Crafts-man upon a wall or a board or parchment or paper this is Idolatry for Christ promised to his Disciples and to the true Church That he would send his Spirit to lead them into all truth which is an invisible thing and to bring to remembrance what ever Christ had spoken and whatsoever was necessary as to Salvation whether the Saints life and holy practices which they lived in or whatsoever else as conduced to their peace and justification with God and what Images did God make use of to shew his Miracles by This is but an old fable formed by the Apostate Christians whose minds are turned after shadows and vain shews and is erred from the invisible life and worships the works of mens hands 2. Though Moses did put off his shoo 's according to the command of the Lord where God appeared in power and glory to him What is this to your purpose as to create and form places and Consecrate them as holy and then command reverence and honor unto them this is but to worship the work of your own hands and though David say in the 99 Psal. 5 vers Exalt the Lord God and worship at his footstool for he is holy What of all this doth God call Reliques or Images his Footstool And if the Author do judge that it was spoken of Zion and Jerusalem outward where Aaron and the rest of the priests worshipped yet doth not Christ say It 's not at Jerusalem c. But they that worship God worship him in spirit and truth What doth not the church of Rome profess Christianity and Apostolick Doctrine and wil now turn Jews or imitaters of them What is Rome Jerusalem or Zion And must Pictures invented and dead pieces of bones and wood be recommended unto the Nations as holy things This is contrary to the Apostolick church and with the life of God is judged and the life of the Saints whom you honour in words and make pictures of and worships the works of your own hands and crucifies the life where ever it appears that they lived in and teacheth a contrary doctrine 3. Confession may be made in words of the true God and talk may be of his wonderous works and yet people Idolaters the church of the Jews who acknowledge the true God and had seen and heard of his wonderous works they eat and drank and rose up to play and these were Idolaters such is the church of Rome who take peoples minds up with garments and Vestments with Altars and Candles with Crucifixes Agnus Dei with Images formed by Painters with a piece of Bread called a Holy Host and Eucharist an unbloody Sacrifice who neglects the life and him that is the Head of the Body and his Witnesse in their hearts and consciences and leads them to worship and honour visible and carnal things and to busie their mindes in the exercise of outward things which profiteth little or nothing at all and so are Idolaters worshipping the works of your own hands which Christ and the Apostolick church bore testimony against for that which the creatures mind goes out after besides or without that which may be known of God in the heart is made an Idol of and the true God is not minded and them that honor Gods Friends and Saints walks in their footsteps live their life and honor their sayings but your Church is contrary who would kill and have killed about these invented Fopperies which is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine God accepts not prayers by number nor tale nor for multitude of words which are without understanding and without the Spirit this Christ counted as evil and reprehended the Pharisees and said It was like the vain repetitions of the Heathen who thought to be heard for their much babling and the Salutation which the Angel gave to Mary is no prayer And that which is called the Apostles Creed is no prayer and them that are unconverted unto God may prattle and prate over the words in the unbelief and never have any acceptance of God And though the Prophet did pray seven times a day it was according to the motion of God's Spirit in his own heart which shewed him his state and necessity and what is this to imitators when they pray not with the same Spirit neither in the same words And what if Mary lived threescore and three years who gave commandment that Hail Mary should be said threescore and three times over The rest of the Saints are like to have but small shares of worship and honor if she go with all this in a day And what five wounds is that which the Church of Rome dreams of that five Pater 〈◊〉 must be said for the honor of With Deceit and Ignorance you wound him every day and your Pater nosters doth not honor him at all pattred oft over with your polluted lips who are given to speak lyes and your tongues to speak mischief which Christ accepteth not What are you all new creatures that say Our Father which art in Heaven Are you born again Are your Natures changed Sin you not Do you hallow his Name who do not love that which shews your evil deeds Would you see his Kingdom come which stands in righteousness Where will you appear Or how will you stand when he appears in his Power and Glory to take vengeance on all them that wis◠not that he should rule in their hearts who is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Would you see his wil done on earth as it is in Heaven when you walk contrary to his Doctrine which the Apostolick Church walked in and sets up a numberless number of Traditions and Inventions of men instead thereof which the Lord accepteth not and you pray not with understanding 5. As for your Beads which are neither Jewish nor Christian but meer Heathenish as to reck on the number or tale of that which you call your prayers by and though Kings Popes Cardinals and Bishops do the same this is but a small proof as for Authority Kings have drunk of the Whores Cup and Popes and Cardinals have usurped power that Christ never gave as to exercise Lordship and be Law-givers unto others for the Lord is the Saints Law-giver and the Saints Life and Judge and he will not give his glory to another for Kings have ' drunk of the VVhores cup of Fornication and Popes have usurped Authority and Cardinals have exercised Lordship over mens consciences yea and over great Kingnomes and States too And if they pray by Beads as others do set forms by number tale they are as much Ideots as the rest are who know not the Spirit to pray by And so this is no authority to prove your practice Apostolical and holy as for variety of prayers and worships it delighteth the carnal mind indeed but they that worship God in spirit and truth they pray by the spirit and in it as David and Christ prayed
you more than the Nations beside And so your Church hath neither this Mark nor Sign of Holinesse Fourthly As for your Church being Catholick and Universal you want this sign also If it be One Universal comprehends all Nations like as all the World in comparison were your Church What is Germany France England Scotland and Ireland nothing What is all the Turks Dominions of your Faith And thou saist In Asia Affrica and America all is coming to an end There is that risen and arising in America which must spread over the Nations the breath of the Lord bloweth which will daily dry up the Waters which is the Seat of your Church which you so much boast of And what have you converted all the Indians nay have you not hardened their hearts against the Name of Christ because of your cruelty and unholy conversation among them So that the Name of Christ and Christian is become as odious unto them as Mahomet is unto you And so you are without this Sign as that you are the true Church Lastly That your Church is Apostolick if this be the Mark of the true Church then you are without this also for you neither Apostolick in Doctrine nor Practice your weapons are carnal theirs spiritual their Head was Christ the Light of the World your Head is visible and carnal which darkens the World they turned people from darkness to light and to the Word of Faith in their hearts and to know Christ in them to justifie them But one of your Rabbies told us lately you had no such Doctrine in the Church of Rome as Christ in you The Apostles turn'd them to the Annointing and to the Spirit to be taught by it and to be led by it into all truth and to worship in it and you turn them to Images Pictures Crucifixes Beads and Altars and so keep people in outward things which feed the sensual and corrupt part Lastly they said bodily exercise profiteth little and most of your Worship stands in observing of days meats drinks washings sprinklings Altars Tapers lighting and bearing Candles bowing creeping to the Cross turning wheeling this way and that way in all time and parts of your Worship so that there is no time left for the heart to be exercised towards God And so you are not Apostolical and so are without this true sign of being the true Church of God But I shall descend to particular things which is asserted and seems to be proved but very weakly But we can expect no Wine but such as is in the Bottle It is asserted by this Author That the Pope is the Head of the true Church in which salvation is onely to be expected And his proof he brings is this Christ hath so ordained it in saying to Peter Matth. 16. 18 19. Upon this Rock will I build my Church and Christ hath given power to him and his Successors to be a Head to rule and govern the Church and as there is an Emperor to be Head of the Empire and a King of the Kingdom so Peter and his Successors are the Head of the Church and have the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to bind and to loose and to remit and retain sinnes The Apostolick Church hath this Doctrine That Christ was given to be the Head of the Body which is the Church which is spiritual though in the World yet not of the World and the Father hath committed all power in Heaven and Earth to the Son and hath ordained him to be a Leader a Teacher and a feeder of his Flock and to be his salvation to the ends of the Earth and his glory he will not give to another But it seems the Church of Rome hath soared so high in their conceits and imaginations that they judge all this Power to be given unto the Pope Peter's Successor as they say Now we do not read of Two Heads to the One Body which is the true Church Eph. 4. 4. 15. And so this is a contrary Doctrine then that of the primitive Church and Christ who is the Head of the Body he said Lo I am with you to the end of the world And so it is the meer arrogancy and pride of the Pope to be called the Head of the Church and an intrenching Christ's Power and Prerogative and that ever Peter was called the Head of the Church we do not read and that of the 16. of Matthew is but a poor proof to prove Peter to be the Head of the Church for Christ spoke unto his Disciples ver 15. and asked them Whom say ye that I am Peter as one amongst the rest said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and Christ said Upon this Rock will I build my Church viz. Upon him which was revealed unto Peter by the Father the Son of God which was the Rock which the Fathers eat of and drank of Christ the Rock of ages and another Foundation can none lay said the Apostle then that which is laid already Christ the Rock and Corner-stone and not Peter for Christ is unchangeable and abideth for ever and so was not Peter though Peter and the rest of the Apostles received power from Christ yet in the 22. and 23. verses of the same Chapter he was gone out of the savour and discerning and Christ said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things of God and what though it could be proved that Peter was at Rome a Pastor an Elder or a Biship who fed the Flock and did feed the Flock and so might be reckon'd as an Elder and worthy of Honor in respect of his labour and diligence in the work of Christ is the Promise so entailed to Rome or to any place that the next that succeeds in that place must needs receive the same honor when he doth not the same work which is worthy of honor neither is in the same power but this I am sure of though the Church of Rome lay claim unto Peters Bishoprick as they say yet they have not done his work And secondly If Peter was at Rome and a Pastor yet he was not a Lord for Christ reproved that when they strove which should be the greatest and said unto them The Gentiles exercise Lordship one over another but it shall not be so among you and though Peter and the rest of the Apostles who were in the power of God had that which did open into the Kingdom of God and shut out that which did defile yet this we are sure of he sold no Pardons nor Indulgences for gain and filthy lucre as many have done whom you call Peter's Successors and Christ's Vicar and Universal Bishop and visible Head but it 's manifest how the Pope became visible Head and Universal Bishop not because of any work or labour in the Doctrine of Christ or the Work of the Gospel but by means of the Roman Emperor for while the Christians were under persecution and suffering there
kept holy to the Lord by him that witnesses the work of Redemption and this is according to the Apostolick Doctrine and if because of example the Christians whom you are pleased to stile Sectaries do observe the first day of the week in the Power of God for his Worship then they are as much if not more to be heard than you and have as much solid reason on their side as you and thou must not think to carry the matter on with such frivolous arguments as this to advance Mysterie Babylon for this is a a knowing age blessed be the Lord wherein the wisdom of God is revealed and that which comprehendeth all shadows types dayes times years meats drinks washings and other figures they are all seen over and he is come and manifest which is Head of the true Church and not the Pope who was is and is to come life it self truth it self power strength and everlasting satisfaction to thousands and ten thousands who have believed and to a numberless number which are yet to be gathered into God's sheep-â—old and into the narrow way of Christ which will deny and doth deny upon good grounds and infallible Testimony from the Eternal Spirit that the Church of Rome is either in whole or in part any part of the true Church of Christ. And seeing this valiant Champion hath made so fair a proffer that all their Priests Jesuits and Catholicks over all the world will turn to the Sectaries way as he calls them if they can but get a clear and satisfactory resolution to the following doubts Answ. I am one which do acknowledge my self to be reckoned by him as a Sectarian yet as a Sectarian is reckoned by the true Church of God in the Primitive time in the Apostles and Christ's dayes I do not reckon my self as such and that I am a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel I dare not deny seeing a necessity is laid upon me to acknowledge the same yet herein I do not glory but in him who hath called me for the work sake and I know the Teaching of Christ Jesus and his Doctrine and no other thing this many years have I published but that which I received of the Lord and from him by his Spirit which is according to the true Faith and Godliness which was in the Primitive Church before ever Rome did lay claim to be the onely true Catholick Church excluding all others but her self to be in the way that leads to salvation I which am as one amongst many thousands which God hath manifested his mind unto shal answer in clearness and according to Apostolick Doctrine and the manifestation of his Spirit but when I have so done I am afraid this Champion with the rest of the Priests and Jesuits and the rest of the Catholicks over the World wil hardly own his Challenge or consess that Doubts are answered yet however if it satisfie but one of a thousand I have my reward and shal put it to tryal The first thing the Author who it seems knows the mind of the Church of Rome in all things both as to Doctrine and Practice vvhich they do allovv of and the contrary they vvil deny he knovvs to the full or else he vvould never sure have made such a bold challenge The first thing that they vvould be resolved in is Whether any can clearly shew that any Teachers Doctors or Ministers are sent of the Almighty God to preach and reform the Roman Catholick Church and that they are not some who say the Lord saith when the Lord hath not spoken unto them neither sent them Ezek 13. 2. Ans. What the Roman Church and their Members will take for a satisfactory resolution as to themselves I somewhat question and do doubt the resolving of the most but however by the same commandment that the Apostles did evidence their commission that they were sent to reform the Church of the Jews and also them that had made defection from the Faith amongst the Gentiles this may be shown 1. The Apostles of Christ Jesus did declare their commission which they had received from Christ and for other proof they sought none amongst them that were auditors or hearers but the witness and testimony of God unto which they desired to be approved in the sight of God 2. They shewed the Jews that they held the types and the figures but did not receive or believe him who was the substance in whom they all ended they were sent to bear testimony to the true Light that lighteth every one that cometh into the World and to preach down dayes times months years fasts feasts sabbaths circumcision temples and offerings the priesthood and the sacrifice which were but to continue until th time of reformation and the bringing in of a better hope by which they drew nigh unto God and had an accesse unto him and they declared their Commission against a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels all which things the Church of Rome do stick in and vindicate for Apostolick Doctrine and many more things which the Church of Rome is run into contrary to the true Church of Christ and therefore had need of Reformation So that which is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and practice of the primitive Church in the first hundred years is in the apostacy but Rome is in many practices and doctrines contrary to the true Church therefore needs reforming And so God hath manifested himself in this his day of Power and hath discovered the Church of Rome to be contrary in doctrine and practice to the true Spouse of Christ and hath stirned up and moved many by his Power and Spirit to preach the everlasting gospel and to declare also against the defection of the Church of Rome and her apostatizing from the Faith and they are not of those whom the Prophets spoke of which ran and the Lord sent them not for them were the false prophets in Israel and they were manifest by their fruits of which there are great store in Rome who are manifest by their fruits and they are such as are in Cain's way who would kill and such as are seekers of gain from their quarter and such as take the Jews tythes and these the Lord never sent to be Teachers or Ministers to bring to the knowledge of Christ but we deny all these things and your Church in the very ground and foundation and know that it will be swept away when the Beast is taken alive upon which your Church now rides then shall you see that that which you long put off among people as Apostolick Doctrine will not be received any more neither traditions nor inventions of men for the Worship of God The second doubt which the Author would be resolved in is Whether we can make good what Luther and Calvin with all Protestants have boasted that they would do to reform convincingly one of the silliest Roman Catholicks that is and to begin do it