is most certain Better today then tarry till tomorrow though most uncertain when that those antichristian and popish laws may bee disanulled and made void in time lest wee all lament and bewaile it when it wil be too late And I pray your Majesty and Honors to consider Rev. 17.16 Gen. 17.6 Rom. 4 17. that Kings and Princes hearts are in the hands of the Lord as the rivers of waters to turn as he will the Scripture saith the ten horns by which I understand ten Kings shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked Likewise the Scripture saith to Abraham the father of beleeving Princes as well as beleeving people Also I will make thee exceeding fruitfull and will make nations of thee yea Kings shall proceed of thee which Scripture doe also overthrow the judgment of those men that hold a Christian may not bee a King nor Magistrate Ismael and Edom excepted Gen. 17.8 with Gen. 15.13.18 16.10 17.18.20 26.3 21.13 Gen. 14. 14. Let such consider that the Lord here speaketh of Abrahams spirituall seed and not of his naturall seed because if it be understood of his naturall seed then cannot Abraham be the father of many nations seeing all Abrahams naturall seed are called Jews and are but one nation of the Iews so that the covenant of God could not be performed that said I wil make nations of thee yea Kings shal proceed of thee therfore it must be understood of his spirituall seed of which may be Kings and Princes that are not naturally descended of him as well as people that are naturally descended of him therefore beleeving Kings may safely walk in the steps of their father Abraham and with their swords defend their subjects against their adversaries and redeem their brethren out of the jaws of all devouring beasts and bloody persecutors Rom. 13.4 for they beare not the sword for nought And now also I desire those subjects of what degree soever that would destroy their Kings and Governours for difference in religion to consider that therin they justifie their Kings and Governours which destroy their subjects for difference of Religion for as it is sin for Kings and Governours to destroy their subjects for difference of Religion at the perswasion of their Bishops so is it sin but in a higher degree for subjects to destroy their Kings and Governors for difference of religion at the perswasion of their Bishops and Ministers Therfore persecution for difference in religion is a monstrous cruell beast that destroyeth both Prince and people hindereth the Gospel of Christ and scattereth his disciples that witnes and professe his name But permission of conscience in difference of Religion saveth both Prince and people for it is a meek and gentle lambe which not onely furthereth and advanceth the gospel but also fostereth and cherisheth those that professe it as may be seen by the permission of the Princesse Elizabeth and others that were permitted and fostered in Dutchland at that time Permission of conscience a furtherance to the gospel and a safety both to prince and people Also permission of conscience is a great and sure band and benefit to the King and State as may likewise be seen in the same Princess Elizabeth who if she had not been permitted but had suffered death as the bloody Bishops earnestly desired then had not the kingdom bin so surely nor yet so purely kept and preserved for his Majesty and his royall Issue as now it is the Lord be praised therefore Further I beseech his right excellent Majesty and Parliament to observe that persecution was the occasion that the apostolick Church was at first scattered and driven into the wildernesse that is desert places of the world whither she fled to save her self from the rage and tyranny of Antichrist Rev. 12.6.14 13.17 2 Cor. 11 1â— and his Apostles and Ministers the first authors of persecution under the gospel Therefore his Majesty and Parliament may please to consider that so long as persecution continue so long will the apostolick Church continue scattered and persecuted into the secret places of this world and no marvail for her faith and discipline is as offensive as odious and as unwelcome unto Antichrist and his Bishops and Ministers now as it was then as their burning banishing hanging and imprisoning do witnesse even unto this day And it is to be noted that as the Apostolick faith and discipline in the Apostles days 2 Thess 2.6 7. when through them true signes and wonders were wrought by the extraordinary gift and power of the holy Ghost did let and hinder the mystery of iniquity wrought by Antichrist his Apostles and Ministers by whom the lying signes and wonders were done through the extraordinary spirit of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. 2 Tim. 3.1 4 5. 2 Pet. 2.1 3. 1 Joh. 4.41 2 John 7. Jud. 4 11.16 18. Note well 1 Joh. 4 3. So now the catholick or antichristian faith and discipline having gotten the upperhand by her lying signs wonders and by persecution do by the same let and hinder the mystery of godlinesse wrought by Christ his Apostles and Ministers by whom the true signes and wonders were done without persecution And it is well worthy to be observed both of King Prince and people that the Bishops Ministers of Antichrist cannot abide nor endure the faith and discipline of the apostolick Church because it will be the overthrow of their blasphemous and spirituall Lordships and of their Antichristian and bloudy kingdom And therefore are they so fiery hot and zealous for the Catholick or antichristian faith and discipline for by their faith they shew plainly that they are succeeded and descended from antichrist Who confessed not that the Messiah came in flesh and by their discipline or government they plainly shew they are Antichrists Bishops and Ministers who persecute with fire and sword all degrees both King Prince and people that will not confesse their faith obey their discipline And it is very plain and easie both for King Prince and people if they will not take up Religion on credit and content them with the religion they were born and brought up in as do the Papists to discern who they be that teach the apostolick faith and discipline who they be that teach the Antichrists faith and discipline for the holy Apostle sheweth it to all men that will give heed thereto for he saith Dearly beloved beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the world which confesse not that Jesus Messiah came in flesh Hereby shall you know the spirit of God The Syriack saith Came in flesh every spirit that confesseth that Iesus Messiah came in flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Messiah came in flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist whom
you I know you are especially you that are Laymen zealous as you think for God and his Truth as Paul was But I hope there will a time come and I wish it were now present when in the midst of your heat and fervency the glorious and shining brightnesse of Love will appeare in your hearts like the light surrounding Paul going to Damascus and the scales of ignorance and mistake will fall from your eyes and then you will lament all the evill which through weaknesse you have brought upon your Brethren you will then blame your owne zeale and importunity and apply your selves more cordially and constantly to observe our Saviours rule of equity to doe unto others what you would have others doe unto you Peruse this Treatise I beseech ye with a single heart and unprejudiced mind and let it sway you as the Arguments thereof are efficacious and the Scriptures therein urged are pertinent and convincing So wisheth yours and all other good Mens true Friend H. B. To the High and Mighty King James by the grace of God King of great Britain France and Ireland and to the Princely and right Honorable Parliament Leonard Busher wisheth the wisdom of Solomon the zeal of Josâ—…s and the mercy of Christ 1 Cor. 5.5 with the salvation of your Spirits in the day of the Lord Jesus FOrasmuch as your Majesty and Parliament do stand for the maintenance of the Religion wherein you are born and for the same do most zealously persecute with fire sword I have thought it good and also my duty most Royall Soveraign to inform your Majesty and Parliament thereof In all humimility therefore I give you to understand that no Prince or People can possible attaine that one true Religion of the Gospel which is acceptable to God by Jesus Christ meerly by birth (a) John 3. â— for Christ saith Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Also the Apost Iames saith (b) Jam. 1.18 Of his own will be begat us by the word of truth and the Apostle Peter saith (c) 1 Pet. 1.3.23 Matth. 28. Mark 16. Being born anew not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God who liveth and endureth for ever Therefore Christ commanded this word to be preached to all nations that thereby they may attaine the new birth By which your Majesty and Parliament may perceive that the one true Religion of the Gospel is not attained by naturall birth for then all Princes and peoples in all nations should have that one true Religion of the Gospel the which you see and grant they all have not yet many of them also will defend their Religion wherein they are born by fire and sword as if it were their naturall and earthly inheritances or had with fire and sword been gotten and therefore will with fire and sword maintain and defend it But your Majesty and Parliament may please to understand that the Scriptures doe teach that the one true Religion is gotten by a new birth even by the word and spirit of God and therewith also it is onely maintained and defended For the word of God is lively and mighty in operation 2 Cor. 10.4 Ephe. 6.17 Heb. 4 1â— and sharper then any two edged sword and entereth through even unto the dividing asunder of the soule and the spirit and of the joints and of the marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart Seeing then the one true Religion of the Gospel is thus gotten and thus defended and maintained namely by the word preached onely let it please your Majesty and Parliament to be intreated to revoke and repeale those Antichristian Romish and cruell laws that force all in our Land both Prince people to receive that Religion wherein the King or Queen were born or that w th is stablished by the Law of man and in stead thereof enact and publish that Apostolick Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.16 Acts 8.12 Lu. 24.4 7. Acts 8.12.37 â— 41 Christian gentle and mercifull law of Christ viz. Goe teach all Nations preach the Gospel to every creature that is Christ will have his ministers to preach and teach the people of all Nations the things that concern the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Messiah repentance and remission of sins and to baptize in his name such as doe beleeve And forasmuch also that the false and Antichristian religion did come by the spirit of error and doctrine of devils 1 Tim. 4.1 Rev. 16.14 and not by fire and sword therefore by the spirit of Christ and doctrine of the word of God must it be driven out of the hearts and consciences both of Prince and People and not by fire and sword as the false Bishops and Ministers have and doe still perswade Therefore may it please your Majesty and Parliament to understand that by fire and sword to constrain Princes and peoples to receive that one true Religion of the Gospel Mark 9 38 39. is wholly against the minde and mercifull Law of Christ dangerous both to King State a means to decrease the Kingdom of Christ and a means to increase the kingdom of Antichrist as these reasons following do manifest The which I humbly beseech your Majesty and Parliament carefully to consider and that according to the Word of God which shall judge every man according to his deeds Mat. 16.27 Rev. 16.14 Luke 9.55 56. Joh. 12.47 persecution is a work well pleasing to all fals Prophets and Bishops but it is contrary to the mind of Christ who came not to judge and destroy mens lives but to save them And though some men and women beleeve not at the first houre yet may they at the (d) Mat. 20.6 7. eleventh houre if they be not persecuted to death before And no King nor Bishops can or is able to command faith (e) Eph. 2 8 1 Tim. 1.13 Act. 20.11 That is the gift of God who worketh in us both the will and the deed of his own good pleasure set him not a day therefore in which if his creature hear not and beleeve not you will imprison and burn him Paul was a blasphemer and also a persecuter and could not be converted by the Apostles and Ministers of Christ yet at last was received to mercy and converted extraordinarily by Christ himself Jam. 5 11. â— Pet. 3.9 2 Cor. 5.19 who is very pitifull and mercifull and would have no man to perish but would that all men come to repentance but not by persecution but by the word of reconciliation which he hath committed to his ministers And as Kings and Bishops cannot command the wind so they cannot command faith Joh. 3. and as the winde bloweth where it listeth so is every man that is born of the spirit You may force men to Church against their consciences 1 Sam. 15 1â— â—4 but they will beleev as they did afore
when they com there for God giveth a blessing onely to his own ordinance and abhorreth Antichrists And Kings are to think that they are men as well as Kings Act. 9.15 1 Tim. 2.1.2 1. Cor. 7.2.22 Wise 6.1.8 and that Christ hath ordained that same meanes of faith for Kings which he hath for subjects and that subjects are Christs freemen as well as Kings subjects and Kings that beleeve are Christs Servants even as subjects are Kings servants and both are bought with a price therefore both ought not to bee the servants of men in matter of faith and religion but Kings shall give a greater account at the day of judgment then their subjects to judge men now for religion is to judge afore the time also to sit in the judgment seat of Christ to whom onely it belongeth yet not before the day appointed how much lesse to Kings and Bishops Rom. 2.16 Act. 10.42 I read that Constantine the Emperor called the great wrote to the Bishop of Rome that he would not force constraine any man to the faith but onely admonish commit the judgment to God Christs kingdom is not of this world Ioh. 18 36.10.17 therefore may it not be purchased nor defended with the weapons of this world but by his word and spirit no other weapons hath he given to his Church which is his spirituall kingdom Therefore Christ saith Mat. 18.17 He that wil not heare the church let him he to thee as a heathen and a publicane Ephes 6.10.17 he saith not burne banish or imprison him that is Antichrists ordinance And though a man be an heretick yet ought he not to be burnt but to be rejected after once or twice admonition Tit. 3.10 that is cast out of the Church but as in the church of Rome people of all sorts are by persecution forced there into by the Bishops Ministers thereof so it is in the Church of England also which sheweth that the Bishops Ministers of Rome England are of one spirit in gathering people to their faith and church which is the spirit of Satan who knoweth welth at his kingdom the false Church would greatly decay if persecution were laid down seeing himself cannot stand before the word and spirit of God much lesse his Bishops Ministers therefore he wil have them for a name and shew to use the word of God but indeed if the false interpretation and alledging of the Scriptures wil not help then saith he constrain them with fire and sword or else if people have libertie of conscience they will try the spirits which of them is of God as the Apostle John teacheth and then saith he the Prince as well as people will try all things 1 Ioh. 4.1 and keepe that which is good and wil also prove themselves as the Apostle Paul teacheth whether they are in the Apostolike faith or not 2 Cor. 13. 5 as the Church of Rome provoketh the Magistrates to persecute to death such as are excommunicated out of her so doth the Church of England provoke the Magistrats to persecute to death such as she excommunicates And as the Bishops and Ministers of Rome will perswade the prince and people to heare and read none but themselves so do the Bishops and Ministers of of England also but the Bishops and Ministers of the Apostolick church doe perswade all men to prove and try the Spirits whether they are of God which they cannot doe except they heare and read other mens doctrines as well as the Bishops and their Ministers neither can they if they would so long as the Bishops have power from the King and State to silence and imprison c. all Preachers and to burne all books which teach not their doctrines Your Majesty and Parliament shall understand that all those that confesse freely without compulsion that Iesus is the Messiah 1 John 5.1 1 Joh. 4.2 1 Cor. 12.13 the Lord and that he came in flesh are to be esteemed the children of God and true christians seeing such are born of God and no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost therefore not to be persecuted And as Abel killed not Cain but was killed himself and as Isaac and Iacob did not persecute Ismael and Esau but was persecuted of Ismael and Esau who Gal. 4.29 and Cain were figures of all persecuters so the beleeving doe not persecute the unbeleeving nor the true Church the fals but the beleeving and true Church are as they have been most often persecuted themselves of whom Abel Isaac and Jacob were figures whose children are all beleevers and freemen that stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free Gal. 5.1 and will not be tangled with the yoke of bondage no not with circumcision much lesse with the discipline and doctrine of the Church of Rome whose Bishops are able Ministers of the fire and sword both to Prince and people as many Histories doe lamentably witnes to their utter infamy and overthrow also if the beleeving should persecute the unbeleeving to death who should remaine alive then none but the beleeving should live in the world and the unbeleeving should dye in their unbelief and so perish for ever the Lord will not that the beleeving should live to the destruction of the unbeleeving but unto their conversion edification and salvation And by persecuting of Prince and people to death because they will not heare and beleeve is no gaining of souls unto God but unto the devill And whereas ignorant and wicked Bishops may think to win souls by killing Prince and people for Religion they are deceived greatly for thereby they lose many souls viz. their own and the unbeleeving their own they lose because they wilfully break the Lords Commandement that saith Thou shalt not kill Luk. 18.20 meaning such as are not corporall malefactors and the others which dye in their unbeleef they confesse themselves are eternally lost except they as some of their ministers hold a redemption after this life And the Bishops should know that error and heresie cannot be killed by the fire and sword but by the word and spirit of God that is the onely weapons of Christs Bishops and Ministers and such only Christs ministers do use whose lives and conversations are so harmles holy and gentle that thereby and by their deaths and sufferings they win many souls unto God whereby they are known from all false Bishops and ministers who like wolves and beares not like sheepe and lambs make prey and devour both Prince and people that are not of their kind if they be able to master them Besides may it please your Majesty and Parliament to understand that the beleeving man that hath an unbeleeving wife 1 Cor. 7.16 and the beleeving woman that hath an unbeleeving husband cannot live together as the Scripture teaches for the salvation of the unbeleeving if they be
ye have heard how that he should come and now already is he in the world The same is the Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son whosoever denyeth the Son the same hath not the Father 1 Ioh. 2. â—… 2â— Iohn 17.3.5.8 1 Cor. 15.47 Iohn 6 38.4â— 62 7.26 27. Iohn 16.2 3.27 21. the Apostle meaneth such as deny Jesus to be Messiah the Lord that came down from heaven as Christ and they have taught such have not the Father but doe deny him also as they have taught him and therefore Christ saith The times shall come that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service but these things they will do unto you because thay have not known the father nor me the father loveth such as beleeve that I came out from God thus saith Christ but Antichrist and his Ministers beleeve not this doctrine neither doe they thus teach Christ Jesus the Messiah And you may please to understand that of this Antichrist or rather as the Syriack of this false Christ came the Church of Rome whose Bishops and Ministers teach not this doctrine and as the mother so the daughter also teacheth not this doctrine but will likewise persecute both Prince and people that shall confesse that Iesus Messiah came in flesh as John teacheth 1 Ioh. 4 2. Iohn 6.62 and 3.13 Iohn 17 5. 1 Cor. 15.47 49 1 Ioh. 4 3. 2 Cor. 11 12 15. Rev. 12.6.14 or that the Son of man ascended up where he was before or that he was glorified with his father before the world was as himself saith Or that he was the second man the Lord from heaven or that he had and hath a heavenly body as Paul teacheth for these and such like doctrines doe the Church of Rome and her daughters persecute with fire and sword being indued with the spirit of Antichrist By which Antichrist his Apostles and Ministers the Apostolick Church was scattered and driven into the wildernesse that is desert and secret places of this world even by their bloody persecution the which still they continue and raise against the members and witnesses thereof who were and are the martyrs which in all ages have and doe suffer death imprisonment and banishment since the first persecution and we never read nor ever shall read that the Apostolick Church or such as have derived their faith and discipline of her did ever persecute Therefore I humbly desire his Majesty and Parliament with all godly carefulnesse to consider that it is not possible that the Church of Rome called Catholick or those that are descended of her and have received their Ministry and Ordination from her ever was or could be the apostolick Church called primitive Church or she that is descended from her seeing the Scripture saith the Apostolick Church called in Scripture the woman hath a place prepared of God in the wildernesse a thousand two hundred and sixty days from the presence of such as did persecute her Rev. 12 6.13.14 How then I beseech you consider may it be possible that the church of Rome called in Scripture a mystery great Babylon the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth the woman that sitteth upon a scarlet coloured beast ful of names of blasphemy the woman arrayed in purple scarlet and guilded with gold and precious stones and pearls having a cup of gold in her hand full of abominations and silibinesse of her fornication the woman that is drunken with the blood of saints with the blood of the martyrs or witnesses of Iesus by her beastly persecution was or could be ever the Apostolique Church or are those that are descended from her seeing the Scripture saith Rev. 12 6.13.14 she hath a place in the wildernesse prepared of God where she should be sed a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes from the presence of her persecutors If so be you will have the Church of Rome and those that are descended from her to be the true Apostolick church Note then it wil follow that the church called the woman and did fly into the wilderness from her persecutors was and is the false Antichristian Church and also it will follow that those which we account to be the martyrs and witnesses of Jesus were not of the true Apostolick Church 2 Thes 2.3 6.8 1 Tim. 4.1.2 â—… Rev. 12.6 11 14. and 17.2 6 17. 2 Tim. 3.1.9 4.3 4. 2 Pet. 2.1.3 1 Ioh. 2.18 19 and 4.1 2 Iohn 7. Iude 4 11 16. Like mother like Daughter 1 Tim. â— â— Rev. 2.24 but were obstinate persons and heretiques even as their adversaries in Rome Spain England and elswhere did persecute adjudge and execute them for But if you will have the prophecy of the Apostles to be true and will beleeve their holy writings and also will have the martyrs that have been burned banished hanged imprisoned to be of the true Apostolick Church then it wil follow and that justly according agreeable to the Scriptures that the Church of Rome and those that did and doe persecute are descended from the false antichristian Church called a mystery great Babylon the mother of whordoms and abominations of the earth c. which was and is drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs of Iesus seeing they have her antichristian faith and lordly discipline and for the defence and maintenance thereof will also burn banish hang and imprison so hot and fiery zealous that thereby they shew plainly that they walk so just and even in the steps and paths of the mysticall woman great Babylon their bloody parent and mother so even I say as if they studyed her lying and hypocriticall doctrine her deep and devilish divinity her blasphemous princely and dangerous dignity and her beastly bloudy and deadly discipline Through the continuance whereof not only the Apostolick church is continued still in the wildernes and desert of this world but also the Iews and others both in great Britain and all over the world are kept backe from the knowledge of Gods holy Word the onely order and ordinance Christ hath appointed for the gathering of his Church together out of all places of the world 1 Joh. 4.1 And so long as persecution continue you cannot try the spirits of the many false Prophets that are gone out into the world as the holy Apostle doth lovingly advise and admonish you But like the Papists Fire and sword no equall weapons to the spirit and Word must be eyed onely to the spirits of your lordly Bishops and their Ministers who will have all both King Prince people to receive their spirits and therefore will not have any others to preach and print within the land lest their lying doctrine and lordly discipline be discovered and disclaimed And in stead of disputing and writing by the word and spirit of Christ against their adversaries they wil cruelly persecute and fight against them by fire and sword and spirit of