then whether a Minister of Christ ought not contend with the observers of that heathen-Feast as Nehemiah did with the Nobles prophaning the Sabbath day at least by conniving at those who did 13. 17. we take it that such cleared Truths as these and those relating to formes of prayer are not to be put to question or if they be we are not as we conceive to be carefull to answer in these matters we are not to deliberate upon them They that will put these things to question may feare to be delivered-up into a minde voyde of judgement And they that are resolved in these points and would resolve the gaine-sayers Let them looke into their 〈◊〉 For what hope have they of our ranke to prevaile with those who have withstood the Resolves from Gods word by the mouth of Gods faithfull Ministers They that contend for these matters are not weake ones but vaine and superstitious persons built-up high in their fleshly confidences so as your words can move with them no more than can a blast of winde move a tower of brasse or the waves a rocke In a word Let not us dispute Gods right but give it Him nor the lawes of His house but give our observation unto them nor the way of His people but walke we therein and with so right a foote in desire and endeavour that we may put a beauty upon the way and so adorne it that we may draw others to it to walke together with us as Friends in it having concluded within themselves making observation by our walke This is the way of Holinesse for see how Holily they walke who are walkers in it Onely take this with it more suspect that at the least to be a cursed liberty the worldly Church contends for and reckon upon that to be the Holy way they would stand up against contradicting and blaspheming In the second place Let us pray God make us Learned to the Kingdome of God That we may humble all our knowledge to the obedience of Faith God grant to all his people the Spirit of wisedome and understanding That they may be able to discerne the Spirits whether they are of God or no. That they may take heed of false Prophets and give eare to the voyce of the Prince of Pastors and fly the voyce of strangers and beware of blinde Guides that so often have deceived them Amen § 7 Thirdly In the last place We will sett downe those foure savoury Speeches we before made mention of Mr Chillingworth speakes first what the goodnesse of the man was we know not but this speech is very good If I did not finde in my selfe a love and desire of all profitable Truth if I did not put away idlenesse and earthly affection and to search to the bottome of my opinions in reference to Divine matters being prepared in my mind to follow God and Him onely which way soever He shall leade me If I did not hope that I either doe or endeavour these things Certainly I should have little comfort in my separation from the world at present and little hope of obtaining salvation hereafter There is the first speech Mr H Sanders speech is next The power of godlines is first Pag. 175. to be heeded if we be nothing within no great matter though we sit at the right or the left hand of Christs outward Kingdome let us contend principally to be members of Christ to be of the invisible Church imbodied in the Church of the first-borne here we cannot easily be too carefull or too curious But as to externall fellowship though the mind of Christ in this also be to be sought and followed â—et so much earnestnesse and confidence needs not as in the other Vnlesse men take care how to live 't is not much matter how they worship Thou maist be this we take to our selves as chearefully and thankfully as this good man spake it to himselfe and his good people heartily in a purer Church than another and yet be the impurer and vainer soule of the two It is better to see a mans Conversation commending his way than to see men beholding to their way for their esteeme Mr Ant Palmers words follow An holy fellowship with Sermon upon Math 8. 23 24 25 26 27 p. 85. such as are Godly by frequent Conference communicating their experiences of God in a more holy Church-fellowship than the mixt Congregations are yet reduced into will abundantly quicken and strengthen faith and every gift and grace of beleevers and make much for the retaining and encrease of comfort Dr Owens words follow and therewith we will close all You On Ezek. 17. 24. p. 32. that doe enjoy Holy Ordinances Labour to have holy hearts answerable thereunto you have heavenly institutions labour to have heavenly Conversations if we be like the world in our walking it is no great matter if we be like the world in our worship it is sad walking contrary to God in His owne Paths shew-out the power and efficacie of all Gospell Institutions in a frame of Spirit course of life and equability of spirituall temper all your dayes Keepe up the power of private worship both personall and family I have seene many good Lawes for the Sabbath and hope I shall see some good examples Looke what the roots are in the family such will the fruit be in the Church and Common-wealth if your spirits are not well manured there you will be utterly barren elsewhere that is done most cleareto God which is done within dores This being set home by the Spirit of holinesse will keepe our foote close-up to wisedomes wayes which are pleasantnes and all her paths peace and tends to that Blessed End that hath no End Eternall life Excellent Bradfords good Counsell and prayer shall put a close to all Molest not the good Spirit of God which is given you as a gage of Eternall Redemption a Counsellour and Master to lead you into all truth which good Spirit I beseech the Father of mercies to give unto us all for His Deare Sonnes sake Jesus Christ our Lord To whom I Commend you all and to the word of His grace which is able to helpe you all that beleeve it follow it and serve God thereafter A Postscript THe Author humbly craves leave after he hath mentioned onely 1 Augustines short Apologie for his long work which will fit the Author very well speaking that in seaven Treatises which might have been spoken as one spake in so many pages if not in so many lines That he much disliked if not detested as his friend Nebridius did a short answer to a great question and would not that any should expect the like from him for then he would manifest his indignation against it And 2 what Justin Martyr spake of old to the old Heathen These things we offer to your Consideration If they seeme agreeable to true Reason and Scripture Truth accept and put an account upon them If they
lifting every day but conscience holds it and will not let the forme of it goe the power was never there Well we grant that no principle of this way so far as we know is peaceable It yeilds no peace to the flesh but to the Spirit peace peace For being an holy or pure way it must needs be peaoeable first pure then peaceable O it is a peaceable way James 3. 17. to the Spirit It yeelds more peace to the Spirit renewed in one houre than that peaceable principle of Infant Baptisme can yeild the person all his life time Nay that peaceable principle is like to end in desperate sorrow There is no peace to this peace to be subject to the Prince of peace the more subject thou art in thy walke to Him the more peace shall be upon thee The connexion of these two is observable Of the encrease of His government and of His peace there shall be no end to shew saith that Saint on earth now in Heaven Dâ— Preston That as His government encreaseth in mens hearts and is enlarged so as a man is made more subject to Him so also peace Eph. 5. 9. encreaseth In those that are most subject there is most peace and therefore He is called the Prince of peace for where He rules as a Prince there is that peace which He as a mighty Prince is able to procure to them But He landeth upon the soule as an Enemy and with His sword makes a Conquest there before He is to that soule a Prince of peace Object 4. This way causeth differences betwixt Neighbours and Friends whereas observe it well they that walke in the way of a Nationall Church both Ministers and people as Mr Hs sayes and we find it to be just so are very well accorded there is no difference between us Ans This makes for the way still to be the way of Holines and that other way to be the way of wickednesse because they are all that walke in that broad way so well agreed and accorded We doe believe That the veriest varlet in the National Church agrees with Mr Hs Mâ— Prynne and John Timson and are all three all one as to that Doctrine of free admission That all are to be admitted even the worst of all to the Lords Table so be they stand not excommunicated These three are in one way and of one judgement how or wherein can they differ I have said Luther Non aliud habco robustius Argumentum no stronger Argument against the Pope and his shavelings than this That they are all agreed platted together like thornes against Christ and the offence of the Crosse ceaseth amongst them This banding against Christ and though in other things they differ greatly all true Christians hath accorded deadly enemies as once it did Herod and Pilate for upon the like account they were made friends together who before were at enmity between themselves Luke 23. 12. Truely we cannot readily find a more peaceable principle raking in the dunghill of Popish superstitions than is this That although the worst of all are to have free Admission to the Lords Table The Ministers of that perswasion hold to this the people love to have it so what disagreement For observe Secondly Those places and persons and their way where their Religion is rivited-in by Infant Baptisme Observe it in villages Townes Cities and see how quietly and peaceably they live no difference among them in point of Church-Administrations Then againe observe those places where Religion hath been Rivited-in by preaching the Gospell the power of God to salvation and see what deadly fewdes and devillish differences there are there occasioned by those hellish lusts in the hearts of men which Gospell-light comes to discover and with a sword in its hand to slay and with fire in its mouth to consume We would remember more of Luthers words here also If we were all quiet and lived at peace one with another while yet we live in our sinnes It is a sure signe the Gospel is not come unto us or it be come it hath made no conquest over us it hath not throwne fire amongst us we have not felt it cutting like a sword making division betwixt us and our lusts for how well accorded and like Friends doe we live while Friends and well accorded with our lusts Truly said Luther Nisi tumultos istos videâ—em Christum in mundo non crederem Math. 10. 34. Luke 12. 51. unles I should see what I doe see and heare what I doe heare words like swords drawne out against God and all good men troubles and tumults and divisions I should not beleeve the Gospell to be in the world for it brings a sword with it where ever it comes and causeth Division As we have read from our Lords own mouth and so have we heard and seene It is notable if we can observe it That the people of God were never vexed with more and more strange adversities or grievances to the flesh than at that when the Lord Christ lived amongst them when were there more leapers palsied men and women lunaticks and men possessed with Devills so usually it is with our Spirits when Christ Jesus our Lord lives within us for He brings a sword and maketh Division there before He establisheth peace in our borders We proceed-on here Tell us we pray you what difference have you observed for we doubt not but you have made your observation in the place where you were borne betwixt Pastor and people there or in any other place where you have made your observation and there is like Priest like people as the one is such like are the other and a just agreement betwixt them for indeed what should make difference here in this broad way of the Nation The whole Nation is Baptized and every person there and now Religion is Rivited into them by their Infant Baptisme and thereby they are instated in and possessed of all Church-priviledges for that is the peaceable principle thereof Certainly those make-bates the Spirit of the world without and that uncleane Spirit of man within will cause no difference there They all goe-up to their meeting place as friends then up to the Lords Table as Beleevers Disciples Saints and in the After-noone to the Ale-house if they please their Church will passe no censure upon them what difference can be here for Aske them now what they would have more to make peace amongst them and to take away all differences Their Minister will give it to them having indulged them so much if they can tell what they would have more as to Church Administration We teâ—â— our perswasion That Satan himselfe as to their Church matters desires no more and he seekes their peace so far that he will not disquiet them and therefore he will not visibly appeare among them though he is their God Prinoe by choice and the head of their company amongst whom there
wicked men passe for Beleevers having no faith and for Disciples who hate Discipline and for Saints who persecute holinesse If the law of your Relation be written in your hearts can this be Fifthly What meaneth then That this monstrous body we meane your Church hath so much glorie and favour in your eyes and the Church of Christ the true members thereof as in charitie you should judge so little That alone honourable with you this alone despicable so far as appeareth to mans eye you are every day washing the face of the one to make it looke goodly and faire before men and so to in-state it in and possesse it of glorious matters while you bewray the face of the other which must needs be while you wash the one not with dust as you may reade hereafter but with mire and dirt Surely ye could not doe so if the law of this Relation were writton on your hearts for thus ye and we read In whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that feare the Lord Well The Lord knowes who are His and He hath made some of them to know it that they are His for Him they serve And now they know That He loves them and to the end that hath no end He loveth them And now for mans love if they have it they thanke him for it if they have it not it matters little and troubles them lesse upon their owne score But this they know That upon whose heart soever this law of Relation is written this law of love is written also For every one that loveth Him That begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him 1 Joh. 5. 1. Idem est motus animae ad finaginem rem saith Aristotle some where The love that beares up the soule to God beareth it also to the Image of God Qui amat-supra amat infra he that truely loves God above heartily loves his Brotheâ— beneath But see what it is to swallow downe the Principles of Infant Baptisme and to regulate all matters in the house of God according thereunto as some doe for it is to the men of that way and judgement we speake Sixthly If you have the law of your Relation written upon your hearts what meaneth then that you doe with your poore people sottish and brutish ones so contrary to this law In suffering them to take Sanctuary at the Ordinance of Baptisme thereby to shelter them from the wrath that is to come and while they live in their sinnes give them right and title to all Church-Administrations Surely surely they that feele the law of this Relation upon their hearts cannot doe so no not for a world can they doe it it were to make a poore ignorant people to beleeve a lie which we are assured is far from your purpose to doe But you know there is finis operis and operantis utter destruction of soules will be the end of this worke though it is not your end that are the workmen no the thought of it that you should destroy soules is an abhomination to you Let your worke as to this matter be an abhomination to you also You cannot in evill things and doiugs seperate the end from the meanes if the man will goe onn sinning his end will be perishing for ever as ye ought not in good things to seperate the meanes from the end if the end I drive to be eternall life the meanes must be taken that conduce thereunto Therefore by the mercies of God we beseech you and because of the terrour of the Lord His heavy wrath and displeasure dolefull and dreadfull punishments that must be the portion of all Stewards that feele not the law of their Relation written upon their hearts by the finger of God there and regard not to feele it we would perswade with you to Consider these matters what your doings have been and are how agreeable to the mind of your God rule of His word law of your Relation advise with one another about it and then speake your minds Having praemised these six things for tryall whether the law of your Relation be written upon your heart we proceed herein according to the proposed Method and first to shew CHAP. II. WHat an influence this law of Relation written in the heart by the finger of God hath upon the doctrine and practise of a Minister We will speake of him single for as it is with one it is with all who find that law as aforesaid and of his Doctrine first § 1 First He is his Lords Paranymph or spokesman he speakes a good word for Christ where ever he comes if it be seasonable thereby to make-up the match and betroth the soule unto Him He laboureth to come within the bosome of a sinner and grapple so powerfully with his spirit that He may take no nay at his hand and for the attaining this end and to make him see what need he hath of Christ He will lay open the lothsome nature of sin and let-in the terrour of the Lord upon the Conscience that the carelesse and rebellious sinner may come to a parley of peace and be content to take Christ upon His owne tearmes and take up the profession of the Truth and not stand at the Cost * This is Gods resolution to humble the soule so low till it can in truth and seriousness bid Christ welcome upon any conditions His mercy and the blood of His Son is so pretious and unvaluable that He will not cast-it away where no notice shall be taken of it but He will make the heâ—rt subscribe experimentally to that Truth of His. 1 Tim. 1. 15. D. Re. Tr p. 389. Though so doeing he must part with all he hath of His owne his dearest lust and all And here He discovers to the sinner as he can the cunning fetches of his cursed heart and hunts him out of his Muses that he may not cozen himselfe and sit downe with some reserved Delusion and goe no farther And this is the Lords way sure in whose stead he stands and therefore craves of Him dayly His eye-salve that he may stand in His counsell and walke in His way and doe that which he hath seene with his heavenly Father as He hath done and by His Word and Spirit still doth so doth he in His strength and by the directions of His Word Wee will insist upon this a little When ever the Lord brings any soule over to Himselfe He first hideth pride from his eyes Man every man borne into the world and growing up there is a stout rebell a stiffe-necked creature as his father is and as yeares adde Cubits to his stature so is there an addition made to his pride and rebellion as he growes-up he growes more like his father every day now so soone as the Lord God is pleased to deale with this man by His Word and Spirit He knocks downe this Monster pride for this beares-up mightily against the Word and Spirit
Sixthly While you are delivering forth unto them sound doctrine take this in with it which shall argue its soundnesse and you sound also That your peoples hearts are very unsound and their eares uncircumcised notwithstanding with their eare they must attend for therefore they have an eare and the very male of their flocke they must lay out this way all their strength else Math. 1. deceivers they are and they are accursed But this is not all you tell them you will make them know as ye can That there is an intus prohibens that stands within like an armed man and till it be remooved or subdued will oppose all that is good keepe it from entring the soule viz The enmities that are there against God and the word of His grace They come James 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1. to heare and cast it out they cannot nor is it possible with them as their case is so to doe yet are they commanded to doe it nor is the command in vaine They must endeavour to doe it looking up to Him and spreading it before Him and attending the meanes whereby it is done we meane whereby this enmity for that one word containes all is discovered to us and slaine in us by sound doctrine soundly preached This is the point you must insist upon as did your Lord before you The absolute necessitie of regeneration or of being begot and borne againe doe not sooth up your Disciples with that vaine title and lying vanitie They were borne and baptized such It is notoriously false and knowne so to be in all the earth We are borne more like Devills than Saints at the best we beare the Image of the earthly Indeed you must tell them so they are while they are as they were borne into the world and best pleased to be what they are so far from being Beleevers Disciples Saints that they are as was said wolves dogs swine and much worse because a beast in the shape of a man is the worst beast Ye have heard or read what that excellent man Mr Bolton said to his deare Children when he was departing from them He verily beleeved that none of them durst thinke to meet him at that great Tribunall in an unregenerate state And was he not well assured of what he spake from his Lords owne mouth Except Joh 3. 3. a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God And he gives the reason at the sixth verse we borrough that Learned Dr. K. Preface pag 4. mans words for that which is borne of flesh is flesh and is as uncapable of seeing the mysteries of the kingdome of God as fleshly eyes are of seeing Spirits Ye must preach this sound Doctrine to their eares soundly and till it sound unto their hearts and is taking there what ever they are in your eyes they are as vile as the vilest in the Lords eyes and in the eyes of His people for they are not washed from their dung * Pro. 30. 12. Isa 4. 4. and accordingly they must be dealt with thrust away from partaking in sacred things as you would heapes of dung out of the chiefest roomes When ye are at this point dealing soundly with them ye will see cause to pray and the godly with you as the Primitive Saints for th' Apostles of Christ Grant unto Acts 4. 29. 5. 20. thy servants that with all boldnesse they may speake thy word all the words of this life that He commands you for if all must be heard all must be spoken and spoken it must be as the Oracles of Acts 10. 33. God and not teach onely but command with all authority that so ye may commend your selves to every man's conscience in the sight of God as he did who felt the law of his Relation written in his heart Your people shall know if ye know the law of your Relation That ye are the Lord's Ambassadours ye speake in the person of Christ and in the vertue of His Spirit and must speake as if Christ by you spake unto them that is as having power and authority committed to you for the edification of the Church And be sure ye begin right Assuring them they were not borne with a Christ in their hearts but enemies to Him that they stand at an infinite distance from Him and are wilfully set on it to have no acquaintance with Him therefore they are but false conceits and presumptions of their being in Him before the Word and Spirit hath been praevailing with them Assure them they by nature hate the Lard of life and holiness by Him more than they hate that their soule most loatheth and they love Prov. 8. 36. death and a curse in the procureing cause of it as a father loveth his dearest Child These things ye must speake to them with all boldnesse for these things are most profitable for them to know first This our hurt is not to be healed with pleasing words But now ye shall be dealt hatefully with dealing faithfully with them as was told you We cannot endure wholesome words But the law of your Relation will helpe you to swallow that and more and ye can remember what the Lord and Master found from His hearers and all His faithfull servants ever since This may comfort you too you shall have no hurt from them though they doe their worst And if you gaine any of them unto Christ they will be your deare Friends to their death because you told them the truth And for them that persist in their hatred you know it is not a simple hatred with which we hate most hurtfull creatures for it is mixed with feare and dread of you speaking to them as men that know the law of your Relation they hate you but they feare you too as a man so that learned man Dr Reynolds hateth a Lyon or as a Malefactour hateth the Judge as a theife hateth the light For just reason we have been longer at this point we leave it upon your thoughts and so hasten to the practise of a Godly Minister to see what that will be before his people when he feeles the law of this Relation written upon his heart by the finger of God But first we would for you and our Instruction from these premisses draw these conclusions and then we will proceed to shew what a Godly Mans practise is we meane his who feeles the law of his Relation written in his heart § 2 First That the same finger of God which doth write the law of this Relation upon Ministers hearts sheweth them the ordinances 1 Tim. 3. 16. of their Lords house how they ought to behave themselves there all the formers thereof and all the lawes thereof writeth Exek 43. 11. he in their sight as in former times so now that they may keepe the whole forme thereof and all the ordinances thereof and doe them But this the Spirit of God never doth before He hath made
them ashamed first of all they have done contrary unto the true way of Gods worship They shall shame themselves for this or God will cast shame upon them He will humble them for all their abhominations before He will reveale to them the right way of the service of His house And therefore it may be God will not use those Ministers how choice soever are their parts who departed from God when there was a generall departure of the Nation for why may it not be now as once God threatned when Israell dâ—d depart from Him to false worship That they should beare their iniquities they might be imployed in meane services but they should not Come neare Him The Lord had listed up His hand against them And it may be feared the Lord may doe so against some Ministers now adayes How ever except there be extraordinary repentance and taking shame unto themselves The Lord may remember what they have done when Israell departed from God and what their complaints were and what little use and improovement they have made of the blessed liberties they have had since to order matters in their Lords house full-up to what He hath commanded In the next place Secondly They that know whose spokesmen they are in whose stead they stand have learnt Christ and can teach Him useing great boldnes and liberty of speech They are as the Officers of a great Prince going before Him to praepare a way for Him and will make bold to strike and to scatter those unruly throngs of men who presse too neare upon His sacred preson They will boldly smite with the rod of His mouth they will cry aloude and not spare they will as he saith pull downe mountainous lusts subdue strong holds They will in the strength of God that is the scope and end of their Ministery bring low every mountaine and hill make the crooked straight and the rough smooth This in desire and endeavour they doe And if any shew themselves stout against against God making their browes brasse These will set their faces as flint against all these for so God hath commanded and so doth the law of their Relation command Thirdly They doe all things in right order and according to their patterne they proclaime war first with mens lusts comeing as with a sword in their hand and fire in their mouth against them and so make roome for peace in the hearts of men which passeth all understanding But they will make them know first they are enemies to this peace while they are enemies to holinesse and friend with themselves and their sins These that understand their Commission the power of Christ they are invested with together with the law of their Relation will assure them that they must cast hell upon their sins or upon their soules If they will continue to be workers of iniquitie they will hold-on to worke out their damnation to the utmost Fourthly They that preach as men that know the law of their Relation find not one principle of holinesse no not one thorough the whole booke of God which is peaceable Indeed all tends to peace at last but intends warre at first What may be found among the principles of Infant Baptisme they know not nor will they seeke to know They will goe by Scripture-rule which assureth them if they please men mens lusts they cannot please God Fifthly These searching and reprooveing Ministers these profit the hearers and doe their soules good these and onely these whereas a partiall unsearching and un-reprooveing Minister to use that learned mans words is one of Gods curses against a place the forerunner of a finall and fearefull visitation Hos 9. â— The dayes of visitation and recompence come saith the Lord the Prophet is a foole the spirituall man is mad for the multitude of iniquitie and the great hatred If a man Mich. 2. 11. walking in the Spirit and falshood that is professing the worke of a spirituall man and yet betraying His Office or in a false and lying Spirit prophecying of wine and strong drinke that is cherishing and encourageing sensuall Livers in their pernicious courses He shall even be the Prophet of this people Thus in all ages and never more apparently thus than now in our dayes hath the Lord punished with an extreame revenge the Rebellion of a people against His Gospell Sixthly They that will preach the Truth as it is in Jesus as their love of Christ and law of their Relation constraineth them shall find Luthers words true That this preaching will derive the hatred of the world against them They shall stand as a Marke for all the world with the god thereof to shute against Therefore for something hath been spoken this way already and more may be spoken anon In the last place Seventhly These are and there is more than need they should be so above the world They are dwellers in heaven Christ in them by His Spirit they in Him by their faith they feele the law of their Relation working as strongly in them as the law of sin in their enemies and so they can as was said of Luther beare the hatred and shocke the rage and violence of the whole world they have a backe of steele and underneath everlasting Armes they cannot be greatly mooved never remooved from their Anchor-hold We proceed § 3 The law of the Relation written upon a Ministers heart is marvailously prevailing to regulate his practise before his people and within Gods house First His practice will be humble and meeke so he will walke with his God and before His people The Godly wise A lifted-up spirit in any man the greatest closer of the heart against the truth of God Dr. Owen of Jol. 72. will never thinke him to be a man of God if he be proud and haughtie It was a distinguishing Character that Beda gives whereby to know a man of God and that he will preach to the people the preaching of God If he be a man of God follow him saith he of Augustine that counterfeit Saint And Englands faigned Apostle But how shall we know said the people whether he be a man of God or no Beda answered If he be gentle and lowly of heart he carryeth the yoake of the Lord and will offer unto you to carry the same yoake but if he be disdainfull and proud then it is certaine he is not of God nor hath heard Gods word nor can endure His yoake and little good service can he doe A proud person being like a gouty hand or swelled Arme which troubleth the body doth it no service Surely a true servant of Christ is as like his Lord and Master as can be lowly and meeke for he remembers still that for His sake and to teach him He stooped as low as the feete and washed them and a little while after became a Worme and no Man humbled Himselfe and became obedient unto the death even the Death of the Crosse Secondly As he
often meeting one with another and speaking one to another and working one for another what possibly they can We will put a close to this in Blessed Sibs his words Next to the meditation of Christ and the Excellencies that are in Him I know no way more effectuall than is holy Communion with those that are led with the Spirit of Christ when we see the sweet fruite of it in others It hath been a meanes sanctified to doe a great deale of good to many and those that delight not in it never knew what the likenesse of Christ meant for those that desire to be like Christ they love the shineing of Christ in any They are a carelesse people to whom all companies are alike But they that walke circumspectly looking round about making it their onely care how to please God these will make choice of those that find some worke of grace on their hearts by the Spirit of God if not they may well doubt of their Condition and that there is no worke of grace wrought at all for grace will make us love the like As you see creatures of the same kind love to company with one another Doves with Doves and lambs with lambs so it must be with the children of God or else we do not know what the communion of Saints meanes In the last place and in prosecution of that was last said Fourthly We Conclude That the Saints loving and delighting in their Communion together are fruitfull and usefull to one another while they are together and therefore doe speake often one to the other Thereby to stirre-up one anothers pure minds And this is a Duty so cleared in the booke of God to be according to the mind and word of God to keepe off from the wicked who will keepe far off from God And oppose the meanes whereby they may be brought nearer unto Him It is so agreeable to the Divine Nature and as we heard the new creature to converse with their like and so to walke together in Gospell Order that truly we cannot conceive what can be reasonably said against â—t by any reasonable man specially by Ministers of Christ Nay we are assured nothing can be reasonably said against it True it is Ministers in name such and godly by profession doe oppose this Assembling together of Saints but they are ashamed no doubt to shew so little reason as to reason against it For to gaine Instruction from lower matters Can we thinke That the matters or concernments of a parish are so considerable That the chiefe men or Masters there with the rest must meete sometime to conferre about them for the better disposing of them according to decencie and right order Can we thinke then and thinke like men that the matters of Christ the concernments of His glory in our salvation will not require the like care and so Command the people of God Saints by calling to meete often and conferre about those high and sacred matters so nearely relateing to the welfare of that Body whereof the Lord Christ is the Saviour that these may be administred according to the mind of Christ and rule of His word praescibed by Himselfe to be observed in His house by His Stewards there If they will make full proofe that such they be by fidelity as well as in Name and by Office Well we are confident our Lord and Master makes us so whose manner was to speake alone and apart with His Disciples so doe all those that have gone forth by the footsteps of the flocke following His steps That all those Ministers who oppose this Assembling of the Saints together there to speake often one to another for the ends aforesaid are self-willed men self-will is their reason so there is no argueing with them who have nothing to oppose against this Gospell fellowship but their will or carnall Reason onely we would commend them to the Prayers of the Saints And for thy selfe Reader if thou canst skill onely in thy Mother tongue we would Commend to thy meditation that plaine English thou readest Eph. 4. 16. From whom the whole body c. and if thou canst skill in the Latine Then we heartily commend to thee Learned Calvins three doctrines therefrom and Beza's observations thereupon in his notes common with us and in his larger Annotations too large to be inserted in this place SECT II. ANd so we make bold to give in our Jealousie which may passe for better Reason than any self-will can give why Ministers reputed Godly plead for a loose way of receiving all sorts of persons to Communion at the Lords-Table and by promiscuous admissions prostitute the Ordinances of Christ to every Commer opposeing in the meane while what they can as they must needs doe allowing such doings the Communion of Saints here below and fellowship one with another First Is it not because they would not displease the people least thereby they should open the peoples mouths against them and shut their purses As certainly it would be so for two footed swine and dogs who returne to their folly as those foure footed ones to their vomit and myre cannot endure to be called such and dealt with as such in point of Church Communion Indeed as worthy Mr Manton saith this pleading for a loose way of receiving Epist before Mr. Sanders Booke all sorts of persons to holy things Looketh as exactly calculated for a wordly interest We charge you not so as he doth not but we would charge you in the name of the Lord ye would examine your selves whether it be not so And this we dare say to helpe you-on in your tryall That as long as a mans heart is over-loving and over-delighting in any thing but God he shall doe little for God perhaps much against Him For be he a man of great Part. 2. 359 illumination raised gifts as worthy Mr Burgesse saith and parts whereby he is admired in the world yet hath not a crucifyed and mortifyed heart he cannot but pray preach and discourse of those things which though not above his understanding yet above his heart and affections And then little can he or will he doe for God in his owne private house or in the house I have had much to doe with my proud swelling miâ—d my stiffe neck and stubborne heart Hier. of His God Therefore we would advise others as we doe our selves in Luthers words If they would overcome a world of enemies without they must begin with their master-lust within and when that Goliah is subdued the Army is routed and they will flye This I know saith Luther by certaine experiences That I have more cause to feare what is within me than what is without and I have hit the naile on the head when I say venter in omni Vbi non videnâ— quaesâ—um rident Christum ubi datur uâ— edant addâ—ci possunt ut credant Toâ—no upon Hos 10. 11. Avariâ—â est plerumque haeresinem comes somes
seeme toyes as such contemne them but doe not hostilely persecute them And 3 he would humbly offer to Consideration what Learned Mr William Jenkin hath for the clearing the two cheife Heads of Controversie here debated-on Admission of all Infants to Baptism And grown persons to the Lords Table In his exposition upon Jude second part pag. 274 275 276 277 278. After these three things as the Author was saying he humbly craves leave he may close his booke with the very words as Augustine closeth his of the City of God Videor mihi c. I thinke with my selfe I have by the supply of His Spirit done my Dutie and discharged the Debt I saw my selfe bound to pay to my Lord to His house and His people Now they that thinke I have said too little they also that thinke I have said too much Let both th' one and the other pardon me And they that thinke I have said enough Let them give the praise not to me I wholy disclaime it but to their's and my Lord God with me Amen And Observing Lod Vives in his Commentary speaking as properly take his words too If I have spoken that which pleaseth let the Reader thanke God in my behalfe if any thing that displeaseth let him pardon it for the Lord God's sake And for that which is well spoken let him pardon that which may be ill spoken though never so well meant The following words doe not fit this work nor this place for the Author cannot expect that from the Readers though never so Curteous which having neither time nor oportunity he could not possibly doe himselfe he meanes the Correcting the mistakes here which must be many when th' Author could at no time be advised with And to point to one or two mistaks where the sense may be mistaken by it were there leysure for it would little advantage the Reader for quid exempta juvat de pluribus vua The Reader readily grants that favour he himselfe may crave An Advertisement of certaine Bookes sold by Henry Cripps in Popes-head-Alley With a short Apologie of the Author premised why he is willing such publick notice should be given thereof TRUTH hath said it How can ye beleeve which receive honour one of another and seeke not the honour that cometh from God onely These words gave some check or discouragement at the first but after due consideration encouragement rather for if this be the Aime and End of publishing to the world these Books the seeking honour of men or loving the praise of men more than the praise of God If by these meanes it might be gained Then let the Lord God blast the work and the work-man Make him and it as the untimely fruit which withereth before the Sunne But if the work-man in all this hath through Grace Holy Aimes and pure ends The Glory of God and the good of his Neighbour in rendring the doctrine hereafter mentioned and the bare-mentioning thereof is enough to render it an abomination throughout the land which causeth desolation there Then let him and his work be blessed And let his God remember him concerning this also and spare him according to the greatnesse of His mercy Amen THE LORDS TABLE ought not to be spread like that in an Inne for all commers published that it might prove an Antidote against the spreading infection of that poysonfull doctrine That all are to be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper It being one of the most effectuall principall meanes for reall Conversion saith one next mentioned the other say the same thing though not in the same words held-out in three pernicious Pamphlets which eat as doth a Canker The one published by M William Prynne some yeares since called A vindication of foure serious Questions Th' other by Mr Humpheryes notorious all over the Nation The third by John Timson this last yeare after learned M Joh Collings would have forbad th' errour of the man which some may call his folly or madnes speaking in most pages of his said Pamphlet as a man that had deposed reason and so could speake cross to sacred Scripture right reason and the judgement of all the orthodox Ministers and people that ever were or now are in the world FOVR GRAND ENQVIRIES wherein the foundation whereon that bloody and damnable Doctrine aforesaid beareth is loosened viz. That all persons baptized into a Church are all holy and eo nomine have a right to all Church-Communions they and their children how abominable soever they are so be they are not suspended from not excommunicated out of the Church nor are children in yeares fooles or mad men LAW-POWER wherein we may see The Way of Holinesse paved forth before us and troden-in by all those Ministers and people who have felt the law of their Relation written in their hearts A TREATISE OF PRAYEY wherein two Questions are resolved touching formes of prayer both in the Negative That they are not good for the evill nor of any use for the good to teach them to pray And six touching the Lords prayer all in the Negative two onely are specified here 1 That the intendment of our Blessed Saviour was not that His Disciples then or now should pray in those very words 2 Nor is the repeating that prayer in the pulpit the Tessera of a Godly Minister because the hudling that prayer after the manner may shew the man not so serious as ridiculous in praying INFANT BAPTISM is not the priviledge of all Infants upon the bare account onely of their parents Baptism published together with the FOVR ENQVIRIES to prevent the evill may be taken-in from some unscripturall passages not becomming sound doctrine which the Reader may find in a Dialogue concerning the practicall use of Infant Baptism towards the end of the same composed by a learned Divine and as is meet to think orthodox pious and Godly in other points though in his zeal at this point it is conceived he hath erred with his pen not taking the Word of God for the Rule and Reason thereof CHRISMAS DAY no Holy Day published to prevent those heathen and raunting practises superstitious customes Abominable prophanesses in fashion at that time A MINISTERS DVTY to Declare against all precepts and practises contrary to sound Doctrine and practise of Christ Himself and all those He accounts faithfull putting them into the Ministery Wherein it is proved also That if a Minister will live peaceable and quiet among sinners he must suffer them to be at peace and quiet with their sinnes peaceablenesse of sinners being nothing else but impiety not opposed in themselves or by others for who ever is not opposed by the streame goeth with it and altogether who will to the Lords-Table A CHVRCH-COVENANT lawfull and needfull to be entred into by all that intend to walk in Church fellowship according to Gospel order The Authors Name is annexed to th' Epistle before these Treatises and the Reasons of making them so publick are given on the back-side of the generall Title page Direction to the Binder GEnerall Title Appeal Conference Infant Baptism Lords Table Christmas Formes of prayer Ministers duty four Grand Enquiries Law-power Covenant the Account and Exceptions may be stitched alone If altogether then Account before the Appeal and Exceptions after Infant Baptism FINIS