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cause_n	king_n	law_n	lord_n	4,135	5	3.8427	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77739	A confutation of the Anabaptists, and all others who affect not civill government; proving the lawfullnesse of it: and a full answer to all their cavills, that are, or can be made against it. With a nut-cracker for an unnaturall nut, whose shell is as hard as the scales of Leviathan, and the kernell of his heart as hard as a piece of the nether mill-stone, Iob 41.15.24. yet the hammer of Gods word that breaketh in pieces the rocks, Ier. 23.29. will break this nut, that all may see the devillish kernell that is in it. Also arguments against the Anabaptists, proving that infants borne of Christian parents ought to be baptized: with a full answer to all their cavills that are (or can be) made against it. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford.	Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19.	1644 (1644)	Wing B530; Thomason E51_20; ESTC R209932	98,225	89

A Confutation of the ANABAPTISTS AND All others who affect not Civill Government Proving the lawfulnesse of it and a full Answer to all their Cavills that are or can be made against it WITH A Nut-cracker for an unnaturall Nut whose Shell is as hard as the Scales of Leviathan and the kernell of his heart as hard as a piece of the nether Mill-stone Iob 41.15.24 yet the hammer of Gods Word that breaketh in pieces the Rocks Ier. 23.29 will break this Nut that all may see the devillish kernell that is in it Also Arguments against the Anabaptists proving that Infants borne of Christian Parents ought to be Baptized With a full Answer to all their Cavills that are or can be made against it Imprimatur Ja. Cranford And thou Ezra after the wisedome of thy God that is in thine hand set Magistrates and Iudges which may Iudge all the people that are beyond the River and whosoever will not doe the Law of thy God and the Law of the King let Iudgement be executed speedily upon him whether it bee unto death or unto banishment or confiscation of goods or to imprisonment Ezra 7.25 26. Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good work Titus 3.1 They sent them Peter and John who when they were come prayed for them that they might receive the holy Ghost for as yet he was faln upon none of them onely they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Iesus Acts 8.15 16. Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost for the promise is unto you and to your children Acts 2.38 39. LONDON Printed by M. O. for T. Bankes and are to be sold in Black Friars 〈…〉 To the Reader Christian Reader THE maine cause that moved me to undertake this Worke is this many faithfull Christians and loyall Subjects are blamed to be enemies to Civill government as also my selfe bearing a part of that reproach with them now to cleare both my selfe and others in these divided and distracted times J thought it not amisse to discover them and to make them knowne who they be that despise dominion and speake evill of dignities Jude 8. that faithfull Christians and loyall subjects may not be blamed who are subject to Principalities and Powers and willing to obey Magistrates and ready to every good work Titus 3.1 2. Who every day that passeth over their heads put up prayers and supplications intercessions and giving of thanks at the Throne of grace for Kings and all in authority that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie 1 Tim. 2.12 And as for mee God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord in ceasing to pray for them 1 Samuel 12.23 Tet Gods people were alwayes blamed to be enemies to civill authoritie Ahab said to Elijah Art not thou he that troubleth Israel 1 Kings 18.17 And saith Haman that great Courtier There is a certaine people scattered and disperced among thy people in all the Provinces of thy Kingdome and their Lawes are divers from all people neither keep they the Kings Laws Esther 3.8 Nay further this Court-flatterer so prevailed with the King to get Letters sealed with the Kings seale to destroy to kill and cause to perish all Jewes both young and old little children and women in one day even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth Moneth which is the Moneth Adar and to take the spoyle of them for a prey Verse 13. And it was told the King saying Daniel one of the captivity of the children of Judah regardeth not thee O King nor the decree that thou hast signed and so was cast into the Denne of Lions but in the morning the King comes to the mouth of the Donne and calls Daniel to which hee answered O King live for ever my God hath sent his Angel and hath shut the Lions mouths that they have not hurt me for as much as before him Innocencie was found in me and against thee O King have I done no hurt Daniel 6.13.20.21.22 And Paul was accused to be a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition but when the tryall came neither against the Law of the Iewes nor against the Temple nor against Caesar had he offended any thing at all Acts 24. ● 25.8 Nay further they said of Christ himselfe to Pilate If thou let this man goe thou art not Caesars friend for he speaketh against Caesar Iohn 19.12 Yet Christ although he was a true heire to the Crown and Kingdome of the Iewes shewed himselfe loyall to Civill Government saying Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods Matthew 22.21 And hee payed tribute to avoyd offence Matthew 17.26 27. although an heire to the Crowne and free from Tribute Thus in all ages both all the faithfull and Christ himselfe was blamed to bee enemies to civill government And now I come to our own age witnesse those three Worthies and faithfull servants of Iesus Christ who pleading for God and the King and declaring how those Traiterous Prelates did intrench upon the Kings prerogative in many particulars these men venturing lives and states and all outward comforts through a tender affection they had to their Prince as not being able to indure to see the wrong done to him and be silent and yet for speaking and declaring those Traytors they were punished altogether although they did expresse such Loyalty that I think their examples are not to be parallel'd witnesse that renowned Doctor Bastwick who laboured to maintaine the honour and dignity and prerogative Royall of our Soveraigne Lord the King saying Let the King live for ever Had I a thousand lives I should think them all too little to spen● for his Majesties Royall Prerogative and had I as much bloud in my veines as would swell the Thames I would shed it every drop in this cause And then wishing the people not to bee discouraged nor daunted at the Prelates power but bid them labour to preserve innocencie and keep peace within and goe on in the strength of your God and hee will never faile you in such a day as this Then saith he as I said before so I say again had I as many lives as I have haire● upon my head or drops of bloud in my veines I would give them up all for this Cause Yet all this could not free them from sufferings although Mordecai had saved the Kings life from the hands of Traytors yet no honour is done to Mordecai But the Lord hath all these things upon the File and in his due time he will cause the King to read the the Chronicles to finde out that which Mordecai hath done and requite it Esther 6.1 For behold thy servants are ready to doe whatsoever my Lord the King shall appoint 2 Samuel 15.15 Not as men-pleasers but as the servants

this divine law of God is despised by Libertines or as now they are more commonly called Antinomians and by Anabaptists Papists and prophane Protestants yet at this time I intend not to call them to an account for despising of that government alone as in it selfe but there is another kind of government despised of these men which is a humane government for the Apostle saith Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supreame or unto governours sent by them 1 Pet. 2.13 14. This is that government which is so much despised especially by the Anabaptists to them I chiefly bend the drift of my disputation yet not conniving or sparing any other that shall dash against it or any way seem to undervalue it This humane or civill government is a state of superiority consisting in the power of commanding and in the power of the sword for the good of mankind that it is a state of superiority appeareth Rom. 13.1 Let every soule be subject to the higher power Again it consisteth in a double power 1. In commanding that is of making laws and edicts calling and conventing the second power is that of the sword and it may be comprehended under thesce 4. heads 1. In arresting 2. Imprisoning 3. In putting to death 4. In making warre in way of protection or otherwise The reason why this power of the sword is added is this to put a difference betweene the authority of the magistracy and the authority of the ministry Now this difference standeth in 3. things First the magistracy hath a power in it selfe whereby the civill Magistrate may command in his owne name but the Ministry hath power only to pronounce what God commandeth and in his name saying Thus saith the Lord none durst ever say from himselfe I say unto you but Christ alone Math. 5. Secondly the authority of the civill Magistrate is in himselfe but the authority of the Minister is not in himselfe but in Christ so then the civill Magistrate may command obedience to himselfe but the Minister commandeth it to God Thirdly the civill Magistrate hath power over the outward man but the Minister hath power only to counsell perswade and exhort So much of the difference between the Magistracy and the Ministry Secondly this power of the sword is added to distinguish the power of the magistracy from all private power as in Schooles and Families which have a power of commanding but not of the sword Lastly I adde for the common good of mankind Rom. 13.4 He is the Minister of God to thee for good or for thy wealth that is in procuring the welfare of soule and body which standeth in two things First true Religion Secondly civill justice both which are by the magistracy maintained Now here it may be demanded how farre the power of civill government reacheth I answer over all causes things and words of men whether Civil or Ecclesiasticall over Temporall things I know none that will make question of it but the Anabaptists who deny the very being of it but it also reacheth to the causes of the Church and this appeareth in that the Kings must have the booke of the Law before them when they sit upon the Throne of the Kingdome and it must be with them and they must read therein all the dayes of their lives that they may learne to feare the Lord their God and that they may keep all the words of this law and do them that their heart be not lifted up above their brethren Deut. 17.18.19.20 Secondly this we may see in many examples of holy Kings in Scripture Iosiah kept the Passeover and commanded others to keep it 2 Chron. 35.1.16 and K. Asa commanded Iudah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to doe the Law and the commandement and he took away the Altars of the strange Gods and the high places and brake down the images and cut down the groves 2 Chr. 14.3.4 And Manasseh repaired the Altar of the Lord and sacrificed thereon Peace-offerings and commanded Judah to serve the Lord Chap. 33.16 And Josiah tooke away all the abhominations out of all the Countreys that pertained to the children of Israel and he made all that was present to serve the Lord their God Cha. 34.33 Israel served the Lord all the dayes of Joshuah and all the dayes of the Elders that out-lived Jo●huah Iosh 24.31 And the Lord raised up unto them David to be their King to whom he gave testimony and said I have found David the s●nne of Jes●e a man after mine owne heart which shall fulfill all my will Acts 13.22 And so when he was King he did not only reform his own Family that no lyar should dwel in his house nor deceitfull person should tarry in his right and slanderers he would cut off and proud persons he would not suffer the faithfull should dwel with him but yet this is not all marke saith he I will early destroy all the wicked of the land and cut off wicked doers from the Citie of the Lord Psal 102. Thirdly the command of God goes down to the house of the King of Iudah and speake unto him this word and say heare the word of the Lord ô King of Judah that sittest upon the Thro●e of David execute judgment and righteousnesse and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor do no wrong nor violence to the stranger and fatherl●ss●● and the widow neither shed innocent blood in this place then if they do these things abundance of blessings are promised but if they do not these things fearfull judgments are threatned Jer. 22.3.4.5 21.11.12 And saith David Be wise ô Kings serve the Lord kisse the Sun lest he be angry Psal 2. Fourthly the Lord hath promised that Kings under the Gospell shall be nursing Fathers and Queenes nursing Mothers to his Church Isa 49.23 Yea Kings shall bring their honour and glory into it Revel 21.24 That is the honour and glory of their power and authority and riches also shall be all improved for the good and welfare of the Church they shall cast their Crownes before the Throne saying worthy art thou O Lord to receive glory and hoxour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are were created Revelat 4.10.11 And as they have given their power to the Beast so time will come the Lord hasten it that they will give all unto Christ for the good of his Church as David did 1 Chron. 29.11.12 But heare the Schisme of Brownie those independant people will set upon mee who tell us that Christian Princes and Magistrates have no more to doe in or about the Church then heathen Princes I answer but every faithfull Subject under a Christian Prince will acknowledge his place is to defend the saith I mean the Doctrine of faith all those truths which are necessary to be believed to salvation they are to defend that

in the Kingdome of their Father Math. 13.41 42 43. Then wars shall cease when there shal be none in that Kingdome that offends but these offenders must be in the Church till the very judgement day at the end of the world The Angels which are the Reapers shall take out those tares that did offend and cast them into hell fire then shall the second Adam restore to the Saints all the creatures in their first perfection after that they are purified by fire at that day the Saints shall inherit all things and not before For the first Adam by sin brought vanity and corruption upon all the creatures but at that day the creatures shal be purified and purged from their vanity and corruption and then restored to the Saints alone so they shall remain for ever for the Second Adam wil restore againe to the Saints all that they lost and not as they are now corrupted cloathed with vanity For the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me saith the Lord Isa 66.22 Of that Kingdome there shal be no end Luke 1.33 Now because the Church shal be pestered with many enemies till the day of judgement the sword of the Magistrate is necessary to keep down the seditious stirs of unquiet men which trouble all Kingdomes with violent oppressions and hainous evill doings then Magistrates ought to defend them that are troubled and to preserve the lawes discipline with purity which is the only means to regulate such wicked men to better obedience shall Theeves that rob a few be punished and shall they suffer whole Countreys to be spoiled with robberies so then the chiefe Magistrate is not only to suppresse private injuries with judiciall punishments but also must defend with war the Dominions committed to his charge against any forraign invasion whatsoever and such wars by the testimony of Scripture in many places are lawfull Thirteenthly they object that in the new Testament is neither witnesse nor example which teacheth that war is a thing lawfull for Christians I answer the same rule that was to the Jewes remaines still for Christians and there can be no cause to the contrary why Magistrates should not now defend Christians aswel as they did the Jewes Secondly we should not look for a full declaration of these things in the writings of the Apostles for their purpose was not to frame a Civill State but to establish and to settle the spirituall Kingdome of Christ Thirdly if Christ had intended that wars should end at his comming he would have said to those Souldiers which demanded of him saying what shall we doe Luke 3.14 I say his answer would have been this cast away your weapons and utterly withdraw your selves from war but he shewes no dislike of their being Souldiers only he counsels theat to be content with thear wages and to doe violence to no man yet by the way I approve not of every light-occasion to be ground sufficient to goe to wars unlesse they be driven to it by extreathe necessity For as Cicero a heathen man said our going to war should tend to peace for war should be sought onely when no other meanes will procure peace Lastly they ought not to goe to warre upon any private affection but as they are sensible of some injury dōe to their Kingdome which they are charged to keepe in peace for if any private affection should move them for wars they abuse the power committed to them which was not given them for their owne Commodity but for their Kingdomes benefit thus they may use Garrisons and Fortifications to defend the borders of their Countries and if any trouble arise they may joyne their Forces together to suppresse the common Enemy which would spoile their Kingdome which they are charged to keepe in peace and safety The Apostle compares the fight of faith that spirituall combate the child of God 〈…〉 corruptions to the bodily fight with open enemies to the Church of Christs which shewes the lawfulnesse of wars undertaken by Christians for defence of their Religion now the good souldier must give himselfe wholly to it and strive lawfully and he shall be crowned 2 Tim. 3 4 5. And we read of rare Christians that were Souldiers the Centurion had souldiers under him and yet he had such a saith the like was not found in Israel Mat. 8.9.10 And Cornelius was a devout man and a Captain of the Italian Band and he had devout souldiers under him Acts 10.1.2.7 And Paul was guarded by a Band of souldiers Acts 23.23.24 We read that Gog and Magog will compasse the Campe of the Saints Revel 20.8.9 But what shall not this Camp of Saints resist them I saw the Beast and the Kings of the Earth and their Armies gathered together to make war against him that sate on the horse marke and against his Army and the Beast was taken Revel 19.19.20 But what was this done without any fight did this Army of Christians and this Camp of Saints stand all for cyphers You shall see Ierusalem compassed about with Armies Luke 22.20 And there shall be warres for all these things must come to passe Mar. 24.6 It is spoken indefinitely that if one King goe to war with another they ought to withstand him if they be able Luke 14.31 As we would doe against a thiefe and not suffer our house to be broken up Mat. 24.43 saith Christ I came to send fire on the earth it is already kindled Luke 12.49 I came not to send peace but a sword Mat. 10.34 Then he that hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one Luke 22.36 And resist unto bloud Heb. 12.4 Then those that thinke their lives too deare for Christ and his Gospell are unworthy of either Mark 8.35 ill members both to Church and State Hence we may gather that if this be so then Tributes and Taxes are lawfull Revenues for Princes which they may chiefly imploy to sustaine their common charges of their Office and likewise use to their private Royalty and honour of their Princely state and dignity as wee may see by the examples of many holy Kings in Scripture which according to the State of their persons which they did beare were sumptuously maintained of the common charge and we read in Ezek. 48.21 That there was a very large portion of land assigned to the King c. Yet again Princes should remember that their treasure chambers are not so much their owne private coffers as the Treasuries of the whole People therfore saith Paul For this cause pay we tribute for they are Gods Ministers attending continually upon this very thing to execute wrath upon him that doth evill and he is the Minister of God to thee for good render therefore tribute to whom tribute is due Rom. 13. So then they may not prodigally waste and spoile what they are betrusted with for if they doe it is manifest wrong to the people nay it is no

peace the protector of righteousnesse and the avenger of innocency then he is unworthy to live in a Common-wealth that is an enemy to such government But here some will object that Princes in all ages some have been carelesse of their charge committed to them to foresee dangers to prevent them giving themselves to earthly delights and slothfully minding nothing else and others addict themselves to their game and so set to sale all lawes and priviledges judgments and grants other some spoyle the poore communalty of money to spend it wastefully and prodigally other some exercise more robberies pillaging of houses deflouring of Virgins murdering of Innocents so that no image of God is seen upon them that ought to shine in Magistrates nor no token of the Minister of God is seene in him which was given for prayse to the good and for vengeance to the evill Now men naturally abhor tyrants and love their lawful Kings then what shal poore subjects do in such a case I answer Inferiours are to submit to the governement of such Princes although Pinces do not that which pertaineth to them but they goe beyond those bounds which the Lord hath set them yet it will not follow that we may sin against them because that they sin against God saith Peter Fear God and honour the King And ye servants be subject to your Masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward For this is thanke-worthy if a man for conscience towards God endure griefe suffering wrongfully 1 Pet. 2.17 18.19 Wee ought to observe the providence of God who disposeth of all Kingdomes and setteth up Kings as it pleaseth him see Dan. 2.21 Although Nebuchadnezar was a wicked man yet saith Daniel the God of heaven hath given thee a Kingdom vers 37. And saith the Lord I will give Nebuchadnezar the land of Aegypt for his good service and the spoile thereof shal be the wages of his Army Ezek. 29.19 20. And King Saul was a cruell tyrant see 1 Sam. 8.12 Yet the people are not freed of their obedience to him and saith the Lord I have given the earth to whom it seemed meet unto me and the Lord hath power to do what pleaseth him Psal 115.3 And he made the earth and man and beasts upon it then it followes I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon and all Nations shall serve him Jer. 27.5 6 7. Thus you see God will have this tyrant to be honoured And David said to Abishai concerning the King destroy him not for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lords Anoynted and be guiltlesse and another time saith he God forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lords Anoynted so David stayed his servants with these words suffered them not to rise against Saul 1 Sam. 24.6 7.26.9 And we ought to have a reverent esteeme of them as wives to their husbands and as children to their parents for the King is worth ten thousand of us 2 Sam. 18.3 The breath of our ●ostrils is the Lords Anoynted Lam. 4.20 Then they that curse the King bu● in their thought a bird of the ayre shall carry the voyce and that which hath wings shall tell the matter Eccl. 10.20 Then are we unmercifully tormented by a cruell Prince or are our goods spoyled by a covetous and a ryotous Prince and are we neglected by a slothful Prince and are we vexed for a godly life by a wicked Prince then our duty must be to call to remembrance our sins which are scourged by that scourge of the Lord and by humility bridle our impatience and let us call to mind that it belongs not to us to remedy such evills it is only our duty to crave help of the Lord in whose hands are the hearts of Kings and the bowing of Kingdomes to his will He is a God who standeth in the assembly of Gods and judgeth among the Gods Psalm 82.1 And all Kings shall fall before him and all the Iudges of the earth shal be dashed in peaces like a potters vessell that will not submit to the Lord and kisse his Anoynted Psal 2.9.12 Yea woe be to them that decree unrighteous decrees and that turne aside the needy from judgment Isa 10.1.2 God reproved Kings for his peoples sake and suffered none to doe them wrong Psal 105.14 Yea he hath broken the bloody Scepters of proud Kings and overturned their intolerable government yet I say although God may justly correct their unbridled government by his owne revenging hand yet let us not think that we may do so which have no commandement given us but to obey and suffer this I speake concerning private persons Now it may be demanded of some that in case the chiefe Magistrate shall thus tyrannize over his people whether other Magistrates may not defend them and withstand this tyrant in the Cause of God I answer with Master Calvin Instit 4.20.31 If there be at this time any Magistrates for the behoofe of the people such as in old time were the Ephori that were set against the Kings in Lacedemonia or the Tribunes of the people against the Roman Consuls or the Demarchi against the Senate of Athens or as it is with us the three Estates in Parliament holding the principall Assemblies saith he I am so far from forbidding these to withstand the outrageing licentiousnesse of Kings that I affirme that if they winke at Kings wilfully rageing over and treading down the poore Communalty that their dissembling is not without wicked breach of faith because they deceitfully betray the liberty of the people whereof they know themselves to be appointed protectors by the ordinance of God And saith he in the 8. Section no kinde of governement is more blessed then this where liberty is framed with such a moderation as it ought to be and is orderly established for continuance and so I count them most blessed that may enjoy this estate and if they stoutly and constantly trav●ll in preserving and retaining it do nothing against their duty yea the Magistrates ought with most great d●ligence to bend themselves hereunto that they suffer not the liberty of the people of which they are appointed governours to be in any part diminished much lesse to be dissolved but if they be negligent and carelesse therein they are faith-breakers and false in their office and betrayers of their Countrey and the very thinking to bring in any other change of government is not only foolish and superstitious but also very hurtfull Then would any bring in Monarchical government let me tell them that it is seldome seene that Kings so temper themselves that they will never swerve from that which is just and right Again they are not alwaies furnished with so great a sharpnesse of judgment and wisedome that every one seeth so much as is sufficient for every thing therefore the wants that are in single persons are cause sufficient

I know not well but I suppose him to be one of the children of the old mouse-catcher who some years agone cryed mousetraps but when mice grew scarce his trading failed him he proffer'd 10. l. to be hang-man So now wood is something deare this man having but litle trading for his axe would imploy it to cut off men which are of two forts either the principall members of the body politick or else the living members of the mystical body of Christ as he calls them visible saints of the spiritual Kingdom the ground on which he would build these principles is Mat. 18.8.9 If thy hand or thy soot offend thee cut them off These members saith he are either the members of the body politick or the members of the body of Christ the first of these saith he are some principal members of the body politick as the L. Keeper which if he offend being a hand of the body politick the rest of the members must cut him off but he dares not to stay to tell us what it is that will offend him lest hee bee taken and hanged himselfe for we know very well what it is that offends Anabaptists First his very being a Magistrate offends them and for this offence Nut would cut him off if he durst although such a member were saithfull both to the King and Kingdome Again many other things offend them as the manntaining wars in our own defence is cause enough for them to cut off Magistrates as also for imposing a Covenant for reformation or an oath of Allegiance to Princes these and such like are great offences that Magistrates give to Anabaptists for which this Nut thinkes he may cut them off were it not that he feares the Nut-cracker at Padington well Nut is gone in all haste from the members of the politicall body to the members of the mysticall body of Christ and if they offend the rest must cut them off neither in this doth he shew what it is that will offend him but it seemes for any offence they must be cut off for he hath no healing medicines but like a butcher he akes his cleaver and chops them off but I shal take the hammer of Gods word split the shel of this Nut and give you a further taste of the divellish kernel that is in it he saith that our Saviour speaketh of a spirituall Kingdome or body or Church of visible Saints but must we beleeve this Nut when he saith that a spirituall member of Christs body must be cut off in this manner that here Christ speaketh of he would have it to be meant by excommunication but Christ saith if they be not cut off the whole body shall be cast into everlasting fire and again if they be not cut off thou canst not enter into life then suppose a member of Christ should offend thee canst not thou be saved unlesse he be damned again to take thine owne exposition suppose this offending member should not be cut off by excommunication must all the rest of the body of Christ be cast into everlasting fire Againe suppose some of the members be offended and other some be not offended must that member be cut off that offends thee alone and doth not offend the rest must that I say be cut off or else thou and all the rest must of necessitie to hell fire but in this case what wilt thou doe such a member offends thee and no body else and uniesse thou cut him off all must to the Divel neither canst thou cut him off because all the rest are against thee but is thy salvation so pin'd upon other mens backs that if but one faile and be not speedily cut off all the Anabaptists must bee cast into hell fire this kernel may please the Divels palat when he goes a Nutting but I think no rationall man can like the taste of it Againe thou dost not declare what it is that will offend thee so that I suppose if Christ himselfe were here on earth thou wouldst be offended at him as some others were for many were offended at him they esteemed him as a rock of offence Rom. 9.32.33 Againe thou dost confesse that the body is Christ and ye are the body of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16.12.12.27 Ephe. 1.23.4.12 And ye are called members of Christ see 1 Cor. 6.15.12.14 and members of his body Ephe. 5.30 Then doth Christ say If my hand offend me or if my foot offend me I must cut them off and cast them from me or else doth Christ say both I all and my members must be cast into everlasting fire and doth Christ say if I doe not cut them off I cannot enter into life and doth Christ say it is better for me that one of my members should perish then that I with all my mysticall body should be cast into hell neither doth he say if my eye offend me I must pluck it out nor say it is better for me with one eye to enter into life then to have two to be cast into hell fire Let thy conscience speak thou blasphemer and tell me whether it be so in thy book neither is it said if a hand or foot in Christs body offend him they must be cut off neither is it said that if the eye of Christ offend him it must be plucked out or else the whole body of Christ shal be cast into hel Then hear the words of Christ If thy right eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell And so If thy hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell Math. 5.29 30. So then the meaning of these words is this The members of our body naturall before conversion do nothing but act sin Now of necessity that corruption must be cut off from those members and rather then the corruption should not be cut off let that member perish rather then it should abide on thy body to act sinne What are thy eyes so full of adultery that they cannot cease from sinne 2 Pet. 2.14 Canst thou not looke on a woman but thou must lust after her thou committest adultery in thy heart then saith Christ expressely plucke it cut it is profitable for thee Math. 5.28 29. It were better those eyes were out then so to sin against God yet this must not be done till wee have tryed all other meanes and nothing will reforme this lusting member as we would do in the like case with a tooth that with paine much offends us first we try if we can take away the paine and save the tooth but when all means have bin used and we cannot take a way the paine we had better lose the tooth then to be so offended

should leave the word of God and serve tables but we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the ministery of the word Acts 6.2.4 And who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 But it may be they will object these words of Paul For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted 1 Cor. 14.31 I answer this is Schooles disputation If any thinke himselfe to be a Prophet or spirituall that is furnished with spirituall gifts and have a willing inclination to be a Prophet to the prayse of God and the good of the Church let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandements of the Lord vers 37. Let the Prophets speake two or three and let the other judge the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets vers 29.32 But here is no encouragement for Tradesmen to meddle with the Ministery but they will object that men of Cyprus and Cyrene when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians preaching the Lord Jesus And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number beleeved and turned to the Lord Acts 11.20.21 I answer these were extraordinarily called and furnished immediatly from Christ as the Apostles and those 70. Disciples were but this manner of calling is now ceased as I said before but they will object that the Rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them saying Ye men and brethren if ye have any word of exhortation for the people say on Acts 13.15 Hence they would gather that any of the brethren may preach I answer those brethren there spoken of were certaine Prophet● and Teachers of Barnabas and Simon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and Saul or at the least some of these as Barnabas Saul and Iohn that were their Ministers ver 1.2.5 For when that motion was made then Paul stood up and beckned with his hand said men of Israel ye that fear God give audience vers 16. So that it was not spoken to all the people but for some of them to preach that were sent amongst them by the Church saith Paul have not we power to forbeare working for so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.6.14 If the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spirituall things their duty is also to minister unto them in carnall things Rom. 15.27 So much for the ministery alone Next he blames both the Magistrates and Divines that are assembled for two things First for going about to reduce all our distractions and Schismes into one way of worshipping God I answer there is but one way to heaven saith the Lord I will gvie them one heart and one way that they may feare me for ever Jer. 32.39 Again there is but one body and one spirit one hope one God one Mediator one faith one baptisme Ephes 4.4 Then why should not all our distractions and schismes be reduced to this one way of worshipping God seeing all other ways misse of heaven Again the very end why God sent Christ was to gather together in one all things in Christ Ephes 1.10 And the example of the Primitive Christians they had all one heart and soule Acts 4.32 And Paul exhorts to be of one mind to live in peace and the God of Peace and love be with you 2 Cor. 13.11 Nay further saith he I beseech you brethren by the name of the Lord Iesus Christ that ye speake the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement 1 Cor. 1.10 But will not they have our distractions and schismes reduced to one way of worshipping God then saith Paul marke them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine that ye have learned and avoid them for they that are such feare not the Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 16.18 They would lead us from the ancient Prophets to walke in paths in a way not cast up Jer. 18.15 Let us enquire for the old way which is the good way and we shall find rest for our soules Jer. 6.16 Againe we have all one Father one God created us Mal. 2.10 And Christ would have us united in one as he and his father is one Joh. 17.22.23 The second thing for which he blames the collective body of our Kingdome for supposing that the land is scourged for this cause that so many Religions are suffered affirming the contrary that the cause of judgments wrath and stripes is this that all Religions are not suffered his reason is first saith he the consciences of conscious men are as deare to them as their lives 2. Hatred will pursue them that against Gods rule will judge men for their consciences this last reason is grounded upon a false foundation for they do not take upon them to judge the conscience we grant with him that God alone is the judge of conscience and I have shewed at large that Magistrates do but command the outward man as his words and actions and if they offend herein they may punish them in their bodies and goods so then they may command outward conformity in the worship of God and if they be Hypocrites it is from themselves who are not obedient to Gods command which alone reacheth the heart It is true we must obey them for conscience sake yet not from their command but from Gods command Titus 3.1 Rom. 13.1 Now for his reason that is built upon this he saith what hatred must needs pursue them that bring all religions into one although it may be proved the true Religion but saith Christ If the world hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you If ye were of the world the world would love his owne but because I have taken you out of the world therefore the world hateth you John 15.18 19. Blessed are ye when men revile you and say al manner of evil against you falsely for my names sake Math. 5.11 But saith he our consciences are as deare to us as our lives I answ if their conseience be dearer then Gods word they may quickly be deluded with a blinde conscience and may kill Gods people and think they do God service John 16.2 And that Strumpet in the Prov. 30.20 can wipe her mouth and say she hath done no wickednesse and we seldome heare a Malefactor plead guilty then is conscience such a perfect rule or must it rule the Word of God or Gods word rule the conscience But he replyes that every mans judgement is truth to himselfe as theirs is to them I grant it but the word of God must rule over all Neither doe they take upon them to frame a government for the Church but they search the word and endeavour to find out that forme that God himselfe hath set