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A02912 An advertisement or admonition, unto the congregations, vvhich men call the new fryelers in the lowe Countries, wrirten [sic] in Dutche. And publiched in Englis. VVherein is handled 4. principall pointes of religion. 1. That Christ tooke his flesh of Marie, haveing a true earthly, naturall bodie, 2. That a Sabbath or day of rest, is to be kept holy everie first day of the weeke. 3. That ther is no succession, nor privilege to persons in the holie thinges. 4. That magistracie, being an holy ordinance of God, debarreth not anie from being of the Church of Christ. After these followes certen demandes concerning Gods decree of salvation and condemnation. Helwys, Thomas, 1550?-1616? 1611 (1611) STC 13053; ESTC S116912 57,734 190

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able to stand before 〈…〉 their spirituall gracious lordshipps and dignities so called and so directly against his word and will Oh that these thinges were not hid frō their eies And they that professe a Prebitarie who though they beare not such high names and titles as the rest et by their ruleing power auctoritie which by all meanes they seeke to enlarge if they take not ●eed their sinne against this rule of Christ wil be found little lesse then anie And if wee speake sparingly of you that professe an Eldership thinke not you nor lett it be thought of anie that wee do it either because wee are partiall or because your deserts are not fullie evill enough for the lord knowes wee knowe in part and would to god you knewe your selves that your iniquitie is great herein in your seeking and holding superioritie over the congregations whereof you are and that partly by auctoritie partly by humblenes of mynd seekeing to beare rule over the people of god If by this our loveing advertisement anie of all you of whome wee have spoken be provoked to evill you shall therein greatly increase your owne judgments for the lord knowes wee speake it not to provoke you to evill but to provoke you to repentance before the great evill day come wherein as for all sinne so perticulerly especially for this sinne the lord will have ast●ct accompt if there be not repentance wee say especially for this sinne because this sinne of seeking superioritie rule auctoritie hath doth vtterly destroy all sincere and holy profession of the gospell keeping in captivitie bondage the consciences of men overthrowing the strongest that resist and treading the weake vnder foote stopping vp the way of life and men hereby takeing vpon them to have in their b●ds onely the keyes of the kingdome of heaven To retaine perticulerly vnto you to whome wee first intended to speake take you heed least whilst you set your selves by your opinion against Magistrats being of the kingdome of Christ you have in the meane time set vp a power and aucthoritie of your owne and so your second error be as evill as your first To put an end to this your first ground If this example which our Saviour Christ bring of Kinges Rulers and great men because he saith it shall not be so amongst you that is you shall not be like them It from these words you will yet hold that Magistrats may not be of the kingdome of heaven and of the Church Then you must also hold except you will shewe your selves void of all vnderstanding that our Saviour Christ in the same cause and vpon the same occasion bringing an example of a little child and saieing it shall be so among you you shal be like this little child you most then hold that little children may be of the kingdome of Christ and of the Church ffor if where Christ saith Be not like debarr out them that are brought for the example then where he saith Be like must needs admitt in them that art brought for the example So then they that from this ground will admitt infants in let them see if they have anie sight that they debarr Magistrats out And you that debarr Magistrats out by this ground must admitt infants in ffor they are examples of direct cōtraritie produced for one the same thinge Therefore they that debarr out both and they that admitt both make thinges that are direct contrary to be a like which is the most vniust and false vnderstanding that can be in men Let vs therefore the rather prevaile with you to looke to your waies herein and reconcile your selves to the word of truth And marke well the words of our Saviour Christ concerning this point Mat. 18.4 who soever shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdome of heaven and vers 3. they that are converted and become as little children shall enter into the kingdome of heaven heere is no exception of persons but Kings and Princes and all great men if they be converted and become as little children and humble them selves they may enter in and be greatest in the kingdome of heaven not by their princely power but by their humilitie which wee vnfainedly wish that all Kings Princes and Rulers would see that not their greatnes power nor aucthoritie doth anie thinge at all advance them to or in the kingdome of heaven but it is their convertion and humilitie But your opinion leads you to this that they cannot be converted except first they cast away their Magistracie This is of truth your ground a most woefull ground if you could see the footestepps of it for if it be so that they cannot be converted except they cast away their Magistracie then is their Magistracie sinne and if their magistracie be sinne then is all their administration wherein they administer by power and vertue thereof sinne who shal be able to contradict this which way shall all the device of men Angells be able to avoid it but that if Magistrats cannot be converted to God that is Repent and beleeve except they cast away their Magistracie then is their magistracie sinne for their is nothinge but sinne that hinders faith and repentance Do you that hold this fearefull opinion yet see into what straytes you are brought that you have no way to turne yourselves if there be anie grace or love of God in you humble your selves vnto the dust before the lord and his people and proclame your repentance which that you may yet further be provoked vnto see the hight of your sinne so farr as wee in our great weakenes are by the mercie of god able to shew you wherein by reason of our so great weaknes wee must needs exceedingly faile and come short but yet to the vttermost that by the grace of god wee shal be able wee will endeavour to be faithfull to god and you heerein wee demaund cannot Magistrats Repent beleeve so be received or enter into the kingdome of heaven except they cast away their Magistratie you professe hold they cannot why then is their Magistracie sinne all that they do by the power thereof is sinne If this be so then hath the most holy righteous mercifull iust god the god of all power geven power from himself appointed an ordināce of Magistracie by vertue of which power given from god Magistrats do administer and are comaunded of god to judg righteous judgment To punish the wicked in justice to reward or praise the wel doers in mercie and all this say you is sinne And all this doth god give them power aucthoritie and comaundement to do and in all this they are his ministers doeing his will yet not with standing all this is sinne for if by reason of their Magistracie retayning it they cannot be converted that is Repent beleeve then is their Magistracie sinne and then all that
and allowe of some that hold and mainteyne no faith concerning where Christ had his Flesh and so do you approve and mainteyne them in their sinne for whatsoever anie holds or mainteynes not of saith is sinne and to be ignorant of anie part of that the scriptures hath manifested is sinne and to determyne to remaine ignorant and so to continewe unto the end is death for without repentance anie one sinne is death as Thappostle Iames sheweth Iam. 2.10 VVho soever shall kepe the whole law and yet faileth in one point he is giltie of all Deceyve not simple soules then by noriushing them in their sinne which you do in saying it is not needfull to salvation to knowe whence Christ had his Flesh as though there were anie part of the law or gospell not needfull to salvation And if there be anie part of the law not needfull then Christ need not to have come to fulfill the whole law which he did as he saith Mat. 5.17 And if there be anie part of the gospel of salvation which Christ hath purchased with his blood Ephe. 1.13.14 not needfull to salvation then Christ hath purchased more then is needfull In the feare of God walke not thus by your owne inventions leading and suffering simple soules to walke in the waies of death and condemnation Of the day of rest The second is that manie among you and how farr you are all poluted wee knowe not but have great cause to feare do professe practice not to kepe the seaventh day a day of rest holy vnto the lord abolishing herein the law which was given in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assemblie and which was written in the Tables with the finger of God as is shewed Exod. 20.8.9.10.11 and Deut. ● 10 Of all wch whole law our saviour Christ saith Ma● 5 17.18 I am not come to distroy but to fulfill for truely I say vnto you till heaven and earth perish one jot● or one title of the law shall not scape till all thinge● be fulfilled not with standing all the spoken by God the father Iesus Christ his sonne manie of you with an high hand 〈◊〉 out and distroy one of these Ten Commandements written by the finger of God Exod. 34.28 and you will have but Nyne ren●g a sunder the law of God and casting away what is not pleasing vnto you Not holding the examples of the disciples of Christ a sufficient rule of direction for you who as is shewed Act. 20.7 and 1. Cor. 16.1 2. The first day of the weake came together to breake bread Vpon euery vvhich first day of the weeke when they were come together Paul ordeyned in the Churches that every one should lay aside for the necessitie of the Saincts that there might be no gathering when he came How will you be able to stand before the lord herein● H● hath established a law the which it is more easie that heaven and earth should passe away then that one title of the law should fall Iuc 16.17 And if you now be able to shewe which God forbid that anie should be so wicked as to enterp●ise that all these words spoken and written by God himself Remember the Sabath day to keepe it holy be no part jot nor tittle of this law then you have some cullor for the evill you practice and professe herein but dare anie moueth of blasphemy speake it or anie hand of blasphemy write it wee hope no why then give glory to God repent of this your sinne and pray the lord that if it be possible the thoughts of your harts the blasphemy of your mouethes and the wickednes of your hands may be forgiven you And sinne not as you do against God in turning away your feet from the Sabath of the lord and doeing your owne wills on his holy day wherein also you do wronge to man and beast to whome the lord hath in mercie given a speciall day of rest But yet further to shewe you that wich you shall never be able to annswere Our Sauiour Christ Mat. 24.20 speakeing of the distruction of Ierusalem which was to come to passe did long after his death saith Pray that your flight be not in the winter nor on the Sabath day sheweing vndenyably that ther should still remaine a speciall day of rest for the people of God to worship him on vpon which day Christs bidds them pray that their flight be not that they might not be forced to flie whē they should rest and worshipp God And if our Saviour Christ had ment that his disciples should have bene of your iudgment it had bene all one vpon what day their flight had bene God give you grace to see your great error herein that you may not still be hate full to God and men and Beasts And thus much of this except further occation be offered Omitting to shewe you all the confusion you bring into the Church when there shal be no day certen whereon the disciples ought to come together to edifie one an other to breake bread to pray and to gather for the Saincts if your rule be true which is as false as God is true they chuse whether they will come at all except you have authoritie to make a law to bind them which sure you have not from God even so do you confound hereby all due proceeding in the rule of admonition by the Church if there be no certen day when the Church are bound to meet But wee wi●l passe by this hopeing you will fall vnder the former ground and then you will easily see through the grace of God all these thinges and manie mo●e which accompanie that your error that do vtterly destroy all godlines Religion and the holy communion of Saincts Therefore repēt and forsake this your error for if you do thus distroy the lawe of God there can be no Religion of God in you Of Succession T● 〈…〉 your Leaders are 〈…〉 them that mainteyne a Succession and that 〈…〉 and you will have all 〈…〉 and tongues to come to you and 〈…〉 Ordinances of Christ and 〈…〉 administer in the holy 〈…〉 to you and 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 power and all the holy 〈…〉 with the man of sinne 〈…〉 called o● God and 〈…〉 vnder the 〈…〉 vnder the 〈…〉 Rom. 3.1.2 〈…〉 because 〈…〉 of God 〈…〉 your 〈…〉 manner of way 〈…〉 of credit to 〈…〉 but 〈…〉 confess● 〈…〉 and the 〈…〉 vnto 〈…〉 proceed from 〈…〉 Ierusalem 〈…〉 call your 〈…〉 you and 〈…〉 do to your 〈…〉 them to it and to them everlasting distruction in so d●ing and suffering them selves to be to dra●n Thus then 〈…〉 speake of the heavenly 〈…〉 And 〈◊〉 people shall 〈…〉 vp to the mountaine of the 〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉 of the God of 〈…〉 will 〈…〉 S●on and 〈…〉 manner speaketh 〈…〉 ●rd shall send the 〈…〉 these Prophecies 〈…〉 〈…〉 become 〈…〉 you this 〈…〉 〈◊〉 taught the 〈…〉 when he said 〈…〉 word of
the lord our 〈…〉 you onely 〈◊〉 you also taught of 〈…〉 humbled and humble your selve 〈…〉 people 〈…〉 If this will not 〈…〉 word 〈…〉 be called 〈…〉 Prophet 〈…〉 Compact together 〈…〉 the Tithes of the 〈…〉 to praise the name of the 〈…〉 you this 〈…〉 I● you be the 〈…〉 but the Tithes must come to 〈…〉 the grace of God 〈…〉 you cannot 〈…〉 but you will 〈…〉 shal be the people And 〈…〉 Mount Syon which cannot be removed and shal you remaine for ever If you can promisse this of your selves you go beyond all the excellent Churches that are spokē of in the new testament whereof there remaines no mention at this day to be seene but onely that the scriptures testify that such Churches there were but not one of them hath remained vnto this day Therefore none of them were Mount Syon And will you lift vp your horne on high and be more then they all this is the foolishnes of folly beare with our rudenes The lord knoweth wee seeke his glory and your good herein although our infirmities may too much appeare It is your turning from these your evills that wee disire for Godes glorie and the salvation of your soules and therefore will wee through Gods grace endeavour yet further to shewe you your error in this point The Prophet in the 48. Psal 2.3 Seaketh on this wise Mount Syon Northward is faire in scituation it is the joy of the whole earth the Citie of the great king In the Palaces thereof God is knowne for a refuge and vers 8. God will establish it for ever Selah To add vnto this the glorious discription so at large sett downe by Iohn Reuel 21.10 VVhere he saw that great Citie that holy Ierusalem descending out of heaven from God whose wall had twelve foundations ād in them the names of the twelve Appostles of the lambe vers 14. wch Citie hath no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shinne in it for the glorie of God doth light it and the lambe is the light of it vers 23. And the people that are lived shall walke in the light of it vers 24. And the Nation the kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish and these nations shal be vtterly distroyed Isa 60.12 See your selves now how unlike you are this Citie are you the joy of the whole earth sorrowe is the ioy that wee the poore winesses of Christ have in you for our partes as you shall further heare do the people that are saved walke in the light of you and shall the nation and kingdome that will not serve you perish God forbid be content and glade to have this Citie your joy and to be Citizens of this Citie and to walke in the light of it and to serve it or els you shall perish and be destroyed But this Citie cannot perish nor be destroyed but you may be and therefore you are not this Ierusalem and the world knowes that you are not the earthly Ierusalem wincke not with your eies but see and st●pp not your eares but heare how the word of God doth convince you in this your error And now wee beseech the vpright harted amongst you to be willing to heare what Thappostle Paule doth shewe Ierusalem to be and followe not your owne inventions herein Th'appostle to the Gal. 4 22-26 sheweth that Abraham had two sonnes and two wives one sonne by a servant and one by a free woman he wch was borne of the servant was borne after the flesh and he that was of the freewoman was borne by promisse By the which thinges another thinge is ment saith Th'appostle for these mothers are the two testamentes The one which is Hagar or Syna is a mountaine in Arabia and it aunswereth to Ierusalem which now is and she is in bondage with hir children But Ierusalem which is above is free which is the mother of us all Thus doth Th'appostle so plainely as is possible for the vnderstanding of all teach that by Hagar the bond woman is mente the old Ierusalem which is the old Testament with all the carnal ordinances there of And by Sarah the free woman is ment the new Ierusa the new Testament with all the spirituall ordinances thereof And this spirituall mother which is Sarah the free woman the new Ierusalem the new Testament is mother of all that are borne after the spirit and they are hir childrē as Th'appostle saith of himsel● others vers 31 Now will you be this Ierusalem the mother of all the faith full will it not suffice you to be children but you must be the mother of all Do but see how herein you agree with that Antichrist of Rome that wil be the mother of all Churches How farr contrary is this to all the rest of your profession who professe such humblenes of mynd in all thinges and yet hereyn to seeke thus highly to advice yours selves above the poore servants of God that through his grace and mercie by the power of his word and spirit are borne children of the free woman and though weak childrē yet borne as free as you or anie what great evill is this in soo maine of you as would to seeke to bring vs in bondage vnto you when you cannot by aine warrant of Gods word have anie more freedome in anie holy thinge or to anie holy thinge then wee if wee be all the Children of one mother for then are wee brethren Synne not thus against God and wronge not vs by seeking to tread vs vnder your feet which you do in advanceing your selves over vs to bring vs in subiection who are borne as free as you This being by the word of God made cleare that neither you nor anie Church congregation or people are Ierusalem it will easily follow that nether you nor anie Church congregation or people are the kingdome of heaven for the heavenly Ierusalem and the kingdome of heaven are all one as all that have anie vnderstanding agree and knowe Therefore it shall not be needfull to vse 〈◊〉 w●rds mo in this cause lett vs inshort therefore shewe what the scriptures speaketh of the kingdome of heaven Our Saviour Christ Luc. 4.34 Saith thus Surely I must also preach the kingdome of God to other Cities for therefore am I sent This kingdome cannot in anie vnderstandinge be ment of anie people for it must be preached to a people and this agrees with that before spoken of Ierusalem which is that it is the new Testament And thus speaketh our Saviour Christ Ioh. 3.5 except a man be borne of water and of the spirit he cannot 〈◊〉 into the kingdome of God whereby it is so plaine as anie thinge can be that no people are the kingdome of God but that people ought to enter into the kingdome of God and when they are entred then are of the kingdome of God and children of the kingdome Mat. 13.38 And therefore wee pray the Godly reader to consider that there is
a difference betwix the kingdome and the people otherwise where was the kingdom before your ●irst begininge was there no kingdome for your first beginners to enter into did they make a kingdome and enter into it and all of themselves then sure it was not the kingdome of God and it stands you vpon to looke it be for if they set vp a new kingdome they entred not into Christs kingdome for Christs kingdome was and is an everlasting kingdome and cannot be shaken as the Author to the Hebrewes sheweth Heb. 12.22 speaking of mount Syon the Cittie of the liveing God the Celestiall Ierusalem Vers 28. Seeing wee receive a kingdome that cannot be shaken let vs have grace whereby wee may so serve God that wee may please him with reverence and feare VVee have endeavoured with our best abilities wch you may see are smale to speake the larger of this point because wee our selves have bene formerly misledd with this error that the Church is the kingdome of heaven and monut Syon and because wee knowe some others are strongly possessed therewith which not with standing hold not Succession but indeed it is the ground of all Succession for if the Church be Ierusalem then must there needs be Succession for there mus● needs be adue proportion of all thinges betwene the Tipe the truth betwene the old Ieru the new Ieru betwēe the shadow the substāce And there being therfore Successiō in the old Testamēt there must of necessitie be Succession in the new If therefore you can prove your selves Ierusalem wee yeild you all the Prerogatiue of Ierusalem Then must all people nations come to you and receive all the holy ordināces from you Then must all sacrifices be offered vp in you And then they that are not in you are not in Christ And all that are borne of water of the spirit must enter into you and all that are saved must walke in the light of you And then are you the ioy of the whole earth Thē must you be perached to other Cities and then can you not be shaken for Christes kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome which shall never be taken away nor be destroyed Dan. 7.14 But you may be shaken taken away and destroyed though you were as excelent a Church as Corinth Ephesus Phillippi Thessa Smyrna Philadelphia for all they are shaken taken away destroyed which were much more excellent Churches then you euen so may you much more be Therefore you are not the kingdome of heaven nor that heavenly Ierusalem and so those previleges belong not to you which you challenge and some wretched men have given you whose condemnation sleepeth not and all vnder that culler of your being Ierusalem And let vs now bring to trial your other ground concerning this cause which is That the ordinances of Christ being as you call it once raised vp againe they are not to be raised anie more but all men must fetch thē from those that raised them vp or from them that have received them at their handes by Succession First wee say vnto you that which some of you could not nor you all shall ever be able to annswere whilst the world endureth How knowe you of faith that he or they from whome you received your begininges were the first This can you never prove to anie mans conscience that hath anie conscience except you can shewe Prophecie of scripture perticulerly that such a man should first raise up to speake your owne vvord the ordināces of Christ and that he hath done it and that you haue it from him All these must you prove by scripture if your rule be true and that men must have faith in it but not anie one of these can you prove by scripture ●nd therefore your rule is not true and no mā can have faith in it and then not to be hold and practiced by anie that wait for salvation by Iesus Christ vvho must have faith in all that they hold professe practice or els they sinne ffor vvithout faith it is vnpossible to please God Rom. 11.6 Let us by the mercies of God intreat all you that professe the name of Iesus not to stand vpon such vncertaine and vnfound groundes For wch vvay shall you ever be able to prove that he or they from vvhome you by Succession have your begining vvere the first No man can ever prove it the vvorld is too vvide for man to comprehend or knowe all that is done in it It is avaine invention cast it away seeing there is no vvarrant in Gods vvord to vvarrant it vnto you that he or they vvere the first And if he or they vvere vvhat then Must all the vvorld come to them By vvhat rule of Gods word There must be a speciall commaund for him or them to beginne And a restraint or forbiddinge comaund to all men for doeing the ltie after ffor God is as mercifull to his people now as ever he vvas and he hath not left them without rule of direction that they should sinne and fall was the lord so carefull for his people Israell for whome he had wrought so great wonders and yet they were continually rebellious against him as to give Moses twice warning at one time Ex. 19.21 and 21. Goe downe charge the people that they breake not to the lord to gaze least manie of them perish And againe lett not the Preists and the people breake to come vpto the lord least they be destroyed And did the lord most carefully appoint Aaron and his sonnes their severall Offices and services about the Tabernacle as is shewed Numb 4. where the lord chargeth Moses and Aaron that they should not cutt of the Tribe of the famili● of the Kohathites But this do vnto them saith the lord that they may live and not dye let Aaron his sonnes come and appoint them every one to his charge least they touch or see those holy thinges they ought not to touch and see and dye was the lord out of his great grace mercie and love so carefull for his people then to give such strait rules of direction to them least they should come neare handle or see those thinges which apperteyned not to them to handle or see and so sinne and dye And hath the lord left to beg 〈◊〉 now in leaveing his people no directions nor directors to appoint them to their ●ffice and shewe them what i● comaunded and what is for bidden Surely you will not say but the lord is as mercifull to rebellious Israell as ever he was then wee require you to shew where the lord hath now comaunded some especially to beginne and meddle with the holy thinges and for bidden all others except by their appointment they be permittd appointed therevnto If you will thus sett vp a speciall Temple and Preist hood of your owne shewe your warrant from the word of truth which seeing possiblie you cannot do let God have the glorie and see
your owne shame and humble your selves repent of this error VVill you now with patience suffer vs a little to declare and try your best ground f●r these thinges wich wee have received from some that are greatest amongst you wee could repeat divers of your arguments and reasons but wee spare you wee will take your strongest ground which if wee can by the ground of truth shewe to be most vnsound wee will hope that they amongst you that seeke the lord in singlenes of hart will forsake it first knowe this and let all knowe that you have never bene able at anie time to produce anie one scripture and mainteyne it for your Succession although wee have had divers conferences with the cheifest amongst you but you reason by simelies and proportions of your owne devisings for the most part To come to your ground this is the some of that you saie That baptisme being once raised vp by one vnbaptized after none did neither was it lawfull for anie vnbaptized to baptize but all must have it from him so you follow on with your proportion from baptisme to the church and ministry And this is the waie you runne not knowing whether it leads jou wee praie you marke what the wiseman saith Pro. 4.19 The wa●e of the vngodlie is as the darknes they knowe not vvherin they shall fall even so little do you knovve into vvhat pitt you shall fall or vpon what rock you do cast your selves others in this your way first whereas you say that when baptisme was once by one vnbaptized raised vpon 〈◊〉 none after being vnbaptized did or might This John never taught you nor 〈◊〉 of Th●appostles where els you have learned it wee know not but you 〈…〉 in it and say it is the course order of the scriptures But wee require you with godly consideration to consider that heerein vnder a 〈◊〉 of binding to the due 〈◊〉 course of the matter manner of the scriptures which all oug● to follow you bring men to a due perticuler course● persōs vvhich none are bound to follow except anie da●ie say of themselves as that excellent vvorthy Appostle Paul said Phil. 2.17 Brethren be followers of me In short see if you would not be blynd vvhether you rule leades you if you wil tye the vvord ordinance of God vnto men Prist for baptisme you must bring man prophecied of as Iohn vvas that shalle able t● annsvvere as Iohn did to them that asked him vvha● art thou that vvee may giue aunswere to them tha● sent us vvhat saiest thou of thy self vvhy baptize● thou Iohn aunsweres I am hee that the Prophet Esaia● prophecied of c. I am the voice of him that crieth i● the vvildernes make straight the vvay of the lord Thus doth Io prove his office ministration to be lawfull and therefore might Ierusalem all Iudea of faith come faith to him to be baptized And this man vvas sent in the power of the spirit of Elias Therefore vvhatsoever he did in his ministry vvas true and vvarrantable so that men might safely joyne themselves to his baptisme Neither could men learne baptisme the maner thereof but of Iohn of them that received it from him vvil you now in the behalf of your first beginner aunswere us that aske vvho art thou that baptizest And saiest all men must have their baptisme from thee VVhat saiest thou of thy self VVhere is thy vvarrant VVil you aunswere vs as you have done that Io his example is your vvarrant VVee vvil aunswere you as vvee have often done wee also do the like by the same example And wee say farther that Iohns example and al the examples rules in the scriptures to be followed are generall and there is no one perticuler example or rule in all the new Testament wch is onely to be ymmitated observed by anie one man anie two Tenn twenty or a hundreth but what soeuer example in the scriptures anie one Man may followe and what soever rule or commaundmēt anie one man may observe kepe even so another man may followe the same example keepe the same comādmēt so of two men ten twenty or an hundreth And the like may be said of time place for there is no example or rule in the new Testament that is onely proper or appirteyning to anie one person or persons time or times place or places for the new testament is the Covenant of Grace which Christ hath purchased with his blood and there is no part of it can be abolished till he come to iudgment But if anie part of it anie example or rule in it be tyed to anie particuler person or persons time or times place or places these al may be abolished before Christes coming and therefore no part of the new testament can be particulerly tyed to anie one of them To shewe for example the question in hand If Iohns example of Baptizing being vnbaptized or rather not being of anie other first baptized If his example be a particuler exāple for one man onely as you say thē jt follovveth was it abolished when your predecessor had once begun to Baptize and so is that example now of no vse and it may be for anje thinge you knowe or ever can knowe that he was not the first and then if your rule be true how wretched is your case that challeng apreregative that by your owne rule apperteynes not vnto you and your best advantage is that you can but jmagine that you are the first and you would have vs jmaigine so with you VVell wee beseech you consider throughly this one point especially That the new testament nor anie part of it neither rule nor example doth perticulerly apperteyne to anie one person or serve onely for anie one person or serve onely for aine one time or place wch if you deny you abolish 〈◊〉 and the Testament purchased with his blood and makes it a carnall covenant for no spirituall covenant can eve● be abolished And if you confence that the new Testament and all the rules examples therein are generall to all Then may all men in all places whome the lord by his word and spirit shall stirr vp and indue with gifts and grace preach the go● and men being converted baptize them so is your Succession fallen to the groūd And therein have you no 〈◊〉 if you love the lord his holy truth for thereby shall the holy ordinances of Christ be sett at 〈◊〉 which you have kept in bond● to the great 〈…〉 of God and to the 〈…〉 divers soules whose blood wil be required 〈◊〉 your hands though they be perished in their owne sinnes if you repent not Moreover as wee have shewed before Iohn came in the power and spirit of Elias therefore what soever he did 〈◊〉 office and ministrie was warrantable and according to truth and he could not 〈◊〉 therein This no man that knovves anie truth vvill