this Son of God Iesus Christ That no Idolater can be saued is thus confirmed Confounded bee all they that serue grauen Images and that glory in Idols Psal 97.7 1. Sam. 12.21 Num. 25.2.9 For they are not onely thinges of naught and vanity but they bring confusion and curse vnto all that submit vnto them Yea the Lord saith That Idolaters shall no more inherite the Kingdome of Heauen then Adulterers Fornicators wantons 1. Cor. 6.9 Buggerers Theeues couetous Drunkards raylers nor Extortioners But Idolaters with the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and abhominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and all lyars shall haue their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Reuel 21.8 which is the second Death Therefore we are commanded to flye from Idolatry and seperate our selues 1. Cor. 10.14 and touch none vncleane thing and then God will be our God and Father and walke among vs 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and dwell there and wee shall be his Sonnes and Daughters Hauing thus in generall proued that no Idolater can be saued that wee may come a little nearer the thing let vs obserue how far Idolatry doth extend It is sufficiently knowne of many that Idololatria signifieth a seruice of any likenes not onely of God but also concerning the thinges of Gods worship which is truely acknowledged by the annotation in the English Bible in Quarto vpon 1. Iob. 5.21 Babes keepe your selues from Idols The wordes are meaning from euery forme and fashion of thing which is fet vp for any deuotion to worship God And a great aduersary of the Papists saith Dillingham against the Pa◠pa. 37. To serue God as we list and not as he will is Idolatry So that any formes or fashions of Deuotion in Gods worship that is not Gods or besides Gods are Idols and Christs Babes must keepe themselues from them else they will bring them to destructiō as before is proued therefore not onely they that worship stockes and stones as God or as similitudes of God are Idolaters subiect to the Curses pronounced but also all such as in Deuotion to God set vp formes or fashions to worship God by that God hath not commanded and this is plainly proued by those fearefull Iudgements pronounced against all such as worship those mysticall Idols The Beast or his Image spoken of Reuel 14.9 c. Which generally all acknowledge that these worshippers doe in wordes worship the true God For these Scriptures are applyed to those people that in words doe acknowledge both God and Christ yet saith the Holy Ghost These worshippers shall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath and bee tormented in Fire and Brimstone for euermore Which estate of confusion all must comeout of that will be saued For as it is a habitation of Deuils Reuel 18.2 so the worshippers therein are worshippers of Deuils Reuel 9.20 though it be in a great mystery and so perceiued of few Next it remaineth to proue that saluation is promised as to Faith in Christ as before is proued vpon Repentance of Idolatry as of all other sinne so also to obedience of Faith not to obedience of the Law but to obedience of the Gospell for that Faith that is not accompanied with Obedience Iam. 2.19 is not onely a dead Faith but it is the Deuils Faith that which shall neuer profit any man to Iustification Obedience to the Law had iustice in it felfe if any could haue kept it but obedience to the Gospell hath iustice in Christ to all that beleeue obey him who hath fulfilled the Law for them and by the workes of the Gospell wee are saued For this is the worke of God which shall inherite eternall life that wee beleeue in Iesus Christ Ioh. 6.29 Which Faith is accompanied with Obedience of * faith Rom. 1.5 16.26 It is written Not euery one that saith vnto mee Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen but hee which doth my Fathers will which is in Heauen Math. 7.21 And let it be well obserued that obedience to the Sonne is not properly the obseruing of those morall precepts contained in the second Commandement Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe for that God hath from the beginning written not onely in the Tables of stone but in the tables of mans heart That as a man would another should doe to him Math. 7.12 so he should doe to him againe and not that onely is written in euery mans heart but euen this also that man should loue his Creator aboue all but the manner of this loue consisting in obedience to his Commandements for his worship and seruice that was directed in the Law by Moses and the Fathers If the Gentiles would haue it they must come vnto the Iewes Rom. 3.2 For to them were of credit committed the Oracles of God But now in these last dayes God hath spoken or declared what worship he will haue by his Sonne Heb. 1.2 whome he hath made heyre of all thinges Cōmanding all to heare him who hath shewed what manner of persons he accepteth worship of what his worship is what Ministery he hath appointed and what a Church Gouernment hee hath constituted and all other thinges for the well being of his Church Which is his Body Ephes 5.23 of which hee is the Sauiour who ought to bee obedient to him in euery thing And as the seruant Moses and the Commandements giuen by him was worthy of Honor in that time and euery transgression receiued a iust recompence of reward Heb. 2.2 of which we read of diuers dreadfull examples Leuit. 10.1 1. Sam. 6.19 1. Chron. 13.7.10 2. Chron. 26.16 c. Num. 16. cap. 1. Sā 13.13 c. cap. 15. read Deut. 27.36 So is the Sonne worthy of more honour in his Commandements in these last dayes Heb. 3.3 and soter punishment are they worthy of that doe transgresse them This is the Kingdome Heb. 10.29 and power in Heauen and Earth that is giuen to this Sonne of God to wit Mat. 28.18 to rule ouer the bodyes and soules of men whom he hath redeemed by the scepter of his word This is the gouernment on his shoulder Esa 9.6 Heb. 12.28 Act. 2.30 1. Cor. 15.24 c. and the Kingdome that can not bee shaken On which hee sits for euer to order it euen till hee haue subdued all thinges and deliuer it vp to his Father and they that will not that he shall raigne ouer them by his owne Lawes shall be brought and slaine before him Luk. 19.27 Now if such be the estate of all those that obey not the Sonne in his Lawes as if the Scriptures be true it is then what is the estate and condition of such as in stead of obedience to him contemne his Commandements and submit to mens inuentions for matter of worship to God where now is place for that hypocriticall pretence of
Law and wee are saued by Grace through Faith Vers 8 And wee are freely iustified by his Grace through Christs redemption So that they doe as manifestly contradict God take away Gods fauour Christs iustice vnto vs through the Redemption of his precious blood and fet vp mans merite for Iustice with God as euer the wicked Iewes did but forasmuch as they are so confident in it let vs a little further prosecute this thing If euer any should haue had iustice with God through workes Abraham the Father of the righteous should but Abraham was not iustified by workes but by Beleeuing that was counted to him for Iustice Rō 4.2 c. now to him that worketh the wages is not counted by fauour but by debt So that if Iustification with God come by workes wee are not beholding to God for it he payeth vs nothing but our due Oh fearefull blasphemy But th'Apostle affirmeth that the promise made to Abraham of being the Father of all the righteous was not made to Abraham or his seede through the Law but through the righteousnes of faith Vers 14.16 c. For if they that be of the Law be heyres Faith is made voyde and the Promise is made of none effect Therefore it it by Faith that it might come by Grace to them which are of the Faith of Abraham c. Confirmed by the same Apostle who saith Gal. 2.15 c. we which are Iewes by Nature and not sinners of the Gentiles knowe that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law but by the Faith of Iesus Christ euen wee haue beleeued in Iesus Christ that wee might bee iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ and not by the workes of the Law for by the workes of the Law no man shall be Iustified Therefore taking this detestable Doctrine as sufficiently confuted wee will conclude with the words of th'Apostle We do not abrogate the Grace of God for if Iustice bee by the Law then Christ dyed for nothing or without cause Gal. 2.21 Oh that this Scripture might be considered It is heere affirmed that if Christs Death make not men iust but the Law then Christ dyed for nothing all other thinges purchased by Christs Death if this be denyed are counted nothing and this is to abrogate the Grace of God This their stumbling blocke from Rom. 2. being taken out of the way of all those that will not wilfully perish the very foundation their new Christ is plucked vp by the rootes for there is not any Scriptures that they haue hopes will make for them although some haue alledged Iohn 1.9 This was the true the that lightneth euery man that commeth into the world But we hauing answered that this light is not any power in man but that man Christ Iesus Ioh. 1.14 Ioh. 8.12 9.5 who was made Flesh and dwelt amongst vs c. who is the light of the world This hath not been so much vrged also sometimes they alledge Cornelius for proofe of iustification without Faith in the blood of Christ but seeing themselues faile of proofe that he did not beleeue in the Messiah by looking for him for iustification therefore they let it rest concerning this and take it vp vpon another occasion which in due place we shall speake of These weake and wrested proofes being the best that euer wee heard them alledge for so great and weighty a matter the taking away of the purchase by the blood of Christ and therein mans euerlasting comfort they haue for the making of this more passable and to haue the better acceptance for indeed it is most odious to any Christian heart they haue wee say inuented this Position That if men walke vprightly as farre as they see in morrall thinges although they bee worshippers of Idols whether reall or mentall through ignorance and therein continue liuing and dying they may be saued which indeed is the same in effect with the former as the wise may discerne For if men may be saued that in words acknowledge or not acknowledge the Lord Iesus Christ both being in workes aduersaries to him then what is the profit more vnto those that beleeue in and obey the Lord Iesus and those that by word or workes deny him If both may be saued The wickednes of which wee shall also discouer plainely through the Grace of God No Idolater can bee saued except they leaue their Idolatry by hearty repentance and beleeue in and obey Iesus Christ ALL flesh desires to finde an easie way to Heauen and who would not dye the Death of the righteous But whosoeuer seekes Heauen by wayes of their own deuising they shall not finde it Indeed Christ saith My yoake is easie and my burthen light but that is to those who willingly deny themselues take vp his crosse and follow him otherwise straight is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to Life and few finde it and many shall seeke to enter in and shall not be able The gates of the heauenly Ierusalem the Gospell or new Testament Gal. 4.24.26 are open continually they are not shut by Day nor by Night Yea the Spirit and the bride saying come and let whosoeuer will take of the water of Life freely Reuel 22. And wisedome cryeth without shee vttereth her voyce in the streets shee calleth in the street among the prease in the eate-rings of the Gates Pro. 9. and vttereth her wordes in the Citty saying O yee foolish how long will yee loue foolishnes c. So that there is mercy with God and plenteous redemption but it is by the way that God himselfe who is the giuer of it will bestow it Is not he worthy to haue power of directing vs how to come to life seeing hee himselfe giueth life and that freely of his fauour The question therefore now is whether any can haue saluation by their own wisdome walking in their owne wayes or by the way which the wisedome of God hath directed Wee haue already plentifully proued if Scriptures may be proofe That this is the Record of God which whosoeuer beleeueth not hath made God a lyer and this is the Record that God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life 1. Ioh. 5. and this life is in his Sonne He that hath the Sonne hath life and he that hath not that Sonne of God hath not life So that if any will yet affirme that any can haue Eternall life not confessing nor beleeuing in the Sonne of God they make God a lyer whose record is otherwise but this Record of God being beleeued it doth declare all such to be lyers as affirme saluation can be to any that Beleeue not in this Sonne of God If God haue secrets which no man knoweth concerning this thing we meddle not therewith we know none he hath but according to that will of God which is reuealed in his sacred Scriptures we dare be bolde to say no sinner can be saued but by Faith in
mysterie so cloaked that few perceiue it Why should it be strange to any Godly man 2. Cor. 11.14 that seeing the Deuill transformeth himselfe into an Angell of Light and that so doe his ministers and perceiuing that by falshood onely he cannot continue his hellish courses of deceiuings that he should suffer many or diuers truthes to passe that vnder them he might colour all his falshood neuer false Prophet of whom we read of in the Scriptures but they had some truths mixed with their falshoods to make them more passable but let Gods people be wise to try them that say make such great shew that they are Prophets and are not but doe lye and let them declare vnto them that their end shall be according to their worke Vers 15. And whosoeuer will not receiue the loue of the truth by those meanes that God hath appointed but will goe to enquire for God and his Truth at the mouth of false Prophets because of some truth they teach It is iust with the Lord 2. Thes 2.51.12 to giue such vp to strong delusions that they may beleeue their lyes and be damned And again none can heare or receiue any truth from them but therein they heare and receiue the Deuill by whose power they teach as before is proued Besides they must also swallow vp all their falshood and be silent when they heare the Lord Iesus in his holy Truthes blasphemed Thus it is apparant neither hearing nor any other Spirituall action may be performed with the Body in which the heart and affections is not present contrary to this execrable and hypocriticall Doctrine of the Familists Hauing now clearely refelled all the obiections of the hatefull courses of these Baalamites and Nicholaitans of prostrating the body at any Worship although it be the Gentiles that sacrifice to Deuils not to God or any other that although in words they professe God yet in workes they deny him We may now proceed to other of their taxations of vs. Fourthly yee submit not to Christs ministery namely those which liue and teach according to Gods word and the Booke of Cōmon prayer IN answering of which First let it be obserued who they account Christs Ministers concerning which thus they speake To bee called of God is to be raised vp to the worke of the Ministery replenished with guifts necessary thereunto and to goe out vnder that outward forme which God in that age wherein hee liueth hath ordamed viz. That outward forme which the Magistrate appointeth in Turkie Rome or elsewhere So that with these Elimasses they are called of God to the worke of the Ministery that haue ability to Preach and goe out vnder the outward forme of Turkie Rome c. Which to submit vnto or haue fellowship with in any of their Spirituall seruices so much as in hearing them to receiue any Spirituall good from them or any other lying Prophets that runne and God sends them not is vtterly forbidden as plentifully hath beene proued But the Ministery of Christ which is appointed in his perfect Testament to wit the Ministery of Pastors and Deacons Phil. 1.1 1. Tim. 3. c. we doe submit vnto with all reuerence in all things according to the word of God And for their mentioning the Booke of Common Prayer this is but to colour their hypocrisre that they might haue respect with authority for they might aswell haue mentioned the Romish Masse-booke or the Turkish Alchoran as it For they affirme that all Religions are lawfull if Authority commaund them Seruant of M.P. in his natural wise man 2. Booke sect 14. In these wordes Euen so because of Gods peace yee shall submit your selues vnto all manner of Religion set vp by Lawes wherein there is a pretence of Godlinesse for all sortes of people cannot attaine vnto the true God seruice at the first Therefore yee shall not onely obey all Religions not dispising the Turkes because of their vnbeliefe but also yee shall submit your selues vnto all Lawes and Authority of the Prince from time to time like obedient peaceable people Considering we are not appointed of God as Law-makers and wee must be no Law-breakers but Lawkeepers for if we breake the Law and dye therefore are we not guilty of our owne Blood yes verily Againe thus There are many vanityes vsed in the world The same in 2. Reformation sect 10. and it is both needfull and necessary for vs sometimes to vse our selues after their manner to liue in peace with them c. Fiftly yee deny the Distinct degrees of Christs Ministery Answ YEe lyers are of your Father the Deuill wee acknowledge the distinct degrees of Christs Ministery as before but we deny the degrees of the Ministery of Mahomet and the Anti-christ Rome-and all other that are not heard of in Christs Testament Sixtly some of you take in hand Ministeriall workes whereas not any one of you is called of God thereunto Answ VVHat it is to be called of God with these Familists we haue formerly shewed to wit to be raised vp to be guifted and to haue that outward forme of calling which the Magistrates in Turkie or else where ordaineth Wee acknowledge that whosoeuer doth take in hand any Ministeriall worke and is not raised vp of God thereunto and replenished with necessary guiftes to the same they doe most fearefully transgresse Our Consciences are cleare herein that none can iustly taxe vs but for going out vnder that outward forme the Familists speake of we doe detest it as the Deuill whose reuelation it is vnto H. N. and his cursed followers The true Ministers of the Gospell are not Ministers of men nor by men but by Iesus Christ Gal. 1.1 neither by his immediate voyce from Heauen or by that way which he hath ordained in his Testament * 1. Tim. 3. Tit. 1. and other outward formes for any Minister of Christ know we none Seauenthly some of you take in hand to Prophesie whereas yee are all without the testimony of Iesus Answ THat wee are all without the testimony of H. Ns Iesus or Sauiour which is the estate of perfection in the louely being or vpright righteousnes as he calleth his Doctrine vnto which onely his illuminate Elders doe attaine which he calleth Iesus Christ as before is proued we freely acknowledge and doe much loath and detest that deuillish fiction but the testimony of the true Iesus Christ God ouer all and true man like vs in all thinges excepting sinne we blesse his Name we haue and purpose to holde fast vnto the Death of which besides what heere we haue said we are ready to render a reason to any that shall require it Eightly yee are totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. Answ VVEE freely confesse if H. Ns. knowledge of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. be true we are totally ignorant of them Therefore we will in short set downe from their owne mouthes and Pens what they vnderstand of diuers
peruert Heb. 6. and other holy Scriptures to their owne destruction Hauing now discouered some of H. Ns. principles The summe of the true Faith wee will in short set downe our Faith concerning these 6. Principles Heb. 6. First of Repentance from dead workes we doe beleeue that euery transgression of any Law of God is sinne 1. Ioh. 3.4 Rom. 6.23 and the wages of euery sinne is Death and so a dead worke That no man by reason of weake Flesh can keepe the Law Rom. 8.3 and therefore by transgression becommeth dead in Sinne Ephe. 2.1.3 and so by weake Nature the Childe of wrath For the Law causeth wrath Rom. 4.15 for where no Law is there is no transgression but the power of Gods word contained in the holy Scriptures 1. Cor. 15.34 Ephes 5.14 and not the Reuelations or Dreames of H.N. nor any others awaking man and setting his sinnes in order before him and the fearefull terror of Gods wrath against him Act. 2.37 16.30 Act. 2.38 3.19 causeth man to be pricked in his heart and to cry out what shall wee doe to be saued To which God answereth Repent of thy sinnes confesse them sorrow for them and reforme them But man seeing by the same holy Scripture that this his repentance or any other thing that he can doe cannot appease Gods wrath nor satisfie his Iustice for his sinne he is inuited hereupon to flye vnto Gods Grace by the Redemptiō purchased through the blood of his Sonne who is God ouer all and tooke our Nature vpon him and became Man Dyed for vs and is risen againe in his Body ascended into Heauen sitting at the right hand of his Father making intercession for his seruants euen for all that obey him Heb. 5.9 through whom alone wee haue Redemption euen the forgiuenes of our sinnes 2. Thus by Faith in the Blood of Christ is this Sinner sprinckled in his heart from an euill Conscience Heb. 10.22 and must also be washed in his Body with pure water 3. This is the Baptisme that saueth not onely the washing away the filth of the Flesh but in that a good Conscience maketh request vnto God 1. Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ Yet not onely the good Conscience is Baptisme but also washing with materiall water into the Name of the Father c. For to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen which is the estate of Grace or true Christianity in this life called the Kingdome of Heauen Ioh. 3.5 Ephes 4.5 Wee must haue Water and Spirit Christ hath coupled them together as his one Baptisme and let no man seperate them 4. By laying on of handes wee conceiue is meant the whole ministery of the Church which consisteth of those Offices mentioned in Christs Testament All which are to be entred into by laying on of hands as these Scriptures teach * Act. 6.6 13.3 For other laying on of hands by which extraordinary guiftes were communicated vnto men wee vnderstand they were myracles giuen of God in the primitiue Church for the confirmation of the Apostles authority who taught thinges that neuer before were taught Heb. 2.5 which that they might be credited they did such thinges as neuer men did And if any Familist can doe Myracles as did th Apostles thē might they haue had some colour to write and bring into the world new Gospels as they are not ashamed to doe 5. Concerning the Resurrection from the Dead We beleeue that our soules shall be seperated from our bodies by naturall Death That the Body returnes to earth whence it came and the Spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12.7 1. Cor. 15. vntill the day that Iesus Christ shall come againe to Iudge quicke and dead Then shall our Bodies rise againe euen these bodies Ioh. 19.25 c. and with these eyes shall wee see our Redeemer Lastly we doe beleeue and looke for to our great reioycing the blessed appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ to that Eternall iudgement wherein hee shall Iudge both quicke and dead according to their works done in this Flesh 2 Cor. 5.10 whether they be good or euill Reuel 20.12 to an Eternall being to wit Them that by continuance in wel-doing seeke glory and Immortality Rō 2.7 c. 1. Thes 4.17 Rom. 2.8 they shall come to Eternall Life where they shall bee euer with the Lord. But those that are contentious and disobey the Truth and obeyes vnrighteousnes haue done euill and haue not repented thereof They shall come forth to the resurrection of condemnation Ioh. 5.29 indignation and wrath shall bee vpon them burning in the Lake for euermore with the Deuill and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Now let all Iudge whether wee be totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. as these accusers doe suggest or rather that themselues are not only ignorant of them for if they were their sinne were the lesse but they deny them and that after their enlightning The 9. transgression they accuse vs of is Ninthly you will not bee reformed by the Light which God hath manifested in these latter times and whereof much is in the Booke of Common Prayer and in the Homilies and in the Booke of Ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons Answ VVEE hauing asked some of them what Light this is that in these latter times God hath manifested for we conceiue God neuer spake nor euer will after his speaking by his Sonne in these last dayes who by himselfe and his Apostles hath deliuered all the Counsell of God sealing it vp with these sentences If wee or an Angell from Heauen teach any otherwise then we haue Preached Gal. 1.8 9. let him bee accursed And if any adde to what they haue done Reuel 22.18.19 God will adde the plagues written by them or if any take away any of those their wordes God will take away their names out of the Booke of Life we say we hauing asked them concerning these thinges they haue answered vs God hath spoken to the world at three seuerall times First by Moses and the Fathers 2. By Christ and the Apostles And thirdly by an euerlasting Gospell in these last dayes alledging Reuel 14. Which what Gospell should it bee but the Gospell of the Kingdome which H. N. hath published to the world in which many of his poysoned Doctrines is broached concerning which hee hath giuen himselfe a stately stile farre exceeding the Apostles in all their writings full of blasphemies which is this H. N. through the Grace and mercy of God Euang. Peg. Cap. 1. and through the holy Spirit of the loue of Iesu Christ raised vp by the highest God from the Death according to the prouidence of God and his Promises annoynted with the Holy Ghost in the olde age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his loue made heyre with Christ in the heauenly goods of
speake sharply to them but consider the causes thereof They haue bene and are the greatest enemies of righteousnes that euer were faining a God and a Christ according to their owne fleshly hearts and haue more peruerted the straight way of the Lord then euer did any and therefore we hauing Christ and his Apostles for our example herein wee trust none will condemne vs but those that are touched for if any be offended at this our Discouery it is testimony sufficient what they are wee mention the names of none least they should haue colour to say we persecute them The wicked and hypocriticall Scribes and Pharises for whom was reserued the damnation of Hell Elimas the Sorcerer Mat. 23.33 Iannes and Iambres Hymeneus Philetus and all the rest whose fearefull iudgements are written are not so wicked in their blasphemies as these are as shall plainely appeare and therefore let all pronounce against them the iudgements that are written that others may heare and feare and doe no more such wickednes It is meerly for want of loue of the Truth that men are giuen vp to such fearefull delusions from which that we may be deliuered let vs follow the Truth and that in loue which truth is contained in the holy Scriptures and not in the Dreames of H.N. or any other Heb. 1.2 In these last dayes the Father hath spoken by his Son Iesus Christ who was faithfull as Moses Heb. 3.2 Act. 3.22 Mat. 17.5 Act. 3.23 Gal. 1.8 Moses sends vs to him The Father sends vs to him And hee that will not heare this Prophet shall be destroyed And cursed shall he be that teacheth otherwise then hee hath taught by himselfe his Apostles And his Name shall be taken out of the booke of Life that taketh from it Reuel 22.18.19 and the plagues which are writen shal be added to him that addeth to the wordes of this Sonne of God All which the Lords mouth hath spoken Thus haue we taken this paines for the sake of those that are ignorant of these things to the and that they seeing the Pit may be warned and saued from falling into it which God for his Christs sake Grant to euery soule Amen 〈…〉 A DISCOVERIE OF THE FAMILY OF LOVE THE wisedome of GOD not only forewarneth plentifully in the Scriptures To take heed of false Prophets Math. 7.15 and deceiuers in that many are gone out into the world 1. Ioh. 4.1 but also teacheth to make their madnes manifest to all men 2. Tim. 3.9 that their deceits and craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceiue being made known all may be preserued from their snare and bee able to denounce against them the Iudgements which are written Psal 149.9 Our Sauiour telleth vs that after the shortning of those dreadfull dayes of the abhomination of Desolation men shall say Loe heere is Christ loe there is Christ but beleeue them not Math. 24.22 c. goe not thither neither follow them And if any shall say he is in a Desert or in a secret place Goe not forth beleeue it not For as the Lightning commeth out of the East and is seene vnto the West so shall the comming of the Sonne of man bee euen that bright Comming spoken of 2. Thes 2.8 For the consuming of that man of Sinne. Where plainely wee are taught that the way of the Lord IESVS in the Gospell is plaine and manifest Esa 42.16 For he will leade the Blinde by the way that they knew not and will make darknes Light before them and crooked thinges straight and the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sunne Esa 30.26 and the light of the Sunne shall be 7. fold and as the light of 7. Dayes in the day that the Lord will binde vp the breach of his people and heale the stroake of their wound and thither must men goe that will finde Christ indeed For all his wayes are plaine to him that will vnderstand Pro. 8.9 and straight to them that would finde knowledge Pro. 14.6 and his Wisdome is easie to him that will vnderstand But where obscurity and darknesse is a people of a darke speach that thou canst not perceiue and of a stammering tongue that thou canst not vnderstand thither must wee not goe nor such must we not follow Pro. 5.5 c For the pathes of a strange woman are moueable thou canst not know them keepe thy way farre from her and come not neare the doore of her house for her feete goe downe to Death and her steps take holde on Hell shee waigheth not the way of Life This were sufficient if there were no more to diswade all that will not wilfully perish from harkening vnto beleeuing or following those most obscure intricate and tedious deceipts of that people followers of that oldest Elder or ancient deceiuer Henry Nicholas who tearme themselues the family of Loue whose execrable blasphemies are broached so obscurely both by words and writings as hath been alwayes obserued by those that haue had to do with them that the depth of Sathan in them is of many not easily discerned Most true it is they haue much more poysoned this Kingdome in former times then of late yeares at which times diuers discoueries and confutations hath beene made but seeing now they spring afresh and that they haue destroyed the Faith of certain neare deare vnto vs as also that they haue challenged some of vs with great boasts and brags to combat with them and haue in Writing vnder their hands testified that we walke in so many euils the particulars whereof are hereafter named and answered that none fearing God may haue any fellowship with vs. In consideration of all which and to testifie our vnfained detestation of their profession as also to cleare our selues of their vniust accusations we trust no indifferent person will judge of vs otherwise thē wel for thus publickly dealing with them Therfore in the feare of God with reuerence of his Sacred mysteries with vnfained humiliation of our vnworthines with loue to Gods truth and a harty detestatiō of that which is euil we will proceed only to deale in such things as we haue by the now Family or their fauorites beene prouoked vnto And first of their Christ That they holde another Christ then the man Christ Iesus who gaue himselfe a Ransome for all men not onely H. N. hath published but also the present Family in England doe with stifnes iustifie H. N. and the Familyes Christ First H.N. their oldest Elder or rather their God as shall plainly appeare hath thus written This same true light is the Annoynted with the Holy Ghost Euang. Reg. Cap. 13. sect 2. which annoynted in Hebrew is named Messias and in Greeke Christus he was also in times past called of certain Rabbins among the Iewes H. N. Christ the perfection the Lord his Saboth And they say that the same Annoynted is
walking vprightly as farre as they see when indeed their walking is so farre from vprightnes that when God calls and cryes vnto them and stretches out his hand vnto them all the day long by that measure of means which he affoordeth them Rom. 10.21 they still gaine-say him and are rebellious against him But their obiection is That all they that are ignorant and either by wordes or workes deny Christ and worship Idols and see no further but thinke they doe well they shall be excused to which ignorant conceit wee must say something Ignorance shall not excuse any that liue in Idolatry and doe not obey the Sonne of God THough it be sufficient that the Lord hath pronounced these Iudgements against such as beleeue not in and obey not his Sonne but are Idolaters without exception of ignorant or not ignorant yet that the truth of the Lord may shine herein as the light at noone day wee haue endeauored to take away this their obiection also that in particular words That ignorance is sinne it appeareth by those ceremoniall sacrifices of attonement which were offered for it Leuit. 4.13 c. 22.27 5.2.5.15.17 Heb. 9.7 and the wages of all sinne is Death Also the Lord saith Harden not your hearts as in Meribah and Massah where your Fathers tempted me c. though they had seene my worke forty yeares haue I contended with this generation and said they are a people that erre in their heart for they haue not knowne my wayes therefore I sware in my wrath Psal 95.8 c. Hosea 4.6 surely they shall not enter into my rest And my people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge And our Sauiour teacheth That if the ignorant lead the ignorant Mar. 15.14 both shall fall into the ditch And hee that knew not his masters will Luk. 12.48 and yet did thinges worthy of stripes hee shall be beaten And they that kill Christs Disciples Ioh. 16.1 shall thinke they doe God seruice because they neither knew God nor Christ which to know is Eternall life Ioh. 17.3 Peter through his ignorance aduised Christ not to suffer for which he had a most sharp reproofe Get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.23 thou vnderstandest not the thinges of God Againe I know Brethren yee did it through ignorance Repent Act. 3.17 that your sinnes may bee put away The Gentiles that regarded not to know God by his wonderfull workes the Heauens and Earth Psal 19. which preach and teach day and night to euery speach and language and giueth euery reasonable soule vnder Heauen a measure of knowledge because they regarded not to know God Rom. 1.28 God deliuered them vp to a reprobate mind And the Iewes had the zeale of God yet not according to knowledge for they being ignorant of the righteousnes of God Rom. 10.2 they found it not And Christ Iesus shall render vengeance in flaming fire vnto them that doe not know God and obey not the Gospell 2. Thes 1.8.9 And those that through the signes and lying wonders of the man of Sinne are deceiued 2. Thes 2.10 c. they shall perish and bee damned because they receiued not the loue of the Truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes What store of testimonies are in this thing If men doe euill though of ignorance for the same shall not enter into Gods rest but be destroyed fall into the pit be beaten be deliuered vp to a reprobate minde haue flaming Fire rendred vpon them and be damned all which the mouth of the Lord hath spoken If any notwithstanding all this will yet say Ignorance shall excuse any 1. Cor. 14.38 wee will answer with th'Apostle If any bee ignorant let them be ignorant and taste the reward thereof The cause of Ignorance is hardnes of hart and vnbeliefe and not the want of means as is plaine If our Gospell be hid that is if any be ignorant of it it is hid to them that perish 2. Cor. 4.3 c. in whome the God of this world hath blinded their mindes that is of the vnbeleeuers c. And they being strangers from the life of God Ephes 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them because of the hardnes of their hearts So that vnbeliefe and hardnes of heart is the cause of Ignorance and ignorance maketh men strangers from the life of God Paul did it ignorantly through vnbeliefe 1. Tim. 1 13 All haue or might haue meanes enough had they vsed that well which they had And whereas they affirme it to be iniustice in God to condemne all the Nations of the earth that haue beene or are ignorant of Christ Wee answer though it be plaine that Christ is manifest by a measure of meanes to euery reasonable Creature vnder Heauen Col. 1.6.23 For haue they not heard Rom. 10.18 yet in this th'Apostle affirmeth Gods iustice appeareth that such as had but the inuisiblenes of God declared in the Creation of the Heauens and the Earth Rom. 1.19 c. which teach knowledge Day and Night whose voyce is heard in euery Language vnder Heauen they regarded not to know God by the same Psal 1.1 c God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde If any yet demaund why the Cannibals know no more the Apostle answeres Because they regarded not to know God by that they had Hath not God promised that if any seeke they shall finde Math. 7.7 What made the Wise men of the East to finde the Babe Christ but their diligent seeking Math. 2.1 Men finde not because they seeke not Iam. 4.2 wee need not goe amongst the greatest Pagans we shall find too many who know not God nor Christ in our owne Nation now the same cause they haue no knowledge that is the cause why the Cānibals haue no knowledge namely because they seeke not The Iewes had meanes enough yet were they ignorant of the way of God and God was found of those that in comparison sought not after him Rō 10.20 That none need be ignorant read these Scriptures Deut. 30.11 Rom. 10.6 c. 18.20 Math. 7.7 Iam. 4.2.3 Some also obiect Act. 17.30 In the time of that ignorance God regarded not c. From hence they conceiue that God regarded not to punish Ignorance but let the place be considered and it doth effectually conuince that conceit Th' Apostle Paul cōming to Athens and beholding the blinde Deuotion of the Athenians and reprouing them for the same enformeth them of the true God whome saith he you ignorantly worship him shew I vnto you and hauing shewed them what that God was and what he was not how he would be worshipped and how he would not concludeth with these words In the time of that Ignorance God regarded not but now he admonisheth all men euery where to repent c. In the time of Ignorance God had no regard of your blinde Deuotion but now in
mercy the knowledge of the Gospell being reuealed to the world by his Son hee admonisheth all men euery where to repent euen you Athenians of your ignorant worship else as he had no regard in the time of your ignorance you continuing the same he will yet haue no regard of your ignorant Deuotion the like is said of Caines worship that God regarded it not Gen. 4.5 God hath so little regard of Ignorance that if his owne Commandements should be performed without knowledge Heb. 11.6 it were sinne For without Faith it is impossible to please God and whatsoeuer is not of Faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 the wages of sinne is Death This place therefore may be for confirmation of what is said to proue that God hath no regard of any ignorant worship whatsoeuer But their mayne obiection is from Cornelius in that he is called a Deuout man Act. 10. cap and one that feared God with all his Houshold which gaue much Almes to the people and prayed God continually a iust man of good report among all the Nation of the Iewes The holy Ghost saith of this man That his Prayers and his Almes were come vp in remembrance before God Therefore saith the Lord now send men to Ioppa and call for Symon whose surname is Peter hee shall speake wordes vnto thee whereby both thou and all thy House shall be saued This man say they was in the estate of saluation before euer Peters Doctrine came vnto him which if it were so it must bee by Faith in the promised seed Iesus Christ and then will make nothing for them where we can see a man or men in whom wee can behold asmuch good as in Cornelius wee will willingly say asmuch of him as of Cornelius But wil it therefore follow that such as liue in Idolatry and wilfully though ignorantly goe on in the same that such must be declared to bee in the estate of saluation Seeing the Lord hath so plentifully declared the contrary Can any such thing be said of Cornelius wee neither reade that he was an Idolater nor refused to receiue Christ Iesus when hee was offered Thus much Cornelius estate proueth That men that walke in no euill way but on the contrary haue many goodnesses in them God so remembreth and respecteth them that hee will not leaue them till he haue sent Peters Doctrine vnto them whereby they may be saued yea God respecteth any good in any as in Ahab 1. King 21.29 1. King 14.13 Ionah 3.10 Rom. 1.12 c. Ieroboams Sonne Niniuie yea in those that haue no more but the workes of God to teach them as euery reasonable Creature vnder Heauen hath that if they vse that well and glorifie God by that they haue he will not leaue them till he haue brought thē to Peters Doctrine whereby they may be faued Now that Cornelius although a iust man fearing God and his prayers had in remembrance with God was therefore in the estate of Saluation before Peters Doctrine came vnto him it may be questioned if not absolutely denyed for these reasons 1. Because the Lord saith Act. 11.14 Peter shall speake wordes vnto thee whereby both thou and thy House shall be saued If they were in the estate of saluation before to what end are these wordes spoken 2. It is said when Gods worke concerning Cornelius was declared vnto the Apostles and the rest of the Circumcision Vers 18 they glorified God saying Then hath God also to the Gentiles graunted repentance vnto life If they had life before what cause had they to glorifie God for granting it now by Peters Doctrine 3. Peter relating that God chose him that by his mouth the Gentiles Cornelius and the rest should heare the word of the Gospell and beleeue Act. 15.7.8.9 For saith hee God which knoweth the hearts bare them witnesse in giuing vnto them the Holy Ghost euen as vnto vs And hee put no difference betweene vs and them after that by Faith hee had purified their hearts Now this being so that by Peters Doctrine the ioyfull tidings was brought and they beleeued by which Faith their hearts were purified and then they were in the same estate with the faithfull who dare be so bolde notwithstanding all these manifest testimonies as to say Cornelius was in the estate of Saluation before any part of these came vnto him Those Iewes are said to feare God when as yet they had not repented of killing the Lord of Life The humiliation of Ahab and Neniuie Act. 2.5 came vp in remembrance with God as before is proued Act. 17.23 and 3.1 The blinde Athenians are said to bee Deuout and the vnbeleeuing Iewes kept a constant course in Prayer These be the best proofes they haue for a thing of so great consequence the iustifying of those whom God condemneth Saying vnto the wicked thou art righteous Ezek. 13.22 thereby strengthening their handes that they cannot returne from their wicked way by promising them life But wee hope the Godly wise will reject the euill and cleaue fast vnto what God hath so plentifully and plainely taught that Ignorance shall not excuse any that continue in wickednes For if ignorance would excuse men how happy were the Ignorant Or if one ignorant person that iustifieth himselfe in his wickedne might be saued why not two and so twenty and then where were the period to stay vs heere Where were our rule which Ignorant should bee saued and which not Or how could it be auoyded but all Ignorant persons must be saued how wicked soeuer if of ignorance The reasons for one if there were any would bee reasons for all ignorant persons whatsoeuer And for Conclusion of this thing they obiect That generall repentance will serue from Psal 19.12 Who can vnderstand his faults cleanse mee from secret faults To which wee answer If there be any Repentance generall or particuler we will not gaine-say it for we acknowledge the righteous doe offend oft in words and actions Mat. 18.22 which they know to be euill the particulers whereof are so many that they are not able to vnderstand them and therefore ought they to pray Cleanse me from secret faults that are hid from me for want of remembrance the particulers of which if they were of could be related they would particulerly repent of them But Idolaters that liue in Idolatry and take pleasure therein though of ignorance cannot bee brought within this compasse For let an Idolater who performeth any generall Repentance let him be asked whether hee intend to include in his Repentance his Idolatry which others know he liues in his answer will be no in no wise It is his Idoll which is his God or God-seruice which he accounteth one of the best actions that he doth For example Let one of the Family of Loue be asked one that is not yet deified for one that is deified cannot sinne and so needes no repentance let a youngling in the
no lesse abhorre to seeke Iustice in our selues by keeping the Law for then Christ dyed for nothing and all that are bewitched with that cursed conceit are abolished from Christ are fallen from Grace But if they meant no more but that euerlasting Godlines were to doe Iustice loue mercy and humble our selues to walke with God Micah 6.8 Mat. 22.37 c. the somme of all which is to loue God aboue all by beleeuing to haue Iustice by the Death and bloodshed of his Sonne and obaying his Commandements for his worship and louing our neighbour as our selues wee vnfainedly desire to striue after these and doe according to our vttermost ability And the Consciences of diuers of these men if they were not past feeling will not deny this hauing formerly acknowledged the same by words and writings not onely that our profession leadeth to a holy life in our entrance in our not admitting any but such as manifest themselues to vs to be new Creatures but also in our progresse wherein if any sinne appeare in any we haue power from the Lord Iesus and doe execute the same power either to cast the sinne out of the party by Repentance or to cast the party out of our spirituall fellowship by Excommunication as we are cōmanded * Math. 18.17 c. 1. Cor. 5.13 And for our dealings and carriages among men we leaue that to the testimony of them among whom we liue wee had rather our actions should speake then our mouthes Men full of weaknesses we are we freely confesse with vnfained humility desiring to striue towards perfection wherein when we haue done what we can wee seeke our perfection in and through the perfection of CHRIST who is vnto vs all in all thinges without whom wee can doe nothing Ioh. 15.5 And this euerlasting righteousnes both towards God and man the Ordinances of Gods worship leadeth vs vnto though contemned of all Familists in which the more zealous we are the more doe we attaine to euerlasting righteousnes To the last that we contend against Godly ceremonies Their meaning is as afterwards they haue explained it in that wee contend against and submit not with our bodies vnto such obseruations for such Spirituall worship as the Turke the Pope or any other Superior power where we liue commaundeth That we should contend against all vaine inuentions for Gods worship and loue Gods Law Psal 119.113 The Holy Ghost teacheth vs For if wee should worship God by mens precepts God would account vs hipocrites Math. 15.9 and our worship vaine but of this at large in his due place in answer to their third taxation of vs for not submitting with our bodies to any outward seruice keeping our hearts to God This may suffice to cleare vs of the first Secondly you are without the Charity described 1. Cor. 13. Chap. FOr answer to which we say The particulers of Loue are many in that place and therefore till we are accused particularly wee can giue no answer We trust if they come to particulers we should rather proue them to bee lyers and false accusers then that they should proue such things against vs we know nothing herein by our selues that men can iustly taxe vs but we are not hereby iustified with God But thus much we may truely say that when our walking was no better then now it is some of these younglings in or towards the Family haue solemnly protested they neuer found the like loue as among vs with any people that euer they knew Thirdly you submit not to euery Ordinance of the Magistrate 1 Pet. 2.13 TO which we answer they are false accusers wee giue vnto Caesar thinges which are Caesars Mat. 22.21 but Christ commaundeth vs also to giue vnto God thinges which are Gods Now if we take away from Caesar either by words or practice any thing that is his we may iustly be accounted Rebels against Caesar And so all they that take away from the most high God the thinges which are his shall be accounted Rebels against the King of Kings who although hee be patient and long suffering and deferreth his wrath yet if once it burne Psal 2.12 Oh blessed are they that trust in him The right knowledge of what is Caesars what is Gods will be the best way of clearing our selues of this imputation for concerning this we not onely suffer the reproches of this wicked Family and all their wel-willers but also all our persecutions are inflicted vpon vs for this cause And without the distinct knowing of what is Gods what is Caesars men shall greatly doe amisse It is written here in Peter Submit your selues to all Ordinances of Man for the Lord So also in 1. Cor. 7.23 it is written Yee are bought with a price be not the seruants of men In some thinges we must submit vnto them and in other thinges wee must not submit vnto them for the Lord hath commaunded both therefore it is meete we should know the difference If there were no more but these places of Scripture they would sufficiently decide the controuersie Peter saith Submit your selues to all humane Ordinances or to euery ordinance of Man a humane or worldly Ordinance it must be that wee must submit vnto Paul saith yee are bought with a price be not the seruants of men Christ hath bought vs and therefore wee must be his seruants This is confirmed in diuers Scriptures Rom. 7.4 That we should be vnto him that dyed for vs and rose againe Mat. 10.37 For if we loue Father mother wife magistrate or life more then he wee are not worthy of him And therefore did his seruants in the commaunds of God when they were contradicted by the Magistrates say Dan. 3.16.18 We are not carefull to answer thee O King in this matter Be it knowne vnto thee we will not fall downe nor worship Act. 4.19.20 c. And we cannot but speake the thinges we haue heard and seene Whether is it better to obey God or men iudge yee In matters of God wee must submit vnto Christ alone I am 4.12 hee is the one Law-giuer able to saue and to destroy The Father hath spoken by him in the last dayes giuing him all power in Heauen and in Earth Confirming it by voyce from Heauen This is my beloued Sonne heare him and he that will not that he shall raigne ouer him let him be brought and slaine before him The truth of this most euident not onely by the Scriptures but also acknowledged by many Superiours the chiefest ouer vs on Earth acknowledgeth the same The Kings most excellent Matie saith Apol. for the Oath of Allegiance pag. I vtterly deny that there is any earthly Monarch ouer the Church whose word must be a Law and who cannot erre by an infallibility of Spirit because earthly Kingdomes must haue earthly Monarchs it doth not follow the Church must haue a visible Monarch too Christ is the Churches Monarch and
the Holy Ghost his Deputy The Kinges of the Nations Raigne ouer them but you shall not bee so c. Lu◠22. Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them into all Truth but promised to send the Holy Ghost vnto them for that end These are his Highnes wordes But the Familists answer vs That Gods worship consisteth not at all in any outward obseruation the which saying of theirs if we ouerthrow a great part of their tottering profession will fall for they cannot deny but we must worship the Lord our God and him onely must wee serue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adoro is not onely taken for to Pray vnto or to beseech but also to Honour with bowing of the Body and the Scripture expresseth the same First Math. 14.10 saith If thou wilt fall downe and worship me Luke saith of the same Luk. 4.10 If thou wilt fall downe before me Math. 8.2 And loe there came a Leper and worshipped Marke saith of the same Mark 1.40 And there came a Leper beseeching him and kneeling down vnto him Luk. 5.12 Luke of the same And hee fell on his face and besought Math. 9.18 It is onely said There came a certaine Ruler and worshipped him Marke explaines it saying Mark 5.22 Hee fell downe at his feete and besought him instantly The same saith Luke Luk. 8.41 not speaking of any other worship Againe it is said Math. 15.25 of the Cannanite shee came and worshipped him saying Lord helpe me Mark 7.25 Marke calles this worship And she fell at his feete Further Marke saith The man possessed when he saw Iesus ranne and worshipped him Mark 5.6 Luke calleth this worship onely this Luk. 8.28 And hee cryed out and fell downe before him Also those wicked Soldiers are said to worship our Sauiour when bowing their knees before him Mar. 15.19 they mocked him By all which and much more that might be alledged it may most euidently appeare that the wisedome of God that knoweth best how to speake and to teach vs accounteth bowing of the Body kneeling or falling downe to be worship Further it is said And there were certaine Greekes that came to Ierusalem to worship Ioh. 12.20 at the Feast Act. 8.27 And the Euunuch is said to come out of Ethiopia to worship And Paul doth say he came to Ierusalem to worship All which teacheth Act. 2◠11 that the performance of those serulces and Sacrifices that with their Bodies were to be performed are counted Gods worship and not only a Spirituall reuerence or adoration which they might haue performed not haue come to Ierusalem This may suffice to proue that any bodily reuerence in matters of God and bodily seruices or Sacrifices are called Gods worship and therefore vtterly forbidden in any Spirituall seruice but onely in the true seruice of the true God Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue This therefore is to giue vnto God thinges which are Gods euen subjection with our soules and with our bodies to those parts of his Spirituall worship which he hath commanded in these last dayes by his Sonne Esa 2 8. This is his Honour which he will not giue to another This the seruants of God knew so well that they would not giue it to others to the greatest Potentates of the Earth notwithstanding all their commands and threats And this through the power of God wee will maintaine vnto the Death and approue our selues to God and all good men to bee neither Rebels to Caesar nor deserue iust taxation but commendation herein of all but hypocriticall and Atheisticall Familists And for what is Caesars wee vprightly acknowledge that all ciuill authority of Magistracy is the blessed Ordinance of God That all ciuill reuerence Honor ought to be giuen to it That Tribute and all other duties are to be payed vnto it Rom. 13. c. That all ciuill commands of it ought to be obeyed And that of Conscience to God whose ministers they are euen from the King to the most meanest Constable And that they may so execute their iust offices that they may notwithstanding walke with Iesus Christ be members of his Church and be faued That they haue a Sword giuen them of God to take vengeance on them that doe euill and are ordained of God for the wealth of all wel-doers And this is all that can be Caesars or that wee dare giue vnto any mortall man whatsoeuer So that hauing now shewed what is Gods what is Caesars we confidently affirme that the body may not be seuered from the foule or heart in our obedience to both as these hypocrits the Familists doe suggest In our obedience to man in all Ciuill things that which we doe we must doe of Conscience and not for wrath onely Rom. 13.5 And Seruants and so Subiects be obedient to your Masters according to the Flesh in all thinges not with eye seruice us men pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing God and whatsoeuer yee doe Col. 3.22.23 Ephe. 6.5.6 doe it heartily as to the Lord and not to men Also with singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ All which teacheth That all our seruice to euery Superiour must be with the heart and of Conscience and not with our Bodies onely and for our obedience to God with our Bodies aswell as our Spirits in all Spirituall or Diuine seruice and that they may not be seuered therein is proued We are bought both soule and Body with a deare price 1. Cor. 6.20 and therefore are commanded to glorifie God with both For our bodyes are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and they are not our owne Vers 19 And the bodyes of Christians are the members of Christ Vers 15 and these members of Christ our bodies must not be coupled to any Harlot whether materiall or Spirituall And wee are commaunded to giue vp our Bodyes a liuing sacrifice Rom. 12.1 wholy and acceptable which is our reasonable seruice of God This is plaine to him that will vnderstand And the Familists teaching the contrary it shall plainely appeare they are not onely most notable hypocrites but also Rebellious against the power of Magistracy Magistrates that take vpon them to Commaund in matters of Gods worship they doe not onely require bodily falling downe but also Reuerence with the soule of heart Dan 3. Did not Nabuchadnezzar require falling downe and worshipping And doe not the Magistrates in Popery and elsewhere where constraint to worship is doe they not require Diuine adoration to their diuine Seruice as they call it let all their Orders for their constrained and stinted seruice be looked into and this cannot be denyed And this being the Ordinance of the Magistrate if it be rebellion not to submit with the body in such diuine worship as they require because they commaund it as the Familists affirme then they are rebellious because they submit not
with their soules seeing the Magistrate requireth aswell the one as the other And hypocrites they are most notably for they not onely practice this but teach it to others they teach and practice that in all outward shew and appearance men should doe that which in deed and in truth they abhorre And if this opinion be true That we ought to be subiect in all matters of Religion with our Bodies at the commaund of the higher powers frō 1. Pet. 2.13 c. or any other Scripture then all perfecution for Religion is established yea it is iust lawfull For it is plaine these higher powers are ordained of God to commaund that which the Saints are required to submit vnto and whosoeuer resisteth them there resisteth the Ordinance of God and shall receiue iudgement for they are the Ministers of God therein for the Saints wealth and haue a Sword giuen them of God to take vengeance of them that resist them therefore we must be subiect for Conscience sake say wee all these are inhumane Ordinances as th' Apostle saith in this place say the Familists in Religious ordinances outwardly bodily which being so then are they Gods Ministers The Turke the Popish Magistrates and all others to command all outward seruice and worship euen what they thinke good and haue Gods Sword to take vengeance on all them that obey them not and it is for the Saints wealth that they thus doe and who resisteth them shall receiue iudgement and are not persecuted but iustly punished If this detestable dreame were true then are condemned all the seruants of God in diuers Ages that rather then they would either with body or soule submit herein at the Magistrates command suffered many great afflictions 1. King 19.18 The seauen Thousand are condemned for not bowing the knee to Baal and in not kissing him with their mouth The three Children in not falling downe and bowing to the Image Dan. 3. The Martyrs of Iesus that suffered beheading because they would not Worship the Beast Reuel 20.4 And all that suffered those cruell torments for not submitting outwardly to that execrable Idol the Sacrament of the Altar in times places of Popery If they might haue bowed or otherwise outwardly with their bodies haue testified subjection keeping their hearts to God then did they all most wickedly and were the onely causes of their owne afflictions which to thinke much more to say were most accursed Againe If it bee lawfull to bow downe which is to worship as before is proued with our bodies to an Idoll who is a Spirituall harlot and yet that we may keepe our hearts to God why is it not also lawfull to bow downe or couple our selues to a bodily harlot and keepe our hearts to God seeing Idolaters shall no more enter into the Kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6.9.10 then Adulterers And seeing the holy Ghost saith He that coupleth himselfe in his body with an harlot is one body with her why is not hee that coupleth himselfe in his body by bowing downe or otherwise reuerencing an Idoll one body with it It cannot be denyed but one is as lawfull as the other And H. Ns. Doctrine will not contradict this if it be considered In his Booke called Documentall sentences Cap. 13. sect 8. speaking of temptations to sinne thus he writeth If they take and lay holde on vs with force and violence and that then although wee cry there commeth not any power or helpe vnto vs for to withstand them in their force and violence and that they euen so rauish vs against our will so are we guiltlesse of the transgressing for we cryed to be released of the tyranny of the euill and there is no helpe come vnto vs of which guiltles transgressing the Law likewise witnesseth where it saith A woman which is violently taken in the Field whereas there is not any helpe and so rauished and although shee haue cryed aloude yet got no helpe shee shall be guil lesse of the transgressing c. So that the rule of these hypocriticall Libertines is come to a good passe with them it is not sinne to couple themselues to Idols which are Spirituall harlots by performing all bodily seruice to them also it is no sinne to them to couple themselues with a materiall harlot if they finde no strength by praying to withstand the temptation An acceptable Doctrine to all Libertines who would not be of this Religion But what truth was euer yet so apparant but the enemy of all truth the Deuill would haue some objection against it and therefore in this his prompt Disciples obiect 1. Cor. 9. From whence they collect this argument If Paul became the all thinges to the all men that he might by all meanes saue some to wit in practicing with his body as the Iewes or as them without the Law the Gentiles in their Ceremoniall worship did at that time worshipping God in his Spirit then ought we to submit to all Ceremoniall worship wheresoeuer wee liue in Turkie Rome c. a part of the all thinges But the former is true Therefore c. That this place they wickedly peruert is most apparant for there is no such thing as that the holy Apostle should practice as the vnbeleeuing Gentiles did in their Sacrifices or seruices seeing himselfe taught so earnestly against it Wherfore my dearely beloued flye from Idolatry 1. Cor. 10.14 The thinges that the Gentiles sacrifice they Offer to Deuils and not to God and I would not haue you haue fellowship with the Deuils Vers 20. yee cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of Deuils yee cannot be partakers of the Lords table and the table of Deuils Vers 21.22 Doe wee prouoke the Lord to anger c. Who can deny this Cup and this Table and these thinges Sacrificed to be bodily practices But th' Apostle in this place hauing proued his power frō Iesus Christ to preach the Gospell he shewes what a feruent desire he had for the promotion thereof for which labour he proueth by many reasons he deserued wages at the hands of the Corinths and that hee had power to require the same but he had not vsed it but Preached the Gospell of God freely therein making himselfe a Seruant not onely vnto them but vnto all men preaching the Gospell vnto all men as they were able to beare it To the Iewes who were vnder the Law becomming a Iew by teaching them the Gospell by the Law and Prophets which was their owne Element that hee might winne them The Gentiles who had not the Law Rō 2.14 As though he were without the Law teaching them God and so the Gospell not by the Law but by the Creation of the world which they were acquainted with as at Athens Act. 17.22 c. That he might winne them that were without the Law To the weake he became weake not giuing strong meat to babes teaching them as they were able
to beare it That hee might winne the weake Thus as a skilfull workman he became all things to all men that by all meanes he might saue some teaching all men the Gospell by those means which themselues acknowledged with he knew was the fittest way to conuince them conuert them And not to make them beleeue that he worshipped their dumb Idols by performing all outward reuerence to them as these Children of the Deuill and enemies of all righteousnes that seeke to peruert the straight wayes of the Lord would perswade for that had beene to haue strengthened them in their wicked Idolatry that they could not haue returned from it But first they bring for proofe of the Iewes Paul Circumcising of Timothy Act. 16.3 21.26 and purifying of himselfe and others with him to please the Iewes Therefore say they may we doe so to all to which we answer God who had giuen to his owne people his own Ordinances which were to bring them to Christ and when Christ was come many beleeued on him yet were zealous of the Law in that it was of Gods owne appointment the Almighty Law-giuer in mercy respecting the weaknes of the beleeuing Iewes directed his seruant the Apostle to obserue some of those Lawes Circumcision and purifying for the present till they could be brought to see the end of them yet taught the beleeuing Gentiles Act. 21.25 that they should obserue no such thing For if they should be Circumcised they were abolished from Christ and fallen from Grace Gal. 5.3 c and wished that all those deceiuers that would perswade the beleeuing Gentiles to any such course should be cut off and beare their condemnation yea when Peter and Barnabas by their example prouoked the Gentiles to doe like the Iewes Gal. 2.11 c. Paul sharpely reproued them to their face for their dissimulation affirming it was not the right way to the Gospell All which being confidered what doth this make for the Familisticall Gentiles to performe all outward obseruations in the worship of the Gentiles Turkes c. whose sacrifice is the worship of Deuils and is forbidden of God as before Secondly They bring Naamans bowing in the house of Rimmō 1. Kin. 5. And the Prophet bidding him goe in peace and therefore may they bow before any Idoll Let the place be well cōsidered It is a generall Maxime That no exposition of any one doubtfull Scripture or collection from it may be taken which ouerthroweth many Commandements and examples that are out of doubt which being granted of this hatefull Family this their conceit will vanish That this their collection is against expresse Commandments examples is proued First Exo. 20.5 Thou shalt not bow downe c. It was not lawfull to bow downe to Baall and the Lord reserued those 7. thousand to himselfe because they had not done it The 3. Children would not bow downe and were of God commended blessed for the same And in this of Naaman it could not be lawfull in him in that hee asked mercy at Gods hands twice for it which if it had beene good he needed not haue done So that it is most plaine it was vnlawfull to bow downe before the Idoll Rimmon and therefore will not warrant these hypocrites in their courses but it being shewed that this is not the meaning of the place that the man of God pronounced Peace vnto him in falling downe in the house of Rimmon for that they had beene both against command example Naamans repentance we say it being proued that this is not the meaning let vs now find out what it is Two thinges may be obserued that Naaman required one was That 2. Mules loade of Israels earth might bee giuen him to Sacrifice vpon to the God of Israell The other that God would be mercifull to him in bowing downe in the house of Rimmon for his King to leane vpon and worship The first of these was ignorant Idolatry for the Tabernacle or Temple was the place of Sacrificing to the God of Israell and not elsewhere * Leuit. 17. c. Deut. 12.5 c. The second was no lesse if he meant to go on in bowing in the house of Rimmon and prayed God to be mercifull to him herein And farre be it from the man of God to blesse him with salutation of Peace in either of these which he knew to be expresly against the Commandement of God but goe in peace trouble not thy selfe with these thinges which will hinder thy peace but being now cleansed of thy leprosie sinne not against the Lord which healeth thine infirmity and his peace be with thee Or it may be Naaman meant to testifie against that Idoll when hee came vnto it and prayed the Lord to be mercifull to him and strengthen him in that point for he professeth he will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor doe sacrifice vnto any other God but to the Lord In which case the Prophet might iustly bid the peace of God be with him These are not contrary to the Scriptures but agreeable and therefore may be accepted But the other is most contrary as before hath beene shewed and therefore to be abhorred Thirdly they say To seperate from any that sinne not against the Holy Ghost is against Charity 1. Cor. 13. Loue suffereth long In answer to which the Lord saith It is not loue Leuit. 19.17 to suffer any sinne to rest vpon men but expresse hatred and therefore Gods people are commanded to rebuke men for their sinne Mat. 18.15 c. if they will not repent if they be of the Church to auoyde them if they be not of the Church of Christ but vnbeleeuers 2. Cor. 6.14 c. to seperate from them touch none of their vncleannes as before is proued and shal hereafter when this point is more particulerly handled And this is loue to make thē ashamed that they may come to repentance Fourthly They say Christ commands his Disciples to heare the Scribes Pharises Math. 23. and performe ceremoniall worship with them Goe shew thy selfe to the Priest Math. 8. Answ What then because Christ Commands the Leper to goe shew himselfe to the Priest and offer the Offering appointed by Moses for his cleansing which was Gods own appointmēt therfore hence doth it follow that we may outwardly obserue such parts of worship as the Gentiles who sacrifice to Deuils appoint Christ commandeth th' one but expresly forbiddeth th' other as before hath been largely proued As for hearing the Scribes Pharises c. All may see that these Familists rather then they will want matter they will say that which maketh against themselues Christ teacheth that after their workes doe not but these Iannes and Iambres bring this Scripture to proue that they may doe outwardly according to the wicked workes of the Gentiles which is their offering to Deuils Though our Sauiour heere expresly bid his people not doe according to
the workes of the Iewes his owne people if when he came they had not cast him off The most that this place proueth is that if Gods people teach truthes but practice it not the truth they teach must be followed not their practices but if they will not repent of their euill practices they must be cast out for being Gods people * Math. 18.15 c. 1. Cor. 5. c. 2. I hes 3.14 and serueth nothing to proue that Gods people may practice according to the wicked workes of the Idolaters but the contrary but of this exposition more hereafter But feeing this Scripture is alledged heere by the Familists for proofe of that which many that are not so farre gone as they will abhorre yet thus farre take it vp as that they may heare Idolaters in their Religious exercises which is a dependancy of the former we thinke it very necessary to speake something of that forasmuch as many haue beene ouerthrowne by that vpon these rockes of Familisme for indeed in part it is the former For it is this a hearing of Idolaters to receiue some Spirituall benefit by them else why doe they heare and yet in their hearts doe not joyne in any Spirituall fellowship with them but iudge them to be Idolaters their estate with God to be most fearefull In a measure it is hypocrisie as the former and vtterly vnlawfull by the Scriptures That it is not lawfull to heare lying Idolatrous Prophets except to reproue them and contend against them is thus proued 1. THe Lord expresly forbiddeth it Deut. 13.3 Thou shalt not hearken vnto the wordes of that Prophet c. Thus saith the Lord of Hoasts Iere. 23.16 heare not the words of the Prophets that prophesie vnto you and teach you vnity they speake the vision of their owne heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord. For if any goe to such Prophets to aske for God Ezek. 14.10 the Lord will punish them with the Prophets punishment Which is to bee cut off from Gods people Cap. 13.9 not to be written among the righteous and not to enter into the Land of Israell for euer Ioh. 10.5 Christs sheepe will flye from a stranger for they know not his voyce and they are often commaunded to beware of false Prophets which come in Sheepes cloathing Math. 7.15 1. Ioh. 4.5.6 the world heareth them but they that are of God heareth vs saith the Apostle Lying Prophets are for the wicked Micah 2.11 Gods people must not receine them if they come vnto them to teach them 2. Ioh. 20.11 much lesse may they goe seeke to be taught of them Let them returne to thee returne nel thou to them Iere. 15.19 2. As Preaching or teaching the word of God and hearing of the same among the Saints is a part of true worship * 1. Cor. 11.5 Math. 15.9 so is preaching and hearing among the wicked a part of false worship and so their Communion From which the Saintes are to seperate and haue no fellowship with their vnfruitfull workes of darkenes Ephes 5.11 but reproue them And so the wicked themselues account Preaching and hearing a part of their worship Psal 16.4 and 15.4 26.4.5 which the Saints may not offer but euen contemne such vile persons and actions and hate their assemblies and not company with them 3. As God commaunded that the Prophet that should presume to speake a word in his name Deu. 18.20 that he commanded him not to speake was to dye That is the Israelites the people of God were to slay his Body Deut. 13.5 and so to take euill away forth of the midst of them So are Gods people now cōmaunded that euen among themselues they must marke diligentlys them that teach contrary Doctrine and auoyde them Rō 16.17 and from such to seperate themselues 1. Tim. 6.5 yea if they were Angels from Heauen teaching falshood to let them be accursed Gal. 1.8.9 Gal. 5.10 and beare their condemnation whosoeuer they bee which being practised towards false Prophets within the Church or without the Saints are no more to heare them but to declare their estate of Death as vnder Moses bodily so vnder Christ spiritually 4. The Saints are to declare vnto the wicked That God saith what hast thou to doe to declare mine Ordinances that thou shouldest take my Couenant in thy mouth Psal 50.16 c. seeing thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my wordes behind thee and because I held my tongue therefore thou thoughtest I was like thee but I will reproue thee c. This is written for the Saints instruction Rom. 15.4 that herein they may imitate their heauenly Father Math. 5.48 For whosoeuer heareth in Gods matters and is silent he doth establish that which is done Num. 30.14.15 And hee that wincketh at iniquity when he seeith it Leuit. 20.4.5 the Lord will set his face against that man 5. Our Lord Christ Ioh. 8.44 would not suffer the Deuill the Father of all lying Prophets to confesse him Mark 1.25 yea by his power he made the euill Spirit in the man Act. 19.15 reproue those wicked men for medling with the name of Iesus 1 Ioh. 2.6 And we must walke as hee hath walked that when we heare the Deuill in the wicked false Prophets meddle with the name of Christ or his holy word or Ordinances we must sharpely rebuke them and asmuch as in vs is not suffer them 6. The end of the Saints hearing any false Prophet meddle with the word of God must either be for edification or else to rebuke them as before else what doe they there If to rebuke them it is lawfull as before is proued If to receiue Spirituall food from them they may not for there is food sufficient in Gods house the Saints may not goe to Aegipt to seeke food of any Aegiptian Esa 30.1 Woe vnto the rebellious Children saith the Lord that take counsell but not of mee they walk forth to goe down into Aegipt Esa 31.1 And woe vnto them that goe downe to Aegipt for helpe For the Lord will say to his people Iere. 5.7 how shall I spare thee for this though I fed thee to the full yet they cōmitted Adultery and assembled themselues in Harlots houses yea he doth further say What hast thou to doe in the way of Aegipt to drinke the water of Nilus Iere 2.18 or what makest thou in the way of Ashur to drinke the water of the Riuer And therefore this Prophet of the Lord when he had none to company with in Gods matters Iere. 15.17 he would not sit in the assembly of mockers but sate alone 7. Christ hauing giuen sufficient meanes in his Church for the edificatiō of euery member * Ephe. 4.16 Col. 2.9 1. Cor. 1.7 1. Cor. 3.21 2. Chro. 11.15 therin it is high
to dissemble if Authority command it then suffer any afflictions to the outward man abusing for his purpose this Scripture Blessed is the barren that beareth not c. As also that Christs yoake is easie and his burthen light And therefore bringeth not his to suffer persecution to the outward man but to doe any thing that Authority commaundeth whose grosse abhominations hath been formerly confuted and we trust our innocency defended against all the accusations of these Children of that olde accuser of the Brethren The Lord discouer their most palpable abhominations and deliuer poore simple soules from their snares Pro. 9.18 for assuredly the Dead are there and her guests are in the depth of Hell Conclusion IF these Familists or any that are not willing to be knowne to be of them doe except against any thing either by word or writing which is here written and say that we wrong them in alledging H. Ns. and the rest their hellish sayings and laying them vpon them we answer them many of these sayings are their owne and all the rest for any thing that we knowe for otherwise they would not disperse their Bookes if they did not approue of the Doctrine contained in them in all things that we know follow their course and we hartily beseech all that shall haue to deale with them that if they be ashamed of H. N. and this his new light or euerlasting Gospell which they so much glory of that they would require them by writing to be published to testifie their abhorring of these his wicked blasphemies otherwise they will not onely confirme all of their holding the same but also giue all occasion to iudge them to bee as they are dissembling hypocrites who hold thinges and yet endeauour to perswade people that they doe not holde them Let them testifie their abhorring 1. FIrst that which H. N. hath written of God That God and Man had one Order Spirit Nature and being that God was all that Man was and Man was all that God was 2. That Christ is the Perfection in the Louely being whereunto their Godded Elders doe attaine Or any power in man whereby hee can keepe the Law without Faith in the man Christ 3. That the true Baptisme is To bee in the loue and her Seruice 4. That the Resurrection of the Dead The Eternall Iudgement and the euerlasting life is in this life before the naturall Death of the body And that the Body commeth to nothing after Death 5. That they ought to prostrate their Bodyes before any Idoll or Idol-seruice at the Magistrates command keeping their hearts to God 6. That the Worship of God standeth not at all in any outward Ordinance or obseruation 7. That if one bee tempted to any Sinne and cry and there come no helpe hee or she is guiltlesse though they commit the Act. 8. That they doe not binde themselues in Matrimony of men nor yet suffer themselues to be bound therein but are like the Angels of Heauen 9. That they ought to confesse before the Eldest in the Family all their euill thoughts wordes and deedes whatsoeuer they be and all that their inclination and Nature draweth them vnto 10. That some of them are come vnto such a perfection that being Godded with God neither in thought word nor deed they can sinne any more 11. That no man maketh any thing his owne or proper to himselfe but all thinges whatsoeuer is in the Loue is free and is as one 12. That any that are ignorant though Idolaters and worshippers of Deuils and iustifying themselues therein may bee saued though they know not nor beleeue in the Blood of the man Christ 13. That H. N M. P. and the seruant of M. P. were raised vp of God to publish these thinges to the world in these latter dayes as an euerlasting Gospell All these thinges hath Henry Nicholas and his followers published being raised vp out of the infernall pit to the deceiuing of them that beleeue not the Truth which Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Eternall Father hath reuealed but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnes being of God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde that they might be damned If they testifie their abhorring of these thinges without scores euasion or mentall reseruation we shall be glad If not let them be content to be called his Disciples whose Discipline they maintaine Wee doe herein as we would be done vnto for we are content that any whatsoeuer shall aske vs a reason of our Faith in any thing and we will render it to them Now the Lord Iesus Christ the great and good Shepheard of his Sheepe disclose and destroy the lyes and snares of this Theefe and robber H. N. and his followers that the soules of all for whom Christ hath payed so deare a price may be deliuered from their destruction and be brought vnto and continued in his Folde to their Immortality of soule and body in Glory euerlasting By the same our Lord and Sauiour to whome with the Father and the blessed Spirit one Eternall and euerliuing God be Glory and Dominion now and for euer Amen PSAL. 111.104 By thy precepts J haue gotten vnderstanding therefore J hate all the wayes of falshood VERS 115. Away from me yee wicked for I will keepe the Commaundements of my God FINIS