stoned to death And this was according to the Law of God their bloud was uâ—on their own heads And when Israel â—usted after a King he gave them a King and they had many Kings who were Anointed of God by his appointment which was to rule in the same manner as Moses Joshua and the rest of the Judges had done and whosoever were disobedient unto the aforesaid command of God whether in things civil or things concerning the worship of God and several punishments were to be inâ—â—icted by them for several transgressions as Blasphemers Sabbath breakers false Prophets and Wizzards and witches were not suffered to live This was before Christ the Seed was manifested in the flesh this was the old way the old paths that Israel was to walk in But this Covenant was filthy as the Apostle saith and the Ministers thereof could not continue by reason of death The Law was changed and the Priest-hood was changed and the Ordinances and worship was changed when Christ came to be manifest the end of the Law for Righteousness Now as Aâ—ron and the rest of the high Priests were but types and figures of the everlasting High Priest So the Judges and Kings of Israel were types and figures of Christ the King of Kings and King of Saints and Lawgiver and Judge And their outward power which continued but for a time in compelling to the true worship under that Covenant or restraining from Idolatry did but continue until the time of Reformation was but a type and a figure of Christ and his spiritual power and weapon and spiritual execution upon his enemies who are not subject to his government oâ— power seeing the Father hath committed all power unto him in Heaven and in Earth And Moses the Mediator of the first Covenant which stood in outward Ordinances both the Mediator the Covenant and the Ordinance had an end when the better Covenant was given the Covenant of Light and Christ the Mediator thereof was manifest And this Covenant and Ordinances pertained unto the Jews and the compelling unto the worship and punishing for Idolatry partained to the Jews only who were under that Covenant and not to the Gentiles as it is written To Jacob he gave his Law and to Israel his Statutes to every Nation he did not so So they which would bring people now under this Covenant and the power thereof denies the second the everlasting Covenant his power and them that would preach up compelling and forcing to worship and bring those Scriptures of the first Covenant to be their ground are ignorant of the times unto which they were spoken And upon this false Foundation hath the false Church persecuted about worship this many hundred years and this Doctrine is in too much credit with many in these dayes who say they are under the Gospel And this hath made people to hate and persecute one another And the Ministers of Antichrist hath pressed it upon Kings Rulers that God hath required it of them to enforce and enjoyn all people unto a Worship although they themselves are divided amongst themselves one while for this thing and another while for that and because the Kings of Israel did so and had power to do therefore they have concluded that Princes and Judges ought to do so and so have made them put their neck in a yoak which is too heavy for them to hear which the Lord hath not required at their hands and because of this compellings and forceings many hypocrites have been made and many of Gods peoples consciences wounded and burned and many Kings and Rulers have lost their Dominions and they have been taken from them because of this by the Lord. So all they that have in truded upon Christs prerogative Soveraignty in this thing are sure to be reckoned as no other but as usurpers and intruders into that power which the Father alone hath given unto his Son which Power Dominion and Glory he will not give unto any other as to be Judge Law-giver in the hearts and consciences of his people Object But some may say did not the Prophets exhort to inquire for the old paths and the good old way And did not the Prophets say Kings should be nursing Fathers and Queens nursing Mothers And must not this be fulfilled in these dayes Ans. This is true that the Prophet did exhort the Princes people of Israel who were in the revolted estate who had transgressed the Commandments of the Lord and had lost the guide of their youth the rest of their souls And therefore he turned them back to consider of the day of old and inquire after the good old way that they might walk therein wch they were gone from but this doth not pertain at all unto this time for Christ Jesus is the new and living way which all is to inquire after now who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and the first Covenant unto them that believe And as for Kings being nursing Fathers the Queens nursing Mothers this was Prophesied by the Prophet before they went into Captivit how the Heathen should have power over their Kings Prophets and Priests and people and Jerusalem should lye desolate Now this the Prophet spoke of concerning the return of them unto the Lord and they to inhabit their own land then their own Kings and Queens should rule over them be as nurses to them when they should return from their Captivity then Jacob should rejoyce and Israel should be glad and this was spoken to the Jews and this had reference to their state in that time Further it may be objected ought not Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery to be punished is this to be suffered now Seeing it was punished under the Law Answer Yea this is to be punished and shall be punished and that even with death for as I said the Father hath committed all Power unto the Son who will execute his judgement upon all them who will not have him to raign in their hearts as it is written these my enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring them before me that I may slay them with what weapons With carnal nay but with the sharp two edged Sword which proceeds out of his Mouth and with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the Spiritual weapons which runs thorow the Blasphemer and kills him and flayes the false Prophet and Soothsayer and Inchanter and Idolator and yet saves the Creature a live take one example of Christ the new and living Way when the Pharisees brought a woman tempting Christ which was taken in Adultery saying according to the Law of Moses she ought to be stoned to death he that was the end of the Law said he that was without sin cast the first stone convicting them al that they were in the same nature and yet did not approve of the Adultery but said go and sin no more least a worse thing
Christ to be her Husband and sate as a Queen and the Kings of the Farth John saâ— in the Revelation drink of her Cup and bewitched by her Sorceries and then all the Nations becoming Water and unstable being drunk with fornication sraggered up and down and reeled up and down and stood in nothing being out of the power which should have stablished them And then a great Beast arose out of these Nations Kindreds and Tongues and People which are these waters with seven heads and ten horns and then these Apostatized Disciples or Ministers which preached for filthy Lucre and them that beleived them sheltered them under the Beast and cryed who is able to make war with the Beast and the Kings of the Earth gave their strength to the Beast which arose out of the waters and now the false Church gets upon him these that had the form of Godliness and out of the power and rides upon the Beast and he carries her and hath done this many years and she hath travelled in the greatness of his strength And then Laws began to be made about Religion and then began compelling we heard of none in the Primitive times nor in the true Church but now the false Church calling her self by the Free-Womans name and getting on the outward dress and habit and attire saith I am she have not I the form and ordinances which was practised in the Apostles dayes Who doubts of that may look into the Primitive times and see that I am conformable to the form which was amongst the first Christians in things that are outward And thus she hath deceived the Nations Rev. 18. 23. Now Rome look to thy beginning and read thy Original and view thy Antiquity We will grant thee every dram and every hour of time these thirteen hundred years and prove thee to be in the Apostacy in doctrine and practice from the Primitive time after the first hundred years after Christ was manifested in the flesh And Christendom look about thee for thou art measured and thy compass is seen If Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People have drunk the Whores Cup since Johus dayes as will be made manifest then what cause hast thou Rome to boast of Antiquity and universality for that doth the sooner prove thee to be a Harlor then the true Church and thy universality which hath long been boasted of proves thee no more to be the true Church of Christ then the sea can prove it self to be a Rock for if Nations Kindreds and Tongues and Languages and People universally be the waters that the Whore sits upon and the Beast rose out of the Waters Now read thy self we have measured thee as in the hollow of a hand and we have thee in the Apostacy clear thy self when thou can If the Beast compelled all both small and great to worship him and made war with all that bore not his Image then we have thee between us and the Apostles time as in a press for not such compelling was in the true Church by any Ecclesiastical or Secular power Instance if thou can from the Apostles writings any such thing or where Cains Weapons was lifted up or Creatures men and women killed by the Sword or destroyed with lingring torments in the time of the Apostles Now in that it is said the Church hath been universal to that more might be said Europe or some parts adjacent is not all the Earth and it is no where found since the Apostles that klling and compelling and forcing hath been but by thee and them that are at the best but in the Suburbs of thy City which afterwards I shall in brief descend to and so it is evidently known that thy Church so called hath been upheld more by cruelty and force then any sound Doctrine or Practice agreeable to the Apostles dayes Though thou may wipe thy Mouth and say I am clear we persecute none to death we have a Beast to ride upon and will make war for our City and will compell to our worship and institutions we 'l cry him up for the higher power and we will frighten people that who resists this resists the ordinance of God And he will kill and destroy and compel and force and we shall be clear and he will call us the holy Church and we will call him the higher Power And so it is clear and evident by what hath been said that thou art in the Apostacy as hereafter shall be manifested by name and practice First thy Ministers are not according to the Ministers of Christ in the Primitive times their call not such their practice noâ— such They were made Ministers in the primitive times by the holy Ghost and by the Spirit but yours by natural parts Tongues Arts Philosophy and Study and packing up Old Authors together to make a little discourse of and this must be called the Gospel Secondly the Ministers of Christ they preach freely not for gifts and rewards and Tythes but you have brought in Judaisme Tythes which belongeth to the first Priest-hood your Oblations Obventions your Mortuaries and these Invented and Introduced things to maintain your Ministers by Thirdly the Ministers of Christ did not compel any at Corinth Thessalonica Macedonia or any other Church to give them such and such maintenance by force who received not their Doctrine But you compel and force and have made that which you call the Gospel chargeable to the Earth where you have power 1 Cor. 9. 18. Fourthly your Doctrine is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the primitive times as that the real and substantial presence of Christs Body and blood after the consecration of Priests is in the bread and wine which may corrupt and so doth not the body of Christ do contrary to Christs Doctrine who saith he that eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall live for ever Joh. 6. 56. But you that eat that which you call his substantial and real Body and blood both it and you shall corrupt Fifthly of the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse this sacrifice doth no good at all for where there is no blood there is no life and where there is no blood there is no remission saith Paul Heb. 9. 14. and so your sacrifice is abominable and an Idol and such an one as there is no mention made of in the Scriptures Sixthly of your Liturgy and publick prayers in an unknown tongue this is an unprofitable and a vain Worship and this is like your unbloody Sacrifice herein you are like Barbarians one to another and how should they that worship with you say Amen when they know not what you say you praying in an unknown tongue is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said 1 Cor. 14. and the 18 verse I thank my God I speak with Tongues more than you all verse 19. yet in the Church I had rather speake five words with my understanding that I might reach others also then ten thousand in an unknown Tongue
Secondly whether hath your Gospel been universally and publickly preached these sixteen hundred years or nay And is it the very same that was preached in the first hundred or two hundred years seeing that John saith that all Nations did drink of the whores cup of fornication And then Nâ—tions were Waters Seeing he saith the Gospel shall be preached again to Nations Kindreds and Tongues which clearly demonstrates there was a time when the everlasting Gospel was not preached to the Kindreds and Tongues which are the waters upon which your Church is Scituated And it is evidently manifested that yours hath been another Gospel then that which was preached in the Apostolick Church and in the Catholick Church the first hundred or two hundred years after Christ was manifested in the flesh Much might be said to demonstrate the Truth which is in hand that there hath been an apostacy the beginners whereof came forth in the Apostles dayes and afterward grew into a body and became like a great Sea which according to the best Ecclesiastical writers which have given a narrative of the first five hundred years declared that there was a great loss within 300. years but in five hundred years or less the very power of Godliness was denyed and very much of the form And though your Church pleads Antiquity for a Thousand years for these things a fore mentioned which they would be hard to prove For although it should be granted them yet we will joyne issue with them in this thing and are able to prove all these Doctrines and Practices not to be as it was in the first two hundred years except they will own such as taught the Doctrine of Balaam and taught the Doctrine of Devils and went in Cains and Chores way for an example It were not hard to prove the introducing of all these things before mentioned and how they have come in by degrees one Counsel that rose out of the waters ordaining this another ordaining that and so have risen up into this great body of darkness some of the practices borrowed from the Jews and some from the Heathen and some invented of themselves in latter ages So that the worship that was in the Spirit and in Truth in Christs and the Apostles dayes is turned from and such a numberless number of vain Traditions Avemaries Creeds and Pater nosters and such a deal a do as there is about their unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse that they are glad to be counted by their beads on strings as many very well know By all that which hath been said may easily be collected that there hath been a great Diviation and apostacy from the Doctrine and practice of the Primitive times thus far as I am descended I leave it to the Reader to judge and compare these things with the Churches doctrine and practices in the first hundred years after Christ and if these things be found invented and without footing or ground then let them that are informed depart from them CHAP. III. But now to descend a little further nearer unto our own age to speak somthing to them which I believe look upon themselves to be Catholick and Apostolick in Doctrine and practice according to the Primitive time and order and that they are totally come out of the Apostacy THis I have to say to you which is my judgement and belief and that upon good ground that you are in many things in the Apostacy as hereafter I shall demonstrate and to tell you nakedly and plainly we look upon the reformation which was made in denying the Church of Rome to be but very weak and poor and feeble and imperfect comparatively with the Doctrine and practice and order in the Primitive times in so much that we judge upon good grounds that it cannot be parrelled with the Church in the Primitive times which I have spoke of before in that you have denyed the Pope to be the head of the Church and so are called Protestants So am I knowing that Christ is the head of the Church and ought to rule by his Spiritual Scepter and his eternal power in the hearts and consciences of people and in and over the true Church which is his body whereof he is the head and let all take heed who doth intrude and take upon them that which belongeth to the King of Kings and King of Saints as to matter of head-ship Regulation or Goverment for all power is committed unto him in Heaven and Earth and the Father hath given it to him and will not have any other have that Glory But whosoever seeks it must be condemned and his glory he will not give to another For the Lamb is worthy of glory and strength And though the Church of Rome be generally acknowledged to be in the Apostacy by them that are separated from them and that upon good grounds yet I say the Separation is in some little or smal part more in name then in nature more in form then in power more in some circumstantial things then in the very ground it self and very many of these Doctrines Practices Discipline and order as they call it I find to be upholden practiced and contended for which are found in the former I have mentioned First of all to instance that which is generally holden out by the reformed Protestants is that the writings of Mathew Mark Luke and John and the several Epistles is the Gospel which the Primitive Disciples and Ministers preached and published and which People did receive and by believing the found thereof were accounted Christians and believers We would have all to know the Gospel was preached to Abraham before Mathew or Mark or any of the Apostles writ a word Moreover we would have all to know that Christ had preached glad tidings to the captives and some of the Disciples had preached the word of the Kingdom before Matthew or Mark or Luke or John had wrote a word my reasons are divers Matthew Mark Luke and John must needs hear and see that done which they testified of before they writ and if Matthew Mark Luke and John be the Gospel the writings of them I intend then the Disciples could not preach it before it was given forth and if the Epistles be a part of the Gospel this the Disciples could not preach before it was written for Paul succeeded and was converted after divers of the Apostles had preached the Gospel so then doubtless the Disciples and Apostles had something to say and declare and pâ—blish before any of the new Testament was written and it is manifested that they were not sent out to preach the Law nor the ordinances of the first Covenant after Christ were offered up the end of the first So then there was something and is something which was preached by them and is to be published now to all that are made Ministers by the holy Ghost and that is in few words the power of God which was before the new Testament so
Rome And when any Kings or Princes had displeased him he hath excommunicated them and given away their Kingdomes to some other teaching their people to rebell and also instigating other Princes to make war against them and to kill one another for trifles and if any displeased him he caused many Kings to do penance and to pay great summes of money to get an absolution from excommunication and the Rule and power of the Empire which gave him first his being to be universal Bishop and to be called Pope he hath raised war often against and if he like not the Election of the Emperour he hath deposed them and one he brought into such subjection that he caused him to hold his stirrop a thing that the Emperour was not accustomed with he happened to hold it on the wrong side for which he received a sharp reproof by his holiness Likewise some difference being between Pope Innocent the fourth in the year 1250 and the Emperour Frederick the second the Pope would not be reconciled though the King of France strongly interceded and offered full satisfaction for all pretended wrongs would go out of his Empire if the Pope could not endure him there never to return into Europe again so as that his son with the popes approbation might but succeed him in the Empire which the Pope would not do And how England and diverse Nations hath been troubled with his oppression is well known and what exactions and great sums of mony there hath been enhaused and squeezed out of the Dominions where he had power the Nations well remembers to maintain the pride of his Court at Rome which abounded with all manner of vitiousness in so much that it was grown to that height that Vincentius Clemence the popes Legate said it was now too late and past reforming But to take the Legates own words as follows against his Master the pope and his Court W. H. in his book called a description of England in the 136 page saith thus that this Vincentius Clement in the year 1452 being Legate for the pope was here in England about the popes business and hearing that the Clergy had given the King two tenths for the repaying of his losses which he had sustained in France and for the recovering of Bouâ—deox this Legate Vincentiâ—s coming into the Convocation house he earnestly required the Clergy to be no less favourable to their Spiritual Father the Pope and their Mother the See of Rome then they had been to his vassal and inferiour meaning the King and in his speech in the Convocation he shewed them how that his holiness the pope was much disturbed and in daily danger of his life by cut-throats varlors and harlots which did much abound as he said in Rome but the Clergy in the Convocation slighted his speech and said how should we contribute towards the suppression of such whenas he and such as you continually uphold them I grant saith the Legate that there wanteth just reformation of many things in the City of Rome which would have been made sooner but now it is too late and past reforming nevertheless I beseech you send the Legate to write unto his holiness the Pope to request him that he would abandon and leave that Babyâ—on which is but a sink of mischief and of all ungodlinesse and keep his Court elsewhere in some place of better fame and this is the Legates testimony of the seat of the Mother Church of Rome Besides many of her own Members in England in the year 1245 do manifest what exaction has been upon this Nation as may be seen in a supplication written in the names of the Nobles and Commons of England to Pope Innocent the fourth shewing how many Subsidies and taxes had been levied and sent out of the Râ—alm and how they had been liberally paid they complaining also how he sent Italians and forraigners to possess their Churches and Benefices in England who had no regard of peoples souls and so were no good Shepherds as they said and how the Italians received threescore thousand Marks by the year besides other vails and excises they do reap more rents then the King himself and so when he could not have his subsidies and raise all the sums which he exacted from year to year Pope Innocent perswades the French King to make warre with the King of England for his not condiscending to the pope in all things although he was then one of his sons and of his Church but enough of this it were large to enumerate the actions and cruelties the oppressions which hath been done in that which is called Christendom since the Emperour gave unto the Pope his power and how much idolatry supersttion herâ—sie and Doctrines of Devils hath been spread over the Nations these many hundreds of years and how many have been put to cruel death for not obeying and conforming to the said Doctrines and practices Injunctions and Ordinances and how many he this falle Church hath stirred up to kill one another and destroy one another about these things which hath been put upon people under the name of Divine Authority and holy subjection and Apostolical Institutions by what as iâ— written all may see that these things are in the Apostacy and in the fall in the cuâ—se and in the night of darknesse wherein all this wickedness hath been wrought by the false Church which the Lord God will reward double and dry up her waters under which she sits and make her seat desolate and throw down her pride who hath drunk the blood of the Martyrs and shed the bloud of the Saints and devoured the Lambs of Christ and made merchandize of souls and therefore all who are in part departed from her stay not in the Suburbs but come out of her-City and the Adjacent places thereof that ye be not partakers of the Judgement which is to come upon her But Oh abundance of darkness remains yet in the Nations and even in the Protestant Churches who hold up things yet which was invented by her insomuch that one belonging to the Church of Rome Dionysius Petavius 〈◊〉 Cardinall layes claim to the Ceremonies which were practiced in England in the Bishops time For saith he in his book called the History of the World the Religion of England and Doctrine is Calvinisâ—â— the Doctrine of Geneva but the Ceremonies are of Rome as they were practiced in England in the year 1640. In the time of Leo the fourth Edelwâ—lphus King of England went to Rome for performance of a vow that he had made and was courteously received and accepted by the Pope Leo For which cause he ordained atribute to be paid yearly to the Pope to wit a penny sterling for every house in England that kindled a Fire New Protestants look to your Easter reckonings you have denied the Popes supremacy and yet Vicars and Parsons receives his tribute of every house that kindles a Fire and this stands yet as a good and
Churches or Meeting places but on the other side the second Nicene Councils determined that Images were not only to be placed in the Churches but also to be worshipped and the pope said that Images were to be Lay-mens Calenders The latter Council under Julius the second did repeal the Decrees of the Pisan Council The Basil Council deterrmined that a Council of Bishops was above the Pope but the Lattern Council under Leo Decreed that the Pope was above the Council and they decreed also that he that should think otherwise should be held for an Heretick and yet the Bishops and Abboâ—s in the Council of Basil aforesaid Decreed that they that judged that the Bishops were not above the Pope were Hereticks and yet these Councils the Church of Rome layes claim to to be of their Faith and Church and yet one making void what another had decreed The same Council did with an uniform consent remove the Pope Engeâ—ius and put Amidius in his place But Engenius vilifies the Councils decrees and condemns them The Council of Trent commanded that Bishops should teach the people and should have no more benefit for preferment then one place But since they have made this decree void and now whole Countries is too little and the Protestants imitates the same and does not teach the people and so of what validity have these Councils been worth or of what force hath the Decrees been of mutable men who have been tossed up and down like waters need I nominate the several Convocations and Councils that hath been amongst the reformed Churches as they are called and their Synods one while decreeing this the next throwing it down again And yet all these will lay claim to be Ministers of the True Church and persecute as Hereticks to death them who owns not their Changeable Decrees and mutable Institutions but such hath been the Arogancy and pride of her that hath set as a Queen upon the waters that she must be the only Judge and then the Prophets must be slain Pope Julius said no Council is of any credit unless it be confirmed by the Church of Rome And Boniface the eighth saith that no man in the world can be saved unless he be subject to the Romane Church And Pope Paschal thus said as though said he any Council could make Laws for the Church of Rome and all Councils do subsist by it and receive their strength from it and that wâ—h the Pope approveth or disapproveth And so all Confederacies Councils of men who are out of the life and power of God doth decree that which brings the Seed of God into bondage Now Rome look to thy infallability and thy universality which thou so much cryest up and thy unity one while sets up one thing another time throws it down again when it wil not sâ—rveparticular interests and what a stir has here been amongst them that call themselves reformed in these latter ages one setting up this another that sometimes this service for a worship then the next calls it Idolâ—trous then another service and this Ceremony and the other Ceremony and this Pater noster and the other Creed this Caâ—echism and the other Caâ—echism these Articles of Faith the next Synod make them void and so leads people into distraction and madness and this Caâ—on and the other Institution one while its Idolatrous another while Sacred and Holy And thus people has been led up and down many generations too and â—ro up and down and persecâ—tion about Changeable Mutable and alterable things and the life which redeems out of the world up unto God has not been sought after And so all that looks to have peace and to enjoy the Testimony of Gods blessed Spirit come out of this Babylon this City of confusion whose seat is â—rected upon the sand whose Foundation is laid in the waters and faith upon the humane institutions of men which are variable and subject to Mutation and come to know the Rock of Ages and the unalterable Council of the Lord and the wisdome of the most High to rule in your hearts wait in the Immortal Light of God which is within that you may see over all these Mountains of darkness which is risen up in the Apostacy and over all the Institutions Decrees Statutes Ordinances and Inventions of men to before all these things were and come to him who is the beginning of the Creation of God who is that quickning Spirit by which all that believe are raised out of death to be partakers of the Life which is Immortal which fades not away and the Lord will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Away with all Types and Figures Shadows and Vails humane Institutions and Ordinances of men Ceremonies and vain superstitions Traditions which God hath no pleasure in which doth not profit at all and whatsoever leads the mind into visible things from the invisible God is to be thrown aside as a menstruoâ—s Cloath and as the breath of abominable things which God will confound because he hath no pleasure in them for the life is risen and the vail of the covering is rent which has been spread over all Nations the night is gone the day is come and appeared in brightness the shadows are past away and the morning of Righteousness is appeared the Son of God is come who has given his flock an understanding in whom life and blessedness and peace and everlasting Consolation resideth and resteth upon his People for ever more CHAP. XVI Something concerning the worship of God whether that Kings and Rulers now in Gospel times have any power from God to compel or force about Spiritual things declared and some Scriptures answered which hath been perverted by them who are in the Apostacy to maintain the Beasts power and the false Churches worship under the raign of Antichrist VVHen the Lord brought Israel out of the land of Eygpt by a strong hand and an outstreched arme he made a Covenant with them and gave forth a Law at Mount Sina by the hand of Moses the Judge of Israel and statures and Ordinances which Israel should walk in who were as a family who came of one stock and the Laws and Statutes which were then given forth was concerning civil things as concerning man and man and betwixt a man and his Neighbour and for the Government of whole families and the Camp of Israel And likewise Laws and Statutes which concerned the worship of the true God which may be read at large in Exodus Numbers and Dâ—uteromony and that worshipped not the true God according to the command given in the first Covenant which was outward were to have Judgment executed upon them according to the Law and Moses over Israel and the rest of the Judges were to see the Laws and Statutes Executed upon the transgressors and if any were an Idolater worshipped a false God or a Blasphemer were to be stoned to death or Sabbath-breaker was to be
come upon thee Likewise Paul said I was a persecutor and a Blasphemer This generation who professeth Pauls words would say let him dye he hath confessed he was a Blasphemer but he was slain with other weapons Christ slew the Blasphemer and the Persecutor in him and left the man alive and made him a chosen vessel to declare against Blasphemy and lead out of all ungodliness And herein is the second Covenant more excellent then the first and the Ministration more excellent then the former and the Dominion and Government of Christ more excellent then the Dominion and government of the Kings of Israel and the weapons more excellent then theirs and the power greater then theirs which is able to destroy the works of the Devil as Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery and save the Creature alive This is the better Covenant indeed the everlasting and herein is the mercy of God exalted his Dominion and Power exalted and Christ the King of Glory exalted And these sins before-mentioned punished with great severity and great Judgment For in the first Covenant they slew with a temporal death But Christ when he appeareth in his power and glory in flames of fire renders vengeance within upon the wicked which burns and scorches and brings anguish tormenteth all them that are in that Nature and banisheth all them from his presence and from the Glory of his power till that be dead and slain which would not have him to Raign to wit that which is born of the flesh which is within And blasphemy Idolatry Murther are the fruits of the flesh where the flesh is not lived in these things cannot be brought forth I speak not of the Creature who is Gods Workman-ship for that may be alive when the birth fruits which are after the flesh are both dead and herein is the mighty power of God made known and his Justice and his severe Judgment which all must pass thorow before they come to witness eternal life He that dispised Moses Law died by the mouth of two or three witnesses which was a natural death of how much sorer punishment shall he be worthy which treadeth underfoot the Son of God and counteth the bloud of the Covenant an unholy thing Heb. 10. 28 29. and blasphemeth But further it will be objected that the Apostle exhorteth for a submission unto every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2. 13. whether it be unto Kings as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent of him and in Romans the 13. 1 2. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher power for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God Ans. From these Scriptures many bad Constructions and Inferences hath been gathered as that Kings and Rulers were to be obeyed in all things and that every worship which is commanded byâ—a King or Superiour ought to be obeyed and that Kings and Rulers had power in Spiritual things to make a Law for such a Worship or forbid such a Worship and all these ought to be obeyed And so in the Apostacy the Ministers of Antichrist hath brought in many Inventions and Traditions and humane Institutions for Divine Worship and Service and thereby hath pressed Rulers to make Laws and compel all people to receive them although they have been repugnant to the true worship of God and then such Teachers hath pressed such people to obedience as of duty and necessity because the aforesaid Scripture doth Command subjection to all Rulers And thus hath Babylon reared up her City and gotten Merchants to put off her Merchandize and so hath cheated both Rulers and people and hath led them to hate and destroy one another Unto these Scriptures and divers others which speaks of obedience to Magistrates in all things must needs be truly understood to be of things that are Just and equal which are onely civil and concerning things between man and man and the Ordinances which are for the well being of a Nation or the good and wholesome government of a state and cannot be understood of things Spiritual or relating to things appertaining to the Conscience or respecting things about the worship of God My reasons are weighty for in that time and age the Apostle wrote whether Peter Paul or any other the Magistrates were all Heathens as Herod Pontius Pilate Augustus Caesar Tiberius Caesar and Nero who were all Heathen Emperours of Rome and Idolators and at that time they had power over Rome and also over Jerusalem Judea and Paul writing to the Romans and Peter to Capadocia Pontius and Asia who were also under Heathen Rulers and did not worship the true God doubtless they injoyned not submission unto the Heathen Rulers in spiritual things for then they must have been joyned unto Idolatry for if it be understood that they had power in spiritual things which partained unto the Conscience and that they ought to be obeyed in all spiritual things then Peter and John were transgressors themselves when they taught boldly the things of the Kingdome of God in every City where ever they came And the Rulers in most places opposed and put Peter and John out of the City and commanded the Apostles to speak no more in the Name of Jesus And yet they returned again and disobeyed their Command and their power and authority and said whether it were better to obey God or man judge ye So that no King Ruler nor Magistrate as a Magistrate has power given of God to Imprison or force or perscribe any Law or worship upon the hearts and Consciences of men For that belongs onely to Christ the Law given the Bishop of souls But then it will be objected if not as a Magistrate yet then as a Christian he may injoyn and give Command concerning worship and compell and punish them that obey not Answer As a Christian they have no priority but as they stand in the growth of truth not above others for God is no respecter of persons for the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who preached the Gospel and had begotten many into the Faith thorow the power of God which was with them by which they spoke and in things spiritual might have claimed obedience to their Command much more then any temporall Prince and yet they said we are not Lords over mens faith nor did they exercise Lorship over mens Consciences but left every one to Gods witnesse and to the word of his grace which was nigh in their hearts And furthermore said let every one be perswaded in his own mind said if any should be contrary minded God would reveal it to them and so waited in the patience to see the work of God prosper and was content And so forcing and compelling about Spiritual matters by temporal punishments and temporal Law is all contrary to the Apostles practice in the primitive times though the heathen persecuted the Christians by their temporal Laws for Spiritual things and
about Spiritual matters for the worship of God But we never read of any called Christians that did so untill Pelagius a Bishop of Rome or Pope when the Emperour had given Boneface the third this power to be called the Chief Bishop and head universal over all Christian Churches Then he begun to make temporal Laws to punish about Spiritual things And Pelagius made a decree that Hereticks should be punished with Temporal death about 555 years after Christ So let all Princes Magistrate and Rulers who denies the Church of Rome in her Apostacy follow not her example but leave every one free to the Lord in Spiritual matters as concerning his Worship for to him must every one give an account in his own day when it shal be required from which the wicked shall not be able to fly Another Objection But then it may be said what power will you allow unto Magistrates that profess the Name of Christ Or how far have they Authority from God to punish evil doers and encourage them that do well Answer It is said by me Kings Rule and Princes decrees Justice there is a ruling by him and that is a ruling in the power of God in him He that rules in the power of God measures equal justice unto all men and ruleth by the good and wholsome Laws which are made by the will of God which is according to Gods witness which he hath placed in every mans heart and such a one is a Temporall head over the temporal body ruleth in Righteousness in temporal things But Christ he is the head of the body that is spiritual which is his Church Now the Law is against the lawless as against Liers Swearers Stealers Cursed speakers Murderers Man-slayers Man stealers Violence and Oppression and Deceit and that which tends to the hurt and destroying of the Creation And he that is the Executor of the Law ought to inflict temporal punishments for temporall facts provided that every punishment be suitable to the transgression and go not beyond it and in so doing he rules for God and the sword is to be turned against that which doth evil and to keep peace amongst all men and to keep down all strife and Contention Quarrelling and fighting and keeping the unruly from devouring and destroying one another And this is to rule for God in a Nation in the Creation and to countenance the honest upright and quiet and meek and this is a praise unto them that do well and this is that which would keep the Nations at peace And here Governors and Rulers comes to be blessed when the Princes thereof rules in Righteousness and when people live under them a holy godly and quiet life But when Godliness Holiness Righteousness is counted as a crime and wickedness and violence and iniquity set up that Nation is near a judgement and for the iniquity of Rulers Kings and People many fruitful Lands hath the Lord made barren and that which is for the well-being and preservation for the universal good and all people therein all people ought to render obedience unto such Command for conscience sake and all people ought â—to obey Rulers and Governours in that which is good and lawful and warrantable in the sight of God unto all just commands to yeild obedience not for wrath but for conscience sake For so the Lord requires which will be acceptable and pleasing in his fight And all Magistrates who are Christians ought to be paterns of Holiness and Righteousnesse to their people and to admonish exhort and reprove the prophane and ungodly and to the worship of the True God who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth It is the duty of every true Christian who is a King and a Priest unto God CHAP. XVII Concerning Oaths in the first Covenant and the Lawfulness thereof and the unlawfulness thereof discovered in the New Covenant in Gospel times Though Apostates mingle the Ordinances of both together denying all oaths proved to be no new Doctrine IN the beginning when God Created the Heavens and the Earth all things that are therein by the Word of his power and set the bounds the habitations thereof separated betwixt Light Darkness And when man was Created in his own Image in the Image of God created he him Male and Female created he them Now the Image of God consists in Righteousness Holiness Equity long suffering Patience Goodnesse Mercy and Truth the Glory thereof is unspeakable man being in this Image there was no trangression nor sin nor sorrow man was bound unto his Maker by the Power in which he was made yea he was in a capacity to Fear Love Honour Obey and Worship his Maker from the virtue of that Power and Principle which God had placed in him which some ignorantly calls the Law of Nature But that is not the intention of my discourse to contend what it was but to shew that man was at union with God and bound unto him by that which God had placed in him in which his wisdom power and dominion stood to rule over all the Creatures life was in him there was no death then in this the Obligation stood not in outward written commands or ordinances but it stood in that which was internal and invisible this was before the transgression here was no Oaths yet nor outward Covenants made nor outward Ordinances But after man had transgressed and eaten of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil and gone from the power and broken the Covenant he lost his wisdome and folly entred he lost his dominion and weaknesse entred he lost his knowledge and ignorance entred and an earthly part and a mutable came to have Dominion not that this was evil in it self being subjected by the power and word in its place and in the state wherein it was good but man being gone from the power and from the Covenant joyned to something out of it and out of the mind and listened to that which should have been ruled over that became a Leader which God never appointed and this led mans heart from the invisible God of life and light who is immutable to lust after visible things and mutable and earthly things and into instability And so his heart and mind and affections became more and more to be alienated from the Lord and his understanding more darkned yet such was the love of God unto mankind that he did not wholly cast him off here but followed him with his mercies and promised the Seed of the woman should bruse the Serpents head and so it did yet the Adulterers generation in the transgressing nature were great and fast and there was but few before the flood in comparison of the Multitude who bore the Image of God and few in a generation as Abel Enock Seth and the rest went after the Imaginations of their own hearts and set up Images and Idols and also after the Flood when the