and it answereth to Ierufalem which now is and she is in bondage with her children But Ierusalem which is from aboue is free which is the mother of vs all c. The meaning is That as there were two feeds euen from the beginning the seed of the serpent and the seede of the woman Gen 3.15 figured by Adams two first sonnes Gen. 4.3.4 Caine and Abell Caine going before with his sacrifice Abell comming after with his The one the sonne of the serpent the other the childe of woman the one the childe of the lawe of death the other the childe of the Testament of life for these two Testaments were before either Caine or Abell came to offer their sacrifice and were figured by the two trees that were in the midst of the Garden Gen. 2.9 the Tree of knowledge of good and euill representing the law oftenne commanddements For to the tenne comandements the tree of knowledge of good and euill one curse belonged viz. Reu. 2.7 Thou shalt die the death And the Tree of life representing the Testament and fruite of life as the Lord himselfe proueth when he saith To him that ouercommeth wil I giue to eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the Paradise of God And as God did set before Adam life and death to chuse and he chose death to himselfe and all his posterity Gen. 2.16.7 so yet still and againe God hath set the same before vs as Moyses saith Behold Deut. 11.26 Deut 30.11.12.14.15 I haue set before you life and death curse and blessing to chuse And as Adam chose death euen so his generation for the most part chuse rather death cursing Rom 10.6.7.8 then life and blessing and are the bond-womans children and so will be like Caine and Ishmael I say as God did prefigure the two Testaments Gen. 19.10.12 and the two seeds to Adam and his feed vntill Abraham So did he then renew his couenants to Abraham figuring them by Agar and Sara and their seed by Ishmael and Isaack Which thing me thinks you M. Smith should not be ignorant of seeing you take such great matters vpon you Now these two sonnes doe not represent the naturall Iew Deut. 10.17 Iob. 34.19 Act. 10.34 35. and the naturall Gentile but the Spirituall Iewe and the Spirituall Gentile for God respects not of what Nation a man be of so he feare and seeke him his couenant shall be vnto him wheresoeuer he be as the Apostle proueth saying Rom. 2.14.15.16.26.27.28.29 If the Gentile doe by nature the things contained in the law that is be circumcised in heart he shall be found a Iew when the Iew circumcised in skinne but not in heart shall be found a Gentile For he is not a Iew that is one without but hee is a Iew that is one within and that is not circumcision that is on the skinne but that which is in the heart And these are the two seedes figured by the two sonnes Ishmael and Isaack and are not tyed either to times or places or Nations but are in all times and of all Nations wheresoeuer lesse or more Now the mothers of these two Children are said to be Hagar that is Sinai Gal. 4. and Sara that is Sion Ierusalem from aboue The one representing the Testament of commandements the other the Testament of mercy the one death the other life the one cursing the other blessing and these are the onely two Testaments of God And whether of these two you make circumcision to be the seale or signe of I cannot tell To be a seale of the promise of life or of any thing pertaining thereunto you flatly deny And to bee a seale of the commandements or of the curse pronounced with them Is as contrary as cursing blessing For circumcision was giuen to Abrahā as a seale of the righteousnes of faith Rom. 4.5 Psal 32.1.2 Rom. 4.11 which God performed not onely vnto him but to all his spirituall children as wel Iewes as Gentiles not only since Christs death but long before Not that circumcision did seale all Abrahams naturall Children to be the Children of promise nor yet any one of them nor Abraham himselfe But it was giuen as a seale not of their faithfulnes to God nor yet to seale their saluation vnto them but to seale God his faithfulnes in his promise to all those of Abrahams Children that vnhardned their hearts like Abraham Rom. 8.15 Whether male or female Iewe or Gentile which hee sealed in their hearts by his spirit of promise whereby they all cryed Abba Father And as the rayne-bow doth confirme Gods faithfulnes to the world not mans faithfulnes to God Euen as Baptisme now is a seale not of euery ones saluation that receiueth it but a seale of Gods faithfulnes in his Couenant of mercy made to all Abrahams seed baptised and circumcised in heart like him which he sealeth vnto their hearts by his spirit of promise not by baptisme And so baptisme doth come indeed truely in the roome of Circumcision not that Circumcision was a type of baptisme but they are both types of one truth which is Circumcision or baptisme in heart As Hagar and Sinai were of another truth Euen of the Testament of Commaundements which was giuen vpon mount Sinai which gendreth or increaseth bondage Which answereth to Ierusalem Ierusalem to it not because it should be so but because they would bee so Chusing rather to be Hagars sonnes Children to Sinai which begetteth and bringeth forth to death Heb. 3.16.17.18.19 Heb. 4.2 then children of Sara and mount Sion which bringeth forth to life For as it is written the Gospell and word that is preached vnto vs was also preached vnto them but the word which they heard profited not them for they when they heard it prouoked him yet not al but with whom was he displeased forty years euen with those that hardned their hearts and wold not heare his voice Euen Hagars sonnes And as Dauid cryeth out to them of his tnne Psal 95.8 saying To day if ye wil heare his voice harden not your hearts as in the prouocation For the most of all Abrahams naturall seed which possessed the earthly Ierusalem and earthly Canaan did chuserather to bee the children of death and bondage figured by the bond woman and Sinai Then to be children of life and liberty figured by mount Sion and the free woman being all for the most part of them Rom. 10.3 ignorant of the righteousnes of faith sought altogether to establish their owne righteousnes framed according to the Law of commandements as they pretended which neither they nor their fathers did euer keepe Ioyning therewith the strict obseruation of the Ceremoniall law supposing their whole life and saluation consisted therein which were both giuen to another end then that which they intended For the Law of commandements was giuen Rom. 7.8 not
to the end it shold bring any man to saluation by working thereafter but to make more plaine and manifest mans cursed and lost condition Deut. 27.26 Gal. 3.19 And the law of Ceremonies As circumcision the Pascall Lambe Gal. 3.21 The land of Canaan Ierusalem the Temple the Altar the Priesthood the Sacrifices and Ceremonies whatsoeuer Were not giuen them to the end that in them and by the obseruation of them they should gaine life and saluation But they were giuen for a time to teach Israel the substance contained in the Testament of life And did preach vnto the faithfull seed of Abraham the spirituall land of rest Gal. 4.2 which they entred into by vnhardening their hearts and hearing the voice and Testament of mercy with all the children of Hagar I meane the vncircumcised in heart vtterly reiected as they doe still to this day Mar. 13.30 Mat. 24.34 for the same generation remaineth still euen the bond-womans children and their mother also And I am in feare of you Master Smith and of your children for you haue runne your selues vpon the same rocks with thē iustifying your selues vpon your carnall obseruations framing a carnall regeneration and faith which may faile men like vnto them which put confidence in works and obseruations of ceremonies which neuer could saue them And as the bondwoman and her children did increase and get the vpper hand in the Church of the Iewes so that the bondwoman got the name of the married wife and of child bearing and the free woman with her children troden in the dust and as a widow forsaken was she accounted and as a woman that had neither husband nor children euen so it is now And as Ierusalem that then was did an swere to Sinai and Hagar the mother of bondage In somuch as her children did match theirs in hardnesse of heart and vnbeliefe persecuting the sonnes of the free woman as Ishmael did Isaac and Esau Iacob Gen. 21.9 Gen. 27.41 and as they did in the wildernesse whose carcases fell I say as Ierusalem persecuted the Prophets and killed them scoffing and deriding the free womans children Yea though hee were their King euen Dauid Luke 23.35 Mat. 23.29.30 or Christ himselfe the free womans eldest sonne and is therefore saide to bee in bondage with her children as Hagar was with her sonne And as they doing the same workes that he did were cast out with her sonne from inheriting the promise with the childrē of the free woman euen so it is now For the Serpents seed is yet aliue the bond-woman hath many sonnes though the free woman hath few or none to be seene Ismaels brethren haue had the vpper hand a great while euen among Christians as they had among the Iewes And their mother hath the praise of child-bearing still as shee had then And Ierusalem from aboue the free woman and her children despised and troden vpon like a streete as they were wont to be Reu. 11.2 by such like obseruers and Pharisaicall boasters who pretend obedience and sacrifice as much as euer did they who are likewise in most cursed bondage and must also bee cast out with them and shall not inherit with the free-womans children nor enter into rest with them But lerusalem from aboue is free As she euer was from the beginning and is the mother of vs all euen of Abell Henoch Abraham Dauid the Prophets the Apostles and all that euer are and shall bee saued And although shee be as no body and no where in comparison Esa 5 4.1 Yet as Esaiah said vnto her in his daies and as Paul said vnto her in his time Gal. 4.27 so be it said now and still Reioyce thou barren that bearest no children breake forth and cry in ioy thou that bearest not for the desolate hath many moe children then she that hath an husband And this is the trueth of the matter These are the two Testaments And these are the two seeds To wit the law of Commaundements giuen vppon mount Sinai which gendereth to death and bondage And the law of life giuen on mount Sion which gendereth to rest and liberty And the cursed generation of Caine and Ismaell the seede of the one and the blessed generation of Abell and Isaack the seede of the other And so the Scriptures and truth is the same from the beginning to the end of the world And the two Testaments do remaine still yea euen that Testament figured by Hagar and Sinai and the children of bondage figured by her sonne And the curse also doth still remaine and is not taken away by the Crosse of Christ from any of Hagars children But onely from the children of Sara the faithfull seede And Circumcision was not a seale nor signe of any other couenant whatsoeuer but of the Circumcision of the heart and the righteousnesse of faith and mercy couenanted first to Adam then to Abraham and so from time to time renewed And at last confirmed by the Mediator himself and by his death vpon the Crosse who hath made all things cleare and manifest vnto vs if we had but spirituall eies to see them But hee came to saue and to seeke out all the lost sheepe leauing the ninety and nine euen all Hagars proude sounes who thought them selues wise and safe enough Euen so now This is the iudgement which the Lord hath sent into the world Ioh. 9.39 and it is meruailously seene this day The blinde doe see and they that see are made blinde Not the rich nor the full but the poore and the empty receiue the Gospel And now Master Smith whereas you would disproue the argument drawne from circumcision to proue the baptising of children by your doubtfull speech of mistaking the couenant and by your vnsound distinguishing the two Testaments which is your first and principall ground whereon many of your other reasons doe depend It may now be well seene that you are the man that doe mistake For I pray you tell me where you will bestowe circumcision and of what Testament will you make it a seale If you take it away from the new I estament made with Abraham and his seed by promise Will ye bestowe it on the law of commaundements giuen on mount Sinai and the sonnes therof I pray you then which doth it seale vnto them perfect holinesse which they neuer had but altogether the contrary Or did it seale the curse which saith Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all these thinges to doe them which indeede most iustly did belong to all such seruants to sinne and bondage and rebels to grace As all Abrahams carnall seede borne after the flesh were I think you dare not affirme any of these But it should seeme you meane it sealed a blessing vnto the carnall seed and not a curse Say you so M. Smith Then where are you now you haue left the olde Testament For therein lieth no blessing But cursed is euery man
of iust and perfect men and to Iesus the Mediator of the new testament and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abell whose bloud cried vp to heauen not for mercy and pardon but for iustice and wrath against Caine his naturall elder brother but indeed Ismaels eldest brother in euill he was And now I hope by this time you see what the two testaments are and also what the law of ceremonies were what the land of Canaan and Ierusalem did intend and to whom it was promised and for whose sakes it was giuē for an inheritance for whose sins for what sins it was made desolate you haue seene also the two testaments truly distinguished and the two seeds also and what they are according to the measure of grace which God hath giuen me I hope you see also that circumcision did not seale the testament of ten cōmandements to any nor yet the curse that went with them nor yet the law of ceremonies nor yet did it seale the land of Canaan Ierusalē to the carnal seed But it signed sealed the new Testament that was deliuered to Abraham in these words Gen. 17.4 Rom. 4.17.18 Thou shalt bee a Father of many Nations which could not be vnderstood of a carnall but of a spirituall seede And I will bee thy God saith hee and the God of thy seede after thee meaning that seede which should walke before him and bee vpright as was and did their father Abraham and keepe his couenants Gene. 17.1 circumcising not the skin but their hearts the true seale of the righteousnes of faith confirmed vnto them by the spirit of promise signified by that other vpon the skin And then he would giue them not onely the land of Canaan but that Canaan of Canaans the land of true and perfect rest for an euerlasting possession and be their God for euermore And now tell vs Master Smith why may not baptisme of the element of water be administred to children as well as circumcision being but a rudiment as circumcision was If Timothy might be circumcised to no end but to please the Iewes in hope to winne some of them why may not children be baptised with this hope and to this end that they might become Christians and be borne againe If a sonne that was at the point of death was restored to his perfect health at the request of his father that beleeued by the power of Christ why should not children bee baptised at the request of their parents which beleeue by the hands of his seruants seeing that baptisme is neither able to heale a body nor yet to saue a soule Indeede seruants are very apt to thinke themselues wiser then their masters for when they brought little children to Christ his Disciples being very ignorant then of the Lords bountie forbad them that brought them Mat. 19.13 disdaining that a little child which they thought capable of nothing should be brought to Christ as if he would regard it whereas the Lord contrary to their expectation rebuking them saide Suffer little children to come vnto mee and forbid them not for of such is the kingdome of heauen Mar. 10.13 14 15 16. and laying his most holy hands vpon them blessed them And here I would know of you Master Smith whether the hands of Christ were not more holie then any water in England or Holland and whether the blessing he bestowed one those children were not greater then any grace or blessing that water with your hands and words can conferre to any on whomsoeuer you can bestow it I thinke you will acknowledge and all men else that Christs hands were holier and his blessings greater If then children were capable of the greater why not then of the lesser If Christ made choice of a little child before all other to represent and signe forth the conuersion and new birth which baptisme also doth prefigure and signifie why may not these two signes well and lawfully be ioyned together seeing they are both as Preachers of one truth you wil haue a child capable of the mark and Character of the beast and yet you wil not haue it capable of the Elementish baptisme againe you allow the forme of baptisme vsed in England but you call it the marke of the beast onely because it is applyed to a little child whom you compare to a tree a mad-man and a foole And thereby it doth follow that the marke of the beast doth wholy depend in the child for the forme you iustifie The matter which you call the child you onely condemne and lay to it charge that it doth receiue an indelible marke of the beast A lacke poore child thou hast a worse enemie now then the disciples who forbad thee to come to Christ What a monster would you make of a little water and a litle child shall I tell you Master Smith if this be the marke of the beast you are the beast for there is no beast in the world doth giue this marke but you and your fellow Anabaptists And as I said before Acts 16.3 if Timothy might be circumcised after circumcision was abolished by the Crosse of Christ at which time whosoeuer receiued circumcision as a thing necessary to saluation depriued himselfe wholy of the benefit of Christ I say Gal. 5.2 if Timothy were circumcised being a Christian one to whom it belonged not onely to please the Iewes in hope to win some of them and yet sinned not How dare you thenlay this heauy burthen vpon a child although baptisme did not belong to it as you say that it cannot bee baptised but it receiueth the marke of the beast and is culpable of the wrath of God and to be tormented in fire and brimstone for euermore poore children if this bee true vnhappy be you aboue all creatures seeing so many of you die in your infancy with the marke vpon you vnrepented of for which you shall be tormented in hell fire and brimstone whereof ye are as innocent as the child vnborne O miserable law and miserable consequent God forbid it should bee so rather the lawmaker if he repent not shall be cast with all such maker of lies into the lake of fire and brimstome which is the second death What a Iew Master Smith and worse then a Iew what a law maker and a law of bondage aboue all bondage O touch not wet not eate not death is at the dore What such a great man as you afraid of bug-beares Ah Master Smith giue ouer childrens play now you are a man and a man that should bee wise Consider things rightly be not so hasty say little but say well learne to come like one of these little children Mar. 10.15 whome you condemne weepe and lament for your sinnes and scorne it not Be meeke and of a lowly heart and disdaine it not forbid not little children to be baptised with water on the Skinne of whom you
effects and beginnings for the raine doth fall on all and the Sunne shines without respect Yet when the fruite doth appeare after this generall blade Mar. 4 28. whereby the good ground is knowne from the bad as the wheat is from the tares and after this generall raine and sun-shine the good ground like good trees doth bring forth good fruit There doth appeare so great a difference betweene them as is betweene end and beginning betweene first and last betweene the blade and the fruite Betweene the kingdome compared to a Net wherein all sorts of fish is caught both good and bad and the kingdom compared to a field wherein lay a treasure hid of so great worth Mat. 13.44 that whosoeuer could get possession of it though it cost him all that euer hee had if it were neuer so much yet should his gaine be great and infinite And betweene those little ones who are borne againe whose loue is great for great respects Who know they are translated from death to life And those vnreturned ones 1. Ioh. 3.14.15 that loue not nor know whether they goe And as the difference is great in regard of the vncertainty of the one and the certaine euerlasting happinesse of the other So haue they a Charter so great and freedome so strong with so many priuiledges belonging thereunto as no Citie in the world Reu. 21. nor kingdome can afford the like And wherein those entercommoners on whom God hath shewed his bounty in giuing them Sunne and raine and haue not yet brought forth fruit can haue no part nor fellowship neither ought any more to presume to touch or meddle with then those that might not touch nor stay the Arke or him to whom Peter said thou hast no part nor fellowship with vs Act. 8.21 nor in this administration But those poore little rich fruitfull ones are the onely Priests of God the stay and pillars of his Arke of Arks not made of wood Reu. 1.5.6 which now is gone to wrack but of heauenly enduring matter and trees of life and although they be the pillars and stayes of it yet are they not the builders But the Lord alone Reu. 3.12 who saith vpon this rock will I build my Church Mat. 16.18 Now as these fruitfull trees and free-borne Citizens doe pertake and haue fellowship together in the priuiledges peculiar to this holy Church City of God 1. Pet. 2.9 being as one saith a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a people set at liberty So do they shew forth the vertues of him that hath called them whose loue is perfect in them whereby they know each other to be borne of God as S. Iohn saith Hereby we know that ye are in him 1. Ioh. 2.5 And as these are knowne either to other by their fruit which fruit I will not speake of heere seeing it is as I thinke plainly described before So out of the great heape of Commoners doe sometimes appeare euill trees who are knowne also to those that are borne againe by their euill fruit the fruit of death Luk. 6.43.14 to be vncurable euill trees That is so seene against the light and them that walke in it as that they shall receiue the sentence of eternall death euen while they liue trees twise dead Iud. 12. 1. Cor. 16.22 and pluckt vp by the rootes of whom it is written Let him be cursed And as the good ground or trees do not appeare all at once out of the generall field of Commoners but when it pleaseth him who giueth the encrease some sooner some later So no more doe the euill trees appeare all at once but now and then when their euill fruite is ripe some breake forth betimes some stay longer some not at all to the Church I meane vntill the great day of account who then shall be found speechlesse without the wedding garment And as the euill seruant Mat. 22.12 Luk. 19.20 Mat. 25.8 that hid his Masters talent And as the fiue foolish virgins who found no oyle in their lamps when the bridegroome came supposing till then all was well Euen so likewise is there many of his beloued ones not knowne to others but the Lord himselfe vntill that day who then with the rest of their fellowes shall bee made manifest to all yea euen to those who shall then admire their glory and riches when themselues shall lye in dust and shame So that when the Lord saith in his Parable Mat. 13.26.27 That when the wheat did appeare by the fruit then did also appeare the tares his meaning is not that in the generall kingdome all the wheat appeares at once and all the tares but as I haue said before And therefore the seruants must not goe to weeding at the first sprout of the eare though some wheat and some tares doe euidently appeare least they plucke vp wheat with tares For some of both shall remaine vnknowne vnto them vntill the great haruest day And this is Ver 30 and shall be the condition of the common field vniuersity of Christians vntill that day and therefore the seruants must spare to iudge or iustifie till their fruits doe euidently appeare And as the Sunne doth shine and the raine doth fall equally vpon them I meane those Christians that shall proue tares as those that shall prooue good wheat Mat. 5.44.45 fit for the Lords owne barne So ought also his seruants to be kind to the vnkinde and mercifull to all Insomuch as in the first effects before mentioned there doth appeare little or no difference Now hauing thus distinguished betweene Christian and Christian Kingdome and Kingdome tree and tree Let vs see how matters doe fall out betweene them and how they doe agree and also how they ought to walke and carrie themselues toward each other And that we may the easier accomplish our purpose we will deuide these great company of Christians into two parts that is to say Some borne of God returned and become as little children to whom he hath giuen the keyes of the kingdome and all those priuiledges before spoken of and a thousand treasures more besides on whom the second death shall neuer haue power nor the gates of hell preuaile The other vnregenerate equall partakers with the regenerate in all the common first thinges before mentioned but not in the second effects the last and speciall things Now these kinde of brethren doe often times offend the little ones and despise them because they are little in their owne eyes and poore in their own spirit and are returned and become as little children because their fruits of loue appeare beyond theirs knowing their owne works to be euill and their brothers good wherefore the Lord saith to those brethren Mat. 18.10.11.12 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones these lost sheepe whom I haue sought out for I say vnto you howsoeuer you esteeme of them Their
with all his trash is quite abandoned where all is reformed both life and doctrine And that is here with vs for we haue cast off all and haue beganne a new we baptise none but men of yeares and that doe make confession of our faith and are of vpright life wee haue strooke the right Couenant with him therefore he is here Then steppes vp the fift with a high spirit controuling al epecially the three last accusing them for wranglers and blasphemers saying ye are all lyers you are iangling contentious spirits ye seeke Christ without you seeke him within you you good thinking wise-ones you doe not so much as know what Christ is nor yet what Antichrist is you condemne that holy auncient father the Pope of Rome to bee the Antichrist the beast and man of sinne and all the holy orders of their Archpriests Priests and offices of good intentions hauing all names of good signification and all Images Sacrifices and Ceremonies of good information to bee all blasphemus Idolatrous and superstitious and so blaspheme the holy thinges vsed in the Catholicke Church of Rome Not knowing that as God did teach the world by the orders Sacrifices and Ceremonies vsed among the Iewes tell Christ came in the man Iesus So it pleased him also to teach the world by those Orders Images Sacrifices and Ceremonies vsed in the Catholique Church of Rome vntill the Christ came againe now in the end of the world according to his promises in his obedient man H. N. by whom hee hath appointed to iudge the world according to the Scriptures Not with fire and brimstone vpon mens heads as we suppose but with wise sentences with darke and parabolous saying deliuering high things with a high spirit teaching reproouing and condemning the whole word being the eight and the last breaker of the light The Archangel and the last Trumpe none in this third and last day wherein Christ is perfitted And is that Angell flying in the middest of heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospell to preach to them that dwell vpon the earth Saying Christ is not nor was not a man as yee suppose but holinesse is Christ And he that doth beleeue it is possible to keep all the ten commandements hath the right faith in Christ and they that doe attaine to the perfect keeping of them are risen from the dead according to the Scriptures and as holines is Christ and the sonne of God So sinne is Antichrist and the sonne of the diuell fight therefore against the Antichrist in your selues ouer come the beast which is the sinne and put on holines which is the Christ Put away therefore all your good thinkings and all your Scripture learnednese and come hether naked for here is cloathing enough for you for I tell your whosoeuer comes to learne at his schoole must be as simple and hold himselfe as ignorant as a little child for the tree of knowledge is the tree of death wherefore if ye will liue come hether did not the diuell tell you you should be as gods and will yee beleeue him still did he deceiue you once and will you not beware wherefore become fooles that yee may be wise And here take this booke but keepe it close for H. N. hath many enemies especially among this wrangling crue And therein thou shalt finde an interlude which if thou marke well shall teach thee all and harken no loner to those disturbing spirits who feed thee with nothing but the forbidden fruite Learne to liue againe in innocency wherein thou shalt not not be ashamed though thou shouldest goe naked as thou didst before and thou shalt know nothing but loue which shall neuer fade away and when thou hast attained to this thou shalt be in Paradice againe and then take of the tree of life and eate and liue for euer And tel me now Is no here Christ indeed and the very true Christ and haue I not also tolde thee what is the Antichrist and many other worthy thinges wherefore stay heere and thou shalt see wonders in the end These are strange and wofull times Are not these the dayes which the Lord fore-told here is Wolfes in sheepes cloathing on euery side and yet heere are not all but let others tell the rest for my part I am weary telling of these But which way is it possible for the little sheepe to escape these Wolues euen through a very narrow way and a straight gate which their Lord hath appointed and made easie for them for they must escape It is not possible the Elect should be deceiued the know them by their fruites These are the contentions of our dayes who shall end the cōtrouersie This we are sure of he that hath the bride is the bridegroome and shee which hath the bridegroome is the bride wheresoeuer shee be She hath begun to shew her face already a little and her voice hath beene heard euen in our land but the Wolues came so thick about her that shee was glad to retire a little into the wildernesse againe but when her appointed time and yeare is once come she shal come forth and end this controuersie whereby her little ones are so much dismayed in the meane time let her poore little children reioyce and be glad for her light shall shine euery day still more and more and as light comes in darknesse shall goe out howsoeuer things seeme to goe The night is euen passed the day begins to break it is but a little while the Sunne will shine for the morning and euening sacrifice must bee restored againe as in the former time and in the dayes of old And yet a little while and the King of Babell and his City both with all his army shall be ouerthrowne And the song of Moses shall be sung againe for the great City Rome shall be burnt with fire and like the great mill-stone which the Angell cast into the See be throwne downe and shall be found no more Then shall Israell sing in daunces as before saying Haleluiah Saluation and glory and power be to our God for hee hath triumphed gloriously The horse with his stately Rider is ouerthrowne and his pompe turned to the graue And then a very little while and that day so long looked for shall shew it selfe wherein that poore distressed and desolate woman tossed with tempest too fro who hath so long attended with many a wet eye and watchfull looke and her lamp alwaies ready burning for the cōming of her husband to the wedding day wherein he wil giue her a crowne of life and wipe her eyes for euer weeping more and giue her ioy and gladnesse in steed of mourning and beauty and euerlasting life and glory in stead of dust and desolation Great and meruailous are thy workes Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgements King of Saints who shall not feare thee oh Lord giue glory to thy name for thy iudgements are made manifest Let vs be glad and reioyce and giue glory to him for the mariage of the Lamb is come his wife hath made her selfe ready Esai 14. 4. 8. How hath the oppressor ceased and the gold-thirstie Babell rested Since thou wast laid low no hewer came vp against vs. FINIS To the Reader ANd if any man thinke heere is not so much said against them as their faults deserue Let him consider if one should lay open to others all his faults at once with their due deserts he would take it very vnkindly and very hardly euer receiue an admonition at his hands in good part that should so serue him Therefore to preuent this euill I haue rather laboured to tell them what they should be then to lay open what they are for loue hopeth the best till it see the worst And this I assure both thee them that no man euer was more forward and strict in outward obseruations nor more ready to contend about the forme and manner of religious exercises and carnall washings and all other commons of the Kingdome then the very hippocrite that neuer intended the purging of his heart nor yet to partake in her peculiar things though vnder the cloake of the one he doth pretend the greatest part in the other Make cleane then the inside first and the out-side shall bee cleane for whosoeuer is cleansed in heart neede not bee taught to wash his hands