of the gospell and not to this day called home again though they may say with the prophet Daniel that before God innocency was found in them and before the King they had done no hurt Dan. 6 22. wherfore the Lord hath preserved them unto this day and provided for them an hiding place from the stormie wynds and tempests of his wrath which are fallen upon our English Region And who can tell but this may be a scourge upon them for their banishing and cruell persecuting of the Saints whose cause the Lord doth to this day justifie by his gratious administrations toward them and whose righteousnes he shall bring forth Psal 37 6. 9. 39. 40. as the light and their judgment as the noone day for evill doers shal be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord they shall inherite the Earth For the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in time of trouble and the Lord shall helpe them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them becaus they trust in him In this treatise thou mayest plainly perceave if thou be not prejudiced by partiallity or worldly mindednesse how unjustly the people of that profession espetially those that sojourne at Amsterdam are charged of being disturbers of the Commonweale and enemyes to Kingly powers on earth whiles they approve such doctrine to be taught amongst them as hath bin alwayes their profession from their first separation from the Church of England as may be seen by their Apologie or defence published against the groundlesse imputations of the Oxford-doctors in the yeare 1604. and dedicated to K. Iames of famous memory By which Apologie thou maist perceive for whom it is that I make this defence not for all that are called Brownists for I must confesse with the * Ansvv to the K. decla concering his victory Oct. 3. 1642. honourable court of Parliament of England that there are many now a dayes that goe under the name of Brownists that come farre short of the principles which those which heretofore have only had that name cast upon them doe hold such as are Semi-seperatists as they are termed who can hold one foot in the Church of God and the other in the Synagogue of Satan partake of the Lords table and the table of divels and many forward professors whom I leave to stand or fall to their owne master knowing that God is also able to make them stand Rom. 14 4. but only for a small company of poore despised Christians who are constrayned to dwell in a strange Country a Rev. 1 9. for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ But blessed be the great God of heaven and earth the father of mercies the God of all consolation who alwaies causeth them to b 2 Cor. 2 14. tryumph in Christ and hath c 2 Cor. 1 4. comforted them in all their tribulaâ—ion and made them able to comfort others that have bin iâ— trouble by the comfort wherewith they themselves are comforted of God For the substance of the treatise â— hope thou shalt find it agreable te the a 1 Pet. 4 11. word of God for I desire to utteâ— nothing in publike but what the scripture hath first spoken or endited to me by which b Rev. 2 29. the Spirit speaketh unto the churches But beautifull oâ— loftie stile to please humane phantasies thou mayst not expect from onâ— that is no scholler in humane sciences and studyeth for no greater learning than to speak the truth in plain English nor such sobriety and gravity as dotâ— befit so weighty a subjeâ—t from one thâ— is so tender in age and hath bin buâ— foure yeares in the schoole of Christ and is full of like c Acts. 14 15. passions and humane infirmities as other men are Wherâ—fore if any thing be let fall through mâ— unadvisednesse herein not beseeminâ— the gospell of Christ and the ministery of the same I know those that feare God will not rejoyce in it and the wise will lovingly reprove me for it and I by God's grace shal be ready to acknowledge it and an other time to amend it if I can I have bin moved to the publishing hereof by the divers speeches and declarations which have bin given out on all handes in these troublesome times wherein those that feare God and seperate from sin as much as in them is have bin inveighed against as a companie of scismaticall and troublesome spirits to the State Yea writings have bin published in the name of the King 's most excellent maiesty whom we ought all under God to reverence as the father of our Country and God's vicegerent in his dominions wherein have bin great imputations of evill against such under the name of Brownists as if they and Anabaptists with the assistance of K. Declar. against the Parl. assessing dat Dec. 8. 1642. Pag. 5. vitious and deboished persons of desperate fortunes take upon them to breake up rifle houses as publike avowed ministers of a new invented authority c. and afterwards it is said whilst Scismaticall illiterate and scandalous preachers fill their pulpits churches with blasphemy irreverence and treason and incite their auditors to nothing but murder and rebellion c. And again pag. 7. These are the men who joyning with the Anabaptists and Brownists of London first changed the governement and discipline of that City would undoe the Kingdome c. And some thing I have read in some former writings striking at the godly people at Amsterdam also as if they were the originall of these stirs and tumults when as it is nothing els but for the sins of the land that God's hand is stretched out against them Wherfore it is imputed as a blame to the Parliament and city of London that they maintaine countenance Brownists c. See declar of vict Oct. 3. 1642. and his Majesties answere to the Cities petition for peace read in a Common hall c. Now the law hath required me not to revile or d Exod. 22â— 28. Acts. 23 5. curse the ruler of my people neither can I easily be brought to think that these expressions proceeded originally out of his princely heart which if yet they did farre be it from me to censure him for them in my e Eccl. 10 â— 20. thoughts I have also heard and understood and the current of writings maketh me somewhat to credit it that it is a common practise of their parsons and vicars in their pulpits that they may curry favour with the bad counsillers about the King to inveigh against Brownists and Seperatists as the only seditious and rebellious persons of the Kingdome But by the following treatise thou majest plainly perceave gentle reader that whosoever are guilty of those faults yet that poore Congregation for whom I plead who have their habitation in a farre Country are free and innocent of the
Zealous Beleevers are The best Subjects to CAESAR Or An exhortation to all good Christians to pray for their princes there being nothing wherein they can better shew their allegiance Published Invindication of the Saints against the false imputations of such as count it rebellion to be religious by I. F. Imprinted in the yeare 1643. Psal 120 2. 5. 6. 7. DEliver my soul ô Lord from lying lips and from a deceiptfull tongue VVo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Redar My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace I am for peace but when I speake they are for warre Revel 3 8. 9. 10. 11. I Know they works behold I have set before thee an open doore and no man can shut it for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and hast not denyed my name Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Iews and are not but doe lye behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee Becaus thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the houre of tentation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the Earth Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crowne To the right worshipful John Browne Esquire Lord of the mannor of Frampton in the county of Dorset and one of his Majesty's Iustices of peace for the same county grace and peace from him that is that was and that is to come SIR I could have published this small treatise without any particuler dedication but that the remembrance of the manyfold favours which I have from my childhood untill now receaved from your worp and your worthy family obligeth me to make some publike acknowledgment thereof least I should be unthankfull desireing therein to imitate the example of the blessed a 2 Tim. 1 16. 17. 18. Apostle towards Onesiphorus whom I am commanded to b 1 Cor. 11 1. follow as he followed Christ Luke dedicated his Euangelicall historie to his noble Theophilus Paul an epistle to his beloved fellow-labourer Philemon and the Disciple whom Jesus loved a letter to Gajus his host and why not I this homely piece which is of publique concernement to you my noble land-lord to wâ—â—â— I owe by the law of our laâ—â— both suite and service Wâ—â—ch seing I am by the calling wherein God hath set me restrained from civile performance of I can not but think my self bound to doe you service in that which I have Sir I have bin the more earnestly provoked hereunto by some information which I have lately receaved of your being a member of that honble house of Commons now assembled in Parliament and intrusted with the care of our County in helping to reform and settle the present enormities and distractions I know that many invective speeches whereof that honourable Court is not ignorant have bin cast out since these troubles began against the way c Acts. 24 14. wherein I worship the God of my fathers believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets which is by manie accounted heresy and doctrine of d Lue. 23 2. rebellion and men are prone by nature to follow the voice of the e Exâ— 23 2. multitude and very easily to be drawen to condemne that which f Iude vers 10. they know not To the end therfore that your worship and that ho ble court with you may not through misse-information call g Isa 5 20. light darknes and condemne the innocent without cause I have bin constrained out of h 2 Cor. 5 14. love to God and for the honour of the truth to cast my mite into the Lord's treasurie and to give you a tast of the fidelity and loyaltie of those that doe truly professe seperation from Babylon spiritually so called to the higher powers Who if they shall neverthelesse be still condemned as evill-doers yet I hope by their patient suffering and i 1 Pet. 3 16. good conversation shall in the end make their enemyes ashamed who falsely accuse them The religious carriage which I have in my youth alwayes noted in your wor p and your whole familie the redressing of the publike profanation of the Lord's day and other profanenesse in the place where you have authority at your first coming to the enioyment of the estate of your deceased father like an other k Nehem. 13 15. 16. 17. c. Nehemiah wherin I hope you persevere maketh me to be confidently perswaded of many good things which the Lord hath wrought in you and that you wil be an instrument in the hand of the Lord to countenance and incourage such as walke in his feare Worthy Sir if this my indeavor may be acceptable to God and you and profitable to anie I have my reward In the meane time though I am absent in the body yet I shall not forget to commend you and your whole family and the proceedings of that honourable Court wherof you are a member if I be not misinformed togither with the present calamities of my native country unto Almightie God in my daylie prayers and be ready to doe you and them any service in the Lord. I. F. Amsterdam in Holland this 4th of the 5 moneth called May 1643. To the well-advised Reader IF ever man might excuse himself of speaking in the cause of God before the princes and people of the earth by saying I am not eloquent but slow of speech of a slow tongue Exod. 4 10. or Ah Lord God! behold I can not speake for I am a child Ierem. 1 6. then may I who am constrayned by the knowledge of myne owne weaknesse to confesse my self of all men most unworthy to open my mouth in the gates For the which cause I have though often moved by the present distractions to speake in way of defence of the gospell of Christ which now undergoeth as great reproach and as unadvised censures as ever restrayned the bewraying of myne owne illiterature and weaknesse to the world still hoping that God would stirre up some more able instrument to have mynded those things whereon I have had some thoughts and to have published that which might have bin suffitient to remove the stumbling block But having hitherto failed of my expectation and the fire still burning within me Psal 39 3. I have now at length adventured to ease my mynd in this homely treatise Wherein Courteous reader thou hast the substance of some doctrines which were long since delivered on a day of publike prayer commanded by the states of the Netherlands for the good successe of those Countries against their enemyes to a CongregatioÌ„ of beleevers who are commonly but corruptly called Brownists some of whome have bin many yeares a goe banished out of their owne native Country for the professioÌ„
dutyes and to resist and oppose such as doe withstand the truth they must not be carnall and fleshly weapons of processes citations injunctions threatenings imprisonings take him pursivant a dowtie argument to come out of a preacher's mouth such as have bin used by some who have called themselveâ— Bishops but may be termed bad-ships oâ— late yeares in their ecclesiasticall tyranicall courtes and consistories but they must be mighty through God pulling downe the strong holdes of Satan r 2 Cor. 10 4. 5. casting downe imaginations and everie high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ they must not be the customes of the Church nor the lawes of the magistrate much lesse of a fewe corrupt men in lane sleeves and foursquared caps that must be their sheild and buckler but it must be by Å¿ Tit. 1 9. sound doctrine that they must both exhort the one and gainsay the other which must be produced out of that well spring of learning the holy Scripture which is given by t 2 Tim. 3 16. 17. in spiration of God and is only and suffitiently profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnes that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works For whosoever v Isa 8 20. speaketh not according to the word which is written in the law and in the testimony it is becaus there is no light in him and whatsoever he be though an Angell from heaven that shall seeke to drawe us by any other doctrine or arguments than what are learned thence we may not hold him a minister of Christ but an instrument of Satan x 2 Cor. 11 15. transformed into the likenesse of a minister of righteousnes that he may deceave the better and such an one is pronounced to be y Gal. 1 â— accursed Erasmus noteth that Ambrose an antient Annota in locum fortasse legit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writer rendereth this word Exhortare in the imparative mood and second person as if the Apostle would have Timothy exhort others viz the Church of Ephesus Howsoever we take it it still serveth to shew what meeknes and care the ministers of the gospel should use in directing the church of God in performance of her duty Meeknesse in that it must not be with terror and masterlynes but with soft and gentle admonitions and exhortations Care in that it must not be only in soft and still words but those wordes must be sound and forceable wordes which must carry with them their force of argument For it is not enough to speak unto the church but it must be to purpose with understanding using such arguments and reasons as may convince the conscience and perswade the heart as the y 1 Pet. 4 11. oracles of God to obedience and take away all doubt and scruple which may any wise hinder from the doeing of the duty or beleeving the doctrine For to lay one stone upon an other is not to build that is but to heap up stones but to fit the stone for his proper place and to fasten it in with morter that is the worke of building So they that edifie the Church must not doe it by heaping up wordes and speeches the z Prov. 10 19. multitude whereof doth darken a Iâ—b 38 2. counsill and therein iniquity can not be wanting pressing to this or that at randome as it were and confusedly but the exhortation being layd upon a good foundation some solid and sound doctrine or thesis of truth must be fitted to it's proper place and then be beaten in with the hammer or trowell of God's law semented or fastened in its place by suffitient arguments drawen from the profit and benefit which shall accrew to them in the doeing of such or such a service and the losse and damage which cometh by the neglect thereof and illustrated by examples and lively similitudes whereby the same may be the more pleasing and delightfull to the eye of the mynd And this is to speake a word to edification and exhortation The like b 1 Cor. 14 3. may be said also of comfort which is by wholsome and sound wordes and arguments drawen from the causes and ends of affliction the grace and mercy of God and the comfortable promises thereof which he hath made unto us in his word to incourage those that are in affliction and calamity to lift up their heades and to have chearfull Spirits waiting patiently upon the Lord who shall give a good issue to all their adversities Whereof we have an exact president commended to us by the Apostle Heb. 12. vers 1. c. vers 5. vers 12. to the end Wherfore our newe English translation and the old latine render this same word in c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thess 5 11. Comfort your selves togither which our old translation in English and the newer translations in latine expresse thus Exhort one an other Which if we approve of both may give us to learne that true comforting is by sound and godly exhortations which must be framed as before We may further observe in the manner of the Apostle's laying downe this exhortation the season time or order of performing these dutyes * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first of all or before all thinges Some will have the genitive case of all to be referred to supplications prayers c as if the Apostle did require the prayers of all the church to be made Which I take rather to be a niceity in the interpretation an humor which many men are troubled with who would faine vent some conceits which others dream not of than to have any appearance from the text seing the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be made cometh betwene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of all and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supplications whereas if the genitive case had agreed with supplications c it should have bin set either imediatly before or after it and the other Yet notwithstanding this wrested interpretatioÌ„ be not approved of I take the Apostles meaning to be that all the church should performe those dutyes as hath bin declared in the generall scope Others will have these wordes first of all to be understood according to Christ's precept first seeke the Kingdome of heaven c. Math. 6 33 not so much to respect the order of time as the dignity of the thing to be performed Which understanding either of the wordes of Christ or of the Apostle I can not take to be the most currant or strictest though in some sort I should grant that God doth not so much esteem the first performance of a thing in respect of the outward order or circumstance of time as that it should have the first and principall seat in our affections and desires of our hearts yet I can not withall but mynd that what the heart
for meat to the foules of heaven Remember what the Lord did for Israel his people how he avenged the wrong that was offered or done unto them by the princes and nations of the earth how he overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red sea he smote r Ps 136 15. great Kings and slew famous kings Sihon King of the Amorites and Og the King of Bashan and gave their land for an heritage unto Israel his servant yea he suffered no Å¿ Ps 105 14. 15. man to doe them wrong but reproved Kings for their sakes saying touch not myne anointed nor doe my prophets no harme Who ever hath fought against God and prevailed it is t Acts. 9 5. hard to kick against the pricks now they that molest and persecute the members of Christ fight against and resist v Acts. 9 4. Christ for they that touch them touch the x Zach. 2 8. apple of his eye and pretious in the sight of the Lord is y Ps 116 15. the death of his Saints Therfore let them not thinke to uphold themselves by their present power and dignitie which they doe enjoy as if there were no possibilitie to prevaile against them but let them consider with feare and reverence that he by whom z Pro. 8 15. Kings raigne and princes decree justice who lifteth and a Dan. 4 25. setteth up Kings pulleth them downe againe at his pleasure can turne the hearts of their nobles and people against them and make them be cast out like b Dan. 4 33. Nebucchadnezar to eate grasse with the beasts of the field till they know that the most high ruleth the kingdoms of the earth Yea when they shall say peace peace pleasing themselves in their wickednes and making sure to them selves the bringing to passe of their purposes then c 1 Thes 5 3 shall come upon them sudaine destruction as travaile upon a woman with child and they shall not escape And Honesty This is the honour and safety of a common wealth The shamefull sins of the heathens were the causes wherfore their lands did spew out both them and their princes Therfore it can not but be an espetiall duty of Kinges and all that are in authority by the sword of justice committed to them to cut downe sin and iniquity that it be not suffered much lesse maintained in their dominions For sin and iniquitie abounding is the caus wherfore the Lord doth bring great and terrible judgments upon the nations of the earth A fruitfull land saith the d Psa 107 34. psalmist becometh barraynnes for the iniquity of the people that dwell therein And this doubtlesse is the controversy which the Lord hath at present with the Inhabitants of England becaus there is no e Hos 4 1. 2. 3. truth nor mercie nor knowledge of God in the land but by swearing lying killing stealing committing adultery they break out blood toucheth blood Therfore shall the land mourne every one that dwelleth therein shall languish with the beasts of the field with the fowles of heaven yea the fishes of the sea also shal be taken away Whereas the rooting out of wickednes and vice and the maintaynance of true religion and virtue hath bin is and shall be an espetiall meanes to procure God's blessing both upon King and people as may be seen in the examples of the good Kinges of Judah when they brake downe the Images put away the Sodomites and witches c out of their land 2 Cron. 30 14. and 34 33. and 33 15. and in Jehu the king of Israel who is commended for pulling downe the temple of Baal c. 2 King 10 26. 27. 28. though he abode in the sin of Jeroboam still and for his service herein and destroying the house of Ahab he had the kingdome of Israel confirmed to his sons to the fourth generation We see then how much it concerneth princes to looke to themselves and the people committed to their charge and how they should with Solomon crave of the Almightie f 1 Kin. 3 9. a wise and understanding heart to discerne between good and evill to uphold and maintaine them that doe well but to drive from their courts counsels and countenance all dishonestie and iniquity all oppression and evill doeing that so their thrones may be established with Justice And Vse for our owne parts to whom this is spoken that we may not goe away without some particuler application of this to our selves let us consider what great thinges the Lord hath done for our soules in that he hath placed us in this Country where though we live among a people of another speech yet God hath bin pleased so to inclyne the hearts both of princes and people that we live a peaceable life under and amongst them Let us not then receave such great good from the hands of God without rendering due thankes and praise to him for this good gift which he hath bestowed upon us Consider what misery and affliction our friends and brethren in our native country do suffer at present while we enjoy felicity and quiet Oh that our ingratitude and carelesse walking deprive us not of it Secondly let us know that we are bound to pray for the magistrates and people of the land by whose good will next under God we enjoy this Let therfore their trouble be our trouble and let us pray to God for them as for our selves let their deliverances be our deliverances and let us give thankes to God for whatsoever good is bestowed upon them knowing that in g Ier. 29 7. 3. their peace we have peace And lastly seing we enjoy here a peaceable and quiet life let us walke in all godlines and honestie Have we quietnes freedome oâ— conscience to meet togither to serve God without let let us then take heed how we turne this grace of God into wantonnesse how we abuse this peaceable life we have from them by an unquiet life among our selves Be therfore zealous of everie good worke carefull of sanctifying the Lords day making his sabbath a delight unto us spending it altogither in the service of God publikely and privately and towards men let our conversation be in all temperance sobriety and equity not doeing injury to any h Rom. 12 17. 18. recompencing no man evill for evill but as much as in us is live peaceably with all men Let our i Mat. 5 16. light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorifie our father which is in heaven For the grace of God that k Tit. 2 12. 12. 13. 14. bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem