might if they would and yet scorne and reject them as follie and matters of reproach and worthy correction persecution it is a plaine treading vnder foote the Sonne of God who hath * Reu. 1.1.11.19 and Ioh. 16.13 reuealed the Father in theese things and counting the blood of the couenant an vnholy thing wherewith the new Testament was sanctified confirmed or dedicated as the first covenant was with the blood of beasts yea this is to doe despite vnto the Spirit of grace which first shewes vs Gods grace in ordaining these things and after in promises of restoring them And indeede seeing it is manifest Act. 14. chap. 20.28 1. Pet. 5.2 Tit. 1.9 that the Apostles ordained Elders in euery Church that theire office was to feede the flock ouer which the Holy Ghost made them Bishops that they were to take the oversight thereof by sound Doctrine to convince the gainsayers reproue correct and instruct in righteousnes and if this would not serue after the first and second admonition to excommunicate in and with the consent of the congregation who can denie but that all this is of the substance of religion necessarie to the salvation of the people and proper to euery Prosbyter Euery man will be readie to confesse that it is better there be a Pilot a Maister and a Maisters mate in euery ship to watch ouer the same and all that is in it as the Lord in Wisdom ordained Elders to be Bishops in euery Church or congregation to watch over it and all the Soules therin leaving them in his Testament a card and rules to steere and saile by the word of God beeing theire Rudder then that there should be but one in a whole fleete one Bishop in a diocesse and all the rest but shadowes or lesser wheeles to be led and moved by him as it came to passe by the wisdom and encroachments of men wherby Bishops neither leaving the brethren nor yet the presbyters any voice in censures or part in the government doe themselves bring in the inventions and evils Christ would keepe out get dominion over mens faith and by theire power and traditions make the word of none effect in divers perticulars A thing which is expresly forbidden in the new Testament My brethren be not many Maisters knowing that wee shall receive the greater condemnation Iam. 3.1 that is because in the causes and controversies of hereticks Psal 100. Schismatiks and other delinquents it is saide of the word Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies He shall judge amonge the nations the Presbyters and members of the church doe but rule and judge by him as steeres men by the Rudder judges and jurots by the law not by theire owne inventions or pretended authority And therfore our saviour who was against all such dominion in the church saith to his Disciples Mat. 20.25 Chap. 123.8 The Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them But ye shall not not be so Be not ye called Rabbi for one is your Maister even Christ and all ye are brethren Therfore when there is cause of accusing or censuring any he doth not say Tell the Bishops but Tell the church And accordingly in the times of the Apostles Chap. 18.17 and longe after as the epistles of Cyprian do manifest they were judged by the word in an assemblie of presbyters and brethren as the incestuous Corinthian which shewes us that neither one man nor the presbiters alone were judges in such cases but the church which by the Scriptures either cleered or censured any person accused as by the word of God he appeared either guiltie or not guiltie for so doth the word judge among the nations And therfore seeing God hath so ordained and it was in the primitive church so practised it is not a thing indifferent as some thinke whether Presbyters or diocessan Bishops hold the government but in effect a matter of salvation espetially to every church and by consequence to every Soule in it as the well or ill guiding of a ship concerneth the salvation of every passenger embarqued in it For though in a tempest some are saved without good Pilots and some in the shipwrack by a board yet others are not without skilfull sea men and soe in the church but for the most part not without helpes in government God hath in nothing given this to one in a diocesse and his officials but to the presbyters of every church elected according to his ordinance For though the provision of Bishops and Pastors have beene somtime in the hands of the Clergie and people somtimes in the hands of K ngs and Patrons then in the hands of Popes and then againe in the hands of Kings and patrons as now in England yâ—t as many have proved for the first seaven or eight hundred yeares after Christ the people in most places did choose them according to the practise of the primative church and the power given them in the new Testament For so saith Cyprian The people have principallie the power either to choose such priests as are worthy or to refuse such as are vnworthy Cypri 1. Epist 4. Act. 14.23 Beza Annot in Act. 14. Tit. 1. And so saith Luke They ordained them Elders in every church by election Where saith Beza the force of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be noted that wee may know that Paul and Barnabas caried nothing by private will nor exercised any tyranie in the church nor lastly did any such thing as at this day the Romish harlot or her pages doe whome they call ordinaries And by this place saith he must that be vnderstood I left thee in Creete to ordaine them Elders in everie citie as I had appointed thee that is by election as the Apostles left it to the church and people there assembled to choose one in the place of Iudas Beza Annot in Act. 1. And they appointed two Nothing saith Beza is here caried privately by Peter as by one endued with a more excellent dignitie but publickly and by the suffrages of the whole church So as he sheweth were the seaven Deacons chosen and so is that to be vnderstood Lay hands sodainly on no man that is to make him a presbyter amd so give him a part in this charge of the Eldership till he be tried the church or people have chosen him and praier be made for him as at the election of Mathias and the seaven Deacons It is ill for the Soules of Kings Bishops and patrons and indeede worse for the church that any one of these have the choice or confirmation of Pastors helpers Elders which are lawfull callings or of diocessan Bishops Deanes prebends and others which are vnlawfull For this makes divines flatter all such Princes Patrons and Prelates or theire favourites and so is cause of exceeding greate corruption and hipocrisie in church and common wealth For by this meanes Princes Prelates and theire favourites though they
as is manifested now a daies nor give theire false doctrines and interpretations for lawes as they have donne in these later ages and since the councell of Trent which is the thing that makes them and theire followers so abhominable Therfore after one Angel haveing an everlasting Gospel to preach had cried feare God Rev. 14.6 7.8.9 and worship him and that the second had denounced the fall of Babylon by which two seeming to be wicklife Luther and theire followers came greate light of doctrine The third Angel followed them and denounced eternall damnation to every one that should after this time worship the Beast and his Image and receive his marke And because some would rather suffer martyrdom then doe it that is added Here is the patience and the faith of the saincts vers 12.13 Here are they that keepe the commandements of God and the faith of Jesus Blessed are the dead which henceforth die in the Lord or as others reade for the Lords cause Here then wee may see theire impietie and danger who continue not in the word but either more or lesse receive and professe the Doctrine and superstion of the Pope and Church of Rome which is not taught in the holy Scriptures they receive the marke of the Beast and worship him and his Image To receive and haue which marke is to receive or have an impression of the Popish Doctrine and Religion in part or in whole either in profession which is to haue the marke in the forhead or by defending or helping the same by som meanes which is to haue the marke in the right hand as will appeare by shewing how men haue the Seale or marke of God The eternall word and Wisdom of the Father is his expresse Image with which the elect are sealed in theire forheads by saueing knowledge and profession thereof with faith and full assurance Which is when they receive the Doctrine of the holy Scripture and it leaues such an impression in them that they professe they will receive it and no other vnder any pretence of the Spirit vnlesse it follow from the same Testament of Christ who to shew that the Holy Ghost brings no other Doctrine he the truth calleth him the Spirit of truth and saith He shall not speake of himselfe Ioh. 16.13 But he shall receive of mine and shall shew it vnto you He shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoeuer J haue saide vnto you So he leadeth into all truth And he shall shew you the things to come that is touching the generall Apostacie vnder Antichrist and such other things in the Revelation Councels therefore doe vainly pretend the Spirit if they speake not according to the Testament of Christ The word was made flesh Ioh. 1. the Disciples saw the glorie thereof in his Doctrine and miracles full of grace and Truth This cannot be saide of the canons and inventions of men Of his fulnesse saith Iohn haue all wee receiued Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ Whosoeuer brings not this word 1. Ioh. 2.24 this truth of God is a deceiver But the anointing which ye haue receiued of him abideth in you and ye neede not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie Idaicus taketh Christ to be the anointing here meant and Lorinus on the place giues good reasons why the word is saide to be the Anointing Indeede the Spouse saith to him Thy Name is an ointment powred forth Cant. 1.3 Now wee know his Name is called the word of God And indeede this eternall word seemeth to be the anointing meant because he saith it is Truth and is no lie And Christ that word because he addeth and euen as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him or it in the anointing And now litle children abide in him that when he shall appeare wee may haue confidence and not be ashamed before him at his comming v. 12. to iudgment for the word shall iudge vs at the last day Ioh. 12.48 and Christ is that word as Augustin proueth on that and many other places of Iohns Gospel As many as receiued this word this eternall Truth to them he gaue power to become the Sonnes of God euē to them that beleoue in his Name whose name is called the word of God Therefore he saith to them that beleeued on him Ioh. 8.31.36 If ye continue in my word thē are ye my Disciples indeede and ye shall know the truth the truth shall make you free and sheweth the same truth to be the Sonne that maketh Sonnes free saying If the Sonne therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeede This comes of the saueing knowledge of Gods word 1. Ioh. 3.2 Therefore Iohn saith Now wee are the Sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what wee shall be that is because wee know but in part But when he shall appeare we shall be like him for wee shall see him as he is And euery man that hath this hope purifieth himselfe euen as he is pure Thus as Paul saith men put on the new man Ioh. 17. which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him and that saueing knowledge is the cause of loueing and obeying him and of purifying of a mans selfe as he is pure Therefore it is that Christ saith M. Downam Guide to Godlinesse cha 5. Rom. 10. Psa 119.27.33.34 this is eternall life to know thee and him whome thou hast sent Saueing knowledge as one saith beeing the ground of obedience and the roote of faith and all other graces For how shall they call vpon him in whome they haue not beleeued and how shall they beleeue on him of whome they haue not heard Or haue no knowledge Divinely therefore saith David Make me to vnderstand they way of the precepts so shall I talke of thy wondrous works Giue me vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy Law And therefore Augustin saith that wee may loue things vnseene but not vnknowne For to shew that the first conversion of a Christian is wrought by illumination knowledge and a liuely faith that followeth thereupon Christ saith to Paul Act. 26.18 J send thee to the Gentiles to open theire eyes and to turne them from darknes to light that is from the power of darknesse to the Sonne of light as he addeth from the power of Satan vnto God Ephes 2.2 chap. 4.18 Wherefore he sheweth that the Gentiles in times past walked after the Prince of the power of the aire and were aliened from the life of God because theire vnderstanding was darkened through the ignorance that was in them because of the blindnesse of theire heart that beeing aliens from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the couenants of promise they were at that time without Christ haveing no hope and without God in the world Hence it was that they beeing
word the Papists talke of and ye see they doe but talke of it For they confesse theese things were introduced from ancient customes and creepingly by the silence of the people who were vrged to conformitie by the flattering and menacing clergie and loth to be counted Schismatikes Refractarie Puritans they gained the strength of Law some sooner some later but all in a like manner as beeing the inventions of ambition will worship superstition and tyranie to which God gaue them over because like the Angels they kept not theire first Estate Rom. 1.20 they did not like to retaine God in theire knowledge they did not abide in the truth nor in theese cases received the love thereof but as the flattering defenders of the English hierarchie and traditions they scorned and mocked all that opposed them and sought puritie in Religion as fooles Schismatikes and hypocrits that strained as they say at gnats and made schismes aboute trifles this mocking was that which gaue all manner of corruption strength and in crease as it doth in England Where he is reckoned a wise able divine that knows how to scoffe such men out Gal. 5.9 as Papists did A litle leauen leaveneth the whole lumpe They thus corrupted were given ouer to beleeue lies This aversion from the creators word was a conversion to the word of creatures to the decrees of men in Synods and councels Ier. 2 13. It was a forsaking of the Lord the fountaine of liveing waters and hewing them out broken cisterns that can hold no water And because they did not take the marke of God to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints and seeke to get the victorie over the Beast and his Image and marke as all Christians should God gaue them over to take the marke of the Beast to worship him and his Image and to drinke of the golden cup which the greate whore holdeth full of abhominations Reu. 17. and filthinesse of her fornication Such honour offices dominion power worship ceremonies and Religion as God never ordained But what cared they so they could but by theire flatterie and false glosses get the consent and helpe of Princes and make them beleeve this was to defend the Church which either as they did or omitted God would prosper or punish them For thus they made Emperours Kings take pleasure to assist them and so as the Prophet saith Hos 7.3 They make the King glad with theire wickednesse and the Princes with theire lies And so indeede did the false Prophets in Ieremies time and likewise in the time of Ahab and other Kings And therfore the Angel seeing the greate wickednesse of the whore of Babylon in theese things and the destruction that was ready to fall on her for them saith Reu. 18.2.3 Babylon the greate is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of deuls and the hold of euerie foule Spirit and a cage of everie vncleane and hatefull bird for all nations haue drunke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication viz. to which God in his wrath gaue her and them over And the Kings of the earth haue committed fornication with her enforcing her Lawes and errours on thâ—ire subjects and the Marchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies that is which she had neede of for the maintaining of the pompe of her Prelates ceremonies and Tempels The merchandise of gold and silver and precious stones and of pearles ver 12 and fine linnen and purple and silke odours and frankencense c. Now observe this committing of fornication with her is of two sorts 1. When Kings and States give theire power and strength to the Beast and Church of Rome fighting his battailes and enforcing her Lawes customs and errours on theire people 2. When they commit some of the same evils or the like though not all as she doth Kings commit fornication with her who doe it in som things though not in all Yea though they doe them not in obedience to her or to please or serve her Henrie 8. denied the Popes supremacie yea was at difference with the Church of Rome in som things yet still committed fornication with her in other things by houlding and maintaining divers other of the Romish Lawes errours and customes Any man holdeth the Doctrine of Balaam that layeth a stumbling block before the people though it be not the verie same kinde of stumbling block which Balaam taught but som other To be guiltie of Ierobams sinne was not alwayes to set vp calves but he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam who by any other invention or presumption made Israel to sinne Som follow the way of Kaine Iude 11. some perish in the gainsaying of Corah and some are cast away by the deceitfulnes of Balams wages though not in the same particulars nor in the same manner but in a like So do some Kings commit fornication with Babylon who maintaine any of her presumptions or any like them The Greeke Churches from the yeare 607. that the Pope had obtained to be called vniversall Bishop haue seperated from the Church of Rome denying not onely the supremacie but euen worshipping of Images and som other Romish errours Yet in retaining the hierarchie of diocessan Provinciall and Patriarchall Bishops the masse divers other Romish customs errours and ceremonies both before the yeare 607. and since they haue committed fornication with her While in theese things theire feare toward God is also taught by the traditions and precepts of men they haue cause to feare Christ will not finde them to be of his Ierusalem but of Babylon the greate not of his true Church but of the Synagogue of Sathan For he reckoneth all to be of the one or the other The second councell of Nice taught and commaunded worshipping of Images And then the Greek Emperour with his mother Irene and many Greekes committed fornication in that particular with Babylon M. Moulin observeth how absurd and weake the reasons of thar councell were Buckler of the faith in preface Yet if Kings and councels once maintaine such errours how weake and foolish soever theire reasons be many are soone ready to follow and flatter theire pernicious wayes So likewise in matter of the Lords day or any other commaundement of God if they giue allowance to Prophane or breake it you doe in vaine tell theire flatterers of Gods Law they will stop your mouth or crie you downe with vrging the Lawes of men the Kings injunctions or the like shifts the common refuges of the most superstitious and Prophane men How absurdly doe such in theire much magnified common prayer say Lord haue mercie vpon us and encline our hearts to keepe this Law when they thus allow and defend the breach of it It is a verie poore honour to maintaine a power and Prerogative in such cases against the Lord and his ordinances and Servants Kings doe at last
march 6. 1632. Yea a greate Bishop in a sermon before the King charged one that writ for the presbyterie with Arianisme whether truly or no I know not for he namd not the man nor the book for feare least his proofes of the presbiterie should be looked into So much do they bewray the rottennesse of theire cause that will not endure touching nor to be looked vpon and in the meane call vpon men to frequent common prayer be obedient and conformable to theire mother the Church c. Beeing willingly ignorant that when of old som began to finde fault with the increase of superstition and tyranie in Romish Prelates Canons they reckoned them Schismatikes willed men to seeke peace stirred them vp to love of common prayer conformitie in ceremonies and externall devotions building of Churches c. Whereby ignorance increased and the truth was daily more and more betrayed and sold till it was too late to reforme them Princes and noble men could not doe it because they beeing nourished in this ceremonious and superstitious part of religion fell themselves into ignorance and so into many quarrels and noisom lusts like the Prelates one growing dissolute another vsuâ—ping another circumventing killing warring as in France betweene the Kings and the Duks of Burgundie and other Princes In England betweene the howses of yorke and Lancaster the Kings and Rebels they had not a Gospell truly preached to order and aw them so they could not see that all these errours in the Clergie and indeede in themselves came from altering the presbyterall government and giveing such authority to Bishops who for theire owne ends were readie to side with any of them So Protestants in other countries have observed that when the Palatinate was loosing the churches in Germanie France and other parts in greate miserie yet the church of Prelates theire adherents in England did litle helpe them but rather hindred such as would siding with the Duke and others charged by the parliaments to practise secretly for the popish partie or a newtralitie vnder colour that they were conformable to the English discipline and therfore Protestants but at the best that is indeede such as the hierarchie bringeth forth either newters or men of a mixed religion partly popish in the hierarchie Canons and ceremonies most followed and maintained and partly protestant in som points of faith more coldly defended by the most who also seemed to thinke it dangerours to maintaine ancient and honest priveliedges as free elections free speaking and parliamentarie power in searching out and reforming corruptions in church and common wealth both the one and the other beeing by som factious cunningly accounted a puritanicall zeale and a trenching vpon the prerogative of Princes when indeede the prerogative themselves sought to maintaine was only that of corrupt Prelates and favourits who have abused our Kings with such incensings and whisperings as the protestations of the parliaments laboured to manifest It is no neede to tell how they were prevented or that thereupon greate divisions followed both at that time and since especially in religion The Prelates not enduring that the howse of Commons should medle with it nor with the most notorious delinquents that did but favour theire partie who thus strove to helpe and vphold one another what ever became of the cause of Christ at home or abroade Gal. 5.9 Not to mention what boldnes and corruption this hath since bred in other inferiour bodies and government A litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe The french and other Protestants say theese are the fruits of maintaining the hierarchie and ceremonies which are Popish and so serve many for a cloak of poperie or trecherie or Arminianisme or prevarication or persecution or newtralitie or what a man will whereby the English haue beene brought into greate contempt theire peace thus attained beeing scorned as savouring of corruption or Newtralite in Religion and as more helping to support then ruin Babylon and her chiefe fort and wall the howse of Austria and as thus haveing lost theire honour both abroade and at home The Bishops could cover all this and turne the fault vpon the puritans that would not flatter as themselves did And yet in all this like the Romanists they bluster with the name authority and wisdom of Christs Church whether they be truly of it or the world The name Church if the Greeke word be considered signifieth coetus evocatus a companie or people called out Coetus evocatus as Israel out of Egypt or men out of darknesse ignorance or worldlinesse How few are thus called out of poperie temporising and earthlinesse I know divers Ministers that have subscribed are in all other things of the reformed Religion and thorowly called out of poperie save onely that for feare of loosing theire liveings they dare not see one part of it in the case of the hierarchie things that are against the presbiterie But consider the Church of England as the Bishops that govern it account it in themselves and theire adherents in a Synod called the Church representative and maintaining theire power canons and ceremonies with the fruits and practises of them who can say it is coetus evocatus Much lesse if you vnderstand it of halfe a dozen of Prelates that are courtiers in a manner ruling all are followed and flattered by many temporising Clergie men and a world of ignorant gentlemen and people And what if one corrupt Bishop get into such favour as to rule all the rest shall he like the Pope account himselfe the Church Not onely all these ill fruits but all that are in the Church of Rome came from altering that order of Bishops which the Apostles left by setting one presbyter of a greate citie over the rest and giving him first a litle authority as President of theire councell and then a litle more till he came to be accounted the sole Bishop of a diocesse And therfore as cunning Clarks as they make themselves our saviour may in these cases say of them If you were blinde Ioh. 9.41 if ye did confesse your blindnesse if ye had not the light of Gods word to shew it to you ye should haue no sinne But now ye say wee see chap. 101. therfore your sinne remaineth He that entreth not by the doore into the sheepefold but climeth vp another way the same is a thiefe and a robber I am the doore As he is the word of the father that revealeth him so is he the doore If a man come with any other Doctrine then the word revealed or enter by any other way to be a Pastor or Governour of the Church then such lawfull election and mission as is ordained in the word if he enter by any other rule office authority or title then such as the word alloweth he is a theefe and a robber that commeth not but for to steale a hireling as the Pharises were They complaine of lecturers as vnlawfull yet none
in theese and theire feare towards him hath beene taught by the precepts of men doe you thinke he will ackowledge this for his marke or that it may stand together with his as some thinke it may in Papists who hold the Christian faith and truth in many things and that he will not rather say unto them who required these things at your hands And not rather to abide in the word and suffer your wayes to be reproved by it Ioh. 18.37 for every one that is of the truth heareth my voice he watcheth and keepeth his garments that ye would not doe in these things but persecuted them that haveing the marke and testimonie of Iesus would have drawne you to it but ye have mocked at theire arguments and rejoiced to see them prohibited and trodden vnder foote so wretched is the condition of many of the Prelates and theire defenders in England And indeede nothing doth more shew the Rottennesse of theire cause and that they are not of God then theire forbidding of bookes written in defense of Gods ordinances about the presbiterie and power he gave each church in election of presbyters excommunication c. wherein they have beene such cruel adversaries that they have by suppressing all bookes and preachers that doe but touch on these points left men no meanes of defending or knowing the truth in such cases like the Philistins who suffered not a Smith in the land of Israel saying 1 Sam. 13.19 least the Hebrewes make them swords or speares This thing alone sheweth that so great power as Bishops have in the church can not be of God and that it serveth chiefely to suppresse the truth and forbid the defense thereof in these things and in those others about Gods free-grace in election free will perseverance of the saints or any thing else that either they doe now or may hereafter prohibit in doctrine discipline or ceremonies as in like manner the church of Rome did in one thing or other till at last she became full of abhominations and filthines the first steps whereof were the establishing and increasing the power of Bishops against the presbiterie c. which gave them power to effect theire pleasures in these and all other things About the yeare 400 a councell in Carthage did forbid to reade the bookes of the Gentiles but allowed them to reade the bookes of the Heretiks the Decree whereof is amongst the Canons collected by Gratian. Histor of the counc of Trent p. 472. This saith a learned Author was the first prohibition by way of Canon for in the church of Martyrs there was none The bookes of Hereticks containing doctrine condemned by Councels were often forbid by the Emperours for good government So Constantine forbad the bookes of Arrius Arcadius those of the Eunomians and Maniches Theodosius those of Nestorius Martinus those of the Euticheans and in Spaine King Ricardus those of the Arrians But this is no warrant for Kings or Prelates to forbid those which are written in defense of the presbiterie or any of Gods ordinances It sufficed the Councels and Bishops to shew what bookes contained damned or Apocryphal doctrine Idem So did Gelasius in the yeare 494. and went no further leaving it to the conscience to avoide them or reade them to a good end After the yeare 800. as the Popes of Rome assumed a greate part of the politik government so they caused the bookes whose Authors they did condemn to be burned and forbad the reading of them Notwithstanding one shall finde but few bookes forbid in this sort till this age Martin 5. doth in a Bull excommunicate all the Sects of Heretikes especially Wicklifists and Hussites not mentioning those who reade theire bookes though many of them went aboute Lev. 10. Condemning Luther did with all forbid his books upon paine of excommunication After Popes did the like The Inquisitors made Catalogues of those whome they knew Philip King of Spaine was the first that gave a more convenient forme in the yeare 1558. making a law that the Catologue of bookes prohibited by Inquisition should be printed After this example Paul 4 caused an Index composed by that office to be printed in the yeare 1559. At last all they pleased were fetched into this number to deprive men of all meanes of knowledge A better mysterie was never found then to vse religion to make men insensible So doe English Bishops who though they follow not the same forme yet they vse another as rigorous and prevalent They have the licencing and censuring of bookes in these cases and so are both Iudges and parties they can scoffe suspend fine imprison silence and degrade whom they please yea men in these cases goe in jeopardie of theire liveings and lives by which meanes as by the weapons of their warfare they must needes obtaine their cause as the Romanists have theires so like are they in som things to Babylon the mother of Harlots Ioh. 8.43.44 and to those Iewes to whom Christ saith Why doe ye not vnderstand my my speech even because ye cannot heare my word ye are of your father the devill and the lusts of your father ye will doe he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth he is a liar and the father of it And because I tell you the truth ye beleeve me not He that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore heare them not because ye are not of God Iudge therefore whether it be not with good cause that som English who hold with the Geneva and french reformations have said that the English hierarchie dominion and practise of the Prelates and many of theire canons customes courts and ceremonies are popish and a parte of the marke of the Beast not so much in those who have of infirmitie subscribed yet doe not defend them as in them that maintaine these things scorne them that doe not and will not see the mischiefes that follow that in these cases men cannot without great trouble freely speake or write the truth to convince them that they bring forth popish fruits flatterie superstition ignorance non residencie ambition prophane mocking newtralitie Episcopal tyranie wicked policies Arminianisme and the like and that therefore they ought to be abolished That these evills doe so increase through theire power and practises that they may justly feare that Christ will one day shew them to theire cost that this maintaining of them against the reasons and proofes of them that in the reformed churches hold the ordinances of God is not to savour the things that are of God but those that are of men not to have the marke of God but rather that of the Beast that at least som of them are in divers respects Popish and tend to poperie and that therfore if to maintaine that they ought to be obeyed be neither directly nor indirectly to worship the beast and his Image or take a part of his marke yet they have theire
originall and first authority from her who taxing the offices and ordinances of Christ of insufficiencie for the government of the Church is the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth that the mysterie of iniquitie began to worke in these things and when they are vtterly confuted or taken away it will begin to cease working Rev. 16.17 In that theire last plague this voyce will be heard It is donne That while Christ is thus spoken against in his officers and ordinances the hearts of many are discovered that they stand not so much for the truth of God as the traditions of men That they in England who make these things indifferent innocent and trifles doe cover with a covertng but not of his Spirit they full of wrath doe not favour the powring out of the last vial much lesse pray for it though it be a greate mercie to his people and onely full of wrath to his enimies That the Kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof which all Christians should seeke doth suffer more prejudice by such temporising and daubing then by the malice of such as are the profest enemies of religion That they have hereby so vpheld the power and rigour of the Prelates that men begin to crie out that vnder colour of maintaining theire authority they shake the defence of Religion against Papists and bring in the defense of Altars Images such precisenes in ceremonies that wee are like to be coosoned of our Religion and loose it in the fire of humane inventions diocessan power superstition avarice ambition and persecution as by the same meanes and the like the Church of Rome lost the love of the truth and was given over to strong delusions to beleeve lies vnto the everlasting ruin of many millions of Soules which is an evill so greate and so sure a roote of all evils that the Church of England and all the Soules therein should rather seeke to prevent it by watchfulnes and due reformation then by mocking and scorning the reasons of reformists as groundles opinions full of curiositie schisme and puritanisme to discover theire owne shame and keepe the way broade to her owne corruption and ruin or at least to the corruption and destruction of many thousands of Soules who live in the pale of that Church and covering themselves vnder the vaile of conformitie are Popish or newters or meere civil men or Prophane or persecutors and will not be made to see that in this manner the church of Rome began to be Babylon And yet in the meane by her prosperitie and deliverance from heathen persecutions she iudged her selfe to be beloved of God and that he was well pleased with the authority of her Prelates traditions inventions and ceremonies as Philip King of Spaine hardly escaping a danger at sea saide Histor of the counc of Trent lib. 5. pag. 417. he was delivered by the singular providence of God to roote out Lutheranisme which he presently sought to doe as English Prelates thinke God hath longe preserved them in theire pompe and power to roote out reformists called puritans and iudge of the favour of God toward them theire hierarchie and traditions by the deliverances from the Marian persecution the Spanish invasion and the longe time of peace and prosperitie they the Church hath enioyed when all other Churches have beene vnder the crosse A strong evidence say they that God was therewith well pleased which is the argument of them that burnt incense to the Queene of heaven for then say they wee had plentie and were well and saw no evill Not considering that in the Spanish invasion and the powder treason the axe for some sinnes was laide to the roote of the tree that though God seeing some in that land did seeke the truth and mourne for the abhominations that were donne therein did in mercie spare the same yet his mercie and longe suffering leadeth to repentance That Rome and Italie from the time of Constantine to the inundation of the Gothes and Vandals enjoyed as greate peace and plentie and no doubt glorified her selfe therein that her hierarchie traditions and ceremonies which then had not donne much more hurt to the Kingdom and truth of God then the English now have were pleasing to God seeing while other Churches were plagued she was at rest Athanasius Basil travailing in the East and groaning vnder the burden of the Arrians and other miseries writ to the Bishops of Italie and France Basil Epi. 70. Epist 78. It beeing impossiblo say they that they should be ignorant of our miserable estate so well knowne through out the world Therefore they redoubled theire letters conjuring them to informe the Emperour of these troubles in the East from whome and not from Damasus they hoped for redresse But in the meane the Churches of Rome Italie and France beeing in prosperitie neglected theire afflicted brethren Epist 10. and were no comfort to them For if the Anger of God saith Basil continue still vpon vs what comfort will the pride of the west afford vs who neither do know neither yet will have the patience to be rightly informed of the truth of things c. wee have saith he venerable brethren set our eyes vpon you but our hope hath proved vaine c. And yet this thirteene yeares longe do wee continue in this war Which in effect hath beene the complaint of the french and German Protestants to the Prelates of England from whome they have found as litle pitie and helpe in theire distresses The arme is oft let blood to cure som part of the body 1. Pet. 4.17 If iudgment as it oft doth begin at the howse of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel Therefore seeing in the English reformation many Popish things were left vnreformed she hath cause to feare it will be saide of her as somtime of Iudah Ier. 3.10 Yet for all this her trecherous sister hath not turned vnto me with her whole heart but fainedly saith the Lord. But let the Church of England therfore take heede that she do not now glorifie her selfe as foolishly as the Churches of Rome and Italie then did Rev. 18. Chap. 3. and now doe to say J sit as a Queene and am no widdow and shall see no sorrow or like Laodicea who saide I am rich and increased with goods and have neede of nothing and knew not that she was wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked When the last plague is ready to be powred out Christ saith Behold I come as a thiefe That is to judge and plague such secure ones And indeede as now so in those dayes the Churches of Italie were in greater pompe and prosperitie then any other Christian Churches but withall theire feare toward God was more taught by the precepts of men there was more superstition and Ecclesiastical tyranie therefore they were not more happy but indeede more miserable as the