THE ENGLISH PHARISE OR RELIGIOVS APE Being the weekes worke of a poore vnlearned professor of the Gospell of CHRIST zealously and truely checking the counterfeit professor but open persecutor of Christs true doctrine and discipline 2. TIM 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things By Iohn Walker dwelling at Leeds in York shire Printed Anno Dom. 1616. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND THAT MOST Worthy Gouernor William Greenebâ—…ry Lord Maior of the Citie of Yorke RIGHT HO AMONGST many worthie and true Professors of the Gospel I haue presumed and emboldened my self to dedicate this little book vnto your Hâ—… view and although not worthy your acceptation being not done scholler-like yet for that good wil I beare vnto the truth and for the truthes sake I humbly entreat your Honor to accept thereof and howsoeuer it may seeme distastfull vnto all disobedient and vnsanctified spirits which haue as Saint Iude saith separated themselues yet vnto all faithful Christians which truely fight vnder the banner of Iesus Christ I know that such will not onely accept my good will but likewise louingly and thankfully bee ready to embrace my poore indeuors herein seeing that I haue kept my selfe being guided by the Spirit of God in that sanctified place of Christs Vineyard alone and yet for all this I know that the malice and mischiefe of Sathan is such that from all those haters of their brethren who with hateful Esau haue separated themselues contemned their birth-right I expect no better gratuitie at their hands then deadly hate and reuenge and my reason is this because Grapes cannot grow vpon Thornes nor Figs vpon Thistles If that kingly Prophet DAVID had great cause to complaine of his times how that his enemies were greatly multiplied his sorrowes much increased by how much more hath our most gracious King iust cause to complaine seeing that Sathan now worketh after such a strange and most fearefull manner by his wicked instruments as the like was neuer heard nor seen from the beginning of the world vntill this present time of which times Saint Paul hath truely prophesied should bee most perilous that this is true who is he that liueth in our daies and seeth not that prophesie the which our blessed Sauiour fore-tolde should come to passe euen hard before his comming to Iudgement how that it is now by the children of disobedience most fearefully working amongst ys that is how that the Sunne should be darkned and the Moone should lose her light how that the Starres should fall from Heauen and the powers of heauen should be shaken Againe who is he that doth but look about him and likewise seeth not how that those immediate tribulations the which our blessed Sauior foretold should come to passe euen hard before these fearefull signes are now alreadie finished part of them in our late and gracious Queenes time of famous memorie and likewise the rest of these tribulations being the greatest in his Maiesties time especially since his Highnesse came amongst vs For who is hee that knoweth not how that bloudy Cain that man of sin would not haue left one Abel aliue if that God himself had not stood in the gap for vs Now for these tribulations I doubt not but that the very strengths of them are alreadie past and that this most fearefull plot of Gunpowder Treason what else was the very last shake of the glasse These and such like persecutions and tribulations haue at all times and in all ages displayed themselues against the poore despised Church of CHRIST but of all those engines which Sathan by his instruments hath deuised was neuer the like heard of as that fearfull plot of Gunpowder which they offered to shake vs withall and yet behold most worthy Sir there is such a fearefull shaking by the children of disobedience now amongst vs as for the time neuer was nor I hope neuer shall be untill the day of iudgment we haue but yet spoken of the shaking of our mortall bodies But behold and yee shall see further how that Sathan by his sharpest most hot instruments doth now shake the verie powers of heauen For Iesus Christ who now sitteth in heauen hauing receiued all power from God his Father is so shaken at this present time in his wounded members that except God of his infinite mercy vnto his little Church had appointed and ordained our most gracious King as aspecial meanes to hinder Sathan in his progresse herein I am verily perswaded that hauing preuailed so far alreadie as hee hath done that if hemight but bee suffered to haue his intent further that according to our blessed Sauiours speech no flesh should bee saued and therefore for this cause I most humbly craue vppon my bended knees that as GOD by his mighty power and loue vnspeakeable vnto his church hath so often stood in the gap against the power of Sathan and his most wicked instruments to deliuer his Sacred Maiestie from so many eminent dangers that now at last it would please his Grace in some recompence of so many and vn-vtterable great fauours receiued to stand once more in the gap for him then as we haue had alwaies iust cause our comforts beeing increased and our spirits further emboldned to cry still from the bottom of our harts with heartie teares of repentance vnto the Lord of Hosts that as hee hath so many seuerall times miraculously defended and protected his Maiesty so it would please him still for the great honor of his Name and the great comfort and good of his Church to defend protect him still vnder the shadow of his wings and not onely himselfe but likewise our most gracious Queene with that most blessed and hopefull Progenie that it wold so please him to protect them all in safetie peace that neither the wild Bore of the Forrest nor Esau this most wicked hunter which hunteth cruelly within this English Pale may euer preuaile or take any further rooting herein and here once againe let no man bee offended that seeing this vnnaturall brother hath not only broken that vnion which should bee amongst Christs members and so fallen from Christ himselfe but doth likewise dayly withdraw infinite multitudes by his life doctrin to become deadly haters of their brethren in so much that loue charitie hath lost her sight therefore still vpon my bended knees I most humbly craue that seeing the Lord of heauen and earth is by them so greatly dishonored it would please his sacred Maiestie to stop the passage of these violent Hunts-men which wilfully spoile and destroy the game Then according to our blessed Sauiours speech that last signe of the Sonne of Man immediately before his last comming to Iudgement shall more cleerely appeare amongst the clouds then shall there bee such cause of reioycing as meeting Iesus Christ our Redeemer we shall reioyce with him for euermore Our blessed Sauiour saith Hee that is not with
contrary thou art to Icsus Christ and to his followers doth appeare by the fruits of thy doctrin who by thy accusing and condemning iudgemeÌ„ts hast not only caused many to fall from Christ vnto desperation which is most fearefull but likewise for all the rest which take liking to the same which are infinite in multitudes are becom such deadly haters of their Brethren euen vnto that height of sinne that they blush not to make good their hateful minds by the Scripture the place they alleage where Dauid by a most prophetical spirit against the enemies of God being bloud-thirsty men desired God not only to slay those wicked people but hâ—…e goeth on further in the sincerity of his hart as prophesying of them what should become of such saying Do not I hate them O God that hate thee yes O Lord I hate them with â—…n unfaâ—…ed hatred This exposition of this place of scripture which both thy self and those thy followers doe thus interpret is hatcht and fetcht froÌ„ the deuill and thy deuillish conceit for seeing thou canst neuer proue thy self to be of that Spirit which Dâ—…uid had nor likewise canst neuer proue vs thy Brethren to deserue such imputation which those manslaiers the 〈◊〉 of God did how impudent and cruell art thou aboue measure to censure and iudge thus vncharitably against the members of Iesus Christ Again many of thy followers goe further and say that of their owne Parents being Protestants that they are already damned and that this is too true by wofull experience many places of this Land with the place where Idwell doe manifest the same That blessed Apostle S. Paul saith Let your patient mind be knowne vnto all men the Lord is at hand Phil. 4. 5. But thou by a contrarie spirit sayst vnto thy followers Let your hatred and malice bee knowne vnto all men and therefore thou hast iust cause to thinke that the Deuill is at hand This thy hatred hath so spred it selfe throughout the whole land that it cannot bee denied without a brazen face and that this is true I can shew thee an instance of experience offered against my selfe for taking occasion being moued by the Spirit of God as now to write this little booke I writ my letter vnto a principall man of thy sect and although reproouing him after a friendly manner his rage was so kindled thereat that his answere was that if he liued hee would reuenge it but if hee died let GOD reuenge it Againe another of thy Sect standing by did giue mee such cruell and disgracefull wordes that nothing did appeare but hatred and malice And amongst the rest of his speeches for writing that Letter hee iudged mee worthy to die some sodaine death I haue noted these words that the world may see what spirits the Diuell doth hatch in these very last times and likewise to let all men see how contrarie thou and thy Sect are vnto Iesus Christ and his followers who from the spirit of humilitie doth teach with patieÌ„ce beeing so farre off from reuenge that they are alwaies ready to forgiue their enemies Saint Iude speaking against disobedient spirits of authoritie saith That their rage is such that they fome out their owne shame Iude the thirteenth verse And that this is true of thy Sect one of thy Brothers hath alreadie spoken his malice against one of the chiefest pillars of this Land and I will tell thee how taking exception against a poore man but for a supposed fault got him bound ouer vnto the Sessions where his proofe failed but being not satisfied the poore man was troubled further where thy brothers proofe failing the second time to satisfie his reuenge further another Iustice warrant was sent for Now the poore man being in the fire twice before beeing driuen into great distresse he bethought him of a friend at London therefore he went trudging vnto him made his case knowne and beeing truely perceiued appearing more malice theÌ„ matter his friend procured a Supersedâ—…as for him vpon bayle giuen for his good behauiour as the vsuall manner is so that hee tooke his leaue and came trudging home againe and he no sooner approched but intelligence was giuen and needelesse to bid thy brother prosecute this warrant must presently be serued But the Constable perceiuing seeing a Supersedeas made it knowne Wherupon thy brothers rage beeing kindled to please the pride of his humour writ his Letter vnto the Iustices Clarke after this manner Friend whereas a warrant was directed from your Master against such a one it wil take no place for hee hath gotten a Suâ—…ersedeas I thinke hee hath beene at the Pope and gotten a Pardon for his sinnes past and to come And that this is true there is sufficient testimonie to proue the same I haue noted this First to discharge my conscience who ought not to keepe such words secret Secondly that the world may perceiue how that pride vaine-glory with an inuetered malice doth so raigne in the children of disobedience thatthey are ready likewise to burst forth into cursed speeches against Principalities and Powers O wickâ—…d generation aboue measure what may bee expected at thy hands if thou shouldst be suffred and mightst but haue thy owne will that from thy disloyall disobedience and rash accusing Iudgements such fruits as these doe spring there doth nothing appeare in thee but disobedience rash accusing Iudgements hatred and malice and cruell reuenge and all against the poore members of Iesus Christ whose number by thy inchanted doctrine thou hast so diminished that those of thy hatefull sect are growne infinite in multitudes Thou hinderest the fruits of the Gospel Thou causest the Ministerie to be euill spoken of thou resistest the truth by setting vp an Idol of thy owne imagination thou art so deepely plunged in the depth of thy owne conceit that as Salomon saith There is more hope in a foole then in him that is conceited Prou. 26. 12. Thouhast giuen vs great cause to complaine as Saint Paul did of Alexander the Copper-Smith Thou hast done vs much hurt But as he said I trust the Lord will reward thee thereafter 2. Tim. 4. 14. And yet for al this although thou hast caused Gods Name greatly to be dishonoured and loue and charitie smothered notwithstanding all this thou art still readie with those conceited Iewes who cryed The Temple of the Lord to excuse thy selfe and say The Lords Anointed the Lords Anointed Now if it were not that the god of this world had bewitcht thy thoughts thou wouldst blnsh for shame to make such a cry amongst them which know thee better then thou knowst thy selfe Suppose thou couldst speak as S. Paul saith with the tong of men Angels haue not loue thou art no better then sounding brasse or a tinckling Cimbal 1. Cor. 13. 1. Thou saiest thou preachest Christ it is true And as Saint Paul saith I reioyce thereat But what of this seeing that thou hast not onely
separated thy selfe from the body of the Church but likewise wantest humilitie patience and charitie thou doest no better then the same Apostle saith Then preach Christ of enuie and contention Phil. 1. 15. If thou wouldst giue vs cause to reioyce with S. Paul how that thou preachest Christ as thou doest thou must get thy selfe to Virginia or some other place where Christ was neuer heard before where no doubt their good workes far exceede thine then would be iust cause of reioycing where Gods Name would become greatly more honoured and they and we both more comforted But to stay heere like an vnskilfull Physicion amongst the wounded members of Christ powring in the wine of Gods Iudgements reseruing the oyle of Gods mercies vnto thy selfe I will vndertake whereas thou curest one soule thou killest a thousand so that in stead of reioycing there is nothing to be expected from thee but iust cause of great sorrow therefore as Saint Paul saith We haue good cause to refuse thy company 2. Tim. 3. 5. Saint Iohn saith If wee walke in the light as hee is in the light wee haue fellowship one with another and the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne clenseth us from all sinne I. Ioh. 1. 7. Brother thou beleeuest that the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God doth clense vs from all sinne And thou canst not deny but that I beleeue the same Now a question may arise wherin are wee separated and whether of vs haue separated our selues I haue alreadie shewed the difference herein sufficiently For the tree is known by his fruit But I will tell thee Brother if that thou hadst looked as seriously and stayed thy self in the beginning of this verse as thou hast done in the latter end thou mightst better haue perceiued not onely who it is that goeth about to breake this vnion which is betwixt Christ and his Church butlikewise who it is that doth separate themselues herein This Verse is sufficient to confute and confound both the Pope of Rome and thy selfe the latter end is sufficient to confute him the fore-end sufficient to confound thee he hath cut off himselfe in denying that the blood of Christ doth clense vs from all sinne and thou hast cut off thy selfe beeing separated from the fellowship of thy brethren according to Saint Iohns words Hee that hateth his brother is in dâ—…rkenesse and walketh in daâ—…kenesse and knoweth not whither hee goeth because that drakenesse hath blinded his eies 1. Ioh. 2. 1. 〈◊〉 I haue sufficiently shewed how that thou hast not onely separated thy selfe from vs but likewise prooued by the fruit of thy accusing Iudgements how that both thou and thy followers are become deadly haters of thy brethren and thus the world may plainely see how that by hating ofvs thou art become as Saint Paul saith Onely a louer of thy selfe 2. Tim. 3. 2. Our blessed Sauiour saith Blessed are the meeke far they shall inherit the earth Maâ—…th 5. 5. Vpon these words I gather that thou art but an intruder in thy calling and liuest by the sweate of other mens browes that as the wandring and sturdy begger doth eate the bread of others so thou beeing but a wandring Starre and impatient doest eate the bread of thy brothers Thou preachest long Sermons and often therein I blame thee not it is the manner only that marres all for in steade of that fierie Spirit of zeale and sinceritie of the heart to preach Christ in loue and humility thou preachest Christ in accusing and condemning iudgements with the fiery spirit of iniquitie And heere thou makest the verie powers of heauen to shake Matth. 24. 29. But Saint Paul being of a contrary spirit saith To the weake I become as weake that I may win the weake I am made all things to all men that I might win some 1. Cor. 9. 22. Saint Paul heere to winne men vnto Christ did not respect these outward things of indifferencie but is content to obserue all times and to eate and drinke with all sorts of people to winne some vnto God And for this ende our Sauiour Christ was content to debase himselfe To conuerse and to eate and drinke with Publicans and sinners Luk. 5. 29. But thou who scornest all company but those of thy owne sect Bindest heauie burdens and layest them on mens shoulders but as for thy selfe thou wilt not mooue them with one of thy fingers Matth. 23. 4. Thou like the proud Pharise preachest the Law very strictly and thou seemest in outward shew to goe before vs and if wee doe not make an outward appearance as thou doest then presently thou entrest into vncharitable iudgement of condemnation and yet who seeeth not how fleshly-minded thou art both in thy wordes and deedes and how thou temptest God to lay a yoke on the Disciples neckes which neither our Fathers nor wee are able to beare Acts 15. 10. Beeing contrarie to Christs words who saith My yoke is easie and my burden light Matth. 11. 30. Saint Paul saith Who art thou that iudgest thy brother or why doest thou set thy brother at nought we must all appeare before the Iudgement seat oâ—… Christ Rom. 14. 10. Herein thou hast caused vs with Saint Paul to bring thy name in question and to say Who art thou as though wee knew thee not but the truth is wee know thee but too well for we finde thee altogether as Saint Paul saith Without naturall affection 2. Tim. 3. 3. But alas what hast thou done in iudging thus vncharitably Thou hast done no lesse then ioyned thy selfe with the Pope of Rome who is ready to iudge all but will be iudged of none and therefore making thy selfe hayle fellow well met with him thou hast with him and all the rest of the whole world which doe oppose themselues against the LORD and his Anointed yeelded your selues so farre vnto the vanitie of your owne imaginations that yee wilfully haue drowned your selues in the redde sea of Iudgements And thus I haue let thee see first thy disobedience secondly thy impatient and accusing iudgements wherein the world may plainely perceiue how that nothing doth proceed nor can be gathered from them but contention enuie hatred and such inuetered malice that thereby thou hast caused the Sunne to be darkened the Moone to lose her light and the very powers of heauen to shake In a word thou hast iustly caused Gods most sacred name so greatly dishonored that without a very speedy and suddaine repentance thou shalt haue for thy better satisfaction as Saint Paul saith such a recompence of reward as is prescribed in these two wordes Indignation and wrath Rom. 2. 8 Now Brother concerning these thy most cruell iudgements against the members of Iesus Christ which are now liuing thou hast not contayned nor contented thy self hâ—…rein For one of thy Sect taking occasion in a publike Sermon to speake of the yong man in the Gospell who came to our blessed Sauiour Christ to know what
mee is against mee Mat. 12. 30. And Saint Iohn saith There are many Antichrisâ—…s whereby we know that it is the last time I. Ioh. 2. 18. in the beginning of the next verse he saith They went from vs but they were not of vs. Now if any would know who these specially are which are against CHRIST and so as Saint Iohn saith become Antichrists Saint Paul Saint Peter and Saint Iude prophesying of these last times plainely describe and haue set them down by their qualities and conditions all agreeing as it were with one consent saying that they are spirits of disobedience as appeareth in the thirteenth to the Romans and second verse and in the second of Peter the second Chapter and the tenth verse And in Iudes Epistle the eighth Verse Now Saint Iude goeth on farther agreeing with Saint Iohns words and saith in the nineteenth verse that they haue separated themselues vpon which words of these two blessed Apostles Saint Iohn and Saint Iude I gather and finde that there is no sect vnder the whole cope of heauen which can so iustly deserue the title of this seuered imputation as this Sect now resident amongst vs commonly called Puritanes For although the Pope of Rome is not onely a disobedient spirit but likewise deserueth the highest roome amongst the Antichrists yet to say properly hee is gone from vs would but proue an improper speech because hee neuer was of vs now for this our elder brother it may truely and properly bee said how that hee is gone from vs for agreeing in this word onely in Christ may truely be said that he was of vs. Now the question is how and why he is gone from vs but the question is needelesse For who seeth not how that vaine glory and the very darknesse of his owne conceite hath so bewitched him that as Saint Paul saith hee hath but a shew of godlinesse denying the power therof 2. Tim. 3. 5. that as the dogge who had the substance but in his mouth seeing the shaddow in the water snatcht thereat and solost both euen so hath he done for hauing the substance no lowersettled then in his mouth spying some outward obseruations in that waterie ayre of his owne conceit hath leaped thereat so farre from Christ that according to the Prophet Esayes speech who saith They come neere mee with their mouth and honour mee with their lips but their heart is farre from mee Esai 29. 13. So that like hatefull Esau hauing sold his birth-right for meere vanitie Gen. 25. â—…4 is now become such a disobedient spirit and so fleshly minded as Saint Peter and Saint Iude saith 2. Pet. 2. 10. that he is not afraid to speake euil of dignities and despise Dominion Iude the eight verse who resisting power as Saint Paul saith resisteth the ordinance ordained of God Rom. 13. 2. So that it may be gathered by these blessed Apostles and finding it true by wofull experience that as Saint Iohn and Saint Iude say he being gone from vs in separating himselfe is now become such a sect that who seeth not how that both by his life doctrine hee doth nothing else but breake that vnion which ought to bee betwixt the members of Christ so that it may most truely bee said of him and al the rest of this sect especially that according to S. Iudes words They are become but wandring Starres Iude verse 13. being as our blessed Sauiour saith Starres fallen from heauen Mat. 24. 29. who resting themselues in their owne imaginations may truely be said to fall from Christ. Who hath by their disobedient practice euill conuersation darkened the Gospel ment by the Sunne and likewise smothered loue ment by the Moone who with their accusing and condemning Iudgements in their doctrin against the wounded members of Christ cause the very powers of Heauen to shake This interpretation was reueiled vnto mee by the Spirit of God I am no Scholler at all as your Honour knoweth and therefore not fit to diue into these secret mysteries I am only a poore man but yet not destitute of Gods Spirit euen on whom that old prouerbe is fallen None so wâ—…e begone As first a man and then none And therefore being in my priuate chamber musing of the causes of the sinfulnesse of this age many things came into my minde and amongst the rest I was induced to write and yet not knowing what to write the spirit suggested these things vnto mee the which I haue presumed to offer vnto your Honours view and although vnworthy to present such a weake thing vnto your iudicious eye yet for his cause who hath emboldned me I humbly intreat and craue your honourable fauor but to cast your eye thereon wherein nothing can bee found but the instruments of Sathan stil prosecuting their owne imaginations in persecuting the poore and despised members of IESVS CHRIST who by their life doctrine Gods Name is so greatly dishonored and loue and charitie so smothered that the Kingdome of Christ is hindered both in particular and in general but as that worthy Apostle Saint Paul faith Their madnesse beeing now euidently knowne vnto all men I hope they shal preuaile no longer 2. Tim. 3. 9. And thus may your Honour see and the whole world perceiue how that God who sitteth aboue hath alreadie decreed that in despite of Pope Puritan and all the rest which withstand Iesus Christ his Anointed that his Maiestie who loueth peace shall by Gods protection liue a peaceable time amongst vs and as he hath protected and deliuered him from many dangers will continue his loue vnto him and his and keepe them safe vnder the shaddow of his wings and hereafter will that God of peace carrie him by his blessed Angels into euerlasting peace vnto which peace God of his infinite mercie bring both you and yours for his honour and blessed names sake Amen I most humbly take my leaue and rest at your Honors command IOHN WALKER TO THE CHRISTIAN READER GENTLE or vngentle Reader I am to tell thee no strange thing onely to tell thee of that which hath been from the beginning which is now at this present and which shall be vnto the worlds end how that as Esau hated his brother Iacob in the beginning of the world how that the Israel of God is hated still and that the members of Christ shall be hated so long as the Sunne and Moone indureth Faithfull Christian I was enboldened by the Spirit of G O D to write this little Booke for thy good it was intended chiefly for thy profit and so many as lâ—…ve the peace of Sion And whereas by Gods goodnesse wee are liuing in the very latter ende of the world and left here by Gods prouidence as a very few Sheepe amongst many Woolues I haue onely by the helpe of Gods Spiâ—… it set down vnto thy view not only what great danger thou art in but likewise let thee see how that thou mayest escape the same And