c. To this purpose there are severall other passages in Ezekiel and other of the Prophets And the Apostle Peter speaking of false Teachers that shall be among the people sayes he They shall bring upon themselves swift destruction for their Judgement lingereth not and their damnation slumbereth not 2 Pet. 2.2 3 And saies Paul If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha I could desire if there were any rule clearly revealed for it that the civill Magistrate might so restrain them as they might not speak a word to any man all their daies but seeing not how far the Civil Magistrate hath a sure rule for this I turn this desire into a prayer to the great Magistrate of the whole world the great God humbly desiring that he would make all his implacable enemies as a wheel and as stubble before the winde and that he would so giude the civill Magistrate in all his affairs that under him all the Saints of God may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty So much in answer to that Objection but seeing it is presented as the way to happiness to protect from all wrong and violence the Saints of Jesus Christ and to beware of imprisoning or banishing of them least the Kingdom come to ruine it may be quaeried who are those Saints of Iesus Christ that are unto him as the Apple of his eye c. I answer they are not confin'd to any particular society of men that are distinguished by such or such a title as Presbyterians Anabaptists Independents Seekers c. and therefore cannot be defined by any such title as to say only such as are Presbyterians are the Saints of Iesus Christ or only such as are Anabaptists are the Saints of Iesus Christ c. Nor are they all Saints that are distinguished by any of these titles for many that profess themselves to be for the Presbyterian way are very scandalous persons and the Author of the Gangraena might have had as plentifull instances of scandalous persons among those as any of the rest and that upon as unquestionable evidences had he dealt impartially in that work and many of the way called Independencie have been very scandalous also and so of the rest and yet among all these which have severall titles there are undoubtedly many reall Saints so that we cannot say such a one is not a Saint because he is not a Presbyterian an Independent or an Anabaptist c. But who are Saints and who are not is most visible to him that knoweth all things But if you would be sure to deal well with all the Saints of Iesus Christ then deal well with all them that do hold the head do acknowledge God the Father to be true God and Jesus Christ to be the son of God the brightness of his glory and the express Image of his person and that this Iesus Christ is the Saviour Redeemer and the Justifier of all that truly beleeve on his name and that there is no other name under heaven whereby men may be saved but by this Jesus and that he is the great King Priest and Prophet of his people and that from the Father and the Son proceedeth the holy spirit which teacheth comforteth sanctifieth the Saints I say if a man do acknowledge these things which are the foundations upon which Christ hath built his Church and if his walking be not scandalous whatsoever such a mans judgement may be in circumstantiall things if any one should condemn such in so doing he might condemn those whom God hath justified and offend the generation of his children But all those that so acknowledge the true foundation which is the foundation of all the Apostles and Prophets ought by you to be protected and not to be deprived of their liberties and priviledges as they are subjects whatsoever their judgements be in circumstantials but if any of these offend in being drunkards swearers whoremongers c let them suffer according to the fact but as long as they walk holily in their lives beware how you fall upon them least they prove a burthensom stone unto you and in falling upon them you be broken in peices But if as God forbid the civill Magistrate should be so far perswaded by the lovers of discords and enemies of peace as to imprison punish banish or turn out of the world some of them it should do them no hurt for they should lose nothing by whatsoever they suffer but receive an hundred fold but those that do it would be in far better case if they were sufferers then Actors Nor if while it is called to day this seasonable word shall be received it may possibly prevent the breakings out of another fire of wrath which otherwise may suddenly break out upon this kingdom If now this cordiall shall be received it may allay the violence of expell that distemper which is upon this kingdom which otherwise may prove its death Now it must be first taken in by the head by those that are in highest Authority and from thence the sweet and comfortable effects of it shall descend to all the members the whole body to the strengthening and heightening of it making of it famous among all the nations Many other things might be spoken by way of motive and clearing some other objections but to an understanding people it is superfluous The things herein proposed being so clear as that few or none that love the truth and peace will or can oppose them FJNJS
erroneous persons from spreading their errors for those that hold the grossest errors are the most notorious vile persons may by making a faire compliance for the present be admitted to Ordination when afterward they may preach erroneous doctrine and prove scandalous in their lives and this is very evident and though it be a trouble to those that ordaine them yet all the wisdome of man cannot prevent it And secondly it is a frequent thing for truth to be counted error by learned men even by those that have continually studied the letter of truth it was so in our Saviours and his Apostles times The high Preists and all the Preists and Levits whose lips should preserve knowledge as the Prophet hath it and all the learned Doctors of the Law who studied it continually yet they counted the truths of Christ and his Aposties which they made evident by Moses and the Prophets to be errors Nay 3. Not only learned men but those that are learned and really Godly men may account some circumstantiall truths though not fundamentall to be errors and some errors to be truths for though all that are reall Saints are built upon one foundation have one God and father and one Lord Jesus and one faith and one spirit and one joy in that one spirit yet those that thus in the foundation agree in one may yet exceedingly differ in circumstances They did so in the Apostles time one is of Paul another of Apollo another of Cephas One eatheth flesh another who is weake eateth hearbs 1 Cor. 3.4 one observeth a day another observeth it not Rom. 14.2 and the Apostle in the 1 Cor. 3.11 12. Implies that it was possible for many errors to be built upon the true foundation which he expresses by wood hay stubble yet saies he the person shall be saved yet so as by fire and every worke which is not of Christ shall be burnt the fire of the spirit shall pass upon it and as wood hay and stubble is before the fire all combustible so shall all error be when it comes to indure the triall of the spirit but truth only shall abide the triall of the fire of the spirit Now if it were so in the Apostles times that through imperfection in knowledge there were circumstantiall errors amongst the Saints then it is no wonder if there be many more now there having been such an universall darknes spread over the world by the midnight of Poperie that hath been in the world many of the clouds where of being yet remaining over the faces of Saints Now if it be so as it is cleere that circumstantiall errors may be in men built upon the true foundation then those men that are or shall be Ordainers if they may be so called may have errours and so may account that Truth which is contrary to their errors to be error when it is the truth it self 4. I answer we all expect the breakings forth of truth more more no man can say they have yet attained to perfection Now this truth may appeare to some before it doth to others In some Circumstances it may appear to those that are commonly called Presbyterians before it doth to those that are commonly call Independents and in other Circumstances it may appear to those that are commonly called Independents before it doth to Presbyterians And shall the Presbyterians despise the Independents because God who doth what he pleases hath not given them that light which they have obtained and have the comfort of Or shall the Independents despise the Presbyterians because God hath not given them that light which he hath conferred upon them and they have the comfort of Oh no! let it be far from either of them seeing they are all built upon one foundation but let them rather seriously consider that passage of the Apostle If any man be otherwise minded God shall reveal it to such a one if one man be otherwise minded and have not received that truth that appears to thee It is not in his power of himself to receive it nor in thy power to communicate it But it is the Lord that must reveal it to him or else he shall never receive it And therefore if thou excellest thy brother in the knowledge of the truths of the Lord Jesus in Doctrine or Discipline consider who it is that hath made thee to differ What hast thou that thou hast not received and know that that God that hath communicated so graciously to thee may in his own time communicate more abundantly to thy brother and thou thy self mayest also see more hereafter then now thou doest as thou now seest more then thou hast seen and this Age sees more then the former Age. 5. We all condemn that Antichristian principle in Popery to injoyn all to beleeve as the Church beleeves that is as the Pope and his Clergie as their Lawes and Decrees and Canons required them not suffering them to search the Scriptures and to ground their faith upon it And we had indeed just cause to condemn it and to detest it for though men should teach nothing but the truth of Christ and people should receive it yet if they receive it but from men and have not the word of God and the spirit of God witnessing the truth of that which is preached unto them though they might receive the Letter of truth they yet could not receive the truth in truth and so might perish notwithstanding therefore whatsoever appears to another to be a truth yet if it doth not appear from the word to thee to be a truth thou art not to practise it And 6. I answer as for erroneous persons we ought to use no other weapons against them then what the Apostles did they preached against them held forth the truth for the conviction of them but used no other way nor did Christ nor his Apostles speak of any other way but say they the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty for if it were required that the Civill Magistrate by any power or force besides that which the Gospel allows of should go about to suppress them then might they suppress truth instead of errour The civil Magistrates being but men may judge a truth to be an errour through their imperfection in knowledge and so may commend errour instead of truth and condemn truth instead of errour 7. If there be a spirit of errour upon any and they erre in fundamentals not knowing Jesus Christ nor having received his spirit and they go forth and vent their errours after all Gospel-means used we are to leave them to the just judgement of God who hath revealed that he will inflict his Judgements upon them As Micah 3.5 6 7. Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my people erre that bite with their teeth and cry peace and he that putteth not into their mouths they even prepare war against them Therefore night shall be upon them
shall say unto the Prophets prophesie not shall stop the mouths of those which God hath opened to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall charge them not to preach Christ any more takes the way to ruine and destruction for such are fighters against God Acts 5 39. it is hard for them to kick against the pricks let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth Acts 9 5. but as for those that shall thus do if they persist in it he will rule them with a rod of Iron breake them in peeces like a potters vessell which when it is broken can never be made whole againe And thus I have shewn what are the paths of destruction now I come to lay downe positively what are the waies that bring prosperitie and happinesse to a kingdome which I shall particularly present unto press upon those that are in places of authoritie because what shall be done by them is done for the whole Be wise now therefore ye rulers and be instructed all ye that are in places of authoritie in England kiss the Son least he be angrie and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Psal 2.12 Be wise ye rulers c. and let it be your care to relieve the oppressed and to judge the cause of the poor needy and let justice and judgment take place with you suffer not others to oppress neither let it be found among you Let not the complaints of the poor and the sighing of the needy enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabboth against you but execute judgment and justice in your gates so shall the kingdome be blessed and prosper 2. Be wise ye rulers and seeing ye should not beare the sword in vaine but for the punishment of evill doers let the sword of just punishment pass against drunkards whore-mongers adulterers and swearers and other vices but I mention these especially because on these the sword of justice doth least pass and these do most abound O how may these be seen and heard in the streets and every corner of the City little notice taken of them but they sin with a face of brass and are neither afraid nor ashamed there being none or few that as Phinias did do stand up and execute justice upon them Let instice be done upon such that the judgments of God might be stayed and the land may be safe Thirdly Be wise ye Rulers and be instructed you Judges of England and let Iesus Christ raign over you Cast your Crowns at his feet and submit your selves to his royall and glorious Authority and incroach not in the least degree upon his prerogatives who as a King must only raign in the consciences of his people and govern them by his own Lawes and therefore make you no Laws for the consciences of his people nor suffer any to do it by any authority derived from you for that were to take the Crown off the head of Iesus Christ and put it on your own head and those people that shall subject their consciences to those Lawes Christ Iesus will say unto them Mark 7.7 In vain do you worship me observing for Doctrines the commandements of men O therefore beware how you subject your selves or your people in spirituall worship to any rules but those that Iesus Christ hath appointed Indeed such as are judged to be truly godly men may give advise and counsell therein but upon no Terms impose their counsel as a Law upon consciences to whom the truth of it is dubious nor ought they in the least to despise one another for not being of one minde in circumstantials This is the very rule of the Apostle Rom. 14.3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not nor let him that eateth not despise him that eateth Therefore kiss the son with the kiss of obedience and subject your selves to his blessed government so shall the blessings of his grace be poured out upon you Fourthly Let it be your wisdom to beware how you do offend one of the little ones of Iesus Christ of whom he sayes It were better for a man to have a Mill-stone hanged about his neck to be cast into the Sea then to offend them Zach. 2.8 Beware therefore how you touch the Apple of Gods eye let none of his Saints be wronged or troubled by you let them not be imprisoned or banished by you for they are the pillars of the Kingdom in a sence if they be moved the Kingdom will shake if they be removed the Kingdome will fall O kiss the Son with a kiss of love and express your love to him in loving his Saints and so shall the kingdom be established Fifthly Be wise and be sure you do not stop the mouths of the Prophets of Iesus Christ commanding them to Preach no more in his name Let it be far from you to do so for if you should do so yet they cannot but speak the things they have seen and heard that vision of Christ they have seen and that voyce of the spirit they have heard that they must speak If the Lyon hath roared who will not fear If the Lord hath spoken who can but Prophesie and if they be commanded the contrary they must rather obey God then man therefore be not fighters against God do not kick against the Pricks But if the Prophets and Preachers of Iesus Christ abound in your Land then shall you become a happy and glorious nation These are the paths in which if a kingdom walk it will soon come into a happy estate and condition but because this last mentioned which is of as high a concernment as any of the former may be probably most stumbled at I shall endeavour to back it with the ensuing arguments And 1. You that are the rulers of this Kingdom do profess your selves to be the Subjects of Iesus Christ and to approve all his Commandments 1 Cor 12.31 Now he commands all his to covet earnestly the best gifts but especially that they may Prophesie 1 Cor. 4.1 And this is spoken to all Saints whether they had been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel or not And what this Prophesying is the Apostle shews in the 1 Cor. 14.3 That it is speaking to edification exhortation and consolation And he makes no distinction in the exercise of this gift of the spirit between an Officer of the Church and another for he makes it to appear that any Member of the Church may exercise this gift though none may execute the office of an Elder but such as are ordained thereunto by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie but speaking of prophesying saies the Apostle Ye may all Prophesie one by one 1 Cor. 14.31 Now if you approve of the commands of the spirit of Jesus Christ who saies to all his Saints covet to prophesie how can you silence them when they so do 2. Let it
be far from you so to do for then you do endeavour to quench the spirit for though you do permit some to Preach Iesus Christ yet if you do prohibit any from Preaching Jesus Christ you do quench the spirit and oppose the freeness of the spirit who is a free Agent And as the winde bloweth where it listeth though we see it not so doth the spirit and God hath not tyed himself to give out his spirit to such particular men and to no other but to whom he pleases He did not tie up the spirit of Prophesie in Law neither to the Priests and Levites nor the Prophets nor the sons of the Prophets but gave out of that spirit to Amos a Heards-man and to others much less hath he tied up the spirit of Prophesying now in the Gospel unto such and such degrees of humane learning for many learned godly Ministers have confessed that they have learned many spiriutall truths of Iesus Christ from such as have had no learning and we know that Christ passed by the learned men in that time chose illiterate men to be his Apostles Now for you to silence any that do preach Iesus Christ of what rank soever it is an endeavoring to quench the spirit which the Lord grant you may not do 3. Let it be far from you to hinder any because every tallent which the Lord Jesus hath given he requires an improvement of it to his use and it ought not to lie hid in a napkin and therefore the Apostle saies Every gift is given to profit withall 1 Cor. 12.7 Now we know what the Lord said to him that did not imploy his tallent Cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness there shall he weeping and gnashing of teeth Math. 25.30 So fearfull is the doom of him that imployeth not his tallent what then will become of those that shall forbid any to imploy their tallents But O be you wise and as you are Ordained of God to be as for the punishment of evill doers so for the praise of them that do well so manifest your selves to be 4. Do not you enact any law against any Saints exercising the gifts of the spirit that are given to them in Preaching or prophesying because the Lord hath promised in the latter dayes to power out his spirit more abundantly upon all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions Joel 2.28 and the time of the accomplishing of this promise more fully is neer at hand for the totall overthrow of Antichrist and his finall ruin shall suddnely be And then the everlasting Gospel shall be preached unto all nations and kindreds and tongues and people and can any think that at that time the Lord will call forth none to this worke but those that have taken such and such degrees in the Schooles Now what a sad thing would it be if when God shall call forth some of his people to this great worke any humane power should stand in opposition to it and say such and such men shall not do such a work 5. Let it be far from you to forbid any man to preach the word of the Lord because his word doth good it is strong and powerfull in confirming and comforting those that are called convincing and converting those that are uncalled to make a people a holy and peculiar people to the Lord you may see the force of this argument in taking a view of a passage in the Prophet Micah Mic 2.6 7 8. In the 6. ver we finde the Lord complaining against the people in these words Prophesie ye not say they to them that prophesie In the 7. ver The Lord is speaking thus O thou that art named by the house of Iacob is the spirit of the Lord straitned are these his doing do not my words do good to them that walke uprightly As if the Lord had said art thou the people that art named by the house of Iacob and dost thou say unto my Prophets prophesie ye not Thou shouldest have delighted in the words of the Prophets for the house of Iacob have had experience that my words do good and yet is the spirit of the Lord straitned by you and silence you it in my Prophets Well what was the issue of this you shall see in the following verse and thus it was My people are risen up as an enemie ye put off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely When the Prophets are forbidden to prophesie and the word of the Lord is not preached among the people then iniquity abounds and the people perish for want of knowledge then every one doth that which his vaine heart leads him unto But the word of the Lord converts the soule Psa 19.7 And the truths of God sanctifie the unholy John 17.17 and the word of God does good to them that walke uprightly Mic. 2.6 Lastly though there be many precious men abroad that by your permission do preach the word yet they are few in respect of the multitudes of people in the kingdome that have none to preach unto them and that cry for bread but cannot have it O therefore let it be far from you to stop the mouthes of any godly men that have the gifts of speaking to edification exhortation and consolation and though they have not all taken degrees in the schooles of men yet if they have been good proficients in the schoole of Christ if they be experienced Christians let them be protected by your authoritie in discharging their dutie in improving their talents to their Masters use and the kingdomes good for the harvest is great but the labourers are few therefore let not the labourers that God hath sent forth be forbidden to worke in the Lords Vineyard least the blood of those that perish be charged upon those that hinder these labourers But it may be objected it is a truth indeed that all Saints ought to covet the gift of prophesie and secondly it is an evill to quench the spirit and 3 all ought to improve their talents and 4 the abundant pourings out of the spirit are promised and 5 the word of the Lord doth good and 6 the labourers are few and in these considerations it were a sad thing to silence those that are sent forth by Jesus Christ furnished with the gifts of the spirit for to preach the Gospel But if they should be permitted to preach without ordination who cannot submit unto it by reason of scruples though they are really Godly able men then many that are erroneous persons erre grosly even in fundamentalls would take libertie to goe and vent their errors among the people To this I answer erroneous persons are not here pleaded for but it is to be desired that their mouths were stopped but first if none should be permitted to preach but such as were ordained yet could not this hinder