therefore Christ commanded his disciples to teach all nations and baptize them that is to preach the word of salvation to every creature of all sorts of nations that are worthy and willing to receive it and such as shal willing gladly receive it he hath commanded to be baptized in the water that is dipped for dead in the water and therefore the Apostle saith Else what shall they do who are baptized for dead 1 Cor. 15.19 Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 Luke 8.37 if the dead be not raised why are they baptized for dead And therefore he saith we are buried then with him by baptism c. and it is to be wel observed that when Christ would have preached the word of salvation to the Gadarens he did not compell them when they refused but finding them unwilling to receive him and his word Luk. 9.54.55 he turned from them without hurting them also when James and John saw that some of the Samaritans refused Christ they would have commanded fire from heaven to consume them as Elias did but Christ rebuked them and said Ye Know no of what spirit are for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them By all which it may please his Majesty and Parliament to take knowledg that Christ will have none consumed with fire and sword for not hearing and not receiving his Word And that howsoever it hath been the mind of Antichrist to destroy mens lives for Religion and therein have not spared neither Prince no people yet it is not the mind of Christ that Princes should destroy their subjects nor yet that Subjects should destroy their Princes for difference in Religion And therefore why should Bishops perswade Princes and people and why should King Prince and people be perswaded by their Bishops and Ministers to be contrary minded to Christ verily it is a notorious and plaine token of a false faith and discipline that is defended by fire and sword the power and authority of Princes And they cannot be Christs Bishops and preachers Christs Bps. will not bee Lords ever the consciences that perswade Princes and peoples to such antichristian tyranny and cruelty And it is very evident that those Bishops and Ministers which give over men and women to the Magistrate to be perswaded by persecution doe shew clearly that their doctrine is not good and that they want the word and spirit of God and therefore flee to the Magistrates sword for the forcing of them to their faith and discipline and as the wine is not good which we are forced to drink so those doctrines are not good which we are forced to beleeve But it may be by this time all those Bishops who unfainedly fear God and truly love the King wil haste and make speed to come unto his Majesty for pardon acknowledging the truth of this book confessing their ignorance and arrogance in the knowledge of Gods word and in compelling the people to heare the word preached and for imprisoning burning banishing and hanging for Religion contrary to the mind of Christ and also for stopping the mouths of men and burning their books that preach and write contrary to their minds and wils yea it may be they will also confesse and say Oh most gracious King we beseech your Majesty to shew us mercy and to forgive us our spirituall pride and ambition in that we have thus long usurped the blasphemous titles of spirituall Lords and Lords graces the which titles we now to the glory of God and honor of the King The Bishop â—…oe know in their consciences that this is true Iob. 32.22 Phil 2.9.11 do with unfained hearts confesse to be due and belong onely to Christ himself and that the name and title of spirituall Lord cannot belong to any earthly creature no not to the King or Emperor because it is an heavenly name and title how much lesse can it belong or be due unto us your Majesties unworthy subjects and scholars And for so much as we now understand the Lord be praised therefore that the holy and heavenly name and divine title of spirituall Lord is as much yea as high and great as the name and title of a spirituall God also that it is a name above every name which God the Father hath given unto Christ onely to the end that every knee should how unto that onely and heavenly name and that every tongue should confesse that Iesus is the Messiah the Lord unto the glory of God the Father that in all things Christ might have the preheminence for be alone is the head of the Church Col. 1.18 which is his body the which cannot bee so long as we or any other Bishops do hold and retain that divine high and superexcellent name and title of spirituall Lord because then it cannot be said that God hath so highly exalted him as to give him a name above every name seeing our names and titles are also spirituall and are called spirituall Lords so well as the son of God Iesus the messiah the remembrance hereof most gracious soveraign do make us to tremble before God and the King The Bps. in titles equall to the sonne of God And therefore we must earnestly desire your sacred Majesty and the whole Parliament to discharge and release us of these fearfull names and titles that do onely belong to the son of God Iesus the onely spirituall Lord that God hath given unto his Church Note Gods blessings iâ— expected unles these idols bee rejected who are exalted above all earthly Gods Moreover we do according to the truth acknowledge that if we should any longer retaine these divine and high names of spiritual Lords and Lords graces we should therein be intituled not only with a name equall to our Lord Iesus the onely begotten son of God but also we should be intituled with a name and title above your right excellent Majesty yea above all Emperors Kings and Princes of the earth the which alone we doe acknowledge to bee a sufficient cause to put us down and to deprive us of these usurped names and blasphemous titles Also we do confesse that our pomp and state wherein we now live is more like the Bishops of the Catholick church of Antichrist then any way like the Bishops of the Apostolick Church of Christ unto whom we acknowledge we ought to be made like and also to be qualified with the like gifts and graces of the Spirit or else in no case we can be meet Bishops for the Church of Christ as the Apostle plainely teacheth both to Timothy and Titus c. 1 Tim. 3. Tith 6.9 And we must further acknowledge and confesse that our houses housholds and revenues are more fit and meet for Princes Dukes and Earls then for the Bishops of Christ Wherfore being moved and stirred up hereto by the feare of God we earnestly beseech your Majesty and Parliament also to disburden us of this great
you I know you are especially you that are Laymen zealous as you think for God and his Truth as Paul was But I hope there will a time come and I wish it were now present when in the midst of your heat and fervency the glorious and shining brightnesse of Love will appeare in your hearts like the light surrounding Paul going to Damascus and the scales of ignorance and mistake will fall from your eyes and then you will lament all the evill which through weaknesse you have brought upon your Brethren you will then blame your owne zeale and importunity and apply your selves more cordially and constantly to observe our Saviours rule of equity to doe unto others what you would have others doe unto you Peruse this Treatise I beseech ye with a single heart and unprejudiced mind and let it sway you as the Arguments thereof are efficacious and the Scriptures therein urged are pertinent and convincing So wisheth yours and all other good Mens true Friend H. B. To the High and Mighty King James by the grace of God King of great Britain France and Ireland and to the Princely and right Honorable Parliament Leonard Busher wisheth the wisdom of Solomon the zeal of Josâ—…s and the mercy of Christ 1 Cor. 5.5 with the salvation of your Spirits in the day of the Lord Jesus FOrasmuch as your Majesty and Parliament do stand for the maintenance of the Religion wherein you are born and for the same do most zealously persecute with fire sword I have thought it good and also my duty most Royall Soveraign to inform your Majesty and Parliament thereof In all humimility therefore I give you to understand that no Prince or People can possible attaine that one true Religion of the Gospel which is acceptable to God by Jesus Christ meerly by birth (a) John 3. â— for Christ saith Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Also the Apost Iames saith (b) Jam. 1.18 Of his own will be begat us by the word of truth and the Apostle Peter saith (c) 1 Pet. 1.3.23 Matth. 28. Mark 16. Being born anew not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God who liveth and endureth for ever Therefore Christ commanded this word to be preached to all nations that thereby they may attaine the new birth By which your Majesty and Parliament may perceive that the one true Religion of the Gospel is not attained by naturall birth for then all Princes and peoples in all nations should have that one true Religion of the Gospel the which you see and grant they all have not yet many of them also will defend their Religion wherein they are born by fire and sword as if it were their naturall and earthly inheritances or had with fire and sword been gotten and therefore will with fire and sword maintain and defend it But your Majesty and Parliament may please to understand that the Scriptures doe teach that the one true Religion is gotten by a new birth even by the word and spirit of God and therewith also it is onely maintained and defended For the word of God is lively and mighty in operation 2 Cor. 10.4 Ephe. 6.17 Heb. 4 1â— and sharper then any two edged sword and entereth through even unto the dividing asunder of the soule and the spirit and of the joints and of the marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart Seeing then the one true Religion of the Gospel is thus gotten and thus defended and maintained namely by the word preached onely let it please your Majesty and Parliament to be intreated to revoke and repeale those Antichristian Romish and cruell laws that force all in our Land both Prince people to receive that Religion wherein the King or Queen were born or that w th is stablished by the Law of man and in stead thereof enact and publish that Apostolick Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.16 Acts 8.12 Lu. 24.4 7. Acts 8.12.37 â— 41 Christian gentle and mercifull law of Christ viz. Goe teach all Nations preach the Gospel to every creature that is Christ will have his ministers to preach and teach the people of all Nations the things that concern the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Messiah repentance and remission of sins and to baptize in his name such as doe beleeve And forasmuch also that the false and Antichristian religion did come by the spirit of error and doctrine of devils 1 Tim. 4.1 Rev. 16.14 and not by fire and sword therefore by the spirit of Christ and doctrine of the word of God must it be driven out of the hearts and consciences both of Prince and People and not by fire and sword as the false Bishops and Ministers have and doe still perswade Therefore may it please your Majesty and Parliament to understand that by fire and sword to constrain Princes and peoples to receive that one true Religion of the Gospel Mark 9 38 39. is wholly against the minde and mercifull Law of Christ dangerous both to King State a means to decrease the Kingdom of Christ and a means to increase the kingdom of Antichrist as these reasons following do manifest The which I humbly beseech your Majesty and Parliament carefully to consider and that according to the Word of God which shall judge every man according to his deeds Mat. 16.27 Rev. 16.14 Luke 9.55 56. Joh. 12.47 persecution is a work well pleasing to all fals Prophets and Bishops but it is contrary to the mind of Christ who came not to judge and destroy mens lives but to save them And though some men and women beleeve not at the first houre yet may they at the (d) Mat. 20.6 7. eleventh houre if they be not persecuted to death before And no King nor Bishops can or is able to command faith (e) Eph. 2 8 1 Tim. 1.13 Act. 20.11 That is the gift of God who worketh in us both the will and the deed of his own good pleasure set him not a day therefore in which if his creature hear not and beleeve not you will imprison and burn him Paul was a blasphemer and also a persecuter and could not be converted by the Apostles and Ministers of Christ yet at last was received to mercy and converted extraordinarily by Christ himself Jam. 5 11. â— Pet. 3.9 2 Cor. 5.19 who is very pitifull and mercifull and would have no man to perish but would that all men come to repentance but not by persecution but by the word of reconciliation which he hath committed to his ministers And as Kings and Bishops cannot command the wind so they cannot command faith Joh. 3. and as the winde bloweth where it listeth so is every man that is born of the spirit You may force men to Church against their consciences 1 Sam. 15 1â— â—4 but they will beleev as they did afore
when they com there for God giveth a blessing onely to his own ordinance and abhorreth Antichrists And Kings are to think that they are men as well as Kings Act. 9.15 1 Tim. 2.1.2 1. Cor. 7.2.22 Wise 6.1.8 and that Christ hath ordained that same meanes of faith for Kings which he hath for subjects and that subjects are Christs freemen as well as Kings subjects and Kings that beleeve are Christs Servants even as subjects are Kings servants and both are bought with a price therefore both ought not to bee the servants of men in matter of faith and religion but Kings shall give a greater account at the day of judgment then their subjects to judge men now for religion is to judge afore the time also to sit in the judgment seat of Christ to whom onely it belongeth yet not before the day appointed how much lesse to Kings and Bishops Rom. 2.16 Act. 10.42 I read that Constantine the Emperor called the great wrote to the Bishop of Rome that he would not force constraine any man to the faith but onely admonish commit the judgment to God Christs kingdom is not of this world Ioh. 18 36.10.17 therefore may it not be purchased nor defended with the weapons of this world but by his word and spirit no other weapons hath he given to his Church which is his spirituall kingdom Therefore Christ saith Mat. 18.17 He that wil not heare the church let him he to thee as a heathen and a publicane Ephes 6.10.17 he saith not burne banish or imprison him that is Antichrists ordinance And though a man be an heretick yet ought he not to be burnt but to be rejected after once or twice admonition Tit. 3.10 that is cast out of the Church but as in the church of Rome people of all sorts are by persecution forced there into by the Bishops Ministers thereof so it is in the Church of England also which sheweth that the Bishops Ministers of Rome England are of one spirit in gathering people to their faith and church which is the spirit of Satan who knoweth welth at his kingdom the false Church would greatly decay if persecution were laid down seeing himself cannot stand before the word and spirit of God much lesse his Bishops Ministers therefore he wil have them for a name and shew to use the word of God but indeed if the false interpretation and alledging of the Scriptures wil not help then saith he constrain them with fire and sword or else if people have libertie of conscience they will try the spirits which of them is of God as the Apostle John teacheth and then saith he the Prince as well as people will try all things 1 Ioh. 4.1 and keepe that which is good and wil also prove themselves as the Apostle Paul teacheth whether they are in the Apostolike faith or not 2 Cor. 13. 5 as the Church of Rome provoketh the Magistrates to persecute to death such as are excommunicated out of her so doth the Church of England provoke the Magistrats to persecute to death such as she excommunicates And as the Bishops and Ministers of Rome will perswade the prince and people to heare and read none but themselves so do the Bishops and Ministers of of England also but the Bishops and Ministers of the Apostolick church doe perswade all men to prove and try the Spirits whether they are of God which they cannot doe except they heare and read other mens doctrines as well as the Bishops and their Ministers neither can they if they would so long as the Bishops have power from the King and State to silence and imprison c. all Preachers and to burne all books which teach not their doctrines Your Majesty and Parliament shall understand that all those that confesse freely without compulsion that Iesus is the Messiah 1 John 5.1 1 Joh. 4.2 1 Cor. 12.13 the Lord and that he came in flesh are to be esteemed the children of God and true christians seeing such are born of God and no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost therefore not to be persecuted And as Abel killed not Cain but was killed himself and as Isaac and Iacob did not persecute Ismael and Esau but was persecuted of Ismael and Esau who Gal. 4.29 and Cain were figures of all persecuters so the beleeving doe not persecute the unbeleeving nor the true Church the fals but the beleeving and true Church are as they have been most often persecuted themselves of whom Abel Isaac and Jacob were figures whose children are all beleevers and freemen that stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free Gal. 5.1 and will not be tangled with the yoke of bondage no not with circumcision much lesse with the discipline and doctrine of the Church of Rome whose Bishops are able Ministers of the fire and sword both to Prince and people as many Histories doe lamentably witnes to their utter infamy and overthrow also if the beleeving should persecute the unbeleeving to death who should remaine alive then none but the beleeving should live in the world and the unbeleeving should dye in their unbelief and so perish for ever the Lord will not that the beleeving should live to the destruction of the unbeleeving but unto their conversion edification and salvation And by persecuting of Prince and people to death because they will not heare and beleeve is no gaining of souls unto God but unto the devill And whereas ignorant and wicked Bishops may think to win souls by killing Prince and people for Religion they are deceived greatly for thereby they lose many souls viz. their own and the unbeleeving their own they lose because they wilfully break the Lords Commandement that saith Thou shalt not kill Luk. 18.20 meaning such as are not corporall malefactors and the others which dye in their unbeleef they confesse themselves are eternally lost except they as some of their ministers hold a redemption after this life And the Bishops should know that error and heresie cannot be killed by the fire and sword but by the word and spirit of God that is the onely weapons of Christs Bishops and Ministers and such only Christs ministers do use whose lives and conversations are so harmles holy and gentle that thereby and by their deaths and sufferings they win many souls unto God whereby they are known from all false Bishops and ministers who like wolves and beares not like sheepe and lambs make prey and devour both Prince and people that are not of their kind if they be able to master them Besides may it please your Majesty and Parliament to understand that the beleeving man that hath an unbeleeving wife 1 Cor. 7.16 and the beleeving woman that hath an unbeleeving husband cannot live together as the Scripture teaches for the salvation of the unbeleeving if they be
persecuted to death indeed some thereby are forced to confesse with the mouth that which they beleeve not in heart and so are made true dissemblers in stead of true Chistians wherby many men and women are deceived with dissembling husbands and wives as well as the King and State are deceived with dissembling servants and subjects but the word of God if permission of conscience might be granted would procure upright pure and unfained husbands and wives servants and subjects so that thereby neither Prince nor people should be deceived for all good shepherds wil divide and separate not force slay and persecute for if men and women be found Hereticks they shall be separated from the Church but if they be unbeleevers they shall not be joyned unto it untill they be converted by the word of God much lesse forced which conversion for ought we know may be at their death if not afore seeing the Lord calleth some at the eleventh houre so well as at the first Mat. 20. 6 7 and not at the King and Bishops pleasures Kings and Magistrates are to rule temporall affaires by the swords of their temporall kingdoms and Bishops and Ministers are to rule spirituall affaires by the word and spirit of God the sword of Christs spirituall kingdom and not to intermeddle one with anothers authority office and function and it is a great shame for the Bishops and Ministers not to be able to rule in their Church without the assistance of the King and Magistrate yea it is a great sign they are none of Christs Bishops and Ministers if they were they would not be afraid nor ashamed of their faith nor yet would they perswade Princes and people to persecute and force one another to beleeve them but would use only the assistance of Gods word and spirit and therewith suffer their faith and doctrine to be examined proved and disputed both by word and writing Tit. 1.7.9.11 And he is a true Bishop who is unreprovable and that is able to stop the mouths of his adversaries by Gods word and Spirit onely whose faith and discipline agree with the Prophets Christ and his Apostles and maketh no contradiction but all those Bishops that force Princes and peoples to receive their faith and discipline by persecution doe with Iudas goe against Christ in his members with swords staves and halberds who seeing Gods word will not help them betake themselves with all haste and hazard unto the authority of the King and Magistrate I read that a Bishop of Rome would have constrained a Turkish Emperor to the Christian faith unto whom the Emperor answered I beleeve that Christ was an excellent Prophet but he did never so far as I understand command that men should with the power of weapons bee constrained to beleeve his law and verily I also do force no man to beleeve Mahomets law Also I read that Iews Christians and Turks are tolerated in Constantinople and yet are peaceable though so contrary the one to the other If this he so how much more ought Christians not to force one another to Religion and how much more ought Christians to tolerate Christians when as the Turks do tolerate them shall we be lesse mercifull then the Turks or shall we learne the Turks to persecute Christians It is not onely unmercifull but unnaturall and abominable yea monstrous for one Christian to vex and destroy another for difference and questions of Religion and though tares have overgrown the wheate yet Christ will have them let alone till harvest Mat. 13.29.30 38. lest while you goe about to pluck up the tares you pluck up also the wheat with them as your predecessors have done who thought they had gathered up the tares and burned them but you see now that they have burned the wheat in stead of tares Wherfore in all humility and Christian modesty I doe affirm that through the unlawfull weed-hook of persecution which your predecessors have used and by your Majesty and Parliament is stil continued there is such a quantity of wheat plucked up and such a multitude of tares left behinde that the wheat which remain cannot yet appeare in any right visible congregation Acts 3.17 And now beloved Soveraign and Parliament I know that through ignorance you doe persecute as did also your predecessors Amend your lives therefore and turne that your sinnes may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord who before hath shewed by the month of his holy servant John Rev. 12.14 that the woman meaning the Church should fly into the wildernesse for a time times and half a time from the presence and persecution of the serpent And that the winepresse should bee troden without the City untill bloud came out of the winepresse unto the horse bridles Rev. 14.20 by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs and thus he hath fulfilled it Now therefore I humbly beseech you suffer not your Bishops and Ministers any longer to perswade to force your subjects or any others to their faith and Church by persecution neither suffer them therewith to defend their faith and Church against their adversaries if they have not any thing from Gods word against us let them yeeld and submit themselves if they think they have any thing against us let them betake themselves onely to Gods word both in word and writing 2 Tim. 3.16 For the whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God to that purpose and is profitable to teach to reprove to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect unto all good works with which scripture and not with fire and sword your Majesties Bishops and Ministers ought to be armed and weaponed Mat. 10.14 15. Mat. 16.11 and whosoever shall not heare the words of such Bishops and Ministers then such Bishops Ministers are commanded by Christ not to imprison burn banish hang them but to shake the dust of their feet against them for a witnesse when they depart from them Act. 13.51 affirming that at the day of judgment it shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrah then for such persons and this commandement of Christ did his Bishops and Ministers obey as you may read By which and by that which follow your gracious Maty and Princely and honorable Parliament may perceive the will and mind of our Lord and Saviour Christ unto whose mercy I commend you and to the word and wisdom of his grace which is able to build further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Amen Your faithfull and loving subject Leonard Busher not Furbusher There is one Furbusher a preacher in this Land Certain Reasons against Persecution FIrst because Christ hath not commanded any King Bishop or Minister to persecute the people for difference and judgement in matter of Religion Secondly because Christ hath commanded
his Bishops and Ministers to perswade Prince and people to heare and beleeve the Gospel by his word and spirit and as Ambassadors for him to beseech both Prince and people to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 6.20 and not as Tyrants to force and constraine them by persecution At â—y thousand Ambassadors Martyrs of Christ hath Bishops caused to bee slaine since Christ ascended Mark 13.9 Persecution destroys Christians but not errors Thirdly because through persecution it will come to passe that the Ambassadors of the onely spirituall Lord and King Iesus may he persecuted and imprisoned burned hanged or banished for delivering the message of their gracious Lord sincerely and often both to Prince and people which to doe is a more hainous fact then to persecute the Ambassadors of the greatest King and Prince in the world for in stead of hereticks they shall as they have already burn banish and hang the Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ who doth choose out whom he pleaseth to beare his name before Kings and Rulers for a testimoniall to them Fourthly because then we cannot say we have the liberty of the Gospel in our Land seeing where that is there is no persecution for any difference in Religion nor forcing of the conscience to beleeve the Gospel except by the word and spirit of God onely the which do wound and kill the errors of men and not their persons 2 Cor. 10.4 1 Tim. 1.13 15. Luke 9.53.55 Persecutors rebuked of Christ Fifthly because Christ came into the world to save sinners and not to destroy them though they be blasphemers seeing the Lord may convert them as he did Saul after called Paul and though they have difference in Religion or will not heare nor beleeve in Christ that they may be converted yet ought you not to persecute them seeing Christ rebuketh such his Father sent him not into the world to condemn the world but to save it be ye followers therefore of Christ and not of Antichrist in gathering people to the faith 1 Cor. 10 32. Col. 4.5 Sixthly because then you shall not walke wisely towards them that are without as the Scripture teacheth but shall offend also the Iewes and all other strangers who account it tyranny to have their consciences forced to religion by persecution Seventhly because if persecution bee not laid downe and liberty of conscience set up then cannot the Jews nor any strangers nor others contrary minded be ever converted in our Land for so long as they know aforehand that they shall be forced to beleeve against their consciences they will never seek to inhabit there by which means you keep them from the Apostolique faith if the apostolique faith be only taught where persecution is Eighthly because if freedom of conscience be not set up and persecution laid down then all the Kings subjects and all strangers inhabiting the Land that shall beleeve the Apostolique faith must depart the land to some free country or else abide the danger of burning banishing Persecution does make many strangers hanging and imprisoning the first will be a great impoverishing and weakning of our land besides a losse of the faith fullest subjects and friends The second will provoke the Lord to wrath by spilling the blood of his faithfull servants ambassadors and witnesses and also open the mouths of all strangers to speake yet more lamentably of the cruel and bloody persecution of our Land Ninthly because if persecution continue then the King and State shall have against their wils many dissemblers in authority and office both in Court City and Country yea no man of any degree shall know whether they are all faithfull and true Christians that are about him and with whom he hath to doe seeing most men will conforme themselves for feare of persecution although in their hearts they hate and detest the Religion whereto they are forced by law the which is very dangerous and hurtfull both to King and State in time of temptation from beyond the seas and in rebellion at home for they that are not faithfull to God in their Religion will never be faithfull to the King and State in their allegiance specially being tryed by a great reward or by a mighty rebell but wil to encrease their honors revenues conform themselves and some to save their honors land goods and lives will yeeld and submit though against their wils even as they have done in case of Religion for through forcing men to Church by persecution the true hearted subjects are forced out of the Land and out of the world some banished others burn'd hang'd and imprisoned to death Tenthly because then Persecution causes many religions in the Church if there be many religions in the land as it is well known there are it will come to passe through the continuance of persecution that many religions will be continued in the Church seeing all are forced to Church who bring their Religions with them as well as their bodies whereby all their devotion is against their consciences and all the Church is a confused Babel Rev. 18.2.4 full of every uncleane and hatefull bird even a bold of foule Spirits as the Scripture speaketh out of which the people of God are commanded to flee lest as of their sins they be also partakers of their plague And the Bishops the authors of persecution are very ignorant to think that when they have gotten people to their Church by persecution that then they have gotten them to their faith and Religion Better were it to have many religions in the land then in the Church the which is nothing so for most people though contrary minded to save life and goods will dissemble their Religion as for example the Jews in Spain and Portugal and the Papists Reformists and others in England but when they come hither or to some other free City or Counrry where praised be God is liberty of the Gospel then they shew that before they dissembled to avoid the cruell persecution of our Land Moreover the Bishops bewray great ignorance when they perswade the King and Parliament to force Prince and people to Church by persecution for if that be the means to come to the Church of Christ then Christ hath taught us to flee the means of salvation seeing hee hath taught us to flee persecution Mat. 10.23 Christ teacheth to flee persecution ergo it cannot possible be good Mat 7. 13. Note see 2 Tim. 3.3 4. the which the Bishops and their Ministers perswade to be a great means to bring men to the Church Indeed I confesse it is the onely meanes to bring Prince and people to the false church and therfore Christ teacheth us to flee that means least through persecution which is a great temptation we be constrained to goe the broad way which is the false Church that leadeth to destruction and many go in thereat and no marvail for there men may bee any thing except
good Christians for besides Demos the worldling and Hymeneus the blasphemer and many other sorts of indifferent Christians excommunicants covetous and profane persons there are notable Rebels and Traytors yea most cruell and desperate Traytors and Rebels as Digby Catesby Piercy c. whose unread and unheard treachery will never be forgotten which persons if they had not bin forced to Church against their consciences had never enterprized such horrible and hatefull treason And the Bishops should understand that it is preaching and not persecuting that getteth people to the Church of Christ for the Scripture saith Rom. 10.17 Faith is by hearing and bearing by the word of God and not by the sword of Princes and Magistrates as they perswade and practice And therefore the Bishops of our land are truly called Antichrists for by their beastly and bloody persecution as well as by their blasphemous titles erroneous doctrines and popish government may they justly be termed Antichrists Mat. 24. 2 Thes 2. 1 Tim. 4. 2 Pet. 2. Eleventhly because Christ foretold That many false Christs and false Prophets should arise and deceive many yea if it were possible the very elect and the Apostle Paul did prophecy a departure from the faith And Peter said There should be false teachers now among the people And John said the Kings should give their power and authority unto the beast Rev. 57.13 17 untill the words of God be fulfilled therefore if persecution be not laid downe and liberty of the Gospel set up you may persecute the true Christians in stead of the false as your predecessors have done for they are now like as they were then the smallest number and the false Christians are now like as they were then the greatest number and persecution is a notable mark of the false Church and her Bishops and ministers Gal. 2.3 4. 5.11 6.12 and therefore Christ would have us flee from it who overcame the devill and his Ministers by the word of God and by a good meek and gentle life whose steps his Bishops and Ministers ought to follow Twelfthly because persecution of such as do preach and teach Christ is a great hinderance to the liberty of the Gospel Note False Bishops reach Turkes and Pagans to persecute Christians For thereby are the Iews Turks and Pagans occasioned and encouraged to persecute likewise all such as preach and teach Christ in their Dominions For if christian Kings and Magistrates will not suffer Christians to preach and preach the Gospel of Christ freely and peaceably in their Dominions how should you expect it of the infidells unto whom Bishops and christian Kings and Magistrates ought to give a good example and not an evill as to burn banish hang and Imprison peaceable and godly christians that are no traytors nor theeves nor fighters nor manslayers nor yet swearers nor drunkards nor whoremasters nor such like And the King and Parliament may please to permit all sorts of Christians yea Jews Turks and Pagans so long as they are peaceable and no malefactors as is above-mentioned which if they be found to be under two or three witnesses let them be punished according to Gods word also if any be found to be willing lyers false accusers false alledgers and quoters of the Scriptures or other mens writings as some men willingly do let them be punished according to right and justice it is due desert no persecution but let Gods word have his ful and free passage among them all even to the end of their lives in all bountifulness long-sufferance and patience knowing that it is ordained of Gods rich mercy to lead the infidels and such as erre unto repentance and amendment Rom. 2.4 2 Tit. 2.25 out of the snare of the devil of whom they are taken and deceived Thirteenthly because persecution for Religion is to force the conscience and to force and constrain men and womens consciences to a Religion against their wils is to tyranize over the soul as well as over the body and herein the Bishops commit a greater sin then if they force the bodies of women and maids against their wills yea 2 Cor. 11.2 herein they are more cruell and greater tyrants then the Turks False Bishops worse then Turks and Pagans who though they force the bodies of strangers to slavery and bondage yet they let the conscience go free yea to Christians that are so contrary to them in Religions but these Idol-bishops will force the consciences of Christians their own naturall Countrymen Note False Bishops spirituall fornication 2 Thess 2.4 1 Cor 6.19 20. and 2 Cor. 6.16 17. with Rev. 18.4 2 Pet. 2.1 1 Pet. 1.19 even unto spirituall bondage and slavery and herein they commit fornication both with Prince and people and have made all both small and great to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads so that no man may buy or sell save he that will goe to Church and submit to the Bishops ordinances and name and mark of their beastly and bloody persecution through which as God they sit in and reigne over the consciences both of Prince and people which is the spirituall seat and temple of God bought at a dear price even with the precious blood of their onely spirituall Lord Jesus Messiah the true Shepheard and bishop of their soules And the Bishops in forcing men and womens consciences doe therein play the Antichrist so well as the Popes and indeed there is never a Bishop in the land but is a Pope for Pope in latin is Papa and Papa signifieth Father in English all the Bishops in our land are called reverend Fathers therefore all the Bishops in our land are called reverend Popes so many Lord Bishops so many reverend Fathers so many reverend Popes If Idolaters ought to be slain then ought all those that submit and yeeld spirituall obedience and reverence unto these Bishops to be slain who then should remain in land alive Rev. 17.13 and these are all so many Antichrists so many Idols and so many false Gods of England how many are thy Gods whom thou dost serve For whose spirituall adoration the knee of every man and woman must bow or else they shall be persecuted unto whom the King ought not any longer to give his authority and power lest hee fulfill the Scripture which saith that Kings should give their power and authority unto the beast Fourteenthly because the burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of men and women by Protestants for difference of Religion do justifie the burning banishing and imprisoning of men and women by the Papists for difference of religion even as the Papists doe justifie the Turks and Pagans in such like cruelty and tyranny wherein now is the Protestants more mercifull then the Papists or the Papists then the Turks Therefore as the Papists when they complain of the Turks and Pagans for their bloody persecution doe therein condemn themselves because they
are found to do the same yea worse for it is greater tyranny for one Christian to force kil another then for Turks and Pagans to kil a christian for that is no such great wonder seeing it is a paganish part who have no better knowledge but Christians should have better knowledge and more mercy then to play the pagans against christians Note So also the Protestants when they complain of the Papists for their bloody and beastly persecution doe therein condemn themselves seeing they doe the same for which they blame others and so are rebuked of the Scripture which saith Therefore thou are inexcusable O thou man Rom 2.1.3 whosoever thou art that blamest another for in that thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that judgest doest the same things and thinkest thou this O thou man that judgest them which do such things and thou doest the same that thou shalt escape the judgment of God Fifteenthly because his Majesty and Parliament would not willingly themselves be forc'd against their consciences by the persecution of the Bishop of Rome and his Princes so I beseech them according to the law Christ hath injoyned Christians not by persecution to force other mens consciences against their wills by the irritation of the Bishops of our land Luk. 6 31. Or provocation Sixteenthly because persecution do cause men and women to make shipwrack of faith and good consciences by forcing a Religion upon them even against their minds and consciences and also do send them quick to the devill in their errors if that be heresie for which they are hanged and burned which to do is a most unchristian unnaturall King Edward was an enemy to persecution Act. Mon. pag. 1484. The Christian answer of King Edward Rev. 16.14 cruell and tyrannous deed and I am sure you would not be content to be so dealt withall your selves but indeed the Popish and Idol-bishops are the authors hereof against the people as well as of other persecution against the Princes For antichristian Bishops do draw Kings and Princes hereto against their mind as may appear by Edward the sixt that godly King of famous memory who being urged by his bloody Bishops to subscribe to the burning of a woman called Joane Butcher hee answered will you have me to send her quick to the devill in her error But when his blood-thirsty Bishops would have no nay he said againe to Bishop Cranmer I lay all the charge thereof on you before God and Cranmer said he had never so much to do in all his life as to procure it whereby I doe perceive that godly Kings are drawn to Battail against the Saints by antichristian Bishops and false Prophets who otherwise would rule and reigne more agreeable to the mind of Christ Also hereby may all men perceive that the Councell and Bishops could not satisfie the Kings conscience by their perswasion if they could have shewed him the word of God for burning that Christian it would have prevailed with that godly King and he might then of faith have consented but his answer showeth that he was not of their mind for all that they had said and therfore now if it please you to require of your Bishops warrant from the word of God for the persecuting of Christians or for forcing Prince and people to Church you shall finde not one Bishop yea not all of them together though assisted with their Ministers will be able to shew warrant from Gods word whereby to perswade your consciences thereunto Rom. 14.23 and whatsoever is not of faith is sin and whatsoever is not from Gods word cannot be of faith Seventeenthly because persecution of Christians by Christians doe not onely justifie Papists and teach the Jewes and Pagans to persecute Christians but also do teach the Papists and others that know not the mind of Christ and once get the upperhand to persecute those that persecuted them By Digby Catesby c. Mat. 11.29 Luk. 14 27. yea it is a means as we have had lamentable experience to set such as are forced to Church against their consciences at deadly hatred against the King and State and urgeth all them to treason and rebellion that have not truly learned Christ who himself was persecuted to death whose harmles crosse all true Christians must take up and whose gentle and humble steps they must follow and walk in or else they cannot be his disciples nor sheep of his pasture And neither can the Papists be perswaded that persecution is a sin so long as they and other Christians are also persecuted by the protestants seeing the Papists do build their persecution on the same ground with the protestants but both sorts of Bishops doe erre grosly as shall be shewed God willing when they make their defence except herewith their consciences bee convinced to yeeld as I wish they may for the salvation of their owne souls the peace both of Prince and people and the safety of the King and State In the mean while it is to be observed that those Bishops and Ministers which perswade the King and Parliament to burn banish hang and imprison for difference of Religion are blood-suckers and manslayers and such it cannot be denyed caused Kings Magistrates to be their executioners and tormentors in burning the Martyrs in former times even in the days of King Henry the eight and Qu. Mary as the books of Acts and Monuments will witnesse if they bee not burned and I ask the Bishops and their Ministers Act 4.19 if the martyrs should have obeyed the King and Queen rather then have suffered death And now I must humbly and with all reverence do beseech his Majesty and Parliament advisedly to consider among themselves whether the Prince or Princesse differing with the Church now in matter of conscience and religion The Bps. as the High priests force men to obey man rather then God Note well stablished by law in our land as the right noble Princesse Elizabeth did in Qu. Maries dayes do not incur the danger and cruelty of the law now as that worthy Princesse did then seeing that popish and cruell law standeth still in force in most points of Religion and who dare trust the Bishops and their adherents in such a case the matter lying in their hands Let it be supposed that the Princes heart should be moved by the Lord to embrace the Apostolick faith and discipline shall he be forced to beleeve as the Bishops do against his conscience shall he be constrained to submit to their government and discipline against his conscience shall hee live in vexation and persecution and in danger of his life by the Bishops and law stablished as the Princesse Elizabeth did yea it must be thus with our right noble Prince except there be partiality yea it wil be thus with his princely person except those popish and cruell laws be repealed and extinguished Wherfore I meekly intreat seeing death
is most certain Better today then tarry till tomorrow though most uncertain when that those antichristian and popish laws may bee disanulled and made void in time lest wee all lament and bewaile it when it wil be too late And I pray your Majesty and Honors to consider Rev. 17.16 Gen. 17.6 Rom. 4 17. that Kings and Princes hearts are in the hands of the Lord as the rivers of waters to turn as he will the Scripture saith the ten horns by which I understand ten Kings shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked Likewise the Scripture saith to Abraham the father of beleeving Princes as well as beleeving people Also I will make thee exceeding fruitfull and will make nations of thee yea Kings shall proceed of thee which Scripture doe also overthrow the judgment of those men that hold a Christian may not bee a King nor Magistrate Ismael and Edom excepted Gen. 17.8 with Gen. 15.13.18 16.10 17.18.20 26.3 21.13 Gen. 14. 14. Let such consider that the Lord here speaketh of Abrahams spirituall seed and not of his naturall seed because if it be understood of his naturall seed then cannot Abraham be the father of many nations seeing all Abrahams naturall seed are called Jews and are but one nation of the Iews so that the covenant of God could not be performed that said I wil make nations of thee yea Kings shal proceed of thee therfore it must be understood of his spirituall seed of which may be Kings and Princes that are not naturally descended of him as well as people that are naturally descended of him therefore beleeving Kings may safely walk in the steps of their father Abraham and with their swords defend their subjects against their adversaries and redeem their brethren out of the jaws of all devouring beasts and bloody persecutors Rom. 13.4 for they beare not the sword for nought And now also I desire those subjects of what degree soever that would destroy their Kings and Governours for difference in religion to consider that therin they justifie their Kings and Governours which destroy their subjects for difference of Religion for as it is sin for Kings and Governours to destroy their subjects for difference of Religion at the perswasion of their Bishops so is it sin but in a higher degree for subjects to destroy their Kings and Governors for difference of religion at the perswasion of their Bishops and Ministers Therfore persecution for difference in religion is a monstrous cruell beast that destroyeth both Prince and people hindereth the Gospel of Christ and scattereth his disciples that witnes and professe his name But permission of conscience in difference of Religion saveth both Prince and people for it is a meek and gentle lambe which not onely furthereth and advanceth the gospel but also fostereth and cherisheth those that professe it as may be seen by the permission of the Princesse Elizabeth and others that were permitted and fostered in Dutchland at that time Permission of conscience a furtherance to the gospel and a safety both to prince and people Also permission of conscience is a great and sure band and benefit to the King and State as may likewise be seen in the same Princess Elizabeth who if she had not been permitted but had suffered death as the bloody Bishops earnestly desired then had not the kingdom bin so surely nor yet so purely kept and preserved for his Majesty and his royall Issue as now it is the Lord be praised therefore Further I beseech his right excellent Majesty and Parliament to observe that persecution was the occasion that the apostolick Church was at first scattered and driven into the wildernesse that is desert places of the world whither she fled to save her self from the rage and tyranny of Antichrist Rev. 12.6.14 13.17 2 Cor. 11 1â— and his Apostles and Ministers the first authors of persecution under the gospel Therefore his Majesty and Parliament may please to consider that so long as persecution continue so long will the apostolick Church continue scattered and persecuted into the secret places of this world and no marvail for her faith and discipline is as offensive as odious and as unwelcome unto Antichrist and his Bishops and Ministers now as it was then as their burning banishing hanging and imprisoning do witnesse even unto this day And it is to be noted that as the Apostolick faith and discipline in the Apostles days 2 Thess 2.6 7. when through them true signes and wonders were wrought by the extraordinary gift and power of the holy Ghost did let and hinder the mystery of iniquity wrought by Antichrist his Apostles and Ministers by whom the lying signes and wonders were done through the extraordinary spirit of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. 2 Tim. 3.1 4 5. 2 Pet. 2.1 3. 1 Joh. 4.41 2 John 7. Jud. 4 11.16 18. Note well 1 Joh. 4 3. So now the catholick or antichristian faith and discipline having gotten the upperhand by her lying signs wonders and by persecution do by the same let and hinder the mystery of godlinesse wrought by Christ his Apostles and Ministers by whom the true signes and wonders were done without persecution And it is well worthy to be observed both of King Prince and people that the Bishops Ministers of Antichrist cannot abide nor endure the faith and discipline of the apostolick Church because it will be the overthrow of their blasphemous and spirituall Lordships and of their Antichristian and bloudy kingdom And therefore are they so fiery hot and zealous for the Catholick or antichristian faith and discipline for by their faith they shew plainly that they are succeeded and descended from antichrist Who confessed not that the Messiah came in flesh and by their discipline or government they plainly shew they are Antichrists Bishops and Ministers who persecute with fire and sword all degrees both King Prince and people that will not confesse their faith obey their discipline And it is very plain and easie both for King Prince and people if they will not take up Religion on credit and content them with the religion they were born and brought up in as do the Papists to discern who they be that teach the apostolick faith and discipline who they be that teach the Antichrists faith and discipline for the holy Apostle sheweth it to all men that will give heed thereto for he saith Dearly beloved beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the world which confesse not that Jesus Messiah came in flesh Hereby shall you know the spirit of God The Syriack saith Came in flesh every spirit that confesseth that Iesus Messiah came in flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Messiah came in flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist whom
Antichrist from whom they are descended and succeeded both lineally and of great antiquity Mystically Wherefore I humbly beseech the King and Parliament that you will betimes listen unto the holy spirit in the mouth of the prophet which saith Psal 2.10 Be wise now therefore ye Kings be learned or instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord in feare and rejoice in trembling kisse the Son of God lest hee be angry and ye perish in the way of persecution when his wrath shall suddenly burn Let not therefore the Kings of the earth band themselves with the Bishops and Ministers of Antichrist Psal 2. â— 3. 1 Ioh. 2.20 Rev. 17.14 nor Princes assemble themselves together against the Lord and against his amointed that is against Christ and his Church seeing both he and she break your bands and east your cords from them Rev. 12.11 Yea her seed overcommeth you by the bloud of the lamb and by the word of their testimony for they love not their lives unto death Beware then in time lest you offend any more of these little ones that beleeve in Christ seeing Christ saith it were better to have a milstone hanged about the neck Matth. 18.6.10 and drowned in the depth of the Sea then so to do He meaneth that it were better for you to lose your lives then any way to consent to the offence of such little ones that beleeve in Christ See then I pray that they be not despised burned banished hanged and imprisoned For their Angels alwaies behold the face of Christs Father in heaven and remember he saith Matth. 10.38 39. Matth. 11.35.36 the tree is known by his fruit but persecuting of Christians is an evill fruit And that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things but persecuting of christians is no good thing and that for every idle word men shall speake they shall give accounts at the last day of judgements How much more for every wicked and cruel deed of persecution as burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of those that confesse with the mouth Rom. 10.9 and beleeve with the heart the Lord Iesus and that God raised him from the dead whose laws and ordinances they are carefull to keepe and obey Christ saith that such shall be saved and yet you feare not to burn banish hang and imprison such But if you beleeve that God will avenge his elect Luk 18.9 beware of persecuting his servants that cal on his name specially such as witnesse his truth against the abominations of Antichrist Suffer not your Bishops to destroy those men and women that strive to serve God according to his will in his word Be not your Bishops executioners in burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of harmlesse and peaceable Christians but let them enjoy freedom of the gospel and liberty of conscience that so the apostolick Church which is scattered and driven into the wildernesse and desart of this world may be againe gathered together both of Jews and Gentiles into visible and stablished congregations 2 Thes â— 8 And that the Catholick and universall Church of Antichrist may bee consumed and abolished by his word and spirit as the holy Apostle hath foretold even the uttermost of his arrivall which is the Emperiall and triple Crowne I pray the Lord to give such grace the Sea of Rome may ebbe apate through the triple sea of Rome And again I humbly intreat the King and Parliament to vouchsafe to heare me with patience yet a little further If freedom of the Gospel and permission of conscience might be granted then would not Papists nor any others dissemble their religion to the dishonor of God the destruction of their souls and to the great danger both of King and State seeing they are forced to Church against their consciences may not Popish Priests and Jesuites unawares to the Bishops become the Bishops Ministers seeing the change of their Religion and religious habit differ so little and so by degrees infect the people with more Popish doctrine as occasion shall be Nota. From Popes submission there is great suspition And such men will readily embrace the Bishops Orders and so they shall readily have the Bishops favours by which means they may more easily and speedily have accesse unto the Court and presence of the King and Prince which indeed is very dangerous howsoever not regarded Therefore I doe according to my duty humbly advise his Majesty not to beutifie his Court and presence with any popish stones not with one though it be of Alablaster But permission of conscience and freedom and liberty of the Gospel will no way be dangerous to the King or State if such like rules as these be observed 1. That no people tainted with treason doe beare any office 2. That all sorts of people tainted with treason do at all times from home weare a black hat with two white signs the one before 1 Kin. 2.36 41 42. Rom. 13 1. to 5. the other behind in open sight 3. That no people tainted with treason approach within ten miles of the Court without licence 4. That no people tainted with treason do inhabit the City of London nor yet within ten miles thereof 5. That none tainted with treason do make any assembly or congregation 6. That no person or persons in whatsoever difference by reasoning or disputing do draw any weapon nor give any blow stroke or push in paine and penalty as his Majesty and Parliament thinke meet 7. That for the more peace and quietnes and for the satisfying of the weak and simple among so many persons differing in Religion it bee lawfull for every person or persons yea Jewes and Papists to write dispute confer and reason print and publish any matter touching Religion either for or against whomsoever always provided they alledge no Fathers for proof of any point of religion 2 Tim. 2.24 25 Iames 3.17 but only the holy Scriptures neither yet to reproach or slander one another nor any other person or persons but with all love gentleness and peaceableness informe one another to the glory of God honor of the King and State and to their own good and credit Note A true signe of false Bishops and Ministers by which means both few errors and few books wil be written and printed seeing all false Ministers and most people have little or nothing else besides the Fathers to build their religion and doctrine upon or if it be once stablished by law that none shall confirm their religion and doctrine by the Fathers and by prisons burning and banishing c. but by the holy Scriptures then error will not be written nor disputed except by obstinate persons feared consciences seeing the word of God will be no shelter for any error Yea I know by experience among the people called Brownists that a Man shal not draw them to write though they be desired
1 Thes 5.19 is to quench the Spirit of God in Christs Bishops and Ministers and also to frustrate the precept of Christ which saith Preach the Gospel to every creature Besides it maketh their one office function void they ought to preach and instruct with al meeknes them that are contrary minded proving if God at any time wil give them repentance 2 Tim. 2.24 25. that they may know the truth for the ministers of the Lord must not strive but be apt to teach gentle towards all men suffering evil men patiently telling Kings and Princes that the weapons of Christ Bishops and Ministers are not carnal as the weapons of all false Antichristian Bishops and Ministers are but Spiritual and mighty through God to cast downe holds casting downe every high thing 2 Cor. 10.3.5 that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Also if al within the land be forced to be of the church as the Bishops and their ministers would stil have it then there would be no world in the land but al the land would be the Church which is absurd contrary to the scriptures and great ignorance do the Bishops Rev. 11. â— Act. 2.41 47. Note Act. 2.47 their ministers shew when they think the whole nation of people is the church of Christ for then it cannot be said out of great Britaine the Lord added to the Church from day to day such as should be saved seeing within the land there would be none without to be added Also within that land A true Church wil not persecute Mat. 12.25 Rev. 18.2.8 1 Cor. 8.11.12 Luc. 10.3 Gen. 32.28 Rom. 13.4 there would be no persecution seeing the church of Christ doth not persecute at al much lesse it self but the Ministers and members of that Church do persecute one another and therefore it cannot be the spiritual Kingdome Church of Christ but of Antichrist seeing it is divided against it self and persecuteth one another and wil with her mother great Babilon be consumed and condemned seeing as she they burne banish hang and imprison one another which is no Christian but Antichristian monstrous cruel woolvish tyranous part and practise for Christ sent his Ministers as lambs among wolves and not as wolves among Lambs Againe I humbly and with al reverence do beseech his right excellent Majesty to give me leave to put him in minde of those things that do concern the glory of God the assurance of his owne salvation the stablishment of his throne the benefit both of the Church of Christ and the common wealth of al his Dominions And though as Josias he finde by reading in the booke of the New Testament a great alteration of the Apostolick faith change of the lawes ordinances of Christ within his Dominions Yet not to be dismayed as Henry Legrand but be encouraged as Josiah to labour endeavour the redresse thereof according to the minde of Christ in his New Testament And I doubt not but as Iacob the Patriarch prevailed with God men so shal Iacob the King prevails both with God men especially being his chief steward by his new testament Through the zealous reading whereof will be found that Antichrist the King of the Catholick faith discipline called the mystery of iniquity doth sit in the Temple of God even as the Scripture hath foretold 2 Tim. 2. 1 Tim 4. Rev. 7 15. 2 The. 2.8 Rev. 17.16.17 But it is to be noted that the Scripture hath also foretold of the consummation abolition of this antichrist the man of sin and his mistery of iniquity with the utmost of his arrival or highest top of dignity he is come unto and this shall be done by the spirit of the Lord in the much of his servants For when the words of God be fulfilled then shal the servants of the Lord prevaile by his word spirit with ten Kings that shal hate Câ—aled the Temple of God 2 Thes Rev. 17 1.1â—.18 Ioh. 16.2 and make the whore desolate which sitteth in the hearts and consciences of peoples multitudes nations and this whore is the woman called the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth meaning the church of Rome by her false faith and discipline which is so faâ—… setled in the hearts consciences of the Kings of the earth that they think they do God good service in killing burning his servants that do speak against her faith and diâ—cipline and that wil not buy any of her warâ—s that is Rev. 17.13 14. her Antichristian doctrines and ordinances But as she hath had her exaâ—tation and arrival to the height and dignity of the sea Empire of Rome by the love of kings who have given their power and authority unto her and who have fought for her against the Saints servants of Iesus So she shal have her consummation abolition from that height and dignity by the hatred of Kings who againe shall take their power and authority from her and therewith defend the peace and persons of the Saints and servants of Iesus and not for religions peace will use their power and authority against the bloudy persecution of Antichrist and al his bloudy Bishops and Ministers and so become nursing fathers unto the Church of Christ And as it hath pleased God to give his Majesty peace round about as he did unto King Cyrus in whose dayes the material Temple began to be repaired which was a figure of the spiritual temple So I pray it may please him also in the peaceable dayes of King James to begin to repaire the spiritual Temple the Apostolick church scattered and driven abroad into the wildernes of this world Esa 2.4 Ezra 4.7 Ha. 24.10 whose calling and gathering together must be by the preaching of the word of God both to Jewes and Gentils and not by the sword of the Kings of the earth as Antichrist's and his Ministers have now along time perswaded prevailed whereby not onely the Jewes and infidels but also papists and other false Christians are hindred and deprived from the knowledge of the Apostolick faith And it is to be noted that David might not build Gods Temple because he had spilt much blood which sheweth no blood ought to be spilt for the building of the spirituall temple 1. Chro. 28.3 Ergo peace in religion is a good meanes to make a unity of religion among so many Christian sects Exod. 25.2 and 35.5 Act 2.40.41 Mat. 28 And it is wel worthy consideration that as in the time of the old Testament the lord would not have his offerings by constraint but of every man whose heart gave it freely so now in time of the gospel he will not have the people constrain'd but as many as receive the word gladly they are to be added to the church by baptism Mat. 16.16 Mat. 10.11 14. and