CHRISTIAN WARNING-PIECE FOR ALL TRUE PROTESTANTS BY WAY OF CHRISTIAN COUNSEL and ADVICE TO THE KING'S Most Excellent MAJESTY and all His good Protestant Subjects sounded forth out of the Written Word of GOD. Wherein is clearly shewed the true Causes why the Lord in former Ages brought his severe Judgments on his own People both before the Law under the Law and under the Gospel All which being applied to the present State of Protestants is proved both by Scripture and History that it is the same Cause still for which the Lord is bringing His severe Judgments on his Protestant People Together with the Means if imbraced which God in Mercy hath Ordained to prevent the same By THOMAS WALL Cry aloud spare not lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet and shew my People their Transgressions and the House of Jacob their Sins Isa 58. 1. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning and Admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Rom. 15. 4. 1 Cor. 10. 11. Whosoever heareth the sound of the Trumpet and taketh not Warning his Blood shall be upon his own Head But he that taketh Warning shall deliver his own Soul Ezek. 33. 4 5. LONDON Printed in the Year 1680. TO THE King's Most Excellent Majesty Most humbly shewing THat the most Wise God who hath made all things for his * Rev. 4. 11. Pleasure hath ordained in every Nation but two States Pillers or Legs to stand upon the one Civil and the other Spiritual The Civil State is God's Ordinance of Magistratical Government under divers Titles as Kings or other Chief Governours unto whom an excellent †Dan. 4. 36. Majesty is given them of God as next under ‖ Rom. 13. God Head of the Commonwealth the Lord's Lieutenants here on Earth And seeing since the Fall Mans Heart is * Jer. 17. 9. deceitful and in Mans Flesh dwelleth no good thing so that the Good he would do he doth not but the Evil he would not that he doth †Rom. 7. Therefore for guide in Government God hath given Kings the second ‖ Exod. 20. Table of his Royal Law as a most sure Foundation and Rule to square all their Laws by to govern their People so that by it they bear not the Sword in vain but use it to the Glory of God for the punishment of Evil-doers * Rom. 13. and the praise of them that do well Of which Trust and Stewardship committed to them they must shortly give an Account to their Chief Judg the Prince of the Kings of the Earth the Lord Jesus at the last Day The other State or Piller is the †Rev. 15. 3 Mat. 28. 18 Kingly Government of the Lord Jesus in his Church or ‖ John 18. 36. Kingdom in all things Spiritual As Christ hath his Office under God the only Head of his Mystical Body * Ephes 5. 23. Col. 1. 17. the Church unto whose Government is given the first Table of God's Law according to which most sure Foundation are all the Laws made in all Ages for his worship And though Christ was not manifested in the Flesh till these last Times yet was he from the Days of Adam King in his Church on his holy †Psal 2. 6. Hill of Sion in those who were Figures of him as * Heb. 7. 1. Ps 110. 4. Melchisedeck ‖ Acts 3. 22. Moses and David so Christ was the same Yesterday to Day and for †Heb. 13. 8 ever who now in his Church sitteth on the Throne of his Father David as it is written of him * Isa 11. 3 4. That he shall not judg after the sight of his Eyes nor reprove after the hearing of his Ears but with Righteousness shall he judg the Poor and reprove with Equity for the Meek of the Earth and shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth and with the breath of his Lips shall he slay the Wicked So that his Weapons are not Carnal as his Kingdom is not of this World so differing from the Civil State Moreover as these be the only States ordained of God and the nature of them being so different the one from the other as the nature of a thing Civil and Spiritual is so that the one State may not meddle with the Work◠that belongeth to the other And hereupon did the Lord in his Wisdom constitute the Civil State in the Tribe of * Gen. 49. 10. 2 Chron. 5. 2. Judah and the Spiritual State in the Tribe of Levi but when King Uzziah would presume to break God's Order to do that Work which †2 Chron. 27. 16 17 18. belonged not to the Civil States Office the Lord smote him with Leprosie to the day of his Death that others may be warned not to presume above what is written 1 Cor. 4. 6. Therefore the Lord Jesus our High Priest and only Lord Spiritual in his Church would not meddle with the Magistrates-work nor Office to give Judgment on a Woman taken in Adultery ‖ John 8. 3 4 5. nor divide Inheritances between Brethren And likewise commanded his Disciples and all Bishops and Ministers to the Worlds end not to take on them the title * Luke 22. 25. Mat. 20. 25. of Politick Princes but rather he that would be Chief to be Servant to all and not as Lords either in Title or Rule over God's Heritage †1 Pet. 5. 3. or Churches of God Therefore we see God in his Wisdom hath limited either State to keep within the limits he hath ordained for them Therefore as touching the Civil Magistratical State we may justly conclude That whatsoever Person he be whether Noble or Ignoble that shall presume to Alter Change or Diminish to or from any part of the Laws Ordinances Offices or Order contrary to the King 's Royal Crown and Dignity established by Law according to the second Table of God's Law must needs be accounted a Traytor to the King and suffer his high Displeasure Accordingly may we conclude concerning the Spiritual State of Christ's Government in his Church That whatsoever Person he be whether Noble or Ignoble that shall presume to Add or Diminish Alter or Change any thing in Government or Ministry Time Maintenance or Order contrary to the Rules or Laws of Christ's Testament founded on the first Table of God's Law in all things pertaining to the Worship of God may justly be deemed a Traytor to the Royal Crown and Dignity of the Lord Jesus and may hear the Sentence out of his own Mouth against them saying Bring those mine Enemies that would not that I should Reign over them and slay them before me Either by casting out of his Church or by everlasting Wo at the last Day May it therefore please your Majesty in your Wisdom to consider these things That it is one of the Crying
of all yet none can believe and obey but the Elect whom God giveth †2 Tim. 2. 25. Repentance to and to them only the Word is the savour of Life unto them that are saved by Faith in Christ Jesus Yet the Preacher knowing not who are the Elect doth apply the Word as generally calling all Persons to believe and obey in his Message As saith the Lord to Paul when he sent him to Corinth I have much People in this City So Act. 18. 10. John 10. 20. not all for they could not all believe because they were not all Christ's Sheep as it is written All Men have not Faith 2 Thess 3. 2. For these and the like errors in Faith and corruption in Worship which were too tedious here to refute about the state of Infant-Baptism and the Seventh-day Sabbath of the gross mistake in them that deny the one and keep the other largely handled by me not long since printed in a Book intituled Ancient Truth Revived Wherein is also in 22 Articles every true Protestant's Faith inserted the State of a true Church and how every Ordinance and by whom and in what Order they were performed in the Primitive Churches containing six Sheets of Paper unto which I refer the Reader is one cause why God hath not before this destroyed the false Ecclesiastical power of the Romish Babylon because as the Sins of God's People of old were the cause why old Babylon was not sooner destroyed even so is it See and read Jer. 25. now That as then God did first give his own People a Cup to drink and then Shishack did drink after them So Judgment must first begin at the House * 1 Pet. 4. 17. of God unless there be a speedy Repentance Else surely the time is come as that Servant of God Mr. Beal hath noted on Rev. 20. in his Book called The Image of both Churches That when the 1000 Years of the Beast's Raign was expired Satan the common Adversary of Man shall be loosed out of his dark Prison and set at large by the sufferance of God Mans wickedness deserving no other strongly deluding the Unbelievers for their unbelief-sake to deceive the Universal People of the World through the operation of Errors He shall cause them to give credance to Lyes that they may be damned for refusing the Truth So that the abomination of Desolation shall be set up in the holy Place meaning in the Heart where Christ by faith should dwell to the utter destruction of Faith Which People of him thus deluded is called in a mystery Gog and Magog that is as much as to say Covered and Off-covered For both the grand Captains of them depending doth these two words comprehend the one covering the Devil with many false Religions meaning Loe here is Christ and loe there is Christ the other in his sort following the same wicked consent these two Tyrants the Romish Pope and Mahomet with the whole generation of like Spirits with them mark that have gathered themselves together against God and his Christ to destroy the whole face of Christianity Now the woful experience of the beginning of these things is seen among us so that our Condition looketh too like the state of the Jews When Titus Vespasian the Roman Emperor came and besieged Jerusalem the Jews by reason of their many Errors were divided into sundry * Mark 12. 13 18. Sects and their dividing in Faith divided them in Heart that they destroyed one another So the words of Christ were fulfilled on them that despised his Counsel as it is written Every Kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation Mat. 12. 25. How then doth it behove all Protestants to be by Christ's Words warned with speed to examine whether they be in the Faith of God's Elect * Tit. 1. 1. Heb. 11. and worship God by Christ's †Rev. 14. directions only that there be no dividing in Judgment and so not in Heart considering what * In his Book called the Card and Compass of Life presented to Prince Charles the first one hath noted That the Jews affirm the first Blood split in the World was by reason of the differences in Judgment among Brethren for so all that bear the name of Protestants ought to be in these words Cain was so possessed with Covetousness that he believed there was no Life after this But Abel believed there was after this Life a reward for the Good and punishment for the VVicked in which Contention Cain slew Abel So that Cain was of the Wicked one For to Persecute Imprison or kill any one for Conscience sake is a work †1 John 3. 12. Rev. 2. 10. of the Devil and a Wo is pronounced against them As it is written Wo to them that follow the way of * Jude ver 11. Cain they shall perish So that Protestants may be ashamed to own that evil Spirit to force Men to believe when it is written That it is God shall †Gen. 9. 27. perswade Japhat to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Therefore to force Men to believe or practise in things Divine before God giveth them Faith is but to make a Church of Hypocrites whose Sacrifice is * Prov. 15. 8. Abomination to the Lord as their Father Cain's was Now if any Protestant should be offended like * Amos chap 7. Amaziah the Priest of Bethel with this Christian Warning-piece as he was with the Prophet Amos's Warning to King Jeroboam and his People and say The Land cannot bear these words against the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God charge me as Amaziah did Amos the Prophet with Conspiracy against the King when but for declaring the only means then from the immediate Mouth of the Lord to preserve the King and the Nation as this is from the mediate written Word of God to preserve our King and the Nations from the Judgments threatned I say if we like them will regard no Christan Counsel all Scripture being written for our Admonition then in all likelihood the Judgments threatned on them will fall upon us that God will darken * Amos chap. 8. the Earth in a clear day by sending a Famine in the Land not of Bread nor thirst for Water but of hearing the Words of the Lord. For by reason of so many false Teachers in Judah their Silver became †Isa 1 22. dross their Wine was mixt with Water and they were fed with * Jer. 23. 28. Chaff instead of Wheat As is now seen by woful experience whilst God's Word is not truly Taught but corrupted with Errors under the colour of Christianity with Lo here is Christ and lo there as they said of old The Temple of the ‖ Jer. 7. 4. Lord the Temple of the Lord are these Nevertheless they were told Thy Prophets †Lam. 2. 14. have seen vain and foolish things for thee for they have not
all his good Subjects in whom is the least sence and fear of the Judgments of God for the Sins aforesaid or any other ready to come on this Nation that they would be pleased to remember that Word the Lord sent to Judah * Jer. 18. 7 8 9 10. At what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy it If that Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their Evil I will repent of the Evil that I thought to do unto them And at what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to build and to plant it if it do evil in my sight that it obey not my Voice then I will repent of the Good wherewith I said I would benefit them Therefore if all Degrees both noble and ignoble do believe that it is not only for the Sins of some few in the Nation as Christ told the Jews of the Galileans whose Blood Pilate had mingled with their Sacrifices Luke 13. 1 2 3. Suppose ye saith Christ that these Galileans were Sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered these things I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish but for the general Sins of all some in one thing and some in another as afore noted So that according to the Evil will the Punishment be as is shewed by the Prophet Amos in the first and second Chapters The Irreligious are punished for their Cruelty to the Lord's People and the Religious People both Judah and Israel were punished because they had despised the Law of the Lord and kept not his Commandments which they * Exod. 19 8. Jer. 7. 23 24. promised to obey Seeing then the Sin of Leprosy is spread over all Degrees either in Corruption in Faith and Disorder in Worship or Oppression among Men that almost all are shut up as in a †2 Kin. 15. 5. severed House as unclean because by their Sins the Lord's Camp or Dwelling is ‖ Numb 5. 2 3. defiled Therefore dear Protestants under what other Title soever by Men called Christ Jesus the great High-Priest is * Levit 13. Heb. 4. 13. looking on you Therefore I shall close up all to you with the Observation of that worthy Servant of the Lord Henry Ainsworth on Levit. 13. 15. who hath noted there That it is one of the remarkable things in the Law That quick or sound Flesh in the Sore should be judged Leprosy and the Man pronounced unclean whereas if the Leprosy cover all his Flâ—sh he was pronounced clean And hereby the Holy Ghost seems to teach that if we would * 1 Cor. 11. 31. 1 Joh. 1. 7. judg our selves we should not be judged of the Lord 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness But if any quick or sound Flesh that is any Gal. 2. 16. Eph. 2. 5. Rom. 11 6. Gal. 5. 4. part of Health or Life be pretended in our sinful Nature or any whit of Righteousness by Works of the Law by which no Flesh can be justified then God pronounceth us unclean for we cannot be justified but by the Faith of Jesus Therefore with David that we may find Mercy with the Lord we must acknowledg there is no soundness in our Flesh Psal 38. 4 8. Until this be done God will leave us as unclean 2 Kin. 15. 5. Numb 12. 14. shut up from Deliverance from our Enemies and Communion with himself until we be humbled for our Sins Lam. 1. 8. 3. 1 28. As it is written Your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his Face from you that he will not hear Isa 59. 2. And lastly If in this Warning-piece I have unadvisedly in zeal to God's Glory and good Will and true Affections I bear to my Prince and Countrymen let fall any words that do not become a Christian that is not warranted by God's Word let the Righteous †Psal 146. 5. smite me and it shall be taken as a kindness And let not any Protestant despise this plain way of discovering the Iniquities of these Times because it is not garnished with Eloquent Language nor yet think with themselves the Medicine is too sharp to work a Cure at this time but let all such before they judg or rashly censure it examine the Ingredients by that most Heavenly Herbal God's written Word and they shall find the whole Composition is gathered together by directions of God's Spirit in his Servants the Prophets and Apostles all written for our Learning gathered from the Tree of Life whose Fruit is for Souls food and the Leaves thereof for Healing of the Nations Now if the Lord prosper it is the thing desired herein and I have obtained my end who am one of the Lord 's unprofitable Servants to bring any Glory to his Name or Comfort to his People ERRATA Pag. 9. lin 2. Marg. for Mark read Mat. Pag. 19. lin 15. for 113 115. read 313 315. P. 28. l. last r. Also see Junius
Sins in this your Kingdom for which God's Judgments are threatned against it because the Civil and Spiritual State is mingled together the Civil State assuming into the Spiritual Prerogative of the Lord Jesus who hath this Testimony from God that he was faithful in his House or Church as Moses to give Laws and Directions in every thing appertaining to the Worship of God to make Laws and Directions how and what we must worship God with and by The Ministers or Bishops contrary to Christ's express Word and Practice do take on them the Office of Civil State and Titles of Politick Princes to be Lords in Councils as Parliaments and Lords Spiritual in and over Churches if not Justices of the Peace so that by this breach of God's Order there is such a state of Confusion to wit A third State or Leg a Compound of both Civil and Spiritual yet neither really Civil nor Spiritual but a Monster called a Beast Rev. 13. 1 11. Which as Writers say * Plat. Politiq See Hen. Ains Arrow was first brought forth in Egypt by those Heathens void of God's Order in Grace and Nature and therefore they would have all their Kings Priests so commingling the Kingdom and Priesthood together in one Person And this abominable Invention was the Romish Church when fallen from Christ enamoured with for which sinful Act among others she is called not only Babylon †Rev. 18. Rev. 11. Sodom but Egypt because the Romish Church would have the Magistracy and Ministry Princedom and Priesthood in the persons of her Popes Cardinals and Bishops to be Church Princes and indeed above Princes to Dethrone them at their pleasure and from Rome was this Egyptian Fashion brought by her * Rev. 18. 15. Merchants into England And this being such a Confusion that the very ‖ Pont. l. 5. c. 9. Philosopher condemneth it by the light of Nature and says it could not stand with the actions of those two Offices meaning the Civil and Spiritual so different the one from the other that one Man should perform both at one time together but must needs fall out when both Duties are to be done that the one would be omitted So either God is not duly served or the Civil State suffers Damage And for as much as it is a work belonging to the Civil State to redress which your Majesties Ancestors King Henry the 8th King Edward the 6th and Queen Elizabeth of happy Memory began as God had promised That he would put into the Hearts of the Kings of the Earth to hate the Whore eat her Flesh and * Rev. 17. 16. burn her by the Fiery Law of God in making her desolate and naked to abolish out of their Dominions the Pope's Supremacy the Lord Abbots Cardinals Jesuits Monks Friers and the rest of that Ministry is left for your Majesty to abolish which if your Majesty refuse to do it must be done And why Because the Lord hath said it who will by whom he pleases give them Blood to drink for strong is the Lord that judgeth her And the Kings of the Earth who have committed Fornication and lived deliciously with her yet now shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her Burning as more at large is written Rev. 18. 8 9 10 11. And all Magistrates that endeavour to hinder it are withstanders of God's Word because in her is found the Blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth Oh Bloody Papists Rev. 18. 24. And hereupon it is written Rev. 17. 6. I saw the Woman drunken with the Blood of Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Which Woman is clearly in this ensuing Book proved to be the Church of Rome For every Tree is known by its Fruit * Mat. 7. 20. Therefore the chiefest Article of her Faith is to Murder all that believe not as She believeth Now so far is that Church from being the Church of Christ or Children of God that they are Children of the Devil †John 8. who was a Murderer from the beginning so have him and not God for their Father because they do his works to the uttermost of their power Witness their Cruelty in Queen Marie's days the Powder Plot and now this Hellish Plot to take away the Life of your Majesty and your good Protestant Subjects As they began with that worthy Knight Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and will never be out of hopes of coming to possess this Land whilst Protestants can imbrace their Brethren in Office of Arch and Lord-Bishops Arch-Deacons Deans Prebends which Offices for Gospel-Ministers Christ's Testament knows nothing of but the Pope's Records Oh therefore That the Lord would be pleased to open your Majesties Heart to Act as a most Worthy Protestant Prince as with the * Isa 14. 22 23. Beesom of the Lord to sweep out of your Dominions not so much in their Persons as out of Office the remaining part of the Romish Ministry by Law of oversight established in Protestant Churches together with all other Popish Devices in Worship some of many are after noted And for your Majesties glorious President in this so excellent a Work for the Honour of God and good of his People who as Protestants will live and die with You Cast your Majestie 's Eye on that young King ‖ 2 Chron. 34 Josiah who so soon as he heard of the Judgments of God denounced against his Land and People called for the Book of the Law to be read before him and by it comparing the Acts of his Fore-Fathers and present state of his Kingdom rent his Clothes And for fear of the Judgments of God in the 16th Year of his Age and 8th Year of his Reign began to seek the Lord and in the 12th Year began to purge out of his Dominions the Reliques of Idolatry all Devices of Men in Worship set up by former Kings together with the false Ministry called * Zeph 1. 4 Chemarims either for their Black Garments they wore or being smoked in offering Incense to Idols as the Margent of the great Bible noteth and restored the Lord's true Ministry and holy order of Worship as the Lord had appointed by the hand of Moses Which if your Majesty will do this like Glorious Work by the Light of Christ's Testament comparing the Acts of your Predecessors and present state of your Kingdom so poluted with a Romish Ministry and other Inventions in Protestant Churches that so a true Ministry according to the Lord's Will in Christ's Testiment may be enjoyed and the People left free to choose their own Ministers according to Nature and Grace to grow out of every particular †Can. 8. 8. Ezek. 16. 7. Acts 14. 23. Body or Congregation and not by Humane Art for Ministers to be made by they know not whom and set afterward to the Body whether they will or no as
an artificial Eye or Brest So shall your Majesty and People hope as King Josiah and his People did that the Judgments threatned against this Land may be turned away as it was from his As it is proved in the following Lines that it was chiefly for corruptions in Faith and Worship that God brought his Judgments on his own People Now would it please your Majesty in your Civil Kingdom to suffer your Self to be so abused as to have no Servants to serve You in your Kingdom or at your Table but what the King of another Nation thinketh fit No sure How then shall the Lord Jesus the Prince of the Kings of the Earth suffer himself any longer to be so Abused as to have no Servants to serve Him in his Church of his own Appointment either in Name or Office as Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons but what the Pope or other Mortal Men think fit Neither would your Majesty accept of the Service of any Subject Noble or Ignoble that should proffer his Service to serve You in your Civil Affairs if he did not do the same as your Majesty had given him Command and not as he pleased How then shall the Lord Jesus accept nay he doth not accept of the Service of any Person of what Degree soever that shall in his Spiritual Kingdom or Church serve him never so zealously except he do that Work and Service to God as Christ in his Testament hath commanded him If it were not so the very Turks that boast how they are Worshippers of the Living God and do abhor Idols would go beyond many that bear the name of Christians who though they do zealously worship the Living Beal Ep. to image of both Churches God and concerning Christ allow him to be a great Prophet the Word of God the Spirit of God born of Mary the Virgin yet because they worship not God by the Appointment of the Lord Jesus in his Testament but according to the directions of Mahomet therefore are they and their services rejected of God So likewise the Papists boast how they worship God yet abhor not Idols but because they do it by direction of sundry Popes and not by Christ's Appointment they are rejected of God and their service But if a Turk or Papist should ask many Protestants By whose Appointments do you worship God If truly answered must say Partly by the directions of Christ for we have his Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper and partly by the Appointments of sundry Popes and Bishops as after is shewed So that for these things among other Evils God is bringing his Judgments on your Kingdom Oh therefore that your Majesty together with your Honorable Council would seriously consider these things that the Wrath of the Lord may be turned away from us And lastly Seeing there is but one way to escape God's Judgments threatned let not a Heathen Prince as Christ told the Jews come in Judgment at the last Day against a Christian Prince viz. the King of Jonah 3. Nineveh who so soon as he heard the Judgment of God threatned against him and his People arose from his Throne and laid his Robes from him issued forth a Proclamation to his People to keep a true Fast to the Lord as he required that is to break off their Sins by Repentance in turning every one from his evil way and from the violence that was in their Hands who did so so that it is written God saw their Works and repented of the evil he threatned against them Thus having discharged the part of a true Protestant Subject presented to a Wise Protestant Prince not doubting but this Mite shall be accepted and protected by yonr Majesty in Christian love to the Truth for the Honour of God and comfort of your Soul and the joy and comfort of your Protestant Subjects So that your Majesty with the Godly Kings of Judah doing the Will of God herein may have many Years Acts 13. 36. Rev. 21. 24. on Earth a prosperous Reign and having brought your Honour and Glory to the glorious State of Christ's Kingdom in his Church whereby She may enjoy all her Rights and Priviledges you may undoubtedly receive with Christ a Crown of Glory eternally in the Heavens which is and shall be the Prayer of your most humble Subject THO. WALL A Word of Advice to all true Protestants AS it is the duty of every true Christian not to hide his Talant in the * Luke 19. with Mark 25. 25. Earth but put it on a Candlestick that all may be benefited by the same I therefore judg if ever there were a time to speak it is now when the Protestant Religion lieth at stake to be utterly Ruined and the Professors thereof Murdered by the Blood-thirsty Papists the Spiritual Assyrians the Rod of God's Anger †Isa 10. 5. against his own People So that as Affliction doth not come out of the ‖ Job 5. 6. Dust nor Trouble spring out of the Ground for as saith the Scripture Is there any Evil * Amos 3. 6. in the City to wit of Punishment and I have not done it saith the Lord And when the Lord giveth Quietness who can make †Job 34. 29. Trouble and when he hideth his Face who can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or a Man only Therefore I have thought it the most profitable way to shew what I have gathered out of holy Scripture was the cause in Ages past that the Lord brought Judgments on his own People and to apply the same to our present Condition Which if the Lord help us truly to mind the same as Christians ought to do it may be a means to obtain Mercy at the Hand of the Lord to turn away his Judgments Let us take a view of these things from the first State of old Secondly When God had graciously restored Adam by his Grace in Christ promised and given him Ordinances as Figures of Christ to come to perform in the Lord 's holy order of Worship which in the days of his Son Enos his Children had greatly departed from corrupted their Way meaning their ‖ Gen. 6. 12. with Acts 18. 25. and 22. 4. Faith and Religion as also their making Marriages with Cain's Posterity called the Daughters of Men which was not lawful for the Members of the Church called the Sons of God to do and though God called them to Repentance by Noah's Preaching and warned them by his building the Ark of the Judgment intended by the Flood yet they persisted in their evil Course untill the Flood destroyed them all And how like to this is the state of Luke-warm Protestants now So that Christ likened the last Days we are fallen in to the Days of * Luke 17. 26. Noah for Sin and Wickedness by departing from the true Faith and by corruption in Worship and Members of Churches now making Marriages with those they cannot in Conscience
to ‖ 2 Cor. 6. 17. Isa 52. 11. Rev. 18. 4. touch none of their unclean things as God's Word commanded but sat down under a part of the Romish Ministry and Service with many other Devices For it was neither Christ nor his Apostles that appointed Priests Apparel as long Gowns Tippits four horned Caps but as * See Hen. Ainsw Counterpoyson pag. 234 235. proved out of sundry Authors Writers say did Pope Zachary nor white Linnen Surplices to wear at Service-time as did Pope Silvester nor ringing of Bells to call the People to hear Service as did Pope Sabiniam and to make up the Musick Pope Vitalian brought in the Organs and if these or other Popes had brought in to the Worship under the Gospel the 120 Trumpets †2 Chron. 5. 12. and other Instruments of Musick used in the Ceremonial Worship under the Law as well as Priests Garments would it not have bin as lawful to have used them Yea but Protestants should not be unmindful how that Christ by his Death abolished all the Ceremonial Figurative Ordinances ‖ Ephes 2. 15. out of his Worship as also the Instruments of Musick and hath made or appointed * Rev. 21. 5. all things new in Worship a new Ministry new Ordinances new Maintenance new time and order for Gospel-Worship So was Christ faithful in his own House or Church as a Son †Heb. 3. 5 6. as was Moses being but a Servant So that whosoever professeth to bear the Name of a Protestant or true Christian may remember what is written to them A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear ‖ Acts 3. 22 23. in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you And every Soul that will not hear that Prophet to wit Christ Jesus shall be destroyed from among the People And to conclude with these Protestants under the performance in Worship of so many Popish Devices let us hear what some of the Martyrs have sealed with their Bloods whose Tombs they garnish with their approving their Sufferings as true Martyrs of Jesus John Wickliff * Acts and Monum Edit 5. pag. 114. saith That the Arch-Bishops Bishops Deacons Dians be the Disciples of Antichrist William Swenderby †Ibid. pag. 431. saith That the Pope Cardinals Bishops Prelates making Laws contrary to Christ's Living and his Laws or any other ground put in Ruling the Church of Christ but by Christ and his Laws is very Antichrist Adversaries to Christ and his Apostles Sir John Oldcastle Lord Cobham saith ‖ Ibid. pag. 518. The Priests Prelates and Monks are the very Body of the great Antichrist and that the Possessions and Lordships of the Clergie are the Venom of Judas shed into the Church John Claidon burnt in Smithfield * Ibid. pag. 588. professed That the Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops Arch-Deacons Deans Parsons Vicars and the rest of that sort are the Disciples of Antichrist the very Antichrist themselves Now though these Men be dead yet with Abel they †Heb. 11. 4. speak and their Blood with all the Martyrs that have Suffered for the Testimony of Jesus crieth for * Luke 18. 7 8. Rev. 6. 9 10. Vengeance against all that uphold that Popish Prelacy Therefore as one chief Reason among others that Jerusalem was destroyed was for the Sins of her Prophets and Iniquities of her †Lam. 4. 13. Priests that have shed the Blood of the Just in the midst of her Therefore O England by this be warned who they are that hasten thy Destruction Now we have seen what a lame Reformation was here made by many thousand Protestants when they came out of Spiritual Egypt for so the Romish Church is called Rev. 11. 8. having utterly forgot or else for fear regarded not the Word of the Lord to God's People of Old when they came out of Temporal Egypt After the doings †Lev. 18. 2 3. with Deut. 12. 30 31 32. of the Land of Egypt shall ye not do as is foreshewed and written for our ‖ Rom. 15. 4. Learning So that instead of being fully separated to touch no unclean thing yet a part of the Romish Egyptian Ministry of Lordly Prelates was imbraced and the Service aforesaid by Law of oversight established so that there was another false Ecclesiastical State neither Spiritual nor Civil set up to the great dishonour of Christ's Spiritual State and the Civil State or Government in the Nation And hereupon saith John I beheld another Beast * Rev. 13. 11. coming out of the Earth therefore not from Heaven having two Horns like a Lamb as if he were the only Vican of Christ as the Pope pretends on Earth And who more than they against the Pope until as aforesaid the Civil Power had established them by Law And thereby Life was given to the very Image of the Pope the first Beast who because they were so near a-kin as a Child is to the Father begotten after his own Image or likeness which was not only so in its like false Ecclesiastical State but also in Mind and Quality and therefore this second Beast is said by the Spirit of God not only to speak like a Dragon but to * Rev. 12. exercise all the power of the first Beast before him causing the Earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast by retaining a Ministry and Service and other things in Worship of his devising very little refined but still of the same nature So that no Man might Buy nor Sell save those that had the Mark of the Beast in their Fore-head or Hands that is yield professed Obedience to his Commands in Worship to God by Law established whether they had Faith or no. Now the Lord in his Mercy towards this Nation that was scarce come half out of Babylon sent others of his Servants under the name of another †Rev. 14. 8. Angel declaring to all Protestants both Prince and People that Babylon is fallen and for more certainty again saying It is fallen That so they might come fully out from all her devices in Worship and so might no longer ‖ Rev. 18. 4. partake of her Sins lest they receive of her Plagues But so soon as this false Ecclesiastical State or * Rev. 13. second Beast perceiving with †Acts 19. 27. Demetrius that if Christ's true Ministry and Government as it was in the Primitive Days of ‖ Ephes 4. 11. Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons were imbraced their gain of Shrine-making or keeping People in Ignorance what the true Ministry Government and holy Order of Christ's Kingdom of Worship is would be lost and their Princely Revenues by the King as their Elder Brethren Lord-Abbots Cardinals c. by former Kings be converted to Charitable Uses and they if they had any Grace must by laborious Preaching live of the free * 1 Cor. 9. 7
Scepter * Psal 45. 6. of our Lord Jesus blessed for ever his Word being commanded to be purely taught without corrupting or swerving either to the right Hand or to the left Which when the Primitive Christians observed not but neglected their Watch †Rev. 3. 3. in suffering false Doctrine to creep in among them as in the Church of Pergamos reigned the Doctrine of Balaam ‖ Rev. 2. 14 15. and the Nicolaitans and in Thyatira the Doctrine of Jezebel * Ver. 20. Ephesus †Rev. 2. 4 having left her first Love and among the Corinthians and other Christians both Men and Women were they not reproved for walking in a vain Conversation Whilst Men wearing long Hair the ‖ 1 Cor. 11. 14. shame of Nature their Women likewise wearing of Gold Pearl * 1 Tim. 2. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 3. plaited Hair uncovered expresly in plain words forbidden by the Apostle not becoming modest Women professing Godliness with good Works For which Evils and Disorders with others because the Churches punished them not according to God's Order by casting the ‖ Mat. 17. 18. obstinate Sinners out of the Churches the Lord Jesus threatned to cast them into a Bed of great Tribulation †Rev. 2. 22. under the term of ten Prophetical Days meaning Years which some have observed to come on the Churches in the Year of Christ in the Reign of Trajan the Emperour So that if God in his just Judgment for the Sins of the ten Tribes delivered them of old into the Hands of the Kings of Assyria and likewise Judah into the Hands of the King of Babylon even so for like Cause did the Lord deliver the East Churches into the Hands of Mahomet and the West Churches into the Hands of the Beast the Pope and his Clergie Unto which agreeth Mr. Fuller's Testimony in his History of the Holy Wars worth all Protestants observation especially in this Day of Apostacy in Chap. 6. pag. 6. in these words But the Sins of the Eastern Countries and chiefly their damnable Heresies hastened God's Judgments on them and in the Western parts Heresies as an Angle caught single Persons which in Asia like a Draw-Net took whole Provinces The staid and settled Wits of Europe were not easily removed out of the old Road and Track of Religion whilst the active and nimble Heads of the East were more desirous of Novelties more desirous and cunning to invent Distinctions to cozen themselves more fluent in Language to express their Conceits as always Error groweth fastest in hottest Brains Hence it came to pass the Melchites Maronites Nestorians Euticheans Jacobites overspread those parts Then it was mark that just with God saith he to suffer them that would not be convinced by Christian Counsel to be subdued by the Pagans Sword And again saith he it may justly seem Admirable that that sensless Religion should gain so much ground on Christianism especially having neither real substance in Doctrine nor winning behaviour in Ceremony to allure Professors being but the scum of Judaism and Paganism sod together here and there strawed with a spice of Christianity Thus was fulfilled what was written on those that received not the love of the Truth God gave them over to believe Lyes and punished them with the Pagans Sword and being no whit bettered then the Lord prepared the four Angels or Messengers of his Wrath whom John Napier a Nobleman of Scoland observeth to be the four Mabometan Nations that inhabit about or beyond the River Euphrates to wit the Saracens Turks Tartarians and Arabians all Confederates together in one Law of Mahomet and under one great Emperour Ottoman whom God for the Sins of Christians had prepared for an Hour a Day a Month and a Year to slay the third part of Men By whom saith the learned Ainsworth God scourged Christendom with Fire Smoke and Brimstone out of the Horses Mouths and Horsemen conducted by the Angel of Destruction Yet the * Rev. 9. 20. Remnant of Men not killed by these Plagues repented not of their Works that they should not worship Devils and Idols of Gold and Silver and Brass and Wood and Stone which can neither hear nor see nor walk See Ainsworth Arrow pag. 96. Notwithstanding the Judgments of God upon the Primitive Apostate Churches some falling to Mahometism others to Papistry yet no Apostate Church retained more Idolatry than Rome and that that Church is the great Whore Mystery Babylon and the Beast that she rideth on is the Popish Prelacy is plainly shewed in the Answer of that famous Protestant H. Ainsworth to John Ainsworth the Papist That whereas in their Letters written to each other John Ainsworth saith The seven Mountains in Rev. 17. are said to be seven Kings none of which agree with the Pope Yea saith Henry Ainsworth the seventh agrees very well for the Woman is the great City Rome the Beast on which she rideth hath seven Heads which are expounded there to be seven Mountains and seven Kings Rev. 17. 3 9. The seven Mountains are famous through the World as Palatinus Capitolinus Aventinus Esquilinus Caelius Virminalis Quirinalis on which Mountains Rome was builded The seven Kings are also seven Governments of Rome renowned also in Histories as by * Cornel. Tacitus ◠1. Kings by Consuls by Decemviry by Dictators by Triumphiry by Cesars by foraign Emperours and Popes therefore when John wrote the Five first were fallen and removed Rev. 17. 10. and one saith he is namely the Sixth by the Cesars and another is not yet come which was the Foraign Emperours as Trajan the Spaniard and the like who when they come should continue but a while Constantine going to Bizantium and the Empire being over-run by the barbarous Goths and the Beast saith he is the eighth and is one of the seventh Rev. 17. 11. meaning the Popes who by an Ecclesiastical Government differ from the Civil Emperours and so are the eighth yet because they Reign together with the Emperours they make as it were one Government So the eighth is one of the seven as the Scripture saith Unto this agrees the words of St. Bernard The Beast †Bernard Epist 125. that hath a Mouth speaking Blasphemies occupieth Peter's Chair Moreover saith the Scripture Rev. 13. 18. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast for it is the number of a Man and his number is 666. Now for the better understanding of this Mystery we must know that it is the general Course of the Spirit of God throughout the Revelations to take Words and Phrases out of the Prophets and apply them to the things there prophesied as in this number of the Beast which is by a borrowed speech taken from the name of a Man and his Familie in Ezra 2. 13. the Man's name being Adonikam by signification a God ascending or standing up his Sons were 666. Now the Beast by signification is called a Man to wit of Sin
judg where is the Antiquity that the Romish Church pleadeth so much for unless it be old in Wickedness So that it is admirable how any that owns the name of a Protestant can believe that it is lawful to worship God by that Ministry that had the succession of his Ministry from Popish Ordination Therefore in the next place let us take a view of the manner how they are made Priests in Rome as themselves have written They are made Priests when by the Bishop who only can give this Order it is said Receive power to celebrate Masses both for the Living and for the Dead and to offer Sacrifices unto God in the Name of the Lord. The Bishop saith withal Receive the Holy Ghost Oh blasphemous Speech The Priests are also shaven on their Crowns and anointed with Oyl on their Hands that by that ‖ See Hen. Ainsw Anim adver p. 61. Bellarm. Pontifical Lib. de Ordinat Presbit Unction and the Bishops blessing those Hands may be Consecrated and Sanctified of God A Stole of Innocency is put upon the Priest and he promiseth to the Bishop and his Successors Reverence and Obedience and the Bishop gives him again the Blessing of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost that he may be blessed in his Priestly Order and may offer placable Hosts or Sacrifices to God for the Sins of the People This Ordination hath a double effect First A perpetual Spiritual Power in sign whereof a Character or Mark indelible is imprinted on them And secondly Grace making them acceptable whereby they are inabled to execute their Office So this Bishoply Ordination conferreth Grace And if any shall say That the Holy Ghost is not hereby given Let him saith the Council of * Sess 23. Can. 4. Trent be accursed Now judge ye Protestants whether this Ordination do not make Men more like †Zech. 11. 17. Idol-Shepherds being the very mark of the Beast than Ministers of the Gospel Now that we may the better discern how contrary to Nature and Grace this way of making Gospel-Ministers by this Romish Ordination let us take a view of the true Way how all true Ministers come to their Office by the Rules of Christ's Gospel First Every true Church is likened to a Virgin * 2 Cor. 11 2. who by the Covenant of the Gospel is espoused †Isa 62. 5. Eph. 5. 23. to Christ her Head and Husband and is said in her first Constitution to have no ‖ Cant. 8. 8. Brests that is Ministers but in process of time her Brests are said to be * Ezek. 16. 7. 1 Tim. 3. Isa 66. 11. fashioned by the Lord 's fitting some of her Members with Gifts Graces and Qualifications for the Work of the Ministry which so soon as the whole Body or Church finding fit do by common †Acts 1. 26. consent Elect ‖ 6. 13. Acts 14. 23. and after Fasting and Prayer by what Member the Church thinketh fit for her Mouth on the Lord's Day in the time of Government do ordain the Person before Elected some of the Fathers of Families laying their Hands * Numb 8. 9. on the person Elected in sign and for no other end in the presence of the whole Church or Body they are to take Charge of That they are not only first Elected by common Consent but by common Consent are now ordained by that particular Church or Body they are to abide with whilst Life doth †Acts 20 28. last And this is the true Eldership or Ministry the Lord hath given to every particular true Church as Paul wrote to Titus as I have appointed thee * Which way of making Ministers is both agreeable first to the Tit. 1. 5. Word of Grace and also to the Order of Nature that Ministers or Brests should grow or proceed out of their own Bodies and not like Romes Ordination for Brests or Ministers to be made by a Bishop without the knowledg of the particular Body whereof they are to take Charge and afterwards by unnatural Art set to the Body by the Bishop's order it may be without the Peoples consent whether they will or no as no Natural but an Artificial Brest or Eye to that Body so entring into their Office contrary to Grace and order of Nature not entring by the Door of Christ's Appointment are compared to Thieves Robbers and Hirelings John 10. who so soon as they hear of a bigger Benefice being not by Grace and Nature in the Body but only stuck on they slide away let the Flock shift how they can Oh dear Protestants Shall the Lord always wink at this Confusion among you No sure He will bring his Judgments speedily if it be not amended Now having laid these things before you let us in the next place observe that there was a time fixed by the Lord how long the Beast or false Ecclesiastical State should generally reign over the Nations to wit by the space of a thousand Years Which Rev. 20. 4. time as John Napier hath Calculated the Prophetical Dates in the Prophets and the Revelations together That the Beast's reign began See Napier on Rev. 10. about the Year of our Lord 113 and 115 about which time the first Pope was set up and so Poyson was brought into the Church and so continued their general Reign till about the Year 1541. And then saith Napier the seventh Angel began to sound at which time saith the Angel there shall be Time no longer meaning that the Rod of the Wicked should not always rest on the back †Psal 125. of the Righteous But all the Mysteries ‖ Rev. 10. 7. 8. 9. in the Prophets should be fulfilled which last Mystery in these latter Days seemeth to be the call of the Lord's Elect * Rev. 20. 5. Ephes 2. 1. dead in Sin out of the Spiritual Babylon or Romish Church according to the Mystery or Figure thereof by the Lord's Call of his People out of the Temporal Babylon So that as aforesaid the Way of God in the Revelation is to take Words and Phrases out of the Prophets and to apply them to things of like nature to be fulfilled in these last Days Therefore as Ezekiel did eat a little †Ezek. 3. 3. Book signifying thereby that he must Prophesie to the dry ‖ Ezek. 37. Bones in Old Babylon even so in these latter Days under the Person of John must the Lord's Servants eat a little Book * Rev. 10. 9. that is Prophesie to the dead in Sin in the Spiritual Babylon even among the many Nations Peoples Tongues and Kings So that about the Year aforesaid 1541 came forth the eaters of the little Book some of which were Luther Calvin Melancthon all under the name of an Angel †Rev. 14. 6. to preach the everlasting Gospel to every Nation Kindred Tongue and People By whose means not only many People of
all degrees saw how they had been deceived but also Kings by the Light of the Gospel saw how their Senses were stupified and made Drunk with the Wine of the Whores Fornication so that not only in other Nations but in this Nation also the Kings who had long given their Power to the Beast until the Words of God should be fulfilled Rev. 18. 17. began to hate the Romish Whore and the Beast that carried her so that a part of the Beast's power out of this Land was destroyed when the Cardinals Jesuits and others aforenamed were Abolished By which means the power of the Beast was abated and more of the Lord's Servants came boldly forth * Rev. 7. 14. out of great Tribulations all signified by an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven to Preach the Everlasting †Rev. 14. 6. Gospel unto them that dwell on the Earth So that by this time the Temple of God was opened in Heaven ‖ Rev. 11. 19. and the Ark of the Testament meaning God's Law clearly seen in the truth thereof as was signified by the Lightnings and Voices and Thunderings which wrought such an Earthquake among the Antichristian Professors that the tenth * Rev. 11. 13. part of the City fell meaning the great City the Romish Church that Reigned over the Kings of the Earth to the number of God's Elect in Israel 7000 of which number of Faithful Elect Precious Living Stones were many famous Churches established in England Scotland France Germany Holland and other parts to the great joy of Christendom And thus according to the Mystery signified to Zechariah by a Man with a †Zach. 2. 1 2. Ezek. 40. 2 3 5. Measuring-Line in his Hand signifying that Jerusalem should be built the second Temple in it and God's true Worship restored as was done in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah Even so according to the Figure was it shewed to * Rev. 11. 1. John by a Reed given him to measure the Temple of God the Altar and Worshippers that God's Temple of living Stones and holy Truth and Order of Worship should be restored by a Call of the Lord's People out of the Spiritual Babylon in these latter Days as aforesaid So that as Judah their Figure must separate themselves from all the †Ezra 6. 21. filthiness of the old Babylonians in Worship in so much that they admitted no Man to the work of the Priesthood but such as could prove their * Neh. 7. 64. Chronology according to God's Law neither suffer any Priest that had fallen down before an Idol never †Ezek. 44. 12 13. more to Administer in the Priests Office because they were Figures of Christ our High Priest in his Office Even so the forenamed Christian Protestants by the number 7000 would not take a Stone of Babylon for a Corner * Jer. 5. 26. or for a Foundation that is any one to be their Minister by virtue of Romes Ordination because the Ministers under the Gospel that enter not into their Ministry by the Door of Christ's Ordination as afore shewed are accounted by Christ but Thieves and Robbers So that as Virgins not defiled with Women or the devices of false Churches Rev. 14. 1 4. Heb 12. 22 ought all those to be that follow the Lamb Christ Jesus on Mount Sion no more bearing the Beast's * Rev. 13. mark in serving God by Mens devices but the †Isa 42. 4. Mat. 12. 21. Name or Law of Christ in their Fore-heads serving the Lord in Worship by the Appointment of the Lord Jesus only As it is written This is my beloved Son hear him Luke 9. 35. Moreover dear Protestants note that in the Earthquake aforesaid there were besides the 7000 aforesaid a Remnant * Rev. 11. 13. who seeing and hearing the powerful Doctrine of true Faith in Christ Temperance and Judgment to come like Felix ‖ Act. 24 25 trembled or as the Scripture saith were affrighted to see the great Power of God in the work of Conversion Of 7000 with Caleb and †Num. 14. Joshuah following the Lord fully gave Glory to the God of Heaven as some in Acts 5. 13. but durst not joyn themselves with them yet by the small glimps of the Light they saw they began to take their Journey towards Sion after the fore-named Christians But in the Wilderness †Rev. 12. 14. Ezek. 20. 35. Gal. 1. 16. of this World meeting with some Crosses and Troubles in the Flesh for Christ's sake began to reason with Flesh and Blood like some Israelites whether God were able to furnish a Table in the ‖ Numb 11. 4. Wilderness So these having received the Seed of God's Word on a Rock had no root * Luke 8. 13. that is having no more Love to Christ than to any Worldly Joy or Pleasure in time of Temptation fell away So that they would go no farther than the King and the most went in that Day not willing to suffer any more for Christ's sake were content to go so far as to have the Pope's Supremacy Lord Abbots Cardinals Jesuits Monks and Friars expelled the Land but staid there and sat down in the mid-way between Sion and †Rev. 18. 4 Babylon or * Rev. 11. 8 Egypt under a part of the Romish Ministry and Service-Book some of the grossest things being wiped out And this was the state of many Protestant Congregations as may be seen at this day as is also confirmed by Mr. Fox in the Acts and Monuments of those Times some of which Report is as followeth Acts and Monuments Edit 5. pag. 1180 1181 1184. The Priests and Clergy that yielded to the King's Laws were suffered to keep their Places and Livings After this the King appointed the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with other Bishops to make one convenient and meek Order Rite and fashion of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments who did so Then in the next Parliament following it was agreed that all Ministers in the Realm should be bound to say and use the Mattines Even-Song Celebration of the Lord's Supper in such Order and Form as was contained in the said Book and not otherwise Now because some small Alteration was made Complaint was made how * Ibid. 1186. by the cloaked Contempt and wilful Winking and stubborn disobedience of the Bishops and old Popish Curates the Book of Common-Prayer was long after the publishing of the same either not known at all or else very irreverently used through many places of the Realm Yet was there no great cause why the People should so despise it for as the King answered the Rebels in Devonsh †Ibid. 1189. If the Service was good in Latin it remained good in English for nothing was altered but to speak with Knowledg that which was spoken in Ignorance And thus we see that these Protestants did not separate themselves fully in coming out of Babylon so as
with the Covenants whereby they were bound unto their People The Laws of this Land are so full this way as no Man conversant in them can be ignorant that our Princes have preferr'd the observing of those equal Covenants whereby they are tied unto their People before the accomplishing of their own private Affections yea and Commandments in some Cases Hence it is that the Judges of this Land are bound by Law to administer Justice and Equity unto the poor Subjects notwithstanding that the Prince's Letter be directed to them to the contrary And as to the Law of God all Kings and Princes are bound thereby to be so far from thinking themselves tied by no Bonds unto their Subjects as they are plainly forbidden to be lifted up in Mind above their Brethren Deut. 17. 20. For so the word in that place calleth their Subjects and Servants The Kings of Judah who had the greatest Priviledges and Prerogatives both Ecclesiastical and Civil over their People that ever any Kings or Princes can have because they were Types and Figures of that Great King of Kings the Lord Jesus yet entred into Covenant notwithstanding with their People even particularly besides the general former Law whereby they were bound unto them Yea the Prophet Jeremiah being in no less danger and disgrace with all Estates than I and my Brethren are at this present required his Soveraign Lord and King Zedekiah to promise that he would do him no Violence nor Wrong nor yet suffer others to do the same for telling him the truth of the Word in the things wherein the King required to be resolved at his hands The which thing Zedekiah yielded unto and that by an Oath and Covenant of the Lord Jer. 38. 15 16. Whereby it appeareth that it is not without great Warrant of the Lord that Princes should enter into Covenant with their Subjects and that Subjects should require Promise and Oath to be kept with them otherwise Whereto serveth the Covenant But alas I enter not to scan her Majesties Oath I only tell you what her Laws allow me and my poor Brethren and I am assured if her Majesty knew the equity and uprightness of our Cause we should not receive this hard measure which we now sustain seeing we and our Cause are never brought before her but in the odious weeds of Sedition Rebellion Schism Heresie c. therefore it is no marvel to see the edge of her Sword turned against us Quest 3. Hath not her Majesty by her Laws established these Offices and this Order that now is in the Church of England Answ Her Laws have I grant of oversight as taking them for the right Offices and Order which appertain unto the Church of Christ which because we evidently see that they are not therefore flie we unto her former Promise and Act whereby she granteth us the enjoying of all the Priviledges of the Church of God In the next place There be other Protestants that have come yet farther out of the Romish Babylon in disclaiming the Service-Book Surplice Organs Cross in Baptism Priests Garments and the like because they were Popish Yet it is to be admired why such cannot as well disclaim the Order of the Ministry received from the Bishops as the Bishops received it from the Pope one Minister ordaining another without the Congregations knowledg where they are to take Charge and likewise pay and receive Tithes for their Ministers Maintenance which Pope Pascalis 827 Years after Christ * Qu. 19. cap. 1. Decimus a populo first ordained for his Priests These Protestants cannot think to escape the Judgments of God who †2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. touch the unclean things forbidden and are not fully come out of Babylon as Judah our Figure was who sent away all Babylon's filthiness ‖ Ezra 6. 2. Zech. 5. 8 9 11. with the Wings of a Stork into the Land of Shiner or Babylon where they were hatched as afore-shewed Moreover There are other Protestants who though they have forsaken the Ministry Service and all the fore-named Romish Inventions yet they retaining the Romish Errors of Free-will falling from true Grace general Redemption and denying that glorious Doctrine of Election cannot think to escape the Judgments of God because Error in Faith is so heinous in the sight of the Lord being likened to Leaven * Mat. 16. 6 12. 1 Cor. 5. Darkness †Luke 11. 34. 35. and Poyson ‖ Deut. 32. 3. that God threatned the Church of Pergamos to fight against them for not punishing them by Excommunication that maintained the Error or Doctrine * Rev. 2. 14 16. of Balaam and the Church at Thyatira for suffering the Women Jesebel to teach †Ver. 20. and to deceive them All which came on the Churches afore-shewed in Pag. 13. also Junius on Rev. 2. 10. Again There are other Protestants that are not guilty of the fore-named Errors yet for other sins of disorder in making * Gen. 6. 4. Ex. 34 16. 1 Cor. 7. 39. Marriages with them they cannot joyn with in the Ordinances of Worship and their walking in the shame of Nature long Hair †1 Cor. 11. 14. and Perriwigs which Evils as well as other sinful Conversations not in God's Order punished the whole Church becomes ‖ 1 Tim. 5. 22. Ps 26. 5 6. Pro. 11. 21. Josh 22. guilty of one anothers Sins As saith the Law Whatsoever the unclean Person toucheth shall be unclean and the Person that toucheth him shall be unclean Numb 19. 22. Again There are others that would be called they know not what who refuse the use of God's Ordinances in Worship to wit Baptism of Water and the Lord's Supper and suffer their Females * 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. Jesebel like to teach their Imaginations For no Person can teach any other thing concerning God or Christ in the work of Man's Redemption to Salvation that own not the written Scripture as the †John 5. 39. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Kings 8. 25. with 2 Chron. 6. 16. Ground of Faith and the Rule to try all Doctrine and Worship by who as it is said do deny the Resurrection of the Body Unto such the Apostle hath said If the Body rise not then is not Christ risen and so to them All Preaching is vain and they are yet in their Sins ‖ 1 Cor. 15. 14 17. and of all Men most miserable Another great mistake is among many Protestants in understanding the Prophecies and Mysteries in the Prophets literally concerning the Spiritual Glory of the Church under the Gospel or Christ's Reign with the Saints on Earth I would fain have these Protestants first to remember that Christ's Kingdom * John 18. 36. is not of this World neither the Warfare nor Weapons †2 Cor. 10. 4. Carnal and in all things exemplary to the Church under the Gospel we are exhorted to behold Israel ‖ 1 Cor. 10. 18. our Figure
discovered thine Iniquities to turn away thy Captivity but have seen for thee false Burdens and causes of Banishment Oh that Protestants would lay these things to Heart considering the many signs of God's displeasure shewed against this Nation of a Captivity threatned for these Sins Witness the Spanish Invasion in 1588 then the Powder Plot in 1605 the late Dreadful Plague and Fires and lastly this Cursed Popish Plot. Now consider according to the Law of Nations If a Ship at Sea meeteth with another which ought to strike to her and she refuseth then a warning Piece is sent to her if that make her not submit there is lot slie at her two or three Ordnance if then she will not do her duty there is poured into her a Broadside which possibly sinketh her and all that 's in her Even so if no Judgment nor Warning will make us submit in all things Spiritual to the Royal Scepter of the Lord Jesus in his Church to serve God in his Worship by the directions in his holy Testament then may we expect unavoidably that he will pour in on us Iris Murdering Places the Turks and Papists who like the Armies of ‖ Rev. 20. 9 Gog and Magog compass the Tents of the Saints about bringing great * Luke 21. 25. distress of Nations until Fire come down from Heaven even at that day when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming †2 Thess 1. 8. Fire who shall reap the Harvest of the Earth in taking Vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be destroyed from the glory of his Power when the Remnant of the Faithful as in the days of Noah shall be preserved and caught up to meet the Lord in the Air so shall they ‖ 1 Thess chap. 4. ever be with the Lord. The sum of all is Seeing God hath said He will do nothing concerning Mercy or Judgment to his People but he revealeth * Amos 3. 7. Rom. 15. 5. his Secrets to his Servants the Prophets written in the holy Scriptures for all Christians Admonition◠which we have here laid before this present Age. The chief Causes why God brought his Judgments in Ages past were for Errors in Faith and Corruptions in Worship Seeing then there is but †Eph. 4. 5. one Faith and proper Object thereof even the Evangelical Promise * Rom. 1. 16. of Grace in Christ from the days of Adam called the Faith of Jesus †Rev. 14. 12. once given to the Saints * Jude 3. therefore called the Faith of God's Elect †Tit. 1. 1. which Faith in God's Elect either more or less is built upon the * Ephes 2. 20. Foundation or Doctrine both of the Apostles and Prophets So that whatsoever Article of any Christian's Faith agreeth not to the Law and Testimony that is to the figures of Christ in the Law the Schoolmaster leading to Christ for fulfilling of the same in the New Testament with applying the Promises to the right Subjects †Acts 2. 39. they belong unto with all the benefits thereof to be enjoyed in God's 〈◊〉 is not the faith of God's Elect but a falned Faith which saveth not So that whatsoever Faith is not thus proved as it is written * 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves c. know ye not how that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Forasmuch as Christ is said to dwell †Ephes 3. 17. in the heart by Faith that is by true belief And hereupon it is written * Mark 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned How needful is it then that every ones Faith be right seeing it is a matter that concerns their Salvation Secondly As touching Worship It hath been proved that whatsoever Ministry or Ordinance God is served with or by after the Commandment and Doctrine of Men is * Col. 2. 22 23. Will-worship which all are to perish with the using Because the true Worship is to serve or worship God in †John 4. 24. Spirit and in Truth that is by Faith in Christ according to the word of Truth as Christ the only Law-giver in Worship hath commanded Thirdly And for as much as God is a God of Order * 1 Cor. 14. 40. therefore true Faith and Order in the performance of every Ordinance in the Worship of God must go †Col. 2. 5. together Every Officer is to keep within the Order God hath placed him and every Member within the bounds of their Places set in the * 1 Cor. 12. 18. Body For the clear distinguishing of every Officer and Member's place and duty in Worship as Members in the Body see the Book fore-named Ancient Truth Revived For the breach of these things God's Anger was still kindled against his People for which cause the Lord is now searching Jerusalem †Zeph. 1. 12. with Candles and will punish the Luke-warm Carnal Professors that are settled on their Lees who make Worldly Gain and Pleasure their Religion and Godliness Who say in their Hearts * Ezek. 9. 9. either the Lord hath forsaken the Earth or He will not do good neither will he do evil Thus as in the days of Noah is a state of Security seized on Professors saying Soul take thy ease Let 's build plant Marry Eat Drink joyn House to House Field to Field till there be no more place in the Earth The Harp the Viol and Pipe †Isa 5. 8 12 13. and Wine are in their Feasts but regard not the Works of the Lord neither consider the Operation of his Hands Therefore on such both Famine and Captivity will come so that their Goods shall become * Zeph. 1. 13 17. a Booty and their Houses a Desolation Even as Christ hath said Distress †Luke 21. 26. of Nations Mens hearts failing them for fear and looking after those things which for the Sins aforesaid are coming on the Earth The evident signs of the foregoing * Mat. 24. 15 21 24. Type of Jerusalem's destruction sheweth that the time is near of Christ's coming to Judgment true Faith so greatly decayeth among Men as it is written When the Son of Man cometh shall he find †Luk. 18. 8 Faith on Earth Oh! that open * Pro. 27. 6 Rebuke may be in this Day better than secret Love and the Wounds of a Friend better than the Kisses of an Enemy And to give to any †Job 32. 22. flattering Titles I know not for in so doing my Maker will soon take me away But have herein sought the good of every Soul yea the very * Mat. 5. 44. Enemies of all true Protestants the Papists and desire their Conversion that the Lord upon their true Repentance may have mercy on them Now to conclude by way of an healing Medicine both to the King 's most Excellent Majesty and