A DISCOVERY OF THE ABHOminable Delusions of those who call themselues the Family of Loue. WHEREIN THEIR FALSE CHRIST and false Profession is plainely laide open and all their grosse Cauils cleerely confuted PRO. 28. They that forsake the Law praise the wicked but they that keepe th Law set themselues against them REVEL 2.6 But this thou hast that thou hatest the workes of the Nicolaitans which I also hate Printed M. D.CXXII TO THE READER AMong the many Tares that the Enuious man hath sowen in these last Dayes of the world there are two principall ones by which he so preuayleth among them that acknowledge a Christ that hee bringeth many millions of soules to eternall perdition which wee earnestly beseech may be seriously considered One is a perswasion he worketh in many that if they haue the knowledge of Christ in wordes and doe make a profession of him with their lips mouth and so are accounted Christians by name practising some obseruations which haue a shew of his sacred Commaundements although in deede and Truth they bee the inuentions of Men this they thinke are perswaded is Christianity effectuall and will serue sufficiently to bring them to heauen A second is that when the Deuill seeth he cannot preuayle with diuers in this perswation but that they see Christianity is another thing then a bare profession of Christ then by little and little hee throweth them vpon these fearefull rockes of Familisme to beleeue and be perswaded that true Christianity and the worship of God is onely inward in the heart not at all in any outward obseruatiō or Bodily performance whatsoeuer and that the knowledge of a Christ who by his bodily Death suffered for our sinnes is needlesse which being effectually wrought in their hearts they growe presently to a loathing of the true Christ and the bodily obseruation of all Christs Ordinances for the gathering of his Church for his Ministery for his Worship and for his Church gouernment and all the appertainings thereof hating and contending against all that in the feare of God stand for the maintainance of them And not so onely but also defend with a high hand that men may be saued without knowledge or Faith in the Blood of the man Christ and that Christians ought to subiect their bodyes at the Magistrates commaund in all outward reuerence at any Idolatrous abhomination Mahometisme Papisme or whatsoeuer keeping their hearts to God all which commaunds of the Magistrates they account but Idle vanities as shall be shewed And for the spreading of these and many other most fearefull thinges the Deuill hath raised vp H.N. the most skilfull workman of this Craft and for his Successors though botchers in respect of their Master M.P. who calleth himselfe the mighty Prince of the Hebrewes and his seruant who writeth thus Seruant of M.P. a true Certif cap. 1. sect 10. It is not the pride of our manly being that wee meane to be equall in this or that but onely we meane God to be the very fame in M. P. and the seruant of M.P. that he was in H.N. c. These hauing written diuers Bookes many of which wee haue read by which they haue gotten many Disciples especially such as hauing knowne much truth which vsually is accompaned with the Crosse of Christ haue not onely forsaken that truth wherewith they were enlightened but now doe most wofully blaspheme it whose vniust accusation of vs and proude boasts occationeth the publishing of this little worke And although these especially be delt with yet there are diuers others who will not be called Familists that are deeply tainted with diuers of these things some called the scattered flocke who agree with the former that they may remaine in Babilon A litle booke to the Church of Rome pa. 113. and there mourne tarry c. And what account they make of the Lords Ordinances may appeare by that they write of Baptisme In T.L. aduertis pa. 5.8 which they say is teares teares is the water in Baptisme c. Another sort there are who although they haue not the name of Familists in that they dislike many of their blasphemies yet are dangerously affected with one of their maine grounds They cry out against outward Church Ministery Worship and Church gouernment and feeke and sue to the Magistrate for reformation thereof which when they cannot obtaine they submit and earnestly perswade others to submit to those thinges which being against their Consciences they cry out of onely to auoyde the crosse of Christ and they perswade the people that seeing they haue had comfort in that estate although the thinges they practice be most vile yet they may remaine in the practice thereof and they being reproued for speaking euill of that they practice and submit to they haue Fig-leaues to couer this their naked hypocrisie and when the examples of the Disciples and Churches of Christ are brought to reproue their courses they answer These were inuisible Churches the Elect in the outward Church and diuers such fancies whose courses herein are met withall in this writing following The meane betwixt these we desire to walke in not approuing it sufficient for iustification to haue a Fleshly knowledge of Christ onely or to haue respect to any outward obseruation or bodily seruice where the soule or affection is wanting For in all the Ordinances of Christs Gospell nothing auayleth but a new creature Gal. 6.15 2. Cor. 5.17 Ioh. 3.5 and if any be in Christ he is a new creature none can enter into the kingdome of heauen except he be borne again But we doe abhorre any hypocriticall conceipts which indeed are deceits where the knowledge and Faith of Christ after the flesh and those bodily obseruations that Iesus Christ cōmaundeth is dispised and made of none effect yea where in stead thereof any manner of Idol-seruice is set vp and outwardly reuerenced Christ telleth vs It becommeth vs to fulfill all righteousnes Math. 3. in bodily washing or Baptizing and as often as wee eate that bread of Cōmunion 1. Cor. 11.26 and drinke that Cup we shew forth the Lords death till hee come God hath made our Bodies redeemed them preserueth them Psal 119.113 and will glorifie them so as we will glorifie him with both in abhorring vaine inuentions and louing his Law Christ hath coupled soule and body together and let no man seperate them in his seruice If bodily obseruations be abandoned in the Cōmandements of the first table concerning the worship of God Mat. 23.38 which is the great Commandement and that we may with our bodyes performe any worship why is not the Commands of the second Table our duty towards man abandoned in all bodily obseruations and that our bodyes may steale Whore Lye Murther and what not which thing the oldest Father of this Family doth not sticke at as is shewed Pag. 54. In dealing with this wofull people let none take offence that wee
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
with their soules seeing the Magistrate requireth aswell the one as the other And hypocrites they are most notably for they not onely practice this but teach it to others they teach and practice that in all outward shew and appearance men should doe that which in deed and in truth they abhorre And if this opinion be true That we ought to be subiect in all matters of Religion with our Bodies at the commaund of the higher powers frō 1. Pet. 2.13 c. or any other Scripture then all perfecution for Religion is established yea it is iust lawfull For it is plaine these higher powers are ordained of God to commaund that which the Saints are required to submit vnto and whosoeuer resisteth them there resisteth the Ordinance of God and shall receiue iudgement for they are the Ministers of God therein for the Saints wealth and haue a Sword giuen them of God to take vengeance of them that resist them therefore we must be subiect for Conscience sake say wee all these are inhumane Ordinances as th' Apostle saith in this place say the Familists in Religious ordinances outwardly bodily which being so then are they Gods Ministers The Turke the Popish Magistrates and all others to command all outward seruice and worship euen what they thinke good and haue Gods Sword to take vengeance on all them that obey them not and it is for the Saints wealth that they thus doe and who resisteth them shall receiue iudgement and are not persecuted but iustly punished If this detestable dreame were true then are condemned all the seruants of God in diuers Ages that rather then they would either with body or soule submit herein at the Magistrates command suffered many great afflictions 1. King 19.18 The seauen Thousand are condemned for not bowing the knee to Baal and in not kissing him with their mouth The three Children in not falling downe and bowing to the Image Dan. 3. The Martyrs of Iesus that suffered beheading because they would not Worship the Beast Reuel 20.4 And all that suffered those cruell torments for not submitting outwardly to that execrable Idol the Sacrament of the Altar in times places of Popery If they might haue bowed or otherwise outwardly with their bodies haue testified subjection keeping their hearts to God then did they all most wickedly and were the onely causes of their owne afflictions which to thinke much more to say were most accursed Againe If it bee lawfull to bow downe which is to worship as before is proued with our bodies to an Idoll who is a Spirituall harlot and yet that we may keepe our hearts to God why is it not also lawfull to bow downe or couple our selues to a bodily harlot and keepe our hearts to God seeing Idolaters shall no more enter into the Kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6.9.10 then Adulterers And seeing the holy Ghost saith He that coupleth himselfe in his body with an harlot is one body with her why is not hee that coupleth himselfe in his body by bowing downe or otherwise reuerencing an Idoll one body with it It cannot be denyed but one is as lawfull as the other And H. Ns. Doctrine will not contradict this if it be considered In his Booke called Documentall sentences Cap. 13. sect 8. speaking of temptations to sinne thus he writeth If they take and lay holde on vs with force and violence and that then although wee cry there commeth not any power or helpe vnto vs for to withstand them in their force and violence and that they euen so rauish vs against our will so are we guiltlesse of the transgressing for we cryed to be released of the tyranny of the euill and there is no helpe come vnto vs of which guiltles transgressing the Law likewise witnesseth where it saith A woman which is violently taken in the Field whereas there is not any helpe and so rauished and although shee haue cryed aloude yet got no helpe shee shall be guil lesse of the transgressing c. So that the rule of these hypocriticall Libertines is come to a good passe with them it is not sinne to couple themselues to Idols which are Spirituall harlots by performing all bodily seruice to them also it is no sinne to them to couple themselues with a materiall harlot if they finde no strength by praying to withstand the temptation An acceptable Doctrine to all Libertines who would not be of this Religion But what truth was euer yet so apparant but the enemy of all truth the Deuill would haue some objection against it and therefore in this his prompt Disciples obiect 1. Cor. 9. From whence they collect this argument If Paul became the all thinges to the all men that he might by all meanes saue some to wit in practicing with his body as the Iewes or as them without the Law the Gentiles in their Ceremoniall worship did at that time worshipping God in his Spirit then ought we to submit to all Ceremoniall worship wheresoeuer wee liue in Turkie Rome c. a part of the all thinges But the former is true Therefore c. That this place they wickedly peruert is most apparant for there is no such thing as that the holy Apostle should practice as the vnbeleeuing Gentiles did in their Sacrifices or seruices seeing himselfe taught so earnestly against it Wherfore my dearely beloued flye from Idolatry 1. Cor. 10.14 The thinges that the Gentiles sacrifice they Offer to Deuils and not to God and I would not haue you haue fellowship with the Deuils Vers 20. yee cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of Deuils yee cannot be partakers of the Lords table and the table of Deuils Vers 21.22 Doe wee prouoke the Lord to anger c. Who can deny this Cup and this Table and these thinges Sacrificed to be bodily practices But th' Apostle in this place hauing proued his power frō Iesus Christ to preach the Gospell he shewes what a feruent desire he had for the promotion thereof for which labour he proueth by many reasons he deserued wages at the hands of the Corinths and that hee had power to require the same but he had not vsed it but Preached the Gospell of God freely therein making himselfe a Seruant not onely vnto them but vnto all men preaching the Gospell vnto all men as they were able to beare it To the Iewes who were vnder the Law becomming a Iew by teaching them the Gospell by the Law and Prophets which was their owne Element that hee might winne them The Gentiles who had not the Law Rō 2.14 As though he were without the Law teaching them God and so the Gospell not by the Law but by the Creation of the world which they were acquainted with as at Athens Act. 17.22 c. That he might winne them that were without the Law To the weake he became weake not giuing strong meat to babes teaching them as they were able
the workes of the Iewes his owne people if when he came they had not cast him off The most that this place proueth is that if Gods people teach truthes but practice it not the truth they teach must be followed not their practices but if they will not repent of their euill practices they must be cast out for being Gods people * Math. 18.15 c. 1. Cor. 5. c. 2. I hes 3.14 and serueth nothing to proue that Gods people may practice according to the wicked workes of the Idolaters but the contrary but of this exposition more hereafter But feeing this Scripture is alledged heere by the Familists for proofe of that which many that are not so farre gone as they will abhorre yet thus farre take it vp as that they may heare Idolaters in their Religious exercises which is a dependancy of the former we thinke it very necessary to speake something of that forasmuch as many haue beene ouerthrowne by that vpon these rockes of Familisme for indeed in part it is the former For it is this a hearing of Idolaters to receiue some Spirituall benefit by them else why doe they heare and yet in their hearts doe not joyne in any Spirituall fellowship with them but iudge them to be Idolaters their estate with God to be most fearefull In a measure it is hypocrisie as the former and vtterly vnlawfull by the Scriptures That it is not lawfull to heare lying Idolatrous Prophets except to reproue them and contend against them is thus proued 1. THe Lord expresly forbiddeth it Deut. 13.3 Thou shalt not hearken vnto the wordes of that Prophet c. Thus saith the Lord of Hoasts Iere. 23.16 heare not the words of the Prophets that prophesie vnto you and teach you vnity they speake the vision of their owne heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord. For if any goe to such Prophets to aske for God Ezek. 14.10 the Lord will punish them with the Prophets punishment Which is to bee cut off from Gods people Cap. 13.9 not to be written among the righteous and not to enter into the Land of Israell for euer Ioh. 10.5 Christs sheepe will flye from a stranger for they know not his voyce and they are often commaunded to beware of false Prophets which come in Sheepes cloathing Math. 7.15 1. Ioh. 4.5.6 the world heareth them but they that are of God heareth vs saith the Apostle Lying Prophets are for the wicked Micah 2.11 Gods people must not receine them if they come vnto them to teach them 2. Ioh. 20.11 much lesse may they goe seeke to be taught of them Let them returne to thee returne nel thou to them Iere. 15.19 2. As Preaching or teaching the word of God and hearing of the same among the Saints is a part of true worship * 1. Cor. 11.5 Math. 15.9 so is preaching and hearing among the wicked a part of false worship and so their Communion From which the Saintes are to seperate and haue no fellowship with their vnfruitfull workes of darkenes Ephes 5.11 but reproue them And so the wicked themselues account Preaching and hearing a part of their worship Psal 16.4 and 15.4 26.4.5 which the Saints may not offer but euen contemne such vile persons and actions and hate their assemblies and not company with them 3. As God commaunded that the Prophet that should presume to speake a word in his name Deu. 18.20 that he commanded him not to speake was to dye That is the Israelites the people of God were to slay his Body Deut. 13.5 and so to take euill away forth of the midst of them So are Gods people now cōmaunded that euen among themselues they must marke diligentlys them that teach contrary Doctrine and auoyde them Rō 16.17 and from such to seperate themselues 1. Tim. 6.5 yea if they were Angels from Heauen teaching falshood to let them be accursed Gal. 1.8.9 Gal. 5.10 and beare their condemnation whosoeuer they bee which being practised towards false Prophets within the Church or without the Saints are no more to heare them but to declare their estate of Death as vnder Moses bodily so vnder Christ spiritually 4. The Saints are to declare vnto the wicked That God saith what hast thou to doe to declare mine Ordinances that thou shouldest take my Couenant in thy mouth Psal 50.16 c. seeing thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my wordes behind thee and because I held my tongue therefore thou thoughtest I was like thee but I will reproue thee c. This is written for the Saints instruction Rom. 15.4 that herein they may imitate their heauenly Father Math. 5.48 For whosoeuer heareth in Gods matters and is silent he doth establish that which is done Num. 30.14.15 And hee that wincketh at iniquity when he seeith it Leuit. 20.4.5 the Lord will set his face against that man 5. Our Lord Christ Ioh. 8.44 would not suffer the Deuill the Father of all lying Prophets to confesse him Mark 1.25 yea by his power he made the euill Spirit in the man Act. 19.15 reproue those wicked men for medling with the name of Iesus 1 Ioh. 2.6 And we must walke as hee hath walked that when we heare the Deuill in the wicked false Prophets meddle with the name of Christ or his holy word or Ordinances we must sharpely rebuke them and asmuch as in vs is not suffer them 6. The end of the Saints hearing any false Prophet meddle with the word of God must either be for edification or else to rebuke them as before else what doe they there If to rebuke them it is lawfull as before is proued If to receiue Spirituall food from them they may not for there is food sufficient in Gods house the Saints may not goe to Aegipt to seeke food of any Aegiptian Esa 30.1 Woe vnto the rebellious Children saith the Lord that take counsell but not of mee they walk forth to goe down into Aegipt Esa 31.1 And woe vnto them that goe downe to Aegipt for helpe For the Lord will say to his people Iere. 5.7 how shall I spare thee for this though I fed thee to the full yet they cōmitted Adultery and assembled themselues in Harlots houses yea he doth further say What hast thou to doe in the way of Aegipt to drinke the water of Nilus Iere 2.18 or what makest thou in the way of Ashur to drinke the water of the Riuer And therefore this Prophet of the Lord when he had none to company with in Gods matters Iere. 15.17 he would not sit in the assembly of mockers but sate alone 7. Christ hauing giuen sufficient meanes in his Church for the edificatiō of euery member * Ephe. 4.16 Col. 2.9 1. Cor. 1.7 1. Cor. 3.21 2. Chro. 11.15 therin it is high