be seen by an eye of sense through Faith he kept the Passover and sprinkling of Blood lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them by Faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry 〈…〉 Christ under the Mosaical Law is wholly ascribed unto Faith and that it was Spiritual meat and drink and the very same meat and drink that Believers do live upon spiritually now under the dispensation of the Gospel hence you may observe that Christ was as much materially and corporeally eaten and drank before ever he had assumed humane nature or had a real material body to eat and blood to drink as ever he has been at any time since that he hath taken humane nature upon him for if Christ be really Transubstantiated into his very person consisting of Body Soul and Divinity and so eaten now under the Gospel since he had a Body why then it will necessarily and consequentially follow that Christ was corporeally and substantially eaten in Body Soul and Divinity before ever he had a Body to be eaten for you see it clearly proved from the Apostle's words that the believing Israelites did eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink then as true Believers do now under the Gospel for the Text saith plainly that they did all eat of the same spiritual meat and did all drink of the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ The Children of Israel might as well have Transubstantiated a Rock into the real Body and Blood of Christ and so eaten and dranken that instead of Christ or for Christ which is to eat Stones instead of the Bread of Life as for you to imagine or pretend to eat and drink Christ corporeally and personally in the Sacrament of the Eucharist For I will assure ye that there is as good Reason and as clear a Warrant and Authority either from Scripture or Reason to believe the one as there is to believe the other for our Saviour Christ was spiritual meat and spiritual drink under the Mosaical Law and he is the same and no other now under the Gospel Their feeding upon Christ and injoying communion and fellowship with Christ under the Law was Spiritual and by Faith why even so it is the same and no more nor no less now nor in all foregoing Ages under the Gospel Christ is to be received and eaten by Faith and in spiritual love also now as he was then of which I shall give you a farther proof by and by Again thirdly Pray Sir observe strictly what the same Apostle saith in 1 Cor. 10.20 21. But I say the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God. I would not that ye should have fellowship with Devils Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table and of the Table of Devils The Apostle spoke this cautionarily by way of reproof to some persons perhaps in that day that might be somewhat guilty thereof because he 〈…〉 told them of Thessalonica that the mystery of iniquity did begin to work in that day 2 Thess 2. 〈◊〉 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work Tâ—â— Man of Sin Antichrist was a beginning to creâ—â— into the Church the Temple of God even theâ—â— as you may see in Verse 3 4. And also the Apostle by a Prophetick Spirit did speak concerning some that would pretend to be Christians that would thus horribly profane the Sacrament of the Lord Supper which is there called the Cup of the Lord and the Table of the Lord and that by making 〈◊〉 Sacrifice of that holy Ordinance which was instituted principally to remember the great Sacrifiâ—â— that was offered up for Sin namely the Lord Jesâ—â— Christ who was offered up once for all a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God. And it is the eâ—press command of Christ viz. Do this in remembrance of me Now these Gentiles here which the Apostle doâ—â— arraign as guilty that do thus profane the Cup 〈◊〉 the Lord and the Table of the Lord couâ—â— not be meant of the Heathen Idolatrous Gentilâ—â— which never professed nor owned the name 〈◊〉 Christ and therefore they never made use of thâ— Ordinance but this was Prophesied of Idolatroâ—â— Gentiles pretended Christians that do own tâ—â— Ordinance tho not in A Right manner for thâ—â— make a Sacrifice of it And they do also own 〈◊〉 name of Christ in words tho in works of meâ—â— and by works of supererogation they deny hiâ—â— Secondly Neither could this be spoken of tâ—â— Jews which do offer Sacrifices because the Apoâ—â—â— saith they were Gentiles that should come into 〈◊〉 Church or Temple of God and offer up this kiâ—â—â— of Sacrifice upon the Table of the Lord whiâ—â— they make an Altar of which Error of sacrificiâ—â— or Mystery of Iniquity might be part of tâ—â— which began to work in the Apostles days whâ—â— were a forerunner of Antichrist the Man of Sâ—â—â— for the Passover and all the Sacrifices under 〈◊〉 Mosaical Law were all but Types and Shadows 〈◊〉 Christ's coming in the Flesh and dying in the Fâ—â— for sinners they were all but signs and figureâ— remember Christ by and Christ was spiritually 〈◊〉 joyed under them and eaten and dranken in tâ—â— by Faith as the Apostle asserts which has been 〈◊〉 ready proved 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Why 〈◊〉 so the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was iâ—â—â—tuted by our Saviour Christ the Night in whic◠〈◊〉 was betrayed to keep up a holy thankful remembrance of Christ's being come in the flesh and â—â—ing in the flesh in the room of poor fallen 〈◊〉 that lay polluted in his Blood in sin and miâ—â—â— out in the open field and none to pity nor 〈◊〉 him neither was he capable to help himself 〈◊〉 that which was worst of all he did not nor 〈◊〉 not desire any help Ezek. 16.3 4 5 6. Th◠〈◊〉 â—eas an Amorite and thy mother an Hittite And as for â—hy nativity in the day thou wast born thy navel was not â—ut neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee â—hou wast not salted at all nor swadled at all This is Man in a natural lapsed state and condition None â—e pitted thee to do any of these unto thee to have compassion upon thee but thou wast cast into the open field 〈◊〉 the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast â—â—rn And when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted 〈◊〉 thine own blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy â—â—ood Live yea I said unto thee when thou wast in â—â—â—y blood Live. This was the case and condition of â—ankind after the fall and is of every particular individual person before the work of Regeneration â—â—sseth upon his Soul by the mighty powerful â—â—eration of the Holy Ghost out of which state â—â—d condition there was no Redemption but by
Ages from Adam to the end of the World are the purchase of Christ Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth This was spoken about One thousand six hundred years befor ever Christ was born or took flesh upon him Thus you see that Christ is the only Sacrifice that is sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of all true Believers both under the Law and under the Gospel for they are all of them purchased at the price of his precious Blood alone And none else beside him is the Sacrifice for sin and his Blood is the only Purgatory for sinners and no other for we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Now dear Sir Pray be pleased to take the Candle of the Lord and look about all Christendom and see and consider well with your self who there be and what Sect or sort of persons are there to be found among them that are called Christians or do but own the name of Christ that do make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and they are the persons that are here intended by the Holy Apostle who spake as he was moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost for he could see by the Infallible Spirit of God even in that day That a certain Sect or sort of people would come up upon the Stage of Christendom or into the Temple of God that would forbid Marriage to pretended Religious Orders of Men and Women tho the Holy Scripture saith plainly and literally that it is better to Marry than to Burn. And the same Apostle saw by the same Spirit That the same sort of people that forbid Marriage would further reject the Scripture by commanding all persons whatsoever to abstain from Flesh The Apostle had an Expres◠sent him from 〈…〉 tidings 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. But the Apostle tells us we may eat whatsoever is sold in the Shambles to wit Butchers meat asking no questions for Conscience sake And the Apostle did see by the same Infallible Spirit clearly and spontaneously that a sort of Idolatrous Gentiles which are only nominal Christians would come into the Church or Temple of God that would make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in that Scripture which I quoted before to wit 1 Cor. 10.20 21. But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice unto devils and not unto God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table and of the Table of Devils Now Sir the Protestants do not make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper they do not look upon the Elements of Bread and Wine to be Transubstantiated into the real person of Christ namely of Body Soul and Divinity after their Blessing or Consecrating of them and so offer him up as a Sacrifice as you of the Roman Community do own and pretend to believe and that the Elements are miraculously turned into the real substantial Body of Christ viz. Body Soul and Divinity and then offer him up as a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead But here will appear two Sacrifices you will see by and by in this one The Apostle saith that it is a Sacrificing unto Devils and not to God and they that are guilty of this practice have fellowship with Devils in it and not with God for saith he Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partaker of the Lord's Table and of the table of Devils Thus you do hear what the Apostle saith it is not my word but his which he spake by Divine Inspiration They offer up sacrifices unto Devils But here I say are two Sacrifices as you may observe in this one The first is this whereas the Priest doth pretend to offer up a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead why here the Apostle telleth us plainly that this is to offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil and not unto God So that it is clear that they do offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil under a specious pretence of sacrificing unto God. And the second Sacrifice that springs out of this one Sacrifice is this viz. The poor Lay-people do really offer up their Senses Reason Understanding and Faith and all that should be dear unto them both as Christians and Men in Sacrifice to the Priest and they are no longer Masters of their own Senses Reason Understanding Soul and Conscience for 〈…〉 another They have eyes and see not they have cars and hear not they are fallen under that heavy Judgment which the Gospel Prophet predicted and also our Saviour Christ himself Isa 29.10 11 12. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed your eyes the prophets and your rulers the seers hath he covered And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed And the book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned Matt. 13.14 15. And in them is fulfilled the prophesie of Esaias which saith By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their cars are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them I do believe that this Prophesie does principally refer to the Jews and took place upon them first for rejecting and disbelieving Christ the true Messiah but those Christians that have contracted the same guilt as they did to reject the Gospel of Christ they do make themselves guilty of the same sin with the Jews and by that means have lain themselves in the bed of unbelief with them and are both Sacrificers now in Gospel times which is to deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh so they lay themselves under the same Judgment with the Jews for one and the same cause produceth one and the same effects at one time as well as at another without preventing Mercy But the Apostle Paul speaks clearly of a sort of Christians that would cast off and reject the Gospel of God for which God did bring the like judgment upon them in 2
Thess 2.11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie That they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness God punisheth them by their own very sins and makes it a judgment unto them as he did by the Jews and they are under much what the same judgment with the Jews for the first did chuse Delusions and Lies and then God gave them up unto them just as God gave the Jews to a hard heart and a blind mind and they are all laid in the grave of unbelief and prejudice against Christ the true Messiah and therefore they are Sacrificing and Sacrificing still now under the Gospel Why so God has given up these sacrificing Christians and so these Apostates or Backsliders in heart come to be filled with their own ways And you must certainly give your selves up to strong Delusions or else you would never abuse and disbelieve the Holy Scriptures as you do which is the revealed Will of 〈…〉 and walk by so that the people have no more use of the Gospel than the Jews that do not believe that Christ is yet come in the flesh so that you are as ignorant with a respect to any saving experiemental knowledg of Christ's being come in the flesh as the very Jews are for while you profess to know him in word you deny him in works namely in sacrifices and other carnal Ordinances and were not your Consciences seared with a hot Iron you would never disbelieve your own senses and reason and understandings as you do for you must not believe your own eyes that tell you that the Bread or Wafer after Consecration as it 's called is still Bread and the Wine is Wine still without any alteration Nor you must not believe your own hands that give the same account of it unto you nor you must not believe your own mouth that telleth you that it is Bread and not Flesh But the Priest by what authority I know not will not suffer the Lay-peoples mouths to make a judgment upon the Wine whether it be Wine or Blood tho Christ hath given a particular and an express command for it as in them words of our Saviour's Drink ye all of it Mat. 26.27 Mark 14.23 And they all drank of it But this is your misery you must believe as the Church believes or as the Priest commands ye to believe you must not believe Christ nor his Apostles nor his Gospel nor your own sences reason and understanding none of these are to be believed but all is fast lockt up in unbelief and the Priest carrieth the Key of your Knowledg at his Girdle and thus you do see clearly and spontaneously proved that you are the persons which the Apostle Paul prophesied of that do make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper when as there is no material Sacrifices of this kind to be offered up in this manner for Christ at his coming and dying and rising again put an end to all that kind of worship Col. 2.14 15 16 18 20 21 22 23. Heb. 9.9 10 11 12. But yet notwithstanding give me leave to tell ye that we have our Gospel-Sacrifices but they are all Spiritual viz. The sacrifice of a broken heart and of an humble contrite spirit and the sacrifice of prayer and of thanksgiving and every part of holy worshipping of God in spirit and in truth these are the Sacrifices that are accepted and well-pleasing unto God when we offer up our selves in them when all is offered up unto God upon the Golden Altar the Lord Jesus Christ and mixed with his Merits and both the person and the offering covered with his Robe of Righteousness the only Garment of Salvation Rev. 8.3 4. And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a Golden Censer and there was given to him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar 〈…〉 cense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand This is the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ who presents our persons and petitions unto God the Father for us if they be indicted in us by God the Holy Ghost Rom. 8.26 27. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God. And the person must be clothed with Christ's Robe of Righteousness Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels This is the Wedding-garment that every soul hath on that is married to Christ and hence you may observe floweth all the Saints joy and comfort from their being justified by the righteousness of Christ But if this be so as you see clearly proved that it is then what a miserable condition must all these poor souls be in that hope for and expect Eternal life and Salvation upon no better ground nor foundation than their own meritorious works of righteousness and boast of their works of Supererogation which will all prove Physitians of no value and will prove miserable Comforters in the End they are but sparks of their own kindling Isa 50.11 Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have of mine hand ye shall lie down in sorrow Thus you do see what a vast difference there is between your Sacrifices and the Protestants Gospel-Sacrifices the one is an abomination and abhorred by the Lord The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight And the true Gospel-sacrifices are accepted with the Lord in and through Christ if offered up upon the Golden Altar of his Righteousness and Merits then they are God's delight Now in the next place I shall offer unto you a few modest and solid Reasons together with some Arguments to confute this gross error and strong delusion that you poor souls are involved in In the first place if this Doctrine of yours be true why then so far it renders Faith useless and destroys it for if our Saviour Christ be personally and substantially come again and is thus present with his people why then the use of that part o◠Faith is at an end As for instance before our Saviour Christ came in the flesh it was the duty of a 〈◊〉 God's 〈…〉 come in the flesh because God had
will give fâ—â— the life of the world that is that all Believers shouâ—â— live Spiritually by the blessed fruits and effects whiâ—â— is produced by Christs taking flesh upon him Tâ—â— Jews they were offended at this Mystical Spiritual Doctrine of Christ because it was not given 〈◊〉 them to believe the Jews therefore strove amoâ— themselves saying How can this man give us his fâ—â— to eat as indeed well they might if it had bâ— to be understood literally and properly as they â—â—nally and vainly through unbelief did conceive 〈◊〉 imagin that the words was spoken Then Jesus 〈◊〉 unto them Verily verily I say unto you Except you the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye 〈◊〉 no life in you And in vers 60. there Christ's Dâ—â—ples were stumbled and offended at this Doctrine saying of his Many therefore of his Disciples where had heard this said This is an hard saying who can hâ—â— But now I pray Sir mind strictly the woâ—â— our Saviour and you shall hear how plainly clearly he himself has expounded and unfolded his own meaning unto us of this eating his 〈◊〉 and drinking his blood in the 61 62 63. 〈◊〉 When Jesus knew in himself that his Disciples murâ—â— at it he said unto them Doth this offend you whâ—â— if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he 〈◊〉 fore it is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh pâ—â— nothing the words that I speak unto you they are and they are life As if our Blessed Lord and Saviour should said Do you think that I intend by 〈◊〉 â—hat I have spoken unto you to cut and carve out â—he flesh of my real substantial and finite body â—nd give it unto you to eat And likewise broach â—â—y material blood and let that out of my â—eins and give it unto you to drink for if I should â—o so it would not quicken you unto spiritual life â—â— must be my Spirit that must do that and not my â—esh for the flesh profiteth nothing But besides â—â—l that with what body must I suffer in and die â—â— redeem the World in And with what body â—â—all I arise in from the dead And with what body â—â—all I ascend up into glory in where I was before â—amely where I was before ever I assumed this marial finite body made of material flesh and blood â— Act. 1.9 there is his Ascention and in Heb. 10.5 there â—his Body which God the Father prepared for him And again if Christ's substantial body be eaten â—â—d his real material blood be drunken literally in 〈◊〉 Sacrament of the Eucharist then consequentialâ—â— must Christ's sinless spotless holy body see corruption which is Diametrically contrary to the â—â—ly Word of God both in the Old Testament and 〈◊〉 New Psal 16.10 11. For thou wilt not leave my 〈◊〉 in hell neither wilt thu suffer thine holy One to see corruption Acts 2.26 27 31. Therefore did my heart â—â—â—yce and my tongue was glad moreover also my flesh 〈◊〉 rest in hope Because thou wilt not leave my soul in 〈◊〉 neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corâ—â—â—ion He seeing this before spake of the resurrection Christ that his soul was not left in hell neither his 〈◊〉 did see corruption Now Sir if this Doctrine yours of Transubstantiation in your sense be 〈◊〉 why then Christ the Holy one of God whose â—â—less nature was without the least Tincture of 〈◊〉 or any kind of inclination thereunto must see â—â—â—ption ay and must be turned into corruption 〈◊〉 yea and that into the very worst sort of maâ—â—l corruption namely into Man's Excrements â—nto Man's Dung and that as often as the 〈◊〉 saith the Mass For I pray you what does beâ—â—â—e of what we do eat and drink Is it not turned corruption Ay and the Body that eats it too 〈◊〉 be turned into Corruption Meat is for the 〈◊〉 and the Belly for Meat but both are for â—â—â—ption or Destruction And pray mind what â—aviour saith of what we do eat in Matt. 15.17 â—â—t ye yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at â—outh goeth into the belly and is cast into the â—â—â—ht I could be larger here as well as in most â—â—e rest of these points but I must consult breâ—â—or as I hope a publick good and leave the 〈◊〉 to expatiate upon it in his own mind thoÌ„ resolved to write the most part of the Scripâ—â—â—â— that I have occasion to quote at length and â—â—eatest reason for it is this because that it may â—â—entially fall into the hands of some perhaps 〈…〉 keep one or look into it and for their sakes I do not repent my labour that this may put them upon getting the holy Bible and looking into it to see if these things be so or no Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessulonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so The Holy Scriptures are able to make persons wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 which is the greatest wisdom of all John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me Christ expresly commands us to search the Scriptures But your Church expresly forbids it Who shall we obey Christ who is Infallible or your Church which pretends to be so Again Our Saviour Christ has but one humane body and that is a finite body Heb. 4.15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin And therefore our Saviour's Body was not to see corruption because it never did see sin so as to be tainted in the least measure with it and therefore Christ could never have died had it not been for the sins of his people because the wages of sin is death And if Christ will take Believers sins upon him he must take the wages also that was due unto them And therefore it is said that he tasted death for every man that is for every man that ever did or that ever should believe in him But because his sin was by imputation and not inherent in his nature as ours is but only by imputation therefore tho he tasted death for every man and by that took the curse or sting that is in death away for all Believers yet his holy Body did not see corruption Death could not hold him because there was no sin in him but it was upon him by imputation as Sinners are made righteous even so Christ was made a sinner for as Sinners are made righteous by the Righteousness of Christ imputed unto them so Christ was made a Sinner by imputing our sins unto him but not by Contamination or Pollution but as a Surety for if Christ had had no more sin upon him than he had in him he could never have died it had been impossible for it would have been
at the day of Judgment That light is come â—nto the world and men love darkness rather than â—ight because their deeds are evil they hear of Christ but will not come and believe in him nor reign up the conduct and government of their souls â—nto him and this Ordinance of the Lords-Supper 〈◊〉 to quicken and strengthen the believers graces and 〈◊〉 shew forth the transcendent wisdom and grace of â—od in contriving and bringing to pass this blessed â—ork of mans Redemption by his only begotten â—n Jesus Christ This holy Ordinance may be compared with â—â—ly reverence unto a tender hearted loving Husband that is just taking his leave of his dearly beâ—â—ed Wife and going some long voyage by Sea or â—â—he tedious journey by Land And at his departure when he taketh his leave of his wife he saith 〈…〉 long time from thee therefore I will leave this Diamond Ring or this precious Jewel with thee as a Token of my intire love and affections unto thee for thee to remember me during my absence until I return unto thee again But when he returneth his Wife hath no need of the Ring or Jewel to remember him by because he himself is now personally present with her why even so our Lord Jesus Christ our Head and Husband just the very night in which he was betrayed leaves this Ordinance this precious Jewel with his Spouse the Church as a Love-token for to remember him by during his absence while he is personally sitting at the right hand of God the Father as you may observe from them words of our Saviour Do this in remembrance of me The true Catholick Apostolick Church is Christ's Spouse Cant. 5.1 I am come into my Garden my Sistor my Spouse and Christ is the Church's Husband Isa 54.5 For thy maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his name and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Isael the God of the whole Earth shall he be called But if this Doctrine of Transubstantiation in your sense be true viz. that the Bread and Wine is Transubstantiated into the very person of Christ namely into Body Soul and Divinity which makes up the compleat person of Christ as much now as he was before and after his Death and Resurrection and as much as he will be at the great day of Judgment for he will be then in Body Soul and Divinity but there will not be one soul that will even dare to stand by and own this strange Doctrine in that day any otherwise than to abhor it and to be ashamed of it And Christ is in Body Soul and Divinity now at the right hand of God in Glory But if this Doctrine of yours be true That Christ is Personally and Corporeally present every time that the Priest saith the Mass Then first in the first place It will consequentially follow that either the Priest maketh a new Christ every time the Mass is said and so we have one Christ personally in Heaven and they have thousands of Christs personally upon Earth Or Secondly They fetch down Christ materially personally from the right hand of God the Father And if so then in the third place Christ has no time at all in Heaven with the Father I call it time in Heaven for distinction sake to intercede and plead as an Advocate and Mediator with God the Father for sinners all his time would be taken up and spent in attending upon the Priests every time they say Mass in all those many remote places round the Globe almost which takes in their Mass-hours perhaps all the four and twenty Hours being upon several Horrizons Fourthly If this Doctrine be true then Christ is come and then this Ordinance ceases to be as I conceive and there needs no such thing to remember him by or to shew 〈…〉 swade him to stay when he is come in your Mass for according to your Doctrine there is a compleat Christ that cometh in the Mass every time it is said for when Christ doth come from the right hand of God to judg the quick and the dead as you your selves do confess and own in your own Creed to my own certain knowledg which I shall have occasion to speak more of by and by for Christ will come then in no other manner as to his person than in Body Soul and Divinity if he went to Heaven so he will come again so as you may see Act. 1.11 Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Now if Christ be thus come then I humbly conceive this Ordinance should be at an end for when once the substance is come then the shadows must flee away and cease to be for what need the children of the Bride-chamber mourn when the Bridegroom shall come again to them and be with them for ever for what need a man have any thing to put him in mind or to remember a friend that is always present with him and is always before his eyes Why when Christ doth come his people shall see him eye to eye Isa 52.8 and Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh in the Clouds and every eye shall see him And they also which pierced him that shall be both Jews and Gentiles Zech. 12.10 Again thirdly the same Apostle saith That Christ was to be offered up but once and he gives this as one reason of it viz. for saith he If he had been offered up often then must he have suffered often since the foundation of the world And the Apostle Peter whom some do count Prince of the Apostles saith That Christ suffered once 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sin the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit Mark ye it was the humane flesh or body of Christ that suffered and died and not his Godhead for that is not capable of suffering I pray Sir observe these following Scriptures and believe them Heb. 9.25 26 28. For Christ is not entered into the holy place made without hands which are the forerunners of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high Priests entered into the holy place every year with the blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world But now in the end of the world hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself So Christ was once offered to bear the sin of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Here you see Christ was ordained and appointed to be offered up but once and that was a sufficient sacrifice for sin in the wisdom and account of God but you 〈◊〉 once offering up himself
was not a sufficient Sacrifice for the sins of his people and therefore you 〈◊〉 offer up Christ often even as often as the Mass said as a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for tâ—â— sin of the living and the dead which is to profâ—â— that you do know God but in works you deny hâ—â— at the highest rate that ever can be imagined by aâ—â— that ever called themselves Christians for you sâ—â— it clearly proved that as often as Christ is offeâ—â— up so often must he suffer and if it be so wâ—â— then how many millions of times must Christ haâ—â— suffered by your Priests since this opinion has beâ—â— broacht in the world among you that the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper is a Sacrifice and thâ— you do offer up Christ in the Mass in Body Soul aâ—â— Divinity a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory fâ—â— the sins of the living and the dead and is not thâ— to say plainly that Christ's Sacrifice of himself wâ—â— not a sufficient and propitiatory Sacrifice for the sin of his people nothing can speak bolder and plainâ—â— than this does Again fourthly Let us hear furthermore whâ—â— the Apostle St. Paul saith who himself lived 〈◊〉 Rome which is more than I can understand thâ—â— ever the Prince of the Apostles did I cannot saâ—â— that St. Paul never dreamed of this new-found Doctrine of yours but yet this I am sure in the fiâ—â— place that he never taught any such kind of Doctrine there And secondly That he did see in his daâ—â— by a Prophetick Spirit that there would be such 〈◊〉 Doctrine brought after his time which I shâ—â— prove anon But to our purpose before us Heb. 〈◊〉 9 10 11 12 13. Then said he Lo I come to do 〈◊〉 will O God He taketh away the first that he may establish the second By the which will ye are sanctiâ—â— through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once 〈◊〉 all And every Priest standeth dayly ministring offing oftentimes the same sacrifice which can never 〈◊〉 away sin But this man after he had effered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down at the right haâ—â— God expecting till his enemies be made his footâ—â— But why is it said that Christ is expecting till 〈◊〉 enemies be made his footstool Why Christ repects it because God the Father hath determined 〈◊〉 promised it in Psal 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lâ—â— sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies footstool This does unavoidably lead me to a digrâ—â— on therefore Sir I must beg leave of you for 〈◊〉 present to pursue this digression But I will certainly meet you again anon upon the same Topâ—â— and discourse out the point with you In the first place God the Father hath said 〈◊〉 Christ his only Son Sit thou at my right hand 〈◊〉 I make thine enemies thy footstool God the Fâ—◠〈…〉 of all his Enemies why it must be infallibly him that opposeth Christ most And pray who is that Why It is the Man of sin Antichrist His very Titles as well as his Characters and Practises signifie the same It is he that is gotten into the Temple of God and claims a power and soveraignty over Kings and Rulers and over Mens souls and Consciences But he is but a Usurper for he exalts himself unto that Power and Dominion for it is a power that properly and peculiarly belongeth unto Jesus Christ for it is he that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the only Ruler of Princes Rev. 19.16 Rev. 17.14 1 Tim. 6.15 Prov. 8.15 16. By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice by one Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth Here you see whose right it is to Rule over Kings and Princes and Judges of the Earth Ay and Christ is to have this power restored unto him again because God the Father hath promised it unto him And also it is his right in Ezck. 21.27 I will overturn overturn overturn it and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is and I will give it him Rev. 17.16 17. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast these shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall cather flesh and burn her with fire for God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will. I am apt to think that this is Antichrist's will which they fulfil and to agree and give their Kingdom to the Beast until the Word of God shall be fulfilled Dan. 8.25 He shall stand up against the Prince of Princes but he shall be broken without hands Isa 47.8 9 10 11. Rev. 18.7 8. And that which is to antecede or go before the destruction of Antichrist to usher it in upon him you have in Rev. 16.17 18 19 20 21. Here is already or will be suddenly a threefold division among them and strange unusual thunder and lightning and fire and great hail of that magnitude that it will be sufficient to knock down an Ox and great earthquakes both literal and metaphorical But you will ask me who this Antichrist the Man of sin is why my answer in the genral is this That the Apostle Paul has described him and set several infallible marks upon him that he may easily be distinguished from all other persons in the World he is the head of the many Antichrists which did Apostatize from the true Gospel Worship Doctrine and Discipline he is the chief head and promoter of all wickedness and therefore called the Man of sin by way of Eminency as you may see in that famous descriminating Chapter 2 Thess 2.2 3 4. Here the Apostle brings it in by way of caution to the Christians of that day and in the spirit of Prophesie also viz. that ye be not soon shaken in mind or troubled neither by Spirit nor by Word nor by Letter as 〈…〉 that the 〈◊〉 Christ is at hand Pray hath had his day for as Antichrist hath sat upon Christ's Throne viz. the Temple of God and made his people his footstool which is indeed to make Christ his footstool for what is done to his people is done to himself As you may see in the Case of this Apostle Paul when he was a Persecutor Acts 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Who art thou Lord I am Jesus whom thou persecutest Why so Christ will depose the man of sin and take the Throne himself and make Antichrist his footstool for if Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is called God and sit in the seat of God himself then he must be abased and made Christ's footstool For the Word of God saith He that exalteth himself shall be abased And therefore Antichrist must be made Christ's footstool for Christ in his day of Exaltation will debase this Usurper and tread him under his feet But to return to what I was upon let no man deceive you by any means for that shall not come except there come a falling away first
St. John called her a Woman The one reâ—â— him as a Prince in his temporal power and 〈◊〉 other respects him as head of the Church 〈◊〉 spiritual power for it is both one and the 〈◊〉 person tho successively and conjunctively thâ—â— all the Reign of Antichrist But there are some persons in the World 〈◊〉 would fain have this the Antichrist to be the 〈◊〉 Turk and that for this reason because it is 〈◊〉 1 John 4.1 2 3. Hereby know ye the spirit of every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not 〈◊〉 and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof youâ— heard that it should come and even now already 〈◊〉 〈…〉 How did they come to 〈◊〉 this â—ur Saviour Christ told them and us so in Matt. 24. â— 25 26. And also the Apostle Paul by the Spirit 〈◊〉 Christ gave a very clear description of him in Thess 2.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already â—â—rk That was the Man of Sin Antichrist â—â—s way was a preparing and paving for him to â—t into the Church or Temple of God even then 〈◊〉 his time But some people will say and them â—â—ly perhaps that are the persons principally concerned That this cannot be meant of us because â—â—e do confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh â—ut pray give me leave to tell you that there is â—â—ore in this than a bare verbal confession that Jeâ—â—s Christ is come in the flesh pray mind what the apostle saith to this Rom. 10.9 10. That if thou â—â—â—lt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt â—â—â—eve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the â—â—â—d thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth â—â—â—o righteousness and with the mouth confession is made â—â—â—o salvation This sort of Faith leads the Soul 〈◊〉 of his own Righteousness in point of merit or Justification and leads him to the Righteousness â—â—d Merits of Christ alone for Justifiction for let â—â—em confess never so often with their mouth that â—â—us Christ is come in the flesh if they do not believe in their hearts that his Righteousness and Meâ—â—â— alone is sufficient to justify and acquit them â—â—â—m sin and render them acceptable unto God 〈◊〉 will joyn their own Righteousness and Works â—â—â—h that of Christ's it will avail them nothing 〈◊〉 the same Apostle saith That by the deeds of the 〈◊〉 shall no flesh be justified for by grace are ye saved though faith and that not of your selves For it is 〈◊〉 gift of God not of works lest any man should 〈◊〉 The proper work and office of the Tongue is confess from the heart That Salvation cometh 〈◊〉 Christ's Righteousness and Merits alone which 〈◊〉 wrought out in his Rising from the dead by â—â—ich he was justified and acquitted from all the 〈◊〉 which lay upon him when he hung on the â—â—ss he was put to Death in the Flesh but Justice in the Spirit But if a bare verbal Confession of Jesus Christ â—â—â—g come in the flesh be sufficient to make a 〈◊〉 a true Christian then no doubt but Judas was a good Christian and was saved although 〈◊〉 Scripture calls him Son of Perdition A lost Son. â—â—on by external profession of the Christian Reliâ—â—â— but lost for his Treason and Rebellion as it 〈◊〉 call the Man of Sin Antichrist For no doubt Judas as he was an Apostle and a Preacher of â—â—â—st tho a great Hypocrite and Traytor yet he 〈◊〉 often confess that Jesus Christ was come in the 〈◊〉 Nay all the Protestants that ever were Hangâ—â— burned for Hereticks confessed that Jesus 〈◊〉 it was come in the flesh And therefore if this 〈…〉 come in the flesh does acquit them that hanged and burned them from being the Antichrist why then it does also acquit them that were Hanged and Burned from being Hereticks for Antichrist is the greatest Heretick that ever was in the World and all Hereticks are Antichrists but not them that are commonly called Hereticks but them that call them so that put darkness for light And thus you see clearly that they condemn themselves of being guilty of the Blood of the Martyrs by their own Argument which they vainly use to clear themselves from being Antichrist Again Thirdly If a bare verbal Confession of Jesus Christ being come in the flesh be sufficient to interest them in the great privilege of true Christianity then may the Devils themselves come in for a share of this kind of Christianity and great Privilege for they went a great way beyond this of a bare Confession that Jesus Christ was come in the Flesh for they owned and confessed him to be the Son of God and worshipped him as Christ told the Devil when he tempted him Luke 8.28 When he saw Jesus he cried out and fell down before him and with a loud voice said What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God most high I beseech thee torment me not Luke 4.41 And Devils also came out of many crying out and saying Thou art Christ the Son of God and he rebuking them suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ And the Apostle James 2.19 Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble Alas it is not a notional confession of the Head only of Jesus Christ in the Flesh in words only that will make a Man a true Christian and intitle him unto all those glorious privileges which does arise therefrom for people may confess that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh in words and yet at the same time deny it in works Titus 1.16 They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bringing upon themselves swift destruction Jud. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into lasciviousness denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ This is a denying Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh Doctrinally Again This Man of Sin is one that pretends to the Apostolical Office and working of Miracles and Wonders 2 Thess 2.9 Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders Who is this him that cometh Why it was Antichrist the Man of Sin as you may 〈…〉 if he that cometh Who is this he that cometh Why it is even the same again with him that cometh viz. The Man of Sin the Antichrist And what does he do after he cometh Pray mark For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not
preached and if ye receive another Spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Here the Apostle Prophesied of another Jesus that is of a false transubstantiated Christ as I humbly conceive which he saw by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost would come into the Gospel Church or Temple of God which caused God to turn it into a Desart And these are the same false Christs which our Saviour does forewarn us and commands us not to go out after them That is that we should not believe in them Matt. 24.23 24 25 26. And there was Signs and Wonders to attend these false Christs which our Saviour spake of insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect But they are but lying Wonders and false Signs as the Apostle declares they are made up of deceit But here the Apostle Paul spake of another Spirit which St. John calleth the spirit of Antichrist 1 John 4.3 Rev. 16.13 14. This is the same spirit by which they do work their pretended Miracles Signs and Lying Wonders and this is another Gospel which is their Canons and Councils Decrees and Prescriptions and unscriptural Traditions of old Fathers and so they did cast off the true and pure Gospel of God and do not adhere unto it to this day and place these Scriptures of their own invention in the room of it and cry them up to be Canonical and Infallible And this is that another Gospel namely A false Antichristian Gospel stuffed with nothing but Errors and Heresie And pray observe what the Apostle saith by way of caution concerning this kind of Gospel and them that Teach it Gal. 1.8 9. But tho we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed The Apostle spake by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost prophetically and clearly of what was to come into the Temple of God when the Man of Sin should be revealed And in the 13 14 15. verses of that 2 Cor. 11. he gives a clear character of those persons that should be guilty in assisting to bring in and preach up another Jesus and another Spirit and another Gospel into the Temple of God viz. such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light therefore it is no great thing if his Miâ—â—◠〈…〉 righteousness whose end shall be according to the works they are for works of Merits and in 〈◊〉 end they shall have as much salvation as they have earned by them these you see are the Devils Minsters and they are acted and influenced by his spirit Rev. 16.13 14. And I saw three unclean spirit like Frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon and oâ— of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet for they are the spirits of Devils working miracles which go forth unto the kings of the earth Acts 20.28 29 30. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost have made you overseers to feed the Church of God which 〈◊〉 hath purchased with his own blood For I know thâ—â— that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter 〈◊〉 among you not sparing the flock Also of your oâ—â— selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Noâ— the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisies having their consciences seared with a hot iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Now what Sect or sort of persons are there to be found among Christians that do forbid Men that are in spiritual Orders to Marry or if they are Married that do forbid them to take that Office or Place upon them And these are the person here intended by the Holy Ghost which sent the Apostle an express from Heaven with the foreknowledg of it The Apostle Peter who some call the Prince of the Apostles was a married man for we read 〈◊〉 a miracle that our Saviour Christ wrought to cuâ— his wives mother of a Fever Mat. 8.14 15. aâ—â— several of the other Apostles were married meâ— 1 Cor. 9.5 And the same Apostle namely Paul saâ—â— in the 1 Cor. 7.9 It is better to marry than to burâ— viz. than to burn in lusts here and in Hell he after to all Eterniy for Fornication and Adultery it is better for them to be married seven times to â—ven wives successively in Gods way and holy Ordnance than it is for them to borrow or make be with their neighbours wife once And then as for commanding to abstain frâ—â— Meats at certain times and seasons that is univerâ—â— and reacheth to all and the same Apostle saiâ— That we may eat whatsoever is sold in the Shambles â—ing no questions for conscience sake 1 Cor. 10.25 〈◊〉 does not say eat whatsoever is sold in the Fish-marâ— tho he did not prohibit that and all those amâ—â— Christians that are thus guilty which are foâ—â—â—â—der this Character are those thâ—◠〈…〉 Man of Sin the 〈…〉 theirs from Christ their Head for tho they confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in words yet in works they deny it Again the Turk never professed the Christian Religion nor owned the true Gospel of God and the pure Instituted Worship of Jesus Christ and afterwards Apostatized from it and rejected and despised the Faith and Truth of the Gospel and fit in the Temple of God and usurp a power over all Christian Kings and Princes and Rulers and over all Worship and Worshippers and sit in the room of Christ in his Temple and give Laws to mens Consciences as this Man of Sin doth and as the many Antichrists do Nor did the Turk broach nor bring in strange and monstrous Doctrines of Devils into the Church or Temple of God for mind the Apostle Act. 20.30 Also of your own selves shall men arise this could not be Turks for they were Christians and what shall these do speaking perversethings to draw away Disciples after them 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed â—o sedning spirits and Doctrines of Devils c. Now can you think this to be meant of the Turks It is spoken of persons that profess the name of Christ that do call themselves Christians Here we see was Prophesied that in the latter times that is in the time of Antichrist's power
fiesh and bones as ye see me have And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and his feet Joh. 20.19 20 24 25 26. Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the Doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of â—he Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them Peace be with ye This made them so terribly afraid because Christ came in personally among them notwithstanding the Doors being fast â—hut And when he had so said he shewed unto them his â—ands and his side then were the Disciples glad when â—hey saw the Lord. That was when our Saviour had â—atisfied their sences and reason and their understanding that it was he himself and not another â—ow if you could satisfie any body of the reality of â—our Christ that is Transubstantiated or if that â—hrist himself would satisfie people of the truth of 〈◊〉 as our true Saviour Christ did it would be someâ—â—ing But Thomas a Didimus being absent this first â—â—y that Christ appeared he mist sight of him vers â—â— 25 26. But Thomas one of the Twelve called Didiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 not with them when Jesus came The other Disciples therefore said unto him We have seen the Lord But he said unto them Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe And after eight days again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the Doors being shut and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you then said he to Thomas Reach hither thy fingers and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing If you of the Roman Catholicks that are Lay-persons were but as incredulous about your Doctrine of Transubstantiation as Thomas a Didimus was of Christ's Resurrection I know not how the Priests would do to satisfie you but here you see that our Saviour Christ did satisfie all his Disciples for he satisfied their sences and reason and all the scruples that did arise in them and he did not send their understandings empty away nor hoodwinkt here was seeing hearing and feeling fully satisfied and reason and understanding sent full fraighted or laden away and no room left for the least doubt or scruple to be made of the truth and reality of those Miracles But your Transubstantiated Miracle is so far from satisfying any persons Senses Reason and Understanding whether Romanist or others that will but be true to their Intellectuals that it both betrayeth and destroyeth Sense Reason and Understanding for ye must not believe one of them noble faculties if you believe your Miracle which is quite contrary to the very nature of Miracles Pray mind our Saviour Christ he comparatively did stoop down and condescend to Thomas's unbelief but it was to destroy it And this he did by satisfying his Senses Reason and Understanding also John 20.24 25 26 27. Now if your Priests could do so then it were something like but because they cannot do it it is not only nothing but it is that which is insinitely worse than nothing it is a very dangerous pernicious Doctrine for it is a strong Delusion and it is one of Antichrist the Man of Sin 's Lying Wonders for they that pretend to work this Miracle do despise and contemn the Holy Scriptures as you may see in that same Chapter where Antichrist the Man of Sin is described For these are two of his Characters viz. Lying Wonders and Disowning the Gospel 2 Thess 2.9 10 11 12. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders That is he claims all power both spiritual and temporal which either his craft or his cruelty can reach Dan. 8.24 25. And his power shall be mighty but not by his own power and he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practice and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people And through his policy he shall cause crast to proster in his band and 〈◊〉 shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many he shall also stand up against the prince of princes but he shall be broken without hands Rev. 17.14 16 17. The Apostle saith that he should come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness It is a most dreadful judgment you see that you poor souls do lye under who do believe this Doctrine The Lord in Mercy open your eyes and thorowly convince your Consciences of the evil and danger of it before it be too late while the door of Mercy stands open for it is as great a Judgment as that which the Jews lieth under for as your sins and theirs is much alike so are the judgments which both the one and the other lieth under the Jews they deny Christ openly and you deny him privately you do confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in words but in works you deny him 3. Thirdly and lastly The Apostles whenever they wrought Miracles the people saw that they were Miracles Acts 8.6 7. And the people with one accord gave good heed unto these things which Philip spake hearing and seeing the Miracles which he did For unclean spirits crying with loud voices came out of many that were possessed with them and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed And their very enemies did see the Miracles which they wrought and were forced to confess and own it as you may see in Acts 4.16 Saying What shall we do to these men for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done it is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it And the Apostles did raise the dead also and the people both good and bad did hear and see the Miracles which they wrought and were all satisfied with the reality of them or else it could be no Miracle There was never any Miracle wrought that ever I read of in the Sacred Scriptures as I can remember either by the Prophets who were inspired by the Holy Chost before Christ came in the flesh or by our Saviour Christ himself or by any of his Apostles that ever destroyed mens Senses and Reason and put out the very light of their Understanding but the Miracles which they all wrought brought their own clear and undeniable evidence along with them They have as we may say spoken clearly and fully for themselves they need no tricky nor force nor cunning artisices to create a belief in the people of the real truth of them but all the people
the Holy Scriptures is a total denial of them 2. Secondly if any sort of persons who call themselves Christians under the dispensation of the Gospel do set up allow and maintain the Order of Priesthood Material Altars and also Material Sacrifices then those sort of Christian do deny that that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and so they deny the whole Gospel of God and are turned back to the Mosaical Law therefore no such person or persons that are of this Principle can or ought to be Judges and Interpreters of the Holy Scriptures 1 Cor. 2.14 15 16. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned But he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord that he man 〈…〉 Christ There is no more reason for such a Man that is of Antichristian Principles not excepting Antichrist himself to be Judge of the Holy Scriptures than there is for a Thief or a Murderer to be his own Judge But there are a sort of persons which call themselves Christians now under the dispensation of the Gospel that do set up allow and maintain the Order of Priesthood material Altars and also material Sacrifices therefore these sort of Christians do deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and so they deny the whole Gospel of God and are turned back to the Mosaical Ceremonial Law and are not competent Judges nor Infallible Interpreters of the Holy Scriptures but he that is spiritual judgeth all things 3. Thirdly and lastly If any pretended Religion or Principle does teach men and women to be worse than their natural dispositions and corrupt inclinations then that Religion or Principle must be both false and dangerous to themselves and others and is of the Devil But the pretended Religion and Principles of Antichrist doth teach men and women to be worse than their natural dispositions and corrupt inclinations therefore that Religion or Principle must be both false and dangerous unto themselves and others and Satan is the founder of that Opinion and Principle It may be that you will say that our Scriptures are not rightly translated and especially that passage of Job's Wife where it is said that she said Curse God and die I will not say that every Iota of it is rightly Translated but yet this I will say That all the fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith which contain matter of Eternal Life and Salvation by the Righteousness and Merits of Jesus Christ alone are rightly Translated and every true Believer that hath the Grace of God in him can set to his Seal and bear witness unto the Truth of it There may be some things that are not rightly Translated that do not contain matters of Salvation in them as for instance in that of Job's Wife it is no matter of Salvation to know certainly whether she said Curse God and die or Bless God and die for as she might speak it it might be much at one as many of the Learned do understand it no doubt but that she spoke it Ironically and so consequently Atheistically or else Job would not have replied Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh for if she haâ— spoken sincerely then Job had been to blame tâ— have given her such a tart reproof as to call oâ— count her a Fool for if she had given him this advice cordially and sincerely to Bless God and diâ— he ought not to have rejected it for it is a great Duty as well as a great Mercy for people to diâ— blessing of God as well as to live so Now whether Job's Wife was a good Woman or no that is 〈◊〉 question for if she were a good Woman she waâ— in a very carnal frame of heart even as St. Petâ—â— was when he denied his Lord and Master or else she would never have spoke after that manner Thus I hope I have by God's assistance sufficiently proved the Holy Scriptures which we Protestants of all sorts do own and believe to be oâ— Divine Authority by the power and strength oâ— Arguments drawn and deduced from Reason only And all other Scriptures of mens inventing to be false and preposterous and of Antichrist And 〈◊〉 hope I have said enough if not to reclaim some oâ— those poor Souls that are fallen into their Snare yet I hope it will be of use to deter others from following their pernicious Example And I hope now I have done you of this Principle will begin to consider not how to be avenged upon the Author do not count me your enemy for telling you the truth for I do neither wish nor mean any hurt unto you in the least no more than I do to my own Soul I will assure you but do heartily wish and desire that all men might come up to the true knowledg of Christ and be saved and to love the Truth as it is in Jesus I humbly beg and beseech you for Christ his sake and for your own precious immortal Souls sake seriously to consider oâ— these things so as to exercise your Senses Reason and Understanding also upon what I have here iâ— faithfulness to your Souls declared unto you especially that are insnared in these false Antichristian Doctrines for it is a dreadful Judgment for aâ—â— poor Soul to be led away with false Teachers Isa â— 16 and also to be led away with fundament Errors in Judgment about Spiritual things where the Soul is concerned it is as much as your Soâ—â— are worth And what has a Man more to lâ—â— than his Soul For when that is gone all is goâ—â— as our Saviour Christ hath said What shall it prâ— a man if he should gain the whole world and 〈◊〉 his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for a soul POSTSCRIPT NOw Beloved Protestant Friends of all sorts I would not have any person so uncharitable as to destroy or knock any of those persons on the head that are of this corrupt Principle merely for the sake of their Principle who do believe this Doctrine of Transubstantiation nor abuse them in the least but let the Tares grow with the Wheat until the great Harvest I would both advise and desire all good Christians to pity and pray for them nay it is my Lord and Master's command that we should do so Matt. 5.44 But I say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you O! Sirs Let us carry it with all Christian sweetness of Spirit and tenderness of Affection towards them so that if possible we may win them by Christian love Let us heap Coals of fire upon their heads and melt them down into oneness of spirit with us And on the other hand I would never be willing nor consent to have it in their power to make a â—est of this Doctrine to Burn Protestants for Hereticks who cannot by any means come up to that degree of this kind of Faith as to believe such a complicated pack of Asurdities before they believe the Word of God or their own Sense and Reason Now I do here in the last place humbly yet boldly Challenge by the Power and in the Name of that God by whose Word and Spirit I have written this Any or all of those persons that teach this Doctrine of Transubstantiation and other the like Doctrines sutable to it that find themselves aggrieved or offended at this Christian friendly Discourse to give a fair ample and satisfactory Answer unto it But if they cannot Answer it then if I might advise them it should be this viz. That they would desist and leave off Preaching up any such kind of Doctrine among us which they â—an neither prove nor maintain either by Scripture or Rational Arguments FINIS ERRATA PAge 7. Col. 2. l. 21. r. of me p. 8. col 2. l. 43. r. and p. 9. col 1. l. 43. for without r. with p. 11. col 1. dele and Ibid. col 2. l. 19. r. is p. 12. col 2. l. 33. r. being come p. 13. l. 44. col 2. dele yet p. 15. col 2. l. 54. r. also but it is p. 17. col 2. l. 49. r. broacht Ibid. col 1. l. 29. dele with and to it Ibid. l. 32. r. bow p. 20. col 1. l. 13. r. jo now Ibid. col 2. l. 14. add it was not Ibid. l. 17. r. could not p. 21. col 2. l. 4. r. Heb. 1.7 Ibid. l. 51. dele yet p. 22. col 2. l. 8. for and Sacrifices r. and therefore Sacrifices Ibid. l. 43. r. after p. 23. 〈…〉 p. 24. col 2. l. 44. r. they p. 29. col 2. l. 31. add that p. 31. col 2. l. 27. r. Sacrament p. 37. ADVERTISEMENT THis Book is to be Sold at Randall Taylors and most Booksellers in the City Price Sticht 6 d. which is very necessary to be fixed in your Families and to be Read often unto your Children and Servants that they may acquire the principal Arguments by heart which will enable them to confute those who creep up and down to pervert the Truth and to vindicate the veracity of the Holy Bible in which the Universal or Catholick Apostolick Gospel-Church is founded under Christ