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A33945 The pulpit-guard routed, in its twenty strong-holds, or, A brief answer to a large and lawless discourse, written by one Tho. Hall ... intituled, The pulpit-guarded, with twenty arguments, pretending to prove the unlawfulness and sinfulness of private mens preaching ... his six arguments to prove their ministry free from anti-Christianism, rased, and six more asserted, proving them to be anti-Christian / written by Tho. Collier. Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691. 1651 (1651) Wing C5295; ESTC R9709 89,279 114

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is that its your selves who are the intruders pretending your selves Ministers of the Gospel when you know not what it is but are in deed and truth the Peoples Lords and Masters You say the power of the keys is given to you and the power of remitting and retaining sins and not to the body of the Church I answer The power of the keys is given neither to Church nor Minister to retain and remit that is proper only to God to Christ who have the keys of Hell and Death and open and no man shuts and shut and no man opens You would fain dethrone the Pope and take the power of pardoning out of his hand if you could But it is the power of the Gospel that remits sins where it comes in power it brings pardon and peace where the Gospel comes in power and is believed and received it remits sins but where it is not received there sin is retained So that it s not the word or authority of a Priest but the power and grace of Christ that remits sins The twelfth Argument If the work of the Ministry be an exceeding weighty and laborious work then every private man though he have some gifts is not fit for it but the work of the Ministry is an exceeding weighty and laborious work c. Hence the Apostle puts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on it 2 Cor. 2. 16. Who is sufficient c. and every man is not fit to be a Carver to a King I answer You are still harping upon one string you love reiterations and tautologies many of your Arguments being one and the same in substance you only alter the terms that so you may make up the number I have often answered that though every gifted brother is not fit to be a Minister in office yet every gifted brother is fit to communicate according to the gift he hath received and notwithstanding it is both a laborious and weighty Calling yet neither of them in those who are Ministers indeed shall prevent but rather encourage that which you so much oppose So in Paul and in Peter who excelling in the work of the Ministry excelled likewise in this the encouraging of the Saints in the performance of their duty in this particular 1 Cor. 14. 1 Pet. 4. And were you what you profess your self to be you durst not to have done what you have in opposing this truth of Christ The thirteenth Argument That way which was first invented by Socinians Anabaptists Arminians the enemies of Gods grace to destroy the truth may not be practised by Christians c. but this toleration of all gifted brethren to preach was first invented by Socinians Anabaptists Arminians to destory the truth c. Answ Dare you be so impudent and bold as to belye the Saints with so much venome as 1. To give them such reproachfull terms for their owning and professing truth 2. To call them enemies to Gods grace when they hold it forth in its purity 3. That they were the first Inventers of this practise and that to destroy the truth when it was the Lord Jesus in and by his servants the Apostles did command it therefore in your next lay your blame where it is Call Christ and his Apostles Socinians Anabaptists c. because they both practised and commanded that for which you would hang if you could your Brethren that practice the like Believe it Sir you had need be disburden'd of this Book and your pretended Ministry too before you meet the Lord Jesus when he comes to Judg the Earth He will say then As for mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me Luke 19. For Sir I would have you know that in substance you call Christ and his Apostles Socinians Anabaptists Arminians c. and enemies to Truth for they were the first Inventers of this practice you so much oppose Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 1 Pet. 4. The fourteenth Argument They which have no promise from God of Divine assistance cannot comfortably or succesfully undertake a work but private persons turning Preachers without a Call have no promise of Divine assistance Ergo They cannot comfortably and succesfully undertake the work The Major granted the Minor grounded on Mat. 28. 20. Lo I am with you to the end c. The Promise is made to the Apostles and their Successors And who are they your selves think you Say you not there are no Apostles now how are you their Successors then or do you their work which was to Disciple first then Baptize Nay how then why Baptize or sprinkle first and hate reproach persecute the true Disciples everafter yet are you the Apostles successors or rather are you not of the Bastard brood of Rome whose name is changed but not the nature But to your Minor 1. Where are the Saints called private persons in Scripture or Lay-men This is but a trick of your own to make your selves the more publick but if the Saints viz. Gifted brethren are commanded to and commended for exercising according to their gift then they have a promise and may expect a blessing and success in that work but they have a command 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. and commendation 1 Cor. 14. 6. for exercising in that gift Ergo they may with comfort expect success and a blessing in it The promise Mat. 28. 20. is for them I will be with you c. so long as you are doing what I command you and what I commend unto you And I will never fail you nor forsake you Heb. 13. 5. while you do that I command you and commend unto you c. The fifteenth Argument That way which breeds Disorder Errour and Confusion is not the way of God but toleration of private persons out of Office to Expound and Interpret Scripture in publike is away that breeds Errour and Confusion Ergo 'T is not of God Answ 1. The Major you say is clear therefore to your Minor The toleration of such uncalled Preachers breeds Errour It s granted but this doth not hinder the preaching of Gifted Brethren who are called to exercise their Gifts but indeed it s the uncall'd Preachers viz. your selves that have bred the Errour and Confusion in this Nation 't is proved by woful experience You it is that have stirred up the Nation to the zeal of Persecution and you it is in all Ages that have been the cause of War and Blood and you it is that at present if mercy prevent not endeavour to kindle a fire in it that will devour it and you it is that bring in such ignorance darkness and errours as that there is not any one truth that can appear in its purity but you cry out against it giving it some contemptible Nick name or other that so it may not take with the people but you will have but little thank of Christ one day for it And 2. If some do Preach and practice things tending to
Who told you they were three persons have you it in Scripture or by tradition from Rome if in Scripture produce it when you come forth in publick next for mine own part I know no such Scripture And this I shall with confidence affirm that neither Father Son or Spirit are at all called Person or Persons as God but it s a Title proper only to man in Scripture given to none else and therefore come from Rome Be instructed now therefore ye wise men of the Earth and do not judge so harshly of honest men because they cannot believe that which is not written in Scripture and be content to be fools that you may be wise and let these Traditions return to their first center 23. That Christ hath removed the Law and now the pure Gospel is the only Rule What yet more ignorance and malice Is this one of the wrinkles and deformities one of the delusions of that deluded Sect I wonder you have left out one this comes very near it that they expect salvation by the Free grace of God in Jesus Christ Is this such a strange wrinkle and delusion with you that Christ hath removed the Law I pray what was the end of his coming if not to remove the Law as a dispensation held forth in the hands of Moses The Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ Joh 1. 17. First he came to fulfil the Law every jot and title of it Mat. 5. 17 18. He fulfilled all the righteousness of it for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness Mat 3. 15. and so is the end of the Law for righteousness to all those who believe Rom. 10. 4. Secondly He hath removed the Curse and condemnation of it Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 1. Thirdly He hath removed the Rule of it as in the hands of Moses for there it was the Rule that produced the Curse it was a ministration of death and now the pure Gospel is the only Rule of Saints And is this such a mystery and deformity to you a Minister of the Gospel and ignorant of this Truth Sir I must tell you that if you were a Christian in good earnest you should not you could not be ignorant that the Gospel the Law of Christ is the Rule of the Saints Mat. 28. 20. Act. 3. 22. They are marryed to him and subject to him Rom. 74. Christ takes all that old dispensation both Moral and Ceremonial into his own hands and is the substance of the Ceremonies and righteousnes of the Moral Law and now gives forth the substance of the Moral again to them in them not as a Rule of righteousness but as a law of love a law of Grace and pure Gospel if you will have it though you think the word pure Gospel is reproach enough although you cannot be litterally ignorant that the Gospel signifieth glad tydings and is not this glad tydings think you and pure Gospel when a soul comes to see all the wrath and enmity that was against him contained in Ordinances taken away Ephes 2. 13 14. and fulfilled and now there is no ministration of death against him the Law of God is in his heart within him without him a law of love and grace no death no wrath nothing but love and grace and the love of Christ constrains such souls to yield obedience to him and to follow him where ever he goes But to conclude the Thirtieth Tenent They give a Supream and Independent power in all Ecclesiasticall causes and censures to their single Congregations And can you produce any other rule in the Gospel then this must you needs have one Church to rule over another or rather your selves to rule over the whole will nothing content you unless you may be Lords over Gods heritage Sir we allow no Synodian nor Classical power but advice and counsell we own c. it s not an Independent power neither only independent as to man and creatures but depending upon Jesus Christ and if you can produce any other rule in the Gospel let us know it that we may be informed If you mention Acts 15. I say first they sent to Jerusalem for advice and counsell and secondly those to whom they sent were able infallibly to determine the case ver 28. They could say It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burthens then these necessary things c. And truly were there such Apostles and Elders amongst us we should gladly acknowledge them and receive from them but as for your Classicall power we own it not we submit not to it c. Thus have I briefly run through your Looking-glass and truly it may be a Looking glass for your self if the Lord open your eyes to see into it wherein you may first see your ignorance and blindness in calling so many precious truths of Christ wrinkles and deformities and delusions of the deluded Sect. And secondly you may see your malice and envy in charging so many falshoods upon them when it s your selves that are guilty of those crimes you endeavour to fasten upon them Thus you say You have given a taste out of a full sea whereby it appears that the Anabaptists are no such harmless creatures as some imagine A full sea it is indeed of lyes and scandals on the one part and truth ignorantly or wilfully abused by you on the other part No such harmless creatures c. if you could by your lyes and scandals perswade people to it thus dealt the Scribes Pharisees and the hypocrites your brethren in iniquity with Christ and the Saints of old Mat. 12 24. Joh. 8. 48. 10. 36. Act. 14. 2. You commend those who desire to see more of their Errors to Mr. Edwards Gangraena and the rest of your brethren in the same iniquity with you but you do well to commend them to the Gangraena the vilest viper that ever appeared in the world against Christ and his truth and Saints herein justifying your brethren in their iniquity and so drawing upon your self all the righteous blood shed from Abel until now you build the Tombs of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles pretend high estimation of them Pharisee like Mat. 23. from the 29. to the end Well you draw your conclusion How needfull is it both for Church and Common-wealth to joyn the labour of the Vniversities for confutation of the Anabaptists Indeed Sir you had need joyn all your forces Church Common-wealth that is the Magistrate Universities and all for the suppression of truth I wonder you had not conjured the Prince of darkness to your assistance in this great work and undertaking it seems their errors are so great so dangerous in your eye as that you fear miserably some great disaster or change you cry out lamentably upon their doctrine as that it will bring destruction to Church State Souls all But what are their principles that are so full of danger Answ
might be an inferiour Church-officer or Deacon without a Call and Ordination from the Church then no man may be a Preacher a superiour Church-officer without a Call or Ordination The truth is granted though not by you understood there is a difference as I have already shewn and proved between the preaching of gifted brethren and Church-officers in relation to the manner of administring but not the matter the one waits upon it as his office the other as his gift You instance That if in the Common wealth none may intrude into anothers calling but must first serve an Apprentiship then much less may any intrude into the Ministry c. who do not first serve an Apprentiship That is the substance and the thing you drive at and indeed I knew before that you would turn Preaching into an Art and Trade that so you might be the true Merchants of Babylon And would Christ have the Scriptures to dwel in the Saints richly and abundantly and should they hide it there and not bring it forth for the good of others The tenth Argument If every man must study to be quiet do his own Work and keep the bounds of his proper calling then private men may not be Pulpit-men but the Apostle commands 1 Thes 4. 11. That every man study to be quiet c. Who are the unquiet men the gifted brethren or your selves who is it that casts out floods of contention and unquietness but your selves but you would have your brethren to be quiet and let you alone in your sin that so the blind leading the blind both might fall into the ditch this would be a sinfull quietness and silence But Sir may not a man follow his Calling preach and yet be quiet too May not the Nailer keep his Hammer the Husbandman his Plough c. and come into the Pulpit and yet be quiet too Is not preaching and prophesying one part of a Christians generall Calling if gifted unto it or may not a Christian come from his Hides his Shop his Arms his Blew Apron to the Pulpit without a Black Gown Is there so much vertue in that or doth all your office and divinity consist in it or rather doth not your colour manifest your nature Let every one abide in his calling 1 Cor. 7. 20. This I have answered already it relates to Servants not to leave their Masters after conversion c. and not to that end for which you learned Rhetoritians ignorantly apply it against the Lord and his Truth Your first and Second Query and Answer I wave as not material to my work in hand But the Objection you seem to Answer in it I shall a little touch If Paul had a double Calling why not We Your Answer is First There is a great difference between Paul and You He had much learning You no learning Stay Sir where is it said Paul had so much learning he had the gifts of the Spirit but what else This is Learning enough for Paul and mean Abilities yet according to the Ability let them minister Secondly He had an extraordinary measure of the Spirit had his Learning given him by Revelation Inspiration c. We by industry study c. Had Paul his by the Spirit and have You yours by another way No wonder if you make use of it to another End But have you indeed gotten another way to get the gifts of preaching have you Simon-like bought them for mony or have you Pharisee-like wrought hard for them oh the Lord will curse and blast all such gettings the Princes of Zoan and spiritual Egypt shall appear to be fools in the end I deny not reading of and meditation on the Scriptures But unless the Lord freely inspire and teach by his Spirit all your study and reading is nothing But your Art of studying and making Sermons I utterly protest against Thirdly you say The work of the Ministry is a distinct Calling c. Not so distinct but that they may make use of another as Paul Distinct Duties Not so distinct but that another may perform them but he is in a distinct manner to attend upon them and officiate in them The power of the Keys is not given to the Church but to Peter and his Successors c. To the Pope and his Ministers But the Keys of the Kingdom were not given to Peter more then to Paul but to Peters faith and to all that have obtained or shall obtain like precious faith Fourthly The Apostle labors 1. That he might not be burdensom to the Church which was poor 2. Thess 3. 8. But you will not labor but live upon the People though poor you will Lord it over them and have it from them if they have it without them 2. That he might stop the mouths of false Prophets Who would accuse him for making advantage of the Gospel But you will not labor let false and true Prophets say what they will of you but will make advantage of the Gospel you are so far from the Apostles temper that let what mouths will be open against you yet your mouths are still open for the gain 3. That he might be an Example of Industry But you are resolved notwithstanding to be Examples of Pride and Idleness you bind heavy burdens for others and cry out against their Idleness but will be sure not to touch them your selves with the least of your fingers But Fifthly you confess at last That a man may keep two Callings though your selves intend not to live lawfully in one but a Minister may teach School as Samuel had a School of yong Prophets Had a Lay Prophet as you call them said so much you would have been ready to cry out ignorance in tearing wresting and abusing Scripture to self Ends There is never a word of School or Colledge in the Text. But may a man a Minister have two Callings the one subordinate to the other and then why may he not bake and preach nayl and preach patch and preach and plow and preach too as well as fish and preach make tents and preach c. The eleventh Argument If the Calling of the Ministry be a distinct Calling have distinct offices and duties belonging to it c. then every private man though gifted may not intrude himself into it but so it is Mat. 16. 19. 18. 18. John 20. 21 23. The power of the keyes is not given to the whole body of the Church but to the Apostles and their Successors the Ministers of the Gospel to them belongs the power of remitting and retaining sins authoritatively in Christs name c. I answer 1. That I have already told you that there is difference between men ministring by office and by gift The Calling of the Minister is distinct yet not so distinct as to prevent the gifted brethren as you imagine and they may administer according to the measure they have received yet not intrude themselves into the office of the Ministry and the truth
which is the intention of the word Evangelist from Evangelion a Cryer or Publisher of good news So that if he was now an Evangelist it was his preaching and publishing of the Gospel made him so And whereas you say there were Apostles Prophets c. I say and the Scripture saith that the Apostles were at Jerusalem not scattered And as for Prophets and Evangelists you read of none before this scattering time As for the seventy Disciples they were not men in office their time was limited them and their mission ended at least at the death of Christ for the twelve might not preach after that by vertue of any former mission but were to stay at Jerusalem in the last mission until they had received power from on high therefore if the Seventy were amongst them or any of the Seventy that is nothing for your purpose who indeavor to darken truth with words that so you may delude the simple Yet thirdly It s said That all the Church were scattered c. And if you will have Evangelists and Prophets which the Scripture mentions not and the Seventy or part of them which is nothing to your purpose yet were these all the Church was there not 3000 converted at one Sermon Act. 3. and many more after who walked in sweet fellowship and yet must all these needs be Apostles Prophets c. in your sence if some of them were such dare you affirm that they were all such the Scripture being so apparantly clear to the contrary every circumstance weighed Is not your own Argument a non sequitur because there were 12 Apostles and Philip was afterwards an Evangelist and there were seventy Disciples once Comissioned which mission was ended at the death of Christ the whole Church was scattered except those Apostles and none else you own therefore it might be Apostles Prophets c. The Apostles not scattered but still at Jerusalem no Prophets nor Evangelists we read of before this the Seventy non-Commissioned a goodly Argument or Answer for those who have no eys to see nor hearts to understand Secondly The Apostles you say might give them Commissions Answ And they might not give them Commissions You mention Act. 15. 22 23. because the Apostles sent two chosen men of the Church to the Gentils upon special occasion therefore they might mission all these This is one of your own Conclusions and it looks like your self there is but little Logick or Retorick in it you raise an Objection The Text not doth say so and seem to Answer it Arguments drawn from silent Authority conclude nothing And Sir Your own Argument it is that is drawn from silent Authority they might mission them the Scripture is silent your Argument concludes nothing but indeed it s like all the rest you instance amongst other Examples Melchisedech we read of no Parents that he had it doth not follow say you therefore that he had none c. A learned and deep conclusion Doth not the Scripture say he was without Father without Mother c. Heb. 7. 3. Thirdly You say Did not the Lord give them commission by immediate Revelation c. To prove this you produce the extraordinary as you call them Effects 1. The hand of the Lord was with them Act. 11. 21. And dare you say that the hand of the Lord is not with the preaching brethren c. 2. The extraordinary number of converts their great and quick harvist shews it I say In this likewise hath the Lord manifested his approving and calling of the preaching brethren the great number of Converts from Antichristian and Babylonish ignorance and confusion the the hand of the Lord hath been with them and a quick harvest there hath been through grace your selves it is that most evidently and eminently prove your selves Non-called of the Lord upon this account no hand of the Lord hath been with you no Converts drawn to Christ by you but take your Parishes and your Tythes souls perish for want of knowledge and if you make two or three in your Parish a little zealous and formal in Antichristian wayes you bless your selves make them the seal of your Apostleship immediatly Lastly you say by way of Concession giving though not granting c. you will clear all by asking two questions 1. When did these dispersed Disciples preach c. you answer in times of persecution therefore those which were scattered c. implying that if they had not been scattered they had not preached Now you think you have hit the nayl upon the head but Sir a word by the way 1. Did or could persecution make that to be lawfull which you say in it self is sinfull and unlawfull is it first sinfull and unlawfull in your deep judgement and yet lawfull in persecution This is Logick contrary to your own practise you do that in fear of persecution which you would never do in love without and leave undone that you would have done you could cease preaching of Lectures afternoon-Sermons c. in the Episcopal time for fear of persecution before it came not preach the more as you confess the preaching brethren did but I suppose it would have been sinfull for you to have preached if persecution had come 2. I answer Have not your preaching brethren preached in times of persecution too have not there been many Sauls that have breathed out threatnings against them and would not these priestly Pharisees as gladly as ever Saul to Stevens have consented unto their death nay have they not sought after it as Esau the blessing with tears But yet blessed be him who is in the bush they cannot obtain their desires Yet of late daies have not many been imprisoned the Churches scattered c. and then upon your own account is it not a time for the brethren to preach c Your second Quaere is Where did they preach You answer Not at Jerusalem a planted settled constituted Church but amongst the Heathens c. You say That may be lawful in an unplanted Church c. which is utterly unlawful in a planted constituted Church c. I answer 1. That it s undoubtedly lawfull in a constituted Church for the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 14. Ye may all prophosie one by one that is in a constituted Church and God gives gifts to men to profit withall others as well as themselves And they are undoubtedly none of the Churches of Christ who deny the free operation of the Spirit of Christ in the brethren they are such as quench the Spirit and despise prophesying 2. I answer That the publike preaching of the brethren in this Nation is not in constituted Churches of Christ neither in Ministers Members nor in Manners in Doctrine Worship or Discipline but of Antichrist and the Devil for his servants you are to whom you obey c. therefore its lawful and a fit time for them to preach for the gathering of the Saints out of Babylon and Confusion and that upon your own account
1. 27 29. God hath chosen the foolish things of the world c. Ergo Lay-men may Preach Sir Your Answer to this Objection and Scripture seems to carry the langage of the old Proverb in it more knave then fool was there ever the like heard of either from Pope or Devil what not a word of answer but scurrility and reproach what reproach the Scripture it self calling it a Sceleton a parcell of bare bones c Is this enough to give satisfaction does the light shine so clear out of that Scripture that it compels you to flie from it as not being able to look it in the face or give answer to it but cry out against it hath not this been your practice in all Ages when you meet with truth that you cannot gain-say-it then to reproach it and render it contemptible to the people but be ye sure you will have but little thank for it at the last day but seeing you leave this Scripture as being worthy of no answer but base and scurrilous names c. I shall say somthing to it that its light may appear and your darkness the more unto the world The truth there asserted is this That God in all Ages hath made choice of foolish weak and unlikely things by it to confound and bring to nothing things that are And this he doth either 1. In the work of Conversion the poor receive the Gospel Publican and Harlots go into Heaven before the self righteous zealous harisees for Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners c. 2. Or in the work of the Ministry Fisher-men Publicans Tent-makers Shepherds Plough-men c. And why so that by weak means he might bring to nothing things that are in creatures apprehension You cry up your humanity fleshly wisdom Arts Sciences c. But believe it the Lord hath began it already and he will go on with it by weak nothing creatures fools in the world eyes and in yours too to dash to peices all your wisdom and by this means he will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the Prudent Then where is the scribe where is the disputer of this world c hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world Take notice 1. That you fleshly wisdom in which you so much boast and glory cannot help you to the knowledge of God 1 Cor. 1. 21. chap. 2. 14. 2. It is foolishness with God 1 Cor. 3. 19. 3. It is that which must be destroyed when the wisdom of the Spirit comes 1 Cor. 1. 19. 4. It s enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 8. 7. 5. If mercy prevent not its death Rom. 8. 6. So the Greek word signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wisdom of the flesh c. and ver 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The wisdom of the flesh is enmity c. nay and fleshes best wisdom prudence so the word signifieth it s all but enmity death and that not only to your selves but others Col. 2. 8. And this God hath done is doing and will discover and bring it to nothing by weak and unlikely men and means manger all the wisdom and power of men and flesh that shall oppose be advised therefore ye wise men of the earth Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way c. You mention other Scriptures that are not to the purpose nor made use of that I know of by any but I suppose you juggled them in here that so you might shift off the truth in this Scripture by running to others not so much to the purpose therefore I pass them in this place and conclude The sum of all is this 1. That all the Brethren in the Church that have Gifts may Prophesie 1 Cor. 14. 31. 2. That every man according to his proportion of faith may prophesie Rom. 12. 3. 6. 3. That gifted men out of Office have Preached therefore may Preach Act. 9. 20. 8. 4. 18. 26. 4. That every man according to the Gift received may and ought to administer 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 5. That its the Saints work to declare the glory of Christs Kingdom to the world Psal 145. 10 11 12. 6. That this is the end wherefore God gives gifts to men Ephes 4. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 7. 7. That the Saints should desire to Prophesie 1 Cor. 14. 1. ver 5. 39. 8. That the Jews themselves denyed not this in their assemblies Acts 13. 14 15. 18. 26. 9. None but Devil Pope Priests and Persecutors ever denyed this truth 1 Cor. 14. 37. If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things I write are the Commandments of the Lord. But 1 Cor. 11. 16. If any be contentious we have no such customs nor the Churches of God chap. 14. 13. But if any man will be ignorant let him be ignorant still c. You say There was one thing more objected viz. That your Ministry was Antichristian of which one word and then you have done I shall as briefly trace you in it and so have done too This you say is objected Your ministry is Antichristan you are Babylonish Diviners Egyptians juglers limbs of the Divel proud covetous c. A whole load of such ignomious titles you may finde in a little Pamphlet of one Collier a very dangerous Sectary Sir Collier would have you to know that he hath written nothing in that little Pamphlet but what he is both ready and able in the strength of the Lord to make it good in opposition to all gainsayers notwithstanding your reproachful term of dangerous Sectary both in this and your beastial Epistle to your Reverend Senior he is a Collier and although you are black already yet he will make your blackness more to appear for he is accomplishing your desire working about coal digging up the blackness c. Well but you comfort your self yet That it is your honour and therefore you should not fret but rejoyce and give God thanks c. A very fine way to shift of truth from your selves and so go on in your wickedness saying you shall have peace although you add sin to sin and walk after the imaginations and stubbornness of your own hearts As well might the false Prophets and false Apostles rejoyce because the true ones reprove them and tell them that they transform themselves into Angels of light so because the servants of light reprove you and discover your false and erroneous ways you rejoyce as if persecuted for the truth of Christ Believe it your glorying is not good but I suppose your joy is but from the teeth outward as we use to say there is grief within and sorrow of heart c. Isay 65. 11. 12. 13 14. You say God is beholding to us for the kindness we shew to his Embassadors Answ 1. Then he is but little