gained to it when as they commanded the Parishes to buy it and then sells it them again that the Priest must have an offering at Easter also a token of a piece of lead a token that they are at unity with the Priest or else they may not have their bread and wine again for which they paid before and this hath been called a great mystery CHAP. XII Concerning Ministers and their Office under the Law and the Gospel BEfore the Law was given forth there were divers did offer sacrifice and buidled Altars unto the Lord as Seth Abel Melchizedeck Abraham Isaac and Jacob who pere guiders and directers of People in the way of righteousness who instructed their Families in the fear of the Lord But after the Law was given forth Aaron and his Sons and they were to offer sacrifice according to the command of the Lord and to perform the worship that God had appointed For that time and age at the Tabernacle and Temple there was Levites who bore the Ark and looked to the vessels and pitched the Camp and divâ—â— other services as singers and readers of the Law and Prophets on their Sabbath dayes and Porters and the like and all these petrained to the first Covenant and Priesthood which was to have an end both the Priesthood and the Law and the service thereof for it was but to continue till the substance came Now Christ being come the end of the Law for righteousness unto all that beleive made after the order of Melchizedeck and not by a carnal commandment he offered up himself once for all and became the Author of eternal Salvation unto them that believe put an end to the first Worship and Priest-hood Before he was offered up he chose Disciples unto him Twelve and also Seventy and endued them with Power and many did Believe through their words and they were not Men of great parts but as they were sitted by the Holy Ghost that gave them utterance and they were sent out not to Preach the Law but the Word of the Kingdom and many did Believe and grew and were confirmed in the Faith and after Christs Ascention the Holy Ghost was Poured forth upon them in a more ample manner and it did bring to their remembrance as Christ had foretold and they received great Gifts for the work of the Ministry some were Prophets some Apostles some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and all made Ministers by the Spirit for the work whereunto they were chosen and many were converted and did believe then they that had the Word of God to publish travelled as they were led and Moved by the Spirit to publish the glad tydings of the Gospel and when the Believers were many and many young in the Faith they ordained Overseers or Bishops or Elders who were sound in the Faith to watch over them that were begotten but mark they were approved men and Faithful and of blameless lives not given to covetousness neither did tirannize over them in rigour but were apt to teach and instruct in love and gentelness and they that had been Ancient Laborers in Gods Work did so who had received a Gift to Minister unto others and as to be helpers in the Work of the Gospel and all that were ordained were ordained by the Holy Ghost although its true they had the consent of the Brethren and the Church in that thing and there were also Deacons ordained which served to look to the Widows and for the Ministration of the Poor and these were faithful men and had also a gift Stephen was one full of the Holy Ghost and these were helps unto the Apostles also theâ—e were some Faithful Widows who were examples to younger men and to instruct them and to be patterns unto them and all was as a body knit together in love and served the Lord and strengthened one another in the faith and served one another in love and all these forementioned served the Lord freely and willingly and not for rewards and gifts and benefices and earthly things this was the state and glory of the Church in that time in short and these are the Ministers we read of in the Primitive times But since the Apostacy hath entered in and the Power hath been denied of Godliness there is such a numberless number of names crept in we never heard of then and so many offices and yet none of that work done which the Ministers of Christ did but certain new invented things brought in for worship and service and the power despised and men seeking offices and great titles and great benefits and great revenues and the heritage of God is laid waste and the earth become like a wildernesse unplanted with good and the sheep is scattered And so all may compare these ensuing names and offâ—es with the Apostles dayes and the primitive Church and see if they be alike First of all The Pope his holiness Christs Vicar universal Bishop Metropolitan Bishop Lord Cardinals which were but Priests at the first ordained to baptize the Heathen who came to Rome when the seat thereof began to be had in honour but now they are swelled big and become Princes and the only men to govern States also Monks of divers orders and Friars of divers orders Hieroms order of Austins order Gregorys order Carmalite Friars Cross or Crouchet Fryors of Dominicks order of S. Frances order Benets order and all of these orders sprung up and were ordained in the midnight of darkness within this four hundred years at the most as were easily proved and Trinity order and Brigandine order of Jesuites and Hermites and Anthonies order and Clunisencies order And Nuns sprung up First of one St. Clara one order then Brigidia a widow in the time of Urban the fifth in the year 1370. and all these kind of orders were distitute of the true order of the primitive Church and their service was appointed by them that ordained them and these practised the patched inventious that were given them for worship which hath not concord with the primitive Doctrine but borrowed from the Iews or Heathen And all these kind of Offices and Officers have been acting their parts this many years and led people into superstitious blindness and further from the Lord then ever But to come to the reformed Churches so called and there is so many Officers and names but few that do accord with the Apostles times either in name or nature As Metropolitan Bishops Arch-bishops Lord-bishops we heard not of Lord Timothy or Lord Titus Bishops before mentioned but to come on to other Orders Arch-deacons Deans and Chapters Prebends and these must attend on some old superstitious Buildings called Cathedrals or Ministers and there performs a service somewhat like the former these are injoyned their service like the Levites and Priests of old by turns and course as once in a month or two it may be and have a hundred or two hundred pounds in the year for the same and
THE GLORY OF THE True Church DISCOVERED As it was in its PURITY in the PRIMITIVE TIME Also A Manifestation how and when the Apostacy came and how long it hath continued in the Church of Rome proved to be in it because she differs in Doctrin Practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes Published for this end that People may be informed and their understandings opened to discern of the times and seasons and see the difference between the Lambs Wife and the Mother of Harlots By one who desires that all may come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved and walk in the Light of the Lord FRANCIS HOWGIL LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1661. TO THE READER OR Readers GReat hath been the Wisdom which God hath shed abroad in the hearts of his People and made known unto his servants through Ages wherein he hath made known his mind and will at sundry times and in divers manners sometimes by Types sometimes by Shadows and Representations sometimes by Dreams sometimes by Visions sometimes by Prophecy and there was not the least Ministration but it had a glory in it and the one living God manifested his mind unto the sons of men who feared his Name in every Generation and shewed unto them and signified his mind unto them what he was and shewed unto them how he would be worshipped and they that were obedient unto that which was made manifest in every Age and Ministration found acceptance with the Lord and the peace of God in their hearts After man had transgressed and gone from his Maker and lost the guide of his youth and broken Gods Covenant then blindness came upon him and a vail was betwixt him and his Maker and man increased and grew in an earthly part and lusted after earthly things whith fed and increased that part and the Image of God was lost in which the creature delighted yet notwithstanding such was and is the Love of God towards his Creation and to his workmanship that he did not utterly cast off man for ever but followed him to draw him back again out of the transgression to have unity with him who was his Maker and when man was gone into the darkness the Lord stooped so low as to come near him and to that state he was in and made a Covenant with man when mans heart was outward upon outward things and gave him commands outward and Statutes and Ordinances outward that he might worship therein which were shadows and types of some better thing to come and these were the Ordinances of the first Covenant which pertained to the changeable part that was above the seed but they typed forth more Heavenly things which was to be revealed in due time and when the seed came to be manifested and raised up they had an end and the cloud passed away and the day did spring forth in clearness and he brought forth which restored all that believe unto God viz. Christ Jesus then did God more clearly manifest himself in the earth through his Son who had the will of the Father and declared it who rent the vail and put an end to the shadows and blotted out the hand-writing and ended the types and figures and all that believed in him who was the end of them and the sum of all he overthrew the nature in them which was changeable unto which they pertained until the time of Reformation which was when he was sacrificed up a Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and they that did believe and received him came to be the Sons of God and declared the mind of God as it was revealed and as the spirit gave utterance and many did believe and did grow up and become of one heart mind and soul and worshipped God with one accord and in the spirit and in the power of the Father and separated from the Jewish worship and the form thereof and met together in the Power of God and glorified God and spoke of the things of his Kingdom unto all that waited for it freely and the Lord was honoured by them and glorified in them But soon after the mystery of godliness was brought forth the mystery of iniquity began to work and opposed the work of the Lord and transformed into the similitude and outward appearance and form and yet lived in the flesh and there began to be an apostacy and a deviation from that glory and power which was once revealed and Antichrist wrought with signs and lying wonders and got the words and hated the life and power and them that appeared in it and then they that were under his Government and Reign hated the Reign of Christ and said in their hearts we will not have him to rule over us though in words they confess him and then persecuted and drove the true Church into the wilderness and set up imitations and inventions and traditions and vain customs which they have called Apostolical and holy Institutions which are contrary unto Primitive Institutions and Ordinances onely brought in by them when darkness began to spread over the earth when the Bishops in the first three hundred years after Christ began to contend about dayes and times and meats and drinks and Rome began to claim superiority over all Churches called Christian and the Pope became as a Law-giver I have led thee through divers ages and times as briefly as possible may be to single out the Original and beginning of those things and who were the first Ordainers of them betwixt this and the Apostles dayes which are now accounted as holy Institutions The state and glory of the true Church in this Treatise thou wilt see before the Apostacy and the state in the Apostacy how she fled into the wilderness and how Mystery Babylon was raised and the false Church called her self visible many of her Doctrines and Practices which are contrary to the Primitive Church are here discovered and the Authors and formers made known whereby thou may come to see a difference in the Ordinances of the true Church and the Traditions and Inventions of the false Church which are too much contended for in this day by them who say they are come to the true Reformation according to the Primitive times but thou wilt see as thou compares but their practice with the Primitive times to be quite contrary and to be but smoke and that which has darkened the ayr clouded peoples understandings and hath led them into ignorance and darkness so that the way of Truth hath not been discovered unto many but the Lord is arisen and that which comprehends time is made manifest and all that which hath got up in the Apostacy is viewed and seen and laid open to the view of all that they may depart out of these things which are but the inventions and traditions of men in which Eternal Life is not to be had Read with meekness and
the first Covenant had many Fasts and Feasts and holy dayes as the Sabbath and feasts of the new Moon and Passeover and Feasts of unleavened bread Penticost the Feast of Tabernacles and Feast of Dedication which are largely shewn in the Books of Moses all which things as the Apostle saith to the Hebrews were but shadows of things to come and not the things themselves which only continued till the time of reformation and till the better hope which brought in the better Covenant which stood upon better promises Now in the Primitive Churches they came to see the end of these things and were brought to him that was the substance in whom all Figures and Shadows do end Câ—l 2. 16 17. Let no man therefore judge you in Meat or Drink or in respect of a holy â—ay which are a shadow of things to come but the Body 〈◊〉 Christ Now afterwards when they minded the form more than the power they run out into those things with many additions some borrowed from the heathen and some by their own invention and then press them as Apostolick Ordinances upon Christians which things stand in force with many until this day too too much among them that are called reformed Victor Bishop of Rome about the year 196. decreed that Easter should be kept and Celebrated on the Sunday from the 14th day of the first Monâ—h that is March to the 22d of the same Now the â—ews kept it sooner and so it is without ground from the Iews practice and meerly an invention of their own which led people back into dayes and about what time they judged any thing to be done which Christ or the Apostles did they invented a day and a time to keep for it as to reverence Sunday in advent and Nativity Circumcision and Epiphany Purification of Mary called Candlemas Lent Palm-Sunday Monday and Thursday on which Christ washed his Disciples feet as it hath been imagined good fryday Easter Penâ—â—â—â—st was kept by the Iews and this they would hold out for an Apostolick example to Christians and for all the former dayes they were invented with many more which have been brought in since And so they were decreed and â—aâ—ified at a Councel at Lions in France that such dayes as either the holy Saints departed this life or did any notable deed a day should be kept holy as they said in that Council for the increase of their Religion there was also other dayes instituted the feast of Saint Steven and Innocents by Pope Bâ—nifaâ—e the fourth and likewise John Baptist and that which they call Lady day Lawrance Michael and Martin and generally of All Saints and these were his institutions which are practised by the Church of Rome and oractised among the Proâ—estants to this day Likewise that which is called Corpus Christi day this was made a holy day and dedicated by Urbane the fourth Sylvester assigned the day of advincula Sancti Petri commonly called Lammas in memorial of Peters pains and persecution Felix the first to magnifie the glorious commendation of Maâ—tyas made a Statute that a yearly oblation should be had in memorial of them And Gregory would that Masse should be said over their Tombes or graves Now Priests read the original of your service over the graves of the dead and see if this be Apostolical The fast of Wednesday and Friday was appointed the one day Christ was Crucified and on wednesday Judas purposed in his mind to beâ—â—ay him Gregory was he that ordained that neither flesh nor any thing that had affinity with it as Cheese Milk Butter Eggs should not be eaten on such dayes as were fasts and here came in this Doctrine of Devils Soulmass day this was begun by Odilo that was Provost or Provincial of Cluniassentis Order upon the occasion he heard about Etna the burning Mountain of Sicily oftentimes great lamentations and cryings and weepings was heard which he supposed to be the wâ—epings of evil spirits that bewailed because the souls of dead men were taken from them by the peâ—itions and Sacrifices of well disposed Christians therefore he appointed his Covent to make a general oblation for all Souls the next day after the feast of all Saints and this great institution was ordained about the year 1002. and so all whose eyes God hath opened will see all this heap of Invention hathbeen practiced since the Beast rose out of the Sea and the Whore hath sat upon the waters which is since the Apostles dayes CHAP. IX Concerning Priests Vestures and Bells which are Practised among Christians as Apostolick Institutions THe Iews high Priests had Vestments and the rest of the Priests who offered Sacrifices and Oblations at the Temple and Tabernacle Lev. 8. 6 7 8 9 c. 13. And Aaron the Priest had a coat girded with a girdle and cloathed him with a robe and put a linen Ephod upon him and put a Brest-plate upon him and a Mitre upon his head And Aarons Sons had coats with Girdles and Bonnets as was commanded by the Lord and Chap. 16. 4. and he put on a linen coat and linen Breeches with a Coat and Mitre and girded it with a linen girdle and these were the holy garments and these Garments were to be put off in the holy place and divers other Garments and Vestments which were worn by the Priest about the Temple-worship and Sacrifice which were Shadows of better things and of more holy Garments but this was in the first Covenant that made nothing perfect which was faulte and was to continue untill the time of Reformation But Christ being come and offered up all shadows had an end and they Preached up the everlasting offering and him who offered up himself once for all Now Christ sent out his Disciples without great provision as to attire for they were to take neither staff nor scrip nor shoes nor mony nor brass in their purses and yet they were to go among them that were like wolves renting and tearing devouring and destroying and there was no great likelihood of obtaining any earthly thing from such while in that nature but the Apostles lived by faith Mat 10. 9. 10. and Luke 10. 3 4. and they were not to take two coats and the Apostle in his travels was often in necessities in hunger and cold and nakedness and did not go in costly array nor in disguised habits but in his old age wore sometimes a Cloak among the Churches which he sent for to Troas an ordinary Garment 2 Cor. 4. 8 9 10. chap 6. 4. 10 the 11 verse 2 Tim. 4. 13. and John the Baptist who was a great Prophet had a Coat made of hair and a leathern-girdle about his loyns Mat. 3 4. and the Primitive Christians wandered up and down in Sheeps skins and Goats skins being destitute of whom the World was not worthy Heb. 11. 37 38. But after the Apostles decease deceitful workers and evil Beasts and they that abode
his Diocess and all was confirmed by the Bishop of Rome Telesphorus appointed that Lent should be kept before Easter and added another week to it which we call Quinquagesima and this week he commanded Priests to fast more then the Laity and thus one runs into one invention after another and hath brought in all this mountain of darkness so that the practice of these things since the Apostles dayes hath been much-what corrupted and imitation at the best without life and are either from the Jews and their worship or from the Heathen or from their own inventions and imaginations which are so many in their Mattens and their prayers that at last Beads where glad to be got to tell them and so all who view these things and sees them to be in the Apostacy come out from among them and them that are joyned to Idols let them alone and keep your selves from them and compare but the worship and practice of the primitive times in the Apostles days with all this which hath been brought in since part of which is here demonstrated and much more might be said but you will see that these practices are not Apostolical neither agreeable with the purest times but people have been corrupted with them and made twofold worse than before And as concerning the Mass and Letany which are used in many congregations there hath been so many Authors about patching them up that they are almost past numeration but take a short hint of the forming of them up near unto the Apostles time although they did celebrate the Sacrament as it was called it was done with little mixture or ceremony but only repeating the words of Christ and after the consecration they joyned to it the Pater noster Celistinus ordained some prayers that the Priest should say when he re-vesteth himself to Mass or putting on his clothes and began Judica me Domine c. And in the Church of Greece they sang when the people assembled together Damasus instituted the confession at the beginning of Mass And Gorgius caused confession to be said nine times over in the Latin Church Gregory in Excelsis is ascribed unto Telesphorus and Hilarus And also Telesphorus ordained Epistles and Gospels and Damasus divided them as they are read at this day in the reformed Churches And Anastasius commanded that People should stand at the Gospel Marcus ordained the first part of the Creed to be read after it was made by the Councel of Nice and the second part and Spiritum Sanctum that the Councel at Constantinople composed Eutichianus instituted the Offertory to be sung while the people offered something to the poor Galasius made the prefaces in the beginning they used but one Anâ—ekius added the Snactus out of the Prophet Esay Burning of incense that which was occupied in the Old Testament by Aaron and the Pannims in their superstitious rites Leo the third ordained it to be had in the Latine Church and privity of Mass called the Common was made by divers persons as Gallatius made reigitur Satitius added Communicantes and Alexander made qui pridie hanc igitur Leo joyned to it Gregory annexed three petitions in the same Dies qui nostros c. Innocentius Priests in the upper part of the Church called the Quire should kiss one another that Pax should be born to the people blessed with hands and challices came out of the Hebrew Ceremonies Christ at his ascention blessed his Disciples and Surgius from this ordained Angus Dei seven hundred years after Christs ascention to be sung of the Clergy at the time of Communion and often turning the Priest to the Altar and wheeling about when he saith Dominus vobiscum or Oratis Fratres these came from the Hebrew rites When the Mass is ended the Deacon turns to the People and saith Ita missa est which words are borrowed from the Pagans they were used in the Sacrifices of Isis that when the Sacrifices was done this was the Watch-word that the People might depart and of this sprang the custom of singing Ita missa est signifying that all service was ended Mass is an Hebrew Word signifies an Oblation and sacrifice with all circumstances concerning the same Alexander inhibited that they should not sacrifice but once in a day Telesphorus ordained three Masses to be said on Christmas day the first at midnight when Christ was born the second in the morning when the Shepherds visited him the third further on the day as at the third hour Foelix decreed on that Mass might be said but in places consecrated and none was to meddle with the mysteries of consecration but the Priest Anaclatus ordained that no Mass should be said but in the presence of two in the least least the Priest should say in vain to bare walls Dami us vobiscum the Lord be with you when none were present and so on this wise one piece and scrap was added to another with much more which I shall not trouble the Reader with by which Peoples minds have been drawn from attending on Gods Spirit to hearken to these foolish ceremonies and invented charms and so have been led out into ignorance and into the region of the shadow of death where many have taken up their habitations and Babylons Merchants these many hundred years have traded with such Merchandize under the name of Apostolical Ordinances and holy Institutions CHP. XI Concerning the Passover and the Supper THE Passover was a command of God by Moses unto Israel while they were in captivity in Egypt which God manifested his wonderous works in the land of Egypt and in the field of Zoan for their deliverance Exod. 12. 3 4 5 6 7 8. That every family shall take to them every man a Lamb according to the house of their Fathers a Lamb for an house and where the family was little the Neighbours were to joyn with him ver 21. Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said unto them draw out and take a Lamb according to your families and kill the Passover and ye shall take a bunch of Hysop and dip it in the Blood that is in the basin and sprinkle the lintel and the two side posts of the door with the Blood and none of you shall go out of doors untill the morning ver 22 23. The Lord will pass through to smite the Eyptians and when he sees the Blood upon the lintels and posts he will not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you and ye shall observe this thing as an ordinance for thee and thy seed forever ver 24. And it shall come to pass when the children shall say unto you what means this service ye shall say it is the sacrifice of the Lords Passover who passed over our Houses in Egypt and smote the Egyptians And this was the Ordinance which was performed and this is that Passover which Christ sent his Disciples to prepare according to the time
Empire and led a Private life having Raigned one and twenty years which was in the year 305. these two latter Emperors Maximinius and Constantius who were called Cesars now became the Emperors of the whole one in the East and the other in the West Maxentius was set up Emperor by the Souldiers and goes against Maximinius the Emperor who sent Severus his Son to War against him which Severus being slain Lycinius Caesar was chosen in the room so that Maximinius Constantius and Maxentius continued the tenth Persecution after Dioclesian and his partner had given over saving Constantius and esepcially his Son Constantius were kind to the Christians Constantius Chused those who refused to offer Sacrifice and commit Idolatry to be in his Court and Banished the Heathen Idolaters as unfit for his service that were Traitors to God and this was about the year 311. On the other hand Maximinius the Emperor and his partner was very Wicked in Idolatry and Cruelty God struck him with a great Plague in the Belly and secret parts which purrifying broke our with swarms of Lice which caused such a stink that the Physitian could not endure the same wherefore he slew the Physitian and by the anguish of his Disesase he slacked Persecution making confession that his Persecuting of them had brought this upon him and so acknowledged his offence and the Infidels divers exalted the God of the Christians yet afterwards being incensed against the Christians this Emperor set up Decrees afresh to Persecute the Christians whereby many Bishops and others were Martyred here was no titles of Lord Bishops and Arch-Bishops not yet in the first three hundred years neither was there any Pope then that did lay claim to supremecy over all the Churches neither had these Bishops whole Counties and Provinces for their maintenance neither all Rome Constantinople Antioch and Jerusalem and all People therein for their Dioceses but them only of the Christians who believed in each of those places but afterwards in the great Persecution there followed great famine and pestilence on the Heathen which caused the Persecution to cease and caused Maximinius to revoke his Decrees and punished the Inchanters that incensed him against the Christians Maxillianus who was joyned in the Empire with Dioclesian who laid down the Goverment of the Empire endeavoured to have slain Constantius the Emperor that he might have got up again into the Empire but failing of his enterprize was slain of Constantius Maxentius this time Reigns wickedly and tyrannically at Rome which caused the Romans to entreat Costantine to come against Maxentius for his Wickedness who made War against him and upon a Bridge made of boats over the River Tyber he was intraped by Constantine and drowned in Tyber and thus the Righteous Judgements of God at last came upon them for their Blood and cruelty as a recompenence and a reward for their deeds but Constantine set forth Decrees of favour to the Christians Marcellinus was Bishop of Rome about the tenth year of Dioclesian in the Persecution he sacrificed to Idols and was excommunicated by three hundred Bishops but afterwards was killed in the Massacre of Dioclesian Marcellus succeeded and one Lucina a rich maid of Rome dying made Marcellus her heir and gave him all her substance and from that time saith Pollidore lib. 1. the Bishops of Rome were greatly enriched and so began to grow up in earthly honours higher and higher But Constantine the Emperor about the year 318. caused a Cross to be made of Gold and precious stones and to be born before his Army instead of a Standard when he went to fight against Maxentius Maximinius and Lucimus these were the least Persecutors of the Christians in the Romane Monarchy which this Constantine did vanquish and set the Christians at liberty who had been Persecuted about three hundred years and so afterwards this Cross others began to Imitate and set up in their Churches and became a flat Idol notwithstanding after this some Persecution was stirring in the Eastern Counties yet in Rome and the Western parts and there was no general Persecution for many years and also in the East part he subdued those Tyrants and we read of no Persecution against the Christians untill the time that John Wickliff suffered which was when the Spirit of the Heathen was entred into the Bishops of Rome and Popes who had retained the name of Christian but lost the life and the Power he began with fire to Persecute the Members of Christ. But long before this time the Wisdom and Power of God was much lost among many of the Bishops of Rome and also divers others that the Apostacy was entred in and they made great contentions about Easter and about dayes which should be Fasted and some was for two and some was for three and some was for forty dayes all the Churches of Asia and their Bishops was for keeping it the fourteenth Moon as Eusebius saith lib. 5. For Asia observed the Feast of Easter and they called a great Council together and decreed that it should be observed the fourteenth Moon upon what day soever in that week the Moon fell and appointed fasting dayes and Meetings and Synods in all parts met together about this trivial matter in the year 199. At Rome likewise there was a Synod gathered together wherein Victor the fourteenth Bishop was President and the Eastern Churches decreed it the day aforesaid and fastings before it and a Western Church decreed it to be the day wherein Christ rose from death to Life but Victor Bishop of Rome with the adjoyned Congregations pronounces flatly all the Westren Churches to be excommunicated Persons and gives them up to Sathan so that it became a Proverb that the Bishop of Rome must judge all and be judged of none this was about the year one hundred ninety nine after Christ when they had respit from Persecution And Iraeneus Bishop of Lyons he was of Victors mind that it ought to be celebrated on the Sunday only yet reproved Victor Bishop of Rome Peters successor as they say for cutting off all the Churches of God in Asia for such a trivial thing And Policarpus and Anisatus contended about trivial things and although there was much good in them both yet this weakned the Christians and led the minds of People out into the observance of outward things and neglected the life and the Power Lucius the two and twentieth Bishop of Rome about the year 255. and Stephanus who succeeded him a great contention in their time about baptism the matter was whether they that returned from any heresie should be rebaptized or be received in with Prayer and laying on of hands only and so here was a great jangling and contention about outward things which were geting up as Idols And Cyprian Bishop of Carthage judged that Hereticks had no way to be purged from Error but by baptism but Stephanus was greatly offended with Cyprian for this After Stephen Xystus succeeded and
stoned to death And this was according to the Law of God their bloud was uâ—on their own heads And when Israel â—usted after a King he gave them a King and they had many Kings who were Anointed of God by his appointment which was to rule in the same manner as Moses Joshua and the rest of the Judges had done and whosoever were disobedient unto the aforesaid command of God whether in things civil or things concerning the worship of God and several punishments were to be inâ—â—icted by them for several transgressions as Blasphemers Sabbath breakers false Prophets and Wizzards and witches were not suffered to live This was before Christ the Seed was manifested in the flesh this was the old way the old paths that Israel was to walk in But this Covenant was filthy as the Apostle saith and the Ministers thereof could not continue by reason of death The Law was changed and the Priest-hood was changed and the Ordinances and worship was changed when Christ came to be manifest the end of the Law for Righteousness Now as Aâ—ron and the rest of the high Priests were but types and figures of the everlasting High Priest So the Judges and Kings of Israel were types and figures of Christ the King of Kings and King of Saints and Lawgiver and Judge And their outward power which continued but for a time in compelling to the true worship under that Covenant or restraining from Idolatry did but continue until the time of Reformation was but a type and a figure of Christ and his spiritual power and weapon and spiritual execution upon his enemies who are not subject to his government oâ— power seeing the Father hath committed all power unto him in Heaven and in Earth And Moses the Mediator of the first Covenant which stood in outward Ordinances both the Mediator the Covenant and the Ordinance had an end when the better Covenant was given the Covenant of Light and Christ the Mediator thereof was manifest And this Covenant and Ordinances pertained unto the Jews and the compelling unto the worship and punishing for Idolatry partained to the Jews only who were under that Covenant and not to the Gentiles as it is written To Jacob he gave his Law and to Israel his Statutes to every Nation he did not so So they which would bring people now under this Covenant and the power thereof denies the second the everlasting Covenant his power and them that would preach up compelling and forcing to worship and bring those Scriptures of the first Covenant to be their ground are ignorant of the times unto which they were spoken And upon this false Foundation hath the false Church persecuted about worship this many hundred years and this Doctrine is in too much credit with many in these dayes who say they are under the Gospel And this hath made people to hate and persecute one another And the Ministers of Antichrist hath pressed it upon Kings Rulers that God hath required it of them to enforce and enjoyn all people unto a Worship although they themselves are divided amongst themselves one while for this thing and another while for that and because the Kings of Israel did so and had power to do therefore they have concluded that Princes and Judges ought to do so and so have made them put their neck in a yoak which is too heavy for them to hear which the Lord hath not required at their hands and because of this compellings and forceings many hypocrites have been made and many of Gods peoples consciences wounded and burned and many Kings and Rulers have lost their Dominions and they have been taken from them because of this by the Lord. So all they that have in truded upon Christs prerogative Soveraignty in this thing are sure to be reckoned as no other but as usurpers and intruders into that power which the Father alone hath given unto his Son which Power Dominion and Glory he will not give unto any other as to be Judge Law-giver in the hearts and consciences of his people Object But some may say did not the Prophets exhort to inquire for the old paths and the good old way And did not the Prophets say Kings should be nursing Fathers and Queens nursing Mothers And must not this be fulfilled in these dayes Ans. This is true that the Prophet did exhort the Princes people of Israel who were in the revolted estate who had transgressed the Commandments of the Lord and had lost the guide of their youth the rest of their souls And therefore he turned them back to consider of the day of old and inquire after the good old way that they might walk therein wch they were gone from but this doth not pertain at all unto this time for Christ Jesus is the new and living way which all is to inquire after now who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and the first Covenant unto them that believe And as for Kings being nursing Fathers the Queens nursing Mothers this was Prophesied by the Prophet before they went into Captivit how the Heathen should have power over their Kings Prophets and Priests and people and Jerusalem should lye desolate Now this the Prophet spoke of concerning the return of them unto the Lord and they to inhabit their own land then their own Kings and Queens should rule over them be as nurses to them when they should return from their Captivity then Jacob should rejoyce and Israel should be glad and this was spoken to the Jews and this had reference to their state in that time Further it may be objected ought not Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery to be punished is this to be suffered now Seeing it was punished under the Law Answer Yea this is to be punished and shall be punished and that even with death for as I said the Father hath committed all Power unto the Son who will execute his judgement upon all them who will not have him to raign in their hearts as it is written these my enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring them before me that I may slay them with what weapons With carnal nay but with the sharp two edged Sword which proceeds out of his Mouth and with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the Spiritual weapons which runs thorow the Blasphemer and kills him and flayes the false Prophet and Soothsayer and Inchanter and Idolator and yet saves the Creature a live take one example of Christ the new and living Way when the Pharisees brought a woman tempting Christ which was taken in Adultery saying according to the Law of Moses she ought to be stoned to death he that was the end of the Law said he that was without sin cast the first stone convicting them al that they were in the same nature and yet did not approve of the Adultery but said go and sin no more least a worse thing
about Spiritual matters for the worship of God But we never read of any called Christians that did so untill Pelagius a Bishop of Rome or Pope when the Emperour had given Boneface the third this power to be called the Chief Bishop and head universal over all Christian Churches Then he begun to make temporal Laws to punish about Spiritual things And Pelagius made a decree that Hereticks should be punished with Temporal death about 555 years after Christ So let all Princes Magistrate and Rulers who denies the Church of Rome in her Apostacy follow not her example but leave every one free to the Lord in Spiritual matters as concerning his Worship for to him must every one give an account in his own day when it shal be required from which the wicked shall not be able to fly Another Objection But then it may be said what power will you allow unto Magistrates that profess the Name of Christ Or how far have they Authority from God to punish evil doers and encourage them that do well Answer It is said by me Kings Rule and Princes decrees Justice there is a ruling by him and that is a ruling in the power of God in him He that rules in the power of God measures equal justice unto all men and ruleth by the good and wholsome Laws which are made by the will of God which is according to Gods witness which he hath placed in every mans heart and such a one is a Temporall head over the temporal body ruleth in Righteousness in temporal things But Christ he is the head of the body that is spiritual which is his Church Now the Law is against the lawless as against Liers Swearers Stealers Cursed speakers Murderers Man-slayers Man stealers Violence and Oppression and Deceit and that which tends to the hurt and destroying of the Creation And he that is the Executor of the Law ought to inflict temporal punishments for temporall facts provided that every punishment be suitable to the transgression and go not beyond it and in so doing he rules for God and the sword is to be turned against that which doth evil and to keep peace amongst all men and to keep down all strife and Contention Quarrelling and fighting and keeping the unruly from devouring and destroying one another And this is to rule for God in a Nation in the Creation and to countenance the honest upright and quiet and meek and this is a praise unto them that do well and this is that which would keep the Nations at peace And here Governors and Rulers comes to be blessed when the Princes thereof rules in Righteousness and when people live under them a holy godly and quiet life But when Godliness Holiness Righteousness is counted as a crime and wickedness and violence and iniquity set up that Nation is near a judgement and for the iniquity of Rulers Kings and People many fruitful Lands hath the Lord made barren and that which is for the well-being and preservation for the universal good and all people therein all people ought to render obedience unto such Command for conscience sake and all people ought â—to obey Rulers and Governours in that which is good and lawful and warrantable in the sight of God unto all just commands to yeild obedience not for wrath but for conscience sake For so the Lord requires which will be acceptable and pleasing in his fight And all Magistrates who are Christians ought to be paterns of Holiness and Righteousnesse to their people and to admonish exhort and reprove the prophane and ungodly and to the worship of the True God who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth It is the duty of every true Christian who is a King and a Priest unto God CHAP. XVII Concerning Oaths in the first Covenant and the Lawfulness thereof and the unlawfulness thereof discovered in the New Covenant in Gospel times Though Apostates mingle the Ordinances of both together denying all oaths proved to be no new Doctrine IN the beginning when God Created the Heavens and the Earth all things that are therein by the Word of his power and set the bounds the habitations thereof separated betwixt Light Darkness And when man was Created in his own Image in the Image of God created he him Male and Female created he them Now the Image of God consists in Righteousness Holiness Equity long suffering Patience Goodnesse Mercy and Truth the Glory thereof is unspeakable man being in this Image there was no trangression nor sin nor sorrow man was bound unto his Maker by the Power in which he was made yea he was in a capacity to Fear Love Honour Obey and Worship his Maker from the virtue of that Power and Principle which God had placed in him which some ignorantly calls the Law of Nature But that is not the intention of my discourse to contend what it was but to shew that man was at union with God and bound unto him by that which God had placed in him in which his wisdom power and dominion stood to rule over all the Creatures life was in him there was no death then in this the Obligation stood not in outward written commands or ordinances but it stood in that which was internal and invisible this was before the transgression here was no Oaths yet nor outward Covenants made nor outward Ordinances But after man had transgressed and eaten of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil and gone from the power and broken the Covenant he lost his wisdome and folly entred he lost his dominion and weaknesse entred he lost his knowledge and ignorance entred and an earthly part and a mutable came to have Dominion not that this was evil in it self being subjected by the power and word in its place and in the state wherein it was good but man being gone from the power and from the Covenant joyned to something out of it and out of the mind and listened to that which should have been ruled over that became a Leader which God never appointed and this led mans heart from the invisible God of life and light who is immutable to lust after visible things and mutable and earthly things and into instability And so his heart and mind and affections became more and more to be alienated from the Lord and his understanding more darkned yet such was the love of God unto mankind that he did not wholly cast him off here but followed him with his mercies and promised the Seed of the woman should bruse the Serpents head and so it did yet the Adulterers generation in the transgressing nature were great and fast and there was but few before the flood in comparison of the Multitude who bore the Image of God and few in a generation as Abel Enock Seth and the rest went after the Imaginations of their own hearts and set up Images and Idols and also after the Flood when the
Bedemontane Protestants have preserved their Religion incorrupt longer then any Church with a ministry indowed with Tythes Hire in the World And likewise the Primitive times never wanted able Teachers as the best Histories say although they lived either upon their labour or the free Offering of them that were converted and was not so disquieted with politicall complying opinions and curiosities and nicities and distinctions and contentions until Constance began to inrich and give Lands and great reveneus to the Church And then they began to side and controvert in State matters and grew into Pride Idleness and Fulness insomuch that Histories say a voice was heard from Heaven This day poyson hath been shed in the Church So you Protestants view over your Fathers whom the Ministers hath talked on And so now if they will own their practice so as to walk in it and let them never be reckoned as Ministers of Christ more who cannot be content with his allowance and let forcing alone about maintenance and the Tythes alone to the Priest of the first Covenant and let bargining alone for wages and seek not hire of them you work not for and if your Gospel will not maintain you you have good cause to question it whether it be the very same the Apostle preached and the Primitive Fathers and never such a cry be heard more among people for maintenance and hire for wages and Tythes But he that hath the Gospel let him preach the Gospel and live of the Gospel not upon Tythes and forced maintenance and set stipends for the Gospel condemns this a cloud of witness is against it both in former and latter ages yea it is inconsistent unto reason to require Tythes in this age by the Ministry First the Levites were one of the twelve Tribes if they were not the twelve part of the people but so is not the Priests now Secondly they had no portion among the rest of the Tribes but the Teachers and Priests now have equal to other men in Lands and Revenues Thirdly The Priests were but to have the tenth of all clean things but now clean and unclean Beasts Birds and Fowls Piggs Eggs Turnups and every thing which were not Tythable under the Law Fourthly their service was great at the Tabernacle and Temple and in time of the war and sojourning it is not so with Priests who staies over a few families all their life long Fifthly Seeing the service is abrogated for which the Levites had Tythes and none of the service performed now no reasons that tyths should be required now when the work is not done unto which the tythes belonged Sixthly the Levites were of Aarons priesthood of which tribe Christ came not but of the tribe of Juda but these priests are not after Aaron nor Levi neither their successors therefore hath no right to tythes Seventhly that which was given by the command of God only to Aaron and his Sons and Levites and never to any other priesthood or Ministry Now seeing the Law is changed and the priesthood changed Christ being come these priests are unreasonable who demanded them contrary to the command of God which belongs only to that priesthood CHAP. XIX Respecting of persons and Complemental bowings and worshipping one another and flattering titles no good manners but are in the transgression and hath been antiently reproved and condemned ALthough this Generation have so far run after every invention and vain custome and tradition into complements and flattery and deceit and respecting of persons which is a thing in high esteem as a piece of good breeding and education and good manners accounted not only among the prophaner sort but even among Christians so called who have conformed unto every vain custome of the Nations Yet they that know the life of Christ cannot do so and they that abide in his doctrine must not do so though things be never so applauded by fallen men whose glory is in that which is earthly Yet God beholds not nor looks not as man but his thoughts are contrary to mans in that state and that which the Sons of men in the fallen estate do highly esteem of is disesteemed by the Lord. The best manner of walking is that which the Lord directs and leads into which is pure and holy and incorrupt and the Saints practise who were taught of God is the best example to follow and their manner and deportment among the Sons of men are chiefly to be followed Although that which is from below doth and hath ever disesteemed their way and the honour that comes from above although the Heathen had many Lords and many Gods Yet it was said to Israel thy God is but one and him shalt thou bow unto alone and reverence his Name Israel was not to follow the vain customes of the Nations neither follow their example who served not the living God with their hearts multitudes are not to be followed in doing evil Custome without Truth is but a bad plea antiquity with unrighteuosnesse is but bad proof that which leads into degeneration is not to be minded but that which leads into restoration and innocency The Redeemed of the Lord and the Israel of God now who works after the directions and leadings of Gods holy Spirit upon whom peace resteth are otherwise taught then to follow vain customes which begets one another into pride and deceit and unbelief Christ reproved the Pharisees for seeking honour one of another and told them they could not believe who sought it Was it reprovable then is it commendable now are there not many that seek it now Yes that which is offended when it is not complemented and bowed unto seeks it and would have it and is in the unbelief what capping and cringing what bowing and scraping in which many spends much of their time what complements and fained speeches is daily invented and gestures and Ceremonies of which there is hardly any end which people runs into now who calls themselves Christians many generations before cannot paralel it and yet this must be counted good manners and be reckoned as such Oh! The Lord is grieved with these things and they are abominable in his sight will provoke the Lord to anger if they be persisted in and the honour which is from above they despised And what invented words and names which puffs up the proud minds is people run into and like Ephraim in the transgression seeds upon wind and that which will vanish as a buble and pass away as a morning dew God will stain it all and the pride and glory of all flesh and bring contempt upon all the honourable of the Earth for the Saints knew who were come out of the respect of persons that the fashion of the world and the customâ— and manners and glory and honour and esteem thereof should pass away and that all that come to the beginning again to union with God must die to all these things which is got and entred