they make sport with the Scriptures and cast lotts upon them as upon the Garments of Christ every one dividing to himself a share of them according to his own humane and Philosophical apprehension And he saith that the Doctors of these Universities are by the same providence called Doctores Scholastici i. e. Ludicri vel Illusorii School-Doctors that is mocking or May game Doctors Again he saith those most glorious Mothers of studies the Universities stink before God with most loathsome abomination These Universities are those Antichristian Souldiers who put a Reed into Christs right hand instead of a Scepter and this reed is Philosophy that vain deceit or as the Apostle else where terms it the Operation of Error by which Philosophy saith he the unhappy people of Christ began to be governed that is to be seduced and to be led away from the Gospel of God And this vain Reed they put into his right hand by preferring Learning before Godliness saying according to their usual manner of speaking he is a Learned and a godly man hereby making Learning to take place of Godliness And yet this Philosophy is nothing but a weak Reed which counterfeits a Scepter rather then represents it and so is nothing but vain deceit for there is nothing propounded in such Doctrine but vanity and lying though under the title of Knowledge and Religion In a word he calls them Antichristi Lupanaria the Stews of Antichrist Melancthon also terms the Universities Domos mendacii Houses of lyes and saith it is manifest that they are all heretical by their School Divinity which all the Schools in Europe have received from the University of Paris and are thereby infected with heresie and he saith the students in the Universities are not the people of the Gospel nor yet of the Law but are the people of Aristotles Morals And thus it is manifest that others have spoken freely and sharply against the Universities before now And therefore wise and Godly Christians will have no just cause to be offended at me who have spoken in like maner having the same cause Object Now if any shall Object that they all spake against Popish Universities and that our Universities are otherwise now then they were then and so there is not the same cause to speak against them now as there was heretofore Answ. To this I answer That though the outward form of gross Popery be taken away from them as also from the rest of the People of this Nation God having put it into the hearts of the Civil power to reject it after the light of the Gospel had begun to shine to them yet are the heart bowels bones marrow sinews and blood of the Universities the self-same now as heretofore and though the outside of it hath passed under a very little change yet the inner parts of it remain as before in the full strength of Antichrists Kingdom and that without any alteration at all For the self-same Statutes of the Universities and Colledges still remain with them in force which were at first given to them by their Popish Founders through the help of Antichrist and these Statutes are of such Authority with them that they depart from the Rule of Christs Gospel to walk by the rules of sinful men for worldly stipends and rewards Farther the same Philosophy or Heathenism and the same School-divinity or Antichristianism are yet instilled into the youth and students as were many hundred years ago in the darkest times of Popery and these things are all in all in the University Learning and Education insomuch that no man is of any esteem and reckoning with them know he the Gospel of Christ never so soundly and truly if he be not as they speak a good Philosopher and School-divine So that the University for its inside is the self-same now as it was in Wickliff Hus or Luthers time being informed and possessed with the same Heathenish and Antichristian Doctrine now as then Yea many of the self-same outward and Antichristian forms and follies still remain with them more then with any other people in the Nation again even to their Hoods Caps Scarlet Robes Doctoral Ring Kiss Gloves their Doctoral Dinner and Musique neither could they ever yet to this day find in their hearts to lay aside their very Praevaricator which is some notable Varlet picked out of the University and brought forth in the presence of all the Heads Students Schollars and all the great resort of Ministers and People at their publique Commencement to make shipwrack of Faith and a good conscience before them all and in open defiance of the Gospel which stands in faith and love to abuse and deride and jeer and reproach all sorts of persons of all ages sexes professions and this presently after their Divinity Acts which is a wickedness the very Heathen would be ashamed of and which plainly declares what kind of Divinity is taught and learned in the University which can endure allow countenance and be merry at that which so highly contradicts Gods Word and grieves his Spirit yet because it makes them merry after a full dinner and puts more joy into their hearts then the holy Scriptures they could hitherto dispense with all to this day And so however Religion for the outward form hath been much reformed in these Nations yet the Universities as the strongest Holds that Antichrist hath had amongst us have still remained much what the same not only as to the inward substance of all things to wit their Statutes Philosophy and Divinity but also in a great measure to their outward forms as they were in their first Antichristian Institution Wherefore it was necessary also that I should be plain and free for Christs sake and his Churches against these as Luther calls them stews of Antichrist and Dens of Thieves who have been and still are the constant and fruitfull seed of Antichrists Kingdom in the world out of which it might suddainly on all occasions and opportunities grow up afresh how greatly soever it had been before wasted and destroyed among the people by the clear word of God and his mighty Providences and Works accompanying it Now as it was necessary this work should be done so through the Grace of Christ was I made willing to do it seeing no body else more fit and able did appear And well knowing that he that provokes the Universities and Clergy against him provokes Principalities and Powers and the Rulers of the Darkness of this world against him as is evident in the example of Wickliff Hus Luther Tindal and others I have therefore according to Christs Counsel sate down and counted the cost of this undertaking and after all do say the Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me And so I commit thee Christian Reader to that Grace which is from God to keep thee in this new hour of Temptation if the Lord suffer it to come forth upon the earth 4.
ERROR He brought that Scripture 2 King 6.1.2 Touching the Sons of the Prophets asking leave of Elisha to go and build at Jordan to prove the Lawfulness and Religiousness of the Vniversities in their present Vse and Customs c. Answer To this I Reply that there is a vast difference between those Schools and these Vniversities as in many other things so chiefly in this That in those Schools of the Prophets named by him the holy men of God freely taught the Youth who came willingly to them to learn especially in the corrupt times of Israel and Judah I say they taught them only the Knowledge of the Books of Moses and of the other Prophets then extant and no Heathenish knowledge or Disciplines of the Gentiles at all And these kinde of Schools began early in the Church For the Fathers before the Flood and the Patriarks after all taught their Children and Families the Word of God And so each of their Families was such a School And that we may not be at uncertainties in this matter it is manifest what Doctrine they taught by that which God himself saith of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham saith God that he will command his Children and Household after him that they keep the way of the Lord and to do Justice and Judgement This was the summe of Abrahams Doctrine to his Family And this is farther confirmed by that of Asaph Psal. 78.2.3.4 Where he saith I will open my mouth in a Parable I will utter dark sayings of old which we have heard and known and our Fathers have told us We will not hide them from their Children shewing to the Generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and the wonderfull works that he hath done Where we plainly see what Doctrine the Children received from their Parents and the Parents taught their Children from one Generation to another to wit not vain Philosophy and the Disciplines of the Heathens but the praises of the Lord and his strength and wonderfull works This also is manifest by the practise of Jehosaphat King of Judah who sent his Princes with the Levites up and down throughout Judah and they onely took the Book of the Law of the Lord with them and no Heathnish Authors and taught the People 2 Chron. 17. And Ezra after the Prophets return from Babilon took onely the Book of the Law of Moses and read it to them and the Levites also read in the Book of the Law of God distinctly to the People and gave them the sense and caused them to understand it Nehem. 8. And this also James the Apostle witnesseth Acts 15.21 saying Moses of old time hath in every City them that Preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day So that the faithfull Prophets of the Lord during all the Old-Testament had the chief care in their Schools to keep the Word of the Lord among them in a right sense according to the mind of the Spirit For seeing the Lords People are his Portion they knew they were to be carefully Educated and Instructed in the right knowledge of the Scriptures to prepare them for the Lord and to make them meet for his Kingdom And the keeping of the Word and Doctrine of God pure is one of the greatest matters of all in the Church of God For as the Word is such is the VVorship such is the Faith such is the Conscience such is all Wherefore the Holy men of God would by no means bring in the Philosophy or Doctrine of the Heathens into their Schools to teach that to their Sons or Scholars but onely the true faithfull and unmixed word of God And if against this it be Objected That Moses was learned in all the Learning of the Egyptians To this I Reply But did Moses ever teach any of that Learning in the Church or publish any of the Doctrines of it or did he command or encourage any of the people of God to learn it Or did any other of the Prophets of the Lord many ages teach their Sons or Scholars any of the Egyptian Philosophy which was the Antientest or the Sinaradine Table of Hermes Trismegistus the pretended Scholar of Moses so much boasted of or any Heathnish Author whatsoever of which there were many then extant I say let them prove that but one Heathnish Author was read by any of the Prophets to their Scholars and then they will have some colour taught Jesus and the Resurrection from the dead Thus Peter first taught the Men of Judea and Inhabitants of Jerusalem That God had made Jesus whom they had crucified both Lord and Christ having raised him from the dead because it was not possible for him to be holden of death who was the Lord and Author of Life And Steven disputing with the Libertines Cirenians and Alexandrians and divers Philosophers of Cilicia and Asia did hold forth to them nothing but Christ and that He should put an end to the Temple and Law and should change all the Customs of Moses And they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake Act. 6. And Paul at the Vniversity of Athens reproved their Heathenism and taught nothing among the Epicureans and Stoicks and other sects of Philosophers but the Resurrection of Christ and his Kingdom and judgement Act. 17. He also disputed daily in the School of one Tyrannus and that for two years together and perswaded onely the things touching the Kingdom of God brought into the world by Jesus Christ Act. 19. And he so prevailed with his Doctrine that many which used curious Arts brought their books together and burnt them before all men and the prior of them was counted at fifty thousand pieces of silver So that as the Gospel prâ—vailed and the Name of Christ was magnified so did people renounce Philosophy and burn their books of curious Arts For which Books our Vniversity would give as much mony if they could procure it from good Benefactors as they were valued at So that as they through the efficacy of the Gospel of Heathens became Christians and threw away all other Learning and burnt their Books of great value least they should infect others So on the contrary in our Vniversities of pretended Christians men usually become true Heathens never valuing the precious Gospel of God our Saviour as they do other Heathnish and Philosophical Books Farther the same Paul dwelt after at Rome two whole years in his own hired house and during all that time Preached onely the Kingdom of God and taught those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness But taught not one word of Philosophy He also at Corinth a great and famous City of Greece full of Philosophers and Orators taught nothing among them but Christ Crucified to the Jews a Stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness But to them that believe both of Jews and Greeks Christ the power of
be foretold Rev. 9. which Scripture it is worth the while to rehearse and a little to unfold for John saith The first Angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit c. I will here make tryal a little with my own apprehension Now certain it is that by Angels through all the Apocalyps is meant the Overseers of Churches as doth plainly appear out of the second and third chapters where it is written to the Angel of Ephesus Smyrna and others Further that other sort of Angels which sounds the Trumpet of which there are seven mentioned chap. 8. cannot agree to any but the Roman Bishop seeing no others are said to sound with Trumpet Now to sound with Trumpet can be nothing else as appears by the consequence of the Text and the following effects then to make Decrees which none ever arrogated to himself besides the Bishop of the Roman Church Neither is it said in vain that they prepared themselves to sound seeâ—ng chiefly in these Popes there hath been an impatient fury and unquiet Tyranny to make Laws and thereby to subject others to themselves But let us come to our first Angel who was the first among three who were to bring three woes upon the earth and this is He who did first institute and confirm Universities whom it is not easie for me to name Histories so varying in this matter But let him be whosoever he was he was a star fallen from heaven to earth whether it were Alexander of Hales or which I rather think St. Thomas who onely after the Universities were approved and this Angel had sounded was either the first or chief Author of bringing in Philosophy into the Christian world being the most Aristotelian yea plainly Aristotle himself to whom as to the Earth he fell from Christ the Heaven having obtained the authority of that most wicked Angel approving such studies And he received the key of the bottomless pit and opened it and brought forth to us Philosophy long ago dead and damned by the Doctrine of the Apostles and from thence ascended the smoak of that pit that is the meer words and opinions of Aristotle and the Philosophers as the smoak of that great Fornace for then Philosophy prevailed and became of large extent and power so that Aristotle was made equal with Christ in respect of Authority and Faith And hereby was the Sun darkned even Christ the Sun of Righteousness and Truth Moral vertues being brought in in stead of Faith and infinite Opinions instead of Truth and the ayre also with the smoak of the pit that it may be understood not to be an Eclipse of the Sun but the obscurity of the Ayre and Sun by the smoak of the pit ascending to wit humane Doctrines obscuring Christ and his Faith as the Sun and Aire And out of the smoak of the pit there came forth Locusts on the earth Here the people of the Universities bred and born of Philosophy are called Locusts by a most fit name because they are without a King that is Christ and flie in companies as is said Prov. 3. and also because they waste and burn up all green things where-ever they light and so the Grammarians think they have their name Locustae Locusts a loco usto vastato from the place which they burn and waste And so this people of the Universities consumes and burns up all the green pasture of Christ that is the fruit of Faith And power was given to them as the scorpions of the earth have power to wit to wound the Consciences of men because the green fruit of Faith being wasted which heals the Consciences of men it cannot be but the Conscience must be hurt and prejudiced And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth nor any green thing that is that they should not hurt the Elect. For they do not hurt all neither do natural Locusts huâ—t every green thing but some certain place so it is here But onely those men who have not the mark or seal of God in their foreheads that is some grass they should hurt to wit those who have not Faith which is the mark of God which we carry in a pure Conscience and free conversation And it was commanded them that they should not kill them but onely should torment them five months This seems to be spoken of Moral Doctrine which seeing it teaches us the knowledge of sin like the Law of God it doth not kill but onely afflict a man with vain studies wherein he is always learning and yet never coming to the knowledge of the truth for they being killed with the Letter are quickned with the eternal Spirit onely they are tormented five months that is the whole time of their sensual life in which moral Vertues reign And we see by experience that all Moral Divines are of a most evil and unhappy Conscience full of scruples and unquietness and have power neither of good nor evil and therefore it follows And their torment is as the torment of a Scorpion when it strikes a man Behold here a wounded conscience for here he expounds what he had said before that they are not savingly killed nor spiritually quickned And in those dayes men shall seek death and shall not finde it and shall desire to dye and death shall flee from them to wit the death of sin which doth too much live in the conscience and yet is not rightly known for if it were known presently it being slain would perish but this cannot Aristotles Ethicks do but it is the office of the Letter and the Spirit And the shapes of the Locusts were like to horses prepared to battle to wit of Scholastical disputation and conflict He describes the war by this Allegory for they are ready to argue pro contra as they speak And on their heads were as it were crowns of gold that is the Names and Titles of Degrees as Magister noster eximius sacrae Theologiae humilis indignus professor c. that is Our famous Master and the humble and unworthy professor of sacred Theology and the like And these crowned ones John Hus called Hypocritas Coronatos Crowned Hypocrites and by reason of these Crowns they have Authority and power among the multitudes of carnal Christians who are willing to entertaine Antichrists pompe into Christs Church Yet have they not true crowns but as it were Crowns of Gold which they are very proud of and are much pufft up with them though usually they are set on the head of Ignorance and Error And their faces are like the faces of men because their doctrine and life is governed not by the spirit of faith but by the dictate of natural reason and by the light of nature illuminated by Aristotle And they had hairs like the hairs of women For Philosophy brings