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
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
livings and liberty but even of their lives also And till this the other lawes of Christ ordeined in the second commandement bee in force all the good that the most wholesome lawes of most godly princes and Religious states can effect is onely to make Ambition a little more wary and subtill more Cawtelous and dissembling or else more arrogant even to devise new and more secret practises to hinder all means or purposes of reforming any thing in the worship or Church of God yea by proposing one thing or other by one or other to have still in store such variety of fresh and most urgent occasions as there shall not bee the least breathing time so much as to think of Reformation Much crying out there is and that iustly of fearful depopulations how can it be otherwise seeing the howse of God lieth waste and is troden vnder foot his faithfull ministers suspended his faithfull seruants traduced and censured Gods ordinances neglected and mens Inventions erected Clients do greivously complain of delaies altring of orders reuersing of Iudgments and the like so that poore souls they cannot tel wheÌ„ they are sure of any thing they haue or that their suits wil receiue an end VVoe is me for them but how can this be ameÌ„ded seing the publick worship of God is so â—ul of direct Incerteinties and absolute Nouelties One sayes they are indifferent and may be tollerated another comes and proues them necessary because they are commanded by humane authority but at last starts one up and with his divino Iure makes all club sure that there is not a a word now to bee uttered against conformity to them thus look what is sowen in the first table will bring forth fruit in the branches of the second VVhoredom and drunkenes do euery where abound yea are grown to be but civill recreations and doth not superstitious Atheisme adulterate the holy things of God yea is it possible but that base and beastly gestures and and Carnall ceremonies in Gods publick worship will fill the civill estate full of all uncleanesse and bastardies is it not become the glory of many to sporte with Religion even to scoffe at sinceritie and to ierke and gybe at the upright in heart haue not the bastard poets and players and like profane humours a great pride to be singuler in this pastine Theft and deceite oppression and cousenage are growen to be great trades and professed occupations and can all the world tell how to mend it till the spirituall theeves who have securely made their dens in the very house of God bee driven from their unlawfull Callings and courses great lamentation is made as for a most evill presage that offices of Iustice are bought and sould must not such of necessity proceed accordingly even for hyre or reward but doth not the buying of all spirituall promotions Iustifie and cleare all such Courses But to come to you that have so painfully searched all the words and sillables of Christ not to find out that which hee hath commanded which is the study and meditation of all that are sincere in hart and therefore the whole word of God is often called the coÌ„mandements of God inferring directly that there ought to be no coÌ„formity to any thing but to that which is commanded but to see what he hath not forbidden for therein lies all the perill are not these thinke you worthy subjects that never care for not so much what their soveraine Lord would haue done as very curiously inquire most painfully search out what he hath forbidden that so being out of his reach and danger they may follow their own devices If any man will not conforme to their precepts how is he reproched and Reviled but to speak against the lawfulnesse of them is pettie treason I hartely pray them therefore to consider from the Lords own mouth whether it bee not high presumption to speake a word ministerially which he hath not commanded suppose hee hath not forbidden it in particular or expresse terms yet doth hee not directly in the former vers requiâ—e absolute obedience to whatsoever that great Prophet and sheepheard of our soules shall teach us and doth hee not most plainly forbid upon paine of death in this verse to teach any thing which in the word hee hath not commanded How dare you then oh you men of learning how dare you I say hazard your pretious souls in conforming to such things doe not object that you haue good warrant from the word so to do because you are commanded to acknowledge them that are over you and labour among you for I confesse wee must have them in singular loue for their works sake so it bee in the Lord yea if they teach no thing but what hee hath commanded them we will obey submit and conforme unto them but if they will preach and presse things which Christ never commanded though they cover them in sheeps cloathing even with words full of all excellent wisdome and admirable learning able to ravish the hearers and to entise any man that hath reason and understanding and is able to Iudge wisely and discreetly of matters to conforme unto them yet not being in plain evidence of the spirit and of power wee must esteeme of them as wolues and false prophets rather watching all opportunity to maintaine their pompe state and glory and to feed their own bellies by this conformitie then to feed the flocks or churches of Christ over which he hath made them overseers If they say they are greatlie wronged by such imputations and no man whosoever dare iustifie this to their faces for my part I confesse it will bee much against my will if ever I come before them but yet as good a man as great a scoller as wise as worthy as holy and as godly though perhaps not so great and Lordly as any of them be hath so taught and preached and I will beleeve him before all of them yea I will set down his own words whatsoever come of it and will not alter one sillable beware of fals prophets alas how can wee tell which are they you shall know them by their fruits or doctrine which they teach which not being the commandements of God are absolutelie evill even of a woolvish and devouring disposition in all the Churches of Christ for the word or comandements of God or writings of the holy Ghost were sufficient to teach Timothy a man not much inferiour to the most of them for the inward glory of the soule how to behaue himself in the house of God which is the Church of the living God even what doctrins to teach what callings ceremonies and gestures to presse conformitie unto if then in their cannons or constitutions they will behaue themselves otherwise then the word doth require can there possiblie bee any safetie in conformitie to them And as this concerns all our teachers so our blessed Lord
sensible savouring the things that are of men as how we ought to pitty our selues our wiues and children and so prevent the unavoidable evils of non-conformitie but yet they understand not in this poynt the things that are of God namelie that rather then we should conforme to anie thing in his worship which he hath not in the word commanded we must forsake yea we must hate or denie in this case all affection of dutie reverence loue tender care or whatsoever to father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and our owne liues also or else we cannot bee the disciples of Christ Must not these graue and learned perswaders then of absolute necessitie bee an offence unto every faithfull and tender heart Goe on therefore my brethren and be of good courage and assure your selues that in suffering for not conformitie to kneeling you suffer for the Lord Christ and to yeeld against the light of your hearts is to be ashamed of him seeing these things doe directly follow from his own words even wheÌ„ for feare of men spiritually adulterated we will conforme to things of divine use in his worship which he never commanded but are onely warranted to our consciences by the advise of the learned or the precepts of men the traditions of the Elders and other like humane authorities All which without warrant from the word even euery one of them in particular and generally altogether are Lyars and therefore all the gestures or actions ceremonies or or callings of religious use in the worship of God which they perswade unto without warrant from the word are lying gestures lying actions lying ceremonies and lying callings not but like the Divel they may speake professe and acknowledge some excellent truths but that the maine thing they aime at is to maintaine some errour or other and therefore all the volumes in the world filled with all the Art learning wisedome and discretion of the whole world compared with or set against one verse in the sacred Scriptures are to bee esteemed most filthy and stinking dung But haue we but one sentence in the Bible for a table-gesture which yet were sufficient against all humane opinions and authorities whatsoever haue we the first institution onely or barely mentioned do not everie one of the Evangelists make mention of a supper or a table of rising from supper and sitting down and of sitting even in the act of administring and receiving the sacrament yea doe not diuers places in the Acts and Epistles plainly inferre the continuance of a table gesture and therefore to bee the direct ordinance of Christ But it seems an impudent generation is come up who dare affirm that the Sunne of the Church must if they make such a charme or Canon stand still continually and not stir at all as once it did for one whole day in Gibeon but the Moone especially not to moue one inch as for that time it did not in the valley of Aielon further then they in their discretion shall thinke to bee fit and so by their wit and learning are bold to defend that the earth is in circular motion all the world and the creatures therein turning round continuallie yea they are most confident if they may haue audience to make any indifferent hearer that comes without preiudice to conforme and subscribe to â—his opinion Doth not the spirit of giddinesse possesse the heads of these men are not these the true successors of those learned Divines graue Rabbies great Doctors that still cried out to Christ Shew us a signe make it appeare that there is a Sun in the firmament proue unto us that there is a God or which was as evident that thou art the Messias Seeing then all things whatsoeuer of religious use which the father would haue the Church to know and conforme unto are treasured up in the word though every one indeed can not come at them deny this if they dare it must needs follow that either the gesture of kneeling as it is urged is a a humane Invention or as you would say in playne termes a very starke lie though hansomlie lapped up and therefore of the divell the father of lies though artificially painted perhaps by some of his limmers with the very best Italian beauties or else if it bee a trueth and therefore to bee conformed unto then there be some unwritten trueths or vereties which the Churches are bound of conscience to beleeve and conform unto and yet not commanded in the word of truth then it must needes follow besides the scriptures and either let our learned adversaries make this large breach for the Iesuites at pleasure to enter by or else for starke shame discharge no more such furious Cannon shot against our bullet-beaten fortresse The scriptures sufficiency Is it not high time to take away these presumptuous causes which purposely teach and perswade Conformity to such blasphemous doctrins out of Israel being the best seeds of the verie worst evils thereof I conclude therefore it is farre better to expose our estates and bodies to the greatest malice of our greevous adversaries by standing for a gesture without all exception then by conforming to one which that Prophet never taught no nor so much as once mentioned in that manner and forme as it is urged and so to be by him Destroyed out of the people For must we have his warrant and heare him onely in the doctrine of the sacrament and shall wee not care for his warrant nor regard what his word saith for the gesture of the sacrament And for those who in these matters of God concerning his publick worship insist so much and with such violence upon prohibitions a service sometimes not very acceptable to them crying out unto us shew one place where the Lord forbids these things and wee will yeeld that it is a damnable sin to conforme unto them I am bould with their good leave to Remember them of one other argument of the Lords own making concerning this very subiect of the actions ceremonies and gestures in this publick worship and service which he purposely framed and committed also to writing for the use of all posterity even to bee a lanthorne of our feet and an unerring light to our paths in these very occasions and in most plain evidence of the spirit it stands thus By the light of nature all mankind knows that there is a God therfore everie one wil worship him as wel as he caÌ„ though it bee not according unto knowledge to glorifie him as God for that is impossible without direction from his spirit according to the scriptures but though they have excellent wisdom and admirable understanding yet even the learnedest of them when they professe themselves greatest Clarkes proue themselues the veriest fooles because they become vain in their thoughts their foolish hearts are full of darknes for they turn the glory of the
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 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
a spirit in man and therefore it may bee that some are called spirituall men yet we should allwayes find this to be true in all controversies o◠proceedings about matters of Religious nature not many such how excellent soever much lesse the greatest part of them though most wise after the flesh no though their counsell in their dayes be esteemed as free from error as the oracle of God are notwithstanding chosen of God to doe any speciall good to his Churches or servants for indeed though their titles be spirituall yet their wayes and courses doe plainly testifie that their hearts are Carnall and fleshly and therefore they do not savour the things of Gods spirit no they seeme meere foolishnesse unto them because indeed they are spiritually discerned therfore they esteem them verie fooles and asses that will loose a good living rather then conforme to mens Inventions in Gods worship thus doe they assume that sufficiencie to themselues which is wholy of God Almightie whose inspiration onely giveth understanding especially in all matters of Religious use and yet will these aspiring spirits presume to set the H. Ghost to schoole most presumptuously reade large lectures of discretion unto him in his servants because they will not conforme without his direct warrant pretending that there is great truth no lies in the things they presse and yet cannot possiblie proue them to bee commanded of God as all trueth necessarie for the Church to conforme unto is as though if there were any kind of truth in them the holy Ghost would not lead and direct us therein and least they should put this off as a peculiar promise to the Apostles he hath purposely by precept and practise expresly in all such occasions tied us absolutely to the Scriptures you haue done foolishlie therefore in this O yee reverend and learned men that ye◠haue not rested on the word of the Lord in these thing in controversie which you so eagerly presse conformitie unto but as it were upon the hoast of the Aramits on the Ancient fathers general counsels and canons humane reason and the learning and wisdom of the world heare therefore the word of the Lord henceforth you shall haue wars one or other shall set upō your ceremonies all other your humane inventions and never giue that argument over till all ordinances in the Church which God hath not planted by the authoritie of the Scriptures bee utterlie rooted out And this your Idoll of conformitie the ripe fruit of your proud hearts wil deceiue you yea though thereby you are growen confident because you haue at length setled your seats as safely as in the clefts of the Rock and made your nests the verie next to the Eagle himself in the supremest mountaines of the highest Region yet will I bring you down from thence saith the Lord for though by thy wisdom and deepe pollicies or undiscerned subtleties thou hast gotten thee great riches and prefer 〈…〉 nts and hast increased very greatly thy power and authoritie and so art lifted up in thine heart as in a chaire of securitie conceiting thy selfe that thou art wiser then Daniel and hast more learning and wisdom greater reason and stronger arguments for thy conformitie then all those that are of perfect or sincere hearts towards the Lord and are contrarie minded and therefore dare no way conforme unto you with whom their feare even hee whom they serue will shew his strength yet behold God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound you that are so wise yea vile and despised persons which in the opinion of the world being compared with you did not so much as seeme to exist or bring to naught your strongest arguments for this your great goddesse conformitie and that by a plaine demonstration of their vanity yea though they be neither prophets or sons of the Prophets nor so much as brought up at the feet of some prophet but in comparison meere strangers yet they bee as a terrible nation and their arguments shall be as drawen swords against the verie beautie of thy wisdom yea they shal defile thy brightnesse your so admired vnderstanding by laying open your most dissembling and cunning practises yea in some of you horrible and fearefull blasphemies Many haue had I confesse too religious estimation of your learning and other venerable endowments but finding it plaine that in this Controversie with poore Christians you haue cast off the word of the Lord and trust in violence and wickednesse and stay thereupon for the iustifying of your courses not regarding the lawes of God or man but by one devise or other will breake through all therefore there is great hope that this iniquitie which lies swelling within you will make you so top-heavie as your verie height the onely thing you so wisely foresaw to be necessarie and therefore so providently by your deepe reaches haue attained will be an unavoydable cause of your sudden and violent downefall yea and with that detestation as no one humane invention seeme it never so tollerable shall bee left for the meanest use and office in the worship and publick service of the Lord no not so much as a little sheard to fetch fire or water for as all Gods ordinances are good so no humane invention of religious use in Gods worship can be good no not one And wheras it is obiected y t the reverend Fathers of our Church hold thē lawfull and good Iure diuino even so that Reuerend father Deterano Chamberlen to Vrban 6. publickly taught with great approbation of many great Divines that the verie meaning of Christ in saying giue to Caesar the things that be Caesars was but till his ascention and that when he was lifted vp he would drawe all these things vnto him that is Baronies Earledomes yea and kingdomes too even all that was Caesars and that it is therfore of Diuine Institution that the ministers of the Gospell might challenge and enioy these things as their proper and peculiar right both revenewes and honours and that it was grievous sacriledge for any prince to withhold the same or any ciuil authority from them or to this effect was that which he held which hath sprong out of that slip which he then set the seueral plants wherof haue wōderfully thriven in al christendom so likewise many great schollers and very learned divines haue held it an invincible argument that the Popes gouernment Hierarchie and supremacie is lawfull because it hath prospered and so long endured with good success for els say they God would neuer haue suffred it Is it not also avowed by many wise and reuerent Doctors that Iames the brother of our Lord according to the flesh did bring in the Masse and ioyned it to the scripture and therefore that it is of Apostolicall institution and ought to be conformed unto In like