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
and like the possessed man breaks the cords and bands the good Spirit would binde him with as easily till the Spirit hath set them on as we can doe burnt flax or make a thred snap before the Candle Therefore this prido is discerned and slaine first which is enmitie in the will affections and mind There it is still when discovered and slaine there but it doth a man no hurt being discovered and slaine as pride doth not for though it be as they say as the heart is the first that lives and the last that dyes yet the man is humbled for his pride and walks softly all his dayes and doth put forth an holy enmity now against all that in his soule which exalts it selfe against his God his Lord his Christ and Word of His grace Secondly This is it he would bring home to his owne and others hearts The Lord God by His Word and Spirit hides pride from our eyes first by giving us a sight into our selves what an hell there is within us and makes it looke like hell whereas before it might looke like heaven what a dunghill there is within us and makes us smell the stench of it as of a Dunghill whereas before it did savour with us as a garden of spices or a bed of Roses And then according to the exceeding riches of His grace and abundant mercie through Christ gives us a sight of Himselfe Job 42. 6. a saving experimentall knowledge of Himselfe in Christ we heard of Him before with the hearing of the eare and how did we slight Him till pride was hid from us our proud heart was subdued but now our eye hath seene Him And what then Now He is exalted in our soules for we are made low Now He and He alone riseth in our thoughts higher and higher still and so we fable now sin appeares to be sin the worst can be said of it and grace appeares to be grace the best can be said of that too it is grace now Christ is exceeding welcome for sin is above measure sinfull He is pretious sin is vile The hony-combe trampled upon before while we were full of Prov. 27. 7. our selves that is proud relisheth now like an honey-combe as it useth to doe with an hungry soule and truely now we would abhorre our selves and repent in dust and ashes First To apply this to our purpose ye must take Gods way if you meane to doe Gods worke and this way you cannot choose but take when ever ye goe to worke as workmen that need not be ashamed feeling the law of their Relation written upon their hearts Secondly Preach Christ unto the People lift Him up as an Ensigne before them So the Apostles did so the Ministers of Christ doe that feele the law of their Relation they tell their hearers what lost ones they are without Him what glorious creatures they are being found and accepted in Him His fullnes will convince us as one saith abundantly of our emptinesse His Job 9. 148. purity will shew us our spotts His All sufficiencie our nothingnesse labour by all meanes attend and insist upon the meanes which you cannot but doe if you feele the law of your Relation how to wooe for Christ as His Paranymphs speaking a good word for Him Thirdly Be sure you lay your ground-worke well we are more than jealous of you about that matter as we told you before Tell your people home as you can to their hearts what a Cup of wrath they are borne to and that they must drinke it up to the bottome the very dregs of it if they goe out of the world as they came in without any reall change wrought upon them by the Word and Spirit for they were borne Children of wrath so soone as they were Children of men and they have been ever since they were borne filling-up their measures and after their hardnesse and impenitent heart treasuring-up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous Judgement of God Fourthly And tell them herewithall which you must needs doe if ye know the law of your Relation and feele it written upon your hearts That their Church priviledges they hold themselves borne unto being Baptized there trusted to and gloryed In as the manner is stand them in no more stead than the Arke at Shiloh did the Jewes or sacrifices multiplyed or the Temple of the Lord The Rocke and Manna Circumcision or the Lords Super administred at Corinth Beate them off from putting any Confidence in the flesh if you doe not you doe nothing to purpose nay you must tell them more If no inward glory be gained by our glorious priviledges which indeed the Nation partakes off above many if not above all in the world these will serve but to expose us to more wrath and fiery indignation from the Lord rendring our condition worse than was theirs of Corasin Math. 10. 15. â—am 4 6. 10. Ezek. 5. 10. and Bethsaida and our judgement from the Lord more intollerable even in this world as Jerusalems was and at the end thereof than Sodome's and Gomorrah's was And these things you will speake before the people sadly and mournfully as the Apostle saith weeping for you know who said it though you know he was an Heathen If you will have us weepe you must weepe first When you find the law of your Relation pressing upon your spirits Ye will not mention before your people the principles of Infant Baptisme as ye have glossed them with a Comment worse than the text nor will you make mention of god-fathers or god-mothers either Something we have read how they came in at first But when the law of your Relation constraineth you ye will see no need of them now the Church of the living God shall be no more abused with them nor that ordinance prophaned But these things yee know better than we can tell you Blessed are ye if ye doe thereafter And what are you if ye doe contrary to what you know we say not but leave it upon your thoughts Fifthly Preach sound doctrine to them holding fast the forme of sound words and whatsoever is contrary to it Command them to bid defiance to it yea to curse it as Paul did being that which their soule must abhorre when they feele the law of their Relation Thus ye doe ye will say but we doubt it because your people are so well pleased with your doctrine Now certaine it is as once the Apostles found it to be and told us it would ever be especially in these latter times they will not endure sound doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 3. which will make them sound in the saith Sound doctrine is to a swinish spirit such is every spirit by nature till the good Spirit hath wrought thereon like a corroding plaister to proud flesh or a launce to a sore full of corruption which will cut to the core and cut it out We intend cheifly this
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
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
bread to be given unto them and they will not receive it among the Dogs They are marvailously separated Psal 4. We must be separated from them here or in hell live with them for ever Learned and Holy Sibs and now they can no more mixe themselves with the wicked workers of iniquity though they would stoope to their foote or take them into their besome to doe them good than they can mixe with their workes or light mixe with darknesse or Christ with Belial The Children of God they will not at any time or place unlesse by a good warrant much lesse at the Lords Table mixe with the Children of the Devâ—ll their dearest fathers enemies as well as theirs Thirdly They are the Spouse of Christ or His Bride They will through grace carry themselves honourably and as becometh the Law of that Relation And if ever you will deale with them which you will doe if you know the Law of your Relation you must take them out of the throng and tumult of the world as was said The Bride of Christ is a virgin modest and shamefast you must appoint a set time and place to meete with them If ye will not doe so not feeling the law of your Relation upon your hearts they will meete without you and they know who will give them a meeting they doing all they doe decently and in order He Who never failed them hitherto You must take them out of the throng and tumult of the world alone and apart as the Beloved His Spouse Cant. 7. 11. and as He tooke the blind man out of the Towne Mark 8. 23. And Fourthly These are the servants of the most High God And the Law of that Relation gives Law to their thoughts all their saying and doings Their eyes looke up to their Lord what He Commands that doe they and what He forbids that they avoide as an Adder in their path or a she Beare in their way What care they what the principles of Insant Baptisme say if these say but accoring to that we have heard sayd they heare what the Word saith for the word hath bored their eare They follow their Lord going before them by His Spirit in the directions of His word for they know His voice and a stranger will they not follow but will flee from Him for they know not allow approove not of the voice of a Stranger Fifthly They are the Friends of Christ that is the Relation Câ—nt 7. 15. they stand in to Him now He walkes with them in His Galleries and holds them there while He openeth His whole soule unto them All things saith Christ that I have heard of my Father I have made knowne unto you An Admirable Scripture Certainly Christ hath heard great things of His Father He is the John 15. 15. wisdome of the Father He hath been with the Father from all eternity and the Father loves Him He will tell Him all the Glorious things He hath in His Heart and Christ will hide none of these things from His Friends Judge you now how strong the law of this Relation is with all His Friends will they not deale friendly with Him Thinke you can they allow of any person or thing that offends His glorious eyes will they be a Companion of His enemies deriders of him as the covetous are A mans Companion is as he saith the Counterpaine of himselfe Of all other Mr. Sanâ— page 173. things Company is the worst dissembled as that worthy man hath it from Excellent Learned Preston Truly they can say our fellowship is with the Father and with His Sonne Jesus Christ our Friend And Sixthly Lastly He is their Shepheard they His sheepe they heare Him and follow Him in all things And if they are as sheepe without a Shepheard in sight They have an eye to see their great Shepheard and over-seer of their soules He hath undertaken for them to follow them with His eye upon them where ever they are to deale well with them * Psal 32. 8. Jer. 40. 4. and Him they will heare and Him they will follow An hireling they flie from and with Goats they cannot mixe In a word and a plaine word They are an abomination to the wicked and the company of the wicked visibly Prov. 29. 27. such in Church-Communions is an abhomination unto them They feed in cleane Pastures upon the daintiest meate provided for them They love to feed together to lie downe together to walke together for what Communion betwixt light and darknesse Christ with Belial with the wicked they cannot mixe CHAP. IV. First WE have heard That the Law of the Relation of a Minister for that one containes all those dignities glories titles of honour His Lord hath bestowed upon him calling them Angells His par-Nymphs or spokes-men to wooe and gaine the good will of soules towards Him Ambassadours Fathers Stewards Shepheards Friends we have heard how engageing all this is to a Minister to preach pure Doctrine and to live an holy life which they must doe and cannot doe otherwise having the Law of their Relation written upon their Hearts Secondly We have heard also how engageing the law of the Relation the people stand-in to their God in Christ is to them being felt in them written upon their hearts by the finger of God they cannot but walke this law constraining them in the way of holinesse full-up to that Law and their Rule perfectly and with a right foote as to their course and way or walke though through humane frailty some of their steps may be out of the way SECT I. WEE come now to the third part of our undertaking which was to cleare this way of the Holy from th' objections cast-in even by Ministers themselves as well as by their people in Common account Godly as their people are as so many scandalls or blocks to keepe from entrance upon the way or from a comfortable walking on-ward in it And to tell our observation we have made from our eye and eare this first we find objected Object 1. It is an uncouth way who or how few enquire after it or tread in it Not one Minister of ten yet reputed Godly nor one Man or Woman of twenty Nay may we not say scarcely one Minister of an hundred or ten of a thousand among the common people To this we reply Ans Granting what is said and cannot be denied for where ye heare the Ministers contradicting you shall heare the people blaspheming and this ye and we heare every where But this proves the Holinesse of the way because it is spoken against every where contradicted and blasphemed Act. 13. 45. 28. 22. The way is as Christ Himselfe was a contemned slighted person who asked after him and as the Church is That walkes in it which was said This is Zion which no man asketh after that is very few Jer. 30. 17. But note it in passage they that enquire not after this way
enquire as little after Him who is the way the Truth and the life Who points His people to this way leads them in it and carryes them as in His hand to the end of the way eternall life But this can be no greife to us nor offence of heart That the way is so contemned seeing Christ is so slighted and His Church so vilified It is good to fare as Christ fareth and His Church fareth The Spirit shall have the better cheare if not at present yet anone The way to Heaven is not the wide way of the world which windeth to the Devill but it is a straight way which few walke in for few walke godly in Christ Jesus Holy Bradfords words Object 2. Observe it well and you shall see the poorest and meanest of a parish goe this way and but a sprinkling of them neither here one and there one and yet so confident they seeme to be of their way they would have all walke with them calling them to their foote Ans Indeed they would to speake to that first wish as that all could prophesie so all were as they are excepting their bands scornes and reproaches though these they must meete with if they will be godly But they will never yeild unto any That this is any other but an holy confidence and their zeale for God and love to His people That all were the Lords people They wish that they could speake so gloriously of the Churches of Christ we meane as to the numbers of them as ye speake of your Monstruous Church They are all holy every one of them and borne to Church-priviledges But yet they would account it almost blasphemy to say so to them Indeed they could wish they could see many wise men and learned men and rich men walking along with them and yet though they see it not yet they see no cause of discouragement though The day is come which was prophesied off The glory of Jacob shall be made thin and the fatnesse of Isa 17. 4. his flesh shall be made leane we take it we may allude to that Scripture Relating there to a temporall desolation which followed for indeed the wayes of Sion lye desolate and in comparison forsaken The wayfaring men cease therein and those few that walke therein are counted the veriest fooles in the world but by the fooles of the world the wicked and unreasonable men there It was said of old and it is the stumbling block still which flesh and blood will never passe over Have any of the rulers or of John 7. 48 49 the Pharisees Beleeved on Him But this people which knoweth not the Law are cursed They were a poore people still that saw their wants and were oppressed with them who followed Christ These and no other except for His Loaves They must be fooles that is they must know their owne wisdome to be foolishnes their light darknesse their sight into heavenly Isa 35. 8. matters blindnesse their strength weaknes yea rottennesse they must be fooles that walke in this way There is as one saith 1 Cor. 3. 18. Hil Joh. 4. 19. a kind of kingdome which of all the corruptions that are in the nature of man is the greatest impediment and bar unto saving grace and so to the walking in His way The a Rom. 8. 7. carnall mind or wisdome of the flesh It cannot endure this way being enmity it selfe against it for such it is against God Thy wisdome and thy knowledge it hath perverted b Isa 47. 10. thee and it is noted as a wonder That a great Company of the Priests were obedient to the c Act. 6. 7. faith That the Carnall Ministery should hearken after these things it were a wonder Learned men and wise men after the flesh these are Lords they have no need of God they can live without Him They bid for the most part defiance to Him and His wayes they would rather dye than be pent-up in so straight and narrow a path Indeed these Learned men men puffed up with their Learning these knowing men but yet know nothing as they ought to d 1 Cor. 8. 2. know thinking they doe know and are lifted-up with that thought these wise men are as brutishly ignorant as we a brutish and sottish people are at these two principall points for how little doe they know about originall and actuall sinne which is their disease and how little about Christ who is their Physician these are Mr Burges his words So then they that are wise and learned Pag. 41 after the flesh must become fooles that they may be wise and taught to unlearne their Learning as â—o any Confidence in that flesh before they can learne Christ and know that they know Him walking in His way They to whom the Mysteries of salvation are revealed must be babes By whom is not meant those that have no knowledge or are Children in understanding but such as are lowly and humble and weake comparatively with others and so carry themselves as weaned-ones yet have their understandings opened and have a saving knowledge of Him Who is eternall life and their life And this may suffice to remoove that block of offence Object 3. The principles of this way are not peaceable for we see what worke they make and what differences are caused between Neighbours and Friends Ans We can say little to the peaceablenes of this way we are verily perswaded which was more than once hinted before flesh and blood will find no peace nor pleasure in it It is a way most If you labour to doe the worke of the Lord pray thinke it not strange if among men curses be your reward and detestation your wages Dr. Owen Jer. 15. 19. Pag. 10. Cum ab hominibus damnamur a Deo absolvimur crosse or contrary to one principle at least of Infant Baptisme And therefore seeing that is reported to be a peaceable principle this way and every step in it standing in the greatest opposition to it as doe the remotest extreames this way can have no peace in it as the world calls peace nor shall they have any peace from men that preach-up this way and walke in it But we hope the way is not the more to be disliked for this but the more to be liked and the rather to be chosen It is condemned of men it is approved of God and that peaceable principle of Infant Baptisme the more to be loathed It is a way of holinesse else those people and Ministers that have the Law of their Relation written in their inward parts would not walke in it And Holinesse we know with the way of it is a meere contraction to flesh and blood and a very torment to it as flesh and blood is a very bloody enemy to Holines It would persecute and drive holines out of the world not thinking enough if it could helpe it to drive Holines out of the heart whereat the flesh is
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
to Mr Hotchks his Treatise of forgivenes of sins where they speak very worthily each of other He dips his pen in the same gall writing to the Separatists and Anabaptists in England The Pharisees liturgie is of too frequent use in the separated Congregations I thanke Thee O God that I am not as other men are c. nor even as this Publican Thus he speaks not making a difference It might be easily shewen here That this good man frequently wounds the most eminent Men amongst us for learning and pietie through the sides of Separatists Anabaptists and Antinomians But we proceed Object 6. It is said This way of the Holy is a cloystered way Ans We say that reasonably this cannot be said against it For how doth it appeare They can say here much after the words their Lord and Master spake I ever taught in the Synagogues John 18. 20. and in the Temple whither the Jewes alwayes resort and in secret have said nothing We may we hope give-in curious Fullers his gloss upon this we meane in point of expressing himselfe by his pen understand Him that He never wilfully affected Conventicles as ashamed of his doctrine or willingly declined the Temple when afforded convenient entrance thereunto otherwise He taught also on the Mount in the Ship in Synagogues in private houses The Godly Ministers may say much the same They preach in the publique place on the stated day and it grieveth them to see how thin their Congregations are yet when they are thinnest and they have fewest hearers even then they know their Lord hath sewer Though indeed the people come more willingly to the publique place for they Idolâ—ze places still as they doe their duties and their sins very superstitious that way they choose to pray and to heare chiefly in the publique place what they doe in the closet God knowes It seemes but little or to little purpose by that they doe in point of prayer in the open place and in point of practise at home and abroad which is with most as contrary to the Rule of Gods word as if they never heard a Sermon or the word of life preached unto them But we were saying they doe not cloyster up themselves nor their Doctrines They are not as a ' Candle under a bushell but on a Candle-sticke and so would give light to all that are in the house If they speake in a private place as ordinarily they doe and must so doe come-in to heare as many as will the more the more welcome They make a separation no where but at the Fâ—nt as they may see cause and warrant from the best and best learned Calvin Perkins Amesius and the Lords Table there they depart from the world And there they have as cleare a warrant to doe it viz to keepe Dogs from taking holy things as they have for staving off a Dog from flying in their faces or from leaping-up their Table You will say what before the Church hath passed their Censure on them and declared them to be Dogs It was said before Christ will neither wait the leysure of the State nor of your Church He hath given power into His Ministers hand to doe if not more yet as much as that To keepe the wicked from communicating in holy things The manner of Godly Ministers in ancient times as auncient Records tell you surely even in these matters it may be said as we read The Remnant of Mich. 5. Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord as the showers upon the grasse that tarryeth not for man nor waiteth for the sons of men so we have concluded That godly Ministers have as sure a warrant to keepe out dogâ— and swine from communicating in holy things as any man hath from keeping a dog from flying in his face or a swine from entriâ—g his closet and if â—e feeles the power of this Relation upon his heart he will find power enough in his hand intrusted there by his Lord and Master Himselfe so to doe and not to waite the State or Churches leysure what they will doe Their Lord hath given them a key and they must give it their hand He power to them they must put it forth for them and if not here at the Lords Table then no where the key is of no use CHAP. V. WE come to that which the great Devider that Selah-Hammalekoth if we may express it so that rock of Divisions betwixt person and person people and people Thus it is objected Object 7. The people of God as they call themselves make a separation from others these shall not come to them they will not come to these We will heare what two ready Scribes well instructed both unto the kingdome of heaven have said to this Dividing thing we call seperation We will set downe what that holy and learned man saith who speakes much in a little contracting as we may say the spirits of a point into a few words which are these Seperation Eschol p. 51 52 53. generally heares ill in the world and yet there is a seperation suitable to the mind of God He that will not seperate from the world and false worship is a seperate from Christ Now the seperation here commanded from any person is not in respect of naturall affections nor spirituall care of the good of their soules Rom. 9. 3. Nor yet in respect of Duties of Relation 1 Cor. 7. 13. Nor yet in offices of love and Civill converse 1 Cor. 5. 10. 1 Thes 4. 12. Much less is not seeking their good and prosperity 1 Tim. 2. 1. or not communicating good things unto them Gal. 6. 10. or living profitably and peaceably with them Rom. 12. 18. But in 1 Manner of walking and conversation Rom. 12. 2. Eph. 4. 17 18 19. 2 Delightfull converse and familiarity where enmitie and opposition appeares Eph. 5. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. 3 In way of worship and ordinances of fellowship Rev. 18. 4. These three and the like commands and discoveries of God are most express Necessity abundantly urgeth it spirituall profit and edification no less requires it Causeth seperation from established Churches walking according to th' order of the Gospel though perhaps failing in the practise of some things of small concernment is no small sin but seperation from the sinfull practises and disorderly walkings and false unwarranted wayes of worship in any is to fullfill the precept of not partaking in other mens sins To delight in the company fellowship societie and converse of unsavoury disorderly persons proclaimes a spirit not endeared to Christ So far that Holy and learned man We will make bold also to subjoyne worthy Mr Ant Palmers Pag. 165. words which are these in the second part of his Answer to Mr Hs objection against seperation from the wicked unless in case of excommunication What if a Congregation be so leavened with Customary ignorance and profaneness and
of the Masse we may speak of the Lords Supper as to that we are speaking off and contending againg The Masse will not bite the people nor make them to blush Nor will this Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ but the word preached will doe it if it be heard and obeyed it will bite and make us blush it will cut like a sword and burne like fire it will torment the flesh therefore the wicked will not come at it if it be not a toothlesse preaching but if it bite they will bite the preacher at least snarle upon him shewing their teeth or turning their backes upon the word but setting their faces to the Lords Table thither they will hasten there being nothing now that the word preached hath not done its worke that can trouble them or make them ashamed They may come Devills to it and goe home Devills for no man finds fault said that Blessed man The wicked converse with none but those that are like themselves ye shall find them still platted together like thornes surely it gives a great lesson to the godly tells what they should doe but we proceed And Fourthly Take leave to tell you our perswasion that if the Ministers shall make no difference here between the pretious and the vile but deale forth to the one as to the other at the Lords Table the godly in Christ Jesus all the truly godly all over the Nation will be gleaned forth from them shortly they shall not have one among them to Communicate with them For if as is recorded of John he would not come unto the Bath where Cerinthus was that Blasphemer Can we thinke that the godly in Christ Jesus truely and indeed such will Communicate among you who admit as vile loathsome and abhominable persons as Cerinthus was for you admitt all if not excommunicated We will shutt up this with a Complaint we have read or heard off where is now the zeale of former times the Communion of Saints the heating and whetting of one another by mutuall exhortations where is the boldnes for the Lord we have the light of those times much encreased but the heate much abated their light was burning ours but shineing at the most and for the most part Ignis qui in illis calidus in nobis lucidus tantum Fifthly In the fifth place and to speak that more fully out which was hinted before in the second Paragraph They that work righteousnesse can no more upon choice mixe with the workers of iniquitie than they can mix with their works For their Lord having set apart marveilously seperated or made wonderfull Exod. 33. 16. Psal 4. 3. him that is Godly for Himselfe hath given to this seperated person a principle of His own even His own Spirit to enable him to set apart that is to consecrate dedecate devote or sanctifie himselfe and his All to God To live all the dayes of his life as a sanctified or sequestred person to God and His service and from wicked wayes and companies Be ye seperate and touch no uncleane Math. 5. 48. 1 Pet. 1. 14 15 thing 2 Cor. 6. 16. God by His Spirit and Word hath made them like Himselfe perfect and Holy in their degree and measure as He is perfect and Holy above all measure These people are by way of similitude likenesse or resemblance the Image of God being renewed and stamped upon them as their God is therefore they cary themselves God-like Godlinesse being nothing else but a God-likenesse So that as it is said There is none like unto the God of Jesurun Deut. 33. 26. 29. so also is it said in the same place Who is like unto Thee O people saved by the Lord There is none like Thee O Lord God saith David It followes What Nation is like Thy people even like 2 Sam. 7. 22 23. Israel And hence it must follow as Moses saith speaking of Gods people So shall we be seperated I and Thy people from all Exod. 33. 16 Num. 22. 9. the people that are upon the earth and they shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the Nations The summe is this They that are made like God they cannot upon choice familiarly converse with and delight in the company of the wicked A seperate people whom the wicked-one shall not touch must touch no uncleane thing Sixthly In the last place we would remember what two persons said in their Contest for the Truth and against the opposers thereof and apply it to our selves Though said he I cannot dispute yet I can dye for the Truth The other though said he I cannot unfold Popish Arguments yet I have two maine grounds upon which I can stand and bid defiance to Popery to the Pope his Jesuits and all the Papists in the world Equivocation and the Powder-plott So though we can doe little by way of Argument pro or con as they say yet we have two grounds upon which we stand resolved to bid defiance to Church Communions with those that ground all they doe as to those signeing and sealing ordinances or Gospell Administrations upon the Principles of Infant Baptisme onely 1 The first ground is They have no Argument that ever we could meete with but from flesh or fleshly reason to draw us to it or perswade to a likeing of it Now flesh Dr. Owen Sanits persev p. 298. is not onely a foole but folly it selfe not to be cured but killed nor stirred up but mortified as that excellently Learned man saith And carnall Reason as it is the great Idol of corrupt hearts so it is the feircest enemie of God and His grace 2. The true Church is Christs Bride or Spouse your Church is not Turatio stulta es non sapis quae Dei sunt c. Luth T 3. 73. the Bride of Christ for would the Ministers of your Church prostitute her to we will say no more though if we should speake it-out it would be much the same which holy Bradford spake against the Pope and his Priests in his Letter to the Vniversity and Towne of Cambridge Can the Pope and his Praelates meane honestly which make so much of the wife and so little of the husband The Church they magnifie but Christ they contemne if this Church were an honest woman that is Christs wife except they would make much of the Husband Christ and His Word she would not be made much of them and admit they know not what or whom into His Chamber of presence CHAP. VI. ANd now we thinke we have the hardest worke behind to make a sweet and cordiall close with the Truth and one with the other and all in Christ yet why should this be an hard thing if we can approove our selves we take the boldnes to ranke our selves with you so inferiour though we be lovers of peace and truth and Friends to Righteousnesse how can we be Adversaries not to say enemies unto one another We would have our
Lord Christ call us Friends and deale tenderly with us we must then more than shew our selves friends and accordingly deale one with another we must deale faithfully So deale with us we pray you as you may see cause Reproove us rebuke us we shall take it as a great favour as an excellent oyle from you which shall not breake the Head as a fruit of your love cheifly as the case may be shewen in Rebukes though yet we thinke it not comely to returne love for love considering the lownes and meannesse of our persons yet we should faile in our Duties and Christian offices we owe to each other if we should not tell you our feare at least that the Lord our God hath a quarrell with you give us leave Deare and Honoured Sirs to tell-out our feare and what makes us to feare SECT I. WE thinke Heldegardis her prophesie lookes very wistly towards you as bended against you The Masters likewise and Prelates doe sleepe despising justice and laying it aside A little after in a certaine vision the Church appeared to her in the shape of a woman complaining That the Priests had bewrayed her face with dust and rent her coate and that they did not shine over the people neither in Doctrine neither in example of life And for these horrible crimes and impieties she threatneth and prophesieth unto them Gods most heavy wrath and dolefull punishments This prophesie shall be to them that hate the Lord and the interpretation thereof to His and our enemies That ye may not be found in the Number of these nor be dealt with according to their measures as these shall be dealt withall we take the boldnes to Commend unto you certaine heads of Consideration First That the day is hastning when your worke shall be made manifest and tryed as by fire Ye should feare at the thoughts of the judgements which is written and shall certainly fall upon those who have polluted His Sanctuary done violence to the law of His House That none that were uncleane in any thing should enter in there Ye have suffered persons not separated from their filthines to eate and drinke in His holy place Ye will not bring swine into your Hall yet you will bring them into your Lords chiefest roome He hath visible upon this earth Ye may beare rule for a time by these meanes the people loving to have it so To have their Nasty persons and uncleane courses dawbed palliated and covered over with plausible names and glorious titles But what Aâ—â—â—ius sub 〈◊〉 â—aâ—cti pâ—â—fessione peccat Sâ—v will ye and they doe in the end thereof when He shall be very jealous for His Name-sake and the House of His Glory Secondly Be pleased to Consider and shew your selves men The Lord God of Hosts beholding the Seas of blood and rivers of Teares and hearing the cryes sighes and groanes of all His destitute poore and needy ones in the three Nations and all over the world hath rode upon the heavens to the Helpe of His Church and in His Excellency on the skie that is He hath helped His Church speedily and shewed His state and magnificence when He came so to helpe her making His Arme bare of flesh bringing His people hitherto out of their Egypt made His mighty ones tread upon the waters passe over mighty floods leape over walls skip over mountaines breake bowes of steele and barres of Iron set their feete upon the neckes of their Enemies Bind destroy them whose height was like the height of the Cedars and were as strong and as well rooted as the Oakes yet destroy their fruite from above and their roote from beneath and it was done The Lord gave His servants Dominion over the mighty so as His Warriours might say O my soule thou hast trode downe strength And all this in order to an Imperious Reformation anon which will not leave an hoofe behind and can onely answer the desires of the faithfull who cannot be content with an halfe reformation no more than with an halfe Christ And shall certainly be even full-up to their desire so soone as He hath by His Spirit and Word prepared them for it who hath said He will give them an expected end But now see what all is come to if the people of God should be at your allowance They should have a Reformation which is a very deformation Beareing onely upon the Principles of Infant Baptisme From this Reformation though ye make the best of it the Lord deliver us say all the godly people all over the Land It may serve your Church well enough But is as contrary to the Church of Christ as darknes is to light hell is to heaven And to A rest your thoughts here we will offer this more to your Consideration Thirdly Be pleased to Consider That the Lord hath done for His people in these dayes as once He did He gave Egypt for Isa 43. 3. their Ransome Ethiopia and Seba for them So hath He done now He hath given men for His Church and people for her life may we not conclude of these things in the language of the Prophet who hath heard such a thing who hath seene such a thing Isa 66. 8. Surely we may say as Moses to Israel Hath God assayed to gâ—e Dâ—u 4 â— and take Him a nation by Temptations by signes and by wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by a stretched Aâ—me and by great terrours according to all that the Lord our God doth for us in England before our eyes To take a Nation out of the midst of a Nation is our case A Church out of a Church we â—ad almost said but there some would be angry If England finding as now it doth her children strugling in her wombe should goe and enquire of the Lord as Rebecca did Gen. 25. 22. Why is it thus The Lord may answer as He did to her Two Nations are in thy wombe and two manner of people shall be separated from thee A Nation fearing God and a Nation Blaspheming God a Nation seeking Reformation and a Nation opposing Reformation And then Fourthly Consider in the next place whether ye have not and still doe mingle these Nations together an holy Nation and an unholy together a Royall people and a base slavish people slaves to their owne lusts whether ye doe not mingle these together if they will be mingled at the Lords Table between whom the Lord hath marvailously separated setting a Selah-Hammatâ—koth a Rocke of divisions betwixt them But we need not make a Question here ye have joyned these making them to sodder together if they the godly we meane will take your liberty and be drawne out to meete at the Lords Table And doe not charge us here we pray you nor let the Reader so doe That we in any of this have charged any of the Presbyteriall Churches no not yours provided ye come off clearely from the way and judgement Mâ— Humph
Creature but we owe our lives to God our best service and all so we owe not as we conceive our Religion to Infant Baptisme but to the glorious worke of the Spirit together with the Ministry of the word thereby as an Instrument in the Spirits hand He Riviâ—â—s Christian Religion into the body of a Nation and into the hearts of His people growne up to the yeares of understanding Let the Covenant be opened first the abundant riches of grace therein through Jesus Christ whereunto we owe our selves and all and the seales will follow of course We take leave to tell our perswasion A godly Minister looseth more by giving so much to Infant Baptisme than he will gaine by his praying for the successe of the Gospell his God hath intrusted him with Againe ye pray for the full 〈◊〉 and liberty of Gods Ordinances doe ye not Take heed ye doe not 〈◊〉 â—ut the sinewe of this your prayer and quite weaken it by granting a liberty free Amission to all whilest you set parity aside as a neglected thing though it be the maine even the all of the Duty Remember ye should still the one is to be as full as the other full liberty and as full purity A liberty without purity will certainly bring us into straightness of place which we English anguish Rom. 2. 9. such as we cannot tell what to doe-in to get one minutes time of ease If ye will give liberty see it be stinted and bounded within the bounds and limits which God hath set us To keepe within the compasse of Gods Commands is the best liberty of all Then shall I have liberty when when I keepe all thy Commandements If we Psal 119. 45. would have liberty out of God and beyond His bounds our liberty will proove our misery our undoing and utter destruction Looke ye to it as ye looke God should looke after you and your prayers That ye carve not forth so liberally in your Lords matters granting to your people a full liberty without regard had at all to full purity But having said so much against your full liberty and all those impurities which cleave as fast to that liberty as ever any did to their Idol we will say no more here onely as ye goe on praying ye will goe on sinning and provokeing your Lord to His face in His owne House if ye doe not looke better to His Administrations there than hitherto ye have done Seventhly Be pleased to Consider That the Body whereof our glorious Lord is the Head and the Saviour is as like Him as likenesse can be a very comely and a glorious Body and however little glory or comelines may appeare from without and none at all in the worlds eye yet is she all glorious within partakeing of her Lords owne glory though not in the same degree and every one of this Mothers genuine Children are made Princes in all lands where any one of them is there is a Prince how poore and meane soever the out-side be for whatever the Lord-Christ is by Nature he and she are by Grace Consider we pray you this thing then we know what will follow upon this Consideration so be ye be much if not wholy in it That the fire will consume all that is glorious in the world yet a very little while and there will be no excellencie but the excellencie of Christ and His Church and Children we are bold to presse you unto this Consideration againe because ye and we know what must needs follow thereupon First Ye will give the Lord Christ the preheminence in your assemblies and at His Table specially ye will set His deare Children Beloved Friends and faithfull servants next unto Him And by no meanes will ye suffer that which may offend or grieve them And ye will stave off those nasty filthy Creatures two footed Dogs and swine from comeing neare unto them till they have bethought themselves what they are and of their uncleannesse And Secondly As ye know The first thing the Spirit of grace doth within doores is to set God and Christ in His own place the heart so that person that is acted by that Spirit will shew forth or proclaime Gods Justice in the world and Christ His Righteousnesse in His Church which is to set Him in His place a King and a Prophet a Prince and a Saviour and perswade an hearty obedience and subjection to Him to be directed by Him for if a man be subject to Christs Kingly Office His Propheticall office shall guide him and cause him not to erre in that he speaks from God or to God or in what he is to doe for God and His People CHAP. VII WE would give you two or three Scriptures to muse upon draw two or three things from them and then draw to a close of all The first Scripture Isa 52. 1. From henceforth there shall no more come into them the uncircumcised and the uncleane The like promise ye have Joel 3. 17. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy Mountaine Then shall Jerusalem be holy and there shall no Stranger passe through her to defile her No stranger to open that notion as we read Mr. Caâ—yl Job 15. p. 89. it opened unto us No stranger that is no child of Bolial no wicked person shall passe through her to defile and pollute her But strangers may passe through her to be visited and relieved by her The other Scriptures Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another Acts 2. 42 43. They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship And all that beleeved 1 John 1. 3. Truely our fellowship is with the Father and with His Sonne Jesus Christ Rev 21. 27. 22. 15. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth nor whatsoever worketh an Abhomination for without are Dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters And who so loveth and maketh a lye From the premised Scriptures we would Conclude First SECT I. First THat it is one of the highest priviledges promised to the Church that a time shall come when the wicked shall not come unto her Awake awake Put on thy strength O Sion put on thy beautifull garments O Jerusalem the Holy City Wherefore must Jerusalem the Holy City awake thus and be ready in her dresse in her beautifull garments why there is good newes for her from henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and uncleane As if He had said In times of Sions defection or opposition when there was no due Reformation of worship nor order among worshippers than the uncircumcised and uncleane came and stood yea even dwelt with thee as thy owne Children but oh Jerusalem A Time shall come when the uncircumcised and the uncleane shall not so much as come into thee they shall be rejected and cast out for ever Prophane ones shall find no place