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A88815 The Antichristian Presbyter: or, Antichrist transformed; Assuming the nevv shape of a Reformed Presbyter, as his last and subtlest disguise to deceive the nations. / By Richard Laurence, Marshal-Generall. Lawrence, Richard, d. 1684. 1647 (1647) Wing L674; Thomason E370_22; ESTC R201297 13,810 23

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England from thence is not there a reverend Presbyter Nay further what do you think of the gathering together of those kind of creatures in the North we used to call Cavaliers are they all turned Presbyters think ye Were they not within this twelve moneths firing of Towns plundering of Houses murdering of people ravishing of women wherever they came in the Kingdome and went under the name of dammee Cavaliers and the Popish Army and are they so suddenly converted and altogether its time we had a nationall Church Government setled then Oh that ever men should thus delude themselves and be their own betrayers and murderets that at such a time as this when there is such visible treachery and wicked plotting tending to the ruine of the whole Kingdome that men should be silent which have so great an interest in it and so much cause to defend the liberty of it Have we not cause to feare that there is a lying spirit in the mouthes of our Prophets that at such time as this is can flatter these spirituall wickednesses in high places if they were the Lords watchmen they would not be stirring up Israel against Judah and Iudah against Israel but would tell Iudah of his sins and Israel of his transgression Oh that we may never see the day that those which Englands Parliament hath chosen out of respect to their learning and piety to be their familiar freinds and take sweet Councel together should in the dayes of Absolom rising up against David act the part of Achitophel Is it possible those which could fore-see things so long in the last plot if not partiall could be so blind in this and if seeing it if not deceitfull could be so dumb in not declaring it What 's the reason ye have such a noyse in the pulpits against such things as could never be sufficiently proved evill and the great crying sinnes of the nation hardly spoke of as if one sin against the Clergy were more dangerous then a multitude of the sinns of Sodom which this Kingdome is full of against that God of Heaven and Earth which destroyed Sodom for sin By this ye may clearly see they preach themselves and not Christ Iesus the Lord. But considering it is rather their infirmities then their qualities Let us earnestly desire the Lord would open their mouth● they might shew forth his prayse that seeklesse their own things and more the things of Iesus Christ that they may no longer call evill good and good evill but reprove the infirmities of their Brethren as the Apostle did with the spirit of love and meeknesse and when they are speaking against the prophanesse lewdnes and wickednesse of the Nation to cry aloud and spare not to lift up their voice like a Trumpet to preach as those that have authority and not as the Scribes I shall for a conclusion desire your consideration on the 33. and 34. Chapters of the prophesie of Ezekiel The Postscript Christian Reader I Shall desire thy Impartiall Censure on these few things Judge but Judge not false Judgement Though I have endevored to discover to thee that Antichrist is crept in amongst us in the shape of a Presbyter yet do I not in the least here strive to perswade thee that Presbytery is Antichristian for we have been too forwards to judge of men and things as they have been represented to us under good or bad names And from thence rose that true proverb among us a Iew would not have done such a thing But the Apostle tells them he is not a Iew that is one outwardly but he that is one inwardly Rom. 2.28 and this was the cause the Saints in the Apostles time differed so much by judging one another according to outward appearance as they were distinguisht by their names some of Paul and some of Apoll. s c. 1. Cor. 1.12 And therefore when Christ is prophesied on to come a Judge it is said he shall not judg after the sight of his eyes nor reprove after the hearing of his eares but he shall judge with righteousnesse and reprove with equity and though our Judges be forwardest to judge for the rich and speak in the proud mens Cause Christ shall judge for the poor and reprove for the meek Esa 11.31 Therefore take heed thou dost not by thy thus judging condemn that which Christ shall justifie and justifie that which Christ shall condemn especially in things that concerne Christs Kingdom and godly people because Christ himselfe is thereby either justified or condemned by them Luk● 10.16 Acts 9 4. Therefore that I would desire thee to observe in these few things is this that Jesus is Christ though Crowned with thornes and in a robe of mockery Mat. 27.29 that Jacob is not Esau though in his garment Gen. 27.15 and that Iosephs Coate is known to his Father though dipt in blood Gen. 37.33 And againe that Antichrist is a Wolfe though in Sheepes Cloathing Mat. 7.15 as much that beast when he appeared like a Lambe with two hornes Rev. 13.11 as when he had the seven heads and ten hornes v. 1. as false an Apostle when he is transformed into an Angel of light or is like the Apostle of Christ 2 Cor. 11.13.14 as when he is that great red Dragon standing before the woman ready to devoure her seede Rev. 12.4 If thou dost aske me how thou shalt then know him I answer by his workes for whatsoever his shape is his businesse is all one For there are some deceivers which are not Antichrist such were Peter Gal. 2.12 and the leaders of the Saints in the 1 Cor. 1. and severall others through infirmity or mistake and these the Apostle reproves as Brethren But the end of this decever is on purpose to destroy This is that roaring Lyon which goeth about seeking whom he may devoure 1 Pet. 5.8 Therefore of all decevers beware of the devouring destroying decever such as doth not onely come with their mouthes full of deeeit but with their hands full of blood who make it their businesse to root up pull downe and destroy for the businesse of Christs Ministers is to plant to build and set up Therefore saith Christ I come not to destroy mens lives but to save them It was the work of the theife Iohn 10.10 to steale to kill and destroy But I am come that ye might have life saith Christ and that ye might have it more abundantly Thus if thou art not one of those whom the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of or that have eyes and see not eares and heare not thou canst not but confesse that those decevers which are so much in blood that are all for imprisoning hanging and burning are of Antichrist what shape soever they are in For the Churches of Saints in the Apostle dayes were among Heathens and Pagans Turkes and Iews Such as held strange opinions such as worshipt the Host of Heaven would have worshipt the Apostles as Gods Acts 14.11