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
cruelty thereof executed by the Ks. power whereby they make our lord the K. gilty of all the imprisoment banishment persecution which by the Kings power they impose vpon all the faithfull subiects of the King who with stād their abhominations But aboue all let our the King for the glory of God and for the salvation of the Kings owne soule suffer vs the Kings servants thus far to prevaile with the King that our Lord the King would but search the scriptures whereby the K. knowes he must be directed if he wil be saved and let the King see with his owne eie what showe of warrant can be found that the King should take vnto himself power to Elect Bishops Oh wee beseech the King that the successive possession and the goodly apparence of this power may nothinge sway with our lord the King herein but let the King set before his eies the worthy recorded remembrance by the spirit of God of Cyrus King of Persia who brought furth the vessells of the house of the lord which Nabuchadnezzer had taken out of Ierusalem had put them in the house of his God Ezra 1.7.11 Not regarding the monuments of his predecessors great cōquest nor the dispoyling of his Gods of such bewtifull ornaments nor the departing with treasure of so great value All these respects could not hinder this King for restoring the vessells of the house of the Lord. Let our lord the K. be no lesse mynded to the house Church of God but let our lord the King freely restore at once to the Church and house of God the whole glorious power of Christ the onely King thereof and perticulerly that most bewtifull ornament of Election and ordination of the Bishops and deacons thereof who ought to be elected ordeyned according to the rule of the holy ghost Act. 14.23 6.3 and who ought to be qualified withall and every one of those gifts and graces set downe vp Th-appostle 1. Tim. 3. Tit. 1. yea their wives childrē also or els it is grevious iniquity to chuse them And who must onely by their Office beare those names titles which the holy ghost hath given them and lead or rule by that power which Christ hath appointed and by those lawes and ordinances and live by those maintenāces if they stand need And will our lord the King change all these and manie mo lawes statutes and ordinances which Christ Iesus the mediator and King of the new Testament hath appointed and ordeyned in his Church Will the King take this power to himself to Elect in such manner and such men as the King thinkes good And give names titles and power such as best pleaseth the King Hath Iesus-Christ with his blood purchased to himself this honor to be the head of his Church Ephes 5. And hath he shewed himself a faithfilll Mediator And hath he bene accounted worthy of more glory then Moses And hath he builded his owne house himself Heb. 3. And shall he be dispoyled of all his honor And will our lord the King be entised by evill men to enter vpon the inheritance of the Sonne of God in appointing and by the Kings power suffering to be appointed Lords and lawes in and over the house of God which are not according to the patterne Which lords because Christ is not their buckler nor faith their sheild nor the sword of the spirit the weapon of their warfare they have deceitfully seduced our lord the King bringing themselves vnder his protection for their defence and getting the Ks. sword into their hands to destroy all that speake or write against them preferring their owne Kingdome before either Christs Kingdome or the kingdome State of our lord the King as wee have already shewed vnto the King in that they with such loveing patience suffer and permitt so manie thousands of Romists who by their profession and the practices of some of them are dangerously opposite to the Kingdome of Christ and to the King and State But these Lords Bs. Cannot in anie wise endure one that doth faithfully seeke for reformation because such are onely adversaries to their kingdome Wee still pray our lord the King that wee may be free from suspect for haveing anie thoughts of provoking evill against them of the Romish religion in regard of their profession if they be true faithfull subiects to the King for wee do freely professe that our lord the King hath no more power over their consciences then over ours and that is none at all for our lord the King is but an earthly King and he hath no aucthority as a King but in earthly causes and if the Kings people be obedient true subiects obeying all humane lawes made by the King our lord the King can require no more for mens religion to God is betwixt God and themselves the King shall not answere for it neither may the King be iugd betwene God and man Let them be heretikes Turcks Iewes or what soever it apperteynes not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure This is made evident to our lord the King by the scriptures When Paul was brought before Gallio deputie of Achaia and accused of the Iewes for persuading men to worship God contrary to the law Gallio said vnto the Iewes if it were a matter of wronge or an evill deed o ye Iewes I would according to right mainteyne you he drave them from the iudgment seat Act. 18.12.17 shewing them that matters of wrong and evill deeds which were betwixt man man apperteyned onely to the iudgment seat and not questions of religion The like is shewed by the Twne clerke of Ephesus in Act. 19.38.39 And further Paul being in like case accused of manie thinges Act. 24. in the 25. chap. he appeales to Cesars iudgment seat where he saith he ought to be judged approveing and justifieing thereby that Cesars power judgment seat was the holy Ordināce of God and our Saviour Christ is himself obedient therevnto comaunds teacheth his Disciples obedience but this judgment seat power which was of God had nothinge to do in the causes of the Religion of God as our lord the King may see for if it had then could not our Saviour Christ have comaunded obedience therevnto but he must have vtterly overthrowne his owne kingdome and power Neither could Th'appostle Paul have said he ought to be judged at Cesars judgment seat if Cesar had or might have judged in causes of Religion to God for then had he vtterly overthrowne the Office of his Appostle-ship and then had he submitted his Appostle-ship wholy to the judgment of Cesar and so had the power and aucthority of it bene altogether destroyed made of no effect which might in no wise be Now let our lord the K. whose honor it is wisely to judg in thinges that differ judg whether there be in these daies anie other earthly power or anie other spirituall power
but the same that was in Christ and his Appostles times in which times all earthly power was in the hands of earthly Kings and Princes and them that were in aucthority vnder them and Christ and his Appostles diminished not Kings and Princes of the least tittle thereof And all spirituall power was in the hands of Christ and his Appostles that were in aucthority vnder him of which spirituall power aucthority Christ nor his Appostles would suffer no earthly K. to diminish them of the least tittle thereof but rather gave them their lives if then our lord the K. do deserue that earthly Kings and Princes had the same power then that Kings and Princes have now and that Kings Princes had no power then over mens religion which was spirituall and belonged to Christ men were then to give vnto God that which was Gods and vnto Cesar and so vnto all earthly Princes onely that which apperteyned to them Then let our lord the King judg by what warrant of Gods word the King can now take to himself a spirituall power and set vp an Hyrarchy of Arch Bishop Lord B. and give aucthority to them to make lawes and Canons of Religion and to give them power to compell men vnto the obedience there of by such seveer courses as they have done Let our lord the King consider and the Lord give the K. wisedome therein that if no King nor Prince could have set vp such an Hyrarchy with such power and titles then but they had vtterly troden vnder foot all the dignity and power of Christ and his Appostles for Christ and his Appostles must have bene subiect therevnto neither may anie King set vp such an Hyrarchy now because it doth vtterly tread vnder foot all the dignity and power of Christ and his Appostles as well now as it had done then for wee have now Christ and his Appostles in all their power dignity as well as they had in those dayes according to that saying of our Saviour Christ in the parable They have Moses and the Prophetts And wee humble beseech our lord the K. a little to suffer the foolishnes of his servants although wee may seeme as fooles vnto the king herein If there had bene such a steaing Hyrarchy set vp in Christ and Th-appostles daies would the Hyrarchy have suffered vs that are thousands of the K. of great Brittans subiects to have gone to Christ his Appostles to have asked them whether wee should have obeyed them or no in all their Canons and ordinances And whether wee should have given thē those titles of superiority and all that ruling power which they challeng over vs the Kings subiects sureby they will say they would not have denyed vs that liberty to have gone in so waighty a cause and being so manie to have asked Counsell of Christ and his Appostles what wee should have done 20. thousands being ignorant and 10. thousands being doubtfull whether anie such power might be submitted too or no and thousands being out of all doubt that it might not be submitted vnto they will say they would not have denyed vs but wee knowe what their Canons would have made of it and wee may suspect justly that they would have enformed the King that it were very dangerous to suffer so manie to go vnto Christ and his Appostles for counsell and that it were not fitt to suffer such giddy heads to have that libertie for makeing rents and divisions and that it were much more safety for the King to suffer them to make all whole by their power and to subdue such busie refractary spirits Let the King with fauour suffer his servants thus to speake by the way least peraduenture anie such thinges come in the way And wee the Kings servants now takeing it for granted that the Arch Bs. and lord Bs. that professe such great holines would not have deneyd vs to have gone to Iesus Christ and his Appostles to be directed And if Christ and his Appostles had in the hearing of all our owne eares being so ma witnesses comaunded vs absolutely not to yeild the Arch-Bs and lord Bs. anie such power or names could wee yeld it them Although the Arch-Bs and Lord Bs. should with 20. thousands of witnesses affirme that Christ and his Appostles spake otherwise to their hearing Would our lord the King thinke it equall that wee should be forced to beleeue their hearing because they are lord Bs. contrary to the hearing of our owne eares being so manie witnesses of one Nation and tongue besides hundreth thousands of witnesses of other Nations tongues Wee knowe our lord the K. would thinke it no more equall if the case were so that wee should be forced to beleeve the lord Bs. hearīg then that they should be forced to beleeve our hearing Then iugd O King for the case is all one and the same for wee have Christ and his Appostles in their writings and they do absolutely speake to our vnderstandings that in no wise there ought to be anie such Hyrarchy of Arch Bs. and Lord Bs. in Christs Church And the Lord Bs. say that Christ and his Appostles speakes to their vnderstandings that there power and names are not cōtrary to Christs words Can our lord the King that is accompted a most wise and iust Prince in his iudgment iudg that wee are all bound to cast away our owne vnderstandings of Christs speaking and are to be compelled to beleeve and vnderstand Christ to speake as the lord Bs. vnderstād Christs speaking Oh let our lord the King with compassion consider whether ever since the heavens and earth were created there was a more vnequall extreame cruelty then this that the Kings people should be compelled in a cause that concernes the everlasting condemnation of their soules bodyes to Hell of force to submitt their soules and bodies to the vnderstanding of the Lord Bs. that are not able to direct themselves from the waies of death but are perished every man that ever bare that Office with those names and power if they repented not thereof although they had no other sinne and they also that do now beare that Office with those titles power shall likewise all perish to everlasting destruction if they do not repent thereof and cast it away the spirit of the lord hath spoken it Reuel 19.20 the Beast was taken and with him that false Prophet that wrought myracles before him whereby he deceived them that received the Beasts marke and them that worshipped his jmage these both were cast aliue into a lake of fire burning with brimstone And thus manifesting to our lord the K. that Iesus Christ is onely K. of Israell that sitts vpō Davids throne therefore onely hath the power of the King of Israel and none may partake with him in that kingdome and power who had the Spirit without measure and yet neither he nor his Appostles that had the Spirit without error to deliuer the Counsels
are the fruits of ignorance not to knowe the voice of Christ from the voice of false Prophets and yet such would have their ignorance excuse them although their ignorance be onely for want of their love of the truth And if they that through ignorance are led into false ways shal bee saved then they that through ignorance lead men into false ways shal also be saved and so shall allmost all flesh bee saved for who can not plead ignorance for al their transgressions in al false worship and all their false waies But they that are ignorant let them bee ignorant and let all the disciples of Christ covet spiritual gifts that they may prophesie and pray with vnderstanding and singe with vnderstanding and speake with vnderstanding that they may instruct others and in vnderstanding be of a ripe age 1 Cor. 14. this knowledg of salvation is required off all the Disciples off Christ alike there being but one law of obedience for all and Christ hath not appointed anie one to bee more ignorant theÌ„ another aÌ„d to every one that aske alike he gives alike aÌ„d they that seeke a like shal find a like Mat. 7.7 For there is no respect of persons with God Rom. 2.11 Now there is one ground that is most dangerously perverted to the destruction of manie soules wherein wee pray the best advised Godly consideratioÌ„ of every reader and that is this if men walke vprightly in the truth according to that they knowe and endeavor to attaine to better and more knowledg of Gods truth that they may walke in it such men though they commit much sinne through ignorance yet repenting of al their sinnes of ignorance there is mercy with the lord for such sinnes and sinners We confesse this is a most true ground or els no flesh could be saved if the Lord should not accept of the willingnes of meâ—s mynds in the truth according to that which they have But this ground is most wickedly perverted and brought in to excuse al vnwilling mynds to be enformed who willingly resist the truth and have no willing mynds to be directed by Gods word no furthee then staÌ„ds with their good likeing and yet this ground must excuse al their false worship and al false waies aÌ„d al false doctrine and exposition of the scriptures and al the prophanation off the holy ordinances of God which they do through ignorance although they repent not there off but iustifie themselves to do wel therein Can anie Godly hart thus conceive that because God in mercy doth pardon the sinnes off ignorance men repenting of their ignorances that therefore God wil perdon men that through ignorance comit sinne and iustifie theÌ„selves in those their sinnes either by word or practice Cannot men see the great difference which is betwixt repenting of their sinnes of ignorance and iustifieing off their sinnes committed through ignorance but wil they make it al one to confesse sinne and to justifie sinne Can the iust God contrary to his owne word and law forgive anie one sinne that is not repented off if we acknowledg our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgive vs our sinnes and to clense vs from al vnrighteousnes but if wheÌ„ we have sinned in anie perticuler thinge we say therein wee have not sinned we make God a lyer and his word is not in vs. and wee cannot bee forgiven nor clensed 1. Iohn 1.9 10. Can the holy and iust God forgive such sinners and sinnes as when they have through ignorance sinned in divers thinges against the Word of God they wil iustifie themselves that they are not ignoraÌ„t and that they have not therein sinned and so make the word of God a lye the word of the Lord is plaine that they which are ignorant and sinne and say there in they are not ignorant their sinnes remaine vpon them they are the words of Christ Ioh. 9 41. If you were blind that is iff you did â—e and acknowledg your blindnes ye should not have sinne but now ye say wee see therefore your sinne remaineth Thus doth our Saviour Christ shewe in as plaine words as the hart of man can disire that all and every sinne men comit through ignorance and say therein they do not sinne all those sinnes are not pardoned but remaine vpon them and the iudgment of the Lord is against them that so sinne as the wiseman further sheweth Prov. 28.13 Saying he that doth not confesse and forsake his sinne shall not have mercie at Gods hands but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shal have mercie How shal men yet vainely perswade themselves that God wil pardon their sinnes of ignorance which they neither confesse nor forsake but iustifie themselves in manie grevious sinnes and say they have not sinned and that they do not commit evill in doeing them but that they do that which is good and iust in the sight off God what sinne shal be condemned Iff this sinne shal bee pardoned shal not the adulterer that confesseth he doth evil in comitting adultery and the drunckard that confesseth he sinnes in his drunckennes and the blasphemer that confesseth hee doth evil in blaspheming shal not al these bee much rather pardoned although they forsake not their sinnes in that they confesse them then they that neither confesse nor forsake their sinnes but iustifie themselves in their sinnes doth this cause God to pardon their sinnes because they are fully perswaded in their mynds that they sinne not Why then if the adulterer drunckard blasphemer ydolater and Covetous man bee fully perswaded in their mynds that they sinne not in doeing those thinges they shal also be pardoned Thus must the Lord accept of ignorant strong perswasions of mens mynds in error and disobedience for true knowledg faith and obedience For iff they that through ignorance being fully perswaded in their mynds or conscieÌ„ces obey vnrighteousnes and iustifie error shal bee saved and through Christ bee accepted with God as they that of true knowledg and faith obey righteousnes and iustify the truth so then is there salvacion by Christ through ignorant perswasion off mynd and disobedience aswel as through true knowledg faith and obedience What wil men make of God how hath the mistery of iniquity prevailed First to take from him his power and goverment in his kingdome as we have shewed and then to take from him his iustice and iudgment for iff the Lord shal not in his iustice iudg those that ignorantly pervert his lawes statutes and ordinaÌ„ces who cal light darknes and darknes light sower sweet sweet sower Esa 5.20 Speaking evil off that they knowe not teaching for doctrines mens precepts overthrowing the doctrines off the Foundation off the begining off Christ following the ymaginations of their owne harts and setting vp the traditions off men in stead of the holie ordinances of God and because in al these thinges they are ignorant and walke as far as they see aÌ„d do as they are perswaded in their mynds thinking
spirituall povver and Gouerment That the Prophesie of the Second Beast is fulfilled vnder the spirituall povver Gouerment of Arch-Bishops lord Bishops Hovv Kings shal hate the vvhore make hir desolate VVhat Great Povver and authority vvhat honor names titles God hath given to the King That God hath givē vnto the K. an earthly kingdome vvith all earthly povver against the vvhich none may resist but must in all thinges obey vvillingly either to do or suffer That Christ alone is K. of Israell sitts vpon Davids Throne that the K. ought to be a subiect of his Kingdome That none ought to be punished either vvith death or bonds for transgressing against the spirituall ordināces of the nevv Testamēt and that such Offences ought to be punished onely vvith spirituall svvord and censures That as the Romish Hyrarchy say in vvords they cannot err so the Hyrarchy of Arch-Bs lord Bs. shevve by their deeds they hold they cannot err herein they agree in one The false professiō of Puritan-isme so called the false Prophet is thereof discovered Their tvvo deceitfull excuses for their vndergoeing of all those thinges they cry out against made manifest The false professiō of Brovvnisme so called plainely laid open vvith their false Prophetts and vvith their false supposed seperatiō from the vvorld The vanity of their most deceitfull distinction betvvixt a false Church and no Church vvherevpon their vvhole false building stands made evident Some perticuler errors in Mr. Robinsons booke of iustification of Separatiō laid open That no mā iustifying anie false vvay or anie one error though of ignorance can be saved The perverting of those vvords of our Saviour Christ Mat. 10. vvhen they persecute you in one Citie flee into another contrary to all the meaning of Christ plainly shevved What Godly Reader can without mourninge affections read the great destruction and overthrowe of Ierusalem ◠with the house and people of God Prophesied of by the Prophett Ieremyah And what hart is not much affected to see the exceeding great sorrowe of the Prophett when he uttereth the prophesie thereof and declareth the sinns of the people Ier. 9. And when al these thinges were come to passe according to the word of the Lord and that the Prophet saw it with his eies who could not yet sit downe and lament to heare the most greivous lamentations that he poures out for that so great desolation and destruction wherewith the Lord had destroyed and made desolate that his owne Citie House and people Lam. 1.2.3 chap. Nay they that gave no regard to the wordes of the Lord spoken by the Prophet concerning these thinges Ier. 37.2 Yet when they saw the prophesie accomplished thē deepe sorrowe tooke hold vpon them then the Elders of the Daughter Syon sate vpon the ground kept silence cast dust vpon their heades girded themselves with sackcloth the virgines of Ierusalem hanged downe their heades to rhe ground Lam. 2.10 And who so readeth cannot deny but their was iust cause of al this sorrowe and therefore wel might the Prophet say Behold see if there bee anie sorrowe like vnto my sorrowe Lam. 1 1◠And if it cannot bee denyed but that the hearing and seing of this prophesie of so great desolation fulfilled was iust cause of this so great sorrowe Where are then the eies and eares of men that might heare and see farr greater tribulations and desolations then these prophesied of by a greater Prophet then Ieremiah and even now fulfilled in the feirce wrath of iudgment by the most Highest and that in the sight of al men and yet who considers of it Or who takes vp a lamentation for it are mens hartes vtterly voyd of mourning affectons or are they destitute of vnderstanding in the cause off sorrowe or do men thinke the danger is past Surely one of these must needes be the cause or els mens hartes would abound with sorrowe and their eies would power out floodes of teares and they would vtter with their tongues and penns lamentations of great woe Now if it can bee shewed by the word of truth that deepe error of darknes doth possesse the two last that is those which through ignorance thinke in themselves there is no such cause of sorrowe and those that through ignorance do thinke that the danger is already past then the first that cannot mourne must needes fall vnder the sharpe censure of great hardnes off hart and incensible deadnes of all affections Wee in the humilitie off our soules confesse that this worke is too great for our abilities but our strength is off the Lord who is able to make vs sufficient for these thinges iff wee by faith in Christ depend vpon him the which our faith being so full off infidelitie it must needes followe that our strength is full of all weaknes which would beate vs to the ground for vndertakeing this or anie such worke off the Lord but that the Word off God compells vs. which commaundes vs strickly to shewe our selves faithfull in a little Mat. 25 19-30 From which ground by the grace off God wee have beene drawen to doe that little wee have formerly done and vndertake through the Lordes gracious assistance now to doe that wee shall doe beseeching and trusting off his mercie towardes vs herein that all the praise may bee given onely to the glorie of his name First then to shewe vnto them their error that through ignorance doe not see there is great cause off lamentation and woe we require them to turne their eares to the prophesie of that great Prophett Christ Jesus Mat. 24 4-28 and Luke 21 8-31 Where hee foretelleth that when men shall see the abhomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophete set in the Holy places then shall bee great tribulation such as was not from the begining off the Creation to this time nor shall bee And except those dayes should bee shortned there should no Flesh be saved Hath the like Prophesie ever bene heard off Or can there bee anie desolation like vnto this desolation Wherein no Flesh shall bee saved No from the begining off the World there hath not bene the like nor shall bee saith our Saviour Christ Who can remaine ignorant off these daies and times and what ignorance is it not to knowe that these are even the dayes and times here Prophesied off Have not warrs and rumors of wars beene heard off Hath not Nation risen against Nation and Realme against Realme Hath there not beene famines and pestilence and earth-quakes in divers places And have not manie beene offended and betrayed one an other and hated one another And have not manie false Prophets arisen Doth not our Saviour Christ say these are the begininges of sorrowe Now all these thinges being come to passe which are the begininges of sorrow it must needes bee that the dayes of the hight of sorrowe are now come And doe not men now see the abhomination of
desolation set vp in the high places Is it not deepe error off ignorance then for men not to see that there is now the greatest cause of sorrowe and lamentation that ever was And next to shewe in fewe wordes the error of them that thinke the danger of the daies is past Let them looke vpon the wordes of our Saviour Christ when he speaketh off the shorting of those daies he saith in Mat. Then if any shal say Loe here is Christ or loe there is Christ beleeve it not And in Luke Take heed bee not deceaved for manie will come in my name c. Is not this instant these daies was there ever so manie saying Loe here is Christ loe there is Christ And was there ever so many false professioÌ„s of Christ aÌ„d false Prophets shewing great signes and wonders if it were possible to deceave he verie elect who can then denie but that these are deepest daies of danger whereof Christ gives such warninge to take heed Therefore easilie may they heare see their error into whose harts that ymagination hath once entred to thinke that these dangers here prophesied of are past Why then if the end of these sorrowes be not past and the beginings bee past as is shewed then must it needes bee confessed that the daies of greatest tribulation are present But who considers these thinges Or who regardeth the words of this great Prophet If men did consider and carefully behould these thinges what hart could conceave sorrowe enough and what head could conteyne teares or tongue have sufficient words to expresse and vtter the sorrowes fittinge these daies If Ieremiah complayned for want of teares and could not bee satisfied with sorrowing for the slayne of the daughter of Syon that perished by the sword and famyne which was but bodily death how much more cause have men now to sorrowe to see men poysoned with bitter waters killed with fire and smoake and brunstone stung with scorpions hurt with Servents Revel 9.5 and 8.11 And cast into the great winepresse of the wrath of God rev 19.20 which is the everlasting destruction of soule aÌ„d bodie in Hel to suffer al the plagues torments and judgments off wrath for ever Was the famine of bread and the sword of Nabuchad-nezzar and the seaventie yeres captivitie a ful sufficient cause to make Ieremiahes eyes faile with teares his bowels swell his hart turne within him his liver to bee powred vpon the earth And are not al the woes vttered by the seaven Angels from the sound of seaven trompets whereof an Angel flieing through the midst of HeaveÌ„ said with a lowde voice woe woe woe to the inhabitants of the earth from the soundes remaining of the trumpets of the three angels which yet must blowe their trumpets And have not these three last Angells blowen their trumpets aÌ„d doth not the sound thereof yet sound in our eares and are not al the woes thereof yet in the sight of our eies are not al these woes which are woes of everlasting death and destruction sufficient to breake mens harts al into peeces What stony hardnes of hart possesseth men in these daies that their harts do not melt for these woes A maine aÌ„d general reason of al this is because this prophesie is of spiritual desolations distructions and woes and cannot bee vnderstood but with spiritual harts nor sene but with spiritual eyes and the harts and eies off men are naturall and carnall and therefore these thinges cannot affect them 1. Cor. 2.14 Another special reason is because men do not consider how far these thinges concerne themselves but everie Nation and everie people and everie Man puts these daies farr from them as no waie apperteyning to them If wee therefore could prevaile Oh that wee might prevaile by al the feare and love off God to perswade men and by the compassionate pittie of the salvation of their owne soules move them with deepest consideration to consider how nearely those thinges concerne them least they bee vnder these woes and bee not aware thereof which men may easilie be by reason of the great ignorance that is in all men perticulerly in the vnderstandinge of the Prophesie of this booke off the Revelation Which most men though otherwise accompted mightie in the Scriptures doe passe by seldome or never touching them in their Teachings or writinges being taynted wee doubt not with their owne insufficiencie therein which if they would acknowledg it were comendable their acknowledgment wee meane not their ignorance But yet their â—ourse is much more comendable then all theirs that have busied themselves to bring furth so manie ymaginarie expositions of that holie writt wee say ymaginarie expositions because they are for the most part but according to the vaine ymaginations and fancies of mens myndes without the warrant of the word and spirit Wee confesse in humility to our owne shame we are better able to reprove this then to correct it acknowledging vnfainedly and growning daily vnder the burthen of our owne great ignorance and blindnes in the vnderstandinge off the prophesie off that booke All this may further provoake vs with you and you with vs to take heed least we bee vnder anie part of this desolation and woe vnder which whosoever is and remaines he must perish as by the grace of God wee shall make evidently appeare from the Scriptures therefore let al People and nations and Tongues take heed and beware And first to proceed in this cause wee will endeavor to prove by the witnes of the vndoubted word of truth that all Nations and Peoples vpon the earth that have or doe professe Christ for of them onely is this prophesie have beene vnder this abhomination of desolation The words of the prophesie thereoff by Daniel makes is most plaine where he saith In the middest of the weeke hee shall cause the sacrifice oblation to cease for the overspreading of the abhomination hee shall make it desolate Daniel 9.27 Agreable to this prophesie is that Revel 11. Where it is said That the two witnesses off God which are the spirit of truth and the word of truth in the testimonie of thapostles Ioh. 15.26.27 act 5.32 Which are two Olive trees two candlestickes standing before the God of the Earth haveing power to shutt heaven that it raine not to turne the waters into blood and sinyt the earth with all manner of plagues as often as they will Their Corpes shall lie in the streets off the great Citie spiritually called Sodome Egipt Three daies an half after three daies a half the Spirit of life from God shall enter into them they shal stand vp on their feet And with these two prophesies agrees also the prophesie Revel 12.14 Of the woman flieing into the wildernes into hir place where she is nourished for a time times half a time Let vs compaire these prophesies together Daniel saith the sacrifices and oblations cease in the midst of the
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
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