then whether a Minister of Christ ought not contend with the observers of that heathen-Feast as Nehemiah did with the Nobles prophaning the Sabbath day at least by conniving at those who did 13. 17. we take it that such cleared Truths as these and those relating to formes of prayer are not to be put to question or if they be we are not as we conceive to be carefull to answer in these matters we are not to deliberate upon them They that will put these things to question may feare to be delivered-up into a minde voyde of judgement And they that are resolved in these points and would resolve the gaine-sayers Let them looke into their 〈◊〉 For what hope have they of our ranke to prevaile with those who have withstood the Resolves from Gods word by the mouth of Gods faithfull Ministers They that contend for these matters are not weake ones but vaine and superstitious persons built-up high in their fleshly confidences so as your words can move with them no more than can a blast of winde move a tower of brasse or the waves a rocke In a word Let not us dispute Gods right but give it Him nor the lawes of His house but give our observation unto them nor the way of His people but walke we therein and with so right a foote in desire and endeavour that we may put a beauty upon the way and so adorne it that we may draw others to it to walke together with us as Friends in it having concluded within themselves making observation by our walke This is the way of Holinesse for see how Holily they walke who are walkers in it Onely take this with it more suspect that at the least to be a cursed liberty the worldly Church contends for and reckon upon that to be the Holy way they would stand up against contradicting and blaspheming In the second place Let us pray God make us Learned to the Kingdome of God That we may humble all our knowledge to the obedience of Faith God grant to all his people the Spirit of wisedome and understanding That they may be able to discerne the Spirits whether they are of God or no. That they may take heed of false Prophets and give eare to the voyce of the Prince of Pastors and fly the voyce of strangers and beware of blinde Guides that so often have deceived them Amen § 7 Thirdly In the last place We will sett downe those foure savoury Speeches we before made mention of Mr Chillingworth speakes first what the goodnesse of the man was we know not but this speech is very good If I did not finde in my selfe a love and desire of all profitable Truth if I did not put away idlenesse and earthly affection and to search to the bottome of my opinions in reference to Divine matters being prepared in my mind to follow God and Him onely which way soever He shall leade me If I did not hope that I either doe or endeavour these things Certainly I should have little comfort in my separation from the world at present and little hope of obtaining salvation hereafter There is the first speech Mr H Sanders speech is next The power of godlines is first Pag. 175. to be heeded if we be nothing within no great matter though we sit at the right or the left hand of Christs outward Kingdome let us contend principally to be members of Christ to be of the invisible Church imbodied in the Church of the first-borne here we cannot easily be too carefull or too curious But as to externall fellowship though the mind of Christ in this also be to be sought and followed â—et so much earnestnesse and confidence needs not as in the other Vnlesse men take care how to live 't is not much matter how they worship Thou maist be this we take to our selves as chearefully and thankfully as this good man spake it to himselfe and his good people heartily in a purer Church than another and yet be the impurer and vainer soule of the two It is better to see a mans Conversation commending his way than to see men beholding to their way for their esteeme Mr Ant Palmers words follow An holy fellowship with Sermon upon Math 8. 23 24 25 26 27 p. 85. such as are Godly by frequent Conference communicating their experiences of God in a more holy Church-fellowship than the mixt Congregations are yet reduced into will abundantly quicken and strengthen faith and every gift and grace of beleevers and make much for the retaining and encrease of comfort Dr Owens words follow and therewith we will close all You On Ezek. 17. 24. p. 32. that doe enjoy Holy Ordinances Labour to have holy hearts answerable thereunto you have heavenly institutions labour to have heavenly Conversations if we be like the world in our walking it is no great matter if we be like the world in our worship it is sad walking contrary to God in His owne Paths shew-out the power and efficacie of all Gospell Institutions in a frame of Spirit course of life and equability of spirituall temper all your dayes Keepe up the power of private worship both personall and family I have seene many good Lawes for the Sabbath and hope I shall see some good examples Looke what the roots are in the family such will the fruit be in the Church and Common-wealth if your spirits are not well manured there you will be utterly barren elsewhere that is done most cleareto God which is done within dores This being set home by the Spirit of holinesse will keepe our foote close-up to wisedomes wayes which are pleasantnes and all her paths peace and tends to that Blessed End that hath no End Eternall life Excellent Bradfords good Counsell and prayer shall put a close to all Molest not the good Spirit of God which is given you as a gage of Eternall Redemption a Counsellour and Master to lead you into all truth which good Spirit I beseech the Father of mercies to give unto us all for His Deare Sonnes sake Jesus Christ our Lord To whom I Commend you all and to the word of His grace which is able to helpe you all that beleeve it follow it and serve God thereafter A Postscript THe Author humbly craves leave after he hath mentioned onely 1 Augustines short Apologie for his long work which will fit the Author very well speaking that in seaven Treatises which might have been spoken as one spake in so many pages if not in so many lines That he much disliked if not detested as his friend Nebridius did a short answer to a great question and would not that any should expect the like from him for then he would manifest his indignation against it And 2 what Justin Martyr spake of old to the old Heathen These things we offer to your Consideration If they seeme agreeable to true Reason and Scripture Truth accept and put an account upon them If they
LAW-POWER OR The Law of Relation Written in the heart of Ministers and People by the finger of God is mighty through Him to prevaile with both to live as a people separated to their God and from the world specially at the LORDS TABLE So shall we be seperate I and Thy people from all the people that are upon the face of the earth Exod. 33. 16. Goe from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge Pro. 14. 7. I will be their God and they shall be my people wherefore come out from among them and be ye seperate 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. Come out of her My people That ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Rev. 18. 4. LONDON Printed by M. S. for Henry Cripps in Popes-head-Alley 1656. THE CONTENTS OF The seventh and last Treatise Six things are premised which may help us to make judgement whether the Ministers of this perswasion That all are to have Admittance to all Church-Communions upon account onely of their Infant Baptisme have the law of this Relation of a Minister written in the heart by the Spirit of God Then is shewne what this law of Relation is And that where it is and beareth rule in the heart of Minister and people it will appeare so to doe by what he teacheth his people by his walke with them and theirs with him That all be well suiting to the Rule decent and according to Gospel-order In the next place is shewen That the way of Gods people walking together according to Gospel-order is every where spoken against And that Seperation from the world is the great offence in that holy way yet such a thing there is and must be a seperation sutable to the mind of God for he that will not seperate from the world and false worship is a seperate from God There is a Communion of Saints on earth they doe often meet and commune together Some exceptions answered Ministers that stand cross to this way are advised They that pretend to this way are Cautioned The judgement of the learned and Godly is taken-in here and so concluded CHAP. I. DEARE SIRS WEE crave leave to treat with you about those words ere set downe in the close of the former Treatise The power and virtue of the law of Relation written in the heart If ye never met with those words before blesse God you have met with them and make much of them now These are Maschil none like them so far as we know to instruct your selves and us to a right understanding of the way to point the eye to it to guide the foot in it that our walke therein may be according to sound judgement and discretion § 1 We have heard you speake highly enough and pray as earnestly for Learned and ordained Ministers Well If you will say more we thinke all the Godly in the land can joine with you in your desires but stopping there we beleeve they will stop too and cannot pray the same thing Though yet we beleeve That all other faithfull servants of Christ have the mind of Christ they love order they hate confusion Notwithstanding we take the boldnes to tell you our perswasion That a Godly man will assoone passe under Tyburne as he will under the hands of those Ministers for ordination whose way and judgement as to Church-Administrations is full-up with them so often mentioned And this be spoken without the least refection of Dishonour upon the Churches governed by Presbyters who seperate from the world at the Lords Table as we suppose Srs We beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christ His sake and love of the Spirit for His Churches sake for His Truths-sake for decencie and order sake for the Office or Stewardship-sake whereof you must give an account shortly Consider putting it upon your thoughts ye say ye are the Ministers of Christ ye stand in His stead ye are Stewards in His House ye are Stars in His hand What are ye not which we with your selves account hoâ—ourable makes for your stabilitie and strength securitie and safetie Put this to your soules now and if it be possible deale clearely and truly at this point in the resolution of this Question Hath God caused you to passe under this Relation of Ministers Then He hath written the law of that Relation upon your hearts What man hath done should be little with you and without something more is nothing to us Hath God caused you to passe under that Relation that is the Question If you say yes hold it forth that all may see you speake as well as heare you and give Righteons judgement That the Lord hath written the law of that Relation upon your hearts Now the Lord God helpe you all and every one to looke after this writeing of God upon your hearts for we are more than jealous as you give us sad cause That it is not yet done we meane the law of this Relation is not written upon your hearts You may thinke it is and you may say it is It is nothing to us nor we beleeve to any Godly man in all the whole Nation what you say as to this matter or what you thinke while we see what you doe Saul speakes as confidently as you may doe and surely he spake as he thought I have performed the Commandment of the Lord which was that 1 Sam. 15. Amalecke should be utterly destroyed nor person nor thing spared That you have not said Samuell What meaneth then this bleating of the Sheepe in my eares and the lowing of the Oxen which I heare There are none so confident in beleeving we meane a counterfeit beleefe than are they that are most outragious in sinning The foole rageth and is confident So may ye say ye have kept the charge of the Lord You have performed His Commandment ordering matters in His house as becometh Stewards there § 2 First This ye have not done sure for what meaneth those abhominations committed there not onely by your connivence winking at it but by your allowance also and more your doing and justifying of what you doe where it is done what meaneth all this Secondly What meaneth then those Beasts in the shape of men and they are the worst Beasts presenting their Infants to Baptisme and themselves to the Lords Table not requiring of them so much as a bare profession of faith and repentance all that they can make yet more than is required What meaneth all this if the law of your Relation be written on your hearts Thirdly What meaneth this which being granted will proove an In let to who knowes how great a flood of ungodlines That things must be ordered in Gods house not according to the Principles grounded in Gods Word but according to the Principles of Infant Baptisme What meaneth all this If the law of your Relation be written in your hearts Fourthly What meaneth then That unreasonable and
and like the possessed man breaks the cords and bands the good Spirit would binde him with as easily till the Spirit hath set them on as we can doe burnt flax or make a thred snap before the Candle Therefore this prido is discerned and slaine first which is enmitie in the will affections and mind There it is still when discovered and slaine there but it doth a man no hurt being discovered and slaine as pride doth not for though it be as they say as the heart is the first that lives and the last that dyes yet the man is humbled for his pride and walks softly all his dayes and doth put forth an holy enmity now against all that in his soule which exalts it selfe against his God his Lord his Christ and Word of His grace Secondly This is it he would bring home to his owne and others hearts The Lord God by His Word and Spirit hides pride from our eyes first by giving us a sight into our selves what an hell there is within us and makes it looke like hell whereas before it might looke like heaven what a dunghill there is within us and makes us smell the stench of it as of a Dunghill whereas before it did savour with us as a garden of spices or a bed of Roses And then according to the exceeding riches of His grace and abundant mercie through Christ gives us a sight of Himselfe Job 42. 6. a saving experimentall knowledge of Himselfe in Christ we heard of Him before with the hearing of the eare and how did we slight Him till pride was hid from us our proud heart was subdued but now our eye hath seene Him And what then Now He is exalted in our soules for we are made low Now He and He alone riseth in our thoughts higher and higher still and so we fable now sin appeares to be sin the worst can be said of it and grace appeares to be grace the best can be said of that too it is grace now Christ is exceeding welcome for sin is above measure sinfull He is pretious sin is vile The hony-combe trampled upon before while we were full of Prov. 27. 7. our selves that is proud relisheth now like an honey-combe as it useth to doe with an hungry soule and truely now we would abhorre our selves and repent in dust and ashes First To apply this to our purpose ye must take Gods way if you meane to doe Gods worke and this way you cannot choose but take when ever ye goe to worke as workmen that need not be ashamed feeling the law of their Relation written upon their hearts Secondly Preach Christ unto the People lift Him up as an Ensigne before them So the Apostles did so the Ministers of Christ doe that feele the law of their Relation they tell their hearers what lost ones they are without Him what glorious creatures they are being found and accepted in Him His fullnes will convince us as one saith abundantly of our emptinesse His Job 9. 148. purity will shew us our spotts His All sufficiencie our nothingnesse labour by all meanes attend and insist upon the meanes which you cannot but doe if you feele the law of your Relation how to wooe for Christ as His Paranymphs speaking a good word for Him Thirdly Be sure you lay your ground-worke well we are more than jealous of you about that matter as we told you before Tell your people home as you can to their hearts what a Cup of wrath they are borne to and that they must drinke it up to the bottome the very dregs of it if they goe out of the world as they came in without any reall change wrought upon them by the Word and Spirit for they were borne Children of wrath so soone as they were Children of men and they have been ever since they were borne filling-up their measures and after their hardnesse and impenitent heart treasuring-up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous Judgement of God Fourthly And tell them herewithall which you must needs doe if ye know the law of your Relation and feele it written upon your hearts That their Church priviledges they hold themselves borne unto being Baptized there trusted to and gloryed In as the manner is stand them in no more stead than the Arke at Shiloh did the Jewes or sacrifices multiplyed or the Temple of the Lord The Rocke and Manna Circumcision or the Lords Super administred at Corinth Beate them off from putting any Confidence in the flesh if you doe not you doe nothing to purpose nay you must tell them more If no inward glory be gained by our glorious priviledges which indeed the Nation partakes off above many if not above all in the world these will serve but to expose us to more wrath and fiery indignation from the Lord rendring our condition worse than was theirs of Corasin Math. 10. 15. â—am 4 6. 10. Ezek. 5. 10. and Bethsaida and our judgement from the Lord more intollerable even in this world as Jerusalems was and at the end thereof than Sodome's and Gomorrah's was And these things you will speake before the people sadly and mournfully as the Apostle saith weeping for you know who said it though you know he was an Heathen If you will have us weepe you must weepe first When you find the law of your Relation pressing upon your spirits Ye will not mention before your people the principles of Infant Baptisme as ye have glossed them with a Comment worse than the text nor will you make mention of god-fathers or god-mothers either Something we have read how they came in at first But when the law of your Relation constraineth you ye will see no need of them now the Church of the living God shall be no more abused with them nor that ordinance prophaned But these things yee know better than we can tell you Blessed are ye if ye doe thereafter And what are you if ye doe contrary to what you know we say not but leave it upon your thoughts Fifthly Preach sound doctrine to them holding fast the forme of sound words and whatsoever is contrary to it Command them to bid defiance to it yea to curse it as Paul did being that which their soule must abhorre when they feele the law of their Relation Thus ye doe ye will say but we doubt it because your people are so well pleased with your doctrine Now certaine it is as once the Apostles found it to be and told us it would ever be especially in these latter times they will not endure sound doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 3. which will make them sound in the saith Sound doctrine is to a swinish spirit such is every spirit by nature till the good Spirit hath wrought thereon like a corroding plaister to proud flesh or a launce to a sore full of corruption which will cut to the core and cut it out We intend cheifly this
them ashamed first of all they have done contrary unto the true way of Gods worship They shall shame themselves for this or God will cast shame upon them He will humble them for all their abhominations before He will reveale to them the right way of the service of His house And therefore it may be God will not use those Ministers how choice soever are their parts who departed from God when there was a generall departure of the Nation for why may it not be now as once God threatned when Israell dâ—d depart from Him to false worship That they should beare their iniquities they might be imployed in meane services but they should not Come neare Him The Lord had listed up His hand against them And it may be feared the Lord may doe so against some Ministers now adayes How ever except there be extraordinary repentance and taking shame unto themselves The Lord may remember what they have done when Israell departed from God and what their complaints were and what little use and improovement they have made of the blessed liberties they have had since to order matters in their Lords house full-up to what He hath commanded In the next place Secondly They that know whose spokesmen they are in whose stead they stand have learnt Christ and can teach Him useing great boldnes and liberty of speech They are as the Officers of a great Prince going before Him to praepare a way for Him and will make bold to strike and to scatter those unruly throngs of men who presse too neare upon His sacred preson They will boldly smite with the rod of His mouth they will cry aloude and not spare they will as he saith pull downe mountainous lusts subdue strong holds They will in the strength of God that is the scope and end of their Ministery bring low every mountaine and hill make the crooked straight and the rough smooth This in desire and endeavour they doe And if any shew themselves stout against against God making their browes brasse These will set their faces as flint against all these for so God hath commanded and so doth the law of their Relation command Thirdly They doe all things in right order and according to their patterne they proclaime war first with mens lusts comeing as with a sword in their hand and fire in their mouth against them and so make roome for peace in the hearts of men which passeth all understanding But they will make them know first they are enemies to this peace while they are enemies to holinesse and friend with themselves and their sins These that understand their Commission the power of Christ they are invested with together with the law of their Relation will assure them that they must cast hell upon their sins or upon their soules If they will continue to be workers of iniquitie they will hold-on to worke out their damnation to the utmost Fourthly They that preach as men that know the law of their Relation find not one principle of holinesse no not one thorough the whole booke of God which is peaceable Indeed all tends to peace at last but intends warre at first What may be found among the principles of Infant Baptisme they know not nor will they seeke to know They will goe by Scripture-rule which assureth them if they please men mens lusts they cannot please God Fifthly These searching and reprooveing Ministers these profit the hearers and doe their soules good these and onely these whereas a partiall unsearching and un-reprooveing Minister to use that learned mans words is one of Gods curses against a place the forerunner of a finall and fearefull visitation Hos 9. â— The dayes of visitation and recompence come saith the Lord the Prophet is a foole the spirituall man is mad for the multitude of iniquitie and the great hatred If a man Mich. 2. 11. walking in the Spirit and falshood that is professing the worke of a spirituall man and yet betraying His Office or in a false and lying Spirit prophecying of wine and strong drinke that is cherishing and encourageing sensuall Livers in their pernicious courses He shall even be the Prophet of this people Thus in all ages and never more apparently thus than now in our dayes hath the Lord punished with an extreame revenge the Rebellion of a people against His Gospell Sixthly They that will preach the Truth as it is in Jesus as their love of Christ and law of their Relation constraineth them shall find Luthers words true That this preaching will derive the hatred of the world against them They shall stand as a Marke for all the world with the god thereof to shute against Therefore for something hath been spoken this way already and more may be spoken anon In the last place Seventhly These are and there is more than need they should be so above the world They are dwellers in heaven Christ in them by His Spirit they in Him by their faith they feele the law of their Relation working as strongly in them as the law of sin in their enemies and so they can as was said of Luther beare the hatred and shocke the rage and violence of the whole world they have a backe of steele and underneath everlasting Armes they cannot be greatly mooved never remooved from their Anchor-hold We proceed § 3 The law of the Relation written upon a Ministers heart is marvailously prevailing to regulate his practise before his people and within Gods house First His practice will be humble and meeke so he will walke with his God and before His people The Godly wise A lifted-up spirit in any man the greatest closer of the heart against the truth of God Dr. Owen of Jol. 72. will never thinke him to be a man of God if he be proud and haughtie It was a distinguishing Character that Beda gives whereby to know a man of God and that he will preach to the people the preaching of God If he be a man of God follow him saith he of Augustine that counterfeit Saint And Englands faigned Apostle But how shall we know said the people whether he be a man of God or no Beda answered If he be gentle and lowly of heart he carryeth the yoake of the Lord and will offer unto you to carry the same yoake but if he be disdainfull and proud then it is certaine he is not of God nor hath heard Gods word nor can endure His yoake and little good service can he doe A proud person being like a gouty hand or swelled Arme which troubleth the body doth it no service Surely a true servant of Christ is as like his Lord and Master as can be lowly and meeke for he remembers still that for His sake and to teach him He stooped as low as the feete and washed them and a little while after became a Worme and no Man humbled Himselfe and became obedient unto the death even the Death of the Crosse Secondly As he
lifting every day but conscience holds it and will not let the forme of it goe the power was never there Well we grant that no principle of this way so far as we know is peaceable It yeilds no peace to the flesh but to the Spirit peace peace For being an holy or pure way it must needs be peaoeable first pure then peaceable O it is a peaceable way James 3. 17. to the Spirit It yeelds more peace to the Spirit renewed in one houre than that peaceable principle of Infant Baptisme can yeild the person all his life time Nay that peaceable principle is like to end in desperate sorrow There is no peace to this peace to be subject to the Prince of peace the more subject thou art in thy walke to Him the more peace shall be upon thee The connexion of these two is observable Of the encrease of His government and of His peace there shall be no end to shew saith that Saint on earth now in Heaven Dâ— Preston That as His government encreaseth in mens hearts and is enlarged so as a man is made more subject to Him so also peace Eph. 5. 9. encreaseth In those that are most subject there is most peace and therefore He is called the Prince of peace for where He rules as a Prince there is that peace which He as a mighty Prince is able to procure to them But He landeth upon the soule as an Enemy and with His sword makes a Conquest there before He is to that soule a Prince of peace Object 4. This way causeth differences betwixt Neighbours and Friends whereas observe it well they that walke in the way of a Nationall Church both Ministers and people as Mr Hs sayes and we find it to be just so are very well accorded there is no difference between us Ans This makes for the way still to be the way of Holines and that other way to be the way of wickednesse because they are all that walke in that broad way so well agreed and accorded We doe believe That the veriest varlet in the National Church agrees with Mr Hs Mâ— Prynne and John Timson and are all three all one as to that Doctrine of free admission That all are to be admitted even the worst of all to the Lords Table so be they stand not excommunicated These three are in one way and of one judgement how or wherein can they differ I have said Luther Non aliud habco robustius Argumentum no stronger Argument against the Pope and his shavelings than this That they are all agreed platted together like thornes against Christ and the offence of the Crosse ceaseth amongst them This banding against Christ and though in other things they differ greatly all true Christians hath accorded deadly enemies as once it did Herod and Pilate for upon the like account they were made friends together who before were at enmity between themselves Luke 23. 12. Truely we cannot readily find a more peaceable principle raking in the dunghill of Popish superstitions than is this That although the worst of all are to have free Admission to the Lords Table The Ministers of that perswasion hold to this the people love to have it so what disagreement For observe Secondly Those places and persons and their way where their Religion is rivited-in by Infant Baptisme Observe it in villages Townes Cities and see how quietly and peaceably they live no difference among them in point of Church-Administrations Then againe observe those places where Religion hath been Rivited-in by preaching the Gospell the power of God to salvation and see what deadly fewdes and devillish differences there are there occasioned by those hellish lusts in the hearts of men which Gospell-light comes to discover and with a sword in its hand to slay and with fire in its mouth to consume We would remember more of Luthers words here also If we were all quiet and lived at peace one with another while yet we live in our sinnes It is a sure signe the Gospel is not come unto us or it be come it hath made no conquest over us it hath not throwne fire amongst us we have not felt it cutting like a sword making division betwixt us and our lusts for how well accorded and like Friends doe we live while Friends and well accorded with our lusts Truly said Luther Nisi tumultos istos videâ—em Christum in mundo non crederem Math. 10. 34. Luke 12. 51. unles I should see what I doe see and heare what I doe heare words like swords drawne out against God and all good men troubles and tumults and divisions I should not beleeve the Gospell to be in the world for it brings a sword with it where ever it comes and causeth Division As we have read from our Lords own mouth and so have we heard and seene It is notable if we can observe it That the people of God were never vexed with more and more strange adversities or grievances to the flesh than at that when the Lord Christ lived amongst them when were there more leapers palsied men and women lunaticks and men possessed with Devills so usually it is with our Spirits when Christ Jesus our Lord lives within us for He brings a sword and maketh Division there before He establisheth peace in our borders We proceed-on here Tell us we pray you what difference have you observed for we doubt not but you have made your observation in the place where you were borne betwixt Pastor and people there or in any other place where you have made your observation and there is like Priest like people as the one is such like are the other and a just agreement betwixt them for indeed what should make difference here in this broad way of the Nation The whole Nation is Baptized and every person there and now Religion is Rivited into them by their Infant Baptisme and thereby they are instated in and possessed of all Church-priviledges for that is the peaceable principle thereof Certainly those make-bates the Spirit of the world without and that uncleane Spirit of man within will cause no difference there They all goe-up to their meeting place as friends then up to the Lords Table as Beleevers Disciples Saints and in the After-noone to the Ale-house if they please their Church will passe no censure upon them what difference can be here for Aske them now what they would have more to make peace amongst them and to take away all differences Their Minister will give it to them having indulged them so much if they can tell what they would have more as to Church Administration We teâ—â— our perswasion That Satan himselfe as to their Church matters desires no more and he seekes their peace so far that he will not disquiet them and therefore he will not visibly appeare among them though he is their God Prinoe by choice and the head of their company amongst whom there
is so full a consent and no difference at all To shut up this The way of the holy wherein Christ walketh with them or in them as they in Him is as different from the way wherein the uncleane walke as their person are so they looke not to the differences They are no cause but an occasion of it a Every man should â—ay The occasion did bâ—t helpe the pâ—incipâ—ll was my heart Heb. 12. 14. They follow peace with all men and giving a just offence to no man holines without which no man shall see God Wee will take in here worthy Mâ— Mantons words All true peace and sweet agreement is founded in purity and holines which meekneth spirits And the purest and sweetest agreement is in the truth First there is a pure language and then one shoulder Zeph. 3. 9. One faith is urged by the Apostle as the ground of union Eph. 4. He will bring it to that at length The world looketh at purity as the make-bate but it is the great reconciler The world would have stirres ended they would have no difference in Church matters neither would they have holines So in those matters they must be well accorded amongst themselves But the counsell is seasonable Have salt in your selves and peace one with another Mark 9. 50. Doctrine must be kept wholesome and Truth retaine its savour and acrimony and then looke after Agreement Certainly where God hath put enmity between those there will be a difference whilest the world stands what a difference what a war what a contention what a bloody field is fought within the bosome of some Godly persons at all times If not of every Godly person sometimes The flesh fighting against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. the Spirit against the flesh for these two are contrary The carnall Rom. 8. 7. mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be You may as well perswade darkness to shine as the fleshly mind to obey and be at peace with the spirit of the mind renewed When all differences are accorded betwixt righteousnes and unrighteousnes Truth and falshood so as these may kisse and embrace each other When Christ and Belial Earthly Adam and spirituall Adam when these shall meet and comply each with other Then shall the broad way and the narrow be accorded too and no difference between the walkers therein There is no more sure signe of an holy way than that the unholy differ from it come not neare it turne their backe upon it and passe away as they should doe from sinne turne from it as an abhomination That is an holy way sure whereto the wicked stand so crosse and contrary Let our soules choose and delight in the choice of that way which is an abhorring to the flesh Object 5. Yea but they That pretend to this holy way and to walke in it make it but a pretence sure They are quite out of the way for observe how supercilious they are and censorious they passe by others with a kind of scorne bidding them as they bid stand by come not neare us for we are holier than you Ans To this we will say this first That looke what a man is in being he is in working the meaning is If his being is in Christ his walke is in Christ If he be out of Christ he is without God in the world and his walke is after the flesh and according to the world most contrary to Holines But for this holy man that walks in the wayes of holines In desire and endeavour his conversation is most exact and pure And of any sin though he cannot say he is free from any yet he can say his soule abhorres the least slighting much more the scorning of any be he or she never so bad Oh no they that converse with him are his witnesses and God also that he is so farre from scorning or slighting of others that he is more enclined to mourning than to scorning he can mourne over the Contrary minded and if he might be suffered he would repâ—oove them for their contrary walking even weeping letting as many teares fall from his eyes as words from his mouth or when his eyes are dry his heart mournes or he wisheth it might be so And groanes from the heart are as acceptable as teares from the eyes as was said perishing for ever is such a mournefull dreadfull thing to his thoughts He considers withall who made the difference and what hath he that he hath not received then why should he glory either in himselfe or over others No he that walks humbly with his God cannot walke proudly before others he is meeke and gentle towards all waiting when God will give repentance There is one consideration and two Scriptures amongst many which the good Spirit hath brought home unto this man and sealed upon his heart whence it is he walkes humbly loathing himselfe and admiring free grace The Consideration is That all the Sonnes of Adam by nature Mr. Brinsley are as one saith like so many carkases buried together in the same Church-yard or lying together in the same Golgotha or Calvery thesame Charnell house Now this man suppose it so hath Joh. 5. 25. heard the voice of the Son of God in the Ministry of the Gospell and now he is risen from the dead for Christ hath given himselfe Eph. 5. 14. Surely he hath no cause of glorying over his brother that may lye still rotting in that grave but infinite cause hath he of glorying in his God all the day long who hath made such a difference even because it pleased Him whereas as to outward accomplishments and naturall endowments his brother might be like a flourishing Bay-tree and he a poore shâ—â—â—b or bramble-bush His pride were Eccles 4. 14. intollerable that out of a prison cometh to reigne or of a despicable wretch is new become Prince in all Lands This is the Psal 45 16. humbling consideration He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden The well minding an oppressing Egypt and an Read Holy Mr Sanders p 103. howling wildernes will keepe the heart very low in Canaan The Scriptures are these And such were some of you 1 Cor. 6. 11. Observe we well what some of them were Speake evill of no man be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meeknesse unto all men why for we our selves also were c. Tit. 3. 2 3. Wee thought it fit to be the longer here though indeed we hasten to an end because we find good Mr Baxster after his manner dealing not so kindly as became him with the people of God at this point and in these words I confesse I have no great zeale to shut Christ out of all other Societies and coope Him up to the Congregations of these few that say to all the rest of the Churches stand by we are more holy than you These words are in his Preface
Creature but we owe our lives to God our best service and all so we owe not as we conceive our Religion to Infant Baptisme but to the glorious worke of the Spirit together with the Ministry of the word thereby as an Instrument in the Spirits hand He Riviâ—â—s Christian Religion into the body of a Nation and into the hearts of His people growne up to the yeares of understanding Let the Covenant be opened first the abundant riches of grace therein through Jesus Christ whereunto we owe our selves and all and the seales will follow of course We take leave to tell our perswasion A godly Minister looseth more by giving so much to Infant Baptisme than he will gaine by his praying for the successe of the Gospell his God hath intrusted him with Againe ye pray for the full 〈◊〉 and liberty of Gods Ordinances doe ye not Take heed ye doe not 〈◊〉 â—ut the sinewe of this your prayer and quite weaken it by granting a liberty free Amission to all whilest you set parity aside as a neglected thing though it be the maine even the all of the Duty Remember ye should still the one is to be as full as the other full liberty and as full purity A liberty without purity will certainly bring us into straightness of place which we English anguish Rom. 2. 9. such as we cannot tell what to doe-in to get one minutes time of ease If ye will give liberty see it be stinted and bounded within the bounds and limits which God hath set us To keepe within the compasse of Gods Commands is the best liberty of all Then shall I have liberty when when I keepe all thy Commandements If we Psal 119. 45. would have liberty out of God and beyond His bounds our liberty will proove our misery our undoing and utter destruction Looke ye to it as ye looke God should looke after you and your prayers That ye carve not forth so liberally in your Lords matters granting to your people a full liberty without regard had at all to full purity But having said so much against your full liberty and all those impurities which cleave as fast to that liberty as ever any did to their Idol we will say no more here onely as ye goe on praying ye will goe on sinning and provokeing your Lord to His face in His owne House if ye doe not looke better to His Administrations there than hitherto ye have done Seventhly Be pleased to Consider That the Body whereof our glorious Lord is the Head and the Saviour is as like Him as likenesse can be a very comely and a glorious Body and however little glory or comelines may appeare from without and none at all in the worlds eye yet is she all glorious within partakeing of her Lords owne glory though not in the same degree and every one of this Mothers genuine Children are made Princes in all lands where any one of them is there is a Prince how poore and meane soever the out-side be for whatever the Lord-Christ is by Nature he and she are by Grace Consider we pray you this thing then we know what will follow upon this Consideration so be ye be much if not wholy in it That the fire will consume all that is glorious in the world yet a very little while and there will be no excellencie but the excellencie of Christ and His Church and Children we are bold to presse you unto this Consideration againe because ye and we know what must needs follow thereupon First Ye will give the Lord Christ the preheminence in your assemblies and at His Table specially ye will set His deare Children Beloved Friends and faithfull servants next unto Him And by no meanes will ye suffer that which may offend or grieve them And ye will stave off those nasty filthy Creatures two footed Dogs and swine from comeing neare unto them till they have bethought themselves what they are and of their uncleannesse And Secondly As ye know The first thing the Spirit of grace doth within doores is to set God and Christ in His own place the heart so that person that is acted by that Spirit will shew forth or proclaime Gods Justice in the world and Christ His Righteousnesse in His Church which is to set Him in His place a King and a Prophet a Prince and a Saviour and perswade an hearty obedience and subjection to Him to be directed by Him for if a man be subject to Christs Kingly Office His Propheticall office shall guide him and cause him not to erre in that he speaks from God or to God or in what he is to doe for God and His People CHAP. VII WE would give you two or three Scriptures to muse upon draw two or three things from them and then draw to a close of all The first Scripture Isa 52. 1. From henceforth there shall no more come into them the uncircumcised and the uncleane The like promise ye have Joel 3. 17. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy Mountaine Then shall Jerusalem be holy and there shall no Stranger passe through her to defile her No stranger to open that notion as we read Mr. Caâ—yl Job 15. p. 89. it opened unto us No stranger that is no child of Bolial no wicked person shall passe through her to defile and pollute her But strangers may passe through her to be visited and relieved by her The other Scriptures Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another Acts 2. 42 43. They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship And all that beleeved 1 John 1. 3. Truely our fellowship is with the Father and with His Sonne Jesus Christ Rev 21. 27. 22. 15. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth nor whatsoever worketh an Abhomination for without are Dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters And who so loveth and maketh a lye From the premised Scriptures we would Conclude First SECT I. First THat it is one of the highest priviledges promised to the Church that a time shall come when the wicked shall not come unto her Awake awake Put on thy strength O Sion put on thy beautifull garments O Jerusalem the Holy City Wherefore must Jerusalem the Holy City awake thus and be ready in her dresse in her beautifull garments why there is good newes for her from henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and uncleane As if He had said In times of Sions defection or opposition when there was no due Reformation of worship nor order among worshippers than the uncircumcised and uncleane came and stood yea even dwelt with thee as thy owne Children but oh Jerusalem A Time shall come when the uncircumcised and the uncleane shall not so much as come into thee they shall be rejected and cast out for ever Prophane ones shall find no place