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
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