That God is not onely the Author of sin KK but also of the sinfulnesse the very Formality the Anomy the Ataxy the Pravity of sin LL A doctrine which all Protestants ever did abhor as high Blasphemy and which the Assembly of Divines with both the Houses of Parliament did condemn as such appointing Master Archers Book for that worst Heresie of the Libertines and grossest Blasphemy of the Antinomians to be solemnly burnt by the hand of the Hangman MM There was also another sparkle of new Light brake up in that Church wherein one of their Doctors doth so much delight to this day That not being content to have holden it out in Holland he is said to have Preached it over and over in the most solemn Assemblies both of Scotland and England That it is a duty incumbent to all who would be perfit to know God as God without Christ without the Scripture in notions abstracted not onely from all Grace but from all Scripture and from Christ NN I dare not affix unto this the late Doctrine of some Seraphick Jesuites and Monks wherein they have extravagated in their Lent Sermons so many absurd and Heretical senses as some very learned and good men have done in Print without any answer OO yet I must professe if it be a truth it is a very metaphysical one and much transcending my shallow understanding In that Church also the Doctrine of extreme Unction was so far brought back That they began to annoint their sick with oyl PP taking it as an Ordinance of Christ and a kinde of a Sacrament for the people at least a holy Ceremony no lesse of divine Institution then Ordination and imposition of hands were for Officers QQ Also they set on Foot another Religious ceremony in their Congregation the holy Apostolick kisse RR And as if all these innovations had not been sufficient they begun to put down all singing of Psalms and to set up in their place Their singing Prophets making one man alone to sing in the midst of the silent Congregation the hymns which he out of his own gift had composed SS 1 And this as I am informed by some who have been present is now the settled practice of the remainder of the Church of Arnhem Master Edwards layes to their charge not onely that their principles lead to that horrible Errour which 〈◊〉 of their followers maintain The mortality of the sou◠〈◊〉 but also that their cheif Doctors had Preached both is 〈◊〉 and England without the rebuke of any of their fr◠〈…〉 of the Saints go not after death to the Heavens SS◠〈…〉 same place the Pastor of Arnhem without the reproof o◠any of his party to this day so far as ever I heard doth take away and deny that Heaven and that Hell which all Christians before him did ever beleeve and in the place thereof gives us new Heavens and new Hells of his own invention He tells us confidently That no soul before Christs Ascension did ever enter into that place which we commonly call Heaven neither ever shall enter there if you except Christ alone unto the last day That all the souls of the godly remain in a place of the higher Region of the Air or at highest in the Element of the Fire That Enoch and Elias that the soul of Christ before the Resurrection and the soul of the good Theif went no higher SS 4. He tells us That the place of the damned before the last judgement is not any infernal fire but some prison in the low Region of the Air or at lowest in some place of the Sea After the day of judgement he makes Hell a very large place the whole Elements the Heavens of the Planets and of the fixed Stars yea the whole Heavens except that wherein God and the Angels do dwell being all turned to their first matter to him is Hell With such fine new speculations do the Independent Pastors feed their Flocks SS 5 I have heard also one of their Doctors deliver it as his opinion That it was expedient for the Minister in Preaching to have his head covered and the people in time of Preaching to sit uncovered But in the holy Communion that it was expedient the Minister should celebrate that Sacrament uncovered unto the people covered I do not deny my suspition of the Spirit of these men who are not affraid in so short a time to vent such a multitude of strange novelties But the clearest memento which God hath given us to beware of the wayes of that Church is Their bitter and shameful contentions among themselves which if not stopped by the Churches dissolution might long before this day have produced as foul effects as any of the former A part of this story and but a part of it you may read in that unanswerable Book of Master Edwards where at length you will see how their new fancies brought them to so bitter publike contention and irreconcileable strife as made their people confesse their doubting of the truth of their way TT and their principal Doctor Master Goodwin to avow his inclination to desert their society and leave their Church VV The Testimonies A Anatomy of Independency pag. 24. That Independent Church at Roterdam was formerly under Presbyterial Government and conformable to the Dutch Churches and had onely begun to decline in Master Peters his time B Antap. p. 17. Master Bridge and Master Burrows were men judged conformable till the yeer of Bishop Wrens visitation and the sending down of his Injunctions to Norwich C Ibid. Master Bridge fell suddenly into the Church-way as the short space between his Suspension at Norwich and his being received into a Church at Roterdam and thereupon his first Letter to some of his old friends in Norwich will fully shew D Anatom pag. 23. They all renounced their Ordination in England and ordained one another in Holland first Master Bridges ordained Master Ward and then immediately Master Ward ordained Master Bridges E Antap. pag. 142. Master Simpson after some time of beholding the order and way of the Church at Roterdam desired to be admitted a Member and was upon his Confession received in F Ibid. Master Simpson stood for the Ordinance of prophecying and that the people on the Lords day should have liberty after the Sermon to put doubts and questions to the Ministers Mr. Bridge opposed Yet he yeelded so far that the Church should meet on a week day and then they should have that liberty but this would not satisfie Master Simpson whereupon the difference increased and Master Simpson would abide no longer but quitted that Church and with the help of a woman whom Master Bridge called the Foundresse of Master Simpsons Church set up a Church against a Church G Mistresse Bridge laid these bitter differences and reports so to heart that they were a great means of her death H Ibid. Whether Master Bridges weaknesse and distempers were not occasioned by the divisions
had gathered a separate Congregation and drawn up for the defence of his Way these Writings whence ever since the best Arguments for that Schism are drawn B they went over to enjoy their liberty to Middleburgh of Zeland But behold the wrath of God following them at the heels when there was no disturbance from without they fell to such jarring among themselves that soon they broke all to pieces the most turned Anabaptists Brown himself returned to England recanted his Brownism received a Parsonage at the hand of a Bishop The course of his life to his deep old age was so extremely scandalous that more then ordinary charity is needfull to perswade that ever he was led with a good spirit I have heard it from reverend Ministers that he was a common beater of his poor old wife and would not stick to defend publikely this his wicked practice also that he was an open profaner of the Sabbath and that his injustice in not paying the small pittance he was indebted to him whom lazinesse in his Calling made him to keep for the supply of the cure of his Parsonage did bring him to prison in the which for that very cause he continued till death When the wickednesse of this man is objected to Robinson his Scholar he is so far from denial that under his hand he testifieth it abundantly C The third Master of this Sect was Barrow the most bitter and clamorous Censurer of all the Reformed Churches of any that yet hath put Pen to Paper chuse whom you will of the most despiteful Jesuites let their Books which are most besprinkled with Gall be compared with Barrows Discovery this to my taste is nothing sweeter then the bitterest of them all And yet there is small reason why with so great arrogance he should have taken in his hand the Censors rod if all be true of him which his opposites object However before he could gather any formed Congregation his invectives against the Faith Baptism and Laws of England were so excessive that Queen Elizabeth impatient of his Contumelies by the evil advice of the cruel Prelates about her caused him in a morning to be hanged on the Tower-hill The fourth Leader of this Way was Master Johnson who affraid at Barrows execution got over with the Church he had gathered to Amsterdam and there for many yeers was Pastor to the first setled Congregation of Brownists we read of This man with Ainsworth his Doctor sent out to all the reformed Churches the Confession of their Faith in the yeer 1602. But long it was not till it appeared to the world that no better spirit did reign in that company then in the former Societies of this way For incontinent three shamefull Schisms one upon the neck of another broke out among them First many of them turned Anabaptists and were excommunicated Secondly Master Johnson fell to so great oddes first with his brother Master George for small matters and afterward with his father that he excommunicated them both and was cursed by both when he had rejected peremptorily the mediation of the Presbytery of Amsterdam for reconciliation Thirdly the remnant of the company a little after rent in two upon needlesle Questions Master Ainsworth the Doctor with his half did excommunicate Johnson and his half who were not long behinde for they also did quickly excommunicate Ainsworth and all his followers Hereupon the War betwixt these two handfuls of people became so sharp that Amsterdam could not keep them both for Johnson with his side of the house got away to Emden where after his death that little company as I suppose dissolved and vanished Ainsworths's company after his death remained long without all Officers very like to have dissolved yet at last after much strife they did chuse one Master Cann for their Pastor but could not agree til very lately upon any other Officer and even yet they live without an Eldership as they did before without a Pastor The most of these things are the confessions of the party D the rest are notorious and will not be denied The weight and evidence of Gods hand against Johnson and Ainsworth had so far disgraced that Sect that in the opinion of the most no man would ever more look after it Yet two other Divines of very good parts did set under their shoulders to support it for some longer time but so that in the end they did undermine and undo it though in a contrary way Master Smith a man as I have heard of right eminent parts falling to that side and writing against the use of the Lords Prayer was convinced in a publike meeting by Master Hildersham and others for the Unconformists alwayes had the one eye no lesse intent upon the Separatists then the other upon Episcopacy notwithstanding Master Smith for all his conviction and open profession upon his knees of his full satisfaction did relapse and by his perswasion moved a great company to follow him out of England to Ley in Holland There he persevered not long in concord with his Elder Brethren of the Separation but quickly accused them all of Idolatry in their worship for looking upon their Bibles in the time of Preaching and on their Psalters in the time of singing E and of Antichristianism in their Government because in their Presbytery they joyned to Pastors other two Officers Doctours and ruling Elders which to him were humane inventions Neither here did the spirit of errour permit him long to stand But as in the Preface of his Book of difference from the old Separatists he professeth a resolution of inconstancy F So accordingly he did practise falling from Brownism to Anabaptism And as ordinary Brownism when he was a Brownist did not please his taste without his own refinings so turning Anabaptist the common sorts of that way did not please him though of the Anabaptists there be more kindes then of any other Sect this day extant yet by none of them all would his conscience permit him to be Rebaptised but he needs must Rebaptise himself and so draw on the just infamy of a Sebaptist G For a recompence of this wantonnesse in erring behold how the just Lord permitted Satan to lead him yet one step further It is not onely a common report but I have heard it from the gravest and most approved Divines of the Kingdom That upon his death-bed he became a Preacher of his own perfect righteousnesse if not a professed Arrian An example full of horrour which God hath set forth if men will be so wise as to be disciplined in the persons of others to bridle the petulant wits of this age who make it if not their pastime yet their exercise and glory to impugn by their Sophisms the setled Tenents and practices of all Christians before them Master Smiths progresse and end ought to circumscribe their luxuriant spirits within the circle of some moderation lest all the glory of their new inventions be
rhyming and paraphrasing the Psalms as in your Church and against Apocrypha and Erroneous Ballads in rythme sung commonly in your Church instead of the Psalms and other Songs of holy Scripture LLLL Rob. Apoâ— p. 20. Nego eandem esse rationem precationis cantionis ipsi Psalmi quorum materia precatione aut gratulatione constat in hunc finem proprie primo formantur a prophetis in cantiones Psalmos spirituales ut nos edoceant quae vota illi in angustiis constituti ad Deum fuderint quasque liberati eidem Deo gratias retulerint ut nos eosdem Psalmos sive psallentes sive legentes institueremus nos ipsos sive publice sive privatim sive docendo sive commone faciendo sive consolando ad Dei gloriam in cordibus nostris promovendam MMMM Smiths Diff. p. 4. That the reading out of a Book is no part of spiritual worship but the invention of the man of sin that Books and writings are in the nature of Pictures and Images that it is unlawful to have the Book before the eyes in singing of a Psalm NNNN Smiths differences Vide supra cap. 1. E. OOOO Confess p. 34. Such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures ought by the appointment of the Congregation to prophecy and so to teach publikely the Word of God until such time as God manifests men with able gifts to such Offices as Christ hath appointed to the publike Ministry PPPP Bar. Disc p. 116. Shall I speak according to the times and say Be no true Sacrament or rather leave that traditional word which ingendreth strife rather then godly edifying and say Be no true Seal of the Covenant QQQQ Vide supra F. RRRR Johns Plea p. 291. Whether it be not best to celebrate the Lords Supper where it can be every Lords day this the Apostles used to do by so doing we shall return to the intire practise of the Churches in former ages SSSS How corrupt is the signe of the Crosse kneeling and uncovering of the head at the Lords Supper and such things which Scripture prescribes not but men have taken upon themselves thus breaking the second command and joyning their Posts and Thresholds with the Lords Men are thus drawn away from the simplicity of the practise used by Christ and his Apostles who sat when they ate and drank and did no more discover then before TTTT Johns Plea p. 294. To have love feasts on the dayes of the Lords Supper it is a thing indifferent to keep or leave them as they shall be used or abused or as every Church shall finde them to be most expedient for their estate VVVV Bar. Refut p. 43. Not here to mention the binding of the Faith of the Church to an Apocrypha Catechism Idem Disc p. 142. They are not ashamed to Preach and publikely Expound in their Church their fond Apocrypha Catechisms XXXX Bar. Disc p. 76. Their forged patchery commonly called The Apostles Creed YYYY His Refut p. 48. What Scripture can you bring for the blasphemous Article of Christs descent into hell ZZZZ Cans Necessity p. 44. Bare reading of the Word and single Service-saying is an English Popery and far be it from the Lords people to hear it for if they would do so they would offer to the Lord a corrupt thing and so incur that curse of Malachi AAAAA Johns Enquiry p. 7. We have in our Church the use of the exercise of Prophecie spoken of 1 Cor. 14. in which some of the Brethren which are for gifts best able though not in Office of the Ministery deliver from some portion of Scripture Doctrine Exhortation Comfort sometimes Two at a time sometimes more BBBBB Johns Enquiry p. 7. Then if there be occasion upon the Scriptures treated or questions propounded and answers made Bar. Disc p. 139. In that his priviledged Tub he may speak of what be list none of his auditory have power to call in question correct or refuse the same presently or publikely CCCCC Rob. Apol. p. 38. Prorsus inauditum ante haec nostra saecula sive inter gentes sive inter Judaeos sive inter Christianos ut Judicia publica aliive actus naturae publicae privatim aut seclusa plebe exercerentur Ibid. p. 51. Per plebem cujus Libertatem Jus suffragandi in negotiis vere publicis asserimus non intelligimus pueros mulieres sed solos viros eosque adultos DDDDD Browns Life and manners of all true Christians in the Preface or Treatise of Reformation without tarrying for any and of the wickednesse of those Preachers which will not reform till the Magistrate command or compel them p. 8. Know ye not that they which have their full and sufficient authority and calling are not to care for a further authority And hath not every lawful Pastor his full authority Ibid. p. 8. The Lord did not onely shew them the Tabernacle but bade them make it But these men will not make it at all because they will tarry for the Magistrate Ibid. p. 10. They could not force Religion as you would have the Magistrate to do And it was forbidden to the Apostles to preach to the unworthy or to force a planting or government in the Church The Lords Kingdom is not by force neither durst Moses nor any of the Kings of Judah force the people by Law or by power to receive the Church-Government But after they received it if then they fell away and sought not the Lord they might put them to death They do cry Discipline Discipline that is for a civil forcing to imprison the people or otherwise by violence to handle and beat them if they would not obey them Ibid. p. 11. The Lords people is of the willing sort they shall come unto Sion and inquire the way unto Jerusalem not by force nor compulsion but with their faces thitherward And p. 12. Because the Church is in a Common-wealth it is of the Magistrates charge that is concerning the outward Provision and outward Justice they are to look but to compel Religion to plant Churches by power and to force a submission to Ecclesiastical Government by Laws and Penalties belongeth not to them neither yet to the Church EEEEE Confess p. 32. Leaving the suppression of this Antichristian estate to the Magistrate to whom it belongeth FFFFF Bar. Refut In the Preface We acknowledge the Prince ought to compel all his Subjects to the hearing of Gods Word in the publike exercises of the Church yet cannot the Prince command any to be a member of the Church or the Church to receive any without assurance by their publike Profession of their own Faith or to retain any longer then they continue to walk orderly in the Faith GGGGG Bar. Disc p. 245. When Princes depart from the Faith and will not be reduced by admonition or reproof they are no longer to be held in the Faith of the Church but are to receive the censure of Christ as
men are mortal like the Beasts AA Short story p. 59. These who are united to Christ have in this life new bodies and two bodies BB Ibid. She knoweth not how Jesus Christ should be united to this our fleshly body these who have union with Christ shall not rise with the same fleshly body and that the Resurrection mentioned in 1 Cor. 15.44 is not meant of the Resurrection of the body but of our union here in this life CC Ibid. p. 60. We are united to Christ with the same union that his humanity on earth was with his Deity That she had no Scripture to warrant that Christs manhood is now is Heaven but the body of Christ is his Church DD Ibid. Preface p. 1. You shall see a Litter of ninty one of their brats hung up against the Sun besides many new ones of Mistresse Hutchinsons EE Ibid. Multitudes of men and women were infected before they were aware FF Ibid. Preface p. 7. They had some of all sorts and qualities in all places to defend and patronise them Almost in every family some were ready to defend them as the Apple of their own eye GG Vide supra N 2. HH Short story Preface pag. 4. They would appear very humble holy and spiritual Christians and full of Christ II Ibid. They would deny themselves far and speak excellently KK Ibid. They would pray with such soul ravishing affections and expressions that a stranger could not but love and admire them LL Ibid. They lifted up their opinions by guilding them over with the specious termes of Free-grace Glorious-Light Gospel-Truths holding out naked Christ MM Vide supra LL. NN Preface p. 7. O their boldnesse pride insolency the disturbances divisions contentions they raised among us both in Church and State and Families setting division betwixt Husband and Wife Ibid. p. 9. And seeing a spirit of pride subtilty malice and contempt of all men that were not of their minde breathing in them our hearts were sadded and our spirits tyred OO Ibid. p. 4. Their followers in admiration of them would tell others that since the Apostles times they were perswaded none ever received so much light from God as such and such had done naming their Leaders See also before H. PP Short story pag. 39. She said it was revealed to her long since in England That all the pack of the Ministers there were Antichristian so that she durst hear none of them after Master Cotton and Master Wheelwright were once gone for they could not preach Christ and the new Covenant QQ Preface pag. 8. The faithful Ministers of Christ must have dung cast in their faces and be no better then legal Preachers Baals Priests Popish Factors Scribes Pharisees and Opposers of Christ himself RR Vide supra N 1. SS Preface p. 9. The Magistrates were Achabs Amazia's enemies to Christ led by Satan TT Ibid. These were enemies to Christ Herods Pilates Scribes and Pharisees yea Antichrists and advised all under a Covenant of Grace to look upon them as such And with great zeal did stimulate them to deal with them as such and alleadged the story of Moses that killed the Egyptian and left it barely so VV Ibid. It was a wonder of mercy that they had not set our Common-wealth and Churches on a fire and consumed us all therein XX Preface pag. 7. They had some of all quality to defend them some of the Magistrates some Gentlemen some Schollers some of our Captains and Souldiers some in Military Trainings YY Short story p. 33. They made full accompt the day had been theirs ZZ Master Williams in his Discourse to me assured me hereof AAA Short story p. 43. Vnder their conduct the old Serpent had prepared such an Ambushment as in all reason would soon have driven Christ and the Gospel out of New-England though to the ruine of the instruments themselves as well as of others and to the repossessing of Satan in his ancient Kingdom BBB Preface p. 12. Mistresse Hutchinson being big with childe and growing towards the time of her Labour brought out not one but thirty monstrous births or thereabouts at once none at all of them of humane shape CCC Ibid. Mistresse Dyer brought forth her birth of a Woman childe a Beast a Fish and a Foul all woven together in one and without an head DDD Ibid. Though he that runs may read their sin in these judgements yet behold the desperate hardnesse of heart in these persons and all their followers they turned all from themselves upon the faithful servants of God that laboured to reclaim them saying This is for you ye Legalists that your eyes might be further blinded by Gods hand upon us in your legal wayes that you may stumble and fall and in the end break your necks in Hell if ye imbrace not the Truth EEE Ibid. p. 5. These persons with many others infected by them went altogether out of our Jurisdiction into an Iland and there they live to this day most of them hatching and multiplying new opinions and cannot agree but are miserably divided into sundry Sects and Factions FFF Mistresse Hutchinson being weary of the Iland went from thence with all her family to live under the Dutch neer a place in the Map called Hell-gate GGG There the Indians set upon them and slew her and all her family her daughter and her daughters husband and all their children save one that escaped Some write that the Indians did burn her to death withall that belonged to her I never heard that the Indians in these parts did commit the like outrage upon any other HHH Vide KKK 1. III Ibid. p. 13. They grew also many of them very loose in their practises for these opinions will certainly produce a filthy life by degrees As no Prayer in their Familes no Sabbath insufferable pride frequent and hideous lying and some of them became guilty of fouler sins then all these which I here name not Cottons third Sermon 6. Vial pag. 9. The calamities of the Countrey are from God he takes away all whether by our pride that we must have every new fashion and be like the men of the world in houses apparel and the like or daintinesse that we must have our varieties though it cost never so much and no matter what followeth though it eat up our estates The Lord hath made use of our folly and pride and daintinesse our idlenesse and covetousnesse Idem 2. Vial pag. 26. We know that in England there is no such unfaithful dealing and hollow heartednesse no such bitternesse between Christians What will befal your posterity they will degenerate out of measure by the unfaithfulnesse of your lives and the unrighteousnesse of your promises KKK 1. Short story p. 44. The Midwife one Hawkins was notorious for familiarity with the divel and now a prime Familist The most of the Women who were present at Mistresse Dyers travel were suddenly taken with such a violent vomiting and purging without eating or drinking of
who from this place reason against the common Tenet doe differ all of them among themselves in sundry materiall conclusions the old Chiliasts from the late and the late one from another Alstedius Mead Archer Goodwin Burrowes Matton every one of them have their proper conceits wherein they differ from the rest as will be found by any who compare their Writings Thirdly In all this Chapter there is not one syllable to prove Christs being upon the earth but that one word of the Saints reigning with Christ Suppose the Text had expressed that they who did reigne with Christ had beene upon earth themselves this would not prove that Christ because they are said to raigne with him was upon earth with them for Rom. 8.17 If children then joynt-heires with Christ if so beâ— that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together There is here in one verse three paralell phrases with that in hand Heires with Christ Suffering with Christ Glorified with Christ and a fourth Ephes 1.3 Who hath blessed us with all Spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Will it hence follow that Christs humane nature was then upon earth with them who suffered with him were heires with him were blessed in him in heavenly places with all spirituall graces and were to be glorified with him if none of these foure phrases imply a personall presence of Christ upon earth with men much lesse will the place controverted doe it for they speak expresly of men living upon the earth but it speakes as expresly of the soules of men that were in the heaven the same that are mentioned Revel 6.9 I saw under the Altar the soules of them that were slaine for the Word of God This place then is so farre from proving Christs personall presence upon earth that it imports the contrary both because they that are said to reigne with him were not upon the earth but under the Altar in heaven and also because in vers 11. Christs Throne whereupon he judges the quicke and the dead is mentioned after the raigne of these thousand yeares Now we have proved from many Scriptures that Christ remaines in the heavens till he come downe in the last day to sit upon that Throne Fourthly We deny that there is any thing in this place which imports a bodily resurrection They can produce no scripture where the first resurrection is ever applyed to the body there be sundry places to prove a spirituall resurrection of the soule from the death and grave of sinne of errors and corruptions before the last resurrection of the body Coll. 2.12 You are risen with him through fayth also 3.1 If then ye be risen with Christ c. But a first resurrection of the body no scripture intimates for so there should be not onely a first and second but a third resurrection as they tell us of a first second and third comming of Christ to the earth Further the resurrection here spoken of is attributed to the Soules of them that were beheaded these are not capable of a bodily resurrection in propriety of speech and if to these soules men at their owne pleasure without any warrant from scripture will ascribe a body they fall into a great inconvenience for their love to this imagined first resurrection of the body they overthrow both the heaven and the hell which hitherto have beene beleeved and make no scruple to create a new heaven and a new hell of their owne invention to the dangerous scandall of all Christians Master Archer seeing well the absurdity to bring a soule from heaven backe again to an earthly condition tells us plainely That no soule at all went ever to that which we call heaven That the Soule of Christ at his death and of the good theife went onely to an Elementary Paradise a place below the Moone in the region of the ayre or at highest in the Element of the fire That Enoch and Elias are gone no higher That no soule of any of the Saints goes to the third heavens where Christ is unto the last day As for hell he tells us that all Christians but the Independent his followers have beene in an error about it he teaches that the hell whether the wicked now goes is not that fire prepared for the Divell and his Angells whether at the last Judgement they shall be sent but onely a place of prison in the Low region of the aire or in some part of the Sea where the soules of the wicked are kept till the day of Judgement but at the day of Judgement he tells us of a second hell very large and farre higher then the present heaven of the Saints the whole body of the foure Elements all the heavens of the Planets and fixed Starres and what ever else is below the third heavens the habitation of God he turnes it all into the first Chaos and makes all that confused body without any distinction to be hell In all this the man is so confident as if there were nothing in these strange novelties to be called in question Fifthly We deny that in this place there is one syllable for any earthly Kingdome They shall reigne with Christ therefore they shall reigne with him upon earth this is an addition to the Text. For suppose the words did import a reigning upon earth yet this would not inferre an earthly reigne for the Kingdome of Christ is spirituall like his Preisthood and these two are here conjoyned ver 6. They shall be Preists of God and of Christ and shall reigne with him Christians on earth are Preists but not to offer bodily sacrifice and while they are upon earth they are Kings but not to rule mens outward estates for if so then there should be all these thousand yeares many more Kings then Subjects Master Archer tells us confidently without any scruple that not the Martyres alone and some few priviledged Saints as his Colleague T. G. would have it but that all the godly without any exception shall rise and be Kings to rule and judge the Saints who shall be borne in the thousand yeares Suppose it should be no disparagement for all these who then shall be borne to be excluded while they live from all places of authority and power yet would it not be some piece of disorder to have more Kings to command then Subjects to obey for I suppose that the godly of all by-gone ages arising together will be many more then the Saints in any one age of these thousand yeares Sixthly we deny that a thousand yeares in any propriety of speech can be applyed to Christs Personall reigne for if we speak of his reigne either in his nature or Person it is eternall and not to be measured by any yeares or time and if we speake of his regall office as Mediatour it must be much longer then a thousand yeares for although we should cut off from his Monarchy all the yeares that are past since his birth
and wicked scandals raised upon him as well as by the Air of Roterdam himself knows best Ibid. p. 143. Vpon Master Simpsons renting from the Church and setting up a Church against a Church under Mr. Bridges nose and upon wicked reports raised about Master Bridges there grew that bitternesse evil speakings and deep censurings deadly feuds amongst these Ministers and their Churches as never was more betwixt the Jews and the Samaritans Master Bridge confessed to me there were not such sharp tongues nor bitter divisions as these Anatom p. 6. Of these reproachings Master Bridges hath found notable experience at Roterdam to the tyring out of his spirit amongst them there in so much as he hath been often heard to affirm That if he had known at first what he met with afterward he would never have come amongst them nor being amongst them have given them such liberty as he had I Antap. p. 35. Master Ward Master Bridges colleague and old friend at Norwich was deposed from his Ministery and Office by Master Bridges Church for frivolous matters K Antap. p. 184. I much wonder how you can call the meeting of Master Goodwin and Master Nye with two Gentlemen more calling Master Bridge with the rest of that Church supposed to be Delinquents such a solemn Assembly L Apol. Naration p. 20. The Ministers of the Church offended with other two Gentlemen of much worth Members thereof were sent as Messengers from that Church and at the introduction and entrance of that solemn Assembly the solemnity of which hath left as deep an impression upon our hearts of Christs dreadful presence as ever any we have been present at M Antap. p. 141. I desire to know whether Master Ward after he was restored did as formerly officiate in that Church and how long and whether Master Bridge and he continued as fellowâ—Ministers and whether between them two and between the Church and Master Ward there was that mutual carriage that ought to be between fellow-Ministers and Ministers and People N Anatom pag. 49. The way of Vnion of thâ—se Churches could never be found till the Magistrates Authority and Command found it O Anato p. 6. These two Churches being of late commanded by the Magistrates of Roterdam to unite again in one and that Church whereof Master Simpson was Minister being unwilling to joyn to the other unlesse some Members thereof should be cut off first especially one and the Church whereof that party was a Member being willing to gratifie the other in this and yet professing and attesting as an act of the whole Church by writing That all the time he had been a Member his conversation had been without offence Yet their Teacher was forced as himself confessed with grief of heart having nothing to except against the person to urge him to take his dismission from the Church P Ibid. Adde hereunto the defection of some of their Members to Anabaptism and how apt others of them are to be made a prey therein more then the Members of other Reformed Churches as late instance hath manifested some having professed Master Simpsons principles have made them Anabaptists Q Anatom p. 24. They cannot shew us such a fraternity between them and any Reformed Church as I am and I beleeve truely informed Master Simpsons Church whether by him or after his time by Master â—imons I have not enquired entered into with thâ—se of the â—eparation at Amsterdam by a mutual covenant and agreement to own each other I beleeve it to be by vertue of that Covenant that some of their Members not Officers of the Church do publikely Preach in Master Canns Pulpit at Amsterdam R Antap. p. 51. I can tell you how some of you who have not Churches here in London go to separate Churches to partake of the Lords Supper Ibid. p. 56. Instance hath been given me particularly by a great friend of yours now in London that when some of you have come to Amsterdam you never would go to Master Herrings a good old Nonconformist but you have gone to Master Cann the Separatist and to his Church Ibid. For their going to the Brownists and conversing with Master Cann more then us that is undeniable S Apol. Narration p. 5. Whose sincerity in their way hath been testified before the world and will be unto Generations to come by the greatest undertaking but that of our Father Abraham out of his own Countrey and his Seed after him T Vide supra L. V Apol. Nar. p. 3. In this inquiry we looked upon the Word of Christ as impartially and unprejudicedly as men made of flesh and blood are like to do in any juncture of time that may fall out X Ibid. p. 22. We lost some friends and companions our fellow-Labourers in the Gospel as precious men as this Earth bears any Y Apol. Nar. p. 22. When it pleased God to bring us his poor exiles back again Ibid. p. 23. Which was as great an affliction to us as our former troubles and banishment Ibid. p. 31. Consider us as these who for many yeers suffered even to exile Z Antapol p. 26. How dare you affirm that for your consciences you were deprived at once of what ever was deer to you were not your Wives Children Estates Friends and Lives dear to you had you not all these with you and did you not in the Netherlands live in the best places in much plenty ease and pomp what great deprivation is this of what ever is dear for men to take their own times and to go in Summer with Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen with all necessaries into Holland and there to take choice of all the Land and with Wives Children Friends and Acquaintance free from the fears and possibilities of vexation from the Spiritual Courts and Prisons to enjoy all plenty and freedom as you did many would have been glad and still would be to be so exiled into Holland and to be able to spend there two or three hundred pounds per annum AA Cottons 6. Vial pag. 9. I dare not take up such carnal imaginations as that Christ shall come bodily and reign here upon Earth BB Glimpse of Sions glory p. 33. If God have such an intention to glorifie his Church and that in this world what manner of persons ought yee to be because ye are beginning this despised work gathering a Church together which way God will honour certainly the Communion of Saints and Independency of Congregations God will honour CC Daniel 12.11 From the time that the daily Sacrifice shall be taken away there shall be 1290. dayes what is the meaning of this A day is usually taken for a yeer This abomination of desolation was in Julians time in the 360. yeer now reckon so many yeers according to the number of the dayes it comes to 1650. and it is like to be it as any that can be named But it is said Blessed is he that comes to the 1335. dayes that is fourty five yeers more