sauing their soules bodies from such wicked accursed assemblies from such disobedient rebellious people and from al the trumperies and deceites of the false Church c. But let vs a litle examine what kind of doctrine these men draw from Mr. CALVINE spread abrode in their pulpites publike writinges They hould that whatsoeuer CongregatioÌ keepeth an outward shew of the ministerie of the word sacramentes ceaseth not to be a Church neither is to be left for any sinne in maners as they call yt whatsoeuer though they willingly presumptuously neglect break the lawes of God both in their worship and conuersation and remaine incorrigible obstinate in these transgressioÌs Now they teach that neither for such sinnes God is so displeased with the congregatioÌ that he herevpon withdraweth his fauor from them or they ââ¦cease to be held reuerenced of vs as a Church neither the publike actions of the said congregation as their praiers preaching sacramentes c. neither the coÌmunicantes with this assemblie in these actions are with for these sinnes defiled For say they a godly conscience is not defiled with the sinnes of an other What fleshly libertine hath or can breath forth more poisoned doctrines then these more contrarie to the honour whole word of God from which yt at once taketh away al reuerence obedience practise What can be more popishly alledged for their Church then to say that yt can blesse these actions and persons whome God in his word accurseth or that the Church may coÌmit such high sacriledge presumptuous sinne without the iudgment punishment due to the same Yf God haue made one the same couenant from the beginning of the world with the whole Church that he hath with euerie particular priuate meÌber therof hath giueÌ no more libertie to the whole Church then to any priuate man to breake the least of his lawes if God for the transgression of his lawe vnpartially iudgeth al without respect of persons if presumptuous sinne with obstinacie ioined thervnto breaketh the couenant with God insomuch as yt both breakeââ¦h Godes law and despiseth Godes mercie grace so depriueth them in that estate of any benefite of CHRISTES death If they which in this maner breake Godes law despise his grace to be iudged of al men as open wicked c. If al the actiones of the wicked be accursed of God so much the more accursed and abhominable by how much they take shew of holines profane Godes name ordinances Yf all they which partake in such actions praiers sacrifices which are an abhomination vnto the Lord be guilty of the altar and vnder the same curse how should those assemblies which continue in presumptuous obstinate sinne be esteemed the true Churches of CHRIST or any that administer vnto or coÌmunicate with them in this estate in praiers sacramentes c. auoid the iudgment curse of God both for ioining vnto blessing the wicked for so high profanation of his name prostituting the holy mysteries of the ââ¦odie blood of Christ to such open vnworthy receiuers Rightly then and directly to reason to the point As many places of scripture as command Godes faithful seruantes with al their forces vttermostindeuor to obserue practise and obey vnto Godes holy word euerie part therof without any willing neglect or breach of the least coÌmandement to their knowledg As many places as shew that obstinate presumptuous transgression breaketh the couenant As many places as command vs to seek out and resort vnto the true Church of CHRIST namely the coÌmunion fellowship of the saintes Godes faithful obedient seruantes there to present our soules and bodies to be built bestowed according to Gods wil there together with theÌ to vvorship and serue our God c As many places as forbid vs all false Churches assemblies al spiritual fellowship coÌmunion with the wicked or to repaire vnto or ioine with theÌ in their praiers worship c. So many places forbid vs al spirituall fellowship coÌmunion vvith al assemblies in this estate vvhat faire shewes soeuer they make vnto vs or glorious titles they take vnto themselues so many places euidently prooue that if in this estate vve should communicate vvith them vve should be guilty of their sinns partakers of their plagues Which doctrines because they are generally receaued of all denied of none though omitted and forgotten by many and generally taught through the whole scriptures I need not here stand to make any more particular proofe or demonstration of them And so these being granted all these doctrines of M r. CALVINE and his Disciples fall to the ground Yet that the falshood of them may somwhat more appeare vnto all men let vs draw a litle neerer vnto them consider of their maine proofes and fundamental doctrines The publike actiones say they and ministerye of the Church as praiers sacramentes c. neither the godly conscience of anye are defiled vvith the open sinnes of others either of ministers or people c. For vvhy such publike actions are the ordinance of God and cannot be defiled or made vnavaileable with the sinnes of men neither are to be left for such sinnes Therfore the holy Prophets and our Sauiour CHRIST himself refrained not the Temple at such times as the estate therof was vholy corrupted but communicated with the wicked in their feastes and sacrifices although the pollution and contagion was generall and incurable both in the people and priestes For the rest euerie man is to eyamine himself and not otheââ¦s when he resorteth to the Church or receiueth the communion of the bodie and blood of CHRIST because he eateth to his owne damnation or saluation not to an other mans c. First if the open sinne of the minister or people defile not the praiers sacramentes by to them administred why hath the Lord said that ââ¦he sacrifice of the wicked is abhomination vnto him that they might as well kil a man as a bullock vnto him that they might as wel offer a dog or swines blood as sacrifice or burnt offering why hath the Lord said that sacrifice without obedience is not acceptable vnto him that he will haue mercie not sacrifice c. Why hath the Lord beene alwaies so ielous ouer his sanctuarie and ouer them that come neere vnto him vvhy hath he made so many lawes for the place Altar sacrifice priestes people c. that no priest with any apparant blemish might offer the bread of the Lord that no offring with any blemish might be accepted at the handes of any that none vvith any pollution or vncleannes vpon him might touch the tabernacle that no heathen or profane person vvhich was not yet come vnto the faith might tread in the courtes of the Lord or any offring be accepted at their handes vvhy hath the Lord
hath D.R. SOME now to contend that the baptisme deliuered in the false Church should be a true seale of the couenant or what occasion hath Mr. PENRIES Proctor to denie that such as there receaued that baptisme are not touching the outward action baptised they must heere shew some sufficient discrepance betwixt these examples alledged out of the scriptures the estate of the present question or els with reuerence rest in the practise of the holy Ghost though neither they nor I be able to arriue to the wisdome therof As for D. SOME I see not what he can say vnles he either affirme y â circumcisioÌ in that apostacie of Israel to be a true seale of the couenant which if he doe then I oppose vnto him not only the through corruption of their estate but also the publike repudiation bil of diuorce which the Lord sent them by his Prophets or els he must in deed shew himself a worthy champion prefer his mother Church of Rome to the defected estate of Israel which if he doe then must we send to Eââ¦dor to call vp Amasiah the priest of Bethel to debate the matter with him And vntil they meet I leaue vpoÌ him the 17 Chapter of the Reuelation where the holy Ghost as liuely describing y t Citie Church of Rome in their scituation and collers as if he had named them calleth the one the Beast the other the Harloâ⦠or great whore in that vision Now if she be an whore as I must beleeue God rather then D.S. then can she not be the spouse of CHRIST the true Church Then for the rest let Bethel Rome striue in hell for the preeminââ¦ce I haue nought to do to iudg them that are without But now M r. PENRIES aduocate D. SOME his aduersarie who hath chosen the much more reasonable extreme peraduenture wil not be so soone satisfied It is an hard matter to perswade sense where faith is wanting But I for this matter must hold him still hard to the places of scripture alledged so that he must shew me some sufficient difference bââ¦twixt these cases or els yeild vnto or reproue the holy Ghost If he put difference yt must be either in the estate of the place of the people or of the thinges deliuered and compared For the place though Israel were part of the promised land yet that could no way sanctifie the Israelites or better their state or defend them from the wrath of God due to their sinnes It was also accursed of God together with and for them deliuered into y â handes of the heatheÌ as we reade Neither was yt euer more holy then Rome or any place where the Church of God was or is seing Gods blessing is euââ¦r with his Church therfore y e place can put no difference For the people as they were somtimes Gods chosen peculiar people so were somtimes the people of the Church of Rome also both of them apostatate both in transgression though yt may be not in like depth yet both of them out of the fauour in the wrath of God It were in vaine to plead which of them were worse the best place out of the Church of God they shalâ⦠find ill inough Though I easilie yeild Rome or the fairest of her Daughters though yt be the Church of England to be w tout all comparison worse For the thingâ⦠deliuered compared both circumcision baptisme were seales annexed to the Lords couenant both signes and markes which all that were receaued into the communion of Gods seruantes ought to haue both signifijng a putting away the shame of Egipâ⦠a cutting washing away our original natural corruption our ingraffing into CHRISTS death resurrection both through with him of our dijng vnto sin liuing vnto righteousnes as also a verie putting on of CHRIST with the ful benefite of his merits passioÌ to the perfect redemptioÌ of our soules bodies ful appeasing of our consciences from the wrath of God the rigour of the law for all the sinnes that euer we haue coÌmitted as fully assuredly as we our selues had fulfilled the law satisfied the wrath iustice of God c. what then should be the impediment why the outward baptisme deliuered in the false and apostaticall Church which I only properly count y â false Church as the outward circumcision deliuered in the false apostaticall Church should now more be denied this more then that Peraduenture yt will heere be alledged that the circumcision there was much more lawfully done better then this baptisme I will not stand vpon y t yt being nothing to our purpose I wil not stand vpon tearmes of better more lawful in coÌparing theÌ one with an other It sufficeth me y t in comparing them vnto iudging them by the law of God neither of them are found either good or lawful For vnlawful yt was to administer circumcision vnto opeÌ idolaters or apostataes or vnto their seed vntil they were renewed by faith repentance So is yâ⦠stil in baptisme the lawfulnes of circumcisioÌ or the holines of y e word of God doth not iustifie the action or the people where the one or the other are abused As in the false Church circumcision is good the word of God is most holy but to receaue circumcision or to heare the word of God in y e false Church is to apostatate from CHRITS to ioine to Gods enemies to forsake the true church He caÌnot haue fellowship with both at one time at what time he ioineth to the one he forsaketh the other Nothing done in y e false Church be it neuer so holy in shew is iustified either by them or to them but eueÌ the calling vpoÌ y â name of God the reading scriptures the administring baptisme c. is turned into sinne presumptioÌ profanatioÌ of Gods name ordinance vnto them whiles they remaine in their inquitie There was nothing in the false Church either in their maner of doing yt that made this circumcisioÌ receaued allowable or not to be repeted neither did the faith subsequent iustifie the action past of circumcision done to in the false Church It was the meere mercie of God y t pardoned and purged the sinne to the faithful penitent It was the wisdom of God the sin abuse of the action thus done receaued in y e false church being thus purged to reserue his owne ordinance not to reiterate y e action of circumcision They that giue a natural cause therof as of the impossibility of reiterating circumcision so put difference betweene circumcision baptisme the one being impossible to be done againe the other not so greatly erre in iudgment misse the point For both ââ¦he Apostle in expresse words sheweth experience in Chirurgeric confirmeth the same that circumcision may be gathââ¦red so
passed ouer or punished by some lighter trifling chasticement wilfull murther ofteÌ pardoned theft if yt be aboue 13 peÌce punished by death yea this sin is punished not only in the persoÌ of the theefe who that wise King saied if he should steale seuen times may yet liue satisfie with his body or goodes but in the persoÌs of al such as this their vniust law iudgeth anie way accessarie which extendeth so far as manie honest meÌ may for this trifle for buynig or receauing part of these stollen goodes be also put to death forfait al the lands goodes they haue wherby their wiues children families are punished also vtterlie vndone And thus by this their pollicie are manie theeues made for one not to speake of al this guiltles blood that is vpon the head of the magistrate Iudg officers Iurie and the whole land by this meanes what should â⦠stand to particulate their infinite transgressioÌs of Gods lawes eueÌ in their ciuil estate which is in much worse case then manie heatheÌ nations which neuer knew God or his Christ. Al this ariseth of this immunitie from the order gouernment censure of Christ in his Church froÌ the inordinate authoritie the apostaticall church giueth vnto Princes magistrates they assume vnto themselues so that the saying of the prophet concerning the proude Kings of Babel is now rightly verified in them Thow didst say with thy heart I wll ascend into heauen aboue the starâ⦠of GOD almightie I wil exalt my throne wil sit in the mountaine of the congregation in the sides of the north I wiââ¦l ascend aboue the heigth of the clowdes I wil make my self equall vnto the most high For see whiles they take power to reiect that holie gouernmeÌt order officers lawes that Christ our King hath ordeined and apointed to his Church they stretch their hand also presume further to eââ¦ect a new gouernmeÌt new orders lawes officers ministry ministratioÌ c. And what is this but both to reprooue Christs lawes and to reiect his yoke from them also to take Christs offices throne Sââ¦epter from him whome the Lord hath set vpoÌ the throne of Dauid to order stabliââ¦h yt with iudgment iustice lââ¦id the key of gouernment vpon his shoulder that what he openeth no man should ââ¦hut and whââ¦t he shutteth no man should open How gââ¦eat theÌ is their pride presumptioÌ y t are so far ââ¦roÌ obeijng seing Chriââ¦s lawes executed as they vtterly abrogate them tââ¦ke thââ¦m out of the way set vp their owne idol diuisââ¦s in the stead of theÌ So far are they froÌ taking lawes at him as their King Lord as they giue lawes of him as King Lord. Is not this to denie nay to put an end to his ministerie kingdome to his ministery by taking away y t which he established bringing in a new into the church to his kingdome by abrogating his lawes offices ordinances by bringing in establishing their owne In so much as through y e odious flââ¦tery of these their priests some of them haue suffered themselues to be called the supreme head of ãâã Church in earth as though Christs Church had one head in earth an other in heaueÌ or that Christ were not the head of his Church here in earth also But the wretched Priests would excuse this iââ¦audible blasphemie with this interpretatioÌ which yet they expresse not 1. vnder Christ as though Christs Church might haue two heades an vpper an vnder head one aboue an other were not this to make her a monster like their Church which hath mââ¦nie heads vpoÌ them writteÌ names of blasphemy as supreme head of the Church primate Bishop metropolitane Bishop Lord Archbishops grace Lord Bish. Archdeacon c. Al which heads but especially that their supreme head of the church may they say make lawes for the church And al this execrable blasphemy they hide vnder the title office of the ciuil magistrate who in deed is Gods blessed ordinance Neither wil these lymmes of y e Deuill be satisfied with any humble acknowledgmeÌt of y e ciuil poweâ⦠or with anie christiaÌ submissioÌ vnto thââ¦ââ¦ame but wil extort by othe an allowance subscriptioÌ vnto this their vngodly power blasphemous titles antichristian decrees proceedings c. It wil not suffice to confesse that God hath made the ciuil magistrate the keeper of the booke of the law to see both y e tables therof obserued by al persons both in the Church coÌmon welth so hath power ouer both church coÌmon welth but they must haue this indefinite pââ¦oposition granted them That a Priââ¦ce hath power to make lawes for the Church By which word making is implied or rather as y e general estate both of church coÌmoÌ welth shew expressed plainly that they meane that y e Prince may deuise make new lawes for the Church such as are notheard of in that booke of God By lawes they meane any traditions ordinances customes c. which are not prescribed in CHRISTS TestameÌt otherwise why should they vse these words or vââ¦ge that power of making lawes A godly Prince is bound ââ¦o Gods lawe made the keeper therof not the controler the seruant not the Lord. God hath in that booke made most perfect necessary lawes both for Church coÌmon welth he requireth of the King magistrate to see these lawes executed and not to make new He that makââ¦th any new lawes taketh vnââ¦o him the office of God who is the onlie law maker al men of what estate soeuer arâ⦠but Gods creatures sââ¦uaÌtes subiectes to his law Moses ââ¦oshua Samuel Dauââ¦d ãâã made no new lawes but reuââ¦ued executed the olde lawes which God had made These examplââ¦s that miserable man high traââ¦tor to God his Prince ROBERT SOME citeth to prooue y â Pââ¦nces may make laweâ⦠for the church coÌââ¦on welth tââ¦erby indââ¦uoring to ãâã hold her Ma â and the honorable Magistrates of this land in this presumptuous breach of al Gods lââ¦wes in this church coÌmon welth by causing theÌ to ratiââ¦ie publish y e vngodlie decrees which that blasphemous high CommissioÌ hath made or shal heerafter make vnder this pretext that Christian Princes haue power to make lawes for the Church Whiââ¦h CommissioÌ al their proceedings because they caÌ no way be iustified by the law of God TestimeÌt of Christ but are directly coÌtrarie vnto the same as shal straight way be prooued therfore y â old lymme of Antichrist that crowned horne of the Beast that T. C. breatheth out of the mouth of the dragoÌ most hââ¦llish blasphemie against Christs ãâã theÌ that dwel in the heauen accusing Christs blessed order maÌner of gouernmeÌt of sedition tumults disobedience vnto the ciuil estate as giuing the raines to the pââ¦oples vnbrideled inordinate appetites which can not be restââ¦eined subuerting
words hath arisen amongst them without end or edifying Therfore let vs for the apeasing and assurance of our consciences giue heed to the word of God and by that golden reed measure our temple our altar our worshippers euen by these rules wherby the Apostles ââ¦hose excellent perfect workmeÌ planted built the first churches comparing the synagogues of this laÌd vnto them in the people the ministerie administration order gouernment c. This way cannot deceauâ⦠vs for neitââ¦er can the simplest erre therin neither any polââ¦uted how subtle and cunning soeuer passe by yt vnespied vnreââ¦rooued For as ther is but one truth ââ¦o whatsoeuer is diuerse more or less thââ¦n that truth is faultie and to be repented FIRST THERFORE because euerie building consisteth of stones let vs examine of vvhat kinde of stones this Church of Engââ¦and as they terme yt consisteth and is compact vvhether of such elect precious liuing stones vvhich are gathered vnto and ââ¦uilt vpon CHRIST IESVS and in him grow vnto an holy and spiââ¦itual temple vnto GOD c. or of common Babilonish reproââ¦ate stones wherof the Lord hath sworne that not one of them ââ¦halbe taken for a corner or for a foundation in his house The material temple which was but a type of this vve ââ¦eade to be built from the verie foundation of choice costly perfect stones the beames rafters of choise Cedars Algummin trees No coÌmon or vile thing vvas vsed towardes yt neither might any profane polluted enter into yt But of the incomparable bewtie vnvtterable excellencie of this spiritual Temple vnder the holy ministerie and happy perfect gouernment of CHRIST all the prophetes haue with great delight spoken fore told and with extreme desire inquired longed to see the reuelatioÌ of these ioies graces which they in the spirit foresaw foreshewed vnto vs to whome they should be performed The prophet I saiah speaking of the excelleÌcie therof breaketh forth into these vvordes Behold I vvill lay thy stones vvith the Carbuncle thy foundatioÌs with saphirs I will make thy vvindowes of Esmeraldes thy gates of shining stones and al thy borders of pretious stones and thy children shalbe taught of the Lord much peace shalbe to thy children And in an other place speaking of the excellent glorie of this spirituall temple he vseth these wordes For brasse I vvill bring gold for yron I vvil bring siluer for vvood brasse for stones yron I vvill make also thy gouerment of peace thine exactors of righteousââ¦es c. thy people also shalbe all righteous they shall possesse the land for eueâ⦠the graffe of my planting shalbe the work of mine handes that I may be glorified And againe For thornes there shal grow firr trees for nettles shal grow the myrrh tree yt shalbe to the Lord for a name for an euerlasting signe that shall not be taken away Al the plantes of this orchaââ¦d shalbe of the Lordes planting they shal all be incense Aloe trees pomgranates and fir trees which shal coÌtinually bring forth pleasant newe freââ¦h fruit because they grow by the sides of the riuer of life are watered with the dewe of heauen and refreshed vvith the windes of godes spirit They come not nor grow not heere vntil they be first cut off from their corrupt natural stock vvhere they grewe before be ingrafted into ââ¦he true olââ¦ue tree the true vine yea being planted and ingrafted that plaÌt that branch that bringeth not forth good fruit shalbe hewen downe shalbe cut off cast out c. Into this mountaine entereth no venemous or harmfull creature the cockatrice aspe the Lion Leopard enter not and lodge not heere vntill they haue left their poison their fiercenes c. so that the sucking child may plaâ⦠vpon the hole of the Aspe the weaned child puâ⦠his hand vpoÌ the hole of the Cockatrice the lambe and the wolfe dwel togither the kid the Leopard ââ¦at straw together and a litle child shal lead them Ther may none be admitted into the church of CHRIST but such as enter by publike profession of the truâ⦠faith None remayne there but such as bring forth the fruites of faith The forerunner Ihon the baptist first preached repentance to prepare the way and make strait the paââ¦hes of the Lord before he baptised any The like did our Sauiour Christ and his disciples The Apostles also first gathered a people by preaching vnto the faith then receaued and ioyned them to the Church and administred vnto them the holy pledges of the faith baptisme as a seale of their ingââ¦affing into CHRIST the holy supper as a symbole of their communion with CHRIST and al his faithful seruantes Thus see we vvhat kinde of stones vvhat manner of people the Lord will haue built receaued into his Church Now yt remaineth thaâ⦠vve by these rules examine the stones and people of the Church of England whether they be such chosen pretious stones as we see here described as the high priest caried in his broidered brestplate vvhether they be such a chosen redeemed faithful free holy people as are called vnto and walke in the faith of CHRIST IESVS or they be rather of the reffuse common pibble chalke stones which cannot be vsed to any sownd and sure building euen al the profane and wicked of the land Atheistes Papistes Anabaptistes heretikes of al sortes gluttoÌs riotââ¦urs blasphemers periures couetous extortioners thieues whores witches coniurers c. and who not that dwelleth within this Iland or is within the Queenes dominion All without exception or respect of person are receiued into and nourished in the bosome of this Church with the word and sacramentes None are here refused none kept out This Church as the prophet saith openeth her knees to euerie passenger furnisheth a table to the multitude and drink offerings to the numbers she keepeth open house to all commers bread and wine and welcome Neither is she more dainty of her stollen waters then of her hid bread of her adulterate baptisme then of her Sheshak supper not denying baptisme to the seed euen of whores and vvitches she receaueth theÌ al into her couenaÌt vvhich is not w t GOD but with death and hell giuing them her peace selling them her wares c. This is their communion of saintes their holy fellowship thus are they bound enchained togither in opeÌ sacriledge idolatrie impietie euen al estates Prince priestes and people and as the Prophet saith euen vvreathed togither as in a strong cable of iniquitie and folded one vvithin an other as thornes in an hedg or rather vvrapped and plighted together as thornes to the fire of Godes wrathfull iudgmentes For whither vve consider the vvhole estate or any particuler part therof vve shall find yt wholy corrupte deeply sâ⦠as in
al the land both great and small rich and poore priest and people in most seruile subiectioÌ therfore in this estate cannot be held or numbred among Christes faithful seruantes vvhich are fully redeemed by the price of his pretious blood from al these bondages and intanglementes vvhich they by a shew of volunââ¦arie religion and counterfeit holines vvould impose vpon mens consciences Neither may such be held the seruaÌtes of CHRIST vvhich stand subiect vnto his enimie Antichrist beare his yoke receaue his ministerie vvares c. or vvhich contend not for the maintenance of the true faith for the sincere practise of the Gospel with freedome in al patieÌt maner vnto the death suffring rather anie thing then themselues to be defiled with his abhominations How then should this people as they generally stand in the publique estate of this land in this subiection to Antichrist in this idolatry sacriledg al kind of excesse and sinne euen in al degrees without repentance faith obedience knowledg be receaued held or esteemed the redeemed called faithful free obedient louing subiects and people of the Lord or how may CHRISTES true faithful seruantes haue any spirituall communion or fellowship with them in thys estate vvithout open sacriledg most hainous impietie and high profanation of the holy things of God For if into the material temple no profane or polluted person might enter and osfer vntill he had imbraced the faith and beene clensed from his filthines how much more ought this profane ignorant vnholy wicked disobedient rowte be kept out of the Church of CHRIST froÌ al intermedling with the holy things of GOD which in this estate belong not vnto them But as these vngodly priestes of these times haue entred and do administer vnto this profane people for the lucre of their goodes tithes wages hire so waÌt not these Balaams sundrie diuelish shiftes and cauils for the maintenance of their doinges least by this doctrine their portion should be reprooued their vantage for diuining cease as also their sinne and shame be made manifest Amongst an heape of their forged excuses they set this for doctrine in the fore ââ¦ront THAT vvhere â⦠Christian Prince is vvhich maiââ¦taineth the Gospel and ââ¦he whole land or estate not resisting this commandement reueââ¦enceth the word sacrameÌtes there the whole multitude of such â⦠land or state are without doubt to be esteemed and iudged a true Church This reason they confirme not with any proofes of the ââ¦cripture but by M r. CALVINS authoritie who giueth these reasons ââ¦herof because saith he yâ⦠is certaine the word and sacramentes ââ¦re not without fruit and that by this meanes vnitie is preserued to ââ¦he vniuersall Church Touching the person of the Author alledged I gladly acknowledg ââ¦im a painful and profitable instrument in the thinges he saw and ââ¦imes he serued in yet not without his manie errors ignorances ââ¦specially touching the planting gouernment and ordering of the Church of CHRIST And no meruaile for being so newly escaped out of the smoky fornace of poperie he could not so sodeinly see or attaine vnto the perfect beawtie of Sion But seeing my hope is GOD hath pardoned all his errors c. my purpose is not with these wicked men to reuiue and broach them a fresh or make them preââ¦identes and by them take boldnes to commit the like or worse ofââ¦ences nor yet to discouer NOAH his shame and nakednes So also concerning matters of faith would I be loth to build vpon or be ââ¦ressed by the doctrines and examples of men the best wherof we ââ¦ee to be subiect to their errors and faults For as faith only beleeueth and resteth vpon the holy word of God so are we by the same to examine al the doctrines and doinges of men yea of the vvhole Church and accordingly to approue or refuse the same Touching this doctrine then that a Christian Prince which publisheth and maintaineth the Gospell doth forthwith make all that realme which with open force resisteth not his proceedinges to be held a Church to whome an holy ministerie and sacramentes belong without further more particular and personal trial examination confession c. This doctrine we find by the word of God to be most false corrupt vncleane dangerous pernicious doctrine contrarie to the whole course practise and lawes both of the old newe Testament breaking at once al Christian order corrupting poisoning al Christian communion fellowship sacrilegiously profaning the holy thinges of God First we know that no Prince or mortal man caÌ make any a member of the Church they may by their godly gouernment greatly help further the Church greatly comfort the faithful aduance the gospel c. But to chuse or refuse to cal or hardeÌ that the eternal and almightie ruler of heauen and earth keepeth in his owne handes and giueth not this power vnto any other This also vve know that whome the Lord hath before al worldes chosen them ââ¦e wil in his due time and meanes cal by his word and whome he ââ¦alleth them he sealeth with this seale to depart from iniquitie to beleeue and lay hold of CHRIST IESVS as their alone sauiour to honour and obââ¦y him as their annointed King Priest Prophet to submit théselues vnto him in all thinges to be reformed corrected gouerned directed by his most holy vvord vowing their faithful obedience vnto the same as yt shalbe reuealed vnto them By this faith confession profession euerie member of CHRIST from the greatest vnto the least without respect of persons entereth into standeth in the Church In this faith haue all the faithfull congregations in the world and true members of the same bodie fellowship communion each with other and out of this faith haue the true seruantes of GOD no fellowship no communion with any congregation or member how florishing titles or faire shewes soeuer they make heere in the flesh None as hath beene prooued vncircumcised or polluted in flesh might enter into the temple or tast of the passouer or other sacrifices how neere soeuer they were in consanguinitie affinitie or subiection In King DAVIDS time the Edomites Moabites Ammonites Philistims were brought vnder obedience subiection yet were none of them admitted into the temple c. but such as imbraced the faith King HEZEKIAS and IOSIAH two famous godly Kings after they had rightly reformed the corrupt estate admitted none to the passouer but such as purified sanctified themselues according to the law The like we reade of the children of the captiuitie after they had finished the temple set the priests in their order thâ⦠Leuites in their courses c. they keââ¦t the passouer together with all such as had seperated themselueâ⦠vnto them from the fiilthines of the heathen of the land to seeke the Lord GOD of Israel These
not so much as seale Gods grace vnto vs they giue not faith to any so much as confirme the faith of all the worthy receauers But where they are thus prostituted sacrilegiously profaned they bring no such ioy they seale no such comfort but rather Gods assured wrath for the abuse of his ordinances the people sacramentes and all being hereby vncleane polluted in Godes sight Neither preserue they vnto the Church hereby her vnitie and power but rather take away al communion and so corrupt and poison yt that now their fellowship is not in the faith but in sacriledg and sinne And for the power of the Church yt is not giuen them to receaue and admit but to driue away and keep out the profane and open vnworthy from the table of the Lord. THE NEXT shiftes these Balaamites haue for the administring vnto the communicating with and retayning the prophane in the bozome of their Church are certayne Argumentes draweÌ by M r. CALVIN from the 13. and of Mathew against the Anabaptistes to prooue that the Church heer on earth shal neuer be without sinne and is not to be left for sinne c. comparing the Church to a corne field vvhich being sowen with good graine ys by the enimiââ¦s fraud scattered with tares of which yt is not clensed vntill the crop be brought into the barne-floore and vnto a net in which all kind of the fiââ¦hes are gathered together are not chosen out vntil they be laid out vpon the shore c. and vnto a floore wherin the vvheate is so gathered that yt lieth hiddeÌ vnder the chaffe vntil by fanne and syue yt be at length layd vp in the grainer The doctrine which M r. CALVINE heer indââ¦uoreth to prooue as yt may be vnderstood is true for no doubt while the Church consisteth of mortal men so long is yt subiect to sinne ignorance els had we no need of CHRIST to be our mediator ouâ⦠aduocate our high priest our Prophet to make our peace to intercede for vs to offer vp our praiers to instruct vs c. Therfore such as shall for sinne leaue the communion of the Church must seeke the societie of Angels and not of men Much better should they doe according to the Apostles councel to admonish them that are out of order to comfort the feeble minded to beare with the weake to be patient towardes all men yea if the sinne be publike and of the whole Church grauelie in the name of the lord to reprehend reprooue the same louingly to exhort them to repentance amendment rather then preposterously to leaue them and rashly to forsake the fellowship as the maner of some is And doubtles if yt be the true spouse of CHRIST yt wil giue eare to the voice of the bridegroome and not coÌtinue obstinate in presumptuous sinne for therfore were they not receaued to grace Faith doth not abrogate the law neither came CHRIST to take away the law so much as the curse of the law from the Church And heervnto serueth that great base and sea of CHRISTES blood which is placed in the Church to purge and wash away through faith and repentance those deformities and blots of sinne which thâ⦠glaÌsse of the law ââ¦heweth not vpon the priuiledg of CHRISTES death to take bouldnes to sââ¦e or to continue in any knoweÌ sinne or to neglect or despise the word or to thinke lightly of the lââ¦ast sinne or not with all possible speed to redresse yt rather remooue yt out of the Chuââ¦ch whervnto the true church neuer wanteth either wil or power Neither ought any faithfull seruant of GOD ââ¦o coÌmunicate with that assembly which waÌteth either wil or power to reforme amend any default which is coÌmitted amongst them after yt is made knoweÌ vnto them as shal apear in the further handling of these other their places Argumentes which they haue corruptly sucked from M r. CALVIN in this discourse vvho no doubt hath vnsuffeââ¦ably peruerted and wrested these places and other places of scripture drawen verie foule corrupt doctrine from them touching the estate and order of a planted Church and more dangerous damnable conclusions from the same as that yt is lawfull for the Church to receiue and reteine the ignorant prophane multitude to adminiââ¦ter the sacrameÌtes vnto coÌmunicate in the same with them that the sacrament is not defiled with such open vnworthy receauers neither the faithful of the Church with this actioÌ or their fellowship also that we ought to abhor withdraw froÌ the wicked in coÌmon bread conuersation but not in the worship of God the sacrameÌts c. that the people our sauiouâ⦠CHRIST did coÌmunicate with the polluted priestes corrupted sacrifices people c. These such other fearful false doctrines conclusions contrarie to the whole course of scripture his disciples haue drawen from him And in deed his abuse of these and other placââ¦s as the epistles to the Churches of Corinth Galatia Asia c. his discourse therof seeme to import w ch that yt may more plainly apeare let vs come to the more particular coÌsideratioÌ of his places examine whether any sââ¦ch doctrines applications conclusions may be drawen from them and that breefly To HIS FIRST place where he resembleth the planted Church to that sowen field or rather confidently affirmeth that sowen field to be the planted Church c. and from thence draweth that seene knowen tares shall grow and remaine in the planted Church vntill GOD ââ¦oot them out thervpon coÌcludeth that none ought to refraine the coÌmunion of the Church for such offendors especially where the word is purely taught the sacramentes rightly administred which he maketh his two infallible markes of the Church leauing out obedience vnto practise of the word which he his disciples vnder the name of Discipline make an hangby wherof in due place First heer against M r. CALVINS writinges his disciples I oppose the interpretation of our Sauiour himself who opening this parable vpoÌ his disââ¦iples requests vnto our good saith that he which sowed the good seed is the Sonne of man the field is the world and the good seed are the childreÌ of the kingdom the tares are the childreÌ of that wicked one the enimie that soweth them is the deuil the haruest is the end of the world the reapers are the Angels c. What interpretatioÌ can be more excellently consonant in euerie point vnto the parable theÌ this or what other interpretation can be ãâã is not euerie part of yt most liuely opened did noâ⦠GOD at the firââ¦t make the world all things in the ââ¦me good was ââ¦t not corrupted through the fraude mallice of the deuil hath ââ¦ot GOD stil in yt his Church visible
shal haue recouered your senses froÌ the amazement wherinto you were smitten with this strange Doctrine touchnig praier to a further consideration of the matter to see if you can bring any better reasons or repaire these in your third booke against the poore persecuted seruantes of Christ whome you vntruly accuse blaspheme publish for Anabaptists what not in these youâ⦠priuiledged poisoned writings I haue sufficiently as I hope shewed the vnlawfulnes of bringing into or reading in the church these stinted numbred praiers and set seruice in their written diuised Leitourgies both because they wanâ⦠warrant in the Testament of Christ practise of the Apostles and are contrarie to the same being Apochrypha not the liuely graces of Gods Spirit being contrary to al the rules of praier yea to the Spirit yt selâ⦠christian libertie not being drawen from the Spirit of God in vs according to the necessities present estate of the church or of our heartes as the Spirit giueth vtterance but rather teaching the Spirit wordes vsurping the office therof in the consciences of meÌ yea setting stintes lawes vpon the Spirit church prescribing this thus much to be said this day in the morning at afternone thus many collectes or Pater nosters heer a Creed a Tâ⦠deum c. I haue shewed the supertition idolatrie abhominacion of the best of theÌ how they are buâ⦠as a dead stinking carion not a liuely acceptable sacrifice vnto the Lord so abhominacion wil worship not required at our handes so superstitioÌ brought into standing in the church of God for that they are not namly as rules lawes of the church as holy praiers and incense of the Saintes as the liuely graces present worke of the Spirit so idolatrie I haue shewed that those scriptures vsed in them do no way iustifie theÌ no more then they doe the masse-booke or a Coniures magical incantatioÌs which haue also holy psalmes scriptures as vnreprooueable praiââ¦rs but rather that they make theÌ the more heinous in that they so rende mangle peruert the scriptures to such blasphemous abuses I haue shewed that such written stinted stuffe cannot be said the praiââ¦rs oâ⦠the Saintes neither do any good either instruct or help the weakâ⦠coÌsciences of any but are rather the very leauen poison of their heartes soules the very cradles and cushions of these graceles Priestes Atheistes to rock them asleepâ⦠in their sinnes securitie neuer touching the heart or conscieÌce but teaching them to prate ouer vpon the booke or by rote their certayne nuÌber of wordes to the Lord as though the booke were their heart vtterly quenching the Spirit of God and al the light that is in them They make theÌ bââ¦leeue that this prescript praier is good at this time that at an other time this when they rise or at dinner the tother when they goe to supper or to sleepe this when they are sick that is special good to be read or saied at the point and hower of death Thus abuse they misleade men keep them wholy from the exercise of the Spiââ¦it of God in them from the searching and powring out theyr heartes ââ¦efore the Lord from the due confession sorrow repentance for ââ¦heyr sinnes froÌ the true knowledg or any vse or benefite of that blesââ¦ed benefite holy exercise of praier and wholy from receauing any ââ¦crease blessing or grace froÌ God as the preseÌt estate of their church ââ¦heir faith soules sheweth euideÌtly being by their stinted Leiââ¦ourgie ââ¦coÌsidered at the best that they can imagine or speake for theÌselues ââ¦ept at a stay alwaies in one estate hauing neither more nor lesse of ââ¦ods grace but eueÌ the self same stil. Thus are they neuer led forth ââ¦ne step towardes perfection vntil a new Leitourgie be made where ââ¦hey haue al thinges prescribed both what to doe how to doe what ãâã say how much to say wheÌ to say wheÌ to make an end Thus iugââ¦le they mock with God behold how the Lord deludeth deâ⦠them withholdeth the early latter rayne of his blessinges froÌââ¦eÌ the coÌtinual spring haruest of his fruitful gracââ¦s they being ââ¦holy emptie destitute therof depriued of light truâ⦠knowledg ââ¦ea coÌmon sense feeling their consciences being seared as with an ââ¦ote yron their heartes paued hardned in their sinnes which they ââ¦oÌmit ââ¦ueÌ with gââ¦eedines hauing left theÌ no sight iudgmeÌt or power ãâã theÌselues to discerne betwixt good euil nether to looke or know ââ¦hat ãâã wil of God is for any thing they doe or leaue vndone Neither ââ¦aue they power to practise yt but depend wholy vppon others for al ãâã things to theÌ they goe to inquire as they say so yt is without any ââ¦oubt so yt must be done without any coÌtraditioÌ Thus is their faith ââ¦at inwrapped faith of the papistââ¦s to belââ¦ue as the church ãâã without knowing what y â church belââ¦eueth to beleeue doe ââ¦s such a preacher such a Rabbine beleeueth doeth à he is a learââ¦ed an holy maÌ he would not doâ⦠otherwise theÌ wel for al the world ââ¦uch a Martyre made this such a maÌ that yt caÌnot be but good say ââ¦od what he wil. They see with other meÌs eies speak with other mens ââ¦outhes pray beleeue with other meÌs heartes Thus doe they al by ââ¦rescript custome traditioÌ without regard to y e rules of Gods word ââ¦hus build they their house faith vpon thâ⦠sandes thus are they by ââ¦heir blind guides deluded led out of y e way thus are they cast into ââ¦tter dââ¦knes held in y e chaines of sinne vnto iudgmeÌt their haÌdes ââ¦ies heartes al their senses powers being fast bouÌd by thesâ⦠Egipââ¦iaÌ in chaÌtââ¦rs their delusions And now that we haue thus largely set ââ¦ut the vââ¦lawfulnes inconuenieÌces of al prescript Leiââ¦ourgies that all ãâã prââ¦tences may be remooued out of the way me thinkes yt ââ¦s now time to returne to this Leiââ¦ourgie of ââ¦he church of ENGLAND and ââ¦o consider somwhat more particularly of yt wherby we shal discerne ââ¦hat kind of faith they haue professe exercise AND HERE IN to dealâ⦠with euery particular error therof or to medââ¦le with the patcheries innumerable trumpeââ¦ies therin or al their ââ¦rosse sollies more then childish euen apish triflinges or their friââ¦olous constitutions customes wheruÌto they bind lesson the paââ¦ish priest to say his matteÌs eueÌsong in order to begin with this confession throughout the yeare nay throughout their life TheÌ cometh the priestes general pardon thorough the power that his lord Bishop hath comitted vnto him so he proceedeth to his stinted psalmes Lessons with his certaine of Paternosters euer among of CREEDES their forged patcherie coÌmoÌly calcd the Apostles Creed or SYMââ¦OLE ATHANASIVS CREED the NICENE CREED sometimes sayde in prose
Should our infirmitie sinne oâ⦠default take away the stabilitie or truth of Gods ordinances This would as wel follow of this their reason as the other that because the Church of CHRIST may at sometimes be without this established order of CHRIST and yet be held the true Church therfore that prescribed order of CHRIST is not perpetuall alwaies necessarie or conuenient thus laijng the default vpon CHRISTS sacred ordinances as though they were notalwaies holy necessarie conuenient which in deed is due to vs anâ⦠our infirmitie and inhabilitie to receaue or exercise such a gratious blessed ministerie or to walke in this heauenly order Nothing is more sure then this the true Church can be established into no other order yt can receaue none other officers or lawes then are in CHRISTS Testament prescribed This hath beene already manifestly proued yet further might be by as many places of scriptures as either the true or false Church is spoken of the true of false ministerie the true or false ministration as either CHRISTS kingdome or anie of his offices are spoken of or Antichrists presumption and forgerie as yt hath beene proued by the true patterne of the house wherby euery part therof ought to be ââ¦ramed and put together according to the will of the Lord of the house otherwise the house will neuer hang together or be to the owners liking or the builders praise Likewise yt hath by the necessitie congruence coherence of the true and natural partes and members of the bodie beene proued how that no other can be added without making yt a monstrous bodie neither the true members be otherwise knit together placed disposed vsed without the destruction of the whole bodie and this much more of that spiritual house and bodie of CHRISTS Church which being so perfect pretious comely excellent cannot admit to be shaped fashioned framed disposed after the faââ¦sies of earthly men who the best of them that euer was alwaies excepting the head of the Church in his best consideration was but a member of the Church Neither was there euer power giuen to anie of them whether Prince or Prophet whosoeuer or authoritie to alter neglect or bring in anââ¦e pinne or hooke eueÌ the least thing or so much as the place therof in the Tabernacle Temple or Church of God How often doth the Church in the song of Solomon say My beloââ¦ed is miâ⦠I am his how often doth she charge all her freinds to stay w tout not to stir vp her welbeloued vntil he please how ofteÌ doth she vow to keepe her self wholy vnto him how often doth he againe repeate the amiablenes comlines beawty congruence feaââ¦ures frââ¦itefulnes pleaââ¦antnes of all her partes euen from top to toe how greatly he is delighted in her and how the Kings of the earth should be tyed in her raââ¦ters c. Doth not he say that Solomon earthly Princes may put or let out their vineyeards not being able themselues to till and dresse them to be dressed trimmed to their seruants reseruing to themselues a rent c. But his vineyard is alwaies before him he is able to til dresse and keepe yt euery whit himself he neither letteth yt out to hire nor suffreth anie to part or possesse the fruite therof with him How many Arguments then might be drawen either from the perfection diuine order c. of the partes of the Church from the faith loue chastitie obedience vnto CHRIST as to her husband Lord King Likewise how many from his absolute power authority possessioÌ ouer her wholly by the right of an husband Lord King How many reasons might be draweÌ from the absolutnes wisdome of his lawes the graciousnes peace of his heauenly gouernment order which cannot be willingly infringed or broken without rebellion nor changed altered without presumptuous treason to proue the perpetuity necessity and fit congrueÌce of those officers ordinances that he ãâã his Testament hath prescribed for the building ministery and gouernmeÌt of his Church and of euery member therof whither Prince or minister ouer whome CHRIST reigneth by equal right and euen the ââ¦ame iurisdiction that he doth ouer the least There is no exception or acceptation of persons with God That nation that kingdome that will not serââ¦e him shall perish and those nations shalbe vtterly destroied He that obeieth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth vpon him Those that will not haue him to reigne ouer them he iudgeth and destroieth as enemies CHRIST reigneth by his owne officers which yt is lawfull at no hand for his true subiects either to disobey alter or reiect Subiects and seruants are not to giue but to take lawes at their King Lord God hath made his Sonne Lord and hââ¦ire of al things and hath giuen him a name aboue euery name that at the name of IESVS euery knee should bow both of hââ¦auenly things earthly things and things vnder the earth and euery tongue should confesse that IESVS CHRIST is the Lord vnto the glorie of God his Father because all men should honour the Sonne as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Sonne honoureth not the Father that sent him O how great then is their wickednes how pernitious their councell who for filthy lucre sake perswade Princes that they are not only not subiect themselues in person to the lawes spiritual censures of Christ in his Church but that they are not bownd to admit that order of gouernment prescribed in his Testament which they shuffle off with the terme of outward discipline in their landes May not yea doe not Princes by this meanes bouldly breake all Gods lawes and disanull anie of them at their pleasures breake that they may follow their owne hearts lusts fulfilling the inordinate appetites therof wallowing glutting themselues in all fleshlie pleasure vanitie exceââ¦e committing what wickednes they wil without admonition censure or reproofe I would heere still be vnderstood of the ecclesiastical spiritual censures by the word May they not yet proceed further and disanul which of Gods lawes they list either in common welth or Church In the common welth when they both abrogate all Gods iudicial lawes cut them off at one blow as made belonging to the coÌmoÌ welth of the Iewes onlie as though God had no regard of the conversation of other Christians his seruantes also or els had left some other peculiar lawes for the manners of the Gentiles or had left them in greater libertie to be and to make lawes customes vnto themselues Heervpon yt commeth to passe that so manie wicked vngodlie lawes and customes are decreed that the whole order course of iudgment iustice is constuprate peruerted that so manie capital mischeifes as God punished by death as blaspheming the name of God open idolatrie disobedience to parents are not by law punished at al incest adulterie either
remedy of their saluation for the humbling of their flesh c Yf Kings be subiect to the instruction and admonition of the Church ââ¦s Dauid Asa Iââ¦oshaphat Ezekiah c. were why should they not also with Vzziah when the running vlcerâ⦠of fretting incurable sinne appeare vppon them be cut off from the howââ¦e of the Lord and seperate from the coÌmunion of the Saints as he was least they defile more make the whole offrings and companie abhominable vnto the Lord. Yf in that materiall Temple where the worship consisted in externall ceremonies no degrees of persons were exempted from the obseruation of the lawes the King himself might not enter with his vncleannes vpon him but as you see was cast out according to the law how much more in this spirituall howse of CHRIST ought they to be subiect to the lawes and iudgments of CHRIST as well yea and rather more then any other To this they obiect because the King is the cheefe supreame gouernor here in earth ouer all persons and causes as well of the Church as of the commoÌ welth vnto whome euery soule must be subiect therfore cannot the whole Church much lesfe any member therof all being his subiects censure iudg or excoÌmunicate the Prince the placing punishing and deposing of whome only belongeth vnto God by whome Kings rââ¦igne O how great is the blindnes of these Phariseis that cannot put difference betweene the spirituall iudgments of CHRIST in his Church the temporall or rather corporall iudgments of the magistrate in the coÌmon welth but most grossely and wickedly oppose the one against the other Might they not as well reason and vpon the same grounds conclude that the Prince is no member of the Church neither y t the Church hath any coÌmunion with him because he is supreme gouernour of the Church and all the Church are his subiects yea doe they not as much wheÌ they giue vnto Princes sââ¦ch blasphemous titles popiââ¦h prerogatiues dispensatioÌs as SVPREME HEAD OF THE CHVRCH to make lawes for the Church concerning the worship ministery ministration whole gouernment of the Church and those such as are not read of in the booke of God to be exempt from the iurisdiction ceÌsure of Christ in his church Now which way in this estate can they make the Prince a subiect of Christ or member of his Church wheÌ both in titles power pregatiue they exaââ¦t Princes into the chaire of Christ or to say as yt is rather into the chaire of Antichrist But to come to this pollitike impediment and intollerable inconuenience that would ensue if Princes should be subiect to the excoÌmââ¦nication of y e church then say they he should be subiect to the Church and so subiect to his subiects I denie the sequele of their Argument for this censure is not the censure of the Church so much as of CHRIST in his Church so that though CHRIST vse the ministerie of his Church the Church the ministerie of some most fit membââ¦r vnto this action yââ¦t is yâ⦠still the censure iudgment of CHRIST vnto which euery seruant of CHRIST member of the Church must be subiect So that they might as well reason that the Prince is subiect to the Church c. because he must be subiect to the Gospell which is also the ministerie of the Church The least member of the Church is not subiect to the church neither to follow yt further then yt followeth CHRIST But whiles some without all feare of God haue indeuored to draw and others not doubted to yeild that honour which is due vnto God vnto the persons of men herehence hath al this exaltation of Antichrist pride of the prelacââ¦e arisen yea these impious collections and blasphemous conclusions against Christs holy ordinances ensued to such a measure and heigth is this sin now growen that they not only cast off Christs yoke them selues but assoile Princes of their allegeance vnto him yea proclaime this most peaceable spiritual censure of CHRIST to be sedââ¦ious intolleââ¦able contrary vnto the magistracie c. Then which assertion what can be more heathen barbarous Is yt not to set their state expresly against Christ yea Christ against God cannot these carnal men consider that Christ himself whiles he was heere on earth as also his Apostles were subiect in al lawfull things vnto the ciuile magistrate taught the churches so to be vnto the worlds end yet both CHRIST his Apostles gaue perpetuall often commandements for the diligent vpright vse of this spiritual censure vnto the woââ¦lds end Are they so Anabaptisticall to thinke y t there neuer were or should be magistrates of the Church or thinke they that these lawes were made for the church before the magistrates were called to the faith were not Nicodemus Ioseph of Aramathia Sergius Paulus Cornelius Dionisius Erastus c. magistrates and called to the faith yet in their tune was the vse of excommunication inioined and practised No where can they shew in all the Testament of CHRIST any exception or immunity of any one person from this spirituall censure gouernment of CHRIST which is no way contrary vnto the temporal estate ciuil degree of the Prince or magistrate Who though they be excoÌmunicate yet still retaine their ciuil estate dignity wherin God hath placed them and still are reuerenced and obeied of the whole church as such magistrates whome God hath set ouer them only members of the Church they cannot be held whiles they presumptuously traÌsgresse or obstinately disobey CHRISTS voice It is not in the power of the Church to receaue or cast out any member before they see faith or transgression accordingly nor yet hath the Church power to keepe in any member longer then he keepeth the faith walketh orderly So then vntil they can proue that there can be no magistrates but such as are of the church or that this ecclesiastical excommunication is a depriuing deposing of the ciuil magistracy they do but reproch the truth and seduce the magistrate As these spirituall iudgments extend not vnto so the Church that pronounceth executeth the same no way medleth with the office or person of the Prince or magistrate They are taught not to lay violent hands vpon the Lords annointed but to be obedient vnto the death It alwaies hath beene the custome of the Pope his ofspring to encroch both vpon Churches and Princes to assume this antichristian power ouer both into their haÌds to bind to loose to curse assoile whome they list Neither can I see the sin of these Antichristian BBs these ympes of the Pope to be lesse in discharging Princes from this holy censure of CHRIST theÌââ¦heir Sires was in tyrannizing oppressing them therwith neither yet how these men can beate downe the tyrannous vsurped power of the Pope when they assââ¦me into their owne hands and execute the self same power ouer the whole Church
might be terate or defaced also as baptisme if that had beene found needful in the wisdome of the holy Ghost What say I then doe I any way iustisie this outward actioÌ of circumââ¦ision as yt is done in the false Church nothing lesse but coÌdemne yt ââ¦ltogether as an hamous profanatioÌ of Gods holy ordinance yet when ââ¦t is purged by sincere repentance of al y e error therin abuse therof ââ¦t pleased God in pardoning the faults to reserue not to repeate the outward actioÌ which because yt was wrongly done yet caÌnot therfore ââ¦e said not done at al. For we may and must put difference betwixt a ââ¦hing not rightly done a thing to be done or not done at al. For the ââ¦rrors faults of the baptisme being purged by repentance done away through the mercie of God the Lord now beholdeth the rest of ââ¦he action the thing which in pretence before they seemed to do as ââ¦is ordinance coÌmandemeÌt not from hencforth imputing y e faults ââ¦n doing yt being now repented pardoned done away either vnto y â action or them so that ââ¦rom henceforth they looke more carefully to ââ¦he doing ãâã holy actioÌs according to the prescript wil of God making no willing transgression therin hereafter neither presenting or willingly suffering their childââ¦en to be presented in the false Church vnto their baptisme sor then they caÌnot be said to haue truly repented yt That were to go back againe wallow them in their former apoââ¦tasie sinne to bring their old sinnes vpon their head But now seeing we iustifie not the action of Bââ¦ptisme as yt is done in thâ⦠false Church by an vnlawful minister after an vnlawful maner yet the error euill doing therof being repented purged away doe not ãâã the outward action because yt cannot be said no action c. Peraduenture herevpon may be collected that such baptisme as is deliuered by an infidââ¦l which neuer had knowlââ¦dg oâ⦠God in CHRIST being afterward repented of and sorrowed that their body hath beene guiltie of such profanatioÌ c. the outward baptisme may in like maner remaine not be repeted when they ioine vnto the true Church This may at no hand be brought to passe neither in deed doth yt herehence follow for easy yt is to put difference betwixt an infidel which neuer knew God in CHRIST and an Apostata which hath had knowledg of and still outwardly though corruptly proââ¦esseth God and CHRIST The one sort know not what the Church worship and sacramentes meane the other though corrupted in their knowledg yet carrie a shew of Church worship sacââ¦amentes ministerie yea hath them though corrupt adulterate so there is neither sequele nor coÌparison betwixt them For that which the heathen infidel should so prophanâ⦠deliuer can no way be said any kind of sacrament either ââ¦ue or false because as is said they haue no kind of ââ¦hew of Church ministerie or sacramentes c. but the false Church hath al these to shew seeming true though in deed false So is yt easie to put a difference betwixt false adulterate baptisme and true baptisme which D.R.S. with all his diuinitie hath not as yet learned to do and also betwixt false adulterate baptisme no baptisme which these other learned priestes cannot as yet spie out For els would they neuer so grosly both denie the baptisme in the Church of Rome to be any baptisme concluding all the people that receaued yt altogether without outward baptisme yet being vnbaptised make yt a matter of no necessity to seeke outward baptisme because they notwithstanding al their writings still suppose yt to be true baptisme they there receaued so yt is needles that they should seek or receaue the outward baptisme and hauing the inward baptisme of Gods Spirit in their heartes they need not seeke the outward seale but proceed without yt vnto the other sacrament Also they hauing found comfort in that then they are safe inough though meÌ Angels yea though God himself in his word say yt is vnlawful vnsufferable yea damnable sacriledg both to them and the whole Church that administreth or ioineth vnto them in this action Yet if they haue found comfoââ¦t they may notwithstanding al this boldly resort thither againe where they haue beene thus banqueââ¦ted yea the parties finding this comfort in their soules at the receauing the supper though as is said expresly against Gods word which warranteth no such coÌfort vnto them in that actioÌ but condemneth yt flatly yea their estate sinne being shewed them in the word wherby their conscience is conuinced yet may they by this great Clerke of OXFORD his opinion hang vp the law of baptisme as an old cancelled record yea as popish traditioÌs that make nothing to saluation wherof they wil assure themselues though they wittingly breake Gods lawes remaine in the same transgression For say they men at the supper are not bidden to examine themselues what was done to them being infantes or what they did 90. oâ⦠50. yeres agoe c. Is this a strong reason to disproue the commandement of God touching the receauing outward baptisme or to come vnto the Table and supper of the Lord being vnbaptised yea to count these commandementes as ould worthles concealed recordes popish traditions c. or is yt not most high and vnsufferable blasphemie rather against CHRIST his ordinance Is this the accompt they make of the law of God or the comfort he taketh coÌtinual vse he maketh euen of that outward baptisme as an excellent instruction stay assurance of his faith not that I make baptisme the cause of saluation oâ⦠think that none can be saued without yt But God hath made yt a most comfortable pledg seale of his loue help to our faith all the time that we liue in this mortal life euen to him most that hath receaued the greater measure of inward grace So far is yt from being at any time to any man a cancelled record that yt remaineth for euer a sacred iuuiolable law of special vse to them that haue receaued yt of necessity to al such as wil enter into the established church of CHRIST without which they canot be permitted to enter much lesse admitted to the Table of the Lord. It is no imaginarie comfort of ours caÌ take away or alter the irrefragable law of God though we be not biddeÌ to examine what was done to vs being infantes or to particulate euerie thing we haue done in our life yet are we to consider our estate before God shewed vs this mercie both of our natural corruptioÌ in general and our particular miserie being the seed of infidels idolaters such as were without the couenant such as presented offered vs to Sathan in the false Church we there in that adulterate baptisme receaued the pledg of God his assured wrath so euerie way y e
children of death hel c. These thinges ought not to be forgotten or as the budget at our back to be cast behind vs but both with griefe to be remembred y t we vile wretches should so highly haue profaned Gods name with them of the false Church also with ioy that God hath shewed this mercie vnto vs to redeeme deliuer vs out of these snares of SathaÌ but especially to coÌsider wheÌ we come to y e supper of the Lord both what y e thing is we do receiue how with whome in what manner we ought to receaue yt Now if we be ignorant of the doctrines of baptisme but much more if we haue not receaued baptisme how should we be held worthy receiuers of those high misteries of y e body blood of our Lord Iesus Christ The watch rules of the word are ill kept in that Church which admitteth any much more many into their coÌmunioÌ w t out ful assuraÌce of their baptisme But what kind of Church is that which consisteth wholy of a people vnbaptised for so by his argument are al they that were baptised in the popish churches And then al the land being such at the first receiuing of the Gââ¦spel as they imagine to themselues how should an vnbaptised people chuse from amoÌg themselues able ministers to baptise Is yt not likely that this famous scholler knew ful litle what belonged either to the Church ministerie or sacramentes of Christ that wrote this learned discourse hath not the Church of EnglaÌd gotteÌ a worthy champioÌ that thus learnedly defendeth her her proceedings with one word of his mouth pronounceth al such Brownists as denie this their Cââ¦rch of England euen the eldest daughter of the Church of Rome together with her mother to be the true spouse of Christ and therfore both reprooue by the word of God refraine according to the same word al their abhominations suffring in al patieÌt maner whatsoeuer may be done or said against vs for the same by the handes of these Cainites mouthes of these Balaamites rather theÌ defiling our soules with their abhominations Which as yt were a wearines for any man but to recite and bring to light these hellish mistes and fogs these secret mysteries of their ministerie and worship which they exercise in their Temples so is yt an impossibilitie for this learned clerke with al his cunning or the greatest priest of them to defeÌd the same when the light of the word is but once brought vnto them so sodainly are they therby discouered of what sort they are Let theÌ therfore that thus contend for their whorish Church approue and iustifie hereby the word of God and theÌ surely I wil yeild them to deserue the garland of a bishoprick or els let them assure themselues y â yt is neither their tyraÌnie railing or sophistrie can either couer or excuse their shame from his fierie eies with whome they haue to do or lay that blame reproch vpon others which they indeuour To returne therfore againe to that from which we haue beene somwhat with drawen by these occurrentes yt remaineth that we proceed in the examination of the publike ministration of this famous Church of England Of their sacrameÌtes we haue heard but they haue besides these certayne half sacrameÌtes or high misteries vnto which belong set prescript communions which to performe execute are no small part of the priestes office Not to speake of their orders or iniunctions which are fower times in the yeare to be solemnely read not to repeat their sacrament of Peonance with their bitter curses and comminations going before their Lent fast They haue yet the holy sacrament of marriage solemnly kept in the holy church for the most part vpoÌ the Lordes day an especial Leitoââ¦rgie or coÌmunioÌ framed to the same This action is to be done by the priest c. who instructing the parties to be ioined in wedlock whaâ⦠to say when to pray c. teacheth the man to wed his wife with a ring In the name of the Faââ¦her the Sonne and of ãâã ââ¦oly Ghost which ring must before by the man be layd vpon the seruice booke together with his offring vnto the priest Clarke The booke serueth in stead of holy water to hallow the ring The ring thus hallowed serueth in stead of an element to this sacrament being ioined to these wordes In the name of the Father of the Sonne of the holy Ghost especialy when al the collectes special psalme blessinges are said by the priest the maried couple deuoutly kneeling in the meane while at the communioÌ table c. But here wil be answered that the reformed better sort of priestes wil not marry with the ring here must then be noted that they breake their other of their Cannonical obedience which they tooke before the Bishop when they receiued their priesthood Moreouer y â for their default herein they are to be censured and reproued by their Church namly their CoÌmissarie his Court before whome such defaultes are to be presented by the Churchwardens questmen vnles they also will be forsworne for company Moreouer these reformed well conscienced priestes though they reiect this ring as an idolatrous relique yet dare they not by the word pronouÌce the vnlawfulnes therof that others also might leaue detest the same That would cost blowes the Bishop would not suffââ¦r that therfore they for the peace of their Church ioine to them in the coÌmunion c. that vse this execrable idolatrie But well let me not discourage them in well doing least vve take them not ofteÌ in that fault leaft if the Bishop once heare of yt yt then become but a matter indifferent theÌ they for the peace of the Church the sauing their benefice their skinnes whole vse yt againe for companie But heere in the meane time I would know of y e learnedest of them where they find in the old or new Testament that marriage is an ecclesiastical action belonging to the worship of God in his Church to be done by the minister as part of his office function that in the Church but especially vpoÌ the Lordes day with such a set Leitourgie of Collectes exhortations psalmes anthemes blessings framed to the purpose I hope they found not this in the 4 Chapter of the booke of Ruth yet I doubt not but both Booz and Ruth were godly persons and very lawfully famously maried They vsed no priest in this busines nor yet made yt a matter belonging to the tabernacle or worship of God I haue alwaies found yt the parentes office to prouide mariages for their children whiles they remaine in their charge gouernmeÌt and that the parties themselues affianced betrothed ech other in the feare of God the pââ¦esence of such witnesses as were present and that in their parentes or other priuate houses without running to