the sincerity of the Gospel let us remember that great is our reward in heaven if we endure unto the end I testifie unto you for mine own part as I shall answer before Jesus Christ and his elect Angels that I never saw any truth more clear and undoubted than this witness wherein we stand first against false Offices 2. Callings 3. Works 4 Maintenance left and retained in the Land and I thank my God I am not only ready to be bound and banished but even to dye in this cause by his strength Yea my brethren I greatly long in regard of my self to be dissolved and to live in the blessed kingdom of heaven Thus having from my heart with tears performed it may be my last duty towards you all in this life and remember to stand fat and faithful in Jesus Christ as you have received him unto your immortality and confirm and establish you to the end for the praise of his glory Amen The 24th of the 4th month April 1593. He suffer'd death May 24. next after Now if these be not with his former testimonies sufficient to clear Mr. Penry from the Doctors calumniations all written we see a little before his death I shall add a third testimony which as Solomon saith a threesold cord is not easily broken even the last words to his Wife when close prisoner looking every day to be carried to the place of Execution all in print presently after his death and yet to be seen at this day in these words To my beloved Wife Hellen or Penry partaker with me in this life of the sufferings of the Gospel in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ and resting with me in undoubted hope of the glory that shall be revealed all strength comfort with all other spiritual blessings be multiplied through Jesus Christ our Lord I see my beloved my blood is layed for so my days and testimony is drawing to an end for ought I know and therefore you so dear a sister and so loving a wife in the Lord as you have been unto me first then I beseech you stand fast in the truth which you and I profess at this present in much outward discomfort and danger let your soul and your body be far from those Assemblies which yield either known or secret submission unto the ordinance of the beast that is to receive his marks either in the right hand or in the forehead as the spirit of God saith Rev 13. 16. for this are you forbidden to do under the pain of Gods eternal wrath Rev. 14. 9 10 11. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. Rev. 22 18 19. Deut. 12. 30 31 32. Again my beloved continue a member of the holy society whereof you and I are where the Lord in his Ordinances reigneth for here and in all such Assemblies the Lord dwelleth by his presence and power of his spirit Mat. 18. 2. â—â—and 28. 20. and 29. 45 Lev. 26. 11 12 here he is a mighty protector and defonce ready at hand Isa 26. 1. and 4. 6. and his Ordinances you know hath he greatly commanded to be kept and observed Psal 119. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 1. 1 Tim. 6. 14. and the loving-kindness of the Eternal is for ever and ever towards them and their seed that remember to do them Psal 103. 17 18. whereas all those are accursed that err from his statutes and diminish from the obedience they owe unto his Majesty Psal 119. 2. Rev. 22. 9. Psal 119 118. I pray you work all these places with all such like in the word against those that make a slight matter either to walk in the ways of God or to be subject to small corruptions as they account them Be armed with the power of the word against all such lying delusions 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 2 Thes 2. 9. In conclusion my dear wife and sister look not at any earthly thing consecrate your self wholly both body and soul husband children and whatsoever you have unto the Lord your God let them not be dearer unto you than his worship and service know it know it to be an unspeakable preferment for you that he vouchsafed to take either your self or any of yours to suffer affliction with him and his Gospel here on earth Luke 8 29 30. Mat. 19. 29. I am perswaded that you have undergone the profession of the truth set down by our Saviour Luke 14. 26 27. that is to hate all in respect of his Gospel fear not want of outward things for the Lord careth for you and yours remember what is set down Heb. 11. 5. Luk. 12. 31. the Lord is my God and yours and the God of our seed Thus with many sweet and heavenly admonitions and advice he saith I got means this day to write thus much unto you whereof no creature knoweth therefore in great haste with many tears yet in great spiritual comfort of soul your husband now for a season and your beloved brother for evermore John Penry an unworthy soldier sure of the victory in the blood of the Lamb 1 Cor. 15. 57. Rev. 12. 11. salute the whole Church from me especially those in bonds meaning those 56. members of the Church in London taken on a Lords day as they were serving God Now of the barbarous usage they sustained by the bishops I shall after herein set down word for word as themselves have declared in a Petition they presented then to the Parliament In the mean time let me beseech the Christian Reader impartially to judg by this testimony of Mr. Penry left behind him yet to be seen though printed in the year he suffered whether that Report the Doctor hath published to defame a worthy servant of Christ for no other cause but because he as well as other of the Lords servants contended against the ministry of lordly Prelates not once named in Christs testament and that Protest ants should not perswade themselves they were true worshippers of God until they had expelled out from among them the many corruptions in ministry and ordinances the neglect of which good work still calleth for the judgments of God to come on the Nation as was in a second Warning piece a few months ago proved to be the chief cause still why God is bringing his severe judgments on these three Protestant Nations presented to the late Parliament And now to add to all the former causes of Gods judgments threatned to follow Mr. Hildersham's footsteps the Doctor is not content to satisfie himself with that false report but to imitate him in publishing that scandalous name Brownist on all those people unto which scandalous name to shew the Doctor his false or rather his malicious spirit in saying Mr. Brown was one of those people I shall here for the Readers satisfaction set down what Answer to this Mr. Johnson Pastor of the people returned to Mr. Hildersham and Mr. Jacob both the Bishops ministers As for the name Brownist by which we are
worship as aforesaid which the Doctor doth not obediently believe so long as he retaineth the Popish Office of a Dean for one of Christs Gospel-Ministers as though Christ was not wise enough to give Titles fit for his Ministers But as we read of the Romish Church that woman which sitteth upon a sear let coloured beast full of the names of blasphemy this name Dean proceeding from thence may be reckoned among them Rev. 13. 1. 17. 3. And lastly as every true Christian must not only believe that Christ is the Son of God come in the flesh but also they must walk in him rooted and established following Christ by the example of the Primitive Churches commended in them As when Israel had gone from the pure keeping in worship to God his Ordinances and the Cove-Hant Mal. 2. 8. of Levi the call of the Lord to them to reform their ways by the prophet Malachi was to remember the Law of Moses and not Mal. 4. 4. the Tradition or Canons of men and until this was done they that feared the Lord had separated from them and spake often one to another and a book of remembrance was Isa 42. 4. written for them that thought on his Name even his Law and partook not in the evil of the transgressors Even so when after the long Mat. 12. 21. Apostacy of Christians the Lord called them to come out of Babylon and to reform their Rev. 18. 4. ways but not by the Canons of men but by the everlasting Gospel taught by the Servants of God in King Edward Queen Elizazabeth King James and in King Charles the 1st and 2d to this day and until this work be done all that fear the Lord do separate themselves and speak often one to another for which they are and were still persecuted reproached and defamed but by whom but by the Devil called the Dragon and Serpent Rev. 2. 10. in his servants out of whose mouths comes floods of teproaches to destroy the woman Rev. 12. 15. had not the earth then and still doth by more than an ordinary Providence help the woman in drinking up or rather hindering the work Verse 16. of persecution Thus hoping the Doctor will lay these things to heart and who knoweth seeing among Adams Sons some men for their malice and fury are compared to Lions 2 Tim. 4. 17. but God in his mercy may give him grace to the changing of his fierce nature If the Lord by the Arrows of his Truth prick his heart Psal 45. 5. Acts 2. 37. Heb. 4. 12. that so he may yield obedience to Christ Jesus and lie down with the Lambs in the Lords holy Mountain even Sion his true Church Isa 11. 7. Heb. 12. 22. where it is said the Lords people shall be all Righteous Isa 60. wise as Serpents harmless as Doves men in understanding children in malice 1 Cor. 14. for such only can have right to enter into the Kingdom of God Mat. 18. 3. that so he may for the time to come see himself in the glass of Gods word new born all his fleshly glory and honour fading away by the Spirit of God blowing on him so shall he beat his sword of bitter words into plough-sheares that by the word of God the fallow ground of his uncircumcised heart be broken up the seed of Gods truth sowed therein watred by the heavenly dew of his grace that he may bring forth the fruits of righteousness Jam. 3. 18. Heb. 12. 14. which is peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the face of God which is and shall be the prayers for the very enemies of him who is the Lords unworthy servant Tho. Wall More Work FOR THE DEAN Or A brief ANSWER To some Scandalous Reports published by Dr. Stillingfleet c. THerefore among the many sore Travels King Solomon beheld among the Sons of men this saith he is one That for every right work a man is envied of his neighbour Eccles 4. 4. Psal 106. 16. Numb 11. 29. Matt. 26. 7 8 9 10. Now if that were a right work in the Lords Servants of old in calling the Lords people out of the temporal Babylon to separate themselves from all the filthiness of those Heathens Ezra 6. 21. that they might enter into Covenant with the Lord to serve or worship him as he had given commandment by the hand of Mose's both in Ministry Ordinances and Order for which work they were envied of their Neighbours Nehem. 4 and 5 Chapters even so it was a-like right work in these latter days for the Lords Servants to call his elected ones out of the Romish Sodomy Egyptian and Spiritual Babylon Rev. 11. 8. and 18. 4. that they might separate themselves from their abominable filthiness in worship and nature that so with the Lord they might enter into the Covenant of the Gospel Acts 2. 47. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Isa 62. 5. Ezek. 16 8. to worship him as the Son of God Christ Jesus had appointed in his last Will and Testament both in Ministry Ordinances Time and Order and for this right work among others was Mr. Barrow Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Penry envied then to death by their Neighbours and now again after their death envied by Dr. Stillingfleet to the desamation of the memory Prov. 10. 7. of those whom God had blessed and are now at rest in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. 2dly The evil way this Doctor hath taken to vent his envy against these Servants of God is first in calling their Books seditious and therefore because he could not prove it he is driven to make use of the false reports of their Enemies such as never disclaimed against the succession of their Ministry received from the Bishops nor yet their vain School Titles of Batchelor in Divinity a Title not found in Christs Testament set in the front of that Book called the Bloody Tenet out of which Book the Doctor tells us that Mr. Cotton said Mr. Dod told him that when Mr. Barrow was under the Gibbet he lift up his eyes and said If I be deceived thou hast deceived me To which I answer If Mr. Barrow did say those words it might be draw̄n from him upon the same occasion the like words were drawn from the Prophet Jeremiah when the Priests and false Prophets seeing his constancy and faithfulness in the Lords message against their evil doings Jer. 20. 8 10. derided him which occasioned him to say O Lord thou hast deceived me and I was deceived thou art stronger than I and hast prevailed I am in derision dayly every one mocketh me Even so some of the Clergy being present when Mr. Barrow suffered death seeing his constant testimony against their evil doings might deride him and so might occasion those words from him Surely if the Doctor had had any thing worth noting against this man a few Pages in his Book should not have contained it Thus all may see it is
more of malice than of any just matter he had against him And why at this time Because the memory of Mr. Barrow Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Penry was lately revived in a Christian Warning-piece presented to the Kings Majesty last April so that if Mr. Barrows Books therein mentioned should be again sought after which doth so lively discover the abomination of that Ministry of which the Doctor is one therefore he hath endeavoured to disgrace their persons that their labours might not be regarded and therefore it will not be amiss by the way to note what Mr. Barrow hath written in one of his Books called the Discovery which the Doctor called seditious for comparing the true Ministry of Christ and the Ministry of Antichrist together that as light maketh manifest so in laying down Christs true Ministry the abomination of all other by it may be discovered of which subject in particular Mr. Barrows words are these in his Discovery page 46. The Ministry appointed by Christ unto the Government of Church be of two sorts Elders and Deacons Phil. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. 5. Rom. 12. Acts 20. 28. 1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Cor. 12. 7 8. Acts 6. The Elders some of them to give attendance unto the publick Ministry of the Word and Sacraments as the Pastor and Teacher the other Elders together with them to give attendance to the publick Government of the Church The Deacons office to attend to the gathering and distributing the Contribution of the Church for the maintenance of the Ministry and Poor 1 Cor. 16. Now saith Mr. Barrow to come to the Ministry of the Church of England which is so manifold and divers as I know not how to begin to describe it but let it first be divided in these three sorts 1. Reigning or governing 2. Serving and 3 Collegiate 1. Of the reigning and governing Ministers are Arch bishops Lord Bishops Arch Deacons Chancellors Commissaries all of the High Commission as likewise such Civil Doctors Proctors Registers Scribes Pursevants Sumners as attend upon their Courts of Faculties Prerogative Archees Delegates 2. Of the serving sort are Parsons Vicars Curates Hireling Lecturies Vagrant and Mercenary Preachers House priests Chaplains half priests or Catechisers Churchwardens Side men Quest-men Parish-Clarks 3. Of the ministry Collegiate are Lord Bishops Deans Sub deans Prebendaries Canons Petit Canons Gospellers Epistlers Singing-men Singing boys Vergers Sextons This division I suppose will well near suffice for their Officers But now how to divide or distinguish their Offices I know not I am so unlearned and ignorant of such great secrets and high mysteries neither yet have I skill to marshal them in their degrees of honour which I have heard say they have both in the Commonwealth and in their Schools as their Primate their Metropolitan Graces their Palatine Lord Bishops and their Barony Lordships all which I wene be Peers of the Realm and Estates of the Land Now there are also certain Doctors of Divinity and Batchellors of Divinity which have many great priviledges and prerogatives of the Cap the Scarlet Gown the Hood the Habit the Tippet the Ring the Chair the one of them being a Knights fellow the other an Esquires in any ground in England also how capable these are by Statute of how many Benefices I cannot tell Now surely this discovery doth not a little torment the Doctor to cause him to be so malicious against Mr. Barrow to disgrace him now he is dead Papist like who burnt the bones of such as they call Hereticks many years after they have murder'd them when as they did as Mr. Barrow hath done that is bear their testimony against the Rabble of Antichrists ministry as is noted out of the Book of Martyrs in the foresaid Christian Warning-piece to the King p. 23. for what comfort can those have which call themselves ministers and cannot prove their Ordination to be according to Gospel-order when at the last day they will say Lord Lord we have prophesied in thy name and cast out devils in thy name and have done many wonderous works when Christ shall say to them I know you not depart from me ye workers of iniquity For is it not iniquity for any to take upon them the name of a Dean instead of a Pastor and to be a persecutor rather than a preserver and so contrary to Gods plain Law to be a tale-bearer as it written Levit. 19. 16 17. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale bearer among thy people yea to reproach the deceased Saints of the Lord calling their Books seditious not only for pleading that the ministry appointed by Christ might by Protestants be embraced but also for reproving the blasphemous Doctrine of T. C. the then esteemed Bishop of Winchester in his Book against Martin Marprelate namely this that the Orders and Ordinances which Christ hath in his Testament left unto his Church were but temporary whilst the Church was under Heathen Tyrants and that where the Gospel is embraced by a Christian Prince they are not only not necessary but inconvenient yet intollerable as bringing the utter subversion of the Land raising up rumults and uproars and withdrawing the people from obedience unto their Magistrates Unto which Mr. Barrow replieth that there ought throughout all ages and estates of the world in all places to be one and the same form of outward Government in all true Churches of Christ unto the worlds end scil that Apostolical primitive pattern left unto us in Christs Testament and none other which undoubted truth Mr. Barrow against the Bishops confirms both from the Law and Gospel in these words The Lord when he erected his Tabâ—rnacle among the Israelites gave them a perfect pattern in all things even to the least instrument hook or tape therein as also the whole composition of every thing belonging thereunto with all the Ordinances thereof and left nothing to the will and discretion of Moses whose commendation was that he was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of these things that were to be spoken after Exod. 25. Heb. 8. 5. Heb. 3. also we read of David in the distribution of the order and functions of the Priests and Levites and likewise of Solomon and Zerubbabel in building the material Temple how perfectly the Lord set down the matter form number size place order and use of every thing belonging thereunto 1 Chron. 28. 11. as also what perfect Laws was given by God for every thing to be done and likewise how jealous the Lord was over his Sanctuary and what severe judgments was upon all them that transgressed the least of his Ordinances as is seen in Nadab Abihu Lev. 10. Corah and his company Numb 16. on Eli and his sons 1 Sam. 4. and sundry the like Now may we suppose God is less jealous careful provident over his glorious Temple of lively stones which consisteth of the bodies and souls of his Saints for the structure instruments
form order and ordinances which shall abide to the worlds end than he was of the other which consisted but of wood and stone and was to abide but for a time being but a type and shadow of the spiritual if we think so let the New Testament convince us wherein is left unto us a most exact lively and express pattern for all things concerning the ministry ordinances maintenance time and order therefore Christ is said to be faithful Heb. 3. 6. in his own house as a Son who is the head of his body the Church Col. 1. 18. of the living God the only Lord spiritual and Archbishop of their soul 1 Pet. 2. 25. If the Dr. be as may be supposed he is of the Bishops mind by imbracing an Office not once named in Christs Testament to wit a Dean by it allowing that the Orders appointed by Christ were but temporary so that Christs Offices of Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons is not allowed by the Doctor to remain perpetual When he hath proved it he may be believed and until then Mr. Barrows testimony herein is truth and the contrary seditious And they that own any other Ministry Order or Ordinances in Gospel-worship than Christ hath appointed is intollerable to the utter subversion of all good orders in Christs Church and precurer of the Judgments to come on that Land Now if the Doctor will not believe this to be a truth though a truth proved by Scripture because those he calleth Brownists declare it I hope he will believe it if some of the Ministers of his own Church saith it in the Admonition to the Parliament in the Thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeths Reign they in opposition to the Ministry of Arch and Lord Bishops declare in the Epistle Either we must have a right Matt 9. 37 Eph. 4. 11 12 Ministry of God a right Government of his Church Matt. 18. 15 16 17. according to the Scriptures both which we lack or else there can be no right Religion nor yet from the contempt thereof can Gods Plagues be from us any while deferred And further they say in Page 2. We allow and like well of Popish Mass-mongers men for all seasons King Henries Priests Queen Maries Priests who of a truth if Gods Word were precisely kept should from the same be utterly removed Now to leave this to the Doctors consideration I shall in the next place better inform the Doctor what end Mr. Barrow made that so the Doctor may be ashamed to own his false report in his Book I find in a book Printed a little after Mr. Barrows death in the year 1593 Intituled Henry Barrow's Platform by reason of some things Mr. Barrow had Written was after his death Printed In which the Publisher declareth in these words A Gentleman of a good House told me that Queen Elizabeth asked the Learned Doctor Raynols what he then thought of those Two men Henry Barrow and John Greenwood he answered her Majesty that it could not avail any thing to shew his judgment concerning them seeing they were put to death and being loath to speak his mind further Her Majesty charged him upon his Allegiance to speak whereupon he answered that he was perswaded if they had lived they would have been Two as worthy Instruments for the Church of God as hath been raised up in this Age. Her Majesty sighed and said no more But after that she riding to a Park near the place where they suffered death called again to mind their suffering of death and being willing to take farther information concerning them demanded of the Earl of Cumberland who was present when they suffered What end they made He answered A very godly end and prayed for your Majesty the State moreover saith the same Author Mr. Philips a preacher famous both seeing and hearing Mr. Barrow his holy speeches and preparations for death said Barrow Barrow my soul be with thine By all which it appeareth that this report which the Doctor hath taken out of Mr. Cotton's book printed above 40. years after their death and then but that Mr. Cotten should say Mr. Dod told him so is very false and the rather to be believed it was false because Mr. Cotten though he went into New England yet could never forsake the order of his ministry received from the Bishops nor yet glorying in their vain School titles as in the title of his book afore noted he stileth himself John Cotten Batchellor in Divinity These fleshly titles Paul was ashamed of and accounted them but dung though he had as many to glory in as any man Phil. 3. all which Mr. Barrow reproved which Mr. Cotten did not like therefore could report a hearsay against Mr. Barrow though no more dishonour to Mr. Barrow nor the cause he dyed for than it was to the prophet Jeremiah Jer. 20. and the cause he suffered for both for the good old way of the Lord under the Law the other under the Gospel-worship In the next place the Doctor is pleased to publish against Mr. Penry That Mr. Hildersham should tell Mr. Cotten both ministers of the bishops order that Mr. Penry should say a little before his death That he had deserved death at the Queens hands for that he had seduced many of her loyal subjects to a separation from hearing the word of life in the Parish Churches which though himself had learned to discern the evil of yet could he never recover divers of her Majesties subjects whom he had seduced To which I answer as the wise man saith Prov. 18. 17. He that is first in his own Cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Now by search I find that report cannot in the least measure be true First being but the report of his enemy and why his enemy but as the Apostle was to some in the Church of Galatia for telling them the truth Gal. 4. 16. 1 King 22. 8. Mr. Penry as well as Mr. Barrow testified against Mr. Hildersham's ministry which testimony I shall easily prove he maintained to his death as appeareth by the consession of his faith his Letter to the Church at London he was a member of 3. His Letter to his Wife all written near that time of his death In his Confession he thus declareth himself I detest against the Pope his triple crown his usurped jurisdiction of either of both swords I detest the limbs of that body their spiritual power as Cardinals Archbishops Lord Bishops Suffragans Abbots Friers Deans this word Dean may vex the Dr. Arch deacons Commissaries Officials Monks Canons Prâ—bends Priests Besides this testimony which is sufficient to prove the report false Mr. Hildersham raised against Mr. Penry let me here add what Mr. Penry wrote to the Church at London whereof he was a member in these words Beloved let us think our lot and portion more than happy or blessed that now we are vouchsafed the favour not only to know and profess but also to suffer for
reproached the primitive Christians were by the Priests and Pharisees called a Sect of Nazarens Acts 24. 5. every where spoken against Acts the 28. 22. as at this day Protestants are by the Papists called Calvinists Zuinglians Heugonots 2dly Mr. Brown from whom this by-word was taken is Minister of Mr. Jacob's Church and so of Mr. Hildershams all Ministers of the Church of England and not of ours yet holding as we hear in his Judgment the truth we profess but for his practice in Worship remâ—ineth still in Apostacy wherein they are So then not we but Mr. Jacob and Mr. Hildersham may if any be called Brownists See Francis Johnson's Answer to Mr. Jacob Intituled A Treatise of the Church of England page 2. And A Treatise of the Ministry of England in Answer to Mr. Hildersham page 94. Moreover because Doctor Stilling fleet durst not in his Conscience fight against the Cause of God these Servants of Christ maintained after the way of plain dealing therefore fighteth covertly under the Banner of other men yet of the same mind with himself and among the many Mr. Gifford another Minister of the Bishops making whom he maketh one of his chief Armor-bearers in this railing fight Dragon like with floods of reproaches against Gods Servants which keeps the Commandments of God and have in their Writings the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12. 16. And it was not so bitter then but it would be as bad now if the earth did not by more than by an ordinary providence help the Church the Woman Rev. 12. 15. Moreover this man the Doctor as I remember maketh no less than Eight times mention of Mr. Gifford in Twelve Leaves of his Book against the forenamed Christians Now if he would have the world believe that what Mr. Gifford hath wrote against them to be as Oracles undeniable truths surely I may by the same Rule desire all men likewise to believe that to be a truth what Mr. Gifford hath wrote against the Doctors Church and Ministry and the rather to believe in the latter because who can tell better the evil of their ways than he who was a Bird in the same Cage of confusion with them Rev. 18. 2. Mr. Giffords words are these Through want and absence of a sincere Ministry there is a flood of ignorance and darkness overflowing the Land for the most part the fear of God is banished from the greatest part The wonderful heaps and piles of sin which should be washed away by the Word do undoubtedly cry aloud in the ears of the Lord for vengeance upon the whole Realm The Devil saith he is content those Preachers should ride upon his back because he is sure they will spur-gaul him but a little they be very gentle Riders Do you not think if they should set forth Gods word as they ought and spread the Light that all wicked men of which their Parishes be full would storm and fret against them The Devil himself would fisk about if they spur gaul him but a little but they can tell a smooth tail in the Pulpit garnished with some merry Story for to make the people merry or else some old rotten Allegory or some far-set matter out of some great Writer that their people might be at their wits end to admire them A man would think to see the people come out of the Church blowing that they were fed as full as ticks when they go home with empty Bellies This I dare warrant you if it be not so let me lose both my ears go through the Parishes of these Learned Divines and except such as fetch their Victuals otherwhere ye shall not find Five among Five-score able to understand the necessary grounds and principles of Religion yâ—a the people will say they be excellent deep men but I love not those Wells that a man can draw no Water out of them See Mr. Giffords Book Intituled Country Divinity noted by Henry Ainsworth in his Counterpoyson page 101. Thus it is to be hoped if the Doctor cannot refute this Testimony he will never hereafter speak against the forenamed Christians Testimony which in this particular said no other thing in effect concerning the Doctors Church and Ministry than Mr. Gifford did Moreover the Doctor is not satisfied to shoot his Arrows of bitter words against the Ancient Seperation but through their sides against all the Nonconformists in this day envying at their due birthrights and priviledges given them of God and man in freedom to serve the Lord as they are inlightened and if in any thing as doubtless none but cometh short in a perfect understanding in all things how they ought to walk with God the Doctors duty was then to have by the evidence of Gods written Word wherein they failed in the spirit of Love to have better informed their understandings and not as an enemy to his dissenting brethren as he calleth them to infinuate into the Magistrates minds by publishing to the world that Liberty of Concience hath occasioned the growth of Poperty in this Nation but how greatly hath the Doctors heart deceived him in this as in the former is not my judgment only that the occasion of the growth of Popery is by reason of so many corruptions retained in his Ministry and Worship in his Church as is noted in the Two Christian Warning pieces one to the King the other to the late Parliament but it is confirmed by his Right hand man and chief Armor bearer in this Battel against the Lords Servants Mr. Gifford in a Dialogue between a Papist and a Protestant in the Epistle Dedicatory word for word thus set down by Henry Ainsworth in his Counterpoyson page 19. Some do wonder how it should come to pass that among us there should be so many which being born since the Gospel was restored in this Land are so zealously addicted to Popery which they never did know and so utter enemies to the Gospel which they hear but if they weigh the cause of this deadly mischief they would cease wondering and rather wonder that there be no more For how can it be so long as there be so many abuses in the Ministry but that many shall stumble and loath the Gospel for from hence as it is manifest the chief cause of this evil doth spring True it is that our ministry doth fight against them but in such sort that it doth greatly encrease them seeming and pretending to tread upon these Cockatrice eggs for to break them and to destroy utterly the Viperous generation when as indeed they sit upon them and so hatch the brood of this evil kind and bring them forth in great plenty for behold a number cry out against Popery and proclaim utter defiance in speech but their doings are such that for every one they convert to the Gospel they cause an hundred to revolt to be hardned in their errors or to fall into flat Atheism while many contrary to the profession which they made when they entred
Ordinances of God truly taught and practised as well by the Officers in doing their duty uprightly as to see that the people obey willingly and readily It is their duty to see the Congregation holily and quietly ordered and no way disturbed by the contentious and disobedient froward and obstinate not taking away the liberty of the least but upholding the right of all wisely judging of times and circumstances They must be ready assistants to the Pastor and Teachers helping to bear their burden but not intruding into their Office Numb 11. 16. Deut. 1. 13. and 16. 18. 2 Chron. 19. 8. Exod. 39. 42. 1 Tim. 3. 15. 2 Tim. 1. 13. 1 Cor. 11. 16. and 14. 33. Gal. 2. 4 5 14. Col. 4. 16 17. Acts 20 1. Pet. 5. 1. Rom. 12. 8. The Deacons office is faithfully to gather and collect by the ordinance of the Church the goods and benevolence of the faithful and by the same direction diligently and trustily to distribute them according to the necessity of the Saints Further they must enquire and consider of the proportion of the wants both of the Officers and other poor and accordingly relate unto the Church that provision may be made Acts 6. Rom. 12. 8. The Relievers and Widows office is to minister to the sick lame weary and diseased such helpful comforts as they need by watching tending and helping them Further they must shew good example to the younger Women in sober modest and godly conversation avoiding idleness vain talk and light behaviour Rom. 12. 8. 1 Tim. 5. 9. c. These Officers though they be divers and several yet are they not severed lest there should be a division in the body but they are as members of the body having the same care one of another jointly doing their several duties to the service of the saints and to the edification of the Body of Christ till we all meet together in the perfect measure of the fulness of Christ by whom all the Body being in the mean while thus coupled and knit together by every joynt for the furniture thereof according to the effectual power which is in the measure of every part receiveth increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self in love neither can any of these Offices be wanting without grievous lameness and apparent deformity of the Body yea violent injury to the Head Christ Jesus Luke 9 46 47 48. John 13. 12 -- 17. 1 Cor. 12. 12 25 28. Eph. 4. 11 12 13 16. Thus this holy Army of Saints is marshalled here in earth by these Officers under the conduct of their glorious Emperor CHRIST that victorious Michael Thus it marcheth in this most heavenly order and gracious array against all enemies both bodily and ghostly peaceable in it self as Jerusalem terrible to the enemy as an Army with Banners triumphing over their tyranny with patience their cruelty with meekness and over Death it self with dying Thus through the blood of that spotless Lamb and that Word of their Testimony they are more than Conquerors brusing the head of the Serpent yea through the power of his Word they have power to cast down Satan like lightning to tread upon Serpents and Scorpions to cast down strong holds and every thing that exalteth it self against God The Gates of Hell and all the principalities and powers of the world shall not prevail against it Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Rev. 14. 1 2. Song 6. 3. Rev. 12. 11. Luke 10. 18 19. 2 Cor. 10 5. Mat. 16. 18. Rom. 8. 38 39. Further He hath given them the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven that whatsoever they bind on earth by his Word shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever they loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven Mat. 16. 19. John 20. 23. Mat. 18. 19. Now this power which Christ hath given unto his Church and to every member of his Church to keep it in order he hath not left it to their discretions and lusts to be used or neglected as they will but in his last Will and Testament he hath set down both an order of proceeding and an end to which it is used Mat. 16. 16 19. and 18. 15 16 17 18. and 28. 20. Deut. 12. 31 32. Rev. 22. 18 19. If the fault be private holy and loving admonition and reproof is to be used with an inward desire and earnest care to win their Brother but if he will not hear yet to take two or three other brethren with him whom he knoweth most meet for that purpose that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed And if he refuse to hear them then to declare the matter to the Church which ought severely and sharply to reprehend gravely to admonish and lovingly to perswade the party offending shewing him the heinousness of his offence and the danger of his obstinacy and the fearful judgments of the Lord. Lev. 19. 17 18. Mat. 18. 15. Deut. 19. 15. Mat. 18. 16. All this notwithstanding the Church is not to hold him as an enemy but to admonish him and pray for him as a Brother proving if at any time the Lord will give him repentance For this power is not given them to the destruction of any but to the edification of all 2 Thes 3. 15. 2 Cor. 10. 8. and 13. 10. If this prevail not to draw him to repentance then are they in the Name and Power of the Lord JESUS with the whole Congregation reverently in prayer to proceed to excommunication that is unto the casting him out of their congregation and fellowship covenant and protection of the Lord for his disobedience and obstinacy and committing him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus if such be his good will and pleasure Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 11. Further They are to warn the whole Congregation and all other faithful to hold him as a Heathen and Publican and to abstain themselves from his society as not to eat or drink with him c. unless it be such as of necessity must needs as his Wife his Children and Family yet these if they be members of the Church are not to joyn to him in any spiritual exercise Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 11. If the offence be publick the party is publickly to be reproved and admonished if he then repent not to proceed to excommunication as aforesaid 1 Tim. 5. 20. Gal. 2. 14. Jos 7. 19. 2 Cor. 7. 9. The repentance of the party must be proportionable to the offence viz. If the offence be publick publick if private private humbled submissive sorrowful unfeigned giving glory to the Lord. Lev. 19. 17 18. Prov. 10. 12. Rom. 12. 19. and 13. 10. and 14. 1. There must great care be had of admonitions that they be not captious or curious finding fault where none is neither yet in bitterness or reproach for that were to destroy and not to save our Brother but
their second admonition to the Parliament page 40. in the 13th year of Queen Elizabeths Reign in the year 1570. who have thus written We are so scarce come to the outward face of a Church rightly reformed that although some truths be taught by some Preachers yet no Preachers may without danger of the Laws utter all the Truths comprised in the Book of God it is so circumvented and wrapt within the compass of such Statutes such Penalties such Advertisements such Articles such Canons such sober Caveats and such manifold Pamphlets that in a manner if it doth bat peep out behind the skreen the Laws of the Land the Book of Common-prayer the Commissioners Advertisements the Bishops Canons Linwood's Provincials every Bishops Articles in his Diocess my Lord of Canterbury ' s sober Caveats his Licenses to Preachers his high Court of Prerogatives or grave fatherly faculties these together or the worst of them as some of them be too bad may not be broken or offended against but with more danger than to offend against the Bible To these subscribing and subscribing again and the third time subscribing are required for these Preachers and others are indicted are fined are imprisoned are excommunicated are banished or have some worse things threatned them and the Bible that must have no further scope than by these it is assigned Is this to profess Gods Word Is this Reformation Thus was fulfilled what was written under the names of Four evil Angels who should hinder the winds of Gods Spirit so much as in them lay that the true Preaching of the Gospel-should not blow upon any Tree Mat. 3. 10. Luk. 6. 43 44 45. contrary to Cant. 4. 16. yet as the Word of God cannot be bound Isa 55. 11. there still was by the breathing thereof John 3. 8. a remnant of sanctified ones Trees of righteousness who lived and reigned with Christ by faith over Sin the World and the Devil all the time of the beasts reign Rev. 20. 4. Therefore what an evil hath the Doctor done in desaming such that desired to walk with Christ in his Commands in worship and refused only the inventions of men therein If he hath done this in blind zeal in ignorance as did Saul If with him he belong to Gods election Rom. 11 7. there may be hopes that as God did change Saul's heart from the symptoms of the Letters in his name which signified mortal so persecuted he the Saints to death Acts 7. 58. and 9. 1 2. Likewise Pontius Pilate the first part of his name signified cruel or inhumane the other part Pilate signifying a man Armed with a Roman Dart so was his nature Christ suffering under the Roman power was killed by the Dart of Pilates sentence he being Judge So likewise the drawn Swords of bitter words Psal 55. 2. against Mr. Barrow and others then Prisoners in the Fleet is the first part of the Doctor 's name through whose sides the Doctor still shooteth them against all the Nonconformists to the end he might have them Still-in-fleet the natural sense of almost every letter of his name which suiteth with the fruits of his nature until God giveth him a heart of true repentance 2 Tim. 2. 25 26. that so he no longer halt between two opinions holding the Popish office of a Dean and so fight against all true Protestants that shall bear their testimony against it and all such like Titles with mens Traditions in Protestant Churches and on the other hand would seem to fight against the Papists Surely this man is no Caleb nor Joshua in following the Lord fully but like the man in the Gospel that desireth to know what he should do to inherit eternal life yet can go no further than he can keep his revenues of great possessions Now if Balaam cold not cozen the Lord to prevail by his Altar and Sacrifices against Gods people no more shall the Doctor with all his bowing as some of his Clergy have been said to have done and so think thereby to prevail against the Lords people no sure Now who may without partiality be accounted the most truest Protestants but those that walk with Christ the most nearest to the Rules of his Gospel And is it not for so doing that these Christians aforenamed are hated by the Doctor I 'll leave the prudent to judge and the Doctor to shew the contrary if he can And wherefore are the Judgments of God threatned against this Protestant Nation but for the persecuting and so make a prey of those that depart from iniquity and bearing their testimony against all mans inventions in worship as was signified in a Warning-piece to the King last April 1680 and another to the late Parliament both to be had where this is sold published by the same Author Moreover is this a day for the Doctor to give incouragement to the Magistrate to persecute their loyal Subjects for matters of Religion No sure he should have looked to the state of his flock and see how it is commingled with all sorts of people as Mr. Gifford aforesaid hath testified when as God hath shew'd his Ministers that their Work was to put a difference between the holy and prophane the clean and the unclean and for the neglect thereof they were charged with violating Gods Law Ezek. 22. 26. unless the Doctor think there is no unclean visible wicked liver in his Parish Again saith the Lord to the Prophet Jeremiah If thou take the precious from the vile thou shalt be as my mouth let them return to thee but return not thou to them Jer. 15 19. Even so under the Gospel are the godly forbidden to partake with other mens sins 1 Tim. 2. 22. because in speritual Communion a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor. 5. 6. Gal. 5 9. Numb 19. 22. So one sinner suffered unpunished not only destroyeth much good Prov. 8. 9. but bringeth that City or Church into a snare Eccles 9. 18. As Joshuah said to Israel If ye rebel the Lord will be wrath with the whole congregation Joshua 22. 18. What need then have all that have taken charge of the Souls of a Flock or People that if they neglect to put Gods Order Mat. 18. 1 Cor. 5. Lev. 19. 19. in practice to punish by the Church censures all obstinate sinners God will not only requite it at their hands Ezekiel 3. 17. 18. and 33. 7 Heb. 13. 17. Act. 30. but for the neglect hereof he will renounce that Churches Candlestick Rev. 2. 5. so fight against them v. 16. and cast them into a bed of great tribulation Job 33. 19 Rev 2. 2. and spue them utterly from him so that the remnant of Gods marked sealed ones known to be such by their departing from iniquity shall walk with Christ in white for they are worthy Rev. 3. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Ezek. 9. 4. Rev. 7. 3. when the other that will not be admonished the Lord saith to them I have left my heritage
I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies Jer. 11. 15. and 12. 7. For their inventions have I cast them out of my house Hosea 9. 5. and have abhorred the excellency of Jacob and hate all his palaces Amos 6. 8. for the Lord is of purer eyes than to have fellowship with the throne of iniquity he hath chosen Zion for his dwelling Psal 132. 13 14. Heb. 12. 22. Rev. 14. 1. his way is holy in all the parts of his service so that the polluted must not knowingly dwell there Isa 35. 8. because they defile the holy things of God Lev. 22 3. therefore God will be sanctified in all that draw near to him in his Lev. 10. 3. for as much as holiness becometh his house for ever Psal 93. 5. Now if the Doctor cannot see these things and what a confusion there is which hath caused a great many to separate from his Church for want of Gods Order in it let him not despise counsel seeing he that refuseth instruction despiseth his own Soul Prov. 15. 32. And lastly Seeing we are fallen into the last and perilous times what man of them that hath any thing in him of the Spirit of a Christian but would make it his greatest work to use the uttermost of his endeavours to unite the hearts of one Protestant to another in the many difference in point of Religion that so as brethren they may withstand the common Enemy even Gog and Magog the Turk and Papists the last enemies of Gods people who like unto the apostate and heathen Nations Psal 8. say Come let us cut them off from being a nation that the name of Israel may be had no more in remembrance And is not this the signs of the times when the Turk and Papist are by sea and land compassing the camp of the Saints about in number like the Canaanites Army Joshua 11. 4. as the sand on the shore whom God may suffer to prevail for the sins of his people until he hath refin'd them through the fire of affliction Zach. 13. 9. so melting the drofs from the silver yet in the end the rod shall be broken Isa 10. 5 24 25. Psal 125. 3. that so they that lead into captivity shall go into captivity and they that kill with the sword shall be killed with the sword Rev. 13. 10. and be mad with sorrow enough to say with that Heathen King Adonibezeck who caused threescore and ten Kings to gather meat under his Table having their right thumbs and toes cut off As I have done God hvth requited me Judg. 1. 7. If not this way because the time draweth nigh of Christs coming to judgment then fire shall come down from heaven and devour them Rev. 20. 9. yea so shall Christ come in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 1. 8 9 10. in the mean time let all persecutors read their portion Matt. 25. 41. Rev. 14. 9 10 11. and 19. 20. and 21. 8. And lastly If this way of plain dealing liketh not the Doctor I cannot help it for with Elihu I have learned not to flatter Job 32. 22. nor as some men desire to be smoothed in their sinful ways Isa 30. 10. but as the wise man saith open rebuke is better than secret love Prov. 27. 5. for who could sleep silent to see his brethren that are now at rest in the Lord desamed when as the Lord saith the memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10. 7. and they shall be had in everlasting remembrance Psal 112. 6. whose labours shine in the world as a comfort to the Lords people when revived though the same be a terror to their enemies as is seen in the Doctor and such like John speaketh of to see more Seths raised up to maintain the faith faithful Abels dyed for Rev. 16. 11. Ezek. 37. Rev. 20. 5. Now the Lord in his infinite mercy bless this small mite cast into the Treasury of all the Lords true Protestant people and also to the Doctor do I desire it may be for his everlasting comfort that so the Lord may have the glory honour and praise in and through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen FINIS