Sermons nor yet by their bookes which are full fraighted with false doctrines and confirmed and countenanced not onely by the Kings authority and power but also by wresting and false interpreting of the Scriptures and by alledging of popish Fathers which through the great ignorance of the people doe greatly prevaile btt then shall be abolished through the word and spirit of god his two witnesses in the mouth of his servants Rev. 11.3 and 19.10 who by word and writing shall breed such knowledge that none of wisedomes children shall be deceived Another reason why so many good people are now deceived is because we that have most truth are most persecuted and therefore most poore whereby we are unable to write and print as we would against the adversaries of the truth it is hard to get our daily food with the labors of our weak bodies and feeble hands how then should we have to defray other charges and to write and print I have through the help of god out of his word made a scourge of small cords 2 Pet. 2.2 wherewith Antichrist and his Ministers might be driven one of the Temple of God Also a declaration of certain false translations in the new Testament but I want wherewith to print and publish it therefore it must rest til the Lord see'th good to supply it It is the kings honor to search out a thing Prov. 25. Exod 3.6 In mean while I humbly intreat his Majesty and Parliament to give me leave to prove the Bishops with one question by which you may perceive the ignorance of your Bishops 't is this how they will bee able to prove a resurrection from these words I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Onely from these words will they prove the resurrection if they be the Bishops of Christ for he proved the resurrection from hence Luk. 20.27 The question is hard I grant but if their Lordships be not able to interpret it according to the meaning of Christ as I am sure they are not then it will be another cause very sufficient for their deprivation from their Lordly and idol offices and princely livings But because most men do wrest and mis-interpret the Scriptures some of wickednesse and some of ignorance for the utterance of their doctrines and so deceive both Prince and people I will shew how you shall perceive it lest thereby you still be deceived Every Scripture therfore mis-interpreted do make a contradiction As for example M. Iohnson one of the Preachers called Brownists to prove Rome a true church alledgeth 2 Thes 2.4 where the Apostle sheweth That the man of sin and son of perdition sitteth in the Temple of God which words Temple of God he interpreteth to be the church of God whereby he doth greatly erre for then such interpretation will contradict this scripture which saith 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of God is the pillar and ground of truth But if the man of sin sitteth there Rev. 28.2 Rev. 18 4. then it is a hold of foul spirits a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird as the Scripture speaketh yea the pillar and ground of falshood and not of truth Neither would the Lord call his people out of her as he doth if it were the true Church Rev. 12.13 14. Also if the temple of God in that place be interpreted the church of God this foul absurdity and contradiction will follow viz. that the Church called the woman to whom were given two wings of a great Eagle that she might fly into the wildernesse from her persecutors for a time times and half a time was not persecuted neither yet did sly into the wildernesse so long a time Neither yet was the Church called both woman and whore Re. 17.1 5. also great Babylon the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth drunken with the blood of the saints and of the martyrs of Iesus as the Scripture testifyeth Again if that be the church of God where the man of sin sitteth then the winepresse was not troden without but within the Church and so it also crosseth this Scripture which saith Rev. 14.20 the winepress was troden without the City so that blood came out unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs Ergo a false interpretation Moreover we are not to understand the word Temple at all times to mean the Church for when Christ said destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again did not mean the church nor yet the materiall Temple wherin he was but meant his body yet the Jews understood the word Temple otherwise even as Mr. Iohnson c doe here understand the word Temple otherwise then the bodies of peoples multitudes nations Rev. 17.5 and tongues which they ought not to doe Likewise Paul when he said If any man destroy the Temple of God him will God destroy did not mean the Church but the members of the Church So when he said the man of sin sitteth in the Temple of God he did not mean so much as the members of the church much lesse the church Therefore it must be understood that all those in whom the man of sin sitteth are called the Temple of God onely in respect that the Lord hath bought them for the Lord hath bought all men 2 Pet. 2.1 1 Joh. 2.2 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 7.23 Lev. 18.6 even the false teachers that deny him Therefore no man is his own in that respect but the Lords Also the Bishops themselves to prove brothers and sisters children may marry alledge Lev. 18. But that Scripture do not prove such marriages but the full contrary for it saith none shall come near to any of his kindred to uncover shame But brother and sisters children are kinsfolks Lev. 18.17 therefore they may not come near to uncover shame for that were wickednesse This they must confesse or else prove that brother and sisters children are not kinsfolks which they cannot seeing then brother and sisters children cannot call cozen and so all cozenship is blotted out by their doctrine for uncles and Aunts call their brothers and sisters child nephew neece Thus many Bishops and preachers do deceive Kings Princes and peoples by wresting and misinterpreting the Scripture Col. 2 8.1â— Therefore I earnestly desire your Majesty and Parliament to beware lest there be any man that spoyle you through Philosophy and vaine deceit through the Traditions of men according to the rudiments of the World and not after Christ 1 Tim. 6. â— 20 21. â— And to avoid profane and vain bablings and Antithesis or opposition falsly called learning which while some professe they have erred concerning the faith And now O King Prince and Parliament open your eyes and listen your eares unto compassion and mercy 2 Cor. 5.10 Mat. 5.45 Ver. 21 22. Lu. 18.7 8. 2 Thes 14.8 Jam. 1.5 6.
when they com there for God giveth a blessing onely to his own ordinance and abhorreth Antichrists And Kings are to think that they are men as well as Kings Act. 9.15 1 Tim. 2.1.2 1. Cor. 7.2.22 Wise 6.1.8 and that Christ hath ordained that same meanes of faith for Kings which he hath for subjects and that subjects are Christs freemen as well as Kings subjects and Kings that beleeve are Christs Servants even as subjects are Kings servants and both are bought with a price therefore both ought not to bee the servants of men in matter of faith and religion but Kings shall give a greater account at the day of judgment then their subjects to judge men now for religion is to judge afore the time also to sit in the judgment seat of Christ to whom onely it belongeth yet not before the day appointed how much lesse to Kings and Bishops Rom. 2.16 Act. 10.42 I read that Constantine the Emperor called the great wrote to the Bishop of Rome that he would not force constraine any man to the faith but onely admonish commit the judgment to God Christs kingdom is not of this world Ioh. 18 36.10.17 therefore may it not be purchased nor defended with the weapons of this world but by his word and spirit no other weapons hath he given to his Church which is his spirituall kingdom Therefore Christ saith Mat. 18.17 He that wil not heare the church let him he to thee as a heathen and a publicane Ephes 6.10.17 he saith not burne banish or imprison him that is Antichrists ordinance And though a man be an heretick yet ought he not to be burnt but to be rejected after once or twice admonition Tit. 3.10 that is cast out of the Church but as in the church of Rome people of all sorts are by persecution forced there into by the Bishops Ministers thereof so it is in the Church of England also which sheweth that the Bishops Ministers of Rome England are of one spirit in gathering people to their faith and church which is the spirit of Satan who knoweth welth at his kingdom the false Church would greatly decay if persecution were laid down seeing himself cannot stand before the word and spirit of God much lesse his Bishops Ministers therefore he wil have them for a name and shew to use the word of God but indeed if the false interpretation and alledging of the Scriptures wil not help then saith he constrain them with fire and sword or else if people have libertie of conscience they will try the spirits which of them is of God as the Apostle John teacheth and then saith he the Prince as well as people will try all things 1 Ioh. 4.1 and keepe that which is good and wil also prove themselves as the Apostle Paul teacheth whether they are in the Apostolike faith or not 2 Cor. 13. 5 as the Church of Rome provoketh the Magistrates to persecute to death such as are excommunicated out of her so doth the Church of England provoke the Magistrats to persecute to death such as she excommunicates And as the Bishops and Ministers of Rome will perswade the prince and people to heare and read none but themselves so do the Bishops and Ministers of of England also but the Bishops and Ministers of the Apostolick church doe perswade all men to prove and try the Spirits whether they are of God which they cannot doe except they heare and read other mens doctrines as well as the Bishops and their Ministers neither can they if they would so long as the Bishops have power from the King and State to silence and imprison c. all Preachers and to burne all books which teach not their doctrines Your Majesty and Parliament shall understand that all those that confesse freely without compulsion that Iesus is the Messiah 1 John 5.1 1 Joh. 4.2 1 Cor. 12.13 the Lord and that he came in flesh are to be esteemed the children of God and true christians seeing such are born of God and no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost therefore not to be persecuted And as Abel killed not Cain but was killed himself and as Isaac and Iacob did not persecute Ismael and Esau but was persecuted of Ismael and Esau who Gal. 4.29 and Cain were figures of all persecuters so the beleeving doe not persecute the unbeleeving nor the true Church the fals but the beleeving and true Church are as they have been most often persecuted themselves of whom Abel Isaac and Jacob were figures whose children are all beleevers and freemen that stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free Gal. 5.1 and will not be tangled with the yoke of bondage no not with circumcision much lesse with the discipline and doctrine of the Church of Rome whose Bishops are able Ministers of the fire and sword both to Prince and people as many Histories doe lamentably witnes to their utter infamy and overthrow also if the beleeving should persecute the unbeleeving to death who should remaine alive then none but the beleeving should live in the world and the unbeleeving should dye in their unbelief and so perish for ever the Lord will not that the beleeving should live to the destruction of the unbeleeving but unto their conversion edification and salvation And by persecuting of Prince and people to death because they will not heare and beleeve is no gaining of souls unto God but unto the devill And whereas ignorant and wicked Bishops may think to win souls by killing Prince and people for Religion they are deceived greatly for thereby they lose many souls viz. their own and the unbeleeving their own they lose because they wilfully break the Lords Commandement that saith Thou shalt not kill Luk. 18.20 meaning such as are not corporall malefactors and the others which dye in their unbeleef they confesse themselves are eternally lost except they as some of their ministers hold a redemption after this life And the Bishops should know that error and heresie cannot be killed by the fire and sword but by the word and spirit of God that is the onely weapons of Christs Bishops and Ministers and such only Christs ministers do use whose lives and conversations are so harmles holy and gentle that thereby and by their deaths and sufferings they win many souls unto God whereby they are known from all false Bishops and ministers who like wolves and beares not like sheepe and lambs make prey and devour both Prince and people that are not of their kind if they be able to master them Besides may it please your Majesty and Parliament to understand that the beleeving man that hath an unbeleeving wife 1 Cor. 7.16 and the beleeving woman that hath an unbeleeving husband cannot live together as the Scripture teaches for the salvation of the unbeleeving if they be
persecuted to death indeed some thereby are forced to confesse with the mouth that which they beleeve not in heart and so are made true dissemblers in stead of true Chistians wherby many men and women are deceived with dissembling husbands and wives as well as the King and State are deceived with dissembling servants and subjects but the word of God if permission of conscience might be granted would procure upright pure and unfained husbands and wives servants and subjects so that thereby neither Prince nor people should be deceived for all good shepherds wil divide and separate not force slay and persecute for if men and women be found Hereticks they shall be separated from the Church but if they be unbeleevers they shall not be joyned unto it untill they be converted by the word of God much lesse forced which conversion for ought we know may be at their death if not afore seeing the Lord calleth some at the eleventh houre so well as at the first Mat. 20. 6 7 and not at the King and Bishops pleasures Kings and Magistrates are to rule temporall affaires by the swords of their temporall kingdoms and Bishops and Ministers are to rule spirituall affaires by the word and spirit of God the sword of Christs spirituall kingdom and not to intermeddle one with anothers authority office and function and it is a great shame for the Bishops and Ministers not to be able to rule in their Church without the assistance of the King and Magistrate yea it is a great sign they are none of Christs Bishops and Ministers if they were they would not be afraid nor ashamed of their faith nor yet would they perswade Princes and people to persecute and force one another to beleeve them but would use only the assistance of Gods word and spirit and therewith suffer their faith and doctrine to be examined proved and disputed both by word and writing Tit. 1.7.9.11 And he is a true Bishop who is unreprovable and that is able to stop the mouths of his adversaries by Gods word and Spirit onely whose faith and discipline agree with the Prophets Christ and his Apostles and maketh no contradiction but all those Bishops that force Princes and peoples to receive their faith and discipline by persecution doe with Iudas goe against Christ in his members with swords staves and halberds who seeing Gods word will not help them betake themselves with all haste and hazard unto the authority of the King and Magistrate I read that a Bishop of Rome would have constrained a Turkish Emperor to the Christian faith unto whom the Emperor answered I beleeve that Christ was an excellent Prophet but he did never so far as I understand command that men should with the power of weapons bee constrained to beleeve his law and verily I also do force no man to beleeve Mahomets law Also I read that Iews Christians and Turks are tolerated in Constantinople and yet are peaceable though so contrary the one to the other If this he so how much more ought Christians not to force one another to Religion and how much more ought Christians to tolerate Christians when as the Turks do tolerate them shall we be lesse mercifull then the Turks or shall we learne the Turks to persecute Christians It is not onely unmercifull but unnaturall and abominable yea monstrous for one Christian to vex and destroy another for difference and questions of Religion and though tares have overgrown the wheate yet Christ will have them let alone till harvest Mat. 13.29.30 38. lest while you goe about to pluck up the tares you pluck up also the wheat with them as your predecessors have done who thought they had gathered up the tares and burned them but you see now that they have burned the wheat in stead of tares Wherfore in all humility and Christian modesty I doe affirm that through the unlawfull weed-hook of persecution which your predecessors have used and by your Majesty and Parliament is stil continued there is such a quantity of wheat plucked up and such a multitude of tares left behinde that the wheat which remain cannot yet appeare in any right visible congregation Acts 3.17 And now beloved Soveraign and Parliament I know that through ignorance you doe persecute as did also your predecessors Amend your lives therefore and turne that your sinnes may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord who before hath shewed by the month of his holy servant John Rev. 12.14 that the woman meaning the Church should fly into the wildernesse for a time times and half a time from the presence and persecution of the serpent And that the winepresse should bee troden without the City untill bloud came out of the winepresse unto the horse bridles Rev. 14.20 by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs and thus he hath fulfilled it Now therefore I humbly beseech you suffer not your Bishops and Ministers any longer to perswade to force your subjects or any others to their faith and Church by persecution neither suffer them therewith to defend their faith and Church against their adversaries if they have not any thing from Gods word against us let them yeeld and submit themselves if they think they have any thing against us let them betake themselves onely to Gods word both in word and writing 2 Tim. 3.16 For the whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God to that purpose and is profitable to teach to reprove to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect unto all good works with which scripture and not with fire and sword your Majesties Bishops and Ministers ought to be armed and weaponed Mat. 10.14 15. Mat. 16.11 and whosoever shall not heare the words of such Bishops and Ministers then such Bishops Ministers are commanded by Christ not to imprison burn banish hang them but to shake the dust of their feet against them for a witnesse when they depart from them Act. 13.51 affirming that at the day of judgment it shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrah then for such persons and this commandement of Christ did his Bishops and Ministers obey as you may read By which and by that which follow your gracious Maty and Princely and honorable Parliament may perceive the will and mind of our Lord and Saviour Christ unto whose mercy I commend you and to the word and wisdom of his grace which is able to build further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Amen Your faithfull and loving subject Leonard Busher not Furbusher There is one Furbusher a preacher in this Land Certain Reasons against Persecution FIrst because Christ hath not commanded any King Bishop or Minister to persecute the people for difference and judgement in matter of Religion Secondly because Christ hath commanded
his Bishops and Ministers to perswade Prince and people to heare and beleeve the Gospel by his word and spirit and as Ambassadors for him to beseech both Prince and people to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 6.20 and not as Tyrants to force and constraine them by persecution At â—y thousand Ambassadors Martyrs of Christ hath Bishops caused to bee slaine since Christ ascended Mark 13.9 Persecution destroys Christians but not errors Thirdly because through persecution it will come to passe that the Ambassadors of the onely spirituall Lord and King Iesus may he persecuted and imprisoned burned hanged or banished for delivering the message of their gracious Lord sincerely and often both to Prince and people which to doe is a more hainous fact then to persecute the Ambassadors of the greatest King and Prince in the world for in stead of hereticks they shall as they have already burn banish and hang the Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ who doth choose out whom he pleaseth to beare his name before Kings and Rulers for a testimoniall to them Fourthly because then we cannot say we have the liberty of the Gospel in our Land seeing where that is there is no persecution for any difference in Religion nor forcing of the conscience to beleeve the Gospel except by the word and spirit of God onely the which do wound and kill the errors of men and not their persons 2 Cor. 10.4 1 Tim. 1.13 15. Luke 9.53.55 Persecutors rebuked of Christ Fifthly because Christ came into the world to save sinners and not to destroy them though they be blasphemers seeing the Lord may convert them as he did Saul after called Paul and though they have difference in Religion or will not heare nor beleeve in Christ that they may be converted yet ought you not to persecute them seeing Christ rebuketh such his Father sent him not into the world to condemn the world but to save it be ye followers therefore of Christ and not of Antichrist in gathering people to the faith 1 Cor. 10 32. Col. 4.5 Sixthly because then you shall not walke wisely towards them that are without as the Scripture teacheth but shall offend also the Iewes and all other strangers who account it tyranny to have their consciences forced to religion by persecution Seventhly because if persecution bee not laid downe and liberty of conscience set up then cannot the Jews nor any strangers nor others contrary minded be ever converted in our Land for so long as they know aforehand that they shall be forced to beleeve against their consciences they will never seek to inhabit there by which means you keep them from the Apostolique faith if the apostolique faith be only taught where persecution is Eighthly because if freedom of conscience be not set up and persecution laid down then all the Kings subjects and all strangers inhabiting the Land that shall beleeve the Apostolique faith must depart the land to some free country or else abide the danger of burning banishing Persecution does make many strangers hanging and imprisoning the first will be a great impoverishing and weakning of our land besides a losse of the faith fullest subjects and friends The second will provoke the Lord to wrath by spilling the blood of his faithfull servants ambassadors and witnesses and also open the mouths of all strangers to speake yet more lamentably of the cruel and bloody persecution of our Land Ninthly because if persecution continue then the King and State shall have against their wils many dissemblers in authority and office both in Court City and Country yea no man of any degree shall know whether they are all faithfull and true Christians that are about him and with whom he hath to doe seeing most men will conforme themselves for feare of persecution although in their hearts they hate and detest the Religion whereto they are forced by law the which is very dangerous and hurtfull both to King and State in time of temptation from beyond the seas and in rebellion at home for they that are not faithfull to God in their Religion will never be faithfull to the King and State in their allegiance specially being tryed by a great reward or by a mighty rebell but wil to encrease their honors revenues conform themselves and some to save their honors land goods and lives will yeeld and submit though against their wils even as they have done in case of Religion for through forcing men to Church by persecution the true hearted subjects are forced out of the Land and out of the world some banished others burn'd hang'd and imprisoned to death Tenthly because then Persecution causes many religions in the Church if there be many religions in the land as it is well known there are it will come to passe through the continuance of persecution that many religions will be continued in the Church seeing all are forced to Church who bring their Religions with them as well as their bodies whereby all their devotion is against their consciences and all the Church is a confused Babel Rev. 18.2.4 full of every uncleane and hatefull bird even a bold of foule Spirits as the Scripture speaketh out of which the people of God are commanded to flee lest as of their sins they be also partakers of their plague And the Bishops the authors of persecution are very ignorant to think that when they have gotten people to their Church by persecution that then they have gotten them to their faith and Religion Better were it to have many religions in the land then in the Church the which is nothing so for most people though contrary minded to save life and goods will dissemble their Religion as for example the Jews in Spain and Portugal and the Papists Reformists and others in England but when they come hither or to some other free City or Counrry where praised be God is liberty of the Gospel then they shew that before they dissembled to avoid the cruell persecution of our Land Moreover the Bishops bewray great ignorance when they perswade the King and Parliament to force Prince and people to Church by persecution for if that be the means to come to the Church of Christ then Christ hath taught us to flee the means of salvation seeing hee hath taught us to flee persecution Mat. 10.23 Christ teacheth to flee persecution ergo it cannot possible be good Mat 7. 13. Note see 2 Tim. 3.3 4. the which the Bishops and their Ministers perswade to be a great means to bring men to the Church Indeed I confesse it is the onely meanes to bring Prince and people to the false church and therfore Christ teacheth us to flee that means least through persecution which is a great temptation we be constrained to goe the broad way which is the false Church that leadeth to destruction and many go in thereat and no marvail for there men may bee any thing except
good Christians for besides Demos the worldling and Hymeneus the blasphemer and many other sorts of indifferent Christians excommunicants covetous and profane persons there are notable Rebels and Traytors yea most cruell and desperate Traytors and Rebels as Digby Catesby Piercy c. whose unread and unheard treachery will never be forgotten which persons if they had not bin forced to Church against their consciences had never enterprized such horrible and hatefull treason And the Bishops should understand that it is preaching and not persecuting that getteth people to the Church of Christ for the Scripture saith Rom. 10.17 Faith is by hearing and bearing by the word of God and not by the sword of Princes and Magistrates as they perswade and practice And therefore the Bishops of our land are truly called Antichrists for by their beastly and bloody persecution as well as by their blasphemous titles erroneous doctrines and popish government may they justly be termed Antichrists Mat. 24. 2 Thes 2. 1 Tim. 4. 2 Pet. 2. Eleventhly because Christ foretold That many false Christs and false Prophets should arise and deceive many yea if it were possible the very elect and the Apostle Paul did prophecy a departure from the faith And Peter said There should be false teachers now among the people And John said the Kings should give their power and authority unto the beast Rev. 57.13 17 untill the words of God be fulfilled therefore if persecution be not laid downe and liberty of the Gospel set up you may persecute the true Christians in stead of the false as your predecessors have done for they are now like as they were then the smallest number and the false Christians are now like as they were then the greatest number and persecution is a notable mark of the false Church and her Bishops and ministers Gal. 2.3 4. 5.11 6.12 and therefore Christ would have us flee from it who overcame the devill and his Ministers by the word of God and by a good meek and gentle life whose steps his Bishops and Ministers ought to follow Twelfthly because persecution of such as do preach and teach Christ is a great hinderance to the liberty of the Gospel Note False Bishops reach Turkes and Pagans to persecute Christians For thereby are the Iews Turks and Pagans occasioned and encouraged to persecute likewise all such as preach and teach Christ in their Dominions For if christian Kings and Magistrates will not suffer Christians to preach and preach the Gospel of Christ freely and peaceably in their Dominions how should you expect it of the infidells unto whom Bishops and christian Kings and Magistrates ought to give a good example and not an evill as to burn banish hang and Imprison peaceable and godly christians that are no traytors nor theeves nor fighters nor manslayers nor yet swearers nor drunkards nor whoremasters nor such like And the King and Parliament may please to permit all sorts of Christians yea Jews Turks and Pagans so long as they are peaceable and no malefactors as is above-mentioned which if they be found to be under two or three witnesses let them be punished according to Gods word also if any be found to be willing lyers false accusers false alledgers and quoters of the Scriptures or other mens writings as some men willingly do let them be punished according to right and justice it is due desert no persecution but let Gods word have his ful and free passage among them all even to the end of their lives in all bountifulness long-sufferance and patience knowing that it is ordained of Gods rich mercy to lead the infidels and such as erre unto repentance and amendment Rom. 2.4 2 Tit. 2.25 out of the snare of the devil of whom they are taken and deceived Thirteenthly because persecution for Religion is to force the conscience and to force and constrain men and womens consciences to a Religion against their wils is to tyranize over the soul as well as over the body and herein the Bishops commit a greater sin then if they force the bodies of women and maids against their wills yea 2 Cor. 11.2 herein they are more cruell and greater tyrants then the Turks False Bishops worse then Turks and Pagans who though they force the bodies of strangers to slavery and bondage yet they let the conscience go free yea to Christians that are so contrary to them in Religions but these Idol-bishops will force the consciences of Christians their own naturall Countrymen Note False Bishops spirituall fornication 2 Thess 2.4 1 Cor 6.19 20. and 2 Cor. 6.16 17. with Rev. 18.4 2 Pet. 2.1 1 Pet. 1.19 even unto spirituall bondage and slavery and herein they commit fornication both with Prince and people and have made all both small and great to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads so that no man may buy or sell save he that will goe to Church and submit to the Bishops ordinances and name and mark of their beastly and bloody persecution through which as God they sit in and reigne over the consciences both of Prince and people which is the spirituall seat and temple of God bought at a dear price even with the precious blood of their onely spirituall Lord Jesus Messiah the true Shepheard and bishop of their soules And the Bishops in forcing men and womens consciences doe therein play the Antichrist so well as the Popes and indeed there is never a Bishop in the land but is a Pope for Pope in latin is Papa and Papa signifieth Father in English all the Bishops in our land are called reverend Fathers therefore all the Bishops in our land are called reverend Popes so many Lord Bishops so many reverend Fathers so many reverend Popes If Idolaters ought to be slain then ought all those that submit and yeeld spirituall obedience and reverence unto these Bishops to be slain who then should remain in land alive Rev. 17.13 and these are all so many Antichrists so many Idols and so many false Gods of England how many are thy Gods whom thou dost serve For whose spirituall adoration the knee of every man and woman must bow or else they shall be persecuted unto whom the King ought not any longer to give his authority and power lest hee fulfill the Scripture which saith that Kings should give their power and authority unto the beast Fourteenthly because the burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of men and women by Protestants for difference of Religion do justifie the burning banishing and imprisoning of men and women by the Papists for difference of religion even as the Papists doe justifie the Turks and Pagans in such like cruelty and tyranny wherein now is the Protestants more mercifull then the Papists or the Papists then the Turks Therefore as the Papists when they complain of the Turks and Pagans for their bloody persecution doe therein condemn themselves because they
ye have heard how that he should come and now already is he in the world The same is the Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son whosoever denyeth the Son the same hath not the Father 1 Ioh. 2. â—… 2â— Iohn 17.3.5.8 1 Cor. 15.47 Iohn 6 38.4â— 62 7.26 27. Iohn 16.2 3.27 21. the Apostle meaneth such as deny Jesus to be Messiah the Lord that came down from heaven as Christ and they have taught such have not the Father but doe deny him also as they have taught him and therefore Christ saith The times shall come that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service but these things they will do unto you because thay have not known the father nor me the father loveth such as beleeve that I came out from God thus saith Christ but Antichrist and his Ministers beleeve not this doctrine neither doe they thus teach Christ Jesus the Messiah And you may please to understand that of this Antichrist or rather as the Syriack of this false Christ came the Church of Rome whose Bishops and Ministers teach not this doctrine and as the mother so the daughter also teacheth not this doctrine but will likewise persecute both Prince and people that shall confesse that Iesus Messiah came in flesh as John teacheth 1 Ioh. 4 2. Iohn 6.62 and 3.13 Iohn 17 5. 1 Cor. 15.47 49 1 Ioh. 4 3. 2 Cor. 11 12 15. Rev. 12.6.14 or that the Son of man ascended up where he was before or that he was glorified with his father before the world was as himself saith Or that he was the second man the Lord from heaven or that he had and hath a heavenly body as Paul teacheth for these and such like doctrines doe the Church of Rome and her daughters persecute with fire and sword being indued with the spirit of Antichrist By which Antichrist his Apostles and Ministers the Apostolick Church was scattered and driven into the wildernesse that is desert and secret places of this world even by their bloody persecution the which still they continue and raise against the members and witnesses thereof who were and are the martyrs which in all ages have and doe suffer death imprisonment and banishment since the first persecution and we never read nor ever shall read that the Apostolick Church or such as have derived their faith and discipline of her did ever persecute Therefore I humbly desire his Majesty and Parliament with all godly carefulnesse to consider that it is not possible that the Church of Rome called Catholick or those that are descended of her and have received their Ministry and Ordination from her ever was or could be the apostolick Church called primitive Church or she that is descended from her seeing the Scripture saith the Apostolick Church called in Scripture the woman hath a place prepared of God in the wildernesse a thousand two hundred and sixty days from the presence of such as did persecute her Rev. 12 6.13.14 How then I beseech you consider may it be possible that the church of Rome called in Scripture a mystery great Babylon the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth the woman that sitteth upon a scarlet coloured beast ful of names of blasphemy the woman arrayed in purple scarlet and guilded with gold and precious stones and pearls having a cup of gold in her hand full of abominations and silibinesse of her fornication the woman that is drunken with the blood of saints with the blood of the martyrs or witnesses of Iesus by her beastly persecution was or could be ever the Apostolique Church or are those that are descended from her seeing the Scripture saith Rev. 12 6.13.14 she hath a place in the wildernesse prepared of God where she should be sed a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes from the presence of her persecutors If so be you will have the Church of Rome and those that are descended from her to be the true Apostolick church Note then it wil follow that the church called the woman and did fly into the wilderness from her persecutors was and is the false Antichristian Church and also it will follow that those which we account to be the martyrs and witnesses of Jesus were not of the true Apostolick Church 2 Thes 2.3 6.8 1 Tim. 4.1.2 â—… Rev. 12.6 11 14. and 17.2 6 17. 2 Tim. 3.1.9 4.3 4. 2 Pet. 2.1.3 1 Ioh. 2.18 19 and 4.1 2 Iohn 7. Iude 4 11 16. Like mother like Daughter 1 Tim. â— â— Rev. 2.24 but were obstinate persons and heretiques even as their adversaries in Rome Spain England and elswhere did persecute adjudge and execute them for But if you will have the prophecy of the Apostles to be true and will beleeve their holy writings and also will have the martyrs that have been burned banished hanged imprisoned to be of the true Apostolick Church then it wil follow and that justly according agreeable to the Scriptures that the Church of Rome and those that did and doe persecute are descended from the false antichristian Church called a mystery great Babylon the mother of whordoms and abominations of the earth c. which was and is drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs of Iesus seeing they have her antichristian faith and lordly discipline and for the defence and maintenance thereof will also burn banish hang and imprison so hot and fiery zealous that thereby they shew plainly that they walk so just and even in the steps and paths of the mysticall woman great Babylon their bloody parent and mother so even I say as if they studyed her lying and hypocriticall doctrine her deep and devilish divinity her blasphemous princely and dangerous dignity and her beastly bloudy and deadly discipline Through the continuance whereof not only the Apostolick church is continued still in the wildernes and desert of this world but also the Iews and others both in great Britain and all over the world are kept backe from the knowledge of Gods holy Word the onely order and ordinance Christ hath appointed for the gathering of his Church together out of all places of the world 1 Joh. 4.1 And so long as persecution continue you cannot try the spirits of the many false Prophets that are gone out into the world as the holy Apostle doth lovingly advise and admonish you But like the Papists Fire and sword no equall weapons to the spirit and Word must be eyed onely to the spirits of your lordly Bishops and their Ministers who will have all both King Prince people to receive their spirits and therefore will not have any others to preach and print within the land lest their lying doctrine and lordly discipline be discovered and disclaimed And in stead of disputing and writing by the word and spirit of Christ against their adversaries they wil cruelly persecute and fight against them by fire and sword and spirit of
1 Thes 5.19 is to quench the Spirit of God in Christs Bishops and Ministers and also to frustrate the precept of Christ which saith Preach the Gospel to every creature Besides it maketh their one office function void they ought to preach and instruct with al meeknes them that are contrary minded proving if God at any time wil give them repentance 2 Tim. 2.24 25. that they may know the truth for the ministers of the Lord must not strive but be apt to teach gentle towards all men suffering evil men patiently telling Kings and Princes that the weapons of Christ Bishops and Ministers are not carnal as the weapons of all false Antichristian Bishops and Ministers are but Spiritual and mighty through God to cast downe holds casting downe every high thing 2 Cor. 10.3.5 that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Also if al within the land be forced to be of the church as the Bishops and their ministers would stil have it then there would be no world in the land but al the land would be the Church which is absurd contrary to the scriptures and great ignorance do the Bishops Rev. 11. â— Act. 2.41 47. Note Act. 2.47 their ministers shew when they think the whole nation of people is the church of Christ for then it cannot be said out of great Britaine the Lord added to the Church from day to day such as should be saved seeing within the land there would be none without to be added Also within that land A true Church wil not persecute Mat. 12.25 Rev. 18.2.8 1 Cor. 8.11.12 Luc. 10.3 Gen. 32.28 Rom. 13.4 there would be no persecution seeing the church of Christ doth not persecute at al much lesse it self but the Ministers and members of that Church do persecute one another and therefore it cannot be the spiritual Kingdome Church of Christ but of Antichrist seeing it is divided against it self and persecuteth one another and wil with her mother great Babilon be consumed and condemned seeing as she they burne banish hang and imprison one another which is no Christian but Antichristian monstrous cruel woolvish tyranous part and practise for Christ sent his Ministers as lambs among wolves and not as wolves among Lambs Againe I humbly and with al reverence do beseech his right excellent Majesty to give me leave to put him in minde of those things that do concern the glory of God the assurance of his owne salvation the stablishment of his throne the benefit both of the Church of Christ and the common wealth of al his Dominions And though as Josias he finde by reading in the booke of the New Testament a great alteration of the Apostolick faith change of the lawes ordinances of Christ within his Dominions Yet not to be dismayed as Henry Legrand but be encouraged as Josiah to labour endeavour the redresse thereof according to the minde of Christ in his New Testament And I doubt not but as Iacob the Patriarch prevailed with God men so shal Iacob the King prevails both with God men especially being his chief steward by his new testament Through the zealous reading whereof will be found that Antichrist the King of the Catholick faith discipline called the mystery of iniquity doth sit in the Temple of God even as the Scripture hath foretold 2 Tim. 2. 1 Tim 4. Rev. 7 15. 2 The. 2.8 Rev. 17.16.17 But it is to be noted that the Scripture hath also foretold of the consummation abolition of this antichrist the man of sin and his mistery of iniquity with the utmost of his arrival or highest top of dignity he is come unto and this shall be done by the spirit of the Lord in the much of his servants For when the words of God be fulfilled then shal the servants of the Lord prevaile by his word spirit with ten Kings that shal hate Câ—aled the Temple of God 2 Thes Rev. 17 1.1â—.18 Ioh. 16.2 and make the whore desolate which sitteth in the hearts and consciences of peoples multitudes nations and this whore is the woman called the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth meaning the church of Rome by her false faith and discipline which is so faâ—… setled in the hearts consciences of the Kings of the earth that they think they do God good service in killing burning his servants that do speak against her faith and diâ—cipline and that wil not buy any of her warâ—s that is Rev. 17.13 14. her Antichristian doctrines and ordinances But as she hath had her exaâ—tation and arrival to the height and dignity of the sea Empire of Rome by the love of kings who have given their power and authority unto her and who have fought for her against the Saints servants of Iesus So she shal have her consummation abolition from that height and dignity by the hatred of Kings who againe shall take their power and authority from her and therewith defend the peace and persons of the Saints and servants of Iesus and not for religions peace will use their power and authority against the bloudy persecution of Antichrist and al his bloudy Bishops and Ministers and so become nursing fathers unto the Church of Christ And as it hath pleased God to give his Majesty peace round about as he did unto King Cyrus in whose dayes the material Temple began to be repaired which was a figure of the spiritual temple So I pray it may please him also in the peaceable dayes of King James to begin to repaire the spiritual Temple the Apostolick church scattered and driven abroad into the wildernes of this world Esa 2.4 Ezra 4.7 Ha. 24.10 whose calling and gathering together must be by the preaching of the word of God both to Jewes and Gentils and not by the sword of the Kings of the earth as Antichrist's and his Ministers have now along time perswaded prevailed whereby not onely the Jewes and infidels but also papists and other false Christians are hindred and deprived from the knowledge of the Apostolick faith And it is to be noted that David might not build Gods Temple because he had spilt much blood which sheweth no blood ought to be spilt for the building of the spirituall temple 1. Chro. 28.3 Ergo peace in religion is a good meanes to make a unity of religion among so many Christian sects Exod. 25.2 and 35.5 Act 2.40.41 Mat. 28 And it is wel worthy consideration that as in the time of the old Testament the lord would not have his offerings by constraint but of every man whose heart gave it freely so now in time of the gospel he will not have the people constrain'd but as many as receive the word gladly they are to be added to the church by baptism Mat. 16.16 Mat. 10.11 14. and
pomp and state and of our great and princelike houses housholds and revenues that so we may be made equall and conformable to the ministers of Christ and then we shal have both hope and comfort of the world to come although but little in this except your Majesty and Parliament do grant free liberty of conscience the which wee now doe also with the poor distressed christians most humbly intreat and desire and that for these foure reasons First because thereby the gospel of Christ will be set free and at liberty whereby all people both Iews and Gentiles wil be gathered to the apostolick faith church and discipline Secondly because many of your Majesties subjects both men and women who now are forced to dissemble their Religion for fear of our persecution will be released and set free from their spirituall bondage and slavery wherein we now doe hold them against their consciences and so they will become more faitfull Christians to God and more loyall subjects to your Majesty then ever they were before to the salvation of their soules and the safety of the Crown and State Thirdly because the poore distressed Christians how banished and dispersed out of their Fatherland over the face of the earth will bee redeemed from great misery and bondage wherein now no doubt they live and abide because they will not bee in bondage to any other spirituall Lord or bead then the Lord Iesus Messiah alone whose faith and discipline they desire onely to learne and obey Fourthly because thereby great benefit and commodity will redound both to your Majesty and to all your subjects within your Highness dominions by the great commerce in trade and trafick both of Iewes and all people which now for want of liberty of conscience are forced and driven elswhere and also from the revenues and livings which we and our Clergy doe possesse and from the Courts and offices we hold and keep greats profit and commodity will redound both to your Highnesse and to all your kingdoms we say more profit and commodity then we or any man is able to expresse And therefore we also desire all his Majesties subjects hath great and small in all love and feare of God not to be offended or any way moved or grieved Too great is the ods to use the sword against Gods Word when they shall see such aâ—d formation of us as that famous King Henry the eight did make of our lordly brethren the Abbots and their Clergy For indeed such a reformation ought to come among us and our Clergy seeing we are no way agreeable to the new Testament of the onely spirituall Lord Iesus Messiah but are limbs and fellow members of that Antichristian and Romish church which in the scriptures is Prophecyed to be abolished and destroyed Now therefore we pray you all let not King David say the sons of Zerviah are too strong for him for that will be unprofitable for you all And for conclusion we entreat his Majesty and Parliament to enact that as our adversaries come against us onely with the word of God so we go against them onely with the word of God and nor as we have done by civill authority for so our selves may be forced to dissemble Thus it may be the Lord will perswade and work in the hearts of some of the Bishops who will willingly resign their Antichristian titles and Popish pomp and state with their princelike houses and livings into the hands of the King without any compulsion or constraint But if they do not yet if it please God to open the Kings heart to see their Antichristian and Idol estate the danger and damage they cause both to the King Prince people they will be compelled thereto even as their lordly brethren the Abbots in King Henry's days were The Bps. greater Idols then the Abbots images or golden calf And howsoever it be not regarded or perhaps not discerned yet in the sight of God and his people they are greater Idols then their lordly brethren the Abbots yea greater Idols then the images of wood and stone which that famous and godly King Edward did pul down and destroy for they did not imprison nor burn nor hang nor yet cause to bee banished any of the Kings subjects thus would not worship them as these Idol-bishops do and out of doubt these Bishops are greater Idols then the golden Calfe Airon made and offered unto for the Calf did not persecute nor vex such as did not acknowledge it for their Lord as the Bishops doe neither did the Calf reign and rule by force over the consciences of the people as these Idol-bishops doe Besides the Calf was set up in stead of Moses who brought the people out of Egypt Ex. 32.1 7. What greater idolatry then to obey other spirituall Lords then the Lord Iesus and shewed them the will of God but these Bishops are set up in stead of Christ who have brought us out of the bondage of hel and who sheweth us his Fathers will in his new Testament the which these Idol-bishops will not suffer us to obey but in stead thereof will force us to fal down worship and obey their father Antichrists wil and old testament which stinks in the nostrills of all reformed strangers that hear thereof as well as in ours that have taken our flight from it Therefore these spirituall lords and Idol-bishops ought to be pulled down and suppressed 2 Kings 23 17.20 like the Abbots their lordly brethren though not sacrificed unto the Lord in Smithfield as the godly King Josias sacrificed the Idol-priests of the high places on the Altars thereof And I do verily beleeve that if free liberty of conscience be granted that the spiritual kingdom of these Idol-bishops will in time fall to the ground of it self 1 Sam. 5.3 as the Idol Dagon fell before the Ark for through the knowledge of Gods word will all godly people withdraw themselves in all peaceable and godly wife from the spirituall obedience of these spirituall Lords and Idol-bishops and quietly betake themselves unto the obedience of the only spiritual Lord Iesus Messiah But howsoever it be I shall be contented therewith and so I wish aâ—l others for we all ought to be content if we obtain liberty of conscience and therefore to give God praise continually that hath wrought so blessed a work in the hearts of the King and Parliament for whom as the Scripture teacheth wee ought to make supplications 1 Tit. 2.1.2 prayers and intercessions that they may come to the knowledge of the truth and that we may lead a peaceable and quiet life in all godlinesse and honesty And unto whom we ought to give by the law of God all earthly honour Ro. 13.1.7 fear and reverence and willingly to pay tribute and custome tax and toll so much and so often as it shall please his Majesty and Parliament to appoint and gather by any officer or officers