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 enimiâ—…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 fiâ—…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 indâ—…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 coÌ„tinue 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—… glaÌ„sse of the law â—…heweth not vpon the priuiledg of CHRISTES death to take bouldnes to sâ—…e or to continue in any knoweÌ„ sinne or to neglect or despise the word or to thinke lightly of the lâ—…ast sinne or not with all possible speed to redresse yt rather remooue yt out of the Chuâ—…ch whervnto the true church neuer wanteth either wil or power Neither ought any faithfull seruant of GOD â—…o coÌ„municate with that assembly which waÌ„teth either wil or power to reforme amend any default which is coÌ„mitted 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 vnsuffeâ—…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 adminiâ—…ter the sacrameÌ„tes vnto coÌ„municate 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 coÌ„mon bread conuersation but not in the worship of God the sacrameÌ„ts c. that the people our sauiouâ—… CHRIST did coÌ„municate 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 placâ—…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 coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of his places examine whether any sâ—…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 â—…oot them out thervpon coÌ„cludeth that none ought to refraine the coÌ„munion 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 disâ—…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 〈◊〉 is not euerie part of yt most liuely opened did noâ—… GOD at the firâ—…t make the world all things in the â—…me good was â—…t not corrupted through the fraude mallice of the deuil hath â—…ot GOD stil in yt his Church visible
of the elders whiles yt was inlightned with the burning lamps of Gods spirit and that the Book was receaued and opened of the Lamb whiles CHRIST sate vpō the white horse his owne holy word that they remained togeather in that heauenly order vvher in CHRIST had placed bestowed euerie member the Apostles those excellent workmē had planted left them being fitly coupled ioined togeather by euerie ioint for the seruice help of the whole according to the effectual power that is in the measure of euerie part vntil Satan I say that auncient enimie of our happines had that great sword giuē him vvherwith he made stil shal make bloudye war raise vp greeuous persecutiō against the woman her seed without vvithin vvhiles they slept were negligēt sowing his darnel of errors and tares of discord amongst them raising vp sectes through the ambition and vainglory of some drawing others into schisme through pride and hypocrisie others into heresies through their headstrong vnbridled asfectiōs al into his snare through the general default of al who slacked their duties kept not their orderly watch one ouer an other and iointly ouer the whole as they were cōmanded prescribed by the Apostles But as the age that arose after Ioshua those Elders of his time vvas sone corrupted and forgate the ordināces of their GOD and the great thinges the Lord had done for their forefathers so these sone fell frō the Apostolike order and left their primitiue diligence care The people vpō a superstitious reuerence preposterous estimatiō vnto their teachers and elders resigned vp al thinges euen their du◅ie interest libertie prerogatiue into their handes suffering them to alter dispose of all thinges after their owne lustes without inquirie or controlemēt vvhervpon the true patterne of CHRISTES Testamēt so highly and with so great charge incōmended by the Apostles vnto the fidelitie of the vvhole Church was soone neglected and cast aside especially by these euil work mē these gouernours who some of thē affecting the preeminēce sought to draw an absolute power into their owne hādes peruerting those offices of more labour care into swelling titles of fle◅hly pompe and vvorldly dignitie Thus vvrought the mysterie of iniquitie yea so far were manie of them caried with a vaine opinion and ostentation of the excellencie of their giftes as they vnder holy pretextes of doing good vnto others sought al◅o vnder this cloke a iurisdiction and regencie ouer other congregat◅ons also which was easily obteyned the people thr◅ugh the iust iudgmētes of GOD being now so bewitched and blinded with their sweet tongues that they easily condiscended Then were these caled Bishops of such a Citie and if they were cities of rule to which any territories townes or hamletes in the countrie belonged then were they called Bi◅hops of such a Diocesse c. had vnder them inferiour or countrie Bishops as also Deacons subdeacons Thus the whole Church growing remisse negligēt both people officers that heauenly patterne left by the Apostles was soone violate and vpō new pretences more more innouate For hereby was a wide gap opened to al licenciosnes disorder the people growing dissolute the priestes as they terme them proude so that religion with was erwhile so irksoome to flesh and blood so mightily persecuted by Sathan and all the princes of the world grew now so plausible to all sortes of men so pleasing to their affections appetites that the great Princes of the world and all their realmes countries flowed apace to the Church in this estate the gates and entrie being as ill kept without as the watch within So that vpon this increase there were manie of these citie Bishops wherby the pride of some could not heerwith be satisfied vntil they had gottē them a new dignitie namely to be Archbb s. ouer all the BB s. in a Prouince or countrie Heer were also new Deacons Archdeacons erected Yet was not the ambitious thirst of some thus stanched but they aspired yet to a more high degree preeminēce so that there must now be picked out fowre principal cities vvhich must carrie 4. Patriarches These had yet higher power thē the Archb s. and were erected to see to the gouernment discipline as they call yt of al Churches in respect or rather in despite of those 4 beastes vvhich had so many eies and vvings and ◅tood day and night about the throne of GOD. but they vvere rather those 4 angels vvhich stood vpon the 4 corners of the earth holding the 4 windes of the earth that the windes should not blow vpon the earth neither on the sea nor on any tree But Sathan hauing yet a further reach ceased not heere but euen amongst those 4 he stil cōtended to set vp one chief which variably fell out somtimes to one somtimes to another vntil at length the lot rested vpō the Sea of Rome vvhere the papacie being vpholdē by mixed with the Empire and in the end swallowing yt vp became the very throne of An◅ichrist vvhere he sitteth in his exaltatiō to vvhome the key of the bottomles pyt vvas giuen vvhich being by him set vvide open the smoke of his cannons deuises trumperies and abhominations darkned the funne poisoned the aire the Locustes Scorpiōs that came out of this pit out of this smoke the multitudes and swarmes of monkes fryers cannons vagrant mendicant preachers parish priestes c. so pestered and prisoned euerie tree so stung enuenomed euerie conscience as they could beare no fruite neither brooke any wholsome doctrine Thus Antichrist being now established and fortified in the midst of his strengths his councel of Cardinals his Metropolitane Archbishops Palatine Lord BB s. in euerie countrie he now receaued the great charter of his prerogatiue infernal euen the Dragon his power throne and auctoritie He now boldly opened his mouth against God blaspheming the tabernacle of CHRIST them that dwel therin innouating and changing all thinges after his owne ◅ustes the ministerie gouernment orders worship thus exalting himself against al that is called GOD sitting in the temple of GOD as GOD shewing himself that he is GOD causing all men to worship his miage to receaue his mark to buy his vvares c. bringing ◅orth his harlot vpon the stage of the vvorld stately mounted vpon his beastly power pompously araied and gorgiously decked and adorned the more to allure intise vvhose cup of fornicatiōs was caried far neere to many nations people and tongues so that the kings of the earth committed fornication with her the inhabitants of the earth vvere drunkē with the vvine of her fornications which she conueied vnto them by the handes of her merchantmen vvho are vvax◅n ritch vvith the abundance of her pleasures Yet in al this defectiō corruptiō apostacie hath GOD
wherwith the whole world is now so deeplie delighted wholy carried away nothing els being welcome or acceptable vnto their earthly séses or ytching humorous eares which caÌ„not bâ—…ooke wholsome doctrine or suffer the wordes of exhortation I haue not desired to speake in the wordes taught by humane wisdome but in the words taught of the Holie Ghost From which where I haue swerued as my vnsanctified lippes no doubt too ofteÌ„ haue or which wherin I haue abused as fooles knowe not to vse a parable aright I humbly craue the Christian correction rather then the pardon of the reader for yt ought to goe before and shall be more profitable vnto me Great euerie way shal â—…he benefite hereof be both to me to the whole Church I being instructed shal through the grace of God both repent learne to amend my faultes the Church shall reape the fruits of Gods graces much more plentifullie in others which if I may any way stir vp I shal not iudg my labour wholy lost The diffuse and disorderly handling of these points will also no doubt be yrksonne vnto the Reader neither in deed take I anie pleasure therin but let that be partly imputed to the confuse subiect â—…ou know what BABEL signifieth but chieflie to my waÌ„t of skill that knew not how to do yt better I am coÌ„tent to beare that blame so others may reape anie good by the rest If some vnperfect senteÌ„ces or superfluous repetitions arise in the reading attribute those to his weakned memorie that is but a litle cherished as also to the incoÌ„uenience of the place through the iniquitie of the times where such was the rage of the enimie as he might not keepe one sheade by him whiles he was writinge of an other hauinge also as euill meanes to reuise or retract that he had written so no woÌ„der though manie thinges escaped which might with more dilligence haue beene preuented Let these also be the writers blame deseruedlie which he for thy good thinketh not much to sustaine But now remaineth the verie Argument subiect of this Booke w ch of â—…l other will be most disliked held most odious heinous of all sorts of men who wil neuer endure to heare the magnificence of the false Church wherin they haue so long beene nouriâ—…hed in so great delight reprooued cast downe So throughlie are they intoxicate vvith the wine of her abhominations and all their senses bownd in the fetters of her fornications that they haue no eies to see eares to heare or hearts to beleeue the truth But especiallie the shipmaisters the marriners merchantmen and all the people that reigne row are caried in this false Church they will neuer indure to see fire cast into her theâ—… wil neuer indure to suffer losse of their daintie pretious merchaÌ„dise but rather will raise vp no small tumultes and stirres against the seruantes of God seeking their blood by all subtill violent meanes as we reade in the scriptures their predecessors haue alwaies donne accusing them of treason troubling the state schisme heresie and vvhat not But vnto all the power learning deceipt rage of the false Church vve oppose that litle Booke of Gods vvorde which as the light shall reueale her as the fire consume her as an heauy milstone shall presse her and all her children louers partakers abettors downe to hell which Booke we willinglie receiue as the iudge of al our controuersies knowing that all men shall one day that ere long be iudged by the same by this Booke who so is found in error or transgression let them haue sentence accordinglie Neither let the dreadfull seuere iugments of GOD be lesse feared or esteemed because they are pronounced by a frayle weake man or that man or messenger be hardlier entreated or iudged too seuere because he doth deliuer the message of his Lord. The Lord assuredlie doth ratifie in heauen whatsoeuer he pronounceth heere or earth neither hath anie seruant of GOD power to alter change his maisters wil they cannot loose that he bindeth or lighten his yoke Let then that state people or person that findeth himself greeued at anie thing heere said first inquire the truth therof in the word of GOD so giue credit obedience accordingly for wheÌ„ the Lion roreth vvho should not feare when the Lord hath spoken vvho should not prophecie Let him that heareth therfore heare and he that leaueth off let him leaue off yet let all know the Lion roreth not in the forest if no pray be present neither the young Lion out of his denne if he be not about to take And when the Lion of the Tribe of IVDA is once raised vp vvho shall then find Argumentes to plead or vveapons of defence yt is a most fearfull thing to fall into the handes of the liuing GOD. Great is the mercie of GOD that bloweth the trumpet and giueth warning before he â—…ring the euill vpon vs yea great is his mercie patience that yet continueth to speake knock and call we hauing so long skorned his messengers despised his words c. Only now let all men in whome is anie feare or loue of GOD anie care of their owne saluation tremble at the word of GOD let them be warned feareâ—… leâ—… them ponder their owne waies depart from euill least the finall wrath of God preuent them Let them consider the further they go on iâ—… error the further they depart from the truth and the harder they shall find yt to returne Let them not be perswaded to continue in euill by the authoritie wisdome pretended learning or holines of anie neither by the numbers and multitudes after they haue once heard or seene the error of their way the Lord keepe all his from presumptuous sinne Long hath that great milstone of the Lordes fearfull iudgmentes beene lift vp on high in the eies of all men ouer this presumptuous confuse BABEL wherin they continue long hath the Lord called commaunded all his people to goe yea to flee out of her Many they see by Gods mightie hand escaped deliuered and marching with the banner of the Gospell displaied before all the inchanters of Egipt PHARAOH his troupes Let the rest no longer â—…empt GOD or be held vnder the dint compasse of this dreadfull milstone by anie perswasions but let them saue their soules out of this accursed false Church with all speed whiles yet grace and time is offred and ioine themselues vnto the faithfull seruantes of CHRIST vnder his conduct Gospell that he may lead them out of the howse of this spirituall bondage into the gloriâ—…us libertie of the sonnes of GOD vnto that desired TZION there together to serue God lead their liues in holines according to Gods owne wil to the comfort assurance of their owne soules the glorie of his name Amen Let the vniust do vniustlie yet and
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 ◠circumcisiō 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 E◅dor to call vp Amasiah the priest of Bethel to debate the matter with him And vntil they meet I leaue vpō 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 Harlo◅ 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 preemin◅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 b◅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 ◠handes of the heathē 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 eu◅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 shal◅ 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 thing◅ 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 Egip◅ 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 passiō to the perfect redemptiō 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 cōmitted 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 ◠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 cōparing thē 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 opē idolaters or apostataes or vnto their seed vntil they were renewed by faith repentance So is y◅ stil in baptisme the lawfulnes of circumcisiō 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 cānot 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 euē the calling vpō y ◠name of God the reading scriptures the administring baptisme c. is turned into sinne presumptiō profanatiō 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 circumcisiō 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 ◅he Apostle in expresse words sheweth experience in Chirurgeric confirmeth the same that circumcision may be gath◅red so
these miserable guides both towardes God and man that would hazard and commit his soule and body to the conduct of such blind and deceitful guydes as either cannot or will not leade them right who would commit the Citie to such blind watch mē as either cannot discerne the enemie or vnto such trecherous watchmen as wil not blow the trumpet and giue warning vnto all men to be in a readines but on the cōtrarie are in compact with the enemie hane betraied the whole Church into their handes yeilded vnto them absolute authoritie takē their lawes their peace their marke and stand now the sworne waged ma◅ked sould◅ors of Antichrist guarding his verie throne person setting vp burning ince◅se to his image gylding the harlot the false Church and araying her with all the titles ornaments euē the gold siluer precious stones pearles fine linnen purple scarlet c. that belong to the true tabernacle In her doe they offer the meat flowre wine oile honie that God hath giuen In her burne they their frankincense and sweetest perfumes In her they prepare a feast furnish a Table to the multitudes These are her chamberlaines her tapsters that stand at the doore of her house of euerie high place in the land and inuite toule in their guests which flow in vn◅o them at the sownd of their bell These cal allure such as passe by their way go right on their way to take a bay◅e at their i◅ne promising their peace offrings wisdome great cheare and verie great and good companie of the noble the rich the learned who will all be readie vpon the first blush of faire weather as soone as euer yt holdeth vp ouer head these stormes and clowdes are blowen away to go with them on that iournay whether they are trauailing for thither also are they bent and as soone as euer God shall incline the Princes heart then they wil al forsake Antichrist goe vnto CHRIST In the meane time they haue all with one consent determined not to guide forward one step Also these that go before them in the way and will not stay for this good companie ◅uch they say marre all their course and hinder the discipline they seeke And therfore they assay by all meanes to turne them out of their way which if yt wil not be then they denounce proclaime them as most bitter enemies Brownestes Schismatikes prowd and ignorant persons disobedient to Magistrates whome they in their pulpets stir vp to send out their horsemen chariors after them to bring them by force back againe into EGIPT and to hold their bodies in moist noisome vile and streight prisons except they will come to these fowlers vnto their high places For these good men would not haue CHRIST brought in in y ◠base maner by faith repentance leauing all such thinges as are contrari◅ to his will and seeking to doe the thinges that he hath commanded whosoeuer say nay to yt and whatsoeuer yt cost whether imprisonment confiscation or death bearing his crosse in all patient meek and humble maner with cheerfulnes and ioy Fie this is al too base they would bring him in with sownd of trumpet by an armie and strength by act of parliament by consent of all estates of the realme Prince Nobles Priestes people and that into these famous synagogues high places gorgeously decked for his maiestie and not in this abiect maner to runne to him into vpper chambers hooles in woodes prisons c. and that a few poore d◅spised vnlearned wretches and that not with the Magistrates leaue good will c. Thus see you how far these guides are from leading you forward in the straight waies of the Lord that with this their preaching they keep you bring you backward you see how far these watchmen are from ringing the alarme and sounding the trumpet against the enemie against any sinne in any person against Antichrist As you see they promise peace blessing to the most wicked dare not giue warning of or denounce against any si◅n either in the state I meane cōmon welth or Church or any great person in the same be the sinne neu◅r so heinous against the first or second Table but rather dawbe vp all these abhominations and all the land in their sinne keeping and houlding them ◅herin bownd as in chaines and fetters vnto the Lords fearful iudgment yea by these their sermons keeping all the people in ignorance vnfurnished of their christian armour and weapons Neither in deed need they any for you see in the happy realme of England there are no enemies ex◅ept Sathan draw mē to the◅t or murther or treason Yf they can keepe thēselues frō these faults or keep them secret why then al is well there are no other faultes or enemies Sathan hath no instruments dare not stir in this estate vnder a Christian Prince where there is such preaching of the Gospell c. you see how these your learned preachers your good men haue not with al their sermons preaching withdrawne one soule all this while from the false Chu◅ch or the abhominable idolatries therin but on the contrarie administer in the false Church dawbing her vp retaining al their auditorie in her hindering drawing back by their vttermost artes and indeuors al that seeke to walke in the straight peaceable waies of the Lord. These with the infinite enormities that ensue heerof were inough to dis◅ouer vnto you what manner of ministers these are and ministery they exercise how they prcach the Gospel But yet I must ad this vnto y e rest how with all this their preaching they haue not all this while giuē any increase to y e bodie not leading their hearers one step towardes perf◅ction but as they stood 30 yeres agoe in the self same estate are they still in the same confusion idolatrie disorder in their synagogues as appeareth by their present estate And as for other knowledg of God or his word they haue none touching the secōd table as y e innumerable multitudes of their sutes wrongs complaintes in al their courtes of plea declare which neuer were so fraught not euen vnder the most grosse poperie as they are vnder this light of their Gospell all these being members of their Church Neither is it possible that such idolaters as both priestes and people are should haue anie sound knowledg or iudgment of Gods word and truth for they that know not God aright how should they know his word aright Now the Apostle teacheth vs our common sense confirmeth that yt is vnsound milke that giueth no increase to the bodie in 30 yeres space we haue to suspect such milke to be vnholsome I trow nei◅her would any of vs in whome is any wit or loue put out our children to such nourses much lesse their