are to bee esteemed vaineglorious teachers though their mouths even runne over whith all manner of art eloquence and learning And as for those that preach any thing which God hath not commaunded or perswade to conforme to any thing which is not grounded on the scriptures from these words of Saint Peter wee may safely esteeme them whether they speake elegantly or rudely but fabulous fellowes and Deceiueable doctors in taking vpon them like young masters or old Rabbies to teach defend or maintaine any thing in Gods worship which Christ the sole Doctor of all thinges whatsoeuer of Religious vse and which his Churches vpon any cause and in any respect may conform vnto neuer commanded taught or in the scriptures published or so much as once mentioned by precept or president yea obserue them wel and take heed of them these are the teachers of false Christs for they may as well teach that here is Christ or loe he is there as presse Christians to coÌ„forme to this ceremonie or that gesture of religious use in the publicke worship of God which Christ neither here nor there nor any where ever taught or in any degree or respect commanded so that if you heare any preachers teahing things with great zeale and learning which are not the direct commandements of Christ or grounded plainly in the evidence of the spirit upon the unerring rocke of the sacred Scripture I will not deny but such may speake in the power of a Spirit but certainly not of Gods Spirit For he even the Spirit of truth teaches nothing of himselfe though he be the very fountaine of all truth but onely what he hath heard in the word of the Father not that he needs any instructer or direction but that the most glorius and blessed Trinitie as the sole and onely way to preserue all true Churches or congregations in holy and heavenly unitie hath tied himselfe as it were or covenanted that though there be many other things of most admirable excellencie yet to require conformitie to nothing but those things which are written in the scriptures seeing they are fully and perfectlie sufficient unto faith or beliefe and therefore unto all manner of godlinesse the fruits of faith and so to eternall life the end or reward of faith through his name If any man therfore undertake to teach the Churches of Christ let him speake as the words of God and not as the cannons and precepts of men do enioyne for as God is glorified by those so is hee much dishonoured by these yea though they speak the wisdom of this world which the great ones Commend the learned approue and all doe generallie admire for the kingdom of God or preaching consists not in word in phrases in elegancie of speach excellencie of uttrance or in any other endowments of Art nature but in the evidence of the spirit of power when the cosciences of the hearers by the right handling of the word shall bee wrought upoÌ„ by making manifest the verie secrets of their hearts and so enforced to humble their souls and worship God and confesse not that great learning or reading is in the preacher but plainlie that God is in that ministerie indeed because it casteth down and doth not lift up as the word or doctrine of men doth because their manner of teaching is meerly carnall euen such as is approved by men but not warranted by the word strong holds or the Imaginations and Inventions of men which in a high degree do exalt themselves against the knowledge of God even against those doctrines of ceremonies callings gestures which God hath made known in the word and set mens thoughts and consciences at libertie from the obedience of Christ according to the scriptures concerning these things onelie under pretence of not being forbidden and so by their conformitie to that which Christ hath not commanded doe most strongly repaire and fortifie tâ—ose strong holds of humane devices concerning voluntary religions or ceremonies which the Lord by all meanes labours as being the greatest hinderers of the peace of his kingdome and fosterers of his rebellious enemies to haue utterlie ruinated yea and as Christ hath ordained to sanctifie and cleanse his Church by the obedience of faith which is the true conformitie of the doctrines of the word so these men by pressing conformitie to ceremonies callings and gestures which haue no warrant in the word do directly intimate though they pretend the cleane contrarie that their religion is but a doctrine of the tongue and not of the reformation of the life For if they subscribe and haue understanding of the heauenly doctrines and be able to retaine them in memorie and so at a trice can discourse or reason of them then are they absolutely qualified and excellent Divines though they make no conscience of that which they know and professe further then they see cause so indeed do most beastly pollute and by plain intimation both of their doctrine and life perswade their hearers to defile the Church of Christ and to take away the beautie glorie of it which is to be free froÌ„ human inventions to fill it with all horrible spots and wrinkles of worldly traditions that so it may never be holy but full of blame Are you not ashamed you deceitfull guides to cast abroad these firebrands and mortall insinuations in your lectures sermons or writings coÌ„versations and yet protest you meane no hurt is not your fiery heat in these courses a fained madnes or doe you make any more conscience thereof then of your play or sporte Yea say they our purpose in so doing is to do much good for we teach presse that in this conformitie which we so perswade unto every one should come with a good honest heart to perform these actions gestures withal for that is it which the Lord requires yea hee will passe by much infirmitie where he findes true sinceritie So that belike if men seem to haue good affections that shall be sufficient warraÌ„t to iustifie any strange or vncommanded gesture or ceremonie in the publicke worship of God yea though it be never so wickd at least in appearance and Idolatrous an action yet if they meane well and beleeue as the Church beleeues that these things are indifferent and lawfull or not forbidden all shall be exceeding well and what I pray you if the Iewes with good and honest hartes even sincerely purposing and verely intending to winne them vnto God do marrie wyues of Ashdod Amon and Moab dare you say these mariages are lawfull or can their Children euer possibly for all this good meaning speake the language of Canaan sincerely or trewly no verely though you charge them vpon paine of death to prepare them selues therevnto neuer so hartely yet doe you but presse them to a thing impossible be not wiser then God least it
of Christ are to be esteemed even the least of them in their degree meere workes of Darknes must it not needs followe even by infinite degrees that much more it is horrible iniquite to conform to or vse idle words or gestures not comely in the most special presence of our most holy God even when wee are at his owne holy table and is not euerie thing Rash hastie Idle uncomely which is not warranted by the word of God must not the heart be prepared before the body or any part thereof can bring forth any word action or gesture which is good and can the heart possibly bee prepared any way but by conforming to the spirit of God according to the scriptures yea is not every other conformitie parcell of that Evill treasure Incertainty therefore and Novelty are very evill yea most deadly corruptions and being thus iustified in the publick worship of God will corrupt and eate into all the civill procedings of the state whatsoever If then it bee subiect to his non fuit sic ab initio though it be of never so great antiquity yea therin may be coryval with the real presence and though the ordeyners thereof and pleaders for it had all the wit and learning of whole universities and the most absolute wisdom of a nationall Synode yet hee that could not erre hath adjudged it to bee a meare Novilty was it not so from the beginning of the sacrament did this gesture or these ceremonies creepe into the worship of God after the Apostolicall times mentioned in the scripture then with out all question though all the learned men in the whole world hold it and them lawfull yet it is a Novelty and they meere and idle Incerteinties for nullum tempus occurrit Regi wherefore as our said soveraine Lord and most learned King sayd to the grave and learned Iudges of the land Remember you are no makers of law but interpreters of the Law according to the true sence thereof even so I beseech al godly pastors and learned divines if they sincerely desire to build up the house of God and not to breake down the carved work thereof with axes and hammers bee pleased to remember that they are not to make rules or lawes cannons or constitutions in the Churches of Christ to bind the Consciences of Christians withall but onely to interprete and divide the word of God aright being the onely Cannon and sole rule of the Conscience and that not after this fathers or that Counsels opinion or Iudgement or the practise of later or more ancient Churches but according to the true sence of the spirit alwayes and onely evident in the scriptures And is it the Kings office to protect and settle the true interpretation of the law of God within his Dominions oh blessed and for ever blessed shall such bee then questionles will our Lord and master the great King of heaven and earth protect all those that stand for the true interpretation thereof and are readie to conforme to any thing that is evidently grounded thereon and refuse not conformity unto anithing but what is not warranted thereby Therefore brethren all that seeke the Lord with upright and honest hearts let them in these cases of Controversie not Runne into this or that Corner or country after an old Rabbie or a new Doctor but goe directly and plainly to the Law and to the testimonie for resolution truely given by the word of God doth onely bind the consciences of men And all Fathers or Counsels Doctors or Canons how Ancient and universall soever which Command or perswade to Conforme to any thing in Gods worship of Religious use and do not speake according to this word it is most certain they have no light in them But here my Lord indifferents light horsmen offer a light skirmish and say that these things not being forbidden in the word Christians have liberty to use or not to use as they think good or as the magistrate is pleased to command No saith the holy Ghost whosoever speaks not according to the word that is according to the doctrine of the word or practise of the Church mentioned in and approved by the word there is verily nothing but darknes in them for Christ is that light even the whole and onely light of the whole universall Church and is not the light of his word in these things which are so pressed and urged then whosoever followes or conforms unto them walks in darknes even as those that conforme to any thing truely grounded on the word follow Christ and so do not walk in darknes Is not his light of the word then but the darknes of mans wisdom and humane learning onely in these things then verily is the Prince of darknes strongly and most firmely for them oh how fearefull if he prevail which the Lord of light forbid must needs that darknes be and who dare conforme therunto will the pretence of not being forbidden shift off these things If therefore your pastors cannot make it appeare that the things which they perswade you to conform unto are according to the word of God you are bound in conscience not to yeeld unto them because you may not have any kind of fellowship with any actions gestures or other works which have no light but Darknes in them and all things are made manifest onely by the light of the word lykewise you know that Jesus Christ is that faithfull and true witnesse we may more falsely depend on his Testimony then on all the fathers and Counsels Cannons and Doctors in the whole world But they say that all these do sweare directly that kneeling even as it is vrged and so all things els in controuersie is both lawfull and Convenient but what saith that vneerring witnes heere our aduersaries reply that as he saith nothing for the gesture so he hath not one word against it or any of the rest I demand then whether this gesture be a true gesture or a lying gesture they must needs say a true gesture or els they shame all but can it possibly be so and that faithful and true wittnes never gaue any kind of testimony vnto it and wee haue a direct comandement to heare him in all things not in doctrines of faith only but in doctrins of gestures and ceremonies also yea in whatsoeuer is in any degree of religious vse do not stumble at the next wordes for they are all plain to him that will vnderstand for wherein consists the faithfullnes of Christ his Testimony but in revealing or making knowne all things concerning faith or gouernmēt gestures or ceremonis yea whatsoeuer the father would haue the Churches at any time in his worship and service to conforme vnto but to vse onely his owne wordes All things that I haue heard of my father I haue made knowne vnto you but he made knowne unto them that a
incorruptible God even the glory of his wisedom and loue of his goodnes and power of his mercy and truth in devising ordaining the ceremonies callings and gestures appropriated to his own outward worship making the same powerful effectuall to draw mans heart unto him by working effectuall faith into such Images similitudes resemblances and likenesses as they in their discretion thought fittest to stir up devotion to beget reverence or to shew humility thankfulnes by which in time by degrees will get a reverent estimation of Gods ordinances euen his own attributes and titles yea and will presume to professe that Iure divino these are thy Gods O Israel that is this is the true outward worship of the God of Israel these be true callings gestures and ceremonies which by divine institution are ordeined to helpe to draw men to God through faith and sanctification of the spirit and so to be esteemed Therefore the Lord makes it an ordinance for ever that al his true Churches and true servants must onely conforme to such things in his worship and service as he hath in his word Required but the Lord never required kneeling as it is urged nor the other things in controversie therfore Gods true Churches and faithfull servants may not upon any neuer so reasonable termes conforme thereunto And here is either by direct consequent a manifest prohibition or else the Lord reasons most absurdlie which is fearefull blasphemie to thinke or inferre for else they might with the perswaders to conformitie of these dayes haue replied thou hast not forbidden it therefore wee may doe it and thou hast no reason to find fault with it seeing wee doe it to good intents and holy purposes But grant that the things which there are reproved were forbidden yet the manner of Gods reasoning remaines immutable Is there no commandement in the word for it or which is all one doth not the Lord require it then doth hee absolutly forbid conformitie unto it for the Lord hates whatsoever in the word is not required as these words being spoken with detestation do most manifestly declare Seeing then there is not one word of God for kneeling in the very act of receiving the sacrament nor any example of any Apostolick or Primitive Church for the practise thereof but from the beginning it was not so and seeing wee haue Christ his own example for a table gesture and the examples of all the blessed and now glorious Apostles who even after his ascention delivered that which they received of the Lord which must needs be granted was a table gesture and seing wee haue a direct commandement from the holy Ghost to follow them as they follow Christ it being their speciall care so to carrie thēselves in all actions of religious use especiallie as they might bee Examples for all Churches and Christians to follow for so I take this place to be understood and not to bee restrayned to that Church onely or to any particular occasion therein Yea seing this gesture as it is urged is not onely the Invention of man but in the verie first originall establishment of it in the publicke worship of God the direct commandement of that man of sin I referre it to everie godlie heart to consider whether with safetie of conscience wee may leave a table gesture for the use whereof we haue Christ and his disciples in the Institution for a patterne and the Apostles during their time and all Apostolicke Churches after them for 220. years for example and conforme to the gesture of kneeling never heard of in this kind till the Reall presence was established Is this to walke so as having the Apostles of Christ for an ensample or is there not Iust cause of lamentation and weeping to see so many worthie men and of most excellent parts for some worldly respects to become hereby the enemies of the crosse of Christ conforming now to that which formerlie they taught was to be abhorred You do verie ill therfore most Reuerent and learned men in offering to deale with vs poore and private Christians after the scholerlike manner of reasoning both in your publicke teaching pressing vs continually with arguments and that with such vehemencie as if nothing were wanting to our perfection but this conformitie to kneeling and in your private speeches tendring disputation when alas for pittie all our faithfull pastors hauing giuen vp their liues for the name of Christ are taken from vs and if any remaine yet there is no safetie to speake or write of those things If therefore you cannot procure libertie for such a course neuer yet obtained whatsoeuer you may pretend wherein freely and fully these questions may be handled according to that modest offer of dispute long agoe tendred then I humbly beseech you bee pleased either to confute that or the substance of it which hath been written and published against this ceremonie or els to set downe with the like conditions as the learned and godly men our late pastors haue offered your own arguments and reasons for this conformitie which you so eagerly presse and pursue and freeing the same from deceiueable subtilties of that dissembling sophistrie and vaine philosophie the speciall ornaments of that so affected kinde of teaching that wee of the vulgar may see and conceiue the force of them and whence it is drawen from God or men from the holy and inspired scriptures or from the writings and Canons of Councels or Testimonies of Fathers VVee do solemnly pofesse I dare speak in the name of all that in whatsoeuer wee haue no more for our warrant but the graue counsell learned opinion and holie practise of our most reuerent pastors which yet being sealed with their great and constant sufferings ought highly to be regarded of us for whatsoeuer they be to others or to your selues they are to vs the most faithfull messengers true and powerfull ministers of Iesus Christ since whose deprivations wee neuer heard men speake like them in that euidence of the Spirit and mightie power of the Holy Ghost to draw from sinne vnto holinesse O yee men of God you are in our very hearts to liue and die with you your memoriall is pretious would God all that we haue might redeeme the libertie of the Gospel in your ministerie notwithstanding I say we will freely for peace sake conforme unto you But if we can evidently produce one word of God against you or that you doe not bring his sacred warrant with you let it not seeme strange unto you that we runne not for company into the broad and easie way with you which none in this poynt Papist or Athiest will ever unfainedly oppose but rather expose our selues by this our refusall to open contempt grievous bands and perpetuall imprisonment professing publickly thereby our willingnesse and most ready minde yea heartie desire that that fire which our Lord and master brought with him and with his own hands
nor threatnings cause you to conforme to errour of which nature is every thing not warranted by the word of truth but feare him who when hee hath done as much as they possibly can is able also to cast body and soule into hell fire Christ saith vnto vs all Him feare even feare to do any thing in his worship seruice but what you haue good warant for under his hand and seale in the sacred Scriptures that he will not be offended at it but acceptably receiue it at your hands and so blesse the use thereof unto your soules For else at the very best that can bee sayd for it is not this directly to tempt the Lord and to dare him to his face when in his publick worship wee dare doe some things of speciall note which hee most carefully obserues and that before his face and most assured presence yet onely upon the Canons or perswasions of sinfull men not consulting with the word whether God will be pleased or offended therewith or no There is difference I confesse betwixt that which the Lord hath expresly forbidden and that which he hath not directly nor by any good consequent commanded but yet it is onely secundum magis minus to conform to the latter is to do wickedly but to subscribe to the other is to become abhominable Therefore in such cases of extremity the chusing of the lesse sinne may very well argue a most wise and carnall discretion but not any honest heart or sincere affection You know brethren that in the begining the Lord put an everlasting enmitie betwixt the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent distinguished afterwards into the Citty or Kingdom of God where himselfe is pleased to dwell as supreame Lord and King peramount ruling governing his people especially in his owne service by his owne Spirit according to his owne Lawes in his owne Word and into the Synagogue of Sathan where he also sits upon a Royall throne indeed not in his owne likenesse but most exactly trickt vp and transformed into the similitude of an Angel of light teaching by his seruants many things commendable by the light of nature yea and commanding with great authority of all possible learning reason discretion wisedome and Philosophicall vnderstanding garnished with the pretious ornaments of most admirable Oratory many diuine and excellent truths of the word but enterlacing ever and anon some doctrines of darknesse yet very covertly alwayes in outward shew for holy ends and godly purposes and never vndertaken but upon most graue and good advice yea very learned sound and divine deliberation renouncing the Divell forsooth most directly and professedly out upon him naughty meat what did ever any body meane to bestow the sealding and plucking of him the very savour or sent of him is death irrecoverable but retaining the broth wherein he was sodden or the principall brewisse or some speciall part thereof oh it is very good and most wholesome diet indeed the holy father his benedicite light upon them that saved it for else all the fat had been in the fire yea I tell you this with good houshold bread is even Angels food full glad would they be the proudest of them to lick their lips after the leavings of it though indeed every common understanding cannot diue into the deepe mystery thereof Separating from and quite banishing for euer and a day the grosser doctrines of Popery the reall presence praying to the Saints departed the supremacy of the Apostolike Sea and such like fie for shame that any body should so much as once name them seeing without all question they are most damnable and came verily from hell but yet retaining diuers gestures and ceremonies thereto appropriated and thereby first begotten oh here be many rare bits and sweet morsels euen admirable and most excellent uses of such as the Holy Ghost could never for his life foresee or thinke of and therefore indeed it never came into the minde of the Lord to require them euen because he did not prouidently enough consider what decency and comelinesse what vnity and much other vndiscerned goodnesse their generall conformity would instantly produce For seeing the Diuels to deceiue the world with greater ease and to be more free from suspition will put upon them the likenesse of Gods holy Angels why should not these againe to bee revenged on their enemies transforme themselues into the likenesse of Diuels by conforming to some of their ceremonies that so more powerfully they might draw the seruants of Sathan vnto God What if the damned crue were guld a little and some other fooles made faine a while yet were not this an admirable peece of seruice and do they not deserue all the packe of them to be hangd up yea by the very heeles that will not subscribe to the lawfulnesse hereof All which premisses being most grauely pondered and carefully considered certaine nice and nimble wits of a very deepe diuing reach and most high soaring humour are lately risen vp and now growen full ripe who haue vndertaken not to dispatch all the labours of Hercules in one houre nor by their sweet melody to make the wilde beasts the sea hideous monsters the fell fowles of heaven and all the huge mountaines of the earth in one instant to bee silent and at a trice to conforme to their measures of most indifferent mildnesse but with great facilitie though it be a very strange wonder I tell you yet do not thinke it incredible to reconcile euen these two so contrary seeds and by divine appointment directly opposite Citties O what a blessing are these peace-makers worthy to haue for the speedier and more safe accomplishment whereof they haue most wisely provided and discouered to all our horizon the full perfection of their so learned sufficiency for they haue most strongly builded and highly erected euen in the very aire a very great yea without all question the goodliest castle that euer mortall eye beheld called Saint Neuter-hall or as the base vulgar speak Newt-hall which is furnished with all store of every kinde of warlicke munition either for offence or defence so that by the place it is inaccessable and by the power of it utterly impregnable all their aduersaries may cast their caps at it the constituted Regent hereof is a most sage and honourable graue person Lorded out of their owne loynes one Grando Magnifico Cavileiro Segnioro Indifferento whose colours vnder the conduct of two great commanders they haue made full not a man missing I warrant you with most able followers of an invincible temper and indefatigable constitution neither hot nor cold neither flesh nor spirit but indifferently disposed I do not say for God or the Divell but as times and occasions do best serue for their purposes Now this is the man and these bee his forces and arguments my brethren that make strongest head against you hee perhaps will faigne hypocritically that hee is at vtter defiance
things wherein there is any appearance or likenesse of evill ye 〈…〉 forme to nothing be it gesture action or ceremony in Gods publicke worship if it be not the commandement of Christ which hath any resemblance of Idolatry in it though the Idolatry it selfe be sent packing for verily such inventions haue in them though purified never so often an Idolatheous disposition Haue you no fellowship therefore with them and so I pray that the peace of God may be with you all that are in Christ Iesus Now unto him that is able to keepe you that you fall not in these times of triall and to present you faultlesse before the presence of of his glory with ioyes unspeakeable and glorious even to God onely wise bee glory and maiesty dominion and power both now and for evermore Amen T. D. CERTAIN REASONS OF APRIVATE Christian against Conformitie to keeling in the very act of Receiving the Lords Supper THE Eternall sonne of God our blessed Lord spake alwaies to his church euen from the beginning and directed all his seruants for their manner of worship as well outward as inward even to the fathers before the flood to the Patriarks Prophetts and holy men of God after and this he did in diuers and sundry manners but now since his comming in the flesh he hath tyed all Churches and all persons that desire to haue eternall life to the sole direction of his word which is his owne and onely personall voyce and doth testifie of him whatsoever is profitable for the Church to conforme vnto either for doctrine or gouernment or for whatsoeuer else that is any way or in any degree helpfull vnto godlinesse for this and this onely is the immortall seede or the seede of immortalitie all other doctrins for any Religious vses raised els where are meerly mortall or seeds of death and therefore vtterly vncapable of any good vse in the publicke worship of God Seing then we must wholy and onely depend vpon the scriptures for direction in all the actions of Gods publick worship which are to be conformed unto let us in these controversies about kneeling in the very act of receaving the Lords supper whatsoever else is in question being of Religious use diligently give heed to the things wee haue heard and learned therein being truely or evidently grounded thereon and by no means approove in any degree of any thing else for that will make us one time or other in one thing or other to run out and fall from our first love yea doe what possibly we can to decline scatter Harken therefore to that which the Lord Iesus himselfe did purposely speake in this his own voice concerning this very point I thanke thee ô father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise hast opened or as Luk renders it revealed them to babes euen so father because it so pleased thee VVhence he gives all his â—ervants plainly to understand that all the wit learning discretion experience and Iudgement in the whole world is not possibly able to find out the mysteries of Religion or to determine with what ceremonies actions gestures Gods publick worship service is to be performed no though they be Rabbies Doctors or the most absolute teachers in Israel but that this is a speciall peculiar priviledge or grace treasured up in the word and reserved purposely for such persons as will dig and search for it and rather desire and labor to have dominion over all their known corruptions and so to bee glorious within then to exercise any outward glorious pompous domination in the world for those that rest them selves and depend on Gods holy own ordinances shall have their hearts or understanding thereby opened or inlightned so made able to know the hope of their calling the riches of the glorious inheritance of the saints the exceeding greatnes of Gods power towards al which beleeue but those that depend upon the wisdom and learning of men can not possibly attain hereunto because Gods own ordinances though they do enjoy them yet are not esteemed of them further then the excelleÌ„cy of the outward gifts therin give coÌ„tent to their senses for though they heare yet they will not do or obey all such bee they never so wise and learned are in the flesh and therefore cannot possibly please God but those in whom the Spirit of God doth dwell shal be enlightned and made able to discerne all things which the other though of never so great learning most admirable parts having even the very spirit of the world in them can not do because they have but mans wisdom that perceiveth not the things of God nay they are foolishnes unto him here therefore for distinction sake and that every one might iudge his own heart whether he be of that number to whom God hath revealed these things or no our Saviour cals them Babes not in sanctification of life and power of Gods spirit but in their sence feeling being privy to their manifold weaknesses ignorances therfore in all humblenes of mind and meeknes of spirit they renounce their owne wisedom and submit themselves to the word of God as also being in the accompt esteeme of the world when they are compared with those that be contrary minded no better then very Babes even base contemptible persons not worthy so much as to carry their books after them yet these are the people and thus must they find themselves quallified men women or children whom Christ hath chosen to Reveale his holy and divine mysteries unto So that howsoever learning and wisdom are highly to bee reverenced as being very excellent gifts of God ordeyned for special helps in the ministerie of the Church both for the finding out of the truth also for the deviding of it aright therefore they that despise them cannot bee of God yet many times men of Belial doe enjoy them even false Prophets profane preachers who are many of them of most excellent parts so that from this place it is most evident that very often and not unusually learned and wise grave and understanding men yea famous and of principall note even Chiefe Rulers and principall pillars in the Churches of Christ having as much in them for all manner of learning in humanity in divinitie and in whatsoever as nature and industrie can possibly attaine unto are notwithstanding all this more then this if more can be teachers defenders maintainers of many grosse and horrible errors yea vise and damnable heresies which yet Babes do separate and fly from if any be pleased to restraine these words of Christ to the doctrines of faith and IustificatioÌ„ though every branch haue intrest in the priviledges of the tree I wil not contend about it but onely presuming on their patience be bould
to conclude that if such worthy and reverent men euen masters in in Israel may not simply bee relied on or trusted unto in those great things of the Law VVherein they are most exercised and take greatest paines much more probable it is that they may erre in matters of ceremony which they count triviall and therefore do not halfe so carefullie look into so that undeniably it follows that it is no sufficient argumēt to bind the consciences of Christians to conform to this or that gesture in Gods worship because many grave and learned divines doe hold it indifferent and lawful yea as the cause standeth most fit and convenient seing as wise reverend and learned as they are have donne as much for most horrible errors as the doctrine of Purgatory Freewill merit yea that most damnable heresie of depriving of Princes Neither is it any disparagement to the trueth because those that professe it and will not betray it to conforme to error even mens meere devices are but Bibes some of them ministers and perhaps preachers but of no Reputation or account in the world seing these yea these onely do see and beleeve the trueth when it is hid from the wise and men of understanding Vnlesse therefore those Reverent and learned persons the patrons of conformity doe make it apparant that they ground their perswasions practise not barely though in seeming most strongly upon wit and reason antiquity wisdom or learning but soundly and evidently upon the word of God there is no force to move or bind the conscience in all their arguments or reasons whatsoever yea much rather and more safely they are at the very best to be but esteemed of that number from whom the Lord hath as yet hidden these things In this case therefore that most excellent and primcely saying of his majestie concerning his lawes may verie fitlie in my vnderstanding be vsed that speciall care is to be had to purge them from two corruptions Incerteintie and Noueltie For if our church gouernment or lawes ecclesiastical were freed from these that we might be certaine which are the true callings and which be the true ceremonies then let all peruerse and froward spirites that upon meere peevishnes or other refractarie humor will not conforme and subscribe be irreuocably adiudged vtterly vnworthie the gratious protection of so singular a souerainty But surely if in his most princely care to settle his subiects estates and to prevent the miseries of endles impouerishing suits he truly foresees the absolute necessitie of reforming these two corruptions in the Ciuill government Lett our lamentation finde fauour in his eares who are daily subiect to be most violencly traduced scornfully intreated and verie greevously fined even in the triple valew of our whole personall estates yea and to be perpetually imprisoned without baile or main prise onely because wee dare not in Gods publicke worship conforme vnto mens Inventions nor bowe downe vnto these devowring Cankers that do secretly consume the speciall and most principall ministeriall members of the Churches of Christ yea and haue hitherto fed vpon and are much strengthned or confirmed by euerie remedie which hath beene applied for their cure or remouall for if religion or the outward parte thereof consisting in Religious rites be subiect to these two Corruptions Alas how can poore Christians with any comfort or assurance of faith order their outward serving of God seing they haue no certeine rule for their actions gestures Ceremonies therein and appropriated thereunto but must either forsake the felowshippe of the Churches or conforme to the orders canons and directions which the Ecclesiasticall gouernors in euerie age successiuely shall in their wisedome and discretion thinke to be most fit for the times and meet or conuenient for the occasions Are not the outward actions and ceremonies ordained by the Lord him selfe for his publicke worship most certaine seales and assured evidences of his verie true and essentiall presence hath our holy faith any other help from the sences but by this means and do not all they that hinder the magistrate from establishing them say unto God departe from vs wee will none of these thy waies and from the contrarie are not the Inventions or traditions of men established in Gods outward worship infallible evidences and vnerring testimonies of the real presence of Sathan and do not they then that hinder the magistrate from casting them out fall down and worship him The Reverent Bishops in King Edwards dayes and all the first times of the most famous and blessed Qu. Eliz. of holy and verlasting memory held it necessarie that the Ancient and primitive discipline should bee restored and therefore these controverted ceremonies to be onely for a time retained as by the publick decree of the whole state more at large doth appeare which blessed be God is most religiously by our dread and soveraine Lord still retained and kept in force Now the most learned grave Bishops of this age professe that the King and state shall commit a greevous sin against the Lord if they do remooue any one of these things in question whatsoever and their Reason is undeniable if they can make it good viz. because they are every one of them ordeyned by God for so much directly doth their Iure divino and no Ceremony no Bishop being put together necessarily imply Now let our adversaries search all the the reporrs of the Common lawes and see if it bee possible to find any one case so full of contradiction and manifest Incertainty for suppose the next succession of these seas a thing I tell your greatly to be feared shall think it fit upon certaine good causes and considerations to bring in Images into our churches pressing only the old pretence ornamenti gratia and the crosse into the Lords supper for Reverence spittle and salte into Baptisme only for significancy and mysterie where shal Incertainty have an end unlesse of absolute necessity an unerring power be established for whose safe foundation they have in these things most wisely provided for can any doubtful matter possibly bee of Faith may any thing of religious use which is not of faith be conformed vnto in the worship of God and can any thing of this nature have certainty for the lawfulnes of it unlesse it bee evidently warranted by the word of God I conclude therefore that to conforme to any thing of religious use which is not commanded in the word of God or which is all one truely grounded thereon and so warranted thereby is to conforme to meere Incertainty Novelty even to I know not what which at the very best must needs be an ignorant worship a gesture at Random and a ceremony at all a very venture And if it be sin to vse Idle words in our ordinary talke and if those civill workes of our callings be they gestures or other actions if they be vnfruitfull not sauouring of the spirit
maine question then is which is the true gesture for on all sides it will be granted that that onely is to be conformed unto Shall we take the Reede of reason or the Rule of mans wisedome and learning to measure this withall verily no for these savour not the things of the spirit neither are they neither can they be subiect to the Law of God Let us looke therefore what was in the beginning Our Lord and Saviour used without all question in the first institution of the Supper whatsoever was essentially necessarie either for substance or decēcie but a gesture yea a tru gesture in the institution was essentially necessarie for a false gesture had been sinne and without a gesture it could neither be delivered nor receiued therefore that which hee used was and is without all contradiction the true gesture and therefore also that which was and is onely and for the action essentiallie necessarie Seeing then he used a table gesture and all they that did represent the whole universall and particular succeeding Churches to the end of the world did receiue the blessed Sacrament of the most pretious body and bloud of our Lord with a table gesture unlesse like Divine authoritie for another gesture as well as for altering the time place and number of communicants can bee produced Gods holy word and my blessed Saviours and his Apostles example are sufficient and sound warrant for my faith to beleeue that a Table gesture is the onely true and lawfull gesture and that no other in any respect ought to be conformed unto But here starts out a gallant company of most braue fellowes that haue laine close in ambush till fit opportunitie served and they set verie hotlie upon the hinder parts of the truth with a terrible noise crying out That this is utterly against the current of the Scripture yea directly against that libertie wherewith Christ hath made us free For howsoever to conforme to the Iewish ceremonies is not onely to be intangled againe with the yoake of bondage for looke whose ceremonies we use or conforme to we make our selues thereby his bondmen but to loose the whole profit and benefite of all Christ his merits yea even to be utterly abolished from Christ and to fall from grace how fearfull a thing therefore is conformity to unwarranted ceremonies yet notwithstanding in cases of conveniencie though nothing of the like extremitie as ours and for the preservation of the Churches peace as verie now it fares with us the same Apostle was content for a time to conforme himselfe to divers of those verie ceremonies and therefore where the like causes doe concurre we may yeeld to the like effects Here of necessity wee must make a stand they come on so hotly as if they meant to share the spoyle forthwith and making strong head against them as with a valiant crue of Targetteers of good proofe VVee referre therefore to their learned consideration first that the Iewish ceremonies here spoken of were in their first original good and holy being ordained by God himselfe so was never any of these things in controversie but at the very first unwarrantable and therfore wicked and sinfull and secondly we giue them to understand out of the English long bow that though these ceremonies were indeed to be abolished yet the time of their enduring was not fully expired till that the Gospell was planted and lastly by the report of a Canon their security is to be admonished and themselues informed that the ceremonies of the Law were to be buried with honour and entombed in princely sepulchres but these of mens devising with all possible reproch contempt and disgrace so that here is no proportion betwixt the liberty of Paul and that which they pretend and brag of unlesse therefore they can shew that in some place where the Gospel was planted Paul did conforme to some of the said ceremonies as of religious use in Gods publicke worship they may verie well lay down their weapons and betake them to their heeles VVhat needs that quoth a bold Corporall when a better man then ever Paul was did absolutely conforme in the first famous Church that was called Christian even Peter the Prince of all the Apostles but good sir the Holie Ghost his directly reproving him by PAVL for the same doth fully answer all obiections of that kinde But here fearing a foil they wynd about and make two half circles and with one wherin the principal of their force cōsists they make quick reply and say that God commaunded that in all matters too hard for vs to iudge we must repaire to the magistrate preist cōform according to that which they shall inform not decline to the right hand nor to the left now both these they say in this controuersie about the gesture and the other ceremonies do directly determine that kneeling euen as it is urged is absolutely the true and best gesture and all the other things in question both lawfull and most convenient and therefore all that will do presumptuously and not conforme to these things ex animo ought not to be fined in thousands and committed to perpetuall imprisonment but even to loose their liues for that is to take away Evill from Israell Hereunto keeping our first ground without any alteration or disorder in our Ranks we do say that the Priesthood is quite remooved out of the Church and ought not so much as once to be mentioned in these dayes of the cleere light of the Gospell as a title in any respect unbefitting the ministers of the word yea seing that goverment is absolutely taken away this law being meerely politicall is utterly repealed The other 2 quarters or half circles having by this time well refreshed themselves thinking they had us now at a great advantage and in a strait ioyn with the former so make one full compleat body and making great shew of a Resolution even to set their rest upon it they come forward with great courage and in very good order and reply that the Equitie of that law is morall and binds perpetually and therefore by direct consequent obligeth us to conformity Here the Corporal cries yeeld yeeld But to this knowing that there is not one iot of manhood or true valour in them and that when it comes to the push indeed they dare not for their liues abide the triall by dint of the sword of the spirit wee ioyne with them and receive their shock most ioyfullie and tell them that this is very true and we do most readily subscribe thereunto seeing then these and all other types were removed to Christ this Equitie being morall doth perpetually bind all Christian Churches in matters too hard and difficult to heare him yea in all things seeing hee is that beloved Sonne in whom God is well even fully and perfectly and onely pleased look what he
he taught as one having authority not as the learned Scribes which he shewed in opening the sence and meaning of the holy Ghost deliuering fit doctrines and making profitable uses and applications from the word so that he spake to the hearts and consciences of his hearers in the power of his ministerie which they doe not who teach the precepts of men but speak only to the ears of their hearers yet alwayes the motives that he used to perswade thē to conformity was not these things are not forbidden or they are the traditiōs of our godlie Elders or they are most fitting this state and present government or it is the pleasure of the civill magistrate or the Church Rulers hold it meet though indeed divers learned men at that verie time used such kind of arguments in their ministerie and teaching for that subscription which they required but his Doctrine which hee preached and the things he urged and pressed was not his own but his that sent him it was not of his humane Invention which yet was a great deall freer from errour then all the fathers and 〈…〉 cels in the world but onelie such as 〈◊〉 that sent him to preach and teach the glad tydings of salvation was the authour of As whereas some might object unto him these are thine own speaches and in the pulpit you haue libertie to say what you list and to gird at whom you please make it playn to our capacities how we may know who is of God and who is sent of the Devill for thou and the Scribes and Pharisees teach both of you verie learnedlie and zealously but in verie manie things especially in the ceremonies and callings actions and gestures of Religious use in the publick worship of God directlie contrarie one against the other and therefore most certaine that both of you cannot possiblie be of God he therefore giues them a playn and an unerring Rule whereby the simplest in a congregation may discerne which preacher teaches the doctrine that comes from God and which speaks onely from men or the deuill first do the will of God get a good and an honest heart free from preiudice and profanesse readie to doe whatsoeuer the Lord requires of thee in generall as thou art a Christian or in particular as thou art a magistrate or subiect minister or hearer husband or wife parent or child master or seruant bond or free old or young rich or poore maried or single or of what condition soeuer for els if thou haue neuer so much wit learning vnderstanding discretion hast not respect vnto all his cōmandemēts though thou feare and reuerence the faithfull ministers of God yea heare them gladly and reforme thy selfe in doing many things which they make plaine to thy conscience is not the will of God yet if thou wilt not captivare thy Iudgment and subdue thy will and affections to be obedient vnto all that God requires it is impossible for thee to discerne the truth or to be preserued from error but if thou wilt be sincere which is Euangelicall perfection free thy heart from hypocrisie and be that thou wouldest seeme to be then if thou wouldest know indeed which preachers are worthy of double honour and which deserue shame contempt looke not at their spruce neatnesse in their attire or excellencie of gifs or degrees of learning for herein perhaps there will appeare no great difference both being graue wise and understanding men but hee that is sent of God seeketh his glory that sent him Yea but which is that the same is true you shall never heare him presse or teach novelties or incerteinties but onely such things as are plainlie grounded on the word of trueth whatsoever they concern faith or government godlinesse or ceremonies yea there is no unrighteousnesse in him nor any unrighteous inference in his ministerie but Christians may most safelie commit their souls to such a one even to depend upon his ministerie as a most powerfull means ordeined by God to bring them to salvation the other seeks his own glory that is a foule fault and he is a very prowd fellow I warrant him what shew soever he make but how may we take true notice of him he speaketh of himselfe and seeketh his own glory his manner of preaching is in one kind or other verie vaine glorious using all possible means though in some verie covertly to set forth himselfe and to make known his great reading or Iudgment his wit art and understanding in all manners or kinds of deepe learning and true schollership and therefore he comes in Excellencie of words and studies most painfullie and carefullie for such Intising speeches wittie and well ordred sayings pleasing passages pithy sentences and elegant phrases even whatsoeuer might ravish the hearers and by the admiration of the excellencie of his gifts and exquisitnesse of his Art might so prevaile that their faith might be in the wisedom of men even to beleeve onely so much as flesh and blood can disclose a man by nature may perceive which kind of preaching with words and manner of handling which mans wisdom teacheth makes the crosse of Christ of none effect and when excellencie or grace of words is more affected then the dignitie or worthinesse of the matter which is intreated then are their sermons beautified with most glorions speeches wherein the focre and power of eloquence doth shew it selfe to allure and delight the hearers but he that is sent of God labours and striues to speake in such words and phrases seeme they never so plaine base or contemptible wherein the power of God may bee made manifest to the consciences of their hearers honour and reverence such but it is most dangerous to commit thy soul unto and to depend upon the ministerie of the other though he be as great a scholler and as wise a man as is in all the World These courses therefore all those that desire to use their talents profitablie in the ministerie of the Church must purposely avoid even as they would the golden legend or like Deceiveable fables not but that those to whom God hath given a beautifull forme of speaking may use it as well as they that have comely shape or fairefaces but as they that bee black must not paint themselues so preachers may not affect oratorie to the eare but to the heart nor yet that rude and grosse phrases are the onely powerfull manner of speaking but that every one is to use that gift which God hath given him to the edification of his auditorie which consists in delivering the sence plainly in the evidence of the spirit and applying it powerfully to the conscience and this deuiding the word aright that euerie one may haue his portion seasonably ought to be studied for and affected of all faithfull ministers not a painted or pensild maner of speaking But those that scorn this māner of handling the word
of God which is good which nothing possibly can be but that which comes from God the sole author of whatsoever is good For howsoever it cannot bee denied but that surely there is a spirit in man and great excellencie of learning wisedome government and discretion in the subordinate tutors or teachers of this other master yet the inspiration of the Almightie or the inspired word of God onely by the effectuall working of the holy Ghost giveth understanding especially in all things of a religious use in the publick worship of God To ground religious conformity therefore vpon any thing els whatsoeuer is directly to forsake the right way and there is but two wayes the one of truth which is streight and narow and but a few that will subscribe vnto it and to go astraie and follow the broad way or to learne the easie lesson of Balaam the sonne of Bosor which loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse I iudge none but intreate all to take heede of those swelling wordes of this other Schoole or Synagogue full of vanitie least they bee beguiled by them and so bee wrapped also in their error especially to take heede of the second entangling for the latter end of such is farre worse then the beginning to whom the black darknes is reserued for euer Seing then there be but two chiefe masters God and the Deuill and but two wayes grace and nature and seing all that ground their conformitie truly on the scriptures are in the way of truth though imprisonment and other grievances inflicted on them make it some thing streight and narrow and are verily taught of God it must needs follow that all that ground their conformitie vpon any thing els or vpon these erroniously are taught of the diuel which their maner of reasoning allegation of their best authorities doth not obscurely discouer But here perhaps one will strike me on the face and say why should the clay call the potter to account why hee made it thus or so or why should our adversaries demand why this gesture of kneeling should not be as comely and as comfortable as a table gesture Surely I for my part can say no more but ipse dixit our master whose teaching we onely rely upon hath by his own practise openly and solemnlie published and proclaimed in the word as with a silver trumpet to all Churches and congregations for ever the excellent and divine dignitie thereof The other master teaches from fathers and counsels from the precepts of men yea as he bragges from unitie Antiquitie and universalitie as with the verie quintessence of Parnassus melodie that kneeling in the verie act of receiving the holie bread and wine in the Lords supper is the most humble thankfull reverent and fittest gesture in the the whole world yea far beyond that of the table Thus either master hath flows in a different sence let everie servant disciple or scholler therefore cleaue fast to his own master and quite forsake yea hate and despise the other but ô man who art thou are thou mortall must thou come to Iudgement and yet darest thou aske a question of the immortall sonne of God in his members or servants why the gesture which he made choice of and used and ordeined should bee better then that which the sonne of perdition devised and exalted mayest thou not as well aske why there should be any Sabboth or but one not two why two sacraments and not seven why he wrote to 7. Churches and not onely to the metropolitan why wives should be subject to their husbands more then in name or the Church unto Christ further then in shew let us examine and trie these things therefore whether they be of faith for else they are sin yea no man can be ignorant of this that if Christ do not warrant them by his word they are reprobated and serue for no other use but to bring some to reprobation and to hinder others in the means of their salvation for as there is no law or condemnation against any fruit of the spirit or against them in whom it is yea though the world make a law against it yet is great consolation to be found in suffering for it even so if these things in question be the lusts or inventions of the flesh then can they not possibly serue to any other use but to fulfill the will of the flesh and of the mind and so in their verie nature are as I may say the children of wrath as well as others even as well as those damnable devises of sacrificing for the quick and the dead of disposing of crowns of dispensations with corporall and spirituall adulteries or Incests and other like hellish abominations or humane inventions for they al com frō one the same root flow out of one the same fountain haue all every one of them as good warrant by the doctrine of this second master one as another even from the prince that ruleth in the aire that spirit which worketh in whatsoever is not donne in the obedience of faith in all things of Religious use Dare we then conforme in the Religious actions or gestures of our bodie to the ceremonies of that spirituall harlot or to the likenesse of them especially seing in this great secret or mystery of our union with Christ wee are now ioyned in a far neerer bond unto God then in the innocent estate and therefore a far greater and stricter subjectiō is required at our hand True indeed by creation wee were the lovely sonnes and amiable daughters of the most high having no thing uncomely nor any disposition thereunto in any part of us but by sin we made our selves strangers yea enemies most filthie and euen loathsome to look upon yet even in this estate to look upon when he saw us polluted in our own bloud or filthy nature when we were naked and bare utterlie void of all goodnesse or any disposition thereunto even starke dead by sinne in sinne I say in this hatefull condition hee looked upon 〈◊〉 with the eyes of his love and covered yea clothed our filthinesse with the skirts of his own righteousnesse and sware unto us even entred into covenant with us and so contracted vs to him self to be come wholy and in all things his and his onely euen flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone therfore did he wash us in that fountaine of the house of Dauid and annointed vs with an ointment from that holy one decking vs with all spirituall ornaments of grace and sanctification of life so that his holines in the Godly though never so contemptible to the world is become as truly glorious and honorable as a kingdom euen as wickednes makes the mightie and great ones in the world ignominious and contemptible Is it possible therefore to expresse what great and iust cause we haue
perfection even to haue our eyes opened yea and be as Gods by conforming to these novelties whose device is this marke deere mother upon my bare knees I beseech thee who that is that talketh such things with thee Do we sel Advowsions depopulate townes or houses do we keep two benefices or closely practise usurie are we partners in monopolies haue we a whore in a corner doe wee dissemble and deceiue or are we unmercifull uniust or any way dishonest then let thy holy Ceâ—sures cut us of from that blessed Communion of they heauenly familie and divine societie But oh thou sweetest among the loueliest who art the verie choice of all the fairest Inioyne us not wee beseech thee to forget the name of our God or to bow our knee or conforme to any thing which is not truely grounded on his word some thing indeed may be in these courses which we cannot discerne but no goodnesse or godlinesse can possibly be in them unlesse they bee his commandements But thou sayest or rather thy minions informe thee that the Lord did never forbid these things The cleane contrarie seems most plain to us and that out of thine own doctrines but suppose hee bee pleased to be silent to teach modestie and feare shall we bee bould therefore to fall into presumption Consider oh thou that bare us the appointed months and brought us forth in everie ones due season where did he forbid Adam to eate that particular fruit true indeed that the tree was forbidden and are not we in the same generall terms directly forbidden to worship him in any other manner in his publick service then he hath coÌ„manded is not this the very tener purpose drift of the second coÌ„mandement forbidden also to bow down or shew any Reverent respect to the likenesse of any thing which in his worship man hath devised Oh thou that are the mother of us all pluck up these fruits of distraction even by the verie roots and suffer them no longer to breed divisions and separations among thy true children deall truly with thine own soul and marke it well though it come from such as excell all other in learning and wisdome yet whether it be not a tare of that Enâ—ious-man and whether those Resolute disputers for the Iustifying thereof be not his professed Children for thou hast often taught us to take heed of sinning against our knowledge or certeine perswasion though it bee but in a matter of never so small consequence but especially in all things of Religious use seeing disobedience yea and Rebellion appeareth as well therein as in the grossest and foulest abomination of poperie yea this was the comely talke of thy scarlet lips that whosoever keepeth the whole law and yet faileth in one point hee is guileie of all and therefore though we haue cast quite away the grosser point of poperie yet wilfull conformitie to any humane Innvention of Religious use in the publick worship of God makes us guiltie of the whole masse of that damnable Idolatrie according to an other lesson which most carefullie thou didst often beate upon that a little leaven doth soure the whole lumpe yea whatsoever is borne of the verie wisedome of the flesh is notwithstanding verie Enmitie with God for howsoever Adam and all in his loyns were by creation the sonnes of God and whatsoever gestures they used in his worship were most pleasing and acceptable to him yet now by transgression hauing changed their father and nature all the ceremonies callings and gestures which they can possibly devise concerning the worship of God or government of his Church are without contradiction the very works of their new father and nature for who can possibly be ignorant of this that to whomsoeuer we giue our selues as servants to obey his servants we are to whom by conformity we do obey whether it bee to humane Inventions or Gods holy ordinances and the same rule holds in all matters of Religious use if they can not tell how to preach except they bee sent nor wee how to pray or call upon God as wee ought but by the spirit of God according to the Scriptures how is it possible for all the learning and wisdom in the world to tell what ceremonie calling or gesture is fit and lawfull in the service of God but by the same spirit Seeing then these devices at the very best the mocking yea some of them persecuting sonnes of Agar haue no warrant from the word and spirit of God what letteth but that safely we may yea ought to esteem them Vagabonds Runnagates in the earth howsoever not in the highest degree able to murder or make an absolute nullitie of religion yet not being borne of God or warranted by his word they must of absolute necessitie be confessed to be unrighteous because the Lord our Righteousnesse is not author of them and all unrighteousnesse in substance or ceremonie is sinne and therefore all that wittingly conform therevnto upon what terms of considerations soeuer though in the lowest and most tollerable degree that can be imagined are in the same degree that this their sinn is of verely and most certeinly of the Diuill VVhy should any woonder then or thinke it strange that though wisdome hane cried out and vttred her voice like a trompet in pulpits in prisons in words in writings in fierie zeale in most humble and meekest manner yet these carnall and worldly minded men loue foolishnes even the devices of fleshe and bloud and take pleasure in scorning whatsoever and whosoever is contrary to them therein and so despise all the counsell of the Lord shall not the end of these things be bitter yea will not Destruction ceize on them at length and will not the Lord reioyce and laugh thereat even make ioyfull the hearts of his people to see their cruel adversaries eate the fruit of their own way and be filled with their owne devices Yea most deare and tender mother hast thou not often told us that all that are disobedient unto or wilfully gainsay anie thing truely and evidently taught from the Scriptures were to be esteemed of all that desire sincerely to feare the Lord stiffeneked resisters of the Holy Ghost because by such proceedings they plainlie proclaime that in their hearts they say thâ—re is no God or which is all one that God is not so iealous of his worship and everie ceremonie calling and gesture therein so as he esteemes them onely his lovers and friends that subscribe onely to his commandements therein and holds them his enemies yea such as hate him that conforme to any thing therein which in his word hee hath not commanded as in the second commandement more at large it doth appeare be pleased therefore to remember from the verie word of our father thou hast often instructed us that though without all contradiction there is