discription of that sinne Hebr. 6. 10. where there is dispyting of the spirit accompting the blood of IESVS an vnholy thinge persecuting the light they haue sometimes tasted of and such like notes which are degrees further then presumption for there is presumption of ignorance of rashnes of hope of mercy and many times do the Prophets charge the people with rebellion against God so that all presumption cannot haue the curse maranatha pronounced vpon it or the persons not to bee prayed for But sure I grant that presumption is neere to that sinne and there cannot bee that high sinne without presumption But now if all sinne but sinne of frayltie were vnpardonable your Clergie were in a wofull case that thus maynely resist the truth and persecute Gods seruants Neither is this doctrine anye way contrarye to that I delyuered namelye that the regenerat man cannot bee sayd to stande in bondage to sinne after regeneration and the seruant of God at the same time by outwarde profession for none are in bondage to sinne after their calling to the faith to our iudgment but suche as contynue obstinate in their open knowne sinne after due admonition that such stande not by outwarde profession the seruants of CHRIST but of sinne and are to bee excommunicate hee willingly granteth and herevpon merueileth how I shoulde gather that obstinat grosse sinners shoulde not bee excommunicat which hee might playnlye perceiue if hee had eyes for if al the regenerat bee in bondage to sinne and so the seruants of sinne and of Satan howe should they cast out an other for bondage out of their fellowship by the power of CHRIST If Mr. GIFF. say because the obstinate is in greater bondage then the other this proueth not that the bond can cast out the bond by the power of CHRIST Againe if all bee in bondage then none can bee holden without for being in bondage to sinne so that none shoulde bee excommunicat none without the worlde and the Church light and darknes CHRIST and Beliall should bee mingled together To all which hee hath made no answere but demandeth certeine questions and maketh such a formal conclusion as if all were in bondage vnto sinne His questions I grant al affirmatiuely yet denye his coÌ„sequence Let him plainely proue therfore by euidence of scripture that all that do sinne are bondslaues of sinne and when hee hath so done I shall therevpon conclude him a flat Anabaptist in the cheif ground of their profession Verye gladlye therefore vvoulde hee leaue out the worde bondage and falslye accuseth and sclandereth mee in saying I holde that men can not outwardly appeare sinners and stand the seruants of CHRIST both at a time vvhich is an open vntruth Yt is hee that cannot put differeÌ„ce betwene sinning and bondage vnto sinne so that in one vvorde all his questions are answered If anie bee in bondage to sinne hee standeth a seruant thereof Now for the 7. to the Romanes the Apostle setting forth the strift betwene the flesh and the Spirit speaketh somtimes in the person of the one if I may so speake and somtimes of the other somtimes of the newe man or regenerat part or of himself so far as hee is regenerat somtimes of the olde man which is not wholly slaine but full of rebellion striueth for maisterie Nowe I must demand of him whether of these two haue the preheminence dominion and rule in the regenerat the graces of the spirit or the rebellions of the flesh The same Apostle saith the spirit and that part of the man renewed therewith which wee call the inner maÌ„ In the 8. Cap. hee maketh it playne The lawe of the spirit of life in CHRIST hath freed mee from the lawe of sinne and of death What is the lawe of the Spirit but the powre rule and dominion of the Spirit of God in vs And what is the lawe of sinne but the powre of sinne and bondage wherewith wee were somtimes led headlong by Satan at his pleasure but are nowe freed that it no more doth reigne or beare rule in vs vnto condemnation Againe whosoeuer are ledd by the Spirit of God are the sonnes of God and in the 7. Cap. 4. and 6. Cap. 16. knowe you not that to vvhome you exâ—ibit your selues seruants vnto obedience his seruants you are to vvhome you giue your selues obedient DAVID feeling the great assaultes of sinne in his flesh and his inhabilitie to keepe the Lawe of God earnestlye prayeth vnto the Lorde Direct my steppes in thy vvorde saith hee and let none iniquitie haue dominion over mee After the stronge man is cast out CHRIST beareth the rule ouer vs and in vs by his Spirit So the scripture euerye where pronounceth vs Saincts by calling Kinges and Priestes a people set free not that wee sinne not in thought word and deede howrely and daylye but that sinne hath not dominion ouer vs If then wee were in bondage to sinne wee are the servantes of sinne and of death which God forbid Where Mr. GIFF. therfore reasoneth thus the regeneration is imperfect therefore the freedome is imperfect therefore there is some bondage yt is blasphemie For first our freedome is perfect in CHRIST ells his death is not sufficient Then though our sanctification bee not perfect yet is there no bondage but a rebellion of sinne which if yt shoulde reigne wee were not the seruantes of CHRIST And while it seemeth for a time to reigne and wee obstinatly to cleaue vnto yt wee are iudged soe far as men can iudge the seruantes of yt and so gyuen ouer from CHRIST vnto Satan till the grace of the Spirit againe to our iudgement againe appeare to beare rule As for DAVID in the whole yeare after hee had commytted adulterye and murther hee neuer pleaded for his sinne when hee was reproued nor did no longer cleaue vnto yt Soe likewise though wee fall and sinne and bee â—edd awaye with sinne yet are wee not in bondage therevnto vntil wee obstinatly and wilfully giue our selues vnto yt from CHRIST which you finde not in the 7. to the Rom. but resisting of sinne a hatred of sinne a will to doe good a repentance and continuall recouerye of himself and flying vnto CHRIST Soe that your doctrine is false to saye the Apostle stoode in some spirituall bondage and my Argument still firme that these Ministers and people which stande in a professed bondage to a false gouernment their prayâ—rs are an abhomination vnto the Lorde till they repent and submit themselues vnto CHRIST and his lawes and ordinances Whiche the Lorde gyue them grace to doe euen speedely to depart out of the house of bondage and from all subiection of his Antichristian Hierarchie CHRISTS vnworthie vvitnes for the truth and freedome of the Gospell IOHN GRENVVOOD FINIS Math 2 4. Mar. 13. Psa. 74. Dan. 7. 9. 11 Cap. 2 Thes. 2. 2 Tim. 3. Reuel 6. Reuel 8. Reuel 9. Reuel 13. Reuel 17. Reuel 16. Reuel 18. Reuel 19. â—â—uel 12. 14 Reuel
willinglie gladlie accept of it and wil refuse no indifferent godlie conference which we yet this time expected and to that end wrote at certeine of your chief Ministers requests these Articles which you haue takeÌ„ vpoÌ„ you to answere In the rest though you haue most rashlie most vnchariblie reproched condempned vs alredie contrarie to all truth order or equitie euen for telling you the truth Yet if hereafter you can beware of rash iudgment we shall reioice Likewise if you can escape Gods iudgments for these your heinous transgressions or make anie better plea for them then as yet we haue heard or can perceiue we shall not be sorie but much glad if you would preuent the wrath that hangeth ouer your heads for them by vnfeigned repentance spedie amendement THE 4 fault is in the subiectioÌ„ to Antichristian gouernment Let it be admitted that ther is some yoake of Antichristian gouernment vnder which the poore Church doth grone as it is her lot to be oppressed with outward bondage to be made to keepe the vineyeard which is not her owne to be beaten of the watchmen to haue her vaile taken from her is she therfore no longer the Spouse of Christ BVT o how far are you from this which winke with your eies stop your eares hardeÌ„ your hearts which caÌ„not endure so much as to heare of your feareful estaâ—e which you see not no nor suffer your sores which you see to be touched but seeke rather to cloake hide them both froÌ„ God men yea to mitigate tollerate iustifie them Seeke you not here to mitigate that heauie apparant AntichristiaÌ„ yoak your Churches stand vnder wherof heretofore you haue complained in Parliaments tearming yt some yoake being now peraduenture through long custome growen lighter vnto you and more easie then Christs yoake at the least theÌ„ Christs Crosse. And yet this some yoake is yeilded but by waie of admition to be retracted at your pleasure if either aduantage arise to vs or danger grow to you therby Further you haue added to this your hipocrisie Blasphemie tearming the yoake of Antichrist the lott of the Church which she must beare by the will of God wherof in due place Now to shew this some yoake you speake of according to the indignitie therof in euerie perticular would make a volume Yea onlie to recite y e seuerall enormities therof would require a discourse which is neither our purpose at this time neither haue we skill or experience therin Only this we see and testifie that your churches staÌ„d whollie vnder the yoake of Antichrist you still reteining his Worship his Lawes his Ordinances his Officers his Courtes euen the whole gouernment that the Pope somtime committed to his faithfull seruants your Bishops which now haue takeÌ„ his power into their owne hands What a sort of stagelike Antichristian Courtes haue you As first that great Court of your high CoÌ„mission the Court ex officio in euerie Bishops house the Court of Arches the Court of Delegates the Court of Faculties Not to speak of your inferiour Courtes in the Contrie as your Commissaries and Officialls Courtes your Scenes such like What a rabble of Officers attendants are vnto theâ—e belonging Aduocates Doctors Proctors Registers Scribes Pursiuants Who can number all their AntichristiaÌ„ Cannons Lawes Rites Ceremonies Priuileges Dispensations Licences of all sortes Probations Inhibitions c which require but the whole age of a man to reade But now who can recount the perticular mischiefs enormities that ensue flow from them euen ouer the whole land Or who yeildeth not to this Antichristian iurisdiction Doo not you your whole Parishes without exception of one bowe downe to this Beast and take the marke of his subiection or the print of his lawes vpon you eueÌ„ in your foreheads in your handes What libertie haue you to refreine froÌ„ these abhominations without present persecution Or what powre haue you to execute and practize Christs lawes Call you this but some yoake The holie Ghost hath taught vs to call you his â—eruants to whome you obey So we finding you vnder the obedience of Antichrist cannot compt you the seruants of Christ vnlesse you can proue that you can serue two coÌ„trarie Maisters faithfullie at once Christ Antichrist are at perpetual war ther is no coÌ„munion betwene them So that it is impossible that the Church of Christ can carie the yoake of Antichrist without breach of wedlock euen of the Couenant as appeareth plentifullie in all the Prophets Christs loue being not bound to her anie longer then shee keepeth faith to him Againe ther is continuall war betwene the true Church and Antichrist which were at an end if she should yeild vnto him or carie his yoake as you suppose But if you had learned to put difference betwene persecution and bondage you could not in this matter haue runne into this blasphemous error as to say it is the lot of the Church to be oppressed with outward boÌ„dage and to be made to keepe the vineyeard which is not her owne Persecution in deed is the lott of the Church here is this world as he that was borne after the flesh persecuted him that was borne after the Spirit But bondage is the badge of Antichrist the marke of the Beast wherby his souldiours are discerned froÌ„ the souldiors of Christ and the children of mount Sina from the childreÌ„ of Hierusalem which is aboue free eueÌ„ the mother of vs all for whome our Capitaine Christ hath purchased a full a perfect libertie at a deare precious price which libertie once lost ther remaineth no more ransoms to make vs free It behooueth therfore all the children of the free woman to stand fast in the libertie wherwith Christ hath made theÌ„ free and not to be intangled againe with the yoake of bondage Neither can these places of the Songe which you haue falsified peruerted anie way carie this doctâ—ine you would build vpon them or coÌ„struction you make In the first place though the Church confesseth her owne vnworthines deformitie borne in originall sinne which conceiued and brought out in her manie actuall sinnes which being kinled in her against her ofteÌ„ enticed her prouoked her to keepe their vines wherby she neglected to dresse and keepe her owne vine Yet from hence it followeth not that because she was sinfull negligent that therfore she was obstinate incortigible the contrarie appeareth in that she thus humblie modestlie confesseth her faultes Or because she kept not her owne vine as she ought to doo that therfore she kept Antichrists vine which shee ought not to doo What a bolde falsifijng of this place is this to all edge y â— the Church was made to keepe the vineyeard which is not her owne in stead of this that she kept not her owne vine If you had looked vpon the two next verses following you could neuer thus groslie
right deare and faithful seruant of CHRIST yet Sathan sifted him and he fell Yea we had thought that our Sauiour onlie had receiued this strength and defence against al temptations to sinne assaults c. And that al mortal men had bene dailye subiect to sinne temptation c that our reioycing might be of God and not of our selues and Gods glorie be shewed and perfected through our weaknes If these vanuties of the Bissops were true then might it indeed rightly be called a Confirmation for then such as had that were sure and sure there then to those should be no more vse of CHRISTES merites suffrings or mediation or of Gods mercye But because al men are coÌ„tinuallie prone vnto and euen enclosed and compassed about with sinne whilest they dwel in this mortal flesh and haue continual neede of Gods mercy and vse of CHRISTS merites suffrings and mediation Yea because we see wel nigh al those whom the Bisshops haue thus confirmed to be confirmed in al sinne and wickednes and euen the Bisshops themselues the aucthors of this deuise from whom al this vertue and holines should flowe fourth vnto others to be them-selues the verie synkes draynes of al abhomination corruption idolatrie superstitioÌ„ blasphemie and open transgression of al Gods lawes We are confident in the truth and power of our Lorde IESâ—S CHRIST to witnesse against these abhominable ordinances of Antichrist and against the Church of England for receiuing the same and maintayning the most impious blasphemous doctrines that ensue therof as is aboue proued TO the blasphemous Collects in your Sacraments Booke you wishe we were as weary in lying and sclandering as we should be to seeke finde out one such You haue in rememâ—rance the Collects wherin the Priest by th'aucthoritie committed vnto him doth absolue the sicke of al his sinnes You must not forget your two Cellects said ouer your deade brother The one wherin you praise God for receiuing to mercye his soule liued he or died he neuer so prophane blasphemouse and impenitent a wretch The other wherin you praye for him that you with him may haue a perfect consummatioÌ„ blisse both in bodie and soule Nowe to helpe your memorie a little furder we woulde desire you to consider better of that glorious Antheame you singe or saye in your publique Communion wherin with Angells Arch-Angells and al the companie of heauen you laude magnifie c Wherin we wil not demaunde of you howe whilest you remaine in the flesh you can haue such familiar conversation with those heauenlie souldiours and elect spirits of the faithful deceased that you together with them can praise laude God Nether wil we presse you with the papistical and curious speculations in making digrees of Angells Arch-Angells c. But we would here knowe of you howe manie Arch-Angells you reade of finde in the Scriptures And whether you knowe anie more heades of Angells then Christ himself Exept peradveÌ„ture your Church haue some especial prerogatiue froÌ„ the Apostatical Sea to make Arch-Bisshops and Arch-Angells Your Collect also in baptisme of Sanctifijng the floud Iordan and al other waters to the mistical washing away of sinne some saye sauoreth greatly of Poperye and retayneth the people in a superstitious opinion That the water vsed in baptisme hath holines some especial vertue in yt abâ—â—e common water especially wheÌ„ yt is thus blessed by the Priest and 〈◊〉 out of the hallowed Fonte c. But we wil not presse you herewitâ— nether yet stand to examine your Collect vpon your St. Michael all Angells-Day how you make Michael a creature and Canonize him amonge the Popes Saincts and worship him amongst together with all Angels This shalbe no blasphemie no Poperie in your Church Nether will we stand to vnrip your popish patched Letanie Or shew by what POPE and whie euery part therof was deuised and added And wherfore yt is good As for the quick the deade For al that trauaile by sea or by land For all weomen labouring with childe For all sicke persons and younge children all prisoners and captiues For Bishops Curates For lightnings and tempestes For plague pestilence and famine For battaile and murder and for sodeyne death c. All which things and what ells that you will request at his handes CHRIST cannot but graunt you when you so beconiure him By the mysterie of his holie incarnation by his holie natiuitie and circumcision by his baptisme fasting and temptation by his agonie and bloudie sweate by his Crosse and passion by his pretious death and buriall by his glorious resurrection and assention and by the comming of the Holy Ghost And sweetlie you entreat him by them all seuerally and ioyntely to deliuer you from the euils aboue-said and also from fornication and al other deadly sinnes In which Sofrage we wil not obserue y t you hold some sinnes deadlie and others not deseruing death because you peraduenture can shift it off with learning howsoeuer yt standeth in the Popes booke or they that made it thought of it Onely we obserue that this your holy Letanie is a most rare and especiall confection soueraigne good for all thinges at all times but especially in the morning and therfore it is so ofteÌ„ enioyned to be songe or said in your Church euerie weeke at their mattens Yet was there by what aduenture we knowe not an vnsauorie vnhappie Sofrage stollen into your Letanie in Kinge EDVVARDS tyme Against the tyrannie of the Bisshop of Rome and all his detestable enormities Which Sofrage because it was nether so Canonical or holie nether agreed vnto the rest could not be songe with theÌ„ in tune Or because it was ouer rough doctrine for sondrie of their weake brethereÌ„ that then loued yet loue the POPE anie thing that commeth from him with all their hearte Or ells that which is more likelie ouer plaine doctrine to make the people abhor all their Romish wares marchantmen The worthy Bishops most vigilant Pastors Gouernours of your Church to auoide these inconveniences of their pontificall aucthoritie dismissed yt thrust it quite out of their Lâ—tanie and vtterlie abrogated and razed it out of their Authenticall Leitourgie Wherin nowe it hath bene by these learned men corrected and this perrilous Sofrage thrust out it is impossible to finde ether heresie or blasphemie But caÌ„ there be more horrible execrable blasphemie then thus to coniure exercise Christ by his natiuity circumcisioÌ„ baptisme fasting by his agonie his sweate his crosse his death his buryal c what Coniurers or Enchaunters can exceede this where haue they learned thus to praye thus to dismember distort Christ or thus idolatrouslie to applie and abuse these outwarde thinges which he did or were donne vnto him in the fleshe Why might they not aswel beseech him by his growing in age his walking fleeping weeping c by his crowne of thornes the spondge nayles speare No meruaile
whom and with whom he receiueth We say not now as some in the idlenes of their conceipt coniecture that we ought to examine and iudge euerie one that communicateth No it sufficeth vs if they by outward profession stand stil members and remaine not conuict and impenitent in anie open sinne knoweÌ„ to them and to the congrâ—gation They must knowe that the Minister that deliuereth is according to the outwarde rules so far as they maie iudge a lawful Minister of the Gospel and that the communicantes by outward professioÌ„ so far as they can iudge stand in the faith Ells can they not discerne what the communion of the Church or the action they doe is It wil not suffice or excuse them to saye they mourne and are grieued for the sinnes of the wicked with whom they communicate and for the sinne of them that should put them from the Sacrament yea caste them out of the Church and deliuer them ouer vnto Sathan for the humbling their flesh and the preservation of others from the contagion of their sinne yea of the whole Church from the wrath of God How should they be said to mourne for the sinne of these wicked with whom they feast and reioyce in this heauenly banquet From whence al sorrowe and grief and feare despaire or doubt are banished al teares wiped from their eyes they being by this Symbole receiued to the communioÌ„ of Christes bodie and of al the ioyes which he possesseth hath prepared reserued for al those for whom he died c against whom layeth no accusation no condemnation no imputation of sinne Againe the mourners he speaketh of which were marcked by the Angel Ezech. 9. did not onlie mourne but crye out against the sinne of the tyme yea they refrayned the publick worship the Temple which was so wholy polluted and prophaned as is described in the 8. Chapter of the same prophâ—cie the fierce wrath of God powred forth vpon the whole Citie and Sanctuarie Chap. 9. The glorie of God vtterlie departed from the Temple and Citie Chap. 11. But how should these that communicate are commingled with these open wicked and vnworthie and participate and ioyne in the sinne and sacriledge of the ministrie which they see and acknowledge be said of those marcked mouâ—ners which refrayned cryed out against the abhominations of the tyme Or how should these eâ—kape the vengeance of the destroyer The seale of God wherwith al CHRISTES servants are marcked and knowen is That they that name the name GOD depart from iniquitie 2. Timoth. 2. 19. Reuel 14. They may not coÌ„municate with the sinnes of others nor be draweÌ„ into the transgression of any of GODS commaundements by an Angel from heauen Gal. 1. No traditional writings of any man whosoeuer can defend these errors which tend to the open wilful prophanatioÌ„ of the holy things of God to the most dangerous contagion and infection of the whole Church and to the high prouocation of Gods wrath against them all What then hath this great clarck gayned by this traditional diuinitie saue bewrayed his corrupt iudgment great ignorance of the truth of God yea even of those principal actions wherof he professeth himself a Minister What hath he obtayned or endeuoured by al this discourse to prooue if not that all these prophane multitudes and rowtes of all sortes of wicked may be receiued into and nourished in the Church as members even with the holie pledges of CHRISTES bodie bloode by this idolatrous and sacrilegious ministrie for so hauing alreadie proued them we may pronownce them made by themselues labouring to iustifie approue their Church ministrie and ministration in this estate and most seuerely to censure blaspheme and condemne all such as by the word of God reproue them and for their obstinacie forsake them for the same thus opening a wide doore to all Atheâ—sme wickednes impietie sacriledge and bloodie persecution as by his next argument which he bringeth for a conclusion of this discourse appeareth Which before we come vnto this for conclusion we insert rest vpoÌ„ That our Sauiour CHRIST hath instituted that of necessitie there must be at the celebration of his last Supper a lawful Minister of the gospel according to the rules of CHRISTES Testament to deliuer a faithful people by outward professioÌ„ to receiue the pure elementes coÌ„manded vsed and that forme of administration which he and his Apostles prescribed That except al these concur there is not the sacrament rightly deliuered neither maie any christian coÌ„municate where he seeth any of these rules broken So then if Mr. GIFFARD had thus approued his Ministerie people ministration by the rules of CHRISTES Testament and by the euidence of Gods worde he should more haue persuaded convinced vs then by al this opprobrie blasphemie and rage which he breatheth forth out of the mouth of that DRAGON al which nowe add vnto his owne and not vnto our iudgments that feare not the curse causeles neither yet the false Prophets threates whose custome it is to curse them that God blesseth and to blesse them that God curseth to iustifie the wicked and to condemne the iust Therfore shall he be an abhomination both to God an men as the Lorde himself hath spoken As to his bloodie Argument drawen from th'executioÌ„ of certaine of SAVL his progenie because Kinge SAVL in his hypocritish and bloodie zeale murdered the Gibeonites which were yeilded and made slaues vnto them contrarie to the will and commandement of God Ihosh 8. Deutronomie 20. 10. Our innocencie shalbe our defence and his refutation If we haue committed or when we shall commit or consent vnto any such crime we refuse not the like iudgment In the meane time let all men iudge with what equitie or conscience this Cainiâ—e could thus applie enforce this example against vs And for conclusion let anie man by the worde of God iudge whether we that reprooue these their confuse parish assemblies consisting of all sortes of ignorant prophane vngodlie people worshipping God after an idolatrous maner and liuing in al disorder vngodlines c Or this mercenarie sacrilegious Priest that standeth a Minister to all these wicked deliuering the sacraments vnto them and blessing them with the peace of God c doe destroy murder their soules The scripture is plentiful in this poinct THE THIRD PRINCIPAL TRANSGRESSION OR CAVSE OF OVR SEPARATION FROM their assemblies is FOR that they haue a false antichristian ministrie imposed vpon them retained with them and maintained by them AS we haue already shewed y t the house of God which is his church cannot be built or consiste of any other then such chosen pretious liuing stones as God hath thervnto caled separated appointed namely such faithfull obedient willing people as come vnder CHRISTS conduct and willingly submit to his gouernment and cannot consiste of prophane wicked vngodly headstrong disobedieÌ„t multitudes whereon the Whore is said to
me the keper of the vineyardes mie vineyarde that to me I kept not The true interpretation whereof it here booteth not to stande vpon sufficeth that no antichristian yoke or bondage can from this place or from anie one worde therof be drawen and inforced But yet Mr. G. doth herein presse vs vvith these places of the songe in that the faithfull did not here separate themselues from vnder these euil pastors and gouernours as herestickes and schismatickes doe And this he againe proueth by th' example of our Sauiour and his Disciples who did not separate themselues from the high Priestes Scribes and Pharasies so long as the vineyarde was not takeÌ„ from them c. To which proof he hath in the SECOND TRANSGRESSION his ful answere To these places In the first the Church hath an absolute and direct commandemeÌ„t from God himself To goe foorth not to staye in the steps of that flocke to feed her kids aboue the tabernacles of those sheepheardes In the second we can but wonder to see Mr. G. so insensate grosse to imagine that these persecuting watchmen were Ministers or members of the true Church Especiallie seing the two Churches so liuelie in that place described The one malignant persecuting the other the true Church and persecuted Betweene which I weene there is as great a separation as betwixt light and darcknes betwixt hel and heauen Neither did the Church there staye with or was stayed by those watchmen but went to the Daughters of Ierusalem to seek and enquire for Christ much-lesse as this man doteth stayed in their fould in their tentes Or remayned vnder the gouernment and bondage of those persecuting watchmen that openlie opposed against Christ and could not endure that the Church should seek him Neither can anie thing be imagined more false or contrary to the argument of that heauenlie songe then that the Church of Christ may at anie hand beare or stand in anie bondage to the yoke of Antichrist Whose necke Christ adornes with chaynes and she againe her doore postes with garlandes for him Song 1. 9. 6. 13. Vnder whose heade CHRITES left hand alwaies is and his right hande embraceth her Song 2. 6. Song 3. Shee layethe holde of CHRIST and bringethe him into her Mothers house into the chamber of her that conceiued her There also is his bedde set vp muche more glorious then the marriage bedde of Salomon about which bedd sixtie valiant men of the mightie men of Israel are said to stand and guarde all of them handling the sworde expert in warre with his sworde vpon his thinge from the feare by might Song 4. The necke of the Church is likned to the tower of Daniel built for the armorie where a thowsand shieldes doe hange al the targetts of the stronge men And Song 8. Christ saith his vineyard is allwaies wholly before him he chalendgeth and gathereth al the revenues therof himself he diuideth them not nor imparteth thâ—m to anie other as Salomon or other earthlie Princes are constrayned to doe What part or right then what honor or homage especiallie what bondage is left here to Antichrist But thus they are broken that thus wilfullie of set purpose stumble at the worde as this man doeth YEt procedeth this graceles man furder And is not afraide to affirme That the Church euerie member therof is in some spiritual bondage to sinne and draweth an argument from this position That therfore much more may yt be in some outward bondage to Antichrist This execrable position and argument the holie Bishops and learned Priestes of England are coÌ„tent to let publiquelie passe from their viewe and correction because yt pleadeth for the antichristian vsurpation of the one and the seruile bondage of the other But when this argument shal neuer so litle by the worde of God be skanned yt shalbe found most heretical and blasphemouse For verilie if after our faith in Christ wee be now left in anie bondage to sinne then doth sinne stil liue and raigne in vs and we stil bounde vnto and with yt then hath not Christ fullie freed vs from the curse of the law Death and Hel. TheÌ„ was not Christes death a sufficient ransome for neither exteÌ„ded to al our sinnes neither hath he subdued or set vs free from al our enimies neither haue we as yet anie perfect peace or reconciliation with God And then was his comming vayne then can no flesh be saued therbie then must wee looke for an other redeemer or ells looke for him to come againe to dye for our sinnes that remaine and raigne in vs. For the rewarde of the least sinne is death being a transgression of Gods lawe And if wee be in bondage to sinne then are we not Kinges and Priestes vnto God Is not this a meete Minister of the Gospel that knoweth not yet the worck of our redemption the benefite of Christes death the priueledge of the Sainctes that cannot and will not learne to put difference betwixt the frailtie or pronenes to commit sinne which is in this mortal flesh of all the faithful and that bondage and subiection to sinne which is neuer founde in anie of the faithfull after they haue once trulie acknowledged and embraced Christ Howsoeuer the ministrie of the Church of England may allowe publish these doctrines yet are they most odious execrable to the soule and conscience of all that knowe feare or loue the Lorde IESVS CHRIST NOwe at length we are come to the second proposition of our argument or rather to the fourth TRANSGRESSION wherewith their Church of England is chardged vzt That their Churches are ruled by and wilfully remaine in subiection vnto an antichristian and vngodly gouernment contrarie to the institution of our Sauiour CHRIST This wee shewed in our first writing by the publicke and present estate of the Church of England in their whole ministrie worship administration ordinances ceremonies censures cannons customes Courtes to be antichristian euen the same yoke and gouernment that the Pope sometimes exercised by those his naturall children and vnfaithful seruants the Bishopps who nowe haue gotten this power into their owne handes Most of these if not all haue bene alreadie in this present treatise declared and proued to be idolatrous popish blasphemous false and antichristian wholly swarued from the rules of Christes Testament Anie of these howe M r. G. hath by the worde of God approued let the vnpartial reader iudge This their ecclesiasticall gouernment which nowe is in question he faith is the same in matter though yt varie in forme fâ—om CHRISTES gouernment Wherof nowe is arisen a great question in their Church Whether that Apostolicke forme of discipline which they prescribed to the Churches should be perpetuall or variable The Reformistes that hold yt perpetuall sue and complaine to the Parliaments for the same Apostolicke forme to be established and to haue this present gouernment of these Bishopps and their false hierarchie with their Courtes and offices
may impose lawes commandements by themselues ordeyned till they shew they haue that power giuen them the Apostles had and an other Leitourgie to be made vvhich they shall neuer be able to doe vvithout a newe Christ. Wee haue a sure foundation alreadie layd vvherevpon all Synods and Counsells must build and suffer their actions to be tryed therby they haue not power to inioyne one title vvhich is not by y â— word of God inioyned vs. Further vvhat did the Apostles here that they had not vvarrant for neither vvould they lay anie yoke or burthen And as for these thinges they doe as much binde vs nowe if ther be like cause namelie not in Idolothyts blood or that vvhich is strangled to offend our vveak brethren if the Iues should be now againe called neither to offend anie in meate or drinke for vvhome Christ hath dyed Neither vvas ther here any absolute law made of these thinges nor necessitye for the present tyme fuâ—der then it should bee necessary for the respect set downe for otherwise it had bene to build againe the thinges destroied onlye they thus counselled and adonished the Gentiles to vse their liberty in these thinges as they might gyue noe offence to theyr weake brethren of the Iues the more to drawe them on in the wayes of CHRIST for they doe not inioyne yt as a lawe but tell them they shall doe well if they obserue these thinges by no necessitye inforced But wee doe not nowe obserue these thinges the occasions being remoued True therfore I trust you wil grant that no man shall bee furder bounde to anye constitution in such thinges indifferent then there shall bee cause neyther need wee publicke order to retract so that you leaue the matter to me that wee can bee no further bounde in such thinges then by those rules of edifijng order comlines occasion shall require so that wee neither need nor can haue setled lawes herein howe much more bondage and burden is imposed vnder this Antichristian yoke the thinges being of themselues most lothsome and detestable Popery abrogating and making voide all the true ordinances lawes and worship of CHRIST and so inforced as whot persecution procedeth against anye that of conscience absteyne from them let it bee considered Neither hath there euer bene detracting this thirtye yeares of anye your abhominations neither is held lawefull for them that seeth them vnlawfull to forbeare them without deadlye hate to bee followed to the death Blessed bee our God that hath deliuered our soules out of such Egiptian seruitude our liues are not deare vnto vs neither shall your reproch moue vs. Nowe concerning the last places of the Treatise where hee is vtterlye mute in this that all whiche stand vnder another Hierarchie or spirituall regiment then CHRISTS bee by outward profession no true Christians or vnder the promise of saluation also for the freedome wee professe in holye obedience to all statutes and ordinances of God as hee hath left vntouched the matter for which hee aledged the 7. to the Romanes namelye the outward professed bondage to a false spirituall gouernment so I having before largely expressed my minde in that poinct of doctrine and in such as then were about these thinges opposed referre anye that desire the truth herein to ponder the reasons proofes there set downe not minding to repeate againe or to bee set aworke in vnfolding his troublesome and confuse cauills in abusing this place or to make further replye till I see more capeable conceypt in him of such principles of regeneration and sanctification of freedome and bondage yet for others direction one cauill or two shalbe breifly set in veiwe First where hee supposing I had bene in error and he himself fast fettered in heresie and feeth it not chargeth mee to runne as farre on the other side as a wheele turned with contrarye motions of the streame for saying I helde the deare children of God might fall into any sinne except the sinne against the holye Ghost yet bee restored by repâ—tance Gods grace so far abounding alwayes considered as then I noted that obstinacye in anye sinne made them to vs the seruants of sinne whiles they so remaynâ—d not speaking this to giue leaue or incouragement to presume in the least or first step of sinne lest God leaue them to themselues but to giue them hope if they returne that haue so fallen hee excepteth generally against all presumptuous sinne saying of â—railty Gods children may fall but of presumption hee maketh great doubt for 〈◊〉 so sinning to bee renued by repentance for it is spoken of the Maranatha to bee pronounced in this life to none but that bee in that sinne against the holye Ghost and here to fill his paper as his common shift is when hee can neither affirme nor denye hee putteth me to newe questions You must saith hee declare howe filthye incest is not sinne against the holye Ghost nor if a man kill his Father or Mother or children nor witchcraft nor familiarity with spiritts is not your meaning that the regenerate man may of presumption and obstinacy commit these If Mr. GIF shoulde thus vnderstande the worde may hee is in the same fault to say the regenerate may sinne of frailty And I answere furder hee coulde vnderstand the worde may otherwise if as in all his writinges hee caryed not this minde to take all in euill part to quarrell hee coulde haue vndâ—â—stood it thus that God suffereth of his elect to fall into such sinne yet hee is able to reduce them by repentance and hath made promise to receiue them if they retourne and not haue cauilled in this maner in such thinges the horrour in the verye naming of which sinnes shaketh the flesh and bones of the godlye to heare or behold so that his drift is but to cast in a litle wormewood to deface the truth deliuered Therefore I will onlye prooue the generall doctrine before affirmed and for these perticulars let him that taketh pleasure in râ—king in them being sinnes not once to bee named amongst Gods children answere himself And much better might hee haue put his question thus Whither wilfullye committing of sacriledge and presumptuous continuing to enchant in a false mâ—nistery with Iannes and â—â—mbres resistinge the truth persecutinge the light against their knowledge bee not within the compasse of that sinne against the holye Ghost That Gods elect after regeneration doe fall into presumptuous sinne and for a time persist in obstinate sinne and may bee restored by repentance I thus prooue Manie of Gods children may bee excommunicat and vpon the repentance bee receiued againe as the incestious person 1. Cor. 5. therefore do for a time remayne in obstinate sinne Againe euerie sinne is to bee prayed for but that one sinne against the holye Ghost 1 Iohn 5. 16. Therfore preâ—umptuous sinn is committed of Gods elect after regeneratioÌ„ That all presumptuous sinne is not sinne against the holy Ghost wee shall see by the