kingdome of Christ which is heavenly and endureth for ever the sword of whose kingdome is spirituall by the power of which sword onely Christs subiects are to be ruled and kept in obedience to him by the which sword our lord the K. must be kept in obedience himself if he be a disciple of Christ a subiect of Christs kingdome And this takes away with out gain-saying all the Kingly power authority of our Lord the K. in the kingdome of Christ for he cannot be both a King a subiect in one and the same kingdome the Kings vndestanding hart will easily deserne this Then let our lord the K. in all happines prosperity sitt in his owne Princely throne of that mighty Kingdome of Great Britanne Which God hath given to the King and to his posterity and the lord give the K. a most wise hart to rule iudg his people and the lord give all his people faithfull harts to love obey him and let all those the K. enimies that would not that he should reigne over them bestayne before him And let our lord Iesus-Christ in power and Maiesty sitt vpon Davids throne the throne of the Kingdome of Israell which his father hath given vnto him let Christ according to his owne wisedome iudg his people Israell and let our the K. be his subiect the which our lord the King yeilding himselfe to be the K. must needs grant that as he is an earthly King he can have no power to rule in this spiritual Kingdome of Christ nor can compell anie to be subiects thereof as a King whilst the K. is but a subiect him self for there may be but one King in Israel And let not our lord the King be now angry and his servants will speake but this once Will our lord the K. being him self but a subiect of Christs Kingdome take vpon him by his Kingly power to make Primats Metropolitans Arch. Bishops and lord Bishops to be lords in the Kingdome of Christ and over the heritage of God And will our lord the K. do this against the whole rule of Gods word wherein there is no one tittle to warrant our lord the K. thertoo Will not our lord the K. be supplicated by the humble petition of his servants to examine his power authority herein Farr is it from the harts of vs the Kings servants to move the King to depart from the least tittle of his right that belongs to his Royall Crowne dignity and farr be it from the King to take from Christ Iesus anie one part of that power honor which belongs to Christ in his Kingdome Let our lord the King pardon his servants for medling in this matter for wee professe our selves bound vpon the perill of our soules to be faithfull subiects both to Iesus Christ our K. to our lord K. there fore it stands vs vpon to know what belongs vnto Christ our heavenly K. and vnto our earthly K. and Christ our spirituall K. hath freely spoken vnto vs coÌ„maunded vs to give vnto our K. that which is our Ks. will not our lord the K. say as freely vnto vs give vnto God that which is Gods Wee doubt not but our lord the King will say so why then we appeale vnto our lord the K. that is our earthly K. lett the K. speake according to the true iudgment of his hart will the K. say that it belongs to him to make spirituall Lords over the house of God And will the K. warrant his saying to be Good And if the King warrant it onely by his Princely prerogative may wee therepoÌ„ give vnto the King this power in submitting our selves to such spirituall Lords and to their power were not this to take from our Spirituall Lord and King that which is even his owne name title and power and give it to another what greater evill can be comitted against Christ then to take his honor and power from him and give it to earthly meÌ„ who should feare tremble before him in giveing to him glory honor and not takeing from him Let not our lord the King be partaker in such great evill to suffer a power and name of blasphemy to be set vp so directly against the expresse comaundement of Christ who forbidds all Lordly titles and ruleing power one over another in his Kingdome we dare not but thinke it is done ignorantly both by our lord the K. who suffers this and by them that administer in this greatest evill wee the Kings servants say this greatest evill in that it is the abomination of desolation set vp in the high places which are the dayes of greatest tribulation that ever was or shal be the which dayes except they should be shortned no flesh should be saved And if it shall not yet appeare vnto our lord the that this Hyrarchy of Arch-Bishops and lord Bs. is this abhomination of desolation set in the high places then wee beseech the K. vpon our knees by his highest honor and renowne by his truest justice most righteous iudgmeÌ„t by his most Godly Princ-like care of the salvation of al his subiects and lastly above all by his cheifest love vnto God to his holy truth That our lord the King will with his Royall coÌ„sent give way that this cause may come to an equall tryall but thus farr that the K. will but take hold his sword of iustice from this Hyrarchy that they may not smite the faith full true loyall subiects of the K. therewith neither to death nor to imprisoment nor to banishment for speaking or writing onely against their Kingdome And let our lord the King by the humble supplication of vs his servants be intreated to leave them to defend their spirituall power and names by the sword of the spirit which ought onely to be the weapon of their warefare if they be spirituall Lords as they pretend and then shall â—ur lord the K. see this cause truely decided to the Ks. honor and great comfort for the K. knowes that this Hyrarchy withall their learned dependancy if their cause be good they cannot lose it for want of learning in that they have wisedome learning if it be according to godlines sufficient to convince the whole earth and if they can with all that masse of learning mainteyne their Primacie and Prelacy Arch-Bishopry and spirituall Lordships then may our lord the King let them enioy it with comfort but if they cannot with all the spiritual weapons and armor they have vphold it then let it fall and go into the bottomles pitt from whence it is come Revel 9.2 and whether it must go though all the Kings on the earth should strive to vphold it Revel 20.1.2.10 Let not our lord the K. therefore give the least support therevnto by the power of his sword The lord grant that wee may find fauour in the Kings eies in this so iust and equall a cause which
Christs ruling power but if they repent not Christ wil crush them with a septer of iron breake them in peeces like a potters vessel and wil rule his people with his Septer of righteousnes Your next ground and cause off vndergoing these thinges you so much dislike is because you are loath to breake the peace of the Church Where you have learned to vndergo sinne for peace sake we knowe not but sure we are of God you have not learned it Paul and Barnabas had not learned your lesson therein for if they had they would not have made such great dissention in the Church at Antiochia as they did about the doctrine of circumcisiō If Paul had bene of your peaceable mynds he would seing he had suffered Tymothy to be circumcised for peace sake also have suffered a little the doctrine of circūcisiō but he would not Furthermore Thapostle comaunds the Church Rō 16.17 To avoid or have no fellowship with those that cause division offences cōtrary to the doctrine which they had learned And the same Apostle warnes the Thes 2. Thes 3.6 In the name of the Lord Iesus Christ that they withdraw themselves from every brother that walketh inordinately ' not after the instructiō which they had received Now if there be in you anie cōsciēce of the Religion of God see how corruptly you walke in these things making a shew of godlines but denying the power thereof Do not your brethren the Archbishops and Lordbishops with Archdeacons Chacellors and the rest cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and do they not walke inordinately and worse too and not after the instructions that both you and they have received of Thapostles how then is it that you wil not according to the Apostles comaundment exhortatiō and so strait warning avoid them ād have no fellowship with them and with draw your selves from them is this your peace a Godly peace which is so contrary to the whole word of God Besides this wee must tel you beare it patiently that it is but ignorant dissimulation in you to say you vndergo all these thinges because you would not breake the peace off the Church for if you did so much tender the peace off the Church as you pretend and that you would not have your beloved stirred vp nor wakened before she please why then have you written so manie bookes off open contempt Why have you sought so much and made challenge for disputations why doe you make so manie loude outcries and dayly complaints and tedious Parliament suites How can you possibly device more vnpeaceable courses except you should raise tumults contrary to the law of God and of the King which we know is not in your thoughts you can no way device to bee more vnpeaceable Had it not bene a much more peaceable course quietly to have seperated with love and humility then to have stirred vp so much bitter strife in the bosome off the Church whose peace you pretend so much is regard Oh that you could see that it is your owne peace that you respect in al this For what breatch off peace had it bene in the Church iff you al had peaceably withdrawne yourselves and loveingly admonished the Church holding it a true Church as you do had it not bene much more peace and much lesse troble for the Church iff you had so done There is no question it had but whether your peace and profit would have followed is the question and take heed that bee not the cause of your for peace as you call it vndergoing off these things Wee could speake largly of this point but wee spare you onely wishing you not to perswade your selves nor to make the people thinke that you have suffered great things whilst you eate the fat of the Land but knowe this all you that eate anie bread from whose hands soever by or in respect of your Office of ministery that you feed off the portion of his meat whome you seeke to destroy fulfilling the prophesie of Dan. 11.26 Where he prophesieth of the destruction of the Man of sinne saying They that feed of the portion of his meat shal destroy him And may not the simple vnderstand that you getting your bread by that Office which Office as is proved you have and execute by the power and vnder the authority of the man of sinne you feed of the portion of his meat serving at his alter and so eate you of the things that apperteyne to that Alter you gayning them by that Office And let al the poople knowe of all Estates and degrees whatsoever that give you anie maintenance or entertainment in respect of that Office entertaning you as Prophets they shal never receive a Prophets reward but sinne against God in maintening and entertaning false Prophets although they bee as full off good meanings as the Papists are in entertaning their preists Wee have not the least intent herein of diswading anie frō doeing good vnto you but that they should not receive you nor give you a Cup of cold water in the name of Prophets for al their liberalitie bestowed vpon you in that regard shall never receive recompence of reward at Gods hands seeing you are all false Prophets and so adiudged by Christ himselfe in that you have not entred by Christ into the sheepfold And if you shal anie of you open your mouethes to defend your selves herein the word of the Lord shall convince you and stopp your mouthes that you shal not bee able to speake with anie vnderstanding And now wee advise you to bee ashamed to plead that you doe vndergo these thinges for the peace off the Church except you wil hold your peace For you are wise enough to knowe that there is no other way to breake the inward peace of the Church which peace you must needs meane for it is not in your powers nor hartes to breake the outward peace of the Church and there is no other way to breake the inward peace of the Church but by words and writings of opposition and contention and makeing devision al which you have practised to the vttermost of your powers and when for feare of your owne peace you durst go no further then have you sett out your bookes of vnknowne Authors which therein are no better then Libels wherein you have no regard what troubles and dissentions you make in the Church so you can preserve your owne peace And thus do you mainteine by al force and violēce of contention a most troblesome civil war which of all is most dangerous in Church and Comon wealth and yet you professe you suffer and vndergo al these evils you complaine of because you tender the peace of the Church and so through ignorance you fall into great dissimulation and hypocrisie it being if you could see onely your owne peace you seeke and therefore it is you vndergo these things that you disaprove off For would you
robbing him of his honor iff by repencance You maae not your peace with him Now for the next name of blasphemy that is within our capasitie to speake of it is the title of Lords Grace and this is your houshold title we meane it is a title that may not bee omitted in al ordinary occasions doth not this attribute belong onely to the lord off grace aÌ„d wil you have this prerogative with him Now although this title be vsed in what sence wee knowe not in the stiles off some civill Magistrates where with wee meddle not yet wee knowe all your titles off degree you beare by a spiritual prerogative and therein consists the misterie of iniquitie and there fore are al your names of honor aÌ„d prerogative where by you challeng superioritie names of blasphemy aÌ„d directly against the expresse comaundment of Christ who by his comaundment that were worthy to bee obeyed charged his Disciples that they should in no wise seeke superioritie in his Kingdome neither in name nor power The Lords of the Gentiles beare rule one over an other are called gracious Lords or beare names off honor but it shall not be so among you he that wil bee greatest shal be least in my Kingdome that is he that wil be exalted in name or power by being a Disciple of my Kingdome he shal be the least Luk. 22.25.26 But the words of our Saviour Christ are not at al regarded herein the man of sinne will have a Kingdome where there shal be mightie power and authority one over anothers conscience appointing and coÌ„pelling men how they shal worship their God and to imprison to banish and to cause to dye them that resist and the man of sinne wil have in his kingdome names of most high honor yea even the names titles and attributes off God and thus doth he sit as God both in name title and power And this prophesie is now fullfilled as he that hath an eie may see and hee that hath an eare may heare For let anie man but heare the prophesie of this booke of the Revel and he may see it fulfilled in the first aÌ„d second Beast as evidently as if Christ should send one from the dead and declare it vnto him and say this is the first Beast and this is the second and they that wil not beleeve him in his word neither would they beleeve him if hee should send one from the dead Luk. 16.31 And now al that do agree with vs in iudgment concerning the first Beast that it is plainly to bee seene in that Romish profession and that it is vnpossible that the maÌ„ of sinne should bee exalted in a higher measure of exaltation wee cal you al fuâ—th for witnesses before God and Men whether it bee not as plainly to bee seene that the second Beast that hath the two hornes like the Lambe pretending or makeing shewe of the word and power off the Lambe in humblenes and meekenes but speaking like the dragon and exercising the power of the first beast And making the ymage off the first Beast Wee call you all to witnes whether the second Beast be not as plainly to be seene in the Hyrarchy of ArchBishops and Lord-Bishops aÌ„d whether it be possible that there should bee made so lively an image of the first Beast as is in this Hyrarchy in al titles and names of blasphemy in al Pompe and in al power throughout begining at their Book-worship with all the conformity belonging to it and so going through all their Offices and Officers Courts Canons and decrees if al these bee not the image of the first Beast conceived in his bowels and brought out off his bosome let Heaven and Earth witnes and let all the men vpon Earth deny iff they can and shewe anie other ymage of the first Beast And therefore all you whome this may most may most concerne either deny this prophesie of God and wipe it out which if you doe God wil deny you and wipe you out of the booke of life or eis confesse it to bee fulfilled in and among you and give glory to God and cast away your abhominations and take heed off hardnes harts that can not repent which heape vp as a treasure vnto themselves wrath against the day of wrath Oh why should you for the pleasure of vnrighteousnes for a verie few daies little doe you knowe how few vtterly destroy your owne soules and perish yea and destroy the soules of al that submitt vnto you in the least of these things except they repent And if you wil yet iustifie your selves in these things and make shewe of your selves to bee the servants off the Lambe and not the servants of the Beast then stand furth and defend your Kingdome and cause with the spiritual sword of the Lambe which is the word of God and convince your gain-saiers and stop their mouthes therewith and so shal you approve your selves Bishops in deed And if you can prove by Gods word that wee ought to say prayers as you comaund vs wee wil both sing and say as you bid vs and if you can prove your names of blasphemy and titles of degree your Pomp and al your cruell spiritual pouwer good by that warrant we wil yeild it you al and not diminish you of the least tittle there of What need you feare to bring it to trial You have learning enough you have partakers enowe iff you had but half a good cause which battle if you will feight we say vnto you as Michaiah said vnto Ahab when he would go vp to Ramoth Gilead Take it in hand go vp and prosper But wee wil tel you also with the same Prophet that if you stand in this cause The Lord hath determyned evil against you 2. Chro. 18.16.22 But in al this let vs perswade you in feare to God and shame to men to cast away all these courses wee shal now mention Do not when a poore soule by violence it brought before you to speake his couscience in the profession of his Religion to his God do not first impose the Oath Ex Officio Oh most wicked course and if hee wil not yeild to that then imprison him close Oh horrible severitie if he wil not bee forced by imprisonment then examine him vpon divers articles without oath to see iff he may bee intrapped anie way Ogrevious impietic and if anie peece of advantage either in word or writing or by witnes can bee gotten turne the Magistrats sword vpon him aÌ„d take his life Oh bloody cruelcie if no advaÌ„tage caÌ„ be found get him banished out of his natural countrie and from his Fathers house let him live or sterve it matters not Oh vnnatural compassionatnes without pittie Let these courses bee far from you For there is no shewe off grace Religion nor humanitie in these courses this is to lye in wait for blood to lay snares secretly to take the simple to slay him And to conclude this point
offending but therein is infirmity in vs and no faithfulnes to God nor them The wise King that knew right well the power and aucthoritie of a King adviseth not to stand in an evill thinge before the King for he will do what soever pleaseth him Eccle. 8.3 But in a good cause why should wee feare to stand before Kings seeing their thrones are established by justice Pro. 16.12 Our cause then being good for it is the cause of God as all shall confesse Thus much is it that wee do in all reverend humility beseech of all Kings Princes that they will performe this service vnto the lord according to this prophesie prophesied of theÌ„ in the performance whereof the lord requires their ferveÌ„t zeale which they ought to shew by their perfect hatred detestatioÌ„ of the whore by which zealous hate they are to be provoaked to make hir desolate naked to eate hir nesh burne hir with fire after this manner with these great ferveÌ„t affections shall these Kings that obey the lord in this worke serve him In all this wee beseech that wee may not be vnderstood as though wee ment that Kings should do this by their temporall sword of justice no nothing lesse the lord requires no such meanes in this busines for he hath testified by Prophesie as wee have formerly shewed 2. Thes .2 that he will abolish consume the man of sinne the mistery of iniquity which is this Beast and whore and citie by the spirit of his mouth by the brightnes of his comeing and therefore this prophesie may not be vnderstood that Kings ought to do this by their temporall power but by the word and spirit of the lord in their testimony withall holy zeale and this cannot be done except they first take all their power and authoritie from the Beast for no man can serv two Masters but he shall please the one and displease the other Kings cannot serve the lambe and the Beast but they must needs hate the one and love the other and this is most plainely set downe in this Prophesie Revel 17. for in the 13. and 17. vers it is said of Kings that they shall have all one mynd be of one consent with the Beast shall give their power aucthority vnto the Beast shall feight with the lambe vntill the words of God be fulfilled And in the 16. vers They shall hate the whore make hir desolate for God hath put in their harts to fulfill his decree Thus wee see these Kings propresied of by the spirit of the lord to do this great worke of God when they shall take it in hand they shall not halt betwixt two opinions they shall not be neither hote nor cold but they shall be most zealonis for the glory of God and shall no longer retayne anie frendship with the Beast alwaies our meaning is spiritually now â—â—en those Kings and Princes that will in this service obey the most high God and advaÌ„ce his glory that hath so greatly advanced them to high honor and dignity let them take all their power and aucthority from the Beast and with drawe all the affections of their harts and soules and turne them to hatred and to an vtter abhorring of the Beast and whore and so shall they make it manifest vnto all the world that they are true lovers of the lambe and perfect haters of the Beast and that they are they in whome this prophesie is fulfilled Oh that Kings and Princes would strive to go one before an other in giveing honor to God herein And amongst all the rest of the great and mighty Kings and Princes of the earth loyalty nature and grace doth bind vs with disires of exceeding dutifull and reverend affections to wish and desire that our lord and K. might be with the foremost in this great and acceptable service of the King of Kinges and lord of lords which were a worthy service most well beseeming our lord the King for whome the King of heaven hath done so great things and if our lord the King will do this service for his God then must he not by his power support the Beast nor his image which are one and the same power And seeing our lord the King hath seene the deepe iniquity of the peremptory ruling Presbitery let him much more see the high iniquity of the proud ambicious cruell ruling Prelacy which is a power set vp in the place of God bearing the names of high blasphemy Oh let it be far from our lord the K. to give his power which God hath given him to punish evill doers and to reward them that do well 1. Pet. 2.14 Let it be far from our lord the King to give this power to the Beast or his image for that advanceth the mistery of iniquity and smiteth downe the mistery of godlines God hath not comunicated his owne power to Kings and Princes for this end And seeing wee have begun to speake to our lord the King let vs declare what power and aucthority God hath given to him wherevnto his subiects ought of conscience to obey Our lord the King hath power to take our sonnes our daugthers to do all his services of ware and of peace yea all his servile service what soever and he hath power to take our lands our goods of what sort or kind soever or the tenth thereof to vse at his will and he hath power to take our men servants and maid servants and the cheife of our yong men and Cattle and put them to his worke and wee are to be his servants 1. Sam. 8.11.18 in all these thinges our lord the King is to be submitted vnto and obeyed Also he hath power to make all manner Gouernors lawes and ordinances of man 1. Het 2.13.14 Thus doth God give our lord the King power to demaund and take what he will of his subiects it is to be yeilded him and to comaund what ordinance of man he will and wee are to obey it And in all these things wee acknowledg before God men wee ought to be subiect not for feare onely but also for conscience sake â—oâ—n 13.5 Wee meddle not with anie conditions or contracts made betwixt the King and his people whereby our lord the King in fauour may or doth abridg himselfe of his prerogative and so make himselfe subiect to his owne covenants or conditions which our lord the King ought to keepe though it be to his disadvantage if they be not meerly vnlawfull but wee speake onely of that power which God hath given to the King all which our lord the King ought to vse lawfully but if he should do otherwise which God forbid he is in these things to be submitted vnto Eccl. 8.3.4 and 1. Pet. 2 18.-24 who soever resisteth resisteth the ordinance of God shall receive to them selves condemnation Rom. 13.2 Thus hath God given our lord the King all worldly power which
is that wee may but try the power of these called Spirituall Lords and that by earthly power they may not force men to yeild vnto their spirituall aucthority How can it but seeme equall in the Kings seight that spirituall lords should have no more spirituall authority then they can gett and mainteyne by spiritual power And if the Hyrarchy themselves thinke it vnequall that the doctrine of their power should be tryed be not most willing ready therevnto but shall by pollicie secret intimations shift it of then shall our lord the K. that is wise easily deserne that their deeds are evill and they hate the light neither cometh to the light least their deeds should be reproued Ioh. 3.20 But they that do truth come to the light that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought according to God Thus shal our lord the King all the world have a ful tryall of them whether their deeds are wrought according to God or no for if they will now come to the light of Gods word in the sight of all men and manifest their deeds to be wrought according to God then have they approved them selves but if they do not then hath our Saviour Christ here condemned thē with his owne mouth and let our lord the King also condemne them in his owne wisedome Shall wee need to be importunate with our lord the King in this cause of his poore people which concernes the condemnation of all their soules what need wee seeing our lord the King knowes that a King that iudgeth the cause of the poore rightly his throne shal be established for ever Pro. 20.14 Then let our lord the King here the cause of the poore and the rather in that the Kings most noble Predecessor hath before iustly adiudged the same cause and freed his people so far of the bondage wherein they were King Henry the 8. that Prince of great renowne freed his people from the bondage of the first Beast especially in these two great and maine perticulers in causing the scriptures to be set over and printed for the people in their owne language that so they might heare the word with their owne eares and also that their worship should be in their owne tongue that they might speake to God with theyr owne tongue and not in a straing tongue as they did Let heaven and earth iudg and let our lord the K. iudg let all the Kings people iudg whether this was not the depth of all darknes when men might not knowe what God speake vnto them nor knowe in their publique worship what they speake vnto God Let our lord the K. iudg whether ever there was such spirituall cruelty vpon the earth when the poore people of God for whome Christ died were debarred from the presence of God in their publique worship might neither heare god nor speake to God with their owne outward cares tongues but as the Ministers of the mā of sinne appointed and in astraing tongue as they taught them Wee knowe our lord the K. doth see that heere the abomination of desolation was set vp in the high places as also that the Corpes of the two witnesses of God prophesed of Reuel 11.8 which are the word and spirit of God lay dead in the streets of that great Citie there being no true vse at all of them and the people being deprived of the life of them for the word was a dead letter vnto them and the spirit a dead spirit The Kings predecessor of famous renowme thus freed his people from that bondage of the first Beast but there is risen vp a second Beast which exerciseth the power of the first Beast and now our lord he Kings people cry vnto the King with the sighes and groanes of their spirits and would cry also with a lowd voyce but for feare of the Beast and humbly besech the King that he would put too his helping hand to free his people from the bondage of the second Beast that their soules may not perish to everlasting perdition which all must do which are vnder the bondage of the same and so continewe And now let the King heare with an eare of compassion and see with an eie of pittie the cruell spirituall bondage that his poore people are kept vnder by the second Beast in these perticulers The Kings people have the word in their owne language and may pray in their owne tongue But they must not vnderstand the word but as the Lord Bishops will have it vnderstood and they must not pray nor administer in the holy things but as they appoint Now let the King with a godly wise hart consider in what woefull Spirituall bondage Gods people and the Kings are kept by this Hyrarchy Now plainely would our lord the King see the cruell Spirituall tyrany hereof if the King would make it but his owne cause Would not the King thinke it a must cruell tyranny if the King should be by force compelled to vnderstand and beleeve the scriptures as the Hyrarchy of Rome would have him And to worship God and administer in the holy thinges as that Hyrarchy would appoint And if the King would not so do that then that Hyrarchy should have power to put the King in prison and if that would not serve the turne to procure or cause the Kings life to be taken from him or at least to banish the King from his Kingdome nation would not our lord the K. thinke this great tyrany cruell bondage Wee knowe the King would for which cause the K. and his predecessors have cast of this bondage Then let the King see that the Kings people are vnder this same bondage for if they will not vnderstand the scriptures and worship God as the Hyrarchy of Arch. Bs. and lord Bs. comaund appoint they straight send a pursivant apprehēd them by violence and force imprison them sometimes divers yeres manie times not suffering so much as their wives to come at them and if their lives cannot be gotten then procure their exile or banishment The lord give the King a hart to pittie his people herein the King is ignorant of these dealings and none dare tell the King thereof the Prelacy have bene so mighty and so cruell And will it please the King to veiwe the cause of his people being true and faithfull subiects yet further what doth it profitt the Kings people to have the word of God to heare and read it seeing they are debarred of the spirit of God to vnderstand it but according to private interpretation by the the lord B. as though they had the spirit and could not err Oh that our lord the King that is a man of excellent wisedome would but bēd his wisedome to behold how that herin wherein the whole power of the Beast consists this Hyrarchy of Arch-Bs lord Bs. doth nothing differ from the first Beast for the first Beast kepes both the word and spirit
hath so long bewitched you who lies in wait for you knowing that you cannot stand vpon these grounds but you must bee forced either to cast away your baptisme or els returne from whence you had it except you wil bee the most wilful blind people vpon the whole Earth that have anie knowledg off Christ of the which you give iust cause off iealousie Therefore in Gods feare take heed and perish not in your stifnecked perversnes To shew yet further that you are false Prophets and prophesie lies wee produce out of your Booke subscribed with general subscription your Apology Pag. 110. Where you gainsay Mr. Bilson for saying you affirme by consequence their Sacraments no Sacraments Church no Church To cleare your selves of this imputation you teach that wee must bee careful in al such causes alwaies to discerne and distinguish betwene a true Church a false Church and no church Betwene true Sacraments false Sacraments and no Sacraments Your proofe and example is Iudah a true Church The Ten Tribes of Israel a false Church The Philistimes and others the like no Church and so at this day the Turks and Pagans may be reputed no Churches The Romish Synagogue and al hir daughters false Churches The Christians which bee set in the true faith and order true Churches Thus you say the difference may bee put but you are al false Prophetts herein and teach lies these are but the devices of your owne harts these are your schoole distinctions where by you pervert the holie word of truth and we exhort all the people of God to take heed of you when you distinguish and when you bring your matters about with in a respect and in a duble respect not but that we hold it lawful to vse distinctions and to shew respects but because you vsually deceive thereby there is no truth off God so evident but with your distinctions and respects and twofold respects you wil pervert it and when you are not able with evidence off truth to mainteyne your false waies then your distinctions and respects must make it good whereby you insnare the simple and compasse them about as with a thick mist wherein they cannot see which way to go but are faine through hardnes of hart and infidelitie which are the causes of their ignorance and blindnes to give their harts to you to be led and you like deceiptful blind guides lead them into the pit as in this pecticuler in hand wherein if you bee overthrowne and discovered your whole cause is thus far destroyed as you are al yet once againe proved infidels and vnbeleevers And wee doubt not but by the gracious aid and helpe of our God we shal bee able by his word to convince you al herein without whose great helpe and aid wee in humilitie confesse we are not able to withstand such stronge and wise adversaries of his truth as you are who do exercise your selves to deceive our owne experiences and knowledg of you causeth vs thus to speake wee hope you do it ignorantlie or els there were no hope of your repentance and salvation To the point in hand wee say and prove by the word off God that you can in no ordinance of God distinguish or put difference by the warrant of Gods word betwixt false and none and your vaine distinction will hold onelie in worldlie things and you are carnall herein and sold vnder sinne blame vs not though wee reprove you sharplie for this because you have deceived your selves and the whole World hereby so far as your voices have sounded and you have and do daylie destroy the faith of manie Wee proceed to prove that you cannot by Gods word distinguish nor put difference betwixt false and nons in Gods ordinances and this the eternall word of truth doth shew Revel 2.2 Where the holie ghost speaking of false Appostles comends the Church off Ephesus for examining them which said they were Apostles but were none and were found lyars And vers 9. I knowe the blasphemy of them which say they are Iewes but are none but are the Synagogue off Sathan And Revel 3.9 The same words are vttered by the holie Ghost Thus doth the spirit of God teach vs that a false Church is no Church but a Synagogue of Sathan and false Appostles are no Appostles so then are false Sacraments no Sacraments and so false and none in Gods ordinaÌ„ces are al one and you cannot distinguish nor put difference betwixt them And for further manifestation of the truth hereof let vs referr the thinges that are of God to God and so shall it appeare to all but those that will not see that there is no difference nor distinction to bee made in Gods ordinances betwixt false and none as thus A true Church of Christ a false Church and no Church of Christ if now a false Church bee not no Church of Christ then it is a false Church of Christ so is there two sorts or kinds of Churches off Christ and so should Christ have two bodies a true bodie and a false bodie what blasphemie is this when thapostle saith there is but one bodie so likewise iff you say there is a true faith of Christ a false faith and no faith of Christ if a false faith and no faith bee not all one then there are two faiths of Christs a true faith and a false faith of Christ but Thapostle saith There is but one faith In like manner if you wil say as you doe that there is a true baptisme a false baptisme and no baptisme if a false baptisme and no Baptisme bee not al one then is there two baptismes but Thappostle saith there is but one baptisme and of all these there is but one as there is but one God and Father off al which is above all and rhrough all Ephes 4.4.5.6 Who if he were in you all you would submitt to this his truth and never open your mouthes more against it Cast away these your logical distinctions which are fit to distinguish betwixt a false houreglasse and no houre glasse and a false looking glasse and no looking glasse and not fitt to distinguish betwixt a false Baptisme and no Baptisme a false Church and no Church betwixt which the holie ghost admits of no distinction nor difference Wee conclude therefore with the word of truth against al these your deceitful distinctions and lying prophesies that a false Church is no Church of Christ at all for Christ haâ—h no false Church Therefore you holding EnglaÌ„d a false Church it is no Church of Christ and so your false Baptisme is no Baptiâ—me off Christ and so are you all infidels vnbelevers and false Christians that is no Christians and you are they that say you are Iewes and are not but are the Synagogues off Sathan And lett this suffice for the overthrowe of your most false and deceitfull distinction And whereas you bring for your proofe of a true Church a false Church and no Church
and say Iudah was a true Church Israell a false Church and the Philistimes no Church these are but your owne sayings aÌ„d devisings without proofe whereby you have and doe mightilie deceive although your words bee without all vnderstanding for Israell was a true Church as Iudah was for the Israelites were the true seed off Abraham seperated from the world vnder the Covenant off God which was the Covenant off Circumrision Gen. 17 7-15 as well as Iudah in Hezechiahs time when they same to the passover And if they had beene the false seed off Abraham then had they beene false Israelites then had their circumcision beene false and they had beene a false Church So had they beene no seed off Abraham no Israelites their Circumcision no Circumcision and so no Church For a full conclusion and a certen rule off drection from the Word off God whereby the People off God may try all your deceitfil distinctions off this kind when you put difference betwixt True False and none in or off anie Ordinance off God Lett all observe and would to God you your selves would bee informed that God and his lawes and Ordinances are one Iohn 14.6 Off equal power authoritie and truth and therefore you can no more say a true Church a false Church and no Church a true Baptisme a false Baptisme and no Baptisme which are holie ordinances of God then you can say a true God a false God and no God and your distinction wil hold no more betwixt a false Church and no Church a false baptisme and no baptisme then betwixt a false God and no God and iff a false God be no God then a false Church is no Church of God and a false baptisme is no baptisme of Christ Your false Church then being as is shewed and proved no Church of God then it is the Synagogue of Satan and your false baptisme being no baptisme of Christ then it is the baptisme of Sathan The Lord give you to consider of your estates and standings herein that although your contempt of ve is and hath beene great yet you may not stil conâ—emne Christ and his truth the meanes of your salvation though witnessed by vs that are so much despised in your eies Haveing thus shewed you by evidence off truth that you bringing your false baptisme out of a False church both which yourselves confesse your baptisme is no baptisme and that false Church is no Church this being made plaine as the indifferent may iudg wee will trie Mr. Robinsons ground for this reteined baptisme who wil bee found to make haist to deceive with as manie windings and turnings as anie anâ— he not altogether trusting to bring his baptisme froâ— Israel he strives withal deceitful skill to prove that their baptisme is true in one respect though brought from Babilon And this matter he vndertakes afâ—â— this manner in his booke off iustification of seperition Pag. 184 185. He Commends vnto the Reader a distinction off a twofold respect Baptisme saith Mr. R. is to be considered first nakedlie and in the essentiall causes the matter water The forme washing with water into the name off the Father c. These are the essential causes of Mr. R. naked Baptisme in this respect he confesseth true baptisme both in England and Rome Mr. R. shal wee speake angerlie to you and mourne for the hardnes off your hart and great blindnes and ignorance Have you lost the beginings of knowledg in the misterie of Godlines is all light shut from your eies and al truth debarred from your vnderstanding that you should write thus That water and washing and words are the essential causes or matter of Baptisme if you had knowne Christ of whose Baptisme you pretend to speake you would never have written thus do you knowe that Christs Kingdome is a spiritual Kingdome his Ordinances spiritual Ordinances and wil you confesse this with your tongue and with your tongue and deeds denie it Which that it may appeare plainelie you do consider with your selfe and let all that seeke the Lord in spirit and truth consider with what vnderstanding you can say that naked Water washing words are the essential causes of a spiritual Baptisme thus doe you spoile men through Philosophie and vaine deceit in which iniquitie you abound away with your naked respect and bee counselled to buy whit rayment that you may bee clothed that your vile nakednes do not appeare Knowe you not that al they that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ And do you come with your Philosophie to teach simple soules a naked baptisme and make it good with respects The Lord give you grace to see your great evil herein and the Lord deliver his poore people from these your deceitful waies and the lord give them to learne to knowe from the word of God that there is but one Baptisme of Christ Ephes 4.5 And that whosoever is baptized into Christ hath put on or is clothed with Christ Gal. 3.27 and therefore whosoever shal walke with your naked baptisme shal bee found naked at the day off Christs appearing though you peece it and patch it with greene leaves and for your essential causes lay downe plainlie what baptisme you speake of and you shal be convinced in your selfe as thus if you say off Christs baptisme which is spiritual that the essential matter thereof is earthlie water would not your ignorance easilie appeare the like of your forme if you should say that the forme of spiritual baptisme is bodilie washing onelie with bare words your owne vnderstanding would reprove you It were to be wished and you have often bene required to lay away your schoole tearmes in the causes of God whereby you do for the most part but hide the truth and blind the eies of the simple How do you thinke the simple should vnderstand you in the essentiall causes and matter and forme of baptisme do the Scriptures shew that anie of the holie men of God did ever thus distinguish if your Art had bene good or profitable could not our Saviour Christ have vsed it for the manifestation of his truth aÌ„d would he not have endued his Apostles with that gift Yea the Lord endued them with the most excellent gifts for the evident declaration of his truth whereof Lodgick and Philosophie was none which vaine sciences if you had not vsed you could never have forged so manie deceits as you have in your booke And now wee disire you to knowe that the Scriptures teach not anie Baptisme that is in one respect true and in other respect false there is no such thinge in the whole word of God these are but your owne devices wherein you devide Christ to serve your owne turnes to deceive perswading men that they are in one respect truelie baptized and in another respect falslie baptized and if they wil come and walke in your waie and ioyne to your societies you can make that part which was false true What Poperie
naturall men and your selfe as in this point in hand because with your carnall eies and eares you see and heare water and washing with such words to bee vsed in the administration off the Lords Baptisme therefore you according to your naturall vnderstanding iudg these thinges to bee the essentiall causes of spirituall Baptisme and teach simple soules that these things being once truely done they are not to bee repeated or done againe when they are whollie natural actions and prophanelie done as you confesse and therefore can in no respect be said to be the Baptisme off Christ which is whollie a spirituall action aÌ„d ought holilie to be performed and done Thus do you make the ignorant beleeve that you can put the spirit off grace into naturall actions formerlie prophanelie done and make the same actions Spirituall and acceptable to God Thus do you make Mid-wives baptisme good and the holie ordinance of God in the essential causes so can you make al the prophane praiers and sermons in playes which are vsuall holie and good actions and the Ordinances of God This then is your rule denie it if you can everie washing with water into the name off the Father etc. is the true Baptisme and Ordinance of Christ in the essential causes thereof by whome soever administred and vpoÌ„ what person or thinge soever This may bee good in lodgick and Philosophie but this is blasphemous cursed doctrine in divinitie and woe are wee for you that ever such abhominations should bee vttered by you wee are a shamed to follow you in the perticuler application of these things which if they should be vrged to the ful it would make everie hart that had anie grace and knowes you tremble and greive for you This hath your Lodgick and Philosophie brought you to whereby you have confounded manie a simple hart and weake vnderstanding and whereby you thinke you have a Privilege to vnderstand the meaning off God in the Scriptures before them that are ignorant of these Arts But now hath the Lord confounded you in them glorie to be his Name and the Lord give you a hart to acknowledg it and to repent and denie your selfe and give glorie to God Wee will omit to speake off your vnproper speach saying that Baptisme must be clothed with a right person vpon whome it must be administred Thus to make your maâ—ters to agree you speake preposterous things for the party must put on and bee clothed with baptisme and not baptisme bee clothed with the partie The next thinge that by the helpe of our God wee will endeavor to discover you to bee a false Prophet and a deceaver in is in a stronge ground you have wherevpon you much relie and often repeat it in your booke and that is this You say Baptisme is the vessel off the Lord as when the house of the Lord was destroyed the vessels thereof together with the people were caried into Babilon they remained stil the vessels off the Lords house in nature right though prophaned by Belshazzar and made quaffing bowles being brought againe out of Babilon to the house of the lord were not to bee new cast but being purified might againe be vsed to holie vse So this holie vessel Baptisme though prophaned in Babilon being brought againe to the house of the Lord remaines stil the holie vessell off the Lord. This is a strong doctrine from example both with you and al the rest of the false Prophets off your profession and no marvil though you deceive greatlie hereby because the doctrine and example is good but most deceitfullie misaplyed of you for you preteÌ„d hereby as though your baptisme were brought from the house of the Lord as the holie vessels were will you iff there bee anie vprightnes in you shew how and from what house of the Lord your holie vessel of baptisme was brought you shew vs plainlie from whence you have brought it againe out of Babilon that is England But out of what house of God came it before it came into Babilon that is England that is not shewed how deceitfully do you faine these things These are the imaginations off your owne vaine harts far have anie of you brought your Baptisme from the house of the Lord into England have you anie other roote or foundation for your baptisme then England do not all men knowe that your vessel off Baptisme was composed formed framed and made there How shal anie man bee able to open his mouth to denie this Why then your holie vessel falflie so called was made in Babilon Thus are you found false dissemblers to say and faine that your baptisme is a vessel brought out of the house of the Lord into Babilon as the vessels of the Temple were wheÌ„ it is most evident that it was molded and made in the Church of England which you confesse is Babilon Mr. Rob. had not you and al your Congregation the true matter as you cal it and true forme of your baptisme in England and was it not administred vpon you al in the assemblies of England then was your vessel off baptisme made there see your deceit herein if there bee anie grace or vnderstanding in you How have you blinded the eies of the simple herein and how hath Sathan seduced you and your owne hart deceived you Now the Lord Iesus give you a hart to repent and in the name of the Lord wee beseech you repent for you have bene and are a malicious adversarie of Gods truth and you lead manie soules in the way to destructioÌ„ The lord for his Christs sake deliver you out of these and all the snares â—f Sathan and the Lord deliver his people out of the net wherein you have like a cuning fowler taken theÌ„ and overthrowne them And wee pray you that you wil with patience suffer vs to shew you how you are al deceived in this point in saying baptisme is the vessel off the Lords house and brought from thence and so applie it to your owne baptisme which you may see iff you do not both winck and cover your eies never came out of the house of the Lord except you wil say The Church of England is the house of the Lord which wee hope the Lords word hath convinced to al your consciences that it is not therefore your baptisme can not be the vessel of the Ls. house but it is the true doctrine or Ordinance of baptisme that may bee said or called by way of comparison the vessel of the Lords house and this we and al must needs confesse is the vessel of the Lords house whether soever it is carried either to Rome or England and though it be polluted and prophaned there as both it and manie other doctrines and ordinances of the Lord are yet being purged from those errors aÌ„d abuses wherewith both they and you have and do pollute theÌ„ they may aÌ„d ought to bee brought into the house of the Lord againe and remaine holie vessels
vnto the Lord for ever but the corrupt pollutions and administrations in this holie vessel or ordinaÌ„ce of baptisme wherewith it hath bene defiled and prophaned these may no more be brought into the house of God then Belshazzars quaffings or anie other prophane administrations wherewith he did abuse and pollute those holy vessels yea although he had vsed them to the same vses vnto the which they had bene vsed in the house of the Lord as if he had set shew-bread vpon the vessels and had kindled and made the same lights for the candlesticks al must bee cast away as abhominable withall the vses that hee had vsed them vnto and the vessels must bee purified and brought againe into the house of the Lord onelie as they were carried furth therefore even so must this holie vessel the true doctrine or ordinance of baptisme he brought againe into the house of the Lord onely as it was carried furth aÌ„d al the corrupt vses aÌ„d abuses wherevnto it hath bene vsed and al the prophane administratioÌ„s in this holie ordinaÌ„ce must be cast away as being al abhominable before the lord and none off those vses and prophane aÌ„d false administratioÌ„s may be admitted into the house of the Lord. This now is the some of al that we have spokeÌ„ of this ground the vessels of the Lords house are carried into Babilon and Belshazzar and his Princes his wives and Concubines drinck in theÌ„ aÌ„d prophane theÌ„ the vessels off the Lord are brought againe to the house of the lord and are sanctified but Belshazzars drinckings in them and prophaning of theÌ„ is cast away as abhominable So the like may be said following your owne exaÌ„ple of comparison The vessel of the Lords house the holie ordinance of baptisme is carried into Babilon and the Babilonians they wash or baptize in this ordinance and prophane it this vessel of the lord the holie ordinance of baptisme is brought againe to the house of the Lord but the Babilonians washing or baptizing aÌ„d prophaning it must be cast away as abhominable aÌ„d thus must your baptizing be cast away and may not be permitted in the house of the Lord you confessing England to be Babilon where you received it except you wil also admit Belshazzars drinckings and quaffings Do not stil deceive your selfe aÌ„d delude others in saying baptisme is the vessel off the lord makeing a deceitfull shew as though therefore your Baptisme were the vessel of the Lord aÌ„d by an example of the vessels of the lord that were brought furth of the house of the lord and carried into Babilon and polluted there in vse onelie and being sanctified from that polluted vse were brought againe into the house of the Lord by this example to bring in an ymagination as though your Baptisme were brought out of the house off the Lord when it is brought furth off the assemblies off England with whome you iustifie God never made Covenant and that they never were his people nor God their God pag 338. You er not knowing the scriptures or els wil fullie misaplie them for your purpose which God forbid for it is the Ordinance of Baptisme that is the vessel of the Lords house which hath bene aÌ„d is carried into Babilon and hath bene polluted in vse in Baptizing of you and al of your profession which vessel or Ordinance of the Lord is to bee brought againe into the house of the Lord and to bee sanctified from that polluted vse of your Baptizing which it cannot bee if it bring that polluted vse which is your baptizing into the house of the Lord with it no more then the vessels of the Lord could have bene sanctified if Belshazzars quaffings had bene brought into the house of the Lord with them and this is a due proportion according to your owne example of comparison Wee will passe by manie things in your booke wherein their is great falshood and deceit because it were an endlesse worke to follow you you are so intricate tedious and ful of turnings and windings loosing your selfe and loosing such simple Readers as we are and that is one hope we have of your booke that the simple wil not read it because they are not capable of vnderstanding you and amongst them that are as ful of art as your selfe wee thinke it wil do smale hurt Wee cannot denie but there are manie worthie truths in it but mixed with so much falshood as the reader had need to bee wise harted and in that you and all the false Prophetts of your profession do mixe your falshood with divers truths all Gods people had need to beware of you for that is but your Sheepes clothing by the faire shew whereof you in snare and worke your lying wonders as when you smite mens harts to the ground with laying out the deformities off Babilon and caâ—â—sir their affections with the discriptions of your Syon falslie so called declaring the bewtie and supposed comelie order thereof and setting furth the comunion of Saincts as with the tongue of an Angel of light Thus do you deck your bed with ornaments Carpets and laces perfume it with mirrhe aloes and Cinamon and so with your great craft cause men to yeild and with flattering lips you entice manie straight following you as an Oxe that goeth to thâ— slaughter as a foole to the stocks for correction and they are stricken thorow as a bird that hasteth to the snare not knowing he is in danger of such hath the wiseman by the wisedome of the spirit forwarned vs. Prov 7. Wee have endeavored to shew you your halting betwixt Babilon and Israel wee exhort you to tread straight stepps before the Lord and that men may see your pathes to bee right shew vs the writing of your Genealogie that wee may see certenlye from whence you are come if you bee come from Israel and bee Iudah then warr not against England as against Babilonians but remember they are the Ten Tribes your brethren 1. King 12. 24. Which Ten Tribes were no falfe Isralites but the true seed of Abraham and so true Isralites for the two Calves set vp at Dan and Bethel did no more make them false Israelites then the Calfe which they made in Horeb and this wickednes of Ieroboam did no more make Israell a false Church the Solomon his wickednes made Iudah a false Church when he followed Ashtaroth the God of the Zidonians and Milcom the abhomination of the Amorites and builded high places for Chemosh the abhomination of Moab and to Molech the abhomination of Ammon in the mountaine over against Ierusalem And who knowes not that reades the scriptures that Iudah abounded in abhominations in so much as the Lord by the Prophet Ezekiel 16. saith of Iudah Samaria hath not comitted halfe they sinnes but thou haist exceeded them in all their abhominatioÌ„s and vers 35. The Lord by the Prophet called Iudah an Harlot because of the greatnes of hir fornications and yet al this made not