they are so many we will keep their owne diuision of them in Double and Single Feastes Of their double feastes are their Christmasse day with the day of his circumsion and Epiphanie the Annunciation Puritication of their Ladie called Candlemasse day their day of all the Saintes together called Hallowmasse their Michaelmassâ—… all Angels besides their Easter whitsontide wherof we haue spokeÌ„ also their AssentioÌ„ day Trinitie sonday Now their single feastes and common Holidaies are the Saintes daies in order as they come in their beadrolle their coÌ„mon sundaies Of which sundaies though they haue coÌ„mandement both in the law by the fourth coÌ„mandemét in the new Testament by the coÌ„mandement practise of the Apostles to keep in the Church the first day of the weeke an holy conuocation vnto the Lord spending that day in praiers hearing the word and other holy exercises yet seing they so miserablie profane yt to idolatrie both after the maner of the heathen Papistes yt becommeth an idol feast no lesse accursed then the others After the maner of the heathen they abuse yt in dedicating yt vnto and naming yt after the chief idol of the Pagans the Sonne a creature and in feasting that day after their maner in pride gluttony riot idlenes sport play c. After the maner of y e papistes they abuse yt in their stinted superstitious idolatrous seruice their abuse of scriptures of praier at their meeting which is not to any edifiâ—…ng or leading forward in the waies of God their course direction being set downe both to priestes and people before hand what they shall doe say pray how much in the forenoone at Mattens how litle at afternoone at Euensong c. Further in that they dedicate one special Sunday aboue all the rest vnto the Holy Trinitye yet giue lesse honour vnto this Sunday feast then to their white sunday going next beforâ—… Their other solemne holy feastes seing they want warrant in the word of God haue nothing for their foundatioÌ„ groundworke are therby cast vtterly out of the Church of CHRIST which is not to be edified vpon the sandes of mens fansies neither to worship God after the deuises of their owne heartes but according to 〈◊〉 prescript rules of his holy word therfore I need spend no time 〈◊〉 the refutation of them the bare recital of these their trifling follies 〈◊〉 vanities is inough to scatter them into the wind for what warrant â—…ommandement or proofe haue these stage players in the word of â—…od in this maner to solemnize the birth circumcision epiphanie â—…surrection assention of Christ vpon their seueral daies with their 〈◊〉 fastes worship feastes why do not they celebrate as well his bapâ—…sme temptation and victorie ouer Sathan in the wildernes the calâ—…ng of the woman of Samaria the receauing the Syrophoenitian his faâ—…ous miracles casting out deuils raising the dead walking vpon the 〈◊〉 transfiguration vpon the mountaine giuing the holy Ghost vnto â—…is Apostles with his commission and message c. These are written 〈◊〉 the new Testament were done of him as wel as the other for our â—…arning and comfort as wel as the other Why then should not they 〈◊〉 wel haue their peculiar daies fastes worship feastes as the other â—…ut where haue they thus learned Christ to worship him by startes â—…nd stintes by daies and eaues by such idol fastes and feastes Is not â—…his to draw the worship of God which is perpetual and spiritual â—…nto carnal commandementes worldly ordinances and customes â—…gaine and that after so superstitious and profane a maner Superstiâ—…ious in that it is without coÌ„mandement or president in the TestameÌ„t â—…f Christ wil worship not required or accepted at their handes proâ—…hane in that they celebrate these feastes in al maner gluttonie exâ—…esse ryot prodigalitie pride luxurie vanitie idle games heathen â—…cortes Thus they celebrate the natiuitie circumcision epiphanie â—…esurrection of Christ with gay clothes cleane houses good cheare â—…he viole in the feast to stir vp lust in stead of deuotioÌ„ eating drinkâ—…ng rising vp to play and daunce after the maner of Bacchus in his â—…eastes with their Lords of misrule commonly called Christmas lordes â—…ames enterludes nummeries Sodomitish maskes wassal cuppes â—…ith thowsandes of abhominations which chast Christian heartes eares abhor to heare or thinke of This is the fruite of their idolaâ—…rie idlenes this they learned of their forefathers in the wildernes Whiles Moses was on the mount Exâ—…d 32. their priest cast them a calfe of gold made of their chiefe iewels that yt might be of the more estimation To this Calfe they made an Altar the priest deuoutly proclaimed a fast to al the people on the eaue a solemne feast and holy day vnto the Lord yea of the Lord IEHOVA as he said On the day where the people offred burnt offringes and brought peace offringes on the morning after sate downe to eate drink and rose vp to play This is the very mould and patterne of these their idol feastes fastes worship c. In Christes Testament they neuer learned to diuide Christes actions life into such a stageplay making one day a Pageant of his birth an other of his circumcision an other of his epiâ—…hanie resurrection c. though these were distinct things and done â—…t seueral times yet neuer read I that they ought in this maner vpon peculiar daies to be celebrate in the church more then at any other time or day of the yeare or that they ought to haue a set worship with select Psalmes Lessons Pistles Gospels Collects Anthemes or such a deuout fast on their eaues or feast on their daies with such revels as they keepe But that their deuotions may yet more appeare they worship him euen in his mothers belly or rather before she was conceaued with him they adore the wordes of salutation eueÌ„ in the Angel Gabrieâ—… his mouth giue a solemne fast worship and feast day therunto which they cal the AnnunciatioÌ„ of their Lady And least she might be offended they solemnize also with double feast her purification coÌ„monly called Candlemasse And heer in this feast I would know of these deep diuines what yt is they worship solemnize whether this action she did or the person of their Lady for needes yt must be the one or both oâ—… theÌ„ heere being nothing either in or ioyned with this action besides worthie of such special veneratioÌ„ high soleÌ„nitie Yf then yâ—… bâ—… the action of her Purificâ—…ion that was but a legal ceremonie and not now to be brought into the Church of Christ. Yf her person as yt iâ—… also like how theÌ„ wil they escape the breach of the first coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„â—… vnlesse peraduenture they hope through her mediatioÌ„ to be dispeÌ„sed withal y t she wil speak a good word vnto her SoÌ„ne for theÌ„ therfore they powre out vnto her their drinke offringes
and burne incense to the Queene of heauen And that they might not faile at time of need see they make all the Sâ—…intes InnoceÌ„tes in heauen their frieÌ„des on their side celebrating to the Innocentes one day of their soleÌ„ne Christmas vnto all Saintes because none should be forgotteÌ„ they are many in nuÌ„ber they keep an especial principal feast day with a deuout fast vpoÌ„ the eaue c. yet least some of the chief Santes as â—…hon the Baptist and the twelue Apostles might be displeased in that they are numbred passed ouer with other common Saintes they severally remember them againe in their tourne with their peculiar eaues daies fastes feâ—…stes worship Heere is yet also an other Saint whome I had like to haue ouâ—…rskipped the Captaine of theÌ„ al S t. GEORGE their Borrowgh the patrone of the laÌ„d a worthy warriour our Ladies knight I wene This Saint hath heere no smal intertainemeÌ„t with his soleÌ„ne processioÌ„ that by no smal states but eueÌ„ the greatest of the laÌ„d with his cornets trumpets harpe shackbutes psalteâ—…ies dulcimer al instrumentes of Musick c. This Saint besides his noble order of knighthood hath also his famous peculiar Chaplain Palatine of the order who is to weare a goldring on his thomb what a famâ—…us feast they keep vnto this Saint there is none in Court or Countrie caÌ„ be ignorant Because I â—…m no good Heralt I wil not vndertake to blazon his armes the red Crosse in white field that he beareth in banner displaied nor yet his woâ—…hy 〈◊〉 For all those â—… refer you to his Lâ—…gend Aâ—…d heere me thinkes before we goe any further we had need enquire â—…ome learned Doctors opinion of this geare leaâ—…t we that be silly and â—…ooke no further then the word of God giueth vs to see take yt for â—…ost grosse idolatrie abhominatioÌ„ because in al the booke of God 〈◊〉 the beginning to the ending we find no such presideÌ„t or coÌ„manâ—…emeÌ„t therfore if yt please you because DO ROBERT SOME hath â—…ndertakeÌ„ the matter we wil heare his learned iudgmeÌ„t of this stuffe This learned Doctor who hath this wit for the most part with him â—…o take no more of a matter then he is able to deale with frameth an â—…rgument in the name of an other thus The church of England maketh meÌ„â—…ioÌ„ of Saintes deceased viz. Apost Martyres c. in some of their pubâ—…ike praiers therfore the church of England doth worship Saintes â—…eceased His answere is they are mentioned to stir vs vp not to worâ—…hip theÌ„ but to tread in the steps of their vertue religion so conâ—…ludeth the ArgumeÌ„t very weake sylly But how if this Argument â—…roue his owne what opinion shal we then hold of his Doctorhood â—…ot to speak of his euil coÌ„scieÌ„ce who to coullor that the cannot iusâ—…ifie to passe by that he caÌ„not gainesay or disproue is not ashamed â—…sually throughout his writinges to father the forgeries of his owne â—…dle head vpoÌ„ others thinking by deprauing the poore professors of â—…he truth to suppresse yt or at the least to get credite and promotion â—…nto himself But I would know of his euil conscience wich shal ere â—…ong be araigned for all these thinges before him that is greater then â—…is coÌ„science whether he neuer heard other reasons froÌ„ some of theÌ„ â—…o proue this their celebratioÌ„ coÌ„memoration of Angels deceasâ—…d â—…aintes to be idolatrous blaspheamous abhominable euen to the â—…hief Authors of this stuffe that in the presence of some verie hoâ—…orable namely because they dedicate to these Angels dead Saints 〈◊〉 peculiar Eaue Day caling theÌ„ after their names therby impropriâ—…ting giuing that to the creature which is only due reserued in â—…he hand possessioÌ„ of the Creator 2 because vpon their Eaues they â—…nioyne bid in their church vpon their sunday a publike fast and 〈◊〉 in thâ—…se Angels and Saintes names 3 bâ—…cause vpon their day which they cal an holy day they proclaime a soleÌ„ne feast to be kept â—…ith general cessatioÌ„ froÌ„ their labours in their trades as vpoÌ„ y e Lords day by the 4 commandement 4 this by a publike law not to menâ—…ion al the fleshly and lewd behauiour idlenes pride vanitie excesse â—…pely seene suffered vpon these their feastiuals holy daies 5 beâ—…ause vpon these daies they haue a peculiar prescript deuised worship â—…o each seueral Saint that they thus celebrate not heere to mention â—…heir vnsufferable shredding dismembâ—…ing rending peruerting of â—…criptures to clowte vp this idolatrie These reasons if either those two â—…reat BBs to whome they were propounded or this Doctor which theÌ„â—…eard them had soundly confuted iustified this their maner of ceâ—…ebrating worshipping dead Saintes Angels in their church then â—…ad the Antichristian tyranny of the one the repâ—…ochful blasphemie 〈◊〉 the other some colour which now are odious vnto God man But now seing these Argumentes still remaine with them vnanswered and that they are so loth to meddle with them I would now only learne of this Doctor where he in al the scripture hath found this idolatrous custome of theirs to celebrate the memorial of any one deceased Saint that vpon one set day yearly in this maner we reade not that the Fathers before the flood vsed yt neither yet after y e flood bâ—…fore the law yet were they verie godly men of great vertue such as instructed their children in the true worship waies of God such as their children honoured reuerenced whilest they liued did all filial duties vnto them being dead decently buried them but neuer after kept any aÌ„nual or set day in their remembrance The like vnder the law we reade of Moses Samuel Dauid c. men verie famous renowmed for their vertue godlines greatly honored of all whiles they liued no such matter done to theÌ„ after they were dead yet were they presidentes by their vertue euen vnto all ages vnto the worldes end The Apostles also whome they so especialy aboue al other Saintes prefer celebrate being dead yea taken away as famous martyres neuer in this maner vpon one special set day celebrated their constaÌ„cie in the faith vertue as we may see by the Apostle Iames and the Martyre 〈◊〉 Likewise the Apostles Paul Peter being ready to suffer for the Gospel left no such commandemeÌ„tes vnto the churches that any such praiers festiuals should be kept to them or their remembrance being dead but rather stirred vp admonished the churches whiles they liued disired the churches prayers for theÌ„ whiles they liued So that we seing no ground for this stuffe in the word of God see not otherwise but to hold them for detestable idolatries forgeries abhominations for the reasons aboue recited And now because I haue beene somwhat longer euen in the bare recital of these trumperies then I thought I wil passe ouer the
vvhen scarse one in a land durâ—…t eate flesh without the Popes especiall dispensation Men could then no more then now â—…ate fiâ—…h except some went to sea to take yt But shall I therfoâ—…e say that the fast inioyned by vsed in the Church is a ciuill action how coÌ„meth yt to passe then that yt is so solemnly obserued in holy Church vpon the first day therof commonly called Ashwednesday in stead of the popish shrift displing and asshes they vse an especiall communion vvherin the people are inuited to do their repentance Bitter curses and execratioÌ„s be read and pronounced against certaine sinnes vvherof neuer a one in the Church is free or euer yet repented of them and there made to acknowledg and confirme their owne damâ—…ation by ratifying the curse with their owne mouth saying Amen vnto â—…hem And this as they most grosly beare themselues and the people â—…n hand that in the primitiue Church was vsed a godly discipline that â—…t the beginning of Lent such persons as were notorious sinners were â—…ut to open pennance and punished in this world c. that their â—…oules might be saued in the day of the Lord c. This stuffe by the â—…riest must be read in the pulpet vpon their Ashwednesday Where find â—…hey this in all the new Testament in the practise of the primitiue â—…hurches there Know they what either the primitiue Churches or â—…he gouernment of CHRIST meaneth that thus popishly dreame of â—… discipline vpon that day especially of such a corporall pennance of a â—…ent c. vvhere find they this trumperie in CHRISTS Testament But â—…is wretch that in his conscience knew the idolatrie and these grosse â—…oleries wel inough thought to hide that he could not defend by â—…ying the Lent was but abstinence from flesh at the Princes commanâ—…ement Let him reade the last Collect of their commination vpon â—…shwednesday and see there if they desire not God to be fauorable to his â—…eople which turne to him in weeping fasting and praying Is this â—…ut to abstaine from flesh Let him looke their Epistle and Gospell â—…pon the same day the one taken out of the Prophet Ioâ—…l Chap. 2. vers â—… Turne you vnto me vvith all your heartes with fasting weeping mourâ—…ing â—… the other out of Math. 6. 16. VVhen ye fast be nâ—…t sâ—…d c. Let â—…im yet further pervse his portuise vpon the first sunday in Lent he â—…all find their Collect of the day as they cal yt to begin thus â—… Lord â—…vhich for our sakes didst fast 40. daâ—…es and 40. nights giue vs grace to â—…se such abstinence that our flesh being subdued c. their Gospell â—…f the same day taken out of Math 4. sheweth the hystorie of CHRIST â—…ast and temptation c. Let him yet turne his portâ—…se and see if â—…e find not there an especiall communion for euerie day in their 〈◊〉 weeke and vpon their good friday a trental of Collectes â—…re all these but ciuill actions but abstinence from flesh for the â—…aintenance of NAVIGATION Doth the statute by him alledged coÌ„â—…and these things or is yt the priestes office to meddle with that staâ—…te yf all this were yet could they not help or hide this grosse popeâ—… and heinous idolatrie which they in these their blasphemous â—…ent fast â—… wherof because this Doctor was either ashamed or â—…feard to meddle which being such abhominable stuffe as can find â—…o defence or excuse I also will not meddle with the further discoâ—…erie or refutacion therof as taking no pleasure to raue in their filthy â—…hannels YET remaine two pointes of his deep and pestilent diuinitie to bâ—…â—…xamined the one whether Princes may set any permanent possitiue â—…wes set daies times when what time of the yeare how long to â—…ast the other whither the Princes lawfull constitutions concerning â—…utward things bind the conscience The first ROBERT SOME affirâ—…eth and therby ratifieth his Lent fast embers eaue fasts and friday â—…astes The other he saith toucheth noâ—… the couscience making a subtil distinction betweene the EXTERNAL COVRT and the COVRT of CONSCIENCE To follow him so far as the error vvickednes of these two positions would leade would make of yt self too wide a gap in the worke we haue in hand I will therfore handle the first point so far as yt maketh to this present matter and the second very briefly by way of digression Before I come to his diuinitie I would know of this learned Doctor whither if the Prince ratifie command the Popes blasphemous decrees abhominations vvhither this doth either alter the propertie or qualitie of them or such coÌ„mandement bindeth not the coÌ„science I need not here stand to shew these his popeholy fastes of the Church of England to be idolatrous in the first inuentâ—…on now more abhominable in the present vse such stuffe as he will not file his hands with the defence of them now whether these be bettered in that they are commanded by act of parliament c. But to come to the matter in hand whither the Prince or vvhole Church may make permaneÌ„t lawes for y e yearly mâ—…ncthly or weekly fastes to be still obserued vpon this or that day I haue aboue shewed that fastes are vpon especial and present occasions actions calamities c. to be exercised to the humbling preparing the bodie and soule vnto true repentance praier other holy exercises This all the practise of the Iewes in their Temple sheweth vvho vpon especial occasioÌ„s as vvar plague c. vsed fasting That these set fastes vvere not perdurable any longer then vpon these present occasions vve also find For the fastes that EZRA NEâ—…EMIAH inâ—…tituted were not coÌ„tinued from yere to yere vnto the posteritie This very question also the Lord by his Prophet Zachary fully resolueth in the 7. 8. Chapters of his prophecie where the Iewes sending vnto the Temple to know whither y â— fast instituted in the fift moneth for the destruction of their Temple were still to be obserued the Temple being againe built after their returne out of Babilon to vvhome the Prophet after he had reproued their former sinne obstinacie supâ—…rstitious abuse both of â—…asting al the worship of God which were vnauaileable and did but aggrauate their iudgmentes so long as they continued in their sinnes shewed them that yt was not their fasting froÌ„ meat or eating that made them more or lesse acceptable to God but their faithful obedience vnto his vvord that his kingdome consistâ—…th not in meates and drinkes c. as also instructing them of the true vse endes of fasting praier in the end concludeth chap. 8. 19. c. that all their former fastes of the 4. 5. 7. and 10. moneth were now to cease promising vnto them in stead therof a continuall feast with his abundant blessinges so long as they walked faithfully with the Lord comparing in that Chapter his former plagues to their former
stil reserued a seed a litle poore remnant vvho haue beene marked vvith the mark of GOD on their foreheades haue been preserued from the â—…ting of these scorpioÌ„s the plague of these locustes which haue had â—…ight in the midst of these hellish fogs vvhich haue not bought nor sold vvith the marke of the beast neither drunke of the vvhores â—…up neither haue beene defiled vvith her fornications but haue â—…eene the lambes caled chosen faithful souldiours following the â—…amb in vvhite araye vvhersoeuer he goeth and leadeth them from faith to faith These by the light of the word reade the harlots mysterie vvritten in her forehead discouer her skirts all her abâ—…ominations by that same light make her knoweÌ„ to be that spiâ—…itual Babilon where Christes seruantes are kept in seruitude from the free practise of his word where the true temple his Church â—…ll the vessels and instrumentes therof are vtterlie ruinate defaced â—…rofaned troddeÌ„ vnder foot These also doe shew by the same light â—…uen from the ancient prophecies her al her synagogs to become â—…he verie habitation of deuils the hold of all fowle vvicked spiâ—…ites a cage of euerie vncleane hateful bird ZIM IIM all â—…armful beastes shal lodge there the DragoÌ„ the serpent the Harâ—…ies scritchowles vultures shal there make their nest bring vp â—…heir yong ones And therfore these shal call al the Lordes faithful â—…eruantes out froÌ„ amongst them least they be partakers of her sinns â—… receaue of her plagues shewing them that her sinns are at the â—…ul come vp into the sight of God into heauen that God now reâ—…embreth her iniquities and is ready to powre downe his plagues â—…pon her as in the daies of Noah Sodome He only now stâ—…ieth but vntill his Arke be built vntil Lot his houshold be come forth and the number of his elect be fulfilled which time we may euidently discerne approcheth apace Our fig-tree hath almost budded al our fignes Therfore yt is high time for the seruantes of GOD to looke vp to lift vp their heades for their redemption draweth neere We haue al seene this general defectioÌ„ eueÌ„ in the maner as yt was foretold to be come to pass we haue also seeâ—…e in the heauens the tabernacle of tâ—…stimonie eueÌ„ that first Apostolike patterne though we haue not as yet beene able to enter into the same vntill the vials of Gods wâ—…ath be powred vpon the throne of the Beast the whore this Babilon c. we see all the faithful witnesses and martyres of CHRIST in their seuerall ages to haue powred out their vials some vpon the earth some vpoÌ„ the sea some vpon the fountaines others vpon the sunne vpon the throne of the beast vpon their Euphrates c. we heare this voice round about vs sounding in our eares â—…o out of her my people c. Saue thy self ô SyoÌ„ that dwellest with the daughter Babel Flie out of the midst of Babel deliuer euerie man his soule be not destroied in her inquitie For this is the time of the Lords vengeance he will render vâ—…o her a recompence againe â—…lee out of the â—…idst of Babell depart out of the land of the Chaldeans â—…e ye as the gotes before the flock And our sauiour CHRIST in that foreruÌ„ning signe type of Iudea and Ierusalem warneth them that are in Iudea to flee to the mountaines theÌ„ that are called on the house top not to come downe into their house to fetch or saue any thing they haue lost there they that are in the fieldes not to returne back into the Citie to fetch their clothes shewing the woes that are vpon them which either are hindred pressed downe with worldly affaires as a woman great with child or are deteined held with the leaue either of their earthly frendes how neere so euer or of their owne flesh that they cannot flie and deliuer their soules that cannot giue eare or obey vnto the coÌ„mandement voice of GOD whiles he calleth them so deferr put off their coÌ„ming out either vntil the winter of Gods wrathful iudgmentes circumvent inclose them or the saboth of his final indignation fal rest vpoÌ„ them then there be no space granted them to flie or grace to be preserued Seing then we haue so manie prophecies so many tipes so many warnings so manie callings seing all our signes are accomplished that Gods final iudgmentes approch and steale vpon vs let vs not despise his grace nor harden our hearts whiles he yet speaketh yt is called to day seing we are fallen into these last pertilous times wherein Satan vseth his last vttermost sleightes wherby the whole world shalbe deluded yea the verie elect if yt were poâ—…sible drawen away let vs not suffer our selues to be any longer deceaued with the subtil inchantmentes of the false prophets preachers of the times neither to be deceaued with the vaine titles glorious shewes of Church minisâ—…rie sacrameÌ„tes Gospel c. wherof the false Church â—…ath alwaies boasted arrogated vnto her self as well as the true Church wherwith as with stales she hath allured as with snares detained hâ—…r guestes Cayn we read as wel as Habel offred sacrifice Ismael and Isaac were both circumcised Hagar and Sarah were two mothers the two mothers before Solomon pleaded both of them coÌ„fidently for the liâ—…ing childe the harlot as wel as wiâ—…dome killed sacrifices â—…ent out her ministers inuited guestes to her house Israel in their schisme defection erected a temple an altar a ministerie It behoueth vs therfore whiles yet GOD vouchsafeth vs time carefully by the light of Godes word to examine our waies and to ponder our estate vvhether vve be in that broad vvay that leadeth to destruction amongst those multitudes ouer vvhome the whore sitteth raineth or in the straight narrow vvay vvhich leadeth vnto euerlaâ—…ting life vvith CHRISTES litle flâ—…k and marked soldiours vvhome the lamb leadeth â—…uleth vvhether vve be in that great defection in that spiritual Babilon vnder Anâ—…christ that Beast or whether we be in the mount Sâ—…on in the spirituall Ierusalem where â—…he coÌ„mandementes of GOD are kâ—…pt and the faiâ—…h of IESVS This being knowen al controuerfies shal forthwith cease For theÌ„ shall vve either be guiltie of our owne destruction through our wilful obstinacie or els â—…hal vve lay hold of eternal life vvhiles yet yt is offred by forsaking our euil vvaies and yeilding obedience vnto Godes holy vvord Neither need vve vnto this busines to goe fetch our light out of mens vvritinges as sundrie of the chief builders of â—…his corrupt age do or curiously to enquire or dispute about I wote not vvhat markes of the true Church which vvhiles some indeâ—…ored to set downe endles coÌ„trouersies vaine striefe about
al the land both great and small rich and poore priest and people in most seruile subiectioÌ„ therfore in this estate cannot be held or numbred among Christes faithful seruantes vvhich are fully redeemed by the price of his pretious blood from al these bondages and intanglementes vvhich they by a shew of volunâ—…arie religion and counterfeit holines vvould impose vpon mens consciences Neither may such be held the seruaÌ„tes of CHRIST vvhich stand subiect vnto his enimie Antichrist beare his yoke receaue his ministerie vvares c. or vvhich contend not for the maintenance of the true faith for the sincere practise of the Gospel with freedome in al patieÌ„t maner vnto the death suffring rather anie thing then themselues to be defiled with his abhominations How then should this people as they generally stand in the publique estate of this land in this subiection to Antichrist in this idolatry sacriledg al kind of excesse and sinne euen in al degrees without repentance faith obedience knowledg be receaued held or esteemed the redeemed called faithful free obedient louing subiects and people of the Lord or how may CHRISTES true faithful seruantes haue any spirituall communion or fellowship with them in thys estate vvithout open sacriledg most hainous impietie and high profanation of the holy things of God For if into the material temple no profane or polluted person might enter and osfer vntill he had imbraced the faith and beene clensed from his filthines how much more ought this profane ignorant vnholy wicked disobedient rowte be kept out of the Church of CHRIST froÌ„ al intermedling with the holy things of GOD which in this estate belong not vnto them But as these vngodly priestes of these times haue entred and do administer vnto this profane people for the lucre of their goodes tithes wages hire so waÌ„t not these Balaams sundrie diuelish shiftes and cauils for the maintenance of their doinges least by this doctrine their portion should be reprooued their vantage for diuining cease as also their sinne and shame be made manifest Amongst an heape of their forged excuses they set this for doctrine in the fore â—…ront THAT vvhere â—… Christian Prince is vvhich maiâ—…taineth the Gospel and â—…he whole land or estate not resisting this commandement reueâ—…enceth the word sacrameÌ„tes there the whole multitude of such â—… land or state are without doubt to be esteemed and iudged a true Church This reason they confirme not with any proofes of the â—…cripture but by M r. CALVINS authoritie who giueth these reasons â—…herof because saith he yâ—… is certaine the word and sacramentes â—…re not without fruit and that by this meanes vnitie is preserued to â—…he vniuersall Church Touching the person of the Author alledged I gladly acknowledg â—…im a painful and profitable instrument in the thinges he saw and â—…imes he serued in yet not without his manie errors ignorances â—…specially touching the planting gouernment and ordering of the Church of CHRIST And no meruaile for being so newly escaped out of the smoky fornace of poperie he could not so sodeinly see or attaine vnto the perfect beawtie of Sion But seeing my hope is GOD hath pardoned all his errors c. my purpose is not with these wicked men to reuiue and broach them a fresh or make them preâ—…identes and by them take boldnes to commit the like or worse ofâ—…ences nor yet to discouer NOAH his shame and nakednes So also concerning matters of faith would I be loth to build vpon or be â—…ressed by the doctrines and examples of men the best wherof we â—…ee to be subiect to their errors and faults For as faith only beleeueth and resteth vpon the holy word of God so are we by the same to examine al the doctrines and doinges of men yea of the vvhole Church and accordingly to approue or refuse the same Touching this doctrine then that a Christian Prince which publisheth and maintaineth the Gospell doth forthwith make all that realme which with open force resisteth not his proceedinges to be held a Church to whome an holy ministerie and sacramentes belong without further more particular and personal trial examination confession c. This doctrine we find by the word of God to be most false corrupt vncleane dangerous pernicious doctrine contrarie to the whole course practise and lawes both of the old newe Testament breaking at once al Christian order corrupting poisoning al Christian communion fellowship sacrilegiously profaning the holy thinges of God First we know that no Prince or mortal man caÌ„ make any a member of the Church they may by their godly gouernment greatly help further the Church greatly comfort the faithful aduance the gospel c. But to chuse or refuse to cal or hardeÌ„ that the eternal and almightie ruler of heauen and earth keepeth in his owne handes and giueth not this power vnto any other This also vve know that whome the Lord hath before al worldes chosen them â—…e wil in his due time and meanes cal by his word and whome he â—…alleth them he sealeth with this seale to depart from iniquitie to beleeue and lay hold of CHRIST IESVS as their alone sauiour to honour and obâ—…y him as their annointed King Priest Prophet to submit théselues vnto him in all thinges to be reformed corrected gouerned directed by his most holy vvord vowing their faithful obedience vnto the same as yt shalbe reuealed vnto them By this faith confession profession euerie member of CHRIST from the greatest vnto the least without respect of persons entereth into standeth in the Church In this faith haue all the faithfull congregations in the world and true members of the same bodie fellowship communion each with other and out of this faith haue the true seruantes of GOD no fellowship no communion with any congregation or member how florishing titles or faire shewes soeuer they make heere in the flesh None as hath beene prooued vncircumcised or polluted in flesh might enter into the temple or tast of the passouer or other sacrifices how neere soeuer they were in consanguinitie affinitie or subiection In King DAVIDS time the Edomites Moabites Ammonites Philistims were brought vnder obedience subiection yet were none of them admitted into the temple c. but such as imbraced the faith King HEZEKIAS and IOSIAH two famous godly Kings after they had rightly reformed the corrupt estate admitted none to the passouer but such as purified sanctified themselues according to the law The like we reade of the children of the captiuitie after they had finished the temple set the priests in their order thâ—… Leuites in their courses c. they keâ—…t the passouer together with all such as had seperated themselueâ—… vnto them from the fiilthines of the heathen of the land to seeke the Lord GOD of Israel These
hidden amongst the opeÌ„ wicked vngodly as 〈◊〉 few graines of wheate lie in a great heape of chaffe c. Then â—…hich doctrine nothing can be deuised more vncleane corrupt â—…r more vnworthy the Church of CHRIST as breaking all the orâ—…inances and lawes of GOD at once and vtterly subuerting defiâ—…ng all Christian communion c. vvhich doctrine as yt is directly â—…ontrarie vnto the whole course of scriptures both for the entrance â—…to the Church and for the order conuersation in the Church 〈◊〉 can no place of scripture be applied to the vpholding and confirâ—…ation therof without vnsufferable falsifying and violent wrasting â—…e same As for this place Maâ—…hew 3. 12. yt no more prooueth this docâ—…ine then the others out of Math. 13. for here Mathew rather recorâ—…eth the conclusion of Ihon the Baptistes sermon doctrine then â—…ny way describeth the estate of the established Church of CHRIST 〈◊〉 the 11. and 12. verses shewing the incomparable excellencie of CHRISTES person and ministerie in respect of his also in the same â—…ewing the diuers effectes of Christes coÌ„ming vnto such as looked â—…or him vvho as they vvere of two sortes so had they seuerall sucâ—…esse The one sort he baptised the other he consumed with fire â—…he one sort he fanned fifted purged fined and preserued as wheat â—…nd siluer the other with the same fanne and fornace he â—…scattered â—…nd burnt vp as chaffe drosse The humble poore of the flock â—…vhich gaue eare to the voice in the wildernes which confessed â—…epented their sinnes and made strait his pathes receaued Ihons â—…aptisme those he receaued fed kept c. but those proud Phaâ—…isies learned Scribes and carnal Saâ—…uceis which thought themâ—…elues in a perfect estate and despised the councel of God against â—…hemselues and would not be baptised of Ihon those when the â—…ESSIAH also came despised and contemned him and therfore he â—…ut them off in one day yea his day was vnto them darknes and not â—…ght c. But now which way should this fowle vncleane barn-floore thus pestered ouerspred with chaffe be likened almost without blaâ—…phemie vnto y e holy Church of Christ rightly planted established gouerned according to his holy will testameÌ„t where as hath beene said all the people that enter are receaued there are chosen redeemed called out of the world from amongst the heathen Saintes by calling partakers of the same pretious faith glorious hope humble obedient louing sheepe And therfore is y â— church likened to a sheepfold which is both watched and defended to keepe out the wild beastes the wolfe and litle foxes vnto a garden shut vp welspring inclosed an orchyeard vineyard walled where al the plantes are natural sweet incense trees pomgranate al sweet fruit trees Myrrhe Aloes cynnamon with trees of chief spices Heere entereth no Cananite or profane person but euerie vessel shalbe cleane holy as bowles before the Altar c Furthermore eueÌ„ in the material temple there were ash-pannes besoms to sweep carry out al dust filth And euen in euerie barn-flore the husbandman hath his flayle his fanne his syue to tresh his wheat out of the eare to purge yt from the chaffe to seuer yt from darnel tares c. which labour if he should slack he should haue no vse of his wheat he should haue no cleane nor wholsome bread And how much more shal our heauenlie husbandman purge his seed his wheat from such reprobate chaffe giddy darnel before he receaue them into one loafe set them at his heauenly table They canot be a newe lump vnto him except they be purged from the old leuen of maliciousnes wickednes The seruantes of God can neither build the Church nor ioine in any spiritual actioÌ„ with the profane nor with such counterfeit professors as the Samaritanes nor with such bastardy false seede as that of MOAB of ASHDOD c. There may be no misseline or seedes of diuers kinds soweÌ„ in the Lordes â—…ield The God of heauen and earth requireth vnto himself a holy seed he will be sanctified of all that draw neere vnto him for euen our God is a consuming fire How then dare any admit those the Lord shutteth out of his Church or how dare they mingle and ioyneth such reprobate knowen chaffe cockle tares darnel with the Lordes wheate wittingly and wittingly which the Lord with fanne syue purgeth seuereth casteth out of his barn-flore much lesse receaueth not into his granarie But how far is their ignorant rashâ—…es or rather presumptuous boldnes proceeded which not only receaue into retaine in their Church fellowship these heapes of the wicked opeÌ„ vnworâ—… euen all the profane multitude al sortes of people that are found within their territories and iurisdiction without respect of person but euen thrust them vpon Christ whether he will or no and make him an high Priest Prophet vnto them administring vnto them and their seed the holy thinges of God as baptisme the Lordes supper Is not this to mingle heauen and earth ligh darkâ—… or â—…hat higher sacriledge can be committed shal these places thus â—…rasted falsified hide diminish their sinns or rather not agraâ—…ate make manifest their error wickednes By what sober conâ—…truction or almost coÌ„mon sense can this place Math. 3. be vnderâ—…tood of the planted and rightly ordered Church of Christ or how â—…ay such a Church be compared to a flore where in a great heape â—…f chaffe a few graines of wheate lie hid and buried we read in the â—…criptures that the righteous shall shine as starrs in the Church of God yet I willingly acknowledge that there can in this life be no wheate so pure which hath not both chaffe branne c. but that â—…n an other sense only I would know of these men that thus grossly â—…iken the Church of God what difference we may put betwixt the â—…orld and their Church In the world in deed the children of God â—…hal for a season be mingled remayn amongst the profane wicked vntil the time of their visitation calling but after they haue once giuen obedience vnto the voice of Christ then forget they forsake their old conuersation companie haue no longer felâ—…owship with the vnfruitful workes of darknes but are renned in â—…ighteousnes holines and true knowledg after the image of him that called them out of darknes into his merueilous light c. But to couer cure al this confusion disorder al this sacrilegious profanatioÌ„ portsale of the holy thinges of God al other mischeifes enormities amongst theÌ„ as also to stop the mouthes to terrifie al such as find fault with reprooue these thinges or depart from amongst them where
said that whatsoeuer the wick ed offer is vncleane whatsoeuer the polluted touch is defiled whether yt be the couch or seate they sit or lie vpon or vessels they vse whether yt be holy flesh vvine or oile yt is defiled c. Now then seing the vvhole scripture is so euident and plentifull in this point That the open sinne of the Church defileth all the actions of the Church maketh them and their offrings abhominable vnto the Lord seing no polluted person may either administer or offer vnto the Lord seing no polluted person may either administer or offer vnto the Lord seing vvhatâ—…euer they touch is also defiled and vncleane how can this doctrine of M r. CALVINE and his wretched followers stand THAT THE OPâ—… sinnes either of the minister or people defile not the publike actions praiers sacramentes c. of that Church those ministers people sacrifices they cannot deny to haue beene the ordinances of God also Yet euen their holiest thinges were defiled and polluted with the sinnes and vncleannes of men Now to the other point WHITHER a godly conscience can take no hurt neither need make scruple to communicate with the open wicked priestes and people in their praiers and sacramentes because they are the ordinances of GOD which are not to be left for the sinnes of men I haue alreadie often denied their praier and sacramentes in this estate to be the ordinance of God My reasons are the wicked haue nothing to doe to take the name of GOD in their mouthes or to vse that heauenly exercise and blessed benefit of the word and praier because they make no conscience 〈◊〉 breake Godes lawes and remaine impenitent and hardned in their sinnes then in this estate belong no sacramentes or ministerie vnto them by the ordinance of GOD vvho hath as well set downe what manner of minister and people shall deliuer and receaue tâ—…e sacramentes as after what manner the sacramentes shalbe deliuered So that where such open wicked impeniâ—…t and vnworthy ministers and people do administer or receaue the â—…ramentes so contrarie vnto and without regard of CHRISTES instiâ—…ion such sacrameÌ„tes can no way be said the ordinances of CHRIT â—…e blessed pledges of his bodie and blood c but rather sure seales of 〈◊〉 wrath euen to as many as so sacrilegiously profane his holy ordiâ—…ce and ioine together in that vngodly and accursed action vntill â—…y repent For as in the holy symbole of the Lordes supper the â—…mmunicantes be made one bodie with CHRITS and one anothers â—…mbers in the same bodie so are these bound together as a fagot the same iudgmentes and wrath in as much as they ioine together the same sinne and sacriledg and all become alike guilty euen prinâ—…als as we speake in the law in the action Hoâ—… then should any â—…re plead himself guiltles when eueÌ„ the action they commit boast 〈◊〉 is most heinous sacriledge The matter will not in this case be shifâ—…d off with saying an other mans sinnes cannot preiudice or defile â—…em seing they receiue with pure conscience c. For though this â—…ctrine as yt is here vsed be most corrupt and false yet here is now 〈◊〉 need that they should be charged with others sinnes seing they in â—…is action are ioyned vnto and become a like guilty with the worst â—…ust now beare the burden of their owne sinnes But is this doctrine so hard and strange to them that one should be â—…lluted with the knowne and suffered sinnes of an other Let them â—…ade in the lawe whether he that touched but the garment of a polâ—…ed man or woman much more of a leprous plaguy c. was defiled â—…erby If this were but by outward and bodily touching how much â—…ore is that spirituall leprosie that GANGRENâ—… these running isâ—…es and plaguy sores of sinne infectious and deadly contagious espeâ—…lly in so neere commixture as that spiritual communion of the â—…ule If the word of GOD will not preuaile let common sense and exâ—…rience perswade this Yea so spreading is this malady of sinne as â—…ing discouered in any one part of the body if yt be not with al speed â—…red or cut off yt becommeth a like dangerous to the whole bodie â—…ey all now by this their negliglence and tolleration becomming a â—…e guiltie c. How many stories haue we in the scriptures to conâ—…me his not only in particular as betwixt ELY and his sonnes for â—…l vvhose vvickednes he vvas blamed in that he did not represse â—…d chastice but only reprooue their sinnes but more generally â—…as not the vvhole Congregation smitten for that ACHAN his sinne â—…y hidden and vnpunished amongst them was not all the Congregaâ—…on punished for the sinne of some in mount PEOR was not the like â—…ared Iosh. 22. Doth not the Apostle say that a litle leauen leaueâ—…th the whole lumpe and that their reioicing was not good whiles â—…ey kept the wicked man amongest them Doth he not proue yt by â—…any reasons that as by the lawe the feast of the Passouer was to be kept with vnleavened bread that person that ate or reserved leaveÌ„ was to be cut off from the Congregation so much more ought we to see that there be no leavened or infectious person amongst vs that no root of bitternes spring vp least many therby be defiled c. Doth not the Apostle to take away al controversie shew by this similitude of leaven that not only sinne but even the sinner is to be removed both out of the feast which belongeth not vnto such neither is to be kept whith such least Godes wrath for the breach of his law in keeping the continual feast of our heavâ—…nly passover Christ Iesus burne forth against the whole house that is the whole Church also that such sinne sinners be removed out of the Church least the whole lump be leavened therby which we see how sodainly yt is done For as the wise man saieth One dead flie causeth the ointmentes of the Apotecarie to stinke Now then how caÌ„ these meÌ„ say that the sinnes yea the many obstinate sinnes either of ministers or people do neither defile the publike actions of the church neither the conscience of the godly receauers c where as hath beene by many reasons proved the verie action they so incommend is no lessâ—… then most heinous impious sacriledge So then vntil they can proue yt lawful no sacriledge either for that obstinate and open wicked to administer receaue the sacramentes also for the godly to communicate in such sacramentes with them vntil they ca proue these sacrameÌ„tes thus administred receaved to be blessed of God vntil they can proue that two divers yea contrary sortes of people namly the open wicked the godly such as despise such as feare God may be admitted vnto yea vnited in the sacramentes these doctrinis of theirs cannot stand But
they themselues confesse alledge the secâ—…nd though they bring no one place of scripture to approue I thus by euident testimonies both of the stories of the Prophetts themâ—…elues disproue In the time of King ACHAS when the Lords brazen Altar was remoued set aside a new Altar after the forme of that at Damascus was brought in and vsed in the place of the other The priestes that serued thervnto offred also vpon other Altars which were set vp by that wicked King to other Goddes c. Likewise in the time of MANASSES AMON when Altars groues high places were built vnto Idols the priestes attended them other Altars which the Lord had forbidden brought in set vp in the courtes of the Lord. In the times of IEHOACHAS IEHOIAKIM ZEDEKYAH when the Idoll of indignatioÌ„ was againe set vp in the vtter court of the people in the next court of the Leuites were painted vpon the wall the sâ—…ilitude of all creeping and abhominable things as also all the Idols of the house of Israel the 70 antientes burning incense vnto theÌ„ yea where the womeÌ„ woue hangings for the EgiptiaÌ„ Goddes mourned for TAMMVZ yea yet neerer the presence of the Lord in the court of the priests euen at the verie dore of Temple of God they turned their backes vpoÌ„ God with their faces towardes the east worshipped the Sunne I would here demand of the learnedâ—…t of these priestes whether they thinke that in these times the Prophets communicated with these priestes or how they can proue yt The contrarie is to be proued both by the lawes of God which forbad them to touch any polluted thing especially to keep themselues vndefiled with the filthines of idols c. also in the stories of Hezekiah and Iosiah Hezekiah in the beginning of his raigne finding all thinges thus defiled corrupted câ—…lled such godly Priests Leuites as hâ—…d in his Fathers time refrained â—…he 〈◊〉 left off to administâ—…r exhoâ—…teth them to loke addressâ—… theÌ„selues vnto their charge which was coÌ„mitted vâ—…to them by the Lord to sanctifie themselues to purge the Temple and cast out the abhominations his Father had brought in c. which we reade by theÌ„ to be done the whole house land purged by solemne sacrifice And after that the feastes which had before bene intermitted were againe renued orderly kept Iofiâ—…h also afâ—…er he had purged the Temple cast out defaced the idols placed restored thâ—… priestes Leuites in their due orders strook renued a couenant with the Lord summoneth the Priestes Leuites people againe to the due keeping oâ—… the feastes coÌ„manded in the lawe And 2. Câ—…ron 35. 3. according to TREMELIVS his translation he saith thus vnto them But he saied vnto tâ—…e Leâ—…ites preparing the holy thinges of the Lord for all Israel set or put them before the holy Arke in this house which SOLOMON the sonne of DAVID King of Israel hath built It lieth no more vpon you a burden to be caried vpon your shoulder now serue Iâ—…HOVAH your God his people Israel In which wordes he calleth the Priestes Leuites and people to the law and institution of God Deut. 12. 5. c. 〈◊〉 17. 3. c. that now all their feastes and sacrifices ought to be brought and kept before the Lord in his Temple orderly according to his law not as when the Ark might be remoued to be kept in sundrie places neither yet as in priuate houses as in the time of the corruptios where the Lord bare with them as if they had beene in Egipt in priuate houses Now for the third time of IOZIAH his successors let the 9. Chapter of EZEKIEL be considered where we findal iudgâ—…d damned to destruction which were defiled with these abhominations only those mâ—…rked by the Angel with the writers ynckhorne saued which kept themselues pure from cried out against those abhominations likewise his 16. 23. Chapters where the Lord pleadeth against them as against an harlot which had forsaken her husband left yea murdered her children and therfore that his faithful seruaâ—…tes should iudg them not as the Church of God as the false Prophets then now do but as harlots as murt herers c. His whole Prophecie is plentifull in this Argument â—…hewing all to be defiled and abhominable by these sinnes that the glory of the Lord vtterly abandoned both the Temple the Citie All the Prophets in all their writinges abundantly shew thâ—…t the faithfull refrained in these corrupt times infinite reafones might be drawen from thence to prouâ—… the same but I hope that â—…hich hath beene already alledged sufficeth in this point Now I would only know of these learned disputers which bring these examples of the Prophets our Sauiour Christ â—…hinking therby fully to conclude the matter and to driue the naile to the head whether if they should haue coÌ„municated with these wicked and defiled priestes and people they should not also haue sinned and beene polluted If they deniâ—… that yt had beene no sinne in them and that they should not therby be defiled as M r. CALVINE in his wriringâ—…s doth then I â—…ring the manifest lawes of GOD against them where yt is written that no polluted person might either administer or offer in the 〈◊〉 This then being vnlawful for the priestes or people to doe must â—…eeds also be vnlawfull in the Prophetts which wâ—…re not ignorant of this law to suffer or consent vnto c. It is also written in their law that whoso touched any vncleane thing or polluted person was also defiled therby yea what holy thing soeuer such polluted person touched whether flesh or oile was defiled and abhominable How then can these men say the Prophets willingly ioining to such open breach of the lawes and ordinances of the Temple touching and mingling â—…hemselues with such vncleâ—…ne and vnlawfull priestes pâ—…ople â—…nd 〈◊〉 were not both defiled herein transgressed Gods lawes If they say the Prophets communicated not in any vnlawful action or with any polluted person then to what end do they bring and vrge their examples to draw vs to ioine with them in open and knowen â—…ransgression Yf they say they communicated with the priestes that administred in the Temple in these corrupt times then could yt not be but both the priestes and they must neâ—…des be defiled with the idoâ—…atry and abhominations that there were set vp as aboue is shewed Now nothing can be a greater transgression or moâ—…e filthy and conâ—…agious defilement then to ioyne to idolatry or idolatours Neither can any be a greater allowance of ioyning vnto thâ—…m then to make thâ—…m our mouth or ministers vnto GOD or together with such to ioyne in any action concerning the worship of God Thus then yt must needes be that the Prophets if they communicated or offred by or with such corrupt priestes and
as also to call such of the people as belong to the kingdom of Christ from their apostatical antichristian throne What hath beene said of the names offices of these magnificenâ—… Prelates these great Lords the same for auoiding tedious repetition is to be iudged of al the crue of their associates assistantes attendants inferior priestes officers of whose names or offices we find no mâ—…tioÌ„ in Châ—…ists TestameÌ„t no vse or place in Christs church yet because some of them make a fairer shew in the flesh vnder counterfaiâ—… shew of holines deceaue the simple leade captiue many a stule I wil leaue for a while these great peeres mightie estates with all their collegues followers in their grosse wickednes which is apparant and odious vnto all men in whome is any sparck of light or grace and wil now addresse my self to pul of the visardes of these disguised hypochrites these rauening wolues which come to vs in sheepes clothing vnder glorious and swelling titles of Pastors Teachers Preachers and Ministers of the gospâ—…l men of great learning of very holy life and of great sinceriâ—…ie seâ—…kers â—…ighers foâ—… reformation snch as abhor and cry out against the Bishops theiâ—… proceedinges c. These Phariseis these Sectaries are they which mislead the people in â—…heir crooked and bye pathes os death wil neither lead theâ—… nor suffer them to enter into the peaceable strait waies of the Lord buâ—… keep them alwaies learning neuer bring `them to the sight oâ—… acknowledging of the truth c. as when we come to examine theiâ—… manner of theaching shal appeare In the meane while let vs a litlâ—… goe back againe as yt were that we may the more orderly proceed and consider in a word or two of these Rabbines persons education learning training wherby they are made fit to these great offices then of the offices themselues of their calling entrance therunto last of al of their administration how they behaue themselues therin And this but by way of a summarie and most brief recital ffor if â—… should stand to lay open their dealing at large though yt were without either prouing or disprouing for this in matters so maniâ—…est need not yt would make in yt self a most large discourse and were a subiect too great for any mâ—…ns capacitie to handle to set downe theâ—… monstrous transgreâ—…siones disorders in particular much more in â—…heir heinousnes indignity which do euen fil the great flyng bokâ—… of Gods cuâ—…se the Prophet speaketh of But to giue you a blush of some of them and to open you a way the better at your further leasure by your further and more diligoâ—…t â—…earch to looke into theiâ—… dealings I wil God so willing of many set you downe a few FIRST FOR their persons we find them all generally the seed and â—…fspring of the vnbeleeuers of men without the faith without the â—…hurch of these confuse idolatrous multitudes aboue spoken of â—…s the vnchristian education of these ympes maketh manifâ—…st who â—…uen from their cradles aâ—…e nourished in al maner of prophanenes eathenisme vaine vngodly sciences literature osteÌ„tation pride â—…ore then monkish that I say not Sodomitish idlenes superstiâ—…oÌ„ idolatrie c. This their vngodly nurture in their coÌ„mon scholes where they must learne the latine or greeke tongue from lasciuius Poets heathenish philosophers sheweth euidently With this quor are their pitchers at the first seasoned when they haue beene â—…ell nouseled in these aud haue orderly passed to the highest forme â—…en are they fit for one of the Vniuersities where they being placed 〈◊〉 some one Colledg as they tearme them or other after they haue â—…eene solemnely Matriculate and sworne vpon the Proctors Booke to â—…eir mother the Vniuersatie to coÌ„ceale and keepe close her secretes 〈◊〉 mysteries as also to be obedient to her statutes and orders theâ—… are they trained vp in Logick Rhetorick Philosophy which lear â—…ings they draw from Aristotle Ciceâ—…o and such like There they â—…arne to reason and speake by art by Sylogismes and Tropes which â—…tes when they haue gotteÌ„ or at the least spent some apointed time 〈◊〉 the Vniuersites then they commence Bachelors or Maisters of â—… Now if they continue still with their mother and giue their â—…inde to the studie of diuinitie as they cal yt which is as much to â—…y as the rearding of mens writinges such as are best esteemed of in â—…ese times with those feathers they flie aud with those eies they see â—…hich bookes being taken from them they are as mute as fishes as â—…ind as moles But when once they are growen skilful in this traditional diuiniâ—…e that they dare vndertake vpoÌ„ some moneths warning to speake â—…n howre vpon some tâ—…xt and that they dare trust their memories 〈◊〉 deliuer no worse stuffe then they haue read in the commentaries â—…nd common places of thâ—…se Authors then vpon a litle practise they row bould to set vp their bylles of chalenge vpon the schole dores â—…at they purpose to dispute for their degree and to maintaine â—…taine hard pointes of diuinitie generally consented vnto and reeaâ—…ed of all men which questions as also the whole scriptures â—…ust in these their schooles disputations be vnsufferably corrupâ—…d abused wrested peruerted blasphemed according to the lusteâ—…â—…f these Philosophical heathen disputers which heâ—…r must haâ—…le diuide vtter and discusse according â—…o their vaine affected 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Logick Rhetorick Wel when they haue thus performed their artes either in Luce or 〈◊〉 and that their solemne day of their commencement drawâ—…h neeâ—…e there some worthy Chaplen or other to winne the spurres 〈◊〉 a Deanry at the least when yt fâ—…lleth vndertaketh to dâ—…fend Non râ—…sidencie or Pluralitie of beâ—…efices or some other to confirme the faith of the Church of England vndertaketh to defend THAT the apostolicall discipline as they tearme yt or gouernmeÌ„t order which is set downe in CHRISTES Testâ—…ment for his Church vnto the worldes end is noâ—… perpetuall or of necessite but may be altered according to the will of Princes estates c. also that CHRIST descended into hell during that time his body laye in the graue These such like damnable heresies and blasphemies are confirmed in the eies of the whole land who resort thiâ—…her to see this stage play where the fencers fight bootie the persons that shall dispute being purposely apointed the time set how long they shall dispute the dogs being to be puld off either by masse vicechancellor or M r. PROCTOR as the arguments by any thing strong or the disputers distressed Now here must also be considered that al these prizes are plaied in latine that the learning may the more and their folly the lesse appeare least euen the common people should hisse them of the stage if they spake english But why doe I thus reueale their mother OSYRIS secretes some of them will say I am an vnnatural
then is not God serued with his owne â—…est gifâ—…s Is not the iudgment of the Prophet then vpoÌ„ them which â—…aith Cursed be the deceiuer which hath in his flock a male yet voweth and â—…acrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing Is this old rotten Leitâ—…urgis their new songs they sing vnto the Lord with and for his graces May fuch old written rotten stuffe be called â—…ier the odours of the Saintes burnt with that heauenly fire of the â—…ltar the liuely graces of the spirit c. may reading be said praying â—…ay such apocrypha trumperie be brought into the church os God there be read reuerenced receaued as the sacred word of God â—…hrust vpon mens consciences yea vpon God himself whether he wil oâ—… no Is not this presumptuously to vndertake to teach the Spirit of God to take away his office which as hath beene said instructeth â—…l the children of God to pray eneÌ„ with inward sighes grones 〈◊〉 giueth both wordes vtteraÌ„ce yea as the Apostle 〈◊〉 â—…th we need no other teacher to these thinges then that annoinâ—…ing which we haue receaued and dwâ—…lleth in vs. Is not this if â—…hey wil haue their written stuffe to be held vsed as praier to bind â—…he holy Ghost to the froth leaueÌ„ of their lips as yt were to the holy â—…ord of God Is it not vtterly to quench extinguish the Spirit of God both in the ministerie people whiles they tye both theÌ„ God â—…o â—…heir stinted numbred praiers Is this the 〈◊〉 vnisormitie that ought to be in al Churches â—…s amongst al Christes seruantes to make them agree in a stinking 〈◊〉 diuisâ—…d apocrypha Leituâ—…gie good for nothing but for cushâ—… pillowes for the idle priestes profane carnal Atheistes to rock them a sleepe and keep them in securitieâ—… wherby the coÌ„science is no way either touched edified or bettered Truly I am ashamed to think much more to write of so grosse filthie abhominacion so generally receaued euen of al estates of these partes of the world who haue by a popish custom tradition receaued yt one of from an other without any warrant from the word For the Apostles I am sure these maister builders haue left no such president in or coÌ„mandement vnto the churches neither giueÌ„ theÌ„ any such power to bring in or set vp any such apocrypha Lyturgie in the church of God They alwaies vsed spiritual praiers according to their present wantes occasions so taught all churches to pray alwaies with all maner of praier supplication in the spirit therby to make knowen theiâ—… wantes shew their requestes in al thinges vnto God their heauenly father Our Sauiour Christ also he taught his disciples that God is a Spirit wil be worshipped in spirit truth He hath likewise set downe most excellent rules a most absolute forme for al praiers in that part of scripture Math. 6. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. commonly but falsly called the Lords praier wherin he hath most notably instructed directed and restrained our ignorant inordinate desires to those excellent heades In which whatsoeuer is needful for vs to desire or lawful foâ—… vs to pray is in some one or other of those branches included eueriâ—… one of them being a base foundatioÌ„ whervpoÌ„ wherby to frame many millions of seueral pâ—…ticions according to the seueral wantes occasions at such seueral times as the Saintes haue cause to pray They are all of them so many euerrunning fountaines from which Godes seruantes by the holy Ghost deriue draw continually fresh new graces are al together such an abisme vnmeasured sea of wisdome from which al Christes seruantes thorough the world haue alwaies fetched all their knowledg graces coÌ„fort assurance of and in their praiers according to the capatitie of the vessel of their faith some more some lesse al some yet haue not al of theÌ„ together much lesse any one of them is able in the litle dish of his shallow vnderstanding to comprise the vnmeasurable depth greatnes of this OceaÌ„ of al wisdome grace Wherby yt is euident as also by the circumstaÌ„ces maner of deliuering the same by our Sauiour CHRIST by his Apostles Disciples Churches spiritual vse of praier according to their present estate wantes that these prescript wordes were not giuen oâ—… inioyned as a prescript praiâ—…r so to be vsed by any euen the wiseâ—…t much lesse the simpler vnbroken vp vnexpounded c. so much as a coÌ„peÌ„dious summarie of all necessarie knowledg rules for al praier gathered by the Author of all wisdome into a brief for the directioÌ„ instruction of our weaknes ignorance Of which endes vses whiles some are ignorant or rather aâ—… their grosse idolatrie carnal dulnes superstitious presumption sheweth are ignorant either what faithful praier or the spirit of God is whiles they both popishly abuse this scripture as a principal collect in their publike leitourgiâ—… with their often idle repetition therof fiue times in their morrow masse c. also through this abuse they grow further bold to mould a new calfe a nâ—…w Leiâ—…ourgie of their owne set that vp also in the church of God as they count yt Yfyt were granted theÌ„ that this scripture sundry psalmes and other scriptures they alledg out of the prophetts were coÌ„manded â—…nioyned to be read vsed as for the very praiers of the church â—…f the Saintes then which nothing caÌ„ be more false or grosly fond to â—…onceaue yet which way if this were granted theÌ„ can they hereby â—…roue yt lawful for them to bring in their owne apocrypha diuises â—…et them yp in the church as with the holy canonical word of God May their sâ—…inking filth be compared or placed with the heauenly liâ—…ely word of God without vnsufferable blasphemie may the froth of â—…heir lips follie of their heartes be thrust vpon mens consciences â—…ea euen vpon the Spirit of God himself in this manâ—…r In the church â—…f God may nothing come or be heard but the canonical scriptures â—… liuely graces of Godes Spirit according to the same But these their â—…pocrypha Leitourgies can neither be said the word of God neither â—…e liuely graces oâ—… Gods Spirit according to the same word sâ—…ing â—…ey were made coÌ„ceiued loÌ„g before are wholy thus vsed withâ—…ut waâ—…ant example or coÌ„mandement in the word of God yea are â—…ontrary tâ—…l the rules of sor praier to the exercise vse of Gods â—…pirit directly set against al the lawes of the first Table by worshipâ—…ng God in vaine after their owne traditions preceptes diuises â—… not according to his holy Wil commandement Can these men think that because God commandeth his liuely â—…ord to be read or sung in the church promiseth a blessing therâ—…nto whiles
scripture comonly by them called the Lordes praier so â—…ighly abused ought not by Christians to be inioyned or vsed for or as â—… praier either publiquely or priuatly Our reasons are yt vvas not to â—…hat end instituted by our Sauiour CHRIT so much as to instruct vs to â—…ray and direct and assure vs in praier c. It was neuer so vsed by our â—…auiour his Apostles Churches who euer prayed according to their â—…resent wantes as the Spirit gaue vtterance The like rules beside â—…heir examples and practise they haue giuen vnto the Churches no where mentioning nor enioining this or any other scripture to be vsed â—…or their praier We cannot arriue nor comprehend the riches and depth of that praier without more particular explication and application That prayer expresseth not our particular wantes or estate of our heartes neither do we vnderstand those generall doctrines by the bare saying or reading yt ouer This scripture is not the grace of Gods spirit in vs It is not drawen out of the fountaine of our heartes It is not our wordes to God but his vnto vs c. It edifieth not the whole Congregation so that they may al mind one thing or say Amen Theâ—…fore and for all these reasons yt ought not and cannot be vsed of any christian either publiquely or priuatly as their praier as by many other reasons shall further apeare in the breef answere to this said Doctors Argumentes HIs first ArgumeÌ„t is thus from CHRISTS owne mouth CHRIST COMMAVNDETH CHRISTIANS to pray thus Our Father c. Therfore yt is lawful for Christians to pray so Wel said be it so a litle while be yt a commandement in these wordeâ—… when ye pray say c. It then being a commandement is of necessâ—…tie to be wholy said as yt is there sâ—…t downe and cannot be in our choice and will whether we wil say yt or no for the commandement is tied to al the wordes no commandement is in our libertie to do or leaue vndone but they that leaue yt vndone break that coÌ„mandement which coÌ„mandeth yt to be done Moreouer these wordes when ye pray are general extend to al times of our praier that whensoeuer we pray we must say those words there prescribed whensoeuer we faile â—…o to do we break this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t And thus by this Doctor his reason haue the Apostles Churches yea our Sauiour CHRIST faulted broken this coÌ„mandement so oft as he hath failed to vse these wordes in praier which wordes we can neuer find that either he or they haue vsed at any time in their praiers but that with other wordes they haue praied vve find euerie vvhere By this time you haue spunne a faire thred you haue made a goodly reason But yt is peraduenture my ignorance and want of learning that thus wrest that I vnderstand not for your Argument wil beare no such conclusion Your wordes I am sure I misaledg not CHRIST say you commandeth Christians to pray thus Our Father c. Therfore they may pray so This coÌ„mandement I trow extendeth to the veâ—…e wordes Our Father c. els your Argument maketh nothing for you or against vs. And if yt be a coÌ„mandement haue a relation to the wordes then I am sure the other conclusions wil follow as wel as this Therfore yt were better for your safety though not for your flâ—…shly credit to loose this ArgumeÌ„t then gaine this blasphemy that we consent together in this that the commandement heere stretcheth not to the wordes but rather to the doctrine sense For if yt should at all be vnderstood of those prescript wordes that the reading or saying of them might be our praier then must yt nâ—…edes be granted that this of al other were the most perfect praier both in that there is included in yt al other prayers euen whatsoeuer may lawfully of vs be asked oâ—… can of God be granted and also auoided al battologie vaine repetitions c. Wherfore yt being a praier to be vsed and the best of all praiers fitting all times occasions c. yt must needes follow of â—…ecessitie to be alwaies vsed because God is alwaies to be serued with 〈◊〉 best Yea yt must needes follow to be solely and only vsed none â—…ut that because all other praier should be but vaine babling yea open â—…mbition in putting our owne vnsufficient stuffe in the place of this â—…lsufficient praier For the best of our praiers actions are vnsufficiâ—…nt vnperfect as a stained cloth But this if yt be a praier cannot be â—…enied to be sufficient perfect and without staine THis Doctors second Argument is this EVERIE BRANCH OF THE Lords praier is a petition Therfore euerie branche is a praier For euerie meane â—…coller knoweth that the Argument followeth a specie ad genus affirmatiuè And if euerie branch be a praier then must the whole because they concerne the glorie of God our benefite needs be an excellent praier Virtus coniuncta fortior I haue before shewed how sundrie Psalmes this many other scripâ—…ures may be in some sense called praier or praiers because the Lord 〈◊〉 them by petitioÌ„ maner instructeth our weake faith how to pray vnâ—…o him how to frame our requestes our wordes how to lay hold of â—…se his promises c. Yet I haue further shewed why these scriptures â—…hus barely read or said cannot be said our praiers without further exâ—…lication application c. vnto our present needes and estates So that â—… r. Doctors learned reason followeth not for except he can proue yt â—…ur praier he saith nothing Now in that I graunt yt him by some coÌ„â—…ruction to be called a praier yt is to auoide contention about wordes â—…or els they would neuer leaue vrging the synonimie betwixt a petitioÌ„â—…nd a praier vvhich in all tongues signifie one thing Now then Mr. â—…octors reason in his owne sense is but thus much Euery branche â—…f the Lordes prayer is a prayer Therfore euerieÌ„ branch of the Lords â—…rayer is a prayer Need he to haue shewed his deep learning and hard â—…ogicall rules a specie ad genus affirmatiuè for this stout reason I would haue â—…hought he might haue learned to haue made as good a reason as this â—…t home and neuer haue trauailed to Cambridg for yt For if this reaâ—…on hould he may proue himself a learned a wise or an honest man â—…r the falsest and absurdest thing of the world It is so therfore yt is so vvould here know of his Docterhood vvhither praier or Petition â—…e the Genus and vvhich is the Species in this his logicall reason or if he â—…et yt alone and trouble not himself now any further with the matter seing he hath fethered his nest and hath got that he al this while waiâ—…ed for I am content for I am not greatly desirous to learne away this â—…is cunning To the matter in controuersie I denie that scripture which he
calleth â—…he Lords praier or any one particular branch of yt properly to be said â—… praier that is such an exercise or offring as the Saintes by the â—…orke of the Spirit in them offer vnto God through IESVS CHRIST â—…either followeth y t because euerie branch conteineth either a requesâ—… request of some benefite or the deliuerance from some euil that therfore yt is a praier For this yt is as yt is written in the booke though yt be neuer read therfore I may by M â— Some his reason Logick conclude that the booke also praieth because all these branches are in the booke and all these branches are such praiers Neither yet doth the reading of these scriptures make yt a praier any more then the reading of the scripture maketh a sermon there is required a litle more worke of the Spirit in both In the onâ—… to the explication application of the scripture read in the other to the powring out expressing the desireâ—… and estate of the heart in faith For yt sufficeth not that al our wantes or whatsoeuer we can aske or stand in need of are there expressed what booteth that me I can aske or receaue no more then mine owne faith extendeth vnto An enwrapped faith will not serue or saue me this were to conclude because iâ—… the bible is all wisdome and Doctoâ—… Some hath the bible therfore he hath al wisdome In this scripture iâ—… all praier therfore wheÌ„ I haue said or read this scripture I haue praied all maner of praier What pitifull blind yea popish pernicious reâ—…sons are these For saith this Doctor he is vnlearned that knoweth not that all petitions are contayned within the compasse of may be deduced from the Lordes praier Therfore when we reade or say the Lordes praier we pray for the Queene for the Nauie c. and all other petitioâ—…s that we need inclusiuely that vntill I can proue that all petitions are not therin concluded I gaine nothing by this reason in thaâ—… I alledge that neither our particular nor present wantes are therin expressed and therfore yt cannot be said our praier Doth this Doctoâ—… know what either faith or praier meaneth Can any thing be deuised more popish or idolatrous then this popish in that he maketh praieâ—… without faith vnderstanding or knowledg of the thing we say yea giueth meed to the verie saijng ouer these wordes Idolatrous in that hâ—… putteth holines and vertue in the wordes vnderstood For let me aske of him which way that can be said a priuate praier where my wordâ—… expresse not my heart were yt not rather an idle superstitious or fond futilitie a taking of the Lordes name in vaine I would also vnderstand of him whether any such publike praier may be vsed in the congregation which is not vnderstood of all and whither to the simpleâ—… sort he might not almost pray in an vnknowen tongue as well or hoâ—… should they vnderstand this without some particuler explicatioÌ„ or application Therfore by these vnfallible reasons we may conclude thâ—… this scripture neither any other can be vsed either priuatly or publikly as our praier without some further worke of the Spirit in vs. But he hath for this an euasioÌ„ namely that our knowledg is here buâ—… in part and therfore we may vnderstand in measure and so haue vse oâ—… this as a praier If he meane priuate praier though I in some measuâ—… may by such a speedy reading vnderstand somwhat yet this vnderstanding nothing expresseth so much as instructeth my present heaâ—… therfore yt cannot be said or vsed as my praier For euerie knowledg â—…r vnderstanding maketh not praier neither doe we heere reason of â—…ecret or inward praier but of pronounced praier Yf he meane pubâ—…ike praier yt is manifest that whole Ioaues vnbroken vp or vndeuiâ—…ed may not be set before children especially in their praiers which 〈◊〉 a publike actioÌ„ of the whole church must be vnderstood of the â—…hole church But be yt graÌ„ted him to be vnderstod of al the church â—…et euerie braÌ„ch being so infinite froÌ„ whence spring are deriued so â—…any infinite petitioÌ„s how now in this case shal they al w th one heart â—…e mind and one mouth be said to praise God when their mindes 〈◊〉 thus discracted their thoughtes dispersed one about one thing 〈◊〉 other about an other euen so many seueral as there are diuersitie â—…f thinges in the world of conceites and armies of thoughts in men â—…me shal aske priuate thinges whiles others aske publike How â—…ould this be auoided though al the church were as learned as this â—…octor mistaketh himself to be And this we know that publike praiâ—…rs must so be made as they may be with ane accord that all may be â—…nderstood that all may say Amen But saith this Doctor I then take away the vse of this Scripture â—…o but the abuse rather For how should yt now be vsed as a praier â—…ithout these popish errors grosse absurdities and heinous idolatrie â—…herin this popish Doctor al the priestes of the laÌ„d fal whiles they â—…se yt some of them saying yt for all their wantes at once that they â—…ight soone haue done others fiue times in a morning next their â—…eart for al the weeke after or vntil wednesday or friday that they â—…aue seruice againe Other more smooth hypocrites yet as grosse dolaters vse yt as a close or supplie forsooth to their loÌ„g prolixe â—…raiers coÌ„ceaued before with this preaÌ„ble FOR THESE al other graâ—…es necessarie let vs say the Lords praier What can be more grosse â—…opish idolatrous supersticious theÌ„ this doe they not heerby put hoâ—…nes in the wordes why should they els vse theÌ„ after they haue praieâ—…â—…s God hath giuen theÌ„ vtterance by his Spirit doe they not fall into â—…he same errors abuses inconueniences aboue shewed confuted Heere I had like to haue forgotteÌ„ one of our Doctors maine reaâ—…ons which he bringeth to shut vp the point that is this yt hath â—…men added in the end therfore yt is a praier Had yt not beene pittie â—…o haue lost this reason why your A. b. c. before the catechisme of the â—…hurch of England hath both the signe of the crosse â—…ittle title est Amen â—…et I neuer heard yt taken for a praier Christ himself is called Amen â—…hal I therfore say that he or the whole written word of God which is â—…alled Amen also is a praier Moreouer I find yt after Luke without AmeÌ„ â—…ea without For thine is the kingdome the power c. now would I know of â—…ou after which Euangelist I must say yt And thus being wearied â—…ith your friuolous reasoÌ„s nothing refreshed with your vnsauorie â—…arren notes wherwith whiles you would haue opened you haue roiâ—…ed shut vp those heauenly puâ—…e fountaines neither yet resting in â—…our interpretation of much lesse in your collection from this word Amen I betake you when you
â—…hewed to be wholly deriued from their mother Church of Rome â—…n the same idolatrous maner times seasons so there now remaiâ—…eth an other new kind of fast invented and brought in by the learâ—…ed ministry of the land such as sue and seeke for the reformâ—…tion of â—…he Church this without the licence or allowance of their LL. the BBâ—… This fast I know not from whence yt was brought whither from GENEVA or els where in despight yt should seeme of the fastes vsed by the Iewes in the primitiue Churches Here the learned priestes preachers lay their heades togither choose out 3 or 4 â—…roÌ„ amongst â—…hem to preach One of them must play Sinne an other the Iudgments of God the third Repentance the fourth the Gospel The people are solemnely â—…idden from al quarters to this Stageplay who at the first invention of â—…t flocked in thick and threefold to behold this noueltie There â—…e that plaieth sinne frameth himself cunningly to his auditory that â—…e offend none of his great Cananites nor rich gluttons but especialâ—…y hauing regard vnto his first othe at the taking of his antichristian ministerie when he forsware Christ and the faith vnto his Lord the 〈◊〉 bound himself not to speake against anie thing by publike authoritie established c. he hath great regard not to medle with any of these matters least he awake the sleepy dogg know not how to â—…pease him againe or recouer his credit and estimation with him Wherfore I warrant you there is no sinne against the firâ—…t Table in the land except yt be among such as stil remayne Papistes recusantes c. and such as will customably blaspheme the name of God and also such as doe not diligently inough countenanâ—…e the preaching â—…riestes I should say as frequent not their sermons c. but otherwise â—…or the state of the Church there is nothing amisse but flourisheth maruailously abounding with such learâ—…ed Prieâ—…tes as no Church in â—…he world hath the like yet I must say as I haue heard let the auditorie be such as vvill back them and they wil haue a fling at the BB s iâ—… some eloquent DELPHICK darke speaches such as may be retracted or haue a double construction as shal more apeare vvhen vve come to their maner of preaching If they were remoued they had the discipline of the Apostles in their parishes then all were wel there is nothing els vvanting amongst them And for this all that mourne in the chine and sigh in secret for yt though neither Priest nor people know vvhat yt meaneth yet they must now fast and then they haue done their duties to y e ful the fault is not in them but in God almighty that they haue yt not Such a priest as this is a blazing star a parragon of a Countrie one of the new found MARTINES SAINCTS And such people are Puritans or Martinistes praecisians though both priest and people for all this glosing and hypocrisie vvith God the world stand still vnder the BBs antichristian yoke the one administring the other receauing all their detestable vvares markes But to returne againe to this their fast if you come now to the second Table of the law ô they are seuere men they vvill make a conscience to tremble Yf there be euer an vsurer or a Drunkard or an vvhoremaister they vvill so bebayt him as he vvill not loue a sermon againe a goodwhile Yet for all this vvhen they meet a brode they are good frendes especially vvhen they meet at the Sacramentes then they forgiue one another from the bottome of their heartes Now here must be noted by the way that these kind of persons are not indeed the most beneficiall to these fastiâ—…g pharisaicall Preachers lightly will not goe further then by law he must needes vvhich is to pay him his tithes and offringes c. But in their companie they delight not neither wil bid them home to their houses or magnifie them and therfore these men must beare vvith them if in the pulpit when they are rauished with zeale of the Lord they haue now theâ—… a gird at them to ease their stomackes especially now for fashion sake As for al the rest of their auditorie there is no such sinne amongst them and therfore they shalbe exhorted to confesse all their sinnes in thought word or deed vnto the Lord to acknowledg their euill waies and powre out their heartes before the Lord to sorrow and mourne and if they haue any voluntarie teares to help the Priest to weep for that present though neither their euil waies be shewed them but as hath beene said most cunningly hid and couered from their eies least they should see and auoid them Neither in their priuate conuersation offices houses are their sinnes by the light and power of the word discouered vnto them or they called to the practise of their duties least they indeed should theÌ„ espie the deceit of these miserable guides that haue made them beleeue they stood in Gods fauour all this time and detesting their perfidy and hypocrisie should returne vnto the Lord. And thus being exhorted to â—…ament and repent their sinnes they know not and to returne to the Lord the priest that plaieth the last part will heale them all with the Gospell dismisse them with the peace and blessing of God be they neuer so many least they should wound weak consciences c. Thus is this solemne fast ended When the PP haue said their certaine the people dismissed where I trow for that night is no talke either by the way as they goe home or at their supper but how excelleÌ„tly such a man such a man did The priestes themselues that tooke this paines are bestowed at some of their hostes or good dames houses where at night they recompence their fasting mourning with good cheare and ease As for the next day by that time they haue slept of the matter al is quite forgotten euerie man vpon hiâ—… ould biace againe euen as they were wont to be they are no changelings priest people in the same idolatry profannes c. that before Thus doe these prophetes not only not discouer the sinne of the laÌ„d vnto the people by their preachmentes and long pharisaical praiers but soder them therin and strengthen their handes thâ—…rwith that no man caÌ„n depart from iniquitie but dissemble also with God himself and wearie him with these their abhominable praiers hypocritish fastes counterfaiting a great sorrow heauines for their sinnes aflicting their soules for a peece of a day bowing downe the head as a bulrush c. not loosing the bandes of wickednes nor taking off the heauie burthens and letting the oppressed goe free or breaking the heauie yokes nor executing iudgment or releeuing the widowe and fatherles but refusing to hearken pulling away the shoulder stopping their eares making their heartes as an adamant stone least they should heare the â—…aw the
seale the blessing of God to faith to come when God only blesseth his owne ordinance curseth al transgression therof therfore faith is rather to purge yt by bitter teares repentance then to ioy in yt iustifie yt But here then wil dangerous concâ—…usions be drawen against vs if pâ—…pish baptisme be no true sacrament THEN IS THE Prince and all the ancient peeres of the laÌ„d vnbaptised yea they wil conclude against our selues that we also are vnbaptised seing we for the reasons aboue said hold not the sacramentes administred in the Church of England at this present to be true seales of the couenant and fauor of God then ought all vpon paine of neglect of the holy ordinance of God to seeke the seale of the couenaÌ„t but this now cannot be had because we haue now in all Europe no ministery to deliuer ytâ—… â—…all the ministerie both of this land and al these knowen partes of the world being sprung from and ordained by the Church of Rome For all the protestantes when they forsooke the Sea of Rome yet left not that ministerie they then had but exercised by vertue of that ministerie without any new ordination c. But if we denie the Church of Rome to be a Church then how should the ministerie made by yt be a true ministerie and so is all the ministerie of this laÌ„d throwne to the â—…arth both LL. BB s. parish priestes curates preachers all Neither saith D. S. can this euer be recouered For if the baptisme in the Church of Rome be not a true sacrament then are all the people vnbaptised If the people be vnbaptised then can they not chuse a minister because saith he they are not as yet by baptisme ingraffed into the visible Church neither may they vntil they be baptised be admitted to the communion c. These reasons no doubt are strong and sure if we find not a better solution then the CLERK of OXENFORD hath as yet made in the behalf of M r. PENRY For if the church of Rome be no true Church 〈◊〉 the ministers made therin are no true ministers for by his owne aâ—…d that a true position WHERE THERE IS no Church there is no calling but all the ministers of the Church of England were made either in the Church of Rome or by vertue of that ministerie fetched from the Church of Rome that within the memorie yea within half the age of a man therfore we may by his owne reason conclude all this ministerie both BB s. PP s. to be Romish antichristian false so the sacramentes by them deliuered are no true sacramentes Let him by all the vvit craft and sophistrie in his budget auoid this reason Againe if the baptisme of the Church of Rome were not true baptisme then were all the people vpon the change of that Religion vnbaptised for ther was no other baptisme then deliuered but that being vnbaptised they haue neither right nor power to chuse or execute any ministerie deliuer or receaue the other Sacrament vntil they haue baptisme For none vncircumcised in flesh might eate the Passouer or offer any maner of gift in the Temple And thus we see neither haue these ministers of the Church of England power to deliuer Sacramentes they themselues being both vnbaptised and also no true ministers as aboue is manifestly conuinced neither haue the people vnbaptised any power to receaue the Sacraments or meanes to redresse these mischiefes vntil either a third Eliah or second Ihon Baptist come downe from heauen to restore this defection YfM â— Penrie prouide not better stuffe for his owne defence then his frend of Oxenford hath as yet brought I can tell him this that both he his coÌ„panions must become Brownistes as they to the dishonour of Christ terme vs or els this popish Doctor wil preuaile against theÌ„ for that most odious and vnchristian flatterie of her Maiestie wil neither couer nor cure this sore It wil not suffise to say that her maiestie is perswaded in conscience that she is baptised therfore she need no other baptisme though she as yet haue receaued none Neither wil yt help the matter to say the Bishop or priest which administreth the communion vnto her knoweth not so much therfore shee may still run on in this course vnbaptised Neither will al the colourable and deceitful ArgumeÌ„tes drawen for the assurance of her saluation help this case or doe her any good if she remayne and be found in open and wilful yea presumptuons transgression contempt or neglect of Gods ordinance There is but one common saluation for all men of all degrees both Prince and people the law of God remaineth sure foreuer can for no estate or person be changed None can be a member of a planted Church but such as are baptised This we see by circuÌ„cisioÌ„ y e commoÌ„ seale to al that were within the couenaÌ„t to the Church their seed This was the practise of Christ his Apostles they that were baptised were added nuÌ„bred to the Church not vntil theÌ„ receaued into y e fellowship how frendly and wel affected soeuer they were vnto the Church Now then the state standing thus that the baptiâ—…me dâ—…livered in the Church of Rome is no baptisme the ministerie there giueÌ„ no ministerie c this so apparantly prooued after his syllogistical manner by this Scholler of Oxenford how can her Maiestie any longer be ignorant or that Congregation to which she ioineth if ther were any such that she they all are vnbaptised Seing the matter is published in print spread abroad through al partes of the land the glooue cast downe with open challenge to maintaine the same against al opponentes wel this being knowen with what conscience can either that minister deliueâ—… or she that people receaue the Lordes supper in this estateâ—… seing none vnbaptised may receaue yt but is subiect to the same cuâ—…se that the vncircumcised were which were admitted to the Passouer how caÌ„ they now that they see thsn estate commit further sinne sacriledge and violate the whole order Testament of Christ by plunging themselues into further transgression and seking no remedie to auoide this Baptisme he saith is not the cause but the seale of saluation they may be saued which were neuer baptised I graunt all this where yt can by no meanes to had but I hope they wil not so say that yt can not be had with them and that the matter is not come to that passe from the most floorishing estate of a Church in Europe and that so sodainly with opening but one gap Then haue Mr. Peâ—…rie and D. S. spunne a faire thred let them take heed for a few of these ArgumeÌ„tes wil make as many as haue sight grace or câ—…science Brownictes as this schâ—…ller blasphemeth them But what remedie for this mischeif seing al now are vnbaptised where
baptised with the inward baptisme of the Spirit though she want the outward neuer seek yt it skilleth not Wil not the two learned Doctors iudge this to be flat Anabaptistrie to seperate from and oppose the inward Spirit against the reuealed word of God as though they that had that inward grace and earnest of their adoption need not the outward signe ought not to seek yt yea that which yet is more deeply set will they not and may they not iustly say that you hould and teach the verie maine groundes of all Anabaptistriâ—… namly that so they be moued by the inward spirit they may go to any vnlawful action so their owne heart coÌ„demne them not they need not feare though the action be euil other men condemne them for they stand or fall to their owne maister els would you neuer haue giuen the Prince councell being in your iudgment vnbaptised because â—…he hath receaued inward grace as you say therfore not to seeke the outward seale which euerie member of the established Church must receaue Because she hath this inward grace therfore she may without doubting present her self to the Lordes Table to receaue the holy supper though she haue not beene ingraffed or receaued into the Church by outward baptisme especially that she will still perswade her self that she in the popish Church receaued yt for tâ—…is is in her no sinful ignorance that seing she hath receaued great comfort often times in the communion in that manner by these ministers aboue said administred vnto her in this estate she may stil vpon the scholler of Oxford his warrant aduenture to fetch more there be the action neuer so sacrilegious execrable and repugnant to Gods word Shal not these grosse blind Doctors who are in deed y e verie sepulchre of all rottennes yet explode and detest these Anabaptistical phantâ—…sies shal not the glorious 〈◊〉 of Christ which you would seeme to affect and plead though I 〈◊〉 heard of such scoffing diuines to help vp Christs kingdome through this your hatefull flattery hypocrisie dissembling suffer great blame and reproch because in deed you feare the faces of men more then you feare God dare more bouldly preach these and manie other apparant lies then the truth which are better accepted of all men in these miserable and corrupt times To their appetites and humors you transforme and apply Christ making him a Sauiour to euery rich glutton liue as profanely and wickedly as he list for your bellies sake You seek to bring Christ in by the arme of flesh and not by the power of his word and vertue of his Spirit into the heartes and coâ—…sciences of men because in deed you dare not publish that truth you know practise yt in a good conscience enduring cheerfully with patience what soeuer may be inflicted vpon you for the same by this euil and sinful generation wheras now you dare neither belieue nor affirme any more of Gods truth then either is already publikely receaued or els confirmed by some of your authentike Authors M â— CALVINE M r BEZA D. FVLKE thus holding dissembling the faith of Christ in respect of persons times and I wote not what pollicies As though the truth of God were not alwaies in season alwaies necessarie alwaies authentike And therfore God hath taken you in your owne pollicies and subtelties deliuered you into the handes of your â—…nemies whome you so skoffed and skorned and certainly vnles you repent and turne vnto him he wil make you euen a reproch vnto al men as vnsauorie salt that can neither season nor be seasoned with any thing And in deed we poore persecuted ChristiaÌ„s whome you so despise and blasphemie baptising vs into the name of Browne as though we had either deriued or hold our faith of him or any mortal man or elâ—… were detected and convinced of some notorious heresies thus adding afflictions vnto our bandes whereas your selues dare not affirme nor abide by that Christ is the Sonne of God if any persecution should arise therfore we poore persecuted Christians I say are so far from reioicing to see you thus ensnared and foiled that we euen grieue and blush for shame that so glorious a cause should be so euil handled of you Why could not the sacred scriptures haue giueÌ„ light to the deciding this doubt and vndoing this knot but that the one side must runne to M r. CALVINE aâ—…d he must be iâ—…star mille the other to D. FVLKE â—…d he must be put in the other ballance as a counterpoise and these being directly contrarie the one to the other the one holding the Church of Rome to be a Church though corrupted defaced with other such ignorant rotten tearmes that belong not to a true Church the baptisme there deliuered to be a true sacrament though there were neither lawful minister faithful people nor the institution of Christ kept in the elementes and manner of deliuering In which opinion though yt be altogether without grownd of the word or common sense yet the one he wil rest because yt best fitteth his popish turne and fleshly appetite to couer al the abhominations which are deriued from the Church of Rome and stil as holy relikeâ—… kept reserued and worshipped in this Church of England The other side erecteth D. FVLKE as their patrone and giueth him a garland in his graue because he hath vtterlie denied the Church of Rome in any sort to be held a true Church brought in that famous monument of that pontifical prelate the dowghtie S. Ihon of Beuerlay that depriued the ignorant doggbolt priest as he termeth him disanulled the Baptisme that he had deliuered and rebaptised the yongman Now though no one iote of this priest of Beuerlay his doing be allowable by Godes word for there it is not found that either one man may make or depriue a minister in the Church of God or that the outward signe of Baptisme thus giuen ought to be repeated yet because this verie wel fitteth their humors to disgrace the dumb priestes and magnifie the preaching priestes and for some other private respectes therfore forsooth this side wil as peremptorily with as litle truth rest in M EVLK his iudgment and he shal want no figures nor flowres y t CaÌ„bridg or Oxford caÌ„ afford to deck his hearse withal And when think you if both sides thus confidently betake them to their captaines shall they be accorded and meet in the truth when they are both so wilful and thus far from yt or how shal the poore people which are led by these miserable guides euer come to the sight of the truth Vndoubtedly Christ is not thus deuided neither is the spirit of God thus diuers and contrary or the word of God yea and nay There is but one truth one way which neither of these aduerse guides haue as yet found and as yt should seeme though yt
prophannesse excesse in gluttonie in apparel let the idlenes wantonnes vanitie with the idolatrie aboue spoken of vsed vpon the Lords day shew how well the fourth commandement is taught and obserued in the Church of England Let the common ryot headstrong disobedien◅e and contempt of al the children and seruants euen of al the youth of the land the due punishment wherof is here neither spoken of nor executed let their profane vaine idle educatiō shew how wel the 5 Cōmandement is taught and obserued in the Church of England Let the continual open iarres fraies murther bloodshed in euerie corner of the land without either censu◅e or p◅nishment yea the vsual pardons that they giue for the same shew how well the sixth Commandement is taught in the Church of England Not heere to speake of the cōmon contentions wrangles iarres sutes wrongs of the wrath heartburning malice enuie cursed speaking reuiling nicknaming reproching blaspheming that are rife amongst them Let the general vnclennes whoredome adulterie which neuer abounded more in SODOME so that almost there is not one amongst them that hath his wife chast or their bed priuate Let their maner of punishing purging this sinne shew how wel they teach and keep this commandement Not here to speake of their exquisite arts and curiositie in setting out their beautie to the view their prodigious shapes whorish atyres dissolute immodest behauiours entising and alluring wordes wherwith they prouoke vnto lust all which in this Church are made no sinnes but matters of comlines curtesie loue c. And that your grauest best conscienced preachers think not themselues in this case without blame let them examine their corrupt consciences how m◅ny of their cheif hearers deuou◅ proselites they know both men women that know such crimes ech by other and yet for filthie lucre or fleshly respects continue together Let the publike open general thefts violence robberies wrongs and either their permission or their corrupt and vnlawfull punishing the ◅ame shew how the eyght cōmandemēt is tought Not here to speake of the priuy more secret nay truly of the opē falshode deceit couē in all trades offices callings estates degrees persons What should I ◅tand to prosecute the rest Let the generall deceit swearing forswearing backbiting slaundering the insatiate coueting lusting c. shew ◅ow well they teach obserue the other lawes And as they deale with the lawes and iudgmentes so handle they in like maner the ◅rophets which are the faithful expounders of the lawes al which to demonstrate in particuler were an endles vnacheuable laboure And if these general corruptions errors transgressiōs be so infinite what is to be thought of their perticuler personal errors which they in their publicke doctrine and daily ministery sparse abrode euen as that flood of bitter wate◅s which the Dragō casteth forth of his mouth and the miserable people of the earth swallow vp partly through their general blindnes partly through their seruile subiection which haue not the power or libertie publikely to controule or censure any error be yt neuer so blasphemous Whervpon is come about that euerie one taketh boldnes to vtter in their pulpyts what him listeth so he speake not against any thing by publick authoritie established he may handle the word of God after his owne fancie and abownd in his owne sense Whervpō arise such an innumerable heape of errors so m◅nie diuerse variable inconstant contrarie opinions amongst them that as the ignorant papistes say yt is impossible to find two of them in one mind and iudgment yea in any two Churches of the land to heare the same doctrines taught because in deed they preach either their owne dreames and phantasies or els their lucubrations out of humane writings who are almost of as diuers sundrie opinions as themselues Yet if any of these authors be with the BB◅ priuiledg then are they authentick irrefragable called by both sides the faith of the Church of England and not to be impugned or gainsayed without the censure of most high presumption Thus hath God in his iust iudgment deuided the tongues confounded the language of these Babiloni◅h builders that they almost agree not in or vpon any thing one preaching one thing an other the quite contrarie one building after this sort another after that one calling for this law this thing an other for that Thus is their kingdome deuided their estate confused and their house shal shortly be left vnto them desolate Many and innumerable excuses shifts cauils they daily knit wea◅e and forge to couer their detestable dealings and hide their waies from the Lord both by peruerting the scriptures thervnto and diuerting them by their sophistrie and putting them away be they neuer so directly against them with all which their poisoned diuises yt is not my purpose nor yet in my power here to meddle they being already so infinite and their forge daily going to frame new Only this from the mouth of the Lord I warne al men of They are but Cockatrice egges that they disclose hatch but spiders webbes that they weaue their egges are full of deadly poison he that eateth of them dieth he that is but sprinkled with them or treadeth vpon them is as if he were stung with a Viper or Scorpion their webbes shall not be for cloth neither shal they couer thēselues with their deeds their workes are the works of iniquitie and the worke of violence in their hands c. The work the workmen shalbe consumed together The wall th◅ dawbers shall both fal and be ouerthrowne in the storme of the Lords wrath all their turning of diuises though they build as high as heauen dig as deep as hell shall not couer them from the eies or defend them from the hand of the Lord but rather as the Prophet saith in an other place they shall pull al downe vpon their heads by the same meanes wherby they thought to vphold yt For saith he this iniquitie shalbe vnto them as a breach that falleth as a swelling in an high wall whose breaking cōmeth sodainly in a moment the sentence is gone out from the Lord yt ◅asteneth to be performed BABILON shal fall be vtterlie destroied together with al their substance people pleasures euil cōmeth vpon her and she shall not know the morning therof destruction shal fall vpon her sodainly ere she be aware the multitude of her diuines and inchanters shall neither deliuer her from nor discouer vnto her these euils but they shalbe as stubble and the fire shall burne them together with her This is the end of all their cunning learning which you see they employ not to publish and proclaime the Lords truth so much as to suppresse darken the same hoping therby to hide their owne counterfait dealing which the Lord wil haue no longer couered but reuealeth their wickednes vnto all men that those which haue any feare or
loue of God or care of their owne saluatioÌ„ might saue their soules froÌ„ their murtherous mouthes and follow the deceitful miserable guides no further in the crooked mooueable pâ—…thes of their inuentions noâ—… stay any longer in the steppes of that flocke but to come forth from amongst them vnto that true shepheard of ISRAEL which so graciously seeketh calleth them that he may bring them to Zion that Citie of ioy that mountaine of holines that heauenlie inclozed paradise where he feedeth watereth his kiddes with the fruits and water of that â—…ree that riuer of life which so far passeth that earthly garden or parke where ADAM was first placâ—…d as that excelled the wildernes of Kadesh or as the heauen passeth the earth or in deed as the true substance the shadow type Which grace that you may find apprehend as yt is the chiefe end of this my present writing so is yt my continual praâ—…er vnto the Lord herein resting being assured of this that all CHRISTS sheepe will heare his voice but a false Propher or a stranger they will not heare or follow Such are al these your ministers preachers apparantly proued vnto you to be by all the markes which God in his word hath set downâ—… to know them by False Prophets they are in that they perswade vnto 1 â—…rror 2 transgressioÌ„ 3 idolatrie 4 apostacie Deut. 13. 2. False Prophets they are in that they prophecie vnto this sinfull land in this corrupt estate peâ—…ce prosperitie lâ—…r 28. 8. False Propheâ—…s they are in that couer all the â—…inne of the land with the name of the Lord of the church Gospel Sacraments c. Ier. 7. 4. 18. 18. Micah 2. 7. False Prophets they are in that they dawbe the muddy wall of this corrupt apostaticall estate with their vntempered sermoâ—…s Ezek. 13. 10. c. False Prophets they are in that they prophecie in the name of so many Baalims Baal Bishop Baal Patron those Baalims to whome they stand chaplens Ier. 23. 13. False Prophets they are in that they prophecie for hire sel their cuning Ezek. 13. 4. 19 Miâ—…h 2. 11. 3. 11. Math. 10. 8. False Prophets they are in that they handle not the word of God sincerely faithfully but ioine yt to all the wickednes of the laÌ„d c. Ier. 23. 28. 29. 1 Thes. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Ezek. 34. 18. False Prophets they are in that they blow not y e trumpet but yeild vnto the enemie are scilenced at their coÌ„mandement Ezek. 33. 6. Isa. 56. 10. Ier. 1. 17. False Prophets they are in y â— they are meÌ„ pleasers vailers pillow sowers Ezek. 13. 18. â—…al 1. 10. False Prophets they are in y â— with their sweet toÌ„guâ—…s they allure deceaue nourish and hold all the prophane people in idolatrie and sinne Ier. 23. 17. 31 32. Strangers they are from the coÌ„mon welth of 〈◊〉 in that they are not gathered to CHRIST their head but stand members of the faâ—…se Church vnder Antichrist Ephes. 2. 12. Mat. 12. 30. Strangers they are in that they execute a strange office vnheard of in the Church or Testament of CHRIST Rom. 12. 7. 8. Strangers in that they are not called of God vnto their office but entred ascended an other way Ioh. 10. 1. â—… c. Heb. 5. 4. Nu. 16. 5. 40. Stragers they are in that they exâ—…rcise a counterfait antichristian rouing idolatrous ministrie in the falâ—… Church Deut. 32. 17. 2 Chron. 11. 15. Amos. 5. 26. Iude. Strangers in that they haue thâ—…ir original fâ—…oÌ„ the apostatical chaire of Antichrist which they still guard vphould fighâ—…g vnder his flag against CHRIST his Gospel the faithâ—…ull witnesses therof Râ—…u 9. 3. 12. Reu. 13. 13. 14. 16. 1â—… Blind false guides and seducers they are in that they lead the people in the waâ—…es of darknes and death promising them liberty reformation c. when they themselues stand bondsâ—…ruants of corruption Prouerâ—… 2. 13. c. Math. 15. 14. Hebr. 6. 1. 2 Pet 2. 19. 2 Tim. 3. 6. 7. False builders deceâ—…tfull work men in that they neither gather vnto nor build vpon the true foundation CHRIST and his word but gather vnto build vpon 〈◊〉 his traditions and so destroy thesoules of al that are built in this their Church 2 Corint 1â—… 13. â—… Coriâ—…t 3. 9. c. Ephes. 2. 20. 21. 22. They are powred out in the error of Balaâ—…m for wage in that they sel their diuinitie to Gods enemies Iude. 11. The way of Caine they follow in that they murther the faithfull by daily reproches vitupeâ—…ie and slaunders Iud 11. â—… Ioh. 3. 12. The truth of theâ—…e things you may read see in the scriptures the proof of al these you may see in their standing doctrines practise duly compared vnto truly examined by the rules of Gods word Now yt râ—…maineth that you be warned obey the calling of God disterminate your selues from amoÌ„gst them least you despise the grace of God against youâ—… owne soules and he giue you vp to their delusions Let such as take offenâ—…e at my sharpe maner of writing against these their esteemed learned preachers before they condemne my spirit 〈◊〉 yt whether these iudgments be the Lords or no. Then let them examine vnpartially whither these men be not vnder the same in such â—…aner as I haue said As for me what am I that I should alter or what is man that he should controlâ—… the Lords iudgmentâ—…s in loosing that which he bindeth or holding in veneration that which he hath in detestation or to giue titles vnto any in their sinne that were to call CHRIST execrable yea to make my self guiltie of the same sin iudgment which the Lord now coÌ„mandeth me to denounce against them Of the affection intent of my heart I make the searcher of al hearts Iudg euen whether I desire not their saluation as mine owne They that iudg the medecine too sharpe me an austere vnskilful physician should do well for the first to examine the ingredients by that heauenly herbal and the whole confection together by the practise of that great physician and his disciples For the ingredients I haue prefixed vnder euerie branche leafe the bough roote where I gathered them For the composition confection I haue desired to follow our Sauiour CHRIST in his conferences where he reproued the priests Scribes Phariseis of his time whiles he liued heere amongst them in the flesh desiring you to pervse the 21. 22. 23. chap. of Maâ—… comparing them to the other Euangelistes and vnto zach 11. I haue also followed the Prophets Apostles who alwaies dealt most sharply with the false Prophets and false Teachers of their times how great estimation or shew of learning soeuer they caried and haue leâ—…t vnto vs perpetuall doctrines to doe the like both to watch discouer auoide false Prophets which shall arise within
seuerity of God who is the iudg beholder of this church against all inordinate walkers contumatious offendors therin From euerie word almost of which epistle may an argument be drawen to proue the inuiolable excellencie perpetual necessitie of Christs orders and ordinances left in his Testament for the building direction gouernment of his Church It will not heere helpe them to say that the ministerie gouernment of Christ are eternall in respect of the couenant end in that they lead to the kingdome of heauen or in respect of the perpetuitie of the doctrine of the Gospell or in respect of the inward rule worke his holy Spirit hath in our heartes and is not vnderstood of the perpetuitie and necessitie of that outward order of gouernment administration left and practized by Christs Apostles These ignorant cauils will not helpe them For this self same couenant of life euerlasting touching the end had the Iewes and all the faithful that euer were They were all ◅aued through faith in Christ seene apprehended by the eie of faith though not yet exhibited in the flesh vnto them The difference of the couenant thē was not in the e◅d to which yt tended so mu◅h as in the present Church ministerie things administred orders ordinances worship worshippers c. the couenāt being made to these outward ritual figures and ceremonies but vntil the substance should be Ihewed and Christs heauenlie Church ministerie erected to which then the Iewes al men were called to which now the couenant is only made As for the truth perpetuitie of the doctrines of the gospel they were the same from the beginning that they are now Christ was before all beginnings that wisdome word of God Christ was the fulfilling of al the Prophets who foreshewed of him But if they meane by doctrine Gospell that heauenly ministerie sacramentes exercises and cōmunion of the Church which are peculiar vnto the Gospell according to the rules prescribed in Christs Testament then is the question graunted me without the due obseruati◅n of which rules they can haue no true ministerie sacraments exercises communion Gospel as I shall straight way shew Now as fo◅ this inward gouernment sanctificatiō they speake of where Christ reigneth in their hearts by the power of his Spirit c. I say that the Spirit of God may not cānot be seuered from the word of God They that openly willingly breake the least of Gods lawes boast of a false gift when they speake of their inward sanctification Christ doth not reigne in the heart of anie that wil not submit all their outward actions to be ruled by him also Christ will haue the whole man both bodie soule to serue him he parteth not with Antichrist or Beliall This is one of the Anabaptistical errors wherby the reforming prea◅ers defend their popish ministerie They say they haue Christ◅ inward calling to the ministerie in that they haue gifts learning and fitnes therfore though they want his outward calling which they say is not of the substance of the ministerie yea though they haue a false antichristian outward calling yet are they to be esteemed as the minister◅ of CHRIST Might they not as tollerably yea with lesse offence both to God and man vsurpe the magistrates chaire without a calling inasmuch as yt is of no such excellencie or worthines as the heauenlie ministerie of CHRIST because they haue wisdome and fitnes c. But to returne againe to our purpose This inward gouernment sanctification of the Spirit had the faithful Iewes before Christ came in our flesh and before they were called to the Church and ministerie of Christ Therfore either these are no answeres or els the whole scope of that epistle to the Hebrues is vaine◅ for all these things the Iewes enioyed before they had the same couenant of saluation the same perpetuall true doctrines Gospel the same inward gouernmēt sanc◅ification of the Spirit that we haue Only because they wanted the heauenly practise ministerie of the Gospel the heauenly orders exercises and cōmunion of the Church of Christ they were called from those ritual types figuratiue shadowes wherby in their infancie and ◅onage they were trained shut vp vnto the open sight and cleare beholding of the glorie of the Lord with open face all vailes being takē away and vnto the free orderlie practise of the same Gospel according to Christs new Testamēt al trumperie traditions being abolished With what extreame desire haue all the Prophets longed after and great delight written of the excellent beawtie heauenlie gouernmēt inuiolable order of this Church How often hath Dauid in his Psalmes remembred the same with what admiration hath he expressed the absolute perfect structure of that compact citie as Salomon also liuelie described the beawtie pretiousnes iuncture of al her parts How plentifully haue the Prophets Isaiah Ezekiel zachariah and others euen with an open eye described the whole forme of the building of this Church as also all of them giuē euident testimonies of the perpetuitie of the gouernment ordinances therof How oft doth Dauid exhorte the Saint◅ to celebrate y ◠excellencie perpetuitie of Christs gouernmēt throne by how many testimonies doth he extoll proue the same as is euerie where found in the psalmes sundrie wherof the author to the Hebrewes as also the other Apostles in their sermons writings haue vsed both to proue the excellencie necessitie eternitie of and to draw mē vnto this heauenly gouernment of CHRIST in his Church The prophet Isai◅h in the 33 of his prophecie v◅rs 20. c. willeth the ◅ewes in al their calamities to behold Sio◅ that citie of their assemblies to cause their eies looke vpon Ierusalem that quiet fould that tent that shall neuer be disseuered of whose pins or stakes not one may be taken away neither shall anie of the coards therof be broken but there the mightie IEHOVAH shalbe vnto vs in place of floods of broade riuers wherin shal passe no naui◅ with oares neither shall anie great ship pass◅ through yt for IEHOVAH is our reuenger IEHOVAH is our Lawgiuer IEHOVAH is our King he shall saue vs. What can be said more plainly ◅or the inuiolable perpetuitie both of the order forme of building and also for the gouernment administratiō ordinances of CHRISTS Church Of al which as God himself is the author so you see he voweth to be the defendor and reuenger against all the power of tyrants o◅ anie mortal man whosoeuer Likewise the prophe◅ Da◅iel in his 7 chapter after he had beene shewed the calamitie tyrannie oppression done vnto the Saintes by the 4 beasts but especially by that presumptuous horne that liuelie figure foretreader of Antichrist whose mouth spake presumptuous words against the most high and consumed the ◅aints of the most high that thought he might chāge the times the
these caÌ„nons ordinances which the Apostle euerie where coÌ„firmeth with the same authoritiâ—… that he doth all his writings 2 Cor. 1. 13. 1 Cor. 11. â—… 2. 2 Thâ—…s 2. 15. Coloâ—…s 2. 5. and sundrie other places which were long to recite Moreouer how carefully and by how many reasons haue the Apostles incommended these orders statutes vnto the whole Church vnto the chief workmen builders therin what perfect lawes hath he set downe in those his epistles vnto Tiâ—…othie and Titus those two excellent workmen his trained exercised children whome he therfore calleth his natural right begotten sonns and especially commendeth them vnto the Churches as to the Corinthians epistle 1. Chap. 4. vers 17. For this causâ—…â—…aue I sent vnto you Timotheus which is my beloued sonne faithfull in the Lord who will put you in remembrance of my waies which in CHRIST as I teach euerie where in euery Church And vnto the Philippians chap. 2. 22. but ye know thâ—… proofe of him because as a sonne vnto his father he hath serued with me vnto the Gospel yet notwithstanding al this their promptnes experience we see what carefull charges the Apostles layd vpon them most precisely exactly to obserue all these rules in al their actions of y e Church towards al meÌ„ that they keepe that expresse patterne of wholsome words that they had heard of him in the faith loue that is in CHRIST IESVS calling these rules the expresse patterne or engraueÌ„ forme or delineation of all things belonging vnto or to be done in the Church charging them of their fidelity and loue both vnto CHRIST IESVS and vnto those whome they are to build to keep and alwaies to haue this true patterne and forme before their eies in all things they doe commending yt for the soundnes wholsomes therof both to the builderâ—… the builded therby For yt being the true patterne forme mould for euerie thing euery part euerie member whervnto they ought to be compared fashioned cast neither can the partes haue anie right shape neither the whole any true forme if they be not framed and built according to this patterne and then how should the building either stand or agree vnto yt self much lesse please the Lord owner of the house wheÌ„ he seeth yt thus spoiled and destroied Therfore yt behooueth both the builders and euerie one that is built to consider diligentlie after what maner order he buildeth and is built For this cause the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 3. hauing shewed how soundlie the Apostles as wiâ—…e Maister builders had laied the foundation exhorteth all that are to succeed build vpon that foundatioÌ„ to looke well how they build vpoÌ„ yt for this foundatioÌ„ wil beare nothing but gold siluer pretious stones they may not build in this house their hay timber stubble Euerie mans worke heere shalbe made manifest the day shall declare yt because yt shalbe reuealed in the fire which shall trie euery mans worke of what sort yt is Yf vpon this trial by this light yt be fownd answerable to that heauenly patterne of CHRISTS TestameÌ„t yt then abideth to the praise comfort of the workman But wherin any of these builders shal in any part of their worke whether in matter or maner as they vâ—…e to speake to couller their transgressions euen in the least thing be fownd to haue swerued froÌ„ the true patterne by this light if then vpoÌ„ such discouery made vnto them they suffer not these their workes to burne acknowledging forsaking and repenting their such errors and transgressions and withdrawing others from the like they shal not only destroie themselues by this their presumptuous sin but al such as after this discouery reproof made remaine with them and ioine vnto them in this their presumptuous sinne For saith the Apostle these mâ—… corrupt or destroie the TeÌ„ple of God which is holy which Temple ye are and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any maÌ„ corrupt or destroie the Temple of God him shal God destroie c. Wee see with what waightie graue plentiful reasons exhortatioÌ„s proues the Apostle affirmeth and confirmeth these things by euerie verse of that chapter yea almost by euery word of the verse which carry a seuerall consideration and especiall force in themselues but especially from the 8 verse vnto the end He there setteth downe the persons of the Apostles as a perpetuall example vnto all builders vnto the worlds end The practise of the Apostles as the true only foundation thâ—… eâ—…resse patterne for al buildings yea for euerie thing in euery true building vnto the worlds end Which foundation patterne he deriueth not from confirmeth not by the authority of man but by the authority of CHRIST shewing that yt is not in mans power either to laâ—… any other foundation or alter this that is laid calling yt but one the same in all places euen as CHRIST is one the same and calling euerie part of the word they deliuered fundamental as part of the verie foundation of this building and maketh not with the learned Pharisies and schoole Diuines of our age some part of CHRISTS Testament fundamental substantiall other parts therof accidental formal not necessary not of substance or esâ—…ence who thus with the deep learning of Satan abrogate what part of CHRISTS TestameÌ„t they please build their owne stubble diuises destroie the worke of God together with their owne soules y â— soules of as many as are built or led by theÌ„ And therfore the Apostles hâ—…ere calleth al builders buildings to this one only foundation of CHRISTS word TestameÌ„t charging them to make yt of all their actions whatsoeuer the only rule foundation and not as these false builders of the Church of England doe who reiecting the true patterne of CHRISTS TestameÌ„t in al things they do or goe about yet vainly boast that they hould the foundation preach practise the Gospell of Christ sincerly c. although as is said they reiect what part of Christs Teâ—…tament they list as not fundamental substantial 〈◊〉 abrogate the whole patterne of the Apostles practise mowld lay vnto themselues a new patterne a new foundation making not only new rules lawes orders for the gouernment whole administration of the Church but a new ministerie new officers new actions which are not read or heard of in the Testament of Christ yt neuer as â—…et being agreed amongst them what part of Christs Testament they allow hold for the foundation for the Gospel But in deed to say as yt is the foundatioÌ„ gospel of their Church is not yet layed to either side for though they all at this present generally embrace the Popes canons decrees oâ—… the high commission as the foundation certaine allowed writinges and priuiledged bookes for the Gospell of their Church yet keep the Prelates in their hand to coyne forge new lawes new
member of Christ a Saint or admit him as a brother amongst them in their praiers ministery contribution This is very strange diuinity to shut him out and yet to hold him in to cut him o◅f from the body yet to hold him of the body this may by logick be proued but yt neuer can be proued by Christs Testament Yet is there an other as strange a mysterie in the matter which I neuer learned in Christs Testament and that is ho◅ a member that is publikly cōuicted of and remaineth obstinate in opē sin should be shut out from the Table of y e Lord yet be receaued admitted as a member vnto the other ministe◅ie of the Church as to praiers contribution c. belike the other ministery praiers of the Church are not so holy as this supper y t such an offendor is held vnworthy to cōmunicate in therfore is shut out from the one but he is worthy inough for therfore is admitted vnto the other this is a strange censure a strange case as euer I heard of I had thought y t after the sin grew once publike being knowne dealt with by the Church if then such offenders remaine obstinate they had beene forthwith to be cut off cast out as dead withered branches not to be thus halfe shut out halfe kept in halfe cut off halfe remaine seperate frō the supper admitted to the ministery of the word praiers This is to make him halfe a brother halfe no brother halfe a christian halfe no christian But yet further seing this suspension is a publike censure of the Church for publike sin a seperation from publike exercises actions c. how chance yt is thus put in one mās power who by his absolute authoritie may keep back any one of the ◅locke from the Table of the Lord without the cōmandemēt yea the ◅riuitie of the whole church yet this me thinkes is the strāgest of al neuer heard of in y e church Testament of Christ. Christ hath giuen and committed his power to censure fault◅s persons as also the interest possession and gouernment of all officers actions to the whole Chur◅h I meane to euery such particular congregation and not vnto one particular special man aboue the rest or more then the rest Euery particular member of the Church hath like interest in the publike actions and ministery of the Church like power to censure the offences of the whole Church o◅ the greatest minister therof in due order and time as hath already in this treatise beene often plentifully proued and therfore cannot in this maner be kept backe by any one man as of his sole authority any more then they may keep back that man whatsoeuer he be I ◅peake not this to raise contentiō betwixt these where there ought to be loue and reuerence so much as to note out the popish pride of these pharisaicall Reformers that take vpon them to be Lords ouer the Church and this feast wherof if they were as good as they would be taken to be they were but seruants and guests at the best The Church yt self can neither receaue nor cast out a member as of themselues they doe yt by the power and commandement of Christ they must see faith profession therof before they receaue they must see sin obstinacie before they cut off vntil these be seene the whole Church nor all the men of the world haue not power to receaue or put by any one yf they doe the actiō is voide and the iudgment wrath of God resteth vpon them for that sin vntil they repent therof Likewise also when this profession of faith or this obstinacie in sinn is found in any then cannot the whole Church or all the men of the world keep out or keep in such without incurring the iudgment wrath abouesaid How great then is the sin iudgment of these popish Priests that not only pluck away the power of the Church from them but euen the power office of Christ from him and assume yt into their owne hands who thus dare innouate and abrogate Christs Testament reiect his wholsome excommunication as too rough bring in their deadly suspēsion in place therof and with that idol toole of that foolish shepheard smite keep out whome yt pleaseth them and as long as they list Their olde popish reason y t they bring from the power of the keies hath beene aboue refuted in y e discouery of their absolutiō proue◅ to be tied neither to the person or office of any man more thē to euery faithfull member seruant of Christ by the power of Gods word c. Yet haue I also sometimes read in some of their bookes of Church discipline as they tearme yt some other reasons for yt namely from y e law of seperation for vncleannes such as were defiled by y e dead by creeping vncleane things by issues c. were to absta◅e frō the Tabernacle for a season yea the Priest also vpon suspicion of leprie or other fowle disease might seclude such a one for certayne daies as we read in the bookes of the law plentifully frō whence they deriue both this power of the Pastor the censure of suspension I haue there read also or els my memorie greatly faileth me drawē frō Mat. 5. 23. 24. verses because he that had iniuried or offēded his brother was taught by our Sauiour Christ first to make satisfaction be reconciled thē to offer his gift c. that therfore such as had done wrong vnto or were not in charity with their neighbours are by the Priests to be kept from the Altar whervpon they inchanted offred their breaden God and now they popishly apply to the cōmunion table from hence draw their suspēsion But because I haue not their bookes with me would be loth any way to iniurie them or charge them falsly I will briefly shew the insufficiencie of these reasons and so proceed ◅asting to an end From those Leuitical lawes wherby the Priests secluded such as they suspected of vncleane diseases vntill proofe were made one way or other may no conclusion be drawen that therfore the Pastor now may suspend such as he suspecteth or rather knoweth to be infected with incurable deadly ◅bstinate sin from the communion board c. In the Leuiticall tabernacle y e priest◅ did nothing without prescript lawes there was nothing left to his discretion he had his certaine signes set him downe whervpon to seclude whervp on to pronounce cleane as also whervpon to pronounce vncleane But now vnder the Gospell where that priesthood and those lawes are quite taken away we haue now no such cōmandements of suspecting or suspending The causes heere of seperation are not bodily but spirituall not diseases of the bodie but diseases of the soule sinne which sinne when yt publikely appeareth obstinacy be added to the