Answ No for they ought to be admitted and the Ministery is theârs and the Congregations choosing them onely it is their errour to come in by a wrong way Now to stâal is to take from men that which doth not belong unto them which cannot be applyed to them A second sort of Ministers are bad and corrupt in doctrine and manners these preaching many truths from God may be heard For 1 They sit in Moses chair Matth. 23.2 Moses chair is the doctrine of Moses otherwisâ they should haue sit in Aarons chair if he had spoken of the Calling 2 Otherwise we should not yeeld absolute obedience to the doctrine taught except it were Moses doctrine 3 The main cause why the people should hear these is manifâsted by our Saviour but this is not so much succession in Calling as succession in Doctrine 1 These Pharisies had corrupted their Callâng 2 They perverted the Law with their Glosses 3 Were ignorant of the righteousnesse of faith 4 Hipocrites in life and bitter enemies to the Kingdom of Christ 5 They preached the Word without authority coldly as did not stir affections 2 Arguâ Doctrine and gifts are the Churches who may take their own from a very theife Yet these Cautions must be observed 1 That we be able in some measure to discern and try the spirits 2 That wâ be compelled by necessity 3 That we bâ careful to get what pâivate and pubââque help possibly we can 4 That we hunger after other powerfull meanes and as soon as the Lord offers any we remoue and follow the light 5 Refuse private conversing with them 6 Contend for the truth in any paât oppuâned by them Object May not Popish Iesuits or the like then be heard Answ Thâse are the professed servants of the beast not of Chââst for they haue quite changed the Ministery into a Priâsâhood 2 We are quite separated from this false Church by the commandement of the Lord and the Magistâate and all Chuâches assenting to the same 3 Thâse doe plainly seek to seduce us and withdâaw us from the worâhâp of the true God all which cannot be found ân these of our own Church from which wee haue âo such warrant to seperate nor doe seeke to draw us quâte from Christ in fa th Yet thus far let me speak to you of the Ministry thus corrupted that are negligent and doe not sorwaân the peopâe of God of danger You that look to your own wayes and make your belly your God You that preach as they Ier. 5 that other Lords may âule over the flock of Chr st Considâr what you are Are you not men of God Should not you be holy that draw neer to the Lord Should you trouble the waters with your Tâaditions that none can drink almost w th a good conscâence Should you make the sacrifices of God abhorred by your dâssolâtenesse Should you smite with your tongues your fellow sârvants whose Minâstery and conversation you know is better then your own Should you use the flock of Chrâst as you doe never visiting of them many of you If woe be to them that joyn house to house what shall become of you that joyn Congregation to Congregation and to these prebenships Dâanries c. Should you be terrible to the humbled and afflicted soules Surely the Lord will judge for his people Hear you that force men to things against their
CERTAIN OBSERVATIONS OF THAT REVEREND religious and faithfull servant of God and glorious Martyr of Iesus Christ M. RANDAL BATE which were part of his daily meditations in the time of his sufferings whilst he was prisoner in the Gatehouse at Westminster THE FIRST SECTION Every part of Wisedom is from heaven from the father of Lights MOst glorious and eternall Lord God which hast vouchsafed by Iesus Christ in all times to publish thy counsell and holy wil to thine own people raised sufficient witnesses against superstition and wil-worship For the clearing of thy truth vouchsafe thy presence with thy weak servant in this businesse that desires thy glory and the good of thy people That so much of thy truth as is needfull for our times may be plainly made manifest to the conscience and heart of all that belong unto thee Lord thou hast appointed Iesus Christ to be our Shepheard and promised thy Word and Spirit should not leaue thy people Thou hast brought us to be partakers of the first resurrection and drawn us out of the world to know thee in part and loue thy name Oh therfore send thyne annoynting eye-salue and cause such a light from heaven to shine in our dark hearts as all contrary thoughts and conceits that rebel against Christ his Kingdom may be subdued all lukewarmenesse may be expelled and that all with one heart and free perswasion of minde may worship thee the onely King and Lawgiver of the Church according to thy will in the unity of the Spirit Amen IN all times deare brethren and much beloved it hath been found true that satan sowes tares where the Lord hath sown wheat which come up in the night so secâetly and are so like the wheat that they are scarce discerned by any till they haue overgrown the corne and choaked the same nay which is more Errours never want men very busy and dilligent in tending and nourishing them so that if they haue not the chiefe place and be kept with all observance you shall see their Patrones fly in mens faces for the least neglect This too lamentable experience of the Churches condition sufficiently proveth amongst both Iewes and Gentiles For the lying serpent though he study to poyson all mens soules with damnable doctrine yet more principally the visible Church wh ch being a fountaine of living waters troubled by him filthy streames must needs flow thence to all the world Besides when the Church corrupts Gods worship in whole or in part devising any thing of her own it greatly hardens wicked men in their superstitions and devised Religions who seeing the same outside in the Religion of God which they themselues follow are hindred from discerning the graue and simple Majesty of Gods true worship thinking this to be but like their own an invention of men or at least that men are not altogether taught of God in this way nor receiue all that they professe from him alone but doe borrow many things and devise some of their owne to beautifie that which by forra gne beauty is evermore deformed sowcing an old patch of a different colour into a new garment which makes a rent where all was well before To prevent wh ch offence though unfittest I acknowledge of any I haue undertaken th s small Treatise wherein farre be t from me to seek any disgrace of the State because I d scover some corruptions in the Church for it is the Ministe s duty to reproue With much thankefulnesse we all acknowledge Gods mercy towards us in the light and liberty we haue injoyed by meanes of three renoumed Princes whereof two are fallen asleep and one now the Lords annointed surviveth on whom the Lord multiply all graces of his Spirit Neither doe I thinke that men of any reasonable understanding wiâ think the publi hing of the t uth in a plaine manner any disgrace if it be done in way of exhortation for suppose I should erre in judgment yet the thing being done in loue and humility with all respect and due regard unto the State I doubt not but his Majesty and the State under him wil take it as a fruit of loue from him that unfeynedly seeks their peace and happinesse I know it will be said we are factious and sowe discord and therefore deserue sharpe punishment for troubling the quiet and peace of the State But mens cenâures doe not feare me nor is my life precious unto me so as my race may be run with joy and a good conscience whether I âiue it is unto Christ and for h m or whether I dye it is unto him and for his Glory And let not any of our oppositâs dream but the Lord will raise up such by his Spirit that shall repâoue thâse remainders of superst tion more and more ââaâply till he come himself in his own person He will not be overcome by men but will set up his Christ in all his Ordinances As for troubling the State I professe I doe not trouble the land for we adhere to Christ and walk by his light onely And let all men know it is farre better they should heare the sharpest reproofes that doe most cut then feeâe the smaât hand of God for continuing unreformed which men cannot but look for if they goe on in this way which the Lord hath âo often reproved and dehorted us from Many I suppose on the other hand will blame and censure me because I t ach not an utter depaâture from a corrupt form of worship whom I doe seriously desire to peruse the grounds herein conteyned for their satisfaction in this point Wherfore considering no just cause of offence is given to any for the substance of the matter especially and the necessity there is to witnesse the truth I haue published this to settle the judgement and informe the conscience of them that want better means I know and see what an hinderance it is to many in mayn points and duties of Religion to doubt in matters of small moment in shew and circumstantiall I know how many mens hearts are torn each from other and divided about these things Many going further on the right hand in detestation of errours then they are called by the Lord Doe not these call upon every man for the use of his tallent that the hey and stubble built on the foundation may be removed by the approach of the light and all may walk in one way making truth and peace to kisse each other Onely there are two things yet questionable 1 For the maner of handling these controversies it seemes nothing fit that such plain and simple stuffe should be brought to the building of the Tabernacle especially there be ng so many men of excellent parts furnished with all manner of learning and sound judgement that might travell with more successe in this businesse To which I answer from my heart that I could with it to be so and âf they be not otherwise imployed I doe desire them
lightly passed over And the rather because they must liue in some pompe and worldly dignity and haue so many in their courts which liue upon the same meanes By this we may discerne what to judge of their excommunications for there ought to be for open sinnes unrepented of the persons being admonished therof and to be denounced by the Mânister and agreed upon by the whole Church Whese therfore the cause is meerly good for which men are excommunicated that is to say either for performing some Christ an duty or refusing subjection to mens tradâtions in the service of God there Christ absolues Ioh. 9. 2 When it is not done by the church that hath the keies but by some usurper that hath no right unto it it is like the sentence of a drunken man upon an other to be hanged or stabd because he will not pledg him or carrouse No mans sentence but the Iudges condemns nor any but they that God appoints judges Neither may men seek absolution from them for they haue no authority 2 Their excommunication is the crosse the Lord would haue men bear if we cannot avoide 3 They sever us but from the world and driue us neerer to Christ 4 It maintaines them in their usurpation covetousnesie and prâdâ to seeke unto them Quest 2. Whether a man may sue in their courts Answ For causes Ecclesiasticall oâ criminall which come within compasse of the to be punished I think ââs unlawfull For 1 men must rather protest against this woâk of darknesse 2 These things may and ought to be ordered by Arbâtâators if it be possible if the lawfull Magistrate fail suffer all c. And the a gument against suing one another 1 Cor. 6 holds more firmly against this first those were lawfull courts these unlawfull secondly it was scandalous then so it is here for they are as great enemies to sincere Religion as these were thirdly though a mans cause be never so good yet thou being one that fearest God truely they will sentence thee and pronounce unrighteous judgement against thy person not minding the justice of thy cause For a good man makes a good cause bad there as an evill man procures favour to a bad cause fourthly their authority is as Ecclesiasticall which is not in the Kângs power to grant but must proceed from Christ fifthly they haue lost the keyes to whom they were gâven Wee haue spoken of the first of those call ngs which flowing from the office of Diocesan Bishops is unlawfull Now of the second that as Church wardens comprehending those other bound to the same things they are enjoyned to Against which though the former grounds overthrow theâr callâng yet more speciall are to be adjoyned because it âs hard to root out any such long customary office though unlawfull For besides that most men preferre custome before the law of God they doe not once make scruple of any thing âstablished but swaâlow all that is presented unto them without examination Wherfore that with more facility wee may end this controversie obserue these grounds 1 That all men are bound to preseru that liberty which Chrâst hath purchased and bestowed upon them Gal. 5.1 And we are expresly b dden that men should not haue dominion over us eâther over our soules to beleeu ye ld to what they teach Col. 2 or bodies in spiritual consideration for we are Christs 2 Every subject is bound to fight and striue with spirituall weapons âor Christs Government and Kingdom to be set up where he is 3 That the meanest office under an unâawfull forme of goveânment âs part of that government and though not to deeply pâânged in sin as othârs yet gâilty of theâr sinns that are chief in a measure 4 That theâe âs no part of Christs Kingd m nor no truth of the Word so small bât ât is worth suffering for and dying for as the godly Iewes surfered bâcause they would not cat Swines flesh Vpon these grounds and the like how discrepant and opposite these are to the government of Chrâst Foâ 1 these keep out the Lords own Officers of ruling Elders which we haâe proved Christ hath left in hâs church they being in the Apostles t mes not contradicted bât approved and therefore of Divine Institution In this respâct tâerfore they are like Diocesan Bishops who keep out Ministers and people too from their right in government of the church though they doe not equall them That they doe kâep them out it is plain for they take upon them now to order things for the churches government so that ignorant people can discern no want This argument is firm because one ordinance of God doth not hurt nor keep out an other 2 That which keeps out Gods ordinance keeps out the Lord wâth some specâall blessing for his children present in each of his oâd nances 3 This in part sâuts the Kingdom of God A second argument against Churchwardens is because these are corrupted and degenerated like the office of the mânistery that was quite changed ânto a Priesthood in times of popery So as now they haâe lost their right in government of the church and yeelded shamefully to Antâchrist whose servants and vassals they were so long time together So as it is not more lawfull to be a Church warden then a Masse-priest for both of them receiu their present being from the man of Sin This argument is firm because such retain the Mark of the bâast in part 2. The same l ght comming and the same spirit in a great and powerfull manner that was in the Apostles times all darknesse and corruption ought to be removed 3 These keep out the Deacons who are expresly commanded and appointed Acts 6 1 Tim. 3 and confound this with their office which shews both their office to bee new and unlawfull For that the Holy Ghost establiâhed the Apostâes both gaue charge thây should be elected and they were in the pââmâtâue Church many yeares togâther tââl Ant christ got the day and sât up ââs throne This is no small wrong to the church to keep out those that were to dâstrâbute to the poore so carefully in each congregatâon that there should be no want to any they eaââd the Mini sters and therfore are called Helps of which hereafter Wherfore as Ester spake of Haman in procurâng the overthrow of the Iewes The enemy could not recompence the Kings losse no more can they foâ they wrong the poor giue not such testimony of their loue and liberallâty whâch the office of the Dâacon doth proclaim and make vâsible to the world Neither must wee think it enough that there are good lawes established For experience witnesseth the necessity hereof nââther ought men to confound what Chr st hath severed The Chrâstian Mag st ates duty is to see both Minâsters and people subject to Christs Ordinances not to invent any new 4 An office devâsed by man ever serues man not God witnesse all the Hierarchy dev sed by Pope who
conscience without warrant from the Word You that accuse the truth of God of faââood that oppose hoâânesse and sincere obediânce to the whole word You that make sad the hearts of the righteous and preachâng pleasing things stâângthen the hand of the w cked that none can retârâ from hâs wickednesse that propound the truths you teach generally and confusedly in frothy eloquence glorying to fill your Sermons with patcht up sentences of heathens Beware and turn and flie from the wratâ to come You lay open the land to mâsery Will not that moue you to pitty And to stir up your selues to preach sincerely and dilligently you bring the bloud of soules upon your heads Ezech. 34. Woe be to you without repentance for the Loâd will be sanctified in them that come neer him and you shall be despised or destroyed The Lord will raise him a faithfull Samuel in your sted who shall speak his words faithfully to his people Shift it not off saying this is the word of some malicious foolish Puritan for these woes are against such sinnes which whether they be in you I referre it to the Lord your own conscience and all indifferent men to judg This I would not haue thought as spoken against all that conform God forbid But against such as conforming or not conforming liue scandalously and are ânemies to the Gospell of Christ not enduring others should exceed them ân gâfts or paââs in their Mânistery or in strictnesâe of lâfe Hear you or else the Lord will curse your blessings and your great lâvângs shall make you the more miserable SECTION XV. TO proceed without wâtnesses by the oatâ ex officio is not lawfull against any especially against Mânâsters For 1 It âs agaânst the law of God Deut. 17.4 19.15 this law is confirmed by Chr st and his Apostles in the new Tâstament 2 It is agaânst the law of nature to accuse our selues nature teacheth men to procure their own good 3 It is against the direct command of our Saviour Math. 18 where he would haue no censure of the Church to pâsse upon men except they being admoniââed be proved by two or three wâtnesses to bee obstinate 4 It is against common reason that Ministers and Christians that are subjâct to most vile and false reports should be forced to purge themselues upon every light and vaine persons informatâon 5 It is against the rule of Paul 1 Tim. 5 Against an Elder receiu not an accusation under two or three witnesses 6 It is against the laws of the land both Statute and Common laws 7 It is against the nature of an human law which is but to punish for open sinnes Deut. 17.4 8 It is to search the thângs God leaues by his providence to be revealed in their time 1 Tim. 5.24 Some mens sinnes goe before and some follow after 9 It is against all equity For men may be both judges and parties 10 It is against the law of loue to accuse our brethren and it it is to play the divels office 11 No law nor custom of Nations saue the Spanish Inquisition useth this for searching out of true Christians Acts 25.16 12 It is against the speech and solemn profession of Doctor Whitgift that any should haue this oath urged against them in case of life liberty or scandall 13 It is against all conscience that a man should bring himselfe into trouble If the Lord or his Magistrates do inflict a punishment patience may bear and the Lord may giue strength But who can look for such peace when we are our own executioners 14 It is against the practâse of our Saviour Chrâst who being accusâd and asked many things of scandalls would answer nothing onely he witnessed a good confession touching his person and his office Matth. 26 27. 15 It is to approue of some speciall priviledg in these men which is not in any other of his Majesties officers for justâce that these ex mero officio should proceed against men 16 From the inconveniences men fall into that take this oath The aâticles and interrogatories being drawn as snares to intangle men in and to get matter against them when they can finde none apparant 17 It is against the law of friendship to reveal secrets and especially for Ministers 18 As it is now used it will not free men from trouble for they use extremities to them that take it except men forsake their sincerity and yeeld to their wills 19 It is against the nature of an oath which is to end a controversie amongst men in causes criminall before Iudges neither can any use hereof be given 20 It is against the word of the Lord in Ieremy Thou shalt swear in judgment 21 Wisedom in Governours hath other means then this to find out secret offences wâtnesse Solomon Object 1. The woman suspected of adultery was to purge heâ self Answ The thing there suspected is very evill such as might dissolue marriage 2 It is Ceremoniall witnesse the Ceremony annexed to it having joyned with it a miraculous event in the guilt e. 3 The thing is known about which shee is to be sworn 4 It is but one particular case not many interrogatories Object 2. Exod. 22.10.11 The man that is suspected of theft ought to clear himself by an oath Answ It was before the Iudges of the land 2 It was in cases criminall that were simply evill and not in cases of conscience 3 There was an open wrong and losse to the one paâty 4 It was but to one particular not to ânsnare him any way 5 His oath ended the controversie Now these things cannot be found in this for it is not bâfore the Iudges of the land though I would not much stand wâth them for it yet it hath ever been of evill report for Ministers to deal by vioâence in so much as in tâmes of Popery the Clergie so called were abashed themselues to condemn any 2 These things for which they object the oath to us are meerly good and not punishable by any of the laws of the Land It is necessary first to convince the party that to doe such things as are objected suppose to meet together and pray are simply evils and sins 2 to proue them punishable by the laws of the Land 3 Here is no wrong by the exercises of Religion to any but much good what difference there is then any may discern 4 Here are many insnaring interrogatories and men search not so much for the truth as to wring it out after such a manner as may be prejudiciall to him that sweareth there is as much subtilty and uncharitablenesse shewed herein as in any thing 5 In this oath the controversie is not ended but many times begun SECTION XVI HEre it will not be amisse to insert some âhings of the communion wh ch the ãâã may haue in private to perfoâm private duties Fââst therfore oâserue these grounds 1 What duties cannot be performâd in publâque ought to be performed in pâivate
2 That God hath not restrained nor bound any pa t of his servicâ to the publique places onely but so as necessity urgeing we may usâ the same in private it bâ ng not against the nature of the Ordinances 3 The Ordinances of God are properly the inheritance of the châlor n of God 4 The Communâon of the Sa nts ought to be to build up one an other Hence it will follow That it is not unlawfull to preach the woâd prâvately For 1 Christ dâd it in every house whose example in all morall things without all question we are bound to follow 2 Thâ Apostles Acts 5 they had then tolleâatâon to preach they were not prohâbited herein they followed Christ and we are therfore to follow thâm 3 The Apostâe Paul Act. 20 20 makes this one Argument of the conscionable discharge and faithfulnesse in his Callâng that he had taught from house to house 2 He propounds h mselfe as a pattern unto them 4 Mânâsters are the laboureâs servants to the Church and ought therfore in private and publâque to instâuct them 5 Act 8 Phillip joyned to the chariot whence it âs plain the Loâd wâll haue his servânâs to takâ all occasions to win any 6 That which may tend and is âequisite to edâfication beâng the desire of Gods children ought and may be used by the Ministers but prâvate teaching may and doth build up âuch Ioh. 11. 7 Mânisters may reade the Scriptures and therfore giue the sensâ and teach the people to make use of the same 8 Thâ t uth of God must be taught and when ât cannot in publique then ât must bee taught in private altogether 9 None but Popish Canons and German interâms were ever aga nst it till now 10 The fânction of the Ministery is so large and waighty that take all occasions and doe to the uttermost yet much a doe to doe our office in any sort 11 There are no sound arguments against this course for Christians to be exercised in private onely such reasons as savour of sloth or profanenesse are brought against us 12 That which every private man is bound to that the Ministers of God are much more bound to But private men are bound according to their gifts Deut. 6 and Deut. 11 to instruct and admonish and stirre up others Neverthelesse this ought to be done so as men doe not neglect publique meanes for which private should prepare and fit us 2 So as Ministers doe not disable themselues from doing the publique duties 3 So as men doe not neglect any necessary duty in their speciall Calling A second kind of communion is to admonish and reproue some scandalous professors for these men may meet together For 1 Discipline is the healing of the sick soule and finding that which was lost which all in their place are bound to Math. 18. 2 Paul commanded the Church to meeâ 1 Cor. 5 for this end 3 Men that doe not reproue others are guilty of their sins and hate them Lev. 19. 4 Examples of all times warrant this our Saviour Christ in absoâvâng the man cast out Ioh. 9. 5 Gal. 6.1 A charge is laid upon all that are spirituall Brethâen therfore I beseech you consider these things mens soules are precious the divell is politâck ever like a roaâing Lâon watching for his prey the longâr men hold on in any course the hardlieâ are they reclaymed 6 Men dâpaât ng away draw many others with them and so Christ looseth many sheep for want of tending 7 In common dangers when publique helps are wanting every one is more tyed to his bâotheâ âoue in this câse must especially appear A third kind of Communion is to exhoât and stirre up another by conference and to repâat Sermons this ought to bee though dâscipline be set up at times convenâent 1 Hebr. 10.24 25 Men must consider one another to provoke to loue and good workes 2 Men must not forsake the Assemblies which are private Meetings since each must exhort one another Every man is bound as hee hath received the gift to minister the same 1 Pet. 4.10 therfore men ought to meet 3 Private Conference helps each ones weakenesses both in memory and understanding one doth supply anothers want 4 Ier. 6 Men must stand and inquire 5 These exercises make men blessed and happy Psal 1. 6 Experience proues them to thriue best which use these meetings in a holy and reverent manner 7 The practise of all ages witnesseth this Mal. 3. 8 The nature of Gods spirit is to draw the Saints together in one where in a more speciall manner hee is present assisting them A fourth kinde of Communion is to pray and humble themselues this is plain Acts 12 where the Holy Ghost records it and the fruit of it appears in Peters deliverance and Ester 2 No duties that may possibly be performed ought to be omitted when the Lord âals for them These duties of fasting and prayer the Lord calls for in time of calamâties Math. 9. 3 Eveây Christian ought apart to fast if hee haue no company or no convenient meanes wâth others as Daniel Nehemiah but ever we must covet as much as âs possible to be together where the Loâd is especially present Act. 13 Math. 18. 4 Many private and more speciall causes which are matters of gâeat waight and urgency which are to be commânded to the Lord with fasting this being the means which ever the Saints haue used to stir up themselues and others by Luk. 2. 5 It is a sin not to be expiated bringing certain judgment when men doe not fast and humble themselues the Lord calling therunto Isa 22. 6 Experience sheweth this practise to keep life in men and preserue them from deeââning to keep a foot the ministery of the Word Act. 13. 7 The divell and our own corrupt natures are speciall enemies to this exercise of Religion 8 Onely the true children of God can discern dangers plainly before they come therfore thây ought to meet together though others doe not that see no danger By all this we may see whence that advise is which is too much followed to wit to bring in Popery againe in doing wherof they obseru Machivillâan policy 1 They nourish the people in ignorance under blinde Guides that so they may readily receiue any thing and haue no discerning twâxt truth and ârrour For all men natuâally like well of this Religion as pleasing to the senses and carnall reason 2 Lât there be Popish ceremonies and customes retained for all that while it is well enough many people never minde so much the doctrine that is taught as the Ceremonies that are seen 3 They that are chief let them favour Papists 2 Perswade to a commoderation 3 Suppresse them that are greatest Antipapists both Ministers and people that will be so forward 4 Let men be kept in a dâslike of the right way by inveighing against it as schismaticall and dâabolicall 5 Let men teach the people the great authority the