their Traditions Mat. 15.6 And Act. 13.27 The Rulers of Jerusalem the High-Priests Scribes and Pharisees knew not Christ nor yet the words of the Prophets which they heard read every Sabbath but fulfilled them in condemning him And our Saviour saith Mat. 11. I thank thee Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding And none of the Pharisees nor Rulers believed on him Joh 7.48 And 1 Cor. 1.20 Where is the Wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this world Hath not God made the wisdom of this world follishness And ver 26. Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called c. And for the Learned since the time of our Saviour The Council of Ephesus were where 132 Bishops Of Seleucia where were 160 Bps related by the Protestants How grievously did they erre in decreeing the detestable Error of Arrianism Who is ignorant knowing the Histories that from time to time both particular Popes and general Councils have grosly erred in many things only one we will mention passing by Trent and others The Council Lateren we mean Pope Innocent 1215. which for universality was behind none where were present 2 Patriarchs 70 Archbishops Metropolitans 400 Bishops 12 Abbot 800 Conventual Priors the Legats of the Greck and Roman Empire besides the Ambassadors and Orators of the Kings of Jerusalem France Spain England and Cyprus In this Council it was decreed That all Hereticks and so many as do in any point resist the Catholick Faith should be condemned c. And also that the Secular Powers of what degree soever they be shall be compelled openly to swear for the defence of the Faith that they will to the uttermost of their power root out and destroy in all their Kingdoms all such persons as the Catholick Church hath condemned for Hereticks and if they do not they shall be excommunicated And if they do not reform within one whole year then the Pope may denounce all their Subjects absolved and utterly delivered from shewing or owing any fidelity or obedience towards them Again that the Pope may give that Land to be occupied and enjoyed of the Catholicks to possess it all Hereticks being rooted out quietly and without any contradiction Tho. Beacon in his Reliques of Rome printed 1563. And the Protestands confess that this imperfection hath hung so fast upon all Councils and Churches that Nazianzen saith He never saw any Council have a good end Thus are here sufficient Testimonies proved from Scriptures and Experience That the Learned may and have usually erred and therefore the holy Scriptures often warn us To beware of false Prophets for many are gone out into the world Mat. 24. and 1 Joh. 4. And will not your Majesty your Highness your Honours your Worships be pleased to consider of these things but will your selves submit the guidance of your Souls to the learned Spirituality as they are called without due examination by the Scriptures which if you will stil do we can but bewail with the sorrows of our hearts and not so only But will you with your Power which God hath given you to use well compel and constrain your Subjects and Underlings to believe as the Learned believe not suffering us to reade or search the Scriptures Which if you abhor as being the Romish practice Will you do that which is worse letting us reade the Scriptures whereby we may know the Will of our Heavenly Master and have our Consciences enlightned and convinced but not suffer us to practise that we learn and know whereby our Sin and Condemnation is made greater than the blind Papists as is proved Luke 12.47 And not only so but will you consâ—â—ain us to captivate our Consciences and practise in that which in our â—â—â—ls we know to be evil and contrary to the manifest Law of the Lord and that only because the Learned have so Decreed whom you acknowledge are subject to erre aswell as others or else lye in perpetual Imprisonment and be otherwise grievously persecuted May it please you to observe that the Church of Rome seeth and acknowledgeth in words That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and hath abolished the Priesthood of Aaron and the legal Sacrifieces but the Jews see it not to this day nay the High-Priests Scribes and Pharisees saw it not but for the publishing thereof persecuted Christ the Lord and his Apostles unto the Death calling their Doctrine Heresie and them seditious Enemies to Caesar c. For the which we all justly condemn them for their wickedness so often as we reade the holy History And the Church of England seeth and acknowledgeth divers damnable Doctrines of the Church of Rome this among many That the Scriptures are not the only Rule of Faith but that men ought to be constrained to believe as the Church believes The Protestants see the iniquity of this because they see and acknowledge all Churches are subject to erre But the learned Papists see it not but have decreed That whosoever resisteth in any point shall be judged as an Heretick and suffer fire and faggot and every Temporal Magistrate that doth not root such Hereticks out of their Dominions shall be excommunicated and if he do not reform he shall be expelled his earthly Possessions and his Subjects freed from owing any fidelity or obedience towards him c. For the which height of iniquity the Protestants and we justly cry out against them for all the innocent blood that they have shed And we see most manifestly that what soever is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 And without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And therefore that no mortal man may make a Law to the Conscience and force unto it by Persecutions and consequently may not compel unto any Religion where Faith is wanting as hereafter more largely we prove But the Learned of this Land see it not or rather will not practise it but for our not submitting herein procure your temporal Sword to persecute us by casting us in Prisons where many of us have remained divers years in lingring Imprisonment deprived of all earthly comforts as Wives Children Callings c. without hope of Release till our God for the practice of whose Commandments we are thus persecuted perswade the hearts of your-Majesty your Highness your Honours your Worships to take pitty upon us our poor Wives and Children or His heavenly Majesty release us by Death Will not succeeding Ages cry out against the Cruelty of the learned Protestants herein aswell as they cry out against the Cruelty of the learned Jews and Papists yes we are assured they will as many millions do in other Nations at this day The Scriptures declare the cause of the Jews blindness was not the obscurity of the Scriptures but that they winked with their eyes lest they should see that which would deprive them of their honours and profits
Persecution for Religion JUDG'D and CONDEMN'D In a DISCOURE between an ANTICHRISTIAN and a CRHISTIAN PROVING By the Law of God and of the Land And By King James his many Testimonies That no man ought to be Persecuted for his Religion so he Testifie his Allegiance by the Oath appointed by Law Proving also That the Spiritual Power in England is the Image of the Spiritual Cruel Power of Rome or that Beast mentioned Rev. 13. Manifesting the fearful Estate of those who subject to such Powers that Tyrannize over the Conscience And shewing the Unlawfulness of Flying because of the Trouble men see or fear is coming upon them To which is added An humble SUPPLICATION to the Kings Majesty Wherein among other things is proved 1. That the Learned usually Erre and resist the Truth 2. That Persecution is against the Law of Jesus Christ 3. Against the Profession and Practice of famous Princes 4. Condemned by ancient and later Writers 5. Freedom in Religion not hurtful to any Common-wealth and it depriveth not Kings of any Power given them of God 2 Cor. 10.4 For the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Printed in the years 1615. and 1620. And now Reprinted for the Establishing some and Convincing others 1662. To all that truly wish Jerusalem's Prosperity and Babylons Destruction Wisdom and Understanding be multiplyed upon you IN these dayes if ever that is true which the Wiseman said Eccl. 12.12 There is no end in making many books and much reading is a weariness to the flesh yet considering how heinous it is in the sight of the Lord to force men and women by cruel Persecutions to bring their bodies to a Worship whereunto they cannot bring their spirits we thought it our duty for Gods Glory and the reformation thereof in this our own Nation to publish this little Writing following wherein is manifestly proved by the Law of God the Law of our Land and his Majesties own divers Testimonies That no man ought to be persecuted for his Religion be it true of false so he testifie his faithful Allegiance to the King What shall men do striving about matters of Religion till this be ended For if this be a truth that the Kings of the Earth have power from God to compel by Persecution all their Subjects to believe as they believe then wicked is it to resist and the Persecutions of such is justly upon them and the Magistrates that execute the same are clear from their blood and it is upon their own heads but if the Kings of the Earth have not power from God to compel by Persecution any of their Subjects to believe as they believe seeing Faith is the work of God then no lesse wicked is it in the sight of God to disobey and the Persecutions of such are upon the Magistrates and the blood of the Persecuted cryeth unto the Lord and will be required at the Magistrates hands Wherefore in all humility reverence and loyalty we do humbly desire of our Sovereign Lord the King and all Gods Ministers under him as Judges Justices of Peace c. by whom this Persecution is executed themselves to consider not whether herein they please Lord Bishops but whether they please the Lord Jesus Christ who after a little while shall judge all Judges according to their works without respect of persons and therefore are commanded to kiss the Son lest he be angry and they perish in the way Psal 2. Our humble desire is that they would consider what is testified in the Scriptures That the Kings of the Earth shall give their power unto the Beast till the words of God be fulfilled then shall they take their power from her If it be granted as it is that the Kings of this Nation formerly have given their power unto that Romish Beast it shall evidently appear that our Lord the King and all Magistrates under him do give their power to the same Beast though the Beast be in another shape For as that spiritual Power or Beast of Rome sets up a Worship as they pretend for God and force all thereto by cruel Persecutions the Kings of the Earth giving their Power thereunto So this spiritual Power or Beast of England sets up a Worship as they pretend for God and force all thereto by cruel Persecutions the Kings Majesty giving his Power hereunto Oh that all that are in Authority would but consider by the Word of God which shall judge them at the last day what they do when they force men against their souls and consciences to dissemble to believe as they believe or as the King and State believe they would withdraw their hands and hearts therefrom and never do as they have done partly through inconsideration and partly to please Lord Bishops being in favour with the King It cannot but with high thankfulness to God and to the King be acknowledged of all that the Kings Majesty is no blood-thirsty man for if he were bodily destruction should be the portion of all that fear God and endeavour to walk in his wayes as may be seen in the primitive time of this spiritual Power or Beast of England after that K. Henry the eight had cast off the Romist Beast and since so far as leave hath been granted them by hanging burning banishing imprisoning and what not as the particulars might be named Yet our most humble desire of our Lord the King is That he would not give his Power to force his faithful Subjects to dissemble to believe as he believes in the least measure of Persecution though it is no small Persecution to lye many years in filthy Prisons in hunger cold idleness divided from Wife Family Calling left in continual miseries and temptations so as Death would be to many less Persecution seeing his Majesty confesseth that to change the mind must be the work of God And of the Lord Bishops we desire that they would a little leave off persecuting those that cannot believe as they till they have proved that God is well-pleased therewith and the souls of such as submit are in safety from Condemnation let them prove this and we protest we will for ever submit unto them and so will thousands and therefore if there be any spark of grace in them let them set themselves to give satisfaction either by word or writing or both But if they will not but continue their cruel-courses as they have done let them yet remember that they must come to Judgment and have their Abominations set in order before them and be torn in pieces when none shall deliver them And whereas they have no other colour of ground out of the Scriptures than that they have canonized a Law viz. That whosoever shall affirm that the Kings Majesty hath not the same power over the Church that the godly Kings of Israel had under the Law c. Let him be excommunicate ipso facto The unsoundness of which
ground is manifested in this Dialogue following wherein is shewed their palpable ignorance in that they know not the Mystery of God and therefore have they made this Canon in flattery to the King only to support their Pride and Cruelty For if the Kingdom or Land of Israel or Canaan now under the Gospel be an earthly Kingdom or Land or Israel now a worldly or fleshly Israel as both were under the Law Then we would confess there should be an earthly King thereof But if the Kingdom of Israel now be not earthly but heavenly Joh. 18.36 and the Israelites now not of this world Joh. 15.19 Then the King thereof is not of this world as they are not of this world Joh. 17.16 And if these spiritual Lords confess that Christ is King now of the Land and People of Israel but yet he hath left our Lord the King his Deputy to make such Laws and Lords over the Church as pleaseth him the Word of the Lord is against them There is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 4.12 over his Church Nay his Majesty himself is against them who saith There is no earthly Monarch over the Church whose word must be a Law And saith further Christ is his Churches Monarch and the holy Ghost his Deputy alledging Luk. 22.25 The Kings of the Gentiles bear rule one over another c. but it shall not be so among you Saying further Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them in all truth but promised to send the holy Ghost to them for that end c. If any will be rebellious against the Word of the Lord herein yet let them not be rebellious against the word of the King Oh that any thing would prevail with them to make them leave off these cruel courses of persecuting poor souls that desire truly to fear God and are most faithful Subjects to the King and desire also the salvation of the souls of these their cruel Persecrutors who do seek their utter undoing by all the fore-named Persecutions only because they cannot of faith offer up such Worship to God as these spiritual Lords command and the rather let them leave off persecuting seeing the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth It is a sure Rule in Divinity That God loves not to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed And if it be a Law for all Christians That in indifferent things one must not offend another but the strong to forbear rather than offend his weak brother otherwise he wounds the weak conscience and sins against Christ 1 Cor. 8. Then how much less hath any man power to be Lord over the weak conscience forcing it to practise that it hath not faith in bringing it thereby unto sin and unto condemnation Rom. 14. We do unfainedly acknowledge the Authority of earthly Magistrates God's blessed Ordinance and that all earthly Authority and Command appeartains unto them let them command what they will we must obey either to do or suffer upon pain of Gods displeasure besides their punishment But all men must let God alone with his Right which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the soul and not command obedience for God where he commandeth none And this is onely that which we dare not but maintain upon the peril of our souls which is greater than bodily affliction And only for the maintenance of Christs right herein do false Prophets and Deceivers who by that craft are cloathed in fine apparrel and fare deliciously every day labour to make us odious in the ears and eyes of Prince and People knowing well that if they had not power by Persecution to force men to dissemble to believe as they their kingdom and gain would soon come to nought the wickedness of which course is discovered in this Writing following For the manner being Dialogue-wise we thought it the fittest in two respects First for the understanding of the simple to whom especially Gods Mysteries appertain more than to the wise and prudent of the world Secondly Because all the Objections that we have met with might be set down and the plainlyer answered And because we have faith and assurance that many will see and acknowledge the unlawfulness of tyrannizing over the Conscience by persecuting the bodies of such as cannot be subject We have also though it meet to manifest the fearful estate of such subjection that they may deliver their souls if they will be saved and also have set down the beginning of that old and good way that John Baptist Christ Jesus and his Apostles have left unto all that will be saved unto the end of the world Beseeching that Almighty worker that he would work in the hearts and consciences of men that they may enquire for it and that out of the Scriptures and walk therein then shall they find Rest unto their souls although Afflictions to their bodies Oh it is time for the Lord to work for they have destroyed his Law and have set up in many Nations such Worship for God as best pleaseth them that are in Authority and have power to persecute the contrary-minded Let all Gods People cry How long Lord when wilt thou come to destroy Antichrists cruel Kingdom and establish Christs meek and peaceable Kingdom As thou hast begun even come Lord Jesus by the Spirit of thy Mouth and the Brightness of thy Coming even come quickly Amen By Christs unworthy Witnesses his Majesties faithful Subjects Commonly but most falsly called ANA-BAPTISTS PERSECUTION for RELIGION JUDG'D and CONDEMN'D In a DISCOURSE between an ANTICHRISTIAN a CHRISTIAN Antichristian VVHy come you not to Church Christian VVhat should I do there Antich Worship God Chr. I must worship God as he requireth and not as any mortal man requireth Ant. True but the Worship that we require you to offer up is the Worship God requireth Ch. If it be so I will with all willingness assent unto it but my conscience must be satisfied thereof by the Word of Truth that I may have faith in it otherwise it is my grievous sin Rom. 14.23 For I may not believe it so to be because you affirm it Ant. Well you must go to Church otherwise you are disobedient to the Law and will fall under punishment Ch. But still remember that you would have me worship God as you pretend therefore let us agree what Worship God requireth Christ saith Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Here we see what Worship God requireth viz. That we worship him with our Souls and Spirits and also that we worship him according to the Truth of his Word And therefore for your Book-worship if it were according to Truth from the which it is as far as light is from darkness yet if I cannot offer it up with my spirit it is not acceptable to God but most abominable Ant. Well you must come to Church Ch. I pray let me ask you a
from City to City and from house to house Indif In those dayes the Magistrates were Vnbelievers but the question is where Magistrates are Believers Ch. Christ had all power needful for that work if Magistracy were a power needful for that work then Christ had not all power Magistracy is Gods blessed Ordinance in its right place but let not us be wiser than God to devise him a means for the publishing of his Gospel which He that had all power had not nor hath commanded Magistracy is a power of this world the Kingdom Power Subjects and means of publishing the Gospel are not of this world Ant. A goodly thing indeed that men must go about the Country to preach Ch. In your estimation it is base and contemptible your Pomp and Pride will not bear this it is more easie for you to hunt after Promotion till you come to the highest in getting to be chief Bishop of Bishops within these Dominions and then cometh your fall full low if you repent not But the wisdom of God hath appointed the chiefest Officers of Christs Kingdom even the Apostles thus basely to go up and down to and fro to preach the Gospel yea that worthy Apostle Paul preached this Gospel night and day with many tears openly and throughout every house Act. 20. Indif But if this be thus as for my own part I am fully perswaded it is then I see the High Commission cannot stand for as I take it it is only for Causes Ecclesiastical Ch. So far as it is over Church-matters it is most unlawful for the Commission for judging and punishing of the transgressors of the Laws of Christs Church is given to Christ the Monarch thereof a part whereof he hath left to his Disciples which is no worldly Commission or Power but only the Power of the Lord Jesus the uttermost of which Commission is Excommunication 1 Cor. 5. Ant. The High Commission is from the King and dare you once call it into question Ch. If I do take any authority from the Kings Majesty let me be judged worthy my desert but if I defend the Authority of Christ Jesus over mens souls which appertaineth to no mortal man whatsoever then know you that whosoever would rob him of that Honour which is not of this world he will tread them under foot Earthly Authority belongeth to earthly Kings but spiritual Authority belongeth to that one spiritual King who is KING of Kings Ant. Well all your pleading will not serve your turn either you must come to Church or else go to Prison Ch. I have shewed you by the Law of Christ that your course is most wicked to compel any by Persecution to perform any service to God as you pretend Now I desire also to shew you that the Statute Law of the Land requireth only civil obedience and his Majesties Writings maintaining the Oath of Allegiance testifie the same The Law of the Land requireth that whosoever cometh not to Church or receiveth not the Sacraments the Oath of Allegiance is to be tendred to them which that it may be manifest to all that not only I but all that profess the Faith with me are most willing to subscribe unto it in faithfulness and truth I have thought good to express it The words of the Oath Anno 3 Jacobi Regis I A. B do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess and testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the World That our sovereign Lord King James is lawful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries And than the Pope neither of himself nor by any other Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose of any his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any forreign Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty or to give licence or leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults or to offer any violonce or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person State or Government or any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I do swear from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or Sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successors or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heirs or Successors or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against him or any of them And I do further swear that I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable doctrine and position That Princes which be Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully ministred to me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and Acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true Faith of a Christian So help me God Ant. This Oath was intended for the Papists and not for you Ch. It is not so for his Majesty at the last Session of Parliam Anna 1609 saith thus Some doubts have been conceived anent the using of the Oath of Allegiance and that part of the Act that ordains the taking thereof is thought so obscure that no man can tell who ought to be pressed therewith c. And therefore if there be any scruple touching the ministring thereof I would wish it now to be cleared c. And thereupon this Statute was made Anno 7. Regni Regis Iacobi c. Chap. 6. towards the latter end And if any person or persons whatsoever of or above the age of eighteen years do now stand or at any time hereafter shall stand and be presented indicted and convicted for not coming to Church or receiving the Lords Supper according
man would not be deceived by them nor plead for them but because they teach many Truths people receive them But first for whatsoever they teach they neither could nor should teach publickly their mouths should be stopped if they received not that their power to teach such Truths from those the Dragon sends and therefore none can receive those Truths from them but they receive the Devil by whose power they teach for as our Saviour saith Mat. 10.40 He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me So he that receiveth those the Beast sends receiveth the Beast and he that receiveth the Beast receiveth him that sent him that is the Devil Further. Did not that Southsayer Balaam teach excellent Truths Numb 23 24 chapters Yea the Southsayers of the Philistims the like 1 Sam. 6. Yea Those in the Gospel preach in Christs Name Mat. 7.22 As many moe testimonies might be manifested And secondly For their bringing of people to Reformation and therein doing great works Did not the Southsayers before recited 1 Sam. 6. shew the Princes their sin in detaining Gods Ark and the judgments against them for the same exhorting them to send it away and not to harden their hearts as Pharoah and the Egyptians hardned their hearts And was not Reformation wrought hereby And did not they that preached in Christs Name cast out Devils and do many and great works of whom our Saviour testifieth he never acknowledged them But let us a little consider wherein the Reformation consistech procured by their preaching in Drunkenness Whoredom Swearing c. moral duties which things whosoever is not reformed in shall never see Gods Kingdom yet which things many of the Philosophers that knew not God abounded in as they that know the Stories cannot deny But do they teach their hearers to hate vain inventions and love God's Law In a general manner of teaching they may but if it come to particular practice you shall see what they will do Do they teach any to submit to that one Law-giver Christ Jesus for the guidance of his Church and not to Antichrists Abominations No they will tell you you must sigh and groan till the Magistrate will reform for you are a private person and must be subject And if the powerful working of Gods Word and Spirit prevail in you to let you see that the Magistrates not reforming will not excuse you at the day of account but that that soul that committeth abomination shall dye and that rather than you will worship the Beast or his Image you will suffer with Christ peaceably separating your self from such open prophanation as neither can nor will be reformed endeavouring to square your self both in your entrance and walking in Christs way unto that golden Rule that he hath left for direction then the best of all those Preachers and Reformers will be hot and bitter labouring with all the turning of devices to turn you and withhold you from Reformation And if they cannot prevail hereby then publish you in their priviledged Pulpits where none may answer them You are a Schismatick Brownist Anabaptist and what not to make the multitude abhor your doings and not to follow you therein and some of them if not all under a colour procure your Imprisonment and trouble by their Canonized Lords or some of their hellish Pursevants And such Preachers of Reformation are the best of them all Indif Oh how have we been besotted in these things for want of true knowledge and understanding from the Scriptures how have I and others satisfied our selves with these things in that our estate was happy perswading our selves thereof when alas our fear towards God was taught by the inventions of men but the reason thereof was we judged our selves by our own perswasions and not by Gods Word Ch. I pray you let not that seem strange unto you that people should perswade themselves of their good estate with God when it is not so The Israelites Gods People thought their estate good many times when alas it was otherwise as the Prophets declared unto them yea our Saviour testifieth that they boasted of God being their Father when they not so much as knew him Joh. 8.19 yea when they were of their father the Devil ver 44. The five foolish Virgins thought their condition good enough and that they should have been let in but it was otherwise Luke 20. The wicked thought they did God service that killed Christs Disciples Joh. 16.2 Mans heart is deceitful Jer. 17.9 Who are more confident of their good estate with God than the Papists notwithstanding all their gross abominations Even so have you and I God pardon us thought beyond all that we were in a good estate having such zealous Teachers that teach so many excellent Truths under the title of Christs Ministers till we came to examine them as the Church of Ephesus did Rev. 2. then we found them to have no other Ministry than that they received from the Beast and his Image which the Dragon gave Rev. 13. Indif Are all without exception in this fearful estate to be case into the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Ch. All that submit obey or worship the Beast without exception for there is no respect of persons with God So saith the Lord If any man worship c. These worshippers under the Beast's Image may be divided into two sorts First those that ignorantly perswade themselves that all that is practised is good and acceptable to God Secondly those that see and acknowledge many things to be evil which they would gladly have removed but because they cannot without the Crosss of Christ partly for that and partly by the perswasion of their Prophets that the things are not fundamental and the like pretences all submit and teach men so Indif Some affirm There be thousands in England that never worshipped the Beast c. but be careful to keep the Commandments of God and Faith of Jesus Ch. Such are not under these Judgments but if their meaning be of any that submit to these Ordinances appointed for these Assemblies such Teachers preach peace when there is none strengthen the wicked that they cannot return from their wicked way by promising them life whose reward shall be according to the reward of such false Prophets Ezek. 13.1 and chap. 14.10 because they follow their own spirit and have not received it from the Lord for thus saith the Lord Such shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God Indif It is also affirmed by some That in respect of personal graces some of the Professors as they are called are the Children of God and may be communicated with privately though in respect of their Church actions they are members of Antichrists body to whom are Judgments of God appertaineth Ch. This opinion proceedeth not from Gods Word but from man's vain heart by the suggestion of the Devil which that it may evidently appear let us
flight I answer God preserved Moses and the rest in their flight till the time was come that he imployed them in his service then in no case he would suffer them to flie as when Moses manifested his exceeding backwardness to the Lords work in helping his People out of Bondage using many excuses the Lord was very angry with him Exod. 4.10 15. And whither out Saviour flie when the time came that he was to shew himself to Israel Luk. 1.80 If any of these men can prove the Lord requireth no work at their hands to be done for his Glory and the Salvation of thousands of ignorant souls in their own Nation let them stay in foreign Countries But I trust Gods People have learned not to say the time is not yet come that Babel should be destroyed and the Lords House builded but that the time is come to build the Lords House and not to dwell in ceiled houses Hag. 1. or any way to seek our outward promotion which if it be granted that the time is come not only to come out of Babel but to destroy her all these objections are nothing except they prove that when God called any of his People to his Work they left it for fear of trouble This doctrine was not approved of God when the time came that his Adversaries were to be rooted out and that his People had gotten some victory The Rubenites and the Gadites could have been content to have remained to their most peace and commodity Num 32. but Moses said unto them Shall your Brethren go to war and ye tarry here where fore now discourage ye the hearts of the Children of Israel c. sharply reproving them as an increase of sinful men risen upon their fathers steads still to augment the fierce wrath of the Lord and Moses would not be satisfied until they had promised that they would go with their Brethren to the Lords work and would not return to their houses till they had accomplished the same And the Angel of the Lord doth say Curse ye Meroz curse the inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to help the Lord againsst the Mighty Judg. 5.23 Also because the men of Jabesh Gilead came not up to the Lord to help their Brethren against the wicked men of Gibeath all the men were destroyed and all the women that had lien by men Judg. 21.11 no excuse whatsoever could serve Did God thus respect his Work and People then as all must put to their helping hand and none must withdraw their shoulder lest others were discouraged and is there no regard to be had thereof now but any occasion as fear of a little Imprisonments or the like may excuse any both from the Lords work and the help of their Brethren that for want of their society and comfort are exceedingly weakned if not overcome If answer be made They perform their duty in both that they do the Lords work the pastor feeding his flock and the People walking in fellowship one towards another I demand Doth the Lord require no more work of them doth he not require that they should help to cast down Babel If reply be made They do it by their Books I answer That may be done and their Lights shine by their mouthes and conversations also among the wicked which is the greatest means of converting them and destroying Antichrists Kingdom They overcame not by flying away but by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12.11 Gods People are the Lights of the World a City set on a hill a Candle set on the candlestick giving light to all that come in Mat. 5 and therefore must shine by their Persons more than by their Books And great help and encouragement would it be to Gods People in affliction of Imprisonment and the like to have their Brethrens presernce to administer to their souls or bodies and for which cause Christ will say I was in Prison and ye visited me in Distress and ye comforted me and unto those that do not so according to their ability Go ye cursed Mat. 25. If men had greater love to Gods Commands or the Salvation of thousands of ignorant souls in our Nation that for want of instruction perish than to a little temporal affliction they would never publish nor practise as they do in this thing Thus have I in short shewed you my poor ability in these things And for all other things we hold as the lawfulness of Magistracy Gods blessed Ordinance And Christ our Saviour taking his flesh of the Virgin Mary by the wonderful work of the holy Ghost c. You may see them in our Confession in print published four years ago Indif Many that be called Anabaptists hold the contrary and many other strange things Ch. We cannot but lament for it so did many in Christs Churches in the primitive times hold strange opinions as some of the Corinths denyed the Resurrection and in many of the Seven Churches were grievous things which the Lord by his Servants warned them of upon pain of his displeasure and removing of his Presence from them nevertheless others professing the same general Cause of Christ were commended Indif Well you will yet be called Anabaptists because you deny Baptism to Infants Ch. So were Christians before us called Sects and so they may Iohn Baptist Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles Anabaptists for we profess and practise no otherwise herein than they namely The baptizing of such as confess with the mouth the belief of the heart And if they be Anabaptists that deny Baptism where God hath appointed it they and not we are Anabaptists But the Lord give them repentance that their sins may be put away and never laid to their charge even for his Christs sake Amen AN HUMBLE SUPPLICATION TO THE Kings Majesty As it was presented 1620. To the High and Mighty KING JAMES By the Grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland To the Right Excellent and Noble PRINCE CHARLES Prince of Wales c. To all the Right Hanorable NOBILITY Grave and Honorable JUDGES and to all other the Right Worshipful GENTRY of all Estates and Degrees assembled in this present Parliament Right High and Mighty Right Excellent Noble Right Honourable and Right Worshipful AS the Consideration of that divine Commandment of the King of kings Let Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty doth cause in us a daily practice thereof in our secret Chambers for you all as in duty we are bound of which the searcher of all hearts beareth us witness so let it be pleasing unto your Majesty and the rest in Authority that we make humble Supplications and Prayers to you for such our bodily miseries and wants as