the desert and scandal of his crime without respect had to his person or place in the Commonwealth as it is in other reformed Churches of different government from this under which we live But Court-employment State-flattery sinful complyances with great Persons were the main lets which hindred you from the due discharge of your Office both in Preaching the Word and exercising the the Rod of Christ according to his minde and will while ye thought in carnall reason such means as these most effectuall for the acquiring and retaining of your greatnesse and despised those which the prudent simplicity of the Gospell did offer and commend unto you Wherefore it is no wonder if vice did reign there where flattery did abound and that in the chiefe Ministers and messengers of Truth if injustice and oppression did bear sway where one and al were taught not what they should and ought to doe according to their duty and conscience towards God but what they could or might doe by power without controule from man If men were secure in their sins where peace was proclaimed and war to be denounced against them where a profane company heard nothing for the most part decryed in the Pulpit but faction from which perchance they were alone free And what could be expected from the common people but blinde ignorance love of pleasures more then of God greater regard of this world then of the world to come when ye their chief Leaders caused them to erre not onely through your negligence but also by your example falling farre short of that integrity and holinesse which was conspicuous in the actions and sufferings of those who were not long before you resident in the same places of dignity and preheminence For although they lived upon earth they had their conversation in heaven and shone as the stars of heaven for brightnesse not onely in their life but in their death also which was precious in the sight of their Redeemer As for you their successours ye appeared in comparison of them but dim and earthy lights and I would to God some of you had not proved false likewise and deceitfull to your brethren whom ye perverted from the way of Truth and Peace by your own departing from it doing quite contrary to what your selves taught and professed before the people preaching contempt and hatred of the world to others your selves continuing in the mean while fast friends of the world exhorting them to become spirituall and as Angels when ye were carnall your selves and walked as men shewing them the way to heaven with hearts and eyes fixed on the earth For who more immoderate in their eares for the things of this life then you who more eager in the pursuit of riches and honour more tenacious in withholding good from the owners thereof then your selves who were more set upon the usuall course of inâ—iching above measure and raising your families on high If a dignity or office worth the having sel within the compass of your Diocese who was presently judged of you more worthy to possesse and manage it then a son or a nephew or a kinsman or an Allye although they were many times altogether uncapable of the honor and trust to which ye preferred them in the house of God either because they wanted ability of parts requisite thereunto or had not as yet attained to maturity of years being not much past their nonage as we have known some of them to be or in all respects undeserving persons And yet men of age and experience eminent also for learning and piety must stand unveiled before such as these to receive directions and commands from them to whom they were able and sit to give the same who through the just judgement of the Almighty have been since as much and more scorned of the meanest and most abject of their inferiours then they did now scorn others every way their superiours but in place onely Now what was this in effect but to honour your sons above the Lord as Eli did while ye did thus prefer naturall affection to spirituall duty and the care for a child before the welfare of the Church Satis vos vobis attendere rei vestrae populi vox est sat is vos strenue ditandis filiis dotandis filiabus attendere tam vero vos hac ex parte attentos esse ut haeredum magna vobis attentio successorum exigua si quae exigua est aliqua est ut prae haeredum attentione nulla sit successorum Thus a Prophet of your own Lancel Andr. conc ad cler and in this respect much more a Prophet that he forewarned you so long agoe of the present calamity which is now come upon you in these words Enim ve oâ—nisi vos vobis hae parte caveatis optimae Principis gratia Proce um favor Legâ—m terror diu vobis eavere non poterâ—nt Si doctrina ludibrium est si vita scandalum fortasse non momento uno non ictu oculi sed sensim tamen senefcet evanescet tendet ad interium Ordo vester 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How far different the Apostles carriage in the work of the Ministry was from yours whose successours notwithstanding ye were let one speak or themal and hear ye him 1 Thes 2.3 c. Our exhortation was not of deceit c. not as pleasing men c. For neither at any time vsed we flattering words c. nor of men c. But we were gentle c. so being affectionately c. wherefore God hath profaned the Princes of the sanctuary or holy Princes and have given Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproaches And what hee threatned of old is brought to pass this day upon you that they who despise him shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.30 Hov. 4 6 7. And because his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge ye also rejected knowledge the Lord hath rejected you that ye should be no Priests to kim seeing ye have forgotten the Law of your God he also hath forgotten your children As ye were increased so ye sinned against him therefore hath he changed your glory into shame Iob 14.9 Who is wise and he shall understand these things prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them but the transgressours shall fall therein To the inferiour Ministers of the Gospell HOw great in all likelyhood had the happinesse and glory of the Church been unto this day and not the Churches onely but yours also had ye all spoken the same thing still as at the first and that there had beene no divisions amongst you 1 Cor. 1.10 but that ye had been perfectly joined together in the same minde and in the same judgement according to the Apostolicall precept 1 Cor. 1.10 Mutually conspiring with one consent to promote the Truth and Peace of the Gospell by the purity of doctrine and holinesse of
example preferring these to close worldly interests and carnall ends of pride vain-glory strife covetousnesse and desire of preheminence above your brethren yea what hopes might we yet conceive of peace and happinesse after our hot and bloudy contentions about that which hath not been hitherto fully determined what it is and the wasting calamities of unnaturall war were there a true affection with faithfull and univer sall endeavour in you towards the composure of your owne and of popular differences in judgement according to the minde and will of Christ Jesus But alas it is greatly to be feared the breaches are so wide that it passeth humane industry or skill to make them up again this being a worke of his wisdome who knoweth all things and of his power who doth all things as seemeth best to his godly will For that which most hindereth this desired union doth still stand in the way Namely the unwearied practice of powerfull subtile and secret Agents to continue and enlarge your divisions even to the utter confusion and desolation of the Church And would to God your owne disaffection unto peace errour from the Truth and unequall conversation in respect of Evangelicall parenesse and perfection did not too much further the hellish designes and attempts of these men For doth not the same fire of distempered zeal still burn in the breasts and flash sometimes in the mouths of those who did heretofore set all on a flame is not your power rather restrained then your will reformed and if there be a change is it not because of your present condition not from your inward disposition and affection Jude 11. to preserve the fruit of falsehood and the reward of unrighteousnesse after which yee have greedily ran with Balaam and I pray God ye perish not in the gainsaying of Core Can you be so vaine as to imagin that the specious pretenses and plausible excuses wherewith yee have smoothed the eares of men to make way for their good conceit of your bad proceedings will finde like acceptance with God the searcher of the heart Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed in his sight as the potters clay Is 29.16 with 15. Now such as these as well as others have risen of your own selves in the last and worst age of the world speaking perverse things against the Doctrine Discipline government and Governours of the Church to draw away Disciples after them as it is Act. 20. handling the word of Christ deceitfully and forming their Doctrine not according to the impartiall rule of Truth but after their own fancy and as it might best suit with the present humour and passion of the giddy multitude preaching or rather crying up one point of doctrine to the disparagement of another Faith to the vilifying of charity and good workes of repentance and mortification as though there was no necessity of these in order to salvation because not concurring with Faith in the businesse of justification Insomuch as some have been traduced by their followers as Popishly affected for no other reason but for that they did inculcate and presse upon the consciences of men in their homilies or Sermons the duties and workes of sanctification as necessary in our Christian practice both in respect of Gods command and mans obedience due unto it and also of the heavenly reward notwithstanding nothing can be more consonant thenthis doctrine to the precepts of Christ Jesus In like manner they limited the gracious Act of Divine Predestination to those of their own sect or faction onely as if they alone had been the truly called of God the rest of men no better then castawayes for some of their disciples and those not weakly principled according to their fashion have in our hearing accounted of others who did not adhere to their way as of carnall or at the best but meer civill and morall men who were perchance partakers of common grace but aliens from that which they term Speciall and is of a saving virtue Neither have there been wanting those who have proceeded yet farther like the false Prophets of old false teachers among the people now under the Gospell foretold by the Apostle S. Peter privily bringing in damnable heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 even denying the Lord that bought them as it is to be feared bringing upon themselves swift destruction the which because unfit to be mentioned I shall passe by at the present and the rather for that many have already more then enough enlarged themselves upon this subject As for the universality of Redemption and liberty of humane will to accept or to reject divine grace offered to the choice thereof with such like doctrines agreeable to these or directly thwarting the same not to be comprehended perchance by mans understanding at least not to be clearly evidenced or proved unto either opposite party by any deductions of reason from the word of God so far as to satisfie all objections and to reconcile all seeming repugnances of controverted places the which both adversaries hold forth as their bestweapons whether for defence or for offence in this fight what fierce contentions and hot disputes to say no more have some raised about these as if Salus ecclesiae did wholly depend upon them and not rest upon a sure foundation of evidence and truth enlarging the power of mans will or freedome thereof to a morall capacity of admitting or resusing grace tendred unto it according to its pleasure while others did as much contract and limit it or rather indeed utterly deny it this pretended liberty as inconsistent with primigeniall corruption and privation of originall righteousnesse common to all who naturally descended from the loyns of our first Parents and being in truth nothing lesse then a spirituall death of that living soul which God first breathed into mortall flesh one part maintaining the divine decree concerning mans salvation or damnation to be absolute in God the other to be conditionall in man grounded upon prevision of faith and obedience in the elect of unbelief and disobedience of the truth in those that are reprobate and from hence endeavouring to shake the others confidence and certainty of perseverance unto the end the which they did apprehend that apply unto themselves from the immutability of Gods counsell purpose and will In the mean while what shiftings and fallacies have been used of both to hold their ground and to evade or elude the force of the adversaries reason insomuch as some have taught themselves and others to say in defence of the absolute decree as just and equall in it self contrary to the expresse word of Christ himself Mat. 26.24 Mat. 26.24 that it is better to have a being though in endlosse torments under the wrath of the Almighty then not to be at all a meer speculative nicety of Metaphysicall heads and too small a wyer whereon to hang the weight of such a controversie But what did the people gain
ENGLAND'S FAITHFULL REPROVER AND MONITOUR LONDON Printed by E. Cotes for Richard Royston at the Angell in Ivie-Lane 1653. The Contents 1. TO the Church of England 2. To the inferiour Ministers of the Gospell 3. To the Nobility and Gentry 4. To the expulsed Members of the University and to those now abiding therein 5. To the Judges Lawyers c. 6. To the City of London 7. To the seduced of this Nation and to as many as have separated themselves from the Communion of our Church 8. To the whole body of this Nation 9. A Post-script to the Reader ENGLAND'S Faithfull Reprover AND MONITOUR To the Church of England ALthough I am not ignorant that many will hardly allow thee the honour of this Title in the present disorder and confusion of all things yet because thou hast a name that thou livest and e rt dead Apoc. 13.1 or supposing that there is yet remaining in thee some little spark or weak degree of life notwithstanding the whole head is sick Isai 1.5 6. and the whole heart faint and from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundnesse in thee but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores let me have liberty to speak unto thee as to a languishing and dying body neither let it seem strange if I powre Wine as well as Oyle into thy wounds seeing that a deep spirituall Lethargie doth possesse thy organ of sense and motion and there is need of a loud and shrill voice to rowse and awaken thee from sleep And because thou sayest Apoc. 3.17 I am rich and increased with goods and have neâ—d of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked I shall endevour to represent unto thee as in a glasse thy many deformities blemishes and defects not to shame thee but to humble thee not to reproach thy person but to reform thy life Although perchance the shame of the world and the reproach of men are generally more prevalent with thy children then the hope of heaven or the fear of hell then the love or the terrour of their Maker Wherefore if this my weak and imperfect labour shall be any waies serviceable for the discovery of thy maladies and the recovery of thy health or in any respect instrumentall to thy spirituall welfare I have the desired fruit and reward thereof and let glory be given unto him to whom alone it doth of right belong It was once the happinesse and glory of thy children that they had Pastours both learned and faithfull instructors peaceable as well as pure who adorned the truth of their Doctrine with the holinesse of their conversation and were carefull to preserve thy unity no lesse inviolable then that incorrupt But alas this thy goodnesse was as the morning cloud Hos 6.4 and as the early dew it went away And thy glory like that of Ephraim did flie away like a bird from the birth Hos 9.11 and from the womb and from the conception For the leaders of thy people soon caused them to erre and thy chief shepherds sent forth unskilfull and blinde guides among them who knew not the way of their steps or such who loved to wander themselves and by their lewd example drew others aside from the paths of righteousnesse and of peace or those who were sluggish and cared not for the flock but for the fleece only preferring their own bodily ease to the welfare of their brethrens most precious souls and the short pleasure of sin to the lasting comfort of a good conscience yea how many of thy children did love to have it so that there might be like Priest like people and being corrupted by long prosperity and peace or prepossessed with pride worldly interest covetousnesse and desire of gain or blinded with passion and prejudice against their Teachers or glutted with the common use and plenty of their spirituall Manna they could no longer endure sound Doctrine or those who taught is as the truth is in Jesus But after their own lusts 2 Tim. 4.3 heaped to themsolves teachers having itching ears who well perceiving the levity and inconstancy of some the pride and wantonnesse of others the leaven of hypocrisie with the spirit of contradiction and contention in all in thought it now no time to sleep but made use of so fair an opportunity and gratefull season of arriving to the haven of their respective desires and hopes Wherefore some of them strake sayle for their ambition others for their covetousnesse and not a few for their discontent and malice against the present government and governours although it was not possible only but probable also that some at least had a zeal of God in tais strange act of opposition and gainsaying but not according to knowledge As for the rest the contempt and reproach which lay on them whether for their poverty which is seldome or never without disgrace in flourishing and prosperous times or for the suspicion of being factious and disaffected to the then ruling power and unequall administration of justice and law both in Church and State the sure fore-runner of national calamities was no small incentive to set them on with greedinesse in those counsels and courses the sad effects whereof we see and feel unto this present day In the mean while the generall pretence and profession of all is that they desire and aim at nothing more yea at nothing besides then the true doctrine and discipline of Christ Jesus especially the latter And to this specious designe an open way seemed to be made by the great profanenesse and vicious living of the oppolite party who while they were zealous for conformity to the ordinances of men and thought a main part of Christian duty to depend upon the observation of them did allow themselves carnall liberty in violating the precepts and commandements of God And this they did as from that inbred corruption which is common to all men so likewise from a private spirit of opposition against the adversaries of their cause Thus while some were zealous indeed for the outward and formall discipline of thy sons but cold or lukewarm in the profession and maintenance of thy doctrine or denying it by their works though they did confesse it with their lips other zealous at least in shew for thy doctrine but slighting thy discipline or zealously bent against it even to a distemper sometimes of rage and violence and the greater part resting quiet in an indifferent or neutrall disposition and affection towards both the staves of beauty and of bands were soon cut quite asunder and broken in pieces even the covenant of truth order and peace with the entire bond of Christian brotherhood whereby many have made shipwrack of the faith and of good conscience to the extreme hazard of their immortall souls And many more are like to fall daily after the same example of misbelief errour and Apostasie For what other
thus to resent your errours is to gain by your losse and to bone it by your pain I have but a word more to speak unto you and I shall conclude It is concerning your lives The which I would to God were not so well observed and known of the people to your prejudice and dishonour as generally they are throughout the whole land for then should I with reverence to your calling gladly passe by your failings in silence But the dimnesse of light cannot be concealed Mat. 5.14 and a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid Ye every where complain and not without cause that scorn and reproach are cast upon you by the basest of the people that men detain your right from you contrary to Law and conscience But consider with your selves whether ye have not excessively deserved this usage from them at the hands of God For what do they yet see or have seen heretofore in many of you worthy of imitation or honour Have ye lived after the pattern of your own doctrine and not rather destroyed by your example what ye built up by your teaching For ye who preached holy contempt of the world unto others were your selves lovers of the world ye who exhorted others to self-deniall and obedience of the Gospell did your selves lead lives unbeseeming the Gospell of Christ Jesus ye that were above others in respect of your office and place in the Church of God did ost times live beneath the meanest of them who were committed to your charge being infamous for your pride of lise lightnesse and loosnesse of behaviour excesse of wine and strong drink and for other crimes dishonourable in the life of the meanest person professing the Gospell much more in the conversation of a Pastour Now what in all probability could be expected from these courses but that the people would at length entertain a low opinion of your selves and calling yea and of Religion it self as we see it come to passe this day Forasmuch as they live after your example and make no account of your precept be it never so well grounded on the word of truth or powerfully laid home to their conscience by the passion and eloquence of the speaker so little regard have men for the most part to the words of their spiritual leaders and so much to their works especially when agreeing with that carnall disposition or corruption which is predominant in the mindes of the major and worst sort of the world Although not only the leaders of the people which cause them to erre Isa 9.16 but they also that are led of them shall certainly be destroyed in the end These things I write not to shame you but as my beloved brethren I warn you not as an instructer but as a follow-disciple with you of that one and only Master Christ Jesus And witnesse the common Father of us all in meeknesse and sincerity of love Accept therefore I pray you my plain but wholsome counsell seasonable though rude advice affectionate though not affected according to the fashion of the times Be henceforth pure and uncorrupt in your doctrine speaking not what humane passion may suggest unto you but what ye have learned from the word of truth not crying down the Law as the manner of some is under pretence of advancing the Gospell as though the Law were against the Promises of God and not rather subservient to them Gal 3.21 but discreetly handling both accordingly as ye meet either with proud and obstinate or with humble and broken hearted sinners that the gate of mercy may not seem shut up towards these nor a way laid open for Libertinisme to them Do the work of the Lord neither deceitfully nor negligently be unblamable in your life austere and grave in your conversation just and peaceable in your actions and dealings with men peace-makers and peace-keepers moderate and abstemious in the use of bodily refreshments not addicted to pleasures liberall and charitable in ministring to the necessities of the Saints where ability is present not covetous or greedy after this worlds good when it is wanting much lesse when it doth abound Be as far eminent above the vulgar sort for holinesse of life as ye are already for dignity of place in the House of God Be admonished and reclaimed from your sins by past and present sufferings lest a worse thing come unto you and iniquity prove your ruine In a word so live for the time to come as it behoveth those who are now if ever 1 Cor. 4.9 made a spectacle to the world and to Angels and to men that they whose eyes are upon you may no longer think the profession of Christ to consist in a meer formality or bare shew of holinesse without the substance thereof but judge it as it is indeed a matter of greatest difficulty and nearest concernment to themselves of any thing in the world That the reproach which is cast upon you may cease and turn to your adverfaries that ye may be blessed in the work whereunto the Lord hath called you not in respect of others only but of your selves also and not complain as one of your brethren not many years agoe did unto his servant at his death who representing to his master at his earnest request for comfort from him in the midst of despair the same consolations which according to his office he usually ministred to others in his life time that had been in the same condition with himself now ready to breath out the last the poor disconsolate man replyed that he well remembred what was suggested to his minde But alas saith he I did not my self then beleeve those things to be true which I preached unto others and therefore cannot now finde any comfort in them when I most stand in need thereof Finally my brethren whatsoever things are true Phil. 4.8 whatsoever things are honest or venerable whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise Rom 15.5 6. think on these things Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus That ye may with one minde and one mouth glorifie God even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ To him be glory Amen To the Nobility and Gentry I Shall not divide you in my reproof and counsell however the Law and custome of your nation hath made a wide difference between you forasmuch as ye both are the Nobility of the land though with great inequality of power place and honour in the Common-wealth especially in former times But the similitude or rather parity of your sins hath brought you into a farre nearer distance one from the other or indeed made you one and the same for guilt and crime both in the sight of God and before men Wherefore I also shall addresse my
probable that worldly interest is most predominant in the severall opposite parties yet every one is taught to open his mouth wide for the cause and truth of God and none more then they who most blaspheme his name by their impure doctrines which they commend to the world for those of Christ Jesus though as contrary to what he spake as darknesse is to light And because these are the fruits of faction and schism sometimes as it is now apparent with us as well as the causes thereof at other times I wish men all to remember how deep and sad their accounts will one day be who have any wayes procured these dangerous maladies to the State and Church or fomented the same by word or deed For wee plainly see to what condition both are reduced at this present and every man may be so far a Prophet as to soretel yet greater calamities like to come upon us except the Almighty doth wonderfully appeare for us and that speedily but I for bear neither shall I stirre the coals of their lusts nor strike the drunkards cup in indignation out of his hand nor rowse thy delicate Dames from their bed of pleasure and sloth whose life is nothing else but sleep and lust and putting on of apparell not becomming women professing godlinesse and costly fare with ease and sport 1 Pet. 3.3 with 1 Tim. 2.10 according to the severall varieties of them all Nor shall I labour to dissolve the Adamantine hearts of thy creditours into humane pity towards their poore obnoxious debters For have not these been the frequent and faithfull endeavours of thy learned and pious Ministers from time to time for many years together Jer. 9. â— But their habitation was in the midst of deceit Zech. 7.11 through deceit they refused to know the Lord yea thy children refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear Or were like those of whom the Lord complaineth and describeth to the Prophet Ezekiel chap. 33.31 32. who with their mouth shewed much love to the Prophet and to his message but their heart in the mean while went after their covetousnesse to whom he was as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument for they heard his words but they did them not In like manner thy sons and daughters were onely hearers of the Evangelicall word but left the doing thereof to others who were better affected with the same then they contenting themselves with this empty shadow of godlines that they were continually present to the outward Ordinance of the word did countenance or favour the messengers thereof wherefore hath the Lord of hosts melted them and tryed them Ier. 9.7 for how should he otherwise doe for the daughters of his people And oh that thy children had been admonished and reformed by the corrections of their heavenly Father Isa 59. But alas their transgressions are multiplyed before the Lord and their sins testifie against them for their transgressions are with them and as for their iniquities they know them In transgressing and lying against the Lord and departing away from their God speaking oppression and revolt conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood And judgement is turned away backward and justice standeth a for off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evill maketh himselfe a prey or is accounted mad yea they proceed from evill to evill and they know not me saith the Lord. Shall he not therefore visit for these things and though he defer his wrath for a season expecting with patience their repentance and conversion unto him will it not break forth at the last to consume his adversaries as in a moment For while they be folded together as thorns Nah. 1.10 and while they are drunken as drunkards they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry Thou hast occasioned and seen with mercilesse hearts and eyes the grievous sufferings of thy countrey and shalt thou goe altogether together unpunished is thy sinne lesse yea is it not much more then theirs have not thy lampes shined forth most gloriously to thy selfe and others when they have sate in darknesse And yet thou hast loved darknesse rather then light because thy works were evill For thou dost represent unto us the wickednesse of the whole Nation contracted indeed into a lesser volume but more polished and refined by the art of thine iniquity overlayed with the faire gilt of hypocrisy but underneath more foule and ugly then that of the people both in the sight of God and of those who know his wayes a right Thus deceit is with thee more elegant and smooth in expression but more dangerous and dark in the mystery then it is with those of the Countrey In like manner other sins goe more fine and trim in their dresse here then in the rurall Townes or inferiour Cities but the skin underneath is much blacker and the shape more deformed then it is with them Only impudence is more daring in thy children then in any of the Nation who generally are as yet uncapable of that immodesty which is every where common with thee And may they never learn more of that from thee of which perchance they have too much already Now as thou hast in thee the sins of those ample and glorious Cities which the Lord destroyed in times past for their wickednesse but are still set forth for example of his Divine justice to us that are alive this day as well as to them that have gone before us and to all generations to come so fear and expect their judgements and the more because his mercies of all sorts have been greater towards thee then them and thy warnings also of approaching vengeance more frequent signal then theirs and yet behold their memorial is perished with them Psal 3.6 But the Lord shall endure for ever the same in justice as in mercy to all men throughout all ages Take heed therefore lest with an overflowing floud he make an utter end of the place thereof Nah. 1.8 9. so that affliction rise not up the second time Security is the daughter of sin but the mother of danger Prov. 16.18 Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall Thou maiest happily as thy elder sisters did before thee dream of perpetuity when desolation is at hand But oh remember that there is no stability with iniquity no safety in sin no peace to the wicked Babylon thou knowest that was heretofore given to pleasures as thou art now dwelled carelesly as thou dost said in her heart as thou perchance speakest to thy self Is 47.8 9. at this time I am and none else besides me I shall not sit as a widow neither shall I know the losse of children But these two things came to her as the Prophet foretold
the Evangelist speaketh Luk. Luk. 1. 1. that he prayed to the Father when he lived on the earth See especially Luk. 6.12 22.42 with 44. Is not this then unheard of and more then Pharisaical pride in you Mat. 10.24 25. For the Disciple is not above his Master nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord. Not unlike this is your assuming to your selves the honourable and glorious title of Saints and yet refusing to own the Apostles by this name as if their Saintship were questionable yours certain and without all doubt neither can the Popish custome any waies plead for or excuse this disuse for that they were Saints as well as you ye durst not deny why then ye may not call them Saints you have nothing to affirm especially considering that the holy Ghost doth bestow the honour of this appellation upon them See Eph. 3.5 with 1.1 2 Cor. 1.1 and not upon them only but upon their disciples also far inferiour to them in grace and holinesse And now consider with me I pray you the perilous consequence of your schisme or separation from the Church to the renouncing of the ministry and baptisme which ye received first from it For if our Church be indeed a true Church what have ye done lesse in thus deserting it then renounced Jesus Christ himself as appeareth from 1 Thess 1.1 where we plainly see the ground and foundation of every true Church and likewise from Luk. 10.16 where we perceive the first originall of ministeriall power in the Church and how far the contempt thereof reacheth even unto God himself There can be no salvation then out of the true Church this alone like Noahs Arke doth preserve us by Baptisme from the deluge of divine wrath 2 Pet. 3.20 21. Act. 27.31 or like the Ship Act. 27. in which we must abide at any hand or cannot else be saved In like manner none can publickly teach none can baptize without commission and authority from Christ the head of the Church as is manifest from Mat. 28.18 19 20. where we may evidently discern that the Apostles authority to teach and baptize vers 19 20. is immediately derived from the supreme power of Christ which the Father gave him by vertue of his office vers 18. Wherefore no man can teach with profit as a Minister no man can baptize but a Minister in the Church of God who hath by the Apostles and their successours received this power of the Lord Jesus who did not preach himself before he was sent Joh. 20.21 and but for that he was sent You see then clearly how much you hazard your most precious souls in forsaking our Church if it be a true Church and in case it be a false one ye have neither judgement to discern nor reason to prove that it is so either for your own or other mens satisfaction in this point and as I do beleeve no man living upon the face of the whole earth And indeed to say the truth your ignorance and want of due instruction at the first was the true and main cause of your seduction and schisme for who have more fallen off from fellowship with us then those that were never yet acquainted with the principles of our faith and grounds of the doctrine which we professe And though ye pretend indeed that the Antichristian calling false teaching and scandalous living of our Ministers gave you just cause of separating from us the former upon examination would prove loud and lewd slanders of ignorance or of malice and as for the latter it cannot excuse you in this matter before God as appeareth from a like case Mat. 23.2 3. Wherefore God hath suffered that curse 2 Tim. 3.13 to light upon many of your seducers 2 Tim. 3.13 Chap. 2.16 and also upon you who are deceived by them in whom their word doth eat as doth a canker For who hath yet given in a full catalogue of all your errours and heresies So many and manifold are they and yet encreasing more and more every day whereby the truth of God is almost denied in each part and article thereof the authority of the Apostles questioned by some vilified and derided of others as I may be bold to speak upon mine own knowledge For I wel remember that a certain woman of your faction in discourse at the table with my self and others maintaining a point of doctrine not agreeable to the Analogie of faith and being urged to the contrary by us with the words of Christ and of his Apostle St. Peter replyed that she did regard what Christ spake but as for that which Peter said she gave no more heed to it and cared no more for it then if it had been spoken by some other man As for the Apostasie of some it is so great and generall that they seem wholly to degenerate from the profession of Christ Jesus or to Atheisme and utter unbelief of the truth For who can excuse them that are termed Ranters from this dreadfull imputation that shall recount the damnable tenents which they maintain and practises wherein they glory the which to mention or expresse were to defile the paper whereon I write surely these if any now are the men whom God hath given over to a reprobate minde Rom. 1.28 to do those things which are not convenient Wherefore ye that are more sober minded then your fellowes and not so much forsaken of divine grace as they be admonished by their follies to relinquish that profane society to which you have adjoyned your selves through the deceitfulnesse of errour and sin under the colour of truth and holinesse the new but false lights which these ill guides hold forth unto you lest as ye do partake in their abominations so ye partake with them also of the judgements and punishments which they have deserved 2 Cor. 6.15 For what concord hath Christ with Belial Wherefore come out from among them Vers 17 18. and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Now consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things As for the rest who oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2.25 26. God give them also repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves awake out of the snare of the devill who are taken captive alive by him at his will Amen To the whole Body of this Nation HE that doth but indifferently observe the manner and course of your lives O ye sinfull English people shall generally finde you to be such as walk quite contrary to the light and truth of the Gospell which ye do professe and have vowed to maintain For first ye are either openly profane in your conversation
had almost buried in oblivion were revived again by you to the infamy and damage of your Pastors as if they were not men compassed about with infirmity as well as others or your selves free from all iniquity not needing the mercy of him who is the common Redeemer of you both and though ye need it how can ye with confidence expect it if that be true as ye finde Jam. 2.13 Jam. 2.13 For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy For neither your words nor deeds have been such toward them as doe become men that shall be judged by the law of Liberty Vers 12. because ye have used rigour and extremity in them both not advising in the least measure with the Law of Christ For otherwise ye would not have aggravated after this manner every small matter which might any wayes tend to their prejudice but rather have passed by such as these and either concealed the greatest where there was hope of repentance and amendment or followed the same with all meckness and moderation considering the persons whom ye did pursue and the sad calamities which were likely to befall them and their families if judgement should proceed against them And surely it is strange that the painfull industry of many years in the work of the Ministry could not prevail either with you who did partake thereof to conceal or with those that were their Judges and without doubt knew as much to pardon one or a few errours of their life upon promise of more strict conversation for the time to come Ye did pretend indeed that zeal for the Truth onely and love of Gods people did set you thus in opposition against the scandalous Ministers or those whom ye were pleased to term so but I fear your own conscience will one day tell you plainly and I pray God not too late that private quarrels personal interests and self ends carried you all along in these unwarrantable courses of mischief and persecution for some of you to our knowledge who have been most forward to thrust forth of the Lords inheritance them that for many years together had ministred unto you in holy things have been the first that fell into dislike of their owne new choice and refused to give them maintenance according to the Law So weak and unstable is your judgement so sickle your affection so immoderate your desire of novelty so blinde your conscience in discerning your own hearts so squeamish your mindes to receive truth if it doth any wise make against your worldly advantage or touch upon your sins the which though never so grievous and manifest Hos 4.4 no man must strive or repove another for thy people are as they that strive with the Priest Neither are ye offended onely with the Minister for open but also for secret rebukes yea and for private admonitions and correptions sometimes be they never so necessary and gentle withall as I have seen it by often experience verified in many one more especially a very lewd person indeed who being mildly reproved by a Minister in my hearing for some scandalous sin replyed again It were better for us if ye Ministers held your peace because then we might sin with the lesse guilt and punishment To whom then shall I speak and give warning that they may hear Behold Jer. 6.10 their ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearken behold the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach they have no delight in it Wherefore he that doth not please your humour or advance your faction or gratifie you in your beloved corruptions or sparing you strikes at your adversaries in a word will not be partakers of your sins by connivence or practise straight ways grows out of request with you as an unprofitable teacher or rather one not fit for your purpose however he be accomplished in all other respects and thus he is by little and little abandoned of you and another sought out more agreeable to your fancy and mind for a short season untill the date or time of pleasing you be expired also Insomuch as one Parish not many miles distant from the University of Oxford hath been known since these Times of trouble and distraction to have disliked and changed their Ministers as often if not more often then there be seasons in the year and yet scarce afford maintenance for a single man to live with them It is past belief what foolish exceptions they have had against those men who have upon triall or other occasions preached before them besides many against severall Ministers this they had against one not unknown to my self if I am not misinformed that he preached too long upon the same Text. I pray God this spirituall delicacy doth not presage a spirituall famine in the end whereby men may hunger and thirst after that Word which they despise and loath now because of the plenty and fulnesse thereof And here I may not passe by in silence a common but very dangerous errour that possesseth your mindes whereby ye fondly and falsely imagine that the successe of the Ministry doth depend upon the personall gifts of the Minister and not wholly upon the ordinance of Christ for which cause yee magnifie some above measure and despise others in comparison of them calling the first powerfull Preachers and not acknowledging the last for such because not men so well qualified for the work of the Lord as they The which conceit if I mistake not is not the least cause of your non-prosiciency by the meanes of grace For how can ye reap benefit from the Ordinance if ye come not duely prepared to it and how can ye come duly prepared to it if ye have not a just esteem of it that ye may answerably submit unto it For 1 Cor. 3.7 neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the encrease Let men therefore learn to have greater respect to the blessing from above then to the means below to the grace and gift of God then to the abilities and endowments of men in the great busmesse of their conversion and edification Again ye English people are generally indifferent or luke warm in Religion and so ye may enjoy the worlds good care not what doth become of the Truth of God the which ye hear indeed but learn and know not like those of whom we read 2 Tim. 3.7 ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth or if ye know it receive it not neither beleeving it with your hearts nor obeying it in your lives for although ye all professe faith and pretend to it as the main ground and pillar of your hope in God yet it is but a bare profess on and meer ostentation of that which ye have not in truth a few excepted who testifie the same by their innocent and holy conversation Jac 2.26 without which faith is dead being alone The rest