the right gathering of a Church an Apostolick calling and a Baptism with the holy Ghost is always necessary GGGG This is the issue of Anabaptism in many and is likely to be daily in more as we are taught not only by the zealous and diligent observer of the Sectaries motions M. Edwards HHHH but also from that great Patriarch of the Anabaptists Confession M. Spilsberry who in his Treatise against the Seekers is forced to acknowledge the apostasie of too too many of those who once had been cordiall for his way of Anabaptism IIII We are not yet come towards any period of the journey of these wanderers for the spirit that is in them is restlesse Many of the Anabaptists are become Antitrinitarians and keeps them in a perpetuall motion these who are only Seekers notwithstanding of all their enmity against the setting up of Churches or use of ordinances till Elias and new Apostles come to kill the Antichrist and reform these Antichristian abuses that have destroyed for so long a time the true being of all Churches yet are they content in a private and personall way to embrace the Scriptures and the most substantiall truths therein contained but many Anabaptists are now begun to make havock of all The Trinity they abominate they will not only have Paul Beasts blasphemy to go without any censure but they do also joyn with him to preach down the Divinity of Jesus Christ and the Person of the holy Ghost KKKK as their old Father the Anabaptist Servetus does lead them the way It is very suspicious that their seven Churches in their Confession make no mention at all of the Trinity The Confession of their seven Churches is here unsound nor expresse any thing of the Person either of Christ or of the holy Ghost when they have pregnant occasion so to do What they speak in their second Article of the Father Word and Spirit as being all three one God is expounded by some of their followers not of the Trinity of Persons but of three offices onely of one and the same Person LLLL It cannot but give offence that in their twenty second Article where they speak of that which Scripture holds out and we accordingly are to beleeve of Jesus Christ and the holy Ghost they mention in both their Editions onely the nature and offices of Christ the power and fulnesse of the Spirit in his works and operations but speak not a syllable of the Persons either of the Son or of the Spirit and to Christ they give but one nature while as all Divines since his Incarnation give him two Richardson one of their prime Leaders a blasphemer of the Trinity But that which most clearly evidences their Heterodoxy in this point is that having set down rightly in the end of their second Article the personall relations and properties the Fathers being of himself the Sons generation of the Father from everlasting the holy Spirits procession from the Father and the Son yet in their second Edition they scrape out all this and in the margin of its Preface they referre those who desire to know farther of their minde to their Brother M. Richardsons Treatise now this man tels us that what ever is written against the Anabaptists is all from the Devil MMMM and if we understand him right he pronounces our Doctrine of the Trinity of Christs eternall generation and of the Spirits procession from the Father and the Son to be no lesse a crime then very blasphemy NNNN That the seven Churches will own such horrible assertions though they referre us to them I cannot obtain of my self to beleeve albeit too many of their friends goe all this length and much farther Divers of them are abominable blasphemers of Christs Person Paul Beasts blasphemies against the Divinity of Christ and the holy Ghost are no more his singularities but are now become a part of the new light which shines in Lambs Congregation OOOO and openly in Westminster Hall is defended without all fear either of God or man PPPP yea so great is the despight of divers Anabaptists at the Person of Jesus Christ that they rail most abominably against his holy name they not onely spoil him of his Godhead but will have his Manhood defiled with sinne QQQQ yea they come to renounce him and his Crosse RRRR Though some of them with a great deal of confidence avow themselves to be the very Christ SSSS And if any worse can be Others of them are become perfect Atheists some of tbis generation are gone yet higher from the Trinity of the Persons they fall on the very nature and essence of God giving to him a humane shape and bodily form of three men wherein when he pleaseth he makes himself visible TTTT And which yet is worse some of them deny all beeing to God as if he had no existence neither in the heaven nor the earth or any where else VVVV Thus farre Boggis M. Hobsons man and M. Oats dear companion did openly avow and Webbe confessed that as once himself so many of his companions were turned expresse Atheists XXXX The holy Scripture the onely ground of faith They evert reject the whole Scripture which once being overturned all the building of our belief must fall is most lamentably blasphemed by them not onely the old Testament but the new also is set aside the letter of the most plain Texts is turned into allegories YYYY the Scripture is denied to be the word of God ZZZZ and is avowed to be full of lies and errours AAAAA men are sent from the word to seek revelations above and contrary to it BBBBB The Familistick Anabaptists do cleave fast to the most of David George his abominations and adde more of their own thereto Many of them are turned Familists denying the immortality of the soule They deny that any mans soul is a living spirit affirming it to be onely a bodily vapour like the life of beasts which at death does perish They are not onely for the sleeping of the soul at death but for its annihilation and for this they have published whole Books CCCCC At first these mortallists did grant a resurrection of the body and for that end a new creation of a corporal soul but now they speak out their mind more boldly they deny all resurrection after death all life either of body or soul what Scripture speaks of the day of judgement of the burning of the elements and of life eternall they turn it into allegories and make it all to be performed in this life but after a mans death they admit not of any return to life or to any more beeing DDDDD A heaven for the joy of the Saints Denying heaven and hell angels and devils a hell for the torment of the wicked after this life they utterly deny EEEEE That ever there was either Angel or Devil they also deny what Scripture speaks of these creatures they allegorize
theft told him how sorry they were that such a man as he should doe these things he replied That he was troubled for them to see them sorry but as for himself he was not troubled ZZZ Ibid. The Maid said unto the Gentleman tempting her How dare you offer to do this wickednesse and sin against God He replied that God saw no sinne in his children that these were but sinnes of the flesh which Christ had satisfied for with other words to that purpose AAAA Gangren first Part division second p. 116. Three women of Lambs Church makes it their ordinary to work on the Lords day and being spoken to about it they said They knew no Sabbath nor no such day every day was alike to them and one as good as another BBBB Gangren second Part p. 126. The Lievtenant Preacher being urged with Davids practise of bewailing sin and craving pardon answered David was under a double Covenant of the Law and of Grace we onely under that of Grace and though a beleever should commit as great sins as Davids murther and adultery there was no need for him to repent and that sin was no sin to him but a failing CCCC Gatakers shadows p. 62. Nor have we any cause to wonder that all sorts of loose people do by whole shoals flock to and run after these that teach it in many of whom what dreadfull and dismall effects it hath had though I could give hideous instances yet I forbear to relate DDDD Bloody Tenet p. 20. Concerning Baptismes and laying on of hands Gods people will be found to be ignorant for many hundred years and I yet cannot see it proved that light is risen I mean the light of the first institution in practise Ibid. p. 166. But as there seems yet to be desired such constitution of the Christian Church as the first constitution and pattern cals us for so also such a câ—lling and converting of Gods people from Antichristian Idols to the Christian worship and therefore such a Ministery according to the first pattern sent from Christ Jesus to renew and restore the worship and Ordinances of God in Christ M. Williams concerning the name Heathen p. 18. Having not been without through the mercy of God abundant and constant thoughts about a true commission for such an embassie and Ministery I must ingenuously confesse the restlesse unsatisfiednesse of my soul in divers main particulars as first whether since the Law must go forth from Sion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem I say whether Gods great businesse between Christ Jesus the holy Son of God and Antichrist the Man of Sin and son of perdition must not first be over and Sion and Jerusalem be rebuilt and re-established before the Law and word of life be set forth to the rest of the Nations of the world who have not heard of Christ the Prophets are deep concerning this EEEE Gangren first Part division second p. 20. Laurence Clarkson of an Anabaptist turning a Seeker hath put out a Pamphlet called The Pilgrimage of the Saints wherein he endeavours to free himself from the reports divulged on him in the Anabaptists assemblies concerning his laying down the ordinance of dipping as erroneously practised FFFF Ibid. p. 31. Mistresse Attaway disclaimed that she took upon her to preach but onely to exercise her gifts for she could not be evinced that any in the world this day living had any commission to preach GGGG Saltmarsh smoke p. 17 18. None ought to give the Baptism of water now because there is none that can give the gift of the holy Ghost with it Baptism by water and by the holy Ghost being joyned together both in institution doctrine and practise are not to be separated nor given in such a time wherein that of the holy Ghost is not given what God hath joyned together let no man put asunder the fulnesse of time is not yet come for ordinances for as there was severall seasons for the giving out of truth before so now HHHH Gangren second Part p. 11. The Sect of Seekers grows very much and all sort of Sectaries turn Seekers many leave the congregations of Independents Anabaptists and fall to be Seekers and not onely people but Ministers also and whosoever lives but few years if the Sects be suffered to go on will see that all the other Sects of Independents Brownists Antinomians Anabaptists will be swallowed up in the Seekers alias Libertines many are gone already and multitudes are going that way and the issues of these Sects and Schismes will be that all will end in a loosenesse and licentiousnesse of living IIII Spilsberries Saints Interest to the Reader Vnder pretence of seeking the truth by cunning and crafty enquiries they undermine the same they deny unto such as beleeve in Christ Church-fellowship and communion with Christ and his ordinances of the New Testament for want as they say of a Ministery with power from God to call and fit a people for ordinances and to administer the same this opinion much oppresseth and disturbs the godly for whose sakes I have endeavoured to hold forth my portion of light KKKK Gangren first Part division first p. 33. See there a number of horrible blasphemies against the Trinity Ibid. division second p. 26. In one of the Churches of Bell-alley in Colemanstreet the Divinity of Christ was openly disclaimed M. Nie said that to his knowledge the denying of the Divinity of Christ was a growing opinion and that there was a company of them met about Colemanstreet a Welchman being their chief who held this opinion Ibid p. 111. The Anabaptists in Somersetshire denied the Trinity of Persons in the Deity and affirm that there is but one Person in the Godhead for if there be three Persons there must needs be three Gods and that Athanasius in his Creed doth blaspheme LLLLL Gang. second Part p. 5. The Lievtenant being asked about the third Person of the Trinity denied there was such a thing as a Trinity of Persons but affirmed them to be three offices MMMM Richardsons considerations against Featly p. 16. The name Anabaptist came first from the Devill and he will own whatsoever is written against them NNNN Ibid. p. 2. How can Christ as he is God be the Son of God in respect of his eternal generation any more then the Father is his Son by eternall generation Secondly if the Spirit of God be God as he is equall with the Father and the Son all three infinite without beginning each having the whole Divine essence and yet there is but one essence how can the Spirit proceed from the Father originally any more then the Father from the Spirit and how can the Spirit of God have any more dependence upon the Father and the Son then they have upon him seeing whatsoever is infinite can have no dependence upon any thing Therefore the Doctors words contain in them the nature of blasphemy and to define how one can be three and three but
against all pride and magnificence also against the power and sword of the Magistrate riches and honour were to them drosse and dung they did speak nothing but of mortification of the old man and renewing of the spirit of a life separate and dedicated to God the world and all things therein they did altogether contemne D Vide supra Cap. 1. Also Hortensius p. 13. The Anabaptists avowed that in their Church all were Saints and now wicked Also Sleidan lib. 10. p. 274. they say that none must be tolerate in the Church who is not truly a good Christian E Sleidan l. 10. p. 269. At first the Anabaptists did do their businesse privately and secretly in the City none was admitted to their meetings who was not of their sect neither did their Leaders professe openly their opinions but taught them in the night when others were sleeping then were they about their mysteries F Bullinger l. 1. p. 11. They began boldly to plead their cause they professed openly and distinctly that they would maintain their cause not only by words but by their blood so every where in the City they began boldly to rebaptize G Vide supra Cap. 1. also Bullinger p. 26. The fourth sect of the Anabaptists consists of the holy Brethren who are pure and free from sin with whom all the Anabaptists in generall do some way partake they say that the Church is holy and without blemish that they are members of the Church who abide in Christ and are pure without sin some of this sect do omit that Petition of the Lords prayer Forgive us our sins conceiving themselves to be pure and to have no more need of remission of sins ibid. p. 2. All that are of their Church are to be accounted elect and the children of God and all who follow not their way are to be accounted wicked H Vide supra I Bullinger p. 18. They esteem themselves the only true Church which is accepted by Christ they teach that whoever by Anabaptism is received into their Church must have no communion with any Protestant Church or with any other Christians whosoever because the Protestant Churches are no more true Churches then the Popish which they prove thus In their Churches there is evident clear amendment of life but in these Churches that are called Protestant though somthing be preached out of the Gospel yet no mans life is amended and the whole people remain impenitent and subject to sinnes and vices now it is not lawful to have any communion with so impure a people K Ibid. They say that since the times of Christ and his Apostles the word of God has not been purely preached but that now they were two true Prophets arisen by whom the truth was to be restored to the world John Becold of Leyden King of the new Jerusalem and David George of Delph that there were also two wicked and false Prophets the Pope of Rome and Luther who was many ways more pestiferous then 〈◊〉 Pope L Bullinger p. 2. At that time Muncer himself as they say did not rebaptize his Disciples began to rebaptize before himself he himself was first rebaptized with his own bloud N Bullinger p. 109. We are compelled say they to stand beside and hold our peace whether the Preacher speak right or wrong thus the Doctrine depends not from Christ and his Spirit if any man come into a Protestant Church and hear but one speak this is so far contrary to Pauls Doctrine that such a company may not be taken for a true and spirituall Church O Ib. p. 108. They say that Paul by the Spirit of God has ordained that all Christians not Ministers alone should prophecy that is preach P Vide supra â—lso Clopenburg p. 342. If we behold their practice they do not exclude women which may be seen in the Books set out by their Churches for example in that Book they published the year 1570. this Treatise say they is published by the Brethren and Sisters of the Church of Ziricksea who have not medled with the controversie for the procuring of love peace and concord among all who are so marvellously divided whether Fleimes or Frizons or neutrals Q Bullinger p. 87. The Anabaptists in defence of their separation alledge against the persons of the Ministers that they are not lawfully called the calling of their own Ministers they count lawfull because they are called and sent by their own Churches but our Ministers calling they count unlawfull because by the Magistrate so they say that themselves are sent of God but that we are sent by men that is by the world R Hortensius p. 12. In so great a multitude of men it was thought there was not so much as one who had any letters the most part could neither reade nor write Ibid. p. 31. Let the Preachers lay down their offices and set in their places twelve simple men that never learned any letters command them to recite unto my people my word thereafter trusting in my spirit let them expone my word without the help or Lecture of any other writs S Vide supra T Bullinger p. 103. They say that the Ministers are idle this is common to them with many others who think that there is no labour but that which is done with the hands by a spade axe or such instruments Ibid. p. 18. They challenge the Ministers that they work not but are servants to their body V Heresbachius p. 43. Let none be exercised in Merchandize or Trade X Bullinger p. 39. Since the Magistrate has decreed that the tythes and yearly rents are justly due such debts by Divine right ought to be payed sincerely honestly some of the Anabaptists convinced by clear testimonies of Scripture grant that every one who is obliged ought to pay tythes yearly rent and other debts Y Bullinger p. 108. They professe openly that Preachers who take any stipend are not the true Ministers of God nor can teach the truth Z Heresbachius p. 42. The fourth of King Becolds Laws was that no man should either crave or pay any yearly rent AA Clopenburg p. 341. They do beleeve that Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction is in the body of the whole Church they do exagitate and scorn the practice of our Churches as Judaicall and they will have gone to be excluded from the Church in judging but only the sinner that is to be judged This is Anabaptistick Anarchy whereby they command all persons even women not excluded to sit in the seat of the Ecclesiastick Judicatory except onely the sinner who is to be judged BB Historia Davidis Georgii p. 109. Some of the Hophmanists dâ—d separate themselves from the communion of all Churches and lived themselves alone as neutrals CC Bullinger p. 19. That Magistrates ought not to meddle with any causes of Religion or faith that no man ought to be compelled by force or authority unto the faith Ibid. p. 242. They stirre up the Magistrate that in cases that
actually taken away from all mankinde That the common doctrine of election and predestination is false YY That the Sun Moon and other creatures do sufficiently preach Christ to all the world ZZ That the will of man has power to reject the most efficacious grace AAA That our Doctrine of perseverance is false BBB These men be the chief Apostles and Evangelists of the Anabaptistick Churches who are sent out by the rest to the adjacent Counties to preach and baptize CCC For this their false Doctrine laid to their charge long ago in Print we never heard that either of them has been so much as rebuked by any of their Churches or that M. Spilsberry though he writ against the Tenets did ever yet refuse communion and the right hand of fellowship unto any person whom he knew to professe them Unto the Arminian many of them do joyn the Antinomian Errors these are the chief charms whereby multitudes of people are drawn to their company as M. Weld doth well remark DDD Nothing is more attractive of people then the Doctrine of licentiousnesse gilded over with the pretences of the most eminent piety It is not only Oats Den Lamb Clarkson and the like who preach against the Law and all duties telling us that the morall Law does not binde any Christian to obedience EEE That Magistrates may not punish murderers if they be Church members for the sixth command Thou shalt not kill doth not concern Christians FFF they have nought to do with Moses nor any of his Laws GGG That all the sins of the Saints that either they have or shall commit are so taken away by Christ that they ought not to be grieved for any of them HHH That all Preachers who presse repentance and sorrow for sin are Legall III That God is not displeased with any sins of the Saints and will not have them be displeased with any of their own iniquities KKK That God requires no duty from those whom he will save not so much as faith That faith it self is a work a Legall condition LLL That all our duties are done for us by Christ That he has repented for us and beleeved for us MMM That no more under the Gospel is required of any but to be meer patients NNN This is the new glorious light wherein not only the common Antinomians do glory but their most precious and spirituall men have too many strains of the same kinde M. Hobson proclaims all his wonted religious exercises to be but legall duties which he professes to give over OOO He avows that Christ hath satisfied Gods Justice for no mans sin nor done any thing for the reconciling of God to men with whom he was never offended and to whom if once he had been offended he could never again have been reconciled PPP he makes it Christs only labour to reconcile man to God and to manifest not to procure Gods love to man QQQ M. Saltmarsh so great a Champion for the Antipaedobaptists that he rests not till he have exploded the Baptism as well of old as of young makes it now his greatest work to write against our orthodoxe Divines in favour of the Antinomians SSS The Author of that neatly printed Treatise of Baptisme from whom I should have as little expected as from any other an apostasie from the Independents to the Anabaptists and a transition from Anabaptism to any point of Antinomianism does tell us that all anxious labouring about sins and the pardoning of them is a great impediment to holinesse of life TTT The Confession of their seven Churches does not so flatly contradict these errours as the former of Arminianisme but rather countenances them it sets down such a justification as acquits us before God of all sin past present and to come VVV The second Edition omits that sentence of past present and to come I wish this correction did proceed from a dislike of the conclusions which the Antinomians draw from the words omitted but in both Editions they expresly exclude the necessity of the Laws Ministery to bring the soul to any repentance before or in the time of its calling and conversion to Christ XXX The Antinomian controversies are not as the prime Independents doe make them only about words and methods of Preaching I should be glad that all the question here were onely about words and phrases or methods of preaching as some would make it but expâ—rience proves the difference to be too too reall for we see that their words phrases and method of preaching does carry their hearers to the grossest crimes without any remorse of conscience or thought of repentance When some of them are catched in theft they scorn either to be grieved or ashamed for it YYY others encourage themselves to commit adultery upon their Doctrine ZZZ some of them do constantly work in their handy-trade every Sabbath day AAAA others make all repentance and prayer for pardon of the grossest sins to be sinfull and a fruit of misbeleef BBBB finally if the report of those who pretend to be acquainted with their carriage hold good too many who have been noted for strictnesse of life have fallen evidently after the embracing of these Tenets into a loosenesse of conversation CCCC Many of the Anabaptists are become Seekers denying all Churches all Officers all Ordinances We have already demonstrated a farre enough progresse of this Sect into the ways of errour yet the spirit that reignes in Anabaptism carries many of his followers beyond all we have spoken Their injury not only against infants but all the Churches in the world that dissent from them in spoyling the first of all interest in the Covenant of God and comfort from the holy Sacrament in depriving the other of all the priviledges of true Churches closing up all these blessings within the narrow bounds of their own seduced companies this their unjustice is recompenced by God upon many of their spirits giving them over to stronger delusions Very many of the Anabaptists are now turned Seekers denying the truth of any Church upon earth for many ages past denying that there are any Pastors now on the earth that there may be any preaching of the word any joyning in prayer any celebration either of Baptism or of the Lords Supper any Church discipline at all or any Church Act Church state or Church ordinance whatsoever while God from heaven send new Apostles to work miracles and set up Churches which for the space of fourteen hundred years at least have totally failed in the whole world Hitherto M. Williams DDDD M. Clarkson EEEE Mr. Attaway FFFF are come from their Antipaedobaptism Hitherto also it seems M. Saltmarsh does drive while he not only defends the Seekers as well as the Independents and Anabaptists but himself also positively avows that there is no lawfull Baptism this day in the whole earth and that there has been none rightly baptized since the days of the Apostles also that to lawfull Baptism and
it all into fancies FFFFF Some of them make the world eternall others all creatures to perish They make God personally to subsist in every creature they make him the life of all the living and his essence the proper form of all things GGGGG Some of them make the world eternall going on in a continuall generation and succession of things as now we see them HHHHH others make all to be destroyed Some deny all resurrection others makes the bests rise to glory heaven and earth and what ever is therein for ever to perish and nothing of any creature to remain but that portion of the Divine essence which was in them and gave them their beeing IIIII Some of them that admit of a resurrection after this life make it generall of all creatures that ever have been even of beasts birds and fishes to a new life of glory KKKKK They teach abominable obscenities I reade not that their Doctrine is yet so extremely obscene as that of David George yet here also they are come prety near him for two of their Teachers M. Gorting and Mistresse Attaway with their Disciples have declared themselves for the dissolution of all unequall Marriages and such are all those with persons of a different mind from themselves LLLLL That which we have heard of their practising of incest is now publickly avowed in print they do not with David George lay aside all naturall relations in matter of marriage they will not passe the consideration of Father and Mother Brother and Sister but which is worse they will have these relations to be grounds of a Matrimoniall conjunction as if these marriages were most laudable which are betwixt persons nearest in bloud Brother and Sister Father and Daughter Mother and Sonne Uncle and Neece this spirit of abominable villany doth now walk in publick among us MMMMM whereunto if you will adde M. Miltons doctrine of dismissing wives so oft as men please MMMMM 2 you shall make it lawfull for every man once a month to marry if they were thirty of his nearest kinswomen a wickednesse which David George himself did never think of They follow David George in his greatest absurdities But that which was David George his chief wickednesse in debasing the administrations of God and advancing himself above all that is called God making the dispensation of the Law the Kingdome of the Father the preaching of the Gospel the carnall Kingdome of the Son but his own Ministery to be above both the Ministery of the holy Ghost in a new world of love whereof himself was the great Prophet farre more excellent then all before him this madnesse is also in the midst of us Attaway made it the subject of divers of her Sermons that the Kingdom of the holy Ghost and of love more excellent then that of Christs was now at the doors NNNNN That Jerusalem was quickly to be builded and from thence extraordinary Prophets to be sent for the preaching of the eternall Gospel OOOOO And now much sooner then we expected before one stone is laid in Jerusalem behold the great Prophet is come and has printed his Divine light The Divine light of their new great Prophet proclaiming himself the anointed of the Lord for this great service of preaching the eternall Gospel PPPPP assuring that all who opposeth him are not onely apostates Arians Antichrists The fall of Adam the clearest Scriptures are but allegories but also very incarnate Devils QQQQQ The rare mysteries which this great Prophet brings to the world from heaven are these Doctrines That the eating of the forbidden tree the burning of the world with fire and such other Scriptures are but meer allegories RRRRR That the humane nature of Christ is a Person The whole Trinity suffered in the person of Christs humanity That there is no union of the second Person of the Godhead therewith but that all the three Persons in the time of the Passion did come down and subsist in his humane Person That all the three Persons did truly suffer in the humane Person of Christ and that by the Passion of the Godhead of all the three Persons alike the world was redeemed SSSSS That the Passion of the Trinity in the humane Person of Christ was nothing but the conflict of the two Divine Attributes Mercy and Justice the one with the other TTTTT That the former days of the Gospel were Christs private Kingdome and the world of Esaus curse wherein Christ did sit as a Judge to torment and condemne the reprobate VVVVV But now since he the great Prophet The great light which this Prophet brings from heaven is that all the Devils and all the reprobates shall be saved by his Gospel the Lords annoynted began to Preach the new and the last world is come the world of Jacobs blessing the time of the Spirits Ministery of Christs publick Kingdome wherein the eternall Gospel is preached XXXXX That the summe of this Gospel is the salvation of all without exception even of the Devils and of those who were damned by Christ in the world of Esaus curse YYYYY That saving faith is nothing but the belief of this universall salvation ZZZZZ That whoever beleeves it not shall be damned that is they shall undergoe for some time hels torment though at last with the Devils they be delivered therefrom That by this faith any three or four persons may become so strong sons of God as to save not onely themselves but a world of misbelievers AAAAAA Randals grosse Familisme It were long to enumerate all the abominations that are among many of these who goe under the name of Anabaptists it will be hard to name any of the conceits of their Fathers in Germany which is not here entertained by some one or other I am sure the incomparably worst of the Sects over Sea was that of the Georgians and among us the Familists are their naturall brood what they have learned from Henry Nicholas and he from David George we may see it yet more distinctly in two late Writs The discovery of Familisme The description and confutation of Familisme We reade in the first that a great many who have been counted zealous and gracious are now of that Sect BBBBBB That a great man a Peer of the Land and divers Doctors of Divinity are of that number CCCCCC That M. Randall for some years has preached peaceably at the Spittle to as great a multitude of people as follows any Sectary about the City That the learned Author of the Discovery did hear him preach the following positions who wrote them down with a refutation and before many witnesses sent them to him to be answered No resurrection no heaven no hell after this life To wit first that all the resurrection and glory which Scripture promises is past already and no other comming of Christ to judgement or life eternall is to be expected then what presently in this earth the Saints
the whole Creation shall be annihilated and reduced into the Divine essence again KKKKK Mans mortality p. 49. The resurrection of the beasts all other creatures as well as man shall be raised and delivered from death at the resurrection the death of the beasts was a part of the curse and is to be taken away by Christ LLLLL Vide Disswasive first Part p. 116. also 145. Letter NNNN Also Gangrens second Part p. 117. Dear friends as you have cast off many Antichristian yokes so proceed to cast off all a chief whereof are unequall marriages MMMMM Little Non-such p. 5. God took one of Adams ribs made a woman and brought her to him how comes it then that there are forbidden degrees in marriage or is it not so in truth but a Popish injunction for their profit The woman is of the mans own proper substance then in regard there can be no more matches in this nature the very next of kin were to joyn in marriage and that both by custome and command For example we finde that Sarah was Abrahams Sister whom he took to wife a better president we cannot have Ibid. p. 6. So naturally confident were the servants of God in propagating by the next of kin that Lots daughters did not doubt to raise up seed to their Father Lot might justly be blamed for drinking so liberally that he perceived not what he did yet we finde no reproof upon the daughters because what they did was according to the institution Ibid. p. 7. The next place that seems to fortifie this opinion against all opposition is that of Juda and Tamar his daughter in Law the sincerity and integrity of Tamar was sublime Ibid. The prohibition of degrees in Leviticus is to be understood of fornication not of marriage Tamar did not doubt to be her brother Ammons wife but detested the act of fornication But for the holy institution of marriage with the next of kindred we see it hath not onely been permitted but commanded If mutuall correspondency happen betwixt the nearest of kindred their marriage is most naturall most lawfull and according to the Primitive purity and practice MMMMM 2 Gangren second Part p. 9. Mistresse Attaway among other passages spoke to them of M. Miltons Doctrine of Divorce and asked them what they thought of it saying It was a point to be considered of NNNNN Gangren first Part second Division p. 31. Mistresse Attaway in her exercise delivered that God the Father did raign under the Law God the Son under the Gospel and now God the Father and God the Sonne are making over the Kingdome unto God the holy Ghost OOOOO Ibid. 113. It is given out that Mistresse Attaway met with 〈◊〉 Prophet here in London who hath revealed to her and others that they must goe to Jerusalem and repair Jerusalem and for that end Mistresse Attaway hath gotten money from some persons ten pounds of one young maid and other money of others towards the building up of Jerusalem Gangrens second Part p. 145. There is a Prophet arisen who is shut up for a time but at the end of this Summer is to come forth with power to preach the generall restauration of all things which Prophet hath given a roll forth already into some hands in which roll many things are written and who ever hath that roll hath the spirit of Prophecy he hath appointed some to be publishers and Prophets and to go to Jerusalem to build it up where Abraham Isaac and Jacob shall meet them from heaven and these persons thus sent unto Jerusalem are assured they shall never die with many other of this kinde PPPPP Divine light sent forth by the Minister of the Lord Jesus whom he hath anointed his servant for the good of all in bringing glad tidings of good things unto the whole Creation QQQQQ Ibid. These are the Antichristi-apostat-Arians in chief that deny the holy Covenant of generall redemption by those the spirit discovereth the Antichristi-apostat-Arians Egyptians Sodomites and drunkards of Ephraim the Devils incarnate which are or shall be found to deny the Covenant of generall redemption This Antichristi-apostat-Arianisme is in that Dragon that old Serpent called the Devil and Satan in that he denieth the holy Covenant of generall redemption but this Dragon and grand Devil must be cast out of heaven the Church and all his angels the false Ministers and tyrannous Magistrates must be cast out with him Deniers of the Covenant of generall redemption and all brute beasts and hypocrites have approved themselves devils incarnate RRRRR Divine light p. 15. The private kingdome of Christs Justice must passe away to give place to the publick kingdome of God the Father in his Jehovah mercies unto all the heavens and the earth shall not be destroyed as drowsie drunken Ephramites and blind Egyptians do imagine out of their own evil hearts by misconstruing the Scripture Ibid. p. 2. In that abominable transgression of our first Parents Adam and Evah we their children transgressing in the same line of Rebellion by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that is by seeking in our selves a righteousnesse thinking to be wise and making our selves like to God we became naked foolish blinde and desperately wicked SSSSS Divine light p. 19. He sanctified the humane person of Christ to be a sacrifice Ibid. p. 4. God setting himself in his lost creatures stead namely the whole Creation God the blessed Trinity the three persons in unity in the spirit of the Deity setting themselves in Christs humanity the Father Son and holy Ghost the whole Godhead set it self bodily in Christ to suffer for their transgressing creature Christ in his humane nature feared when the Godhead and Trinity of persons came down in him to suffer TTTTT Divine light p. 2. God was pacified by his own passionate sufferings in that heavenly conflict which the Deity and Trinity of persons had in Christs humanity when our God lovingly set himself to work out our salvation he made his love so to overcome his justice as yet to satisfie his justice meritoriously Ibid. p. 6. God set himself in Christs humanity in the essence of his Deity to work out our salvation setting his love against his justice Ibid. p. 5. Therefore the whole Trinity was forced to assume the whole power of the Godhead to suffer that passionate suffering which was due to the transgressions of the whole Creation this was the passionate work and suffering of the Godhead placed in Christs humanity to perfect redemption for all VVVVV Ib. The elect and reprobate in their severall cases in Esaus world which is the world of the curse Ibid. p. 8. The Father and the Son doe commit their whole strength for the delivering the whole Creation unto the ministration of the holy Ghost and therefore it is that those that have been damned in Esaus world of the curse could not be delivered untill the holy Ghost came in full power in the fulnesse of all
charitable mercies unto every creature of Angels spirits and mankinde likewise because all power is committed to the holy Ghost to manifest Christ a spirituall Christ and all-saving Jesus therefore the holy Ghost speaking to Christ as just Judge condemning damning and tormenting a part of his creation c. XXXXX Divine light p. 7. Esau's world of the curse is now almost passed away and the world of Jacobs blessednesse is now entring in Ibid. p. 14. Christ in his private kingdome sate Judge over the quick and dead to condemne and execute torments upon the rebellious whom he held as prisoners for a time but Christ in his publick kingdome by the power of the holy Ghost shall raign for ever to bring up all to life and immortality Christs publick Monarchicall kingdome is now appearing now the waters of troubles are abated and in the new heavens and new earth of Christs publick kingdome there shall be no more sea of Antichristian mysteries onely the old heavens and earth of Antichrists wickednesse must be burnt up with the fire of Gods Spirit yea all things naturall and supernaturall must bee changed at these resurrections now comming YYYYY Divine light p. 7. In the world of Jacobs blessednesse now entring in the reprobate condition of men and Angels shall be regained death and hell shall be destroyed all shall be created of new to life and immortality the damned Prisoners shall be sent forth out of the pit Ibid. p. 11. For a time millions of thousands were damned by their Antichristian works yet not damned to perish for ever for there is none can be damned totally all the generations that are deceased in the old world of Esau shall arise by glorious resurrections ZZZZZ Ibid. p. 11. This true Christian vocall faith is to beleeve the Covenant of generall redemption Ibid. Those which believe and maintain the Covenant of generall redemption are onely the true Church of whom Christ is the head AAAAAA Ibid. p. 11. All the damned that did not or doe not receive it must be saved by this faith Ibid. p. 13. Although there were but three persons beleevers in the earth with Christ yet God will have his whole Creation although not any else did beleeve but these three in and with Christ Ibid. p. 14. Such sons and daughters of God onely by beleeving are made instruments of blessing unto the whole Creation although there should be but three in the whole earth BBBBBB A description of Familism and confutation of the Familists by Benjamin Bourn to the Reader Many of them being such formerly as were to be beloved and delighted in Give me leave to speak according to men were ye not once as reall for Christ as you are now for Antichrist yea I will be one witnesse what close communion you had with God and how many times you have to the refreshing of many drooping spirits made a large acknowledgement of the manifestations of Gods love and favour toward you in Jesus Christ CCCCCC The discovery of Familism p. 10. Let not the Familists say it is not M. Randall and we only that teach this doctrine of Henry Nicholas there have been and are great Doctors of Divinity so called yea and some great Peers and persons of quality and estate in this Land DDDDDD The discovery of Familism p. 2. Whosoever shall teach and perswade the people that the perfection and resurrection spoken of by Paul 1 Cor. 15. are to be attained in the fulnesse and perfection of them in this present time before the common death of the body doth herein teach the deceitfull doctrine of Familism taught by Henry Nicholas but M. Randall does so teach as sundry persons that heard him can witnesse and so he does destroy the hope of the Saints as touching the personall comming of Christ in his glory to judge the quick and the dead and of the resurrection of the bodies of the Saints and of the glory of life everlasting of body and soule hereafter EEEEEE Ibid. p. 2. M. Randall delivered that a man baptized with the holy Ghost knew all things even as God knew all things which himself greatly admired as a great mystery Ibid. p. 7. Henry Nicholas says of himselfe God hath made me alive through Christ and anointed me with his godly beeing manned himself with me and Godded me with him FFFFFF Discovery p. 4. M. Randall turns the holy writings of Moses and the Prophets of Christ and the Apostles and the proper names persons and things mentioned and contained therein into allegories and gives them out to be the mystery and spirituall meaning of the same GGGGGG Benjamin Bourns description and confutation p. 6. Their first errour is that there is but one spirit or life in all things both in heaven and earth and that is absolutely and essentially God HHHHHH Ibid. p. 7 8. Is this a universall Christ as Antichrist cals him that is the flesh and blood of the whole world which the Godhead assuming makes out a discovery of himself to himself in and by all creatures whatsoever IIIIII Description p. 13. Whether all things are the act of God yea or no whether every creature in all its actions be acted and ruled by the Spirit of God The errour is explicated and confuted KKKKKK Gangren second Part p. 7. When the Committee of Lords and Commons was in Guildhall companies of thirties and fourties vented boldly all sorts of opinions some maintained that no mortall spirit could sin or be capable of sinne and it being objected What say you to the Devils they denied the Devils either sinned or could sin LLLLLL Gangren first Part division second p. 24. Nichols did justifie to M. Greenhils face that God was the Author of all sin that no man was sent to hell for any sins but cast thither onely because God would have it so MMMMMM Bourns description p. 24. These spirits that we call good and evill Angels they call good or evill motions of mans minde NNNNNN Ibid. Their third errour is that nothing shall remain eternally but the essence life and Spirit of God which is now in all creatures OOOOOO Ibid. Their fourth errour is this that the Scriptures are a confused allegory a meer shadow a false history and ought not to be any mans foundation no more then any other Book or the Apocrypha PPPPPP Bourns description p. 36. The comming death resurrection ascension and intercession of our Lord Jesus is absolutely denied by all the principall writings and doctrines of the Familists Ibid. p. 38. I will take here in their other errour that there is no resurrection nor last judgement for the world QQQQQQ Ibid. p. 24. They say sixthly that all ordinances are but meat for babes that a man should live above them without the use of them RRRRRR Ibid. p. 53. The first branch of their seventh Chap. shall be handled in this Chap. by way of question whether perfection in the highest degree both of grace and glory be attainable in this
either eating of bread or drinking of water but however there is a positive precept that hinders them from participation of the Lords Supper they cannot remember the Lords death they cannot examine the state of their own heart no such impediment is put in their way by the hand of God to keep them from baptisme M. Tombes observes it that long before John the Baptists days baptisme was in use among the Jews and M. Marshal adds from the Talmud Maimonides and other Authors that it was a very ancient custome to baptize all that were circumcised infants as wel as their parents women as well as men and that this custome of baptizing all that were added to the Church as well children as others did continue in all ages among Christians is proved at length by many without any satisfactory reply but we intend here to dispute from Scripture alone 7. Argument Infants are partakers of remission of regeneration of life eternal Wee shall bring but one other reason and so passe on To whom the Lord gives the whole signification of baptisme from these men ought not to withhold the outward sign thereof But to some infants the Lord gives the whole signification of baptism For the proof of the major we need not alledge the equity of giving the lesse to them that gets the more of not denying the shell and the cask to them who enjoy the kirnell and the pearl for the Apostles words prove it sufficiently Acts 10.47 Acts 10.47 Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord the Apostle here reasons from one part of the signification of baptisme and that but a temporary blessing the extraordinacy gifts of the holy Ghost to the outward sign of baptisme how much more may we conclude it from its whole ordinary signification The ground of this reason is granted by the principall of our adversaries who profess their willingnesse to baptize any infants of whom they were certain that they had the saving graces of the holy Ghost avow their exclusion of infants from baptism upon this ground mainly that they beleeve they are excluded from the covenant of grace remission of sins the saving graces of the Spirit till in the years of discretion they be brought actually to beleeve The minor that some infants have the whole signification of baptisme is thus proved Who have remission of sins regeneration and right to eternall life they have the whole signification of baptisme But some infants have all these The major is clear I prove the minor None enters into heaven but they whose sins are remitted who are regenerate and to whom life eternall belongs But some infants enter into heaven Ergo. The minor is not questioned for the words of Christ of such is the kingdome of heaven and the confession of the adversaries puts it out of doubt The major also is clear from Revel 21.27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth Nothing comes into heaven but what is perfectly purged justified sanctified glorified also Ioh. 3.5 Iesus answered Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God and Rom. 5.19 As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one man many shall be made righteous As Adam makes all that are descended of him sinners infants as well as others so Christ communicates his righteousnesse to all who are in him to all whom he receives and acknowledges to be his without any distinction of Jew or Gentile male or female young or old who ever have interest in Christ are justified and sanctified by him Now that some infants especially these elect ones who die before the age of discretion have interest in Christ and his covenant hath oft been proved If it be said that infants by this argument may be admitted to the Lords Supper we deny it for the Lord himself hath put a barre to keepe them off from that Sacrament also they are not capable of the whole signification of the Lords Supper for the thing signified therein is not the Lords body and blood simply but his body to be eaten and his blood to be drunken by the actuall faith of the communicants of this active application infants are not capable but in baptisme no action is necessarily required of all who are to be baptized for as the body may be washed without any action of the party who is washed so the vertue of Christs death and life may be applied in remission and regeneration by the act of God alone to the soul as a meer patient without any action from it CHAP. VI. The Antipaedobaptists Objections answered M. 〈◊〉 c. M. â—omâ—s and M 〈◊〉 Oâ—jectiâ—â— THE exceptions which use to be taken to infant-baptisme goe about in a number of late Treatises the principall are as I take it in the three last which I have seen upon that subject the declaration of the publick dispute intended betwixt sixe of the prime Preachers of the Anabaptists and some City Ministers Mr Tombs exercitation and the namelesse Treatise of Baptisme In the first are nine Arguments in the second eight and some more in the third Who desire to see large and solid answers to all these and to what else is brought to any purpose by any other of their companions let them look upon M Marshals Sermon and its vindication M â— Blacks three Treatises and M. Cottons Dialogue for the time they who are in haste may have this short reply to the main arguments of the three named Authors They are in effect but few all invented by the old Anabaptists Take upon all these two generall observations First that what ever any of them has is all borrowed from the old Anabaptists in whom the spirit of the worst heresies did rage who will be at the pains to compare the writs of the Authors in hand with that which Zuinglius Bullinger Guy de Bres Ainsworth and others have set down in the name and words of the old Anabaptists shall finde that our late opposers doe adde little that is considerable to the arguments of their Fathers Secondly that all the arguments which either the elder or later Anabaptists bring against Paedobaptisme are but two or three at most when they are increased to a greater number it 's but the same body put in many diverse habits by a needlesse variation of shapes M. Cox first Argument 〈◊〉 makes examples alone a full rule The nine Arguments of the publick disputants have not as yet so far as I know been honored w th any answer neither do I think was there any necessity of it for the Disputants do so insolently out-bragge the City Ministers and the matter of their Arguments has so often been answered in divers
not necessary in Baptisme I reason thus The 1 Arg. for the affirmative Baptisme in many Scriptures signifies sprinkling and not dipping First that action which the Spirit of God in divers Scriptures expresses formally by the name of baptisme is lawfull and sufficient to be used in baptism But sprinkling or pouring out of water upon the party baptized without any dipping is by the Spirit of God in divers Scriptures expressed formally by the name of baptisme Ergo. The major is one of the adversaries principles for they reject sprinkling on this reason mainly that the word Baptisme in no good Author especially not in Scripture does ever signifie sprinkling but always dipping The minor appears by many places of Scripture I cite but a few First that of Mark 7.4 Mark 7.4.8 And when they come from the market they eat not except they wash as it is in the originall except they be baptized also that same verse And many other things there be which they have received to hold as the washing of cups and pots brazen vessels and of tables as it is in the originall the baptismes of cups c. also in that same chap. ver 8. For laying aside the commandement of God ye hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots and cups as it is in the originall the baptisms of pots and cups That which here by the holy Ghost is thrice expressed under the name of baptisme can be no other thing but a washing by sprinkling and no ways by a totall immersion or dipping for is it imaginable that the Pharisees oft times every day even so oft as they went to meat yea so oft as they came home from the streets did cast off their cloaths and dip themselves over head and ears in water sense and reason will be against so troublesome a superstition the text it self expones the Pharisees daily and almost hourely baptisme of the washing of their hands now the ordinary way of washing the hands among the Jews was by pouring water upon the hands from a laver not by putting the hands in a bason as we read 2 Kings 3.11 Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat which poured water on the hands of Elijah Also the baptisme of brazen vessels of tables or beds for then in their triclinia tables and beds were all one thing or at least were joyned together could be no other but pouring some little water upon them for suppose that contrary to the common custome of all Nations in all times all their great and heavy vessels of brasse and iron in every one of their washings had been put into the water and no water poured upon them yet how is it possible that all their tables and their beds many times every day should be brought to deep rivers there put wholly under the water Such a practise if possible had made the toyle of all the Jewish servants unsupportable and yet according to the Anabaptists Lexicography all this labour was simply necessary Another place we have Heb. 9.10 Heb 9.10 Which stood onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnall ordinances imposed on them untill the time of reformation The originall reads it divers baptismes What were these legall baptiâ—mes and washings doubtlesse many of them were sprinklings of blood and water prefiguring the souls washing by the blood of Christ In the Books of Moses the Jews baptismes by blood were onely by sprinkling no persons among them were drowned in blood onely in their purifications blood was poured or sprinkled upon them in reference to this manner of application the Antitype Christs blood whereby the Church is truly washed from sin is called the blood of sprinkling Heb. 12.24 As for the old baptisms with water divers of them were by sprinkling alone Numb 8.7 And thus shalt thou doe unto them to cleanse them sprinkle water of purifying upon them the most of these baptismes were by pouring out of water upon the person few if any by dipping over head and ears The ordinary and daily washing of the Priests at the great laver and brazen sea was not by plunging in the water but by pouring out the water on the person to be washed The sea made by Solomon stood high on the back of the brazen buls and had no steps without for any to ascend and within for any to descend into it and the laver in the Tabernacle made by Moses was not of the capacity for one man to bath much lesse for all the Priests who had to doe about the Altar at one time Farther the prescribed manner of washing was onely of the hands and of the feet though it be imaginable that the Priests might have stretched themselves to dip their hands in the laver standing upon his high base yet how shall we conceive them able to have put their feet into that laver Doubtlesse many of the legall baptismes and washings were onely by sprinkling and pouring out and not by dipping or drowning into the blood or water Take for a 3 place 1 Cor. 10.1 1 Cor. 10.1 Moreover brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the cloud and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud What baptisme was that by the cloud which was above their head and under the which they did walk was it any other thing but the dropping of the cloud upon them as the rain and dew fals on men from heaven can any be dipped in a cloud that hangs in the aire above their head A fourth place we may have in the Revel 19.13 Rev. 19.13 And he was cloathed with a vesture dipped in blood the originall reads it baptized in blood now the manner of this baptizing dipping or dying is expressed by the Prophet Esay 63.3 Their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garment and I will stain all my raiment The garments of the slain lying upon the ground may be rolled in blood but the glorious Victor sitting still on horse back as Christ in the Revelation is described cannot have his garments rolled nor otherwise dipped in blood then by the staining and sprinkling of the blood of the wounded persons falling upon his garment One place more Matth. 3.11 Mat. 3.11 He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire How were the Apostles baptized in the holy Ghost and fire was it possible for them to be dipped in the holy Ghost or was the spirit poured out upon them as Peter expones it from Joel Acts 2.17 and were they by their baptisme in fire put into any fire We read Acts 2.3 that the fiery cloven tongues did onely come down and sit upon them By all this we see how frequent the holy Ghost in the very New Testament is in ascribing the name and style of baptisme to that which cannot be any dipping and is nothing else but a sprinkling a pouring out an application of water blood or fire to the subject and not of