a fair word Hail Master Mat. 26.47 48 49 50. Is not this in use now in our days I ask the question Are there not many in most parishes now that are like unto Judas in this They wil go along with the Truth in a formal way and they wil keep company with Jesus Christ as the time wil bear it as though the life of Religion did lie in outward forms and observing of times Now true love to God is the life and power of Religion But if this love to God be wanting and then the times do turn and put on a Prelatical face it is to be feared the most in a Parish nay the most in a Kingdom wil face about and forget their Covenant and imbrace a Bishop again nay it is wel if many Church-Officers do not betray their trust and face about and bring up the rear and if so then it wil be worse then it was at the first The second sort of people in a parish are such as are like unto those prating Lawyers as you may read in Luk. 11.45 46 52 53 54. For they did urge and provoke Iesus Christ to speak of many things laying wait to catch something out of his mouth that they might accuse him for they consulted how they might take Jesus by subtilty and kil him or cause him to be put to death Mat. 26.3 4. I pray God that we may not use his members so in our days for in most parishes there are many that can talk like Lawyers yet they know not the truth as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.21 Therefore there is such secret jeering and disdainful behavior and such vaunting in pride and reproaching one another and scornful looks against our brethren and neighbors Take one instance David he takes notice of these sorts of people Lord saith he I was a reproach among all mine enemies but especially among my neighbors fear was upon me when they took counsel against me Psa 31.11 13. But when they were sick I prayed for them as though they had been my friend or brother but they rendred evil for good for when I was in distress they were glad with hypocritical mockers in feasts the abjects gnashed upon me and did tear me and when I went by them they winked with their eye and if thy rod O Lord doth but touch me then they say Aha aha now God wil forsake him And besides all this O Lord saith David they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the Land Psa 35.13 14 15 16 19 20 21. But you wil say this was in Davids time and against David I answer It was so likewise in Christs time and against Christ and it is so in our time and against the members of Christ for he that hath a mind to follow Christ must take up a Cross For the way to enter into the Kingdom of God is through much tribulation and accusation Acts 14.22 The third sort of people in most parishes are such as are like unto those Pharisees that Christ speaks of which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others Luke 18.9 Now a Pharisee is one that seemeth to worship God zealously and yet knows not Iesus Christ We have one Father even God said the Iews to Iesus Christ Now Christ answered the Iews If God were your Father ye would love me for I came out of the bosom of the Father Ioh. 8.41 42. And so likewise those Pharisees that were so zealous for the Sabbath day yet they knew not Iesus Christ the Substance of the Sabbath and the Rest of the day Iesus Christ had opened the eyes of one that was born blind a convincing miracle Yet these Pharisees said This man is not of God nor from God because he keepeth not the Sabbath but doth such things as these on the Sabbath day Ioh. 9.16 These Pharisees had the Scriptures of the Prophets which held forth Christ clearly yet they were blind and saw nothing but the outside of the letter they did not know the mind of God in the letter which mind of God is Iesus Christ We know that God spake unto Moses say the Pharisees but as for this fellow meaning Iesus Christ we know not from whence he is Ioh. 9.29 So ignorant were the Pharisees and yet very zealous I ask a question Have not we Sect. 12 now in our days many Pharisaical-spirited men and women as wel as there were in Christs time Let us then consider what Christ said to his Disciples They wil put you out of the Synagogues saith Christ yea they wil even to the very killing of you think that they do God service And these things wil they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Ioh. 16.2 3. Take one instance The chief Priests and Pharisees first gathered a counsel to put Jesus Christ to death Ioh. 11.47 53. And then after that they consulted to put Lazarus to death also Ioh. 12.10 11 19. A zealous Pharisee and an ignorant Protestant are two fit subjects to make two precise Papists and they both follow the Law of righteousness like unto the Iews and neither of them attained to the Law of righteousness Wherefore saith the Apostle because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9.31 32. Rom. 10.2 3. CHAP. V. The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 5.17 Acts 11.20 21 22 23 24. Acts 15.2 3 4 22. Col. 4.16 17. Cant. 4.12 13 14. Eph. 4.20 21. Psa 32.8 Isa 48.17 1 Pet. 4.11 Acts 6.3 5 7 8. Cant. 3.1 2 3 4. Cant. 2.3 Mat. 23.4 5 6 7.23 24 25 26 27 28. Mat. 15.1 2 3. Jer. 7.4 Exod. 3.2 6 7 8. Isa 58.2 Zech. 7.5 6 7 8 9 10. Isa 58.6 7. Mat. 23.27 28. Micah 3.5 6. Jer. 5.30 31. Micah 3.9 10 11 12. Zeph. 3.3 4. Joh. 6.63 Luk. 3.16 17. Isa 35.5 6. Isa 30.18 19 21. Zeph. 3.9 1 Sam. 3.9 10. Mat. 22.11 12. Luk. 2.29 30. Cant. 2.3 4 5 6. Cant. 4.8 9 10. Cant. 1.12 13. Joh. 13.1 Heb. 13.5 6. Mat. 6.9 Joh. 21.20 Isa 41.10 Heb. 10.19 20. Habbak 3.17 18. Psa 121.1 2 3. 1 Joh. 1.3 4. Joh. 17.23 24. Eph. 1.4 9. 2 Tim. 1.9 Col. 3.3 4. Joh. 14.19 20. Joh. 17.23 24 26. Joh. 16.13 14 15. Isa 33.16 17. Mat. 3.11 Joh. 1.26 Act. 19.2 3. 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. Ezek. 36.25 Isa 44.3 Joh. 7.37 38 39. Mark 1.8 1 Joh. 3.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. 1 Cor. 12.12 13 14. 1 Cor. 10.17 1 Cor. 6.17 Gal. 6.15 1 Cor. 1.14.19 23 24. Joh. 20.11 16 17 18. Gal. 6.14 15. Col. 2.12 13 14 15. 1 Pet. 3.21 Eph. 2.5 6. Joh. 29.30 1 Joh. 3.18 1 Cor. 14.20 Mark 10.16 Acts 2.39 Heb. 2. Rom. 9.11 12 13. Mal. 1.2 Luk. 1.43 44. Joh. 3.29 Jer. 1.5 Exod. 2.3 4 6 7 8. Isa 29.11 12 13. Exod. 12.33 39. Exod.
not thy brine teares nor thy legal fears nor thy sad countenance when thou makest confession of thy sin not it is not thy saying that thou art sorry for thy sin but it is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 CHAP. VI. The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. John 5.10 16. John 9.16 Isa 581 2. Jere. 7.4 5 6 14. Luke 17.20 Neh. 8.8 Matth. 23.2.3 4. Matth. 15.12 13 14. Phil. 1.16 Phil. 1.15 16 17. Rev. 2.2 Rom. 14.23 Rom. 14.15 2 Thes 2.4 7 8 9 10. Jere. 32.40 41. Ephes 5.27 Rom. 13.5 Dan. 3.18 19 20. 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Rom. 15.23 2 Pet. 2.1 Matth. 17.15 Matth. 7.16 1 Cor. 1.19 20 28 29. Matth. 23.28 Ephes 4.21 22 23 24. Ephes 2.10 Joh. 15.4 5. 1 Cor. 2.9 10 14 15 16. Act. 4.2 3 13 21 23. 1 John 5.20 Nehe. 8.2 3 5 8. Acts 4.13 20. Luke 24.27 Matth. 13.3 34. John 3.3 4. Luke 8.10 Psal 25.14 John 3.1 3 4. Rom. 1.16 Psal 110.2 3. Psalm 116.7 Heb. 10. 2 John 9 Heb. 10.23 Heb. 2.14 Acts 22.22 23. John 4.20 21 22 23 24. Acts 5.45 Isai 29.11 12. Matth. 13.11 Eph. 4.20 21. Matth. 13.34 35. Jere. 1.5 1 Cor. 14.23 24. Rom. 14.19 Jude 1.20 Revel 19.10 1 Cor. 2.10 15 16. Numb 11.29 Luke 10.5 6. Luke 6.22 23 26 1 Thes 2.7 8 9. Acts 20.33 34. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. John 4.10 Revel 5.5 Isai 29.18 23 24. 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Isai 29.11 12. Acts 22.3 4 5. Phil. 3.4 5 6. John 3.1 3 4. Acts 26.9 10 11 12. Luke 7.37 38 47. 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. Cant. 1.2 3. Mark 14.3 4. Matth. 15.1 2. John 7.47 48 49. John 12.42 43. 1 Cor. 13.6 1 Pet. 3.4 2 Pet. 1.7 Matth. 13.27 28 29. Mal. 3.1 2 3 4. Matth. 13.30 James 3.8 9 10. James 3.17 18. John 8.42 John 17.8 Ioh. 16.27 Ioh 15.4 5. Ioh. 14.9 10 11. Phil. 4.13 Gal. 2.20 Gal. 4.19 1 Cor. 6.17 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Ioh. 1.3 Rev. 5.8 9 10 11. Mat. 7.15 Mat. 7.16 2 Pet. 2.3 Eph. 4.14 2 Tim. 3.6 Acts 5.42 Micah 3.5 Mat. 7.15 Col. 2.8 18 22 23. 1 Cor. 2.14 Rom. 8.7 8. Ioh. 16.2 3. Ier. 23.21 30 31. Ioh. 18.2 3. Acts 20.29 Ier. 5.31 Sect. 1 NOw the Pastors and Elders that are not able to feed the flock in a spiritual way are such sent of God or only called of men or by men and no more And if so then what do such men imploy themselves in for the good of the flock In spiritual things they cannot but in external things they do what they can They are strict in visible forms of Religion which have a seeming shew of piety as for instance The Scribes and Pharisees came to Christ to complain of his Disciples that they transgressed the Traditions of the Elders Mat. 15.1 2. Now these Elders did assume unto themselves to be much for the glory and worship of God and to have much zeal for the Sabbath day and yet they knew not Christ the Lord of that day and the Rest of the day but sought to persecute him and to slay him Ioh. 5.10 16. 9.16 And is it not so now in our Kingdom and Cities at this day Do we not seemingly seek and delight to know the ways of God as a Nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of God and take delight in outward approaching to God Isa 58.1 2. And do not we rest upon the outward observations of these things as the Jews did and cry The Temple of the Lord and the ordinances of the Lord are these And thus the Jews did Jer. 7.4 5 6 14. And thus the Pharisees did but Christ told them That the Kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shews Luk. 17.20 And do not the Pastors and Elders of our Kingdom for the most part insist and go on in observations and outward shews which are as wels without water As for instance How many blind and ignorant Ministers have we in the severel parts of this Kingdom and may not one say in this City also that please themselves in outward shews and observations and times and it may be read the book of Homilies and the book of Common prayer But now the time is altered for that yet they have a good mind for to do it stil because they cannot indeed do any thing else as they should do in the work of of the Ministry They cannot pray without a form they can but only read the letter they cannot give the sense of the words they read as Ezra the Priest did Neh. 8.8 And thus the most people are kept in ignorance by those that are only Ministers of letters and no more and may not a boy of eight years old do as much as such men Now the second sort of Ministers are such that have strength of natural parts and no more as a strong memory and a large utterance and the gift of humane learning and the help of a great Library and so sit at that all the week and so by this means a man may get one or two hours discourse for one day in a week Now such men are Ministers only of words And have not we experience abundantly in these our sad times of their frothy and empty words May not one say now of such men as Christ said of the Pharisees They only say Mat. 23.2 3 4. And may not one say Let them alone as Christ said of the Pharisees they be blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind what danger are they both in And are not the most parishes in this Kingdom in such danger and in such a ditch Mat. 15.12 13 14. Witness Cornwal and Wales and Oxfordshire And may not one come neerer even into London and find the most people in most parishes so sotish that they wil be led any way and be pleased with any thing as formerly with the reading of the Common prayer Book which is a form of words that a boy may read And so likewise they wil say such a man is a brave Teacher or an excellent Preacher a great Scholar or a mighty learned man not knowing that Christ may be preached by help of the Natural Arts that are among us though grace may be wanting And thus it comes to pass that Christ is preached out of contention amongst us and not sincerely but in strife as you may see plainly Phil. 1.16 And thus the most people are pleased with outward shews but little acquainted with the true preaching of Jesus Christ which is the inward Substance Now the third sort of Ministers they profess themselves to be of the Kings party and they have their followers and they say they preach the truth and they stand for the truth I ask Is Christ divided whose Ministers you say you are You say those that preach against that which you preach are rebellious for you preach the Truth and you
is the Lord our God he alone shall be exalted singly in that day and then we shall cease from man Isa 2.17 22. Psa 131.1 2 3. Now you that stand so much upon your scholarship and rest upon that consider what I have said and the Lord teach you to know the plainness of Truth in singlenes of heart and to own the Truth for its own sake and own naked Christ which is the joy of the Lord and your strength though he be not dressed with humane Eloquence Nehem. 8.10 Yours in the Lord RO. PRIER A WORD Touching the Author and Nature Of this TREATISE I Shall not add much to the bulk of this book though there 's occasion administred unto me so to do only three or four things by way of preface I judg meet thou shouldst be put in mind of whoever thou art that seekest after God in reading it viz. the Author Nature End and opportuness of it coming forth As touching the Author a thousand to one if thou knewest his person thou wouldst have him in very great contempt not for the evilness of his conversation for were his adversaries his judges they would not be able scarce to charge him with those infirmities that are common to man such is his known innocency sweetness meekness faith sincerity love God having very plentifully showred down of his grace upon him But that which would be a stumbling block unto thee is the meaness lowness obscureness of his Condition in respect of writing books according as man judgeth who being neither a Prophet nor a Prophets son as 't is said of Amos should thus boldly and groundedly stand up to the reproof of the Prophets and Seers of this Age and Nation making it to appear that the most of them speak out of the vision of their own hearts and say the Lord the Lord when they have seen nothing Will they not say he takes too much upon him But their predecessors said so of Christ and have charged the same offence upon his in all ages especially if they have as he publikely appeared to discover the blindness of the leaders and teachers of the people 2. As concerning the Nature of this book I find three things excelling in it plainness homeness and the heavenly favor of it First the plainness of it is such that I may say to the readers of all sorts that he of them that runs may read it the vision of God in it is made so evident and written as the Lord bid the Prophet Isaiah stilo humano with a mans pen so that in it as some say of the Scriptures for the lowness of it the Lamb may wade and for its depth and glory the Elephant may swim or to make use of the Scripture simile there 's found in it milk for babes and stronger meat for them of riper age in Christ In the second place the homeness of it is no less to be observed for we shall find scarce any man of any opinion whatsoever in these times that is not touched to the quick I mean justly judged and taxed in it for one miscarriage or another tending to the scandal and reproach of pure Christianity which is scarce thought on in these times So that in it as in a glass a clear and cristal one the Christians whether Popish or Prelatical Presbyterian or Independent as we now speak may at once see their deformities together with the way and means as it were Bethesdas pool stirred to their hands by the descent of that high and holy Angel the Angel of the Covenant Jesus our Lord that they yea even King and Parliament and those of either party might step therein and be made every whit whole and in joynt again Lastly the savor of it is so sweet and heavenly That methinks I find it altogether such savory meat as the Author speaks of in the body of his book which Rebeccah the Churches type cook't and Jacob brought in Esaus a The man that makes so great ado in hunting up down to no purpose in all Ages absence to his father Isaac when he was old and not able to walk abroad which he relisht well for he tasted God in it by this Jacob a plain man without art and fraud got the blessing as this man will certainly do from his elder and churlish brother Esau a forward man that came forth first In one word it is of a most comforting quickning nature Aqua vitae to the drooping fainting soul not letters and sillables only or as the Apostle speaks a voyce of words and no more but as our Savior says Spirit and Life to them that have their senses exercised through the communication of the same spirit of truth to discern betwixt good and evil As for unspiritual men and women they are so vitiated by a customariness in feeding upon other things the cucumbers onyons and garlick the flesh-pots of Egypt I mean the traditions of men that are as themselves are Carnal that 't is no marvel they so distaste this Manna as the Israelites did the like upon the same account that they cry out in Town and Country O si O that they would give us flesh to eat for our soul is dryed up for there is nothing Numb 11. besides this Manna that which we know not what to make of before our eyes Yet let me tell thee Reader for therein I shall undertake to divine and prophesie wait but a while and there will be nothing left for to refresh the Nation but that which their soul abhors this Manna of which they say what is it though they have had flesh in such abundance as the Israelites had quails a bird of the earth that it comes out at their nostrils their shame and folly is even now so manifest unto all The third thing I propounded was to give a hint of the Authors end in framing this holy Conference within himself concerning all sorts and sects of men in these times and that I have learn't only by acquaintance with his person and perusal of his book by means of both I have collected and comforted my self with this that he had in his eye yea in his heart as Moses sometimes had in Egypt the falling out that was not only between the Egyptian and the Hebrew in the which quarrel Moses willingly engaged himself and was the death of the Egyptian as every true Israelite seeks to be for who was this Egyptian a figure of but the old man or the man of sin that transforms himself into all shapes and under various pretences disquiets both Church and State even till now Therefore Moses took care to bury him in the sand when no body was by into which Pharaoh with his mighty host sank afterwards being offended greatly as the world is now at the meekness of this meek man Moses by whom yet Egypt is overthrown and Israel set free But that which Moses was most offended with was to see two Hebrew brethren
of Jerusalem knew the Commandments of God and were strickt in their Traditions and yet none broke the Commandments of God more then they for they were blind and yet they said we see and so they supposed to draw nigh to honor God but it was with the mouth and the lips their hearts being far from me saith our Savior as you may see in Mat. 15. from ver 1. to 9. For in vain do they worship me saith our Savior that break my Fathers Laws and teach men so to do Sect. 2. Take heed and beware of an outside and a seeming shew of zeal for God as those had in Rom. 10.2 3. For I bear them record saith the Apostle that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledg For they being ignorant could not find the way to Gods righteousness so went about to establish their own works and so submitted not to Jesus Christ Sect. 3. Take heed and beware of being partners with Christ and laying claim to do something with him as many do in these our days laying too much weight upon their prayers and fastings and all other holy performances Mistake me not I prize them highly when Christ is all in them For he is alone and of the people there was none with him Isa 63.3 No intercessor Therefore Christs arm brings salvation and deliverance alone in all straits Isa 59.16 Take heed and follow not the example of Ziba in that unjust act of dividing with his Master as you may read 2 Sam. 16.1 2 3 4. verses compared with cap. 19.26 27 28 29. Christ is our Master we must not divide with him for in all things he wil have the preeminence Col. 1.18 Take heed likewise of making a bargain with him for the laborer had his peny but it was with this answer Go thy way as you have it in Mat 20.2 13 14. But to conclude with that woful miscarriage of the Jews in Rom. 9.31 32. But Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness What is the reason because saith the Apostle they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law partly by their works partly by Christ O! it is a sweet and a precious work of the Spirit of Christ for man and woman to be brought wholy from themselves and set wholy upon Christ the root of Jesse out of which root doth flow Light and Life Rest and Peace the Spirit of Knowledg and a right Understanding and of the fear of the Lord and unfained Love flowing forth to the Lord Jesus Christ and to all the Saints To conclude Take notice of those words in Rom. 9.32 but as it were by the works of the Law as it is to be feared many in these days do and so stumble at Jesus Christ Consider what is said but God must give thee understanding Take heed of Self-Righteousness Sect. 4 a disease which is ancient for Moses complains of it in his time and Christ tels the Pharisees of it in Luk. 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts Speak not thou in thine heart for my righteousness the Lord hath done this for me Deut. 9.4 The righteousness of Christ the riches of his goodness leadeth man to Repentance but the conceited righteousness of man lifteth up the heart but the heart that 's lifted up is not right the heart that 's lifted up is ful of several vanities as a high look private censures disdainful behavior Psa 101.5 Vain thoughts about their sacrifice as those in Isa 65.5 Which say Stand by thy self come not neer to me for I am holier then thou these are a smoak in my nose saith the Lord a fire that burneth all the day Beware of carnal confidence Sect. 5 and be not like to those Pharisees in the 9. of John which rest upon the Scriptures and not upon Jesus Christ as you may read in the 28 29. Verses And they reviled him that was blind and said Thou art his Disciple but we are Moses Disciples We know that God spake unto Moses as for this fellow meaning Iesus Christ we know not say they from whence he is Search the Scriptures saith our Savior for they testifie of me for in them ye think ye have eternal life by working out as it were your salvation and ye wil not come to me that ye might have life freely Ioh. 5.39 40. The Father himself which hath sent me hath born witness of me Mat. 17.5 This is my beloved Son hear ye him But you have despised me and those that follow me Joh. 7.49 1 Cor. 1.27 28. I bring good tydings to the world I open the blind eyes of the body and of the understanding I set at liberty those that are bound up in prison by their sins and bid them be of good cheer Mat. 9.2 I break the heart and bind it up comfortably again I come not to cal the righteous but sinners to repentance The goodness of Christ to be amongst sinners makes the Pharisees murmur Luk. 5.29 30 31. The whole need not a Physitian but they that are sick For which of these good works do you persecute me and those that follow me You know not the gift of God for all your zeal for God and I know you that ye have not the love of God in you For I came out of the bosom of the Father and ye hate me but do not think I wil accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust Take heed how Sect. 6 and what ye see for the Iews said we see but saw no form or comeliness in Iesus Christ whose beauty they desired not Isa 53.2 Take heed likewise how and with what you are rich Thou sayst I am rich Rev. 3.17 but thou art miserable poor blind and naked and thy garments wi not cover thy nakedness There is a poor rich man but God has purposed in himself the poor in spirit that are in this world shal be made rich with the riches of his free grace Eph. 1.7 8 9. And these Riches are in me saith Iesus Christ Prov. 8.18 yea durable riches and righteousness So likewise there is a rich poor man as you may see in the forenamed place Rev. 3.17 Thou sayst I am rich but thou art poor without me saith Christ Though thou hast great possessions in the world as the young-man in the Gospel came to Christ rich but went away without him therefore he was poor as many men and women in the world that be rich but not from the Creation of Christ Iesus in them Christ Iesus comes down from heaven loden with spiritual riches and sends forth his voyce and cries My commodity is better then gold yea then fine gold I wil lead you in the way of righteousness Prov. 8.19 20. Now Christ Iesus comes amongst the Scribes and Pharisees and the Iews and the Lawyers and the
Doth your baptizing old men or women avail any thing I indeed baptize you onely with water saith Iohn Mat. 3.11 Joh. 1.26 And this you do and mightily lean upon this weak shadow or figure and it is to be feared that many amongst you are like unto those in the Acts where Paul asked them If they had received the holy Ghost and they said unto him we have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost Acts 19.2 3. Are not you carnally minded about the ordinances of God for the most part of you as the Apostle speaks in 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Doth not the most part of you rest in outsides of Religion being but very little acquainted with the truth and power of Religion as it is in the Spirit What difference is there between parishes and you from which you dissent They for the most part rest in a meer outside form of godliness read 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. and think they were baptized when they were young and if they hear Sermons then they may be admitted to the Sacrament as they think by the Minister or Elders and if there be no more but this it is a meer outside shew and a form that wil not profit and is it not so with many of you that are called Anabaptists If you be but admited by those that say they wil baptize you then you lean much upon this and say now you are within the door but beware for many go in at this door and return out again with litle profit mistake me not I prize the ordinances of God and therefore I speak of the formality that most use in and about them I shal ask one question Are you acquainted experimentally with the Baptism of Jesus Christ upon your spirits even the sprinkling of clean water upon you and this wil purge your corrupt natures Ezek. 36.25 And this water wil refresh thy parched soul Isa 44.3 And this water wil be as a Wel of Living Water for to comfort thee in all thy straits Joh. 7.37 38 39. He saith John shal baptize you with the holy Ghost meaning Jesus Christ Mark 1.8 Now you that are called Anabaptists and you Presbyterians if you were acquainted with the Baptism of Jesus Christ that would clear up your judgments which I conceive are very dark for God is Love and if you were acquainted with this Baptism it would teach you to love one another read 1 Joh. 3.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. But one of you prays against the other which is not wel One word more to you that are rigid Anabaptists for you make a division in the body of Christ for Christ and his members are one 1 Cor. 12.12 13 14. And those that are one with Jesus Christ you judg not fit to be members or one with you if they be not of your judgment or opinion But we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.17 And by one Spirit saith the Apostle we are all baptized into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 And those that are joyned to the Lord are one spirit with the Lord 1 Cor. 6.17 And wil you slight those or separate your self from those that God hath joyned to himself This is not wel judg not according to externals be not over rigid in censuring Cease to be legal learn to be spiritual and then you wil love one another for salvation doth not depend upon diping or sprinkling or plunging or washing read Gal. 6.15 Sect. 5 One word to you that are moderate Anabaptists Do not the publick professors of this Kingdom both Ministers and people for the most part rest in an outside and a visible form of Religion I know you wil answer Yes I ask is it not so with the most part of those that are of your opinion Do they not rest too much in the form and shadow not being acquainted with Christ crucified who is the power of God and the wisdom of God and the salvation that God gives to men 1 Cor. 1.13 14.23 24. The Baptism of water for profession is nigh at hand and both young and old receive it But the Baptism of the Spirit is far off and few there be that have it but those that have it do not go back again to the shadow because Christ the Sun doth shine who is the Substance Mary Magdalen after she had seen Christ was risen from the grave she did not return back again to look Christ in the grave Joh. 20.11.16 17 18. Now you that lean so much upon the Baptism of water if you have no more that wil profit but little But moderate and Christian friend the Baptism of the Spirit of Christ wil teach us to profit in all conditions It wil teach us to know the world to be passing away and all the glory of it to be but as grass It wil teach us to dye to the world with Christ upon the Cross Gal. 6.14 15. It wil teach us to go down with Christ from the Cross into the Grave and there to see sin the devil the world the grave and the old man conquered and subdued and Jesus Christ triumphing from the Cross to the grave and in the grave and this is the Christians dayly work if they have faith read Col. 2.12 13 14 15. And so this blessed Spirit wil baptize every true Beleever every day more and more into the resurrection of Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 Now a true Beleever being raised up from the grave together with Jesus Christ is made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Iesus Eph. 2.5 6. And this is the Baptism that wil profit us and answer all our doubts and fil our hearts ful of the joy of the Lord that is Christ the bridegroom of the soul and the soul standeth to hear the voyce of Christ and greatly rejoyceth in that Jesus Christ is the spiritual Loadstone that draws up the soul to himself in whom the soul centers and finds its rest and in him the soul spiritually injoys all the ordinances and with Jesus Christ comes down again to all external ordinances and becomes weak to the weak that he may gain some and so likewise Iohn Baptist did rejoyce in Christs Ministry for he saw that to be glorious and said Christ should increase and the glory of his Ministry should run up into Christs Ministry He must increase saith John but I must decrease Joh. 3.29 30. Now you that rest so much upon water the Baptism of an outward profession and slight all those that are not of your opinion and you contend much for the time when and the manner how this ordinance of God must be administred Not to young children you say but to men and women of years because a young child cannot make a verbal Confession of Faith it is true indeed but a man or a woman in years may learn by education to make a verbal Confession of
the unlearned Mat. 13.3 34. Ioh. 3.3 4. But to the scholars of Christ it is given to them in all times for to know the mysteries of the Scriptures Luk. 8.10 The secret of the Lord is with them that love and fear him and because he loves them he wil shew them Christ his Covenant Psa 25.14 Object Now you wil say you speak much of learned men Object What mean you or whom do you mean Ans Sol. I mean such learned men as can but only read the book of Common prayer or a Homily or can but only read the Scripture and no more and have not as yet learned of Christ to spel out the mind of God in the Scriptures and I mean such as can but only preach by natural art and not out of experience as from Christ and I mean such as can do no more but what they have a form for and yet they cal themselves Ministers of the Gospel And how many such learned have we had in this Kingdom and have at this day and most people dote after such men Object Now you wil object and say you speak much of the unlearned Object and of an outside shew in matters of Religion what mean you or whom do you so speak of Ans Sol. It is a very sad thing to be unlearned and untaught of Christ and to rest and to take delight in an outside shew in matters of Religion as it doth appear most men do and it is to be feared that many amongst those that cry for Reformation in Religion in the City of London are ignorant of the pure Religion and are like unto Nicodemus that ignorant learned man that came to Christ by night and asked Christ How a man can be born when he is old Can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born John 3.1 2 4. Now there are abundance of such professors in our days both learned and unlearned that can complement with Religion and with Jesus Christ as a good man But there are but few that know Christ spiritually as the power of God or the day of Gods power or as the day of Gods rest or as the day of a beleeving souls rest Rom. 1.16 Psa 110.2 3. Psa 116.7 Heb. 4.10 Q. Sect. 4 But what mean you by that word Pure Religion Object A. Sol. I mean a possession of Christ and a profession of Christ in faith and verity which wil expel sin and vanquish the devil 2 John 9. Heb. 10.23 Heb. 2.14 I confess though I have made two objections Presby ∣ terian q. yet I cannot but grant that the most of our learned and unlearned do differ about Discipline and make a great deal of ado about an outward shew in matters of Religion which are but circumstances and through ignorance they neglect the substance A. Sir my answer to you is this Answ You are very much mistaken though you confess and grant that the most of the learned of the Church and the unlearned do differ I wil tel you plainly and consider wel of it The most of the learned in Christendom do agree as one man in three things and that is Pleasure Ease and Profit as for instance Do not the Clergy of Rome take pleasure in usurping authority over Kings and over whole States and those that differ with them about their ease and their profit are like to go to the Inquisition house And so you may instance in the Lord Bishops of England Those that did differ with them about their Lordly authority or about their fifteen hundred or two thousand a year were had up into the High Commission Court And so now those that differ with them about ease or about the profit of three four or five hundred a year shal be had up for a Sectary or an Antinomian Mistake me not I grudg not against the wel being of a deserving Minister that preacheth Christ purely and without mixture for such ought to be had in singular respect because of Christ and such ought to be provided for that they and their wives and children may live comfortably Now the Discipline that you say the most of the learned differ about is circumstances but I say it is wel if they do not make them substances Sir I think you are mistaken for not one of five hundred of the learned do differ about Discipline for they are all of them as one man and yet they are questionable and he that differs from them gets himself a blot Sir are not we taught for to have the truth of God in respect of places and persons and cry one place up and another place down and cry up such a man with respect to his habit for he must have a black gown or a black suit and cloak and look like a Minister or else most people wil take up a prejudice against the truth of God and so likewise a man must not worship God as the Spirit of God doth dictate unto him or teach him but a man must worship God after the rules of men and according to a form which they wil draw out for him I speak not concerning the State but I speak concerning the Clergy I hope you wil not be offended with me because M Edwards siteth at the receit of Custom raketh up all the filthy rags from all the parts of the Kingdom for to make paper of them but it proves but bloting paper and so is but little worth but yet he makes a shift for to make a book of it ful of accusations and filthy reproaches and lays them upon the heads of his brethren and brings them upon the stage of the world and uncovers their nakedness nay it may be their weakness and saith Lo these be the Sectaries that trouble us and then he cals them Independents and Antinomians or Anabaptists and then the people answer him and say as they said of Paul Away with such fellows from the earth for it is not fit that such fellows should live read that place Act. 22.22 23. Is this the fruit of a Gospel Minister Mr Edwards for you say you are one But if this be the fruit you bear I shal pray to God for to deliver me from such a Ministry Sir I pray you one word more which I had almost forgot many of those that seem to be zealous for the Presbyterian Government do not care for coming to the Elders I conceive it is because they are so ignorant for the most part of them in the principles of Religion that they cannot tel what to say and I do wonder at many that are forward for that Government they know not neither can they soon understand it Q. Quest Is there some respect now to be given to some places of worship more then to other some A. Answ I know none neither Church nor Chappel nor Cathedral as you cal them Beleeve me saith Christ to the woman neither in this place nor in that place Joh. 4.20 21 22 23
hand of the Gospel moveth the heart of a man to a godly sorrow The goodness and the kindness and mercy of God applyed to the hearts of men that leadeth men forth to a true repentance and a right breaking of heart Now when the love of Jehovah doth break into the heart of a man or woman then the soul doth cry out and say the loving kindness and the goodness of God hath conquered my soul and the Lord draws my soul after him with the cords of love and how then shal I return again to folly seeing Jehovah hath taken hold of my soul with his love Now the rough hand of the Law as it is unskilfully handled by the most of our learned Men that know not Christ handle the law roughly rather hardens the hearts of men and sears them up in their sins then it mollifies and softens the heart because the Law is a strict rule holy jvst and good not given for men to do and live thereby Now the strict rule of the Law in the letter meeting with a crooked siner these two fal to variance as Cain did with Abel Now this carnal siner looks upon the Law as too strict that if he offend in one point he is guilty of all and so lies lyable to a curse for not continuing in all things which are in the book of the Law to do them Now this siner looking upon the Law out of the hand of Christ his heart begins to harden against God and he becomes an enemy against God and is not subject to the Law of God Rom. 8.7 And if it were possible this carnal minded man would destroy both God and his Law for the very same reason that Cain slew his brother 1 Joh. 3.12 And thus a man comes to be seared up in his sins when both he and his minister look upon the Law carnally and not in the hands of Christ as we in our days have many pretenders for the Law and many that rest in the Law and not in Christ and yet make their boast of God and seem to be Teachers of others and yet not able to teach themselves and yet make their boast of the Law and remain carnal in the Gospel and can hardly tel how to speak any thing of Christ Sect. 9 Now these rough handlers of the Law are like unto Esau cuning men of the field men that love red pottage and see no beauty in Jacobs heritage but despise it How can these men apply savory meat unto a poor hungry thirsty soul whom they hate for the blessing wherewith it is blessed in Christ And Esau said in his heart Now Esaus heart being ful of the seed of the serpent he said he would slay his brother Jacob as Herod would have done Christ Now by savory meat I mean the sweetnesses and the refreshings of Christ unto a poor weary soul which these men by experience know not as you may take an instance of the Jews and Pharisees Instance great zealous talkers of the Law of God and the Worship of God Nay they made their boast of God and yet they did not know Jesus Christ though he was present amongst them but dealt roughly with him according as they did see the Law as you may read at large Rom. 2.17 21 23. Gen. 25.27 30 34. 27.41 Iohn 9.13 14 15 16 29. Have not we many now in our days which hold forth the Law as the chief Priests and Pharisees did that is quite out of the hands of Christ and they tel the people they know not the Law but they must beleeve it as they hold it out unto them for the chief Priests and Pharisees told the people in Christs time That the people who know not the Law are cursed And thus the Law did seem to be rough by their unskilful handling of it out of the hands of Christ as we also may do at this day Iohn 7.45 48 49. How the Law in the hand of Christ turns to be Gospel Christ is the living law of God and the onely rule for a Christian and doth the greatest work as for instance Saul in his height of malice when he was going to Damascus the light of Christ did shine round about him and changed his evil heart He did not hear the voyce of thundering and lightning at Mount Sinai but a gentle hand and a soft sweet voyce speaking unto him and saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou me in my members Now Saul was not afrighted out of his wits but said Who art thou Lord and the Lord said I am Iesus whom thou persecutest but thou shalt do so no more for I will make thee a Minister of grace and though Saul trembled yet his heart was possest with love to the Lord and to those that he had persecuted for saith he Lord what wilt thou have me to do for thee and for them that I have so wronged Now this is a Gospel-change Acts 9.3 4 5 6. 26.16 Sect. 10 Now if this work of the Gospel had been wrought in the hearts of those that might have prevented bloodshed or in those that were so exceeding mad to shed the blood that was shed in Guildhal-yard but it seems they were of Sauls minde Men in our times like unto Saul and the chief Priests and Pharisees thinking that they might do many things nay any thing against a man or a woman under the name of Independents or Sectaries that is to put Christ and his members out of their Synagogues and City nay further even to kill Christ in his members or Christ and his members together and in so doing To think that they do God service These things are done and the cause is they neither know God nor Christ these are Christs own words as you may read Acts 26.9 10 11. John 16.2 3. But I am of Stevens minde and shall say Lord lay not this sin to the charge of this City Acts 7.58 59 60. Now the Law being in the hands of Christ and the Spirit of Christ who is the onely blessed God and the efficient cause in changing of that which we call Law into Gospel Thus God in Christ saith unto every soul I am the Lord thy God thou shalt have no other Gods before me Exod. 20.2 3. Now this Law is brought by the Spirit of Christ Christ makes way for himself in the hearts of men into the heart of a man or a woman and there it is planted and ingraven Jere. 31.33 34. and Christ puts in the finger of his sweet Spirit in at the hole of the door of the heart in at the hole of the lock as it were and his Spirit is the key that opens the heart and Christ with his finger puts back all the barrs and bolts that stand between him and the soul and Christ looks into the soul and takes away all drousie distempers and waters the soul and refreshes it with his sweet graces Christ is a sweet Law
the life of the Word Page 44. How the Jesuites Popes and Friers are Ministers of Christ P. 44. ◠7. The shepherds of these times would rule Christs sheep with an iron mace P. 45. Some named that were reproached in Mr Edwards book P. 46. Mr Edwards ten heads in his book like the ten horns Rev. Zech. P. 47 What it is that frays these horns viz. the Spirit of our Lord Jesus P. 48 49 S. 8. That Saul was a Minister upon the same account that many are at this day P. 50 51. A Minister sent out from men is a Minister of terror not of tenderness P. 51. How the false Prophets are mingled among true as heretofore so even now P. 51 52 53. The Confidence of most Preachers in these times is their library and books P. 53. Vpon what account there is much preaching to little purpose in these times P. 54. CHAP. IV. THe Scriptures insisted on set down P. 55 S. 1. None but beleevers able to prove approve of and reprove Ministers P. 57 58. S. 2. There is no cure for the world but free grace P. 59. Jesus Christ is a Saints spiritual magazine P. 60. S. 3. That in these days God begins to pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh P. 61. That upon this account beleevers speak more profitably then their teachers P. 62. That beleevers have a divine right and authority to try the doctrines of men P. 63 A Caution given beleevers not to be despoiled of their liberties in Christ P. 63 64. Many pretend falsly to a divine right in these times P. 64. S. 5. How the people have been and yet are abused by Clergy men 65 66 What divine right is and to whom it doth belong P. 66 67. The honorable Commissioners why not approved of by the Ministers P. 67 The ignorance of the people taxed in not being able to try their Ministers P. 68. Who they be that creep into houses and lead captive silly women P. 68. That discord among brethren ariseth from the Ministers of this age 69. § 6. Who they be that bind heavy burthens and lay them on mens shoulders P. 69 70. Dr Gouge his complying formerly with the Archbishop reprehended Page 70. To rule with force and violence doth ill become Ministers P. 71 72. § 7. A word to Ministers and people to unite them into one band of love by the Spirit p. 72 73. The story of Abraham and Lot of Jacob Joseph and his Brethren excellently opened and applied to these times p. 73 74 75 76 77. What men pretend that mind persecution p. 77. § 8. A sweet prayer to God for Vnity p. 80. § 9. Arguments to perswade to Vnity p. 82 83. § 10. Where and what is the power of the Church p. 84 85. Who are Evangelical Preachers and that none profit the people but they p. 87 88. § 11. That most Ministers seem to read Christs advice Mat. 6.31 backwards p. 89 90. Who are Elders according to God page 90. Three sorts of corrupt men in a parish page 91 94. That Jesus Christ is the mind of God page 94. That most of our Protestants are fit matter to make Papists p. 95. CHAP. V. THe Scriptures insisted on set down p. 100 101. § 1. A most excellent and spiritual instruction given to the Eldership in the Church of God p. 101 108. The Church is a school and Christ the alone teacher in it p. 104. The Church in the Apostles time had many young men in it that were full of the Holy Spirit p. 105. Many hungry people in the Church whom nothing can satisfie but Jesus Christ p. 106. Great use of Elders if right in the Church of God P. 106. Religion without love is Pharisaism Page 107. How the Religion of the most is Popish P. 108. That there hath been much hypocritical fasting in these times P. 109 § 2. A true fast to the Lord is a feast to men P. 110. The most content themselves with the shel but neglect the kernel of Religion P. 112 113. The holy Spirit is the love-token of Christ in the hearts of the faithful P. 115. § 3. What food the Saints live upon Page 116. § 4. Too much confidence placed now adays in Church-fellowship Page 117. A just reproof of such P. ibid. What is the Churches foundation 118 Vpon what the Christians lean 118 The commonly called Anabaptists reprehended and that justly 119 120. They justifie the parishes they seem to condemn Why the Anabaptist and Presbyterians disagree P. 121. That Anabaptists are mistaken in the foundation of Church-fellowship 122 An excellent reason against rebaptizing P. 123 124. § 5. A modest debate with a moderate Anabaptist P. 124. That the soul enjoys all things in Christ P. 125. Vpon what account the beleever is conversant in external observations P. 125. § 6. Of the baptism of infants and that they have faith and may be admitted as well as others thereto P. 126 127. A whisper in the ear of an Anabaptist and Presbyterian P. 128 The same Lord is now a Cloud to the Egyptian world but a pillar of light and fire to the spiritual Israel 129. § 7. The plea of an unbeleever 131. Of the confession of sin and how few confess sin aright P. 132 133. The beleever hath joy from the Cross of Christ in the confession of sin 134 The death of Christ most divinely opened P. 134. Several Objections answered made against confession of sin with joy p. 135 136 137. CHAP. VI. THe Scriptures insisted on set down page 138 139. § 1. What the most of our Elders and Pastors are and what they are able to do p. 140. Who seek the good of King and Kingdom p. 144. § 2. That there is no steers-man in the Church on the heart of a true Christian but Jesus Christ. p. 145. Christ the guide of a Christian in his active and passive obedience to Magistrates p. 146 147. A wise caution given to Magistrates and why page ibid. § 3. Several objections answered touching the discerning of true teachers and false by their fruits p. 147 148. That the unlearned beleever doth and knows more then the learned that beleeves not p. 149. Those that have been with Jesus and in whom Jesus is alone understand the Scriptures p. 149 Christ the Covenant of God p. 150. What learned men they be that are unfit for the ministry p. 151. Christ is the day of Gods rest p. 152. That many talk of Reformation that are ignorant of the pure Religion page ibid. § 3. What the pure Religion is 152. The most of the learned in Christendom do agree in pleasure ease and profit p. 153. Many zealous for Presbyterian Government care not for coming to the Elders and why p. 156. That one place for worship is not to be preferred before another ibid. Whether it be decent for Ministers to go all in black p. 157. Of humane learning of what use and profit it is p. 158. A word of