his party there without whom he well knew as is evi 〈…〉 hand that it could not be done and though he did do 〈◊〉 was not â—o civilly honest as to let me know thereof that so I might 〈…〉 and unnecessary Charge which he knew would be consiâ—â—â—able 〈◊〉 the consideration of all which and for that all means of Reconcili 〈…〉 said M. C. and his Associates contemned and their ill 〈…〉 acts practised and defended by pretended Au 〈…〉 but now at last conclude it highly my duty to make 〈…〉 that so those who are concerned may at their next 〈…〉 I do appeal by these presents take it into 〈…〉 consideration and doing right may clear themselves and the Profession in general from the imputation of such mischievous errors whereunto otherwise they may be thought accessary leaving it to them to judge whether this pretended Apostle be not an Usurper and whether his Government be not Arbitrary Tyrannical and dangerous both to the Church and Civil State and also whether he be not a partial and unjust judge a deluder and seducer of those who otherwise would he innocent and a contemner of the Authority of all that are above him Lastly whereas some sober persons think it strange that I do not withdraw my self from the Baptized Congregations my answer is that I know not any other Congregation of that perswasion corrupted with any of those errors but that their actions and conversations are according to their Profession in the judgment of Charity And forasmuch as I do upon safe and Scripture grounds believe That the way they prosess is the way to Grace and Glory I therefore dare not desert it but desire to be found persevering therein with Heart and Affection And that all good people may do the same is the hearty prayer of him who is a lover of Truth Righteousness and Peace and of those who imbrace the same under what Notion or Form soever they be Richard Haines A word to the Ingenious and Learned Perusers Honoured Sirs SInce neither Nature nor Education have furnisht me with those 〈◊〉 and Accomplishments which I must acknowledge necessary to all such as expose their writings to the Publick eye let me intreat and not be denyed your favourable Construction in the ensuing Leaves as often as you find me unskilfull in Language or Methodical Order for as I have never been exercised in such publick endeavours so should I not now have appeared to the world in this manner had not the Conscience of my duty constrained me therèunto nor had I been thus tedious and burthensome to the Reader but out of a desire to regain my poor deluded Brethren who pretend great love unto Your humble Servant R. H. NEVV LORDS NEVV LAVVS HAving some time since received much Injustice and Abuse from Matthew Caffin a Pretended Apostle of Christ and Elder of a Congregation together with some other of his deluded Confederates who without any Authority or Example and for a matter not proved to be any Sin or Crime by any Text of Holy Scripture procecded to pass Sentence of Excommunication against me and still persist in and justify the same and endeavours yet further to render me Infamous It is therefore the design of the following discourse for the several causes and Reasons mentioned in the Epistle to the Reader to make a full discovery of all proceedings in that affair that so innocence may be cleared Friends at a distance truly informed and these Lordly Spirits if possible made ashamed of and so repent for such their wicked and erronious courses All which I shall endeavour by relating plainly and sincerely First The Cause or pretended Crime Objected Secondly The most partial unjust and cruel proceedings thereupon againâ—t me And Thirdly The unreasonableness of both in several Circumstances and the mischievous consequences of such Anti-christian Popisâ—e Principles and Practises The occasion or thing for which I was Excommunicated was as follows I having by my Industry found out and invented a way to cleanse a certain sort of Grass Seeds by some called Trefo le by other Nousuâ—â— and by others Hop-clever but properly may be called Yellow-clover because it beareth a three leaf'd grass and yellow flower from its husk and course Grass Seeds which course Grass was very destructive to the other so that the same by means of such invention is become better then it was before as some of my Adversries themselves confess Now forasmuch as it did evidently appear that such a way of cleansing the aforesaid Seeds was a thing that would be for a General benefit to all should make use of the said Seeds I then considered that it was reasonable I should have the benefit of cleansing the same according to the Statute in such cases made and provided which priviledge of invention I did understand by Councel Learned in the Law The King by his Royal Prerogative might lawfully grant and confirm by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England to the first and true Inventer And I being the same as one of my chiefest Adversaries declared at their Meeting publickly that he verily did believe I was did and still do conceive that I might lawfully endeavour to obtain it as my lawful and just priviledge Forasmuch as by this means I should prevent no person enjoying any of their former Rights and Priviledges which they enjoyed before this my doscovery for as they bought sold sowed and improved it before so they may still without the least interruption nor have they cause to complain that by the Kings Letters Patents they are prohibited from cleansing the said Seeds seeing every person may have the priviledge of sowing the Seeds which I thus cleanss so that every one may â—eap the profits of my labour and the greatest profits too for if the cleansing of it were free to all the advantage would be very little wherefore I did on good grounds hope that no honest man would be offended with the Kings Letters Patents nor with me for attaining them except it were a generation of self ended men who envy my prosperity nor could I believe that I for this thing should be condemned by those who are my pretended tender loving Brethren since I have not hereby transgressed any known Law for where there is no Law transgressed I do belive there is no Law to punish unless it be under that Government where Usurping Tyrants beare rule All which considered I did proceed in my endeavours to obtain his Majesties Gracious favour for the grant of his Letters Patent for my aforesaid Priviledge But being willing to let some of my friends know of my design therein before I had finished my business and judging Matthew Caffin most Faithful I therefore thought him most worthy to be trusted with secret things Some other also I declared my mind â—â— to who did promise secrefie nor did they report it to any that I know of but he the said Matthew Caffin whome I thought most faithful was
Conscience of my Duty and that I accuse younot as you are the Servants of the most high God nor him as an holy Apostle Minister or Messenger of Christ For all such I truly love and honour as they are faithful and so I did him whilst his wickedness lay covered with Sheeps cloathing But now I justly must and cannot but Accuse him as an Vsurper a Rebel against God a Tyrant to his â—rethre â— as he is guilty of partiality and wickedness Not that these Crimes are committed through weakness or Infirmities or acknowledged and Repented of But as they were done willfully persevered in and still endeavoured to be justified by Authority And therefore know ye that if it be any thing it will be his own words and deeds not mine That shall Condemn him But whereas he hath said to me that what he and you have done against me is also in like manner done in Heaven except I submit I answer That the thing for which you have Excommunicated me is none other but my contempt of his Lordships usurped authority and therefore as I am not convinced of any sin therein committed so I cannot nor shall repent thereof until you do by Scripture authority prove it to be the transgression of a righteous Law or that his unlimitted power is equal to or greater than the holy Scriptures or till he have so proved that such his usurped authority is more lawful than the Royal prerogative of the Supream Magistrate and that he or his weak Brethren whose part at least pretendedly he hath taken be infallible in the mean time for as much as I was not conscious of any known sin by me committed but what through Grace was repented of so as that with a good conscience I through mercy do and then did to my great comfort believe that I whom you have unmercifully condemned my Lord and Saviour doth and will justifie and therefore I believe and that upon good grounds to that such his sentence of Excommunication is no more then as though his Triple-Crown'd Brother beyond the Seas with his Bell Book and Candle had done it And so my unkind Friends As you are erred from Truth and Righteousness to conceal and defend wickedness I must tell you that according to what is my farther duty I am resolved to prosecute what I have undertaken against him as though I never knew him but as an usurping Tyrant for I do believe if a godly man transgress a righeteous Law he ought to suffer as an other man much rather such an one who is so far from godliness as to justifie and by Lies and deceit defend his Acts of Impiety Therefore let none think that I am become a persecutor of those whom I own to be my Brethren or that I oppose any but as the oppressed may lawfully endeavour for the execution of Justice upon the unmerciful and tyrannical oppressor For if I should persecute the People of God in their Innocency doubtless as the holy Apostle in another Case said I then of all men should be most miserable For I verily believe heartily wish that all good people were of the same Faith from the King on his Throne to the meanest Subject That to persecute and afflict the People of God in their Innocence for doing that which upon Scripture Authority they ought to do is a great and most dangerous sin and of the highest provoking nature that can be committed it appearing in my judgment so grievous to the most High That he can in no wise bear therewith For saith he the Lord to his persecuted Children He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of my Eye whence I observe that the Lord hath not by any Metaphor expressed any such intollerable provocation to him as that of persecution And oh that none would give entertainment to that dangerous persecuting spirit until they can bring their Commission from Christ himself and until they see and have an infallible knowledge that it is the will of their Maker and that themselves be without sin and errors for the Almighty ordaineth his Arrows against Persecutors and be sure he will not miss the Mark He will not do as men shoot at a rebellious or stubborn Sinner and kill an humble penitent Saint Besides I observe and wish it might be the observation of all That many through Grace in time and others too late have repented of this grievous Sin But never did I hear of any good man nor scarce any so wicked As to repent because they had not been Persecutors or that they had not persecuted more than they did Oh! that due consideration might swage the judgments of all Persons who are inclin'd to this Evil which is subject to so great danger Nevertheless Wickedness ought not to be tolerated anywhere much less in the Church of Christ especially when practised and defended for doubtless in such Case great will be the Sin of him that shall know it a not endeavour to the utmost of his Power to Oppose and Reform it Wherefore since you have again and again Contemned my other Lawful Means and Endeavours that so Iustice might be wrested and Wickedness justified saying All Excommunicated Persons will Complain and that 't is nothing if I do so let me tell you It had bin good for all such Confederates that they had at first hearkened to the voice of the Oppressed and done their Duty But seeing there is no probability thereof I hope not to omit any lawful means whereby I may discover whether you do not ldolize your New Lord to that degree as to love him more than God and your own Souls by defending him with Lyes or by refusing to speak the Truth where by his wicked VVords and Deeds may be discovered and made manifest And whatever you may think yet may you not expect any Favour upon the Account of your outward Profession of Holiness but as you are Loverg of Truth and Kighteousness therefore be advised to take heed how you make your solemn Proteâ—ations when called to bear Withess to the Truth lest you sell Heavens glory and purchase to your selves Hells eternal misery For Lyers Idolaters c. shall have their Portion in the Lake Beware likewise of False Accusations As for my own part I have not nor will Accuse you or him with any thing but what I know is true or can make appear by those who were never known to be false Accusers But for my own part this I say That as I would not part with my Just Civil Temporal Priviledg to gratifie the quarrel some boundless Humour of that unjust Judge whose part you have taken so will I not God assisting part with my Spiritual Priviledg or sell my Birthright in Heaven purchased for me by the precious Blood of my dear Lord and Saviour only for a Mess of Pottage or that by which I may only please my self or any other Beware my Friends how you sin against light and your own knowledge to desend
for it Thirdly Who gave him Commission to say and affirm That Patents were of the Divel and that He could as freely have Communion or fellowship with Idolaters or unclean Persons as with those that should have a Patent Or to question the Kings Royal Prerogative and that meerly in Relation to Secular things Forthly Who gave him Commission to say If he hath a statute for it what is that to us VVhat have we to do with the Laws and Statutes of men And so be it with Law or without it is all one to the lawless and disobedient and by what Authority could he call those Laws and Statutes unjust Since they are for the praise and Incouragement of those that do well Fifthly Who gives Commission or Warrant for such strange partiality so as in Contempt of the Kings Authority To send a man most maliciously to Hell in his own Conceit for Justifying of the same and accepting a favour thereby only to secure a Just priviledg from being a prey to the Common sort of men as himself calls them and all this to be Condemned under the notion of Covetousness and rendred as odious as possible and yet in the mean time to allow of unlawful Covetousness and that defended by deceit and defraud He himself well knowing the same Sixthly By what rule did he walk who did Receive an acousation against me by one that was not of the Church and Condemn the thereupon when the accuser was both witness and party and yet refuse an accusation brought in against another who was guilty of Cruelty prophane Cursing and that proved by several honest and unintersted Persons I say what rule had he for this but his own will like Nebuchadrezzor that whom he had a mind to save he saved and whom he had a mind to distroy he destroyed Seventhly VVho gave him Commmission To rebuke a man and that in the face of the Congregation For keeping Company with great Persons As he calleth them who are known to be Sober men and much honester then himself And this before it was or ever could be proved That any Sin was by this means Committed Eightly VVho gave him Commission To appear like an Enemy to peace and good Neighbourhood so as to forbid me to make peace between Neighbour and Neighbour and to blame me for being often Concerned therein though he could never prove That there was any Acts of Injustice or disorder thereby knowingly Committed Ninthly VVho gave him Commission To move for the denying Communion to several Congregations Because some that were rich were suffered to were a Gold Ring or Silver Buttons or Ribbons c. Tenthly VVho gave him Commission To make it unlawful for those that are in subjection to his Corrective power to trade or have any Trade or Commerce with me so as they might not buy or sell for me though Servants Lastly VVho gave him Commission to Condemn the Counsel and Admonition of our London Brethren so as to say We do not own them nor are to regard what they say Now Sirs If for all these things he have not Scripture Authority for their Iustification Then remember henceforth that wholsome Advice When he speaketh fair BELEIVE him not BELEIVE him not for their are more than Seven Abominations in his Heart For are not such principles and Practises Dangerous both to Church and state and besides other wickedness do they not render the Government of the Church Lordly and Tyrannical and the Authority of the State Contemptible so as to make the one Dangerous to the well being of the other For as the Church doth increase the safety and Authority of the Civil Magistrate must proportionably decrease VVitness the like Usurpation of the Church of Rome makeing Kings and Emperours Submit And can you alleadg any better Authority from Scripture for these things than Papists can for their Ceremonies and Traditions If not VVhere are you my Beloved VVhere are you Got Are you not within less than a Sabboth days Journey of Rome And whilst he with a high hand opposes the Quakers pretended perfection and Condemns many others more honest than himself for Idolatry Superstition and Usurpation As though he himself were of a Holy lamb like Spirit hath he not in the mean time by fair flattering words and smooth pretences Subtlely and Slily under pretence of Holy Ends Crept into your affections before you are aware That now you are Conjured so to Rely on his Infallibility As to make it a Bridge whereby to Step over the Authority of the Holy Scriptures that Sacred Boundary which as a River of Life divides the Church of Christ from that of Anti-christ Thus my beloved Brethren But his weak Little Children whilst he is as it were Singing to you a plesant Song of Romes ruin being at hand and Rocking you into the peaceable sleep of vain Confidence in his Cradle of pretended safety Hath he not all on a sudden Lead you over this Bridge of Infallibility quite A CROSS Scripture Authority and Squat you down in the very Lap of the Great VVhose of Babylon Whence if you would but awake you need not VVonder why he doth not own those honest Christian Brethren that are in the City of London For now you may see That it is the order of his Infallible Brethren Citizens of Rome that he doâ— most Resemble and approve of Obj. But possibly you may say Why did you not before this time disown him for these things if you did not allow thereof Sol. To which I Answer That I was wholly ignorant of his great Office and Authority and also of his deceits and even when I had Cause in some measure to suspect him my Charity was such that I could not Conclude him to be thus dangerous and deceitful But if the Case on your side be otherwise and that you were acquainted with such his Authority and Order of Government so as to know he hath power to be at once both an Accuser and Judge and that an absolute Submission and obedience ought to be performed to this High-Brave Lordly-Person as aforesaid Then let me tell you That you your selves who pretend to be my weak Brethren are most strong and my self most weak and simple And therefore forasmuch as you have offended me who am so weak according to your own Law you your selves ought to be Excommunicated except you submit whether the matter for which I am offended be lawful or unlawful Civil or Religious The Case is as broad as long and as you are honest I hope you will not think it too much if you without mercy should be paid with your own Coyn especially when your Actions whereby you have so offended me were tyrannical and unmerciful Forget not forget not my pretended tender loving Brethren what measure you have made But further to demonstrate that his Lordship in his own conceit is in as great Power and Authority as any the Pope pretends to give me leave to say That at a certain
that I had wronged any man I therefore demand of you oh ye my pretended tender loving Brethren whose Majesty I have offended that my Soul must be offered up in sacrifice to pacifie his Wrath and Indignation If he be not the true God was it not your Idol Thus they feared the Lord and served their Idol and yet will they lean upon the Lord and say I not the Lord amongst us and no evil can come upon us But one thing more which is not altogether impertinent to the case take as followeth One person more with whom I was very conversant who was at both meetings In which their infallible Apostle practised his design against me and notwithstanding he as I hope is a man as honest as any amongst them were he not seduced and deluded so as in all points to please his Idol for notwithstanding he never did believe nor could charge the thing to be unlawful or that it was against the mind and will of the most high God yet when he was at the solemn adoration of their Idol he not considering that he should do as he would be done unto did give his consent to this horrible cruelty and from that time is become a great defender of his Idols Tyranny and such is the force of his delusion that he is constrain'd to believe that what his Idol saith is as Oracles and therefore cannot but express the strange alteration of his whole mind and affection And now in his judgment I ought not only to be damned for opposing his Idol but also to be hanged drawn and quartered for said he to me you never had had your Patent if you had not stole the Seal To which person I say I do not remember that I at any time was reputed or suspected to be a Thief before nor yet known to be an obstinate offender of the most high God nor of those who are his faithful and honest people and yet will you think it pleasant for such an one if you were the party your self to be hanged drawn quarter'd and afterwards damn'd for ever But shall I be angry with him no I will not but sorry I am and pitty him I must because he cannot see his strong delusion But possibly he will say no I would not have a man suffer death for such a thing To which I answer that if he were not strangely deluded and seduced he then would say that it is much honester to hang a man for transgressing the Law of a King than it is to punish both Soul and Body for ever in Hell for transgressing the Laws of him who is no less than a Usurper Tyrant and an Idol and that before you know that you have any command from God for it or that you know that the party accused is an obstinate offender of God which indeed no person in the world can prove Now my beloved observe whether this his and your practise and principles be not the same with his brethren beyond the Seas who command the ignorant to believe as they believe and do as they bid and whether he hath not so far deluded you as to put you upon such practises as do justifie the Church of Romes usurped Authority rather than the Church of Christ whose government is according to Scripture authority let him that readeth judg and though Hypocrite like in words he doth disown them yet how can he honestly disown them when both he and you act by the same authority And though at a distance he may call her Whore and Harlot yet if she be so is it not clear that in matter of fact he hath committed Fornication with Her by approving of her corrupt and wicked wayes And therefore now my beloved you may no longer wonder that he should have Communion with Idolators and unclean persons rather than with those that keep themselves from Idols and approve of Letters Patents for if Idolatrous zeal hath not blinded your Eyes you may see that he himself is an Idol and a Fornicator and hath fellowship with Idolators every day But whereas some of you cry out against me for saying That he is a false Apostle and doth contemn the Authority of all that are above him I am therefore apt to conceive some objections will be raised or shifting excuses endeavoured to be made by this Lordly Usurper to wave or deny what he hath said or done notwithstanding all may be proved by many persons if they were injoyned to speak but the Truth of what they know viz. his saying If there be a Statute for it what is that to us what have we to do with the Laws and Statutes of Men That Patents are of the Devil And that he could as freely have Communion with Idolatrous and unclean Persons as with that man that should have a Patent Nothing of which was opposed by you although all those expressions savour strongly of contempt of All Authority whatever and seem directly to oppose that Precept of Peace Loyalty and Obedience enjoyned by the Apostle to a11 true Christians 1 Pet. ca. 2. v. 13. and 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man c. But possibly he will alledge That several persons of good quality subscribed their hands against me in procuring the Patent To which I answer that those worthy persons opposed my proceedings only upon a mistake and the false Informations of one or two Conspirators and that some of them since they came to understand the truth of the matter have freely declared to me in the presence of several persons that they were sorry they did appear against me and did now believe it was both just and right for me to enjoy my Priviledge But suppose he should deny the truth and say he did not affirm that Patents were of the Devil then observe I pray whether it doth not appear very plainly by his actions in the very Case of the before mentioned Covetous Person who is suffered by Deceit and fraud unlawfully to exercise or enjoy his Neighbors priviledge or Calling for notwithstanding they know it is contrary to all Law yet in Contempt thereof he and his covetous practises are allowed of But suppose this covetous person should have obteined a Patent from the King whereby he might enjoy the Trade or Livelyhood of other men then according to his Law it must come under the same condemnation so that it appears evident That 't is Patents not Covetousness Patents not Fraud simply Patents not Deceit that is the forbidden fruit of him whom you adore Again if he did not condemn Patents abstractedly and meerly as such to be of the Devil why are Patents worse in his conceit than Idolatry and Uncleanness but if you should say That you condemn me for justifying of Patents that by false information and so to unlawful Ends were obtained I answer this cannot be for I ever said That if any other Persons did make the Discovery before my self then it was their Priviledge and not my own
that which is no less than a Damnable Erroneous Principle For if it be true as you have in words said That the Church of Rome he become a Harlot which once was the Spouse of Christ Then Vsurpation is a Damnable Error For if she had not Usurped Authority to Compel Persons to do and practise more or less then what is by their Supream Lord and Master required and appointed for Discipline and. Government of the Church according to the Holy Scriptures then no doubt but she had continued a true Church unto this day Again If the Church Officers had not through Usurpation been corrupted but had governed the Church according to the Will of our Lord and Saviour revealed in Scripture and not mixt their own Inventions with Christs Institutions Then doubtless the Officers of the Church of Rome had still deserved the Honour to be stiled The Holy Successors of the Holy Apostles But if as you say by usurpation she be now come a VVhore and her Officers none of Christs Ministers Then I infer that Usurpation is a Damnable Sin For ever since such Usurpation her Officers are ceased to be the holy Successors of the Apostles and are become the Antichristian Successors of Usurpers Tyranâ—s and Murtherers and notorious Enemies to all true Christian Emperours Kings and Princes Whence 't is evident that Usurpation is a Damnable destroying Sin and most dangerous to Church and State But you may possibly say That Usurpation cannot be the greatest and most damnable Sin since it is the Sin of the Holy Ghost that is the greatest Sin and never to be forgiven To which I answer That the Sin committed against the Holy Ghost in my opinion is that Sin only which is committed under the highest degree of saving means to wit God by his holy Spirit and Word opposing and the person persevering in his intended wickedness so that whether it be the Sin of Usurpation Rebellion Tyranny Hypocriste Idolatry c. any of these may thus be committed against the Holy Ghost and so become impardonable And therefore my Brethren look to your Consciences if Baal be God serve him but if the Lord be God how dare you go beyond his Word and unerring Rule Believe not trust not the best of men in matters of Religion in any thing that is not according to the Word of the Lord remember that a man of God was torn in pieces by a Lyon because he believed one who was not as then a Prophet an Example worthy the observation of those that incline to trust any private man rather than the Word of God Be no longer deluded Oh ye my Beloved although unkind Friends and bear with me for endeavoring at once to defend my own Innocent Just Cause and shew you your Delusions and how you are Betray'd For hath he not corrupted your Authority and Government so as to render it to be Lordly Arbitrary and Tyrannical contrary to the Will and Mind of Christ whom you suppose is the Head of your Church Yea and I do also believe That you think that you Act under Christ by vertue of Authority and Commission received from Him only and not otherwise which if really true then are you the true Church or part of the true Church and so ought to go no further than the Lords Commission which so long as you observe you are undoubtedly his beloved Children and true Subjects to him here and such as shall Reign with him in his Kingdom forever which I also believe is your hope and expectation And to this you are often encouraged by your pretended true Apostle and to believe that the Order of his present Government will bring you to this happy estate But if like a pretended Angel or Light he with smooth Words and hypocritical Speeches and Pretences of Tender Love to you and Honour to the Church have led you out of this good way and order in which you might stand and remain in safety and hath inveigled you into a Government under which you are become Servants to another Master and Rebels to Him whom you conceit you serve and honour like those grievous Transgressors of whom the Lord complains Isaiah 58. 2. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways as a Nation that did Righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God They ask of me the Ordinance of Justice they take delight in approaching to God What I pray have you done more than they Oh! that you would lay it to heart and consider Whether you are not as much deluded as they were Which if so Then beware of vain Confidence and be sure that you are in danger wherefore for your Reformation I pray consider First That you ought to do nothing in obedience to your true Lord and Master but what you believe is your duty because Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Secondly That your Faith and Belief hath a firm and sure Foundation for what you do and especially for what you do compel in matter of Religion otherwise your Building may come to sudden ruine Add not therefore sin to sin but haste haste for Reformation apply yourselves to the Law and to the Testimonies In case he compells person to submit to his or your Wills without that Authority then know It is because his pretended Holiness is turned into VVickedness Haste then I say and do Justice when by the Lord it is required of you although it be to the cutting off of your right hand when by reason of a Gangrening malignant distemper it is destructive to the whole Body But if notwithstanding all that I have said you are so strongly deluded that he cannot appear in your Judgments a Rebel and an Usurper Then tell me I pray who it is gave him Commission and Authority to Accuse Condemn Judge and pass sentence against a member of the Church for that which is no Transgression and not suffer him to plead his Cause with the Congregation whom in words you declare are the proper Judges or reason with those that were offended in order to give them Satisfaction But contrary to the way of peace and peace-makers perpetually to Interpose with malicious Agravations So that we were not suffered to propose any Terms of Reconciliation each to other Do you verily believe Christ gave him Commission to Exercise this Arbitrary Government If you do shew me good grounds for such your faith and I will believe it also otherwise remember the Popes Acts of Tyranny are of as good Authority as yours and he as honest as your Apostle and not half so much an Hypocrite Secondly Who requires you to be so Slavishly at the dispose of this pretended Apostle as through his Instigation to Condemn a member before ever it was proved that he had Transgressed any known Law wronged Man Woman or Child or ever dispised any Admonition or indeed that he was ever so much as Admonished at all by any Two persons or that there ever was any occasion
be severely dealt with If he who is Infallible command you to approve of a Usurped Authority and disown all other Government to make himself only your Confessor to murther and destroy Kings Emperors or Princes or any other Persons to believe that the Bread and Wine after Consecration is really and substantially the Body and Blood of our blessed Saviour Believe and perform it you must or else be Damn'd And all the Congregation must say Amen But if some of the Services are too hard if you can but purchase as much kindness of him as your New Lord hath for his Kinswoman you then may have Pardon or Indulgence without Penance Obj. But now I suppose you will say although He nor we had no Scripture Authority for what he and we have done yet we do not pretend that he is Iafallible for if you remember you were accused because by the Patent you did offend the weak Brethren and you may call to mind That our dear Brother did prove that whatever did offend the weak Brethren If the Offender persist in justifying the thing although in it self lawful and honest and no way relating to Religion or Religious Worship ought to be punisht and because you did persist we therefore at his Request gave our Consents that you should be Damn'd except you submit although you might not know who those weak Brethren were To which I answer That by what hath been pretended and practised you would have me believe that it is the weak Brethren that are Infallible for otherwise you would not send a man to Hell for offending them that are subject to a quarrelsome boundless humour What your Apostle said I remember pretty well but that he proved his groundless Affertions I cannot so easily grant for let me tell you this is one of his Popeships New cheats by which his Police is Improved the better to seduce you so as to give him occasion to boast and rejoyce in his unlimited Power and admirable Greatness For now it is So that his and his weak Brethrens Power and Authority is equal with the Usurped Power and Authority of his pretended Infallible Brethren at Rome For now he and they may Damn whom they please and for what they please except they submit for what they please shall offend them But I knowing that many of you notwithstanding all his new Devices Tricks and Deceits do really believe that still his design is good and his heart towards God perfect and upright I therefore in Love to regain you am as it were constrained to shew you what great dangers this groundless Belief is attended with The best of those who was Seduced by Pope Innocent John the Taylor King of Leyden that pretended holy man Hacket or any other the greatest Deceivers that ever were in the Church were drawn in by this Bait viz. A Belief that although they might Act strangely and practise things without Scripture Authority yet their design was to promote Gods Glory and that his heart was upright Be wise now therefore and remember that the most Vnerring and Infallible Rule is without him not within him by that try his heart bring the counterfeit Gold to the Touchstone and whatever out of fondness or excess of Charity you may have Believed compare the same with that of Solomon and who knows but you may find it appear so after all his pious pretences and solemn Protestations viz. That his Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it But if you will shut your eyes and be still seduced to Believe that whatever he does is for Gods glory c. What may he not allure and draw you unto having already brought you meerly on his request to commit spiritual Murther and most uncharitably and unjustly Damn a man without the least Authority from Scripture Dare any of you my Beloved though most unmerciful Brethren say that his Precepts and your Practises are Authorized by the most High Do they not rather look like the hair-brain'd Proclamations of John of Leyden or the Extravagancies of a Popish Bull Do you own the holy Scriptures for the only and Infallible rule for Church Government Worship and Religious Exercises search then I pray peruse them diligently and if you find not his Commission for what he hath done therein Recorded you have too much cause to believe that you are Betrayed and if so look to your selves delays are dangerous Hast to the work keep close to your unerring Rule and eber remember that Councel of Christ Beware of false Prophets which come in Sheeps Cloathing but inwardly are ravenous Wolves Te shall know them by their Fruits Therefore see his Commission But suppose he should solemnly Protest That he is led by the Spirit yet as I wish the worst of you well let me beg of you to remember That the Spirit of the Lord doth not contradict his own will and mind revealed in Scripâ—ure Be not too confident consider that others like himself and his Confederates did in their wickednss lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us No evil can come upon us Is not the Case plain hath he not deceived and abused you at his pleasure through and by reason of his pretences to an extraordinary Zeal and unheard of Love And may not all good people whose eyes are not blinded with partiality easily see his Commissions and Authoritie by which he acted as aforesaid proceeds from the Devil the Father of Usurpers Rebels and Tyrants the Authorizer of all wickedness whereby he may destroy Christian Peace both of Church and State and will you condemn the Pope as his only darling Child for putting in Execution his devises and yet justifie him that doth the same thing at Home are they not Brethren serving one Master both Usurping Tyrants and will you separate from one here and yet receive your Portion with them both hereafter If so Then I say Adieu to you my unkind friends Adieu to you for ever But to prevent the worst I would yet in Love with all plainness further admonish you in hopes that you will hear as your Apostle said VVhat have we to do with the Laws and Statutes of Men So let me intreat you seriously to say Oh! what have we to do any more with Idolls Consider and lay to heart what an exquisite peice of Cruelty you have committed even offered up a Soul as a Sacrifice to your Idol for since you cannot prove your doings therein were required by or pleasing unto the most high God Is not the thing evident that it was wholly performed to the Solemne Adoration of your Idol who alone commanded and is well pleased with your Actions And further to convince you that he is no true Apostle do but observe I pray what manner of Persons they were he makes choise of above all others to attend his Person and help to defend his Acts of Tyranny when called to London to give an account thereof for