dishonour to Jesus Christ for his people to go to Antichrist Priesthood to be fed it is a dishonour for the Kings Sonne to go to the house of his greatest enemy for bread if Christ provides not for his Family he is worser then an infidell in my Fathers house is bread enough Christ hath provided choyce dainties and enough Christ is in the midst of his Church his eye is upon his to know their wants and supply them Mat. 18. 20. Christ will worke a miracle before they shall want Abraham would not receive so much as a shooe latchet from the Heathen least they should say they made him rich see 1 King 17. 12. to 18. and 19 4. 6. 8. and shall 〈◊〉 from Christs enemy Abrahams case is ours wherefore we abhoâ—… to be provided for by them Gods love care and bounty call us from you to stand by and waite to see a full end of Antichrist and his Priesthood c. and so to sing halalugia and for you who are fed by them so as you cannot live without them tell me how shall you rejoyce in her ruin what shall you get by her fall whose ruin is your losse you cannot spare her now what will ye do here after her destruction hasteneth stand still a little and ye shall see the Lords Salvation of Sion and the utter downfall of Babilon Rev. 18. 19. 20. 21. and 19. 1. 2. 3. 19. Because the Scriptures declare to follow them it is an unreasonable practice to heare such as are not the Ministers of Christ 〈◊〉 so much is implyed in Song 1. 7. 8. tell me o thou whom my soule 〈◊〉 where thou seest where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noone 〈◊〉 why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy Compa 〈…〉 there can no reason be given for such a practice Therefore Christ answers it if thou know not o thou fayrest among women go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock and feede 〈◊〉 kids besides the Sheaperds tents Song 1. 8. follow the foot-steps of the Saints gone before you recorded in Scripture what hast 〈◊〉 to do in the way of Egipt nothing at all except onely to drinke 〈◊〉 water of Sihor 2. â—er 18. which God condemns 20. Because those which I may heare I may maintaine as 1 Tim. 5. 18. but Satans Priesthood nor any other false ministery I may not maintaine for that were to uphold them in their evell way therefore I may not hearethem 21. That ministery that is not from God we may not pray to God to inable them in the execution of it for he that biddeth them Godspeede is partakers of all their evill 2. Epis Iohn 10. 11. and if we may pray to God to blesse the Priesthood why not the Prelacie the Pope and Dragon Rev. 9. 11. for it is unreasonable to blesse the branches and not the roote and if I may pray to God for a good successe of actions done by a false power and Office then I may thanke God for the meanes of that good and then I may pray for the continuance of it and of that Church and for any so to pray were to pray against the fulfilling of the promise of the downfall of Babylons power and Priesthood we pray for the fall of Babylon and for the rising of Sion and to pray otherwise were to build 〈◊〉 that God distroyes and to take his name in vaine yea to make our selves transgressors and to mock God 22. Because we cannot approve of such a preaching as tends to the dishonour of Christ in slighting the rest of the Ordinances of Christ for so doth their preaching not onely 1. honour the cage 〈◊〉 2. hinder the Saints going to Sion by which they hinder their â—â—joying the rest of the Ordinances of Christ 3. Christ is deprived of his Kingly glory in the want of the presence of his Saints 4. their preaching hinders them and blinds them that they cannot see the mystery of iniquity it s their preaching that is the strong cord that bindes Gods people to Babilon the Cup of gold which she holds forth to intice the people to admire her and to follow her is the word of God which she hath stolen and I may not be partaker with her in her theft Psal 50. 17. 18. It were better for them and others that they taught no 〈◊〉 at all theâ— should they not by it keepe so many in errour as they do the harlots smooth mouth and hony drops hath be witched many and drawnâ— them aside from the way of God as Prov. 5. 3. 〈◊〉 7. 21. Neh. 3. 4. with Gal. 3. 1. God of old tryed his peoples love to him by suffering false Prophets to arise and give them a signe and although it came to 〈◊〉 yet when he went about to draw the people from the worshipâ—… God they were not to heare that prophet but reject him Deut. 〈…〉 1. to 7. with Deut. 18. 20 21 22. God is still the same and layeth 〈◊〉 like charge upon his people as he did then as Gal. 1. 8. 9. The Lord may say to them ye are they that forsake the Lord that forget my holy mountaine that prepare a Table for the 〈◊〉 and that furnish the drinke-offering for that number Esa 65. 11. 〈◊〉 they are guilty of usurpation in taking upon them to 〈◊〉 the people and whereas the lesse is blessed of the greater Heb. 7. 7. viz. greater in power and Authority whereas they have neither the Office of Christ nor the power of Christ 23. Because the way they walke is not the way that God 〈◊〉 appointed his people to walke in they may not go to them for 〈…〉 fit for great guifts and parts are not to be countenanced out of Gods way some thinke they are safe so long as they say they 〈◊〉 them as guifted men but seeing they stand there as Ministers 〈◊〉 intention alters not their standing nor lessens their sinne if 〈◊〉 have guifts let them bring them to the Church of Christ for 〈◊〉 glory and his peoples comfort see Deut. 1. 12. Ephes 4. 16. as 〈◊〉 Mica 4. 1. 2. so now the Law is to go forth of Sion see Ephes 3. 〈…〉 the greater their gifts are the greater is their sin and your 〈◊〉 in that they lay them not out for Christs advantage see Luke â—2 Are their guifts from God that are layd out so contrary to 〈◊〉 and the good of his people see Ephes 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 12. 13 1 〈◊〉 14. Mat. 28. 18 19 20. the arts of men are oft taken for the 〈◊〉 of God 24. The Church State make all the publike actions 〈…〉 done by vertue of it to be formally good or evill according to the Law and false power and so accordingly become lawfull or unlawfull to pertake of them Mat. 23. 17. 19. the true Church hath the true power true worship true Officers true administration the power being true all actions done which naturally flow from
vende her Commodities and all that symbolize with her So we are commanded to come with me from Lebanon my Spouse looke from the top of Amana from the top of Shiner and Hermon from the Lyons Denns from the mountaines of the Leopards Song 4. 8. compared with Judge 3. 3. Esa 2. 29. 17. Song 3. 9. 2 Kings 14. 9. 4. 12. Deut. 3. 9. 11 12 13. it was a type of the Cage Rev. 18. 2. 3. 2. The Saints are commanded to separate from strangers Judge 19. 12. Nehe. 9. 2. by a stranger is ment one of another Nation Mat. 17. 25. So by a strange woman is ment one that is not a mans own wife Prov. 5. 3. 20. and 7. 5. so other Officers and Ministery that is not Christs and so not our own 2 Cor. 11. 14. 15. are strangers to us and such as are under a strange Government Office and entrance and meanes of worship and unheard of in Gods word and contrary unto it and therefore we may not heare them when they execute their strange Offices and Christ commends his that they will not heare nor follow a stranger Iohn 10. 5. and how hearing is to be understood see Iohn 10. 5. with Mat. 17. 25. and 5. 10. heare and understand and how following is to be understood compare Iohn 10. 5. with Mat. 4. 22. 25. Iohn 1. 37. 38. 40. drinke water out of thine own Sesterne and not a strangers with the Prov. 5. 15. 17. the contrary God doth sharply reprove Jer. 2. 18. 19. 36. Lev. 22. 25. Ezek. 44. 7. 9. Therefore to heare an unlawfull Minister in the execution of their Office is to imbrace the bosome of a stranger and to commit Idolatry with it is spirituall adultery and contrary to 2 Cor. 11. 2. Ephes 4. 11. to 15. 3. We are commanded to separate and save our selves from a freward Generation as Acts 2. 40. we esteeme those to be froward that cannot be spoken unto without perill and when men are used to heale them that are so farre from being healed that they are more hardened in their sinne Jer. 51. 9. yea and that are so froward that they cannot be satisfied untill they have persecuted those that would heale her and also persecute them that walke in the truth although they meddle not with her we do not reade in the word of God that the Sheepe of Christ did ever persecute the wolves nor that the persecuting Church was the Church of Christ but they were the Church of Christ who were persecuted Mat. 5. 10. 11. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 12. and 3. 12. Gods Command compells us to leave them so that we have not separated our selves as they accuse us but God hath separated us 4. We are commanded to avoide such as cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine we have heard and learnt Rom. 16. 17. and seeing we are to withdraw from a brother that walkes disorderly and not according to the rule of Christ then much more must we withdraw from those who are no brethren for if we may 〈◊〉 with any then with our Brethren 5. We are commanded that those that refuse to heare the Church should be unto us as Heathens and Publicans Mat. 18. 17. they are so farre from hearing the Church of Christ that they despise her yeâ— denye her to be the Church of Christ and their practice declares they will not have Christ in his government to rule over them and such Christ calles his enemies Luke 19. 14. Psal 2. and for any to affirme that the people of God the Saints and Church of Christ should go to Heathens Publicans and the enemies of Christ to be taught it strange Doctrine and to as good purpose as for the Sheepe of Christ to go to wolves for instruction which were like to be their distruction also they reject the Councell of God themselves as Actâ— 7. 30. 6. We are commanded not to heare such Teachers Cease my â—onne to heare the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge Prov. 9. 27. they teach Doctrines contrary to the practice of the Saints recorded and commended to us in Gods word they teach that beleevers are not to be separated from the world but ought to continue together in fellowship with them contrary to 2 Cor. 6. and they teach Infants are to be baptised concerning which the Scripture is silent and many such Doctrins they teach with which our mindes and conscience might be defiled if we did heare them and although they teach many truthes yet seeing they teach heresies also we must avoide them Titus 3. 10. Zach. 13. 3. 2 Epist 〈◊〉 9. 10. Consider 1 Tim. 6. 3 4 5. Gal. 1. 7 8 9. 2 Epis Iohn 10. 11. 7. We are commanded to heare what the spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 2. 13. and this we cannot do unlesse we be there to heare it 8. God hath commanded his people to go to Sion compare Deut. 12. 5. 6. 11. and with Jer. 50. 5. and 51. 9. and 2. God hath said gather my Saints together to me Psal 50. 1. 5. then it is not his will that they be scattered in false Churches The Lord hath chosen Sion so must I he hath desired it for his habitation so do I this is my rest for ever here will I dwell so say I Psal 132. 13. 14. The Lord is there Ezek. 48. 35. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Christ is there and it is his will that his be with him Father I will that they which thou hast given me be with mee where I am c. Iohn 17. 24. here and hereafter Christ tells his that he is gone downe into his Garden 〈◊〉 5. 1. with 6. 1. 2. 11. and 4. 16. and that there he will stay and dwell Song 8. 13. consider 2 Sam. 15. 21. there was a day when the Sonnes of God came to present themselves before the Lord Iob. 2. 1. Also the Saints love to Sion causeth them to go thither I was glad when they said unto me come let us go to the House of the Lord Psal 122. 1 2. 3. Mica 4. 1. 2. Esa 22. 3. then not glad to goe to Babylon 9. We are commanded to let them returne to us but we may not returne to them Jer. 15. 19. we must owne them and walke with them that are the Lords and owne the truth else how do we profe the Gospel Mat. 10. 11. c. 10. We are coÌ„manded to stand fast in the Liberty with which Christ hath made us free Gal. 5. 1. Christ purchased our deliverance out of Egypt spirituall Rev. 11. 8. therefore we may not returne thither againe no not so much as looke back Gen. 19. 17. 26. with Rev. 11. 8. what Christ hath purchased for his people it is their priviledge to injoy and knew we the worth of it we would prize the lest part of it and be thankfull for it and dye before we would with part any part of it 11. We are commanded to let them
so conceited and wilfull that it is to no purpose and when this would not availe then they would make the thing in question the ground of an accusation taking it for granted before it were proved that it is a grievous error when it was the truth and when they did admit of a discourse they would so continue their speech so that we could not have time to answer or else they would fill their discourse with Greek or Latin Logick Sofistry and vaine distinctions and save fetcht consequences by which meanes they darkened the truth and hindred their consciences and others from receiving the truth one while they would put 〈◊〉 to prove the negative and being put to it they would aske our meaning and wonder at our ignorance and in the meane time they would study a shift and that which made most against them they would say it made most for them or tell us it was not worth the answering also they would draw us from the word of God to their wisdome and descretion and carnall reason which they knew would prevaile with the others Also we have found it their practice to frequent their Companies who were rich and honourable in the world and serve themselves into their affections for their own ends So it is common among them not much to care for the Sheepe but suffered the wolfe to take them so when they have professed their being cleerly called by God to a people yet they would leave them for a greater living and professe they were called thither and after leave them for a greater when the first was enough yea we have heard of that one of them who was not of the worst amongst them said unles he might be sure of 3. or 4. hundred a yeare he would not be their Minister whereby they plainly declare they serve not the Lord Jesus but their owne bellies and sell their Sermons and make a trade of Religion esteeming gaine godlinesse Also how do they seeke to hinder the publishing of any thing but what come from themselves as if the word of God came onely to them Also they are so proud that they thinke themselves wronged and complaine because we will not heare them preach 14. We have separated from them because we found those places the houses of Bondage because whatsoever corrupt Doctrine or blasphemies were taught we were enjoyned under a great penalty to be silent so that we must either sin or suffer and to suffer for witnessing against what they teach when we are forbidden to be there to heare them is not safe To be present and silent when they taught lies and spake against the truth were to partake of their sins breake Gods Command defile our soules hazard our peace incourage and harden them in their sinns For 1. Because it is Gods Command that those who sin rebuke before all 1 Tim. 5. 20. 2. Because it was the practice of the Saints to do so and that with great zeale as you may see Acts 13. 16. 10. Ezra 9 2 3 4. Psal 119. 136. 139. Numb 25. 11 12 13. and have not they more cause to be reproved who alleige the word of God to justifie errors and lies and to condemn the way of God and people of God for walking in it as we have heard them do 3. God commends it for a vertue in the Church of Ephesus that they could beare with them that are evill Rev. 2. 2. to see or heare sin committed with silence is to beare it and if Ely was guilty although he did reprove sin because he did not do it zealously as appeares 1 Sam. 2. 22 23 24 25. 27 29. and 3. 13. how shall they escape or be excused who reprove not sin at all their saying it is not my place it belongs to the Magistrate or the Minister or the Officers of the Church or he is not my brother I am no Member these shifts are too short so that neither love to God his truth and people the good of the soules of men nor their own peace nothing moves them surely such love not the Lord as they should nor so much as the Saints have done doth a friend love as he ought who heares him wronged and is silent and shewes no dislike oh offer not this to God 4. We ought to reprove sin if we be present where sin is committed in case none else reprove it because God hath appointed it to be a meanes of preventing sin sin being very contagious 1 Cor. 5. 6. therefore he saith them that sin rebuke before all that others also may feare 1 Tim. 5. 20. and that ye do so to all men great or small friends or enemies spare none so much is implyed in these words I charge thee before God and the Lord â—esus Christ and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without prefering one before another doing nothing by partiality verse 21. must we take care for the Oxe or Asse of an enemy as appeares Exod 23. 4. 5. then much more for the good of the soule of an enemy 5. This was Iobes comfort that nothing could cause him to keepe silence Jobe 31. 34. now if he might have been silent when sin had been committed â—and yet not have sinned his not being silent could not be any comfort to him at all 6. Because presence and silence God esteeme a doing of the action as 1 Cor. 11. 4. 5. with 14. 24 every man prophesiing yet all spake not every woman that prophisieth c. that is by consent for women are not allowed to speake in the Church So God chargeth Ahab with murder when Jezebel did it and he onely by consent 1 Kings 18 19. compared with 7 8 9 10. Silence is conformation as appeares Numb 30. 14. he confirmeth them because he held his peace when he heard them so it was not enough that they shed not blood but that they did not see it Deut. 21. 7. therefore God deales with those who were present and silent where sin was committed as if they had done it themselves see Lev. 5. 1. and 20. 4. 5. 7. If we reprove not sin we have fellowship with it Ephes 5. 11. Hag. 2. 13. Rev. 2. 20. see Iosua 22. 18 9 20. therefore the Saints are to come out from them that they might not be partakers of their sins Rev. 18. 4. 2 Cor. 6. I was almost in all evill in the midst of the Congregation and Assembly Prov. 5. 14. 8. God in describing a good man saith of him he stoppeth his cares from hearing of blood and his eyes from seeing of evill Esa 33. 15. 16 that is he cannot by no meanes endure it Consider impartially these things and resolve whether you may heare Gods truth and people preached against and be silent and not sin for my part my conscience was so overpowred with the evill thereof that if there were no other reason against hearing the Bishops Priests then this I was not able no longer to heare them
in use Religions we grace the temple and Priest when by our presence we cause them to be the better thought of therefore to cast the least glance of honour credit or countenance to an Idoll we worship him yea to looke towards an Idoll is to cast a glance of honour to it see Rev. 13. Daniel forboore the Kings meate it being offered to an Idoll which was otherwise cleane least he should serve to honour the Idoll for if he might have eat it and yet not have honoured the Idoll he did ill to refuse it as he did Deut. 1. 8. The 3. Command condemns the taking Gods name in vaine Gods worship is his name now to professe to worship God when I do not I cause his name to be evill spoken of and this is to take his name in vaine but to heare a false Minister is to mock God and to take his name in vaine so he that biddeth him Goâ—â—â—eede is partaker of all his evill deedes 2 Epis Iohn 11. 11. 4. Command requires us to sanctifie the Lords day Heb. 4. 4. 1 Cor. 16. 1. Rev. 1. But hearing a false Minister in a false state hinders persons from sanctifying the Lords day and therefore is a breach of this Commandement 2. This 4. Command requires us to cease from our own workes viz. sin but he that heares such preach of whom we speake sins and so hath not ceased from his own works and so is guilty of the breach of this Command Heb. 4. 4. 10. 5. Command requires that we honour our Superiours as 1. himselfe 2. those he hath set up But hearing them in those places is to disobay Gods Command Rev. 18. 4. c. which is to dishonour him 2. by hearing them I honour them and so farre I honour them my practice vilifieth and despise and disgrace such as God would have honoured in levying them to follow and heare them also in hearing Antichrist I dishonour Christ and those whom he sends to preach and in hearing the Popes Priesthood I honour those that sent them for greater is he that sends then he that is sent 6. Command condemns murder naturall and spirituall But to heare Antichrists Ministers is to teach and cause others to sin and to incourage and harden them in their sin which is to destroy their soules 1 Cor. 8. 10. 11. Also this practice doth murder the Saints Communion and love each to other c. The 7. Command condemns all uncleanesse both naturall and spirituall with all meanes and occasions that tends to defile us and that we use all meanes of chastity spirituall chastity Solomon teacheth in 〈…〉 parable Prov. 5 15. 18. with Song 4 12. 15. Rev. 22. Ezek. 47 6. 10. drinke water out of thyne own Sesterne viz go not to heare in false Churches to hear Antichrists Ministers is to sin so a breach of spirituall chastity and that which defiles and polutes my Soule and others in tempting them by my practice to defâ—â—e themselves also as 1 Cor. 8. 10. false worship is whordom because faith towards God is broken Lev. 17. 7. the false Church is a harlot and to have Communion with her in any thing that is hers is spirituall uncleannesse therefore we are commanded not to come neere the doore of her house Prov. 5. 8. Also this Command forbids touching of any uncleane thing consider well these Scriptures Esa 30. 22. 2 Cor. 6. 17. 1 Kings 22. 43. Deut. 12. 1 2 3. c. and 7. 5. 2 Kings 10. 26 27 28. and if the brasen Serpent was destroyed because abused 2 Kings 18 4. 3. what can we say for an Idolls temple dedicated to a Saint and a monument of Idolatry a principle Instrument of Idolatry abused to Idolatry and Idoll in use religious and commonly judged more holy then any other places yet not appointed by the Lord but an inticement to Idolatry it s called a temple and to have temples now of stone is to deny Christ to be come the Temples of old being a Tipe of Christ which being come was to be done away I desire to be satisfied of them that thinke otherwise in these questions 1. Whether those under the Gospel have any more liberty to use an Idoll in use Religions then the Jewes had 2. whether God doth not hate all Idolatry and all the Instruments of it now as much as he did in the Jewes time before Christ 3. whether we are not to hate and shew as much dislike against all the monuments of Idolatry as the Jewes were to do 4. whether our natures now be not as prove to Idolatry as the Jewes were 5. whether we are not to immitate those good Jewes in zeale who hated and abhorred them most The Temples and Priests are Jewells of the harlot and so long as we retaine them in such a use we have not truly repented of former Idolatry It is a Troope of Antichrists Conquest and while it standeth Christ is dishonoured and put to shame it is a signe of their complying with Gods enemies and while we use them in such a use at least we for beare to do as we are commanded Deut. 5. 6. It s a stumbling block to Popish mindes and while it continueth there is some regard seemes to be had of their service is it a small thing thinke ye to retaine their consecreated Priests and temples c. and I in going to them to heare the Priests tempt my selfe and tempt the Lord to give me up to Satan and Antichrist to be blinded and hardened Rom. 1. The 8. Command condemns all thefe to heare Antichrists Priests is theft in a high degree because by it I rob God of his glory and give it to Antichrist in worshiping him 2. To partake with all these is theft and they are theeves if they have guifts and graces in not carrying them to the Church for all is theirs and if it be sacriledge to steale a Mâ—â—-booke or a Sirples which are detestable what sacraledge call you this to rob the Church of Christ of her â—oode and to adorne Antichrist with it also my hearing them robs the truth of its due and robs me of peace and comfort and part of my Crowne of sufferings and bring a woe upon me Esa 39. 1. yea Plagues Rev. 14 9. 10. 11. and curses Josun 6. 26. its theft in that it steales from our brethren the comfort they might injoy in us and fills them with griefe because of our sin The 9. Command forbids all kinde of bearing false witnesse but to heare them is to go to them for foode I by my practice say there is not meate enough in my Fathers house this is to beare false witnesse against God and to lye against the truth for my practice in hearing them say they may be heard which is to lye and beare false witnesse against God The 10. Command forbids covetuousnesse which is for a man not to be contented with Gods allowance Heb. 13. 5. Now if we be contented with what God hath given us in his house c. why go we to the house of a stranger 〈◊〉 Antichrist surely our going to heare them plainly declare our not being contented without them which is covetousnesse FINIS Faults escaped in the Printing Page line word Reade 5. 21. proofe proofes 5. 34. osis Office 6. 2. Jodlls Jdoles 21. 24. institutes instituter 21. 29. zealous Jealous 25. 23. all a 10. 4. mony mercy 10. 36. some scorne 9. 13. serve some 8. 16. justifieth instituteth 8. 23. change charge 8. 26. change charge Epist  delivered derived The other faults correct or passe by in love
THE DOVVNFALL OF BABILON OR The mistery of Iniqutiy opened Wherein is declared the grounds and reasons of our departing from Rome and that we had just cause to separate from her and that in departing from her we have not departed from the Church of Christ but returned to it also that to heare a false and unlawfull Minister in the Execution of his Office is unlawfull and a breach of every one of the ten Commandements Rev. 18. 4. And I heard another voice from Heaven saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receive not of her Plagues 2 Cor. 6. 17. 18. Come out from amongst them and be ye separated saith the Lord and touch no uncleane thing and I will receive you c. 2 Cor. 6. 16. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idolls 1 Iohn 5. 21. Babes keepe your selves from Idolls Hosea 4. 17. Ephraime is joyned to Idolls let him alone Jer. 15. 19. If thou wilâ— take forth the pretious from the vile thou shalt be be aâ— my mouth let them returne unto thee but returne not thou unto them BY S. R. LONDON To the impartiall Reader Courteous Reader THE sum and substance of this Treatise tends to prove a necessity of disclaiming of the ministery of Rome according to the Statutes of Eiz 27. 1 2. the words of the Statute are these it shall not be lawfull for any Seminary Priest or ecclesiasticall person whatsoever made or ordained without or within any of her Majesties Dominions by any authority delivered chalenged or pretended from the Sea of Roome by or of what use name or degree soever the same shall be called or knowne to be or remaine in any part of her highnesse Dominions and every person so offending shall be judged a traytor and shall suffer as in cause of high Treason and every person that shall wittingly and willingly receive relieve comfort ayde and maintaine any such Priest or ecclesiasticall person shall be adjudged a fellon without benifit of Clergy and suffer death lose and forfet as in case of fellony So that it appeares that such as owne the Pope to be a true Minister and retaine any ordination delivered from him are guilty of Treason and such as receive and maintaine them are guilty of fellony and Treason and that the Ministery of England is derived escentially from the Pope see Francis Mason of consecration published by Authority 1614. and Yates moddell of Divinity pag. 157. printed 1622. so Dr. Crammer was ordained a Priest and Bishop by the said Popes authority and others received it from him unto which aforesaid Statute our nationall Covenant doth well agree and require this Nation to use all meanes according to the word of God and their place and calling to extirpate the said Popes Priesthood and the words of the Covenant are that we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy and all other ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that hierarchy in which number are all the Bishops Ministers by what names or titles soever they are called or however reformed and therefore unlesse this Kingdome use meanes and extirpate them they are all forsworne and therefore marveile not if we write and speake against them who owne the Pope to be a true Minister of Christ and derive their Authority from him and so worship the Beast Rev. 15. 9 10 11. Also that not onely the said Statutes and our late Covenant doth inforce and warrant our separation from the aforesaid Ministery but also the word of the Lord doth require and approve of this our departure from them this is the old way for in the begining God separated the light from the darknesse Gen. 1. 4. for what Communion hath light with darknesse 2 Cor. 6. 14. true beleevers are the light but now ye are light in the Lord. Ephes 5. 8. by darknesse is meant unbeleevers so the Israleites were to be separated from the wicked Numb 16 21. to depart out of Babilon Esa 52. 11. and the wicked hate the godly scatter persecute and put them to death the great flock tirannize over the lesser on Luke 12. 32. but the sheepâ— neither will nor can persecute the wolves but the wolves both can and will persecute the Lambes of Christ many are desirous to know the grounds and reasons of our departing from the Ministery no doubt some of them desire to see the Truth and to receive it however as we judge our separation to be just and necessary and have done it upon mature and serious consideration so we have no cause to be ashamed of what we have done Therefore I have here declared the causes and grounds of our practice they appeare to us unanswerable by the word of God and though I know more may be said for to warrant our practise yet I judge what is here said sufficient for such as seeke the Truth in the love of it for our parts we have in conscience to Gods Command done what we have done herein many of the Saints of God have been stripped of all outward comforts with life it selfe for witnessing to this his Truth so that we may say to God it is for thee and for thy sake that we beare the blame men cast upon us for doing what we have done what ease or pleasure think ye it can be to us to swim against the streame to be deprived of our names Estates Liberties and lives what pleasure is it to the flesh to be stript of all these things what get we from men but reproaches and persecutions we have no incouragement from the world and had we as little from God and his word we were of all men most miserable yet are we happy because we are one with Christ and our lives is hid with Christ in God we have that Spirit which assisted the Saints of old which will not leave us in our temptations he who hath said he will never leave us nor forsake us esteemes us as the apple of his eye we enjoy all the sweet promises of strength and comfort so that we cannot be miserable if the world do their worst the worst they can do can but make us partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel which is our glory we are resolved what ever can come not to returne to Babylon Egypt and Sodom more we are a kin to those spoken of Heb. 11. and as we ought so we expect the like assistance from God they had when he shall please to give our enemies leave to try our patience therefore we have departed from them that submit not to the doctrine of Christ but prophane the things of God and commit Idolatry we have left that Church which is the mother of the dead and chose the mother of the living we have left that Church which consists of stones and walles painted Cullers and Beasts Rev. 18. 2. that follow errour and Antichrist are come to them that
follow Christ aâ—d his truth we have left them that would intrude upon us intollerable burdens with tyranny that assume to themselves more then Paul ever did to have dominion over our faith and would force us to beleeve that which Gods word requires not and we are come to them who are free men who injoye the liberty of the Sonns of God where we are free from all the Taskemasters of Egypt and have liberty to witnesse to the Truth and oppose all errour without danger or feare we have left them that sought to keepe us and draw us from the simplicity of the Gospel and are come to them who have imbraced the Faith of Christ and keepe his Ordinances pure we have left them that sought to destroy us in our names Estates Liberties and lives for our indeavouring to informe and reclaime them from their Idolatry so that they refuse to be healed do live in such things as themselves confes are evill also that we have found that our staying with them did obscure and hinder the truth and settle them in their lees Surely none will marveile at our departure from them if they consider that we have more cause then Paul had to depart from the Jewes Acts 13 46. we judged it our duty to repaire to that Church which was most apostolicall most agreeable to the word where we might have liberty to live according to Gods word do most good and injoy the liberty and freedome of conscience so that upon consideration it will appeare thus our departure from them is not to be disallowed but commended the unity of Idolaters with the Pope and what is his we have broke and imbraced the unity of the spirit and the fellowship of the Saints c. and seeing a vile person is contemned in the eyes of the righteous how can he go to them to be taught Psal 15. 4. and 141. 4. can the godly set themselves against the wicked and yet go to them to be taught and joyne with them as brethren in the Sacrament Prev 28. 4. and as I may not offer mine offâ—ring when I remember 〈◊〉 brother hath ought against me Mat. 5. 23. and 9. 13. much lesse may partake in another mans offering when I have ought against him Mat. 18. 15. in this ensuing Treatise I have as in the presence of God declared what I beleeve is the truth namely that the Popes Priesthood is to be removed and the high places demolished but it belongeth onely to the civill Magistrate to do it it is our duty to speak against these things and to depart from them I meddle not what men are in their persons but what they are in Reference to the Execution of their unlawfull Offices of Priesthood and if the Magistrate will not do it it is not our faults search the Scriptures whether the things be so or no and the Lord give thee understanding in all things and power to do his will to his glory and thy comfort Amen Farewell THE REASONS OF THE SAINTS Departing out of BABYLON AND the Angel cried mightily with a strong voice come out of her my people c. Rev. 18. 4. this Babylon is to be understood spiritually for Sodom and Egypt Rev. 11. 8. and 17 5. and as they went cleane out from the shaddow as appeares Gen. 13. 1. Esa 52. 11. Ier. 51. 6 45. So should all that are the Lords come out of Babylon Sodom Egypt spiritually it being the substance Gods Command is to every one every man flye Esa 52. 8. Obj. This is ment of Rome locally from which Countrey they were to come out because of the Judgements and Plagues that were to come upon them Answ You grant more then I affirme for 1. If they were to come out of the Country then much more from their worship rules it be lawfull to do that out of Rome which is forbidden in Rome Rome in her latitude recheth as farre as her power and jurisdiction which is as farre as the power of the Beast reacheth and how farre that is see Rev. 17. 24. 7. 15 16 17. with 18. 3. which is as farre as the power of the ten Kings reacheth And all those have not forsaken Rome that retaine any thing of hers what the matter of the false state is you may see Rev. 18. 2. with 21. 8. she constitutes her Church by houses in the boundes of the parish by which all sorts of prophane are made members so that if the Divell dwell in the parish they will make him a member of their Church so do her daughter Psal 137. 8. and do not some make all England a Church and so farre as England agrees with Rome in her constitution matter Lawes Ordinances Cerimonies Offices Officers Ordination Doctrine Government so accordingly do more or lesse partake of her and is in substance one and the same and if I must come out of the false state then must I come froâ— their worship and Officers and if I may stay with them why not also with the assembly and if with both how shall I obay Gods Command Rev. 18. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 17. c. and seeing God hath called me forth I dare not appeare there againe with my person all presence 2. It cannot be ment of the Country because the Command is generally to all Gods people and therefore is not to be confiâ—â—… to those who dwell in the Country of Roome locally 2 Cor. 6. 17. 3. These words were spoken to the Corinthians that beleeved 2 Cor. 6. 17. and Corinth standes not in Roome locally but is 〈◊〉 from it 4. If it were to be understood of Roome locally then such as beleeve might not dwell there though they should worship God purely nor may any beleever goe into thaâ— Country upon any lawfull occasion which were unreasonable to affirme Rev. 2. 13. 5. Because such a distinction of Nations is now dissolved so that in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse shall be accepted of him Rome is a part of a Nation and therefore this were not so if none may dwell there 6. Christ commends his Servants for keeping the Faith where Satans seate is Rev. 2. 13. and that is in Roome as well as other Countries and therefore they sinned not in dwelling there 7. If they were to leave the Country because of those plagues they neede not to be marked in their foreheads to escape the Judgements they being out of the Country c Reu. 7. 3. Ezek. 9. 4. God saves his in the midst of Judgements as Zâ—ph 3. 12. 8. If they were to leave the Land because of their sinnes thâ—â— by the same reason if the same sinns be found in other places we mâ—â— leave them also and seeing all Nations have drunke deeply of thâ— Cupp of her fornication as appeares Rev. 18. 3. and so we must go out of the world therefore Babylon is not confined within her walles but it comprehends all her Merchants that trade for her and