other Assembly how are they confounded to call that the holy Catholike Church in one place which in another place they call a false Christianity and a deuillish Synagogue or Schoole can the Deuils Synagogue be a holy Church But if the Family or any other bee a deuillish Synagogue Gods people are commaunded to seperate from them in all Spirituall fellowship Seperate your selues from this froward generation Act. 2.40 haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull works of darknes Ephe. 5.11 1. Cor. 10.20 I would not yee should haue fellowship with Deuils in the Sacrifices of the Gentiles What fellowship hath Christ with the Deuill the Beleeeuer with the vnbeleeuer the Temple of God with Idols Therefore seperate your selues saith the Lord touch no vncleane thing and I will receiue you 2. Cor. 6.14 c. and bee a God and Father vnto you and yee shall be my Sonnes and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty Thus is seperation lawfull till they haue proued that to be the Church of Christ which they say we seperate from which we trust they shall neuer haue cause to accuse vs of Twelthly there is not any one of you that is a new Creature Answ VVHat H. Ns new Creature is all may perceiue where hee saith Crying voyce Cap. vil sect 11. For to become washed in the Loue with her pure water is the vpright washing and the true font of the Regeneration or new Birth And the second Birth out of the Holy Ghost is in the Oldnesse of time whē the dayes of the patience of Christ in the obedience of the holy and Gracious word Exhort 1. Cap. 7. sect 29.31 and her seruice of Loue are fulfilled that then the holy Ghost becōmeth powred forth through Iesus Christ ouer them all that haue followed Christ in the Death of his Crosse obediently and haue kept his Doctrine namely H. Ns with the word of his patience euen vnto the end which is euery where taught in his tedious and intricate writings the estate of Perfection in the loue or Doctrine of this deceiuer For he saith The second Birth which is not minded according to the Flesh but according to the Spirit of the heauenly Truth obtaineth the victory beareth rule with God and bringeth forth the Name of Israell or Christ it selfe as before hath beene related vpon another occasion This their Godded estate is their second birth or new Creature which we doe much abhorre and therfore no maruaile if they say of vs that not any one of vs are new creatures But such new creatures as the sacred Scriptures speaketh of that we imbrace and follow after that being sometimes foolish disobedient deceiued seruing diuers lusts and pleasures liuing in malice and enuy hatefull and hating one another but after that the kindnesse and loue of God our Sauiour towards man appeared Tit. 3.3.4.5 not by the workes of righteousnes which wee had done but according to his mercy he saued vs by the washing of Regeneration and renuing of the holy Ghost c. Hereby in a measure are wee new Creatures Rom. 6.13 not now giuing our members seruants of sinne nor taking pleasure in any vnrighteousnes as before wee did but endeauoring henceforth to giue our members seruants of righteousnes in Holines 2. Cor. 7.1 c. and to cleanse our selues of all filthinesse of Flesh and Spirit and to growe vp vnto perfect holinesse in the feare of God For our helpes herein hauing not onely the power of the Spirit of God in our hearts but also all those blessed rules in Christs Testament for the guidance of vs in the way of life in which estate of Regeneration some are Babes 1. Ioh. 2.12 c. some are Young-men and some may bee called Fathers in respect of a measure of perfection whereunto they may attaine onely through Christs perfection without whose perfection all mens perfection is imperfection through him all his Are able to doe all thinges Phil. 4.13 Ioh. 15.5 ◠without him they can doe nothing The weakest of his members are perfect with God through him the strongest are not perfect without him For onely through him the Father is well pleased and he is our Iustification 1. Cor. 1.30 and all in all vnto vs. But that any man can attaine vnto such an estate in this life as it is not possible for him to transgresse any Law of God by any meanes in thought word or deed wee leaue that deuillish Dreame with H. N. and his bewitched followers who account this the second Birth or new Creature The Apostles of Christ confessed the contrary Iam. 3.2 1. Ioh. 1.8 To these 12. supposed euils which in writing they haue taxed vs with we will adde a 13th which we had frō their mouthes and it is this 13. You obserue not the Commaundement giuen to the Woman and her seede Reuel 12. of flying into the Wildernes from the presence of the Serpent Answ THeir meaning is that wee are too open in our profession through the which we endure much misery for so they haue said vnto vs they would haue vs dissemble like themselues and saue our selues from troubles For M. P. who calleth himselfe that mighty Prince of the Hebrewes in his vertue of the Crosse corrected Thus he writeth It is written Cap. 3. sect 1 saying When they persecute you in this Citty flye into another that is whilest wee are yet weake not well able to beare the crosse we may doe as Peter did with mouth deny Christ but not in heart And much more of this stuffe he proceedeth in but in diuers places of the margent he writeth Hide secrets from the vnbeleeuers To whom wee may say as Christ said to Peter when hee disswaded him from Suffering Get thee behinde me Sathan thou art an offence vnto me Math. 16. thou vnderstandest not the thinges that are of God c. Are not Gods seruants the salt of the earth and the light of the world shall the light be put vnder a Bushell Math. 5.13 and not set on a Candlesticke Christ commands that what he said in Darknes that his should speake it in the Light and what they heard in the eare that they should Preach on the houses and not feare them that would kill the Body Math. 10. c. and after that could doe no more For he that is ashamed of Christ and his words Mark 8.38 amongst this Adulterous and sinfull generation of him shall the Sonne of man be ashamed when he commeth in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels For as with the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnes so with the mouth he must confesse to saluation Rom. 10.10 If we suffer with Christ we shall raigne with Christ and if we deny him he will deny vs 2. Tim. 2.12 This the true Christ teacheth whom wee confesse and endeauour to serue But H. N. and the Families Christ teacheth them to saue themselues and rather
this Son of God Iesus Christ That no Idolater can be saued is thus confirmed Confounded bee all they that serue grauen Images and that glory in Idols Psal 97.7 1. Sam. 12.21 Num. 25.2.9 For they are not onely thinges of naught and vanity but they bring confusion and curse vnto all that submit vnto them Yea the Lord saith That Idolaters shall no more inherite the Kingdome of Heauen then Adulterers Fornicators wantons 1. Cor. 6.9 Buggerers Theeues couetous Drunkards raylers nor Extortioners But Idolaters with the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and abhominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and all lyars shall haue their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Reuel 21.8 which is the second Death Therefore we are commanded to flye from Idolatry and seperate our selues 1. Cor. 10.14 and touch none vncleane thing and then God will be our God and Father and walke among vs 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and dwell there and wee shall be his Sonnes and Daughters Hauing thus in generall proued that no Idolater can be saued that wee may come a little nearer the thing let vs obserue how far Idolatry doth extend It is sufficiently knowne of many that Idololatria signifieth a seruice of any likenes not onely of God but also concerning the thinges of Gods worship which is truely acknowledged by the annotation in the English Bible in Quarto vpon 1. Iob. 5.21 Babes keepe your selues from Idols The wordes are meaning from euery forme and fashion of thing which is fet vp for any deuotion to worship God And a great aduersary of the Papists saith Dillingham against the Pa◠pa. 37. To serue God as we list and not as he will is Idolatry So that any formes or fashions of Deuotion in Gods worship that is not Gods or besides Gods are Idols and Christs Babes must keepe themselues from them else they will bring them to destructiō as before is proued therefore not onely they that worship stockes and stones as God or as similitudes of God are Idolaters subiect to the Curses pronounced but also all such as in Deuotion to God set vp formes or fashions to worship God by that God hath not commanded and this is plainly proued by those fearefull Iudgements pronounced against all such as worship those mysticall Idols The Beast or his Image spoken of Reuel 14.9 c. Which generally all acknowledge that these worshippers doe in wordes worship the true God For these Scriptures are applyed to those people that in words doe acknowledge both God and Christ yet saith the Holy Ghost These worshippers shall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath and bee tormented in Fire and Brimstone for euermore Which estate of confusion all must comeout of that will be saued For as it is a habitation of Deuils Reuel 18.2 so the worshippers therein are worshippers of Deuils Reuel 9.20 though it be in a great mystery and so perceiued of few Next it remaineth to proue that saluation is promised as to Faith in Christ as before is proued vpon Repentance of Idolatry as of all other sinne so also to obedience of Faith not to obedience of the Law but to obedience of the Gospell for that Faith that is not accompanied with Obedience Iam. 2.19 is not onely a dead Faith but it is the Deuils Faith that which shall neuer profit any man to Iustification Obedience to the Law had iustice in it felfe if any could haue kept it but obedience to the Gospell hath iustice in Christ to all that beleeue obey him who hath fulfilled the Law for them and by the workes of the Gospell wee are saued For this is the worke of God which shall inherite eternall life that wee beleeue in Iesus Christ Ioh. 6.29 Which Faith is accompanied with Obedience of * faith Rom. 1.5 16.26 It is written Not euery one that saith vnto mee Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen but hee which doth my Fathers will which is in Heauen Math. 7.21 And let it be well obserued that obedience to the Sonne is not properly the obseruing of those morall precepts contained in the second Commandement Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe for that God hath from the beginning written not onely in the Tables of stone but in the tables of mans heart That as a man would another should doe to him Math. 7.12 so he should doe to him againe and not that onely is written in euery mans heart but euen this also that man should loue his Creator aboue all but the manner of this loue consisting in obedience to his Commandements for his worship and seruice that was directed in the Law by Moses and the Fathers If the Gentiles would haue it they must come vnto the Iewes Rom. 3.2 For to them were of credit committed the Oracles of God But now in these last dayes God hath spoken or declared what worship he will haue by his Sonne Heb. 1.2 whome he hath made heyre of all thinges Cōmanding all to heare him who hath shewed what manner of persons he accepteth worship of what his worship is what Ministery he hath appointed and what a Church Gouernment hee hath constituted and all other thinges for the well being of his Church Which is his Body Ephes 5.23 of which hee is the Sauiour who ought to bee obedient to him in euery thing And as the seruant Moses and the Commandements giuen by him was worthy of Honor in that time and euery transgression receiued a iust recompence of reward Heb. 2.2 of which we read of diuers dreadfull examples Leuit. 10.1 1. Sam. 6.19 1. Chron. 13.7.10 2. Chron. 26.16 c. Num. 16. cap. 1. Sā 13.13 c. cap. 15. read Deut. 27.36 So is the Sonne worthy of more honour in his Commandements in these last dayes Heb. 3.3 and soter punishment are they worthy of that doe transgresse them This is the Kingdome Heb. 10.29 and power in Heauen and Earth that is giuen to this Sonne of God to wit Mat. 28.18 to rule ouer the bodyes and soules of men whom he hath redeemed by the scepter of his word This is the gouernment on his shoulder Esa 9.6 Heb. 12.28 Act. 2.30 1. Cor. 15.24 c. and the Kingdome that can not bee shaken On which hee sits for euer to order it euen till hee haue subdued all thinges and deliuer it vp to his Father and they that will not that he shall raigne ouer them by his owne Lawes shall be brought and slaine before him Luk. 19.27 Now if such be the estate of all those that obey not the Sonne in his Lawes as if the Scriptures be true it is then what is the estate and condition of such as in stead of obedience to him contemne his Commandements and submit to mens inuentions for matter of worship to God where now is place for that hypocriticall pretence of
walking vprightly as farre as they see when indeed their walking is so farre from vprightnes that when God calls and cryes vnto them and stretches out his hand vnto them all the day long by that measure of means which he affoordeth them Rom. 10.21 they still gaine-say him and are rebellious against him But their obiection is That all they that are ignorant and either by wordes or workes deny Christ and worship Idols and see no further but thinke they doe well they shall be excused to which ignorant conceit wee must say something Ignorance shall not excuse any that liue in Idolatry and doe not obey the Sonne of God THough it be sufficient that the Lord hath pronounced these Iudgements against such as beleeue not in and obey not his Sonne but are Idolaters without exception of ignorant or not ignorant yet that the truth of the Lord may shine herein as the light at noone day wee haue endeauored to take away this their obiection also that in particular words That ignorance is sinne it appeareth by those ceremoniall sacrifices of attonement which were offered for it Leuit. 4.13 c. 22.27 5.2.5.15.17 Heb. 9.7 and the wages of all sinne is Death Also the Lord saith Harden not your hearts as in Meribah and Massah where your Fathers tempted me c. though they had seene my worke forty yeares haue I contended with this generation and said they are a people that erre in their heart for they haue not knowne my wayes therefore I sware in my wrath Psal 95.8 c. Hosea 4.6 surely they shall not enter into my rest And my people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge And our Sauiour teacheth That if the ignorant lead the ignorant Mar. 15.14 both shall fall into the ditch And hee that knew not his masters will Luk. 12.48 and yet did thinges worthy of stripes hee shall be beaten And they that kill Christs Disciples Ioh. 16.1 shall thinke they doe God seruice because they neither knew God nor Christ which to know is Eternall life Ioh. 17.3 Peter through his ignorance aduised Christ not to suffer for which he had a most sharp reproofe Get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.23 thou vnderstandest not the thinges of God Againe I know Brethren yee did it through ignorance Repent Act. 3.17 that your sinnes may bee put away The Gentiles that regarded not to know God by his wonderfull workes the Heauens and Earth Psal 19. which preach and teach day and night to euery speach and language and giueth euery reasonable soule vnder Heauen a measure of knowledge because they regarded not to know God Rom. 1.28 God deliuered them vp to a reprobate mind And the Iewes had the zeale of God yet not according to knowledge for they being ignorant of the righteousnes of God Rom. 10.2 they found it not And Christ Iesus shall render vengeance in flaming fire vnto them that doe not know God and obey not the Gospell 2. Thes 1.8.9 And those that through the signes and lying wonders of the man of Sinne are deceiued 2. Thes 2.10 c. they shall perish and bee damned because they receiued not the loue of the Truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes What store of testimonies are in this thing If men doe euill though of ignorance for the same shall not enter into Gods rest but be destroyed fall into the pit be beaten be deliuered vp to a reprobate minde haue flaming Fire rendred vpon them and be damned all which the mouth of the Lord hath spoken If any notwithstanding all this will yet say Ignorance shall excuse any 1. Cor. 14.38 wee will answer with th'Apostle If any bee ignorant let them be ignorant and taste the reward thereof The cause of Ignorance is hardnes of hart and vnbeliefe and not the want of means as is plaine If our Gospell be hid that is if any be ignorant of it it is hid to them that perish 2. Cor. 4.3 c. in whome the God of this world hath blinded their mindes that is of the vnbeleeuers c. And they being strangers from the life of God Ephes 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them because of the hardnes of their hearts So that vnbeliefe and hardnes of heart is the cause of Ignorance and ignorance maketh men strangers from the life of God Paul did it ignorantly through vnbeliefe 1. Tim. 1 13 All haue or might haue meanes enough had they vsed that well which they had And whereas they affirme it to be iniustice in God to condemne all the Nations of the earth that haue beene or are ignorant of Christ Wee answer though it be plaine that Christ is manifest by a measure of meanes to euery reasonable Creature vnder Heauen Col. 1.6.23 For haue they not heard Rom. 10.18 yet in this th'Apostle affirmeth Gods iustice appeareth that such as had but the inuisiblenes of God declared in the Creation of the Heauens and the Earth Rom. 1.19 c. which teach knowledge Day and Night whose voyce is heard in euery Language vnder Heauen they regarded not to know God by the same Psal 1.1 c God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde If any yet demaund why the Cannibals know no more the Apostle answeres Because they regarded not to know God by that they had Hath not God promised that if any seeke they shall finde Math. 7.7 What made the Wise men of the East to finde the Babe Christ but their diligent seeking Math. 2.1 Men finde not because they seeke not Iam. 4.2 wee need not goe amongst the greatest Pagans we shall find too many who know not God nor Christ in our owne Nation now the same cause they haue no knowledge that is the cause why the Cānibals haue no knowledge namely because they seeke not The Iewes had meanes enough yet were they ignorant of the way of God and God was found of those that in comparison sought not after him Rō 10.20 That none need be ignorant read these Scriptures Deut. 30.11 Rom. 10.6 c. 18.20 Math. 7.7 Iam. 4.2.3 Some also obiect Act. 17.30 In the time of that ignorance God regarded not c. From hence they conceiue that God regarded not to punish Ignorance but let the place be considered and it doth effectually conuince that conceit Th' Apostle Paul cōming to Athens and beholding the blinde Deuotion of the Athenians and reprouing them for the same enformeth them of the true God whome saith he you ignorantly worship him shew I vnto you and hauing shewed them what that God was and what he was not how he would be worshipped and how he would not concludeth with these words In the time of that Ignorance God regarded not but now he admonisheth all men euery where to repent c. In the time of Ignorance God had no regard of your blinde Deuotion but now in
the Holy Ghost his Deputy The Kinges of the Nations Raigne ouer them but you shall not bee so c. Lu◠22. Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them into all Truth but promised to send the Holy Ghost vnto them for that end These are his Highnes wordes But the Familists answer vs That Gods worship consisteth not at all in any outward obseruation the which saying of theirs if we ouerthrow a great part of their tottering profession will fall for they cannot deny but we must worship the Lord our God and him onely must wee serue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adoro is not onely taken for to Pray vnto or to beseech but also to Honour with bowing of the Body and the Scripture expresseth the same First Math. 14.10 saith If thou wilt fall downe and worship me Luke saith of the same Luk. 4.10 If thou wilt fall downe before me Math. 8.2 And loe there came a Leper and worshipped Marke saith of the same Mark 1.40 And there came a Leper beseeching him and kneeling down vnto him Luk. 5.12 Luke of the same And hee fell on his face and besought Math. 9.18 It is onely said There came a certaine Ruler and worshipped him Marke explaines it saying Mark 5.22 Hee fell downe at his feete and besought him instantly The same saith Luke Luk. 8.41 not speaking of any other worship Againe it is said Math. 15.25 of the Cannanite shee came and worshipped him saying Lord helpe me Mark 7.25 Marke calles this worship And she fell at his feete Further Marke saith The man possessed when he saw Iesus ranne and worshipped him Mark 5.6 Luke calleth this worship onely this Luk. 8.28 And hee cryed out and fell downe before him Also those wicked Soldiers are said to worship our Sauiour when bowing their knees before him Mar. 15.19 they mocked him By all which and much more that might be alledged it may most euidently appeare that the wisedome of God that knoweth best how to speake and to teach vs accounteth bowing of the Body kneeling or falling downe to be worship Further it is said And there were certaine Greekes that came to Ierusalem to worship Ioh. 12.20 at the Feast Act. 8.27 And the Euunuch is said to come out of Ethiopia to worship And Paul doth say he came to Ierusalem to worship All which teacheth Act. 2◠11 that the performance of those serulces and Sacrifices that with their Bodies were to be performed are counted Gods worship and not only a Spirituall reuerence or adoration which they might haue performed not haue come to Ierusalem This may suffice to proue that any bodily reuerence in matters of God and bodily seruices or Sacrifices are called Gods worship and therefore vtterly forbidden in any Spirituall seruice but onely in the true seruice of the true God Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue This therefore is to giue vnto God thinges which are Gods euen subjection with our soules and with our bodies to those parts of his Spirituall worship which he hath commanded in these last dayes by his Sonne Esa 2 8. This is his Honour which he will not giue to another This the seruants of God knew so well that they would not giue it to others to the greatest Potentates of the Earth notwithstanding all their commands and threats And this through the power of God wee will maintaine vnto the Death and approue our selues to God and all good men to bee neither Rebels to Caesar nor deserue iust taxation but commendation herein of all but hypocriticall and Atheisticall Familists And for what is Caesars wee vprightly acknowledge that all ciuill authority of Magistracy is the blessed Ordinance of God That all ciuill reuerence Honor ought to be giuen to it That Tribute and all other duties are to be payed vnto it Rom. 13. c. That all ciuill commands of it ought to be obeyed And that of Conscience to God whose ministers they are euen from the King to the most meanest Constable And that they may so execute their iust offices that they may notwithstanding walke with Iesus Christ be members of his Church and be faued That they haue a Sword giuen them of God to take vengeance on them that doe euill and are ordained of God for the wealth of all wel-doers And this is all that can be Caesars or that wee dare giue vnto any mortall man whatsoeuer So that hauing now shewed what is Gods what is Caesars we confidently affirme that the body may not be seuered from the foule or heart in our obedience to both as these hypocrits the Familists doe suggest In our obedience to man in all Ciuill things that which we doe we must doe of Conscience and not for wrath onely Rom. 13.5 And Seruants and so Subiects be obedient to your Masters according to the Flesh in all thinges not with eye seruice us men pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing God and whatsoeuer yee doe Col. 3.22.23 Ephe. 6.5.6 doe it heartily as to the Lord and not to men Also with singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ All which teacheth That all our seruice to euery Superiour must be with the heart and of Conscience and not with our Bodies onely and for our obedience to God with our Bodies aswell as our Spirits in all Spirituall or Diuine seruice and that they may not be seuered therein is proued We are bought both soule and Body with a deare price 1. Cor. 6.20 and therefore are commanded to glorifie God with both For our bodyes are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and they are not our owne Vers 19 And the bodyes of Christians are the members of Christ Vers 15 and these members of Christ our bodies must not be coupled to any Harlot whether materiall or Spirituall And wee are commaunded to giue vp our Bodyes a liuing sacrifice Rom. 12.1 wholy and acceptable which is our reasonable seruice of God This is plaine to him that will vnderstand And the Familists teaching the contrary it shall plainely appeare they are not onely most notable hypocrites but also Rebellious against the power of Magistracy Magistrates that take vpon them to Commaund in matters of Gods worship they doe not onely require bodily falling downe but also Reuerence with the soule of heart Dan 3. Did not Nabuchadnezzar require falling downe and worshipping And doe not the Magistrates in Popery and elsewhere where constraint to worship is doe they not require Diuine adoration to their diuine Seruice as they call it let all their Orders for their constrained and stinted seruice be looked into and this cannot be denyed And this being the Ordinance of the Magistrate if it be rebellion not to submit with the body in such diuine worship as they require because they commaund it as the Familists affirme then they are rebellious because they submit not
impiety for any of that said members to seek edificatiō of false Prophets in that it giueth that Honor and Matie that belongeth to Christ in his Church to the Deuill* by whose power that false Prophet teacheth and the Lord commanded his people of olde that they being seperated from other people to be the Lords should beware least they be taken in a snare after them Deu. 12.30 c. and least thou aske after their Gods saying how did these nations serue their Gods c. So that Gods people may not go heare which is to enquire of any false Prophet least they be taken in a snare by submitting to that God or that manner which that false Prophet teacheth 8. As the word of God is holy as other Ordinances among the Saints for it sanctifieth Church and all * Ioh. 17.17 Ephe. 5.26 1. Tim. 4.5 so the word of God is more prophaned among and by the wicked then other Ordinances because they take it to warrant their prophane practices and if the Saints of God may not joyne with them in soule or body in any of their prophane courses as before hath bene proued much lesse in soules or bodies may they joyne with them in vsing the word which is most of all prophaned by them Luk. 10.16 Ioh. 13.20 Ioh. 8.44 Rom. 6.16 9. As they that heare Christs Prophets heare Christ and they that dispise them dispiseth him euen so they that heare false Prophets which are the Deuils heare the Deuill and they that dispise them dispise the Deuill Therefore let all that hate the Deuill and would flye from him so doe vnto his Ministers 10. It is the grieuous sinne of any false Prophet to meddle with the word of God and his punishment is fearefull it is no lesse sinne Ezek. 13.9 and 14.10 and shall haue no lesse punishment in any that shal goe to aske or enquire of him for God Vers 7.10 the punishment shall be both alike For it is apparant Gods people may not goe to aske or enquire for God of any false Prophet which they doe that goe to heare with silence else hypocrites that they are what doe they there 11. False Prophets are strangers from God and we are commanded not to heare strangers but to flye from them and it is the commendations of the Saints Reuel 2.2 to examine false Apostles and to finde them lyars the Lords anger is against his people Ezek. 44.8 when they suffer Strangers to take the charge of his Holy things especially of handling the Word which halloweth all the rest and God demaundeth of his Sonnes Pro. 5.20 why they should embrace the bosome of a stranger And what doest thou in the way of Aegipt or what makest thou in the way of Ashur as before 12. Gods people must not goe to the dead to enquire * Deu. 18.11 1. Sam. 28.7 c. Esa 8.19 which false Prophets are * Ephes 1.2 Esa 29.9 c. yea God hath couered them with the Spirit of slumber they are blinde make such blind as heare them and their vision is as the wordes of a Booke sealed vp c. And shall any seruant of God goe to them to aske of God seeing their estates is such and that such thinges are an abhomination to the Lord Deu. 18.12 which will cause him to cast vs out of his sight 13. A false Prophet medling with the Holy word of God poluteth it Hag. 2.13.14 and the Lord will stretch out his hand to cut them off euen all false Priests and Prophets that worship sweare by the Lord Zeph. 1.4.5 and that sweare by Malcham and cōmaundeth his people to cast away all pollutions Esa 30.22 as a filthy cloath and to say get thee hence which doing this controuersie will be ended 14. It is as high iniquity for a false Prophet to meddle with the holy things of God which appertaineth not to him but only to the Saints as it was for Corah and his wicked Company Num. 16. c. to meddle with those thinges of God which appertained not to them but to Aron and his Sonnes and the Lord will no lesse punish false Prophets for their iniquity therein then he did Corah and his Company and as he cōmanded all to depart from the Tents of those wicked men and to touch nothing of theirs least they perish in all their sinnes euen so hath he commanded all to flye from Strangers and false Prophets and not to heare them as at large before hath bene proued least partaking in their sinnes Reuel 18.4 they partake in their plagues And whereas vsually hearing the Scribes and Pharises is alledged for justifying of hearing false Prophets which is formerly taken away yet thus much we heere adde Moses seat was the Chayre of Iudgement Moses was Iudge not Priest and the Pharises were some of them of such Tribes as might not be Priests although some Scribes were Priests sometimes Nehemia 8. And some Priests now are Magistrates which shewes that although Magistrates who of God haue the Chayre of iudgement be corrupt and walke not as they teach yet the people of God must hearken vnto the Law deliuered by them and doe as they say but not as they doe and serueth nothing to proue the hearing of false Prophets For these Scribes Pharises are said to teach truth but not to doe accordingly but false Prophets teach falshood therefore are called false Prophets with plainely sheweth these were no false Prophets Math. 23. for false Prophets may not be heard as is before largely proued And for Phil. 1.15 Some preach Christ through enuy supposing to adde affliction to Pauls bands which was the Apostles ioy that he was counted worthy to suffer for Christ as Mat. 5.12 Act. 5.41 not that he ioyed in the enuious preaching of Christ that was miquity which hee ioyed not in 1. Cor. 13.6 If any obiect that false Prophets preach many excellent truthes therefore may be heard we answer If they were Prophets of Israell speaking sweet words in the name of the Lord and teaching also in some thinges the vision of their owne hearts and not out of the Lords mouth the Lord affirmeth they bring no profit to his people and therfore cōmandeth them not to heare them Nay they bring hurt for they bring themselues and all that aske of them for the Lord to confusion as before is proued Further we say and it is found most true that the more truthes they bring they deceiue the more and inthrall their hearers vnder their bondage For the lesse truthes that false Prophets haue the lesse they deceiue as all may see are most rejected of those that haue any Religion euen so should the cunningest false Prophet be if they should teach falshood only These are their stollen waters Pro. 9.17 7.21 c. and hid bread that allureth the passers by to runne after them and herein is the