perceivable 1 Cor. 5 6. So erroneous doctrine is but little at the first Heretiques have tricks of cleanly conveyance can by scraps and piece-meal steal in here and there a bit now and then a crumb among other orthodox and unleavened truths They are cunning enough to mix and blend it not to let it fall all together on a lump lest it haply should be descryed which if it be Then 't is but a slip in judgement in utterance and delivery a private opinion of no great moment what great harme can it do in being vented (l) An vos viros tam sapientes ignorare convenit illud vulgo tritum ex pistrino sumptum proverbium modico fermenti fermentari totam massam Epitheton modicum tacitam includit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 si forte dixerint modicum hoc est Imo et modicum nocet Paraeus in 1. ad Corinth cap. 5. v. 6. Fermentum enim videtur res non magni momenti sed tamen intra conspersionem admissa totam massam acidam reddit Sic leviculum nullius momenti videtur esse hoc vel illud doctrinae addere Quodnam enim periculum ex additiuncula aliqua enasceretur sed corruptela etiam minima semel recepta serpit ut cancer Chemnit Harm c. p. 82. O ye beloved it leaveneth people draweth Disciples breeds a faction separates hearers into private conventicles and makes rents and schisms in the Church One is for Paul another for Apollos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 1.13 A little pin may kill mortally Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth Jam. 3.5 3. Like 3. In regard of the Quality Like Leaven is like the dough is of the same grain of the same meal leavings of the same lump the scrapings up of the kneading trough very like it differeth but in age sowrenesse c. So is the corrupt leaven of heretical doctrine scraped up raked together 2 Pet. 3.6 out of the Scriptures but perverted wrested sophisticated adulterated sowred with rotten corrupt mis-interpretations and glosses so seemingly sound true probable Heb. 5.14 holy good that he had need of senses exercised that should discern the hidden poyson of the abominable opinions of hereticall leaveners (m) Seria praemâ—nit one utitur qua declarat Christus non esse cuivis datum discernere falsam doctrinam ab illa sibi caverâ— Bucer 4. In regard of the Spreading property 4. Spreadeth that is in Leaven for it speedily secretly suddenly unperceiveably diffuseth it selfe through the whole lump of dough (n) fermâ—nci nomine significatur id quod late serpit eâ— alia quoque ad se trahit Chemn Harm cap. 82. till all be leavened creepeth into every corner of the kneading trough so doth this mysticall leaven of false doctrine this scab of error like an universall leprosie (o) Arrianorum venenum non portiunculam quandam sed pene orbem totum contaminaverat Vinc Lir. cap. 6. over-spread and disperse it selfe over the whole Church and Kingdome from old to young from Minister to people from one Christian to another One scab'd sheep marreth the whole flock one rotten apple tainteth those that lie next unto it (p) uvaque contactu livorem ducit ab uva One pestilent fellow may breath death into a thousand And therefore Saint Paul warneth Timothy to shun prophane and vain bablings for they will increase to more ungodlynesse And their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the truth have erred 2 Tim. 2.16 17. When men have once forsaken the right way they wander in infinitum Thus we see many fall from schisme to heresie (q) Master Hooker eccles polit in the prefaci from being Separatists to Anabaptists Antinomians Arminians Socinians Libertines Atheists Seekers and so they may be all their dayes and yet shall never find that old and right way which for some toy they forsook formerly God penally giving them over to strong delusions and leaving them to a spirit of error Ye shall seek me and shall not find me Joh. 7.34 Ye shall seek me and shall dye in your sins Joh. 8.21 as Christ there telleth the Pharisees Uno absurdo dato mille sequuntur God knoweth where such men shall stop themselves nor we know not * Master Edwards Antapolog p. 295. some of them had gone far by this time of the day till they be over head and ears ingulfed from the puddle of heresie into the bottomlesse pit bank-less bound-less 5. In regard of the Effects Leaven 1. sowreth 2. heateth 3. swelleth 1 Sowreth 1. Leaven sowreth the whole lump 1 Cor. 5.6 a crumb of leaven mingled with the pure meal (r) fermentum hâ—nc vim habet ut si farinae mixtum fâ—erâ—tquod parvum videbatur crescat in majus ad saporem suum universam conspersionem trahat ita doctrina haeretica si vel modicam scintillam in tuum pectus jecerit in brevi ingens flâ—mma succrescit ut totam hominis possessionem ad se trahat Hieronym knod among the dough moulded up into the loafe leaveneth vitiateth altereth the first simple pure sweet nature of it makes it smell sowrely taste saltly savour rammish unpleasingly So doth this corrupt Leaven of erroneous doctrine (Å¿) humana commenta traditiones Evangelio Christi adminâ—tas id totum adulterare subveâ—tere fidem conscientias turbare Sicut enim modicum veneni totum cotpus inficit sic vel modicum de humanis commentis Evangelio gratiae aspersum totum corrumpit Paraeus in Galat. cap. 1. Lect. 8. adulterate and sowre the unleavened truth and pure Word of God and therefore was odious and abominable unto God who cannot endure humane mixtures (t) Quemadmodum in moneta regia qui aliquam partem de impressa imagine amputaverit totum numisma reddit addulterinum ita quisquis vel minimam particulam sanae fidei perverterit vid. Para. ibid. ex Chrysostom and sophistications Amos 4.5 expresly forbidden the Iewish Church in all their sacrifices Levit. 2.11 2. Heateth 2 Leaven heateth and thence in the three learned (u) Our English Leaven is from the leavings of the batch usually made up reserved as the other Hebr. word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reliquum esse to leave languages hath its denomination 1. fermentum a ferveo 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod fervendo crescat 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calefactus fuit incaluit he was hot every house-wife that layeth Leaven (w) Mulierum erat opus panes coquere sicut ex historia Sarae patet Gen. 18.36 Plinius testatur Romae per annos ab urbe condita quingentos octoginta nullos pistores fuisse Chemit Harm cap. 61. knoweth this heating quality to be in Leaven and therefore they cover and keep warm their dough lest the bread should be sad No leaven
Magistrate who by his place ought to defend the faith look to religion and be custos utriusque tabulae There be good lawes against vagrant rogues and fidlers players Gipseys and fortune-tellers that they be not suffered to wander abuse or deceive the Kings liege people 'T is pity mens souls are not as carefully provided for (o) tum ecclesiastici tum polititi ordinis Antistites toti in eo esse debent ut Diaboli fermentum expurgetur populus fidei suae commissus ab eo arceatur nisi aliquando loco panum propositionis Deo offerendorum Satanicas placentas olim in infernalibus prunis excoquendas reponere velint Chem. Harm Evangelic cap. 61. as dearly valued and as much tendered that there be no Searchers appointed for seducing Sectaries In times of a common plague the infected are shut up removed to the pesthouses not suffered to go abroad and infect others Should not the like care be had that schismatical leaveners be not suffered to meet in corners and private conventicles to the perverting and poysoning of mens souls ought not as watchfull an eye to be upon that pestilence of error that walketh in darknesse the destruction that wasteth at noon-day Psal 91.6 * Dominus te totamque familiam ab omni malo ac praesertim a Daemoniis meridianis istic obambulantibus custodiat Beza Epist 1. Andr. Duditio viz. from the Errors of Anabaptisme Brownism Antinomianism Toleration of sects and schisms under pretence of Liberty of Conscience Mr Edwards in Epist to his Anâ—apolog For like Absolom they spread their tent on the top of the house in the sight of all Israel they are not ashamed nor blush to preach on the house tops their places and times of meeting are known proclaimed come who come will Is this to root out heresie schisme or to keep the covenant of our God If the enemie should storm or steale into this garison what a bustling would there be how would every man take the alarum and stand to his armes how would they be censured and fined as malignants that should not so do no enemy so dangerous as Heresie no garison of that consequence as the soul which we are not to suffer to be fraudulently surprized by false teachers nor violently taken from us by the powers of hell There is no proportion or comparison between malignant cavaliers and seducing impostors that more dangerously set up the kingdome of darknesse and tyrannie of the Devil Why should there be any Gallio that careth not for any of these things Acts 18.17 Jeremie sadly complaineth of some great ones that were not valiant for the truth Jer. 9.3 Godly Magistrates have forced Antidotes on a distempered corrupted people compelled them to repair to publick ordinances 2 Chr. 15.13.33.16.34 32. brought them into the Bond of a nationall covenant What wonder is it if every wherry swim so swiftly into the bottomlesse abysse when they have so fair a wind so ful a tide when they are preferred advanced countenanced put into places of great trust command and profit and engrosse every gainfull office Mammon of unrighteousnes will not onely work with a Blaam but will biasse a better spirit then his was to seduce others and be seduced himself Every man would be of the winning hand would be of a thriving and gainfull trade no tradesman so custom'd or hath the like return as Sectaries that trade in merchandise of Souls But shall the Godly Magistrate freely suffer them to retail their deceitfull wares In free corporations they will not endure forreiners to set up by them and steal away their customers Market towns have a standard an assize for bread and beere c. Bread that will not hold out weight is to be given away it would do well to see the bread of life to have his true weight And to set a fine on their heads that make and sell that which is light naught unwholesom leavened The Publicans among the Jews sate at the receipt of custom (p) Luke 5.27 Luke 19.2 to see and compell the poore bleeding country to pay tribute unto Caesar taxes and assessements imposed and exacted for the use of the Roman state and our Saviour so far condescended to the necessities of those times that himself payd tribute-money such as was levied and assessed upon him Matth. 17.24.27 But he denounceth a dreadfull woe to the Scribes not because they payd tithe of mint and annise and cummin due by Gods law but that they omitted the weightier matters of the Law judgement mercie and faith these saith he ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Mat. 23.23 Magistrates and men in place should see God have his due as well as themselves have their due they should see that religion be not corrupted Gods word perverted the souls of people destroyed What serve mothers or nurses for but to look to their little ones and not let them eat dirt chalk coals in stead of bread spiders poyson in stead of sugar milk or wholsom nourishment I should think such an undutifull ungracious child not fit nor worthy to be suffered to live in a family that Ishmael like should mock the Isaacks Gen. 21.9 neither are such worthy to live in a Christian * illi certe nullo modo sinendi sunt vivere cum illorum temporalis vita aliis sit aeterna mors Zaâ—ch de Magistr Mr Cotton on Rev. 16. pouring out the seven Vials 3. page 16 17 21. 4. page 17. if any have a conscience to turn men from God he would have men have as much conscience to cut them off church especially not to be cockered countenanced that spit in their aged mothers face the church of England and call her Whore And thus much may suffice for the two first observations out of the Text. The end of the first SERMON The third followeth viz. Doct. 3 THe best of Gods people need charging to take heed and beware of false doctrine Even the Apostles themselves bred up and fed up in Christs own family are in danger of being leavened How doth Saint Paul feare lest the Corinthian Saints should by Satans subtilty be beguiled and their minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.3 How doth he in sundry places charge and adjure Timothy This charge I commit unto thee to hold faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack of whom is Hymeneus c. 1 Tim. 1.18.19.20 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels 1. Tim. 5.21 I give thee charge in the sight of God and before Christ that thou keep this commandment 1 Tim. 6.13 O (q) O exclamatio iffa praescientioe est pariter charitatis praevidebat enim futuros quos etiam praedolebat Errores Quis est hodie Timotheus nisi vel generaliter universa ecclesia vel specialiter totum corpus praepositorum qui integram divini
but heateth it is of an active fierie nature So doth the leaven of heresie heat enflame and enrage mens spirits sets Church Kingdome yea the whole Christian world in combustion and as Saint James saith of the tongue setteth on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of hell Iam. 3.6 (x) profana Arrianorum novitas velut quaedam Bellona aut Furia non destitit universa miscere atque vexare privata ac publica sacra profanaque omnia Vinc. Lir. cap. 6. What heart-burnings doth it breed what jealousies suspitions bitter uncharitable censures doth it foment against (y) Master Hooker eccles polit in the preface all those that do not side and hold with them in all things they account them heathens publicans dogs devils They lowre brow-beat disdainfully frown and look sowrly upon them as Cain on Abel with a discontented and falne countenance like Richard Nevill the great Earle of Warwick who looked so terribly when he was moved that every wrinkle in his forehead was a grave for a Prince to be buried in How bitter are their speeches tongues like razors with what vinegar and gall do they write it would be tedious to particularize Who were more bitter persecutours of Christ then the Pharisees Paul himself while he was so breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Church The Devil throweth in his gunpowder among their zeale sets all in combustion betwixt men of the same Church Kingdom Society Congregation Family Flesh that board and bed together so that even these lift up the heele the hand against each other Psal 41.9 (z) nec enim tantum affinitates cognationes amicitiae domus verum etiam urbes popull provincâ—ae nationes universum postremo Romanorum imperium funditus concussum emotum est Vinc. Lir. de Arrian cap. 6. Acti in exillium sacerdotes oppleta sanctis ergastula carceres metalla ibid. David from experience of some harsh usage from such kind of furious fellows prayeth to be delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the hand of the injurious leavened man * Prufracte violenter agentis â—uaterf Ainsworth in Ps 71.4 of such we say in the proverb totus est in fermento such hot spurres fierie fierce spirited men are most hereticall zelots witnesse the Anabaptists in Germany of whose outragious violences villanies cruelties Historians (a) Joan. Sleidan de stat relig reipub lib. 6. Mr Philpot that godly Martyr saith the Anabaptists be an inordinate kind of men stirred up by the Devil to the destruction of the Gospel Mr. Fox Acts Mon. vol. 3. page 607. relate and the Jesuite-leaveners whom one witrily caleth in one word Bombardo-gladio-fun-hasti-flammi-loquentes Alsted poetic very incendiaries to all Churches states as the Gunpowder Treason and sundry other Machiavilian plots of the Popish leavened crew especially the yet freshly-bleeding bloody rebellion in Ireland in which so many thousand Protestant-English innocents have been mercilesly murthered testifie 3. Swelleth 3 Leaven swelleth puffeth up heaveth raiseth the dough and maketh the bread light so doth the leaven of heresie and false doctrine puffe up men with an overweening conceit of their own parts persons graces (b) ut enim fermentum â—â—â—tam conspersam inflat efficit ut se in altum attollat ita etiam falsa doctrina hominem in altitudinem extollit non tantum adversus homines sed etâ—â—m gratiam Dei inflat fiducia propriae justiciae Chemnit Harmâ—n cap. 61. as the pretious ones Saints on earth the excellent The proud Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others Luk. 18.9 They affect singularity in their opinions practises are not wil not be do not as other men * Marry in the night receive the Lords supper at night anoint the sick with oyl enter into a Church covenant people make Ministers baptize in rivers use the holy kisse bring in widdows hymnes The Apostolici wash one anothers feet have all things common preach on the house tops c. No doubt but ye are the people and wisdom shall die with you Job 12.2 As the Chinoys highly conceited of themselves (c) Helyn hist of China p. 687. that they use to say they themselves have two eyes the Europaeans one and the rest of the people not one so are even the low-form Proselytes of leavened sectaries puft up with their horn book learning knowledge puffeth up 1. Cor. 8.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 6.4 vainly puft up by his fleshly mind Col. 2.18 Every novice is wiser then his teachers the spirit leadeth them into all truth they have abundance of revelations new lights see more know more then ordinary dull Christians yea then Ministers of the Reformed Churches hence they arrogantly take the chaire (d) In genere nullum animal magis est inflatum superbum quam sit haereticus Chemn expounding exercising in private resolving doubts wading into the deeps of Scripture prophesies mysteries alas poore pigmies thimbles full of dust yea saucily invade our pulpits in publick What say they must none preach but black coats And why not black coats I pray as well as gray coats and buffe coats and blue aprons I see no cause to be ashamed of a black coat the prophets and the prophets sonnes of old were known and distinguished by their habits (e) allusit Christus ad vestes ex quibus olim dignâ—schâ—â—tur prophetae Beza Not. Major in Math. 7.15 Neither know I any reason why that men that have been from their childhood trained up in the Schooles and Universities with great expence of time and meanes and principled in tongues and Arts besides many yeares study in the Scriptures with daily humble prayer to God for the right understanding of them and diligent searching out of ancient and modern expositors what is the meaning of the H. Ghost in them I see no reason I say but what talk I of reason to unreasonable men 2 Thess 3.2 why professed Scholars Graduates Divines Ministers Black coats should not be fitter to expound preach abler to dispense Sacred mysteries then quilibet etrivio every tailor tapster cobler baker and other mechanicks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (f) hath not the God of oâ—der set several orders of men in his Church some Apostles some Prophets c. 1 Câ— 12.28 he gave some Apostles and sâ—â—â— Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Salâ—te fâ—â— the work of the ministry Ephes 4.11 12. Their trades sure come not by revelation their novices must serve out an apprentiâ—â—ship ere they be masters of their art or fit to set up for themselves onely Divinity is soon learned easie to understand in an instant infused into every enthysiast for so they apply that of Joel 2.28 I will poure out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie which when they can do we will believe them as Luther from that
words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godlinesse 1 Tim. 6.3 Do we ferret out these vermin these vipers that eat out our mothers bowels Do we catch the foxes that destroy our grapes Do not we wink at them nay nourish them embrace and hug them in our bosomes nay suffer them to nestle among us so far are we from casting them out hunting them away discountenancing of them that we invite them to breed and burrow and kindle and kittle in our houses heads hearts I wish we keep not birds to pick out our own and childrens eyes O let us be wise at last take heed of a snake i' th bosome (o) Toleration â—n Religion is not to be tolerated this overthrew Solomon Valentinian c. The Church of Thyatira is blamed for suffering the woman Jezabel to teach and to seduce Gods servants Rev. 2.20 't was the fault of Theodostus to suffer the Arrians to have their meetings in chiefe cities 'T wil be a foundation to the Devils Kingdom to al generations like gun-powder blows up both Church and State at one blast Saint Paul opposed it Gal. 1.8 9. The primitive bishops would not suffer Arrians Donatists Jerome Ambrose Chrysost reproved even kings for conniving at them So Luther Calvin and the reformed Churches so Bishop Iewell Bilson Bahington Mr Perkins c. would not endure a Toleration of Popery And should we tolerate more damnable heresies Papists are no enemies to Devotion to Scripture to Order to Learning they have some forme of Religion many truths preached beleeved among them The Word of God Christ Jesus a Saviour a heavn a hell but we have those that bring in confusion subvert fundamentals overthrow Religion Learning Order al yea that blesse God they never trusted in a crucified Christ nor did beleeve him to be the son of God nay for themselves to say they were equal to Christ was no robbery See Mr Edwards Gangraena from whence these and other passages also Antapolog p. 280. 292. Give a timely antidote against this killing poyson A spark neglected may burn down to the cold ground both our own and our neighbours houses in any wise keep your selves from the accursed thing lest ye make your selves accursed when ye take of the accursed thing and make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it John 6.18 There be wil be Achans among the Israel of God to trouble the Churches peace but let them be Anathema account them execrable 2 Special Exhort to Magistrates Ministers People And 1 the Magistrate ought to let the leavening sectaries know that he beareth not the sword in vain he may yea must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 1.11 dit up their mouthes (p) corrigi cos cupâ—mus non necari sic ergo corum peccata compesce ut sint quos penireat peccavisâ— This was Saint Augustine favourable opinion ad Donat. Procons Africae Ep. 127. but experience afterwards altered him See Master Edwards Ant. 291. by his coercive and restraining power and cause the false prophets and unclean spirit to passe out of the land Zech. 13.2 In the Old Testament false prophets were to be punished even with death and that by Gods own command Deut. 13. 5. because they sought to thrust Gods people out of the way c. see the place And none of them pleaded to the religious and reforming Magistrate Sir it is our conscience you ought not to trouble us for it I confesse a tender regard should be had of tender consciences and God forbid God forbid we should exasperate authority against such as are indeed tender conscienced But the crafty Devil when he is hunted and cast out elsewhere will take sanctuary even in conscience it self * 't was conscience the Papists pleaded in K. Edw. and Q Elizabeths time Antapolog 286. and as Rachel when she had stolen her fathers idols Gen. 31.35 plead for liberty you must not disease or molest him But shal he therfore play Rex must he be suffered to hold possession doubtles he will then bring seven other devils worse then himself and the latter end of those men into whose consciences he is crept wil be worse then the beginning He wil fil them ful of all iniquity and under pretence of being suffered he will infect pervert poyson destroy the whole Church S. Paul therefore Gal. 5.12 wisheth that seducing sectaries that troubled that Church were even cut off (q) Do you think heretiques were not conscionable in the Old Testament as now If any man had a conscience to turn men from God he would have men of as much conscience to cut them off Mr Cotton on Vial. 3. 4. p. 17. 21. Paulus non tam furoris in adversarios quam ardoris in Dei gloriam et sanctam ecclesiam verba loquutus est videbat quippe totanâ— provinciam quam ipse Marlorat exp eccles haec maledictio profecta est a Spiritu Sancto non eâ— privato affectu yet Saint Paul was no persecuter of tender consciences no man more tendered them perswaded and wrote more in their behalf Rom. 14. the whole chapter is upon that point yet how severe is he in his reprehensions animadversions against leavening and seducing teachers he calls them Dogs evil workers Phil. 3 2. he likens them to witches Gal. 3.1 How doth he rate and rattle up Elymas who sought to turn away the Deputy from the faith O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou child of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousnesse wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord And struck him blind Act. 13.8.10.11 2 Ministers must preach pray down heresie and whatsoever (r) commonefaciens tam superiores quam inferiores sui officij Superiores quidem nefermentum errorum in doctrina aut vitiorum in moribus licet modicum videatur in republica ecclesia scholis oeconomia vel quavis societate invalescere sinant sed legitimis rationibus mature praecaveant vel expurgandum cuâ—ent antequam plures inficiantur Inferiores vero ut fermentum Pharisaeorum Papistarum haereticorum pravorum hominum h. e. falsa dogmata hominum commenta consortia vitiorum tanquam pestem fugiant Paraeus in 1. ad Corint c. 5. v. 6. is contrary to sound doctrine exhort perswade rebuke Tit. 1.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what have we our tongues for our places for what are we lieger ambassadours for here in the Church but for intelligence to let our Lord and Master know what affairs of Church and State are transacted what molitions machinations are against his crown and dignity how men conspire against him break his bonds in sunder and cast away his cords from them will not be regulated under his discipline What are we watchmen set (Å¿) Excubias agere adversus supos fures ut si ad gregem accedere voluerint eos magnis clamoribus altis vociferationibus quam
not the things which are Jesus Christs Their own 1. Profit gainfull places offices an heart they have exercised with covetous practises 2 Pet. 2.14 teaching things which they (f) Avaritia est plerumque haeresium comes fomes mater nutrix Ames in 2 Pet. 2 3. ought not for filthy lucres sake Tit. 1.11 supposing that gain is godlines 1 Tim. 6.5 5. The Pharisees devoured widows houses and their so zealous pains in making proselytes was but to get the fat morsells on their own trencher (g) Quaerebant discipulos quos pecuniis emungere possent non quod salutem animarum procurare curabant Montac Apparat. 7. sect 28. 2 Credit honour and esteem among men love the uppermost rooms at feasts and the chief seats in the Synagogues and greetings in the markets and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi Matth 23.6.7 they love to be looked at as the onely religious ones to be followed admired all other are No bodies to them True grace is truly honourable where it is in truth The Lord makes his people glorious within and not to seek honour from without by vain ostentation 3 Pleasure and ease their belly back Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16.17.18 enemies of the crosse of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things Phil. 3.18 19. 2 Proud 1 Tim. 6.4 He is proud 2 Pet. 2 18. they speak great swelling words of vanity They set up their own righteousnes worth works as if they and none but they were Gods Saints holy ones his anoynted Their congregations the onely church on earth all other reformed churches are in their esteem the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird as Saint Iohn Rev. 18.2 saith of Babylon They brag of the Spirit new light Moncer reproached Luther that he wanted the spirit of revelation and preached onely a carnall Gospel They brag of their parts abilities graces precious men beyond the Apostles That Christ himself could (h) See Mr Edwards Gangrene pag. 44 preach no better then some of them One of their tribe is affirmed to be the ablest man in England for prayer preaching expounding the Scripture They appropriate (i) Audent etenim polliceri et docere quod in ecclesia sua id est in communionis suae conventiculo magna specialis ac plane personalis quaedam sit Dei gratia adeo ut sine ullo labore sine ullo studio sine ulla industria etiamsi nec quaerant nec pulsent quicunque illi ad numerum suum pertinent tamen ita divinitus dispensentur ut angelicis c. Vinc. Lirin cap. 37. to themselves the name of the godly well affected party all others are malignants cavaliers And all hereticks generally that it may be known from whence their doctrines are have a spirit of Luciferian pride in them and are hence distinguishable from the humble lowly * that five such yong men and no deeplier studied should thus proudly and tanquam ex tripode so magisterially conclude against al the reformed Churches Antapolog page 194 195. meek mortified servants of Christ as the Britains asking counsell of a certain holy Anchorite concerning the receiving of Augustine the monk and his doctrine and government in the British Church were told that they might discern whether he were a man of God by his meek and humble mindednesse but if he be stout and proud he was not of God they might be bold (k) Godwins Histor of Bishops page 44. 3 Persecuters of the right wayes of God 2 Pet. 2.2 Were ever any more bitter enemies to the truth then sectaries How implacable was the rage of (l) Mr Hooker eccles polit in the Preface So the Arminians in the Netherlands Antapol p. 279. the leavening Pharisees Sadduces against our Saviour and his Apostles How cruell even as a beare robbed of her whelps were the Germane (m) Sleidan lib. 5. Anabaptists And such persecuting spirits have our Leaveners now as appeares by their tongues pennes practises (n) witnesse the many scurrilous bitter base biting papers pamphlets books of theirs Arraignment of Pers c. They will have never a priest in England ere they have done Hanging is too good for us 'T is pity we are not pulled out of the pulpit They call us Baalites Antichristian If any godly Pauls spirit be stirred in him at their strange and erroneous courses and Doctrines he is presently discountenanced c. Some have not failed to tell us that if we ever look to get livings and places to maintain us We must turn to them and hang the black coat on a willow tree But they persecute our church and nation God they say is not among us we are Moabites Ammonites Samaritanes without Christ Aliens from the common wealth of Israel strangers from the covenants of promise They persecute and blaspheme our baptisme they dressed a cat like a child to be baptized invited many (o) See M. Edwards Gangr p. 67. men and women and then had one to preach against baptizing of Infants and it is generally observable in them that they will neither administer Baptisme to Infants or the Lords supper to grown Christians An uncharitable course and harsh dealing it is thus to make their own mother an harlot their brethren bastards the breasts they have sucked and Church in which they have been bred upon whose knees they have been dandled an Antichristian stewes none of us they shew any Christian or common respect unto more then a Turk or a Jew or an Indian but shun us separate from us if they condescend sometimes to speak a word it is like court holy-water That their heart is not with us their poor cold blew remote discourses testifie This went to Davids heart Psal 55.12.13.14 .. that not an enemy reproached him but it was thou a man mine equal my guide and mine acquaintance we took sweet counsell together and walked unto the house of God in company That such because we now are not just of their cue should quite unchurch us * See Mr Edwards his Antap. pa. 45 46. un-saint us un-hope us un-God us and un-heaven us too is very harsh But thus did the Pharisaicall sectaries they persecuted Christ and all those that believed in him Joh. 9.29.34 or defended him they cast him out viz. the blind man whom Christ had restored to sight The fourth and last point yet remains of which in order Doct. 4 The greatnesse or seeming goodnesse of any mans person should not so captivate or bewitch the people of God that they should suffer themselves to be seduced catched or poisoned by them even Sadduces Pharisees and