Scribes and Pharisees in the uppermost seats in Synagogues and Feasts in Reverend titles and salutations as the only Masters and Teachers of Religion and godlinesse and all this in the way of the Hireling dividing Dan. 11. the whole Land for gaine so that there hath not been roome without some speciall and extraordinary priviledge and license for the poorest Cottager to live in England out of the Bishops Diocesse and the Priests Parish and Payments therefore Thirdly In all humble reverence and due submission to the Higher Powers I affirme there was never meerly Civill State in the World for that of the Iewes was mixt and Ceremoniall that ever did or ever shall make good work of it with a civill sword in spirituall matters and therefore have but builded pluckt down planted and pluckt up Churches Ministries Disciplines c. I acknowledge with thankfulnes that many heavenly Spirits in K Edwards Q Elizabeths days and since that have been forming and reforming the states and nations Religion Worship Ministry c. Doubtlesse Intentions were holy as Davids labours great Gods mercy and pity and patience infinite yet experience long and ever hath told us That there was never a Nation yet born in a day to God That the bodies of all Nations is a part of the world and although the holy Spirit of God in every Nation where the Word comes washeth white some Blackamores and changeth some Leopards spots yet the bodies and bulks of Nations cannot by all the Acts and Statutes under heaven put off the Blackamores skin the Leopard spots c. O why then should the wisedome of so many Ages still each after other be preacht by the prevailing Hirelings of each time againe and again into the selfe-same delusion of washing the Blackamore c There is not a Towne nor a Parish nor a person in England but judge themselves christian and to that end challenge the right and use of a Minister in sacris some as in all Religions in the world it is to serve the Dietie they worship ex officio as Sacerdotes or holy persons for and with them in prayers and holy Rites This mine eyes have often seen among thousands of the wild yet wise Americans who yet alas as all the Nations of Europe and the world are utterly uncapable of Formes and Ministers or Officers of Christian worship while yet in their naturall and worldly capacities not borne againe made spirituall and heavenly by the holy spirit of God Yet Fifthly I desire uprightly to be far from divers waights and measures in the things of God especially and therefore I desire not that liberty to my selfe which I would not freely and impartially weigh out to all the consciences of the world beside And therefore I doe humbly conceive that it is the will of the most High and the expresse and absolute Duty of the civill powers to proclaim an absolute freedom in all the 3 Nations yea in all the world were their power so large that each Towne and Division of people yea and person may freely enjoy what worship what ministry what maintenance to afford them their soul desireth To this end I am humbly bold to offer that it is not the will of the Father of Spirits that all the consciences and spirits of this Nation should violently Vi armis be forced into one way of worship or that any Towne or Parish so called in England Scotland or Ireland be disturbed in their worship what worship soever it be by the civill sword If the people freely choose that way of worship and ministry and maintenance they walk in yea if they will freely pay them the Tenths or Fifths I shall not envy their Ministers maintenance nor disturb either minister or peoples conscience by any other sword but with that spirituall sword of two edges the sword of Gods spirit the holy word of God Grant the bodies of the Nations to be but naturall but civill and therefore cannot without the changings of Gods spirit be possibly fit as spirituall flocks of sheep for spirituall Pastors or shepheards to feed and build them up with the spirituall Ordinance of Christ Iesus yet need they not a converting or begetting ministry of Christ Iesus to preach Repentance to them to spiritualize and change them And if so where shall ten thousand Ministers be had to goe to about that number of Parishes in England without the constant supplies of the seed-plots and Seminaries the Vniversities of the Nation I answer First there are great Disputes among Gods people whether Apostles or Messengers sent out to teach and baptise that is to Convert the Nations be yet an Ordinance of Christ Iesus continued or being extraordinary ceased There is a great dispute whether the Ministry of the twelve Matth. 10. or of the 70 Luk. 10. be continued since they both had an immediate call from Christ And secondly Such excellent gifts abilities and furniture from Christ which now we find none are furnished with as healing the sick raising the dead casting out Devils c. Further whether all these gifts and administrations Ephes. 4. 1 Cor. 12. be to be expected For my selfe I am sure of two things First It is but little of the World yet that hath heard of the lost estate of mankinde and of a Saviour Christ Iesus and as yet the fullnesse of the Gentiles is not yet come and probably shall not untill the downefull of the Papacy Yet Secondly The Ministry or Service of Prophets and Witnesses mourning and Prophecying in Sack-cloath God hath immediately stirred up and continued all along the reigne of the Beast and Antichrist of Rome This Witnesse is probably neer finished and the bloudy storme of the slaughter of the Witnesses is yet to be expected and prepared for But this and the time and many passages of Revel. 11. is Controversiall and something like that of Christs expected personall presence the state of the New Ierusalem the new Heavens and Earth c. However this is cleare that all that are betrusted with spirituall or temporall Tallents must lay them out for their Lord and Master his Advantage That all of what rank soever that have knowledge utterance of heavenly Mysteries therein are the Lords Prophets Witnesses against Antichrist must Prophecy against false Christs false Faith false Love false Ioy false Worship and Ministrations false Hope and false Heaven which poor souls in a golden dream expect look for This Prophecy ought to be chiefly exercised among the Saints in the companies meetings and assemblies of the fellow-mourners and witnesses against the falshoods of Antichrist If any come in as in 1 Cor. 14. yea if they come to catch God will graciously more or lesse vouchsafe to catch them if he intends to save them But for the going out to the Nations Cities Townes as to the Nations Cities and Townes of the World unconverted untill
of the Labourers of the Son of God The Priests and Levites under the Law had setled and constant Maintenance I answer Blessed be the Father of Lights who hath shewne his people of late times the great difference between the stated and setled Nationall Church the Ministry and maintenance thereof and the ordinary afflicted moving flying state of the Church and Churches of Christ Iesus all the world over Although it be granted that the Hireling Ministry both explicite and implicite is none of Christs yet this is wonderfull what should be the Reason why so much good hath been wrought thereby as the conversion of thousands c. I answer All the wisedome mercy goodnesse and piety that is in us is but a drop to the Ocean of that which is in the Father of mercies who with infinite pity and patience passeth by the ignorances and weaknesses of his Children Hence Luther and other Monks Cranmer and other Bishops Calvin and other Presbyterians God hath graciously covered their Failings and accepted his owne Grace of good Desires good Affections and Endeavours though many wayes defiled with sin Thus was his infinite Goodnesse pleased to overlook the sin of Poligamie or many Wives in which so many of the Fathers or Patriarchs of Israel were brought forth Thus was he pleased to passe by the sins of the High places where Solomon himselfe offered Sacrifice And yet as to this great point of good being done we may with truth assert two things First where God hath been pleased to bring in one soule to Himselfe by the Hireling Ministry many more have been brought home by the voluntary and more single preachings of some whether publick or private by the endeavour of private christians by the reading of the holy Scriptures by godly examples by afflictions c. Hence wofull experience hath made it evident that many excellent men in their persons and the graces of Gods Spirit have laboured a score of yeares and more in an Hireling way without the birth of one child to God while others singly out of Love to Christ Iesus have despised Bargaines and Hire and been more abundantly blest with mercifull successe and fruitfulness Hence sure it is that there have been and are many excellent Prophets and VVitnesses of Christ Iesus who never entred as they say into the Ministry to wit Lawyers Physitians Souldiers Tradesmen and others of higher and lower rank who by Gods holy Spirit breathing on their meditations of the holy Scriptures and other private helps have attained and much improved an excellent Spirit of knowledge and Vtterance in the holy things of Jesus Christ which spirit they ought to cherish and further to improve to the praise of Christ Amongst so many Instances dead and living to the everlasting praise of Christ Iesus and of his holy Spirit breathing and blessing where he listeth I cannot but with honorable Testimony remember that Eminent Christian VVitness Prophet of Christ even that despised and yet beloved Samuel How who being by Calling a Cobler and without humane Learning which yet in its spheare and place he honoured who yet I say by searching the holy Scriptures grew so excellent a Textuary or Scripture learned man that few of those high Rabbies that scorne to mend or make a Shoe could aptly and readily from the holy Scripture out-go him And however through the Oppressions upon some mens Consciences even in Life and Death and after death in respect of Burying as yet unthought and unremedied I say however he was forced to seek a Grave or bed in the very High way yet was his life and death and buriall being attended with many hundreds of Gods people honourable and how much more his Rising againe glorious But secondly True and Right prophecying and Preaching at first was and shall be because after Gods own way and Ordinance beyond all compare with present Times gloriously and wonderfully Successfull Thus Acts 2. 5. c. poore Sinners came mourning after a Saviour by thousands The Church and people of God since the Apostacy is an Army routed and can hardly preserve and secure it selfe much lesse subdue and conquer others like a Vessell becalmed at Sea which though it make some way by Rowing and Towing yet not comparable to what it doth when the mighty gales of Gods holy Spirit breath as most he useth to doe in the wayes of his owne most holy Appointments Thirdly We may see a great mistake as touching that great point of Conversion There is a great breathing in the souls of Gods people after the Conversion of the English Irish Iewes Indians and blessed be God for those Breathings Yet doubtlesse the first great worke is the bringing of the Saints out of Babel or confused worships and the downefall of the Papacie after the witnesses slaughtered Hence it is probably conceived by some upon Revel. 15. that untill the Vyals be powred forth upon Antichrist the smoak so filleth the Temple that no man that is few of the Iewes or Gentiles shall by conversion enter in Some will say haue there not been great and mighty conversions of whole Nations England Scotland French Dutch c. from Popery to be good Protestants c. I answer If the holy Scripture the first pattern and dolefull experience may be judge as an eminent Person lately spake upon occasion of a Debate touching the Conversion of the Indians we have Indians at home Indians in Cornewall Indians in Wales Indians in Ireland yea as to the point of true Conversion and Regeneration by Gods spirit who can deny but that the body of this and of all other Protestant Nations as well as Popish are unconverted and as formerly ready to be converted and turned forward and backward as the VVeather-cock according as the powerfull wind of a prevailing Sword and Authority shall blow from the various points and quarters of it By the mercifull Assistance of the most High I have desired to labour in Europe in America with English with Barbarians yea and also I have longed after some trading with the Iewes themselves for whose hard measure I feare the Nations and England hath yet a score to pay But yet as before I cannot see but that the first and present great Designe of the Lord Iesus is to destroy the Papacy in order to which two great VVorks are first to be effected First His calling of his people more and more out of the Babel of confused VVorships Ministries c. and the finishing of their Testimony against the Beast Secondly the great sufferings and slaughters of the Saints upon occasion of which Christ Iesus in his holy wrath and jealousie will burne and teare the bloody whore of Rome in pieces After which effected the numberlesse number Rev. 7. the fullnesse of the Gentiles or Nations Rom. 9. together with the Iewes shall flow to Iesus Christ Thirdly we may hence see our great mistakes both of
the downefall of the Papacy Revel. 18. and so the mounting of the Lord Iesus and his white Troopers againe Revel. 19. c. For the going out of any to preach upon hire for the going out to convert sinners and yet to hold communion with them as Saints in prayer For the going out without such a powerfull Call from Christ as the twelve and the seventy had or without such suitable gifts as the first Ministry was furnished with and this especially without a due knowledge of the Period of the Prophecies to be fulfilled I have no Faith to act nor in the Actings and Ministrings of others for There is but one God Lord and Spirit from whom those Gifts Administrations and Operations proceed 1 Cor. 12. without whose holy heavenly concurrence in all those three both Gifts and Administrations and operations instead of Glorifying the name of Christ and saving Souls we may Blaspheame his Name and grieve his spirit and hinder and harden poor souls against Repentance when by fellowship in prayer with them as with Saints we perswade them of their already blessed state of Christianity and that they are New-born the saints and sons and daughters of the living God therefore Lastly If it shall please our most Noble Governours to search into the institution and constitution as they have done of the Diocesan so also of the National and Parish Churches concerning which I shal humbly subjoyn some Queries in the close of all If they please to take off the Yoaks the Soul Yoaks of binding all persons to such parochiall or parish formes permitting them to injoy their own belief whether within or without such Parish worships Parish maintenance Parish maryings Parish Buryings by which the souls and consciences of so many have been inbondaged in life and death and their bodies in respect of buryings after death If they shall please so far if not to countenance yet to permit impartially All consciences and especially the consciences the meetings and assemblings of faithfull and conscionable people the Voluntiers in preaching Christ Iesus so as that what people and persons please may peaceably frequent and repaire to such spirituall meetings and assemblies as they doe the Parish Churches I am humbly confident that as to the point of converting souls to God so far as the present state of Christianity can be so promoted the souls of thousands will blesse God more then if Millions of Hirelings were sent abroad from all the Vniversities both of Popish and Protestant Countries Fourthly 4 Upon the grounds first laid I observe the great and wonderfull mistake both our owne and our Fathers as to the civill powers of this world acting in spirituall matters I have read as blessed Latimer once said the last Will and Testament of the Lord Iesus over many times and yet I cannot finde by one tittle of that Testament that if he had been pleased to have accepted of a temporall Crowne and Government that ever he would have put forth the least finger of temporall 〈◊〉 civill power in the matters of his spirituall affairs anâ—Kingdome Hence must it lamentably be against the Testimonâ— of Christ Iesus for the Civill state to impose upon the Soules of the People a Religion a Worship a Ministry Oaths in Religious and Civil affairs Tithes Times Days Marryings and Buryings in holy ground yet in force as I have I hope by the helpe of God fully debated that great Question with Master Cotton and washt off all his late washings of that bloody Tenent of Persecution c. What is then the expresse duty of the Civill Magistrate as to Christ Iesus his Gospell and Kingdome I answer I know how wofully that Scripture Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers c. hath been abused and elswhere I have at large discussed that and other such Objections At present I humbly conceive that the great Duty of the Magistrate as to spirituals will turne upon these two Hinges First In removing the Civill Bars Obstructions Hinderances in taking of those Yoaks that pinch the very Soules and consciences of men such as yet are the payments of Tithes and the Maintenance of Ministers they have no faith in Such are the inforced Oaths and some ceremonies therein in all the Courts of Iustice such are the holy Marryings holy buryings c. Secondly In a free and absolute permission of the consciences of all men in what is meerly spirituall not the very consciences of the Iews nor the consciences of the Turkes or Papists or Pagans themselves excepted But how will this Propagate the Gospell of Christ Iesus I answer thus The first grand Design of Christ Iesus is to destroy and consume his Mortal enemy Antichrist This must be done by the breath of his Mouth in his Prophets and Witnesses Now the Nations of the World have impiously stopt this heavenly breath and stifled the Lord Iesus in his Servants Now if it shall please the civill State to remove the state bars set up to resist the holy Spirit of God in his servants whom yet finally to resist is not in all the powers of the world I humbly conceive that the civill state hath made a fair progresse in promoting the Gospel of Iesus Christ This Mercy and freedome is due to the meerly religious consciences of all men in the world Is there no more due from the Magistrate to Christ Iesus his saints and Kingdome I answer While I pleade the Conscience of All men to be at Liberty doubtlesse I must plead the Liberty of the Magistrates conscience also and therefore were his bounties and donations to his Bishops and Ministers as large as those of Constantine who but the holy Spirit of God in the mouths of his Prophets can restrain him Onely let not Caesar as Constantine in his setled prosperity did rob the God of Heaven of his Rights the consciences of his subjects their heavenly Rights and Liberties But under the pretence of propagating the Gospell of Christ Iesus it may be said what horrible opinions and Spirits will be vented as woefull experience hath manifested I answer Opinions offensive are of two sorts some savouring of Impiety and some of Incivility Against the first Christ Iesus never cald for the Sword of Steel to helpe the Sword of the Spirit that two-edged Sword that comes out of the mouth of the Lord Iesus And therefore if a world of Arrians deny the Deity of Christ Iesus If a Maniche his humane nature If the Jews deny both and blasphemously call our Christ a Deceiver Nay if the Mahumetans the Turkes the greater number by far of one Religion in the World if they I say pefer their cheating Mahomet before him What now must we raile revile c. and cry ou Blasphemers Hereticks Must we run to the Cutlers shop the Armories and Magazines of the Cities and Nations Must we run to the Cities or Nations and Senates and