AN ADvertisement or admonition unto the Congregations vvhich men call the New Fryelers in the lowe Countries written in Dutche And Publiched in Englis VVherein is handled 4. Principall pointes of Religion 1. That Christ tooke his Flesh of Marie haveing a true earthly naturall bodie 2. That a Sabbath or day of rest is to be kept holy everie First day of the weeke 3. That ther is no Succession nor privilege to persons in the holie thinges 4. That Magistracie being an holy ordinance of God debarreth not anie from being of the Church of Christ After these followes certen demandes concerning Gods decree of salvation and condemnation Pro. 9.8 Rebuke the wyse and they will love thee Pro. 29.1 They that harden their neck vvhen they are rebuked shall suddenly be destroyed and cannot be cured Printed 1611. To Hans de Ries Reynier VVy-Brantson and the Congregations where of they are HAveing long desired to publish our Faith vnto this nation and in perticuler vnto those congregations wherof you are as wee have formerly done to our owne Nation and also to make knowne the thinges wherein you and wee differ and are opposite VVee have now through the mercie of God thus farr brought our desires to passe being onely vnsatisfied for our owne insufficiency that wee are no better able to manifest your errors unto you wee have divers causes from good grounds to do this wee have done First because we are bound to discover the misterie of iniquitie by all good meanes that wee can and in the cupp that she hath filled to vs to fill hir the duble Secondly that wee might through the grace of God if your willing minds be thereunto be instrumentes of good vnto you herein the rather because you haue bene instrumeÌ„ts of good in discovering divers of our erors unto us which wee acknowledg to the praise of God with thaÌ„k full harts to you Now in that wee do this by way of opposition and reproofe publiquely wch you did by instruction privately for our defence herein wee answere you came publiquely amongst us and advanced your error of Succession and order From the proportion of the scriptures and have destroyed the faith of manie therbye who for sinister respect were willinge to followe you wee have dâ—ltt divers times with divers of yoe privately but you have lightly regarded our loveing admonitions esteeming all as nothinge wee have faced some of you goeing on in your sinne seeking to make this people one with you who are iustly cutt of From God and his people for their falling avvay from Grace VVe have writteÌ„ privately to the vvhole congregation you are of to prevent you in that evill vvee have vvritten particulerly unto you H. de R. but all is in vaine in that you esteeme the truth vvee professe and us herein as vaine Thus are wee constrained for the defence of the truth of God wee professe and that vvee may not seeme to justifie you in your evills and to make it knovvne unto all that vvee have good cause to differ From you to publish these thinges in this manner as vvee do and that it may appeare vnto all and to your consciences that vvee have stronge grounds for châ—â— thinges vvherein vvee differ From you though vvee be vveake to the mainteynance of them If anie shal oppose part or all of that is Heere vvritten vvee dâ—â—e this equal kindnes that it may be set over into â—lish For all our understandings as vvee have caused 〈◊〉 to be set over into dutch for all yours and if there because of Replye vvee vvill by the assistance of God 〈◊〉 were vvithall the abilyty vvherevvith God shall make us able Fare you vvell Peace and love vvith Faith From God and From our Lord Iesus Christ be with all â—m that are in Christ Iesus Amen Thomas Helvvys THe Holie vvriter Iohn in the second of the Revelation vvritinge to the Church of Pargamus one of the Seaven Churches in Asia vvriteth thus vers 14. I have a fevv thinges aganist thee because thou â—aist them there that mainteyne the doctrine of Baalam and Vers 15. Even soo haist thou also them that maintayne the doctrine of the Nicholaitanes vvhich thinge I hate And vvriting to the Church of Thyatira ver 20. he saith I have a fevv thinges against thee that thou sufferest the wooman Iesabell In all vvch the holy man of God teacheth this that it is great impietie for anie Church of Christ to suffer anie false Teachers or anie False doctrine to be mainteyned by anie that are amongst them and if they do and repent not the lord that hats wickednes asmuch now as ever vvill certenly come against them vvith the same iudgments there threatned in his vvord And there fore wee in love fore-warne you that professe your selves to be the Church of Christ and yet have heare us with patience so manie doctrines of devills professed and mainteyned amongst you that you repent least the Lord rise up in wrath against you vvee speake not by reports but of our ovvne knovvledg haveing heard vvith our owne eares and seene vvith our owne â—eâ—es the thinges vvhereof vvee shall by Gods assistance speake Of Christs Flesh The First matter wee will speake to you is wherein your iniquitie doth greatly abound that you have amongst you that deny Christ to have taken Flesh of Mary some holding that he brought it from heaven and some not knowing from whence hee brought it both wâ—ich destroy the Faith of Christ who are such as Thapostle 2. Pet. 2 1. Speaketh of which privily bring in damnable herisies even denying the Lord that hath bought them To say somethinge to the First that hold that he brought it from heaven that the grossnes of their black error may appeare The ground of scriptures testifie that that which is from heaven is heavenly therefore if Christ brought his Flesh from heaven theÌ„ he must have had a heavenly body in that there can come nothinge from heaven but that which is heaveÌ„ly and Thapostle 1. Cor. 15. saith of heavenly bodyes They are glorious they are not weake but of power they are spirituall they are â—mortall Now in that Christs bodie was mortall and died it was not a heavenly glorious spiâ—ituall powerfull bodie but was an earthly naturall weake body and had the same infirmities that our bodies have sinne excepted as is shewed Heb. 4.15 For wee have not an high Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmeties but was in all thinges tempted in like sort yet without sinne as also Chap. 5.2 which is able sufficiently to have compassion on them that are ignorant aâ—d that are out of the way because that he also is compassed with infirmitie And his infirmities appeare in that he was hungrie Mat. 4 2. He was weary Ioh. 4.6 He was trobled and his soule was in great heavinâ— Mat. 14.33.34 And he confesteth his Flesh is weake Mat. 26.41 All these infirmieties nor anie infirmitie could not come from
Magistracie is sinne and that Magistrats by reason of their office and aucthoritie are sinners For although a Magistrat should manifest never so great faith and repentance yet these men will not yeild that he may be of the Church of Christ for except be cast away his Magistracie his saith and repentance is nothinge This vnholy Office vnsanctified and horitie doth vtterly overthrowe faith and repentance Let it not displease you that wee write thus plainely set if it be a holie Office and Sanctified aucthoritie then it cannot debarr anie froÌ„ being members of the church of Christ Thus may you all see that these among you which teach that Magistrats may not be of the Church And that it is not lawfull for them to punish evill doers with the sword nor by the sword to mainteyne warr for the preservation of their contries people these are they that privily bring in damnable heresies despising goverment and speaking evill of these that are in dignitie and aucthoritie in that hereby they seeke the vtter overthrowe of all goverment and accâ—â—pt aucthoritie and magistracie most vise because evill doers are punished thereby which you teach ought not to be but is sinne wickednes to be done And if all men in these Provinces vnder the goverment of the lords stats generall were of your mynds as you would have them where were goverment and magistrats were it not all in the dust Thus is it evident that you would have Kings Princes magistrats vtterly abolished Is not this heresie privily brought in vnder so great a shewe of godlines to destroy the holy ordinance of god and how manie of you vnderstand that this heresie leads you to accompt magistrats the ministers of god but as the devills are wee hope there are thoÌ„sands of you that have no such thoughs and yet it is most evident and cannot be avoyded but it is the end of your ground rule is not this privily brought inâ—â—e not therefore deceived by fâ—re humble speaches for weepâ— feste vnto you that it by this that is already said it do not plainely appeare to anie indifferent reader that your ground leads you to this that all that magistrats do by vertue and power of their Office in punishing evill doers is sinne in them if anie thinke good to oppose wee wil by gods assistance make it most clere that all may see it that wincke not with their eies If therefore you like not to hold that magistrats are no otherwise the ministers of god but as the devils are then leave of also to hold that magistrats by reason of their magistracie are to be debarred out of the kingdome of Church of Christ And also it shall appeare that this your ground doth evidently overthrowe all Magistracie in the whole earth for if God would have all Kings Princes saved and come to the knowledg professioÌ„ of his truth which Th-appostle saith he would 1. Tim. 2.2.4 and you confesse the same and if they cannot come to the knowledg and profession of the truth except they cast away their Magistracie as you say and hold then must all Magistracie be cast away in the whole world for God would have all the Kings Princes and Magistrats vpoÌ„ the earth to come to the knowledg of the truth be saved And if you like not to overthrowe all Magistrats and Magistracie in the earth then leave of to hold that they may not be of the kingdome church of Christ One other marke that shewes you are the false Teachers Th-appostle speakes of is that you stand in your owne conceite this wee have found in some of you and wee require wee may not now find it in you all for then shall it appeare evidently vnto all men Thus have wee in these pointes wherein wee differ from you spoken so farr as God hath enabled vs beseeching you all with singlenes of hart to try your standing in these thinges wee have spoken of and that you would not hold these opinions because you have held them long but that you will loveingly be advised to search the Scriptures and see whether you have any Good warrant thus to hold and professe and teach men so Approve your selves now vnto vs and vnto all men that you walke not blindly in the stepps of them that have gone before you but that you disire and endeavor to walke by true sanctified knowledg from the Scriptures and that you do not so much seeke to heape multitudes together and build vp great Churches and congregations as to gather together a holy people and biuld vp pure Churches in the profession of the true faith that you may be approved of God which neither you nor anie people can ever do except you first make sure that your doctrine be pure and vndefiled for though a people should never so much excell in all holines of conversation yea though they should excell in works in love service in faith patience that their workes should be more at laste theÌ„ at first Reuel 2.19 yet if they suffer false doctrine false teachers they are impure polluted churches for a little leaveÌ„ leaveneth the whole lumpe Gal 5.9 the lord will not approve of them but will certenly come against theÌ„ with the sword of his mouth will remove their candle suckes out of there places This the Lord saith but who beleeves the word of the lord herein If Churches and Congregations did beleeve these words of the lord it would make them try their doctrines by the word of the lord go vpon sound grounds with knowledg vnderstanding from the word of truth being testified vnto them by the teaching of the spirit of God and not receive doctrines vpon the good opinion they have of their Teachers knowledg holines faithfulnes although they should excell in all these thinges neither would the people of God be carried away after anie doctrines by the stronge working affections of their mynds judging it to be the working of the spirit of God when it is nothinge but the spirit of their owne affections wherein they may have great motions and feelings with much zeale but not according to knowledg Rom. 10.2 Therefore are wee comaunded not to beleeve every spirit neither in our selves nor in others but to try first whether they be of God And hereby shall wee knowe the spirit of error If wee heare Gods woâ—d 1. Ioh. 4.6 That is if wee search and try everie thinge thereby 〈◊〉 that Churches and congregations would thus looke vnto their waies and not hold errors for companie sake nor walke in by pathes by affections It is better to hold the truth alone to walke in the waies thereof coâ—rary to all the affections of the hart which is deceitfull but this is a hard doctrine who is able to heare it It is a pleasing thinge to walke in a profession of Religion with a multitude and especially it but some of the grounds of
sword the which Ordinance if it were not all the Godlie on earth should be destroyed and the most Godly first Now wee know that God is able to defend his without the sword but in that he hath appointed this holy ordinance of Magistracie for the preservation and defence of all good men for the subdueing keeping vnder and cutting of the evill doers let none make the selves more wise and more holie then God which you all do that disaprove of Magistracie Repent for your sinneing with a high hand herein in dishonoring God by disaproveing his holie ordinance of Magistracie which he hath comaunded should be honored with all godly feare reverence and obedience And if you will repent and truely obey god herein then must you being comaunded by the aucthoritie of the Magistracy be ready with your owne persons and all that you have to support defend that sword of justice which they beare and wherewith they administer by that power and aucthoritie which they have from god for who are fitter to support and mainteyne the holy ordinance of god then they that professe to be the children of god and who are fitter to feight iust and good battells then good and iust men and what simplicitie is this to thinke that it is more lawfull to hier men to feight a battle then to feight it them selves The people of Israell that were the people of god never did so but they fought the battles of the lord them selves and theÌ„ the lord went farth with their armies and gave them victory over their enimies and put their adversaries to flight and if magistracie be a holy ordinance of God now as it was then it is as lawfull for them to defend their countries and people as it was then and so is it is lawfull for the servants of god and they ought being comaunded by the magistrats to go to warr as well now as then and the servants of god might with better consciences and more comfort 〈◊〉 to battle them selves being comaunded by the higher powers that â—e of god although they died in battle then to hier meÌ„ to be slaine for them to whome the cause belonges not There is no religion in this that magistrats by reason of your vnwillingnes to go to battle for the cause of god and for your owne safeties preservation should be forced to hier men to feight for you although you pay for it and in all this you pretend Religion and conscience but it is evident by the word of god that if magistracie be a holie ordinance of god it is to be supported by all holy and good men and meanes And if it be not a holy Ordinance of god then are magistrats but the ministers of god as the devills are then are they not to be obeyed for conscience sake not to be honored for wee are not bound of conscience to honor and obey the power aucthoritie and ministery of devills but to resist it and so Th-appostle Pauls doctrine Rom. 13. and Th-appostle Peters doctrine 1. Pet. 2.3.17 Is all made false and erronious But far be it from anie that have anie touch of true godlines to deny that holy ordinance of magistracie and so to overthrowe the holy doctrines of Th-appostles Let the godly bewarr of such Th-appostle Peter hath foretold of them and of their manner of proceding for First he sheweth that there shal be false teachers which privilie shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the lord that hath bought them and by their followers the way of truth shal be evill spoken of And these are they which shall dispise gouerment which are bould and stand in their owne conceipt and feare not to speake evill of them that are in dignitie 2. Pet. 2 1-10 let vs applie this to the persons and cause in hand These men that most stifely stand against magistracie have they not brought in damnable heresies do they not deny the lord that hath bought them are not these they that deny the true humanitie of Christ denying him to have had a true earthly naturall bodie wherewith he bought them which they that deny or are ignorant of that he had a true naturall earthly bodie they deny and are ignorant that the lord hath bought them VVee will not now speake to the rest of their damnable heresies but to come to this which is one of them they dispise goverment and speake evill of them that are in dignitie Can there be greater dispisers of goverment then they that deny it to be lawfull to punish evill doers with the sword for take away the sword and where is goverment will evill doers be governed with a â—od of reed do wee not see daylie that manie feares not the sword and if the sword of justice were taken away all goverment were overthrowne and can there be greater dispisers of goverment then they that would altogether over throwe it And they speake evill of them that are in dignitie and aucthoritie Do not thâ—se men speake evill of them when then teach and condemne them for evill doers in their execution of justice against offenders and can they speake greater evill then to say they are 〈◊〉 evill doers as are not worthie to be members of the Church of Christ what greater evill 〈◊〉 â—â—tempt can be cast vpon them both before God and 〈◊〉 people 〈◊〉 hereby they are absolutely 〈◊〉 to be the ministers of god but â—s the devills are Can there greater evill be spoken then this To make it more plaine that you which touch these thinges against Magistracy are these false The achers that the Appostle Peter heere speaketh of This is one â—peciall maâ—ke that you do it privilie for can false 〈…〉 teach more privilie then you that teach this 〈◊〉 you do not vnderstand teaching privily to be in corners and privie places Th appostle she 〈…〉 meaning 〈◊〉 for he speakes of bringing in heresies privily in teaching of doctrine and is not this heresie against Magistrats most privily brought in vnder a culler from our Saviour Christs owne words where he saith It shall not be so among you And from Th-appostles words The weapons of our warfare are not carnall Is it not privily done to wrest the scriptures so deceitfully from a shewe of words leaving the true sence of the place and hereby concluding most privilie and deceitfully that Magistrats bearing the sword may not be of the kingdome of Christ not of his Church but let that suffice which is spoken before of the misvnderstanding of these Scriptures And see further how vnder this first damnable heresie of denying Magistrats to be of the Church most privily is this heresie brought in that Magistracie is vtterly vnlawfull and all that is done by the power and aucthoritie thereof is sinne for as wee have shewed there is nothinge but sinne debarrs anie from being members of Christs Church they then that hold that Magistracie debarrs men from being members of Christs Church must needs hold that
their â—aith agree with mens mynds This overthrowes the first beginings of the Religion of God when men will chuse to walke with that people and in that profession of faith that â—est pleaseth their mynds not so much regarding the truth of their faith nor theâ— holy walkeing therein although they may mislike some thinges yet if some please them well they will not differ for smake matters and when they are once gathered and knâ—t together in a multitude then though error after error be discovered and sinne after sinne comitted there may be no breaking vpon anie conditions And this overthrowes all growth of Religion VVee wish you and all great congregations to looke to your selves that you be not more carefull to mainteyne your multitudeâ— theÌ„ the lords truth It is not a multitude in error sinne that can please God Noe a fewe walking together in the truth with holines shal be acceptable in his sight if they be but two or three he will be in the midst of them Therefore please not your selves in your multitudes walking in so manie errors as you do for if you repent not of these whereof wee have made mention and of all other your errors and false doctrins mainteyned amongst you the lord will assuredly make you desolate for thus hath he threatned and executed his judgment vpon Pergamus and Thyatira because they repented not and he threatnes and will execute the same judgment vpon you which sinne after the like manner of transgression of you repent not And your gifts and grates being manie lesse then the gifts and graces of those Churches and your false doctrines and sinnes already manie moe the greater and more spedily will his jugdments be vpon you if you repent not which wee vnfainedly disire the lord to give you Grace to do Be warned you that are leaders whilst it is to day harden not your harts why should you perish in your sinnes lead so manie simples soule to destruction with you Thus praying all the gratious harted amongst you to remember that the wise man saith Open rebuke is better then secreet love and the wounds of a lover are faithfull Pro. 27.5.6 And wee will hope that though wee reprove you wee shall at length find more love which is all wee require of you then they that so flatter you with their tougnes The grace of our lord Iesus Christ be with you Amen Cant. 4.8 COme from Lebanon even come from Lebanon and looke from the topp of Amanah from the topp of Shenir and Hermon from the Denns of the Lyons and from the mountayns of the Leopards To all the most vvorthy Governors Learned Teachers and Godly people of all estats and conditions in these vnited Provinces Grace and peace from God the father and our lord Iesus Christ VVEE amonge the rest of the people of God that professe the gospel of Iesus Christ have great cause to praise the lord for the freedome libertie that wee have in these Provinces to professe speake in the name of Iesus and wee are bound and do with all humblenes of hart thankfullie acknowledg it And wee beseech the lord in mercie to recompence it seaven-fold into the bosome of those that are in aucthoritie by whose great fauour wee enioy this blessed and comfortable libertie the which libertie wee have not the least thouhts to abuse neither by the grace and mercie of God will ever willingly do And wee humblie crave now that wee may with favour and good acceptance vse this ChristiaÌ„ libertie thus fair as to propound the ground of Religion by way of question and demaund wee doubt not through the grace of God but it being throughly and faithfullie debated and tryed by the Godly wise â—e learned it will put a short end to that longe continewed controversie of Gods eternall decree of life and dâ—ath to salvation and condemnation And thus with reverence and due respect vnto all degâ—ees of persons wee proceed Our first question and demaund is 1. VVether God decreed not that if Adam did obey he should live Our second 2. VVhether God did not according to this his decree create Adam in his owne jmage Gen. 1.17 In righteousnes true holines Ephe. 4.24 giveing him thereby free will power in and of himself that he might obey live Our third 3. VVhether God did not according to this his dâ— wâ—rke of creation give Adam his comaundement 〈◊〉 obey live Gen. 2.16.17 Our fovvrth 4. God then decreeing that if Adam did obey he 〈◊〉 live and giveing him freewil power 〈◊〉 of himsâ—lf that he might obey live and 〈…〉 him to they live Our demaund 〈…〉 â—nderstanding it can be 〈…〉 that God decreed Adam should disob◠〈◊〉 were not this to make God in his de◠〈◊〉 worke in his comaundment contrary to himself doth God decree that if Adam did obey he should live decree that he should disobey dye doth God create Adam after his owne jmage with power will to worke righteousnes decree that he should worke vnrighteousnes sinne doth God comaund Adam to obey decree he should disobey wee demaund how these thinges can agree Our fift 5. VVhether God ever made anie other decree with man-kind concerming life death salvation condemnation but that he made with Adam Then God not decreing Adam to sinne by whome sinne entred Rom. 5 1â— Nor Adam to be condemned by whose sinne condemnaton came on all men Rom. 5.18 hovv can it be said that God hath decreed anie man to sinne or anie man to condemnation Our Sixt. 6. VVhether Gods decree vvas not froÌ„ before all beginings That if Adam desobeyed sinned he should dye Gen. 2.17 hovv then is it said that it vvas Gods decree that he should disobey dye both these cannot stand can the first be denyed Our Seaventh 7. If anie should through vnadvisednes not knovving God or of vvilfull vvickednes deny Adam before his fall to have freevvill povver to vvorke righteousnes vvee demaund of them vvas not his vnderstanding holy his vvill holy and all the faculties povvers of his soule bodie holy had he not povver to vse them holily If all these thinges vvere not so hovv is that true vvhich God hath said In the jmage of God created he him Our Eight 8. VVhether Adam before his fall did not vse all the faculties povvers of his soule body vvholy to Gods glory vvhen the lord brought vnto him all the foule of heaven every beast of the feild to see hovv he vvould call them and he gave names vnto all cattle to the foules of heaven to every beast of the feild as also vvhen the lord brought the vvomaÌ„ he had made to AdaÌ„ Adam said this novv is bone of my bone flesh of my flesh she shal be called vvoman because she vvas taken out of man VVee demaund vvhether it be not heare most evident plaine
to do all thinges if your rule of particuler proportion be good there is no such course nor proportion in the scriptures Iohn his example will not serve your turne for Iohn planted no Churches If you will have planters of Churches and that all men must come to them then must they needs be endued with like gifts as the first â—lanters were speake all languages as Th-appostles did worke miracles and not err in doctrine for the Lords hand is not shortned nor his grace and mercie lessned to his Church and people But if he send men with the same office and aucthoritie that he sent his Appostles he will for the honor of his owne name the advancement of his truth and good of his people give them the same gifts and not bring his truth and people in bondage to men full of errors ignorances and blindnes as you and all men are therefore be content to be biulders vpoÌ„ the foundation layd and forbid not others to build thereon but let every man take heed how he buildeth vpon it 1. Cor. 3.10 This may suffice for this point and so wee come to that to the which the best approved amoÌ„gst you have had no word of annswere hetherto wee knowe you caÌ„ say nothinge for it holding your rule of SuccessioÌ„ according to your course and proportion except you wil be so very vnadvised as to hold proportion in one thinge no proportioÌ„ in another and this that wee intend to speake of is your ministry How come you to raise a ministry where is your particuler example your rule is that Elders must make Elders and none but Elders must administer in the holie thinges You raise baptisme after Iohns examples but how will you do to ordeyne Elders seeing you have no such exaÌ„ple when you have done what device will you have to keepe this auctoritie to your selves This is your ground for your Succession as all had baptisme from Iohn the first baptizer so all must have baptisme from your first baptizer As all Churches proceeded from the first Church at Ierusalem so all Churches must proceeded from Ierusalem your first Church As Elders proceeded by ordination from the first Elders so all Elders must proceed by ordination from your first Elders heere is your proportion But how came your Elders by their ordination did they ordeyne themselves where is your example and proportion for that Did the Church ordeyne them then your proportion is gone for the first Elders were not so ordeyned Thus are you overtaken in your ground not seeing whether it ledd you Forsake it it shal be no disgrace for you to forsake error you shall therein shewe the true grace of God to be in you in denying your selves and your owne waies and advancing the way of the Lord. Hold you to the perfect rule that all gaynsaiers are not able to withstand which was given by the law giver and that is VVhere two or three are gathered together into my name there am I in the midst of them and whatsoever they bind on earth shal be bound in heaven and what soever they loose on earth shal be loosed in heaven Mat. 18.20.18 And 1. Cor. 3.16.21.22 Knowe you not that yee are the Temple of god Lett no maÌ„ reioyce in men for all thinges are yours and 2. Cor. 6.15.16.17.18 what CoÌ„cord hath Christ with Beâ—all or what part hath the beleever with the infidell and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols wherefore come out from amongst them and seperate yourselves saith the Lord touch none vncleane thinge I will receive you I wil be a father vnto you and you shal be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord almightie These three places of scripture proves thus much First that wheresoever two or three are gathered together in Christs name Christ is in the midst of them and they have power to bind and loose which is to receive in cast out to appoint Officers and to discharge and to administer in all the holy thinges for haveing Christ they have wiâ—h him all thinges also Rom. 8.32 Christs power cannot be devided from him therefore where he is his power must needs be he is a kinge where he is he gives power to his servants to serve him in all his ordinances The second place alleged confirmes this where it is said Let no man reioyce in men for all thinges are yours and in the 5. vers of this 1. Coâ— 3. saith The Appostle who is Paul and who is Appollos but the ministers by whome ye beleeved sheweing that the Cornithians were not the Temple of God neither had interest vnto all thinges because of their persons but because they beleeved their doctrine And wheresoever a compaine of men now shall beleeve their doctrine even they are the Temple of god and all thinges are theirs aswell as all thinges were the Corinthians The third place â—ore alleged proves who they are that Christ hath promissed to be in the midst of that is those that seperate themselves from Behall which are men without a yock from vnbeleevers from Idolls and which touch no vncleane thinge these are they that God will receive and amonge whome he will dwell walke and he wil be their God and father they shal be his people children they shall not need to respect the persons of men as hath bene shewed for by the free gift of Gods grace through their faith in Christ all thinges are thens Will anie men not withstanding all this say that anie people or congregation seperated from all vncleannes may not enioy Christ and all the holy ordinances without they be admitted there vnto by other â—en Did Th-appostle Paule disclayme both for himself and Cephas Appollos from all previlige vnto their persons teach the corinthians that their persons gave not them interest vnto the holie things but their doctrine through their owne faith and dare anie challenge previlege vnto their persons so take away the the aucthoritie of Th-appostles doctrine ministerie that is still in as good force aucthoritie as ever in the scriptures And by whose ministerie doctrine what people soever beleeves at this day all thinges are therin by faith in the scriptures not by Succession from men Heere wee desire that all men that have anie vprightnes of â—art would enter into a due consideration of the depth of 〈◊〉 error of Succession from or by the persons of men And through gods assistance wee will endeavour to speake what wee are able for the discoverie of this error which is so great dangerous of the sharpe bitter fruites whereof wee have deepely taisted our vvounds are yet fresh greene but not vvithstanding by the grace of God vvee vvill not be provoked to speake beyond the bounds of sobrietâ—e herein and to proceed herein by the most easie plaine and evident vvay to our best vnderstandings VVee intreat you and all men vvith all holy
wicked Esa 11.4 Now therefore take you heed and let al people take ficed how they go about to hinder the people of god that have freedome and libertie to administer before him being a holy Preisthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1. Pet. 2.5 take heed wee say how you go about to hinder them by setting vp your owne inventions and abhominations and bring swist iudgment vpon your selves And so wee leave this point praying you not lightly to passe by it though wee have handled it weakly But let all that disire vnfainedly in the truth of their soules to see the profession of Iesus Christ florrish in puritie and sincerity and in the light of all truth sett their owne harts and teach others to seeke Christ in his word And to followe him in all worshipp and service according to the examples rules precepts in the Striptures which are written for vs to that end For what soever â—â—inges are writteÌ„ aforetime are written for our leaâ—â—ing Rom. 15.1 Lett all men therefore that in vprightnes disires to walke in the waies of god according to true direction seeke to be taught of god by the Scriptures and not to be ledd by the examples and precepts of men For if a people though but two or three by reading and hearing the Scriptures by the worke of the spirit come to the faith of the gospel must be coÌ„pelled to joyne to anie or some people that formerly professe Christ then must they be forced to professe as they professe and walke in their stepps with them and so to be brought in subiection to all their errors and to be polluted by joyning with them in all their corruptions and so they cannot nor must not be ledd on for ward towards perfection as they ought to be Heb. 6.1 But they must be ledd forward or go backward or out of the way or stand still as that people to whome they joyne will lead them This destroyes all pure profession of the gospell and keepes men backe from walking in the cleare light thereof ffor if two or three shall in the honestie of their harts disire to walke holiâ—â—e with the lord and keepe themselves vnspotted of error this wofull rule of Succession debarrs them that they may not so do and constraines them to joyne to some people denying them libertie to walke after the rules and examples in the Scriptures and so to followe Christ and binds them to followe Christ with them as they followe Christ Hence it cometh that the Pope saith loe heere is Christ and seekes to force all to followe Christ with him And the Bishopps they say loe heere is Christ and they seeke to compell all to followe Christ with them The Presbitarie they say loe heree is Christ and they will constraine all to followe Christ with them wee passe by the most vngodly vnwise Familists and scattered flock that say he is in the desert that is no where to be found in the professioÌ„ of the gospell according to the ordinaÌ„ces thereof vntill their extraordinarie men they dreame of come which shall not be vntil there come a new Christ a new gospell And you to whome wee especially write you say loe heere is Christ you would have all to followe Christ with you Now in these troblesome dayes which our sauiour Christ hath foretold of and are now come to passe wherein if it were possible the very elect should be deceaved let all the godly stay them selves vpon that blessed counsel of our Saviour Christ who saith vnto al that will followe him take yee heed behold I have shewed you althinges before Mark. 13.23 which is by his word and therefore thither onely must wee go and followe no men And wee pray al you that would have men followe Christ with you to remember how our Saviour Christ reproved his Disciples for their evill disposition therin who when they sawe one casting out deviles in Christes name forbadd him because he followed not Christ with them Iesus vtterly disaproving them said forbidd yee him not he that is not against vs is with vs. Luk. 9.49.50 If theÌ„ our saviour Christ would not suffer these his Disciples to challeÌ„ge to theÌ„selves this privilege nor would not restraine that his Disciple for professinge his name althoug he followed not with theÌ„ why should anie challeÌ„g to theÌ„selves or why should the people of god think them selves bound to give vnto anie this prerogative Let all the people of God therefore every where knowe that they have libertie to followe Christly them selves which if Gods people would practice with feare reverence relying onely vpon the direction of gods word spirit it would make them 〈◊〉 wary carefull of their waies least they should run into error so be iustly reproved of all whift all mens eies are vpon them whereas contrariwise if of necessitie they be bound to go joyne to another congregation they walke securely because that peopleâ— walking is their warrant and what soever they find amongst them must be received as approved good And this makes divers who often receives manie good motions of the spirit to quench those provocations of the spirit because they thinke they must needes ioyne to some people and can see none that walke so vprightly nolilie with whome they may have comfort to joyne this is a cheife cause of all this evill in that manie are blinded with this error that you all the fore named people do stand so stiffly vpon that they must joyne to the Church And so is this libertie hidden from their eies you all that teach that doctrine being instrumentes there of that they may joyne theÌ„ selves to gether in the covenant of the new Testament so be the church Temple of God them selves as well as you or anie people and through the gracions blessing of god which he hath promissed shal be vpon them they so doeing walking in his waies they may shall growe to be a most holy people and a house for the most high god to dwel in the word spirit of god being fullie sufficient to build them vp they edifieing one another in their most holy faith according to the rules of the holy ghost in the new Testament And all this without the authoritie or admittance of anie people professing before them but all this you hide from their eies O that the children of god were as wise in their generation in al thinges in this as the Sonnes of men then would they loose no part of that libertie wherewith Christ hath made them free then would every people called of god runne of them selves the racâ— before them and followe hard toward the marke for the price of the high calling of god in Christ Iesus Phil. 3.14 Vnto the which till the called of god by the word of his spirit raise vp their hartes to do striveing withall zeale holines to runne
these wordes might coÌ„vince you all of your error in this point and they shall condemne you all if you repent not of your reaching and stiftly mainteyning that these Ministers of god retayning this their Office from god may not be members of the Church of Christ Hearken to their Office or ministery yet againe It is to punish evill doers and to reward or praise them that do well in which holy administration they are like vnto god and in applieing them selves faithfullie therein they do the worke that is proper to god for to execute justice vpon the wicked and shewe mercie vnto them that do well is the divine propertie and worke of god and so farr as the lord hath comitted auctoritie to Magistrats to administer therein they do the proper worke of god and therefore doth the holy ghost by the Prophett David speaking of Magistrats say Psal 32.6 I have said yee are gods speaking in respect of the great honor that is due vnto them by their holie Office where vnto he hath appointed them The some scope of that which is heare sett downe in this point is to shewe vnto you that the Appostle doth heâ—e teach that the Office ministery of Magistrats is an holy Office appointed of god and that the lord requires of Magistrats a diligent willing faithfull obedience which is pleasing vnto the lord the which obedience they preforming vprightly though weakely and fayling in manie thinges as Th-appostle confesseth he all the children of god did Iam. 3.2 yet beleeving the gospell of Iesus Christ and repenting of their sinnes how can it be denyed them to be admitted members of the bodie of Christ Is this a good exception because they are Magistrats why then you except against them because they are the holy ministers of god and do his will in faithfull obedience VVhat a doctrine of devills is this that anie should be denyed to be members of the body of Christ for executing an holie Office appointed of god For further proofe that it is an holy ordinance or office pleasing vnto god it is shewed in that wee are comanded to obey of conscience that is onely in that which is holy good for god forbidd that his children should be tyed of conscience to obey in anie thinge that is vnholy not good Th-appostle shewes heere that the holy ghost intends no such thinge when he saith vers 3. Magistrats are not to be feared for good works and 1. Pet 2.17 Feare god honor the kinge therefore if Magistrats shall comaund anie thinge against god or Godlines the people of god are not bound to obey for this cause Th-appostles when they were comaunded of the Rulers Elders of Israell that in no wise they should speake or teach in the name of Iesus answered whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather then god judg yee All this doth still give further proofe that Magistracie is a holy ministery or Office appointed of god onely for good and therefore none bearing that Office or ministery is for that cause to be debarred froÌ„ being meÌ„bers of the body of Christ which is his church except men for executing an office comaunded of Christ should be debarred from Christ which is more then madnes for anie that professe Christ to affirme Furthermore hath god by reason of that high power auctoritie which he hath given to Magistrats comaunded such feare such obedieÌ„ce so great honor to be given vnto them of all men and shall they whome god hath so greatly honored with such auctoritie dignitie power for bearing this honor which god hath putt vpon theÌ„ shall they for this be accounted vnworthy to be meÌ„bers of Christes church This is to bring the greatest dishonor that possiblie caÌ„ be before god his people vpoÌ„ that ordinance the ministers thereof vpon which and vpoÌ„ whome the lord hath putt most honor on for it is a most miserable wretched dishonorable ordinaÌ„ce office or calling that debarrs meÌ„ froÌ„ being meÌ„bers of Christes body And let all knowe that have anie vnderstaÌ„ding in the misterie of godlines that if Magistrats ought not to be meÌ„bers of Christs church they cannot be childreÌ„ of the kingdome of Christ and if they be not children of the kingdome they cannot be heires of the promisse for those that are worthy to be heires of saluation must needs first be children of the kingdome being begotten by the â—mortall seed of the word and borne a new 1. Pet. 1.23 all such are worthy to be members of Christs Church Therefore if you vnderstand your selves se this to be the end of your opinion That if you denying Magistrates and hold them vnworthy to be members of Christes Church you much more deny them to be worthy of saluatioÌ„ for if by reason of their Office they be vnworthie to be of the comunioÌ„ of the saintes vpon earth they must nedes thereby much more be made vnworthy to be of the comunion of the Saintes in heaveÌ„ And thus do you by this your opinion hold and mainteyne that god hath appointed an ordinance and they that are his ministers therein by his owne appointement are by that their Office and ministery debarred of saluation Your sinne herein is no lesse then blasphemy against god in that you charge the most holy to have appointed an ordinance the executing whereof debarrs men from saluation wee hope you do it ignorantly as also your leaders Let not the antiquitie of this your error make it precious vnto you but rather vile and sinne not by tradition after the doctrines of men but be brought to try your waies by the word of god and set his spirit be your teacher and leader into all truth be not led by men for all men are gone out of the way and are full of ignorance error And to make it appeare how you are misledd in this be witched opinion VVe wil come to some of your cheife holdes herein whereof this is one Mat. 20.25.26 Luk. 22.24.25.26 Mâ—k 10.5 45. There arose a strife among Christes disciples which should be the greatest And he said vnto them The kinges of the gentiles reigne over them and they that beare rule over them are called gracious lords but ye shall not be so but let the greatest be as the least and the cheifâ—st as him that serveth From hence you gather that kings Magistrates that beare rule in the world may not be of the Church To come by the grâ—tions direction of the spirit of god vnto a due vnderstanding of this scripture wee must first seeke to knowe wherein the disciples of Christ did seeke to be greater one then another and if they did strive for worldly preferment then may your ground prove partly true but if they did not strive for preferment in the world or worldly preferment then is there no cullor that your collected ground should be true for our saviour Christ his speach is to