from the people and they kepe the spirit of God in bondage then is the word of God of no effect debarring the people of God thereof tying them to their spirits in the vnderstanding of the scriptures which none may try whether they be of God or no but must beleeve and obey or els go to prison and if they will not yeild either he hanged or banished Iudg O King is this a rule of direction and ordinance of the Lambe That comaund Bishops to be gentle towards all men apt to teach suffering the evill men patiently instructing them with meeknes that are contrary mynded proveing if God at anie time wil give them repentance that they may acknowledg the truth and come to amendment c. 2. Tim. 2.24.25.26 By these fruits may our lord the King his people knowe the Bishops of the lambe that is lowly and meeke and bids learne so to be of him Mat. 11.29 but to pull men that are contrary mynded out of their houses by Pursevants to cast them into prison and cause them to lye there at excessive charges vtterly vndoeing them their wives and children and bringing them to all out ward misery and causing them to be banished from vnder their natural Prince to whome they are most true subiects furth of their native country and from their fathers houses and all their frends and familiars Will not our lord the King say that these are the Bishops of the Beast who is like a leopard and his feet like a Beares and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon Reuel 13. of whome they learne to be proud and cruell And all these eviles and manie moe have come vpon the Kings people because they will not vnderstand the scriptures by the spirit of the lord Bs. and pray in their worship to God by the direction of their spirit Will our lord the K. heare the earnest complaint of his people herein and grant redresse that as the Ks. people by the meanes of the Kings most noble predecessor enioy that blessed liberty to read and heare the word of God in their owne language and to pray in their publique worship in their owne tongue that so by our lord the Kings meanes the Kings people may enioy this blessed liberty to vnderstand the scriptures with their owne vnderstandings pray in their publique worship with their owne spirits and then if men err their sinne shal be vpon their owne heads the Kings hand shal be innocent cleare from their transgression which it cannot be if the K. shall willingly suffer his power to be vsed to compell men to pray and vnderstand by the direction of the Lord Bs. spirit and if the King shall give his power to the Lord Bs. but to compell meÌ„ to eat meates which through our lord Iesus Christ are all cleane yet to him that iudgeth them vn cleane to them they are vncleame Rom. 14.14 in which case if a man freely of his owne accord do eat and doubt he is condemned because he eateth not of faith why then if a man in this case be forced by the Kings power whether he will or no to eat when he doubteth and so he be condemned vers 24. is not this to wound the weak conscience and to sin against Christ 1. Cor. 8.12 and can our lord the Kings hand be innocent herein When by the Kings power men shal be compelled to sin Oh that the King would then see that if he may not give his power to rule mens coÌ„sciences in the least things that are indifferent much lesse hath the King power to comaund mens consciences in the greatest thinges betwene God and man This being so wee the Kings servants with all the humility reverence that can or may be given to anie earthly Prince do out of the true Loyalty obedience faithfulnes of our harts thus speake vnto the King Let it suffice our lord the King and let it not seeme a smale thinge that the God of Gods hath made our lord the King a mighty earthly K. over divers nations and hath given our lord the King an earthly power to make lawes ordinances such as the King in his owne wisedome shall thinke best and to change alter them at his pleasure to rule and governe his people by and to appoint Gouernors Officers to execute the Kings will and all the Ks. people are bound of conscience to God and duty to the King to obey the King herein with their goods bodies lives in all service of peace warr and who soever shall resist the King herein they resist the Ordinance of God and shall receive iudgment from God besides the punishmeÌ„t with the sword of iustice which God hath given to the K. to punish evil doers that traÌ„sgresse the K. lawes And God hath also honored the K. with titles and names of Maiesty that are due vnto himselfe Psal 82.16 Dan. 5.18 hath comaunded honor to be given vnto the K. 1. Pet. 2. â—7 And God hath comaunded all his people specially to pray for the K. 1. Ti. 2.2 Let this Kingdome power honor fully satisfie our lord the Ks. hart let it suffice the K. to have all rule over his peoples bodies goods let not our lord the K. give his power to be exercised over the spirits of his people for they belong to another Kingdome which can not be shaken Heb. 12.22.23.28 differing from all earthly Kingdomes for our lord the K. knowes that the cheife of earthly Kingdomes are compared to gold silver brasse iron Dan. 7.37.46 But this is the Kingdome which the God of heaven hath set vp which shall neuer be destroyed this Kingdome shall not be given to another people but to the holy people of the most nigh God all powers shall serue obey him daÌ„ 2.44 7.27 Therefore in this Kingdome let our lord the K. give vs his servants leave againe to tell the K. that he must be a subiect that our lord the K. hath no power nor prerogative as a King to make lawes for in this Kingdome there is but one law-giver who is able to save to destroy Iam. 4.12 neither hath our lord the King power to appoint Officers in this Kingdome and much lesse to make spirituall lords over this Kingdome to bring all mens spirits in subieccion to their spirits in the vnderstaÌ„ding of the scriptures and worshipping God Wherein least wee may seeme to speake vntruely to the K. wee humbly beseech our lord the K. that it may be law full for his servants with his Princely fouour to shew the K. some few perticulers out of a multitude And first wee shew the K. that whereas our Saviour Christ Mat. 18.15 â—0 gives a rule of direccion to admonish a brother if he sin not speaking perticulerly of some sinnes but generally of all or anie one sinne as wee the K. servants vnderstaÌ„d with all the vnderstanding that God hath giveÌ„ vs. The
violate and vtterly abolish that holy law of Election which Christ hath ordeyned in his Church for the chusing of the true shepherds of his sheepe and for the keeping of theeves and robbers out of his shepefold Next in order to be spoken of is Ordination a holy ordinance of God comanded by the holy ghost Tit. 1.5 and the example of the administration thereof given vs by th-Appostles in the church of Christ Act. 6.6 practiced by the disciples Act. 13.1.3 And taught vs to be a doctrine of the beginings of Christ and of the foundation Heb. 6.1.2 being called the Doctrine of laying on of hands And this Ordinance was performed and done in the presence of the Church or congregation by fasting and praier and laying on of hands ordeyning and appointing and seperating thereby those that were Elected and chosen to Office Act. 6.6 and 13.2.3 and 14.23 And all this was performed and done by and in that Congregation whereof they were chosen Officers the Church or Congregation being in this holy māner assembled together to performe this 〈◊〉 ordinance all fasting and praing to the lord with one hart and soule to give a blessing vnto that his owne Ordinance Is your Ordination like vnto this which the best of you all are fayne to get by sute and service by riding and runing by attending and wayting by Capping and curtseing and at last by prostrating your selves on your knees at the feet of an Arch-Bishop or lord Bishopp receiving your Ordination from him who herein exaltes him self above God exercising the power of the beast dispoyling Christ and his Church of this holy Ordinance takeing it wholly into their owne power and disposing of it onely to such as promisse faith full obedience vnto the Hyrarchy of Arch-Bishop and lord Bishop which is the second Beast and which your selves say both in words and writings is an Antichristian Hyrarchy The lord give you eies to see how you have broken the Covenant of the lord in polluting and abolishing this his holy Ordinance and be ashamed to remember the Covenant you have made with this Hyrarchy by which Covenant of obedience you have gotten your Ordination and so are the Prophetts of the Beast for to whome soever you give your selves to obey his servant you are to whome you obey Rom. 6.6 although you deny him in words as you do Have you gotten an Office of the Hyrarchy and vnder the Hyrarchy and will you in words and writings protest against the Hyrarchy and yet reteyne your Office which you have gotten by promissing obedience therevnto and thinke you to serve Christ with this your stolne Office Halt not so betwene Christ and the Man of sinne but if you will deny your lords that have preferred you to Office deny their Office also in both which you shall do well but if you will reteyne your Office reteyne your Lords also that have preferred you in both which you shall do evill What conscionable answere will you make to these thinges dare anie affirme that Christ hath appointed such an Ordination either in the manner of administration or in the meanes of coming by it hath Christ appointed you to sue and make meanes to a Prelate and ride manie myles with letters of comendations pay all fees that are due wee speake within our compasse to get Ordination Did Th-appostles ever ordeyne Pastor but before or in the presence of the flock did anie ever go and sue or seeke to Th-appostles to be ordeyned and when anie were ordeyned did they kneele downe at Th-appostles feet and did Th-appostles bid them receive the holy ghost is this the manner and meanes set downe in the scriptures of coming by Ordination and if it be not how dare you seeke and submitt your selves to it Will you say that Christ hath appointed no certen due order and meanes of Ordination then do you blaspheme in saieing the rules and examples of the new Testament are vncerten rules of direction and so make you Christ not so faithfull as Moses Is the holy Ordinance of laying on of hands one of the doctrines of the foundation Heb. 6.1.2 and may it be come by by anie meanes or from anie persons yea even from the Pope and you approve of it as you do seeing you have no Ministery but from Rome it is the roote from whence all your Ministery is sprung and the Wild Olive wherein you are all by your Ordination engrafted and therefore as the roote is such are the branches and the roote you all confesse is most vnholy and so doth the lord judg you you evill servants out of your owne monethes you are all most vnholy and false Prophetts the Prophetts of the Beast and not of Christ in that you are not Elected and Ordeyned by the rules of Christ and have not the word of God nor testimony of your flocks for your true entrance What can you now have to say for this your Office thus vniustly come by except you will plead possession how vniustly soever it be come by for a good title and so justify Ahabs possession of Naboths vineyard when Iezabell had slayne the right owner thereof As the lord liveth no lesse but much more is the wickednes of your possession in that the Beast hath troden vnder foote and crucified the Sonne of God Reuel 11.8 and sitts as God in the Temple of God and hath appointed you his Preists to serve at the Alter and thus have you consented together in evill and trample vnder foote the Testament which Christ hath purchased with his blood and have broken into the sheepfold of the lord like theeves and robbers and do nothing but steale kill and destroy for you distroy all the people that submitt to your Ministery in that you bring them thereby vnder the power of the Beast you haveing fallen downe on your knees and worshipped the Beast receiving your spirit and Office from the Beast and the people are all partakers of this sinne in that they admitt of you in your Office and thereby yeild that power which Christ hath reserved in his owne body which is his Church vnto the Beast so are you all dispisers of the law of God and have given away his holy Ordinance of Election and Ordination which he hath by his owne word and Spirit appointed in his Church you have given Christs honor herein vnto the Beast and so are all both Preists and people worshippers of the Beast and his jmage and have received his marke and therefore shall you all drinke of the mere wyne of the wrath of God if you repent not Reuel 14.9.10 And thus much to the ministery of the Puritane profession to prove them all false Prophetts as those that runne and God hath not sent them their Election and Ordination to their Office and their possession of their Office being most vnholy and vniust not being according to the exact rule of the law of Christ Iesus distinctly and most perfectly set downe in
Lord shewed you with all the evidence of truth that wee are for the present able to do that your distinction betwixt a false Church and no Church is vaine and fained aÌ„d that the word of God admits of no such distinction in the Lords Ordinances but that which is a false Ordinance is no Ordinance off God for God hath no false Ordinances You must therefore now be forced to hold and say off the assemblies off England that they are either true Churches of Christ or no Churches of Christ and if you hold them no Churches of Christ then can you not with anie manner of shew of truth say that you may retaine your baptisme which you have received in no church of Christ but in a church or congregation of infidels and vnbeleevers which you must needs account them if they be no Church of Christ for now al people in the world are either of the world or chosen out of the world and those are Christs disciples Ioh. 15.19 And al people are either with Christ or against Christ He that is not with me is against me saith Chr. Mat. 12-30 It is now high time to leave of halting betweene opinions and â—aâ—â—ering one another in our sinnes It is time now to leave of talking of Seperation and to seperate indeed and to tel the people of God their sinnes and shewe them their transgressions and not to account them Christians that by the hearing of the word doe become almost Christians as King Agrippa did but to shew theÌ„ that if they do not become altogether Christians they must bee content to be accounted infidels as Agrippa was for al the world are either beleevers or infidels If there be anie knowledg of God in men they wil graÌ„t thus and who will not grant that all that beleeve in Christ Iesus are holy and Elect and shal be saved if they continew to the end Concerning England therefore you must either make the tree good and the fruit good or the tree evil and the fruit evil If the faith off the Church of England be a true faith then is the Church of England a true Church and if the faith bee a false faith then it is a false Church that is no faith of Christ and no Church of Christ and if their faith be no faith of Christ theÌ„ are they al infidels and vnbeleevers of whome although you have so accounted by your walking towards theÌ„ yet by your words you declare them to bee otherwise wheÌ„ you are vrged to speake plainelie though in your writings you shew them to bee infidels when you affirme that God never made Covenant with them But you have too long walked deceitfullie in this point therefore wee presse you to it if you professe vprightnes either to God or men to manifest in all plainenes whether you hold the assemblies off England beleevers in Christ Let vs have no respects no duble respects nor no putting off difference off persons for all the Church off England are one body seeing they all drink of one Cup 1. Cor. 12 And if you hold them beleevers in Christ and truelie baptized into his name then are they your brethren aÌ„d you may not account them as enimies but admonish them as brethren 2. Thess 3.14.15 Then is your seperation most wicked and your building of new Churches contrarie to all rule of Scripture and you have falslie appiâ—ed the voice of the Angel Crieing against England Babilon is fallen she is fallen Come out of hir If they bee beleevers in Christ Iesus the voice of this Angel can not bee applied vnto them you must walke towards them by an other rule even by that rule which Christ hath appointed that all should walke by towards their brethren iff they sinne Mat. 18. and not seperate from them and build Churches vpon new foundations If in this our writing concerning you called Brownists wee bee iudged to convince sharplie wee hold it lawfullie done because you are a froward generation and great deceivers of mynds makeing a glorious vaine shaw to come out of Babilon but do not and notwithstanding that we have written in some thinges sharplie we could desire to be feâ—ed from froward suspects which you might free vs from the rather because there are divers off you both neare and deare vnto vs whome we require in love as wee do all to applie the sharpest reproofes to themselves for they had need And touching you Mr. Ro. remember that you have a letter of most loveing respect in your hands concerning these thinges to which you have not made answere whereby to prevent the publishing of this that especiallie concerne you Now as we have said vnto you called Brownists in this point so say wee to England and to the Presbitary If the Pope and they off that profession bee beleevers in Christ Iesus and bee truelie baptized into his name then have you of England and all the Nations off the Earth sinned greatlie to seperate from Rome in that you were al off one bodie and members one of another and being beleevers in Christ Iesus they are your brethren and you ought to walke towards them as brethren and ought not to seperate from Rome as you have done and do and build new Churches everie one vpon several foundations Iff you of England and the Presbitary and you called Brownists did make anie conscience to walke by the rules of Christ herein you would not walke towards Rome as you doe Iff you hold them beleevers in Christ Iesus and truelie baptized into his name which if they bee then are al the scriptures that are applied against Rome to prove hir Babilon and that Great whore that sits vpon manie waters and vpon the scarlet cullored Beast and Antichrist al these scriptures are misapplied to Rome these cannot bee applied to anie Persons or People that are beleevers in Christ Iesus and have put on Christ by baptisme And there is no voice of the Lord that cals to come out from beleevers in Christ Iesus the scriptures teach no such thinge Therefore Brownists must returne to the Church of England and the Church of England and the Presbitary must returne to Rome and bee al Sheepe of one sheepfold and repent of your vniust seperation from the bodie whereoff you were and are all members wee say are all members because by one spirit you are all Baptized into one bodie and though you say you are not off the bodie with the Church of Rome are you therefore not of the bodie 1. Cor. 12.13.15 You have and do al by one baptisme put on Christ aÌ„d you al have brought that your baptisme from Rome and so are you all Christians and beleevers by succession from Rome and you al account Rome beleevers in Christ Therefore though you say you are not off one bodie with Rome yet you are all members of one bodie with Rome Furthermore if Rome bee beleevers in Christ Iesus then are these Prophesies of scripture no where to
of vnrighteousnes above it in that there is in it the hight and power of al pride aÌ„d crueltie reigning and ruling over mens consciences as God vnder a most glorious shewe of godlines where by al Nations have bene made drunke with the wine of that Cup of fornication and whereby the whole power of Christ in his lawes statutes and ordinaÌ„ces hath bene aÌ„d yeâ— is abolished vtterly aÌ„d in the streets of this great Citie we meane nâ— perticuler place but the whole misterie of iniquitie spiritually called Sodome aÌ„d Egypt hath the corpes of the two witnesses of the Lord his word and spirit in the doctrine of the Apostles â—yen dead For who doth not knowe that they have altogether taken the word of God from the people that they migh not have it â—o much as in their owne language neither may they meddle with the spirit of knowledg and vnderstanding of it but from thâ—â— as they thought and yet do thinke good to deliuer it vnto them and that must stand for the Word and spirit of God without trying And this may suffice for a plaine and general discoverie of that BabiloÌ„ Sodome Egipt spiritually so called and of that Beast wiâ—h â—eaven heads and ten hornes and the rather seing there are so manie excelleÌ„t discoveries written thereof And shal we now sit downe as though our danger were past in finding out the first Beast and so make the prophesie of God Rev. 1â— 11 of no effect which so plainely sets furâ—h and describes a second beast off no lesse danger then the first shal we so betray the cause of God and the soules of thousands and ten thousaÌ„ds of meÌ„ God forbid and wil anie of you that frely approve of al the findings out aÌ„d discoveries of the first Beast not with willingnes consent to the finding out off the second far be it from you to have so little love to Gods truth and the salvation of men Wel we wil do our endeavors to diâ—cover the secoÌ„d beast leaveing it to the coÌ„sciences of whoÌ„soever it may most concerne to judg whether we deale faithfully or no and we wil forejudg our selves to deale most weakely Revel 13. FroÌ„ the 1. vers to the 18. It is written I saw another Beast comeing vp out of the earth which had two hornes like the lambe but hee spake like the dragon doth exercise the power of the first Beast saieing to theÌ„ that dwel on the earth that they should make an image of the first Beaste causeth as manie as would not worship the image of the Beast should bee killed made all to receive a marke in their right hand or in their fore heads that no man might buy or sell save he that hath the marke or the name of the Beast or the number of his name Which way now in finding out the second Beast shal we bee able to looke besides that great Hyrarchy of Arch-Bishops and Lord-Bishops are not you they that pretend in meeknes and humilitie the word and power of the Lambe who saith Learne of mee that I am meeke lowly c. But exercise the power of the beast and speake like the dragon have you not made and set vp the image of the Beast is not your pompe and power like his and hath there not beene much like crueltie vsed by that power Doth not the blood of the dead crie and have not the imprisoned groaned vnder that crueltie and do not the silenced at home and the banished abroad dayly complaine may not all these crie How long Lord how long when wilt thou revenge Are not your Canons and Consistories and all the power that belonges vnto them with al the rest of your Courts Offices and Officers are not these parts of the image are they not like the Beast wil you say they are like the lambe or like his Apostles it cannot bee that you should say they are the feare of the Almightie would astonish you And if you cannot possibly prove that power that Pompe that crueltie those Canons and Courtes with the belongings and belongers therevnto to bee like the laÌ„be Then let the terror of the Almightie possesse you and make you afraide to vse and possesse al those thinges vnder the pretence of the power of the Lambe Have you not soules to save pittie your selves aÌ„d perish not there is mercie with the Lord if you wil feare him What will it profit you to enioy these thinges for a little while as manie of your predecessors have done before you even a little while and then be condemned and fal vnder the feirce wrath of God had you not much better a thousand times better yea ten thousand times better and more too be ministers of Christ abounding in labors in wearines painfulnes in watchings often in hunger thirst in fastings often in cold in nakednes that you might say at your last ends not as Apostles but as thapostle saith Wee have fought a good feight have finished out course we have kept the faith Hencefurth is laid vp for vs the Crowne off righteousnes But if this bee your feight as it hath bene the feight of divers of your predecessors to cause as manie as would not worship the ymage of the beast your Hyrarchie should be killed aÌ„d to make al both smale and great rich aÌ„d pooer bond and free to receive a marke in their right hand or in their forehead and that no man may buy or sell save he that hath the marke of the beast or the number off his name if this bee your feight it is evidently the feight of the second Beast and not the feight of Thapostle Paul And there is no Crowne off righteousnes laid vp for such a feight And do you not al these thinges when you force and compel men to submit to your whole conformity which is the perfect image of the beast Not to speake of your surplice and Crosse and Churchings and Burials and Coopes and Chauntings and Organs in your Cathedrales and how manie mo such abhominations wee cannot recken vp neither need wee seeing so many writings are ful off them but whosoever shal looke vpon them with an eie of lesse then halfe vprightnes shal easily see them to come out off the bowels of the beast and to bee the deformed image of his vgly shape To let al these passe the least whereof shal be called to account in the day of the Lord wee come to your Common Booke not medling with everie perticuler of it but with the most general By what power do you make praiers and bind men to them and appoint the order of them in time and place Whereoff two you appoint to be read everie evening without alteration some praiers to bee said after the Curate bee paid his due some on the North side the Table some in one place some in another Will you see a speciall ground of these four abhominations in appointing your Preists what to
it would in-ruch the Crowne and fill the Kings coffers vpheaped with such a yerely revenewe as no peace nor war should ever be able to make theÌ„ half emptie and all this may be done by a holy good just and lawful meanes Fourthly it would in-ritch the whole land above measure and that in disburdening the land of al those Courts with al the suites aÌ„d services that belonge vnto them the taxations fees and penalties whereof are without number And the King would stand no need of taxes and subsidies although we would not wish the Kings people to with drawe the shewing off their loyale love to our Lord and King in those things Oh what a ful and ready consent would there bee in the kings people to these things how profitable would it be vnto them the Lord perswade his hart to it seing it would be for Gods glory his owne benefit and the so great good of his whole land and it would be the greatest and cheifest benifit of all to them to whome it may seeme the greatest losse for they should be disburdened of those things which although they he pleasant for a season yet they wil be most bitter in the day of account which wil come let them be sure and it would make them live moderately of that they have and vse good and honest endeavors to support themselves and there would be true comfort in such gaine Lastly to make it appeare plainly enough that this Hyrarchie of Arch Bishops and Lord Bishops is the image of the Beast let al behold the names off blasphemie which it bears and they are these so farr as wee knowe the number of them Arch-Bishops Prymâ—ts Metropolitanes Lords Spirituall Reverend-Fathers Lords Grace What names of blasphemy are here they are the titles and names of our God and of our Christ What words of detestation were sufficient to bee vttered against such blasphemous abhomination who is able to keepe silence If men professing Christ wil not speake the stones shal speake rather theÌ„ the lord wil be without witnesses Shal men be afraide to speake for feare of losse of goods of Lands or for feare of imprisonment banishment or death No no let them take al life and all Let them shed blood vntil they have enough and let the servants of God reioyce in the saieing of the Angel of the waters Revel 16.5.6 Lord thou art iust which art which wast which shal bee because thou haist judged these things for they shedd the blood of the Saincts Prophets And therefore haist thou given them blood to drincke for they are worthy This hath the Lord fulfilled vpon all those that are dead and have not repented of this abhomination and this wil the Lord fulfill vpon al that are alive if they repent not Is it not sufficient to dispoyle aÌ„d rob Christ of al his power but you wil also take froÌ„ him the rules of honor due vnto his name To passe by your derived Grecian names which wee to speake the truth are not able to our owne satisfaction to declare the interpretatioÌ„ of aÌ„d that no way lesseneth the iniquitie of them but rather shewes it more that you should get you names of such hidden blasphemy that simple men cannot vnderstand without an interpreter let vs speake with fearefulnes off that name which you might al tremble to heare off and that is Lords spiritual The verie artribute of the God of al spirits for he onely is the Lord spiritual and the spiritual Lord. And give vs leave to shewe you how you are hedged in that al subtile sophistry shal not helpe you out Beare you not this title by reason off your spiritual power and aucthoritie and do you not by this your spiritual power and aucthoritie make spiritual Canons and decrees and are not al your Courts spiritual Courts and do you not require spiritual obedience in al these things is not your title aÌ„d power a differing title and power from al other Lords see how the stile doth hedg you in which goes thus All the Lords Spiritual Temporal So that you cannot say you are spiritual Lords becaÌ„use of your professioÌ„ for you wil not deny but the temporall Lords are spiritual Lords in profession as wel as you Therefore must it needs bee that you are spiritual Lords because off your spiritual power and spiritual power is over the spirits off men so then as Temporal Lords have power over mens bodies so must spiritual lords have power over mens spirits but there is onely one spiriritual Lord which is the Father of spirits and therefore whosoever taketh this title and this power vpon themselves they take vpon them the name title and power of God and this is the maÌ„ of sinne that sits as God sheweing himselfe to bee God which herein the second Beast doth according to or in the image of the first Do you thinke that God hath forgotten to bee iust and are his judgments gone for ever Can you see and condemne in your words and writings the exaltation off the man of sinne in the Romish profession and can you not see and condemne it in your owne to such saith thapostle Paul Rom. 2.3 O thou man that condeÌ„nest theÌ„ that do such thinges dost the same thinkest thou that thou shalt escape the IudgmeÌ„t of God And for that duble degree of Reverend-fatherhood which you take to your selves some of you being most Reverend and some Right Reverend Fathers how might wee find out vnder what condition you beare this name It is plaine that you beare not that name because you have begotten all that people in Christ for most coÌ„monly you are their Reverend Fathers in God before they ever heard your voices then must it needs bee in you a name by inspiration seeing it is not by operation or worke So are you inspired with a Reverend Fatherhood vpon the instant time of your entrance before you have wrought anie worke amonge that people When you shall meet Christ in his coming what will you answere him for the breach of his strait commaundement herein where he saith Cal no man your Father vpon the earth for there is but one your Father which is in Heaven Are you not exalted above your brethreÌ„ by this name then you are they of whome Christ speakes of in this place and whome he wil bring follow Mat. 23.9.10.11 For thus takeing vpon you the name of God and exalting your selves above the brethren And iff you have not sold your selves to worke wickednes which God forbid and if you thinke it robbery to make your selves equall with God let your harts tremble and your hands shake to subscribe to such names of blasphemy and let your eares tingle when you heare theÌ„ vttered and red in your presence and observe but what magnificency is vpon you when you sit vpon your high places aÌ„d heare your selves thus intituled and remember that hee sitts over you that will tread you vnder foote for thus
Baptize no infants but such infants as were Babes in Christ such as are begotten by the imortall seed of the word and it would discover vnto you your carnal ignorance and blindnes in holding that Isralites beget Isralit snow as vnder the law or that Christians beget Christians by generation which hath brought in such madnes amongst men as the Brownists hold aÌ„d professe â—hat no infants that dye are vnder the Covenant of grace and salvation but such as they beget Thus do they onelie beget infants that are heires off salvation and al this and much more evil comes vpon makeing the new Covenant like the old and so make them both carnal which you doe herein in holding that parents begett Children to bee vnder the Spirituall Covenant by carnal generation But because some through the great weaknes off their judgment and vnderstanding cannot see the old Covenant to bee a carnal Covenant wee wil in short yet further endeavour to shewe how it is a carnall or worldlie Covenant First it was a carnal CovenaÌ„t in that al the promisses that God made to Abraham in that Covenant of Circumcision were of worldlie thinges as wee may see Gen. 17.5.6.7 where the Lord saith I will make thee exceeding fruitful I wil make Nations of thee yea Kings shal proceed off theâ—e and I wil give thee and thy seed after the all the Land off Canaan for an everlasting possession Here is this whâ—le Covenant of circumcision which God makes wherein there is no promisse but of worldlie thinges Secondlie in this Covenant of circumcision the lord requires a carnal obedience that is Let every man Child bee circumcised in the foreskinne of the Flesh. Thirdlie the judgment for the breatch of this Covenant is a worldlie iudgment vers 14. The vncircumcised man-child in whose Flesh the fore-skinne is not circumcised that person shal bee cut of from his People because he hath broken my Covenant Add moreover vers 13. Where the Lord saith This is my Covenant in your Flesh. Who wil bee so blind as not to see that this is a carnal Covenant Wiâ— men bee so void off all vnderstanding as to say that God makes a Spirituall Covenant with a people in their Flesh though men have bene so ignorant let them not be so ignorante stil After the like manner as hath bene spoken off the Covenant may bee spoken of the Tabernacle Preisthood and al those services and carnall rites in all which Covenant and worldlie ordinances their is no promisse of salvation for the keeping of them nor cannot be because they make not holie concerning the conscience Heb. 9.9 Neither sanctifie they the commers therevnto Chap. 10.1 Nor there is no judgment of condemnation pronounced against anie although they should presumpteouslie breake thine but bodilie death Num. 15.30 Heb. 13.28 etc. yet through repentance such might bee saved But now vnder the new Covenant which is spiritual there is promisse of salvation to them that keepe it For he that beleeves and is Baptised shal bee saved And there is condemnatioÌ„ pronounced against them that kepe it not he that wil not beleeve shal bee damned and he thaâ— sinneth presumpteouslie or willinglie of knowledg against this Covenant or anie of the ordinances thereof shal never bee forgiven Heb. 20.19 Thus may all see that wil not winck with their eies that the new Covenant is not likt the old But is a Covenant established vpon better promisses and that the first Covenant is established vpon Worldlie or Earthlie promisses But the new Covenant is established vpon spiritual or heavenlie promisses even of life and salsalvation The difference of these two Covenants being with a spiritual eie discerned it wil easilie overthrowe that most false and vnproper consequence which is drawne from the old Covenant to the new for the Baptizing of infants which consequence iff it were rightlie laid downe the darknes of it would easilie appeare as thus Vnder the old Covenant infants were circumcised in the flesh so vnder the new Covenant infants must be Baptized in the flesh what ignorance is this What wine of Fornication That hath made drunck al Nations there is no such Baptisme in the new Testament as Baptisme in the Flesh God forbid that men should remaine still so ignorant as to thinke that Christ Iesus in his heavenlie Kingdome and new Covenant hath established anie carnal rite or Ceremonial Ordinance the handwriting whereoff he hath put out and abolished Col. 2.14 And therefore the Baptisme of the new Testament must needs be a spiritual baptisme of water the spirit Ioh. 3.5 with which baptisme infants cannot be Baptized so is it great wickednes and a propâ—anation of the holie and divine ordinance off God to vse such administration vpon infants makeing hereby the ordinance of God of no effect there being no benifit or advantage end or vse of it for you wil al confesse that al infants must be regenerate and borne againe or els they cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven and our Saviour Christ the Saviour of vs al saith that they that are borne againe must be borne of water and the Spirit To what end then is the Baptizing of infants they not being regenerate thereby Furthermore you frame your consequence with these words as infants were sealed with the seale of the Covenant vnder the law so they must bee sealed with the seale of the Covenant vnder the Gospel Wee demaund of you is washing with water a seale If it bee a seale it is a seale in the Flesh where then is the print or impression thereof It hath none therefore it can bee no seale Oh how blindlie are the wisemen of the world carried away in these thinges contrary to al vnderstanding to bee brought to ymagine that washing an infant with water is a seale are not these vaine inventions without ground of Scripture reason or common sence Can you walke thus and thinke to please God Will God bee pleased with you when you walke in those waies that best please your owne mynds Bee not deceived God will not hold you gilties for thus vsing his name and Ordinance in vaine If you will examine the new Testament throughout you shall find no seale nor none sealed but they that beleeve who are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promisse Ephes 1.13 By which Holy Spirit wee are all Baptized into one body 1. Cor. 12.13 And there is but one Spirit one Baptisme and one body Ephes 4.4.5 Which holy seale of the Spirit seeing infants cannot have they cannot bee Baptized with that one Baptisme into that one body so is your consequeÌ„ce for the baptizing of infants directly contrary to the CovenaÌ„t and ordinance of God the Covenant of the lord being that they which beleeve are baptized shal be saved and the ordinance being the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sinnes To conclude this point with a ground that al who have anie knowledg of the word of God will confesse which is
house or bought with his monie which were not of his seed were al to bee circumcised because it was the Covenant that God comaunded Abraham to kepe to circumcise al his males and not because they were al vnder the Covenant of circumcision by Abrahams faith this is but a vaine invention of the man of sinne and a mistery of iniquity to deceive them that have pleasure in vnrighteousnes haveing no shewe nor warrant of scripture to say they were circumcised because they were vnder the Covenant by Abrahams faith al evidence of Scripture is against it in that the lord doth plainly declare in his word that they were to be circumcised that were noâ— vnder the Covenant even all Abrahams houshold whereoff there was no one vnder the Covenant but himselff when the commaundement was given Now theÌ„ you haveing no cullor shew nor warrant from the scriptures for the baptizing of infants but a deceitful consequence from the example off circumcision we beseech al that hope for salvatioÌ„ by Iesus Christ to see the deceit of your consequeÌ„ce thus you say and this is all your hold that as the seed off the faithful were circumcised so the seed of the faithfull must be baptized proofe for this your ground you have none but your strong perswasions and long custome wherein no one of you have faith but to shew yet againe the deceit of your consequence First it is not drawne by due proportion which is a most deceitful way to deceive the simple for thus ougt your consequence to be drawne as Abraham beleving was circumcised aÌ„d al the males of his houshold both meÌ„ and childreÌ„ of eight daies old bond aÌ„d free so now anie man beleving must be baptized withal his houshold both men and childreÌ„ of eight daies old bond aÌ„d free Secondly the deceit of your consequence is because it is not a necessary consequence for you must prove nothinge by consequence but that which must off necessity followe but this doth not off necessity followe neiâ—her can it followe that because infants were circumcised with circumcision in the Flesh vnder the Law therefore infants must of necessity bee baptized with the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sinnes vnder the Gospel with which baptisme they cannot be baptized as all of anie vnderstanding must needs confesse aÌ„d there is but one baptisme and therefore most blindly ignorantly and deceitfully is this consequence drawne being neither draweÌ„ by due proportion neither can the rule possibly follow by true consequence neither shal you be able to tel what to say when you shal bee required to prove it a necessary consequence If therefore you will not wilfully go on in the waies of everlasting destruction forsake this roote off error which overthrowes the Covenant of the Gospel of Iesus Christ in the first foundation thereof bringing in the seed off the flesh off the faithful by carnal generation for the seed of the promisse in steed of the seed of the faith of Abraham by spiritual regeneration making the infants that are begotten of the faithful after the flesh members of the body of Christ and heires of the Covenant of the new TestameÌ„t which is the Covenant of faith and repentance through the faith of their parents and by this meanes you have and do daylie bring all the wicked and vngodlie in these parts of the World to bee members off Christs bodie and heires off the Covenant by natural birth which our Saviour Christ saith Ioh. 3. Can no way be but by new birth that is by being borne againe of water and the Spirit which is by beleeving and being Baptized Thus do you vtterlie destroy and overthrowe the holie Covenant of the Lord the holy baptisme and the body off Christ makeing them Comon to all yong and old wicked and prophane blasphemers persecutors murtherers adulterers and witches and al their ChildreÌ„ but let all knowe this such as the members are such is the body and such is the baptisme aÌ„d such is their Covenant the Covenant of death and condemnation vnto al that are vnder it and not the Covenant of life and salvation which is onely made with them that beleeve and are baptized and the Lord perswade every honest hart to ground their faith vpoÌ„ this rock that as vnder the Law none were circumcised but those that were expresly commaunded by rule or exaÌ„ple so vnder the Gospel none may bee baptized but those that are expresly commaunded by rule or example and keeping to this true ground no simple soule shal bee deceived and so wee leave this point with Godly care to be considered of beseeching the Lord to give you vnderstanding harts Thus have we with our most willing though most feeble endeavors manifested vnto you these two salse professions of Christ and the false Prophets that mainteyne them amongst you with divers perticuler errors and strong delusions whereby they deceive you transforming themselves as though they were the Prophets off God but they are all deepe deceivers and Prophesie lyes as wee have proved wherein they shal never bee able to iustifie themselves neither before God nor his people and wee much rather disire their repentance then that they should go about to approve themselves in their evil whereby they shal heape sinne vpon their owne heads and bring shame to their owne faces seeing the time is come that the lord wil reprove the foolishnes of such false Prophets who make shewe off Godlines but denie the power thereoff who lead captive simple wemen which are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg off the truth These are they that Thappostle foretold of 2. Tim. 3. Who like Iannes Iambres resist the truth who are proud boasters in exalting themselves and challenging to themselves speciall power to knowe and vnderstand the counsels of God when they are meÌ„ of corrupt knowledg aÌ„d mynds and to be reproved concerning the faith but saith Thappostle they shall prevaile no longer for their madnes shall bee evident vnto al men aÌ„d we exhort you with the words of thapostle turne away therefore from such It followeth that we speake some few words of the second prophesie which is of the days of the Sonne of maÌ„ in the brightnes of his comeing for the consuming of the man of sinne spoken of 2. thes 2. the which days our saviour saith shal be as the lightning that cometh out of the East is sene into the west mat 24. wherein is set furth vnto vs that the Lord shal make his truth to appeare with vnspeakeable evidence of light so as his people shal plainly see the way and light thereoff according as the Lord by the Prophet Esa speaketh 42.16 I wil bring the blind by a way they knew not lead them by pathes they have not knowne I wil make darknes light before them crooked thinges straight and the lord wil not speake in secret neither in a place of darknes in the earth and Esa 30.26 the light