Law and wee are saued by Grace through Faith Vers 8 And wee are freely iustified by his Grace through Christs redemption So that they doe as manifestly contradict God take away Gods fauour Christs iustice vnto vs through the Redemption of his precious blood and fet vp mans merite for Iustice with God as euer the wicked Iewes did but forasmuch as they are so confident in it let vs a little further prosecute this thing If euer any should haue had iustice with God through workes Abraham the Father of the righteous should but Abraham was not iustified by workes but by Beleeuing that was counted to him for Iustice Rō 4.2 c. now to him that worketh the wages is not counted by fauour but by debt So that if Iustification with God come by workes wee are not beholding to God for it he payeth vs nothing but our due Oh fearefull blasphemy But th'Apostle affirmeth that the promise made to Abraham of being the Father of all the righteous was not made to Abraham or his seede through the Law but through the righteousnes of faith Vers 14.16 c. For if they that be of the Law be heyres Faith is made voyde and the Promise is made of none effect Therefore it it by Faith that it might come by Grace to them which are of the Faith of Abraham c. Confirmed by the same Apostle who saith Gal. 2.15 c. we which are Iewes by Nature and not sinners of the Gentiles knowe that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law but by the Faith of Iesus Christ euen wee haue beleeued in Iesus Christ that wee might bee iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ and not by the workes of the Law for by the workes of the Law no man shall be Iustified Therefore taking this detestable Doctrine as sufficiently confuted wee will conclude with the words of th'Apostle We do not abrogate the Grace of God for if Iustice bee by the Law then Christ dyed for nothing or without cause Gal. 2.21 Oh that this Scripture might be considered It is heere affirmed that if Christs Death make not men iust but the Law then Christ dyed for nothing all other thinges purchased by Christs Death if this be denyed are counted nothing and this is to abrogate the Grace of God This their stumbling blocke from Rom. 2. being taken out of the way of all those that will not wilfully perish the very foundation their new Christ is plucked vp by the rootes for there is not any Scriptures that they haue hopes will make for them although some haue alledged Iohn 1.9 This was the true the that lightneth euery man that commeth into the world But we hauing answered that this light is not any power in man but that man Christ Iesus Ioh. 1.14 Ioh. 8.12 9.5 who was made Flesh and dwelt amongst vs c. who is the light of the world This hath not been so much vrged also sometimes they alledge Cornelius for proofe of iustification without Faith in the blood of Christ but seeing themselues faile of proofe that he did not beleeue in the Messiah by looking for him for iustification therefore they let it rest concerning this and take it vp vpon another occasion which in due place we shall speake of These weake and wrested proofes being the best that euer wee heard them alledge for so great and weighty a matter the taking away of the purchase by the blood of Christ and therein mans euerlasting comfort they haue for the making of this more passable and to haue the better acceptance for indeed it is most odious to any Christian heart they haue wee say inuented this Position That if men walke vprightly as farre as they see in morrall thinges although they bee worshippers of Idols whether reall or mentall through ignorance and therein continue liuing and dying they may be saued which indeed is the same in effect with the former as the wise may discerne For if men may be saued that in words acknowledge or not acknowledge the Lord Iesus Christ both being in workes aduersaries to him then what is the profit more vnto those that beleeue in and obey the Lord Iesus and those that by word or workes deny him If both may be saued The wickednes of which wee shall also discouer plainely through the Grace of God No Idolater can bee saued except they leaue their Idolatry by hearty repentance and beleeue in and obey Iesus Christ ALL flesh desires to finde an easie way to Heauen and who would not dye the Death of the righteous But whosoeuer seekes Heauen by wayes of their own deuising they shall not finde it Indeed Christ saith My yoake is easie and my burthen light but that is to those who willingly deny themselues take vp his crosse and follow him otherwise straight is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to Life and few finde it and many shall seeke to enter in and shall not be able The gates of the heauenly Ierusalem the Gospell or new Testament Gal. 4.24.26 are open continually they are not shut by Day nor by Night Yea the Spirit and the bride saying come and let whosoeuer will take of the water of Life freely Reuel 22. And wisedome cryeth without shee vttereth her voyce in the streets shee calleth in the street among the prease in the eate-rings of the Gates Pro. 9. and vttereth her wordes in the Citty saying O yee foolish how long will yee loue foolishnes c. So that there is mercy with God and plenteous redemption but it is by the way that God himselfe who is the giuer of it will bestow it Is not he worthy to haue power of directing vs how to come to life seeing hee himselfe giueth life and that freely of his fauour The question therefore now is whether any can haue saluation by their own wisdome walking in their owne wayes or by the way which the wisedome of God hath directed Wee haue already plentifully proued if Scriptures may be proofe That this is the Record of God which whosoeuer beleeueth not hath made God a lyer and this is the Record that God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life 1. Ioh. 5. and this life is in his Sonne He that hath the Sonne hath life and he that hath not that Sonne of God hath not life So that if any will yet affirme that any can haue Eternall life not confessing nor beleeuing in the Sonne of God they make God a lyer whose record is otherwise but this Record of God being beleeued it doth declare all such to be lyers as affirme saluation can be to any that Beleeue not in this Sonne of God If God haue secrets which no man knoweth concerning this thing we meddle not therewith we know none he hath but according to that will of God which is reuealed in his sacred Scriptures we dare be bolde to say no sinner can be saued but by Faith in
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
speake sharply to them but consider the causes thereof They haue bene and are the greatest enemies of righteousnes that euer were faining a God and a Christ according to their owne fleshly hearts and haue more peruerted the straight way of the Lord then euer did any and therefore we hauing Christ and his Apostles for our example herein wee trust none will condemne vs but those that are touched for if any be offended at this our Discouery it is testimony sufficient what they are wee mention the names of none least they should haue colour to say we persecute them The wicked and hypocriticall Scribes and Pharises for whom was reserued the damnation of Hell Elimas the Sorcerer Mat. 23.33 Iannes and Iambres Hymeneus Philetus and all the rest whose fearefull iudgements are written are not so wicked in their blasphemies as these are as shall plainely appeare and therefore let all pronounce against them the iudgements that are written that others may heare and feare and doe no more such wickednes It is meerly for want of loue of the Truth that men are giuen vp to such fearefull delusions from which that we may be deliuered let vs follow the Truth and that in loue which truth is contained in the holy Scriptures and not in the Dreames of H.N. or any other Heb. 1.2 In these last dayes the Father hath spoken by his Son Iesus Christ who was faithfull as Moses Heb. 3.2 Act. 3.22 Mat. 17.5 Act. 3.23 Gal. 1.8 Moses sends vs to him The Father sends vs to him And hee that will not heare this Prophet shall be destroyed And cursed shall he be that teacheth otherwise then hee hath taught by himselfe his Apostles And his Name shall be taken out of the booke of Life that taketh from it Reuel 22.18.19 and the plagues which are writen shal be added to him that addeth to the wordes of this Sonne of God All which the Lords mouth hath spoken Thus haue we taken this paines for the sake of those that are ignorant of these things to the and that they seeing the Pit may be warned and saued from falling into it which God for his Christs sake Grant to euery soule Amen 〈…〉 A DISCOVERIE OF THE FAMILY OF LOVE THE wisedome of GOD not only forewarneth plentifully in the Scriptures To take heed of false Prophets Math. 7.15 and deceiuers in that many are gone out into the world 1. Ioh. 4.1 but also teacheth to make their madnes manifest to all men 2. Tim. 3.9 that their deceits and craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceiue being made known all may be preserued from their snare and bee able to denounce against them the Iudgements which are written Psal 149.9 Our Sauiour telleth vs that after the shortning of those dreadfull dayes of the abhomination of Desolation men shall say Loe heere is Christ loe there is Christ but beleeue them not Math. 24.22 c. goe not thither neither follow them And if any shall say he is in a Desert or in a secret place Goe not forth beleeue it not For as the Lightning commeth out of the East and is seene vnto the West so shall the comming of the Sonne of man bee euen that bright Comming spoken of 2. Thes 2.8 For the consuming of that man of Sinne. Where plainely wee are taught that the way of the Lord IESVS in the Gospell is plaine and manifest Esa 42.16 For he will leade the Blinde by the way that they knew not and will make darknes Light before them and crooked thinges straight and the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sunne Esa 30.26 and the light of the Sunne shall be 7. fold and as the light of 7. Dayes in the day that the Lord will binde vp the breach of his people and heale the stroake of their wound and thither must men goe that will finde Christ indeed For all his wayes are plaine to him that will vnderstand Pro. 8.9 and straight to them that would finde knowledge Pro. 14.6 and his Wisdome is easie to him that will vnderstand But where obscurity and darknesse is a people of a darke speach that thou canst not perceiue and of a stammering tongue that thou canst not vnderstand thither must wee not goe nor such must we not follow Pro. 5.5 c For the pathes of a strange woman are moueable thou canst not know them keepe thy way farre from her and come not neare the doore of her house for her feete goe downe to Death and her steps take holde on Hell shee waigheth not the way of Life This were sufficient if there were no more to diswade all that will not wilfully perish from harkening vnto beleeuing or following those most obscure intricate and tedious deceipts of that people followers of that oldest Elder or ancient deceiuer Henry Nicholas who tearme themselues the family of Loue whose execrable blasphemies are broached so obscurely both by words and writings as hath been alwayes obserued by those that haue had to do with them that the depth of Sathan in them is of many not easily discerned Most true it is they haue much more poysoned this Kingdome in former times then of late yeares at which times diuers discoueries and confutations hath beene made but seeing now they spring afresh and that they haue destroyed the Faith of certain neare deare vnto vs as also that they haue challenged some of vs with great boasts and brags to combat with them and haue in Writing vnder their hands testified that we walke in so many euils the particulars whereof are hereafter named and answered that none fearing God may haue any fellowship with vs. In consideration of all which and to testifie our vnfained detestation of their profession as also to cleare our selues of their vniust accusations we trust no indifferent person will judge of vs otherwise thē wel for thus publickly dealing with them Therfore in the feare of God with reuerence of his Sacred mysteries with vnfained humiliation of our vnworthines with loue to Gods truth and a harty detestatiō of that which is euil we will proceed only to deale in such things as we haue by the now Family or their fauorites beene prouoked vnto And first of their Christ That they holde another Christ then the man Christ Iesus who gaue himselfe a Ransome for all men not onely H. N. hath published but also the present Family in England doe with stifnes iustifie H. N. and the Familyes Christ First H.N. their oldest Elder or rather their God as shall plainly appeare hath thus written This same true light is the Annoynted with the Holy Ghost Euang. Reg. Cap. 13. sect 2. which annoynted in Hebrew is named Messias and in Greeke Christus he was also in times past called of certain Rabbins among the Iewes H. N. Christ the perfection the Lord his Saboth And they say that the same Annoynted is
Family be asked whether in his generall Repentance he doe include his bodily worshipping according to the custome of Mahomet the Church of Rome or wheresoeuer he liueth the Magistrate commaunding it he will answer you no he doth not repent of that For hee ought to subiect his Body at any worship which the Magistrates commaunds keeping his heart to God For Gods worship is not at all outward and therfore that his practise is good and approueable Doth he now repent of this in any generality which he accounteth one of his good actions Repentance is an acknowledgement of sinne c. but an Idolater and Familist acknowledge their action herein to be good therefore cannot repent of them at that time If any say they haue not sinned Ieâ—e 2.35 1. Ioh. 1.10 God will enter into Iudgement with them and their sinne remaineth Oh but this is a dangerous censure they obiect not onely of those that are liuing but of many that are Dead To which we answer we censure none onely relate Gods censure in his Word that cannot lye Which word shall iudge all men at the last Day Ioh. 12.48 wee say of none whether dead or yet liuing that they are damned except such as sinne against the Holy Ghost as many of the Familists haue because wee know not in what moment of time they may repent But this we say whosoeuer they be that sinne and neuer repent thereof they shall perish Luk. 13.3 not we but the Lord saith this Therefore so long as we know men line impenitently in Idolatry through what delusion soeuer hating to be reformed and casting Gods word behinde their backes we can truely say they are in the estate of condemnation and shall perish if they repent not of that their Idolatry and come into the Arke that saueth 1. Pet. 3.21 which is the Baptisme of Christ the request of a good Conscience by Christs resurrection For the profession that must be had and kept is to draw neare to God Heb. 10.22.23 with a true heart in assurance of Faith sprinckled in our hearts from an euill Conscience and washed in our Bodyes with pure water Hauing thus discouered the false Christ of H.N. and his learners false way of Religion of those that are running fast after him though yet it may bee not of that louely Family who affirme that by keeping the Law any may be saued though they be neuer so great Idolaters as Idolatry is taken of all but Familists which wide brod way of affirming that any may haue saluation though they beleeue not in the man Christ but be Idolaters ouerthroweth the vertue of Christs precious Death and bloodshed and all Religion and Godlinesse Wee say hauing discouered the falshood of these wee now come to cleare our selues of their imputations which followeth thus vnder their hand Twelue transgressions that yee commonly called Anabaptists doe commit euen with a high hand and therefore yee for the very greatest part are vn-Christians FIrst your greatest Zeale is concerning Ceremonies and your least is concerning Godlines euerlasting and further yee contend against Godly ceremonies Answ In this vniust accusation are contained three thinges 1. Wherein our greatest zeale consisteth namely in Cermonies 2. Wherein it doth not consist in Godlines euerlasting 3. That we contend against Godly ceremonies First what mystery they may conceiue in this word Ceremony for they vse it much wee doe not well know but if they had no other meaning than as it is Heb. 9.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Religious Ordinances or Diuine seruice or worship or Ceremonies then we say our zeale ought to be great concerning the Ordinances of true Religion or worship to God for it is the first and great Commaundement Mat. 22.37 Religion or religious seruice or worship towards God consisteth in the vpright hearty and vnfained submitting vnto with our Spirits and performing with our Bodies such Ordinances and Commandements as Iesus Christ the great Prophet hath commanded For he that obeyeth not the Sonne shall not see Life Ioh. 3.36 but the wrath of God abideth on him and wee must obserue all that hee commaundeth which if wee will not wee shall be destroyed from among his people Act. 3.23 for wee must stand fast and keepe euery instruction which hee or his Apostles haue taught vs 1. Cor. 11.2 for in these last dayes the Father hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne and if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast Heb. 1.2 and euery transgression Cap. 2.2.3 and disobedence receiue a iust recompence of reward how shall wee escape if we neglect so great a saluation Cap. 3.3 For the Sonne is worthy of more honour then the Seruant wee are Christs friends if wee doe whatsoeuer he commandeth but hee that saith Ioh. 15.14 1. Ioh. 2.4 hee knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyer So that if the Ordinances of Religion or Diuine worship be the Lords if wee should not be zealous therein and earnestly contend for the maintainance of that Faith Iude. 3. which was once giuen to the Saintes we should be iustly reproued of the Lord as the Church of Laodocea and that iudgement pronounced Reuel 3.16 I will spewe thee out of my mouth But they will answer the Scripture learned men haue no vnderstanding as in any other thing so in this For the worship of God is altogether to be performed within in the Spirit and not in any outward Ceremony whatsoeuer With this they flatter themselues in their owne eyes whilest their iniquity is found worthy to bee hated the wordes of their mouthes are iniquity and deceipt Psal 36.2 c. they haue left off to vnderstand and to doe good they imagine mischiefe vpon their beds and set themselues vpon a way that is not good as shall manifestly appeare to all that haue eyes of any indifferency when we shew what the worship of God is as afterward we shall haue a good occasion to speake of onely this may suffice to cleare vs from any vniust accusation if we be zealous for the Lords Ordinances concerning his worship To the second part of the accusation that our least zeale is for Godlines euerlasting What doe they meane by this Godlines euerlasting whether that of their oldest Elder H. N. the perfection of liuing in the holy vnderstanding and vpright righteousnes in the louely being which in these last dayes is reueyled by H. N. in the house of Loue Or doe they meane that to bee euerlasting Godlines which some of his young Disciples affirme to be in those Gentiles Rom. 2. A iustice in themselues through keeping the Law which they call the Christ neither of these we freely confesse we seeke after For the first we doe asmuch detest as we doe the Deuill himselfe who is the Father of all lying allegories and reuelations that are not contained in the sacred Scriptures And for the second we doe
no lesse abhorre to seeke Iustice in our selues by keeping the Law for then Christ dyed for nothing and all that are bewitched with that cursed conceit are abolished from Christ are fallen from Grace But if they meant no more but that euerlasting Godlines were to doe Iustice loue mercy and humble our selues to walke with God Micah 6.8 Mat. 22.37 c. the somme of all which is to loue God aboue all by beleeuing to haue Iustice by the Death and bloodshed of his Sonne and obaying his Commandements for his worship and louing our neighbour as our selues wee vnfainedly desire to striue after these and doe according to our vttermost ability And the Consciences of diuers of these men if they were not past feeling will not deny this hauing formerly acknowledged the same by words and writings not onely that our profession leadeth to a holy life in our entrance in our not admitting any but such as manifest themselues to vs to be new Creatures but also in our progresse wherein if any sinne appeare in any we haue power from the Lord Iesus and doe execute the same power either to cast the sinne out of the party by Repentance or to cast the party out of our spirituall fellowship by Excommunication as we are cōmanded * Math. 18.17 c. 1. Cor. 5.13 And for our dealings and carriages among men we leaue that to the testimony of them among whom we liue wee had rather our actions should speake then our mouthes Men full of weaknesses we are we freely confesse with vnfained humility desiring to striue towards perfection wherein when we haue done what we can wee seeke our perfection in and through the perfection of CHRIST who is vnto vs all in all thinges without whom wee can doe nothing Ioh. 15.5 And this euerlasting righteousnes both towards God and man the Ordinances of Gods worship leadeth vs vnto though contemned of all Familists in which the more zealous we are the more doe we attaine to euerlasting righteousnes To the last that we contend against Godly ceremonies Their meaning is as afterwards they haue explained it in that wee contend against and submit not with our bodies vnto such obseruations for such Spirituall worship as the Turke the Pope or any other Superior power where we liue commaundeth That we should contend against all vaine inuentions for Gods worship and loue Gods Law Psal 119.113 The Holy Ghost teacheth vs For if wee should worship God by mens precepts God would account vs hipocrites Math. 15.9 and our worship vaine but of this at large in his due place in answer to their third taxation of vs for not submitting with our bodies to any outward seruice keeping our hearts to God This may suffice to cleare vs of the first Secondly you are without the Charity described 1. Cor. 13. Chap. FOr answer to which we say The particulers of Loue are many in that place and therefore till we are accused particularly wee can giue no answer We trust if they come to particulers we should rather proue them to bee lyers and false accusers then that they should proue such things against vs we know nothing herein by our selues that men can iustly taxe vs but we are not hereby iustified with God But thus much we may truely say that when our walking was no better then now it is some of these younglings in or towards the Family haue solemnly protested they neuer found the like loue as among vs with any people that euer they knew Thirdly you submit not to euery Ordinance of the Magistrate 1 Pet. 2.13 TO which we answer they are false accusers wee giue vnto Caesar thinges which are Caesars Mat. 22.21 but Christ commaundeth vs also to giue vnto God thinges which are Gods Now if we take away from Caesar either by words or practice any thing that is his we may iustly be accounted Rebels against Caesar And so all they that take away from the most high God the thinges which are his shall be accounted Rebels against the King of Kings who although hee be patient and long suffering and deferreth his wrath yet if once it burne Psal 2.12 Oh blessed are they that trust in him The right knowledge of what is Caesars what is Gods will be the best way of clearing our selues of this imputation for concerning this we not onely suffer the reproches of this wicked Family and all their wel-willers but also all our persecutions are inflicted vpon vs for this cause And without the distinct knowing of what is Gods what is Caesars men shall greatly doe amisse It is written here in Peter Submit your selues to all Ordinances of Man for the Lord So also in 1. Cor. 7.23 it is written Yee are bought with a price be not the seruants of men In some thinges we must submit vnto them and in other thinges wee must not submit vnto them for the Lord hath commaunded both therefore it is meete we should know the difference If there were no more but these places of Scripture they would sufficiently decide the controuersie Peter saith Submit your selues to all humane Ordinances or to euery ordinance of Man a humane or worldly Ordinance it must be that wee must submit vnto Paul saith yee are bought with a price be not the seruants of men Christ hath bought vs and therefore wee must be his seruants This is confirmed in diuers Scriptures Rom. 7.4 That we should be vnto him that dyed for vs and rose againe Mat. 10.37 For if we loue Father mother wife magistrate or life more then he wee are not worthy of him And therefore did his seruants in the commaunds of God when they were contradicted by the Magistrates say Dan. 3.16.18 We are not carefull to answer thee O King in this matter Be it knowne vnto thee we will not fall downe nor worship Act. 4.19.20 c. And we cannot but speake the thinges we haue heard and seene Whether is it better to obey God or men iudge yee In matters of God wee must submit vnto Christ alone I am 4.12 hee is the one Law-giuer able to saue and to destroy The Father hath spoken by him in the last dayes giuing him all power in Heauen and in Earth Confirming it by voyce from Heauen This is my beloued Sonne heare him and he that will not that he shall raigne ouer him let him be brought and slaine before him The truth of this most euident not onely by the Scriptures but also acknowledged by many Superiours the chiefest ouer vs on Earth acknowledgeth the same The Kings most excellent Matie saith Apol. for the Oath of Allegiance pag. I vtterly deny that there is any earthly Monarch ouer the Church whose word must be a Law and who cannot erre by an infallibility of Spirit because earthly Kingdomes must haue earthly Monarchs it doth not follow the Church must haue a visible Monarch too Christ is the Churches Monarch and
the Holy Ghost his Deputy The Kinges of the Nations Raigne ouer them but you shall not bee so c. Lu◠22. Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them into all Truth but promised to send the Holy Ghost vnto them for that end These are his Highnes wordes But the Familists answer vs That Gods worship consisteth not at all in any outward obseruation the which saying of theirs if we ouerthrow a great part of their tottering profession will fall for they cannot deny but we must worship the Lord our God and him onely must wee serue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adoro is not onely taken for to Pray vnto or to beseech but also to Honour with bowing of the Body and the Scripture expresseth the same First Math. 14.10 saith If thou wilt fall downe and worship me Luke saith of the same Luk. 4.10 If thou wilt fall downe before me Math. 8.2 And loe there came a Leper and worshipped Marke saith of the same Mark 1.40 And there came a Leper beseeching him and kneeling down vnto him Luk. 5.12 Luke of the same And hee fell on his face and besought Math. 9.18 It is onely said There came a certaine Ruler and worshipped him Marke explaines it saying Mark 5.22 Hee fell downe at his feete and besought him instantly The same saith Luke Luk. 8.41 not speaking of any other worship Againe it is said Math. 15.25 of the Cannanite shee came and worshipped him saying Lord helpe me Mark 7.25 Marke calles this worship And she fell at his feete Further Marke saith The man possessed when he saw Iesus ranne and worshipped him Mark 5.6 Luke calleth this worship onely this Luk. 8.28 And hee cryed out and fell downe before him Also those wicked Soldiers are said to worship our Sauiour when bowing their knees before him Mar. 15.19 they mocked him By all which and much more that might be alledged it may most euidently appeare that the wisedome of God that knoweth best how to speake and to teach vs accounteth bowing of the Body kneeling or falling downe to be worship Further it is said And there were certaine Greekes that came to Ierusalem to worship Ioh. 12.20 at the Feast Act. 8.27 And the Euunuch is said to come out of Ethiopia to worship And Paul doth say he came to Ierusalem to worship All which teacheth Act. 2◠11 that the performance of those serulces and Sacrifices that with their Bodies were to be performed are counted Gods worship and not only a Spirituall reuerence or adoration which they might haue performed not haue come to Ierusalem This may suffice to proue that any bodily reuerence in matters of God and bodily seruices or Sacrifices are called Gods worship and therefore vtterly forbidden in any Spirituall seruice but onely in the true seruice of the true God Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue This therefore is to giue vnto God thinges which are Gods euen subjection with our soules and with our bodies to those parts of his Spirituall worship which he hath commanded in these last dayes by his Sonne Esa 2 8. This is his Honour which he will not giue to another This the seruants of God knew so well that they would not giue it to others to the greatest Potentates of the Earth notwithstanding all their commands and threats And this through the power of God wee will maintaine vnto the Death and approue our selues to God and all good men to bee neither Rebels to Caesar nor deserue iust taxation but commendation herein of all but hypocriticall and Atheisticall Familists And for what is Caesars wee vprightly acknowledge that all ciuill authority of Magistracy is the blessed Ordinance of God That all ciuill reuerence Honor ought to be giuen to it That Tribute and all other duties are to be payed vnto it Rom. 13. c. That all ciuill commands of it ought to be obeyed And that of Conscience to God whose ministers they are euen from the King to the most meanest Constable And that they may so execute their iust offices that they may notwithstanding walke with Iesus Christ be members of his Church and be faued That they haue a Sword giuen them of God to take vengeance on them that doe euill and are ordained of God for the wealth of all wel-doers And this is all that can be Caesars or that wee dare giue vnto any mortall man whatsoeuer So that hauing now shewed what is Gods what is Caesars we confidently affirme that the body may not be seuered from the foule or heart in our obedience to both as these hypocrits the Familists doe suggest In our obedience to man in all Ciuill things that which we doe we must doe of Conscience and not for wrath onely Rom. 13.5 And Seruants and so Subiects be obedient to your Masters according to the Flesh in all thinges not with eye seruice us men pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing God and whatsoeuer yee doe Col. 3.22.23 Ephe. 6.5.6 doe it heartily as to the Lord and not to men Also with singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ All which teacheth That all our seruice to euery Superiour must be with the heart and of Conscience and not with our Bodies onely and for our obedience to God with our Bodies aswell as our Spirits in all Spirituall or Diuine seruice and that they may not be seuered therein is proued We are bought both soule and Body with a deare price 1. Cor. 6.20 and therefore are commanded to glorifie God with both For our bodyes are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and they are not our owne Vers 19 And the bodyes of Christians are the members of Christ Vers 15 and these members of Christ our bodies must not be coupled to any Harlot whether materiall or Spirituall And wee are commaunded to giue vp our Bodyes a liuing sacrifice Rom. 12.1 wholy and acceptable which is our reasonable seruice of God This is plaine to him that will vnderstand And the Familists teaching the contrary it shall plainely appeare they are not onely most notable hypocrites but also Rebellious against the power of Magistracy Magistrates that take vpon them to Commaund in matters of Gods worship they doe not onely require bodily falling downe but also Reuerence with the soule of heart Dan 3. Did not Nabuchadnezzar require falling downe and worshipping And doe not the Magistrates in Popery and elsewhere where constraint to worship is doe they not require Diuine adoration to their diuine Seruice as they call it let all their Orders for their constrained and stinted seruice be looked into and this cannot be denyed And this being the Ordinance of the Magistrate if it be rebellion not to submit with the body in such diuine worship as they require because they commaund it as the Familists affirme then they are rebellious because they submit not
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
impiety for any of that said members to seek edificatiō of false Prophets in that it giueth that Honor and Matie that belongeth to Christ in his Church to the Deuill* by whose power that false Prophet teacheth and the Lord commanded his people of olde that they being seperated from other people to be the Lords should beware least they be taken in a snare after them Deu. 12.30 c. and least thou aske after their Gods saying how did these nations serue their Gods c. So that Gods people may not go heare which is to enquire of any false Prophet least they be taken in a snare by submitting to that God or that manner which that false Prophet teacheth 8. As the word of God is holy as other Ordinances among the Saints for it sanctifieth Church and all * Ioh. 17.17 Ephe. 5.26 1. Tim. 4.5 so the word of God is more prophaned among and by the wicked then other Ordinances because they take it to warrant their prophane practices and if the Saints of God may not joyne with them in soule or body in any of their prophane courses as before hath bene proued much lesse in soules or bodies may they joyne with them in vsing the word which is most of all prophaned by them Luk. 10.16 Ioh. 13.20 Ioh. 8.44 Rom. 6.16 9. As they that heare Christs Prophets heare Christ and they that dispise them dispiseth him euen so they that heare false Prophets which are the Deuils heare the Deuill and they that dispise them dispise the Deuill Therefore let all that hate the Deuill and would flye from him so doe vnto his Ministers 10. It is the grieuous sinne of any false Prophet to meddle with the word of God and his punishment is fearefull it is no lesse sinne Ezek. 13.9 and 14.10 and shall haue no lesse punishment in any that shal goe to aske or enquire of him for God Vers 7.10 the punishment shall be both alike For it is apparant Gods people may not goe to aske or enquire for God of any false Prophet which they doe that goe to heare with silence else hypocrites that they are what doe they there 11. False Prophets are strangers from God and we are commanded not to heare strangers but to flye from them and it is the commendations of the Saints Reuel 2.2 to examine false Apostles and to finde them lyars the Lords anger is against his people Ezek. 44.8 when they suffer Strangers to take the charge of his Holy things especially of handling the Word which halloweth all the rest and God demaundeth of his Sonnes Pro. 5.20 why they should embrace the bosome of a stranger And what doest thou in the way of Aegipt or what makest thou in the way of Ashur as before 12. Gods people must not goe to the dead to enquire * Deu. 18.11 1. Sam. 28.7 c. Esa 8.19 which false Prophets are * Ephes 1.2 Esa 29.9 c. yea God hath couered them with the Spirit of slumber they are blinde make such blind as heare them and their vision is as the wordes of a Booke sealed vp c. And shall any seruant of God goe to them to aske of God seeing their estates is such and that such thinges are an abhomination to the Lord Deu. 18.12 which will cause him to cast vs out of his sight 13. A false Prophet medling with the Holy word of God poluteth it Hag. 2.13.14 and the Lord will stretch out his hand to cut them off euen all false Priests and Prophets that worship sweare by the Lord Zeph. 1.4.5 and that sweare by Malcham and cōmaundeth his people to cast away all pollutions Esa 30.22 as a filthy cloath and to say get thee hence which doing this controuersie will be ended 14. It is as high iniquity for a false Prophet to meddle with the holy things of God which appertaineth not to him but only to the Saints as it was for Corah and his wicked Company Num. 16. c. to meddle with those thinges of God which appertained not to them but to Aron and his Sonnes and the Lord will no lesse punish false Prophets for their iniquity therein then he did Corah and his Company and as he cōmanded all to depart from the Tents of those wicked men and to touch nothing of theirs least they perish in all their sinnes euen so hath he commanded all to flye from Strangers and false Prophets and not to heare them as at large before hath bene proued least partaking in their sinnes Reuel 18.4 they partake in their plagues And whereas vsually hearing the Scribes and Pharises is alledged for justifying of hearing false Prophets which is formerly taken away yet thus much we heere adde Moses seat was the Chayre of Iudgement Moses was Iudge not Priest and the Pharises were some of them of such Tribes as might not be Priests although some Scribes were Priests sometimes Nehemia 8. And some Priests now are Magistrates which shewes that although Magistrates who of God haue the Chayre of iudgement be corrupt and walke not as they teach yet the people of God must hearken vnto the Law deliuered by them and doe as they say but not as they doe and serueth nothing to proue the hearing of false Prophets For these Scribes Pharises are said to teach truth but not to doe accordingly but false Prophets teach falshood therefore are called false Prophets with plainely sheweth these were no false Prophets Math. 23. for false Prophets may not be heard as is before largely proued And for Phil. 1.15 Some preach Christ through enuy supposing to adde affliction to Pauls bands which was the Apostles ioy that he was counted worthy to suffer for Christ as Mat. 5.12 Act. 5.41 not that he ioyed in the enuious preaching of Christ that was miquity which hee ioyed not in 1. Cor. 13.6 If any obiect that false Prophets preach many excellent truthes therefore may be heard we answer If they were Prophets of Israell speaking sweet words in the name of the Lord and teaching also in some thinges the vision of their owne hearts and not out of the Lords mouth the Lord affirmeth they bring no profit to his people and therfore cōmandeth them not to heare them Nay they bring hurt for they bring themselues and all that aske of them for the Lord to confusion as before is proued Further we say and it is found most true that the more truthes they bring they deceiue the more and inthrall their hearers vnder their bondage For the lesse truthes that false Prophets haue the lesse they deceiue as all may see are most rejected of those that haue any Religion euen so should the cunningest false Prophet be if they should teach falshood only These are their stollen waters Pro. 9.17 7.21 c. and hid bread that allureth the passers by to runne after them and herein is the