past feeling gaue themselves ouer to worke all vncleannesse with greedinesse Which ignorance and blindnesse is so greate a sinne and so greate a cause of sinne that the Psalmist saith Psa 79.6 powre out thy wrath vpon the heathen that haue not knowen thee and vpon the Kingdoms that haue not called vpon thy name And the Apostle saith that the Lord Iesus shall come from heauen with his mightie Angels 2. Thes 1.7 8. in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God That is because they care not for this greate favour he vouchsafeth to reueale himselfe in revealing his word in theese and other things vnto sinfull men that by receiving the loue and knowledge of his eternall word and truth they may be made Sonnes and friends of God to obey him better then they haue donne For as Ioseph by the favours his maister shewed him was taught to denie to sinne with his mistresse So this greate grace of God Tit. 1.11 bringing salvation hath appeared to all men Teaching vs that denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world So that the more saveing knowledge there is in a man there will be the more faith pietie righteousnesse and holinesse of the truth The Angels in heaven doe Gods will better then we because they know him better rhen we and wee shall doe it better when wee know him better when wee shall see him as he is Therefore Peter saith Grace and peace be multiplied vnto you through the knowledge of God 2. Pet. 1.2.3 Chap. 3.18 Exod. 34.6 and of Iesus our Lord. Therefore when Moses desired to see and know God he shewed himselfe in theese words The Lord Jehouah strong mercifull gracious long suffering abundant in kindnesse and truth reserving mercie for thousands forgiveing iniquitie c. This beeing a summe of the Gospell And therefore also Paul prayeth for this as one of the greatest blessings that can be that the Father of glorie may giue vnto you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him Ephes 1.17 the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing inlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs ward that beleeve That wee may be filled with the knowledge of Gods will Col. 1.9 in all Wisdom and spirituall vnderstanding Knowing as was shewed that this worketh sanctification that the Image of God is renewed in knowledge Ephes 4.24 and thereby in righteousnesse and holinesse of the truth Not holinesse of mens inventions and traditions but in holinesse of the truth Which is when they are confident that they neede not that any man teach them but as the same Truth teacheth them of all things and is truth and is no lie That while Prelates teach other things it is more then needeth That wee should all speake the same thing to avoide divisions but that must be the Testimonie of God 1. Cor. 2.1 which the Apostles declared vnto vs otherwise divisions cannot be avoided For men must contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints holding i◠fast and when they professe as much that is to haue the Seale name or marke of God in theire forheads For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Character or marke comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to make a deepe impression Letters are therefore called Characters because those elements wee first learne leave a stronge seale in our memories So doth the Doctrine of God in the heart and Soule where he promised to write it Ier. 31.33 I will put my Law in theire inward parts and write it in theire hearts So doth he his promises whereby wee are made to beleeve obey and consequently sealed with the marke or Image of God Ephes 1.13 In whome also ye trusted after that ye heard the word of truth in whome also after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise Thus the Lord sealeth men by the ministrie or his word and cooperation of the Holy Ghost God saith Paul 2. Cor. 3.3 6 17.18 hath made vs able ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit which giveth life and consequently sealeth Now the Lord that is Christ the word is that Spirit Namely which wee administer to the Soule and vnderstanding and which sealeth Wherefore he addeth That is the word of the Lord. wee all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glorie of the Lord are changed into the same Image and consequently sealed therewith And that seale is in theire forheads when they professe it and that they will receive it and no other So it is saide Hurt not the earth nor the Sea nor the trees till wee haue sealed the Servants of our God in theire forheads Theese are such as receive the Testimonie of Christ and no other Doctrine vnlesse it follow from the same Such behoulding Romish superstition prophesied in Sackcloth yet could not be hurt by the locusts the Monkes and Friars all theire tales of purgaterie affright not them They haue the Fathers name written in theire forheads because the word is called his name and expresseth him as an Image on a Seale doth him whose Image it is I haue manifested thy name vnto the men which thou gavest me Ioh. 17.6.8.11 that is thy word as it followeth I haue giuen them the words which thou gauest me they haue received them Keepe through thine owne name those which thou hast giuen me That is through thy word 1. Pet. 1.5 Heb. 1.2 who are kept by the povver of God that is by the word of God by which all things were made and are vpheld Now then this eternall and divine word by which the world was made and is vpheld is called the Fathers Name as beeing his word the brightnesse of his glorie and Character of his substance that is his expresse Character which expresseth him and wherewith wee are sealed which Character or word the Sonne is therefore they are also saide to haue the Sonnes name on theire forheads Reu. 19. Now on his head were many crownes and a name written v. 12. which shewed what he was and his name is called the word of God Of which therefore and for which all Kings should hold theire crownes and not of the Pope nor for his traditions and service Thus Iohn saith He that continueth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne 2. Ioh. the Father and his word Therefore it must needes be the marke of God Reu. 19. Chap. 15.6 chap. 11. Reu. 21.17 Chap. 22. which he had who saith J am thy fellow Servant and of thy brethren which haue the Testimonie of Iesus And that is also proved by this that he is one of the seaven Angels that commeth out of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie that is
THE FALL OF BABYLON IN VSVRPING ECCLESIASTICALL POWER AND OFFICES AND THE MISERABLE ESTATE of them that pertake of her fornications Revelation 18.4 Come out of her my People that ye be not pertarkers of her sinnes and that ye receyve not of her plagues Imprinted in the yeare of our Lord. 1634. THE PREFACE TO THE Reader IT was a question prophetically asked of those times wherein the Church and truth of God should suffer greatest persecution and opposition why doe the Heathen rage Psa 2. and the People imagine a vaine thing The Kings of the Earth set themselves the Rulers take counsell together against the Lord and against his Christ saying Let us breake theire bands asunder and cast theire cords from us But for all these forces and devises of men who are not Iewes indeed Christians indeede but Gentiles and Heathen Yet saith God have I set my King upon my holy hill of Syon and that as he saith to have the Heathen for his inheritance and the ends of the Earth for his possession eyther to rule them by the rod of his power by the revealed word or to break them in pieces like a Potters vessel â—or it had beene sâ—yde He shall judge among the Nations Isa 2. Well therefore is it added Be wise now therefore o ye Kings be instructed ye Iudges of the earth Serve the Lord with feare c. For as the Church of God in generall so every true member of it will be ready to say Chap. 33. The Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King and that therefore it were a happy thing if Princes and States would be pleased to consider that they are onely Lords over men properly and directly as they are theire subjects and not as they are Christs Disciples Christians and spiritually his subjects withall that God is not pleased with unwilling worshippers whereby neyther Christian societies are bettered nor the persons themselves For while all are compelled to a conformitie especially if it be in things not according to the word of God many haveing presently theire Religion in respect of mans authority not of Gods become Hypocrites Timeservers and a kinde of Atheists which is worse such men by theire formalitie though they have litle else in them doe oft attaine authority in such Churches and thereby get dominion over mens faith in other things For though in the primitive times the Bishops of Rome had no such ample power yet the fi st step to it was that of imposing conformitie in things devised by men by them counted indifferent and innocent if not proffitable and necessary which power beeing graunted them they soone got authority over all Ministers and People and then so much over Kings that in verie pollicie they thought it theire best course to hold all theire subjects in matters of Religion to the obedience of the Church of Rome rather then to adventure the danger of her displeasure whereby they brought both themselves and theire subjects into a far worfe thraldom then that of the Aegyptian bondage What reason then is there that this power thus Popishly taken up should still be maintayned against the poore subjects From the beginning it was not so For the Ancients finding the burden imposed by Heathen Tyrants to be intollerable sayde Tertull. that it is no propertie of Religion to compell to Religion which ought to be taken up freely that no man is forced by the christians against his will Lactanc seeing he that wants faith and devotion is vnserviceable to God and that God not beeing contentious would not be worshipped of the vnwilling And in deede after he had manifested his whole truth the new Ierusalem his true church if these things would not serve to convince men he saith He that is vniust let him be vniust still and he that is filthie Rev 22. let him be filthie still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still Yet doe I not denie all compulsion to the hearing of Gods word as the meanes to worke religion common to all sorts good and bad much lesse excuse civill disobedience palliated with religious shewes and pretences vsed by Annabaptists others or condemne necessarie restraint of publik idolatrie the excercise of all erronious religions So as these rules of reason be held inviolâ—ble That the bond betweene Magistrate and subject is essentially civill but religious accidentally only th ugh eminent So that he is only to hinder and punish that which God would have hindred and punished and to cherish that only which God would have cherished and not by the cunning of prevaricators who serve not the Lord Iesus but theire owne bellies to be drawne either to hold them guiltie that follow Gods Testament or those guiltlesse who erre in theire hearts practises because they have not known his waies nor indeede will know them whence it may come to passe that he that persecutes the chu ch of Christ defeÌ„deth the Synagogne of Satan may thinke he doth God service when he hath rather cause to feare that he helpeth his grand enemie the devill I have therefore endeavoured to shew these things in the fall of Babylon and withall that as the christian Magistrate hath his power of Magistracie from God which his Christianitie serves to sanctifie and direct so vndoubtedly he is to vse it for God and his honour and that in his true worship in which he is espetially honoured and only against the contrarie The world doth ring of three complaints 1. When a State professeth the reformed Religion hath Churches governed by Elders as neere as it can to the practise of the primitive Churches yet by a tolleration or connivance gives leave to Annabaptists Arminians Lutherans Papists and others to have Churches in the same Cities 2. When a State is of the Popish Religion and maintaynes it yet both gives absolute tolleration to the reformed Religion and contemnes it as in France 3. When a State professeth the Protestant Religion and withall a hierarchie traditions and Ceremonies which are Romishe commanding all to a conformitie in them and forbidding all confutation of them and of some other Popish Arminian tenets and practises much connived at In the two first men say if Sathan have a Synagogue or Throne in the one ende of a Citie yet Christ hath a Throne in the other his Temple is open and his Servants have libertie to serve him as the primitive Churches did neyther is any man compelled to other they may freely preach write against all errours This cannot be sayde of the third and therefore if a poore Christian that would flie out of Babylon be forced to dwell in one of them let him learne by Christs word in which he ought to take up his habitation THE FALL OF BABYLON IN VSVRPING ECCLESIASTICALL POWER AND OFFICES And the miserable estate of them that pertake of her Fornication THE church
may finde by the Scriptures if he doe but observe that rule of Christ Ioh. 7.17 If any man will doe his will that is be ordered by it he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God er whether J speake of my selfe Men can not know the truth in this point because they are not willing to know it much lesse to doe it and hold it fast as they are willed But because God hath suffered diocessan Bishops so many hundred yeares and hath not sodainly slaine them when they began to innovate as he did Nadab Abihu and Vzza therefore men are so foolish as to thinke he is so well pleased with the invention that now it should not be so much as questioned when they know if that argument were good the like might be saide for Antichrist who began to rise and raigne with them yet will not men see it Much lesse will they beleeve that as for lesser presūptions in the Corinthians Paul saith for this cause many are weake and sick and many sleepe 1. Cor. 11.21.31 so God punished these as well at theire first rising with the persecutions as since with many plagues spiritual temporall Eccl. 8.11 Psa 50.21 Because sentence against an euill vvorke is not executed speedily therfore the heart of the Sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe euill J kept silence and thou thoughtest that I vvas altogether such a one as thy selfe That is wel enough pleased with thy works But I vvil reproue thee and set them in order before thine eyes and as the Prophet sheweth Ier. 5.1.3.4.5 Isa 26.9.10.11 God inflicteth his punishmēts on a citie or people to make them seeke his truth and to bring them to the knowledge of it O Lord are not thine eyes vpon the truth thou hast stricken them but they haue not grieued for they know not the way of the Lord they haue broken the yoke burst the bonds When thy Judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learne righteousnes The godly will but let fauour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learne righteousnesse Nor yet when the hand of God is vpon them Exod. 32 34. When thy hand is lifted vp they will not see But they shall see be ashamed for their enuie at the people and as he saith in a like case In the day vvhen I visit Ier. 12.1 Habak 1.13 I will visit theire sinne vpon them In the meane time why should any godly man be so moved at their prosperitie as to put forth his hand to their wickednesse or in discontent to say wherfore doth the way of the wicked prosper wherefore are all they happy that deale verie trecherously For then he will make them to see that his church is called the Tabernacle of the Testimonie The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie in heauen was opened Reu. 15.5 Chap. 11.19 And ther was seene in it the Ark of his Testament To shew vs that as vnder the first Testament all things concerning the Priests the service was to continue according to the first institution 1. Sam. 2.28 so ought it to be vnder the new I did giue saith God to Elie vnto the howse thy Father all the offerings made by fire to let him know they ought to haue been contented with what God had giuen them and not to take more as his Sonnes did the Testimonie was as well concerning the office and right of the Priests as other things there was not any thing to be suffered of coueteousnes ambitious vsurpation or humane inuention Deut. 19.19.20 So was it to be vnder the new Testament For when God by Moses had spoken of Christ and that which he should speake in his name it is added in the next words But the Prophet which shall presume to speake a word in my name which I haue not commaunded him to speake euen that Prophet shall die And when Christ saith Reu. 22.18 If a man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagnes written in this booke wee are not onely to take it of thrusting things into the text or adding to it but of speaking and in his name imposing on Churches and people things in religion which he commaunded not God so taxed this fault in the Iewes Isa 29.13 Mat. 15.8 that he counted all things yea theyr verie worshipping of him to be vaine while this was suffered Because in the primatiue Church men did not striue to ouercome the intruding of inuentions by holding fast Christs works vnto the end but let in now a litle and then a litle the truth was daily betrayed and lost and so it must needes be where they are maintained the lesser presumptions make way for the greater Gods word and truth is his glorie Psa 4.3 But saith he how long will ye turne my glorie into shame yet this they doe who would make it defend or allow the inventions and precepts of men This is a harlot like trick to giue her husbands goods and glorie to her adulterers But as Israel and Iudah did it so haue Christian Churches Thou ô Rome wast at first a famous Church but like them Ezech. 15. Esa 48.8 chap. 1. thou didst trust in thine owne beautie and playedst the harlot because of thy renowne thou didst deale very trecherously and wast called a transgressor from the wombe How soone did the faithfull citie become an Harlot It was full of judgment righteousnes lodged in it But now murderers c The Prophets Prophesie falsly Ier. 5.31 and the Priests beare rulle by theire meanes and my people loue to haue it so and what will they doe in the end thereof I answer they made a like custom and long continuance a warrant for theire inuentions as they doe that vpon like grounds defend euill They despise the Law of the Lord. Amos. 2.4 And their lies caused them to erre after which their Fathers walked They would rather doe as their Fa hers had donne and taught then as God commaunded By reason thereof men talke in vaine that tell them of Gods ordinance They cannot hearken Ier. 6.10 Behold the word of the Lord is vnto them a reproach they haue no delight in it I haue written to him the greate things of my Law but they where counted as a strange thing Hos 8.12 And the reason is well giuen Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the Leopard his spots Chap. 13.23 then may ye also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill All men are subject to finde excuses and even to wrest the Scriptures to defend ancient custome◠It was Gods gracious promise vnto them for all this Isa 1.25.26 Chap. 2.12 I will purge away thy drosse And I will restore thy Iudges as at the first thy counsellours as at the beginning Wee saw he hath promised as much in the case of his church for the
to his word Mar. 13.34 because himselfe gave authority to his servants the Apostles and to every man his worke Ephes 4.11.12 And by them he hath set sufficient officers in the church for the perfecting of the saints for the worke of the ministrie c. And what can wee have more If men would but see it the Elders in the Reformed churches do better looke to the order God requireth then diocessan Bishops do or can For this order is shewed in his Testament That is perâ—â—â—â— and he saith Deut. 12.32 Gal. 3.15 Thou shalt not adde thereto nor dimâ—â—â—sh frâ—m it It 〈◊〉 true Bâ—◠〈◊〉 us like Vzzâ— doe more then Goâ— commaundeth â—â—ey look to diverâ— things that Elders doe not once look afteâ— but 〈◊〉 is then after mens traditions and commaundements which turne from the truth are popish tyranical and superfluous while by obstinate defending these they make divisions and contentions contrarie to the Apostolike doctrine and so â—â—â—ve not the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 16. but theire owne bellie and by good words and faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple this is not to vphold the church of Christ but theire owne kingdom It will be saide some of them haâ—e both 〈…〉 â—d written well yea confirmed 〈◊〉 supâ—â—essed Heretâ—â—◠〈…〉 but theire numbe◠〈…〉 â—h as 〈◊〉 did in the churâ—h of Rome wherein ma◠〈◊〉 arâ—â—aâ—â— Bishops Monkes and Iesuits confute som heâ—â—â—â—â—ks and preach well in all things save for the maintenance of â—â—â—ire orders and superstition So doe English prelats How soeâ—â—â—â—â—at hath beene as well if not better performed by other miniâ—â—â—â— at home and in the reformed churches Histor of the coun of Trent p. 24. There have beene divers honest Popes who have confest som errours in the power and practise of the church as of late Adrian 6. who sending to the Diet of Noremberg confesseth many corruptions in the sea and Church of Rome and promiseth reformation But this makes the calling of Popes neuer a whit the more Lawfull or necessarie As it was with Popes so it is with Bishops the better som of them haue beene the worse for the Church for they doe but hold vp the reputation of the office and so hold way for worse successors theire traditions Neyther is it better for the suppressing of heritikes and leude liuers that one in a diocesse hath this power for he cannot looke to all the Clergie much lesse to all the people though he should minde nothing else How then can he doe it if he be a counsellour of Estate and a judge in the Starchamber and high commission Among the Clergie in England and much more among the people many are saide to be drunkards coueteous contentious hereticall Arminians non residents dumbe ministers zealous defenders of canons and ceremonies preaching litle else Popelings dunces drones persecutors of those that preach and heare the word diligently If the Bishop who cannot looke to all see not the most of them countenaÌ„ce others or be by any meanes made to connive they may keepe theire Churches and others from preaching in them and doe no good but much hurt in them which is not so in the Churches of France where there are few or rather none of this kinde that discipline hath easy meanes to remedie these things both in the Clergie and people or rather indeede it preventeth them so much better is that which God ordained then that which men after invented to mend it Againe because the Bishop might be hereticall or wicked to helpe that they ordained Archbishops and because some Archbishops might be such they ordained Patriarchs and because some of them might be corrupted as they were they admitted of Appeales and ordained a Pope and then because he might erre or be wicked as Liberius Honorius Iohn 13 and others they were forced to affirme the Pope cannot erre and in all these things men were still perswaded to contribute to theire honour wealth and power as necessarie to the kingdom of God and therfore still as this honour and power increased the Scriptures were by flatterers wrested to defend it therfore though in the invention of diocessan Bishops there was not so greate coueteousnes ambition and wickednes yet the prosecution of it to bring it to its grouth was onely to make themselves fat with the offerings of the people 1. Sam. 2.29 as God saith of the presumptious innovations and coveteous desires of Elies Sonnes Thus from the first step in ordaining diocessan Bishops the mysterie of iniquitie could not rest till it came to the height Some will say it hath not yet donne so in England But what remedie is there in the meane against the Appealer or any wicked Prelate non resident or other delinquent If as of late in the Star-chamber Bishops set themselves to defend the vse of Images in Churches yea those of the Trinitie what other Bishops or Ministers dare oppose them in pulpit or print They beeing greate and able to prefer others are sure to be flattered and followed and by this meanes theire honour and power beeing daily increased they may prevaile in these and many other cases as the Church of Rome did in theese and the like theire office therfore doth not make ready a people prepared for Christ Reu. 11. but rather for Antichrist If the witnesses will Prophesie against them it must also be in sackcloth bonds and imprisonment for they haue obtained or rather retained so much Romish power as to bring them to it and punish all that reproue them God telleth them of Babylon the greate the Mother of Harlots Chap. 17 to shew them she may haue daughters there may be Babylon the lesse yea many lesser Babylons Harlots in corruptions and fornications The counsellors of the Parliament of Paris opposed against the authority that the councell of Trent gaue to the Bishops in this kinde where the Ecclesiasticall authority they saide Histor of the councell of Trent lib. 8. p. 819. was enlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giueing power to Bishops to proceede to pecuniarie mulcts and imprisonment against the laitye whereas no authority was giuen by Christ to his ministers but meere and pure spirituall that when the Clergie was made a member and part of the policie the Princes did by fauour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergie men with temporall punishments but to vse such kinde of punishments against the laiques they had neither from the Law of God nor of man but by vsurpation onely Yet commonly the most grievous they inflict is for taking part with the Apostles in defense of the presbiterie taxing the Prelates of worldly policie and tyranie or for some disobedience or irregularity to theire power inventions and ceremonies wherein note theire hypocrisie who in the meane will not permit men to preach against images Altars bowing to them c. Much lesse any thing that sheweth the presbiterall gouernment
they will not see with theire eies nor heare with theire eares any arguments that faithfully drawnen from the Scriptures might convince and convert them but stopping theire eares against the voice of the charmer charme he never so wisely that curse seemeth to be on them which was laide on the Iewes for like sinns say vnto this people ye shall heare indeede Isa 6.9.10 but you shall not vnderstand c. For if because of these things men desire to follow the reformed churches and have things reformed according to the ordinances of the new Testament and the churches in time of the Apostles this they call foolish nicenes scrupulositie and factious straining at gnats and trifles and if any by this meanes be brought to heare the voice of Christ and to leave them they take on like a Beare robbed of her whelpes and least Princes and many others should doe the like they presently looke on theire hierarchie as on a citie besieged they fortifie it with men with stout champions and with words of mans wisdom or power with feigned words rewards or threats they guard mens eares from hearing the testimonie of Iesus that daily lies in batterie against it Men should therefore doubt that those which they count smal alterations may doe greate mischiefe and that the devil will be ready to worke it out of the least digressions from Christs institutions and rather then faile vnder colour that som good either hath or may come by them But howsoever be they never so smal matters the order and ceremonies God ordained must be observed they may not be changed for churches are willed to hold fast that which they had received and heard Rev. 3.3 The devil that made the Iewes to sinne in one extreame seeing christians take heede of that makes them to sinne in another Many Iewes stood all upon ceremonies and observing of smal matters as tithing of mint annise and cummin and observing outward sacrifices ceremonies and shaddowes they let the substance goe so doe som Christians that stand and pleade earnestlie for the ceremonies of the primitive church and that so continually that they seeme to neglect the substance of religion yea so vndiscreetly that they rather seeme to harden and strengthen the Adversaries then by good reasons to convince them Many heare this gladly and with both theire eares But their owne fault in the meane while is as greate or greater and these are two sorts 1. Some stand all as they say for the substance of religion and letting the ceremonie goe doe in effect say it mattered not for that men might change or alter it at pleasure Christ taxing them both saith of the greater and weightier things These ought ye to have donne and not to have left the other vndonne Mat. 23. Neither indeede can it be saide that the presbiterie or the ceremonies of the Gospel are smale things and not of the substance of religion but might be changed For though it be true that if it be asked what shall wee doe to live for ever wee must have most respect to the fruite of the tree of life yet if wee will be Iewes indeede christians indeede such as have right to the tree of life wee must thinke wee can not have it vnles wee take it with its proper barke and leaves wee must not say the barke and leaves are not of the substance of the tree or but smale matters for the verie leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations Rev. 22. therefore no smalle matters nor changeable and the sap and nourishment which bringeth true fruite goeth vp betweene the barke and the stock so that it may not be cut away or changed as Babylon changed both the one the other and so lost her right to the tree of life Her members and followers did not keepe theire garments vndefiled they did not walke with Christ in white they were not righteous as Zacharie and Elizabeth who walked in all the commaundements and ordinances of the Lord Luk. 1. they did not so keepe Gods commaundements as to have right to the tree of life If as they say they are smale matters they are the easier kept Speaking of mens devised hierarchie and ceremonies they say keepe and observe them as ye would preserve the life fruite and ornament of a tree if theese be broken off the tree will die all true religion decay and wither christ may say Hypocrite out of thine owne mouth I will condemne thee why then doe ye not looke to preserve the tree of life among you the new Testament and the fruite of righteousnes by preserving or restoring the barke and the leaves the presbiterie and ceremonies of the Gospel when these were broken and changed men lost theire right to the tree of life and the fruite of it and in steade thereof were nourished with corruption superstition ignorance and errour And so it will be where ever the restoring of these things is neglected or scorned and the first humane inventious and presumptions maintained There while such things are made trifles as abovesaide all things must needes grow worse and worse For Christ saith Luk. 16. He that is faithfull in the least he is also faithfull in much and he that is vnfaithfull in the least he is also vnfaithfull in much and indeede because men receive not the love of the truth in such things God gives them over to strong delusions to beleeve popish and Arminian lies in greater they will not heare of Christs raigning over them in the presbiterie in the first ordinances and ceremonies therefore God gives them over to the rule of Prelates Lords of Gods heritage such as daily burthen men with popish power and ceremonies and so get dominion over theire faith as daily experience begins to manifest in England 2. Hence it is that as many Iewes were so zealous of ceremonies ordained of God that they let goe the substance and made them the greatest part of theire Religion So others now adayes stand all for a hierarchie of Diocessan Bishops and theire traditions and ceremonies devised or confirmed by men som within two or three hundred yeares after the Apostles and som since when as if the former had beene too plaine simple if not insufficient other more solemne and magnificent were thus invented that should be of greate vse and haue notable significations whereby you might be edified if you will beleeue them They are so zealous of theese things that they let the substance goe and make them the greatest part of theire Religion which therefore must needes be a fault much worse then that of the Iewes and bring forth worse fruite because the one were ceremonies ordained of God the other devised by men Ier. 6.16 And yet in zeale of theese they tell vs this is the old and good way and abusing that place of Ieremie say wee should walke in it and are to be reproved if wee will not as if theese were the
saith They blaspheme against the Lord severing and dividing Iesus from Christ and Christ from the Saviour and againe the Saviour from the word and the word from the only begotten Now if the Bishops doe not sever the Saviour from the word and the word from the only begotten yet it is an heresie somwhat a kin to this to change the truth of God into a lie to refuse part of the Testament touching the presbiterie and to say that the same ordinances aboute this and the power of each church to choose ministers and excommunicate called the power of Christ are not now his word and ordinances nor the power of Christ to be followed of all churches that these things might be taken from them and given to one in a diocesse which is indeede to take them from Christ who hath trusted the churches with them that they are things indifferent that councels and Kings might change them or set vp others that turne from the Truth and are soe contrarie that his will is that these should now be obeied and followed and not those which himselfe ordained which is to say his will is changeable All this beeing in effect affirmed by them is downright the marke of the Beast For so papists argue in the same cases and in those of Images communion in one kinde the primacie and the like And yet we know that the new Testament and all the ordinances thereof are from everlasting yea eternall and vnchangeable Mat. 13.35 Rom. 16.35 Ephes 1.9.11.2 Tim. 1.9 Ioh. 12.48 and Ioh. 1.1.2.3 1. Cor. 2.7 Heb. 13.8 And so the Apostle saith Iesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same also for ever Thus they that in the Revelation weare white hold fast the testimonie of Jesus The Bishops neither doe so nor suffer others that would but with flaterie and threats make many preach and write in defense of theire power traditions ceremonies and so to make war against the lambe Bishops themselves therefore had neede of one in these cases to open theire eies to turne them from darknesse to light 2. Tim. 3.8 and from the power of Satan vnto God For as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses so doe these also resist the Truth men of corrupt mindes and by theire tyranous imposing of these things cause divisions and offences Rom. 17. contrarie to the Apostolike doctrine and therein serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but theire owne bellie and with faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple I would they that are counted both learned and wise were not as commonly deceived by theire flatteries and false glosses They likewise make men bow toward the Altar and at the name of Iesus not at other names of Christ or God his father and kneele at the receiving of the Sacrament as if they did more reverence and obey Christ the word then others that doe not these things though as wee shewed it is but a popish and a late devise And yet they themselves can not bow to Christ in his ordinance of the presbiterie and the power he gave to each church nor endure to heare of it but hinder others that would Can they be Christs Bishops When Elijah heard the voice of God he wrapped his face in his mantle for the reverence that he bare to Gods word When the Spirit of the Lord came vpon Iehazel 1. King 19.2 2. Chro. 29 14.18 so that he spake the word of the Lord Iehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground and all Iudah fell before the Lord worshipping the Lord. 2. King 20.19 And when a sentence was pronounced against Hezechiah for his sinne yet he saide Good is the word of the Lord that thou hast spoken And Iohn so reverenced the word of God that he was ready to worship the Angel that shewed it him who thereupon saide see thou doe it not worship God All these and the like places shew the greate reverence that is due to the word It is the name of Christ Rev. 19. His name is called the word of God A name that could never be given to any other a name above all names and therefore this is that name of Iesus at which every knee should bow where yet it is not so much meant of bodily worship with the knee as receiving the word with faith and obedience obeying the truth is the true worship Those that doe not this are called stifnecked such as will not bow And such are the Bishops Act. 7. who yet in the meane mock God with a beggarlie signe of such obedience which therefore is not apt to stir vp the dull minde of man to a remembrance of this duty to God but is a meere complement a shew And indeede this and other theire ceremonies insteade of doeing good serve thousands for a religion or a shew of one and in place of that wich God commandeth For brevitie sake I omit to speake of other cathedrall ceremonies and to observe the like poperie tyranie and abuse in many of theire canons courts and customes as is shewed in the Curtaine of church power Curtaine of Church power certaine it is that many have litle religion besides and that many who defend them doe it on purpose to make them inductions to other poperie and because they are fit maskes to cover theire popish or prophane practises So that beeing thus grossly abused they may and by theire owne rule ought to be taken away and cleane rejected But they will have nothing reformed or changed yet they themselves as others before them have changed the ordinance of God which is a most adulterous fact and therfore whereas som say if wee goe aboute to alter or reforme any thinge wee shall never be quiet till all be brought to Annabaptisme or Brownisme I answer this is as if one should say you may not turne a woman from poperie or adulterie for feare she turne Annabaptist They should therefore deale plainly with vs and say to maintaine theire hierarchie the greatnes of a few Prelates theire pompe theire coaches and pallaces the truth must be suppressed the church and common weale corrupted and the whole world disturbed Mic. 3.11 The heads thereof judge for reward c. yet they leane vpon the Lord and say is not the Lord among vs None evill can come vpon vs. Her prophets are light and trecherous persons Zepha 3.4 Eze. 22.26 Haba 1 3. her priests have polluted the sanctuarie they have done violence to the law There are that raise vp strife and contention Therfore the law is slacked and judgment doth never go forth for the wicked compasse aboute the righteous therefore wrong judgment proceedeth They so wrest the truth to maintaine theire hierarchie and traditions and will not see the truth of God in these things that almost all men after theire example turne prevaricators Mic. 2. â— O thou that art named of the howse of Iacob is the Spirit of the Lord streitened are