dead and plucked vp by the roo◅s Iude 12. verse Euen of whom Saint Paul saith For these things whose mindes cogitations being vnsanctified the wrath of God is fallen vpon you being the children of disobedience Col. 3. 6. And therefore to giue thee a Title of an English Pharise or but an imitator of Religion all such which truely perceiue any thing may plainely see that I haue done thee no wrōg at al. And now at last because thou art conceited in thy selfe Of such Salomon saith there is no hope hauing ioyned thy selfe with the Pope of Rome in your false imaginations wherein yee thinke that yee doe God good seruice I must of necessitie seeing that the god of this world hath thus darkened your vnderstandings leaue you at your study of vanities to ponder vpon these places of Scripture vnder-written Iude 12. verse latter end 2. Pet. 17. latter end Rom. 13. 2. latter end Luk. 13. 27. latter end Mat. 7. 2. Rom. 2. 1. 1. Cor. 4. 5. For I must turne my selfe vnto such of whom as Saint Paul saith I perswade my self better things Heb. 6. 9 And who haue not thus learned Christ Ephes. 4. 20. which beeing taught by him walke as the truth is in Iesus Ephes. 4. 21. being renewed in the Spirit of their mindes Ephes. 4. 23. walke so as they haue Iesus Christ for an example who hauing put off that old man of sinne are now become so sanctified in their liues and conuersations that beeing clothed with that glorious garment and robes of righteousnes do walk worthy of their calling in true holinesse of life And now faithfull Brethren in Christ of whom I wish as to my owne soule seeing that this our elder brother doth so rest himselfe in this word only in Christ that neglecting such duties required at his hands runnes into all manner of sinne Let it be your speciall care and such a warning vnto you that you neuer cherish or har bour any one sinne at all and that not any one sinne may seeme pleasing in your eyes striue and endeuour against all sin For without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. And againe seeing that Christ doth command vs not onely to beleeue in him but to loue one another 1. Ioh. 3. 23. Let it not be as Saint Iohn saith in word and in tongue onely but in deede and in truth 1. Iohn 3. 18. For hee that hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother haue need and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him 1. Ioh. 3. 17. Therefore I humbly intreat you in the bowels and compassion of Iesus Christ as you tender your owne soules that ye walk worthy of your vocation whereunto ye are called with all humblenesse of minde in meekenes with long suffering supporting one another through loue alwaies endeuoring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace hauing your lamps with those fiue wise Virgins so furnished with the oyle of Gods graces that our blessed Sauiour at his generall appearance may haue iust cause to say Come yee blessed of my Father possesse the Kingdome prepared for you before the foundations of the world Mat. 25. 34. For when I was an hungred ye gaue mee meate I thirsted and yee gaue mee drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged me I was naked and yee clothed mee I was sicke and yee visited mee I was in prison and yee came vnto mee Mat. 25. 35 36. Now enter into your masters ioy vnto the society of that blessed company of Angels Archangels and all holy men and women and children departed there to remaine in euerlasting comforts for euermore And here my faithfull Brethren I trust in Christ Iesus that we shall meete there very shortly to sing with that holy company euerlasting praise to the whole Trinitie to God the Father who hath created vs to God the Sonne who hath redeemed vs and to God the holy Ghost our comforter who hath doth sanctifie vs to whom bee endlesse praise for euer and euer And now at last that this glorious Kingdome may bee increased let mee intreat you once againe to ioine with me in our continuall prayers in often remembrance vnto this holy Trinitie that this little number which being the signe of the Son of man may be so aduanced now hard before hiscomming that these thicke cloudes of iniquitie being dispersed it may appeare more cleare vnto the view of the whole world And that this may be the better and sooner effected I most humbly desire the Lord of Hosts from the very bottom of my heart with heartie teares of humilitie vpon my bended knees that it would please him of his infinite mercy so to grace our most gracious and reuerend Bishops of this Land that they all in generall both in word and deede may bee so readie to stop the passage of these mystie cloudes of darknesse that the Gospell of Iesus Christ being the true light may shew it selfe like the bright morning Starre now at his last cōming to iudgement And againe grant deare Father for thy honour and blessed names sake vnto our most gracious and reuerend Bishops of this Land with all reformed Ministers of the same such a powerfull spirit of humilitie that they being able to beate downe these transcendēt spirits of iniquity thy glorie shining more cleerly the power of sinne and Satan may bee darkened speedily and that these most sinfull times may haue a speedie ende I humbly desire with thy seruant Iohn in the Reuelation Come Lord come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen To the Puritane THy disobedience it doth reach in height aboue the skies Thy hie conceit doth please thee well and therein thou art wise Disdaine within thy heart doth dwel fraught with reuenge an dire Thy words burst out in iudgements as hot as any fire deepe With singular eie thou do'st espy great beames in others sight And therin do'st thy self much boast with rayling words of might Leaue off for shame thou hast disgrast thy selfe in open view The Scripture doth reueale thee plain and therefore is most true Thy prayers long doe please thee wel against the Word of Christ In him thou wilt not rest alone by Satan thou art tiste Thou wilt stand vp in thy conceite in begging for thy neede Without remēbrance where thou art in full hope for to speede But hee that doth behold thy face whose face thou do'st not feare Will send thee away to thy disgrace where want shall be thy cheare Where t◅ou must stay and then subthy selfe in thra'l to dwell mit Where nothing is but fearefullcries in that deepe pit of hell Thus hauing climde in thy conceite in height aboue thy reach And with misconstring of the same the Scriptures for to search Thy height of pride hath brought thee for want of penitent speed low Wherein thou hast thy selfe disgrast thy humours for to feede To all A word or two in generall to whom these verses heere
Doe not forget but keepe in minde alwaies God to feare Let not cōceit withdraw your minds from that pure Word of God For if ye doe ye shall sure taste of his most heauie rodde To all true Christians And now at last a word or two vnto my brethren deare Who honour God and loue his Word his holy name to feare Goe on with speed and courage great your time it is but short And shew your selues in loue and each others to exhort peace Then he that bought vs deare will and meet vs in the cloudes come With Angels bright full cleare in to call vs forth of mouldes sight Then will Christ say Come blessed and stay on my right hand mine Yee lou'd me well ye sed the poore and here now ye shall stand Where wee shall raigne for euermore his glorie for to see Who hath redeem'd vs from our sins and now hath set vs free To him be praise let vs giue thankes in honour of his name Then happy we but cursed he that doth refuse the same A Prayer before meate MOst louing Father grant vs wee humbly beseech thee such patient spirits of humilitie that our bodies and soules beeing truely sanctified and fed by thy heauenly graces may be so freed f◅om that erroneous spirit of disobedience and false accusations that liuing heere in thy feare wee may hereafter depart in thy fauor and that for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake Amen A Thanks-giuing after meate MOst mercifull Father wee yeeld thee hartie thanks for feeding our mortall bodies with these thy good creatures Lord continue thy blessings vnto vs still and so free our hearts from that high conceite of vaine glorie that our bodies and soules being continually sanctified by thy powerfull spirit of humilitie may still liue in thy fauour and heereafter depart in thy fauour for thy blessed names sake Amen LOrd protect our most gracious King and Queene and that hopefull progenie from the cruell rage of Satan and all his wicked instruments and grant wee most humbly beseech thee that his Highnes and his continuing in a godly feare may liue to praise thy most holy name vntill the comming againe of Iesus Christ and that for his owne names sake Amen To know a Puritane from a true Christian. IF any desire to know what a Puritane is looke in the second Epistle of Saint Paul to Timothie the third Chapter from the first verse vnto the ninth verse and there yee may plainly perceiue the qualities and conditions both of him and the Pope of Rome with all others of those Antichrists the which haue banded themselues against the Lord and his Anointed and although that they haue gotten themselues painted names yet Saint Paul tels vs and wee must beleeue him That they are mad men out of their wits whose madnesse saith hee is now euident vnto all men 9. verse Heere may the whole world perceiue all such which haue and doe persecute Christ Iesus in his members especially those two monstrous heads the which doe so cunningly labour in sheepes clothing the Pope and the Puritane Now if any desire to see Iesus Christ in his members which is the true Church of God looke from the ninth verse vnto the end of the Chapter and there ye may behold the true signe of the Sonne of Man where ye may perceiue all the elect faces of Gods children in that spirituall glasse of immortalitie especially his Euangelicall face of whom it may truely be said That he hath knowne the Scriptures of a child I meane our most gracious King whom the Lord of his infinite mercy for his honour and the good of his Church doth by his vnsearchable prouidence now protect amongst vs therfore most blessed hee and his who shall dwell in euerlasting peace and neuer die Farewell vnto the whole world FINIS Mat. 24. 29. Mat. 24. 21. 2. Pet. 2. 4. 2. Tim. 3. 8. Psal. 120. verse 5. Mat. 2. 9. Psal. 139. Psal 139. 21 ◅2 Matth. 7. 10 Mark 4. 24.
THE ENGLISH PHARISE OR RELIGIOVS APE Being the weekes worke of a poore vnlearned professor of the Gospell of CHRIST zealously and truely checking the counterfeit professor but open persecutor of Christs true doctrine and discipline 2. TIM 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things By Iohn Walker dwelling at Leeds in York shire Printed Anno Dom. 1616. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND THAT MOST Worthy Gouernor William Greenebâ—…ry Lord Maior of the Citie of Yorke RIGHT HO AMONGST many worthie and true Professors of the Gospel I haue presumed and emboldened my self to dedicate this little book vnto your Hâ—… view and although not worthy your acceptation being not done scholler-like yet for that good wil I beare vnto the truth and for the truthes sake I humbly entreat your Honor to accept thereof and howsoeuer it may seeme distastfull vnto all disobedient and vnsanctified spirits which haue as Saint Iude saith separated themselues yet vnto all faithful Christians which truely fight vnder the banner of Iesus Christ I know that such will not onely accept my good will but likewise louingly and thankfully bee ready to embrace my poore indeuors herein seeing that I haue kept my selfe being guided by the Spirit of God in that sanctified place of Christs Vineyard alone and yet for all this I know that the malice and mischiefe of Sathan is such that from all those haters of their brethren who with hateful Esau haue separated themselues contemned their birth-right I expect no better gratuitie at their hands then deadly hate and reuenge and my reason is this because Grapes cannot grow vpon Thornes nor Figs vpon Thistles If that kingly Prophet DAVID had great cause to complaine of his times how that his enemies were greatly multiplied his sorrowes much increased by how much more hath our most gracious King iust cause to complaine seeing that Sathan now worketh after such a strange and most fearefull manner by his wicked instruments as the like was neuer heard nor seen from the beginning of the world vntill this present time of which times Saint Paul hath truely prophesied should bee most perilous that this is true who is he that liueth in our daies and seeth not that prophesie the which our blessed Sauiour fore-tolde should come to passe euen hard before his comming to Iudgement how that it is now by the children of disobedience most fearefully working amongst ys that is how that the Sunne should be darkned and the Moone should lose her light how that the Starres should fall from Heauen and the powers of heauen should be shaken Againe who is he that doth but look about him and likewise seeth not how that those immediate tribulations the which our blessed Sauior foretold should come to passe euen hard before these fearefull signes are now alreadie finished part of them in our late and gracious Queenes time of famous memorie and likewise the rest of these tribulations being the greatest in his Maiesties time especially since his Highnesse came amongst vs For who is hee that knoweth not how that bloudy Cain that man of sin would not haue left one Abel aliue if that God himself had not stood in the gap for vs Now for these tribulations I doubt not but that the very strengths of them are alreadie past and that this most fearefull plot of Gunpowder Treason what else was the very last shake of the glasse These and such like persecutions and tribulations haue at all times and in all ages displayed themselues against the poore despised Church of CHRIST but of all those engines which Sathan by his instruments hath deuised was neuer the like heard of as that fearfull plot of Gunpowder which they offered to shake vs withall and yet behold most worthy Sir there is such a fearefull shaking by the children of disobedience now amongst vs as for the time neuer was nor I hope neuer shall be untill the day of iudgment we haue but yet spoken of the shaking of our mortall bodies But behold and yee shall see further how that Sathan by his sharpest most hot instruments doth now shake the verie powers of heauen For Iesus Christ who now sitteth in heauen hauing receiued all power from God his Father is so shaken at this present time in his wounded members that except God of his infinite mercy vnto his little Church had appointed and ordained our most gracious King as aspecial meanes to hinder Sathan in his progresse herein I am verily perswaded that hauing preuailed so far alreadie as hee hath done that if hemight but bee suffered to haue his intent further that according to our blessed Sauiours speech no flesh should bee saued and therefore for this cause I most humbly craue vppon my bended knees that as GOD by his mighty power and loue vnspeakeable vnto his church hath so often stood in the gap against the power of Sathan and his most wicked instruments to deliuer his Sacred Maiestie from so many eminent dangers that now at last it would please his Grace in some recompence of so many and vn-vtterable great fauours receiued to stand once more in the gap for him then as we haue had alwaies iust cause our comforts beeing increased and our spirits further emboldned to cry still from the bottom of our harts with heartie teares of repentance vnto the Lord of Hosts that as hee hath so many seuerall times miraculously defended and protected his Maiesty so it would please him still for the great honor of his Name and the great comfort and good of his Church to defend protect him still vnder the shadow of his wings and not onely himselfe but likewise our most gracious Queene with that most blessed and hopefull Progenie that it wold so please him to protect them all in safetie peace that neither the wild Bore of the Forrest nor Esau this most wicked hunter which hunteth cruelly within this English Pale may euer preuaile or take any further rooting herein and here once againe let no man bee offended that seeing this vnnaturall brother hath not only broken that vnion which should bee amongst Christs members and so fallen from Christ himselfe but doth likewise dayly withdraw infinite multitudes by his life doctrin to become deadly haters of their brethren in so much that loue charitie hath lost her sight therefore still vpon my bended knees I most humbly craue that seeing the Lord of heauen and earth is by them so greatly dishonored it would please his sacred Maiestie to stop the passage of these violent Hunts-men which wilfully spoile and destroy the game Then according to our blessed Sauiours speech that last signe of the Sonne of Man immediately before his last comming to Iudgement shall more cleerely appeare amongst the clouds then shall there bee such cause of reioycing as meeting Iesus Christ our Redeemer we shall reioyce with him for euermore Our blessed Sauiour saith Hee that is not with
am contented with any thing that is reasonable but because thou doest wrongfully charge me to fauour any religion but that onely which I professe I must tell thee brother before we part seeing that thou art neither conformable vnto the Law of God nor man I say thou art no better then a flourishing tree without fruit Puri Wherein canst thou prooue me a flourishing tree without fruit seeing that I preach the Word of God very zealously and lead my life very strictly PRO. I am able by the Spirit of God to reproue thee both in thy life and doctrine Puri As how PRO. In thy doctrine concerning thy rashe iudgements against the members of Christ and in thy disobedience against man being the principal member thereof In a word I am ready to reprehend thee for thy disobedience against both God and man according to our Sauiour Christs owne words Hee that despiseth you despiseth mee and hee that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luk. 10. 16. Puri I perceiue that thou beginnest to bee angrie but if I had better remembred my selfe I would haue giuen thee no aduantage of my words PRO. I looke for no aduantage in thy words for denying in thy practice a thing lawfully commanded it matters not whether thou hold thy peace or seeme to excuse it with thy tongue Puri Wherein canst thou disprooue mee for any thing lawfully commanded PRO. I can iustly reprooue thee in many things but two or three shal be sufficient to proue thee but a flourishing tree and a wandring star first thy disobedience vnto eccle siasticall gouernement which the Church of his Land hath commanded Secondly thy want of charitie hauing seuered thy selfe from Christ in pronouncing rash and accusing iudgements against his members Thirdly thy contradiction against Christ in the length of thy praiers with the manner and likewise of thy behauiour therein Puri I had thought we might haue conferred after another manner but I perceiue now that I haue kept thee cōpany but too long Thou hast promised to goe forward therein thou maist please thy selfe for I am pleased to turne my backe PRO. Brother thou hast not deceiued mee for as Salomon saith Ineuer tooke thee for any other but for such a one as scornes reproofe Prou. 9. 8. But seeing that thou hast so scornfully turned thy backe and separated thy selfe without iust cause denying to haue any more conference wherein thou deseruest iustly to bee reproued I will not faile by Gods assistāce to let the world see that thou art no better as Saint Iude saith Then a whithered tree twice dead and fit to bee plucked vp by the rootes Iude 13. v. Now because thou shalt take no exception wherein I may offer thee the least wrong I am ready to reprehend both thy life and doctrine onely by example in the Scripture and therefore let mee intreate thy patience if thou haue any for the thing that I ayme at is thy conuersion and not thy destruction And as wee are taught in the Word of God to reproue either friend or foe with the words of meekenesse euen so my elder brother I am willing and ready to reprehend thee onely with the words of meeknesse and loue and although thou doest not thinke thy selfe vnworthy of reprehension because thou carriest thy offences behinde thee yet seeing that others doe see that in thee which thou canst not perceiue thy selfe I haue presumed to lay open vnto the view of the whole world that a publike offence deserues an open rebuke LOuing and faithfull Christian I must tell thee before I goe any further that whereas I was determined to goe forward after a dialogue maner thou seest here how that my elder brother hath already preuented mee and therefore am constrained to take another course intending by God◅ permission to goe forward wherein I haue promised The Spirit of God saith I haue chosen the foolisb things of this world to confound the wise and weak things to confound the mightie Louing Christian beeing no Scholler thou must not expect that at my hand◅ which I haue not onely my good will wherein the Lord hath enabled me by his holy Spirit that specially by his especiall grace I will freely offer thee but being not fit to ◅iscourse of things at large I will only point at some heads wherin thou maist plainly perceiue the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error and for this purpose thou must vnderstand that there are in this land two sorts of teachers amongst vs the one sort is reformed and the other sort much deformed the one sort doth teach in Christs Schole with the words of meeknesse the other seemeth to teach therein with the words of accusing Iudgements the one is guided with the spirit of humilitie the other with the spirit of iniquitie the one with the spirit of obedience the other with the spirit of disobedience the one teacheth and resteth himselfe in the schole of Christ the other maketh but a proud flourish therein resting himself in hi◅ owne conceite in a word the one hath the Spirit of truth and the other but the spirit of error And first against the spirit of errour our blessed Sauiour himself Saint Paul Saint Peter Saint Iohn and Saint Iude with others hauing prophesied of these very last times wherein we liue doth tel vs in plaine words the qualities and conditions of such false prophets as are now resident amongst vs. And now to our elder brother to whom I must tell thee before I proceede that seeing it is a thing subiect to flesh and bloud not onely to passe ouer offences vnto others from themselues but likewise imputeth many faul◅s only to one whi◅h somtimes appertaine vnto diuers herein doth shew it self ◅ great indiscretion of iudgement as appeareth sometimes in quotation of our English Bibles for example S. Peter saith in the◅e words and chiefly th◅m which walk after the flesh in the l◅st of vncleann◅sse and d◅spise gouernmen◅ which are bold and stand in their owne conceit not fearing to speake euill of dignities 2. Pet. 2 10 Herein I know that the Church of Rome iustly and worthily deserues this imputation Now who is so blind and seeth not how that thou likewise art not onely fleshly minded and despisest dominion as S. Iude saith but likewise agreeable vnto Saint Pauls words resistest the ordinance ordained of God Rom. 13. 2. And to proue this further bec◅use thou art ready to take exception without cause S. Peter speaking of the Ministery doth seeme to teach thee thy dutie both to superiour and inferiour Magistrates his words are these Submit your selues vnto all manner ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1. Pet. 2. 13. And in the verse going before he giues a reason why the words are these That they which speake euill of you as of euill doers may by your obedience which they shall see glorifie God in the day of visitation therefore saith hee submit your selues 1. Pet. 2. 12. This word
ordinance is quoted in some Bibles onely of ciuill gouernement but I appeale vnto the iudicial censure of the learned whether that Caesar hath his whole right herein or not I hope there is not any that hath the Spirit of God but they wil confesse that our gracious King is as well supreme Head and Gouernor ouer all causes Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill Now this word ordinance being guarded with these two words all manner I see no reason in my iudgement of any lesse importance then both spirituall and temporall and I thinke I haue also the spirit of God But now to the point our gracious King hauing commanded many things to bee obserued in this Church of England and yet as Saint Paul saith nothing but that which is agreeable vnto the Word of God being both decent and comely I would very gladly know thy reason why thou shouldest shew thy selfe thus disobedient Salomon saith A diuine sentence shall be in the lippes of the King his mouth shall not transgresse in iudgement Prou. 16. 10. Brother heere thou standest in thy owne conceit and thinkest that no King in the world is so wise as thy selfe Ergo thou wilt refuse gouernment which doth inferre that thou despisest the Gouernour Wilt thou see a samiliar example by a plaine cōparison how contrary thou art to Christs command who saith Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars Mat. 22. 21 Amongst the temporall Lawes of this Land it is commanded that the poore therein shall bee k◅pt maintained within their seuerall Parishes Now som sturdy beggers there be which will not submit themselues vnto this command but being guided by their own conceit wander abroad making themselues no better then Rogues by the Statute of which sort Saint Paul saith If they will not worke they must not eate 2. Thes. 3. 10. Brother what sayst thou of this disobedient begger or how likest thou of Saint Pauls prescription of this sturdy Rogues diet or what dost thou thinke of this example by thy s◅lfe Thou canst not deny how disobedient thou art vnto the Lawes and ordinances which our gracious King hath command◅d thee therfore as this sturdie begger is become a rogue by the statute of this land so thou being a conceited obstinate hast made thy selfe by the statute of God no better as S. Iude saith then a wandering starre whose dyet without repentance S. Paul hath likewise set downe in the 13. to the Rom. and 2. verse If thou bee put to silence as to be feared thou art not then thou beginn◅st to cry out as the conceited Iewes did The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord Ier. 7. 4. Thou criest the Lords anointed Anointed of the Lord. Now this is such a crie as may become a wonder vnto the world who seeth thee in the very height of disobedience shall a father command his childe that thing which he may very easily doe without any danger at all and shal this childe refuse his fathers command pleade not worthie correction because hee is his childe this thou wilt confesse is very absurd how canst thou then excuse thy selfe dost thou think that thy disobedience vnto our gracious King being contrary vnto CHRIST himself his command to pleade the Lords anointed because thou preachest Christ therfore worthy no correction nor punishment why this is too absurd nay Brother flatter not thy selfe for before we part I feare me that thou wilt proou◅ no better a Preacher then as Saint Paul saith of enuie and strife Phi. 1. 15. Therfore bee aduised by the Prophet Ieremy Amend your waies and your workes and no doubt as he saith there ye may dwel in this place Ier. 7. 3. Otherwise what may bee expected but a casting away of your selues as of the whole seede of Ephraim Ier. 7. 15 If our gracious King had denied vs any fundamentall point of Religion the which thou wilt confesse he doth not or decr◅d any thing which as the Prophet Esay saith had been grieuous in keeping backe the poore from iudgement or any such like things which wicked Kings doe Esai 10 1 2. then mightest thou haue had iust cause to complaine and we al cause to lament But seeing hee is so merciful and so louing vnto all his subiects commāding nothing but that which is agreeable vnto the word of God who art thou and what a contradicted spirit art thou of that in stead of loyall dutie and loue art become thus disobedient vnto so louing and gracious a King But alas what hast thou done Hast thou not with all those disobedient spirits in the old Testament transgressed most fearefully against both God and good men nay further thou hast swerued from the cōmandement of Christ Matth. 22. 21. and as Saint Paul saith resisted the ordinance ordained of God Rom. 13. 2. striuing against principalities and powers Titus 3. 1. speaking as S. Peter saith against dignities 2. Peter 2. 10. despising dominion lude the 8. verse boasting thy selfe as Salomon saith before the King Pro. 25. 6. in a word thou hast in the very height of pride transcended thy selfe aboue all power exalting thy selte aboue measure And now what may be expected thinkest thou without a speedie and sodain repentance but such a most fearefull fall for this thy disobedience as Saint Iude hath alreadie prescribed euen blacknesse and darknesse for euer Iude the 13. verse Brother I will shew thee such an ensample of obedience that if there be but one spark of grace in thee thou wilt neuer deny to follow him For behold our blessed Sauiour himselfe although a free-man frō all Subsidies or Taxes or what else which was due vnto Caesar by strangers yet rather then he would seeme to disturbe a common peace or become an example of offence in the least degree he commanded Peter to cast his angle into the water and the first Fish saith hee thou takest open his mouth wherein thou shalt finde a piece of Siluer of twenty pence take it and pay for mee and thee Mat. 17. 25 26. verses Thou seest heere how willing and ready our blessed Sauiour was in Obedience in his owne person thou seest him pay tribute vnto Caesar although a free-man nay further rather then hee would becom an ensāple of the least offence thou maist perceiue him yeelding vnto a base Publican Now if our Sauiour Christ did not think that ciuill policie was taken away by the Gospell what may the whole world thinke of thee in denving obedience refusing but rites and ceremonies which are seemly in the Church beeing lawfully commanded I am sory to see thee moūt thy selfe into this verie height of pride thou art become little inferiour vnto those disobedient spirits that for their pride fell from Heauen to Hel. Thou hast as the Prophet D◅uid saith banded and io◅ned thy selfe with the wicked of this world against the Lord and his Anointed Psal. 2. 2. Nay thou hast done much more then I haue yet spoken of For thou hast
with Iannes and Iambres not onely withstood Mos◅s in resisting the truet◅ thy selfe But lik◅ w◅se by thy inchantments hast dost draw dayly infinite of multitudes vnto thi◅ thy wilfull disobedi◅nce in so much that thou hast iustly caused our gracious King not onely to cry out with the Prophet Da◅id Lord how are they increased that t◅ouble me many are they that rise against mee Psal. 3. 1. But likewise as iustly caused him with the same Prophet to say Woe is mee that I am constrained to dwell in Mesech and to haue my habitation in the Tents of Kedar And thus thou hast by thy disobedient inchantments caused such a contention in this Land that thou hast iustly deserued with Mesech and Kedar those Israelites which did degenerate from their godly Fathers beeing hatefull and contemning the faithfull that most fearefull Iron rodde of Gods wrath to bruise thee in pieces sodainely I must tell thee Brother and I am sorry that thou hast giuen mee such iust cause to tell thee so that if it were not for one crying sinne which that bloody and wandering Cain is branded in the fore-head withal I meane that most monsterous Beast of Babylon who denyeth the Offices of our Redeemer I say and speake it from the Spirit of God that thou art become so little inferiour in persecuting and murdering the soules of Christs members that thou hast not onely pledged the Pope of ROME a full health of the dregges of your conceited inuentions and false imaginations but as thou hast pledged him herein I feare me it will proue before wee part that thou hast begun another halfe pot to him againe And although thou doest not runne on with him in deniall of some fundamentall points of Religion yet I dare vndertake that thou resting thy selfe in thy owne conceit denying but the circumstances shaddowes therof whose substances cannot bee without dost more hurt by thy disobedience amongst vs herein then he doth or can doe being so publikely knowne as hee is And here as our Sauior Christ saith Thou art but a blind guide which straines out a gnat and swallows a Camell Mat. 23. 24. Thus Brother thou carriest this offence of disobedience vpon thy back and therefore thou canst not perceiue it thy selfe Now I haue made bold comming behinde thee to take it off haue layed the same as thou now seest before thy face For which if thou wouldst so keepe there and cast it no more behinde thee I shall be glad that it was my chance to remoue the same But if thou rest thy selfe in thy owne conceit casting obedience from thee and so become a carrier still of thy offences behind thee then wilt thou enforce mee to say with Salomon That there is more hope in a very naturall foole then of him that is conceited Pro. 26. 12. ver And this shall serue for a taste of thy disobedience and to let the world see That as Saint Iude saith Hauing separated thy selfe from the true members of Christ thou art become no better then a wandring Starre whose portion without repentance is blacknesse of darknesse for euer Iude 13. vers And therfore Brother let mee aduise thee to learne a lesson of that Starre which guided the Wise men from the East Countrie vnto Bethlem where our blessed Sauior CHRIST was as that Star did stand still when it came iust ouer where the Babe was and so left them there so thou who doest rest thy selfe but in thy owne conceit denying obedience vnto supreme power let it now be sufficient too much that thou hast settled thy affections in that East countrie of thy owne imaginations where nothing can bee found but Inchanters and Sorcerers And heere I must leaue thee and turne my self vnto those of whom as Saint Paul saith I perswade my self better things Heb 6 9. And thus faithfull Christian thou seest what great danger the children of disobedience haue broughtthemselues into Thou seest that our elder brother for his disobedience is counted no better in the iudgement of Saint Iude then a wandring Starre Thou seest what such haue prescribed in the Scriptures for their diet after this life S. Paul saith condemnation Rom. 13. 2. Saint Peter and Saint Iude saith blacknesse of darknesse for euer 2. Pet. 2. 17. Iude the thirteenth Verse Thou seest these blessed Apostles so speaking against these disobedient spirits as worthy of these fearefull iudgements And in briefe thou seest how truely these holy Apostles hath prophesied of these disobedient spirits in these very last times And againe thou seest how opposite these spirits are vnto the obedience of our blessed Sauiour Christ himselfe who paied Tribute vnto Caesar in his owne person who rather then hee would bee an ensample of the least offence although a freeman yeelded himselfe vnto a base Publican And thus may all men see the King of all Kings an ensample of obedience vnto the whole world And yet behold heere thou seest a disobedient spirit so full of contradiction that hee will transcend aboue principalities and powers But faithful Christian let this fearefull example be such a speciall warning vnto thee that thou keepe thy selfe in all loyall obedience vnto Princes especially and likewise let this example bee a warning vnto all sorts of people that they yeeld obedience vnto whom soeuer it is due As Children to Parents and Parents to their Children Wiues to their Husbands and Husbands to their Wiues Seruants to their Masters and Masters to their Seruants Col. 3. 18 19 20. And in a word al in general to our most gracious King Now that we may the better performe these duties let vs take counsell of that blessed Apostle St. Paul who speaking against such disobedient spirits saith Turne away from such 2. Tim. 3. 5. And thus faithful brother thou seest what danger our elder brother hath brought himselfe vnto in despising gouernment It resteth now in the second place to let thee see his disobedience in his doctrine and as in briefe thou seest his disobedience against man thou shalt likewise by Gods assistance see his disobediē◅e against both God and man who perseeuteth Christ in his members both thou and I haue felt the smart but faithfull brother I must leaue thee for a while And now brother by Gods assistance according to my promise I am readie to encounter with thee this second time And wheras I haue already reproued thee for thy disobedience against man not finding thee in this Combate to yeeld beeing prouoked further I am readie to manifest vnto the whole world how contrarie thou art to Christ and all good men by thy disobedience in thy Doctrine Likewise shewing the difference betwixt the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error But before I proceede I am to meete with an obiection which the whole world who being against the truth may propound and that is where the true Church of Christ is and therefore to giue satisfaction herein the world shall
vnderstand that both the true Church and the false is in this little Iland called England and as there are many false Churches in the world and but onely one true The world may likewise perceiue that as the true Church of GOD is alwaies accompanied as Saint Paul saith with some heresies for the better triall thereof 1. Cor. 11. 19. So now especially is it at this present time for there are three sorts of Teachers amongst vs whereof one of these is the true Church of Christ and the other two with all the rest doe but oppose themselues Now of these two latter being both false the one of them doth teach in priuate the other doth preach in publike Now for this priuate teacher it is needelesse to speake any thing of him seeing that the Church of God doth know him sufficiently how that he degrading Christ of his Offices challengeth such prerogatiues vnto himselfe as are onely peculiar vnto Christ and therefore no true member thereof And as this priuate teacher is a knowne enemie vnto Iesus Christ so likewise I am readie to prooue by the Word of God that thou who restest in thy owne conceit hauing separated thy selfe from thy brethren being become a rash accusing iudger of them that thou art so farre off from being either a teacher or a scholer in the Schoole of Christ that thou art an enemie thereunto teaching onely in the vanitie of thy owne imagination And that this is true our blessed Sauiour seeming to teach the whole world the way vnto the Kingdome of heauen hath erected vnto the view of the whole world a large free Schoole wherein he teacheth that whosoeuer would bee a teacher or a scholler therein must learne this lesson of meekenesse and lowlinesse Matth. 11. 29. And lest his children should swerue or goe astray from this his milde Commandement hee giues a speciall warning in the sixth Chapter of Saint Lukes Gospell and thirtie seuenth verse in these words Iudge not that yee bee not iudged condemne not and yee shall not be condemned forgiue and yee shall be forgiuen Luk. 6. 37. Now there are diuers and sundrie sorts of people which doe perswade themselues that they are true teachers in this schoole of Christ which indeed are not and therfore to resolue a doubt which may either arise in thâ—…â—…gnorant or in such wâ—…ich doâ—… misâ—… 〈◊〉 aâ—… the Papiâ—… and diuâ—…rs doe I will therefore make plaine one place of Sâ—…ripture that the ignorant may not onely be better satisfied but likewise that their vnderstaÌ„dings may be more apt to conceiue of things afterwards And for this purpose Saint Iohn saith Trie the Spirits whether they bee of God or not 1. Ioh. 4. 1. and in the next verse he saith Heereby shall yee know the Spirit of God Euery spirit which confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 1. Ioh. 4. 2. Now heere thou must take heede how thou vnderstandest these words if thou take them litterally as the Papists doe in the sixt Chapter of Saint Iohns Gospell concerning the Sacrament then thou art in an errour for theÌ„ not only the Papists but specially the Puritan with diuers other sects should receiue benefit by Christs death which being rightly vnderstood thou maist plainly perceiue that they haue no right nor interest therein For they that degrade Christ of his offices as the Papists doe or seeme to to seuer that vnion betwixt Christs members as the Puritan doth doe separate themselues both from Iesus Christ and hâ—…s members And therfore to cleare this point before I proceede the Prophet Esay saith This people come neere me with their mouth and honour me with their lippes but their heart is farre from me Esa. 29. 13 And our blessed Sauiour saith Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of heaueÌ„ but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Mat. 7. 21. And to make this more plaine our Sauiour Christ saith further Many will say vnto mee in that day that is the day of Doome Haue wee not prophesied by thy name and by thy name cast out deuils and by thy name done many great workes yet for all these outward actions wanting loue and charitie vnto the members of Christ thy answer shall be Depart from me thou worker of iniquitie I know thee not Mat. 7. 2 3. So that wee see by these proofes that it is not an outward profession only which God requireth but likewise an answerable conuersation But now to the purpose And whereas thou perswadest thy selfe to bee a Teacher in the Schole of Christ the world shall plainly see that thou dost but flatter thy self in thy owne imagination being quite contrarie minded to the true teachers therin And that this is true I will first set down a true disciple and a follower of Christ who according to our blessed Sauiours commaund approouing himselfe both in his life and doctrine teacheth with the spirit of humilitie and patience as appeareth by that blessed Apostle Saint Paul who speaking of himselfe and all true Teachers in this Schole of Christ saith in these words Wee giue no occasion of offence that our Ministerie should not be reprehâ—…nded 2. Cor. 6. 3. but in all things wee approue our selues as the Ministers of Christ in much patience 2. Cor. 6. 4. And lest others should mistake theÌ„selues who are to deale sometimes with such an aduersarie as doth oppose himselfe against the truth he likewise aduiseth Timothie To instruct such with the words of meekenes and hee hath set downe a reason why for per aduenture God may give them repentance 2. Tim. 2. 25. Now Brother whether thou art a Teacher after this manner or but a Teacher after thine owne conceit I appeale vnto such words as flow from thy fierie spirit of accusing Iudgements and likewise from such fruit as doth appeare by thy general doctrines for powring forth the Wine of Gods iustice in such fearefull manner against the wounded members of Christ as thou doest reseruing the oyle of Gods mercies without due consideration vnto thy selfe what is this but to feede thy own idle and most absurd conceit making beames in thy brothers eyes and but motes in thy owne Heerein thou makest thy selfe no better then a plaine hypocrite as appeareth by our Sauiour Christ saying in these words Hypocrite first casâ—… out that beame which is in thine owne eye and then shalt thou see more clearely to cast out the mote that is in thy brothers eie Matth. 7. 5. Here mayst thou see how opposit thou art to Christ and his followers but that as Saint Iohn saith darkenesse hath blinded thy eyes 1. Iohn 2. 11. Againe our blâ—…ssed Sauiour saith Iudge not that yee bee not iudged Mat. 7. 1. and Saint Paul as a true disciple of Christ doth giue a sufficient reason whâ—… we should not iudge of others For saith hee thou that iudgest others thou condemnest thy selfe Rom. 2. 1. Now how
contrary thou art to Icsus Christ and to his followers doth appeare by the fruits of thy doctrin who by thy accusing and condemning iudgemeÌ„ts hast not only caused many to fall from Christ vnto desperation which is most fearefull but likewise for all the rest which take liking to the same which are infinite in multitudes are becom such deadly haters of their Brethren euen vnto that height of sinne that they blush not to make good their hateful minds by the Scripture the place they alleage where Dauid by a most prophetical spirit against the enemies of God being bloud-thirsty men desired God not only to slay those wicked people but hâ—…e goeth on further in the sincerity of his hart as prophesying of them what should become of such saying Do not I hate them O God that hate thee yes O Lord I hate them with â—…n unfaâ—…ed hatred This exposition of this place of scripture which both thy self and those thy followers doe thus interpret is hatcht and fetcht froÌ„ the deuill and thy deuillish conceit for seeing thou canst neuer proue thy self to be of that Spirit which Dâ—…uid had nor likewise canst neuer proue vs thy Brethren to deserue such imputation which those manslaiers the 〈◊〉 of God did how impudent and cruell art thou aboue measure to censure and iudge thus vncharitably against the members of Iesus Christ Again many of thy followers goe further and say that of their owne Parents being Protestants that they are already damned and that this is too true by wofull experience many places of this Land with the place where Idwell doe manifest the same That blessed Apostle S. Paul saith Let your patient mind be knowne vnto all men the Lord is at hand Phil. 4. 5. But thou by a contrarie spirit sayst vnto thy followers Let your hatred and malice bee knowne vnto all men and therefore thou hast iust cause to thinke that the Deuill is at hand This thy hatred hath so spred it selfe throughout the whole land that it cannot bee denied without a brazen face and that this is true I can shew thee an instance of experience offered against my selfe for taking occasion being moued by the Spirit of God as now to write this little booke I writ my letter vnto a principall man of thy sect and although reproouing him after a friendly manner his rage was so kindled thereat that his answere was that if he liued hee would reuenge it but if hee died let GOD reuenge it Againe another of thy Sect standing by did giue mee such cruell and disgracefull wordes that nothing did appeare but hatred and malice And amongst the rest of his speeches for writing that Letter hee iudged mee worthy to die some sodaine death I haue noted these words that the world may see what spirits the Diuell doth hatch in these very last times and likewise to let all men see how contrarie thou and thy Sect are vnto Iesus Christ and his followers who from the spirit of humilitie doth teach with patieÌ„ce beeing so farre off from reuenge that they are alwaies ready to forgiue their enemies Saint Iude speaking against disobedient spirits of authoritie saith That their rage is such that they fome out their owne shame Iude the thirteenth verse And that this is true of thy Sect one of thy Brothers hath alreadie spoken his malice against one of the chiefest pillars of this Land and I will tell thee how taking exception against a poore man but for a supposed fault got him bound ouer vnto the Sessions where his proofe failed but being not satisfied the poore man was troubled further where thy brothers proofe failing the second time to satisfie his reuenge further another Iustice warrant was sent for Now the poore man being in the fire twice before beeing driuen into great distresse he bethought him of a friend at London therefore he went trudging vnto him made his case knowne and beeing truely perceiued appearing more malice theÌ„ matter his friend procured a Supersedâ—…as for him vpon bayle giuen for his good behauiour as the vsuall manner is so that hee tooke his leaue and came trudging home againe and he no sooner approched but intelligence was giuen and needelesse to bid thy brother prosecute this warrant must presently be serued But the Constable perceiuing seeing a Supersedeas made it knowne Wherupon thy brothers rage beeing kindled to please the pride of his humour writ his Letter vnto the Iustices Clarke after this manner Friend whereas a warrant was directed from your Master against such a one it wil take no place for hee hath gotten a Suâ—…ersedeas I thinke hee hath beene at the Pope and gotten a Pardon for his sinnes past and to come And that this is true there is sufficient testimonie to proue the same I haue noted this First to discharge my conscience who ought not to keepe such words secret Secondly that the world may perceiue how that pride vaine-glory with an inuetered malice doth so raigne in the children of disobedience thatthey are ready likewise to burst forth into cursed speeches against Principalities and Powers O wickâ—…d generation aboue measure what may bee expected at thy hands if thou shouldst be suffred and mightst but haue thy owne will that from thy disloyall disobedience and rash accusing Iudgements such fruits as these doe spring there doth nothing appeare in thee but disobedience rash accusing Iudgements hatred and malice and cruell reuenge and all against the poore members of Iesus Christ whose number by thy inchanted doctrine thou hast so diminished that those of thy hatefull sect are growne infinite in multitudes Thou hinderest the fruits of the Gospel Thou causest the Ministerie to be euill spoken of thou resistest the truth by setting vp an Idol of thy owne imagination thou art so deepely plunged in the depth of thy owne conceit that as Salomon saith There is more hope in a foole then in him that is conceited Prou. 26. 12. Thouhast giuen vs great cause to complaine as Saint Paul did of Alexander the Copper-Smith Thou hast done vs much hurt But as he said I trust the Lord will reward thee thereafter 2. Tim. 4. 14. And yet for al this although thou hast caused Gods Name greatly to be dishonoured and loue and charitie smothered notwithstanding all this thou art still readie with those conceited Iewes who cryed The Temple of the Lord to excuse thy selfe and say The Lords Anointed the Lords Anointed Now if it were not that the god of this world had bewitcht thy thoughts thou wouldst blnsh for shame to make such a cry amongst them which know thee better then thou knowst thy selfe Suppose thou couldst speak as S. Paul saith with the tong of men Angels haue not loue thou art no better then sounding brasse or a tinckling Cimbal 1. Cor. 13. 1. Thou saiest thou preachest Christ it is true And as Saint Paul saith I reioyce thereat But what of this seeing that thou hast not onely