things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God And 1 Joh. 2.27 But the Anointing that ye have received of Him dwelleth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and it is true and is no lye and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in Him And 1 Joh. 3.24 Hereby we know that He abideth in us even by the Spirit that He hath given us And 1 Cor. 12.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of Wisdom and to another the word of Knowledge by the same Spirit The Scriptures be so plain in this that the greatest adversaries thereof do acknowledge the truth of it only herein lyeth the difficulty Who it is that hath this Spirit of God to interpret the Scriptures which is this sure Rule which in the next place is to be handled CHAP. 3. That the Spirit of God to understand and interpret the Scriptures is given to all and every particular person that fear and obey God of what degree soever they be and not to the wicked PRoved Psal 25.12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him will he teach the way that he shall chuse And ver 14. The secret of the Lord is revealed to them that fear Him and his Covenant to give them understanding And Psal 107.43 Who is wise that he may observe these things he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. And Dan 12.10 None of the wicked shall have understanding but the Wise shall understand For God will do nothing but He revealeth his Secrets to his Servants Amos 3.7 And Psal 119.99 c. I have had more understanding than all my Teachers and than all the Antients because I kept thy Precepts For he that keepeth the Law is a Child of understanding Prov. 28.7 And Joh. 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and He shall give you the Spirit of Truth And ver 23. If any man love me he will keep my Word and my Father and I will come unto him and will dwell with him And John 7.17 If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or no. And Acts 5.32 Yea and the holy Ghost whom God hath given to all that obey Him And Luke 21.15 I will give you my Disciples that obey me and suffer for my sake a mouth and wisdom c. and Luke 12.12 The holy Ghost shall teach you what ye shall say For Mat. 10.20 It is not you that speak but the Spirit of my Father that speaketh in you And Mark 4.11 To you my followers is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but not to them that are without For the Mystery of the Gospel is made manifest to the Saints Col. 2.2 The Church and Saints of God have revealed unto them by the Spirit the things that eye hath not seen c. 1 Cor. 2.9 10. And they have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things that are given them of God But the natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual discerneth all things c. ver 14. Hence is most plain to whom the Spirit of God is given even to every particular Saint of God And it is no private spirit but even the publick Spirit of God which is in him which enableth him to understand and so to declare the things given him of God 2 Pet. 1.20 That is a private spirit that is not of God though it be in multitudes but the Spirit of God though but in one Saint is not private Gods Spirit is not private for it is not comprehended only within one place person or time as mans is but it is universal and eternal so is not mans therefore mans is private though they be many Gods is publick though but in one person CHAP. 4. Those that fear and obey God and so have the Spirit of God to search out and know the mind of God in the Scriptures are commonly and for the most part the simple poor despised c. PRoved Mat. 11.5 Our Saviour faith The Poor receive the Gospel And v. 25. I thank thee Father because thou hast opened these things unto Babes it is so O Father because thy good pleasure was such And Jam. 2.5 Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the Poor of this world that they should be rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised c. And 1 Cor. 1.26 c. Brethren you see your calling that God hath chosen the foolish of this world the weak of this world the vile of this world and dispised and which are not Gods dealing is to give unto the Simple sharpness of wit and to the Child knowledge and discretion Prov. 1.4 The Sprit bloweth where it listeth John 3.8 and is not tyed to the Learned Poor persecuted Micaiah had the Truth against four hundred of King Ahabs Prophets 1 King 22. So had Jeremiah against all the Priests and Prophets of Israel The Lord of Life himself in his fleshly being what was he but a man full of sorrows in his Birth laid in a Cratch because there was no room for him in the Inne Luk 2.7 A Carpenter by Trade Mar. 6.3 Having not a hole to rest his head in Mat. 8.20 And in his Death contemned and dispised His Apostles in like manner what were they but mean men Fishermen Tentmakers and such like having no certain dwelling-place 1 Cor. 4.11 which the worldly-wise Scribes and Pharises took notice of and reproachfully said Joh. 7.48 Do any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believe in him but this people that know not the Law are accursed ver 49. The truth of this is as plain as may be that the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith perfect and absolute and that the plainness of them is such as by the Spirit of God they may be easily understood of those that fear and obey God but of none else and that such are most commonly the poor and dispised for if any man want wisdom be he never so simple let him ask of God and he will give him Jam. 1.5 Which is also confirmed by humane Testimonies The Protestants confess Whit. pag. 7. That in the Primative Church the Doctrines and several points of Religion were known and discovered by the most mean of the people and the Bishops exhorted them thereunto c. Also pag. 9. That this Rule is of that nature that it is able to direct any man be he never so simple yea the most unlearned alive may conceive and understand it sufficiently for his salvation And they relate the Sayings of the Ancient in this thing pag. 32. First Clemens Alexandrinus The Word is not hid from any it is a common Light
are upon us in that it is in your power to redress them and especially at this present in this High Meeting assembled for the publick weal of all your loyal Subjects Our miseries are long and lingring Imprisonments for many years in divers Counties of England in which many have dyed and left behind them Widows and many small Children taking away our Goods and others the like of which we can make good probation not for any disloyalty to your Majesty nor hurt to any mortal man our Adversaries themselves being Judges but only because we dare not assent unto and practise in the Worship of God such things as we have not Faith in because it is sin against the Most High Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 as your Majesty well observeth in these words It is a good and safe Rule in Theology That in matters of the Worship of God Quod dubitas ne fereris according to Pauls rule Rom. 14.5 Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind Medit. on Lo. Prayer If we were in error herein these courses of afflicting our bodies for Conscience cause are not of Christ but of Antichrist as hereafter is most plainly shewed And if no Church be the Rule of Faith but only the holy Scriptures as the learned Protestants do truly confess and that therefore the Doctrine of the Church of Rome that all must believe as the Church believes and so practise or else be cruelly persecuted be most ungodly as it is then how can they avoid the like censure that practise the same thing contrary to their own Judgement For the learned Protestants do say it is high cruelty for the Papists to constrain them to practise those things in Gods Worship which they have not Faith in nay which they know to be evil with Imprisonment Fire and Faggot and therefore why may not we say it is great cruelty for the learned Prorestants to constrain us to practise such things in Gods Worship which we have not Faith in Nay which we certainly know to be evil with lingring Imprisonment loss of Goods and what other cruelties they can procure against us of your Majesty and the Civil State If your Learned say they have the Truth and we are in Errour that resteth to be tryed by the true Touchstone the holy Scriptures If they be our Judges the Verdict must needs go against us If their sayings be a safe Rule for us to be saved by we will rest upon them And then why may not the saying of the Papists be sure also and they be the Protestants Judges and so bring us all to believe as the Church believes The iniquity of which we have discovered as briefty as we could beseeching your Majesty and all that are in Authority to hear us It concerneth our eternal Salvation or Condemnation and is therefore of great importance for what can a man give for the ranfom of his Soul Oh he pleased to remember the saying of that great and good man Job chap. 29. I delivered the Poor that cryed and the Fatherless and him that had none to help him The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the Widows heart to rejoyce I was a Father to the Poor and when I knew not the cause I sought it out diligently I brake also the jaws of the unrighteous man and pluckt the prey out of his teeth Our prayers are and shall be for you day and night to that God of glory by whom you reign and are advanced that He will pat it into your hearts to let these things enter into your thoughts and then we doubt not the evidence of them being such that you will be moved to repeal and make void all those cruel Laws which we most humbly beseech which persecute poor men only for matters of conscience not that we any way desire for our selves or others any the least liberty from the strict observation of any Civil Temporal or Humane Law made or to be made for the preservation of your Majesties Person Crown State or Dignity for all that give not to Caesar that which is his let them bear their burden but we only desire that God might have that which is his which is the heart and soul in that Worship that He requireth over which there is but one Lord Eph. 4.5 and one Law-giver who is able to save it or to destroy it Jam 4.12 which no mortal man can do It is not in your power to compel the heart you may compel men to be Hypocrites as a great many are who are false-hearted both towards God and the State which is sin both in you and them The vileness of persecuting the body of any man only for cause of Conscience is against the Word of God and Law of Christ It is against the profession of your Majesty against the profession and practice of famous Princes The antient and later approved Writers witness against it so do the Puritans yea the establishers of it the Papists themselves inveigh against it so that God and all men do detest it as is herein shewed And therefore in most humble manner we do beseech your Majesty your Highness your Honours your Worships to consider of it and do as God directeth you in his Word that cannot lye Let the Wheat and Tares grow together in the world until the harvest Matth. 13. And so in humble manner we proceed CHAP. I. The Rule of Faith is the Doctrine of the Holy Ghost contained in the Sacred Scriptures and not any Church Council Prince or Potentate nor any mortal man whatsoever PRoved by the Scriptures themselves which are the Writings of Moses and the Prophers the Evangelists and Apostles these are a sufficient Rule alone to try all Faith and Religion by our Reasons are 1. They are inspired of God and are able to make us wise unto salvation and perfect to every good work 2. Tim. 3.15 c. 2. Because these Writings are written that we might have certainly of the things whereof we are instructed Luke 1.4 That our joy might be full 1 Joh. 1.4 And that we might believe and in believing might have life John 20.31.3 We are commanded not to presame or be wise above what is written 1 Cor. 4.6 For with this weapon Christ put to flight the Devil Mat. 4.4 And taught his Disciples Luke 24.27 46. And Paul taught Christ Jesus Acts 17.2 The Godly are commended for searching the Scriptures Acts 17.11 All are commanded to search them John 5.39 And they that will not believe these Writings will not believe Christs Words John 5.47 nor one that should come from the Dead Luke 16.31 If any ask how we know all or any of these Scriptures to be inspired of God We answer The ear saith Job 12.11 discerneth words and the mouth tasteth meat for it self And as the eye discerneth the light of the Sun so doth our Spirit discern these Scriptures to be inspired of God and that for these
Reasons 1. In regard of the Majesty Wisdom and Grace of them from all other Writings for there is a great Glory in these Scriptures as in the making of this wonderful World which is most evidently discerned Heb. 11.1.2 By their Teachings which excel all humane teachings leading us from Satan from this world and our selves to God to holiness faith love fear obedience humility 3. The true events of them or fulfilling of the Prophesies contained in them 4. The consent and agreement of all the parts of them the like whereof cannot be shewed of so many several Writers since the world began 5. The admirable preservation thereof against Time and Tyrants all which could not extinguish them 6. The Devil and his Instruments rage against those that practise the Doctrines contained in them 7. The Conversion of thousands to God by the power of their Doctrine 8. The Vengeance that hath come upon such as have not obeyed them 9. The Acknowledgment of them by the very professed Adversaries thereof 10. The Miracles confirming them from Heaven 11. The fight of a Saviour to man is only by and from them And lastly the simplicity of the Writers and plainness of the Writings for God hath chosen the mean contemptible and despised to manifest unto the world his Mysteries 1 Cor. 1. These are sufficient to perswade that those holy Writings are inspired of God and so able to make wise unto Salvation and perfect to every good work These Scriptures contain the Law and Testimony and if any Church Council Prince or Potentate speak not according to this Word it is because there is not light in them Isa 8.20 And we are commanded to hold them accursed Gal. 1.8 9. For Whosoever shall adde unto these things God shall adde the plagues written herein and whosoever shall take away from these things God shall take his name out of the Book of life and out of the holy City and from those things that are written Revel 22. Much by us shall not need to be written on this Subject the thing is so evident and so generally acknowledged at least in words excepting the Papists with whom we have not here to do only we will adde some humane Testimonies Whites Way to the Church dedicated to two Bishops pag. 12. The learned Protestants affirm and prove that it is the doctrine of the Church of England Artic. 6 chap. That the Scripture comprehended in the Old and New Testament is the Rule of Faith so far that whatsoever is not read therein or cannot be proved thereby is not to be accepted as any point of Faith or needful to be followed but by it all Doctrines taught and the Churches Practice must be examined and that rejected which is contrary to it under what title or pretence soever it come unto us And further they say p. 1. That the Pope or any mortal man should be the Rule that must resolve in questions and controversies of Faith is an unreasonable Position void of all indifferency when common sense teacheth That he that is a party cannot be Judge And again pag. 17. Which is the Church is controversal which is the Scriptures is not therefore let that be the Rule which is out of doubt And again The Scriptures contain the Principles of our Faith and shall we not believe them Or cannot we know them infallibly of themselves without we let in the authority of the Church This and much more the learned Protestants have written and sufficiently confirms that no Church nor man whatsoever may be the Judge Rule or Umpier in matters of Faith but only the holy Scriptures and whosoever teacheth and practiseth otherwise they must hold and maintain the Papists Creed or Colliers Faith which the Protestants so much in words detest pag. 6. and mention our of Staphilus his Apology thus The Collier being at the point of death and tempted of the Devil what his Faith was answered I believe and dye in the Faith of Christs Church Being again demanded what the Faith of Christs Church was That Faith said he that I believe in Thus the Devil getting no other Answer was overcome and put to flight By this Paith of the Collier every unlearned man may try the spirits of men whether they be of God or no by this Faith he may resist the Devil and judge the true interpretation from the false and discern the Catholick from the heretical Minister the true Doctrine from the forged If the Answer of the Collier and the Papists Conclusion upon it be not sound but detestable as the Protestants confess and cry wo unto the Papists for the same and that justly Then is it no less detestable in the Protestants or any other to require or any to yeeld so far in Religion and Faith that upon such a temptation he hath no better answer to make than as the Collier to say I believe and dye in the Faith of the Church or of the Prince or of the Learned for being demanded what that Faith is if he be not able to prove it by Gods Word contained in the Scriptures it is no better nor other than the answer of the Collier The Faith that I believe in Oh how many millions of souls in this Nation not Papists but Protestants live and dye and have never other Faith than this whereunto they are constrained and compelled by persecution without either Faith or Knowledge CHAP. 2. The Interpreter of this Rule is the Scriptures and Spirit of God in whomsoever THe next thing as the immediate Question from this former is Who must interpret this Rule because as is objected There are many dark places in it 2 Pet. 3 hard to be understood Unto which we answer The two Witnesses of God shall be the onely Interpreters therof which are The Word of God contained in the same Scriptures and the Spirit of God so are they called Joh. 15.26 27. Act. 5.32 First for the Scriptures themselves though some Doctrines in some places be dark and obscure as Peter speaketh yet the self-same Doctrines in other places are plain and manifest For all the words of the Lord are plain to him that will understand and streight to them that would find knowledge Pro. 8.9 And knowledge is easie to him that will understand Prov. 14.6 Secondly the Spirit of God So saith the Apostle 1 John 2.6 It is the Spirit that beareth witness for the Spirit is Truth And John 14.26 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance which I have told you And Joh 16.13 Howbeit when he is come which is the Spirit of truth he will lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear shall he speak and he will shew you of things to come And 1 Cor. 2.10 For the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God And ver 11. For the
God let him require what he will I must in conscience obey him with my body goods and all that I have But my soul wherewith I am to worship God that belongeth to another King whose Kingdom is not of this World Joh. 18.36 Whose People must come willingly Psal 110.3 Whose weapons are not carnal but spiritual 2 Cor. 10.4 c. Ant. Is this all the Authority that you will give to the King Ch. VVhat Authority can any mortal man require more than of body goods life and all that appertaineth to the outward man The heart God requireth Prov. 23.26 He commanded to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to Himself the things that are His Luk. 20.25 Now if all the outward man be Caesars and the inward man too so that he must be obeyed is his own matters and in God's matters also then tell us what shall be given to God If you or any man will give him more Power or Authority than I give him then you give him more than his Majesty requireth as shall be shewed Ant. We do not say that the King can compel the soul but only the outward man Ch. If he cannot compel my soul he cannot compel me to worship God for God cannot be worshipped without the soul Joh. 4.24 If you say he may compel me to offer up a worship only with my body for the spirit you confess he cannot compel To whom is that worship not to God Then consider you who they worship that are thus compelled say you by the King Let it well be here observed that you make the King a commander of such worship as is not to God contrary to his Majesties own mind manifest in his Writings But this you do not to advance Gods Glory nor the Kings Honour but your own cursed kingdom of darkness which you hold by flattery and falshood For if this compelled worship which is not to God were taken away then your kingdom would fall to Hell from whence it came and therefore all men may here see it is supported only by wickedness Ant. I confess the Kings Authority is earthly but he is Head over the Church under Christ Ch. God forbid that any mortal man should so equalize himself with Christ who alone is Head of his Church as the Husband is of the Wife Eph. 5.23 and hath left no Vice-gerent in that his Office for he is never absent from his Church Mat. 18.20 amd 28.20 All that any mortal man can be is to be a subject of his Kingdom for there is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 3.12 And that this is so his Majesty confirmeth by his own testimony in his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance pag. 46 47. But as I well allow of the Hyrarchy of the Church for distinction of Orders for so I understand it so I utterly deny that there is any earthly Monarch thereof whose word must be a Law and who cannot erre in his sentence by an infallibility of spirit because earthly Kingdoms must have earthly Monarchs it doth not follow that the Church must have a visible Monarch top For the World hath not one earthly temporal Monarch Christ is his Churches Monarch and the Holy Ghost his Deputy The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them but ye shall not be so Luk. 22.25 Christ did not promise before his Ascension to leave Peter with them to direct and instruct them in all things but he promised to send the Holy Ghost unto them for that end These are his Highness own words whereby it evidently appeareth his Majesty challengeth no supremacy over the Church but laboureth to overthrow that abominable exaltation of that Man of Sin in the Romish Profession for Christ hath given no Supremacy in or over his Church to any mortal man but expresly commanded the contrary as that place of Luke mentioned by his Majesty plainly declareth His Highness is supream Head and Governour over all his Subjects Bodies and Goods within his Dominions and therein I detest and abhor all forreign Powers whatsoever But now for the thing in controversie betwixt you and me of compelling men by Persecutions to do service to God as is pretended wherein they have not Faith it shall be manifest not to be of God in that Christ Jesus himself the only Lord and Law-giver to the soul neither had any such Power and Authority neither taught any such thing to his Disciples but the contrary First Mat. 28.18 19. All Power is given me in Heaven and in Earth Go therefore and teach all Nations And 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to cast down strong Holds c. Here we see Christ hath no worldly power nor worldly weapons Secondly He practised and taught the contrary When the Samaritans would not receive him going to Jerusalem Luke 9. his Disciples would have had Fire come down from Heaven and devoured them but Christ rebuked them and said Ye know not of what spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them And the Apostle by the Spirit of Christ 2 Tim. 2.24 commandeth the Servants of the Lord not to strive but to be gentle towards all men apt to teach suffering the evil-men patiently instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may know the truth and come to amendment out of the Devils snare c. These Scriptures need no explanation for this most evident Truth Ant. Well yet notwithstanding all this it is manifest in the Scriptures by the Example of the Apostle Peter smiting Ananias and Saphira to death Act. 5. and of the Apostle Paul striking Elymas the Sorcerer blind Act. 13.11 and also by delivering Hymeneus and Alexander unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that punishment upon the body may be used and the flesh destroyed For if it were lawful for them to smite to death and the like though by extraordinary means then it must be lawful for us by ordinary means since extraordinary means now fail If you say it be not lawful for us then you must say it was not lawful for them and that were to accuse them of laying a false foundation which none fearing God will affirm Ch. I dare not once admit of such a thought as to disallow the truth of that Foundation which the Apostles as skilfull Master-builders have laid But for your Argument of Peters extraordinary smiting of Ananias and Saphira he neither laid hand upon them nor threatned them by word only declared what should befall them from God and therefore serveth nothing to your purpose Also that of Paul to Elymas he laid no hands upon him but only declared the Lords hand upon him and the judgment that should follow If you can so pronounce and it so come to pass upon any do it and then it may be you may be accounted
of this point that your Faith may be full herein consider that we are to wait for the Jews Conversion and not to destroy them Indif It is true that might give all men satisfaction in these things Ch. Oh yes if men had any regard of God or his Word they would never deal more in this thing the Lord we see Rom. 11. hath promised That when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in the Jews shall be converted Now if the Jews who are such fearful Blasphemers of Christ and his Gospel that contemn him and his Testament with all despite if their Conversion must be waited for that they may not be destroyed from off the face of the Earth then who may not see if they shut not their eyes that the Conversion of all is to be waited for and that no man for blaspheming Christ and his Gospel may be destroyed or afflicted by Imprisonments Death or any Calamity whatsoever Indif It is not to be gain-sayed with any shew of truth I would God the Kings Majesty would consider of this point seeing that the cruel Bishops by using his Power commit such sin against God in this thing both in persecuting them that cannot in faith yeeld and also in forcing them that do yeeld contrary to their consciences to sin against God and to perish if they repent not Ch. I am perswaded that if his Highness did but once well weigh and consider it he would never suffer such high iniquity to be committed against God contrary to his express Commandment and all to be done by the King's Power for nothing have they else to bear them out The Lord perswade the hearts of his Majesty and his posterity unto it seeing his Throne is established by him that he and his Posterity may sit and reign over these Nations and Kingdoms till Jesus Christ the Commander of these things come in his Glory to recompence every man according to his works without respect of persons Ant. If wicked Malefactors should be let alone to the end of the World then where is the Magistrates Sword it is of no force if evil men may not be cut off Ch. I acknowledge unfeignedly that God hath given to Magistrates a Sword to cut off wicked men and to reward the well-doers Rom. 13. But this Ministry is a worldly Ministry their Sword is a worldly Sword their punishments can extend no further than the outward man they can but kill the body Luke 12.4 And therefore this Ministry and Sword is appointed only to punish the breach of worldly Ordinances which is all that God hath given to any mortal man to punish The King may make Laws for the safety and good of his Person State and Subjects against the which whosoever is disloyal or disobedient he may dispose of them at his pleasure the Lord hath given him this Sword and Authority fore-seeing in his Eternal Wisdom that if this his Ordinance of Magistracy were not there would be no living for men in the world and especially for the Godly and therefore the Godly have particular cause to glorifie God for this his blessed Ordinance of Magistracy and to regard it with all reverence But now the breach of Christs Laws of the which we all this while speak which is the thing only I stand upon His Kingdom is spiritual his Laws spiritual the Transgressions spiritual the Punishment spiritual everlasting Death of Soul his Sword spiritual no carnal or worldly weapon is given to the supportation of his Kingdom nor to punish the Transgressors of the Laws of this Kingdom The Law-giver himself hath commanded that the Transgressors of these Laws should be let alone until the harvest because he knows they that are now Tares may hereafter come to repentance and become Wheat they that are now Blasphemers Persecutors and Oppressors as Paul was may by the power of Gods Word become Faithful and a faithful Witness as he was They that are now Fornicators c. as some of the Corinthians once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become washed clensed and sanctified as they were They that are now no People nor under Mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2.10 may hereafter become the People of God and obtain Mercy as they did All come not at the first hour some come not till the eleventh hour if those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they came not at the first hour then should they never come but be prevented Ant. Were not Blasphemers put to death in time of the Law Lev. 24.11 c. Ch. Yes an Israelite blaspheming the Lord or doing any thing presumptuously which was Blasphemy Numb 15.30 no Sacrifice was to be offered for him But would you from hence have the Kings Majesty put all his Subjects to death that contemn the Truth of Christ If yea see what will follow All Papists ought to be put to death who are direct Blasphemers Rev. 16.10 11. When the Vial of Gods Wrath was poured upon the Throne of the Beast which all England confess is meant the Popish Power they blasphemed the God of Heaven c. All the Jews that speak many things blasphemously against Christ ought to be put to death Yea of what Profession soever he be doing any thing presumptuously against Christ ought to be put to death by your Affirmation no Sacrifice to be offered no Repentance to be admitted dye he must under two or three Witnesses But that this is most false Christ and his Apostles in his Testament do manifestly declare as is before shewed Was not Paul a Blasphemer yet received to mercy But this the holy Ghost teacheth from Blasphemy under the Law Heb. 10.28 He that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three Witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy that treadeth under foot the Son of God and counteth the Blood of the Testament as an unholy thing wherewith he was sanctified and doth despite to the Spirit of Grace speaking of such as had received and acknowledged the Truth ver 26. This is now the due proportion an Israelite according to the flesh in the time of the Law presumptuously sinning against Gods Commandment by his Command must die by the worldly Sword no Sacrifice was to be offered for him So in the New Testament or time of the Gospel a spiritual Israelite according to the Faith contemptuously or despitefully sinning against Christs Commands which he hath formerly acknowledged despiting and contemning them by his Command must die by the spiritual Sword no repentance to be admitted seeing he crucifieth again to himself the Son of God and makes a mock of him Heb. 6.6 David and Peter came not within this compass though they sinned of knowledge yet they did it not contemptuously or despitefully but through frailty If an Israelite under the Law did ought through ignorance as Numb 15. or through frailty as Levit. 6. there was Sacrifice for him So under the
as Joh. 11.48 And because their fear towards God was taught by mens precepts and because they looked to their own way and to their own advantage and had rejected the Word of the Lord and because they builded their Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity and sought their own honour and not Gods as before is proved So the cause of the blindness of the learned Papists in denying the Scriptures the only Rule of Faith is not the obscurity of the Scriptures but their winding with their eyes lest they should see that that would bring them from their honours and profits and all the forenamed in the Jews And also as the Protestants well observe Whit. pag. 18. First That they might make themselves Judges in their own cause For who seeth not that if the Church be the Rule of Faith and their be the Church which way the verdict will go Next for that the greatest points of their Religion have no foundation on the Scriptures c. So that take away the Scriptures and establish their Religion but establish the Scriptures and their Religion vanisheth and that Mother of Whoredoms that glorified her self as a Queen Rev. 18. shall be consumed and her Merchants that were waxed rich through her pleasures and profits shall wail and weep the which they now seeing shut their eyes lest they should see that which would bring them from these honours profits and pleasures In like manner it may easily be judged by every indifferent man that the cause why the Learned of this Land will not see or at least practise that seeing there is but one Lord Eph. 4.5 and one Law-giver over the Conscience Jam. 4.12 Therefore no man ought to be compelled by persecution to a worship wherein he hath not Faith is not the obscurity of the Scriptures but their winking with their eyes lest they should see that that would take away their honours and profits For if Bribes blind the eyes of the Wise Deut. 16.19 then Honours and Profits much more For who seeth not if none should be compelled by persecution to worship God in Spirit and Truth such only worship Him and none but such are required to worship Him Joh. 4.23 that these Learned would lose their Honours Profits in being Lords and Law-makers over the conscience souls of men although your Majesty might lawfully give them what temporal Honours and Profits your Highness liked of These are the true causes of the blindness of the Learned For so Christ saith How can ye believe when ye seek honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God alone Joh. 5.44 And how can men but be blind in gods Mysteries when they look to their own way for their own advantage and for their own purpose for having rejected the Word of the Lord what wisdom is in them they have no answer of God that build up their Sion for so they account their Churches and Professions with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity as before is proved If these Learned could free us from the Lords wrath or if they might answer for us and we be free it were safe for us to submit our selves and captivate our judgments and practice to them but seeing they cannot so much as deliver their own souls And that if the blind lead the blind both must fall into the Ditch Mat. 15.14 and Every one must give account of himself to God and be judged by his own works done in the flesh and that the soul that sinneth shall dye We dare not follow any mortal man in matters of salvation further than we know him to agree with the meaning of God in the Scriptures Paul the holy Apostle of Jesus Christ taught That we should follow him no otherwise than he followed Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 Yea Christ himself sent men to the Scriptures to try his Doctrine The Apostles suffered their Doctrine to be tryed and commend them that try it And the Protestants confess Whit. pag. 127. This Doctrine was never misliked till a Church rose up whose Silver being Dross and whose Milk Poyson could not endure the tryal which being true that we may try why may we not also judge and practise according as Gods Spirit shall direct us in our tryal If a man should drink poison and know it to be poison were he not in a worse estate than he that should drink it ignorantly not knowing thereof even a murderer of himself in the highest degree So he that drinketh spiritual poison knowing it for according unto mens faith it is unto them he is in a worse estate and a murderer of his own soul in the highest degree And therefore that Church or those Learned that will suffer their Doctrine to be tryed and yet constrain men to receive and practise it when upon examination their consciences are convinced of the falshood thereof are worse and do more highly sin than they that constrain a blind conscience though both be evil We despise not Learning nor Learned men but do reverence it and them according to their worthiness only when it is advanced into the seat of God and that given to it which appertaineth unto the holy Ghost which is to lead into all Truth than ought all as Ezekiah did unto the brazen Serpent detest it and contemn it CHAP. 6 Persecution for cause of Conscience is against the Doctrine of Jesus Christ King of Kings 1. CHRIST commanded that the Tares and Wheat which are those that walk in the Truth and those that walk in falshood should be let alone in the world and not plucked up until the harvest which is the end of the world Mat. 13.30 38 c. 2. The same commandeth Mat. 15.14 That they that are blindly led on in false Religion and are offended with him for teaching true Religion should be let alone referring their punishment unto their falling into the Ditch 3. Again Luke 9.54 55. He reproved his Disciples who would have had Fire come down from Heaven and devoured those Samaritans that would not receive him in these words Ye know not of what spirit ye are the Son of man is not come to destroymens lives but to save them 4. Paul the Apostle of our Lord teacheth 2 Tim. 2.24 That the servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evil men instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of the snare of the Devil c. 5. According to these aforesaid Commandments the holy Prophets foretold that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdom be established then all carnal weapons should cease Isa 2.4 Micah 4.3 4. They shall break their Swords into Mattocks and their Spears into Sithes c. And Isa 11.9 Then shall none hurt nor destroy in all the Mountain of my Holiness c. And when he