callings are without repentance Rom. 11.29 And though he will oblitterate the names of such out of his book of life as he said unto Moses who sin against him Exod. 32.32 33. yet he will be mercifull unto his land and to his people And therefore he saith Rejoyce oh ye nations with his people for he will avenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to his adversaries and will be mercifull to his land and people see Deut. 32.43 And of this we may be confident that he that hath begun will certainly make an end before he break off from us whom he hath owned as a peculiar people in a nationall way and that above any nation under heaven as once he did to Israel of old And will bring us to rest and settlement in spite of all opposers either forraine or domestick And he will give victory on the Lambs side together with them who are the called chosen and faithfull His heart is towards the governors of Israel who have jeoparded their lives to maintaine his cause upon the high places of the field with Zebulon and Napthali see Judges 5.9.18 for they offered themselves willingly amongst the people and have not loved their lives even unto the death Rev. 12.11 And therefore rejoyce ye heavens that is to say ye Churches militant and triumphant and ye that dwell in them but woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the Sea that is to the world for the Devill is come downe amongst you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time vers 12. to wit till he must be inclosed in the bottomlesse pit that he shall not deceive the nations any more till a thousand years shall be fulfilled see Rev. 20.1 2 3. Yea woe unto the world because of offences for though it must needs be that offences shall come yet woe to that man by whom the offence cometh see Mat. 18.7 Doubtlesse it hath ever been dangerous to give any offence either to Jew or Gentile or to the Church of God see 1 Cor. 10.32 but much more now in these latter dayes wherein the Lord hath begun to avenge his Elect who cry unto him day and night for now he hath begun he will certainly hold on and avenge them speedily as hath been proved before Luke 18.7 8. And therefore it is the advice of our blessed Saviour to take heed that we despise not one of those little ones yea one of the least of those little ones that beleeve in him and the reason is rendred because that in heaven there Angels doe alwayes behold the face of their Father which is in Heaven For they are all ministring spirits sent forth for the good of them who shall be heires of salvation and will readily accomplish what the will of God shall require them to doe For they alwayes behold his face to know his will concerning his servants that they might accomplish it concerning all his Elect over whom they have Charge see Matth. 18.10 Mark 9.42 Heb. 1.14 Psal 103.20 Now if it be so much danger to offend but one of the least of those little ones that beleeve in Christ as that it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were cast into the depth of the Sea c. How dangerous is it to offend his Embassadors that are sent unto us in the name of the Lord for the good of our souls Is it not said He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me And he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me But how few is there in these our dayes that regard these words or at least so regard them as to caution them as they ought in these respects Are not the words of men in authority as Magistrates and Officers and masters much more regarded then these words of Christ They that are under command under any authority either civill or millitary will quickly say we are so commanded and we must obey else it will be worse for us we shall be turned out of office or out of our service or places else or those our superiours will be offended with us and for such like reasons which in such cases are good and wise and but our duty but how few is there that are so wisely subservient to the commands of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ and to take his counsells and admonitions and lay them to heart and own them as a rule for regulation of all their wayes But if you please to read with seriousnesse of spirit but this little Treatise you will easily perceive how much we are short of obedience and subserviencie to the commands of Christ yea even the best of us all and so what need there is to make it our businesse to indeavour a redresse what in us lyeth in our places and callings and to provoke one another to love and good works which are so much wanting And for this end I have directed it to you who are in highest authority though I therein speak not to you only but to all that are or professe themselves to be christians indeed not in shew only that you all such might incourage and induce what in them lieth to a cordiall uniformity of hearts and affections in the wayes of God For though it is a thing that cannot possibly be compelled to by humane authority yet it much conduceth and helpeth forward when the eyes of authority are bent that wayes The incouragement of authority in well doing is a strong inducement to the doing of it And so is likewise their own example no lesse available with ingeneous spirits see 1 Pet. 2.14 The Lord grant that you may make it your businesse when you come to deale in matters of religion To accord our differences as much as may be and to settle peace both in Church and state what in you lyeth And in so doing the Lord will assist you and blesse your indeavours for the good of these nations to all posterities which is the earnest desire of Your Cordiall Subject Ellis Bradshaw I Desire the Reader to mend these Erratats following and to make the residue sence in the reading to wit Page 6. line 4. for on read or Page 8. line 30. for state read save Page 13. line 26 for smite them hand read smite them with the hand Page 31. line 4 for consecrate read consociate and line 26. for hear read heavens A CORDIAL-MEDIATOR FOR Accordance of Brethren that are of different Judgements and wayes of Administration in things that concern the Kingdom of God For repairing of the breach and restoring of the paths for many Generations as followeth to wit BELOVED brethren the end of this discourse I shall in few words first declare with the grounds thereof before I begin because I love not prolixity nor would not be mistaken to wit 1. That all
A CORDIAL-MEDIATOR for ACCORDANCE of BRETHREN THAT Are of different Judgments and wayes of Administration in things that concerne the Kingdome of God For repairing of the breach and restoring of the paths for many generations WHEREIN Is proposed the way and means not to inforce or compell to an outward dissembling hypocriticall uniformity which is all that can be inforced unto by humane authority but to induce and ingage to a Cordiall uniformity even of soule and spirit amongst all that are truly and really Christians and to bring them likewise into the same wayes and ministrations in the things of God For this is the Message that ye have heard from the Beginning that we should love one another Not as Cain who was of the Evill one and slew his Brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evill and his Brothers righteous 1 John 3.11 12. We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the spirit of truth the spirit of errour 1 Joh. 4.6 If ye love me keep my Commandements Joh. 14 15 see also vers 16 17. He that is of God heareth Gods words Ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God Joh. 8.47 Written by ELLIS BRADSHAW LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Lodowick Lloyd at the Castle in Cornhill also by Henry Crips at the end of Popes-head-Alley and by Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles in Pauls-Church-yard 1658. To his Highnesse Richard the now Lord Protector together with the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland with the dominions thereunto belonging May it please your Highnesse together with the Honourable Parliament c. THere present you in the name of God of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with a short Epitomie of that fiery law and that everlasting Gospell Deut. 33.2 and Rev. 14.6 which shall be preached to them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kinred and tongue and people and that immediately upon the downfall of Babilon see vers 7 8 9 10 11 12. as by reading these 6 verses you may plainly see for after the Angell flying in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospell c. The next that followed proclaimed Babilon is fallen is fallen c. And so the third Angell followeth threatning the Judgment and wrath that should certainly befall them that worshiped the Beast and his Image or receive his mark in their foreheads or on their hands see vers 9 10 11 12. And that all these things are the successe or effects or at lest part thereof upon the 7th Angell sounding of his Trumpet see Chap. 11.15 And that time shall be no longer till the mistery of God be finished but till the seventh Angell should sound his Trumpet see the Oath of the Angell Chap. 10 5 6 7. And this 14 Chapter being held forth to us as part of the effects upon the 7th Angells sounding as that by reading the Chapters is cleere and manifest I shall not need to make any further proof that Babilon shall fall upon the holding forth of the everlasting Gospel I mean when it is so preached and so received as the everlasting Gospell for such is the Gospell of Jesus Christ it is both a Gospell to wit glad-tidings and it is the Gospell the glad-tidings to wit the only glad-tidings that are everlasting to them that dwell on the earth and therefore shall be preached to every nation kinred and tongue and people Saying moreover fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come and worship him which hath made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters see Chap. 14.6 7. And this also is Gospell for it is glad-tidings when the hour of his Judgment is come and his advice is good to fear God c. And in regard he is said to say it with a loud voyce It is intimated that it should be more audibly spoken and more generally heard and received then it had been formerly and that by all nations kinreds tongues and peoples And it may not be unprofitable to consider that it is said and sworn by the Angell that in the dayes of the voyce of the 7th Angell when he shall begin to sound the mistery of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets see Chap. 10.7 Not that all should be finished when he shall begin to sound for in that there is a beginning it implieth a continuance And it is said also that in the dayes of the voyce c. the mistery of God shall be finished Now how many dayes the voyce of this sounding shall continue it is not easily determined being only held forth in the plurall number without limitation But this is certain that when he shall begin his sounding shall continue till the mistery of God be finished Now see the first effects or what is fully concluded on and voted in the Church and by the four and twenty Elders when the 7th Angell begun to sound Chap. 11.15 16 17 18 19. And it evidently appeareth that the Kingdoms of this world shall certainly become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall thenceforth reign for ever and ever For which there is thanks rendred by the holy Elders because he had taken to him his great power and had reigned and how the nations were angry c. see and read the verses for they doe concern us if we be christians indeed and not in shew only and that in these dayes and for our great comfort and incouragement in the wayes of God they are held forth to us For hath he not begun hath he not already taken to himselfe even his great power and hath reigned amongst us Hath he not given a bannor to them that fear him Psal 60.4 Hath he not begun and shall he not make an end 1 Sam. 3.12 Hath he not already whett his glittering sword and hath not his hand already taken hold of vengeance And shall he not fully recompence his adversaries and repay them that hate him see Deuter. 32.40 41 42 43. And hath he not owned this nation yea even this of England and that as first yea and also above others yea even any nation now under Heaven And that for his own cause sake though not for our worthinesse but for respect to his name the which through his grace was owned by us against his adversaries Yea and that by a strong hand and a stretched out arme many a time giving victory to a few against their double number and that to weake and despised ones against the strong and potent and that beyond our hopes and expectations or the fears of our adversaries and that by sea and land And why should we think that he will repent him for his choice of us before any nation now under heaven The Apostle telleth us his gifts and
Spirit be in some good measure found to be in us we are not fit to rule or have the least authority committed to us for we are somuch under age but in the minority of Christianity we cannot be spoken to nor accounted strong men nor men at age nor as yet at years of descretion but as unto babes in Christ who must therefore be kept as under tutors and governours till the time appointed of the Father And though it is a promise which we do and ought to expect and to comfort one another with that the Kingdome of Christ shall come with power and that it is also justly to be expected to be neer at hand and is in some measure already present and some will needs be so forward as to take it by violence and beat down all before them that stands in their way yea will not much care to destroy their brethren in whom the King of Heaven is already in some measure and so cut off them from living to see it and enjoy it in the power who desire it also as much as themselves but cannot accord to fetch it in by force of humane authority save only defensive whiles it is increasing and growing within us by the force and power of the Spirit of God nor is it lawfull to say that this temper of spirit cometh of God it is not the perswasion of him that calleth us to goe about to inforce conformity to our own principles and to impose them by force upon our deare brethren that are contrary minded but this is certainly of that spirit of Antichrist which is long since come into the world and yet this very temper of Spirit if power should be put into our hands would be found in measure lesse or more in any party of us Let us therefore judge in our selves whether we are any of us yet come to yeares of discretion suitable for governement whiles we are so partiall in our own cause and principles shall he that hateth right govern saith the Scripture Nay if the power and Kingdome be already in the hand of Christ and he giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth can we expect to have it whiles in such a temper of spirit Nay may we not rather expect that wise servants shall have the rule and government over such lewd sons that can never agree but are ready to bite and devoure one another at every advantage Oh brethren consider and let us lay it to heart and charge it home upon our consciences betimes for there it will fall heavy one day and if we judge not our selves we shall certainly be judged and chastened of the Lord that so we might not be condemned with the world But if our master cometh and findeth us smiting of our fellow-servants you know the place where we must have our portion And if we possibly do not nor dare not or cannot smite them hand or with the sword yet there is a smiting which is as bad to wit With the tongue for it is compared to a sword or a sharp rasor And this kinde of smiting is too too frequent and common amongst us and sheweth clearely that if power and commission were in our hands the other sword would follow Oh these things brethren we had need to repent and to humble our selves and watch over our hearts left he cometh and find us in such a posture of spirit the danger is great yea it is so much the greater as it is expected to be neer at hand And therefore let us be exhorted by the Apostle Speak not evil one of another brethren c. Nor think not to escape if we neglect so great salvation If we know these things and that they are no other but the truths of God Oh take heed that we let them not slip but keep them applyed to our soules and consciences till they reply to doe them Blessed is that servant whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing verily such a servant shall be Ruler over all his goods Read but Mat. 24. from 41. to the end and consider it seriously for it much concernes us in these latter dayes And take notice of one thing if we be indeed the people of God we shall never ride on prosperously but in the wayes of truth of meeknesse and of righteousnesse See Psal 45 for we must not prosper but in the same way and manner that Christ hath led us for this Psalme is a prophesie concerning Christ and his Kingdom who will not own us but in the same paths that he hath trod before us Read it and compare it with our wayes and we need no more conviction Oh how many is there in this generation that are pure in their own eyes that yet are not cleansed from this filthinesse Pro. 30.12.14 that is so farre contrary unto brotherly love and meeknesse and of truth and righteousnesse Oh how sad will it be with us if the Lord cometh and findeth us so doing and in our envy and strife and not in that wisdome that cometh from above which is pure indeed and word yea peaceable and gentle full of mercy and of good fruits without grudging without hypocrisie seeing the fruit of righteousnes is sown in peace of them that make peace James 3.17 18. see also Ch. 4.11 12. ver 5 6 7 8 9 10. And blessed are the peace-makers Mat. 5. See there and consider to what sorts of people those 9 sorts of blessings do properly belong and whether there be any of them proper for such kind of postures of spirit as many of us are found in this our generation of Christianity The Apostle James telleth us plainly Ch. 1.26 That if any man amongst us seeme to be religious and refraineth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans religion is vain And the same Apostle also Chap. 4.11 Speak not evill one of another brethren he that speaketh evill of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evill of the Law and judgeth the Law c. And the reason is manifest because the Law forbiddeth it and commandeth love which is quite contradicted and judged by us when we speake evill one of another And therefore let us lay it seriously to heart and but consider it how apt we have been in these deviding times to speake evill yea and even the worst that we can have any pretence for one of another how apt have we been to pick out the worst taking all in the worser part in the evil part and whispering it out to the desparagement one of another by reaches and jeeres and reproaches even running descant upon the faults or failings and weaknesses one of another most inharmoniously and maliciously making it the most part of our discourse and esteeming them best company who could cast forth the purest jeeres and reaches against our brethren of any contrary way And who hath not been guilty in these respects And how sad is it that we have so little regarded