with Iannes and Iambres not onely withstood Mos◅s in resisting the truet◅ thy selfe But lik◅ w◅se by thy inchantments hast dost draw dayly infinite of multitudes vnto thi◅ thy wilfull disobedi◅nce in so much that thou hast iustly caused our gracious King not onely to cry out with the Prophet Da◅id Lord how are they increased that t◅ouble me many are they that rise against mee Psal. 3. 1. But likewise as iustly caused him with the same Prophet to say Woe is mee that I am constrained to dwell in Mesech and to haue my habitation in the Tents of Kedar And thus thou hast by thy disobedient inchantments caused such a contention in this Land that thou hast iustly deserued with Mesech and Kedar those Israelites which did degenerate from their godly Fathers beeing hatefull and contemning the faithfull that most fearefull Iron rodde of Gods wrath to bruise thee in pieces sodainely I must tell thee Brother and I am sorry that thou hast giuen mee such iust cause to tell thee so that if it were not for one crying sinne which that bloody and wandering Cain is branded in the fore-head withal I meane that most monsterous Beast of Babylon who denyeth the Offices of our Redeemer I say and speake it from the Spirit of God that thou art become so little inferiour in persecuting and murdering the soules of Christs members that thou hast not onely pledged the Pope of ROME a full health of the dregges of your conceited inuentions and false imaginations but as thou hast pledged him herein I feare me it will proue before wee part that thou hast begun another halfe pot to him againe And although thou doest not runne on with him in deniall of some fundamentall points of Religion yet I dare vndertake that thou resting thy selfe in thy owne conceit denying but the circumstances shaddowes therof whose substances cannot bee without dost more hurt by thy disobedience amongst vs herein then he doth or can doe being so publikely knowne as hee is And here as our Sauior Christ saith Thou art but a blind guide which straines out a gnat and swallows a Camell Mat. 23. 24. Thus Brother thou carriest this offence of disobedience vpon thy back and therefore thou canst not perceiue it thy selfe Now I haue made bold comming behinde thee to take it off haue layed the same as thou now seest before thy face For which if thou wouldst so keepe there and cast it no more behinde thee I shall be glad that it was my chance to remoue the same But if thou rest thy selfe in thy owne conceit casting obedience from thee and so become a carrier still of thy offences behind thee then wilt thou enforce mee to say with Salomon That there is more hope in a very naturall foole then of him that is conceited Pro. 26. 12. ver And this shall serue for a taste of thy disobedience and to let the world see That as Saint Iude saith Hauing separated thy selfe from the true members of Christ thou art become no better then a wandring Starre whose portion without repentance is blacknesse of darknesse for euer Iude 13. vers And therfore Brother let mee aduise thee to learne a lesson of that Starre which guided the Wise men from the East Countrie vnto Bethlem where our blessed Sauior CHRIST was as that Star did stand still when it came iust ouer where the Babe was and so left them there so thou who doest rest thy selfe but in thy owne conceit denying obedience vnto supreme power let it now be sufficient too much that thou hast settled thy affections in that East countrie of thy owne imaginations where nothing can bee found but Inchanters and Sorcerers And heere I must leaue thee and turne my self vnto those of whom as Saint Paul saith I perswade my self better things Heb 6 9. And thus faithfull Christian thou seest what great danger the children of disobedience haue broughtthemselues into Thou seest that our elder brother for his disobedience is counted no better in the iudgement of Saint Iude then a wandring Starre Thou seest what such haue prescribed in the Scriptures for their diet after this life S. Paul saith condemnation Rom. 13. 2. Saint Peter and Saint Iude saith blacknesse of darknesse for euer 2. Pet. 2. 17. Iude the thirteenth Verse Thou seest these blessed Apostles so speaking against these disobedient spirits as worthy of these fearefull iudgements And in briefe thou seest how truely these holy Apostles hath prophesied of these disobedient spirits in these very last times And againe thou seest how opposite these spirits are vnto the obedience of our blessed Sauiour Christ himselfe who paied Tribute vnto Caesar in his owne person who rather then hee would bee an ensample of the least offence although a freeman yeelded himselfe vnto a base Publican And thus may all men see the King of all Kings an ensample of obedience vnto the whole world And yet behold heere thou seest a disobedient spirit so full of contradiction that hee will transcend aboue principalities and powers But faithful Christian let this fearefull example be such a speciall warning vnto thee that thou keepe thy selfe in all loyall obedience vnto Princes especially and likewise let this example bee a warning vnto all sorts of people that they yeeld obedience vnto whom soeuer it is due As Children to Parents and Parents to their Children Wiues to their Husbands and Husbands to their Wiues Seruants to their Masters and Masters to their Seruants Col. 3. 18 19 20. And in a word al in general to our most gracious King Now that we may the better performe these duties let vs take counsell of that blessed Apostle St. Paul who speaking against such disobedient spirits saith Turne away from such 2. Tim. 3. 5. And thus faithful brother thou seest what danger our elder brother hath brought himselfe vnto in despising gouernment It resteth now in the second place to let thee see his disobedience in his doctrine and as in briefe thou seest his disobedience against man thou shalt likewise by Gods assistance see his disobediē◅e against both God and man who perseeuteth Christ in his members both thou and I haue felt the smart but faithfull brother I must leaue thee for a while And now brother by Gods assistance according to my promise I am readie to encounter with thee this second time And wheras I haue already reproued thee for thy disobedience against man not finding thee in this Combate to yeeld beeing prouoked further I am readie to manifest vnto the whole world how contrarie thou art to Christ and all good men by thy disobedience in thy Doctrine Likewise shewing the difference betwixt the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error But before I proceede I am to meete with an obiection which the whole world who being against the truth may propound and that is where the true Church of Christ is and therefore to giue satisfaction herein the world shall
although our enemies are many in number and at the first sight not easily discerned because they goe in sheepes clothing therefore I haue set downe in plaine and few wordes the difference of the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error whereby thou ma◅st truly perceiue the tree by his fruite for he that hath a true and liuely faith in Christ is alwaies ready to manifest the same by loue and charitie vnto the Brethren Now for him that saith hee hath faith yet wanteth this duty of loue and charity his faith is but a dead faith and as Saint Iames saith shall preuaile nothing Iam. 5. 14. and therefore hee that doth not practise this second lesson of charitie let him bee what hee will and flatter himselfe neuer so much hee is no better then a breaker of that vnion and fellowship which ought to bee amongst the true members of Christ and therfore as S. Iohn saith such is gone from vs 1. Iohn 2. 19. being as S. Iude saith separated Iude 9. verse Promising as S. Peter saith libertie vnto thēselues 2. Pet. 2. 19. Hauing as Saint Paul saith but a shew of godlinesse denying the power thereof 2. Tim. 3. 5. Therfore saith he turne away from such And therefore faithfull Christian whose number is but small let mee intreate thee as thou tenderest thy owne soule to be very carefull and circumspect to keepe in this candle of loue especially vnto thy brethren then shalt thou haue peace of conscience in this world and euerlasting peace in the world to come but deferre no time for our time is but very short and if thou profit any thing herein giue God praise and thou hast giuen me good satisfaction and thus vnto all those that truly loue the Gospell the Lord protect and guide with his grace Amen Thine in Christ I. W. THE ENGLISH PHARISE OR RELIGIOVS APE PROTESTANT GOOD morrow brother Puritane Good morrow PRO. Well met good brother but mee thinke thou speakest as taking some thing offensiuely Puri No truely thou art but mistaken it is our manner to returne an answere in few words or none at all Pro. I did propound no question and therefore did expect no answere onely such salutation as thou receiuest I expected no lesse backe againe Puri The same which I receiued thou hadst againe onely the word awanting I owe vnto none but to such as are of the same opinion that Iam. PRO. To know what opinion thou art of I would gladly haue some conference for I doe perswade my selfe that thy religion is groūded more vpon a singular conceit then approoued by the Word of God Puri That is not so for wee are readie to approoue our Religion only by the Word of God PRO. Why dost thou then denie me to bee thy brother seeing that wee are brethren not onely of one Nation but likewise brethren in Christ. Pu. We may be brethren of one Nation as we are both confesse Christ yet for all this not both true members of Christ. PRO. Yet being brethren of one nation as it were twins of one womb born and dwelling together and that by one and the same profession both acknowledge Christ it shewes great want of charitie in the denying me to be thy brother Puri I doe not absolutely denie thee to bee my brother in Christ because thou onely belecuest in him for saluation but seeing thy life is not strict and being too familiar in frequenting companie I doc not take thee to be my brother PRO. Thou dost confesse that I am thy brother in Christ because I hope oncly in him for saluation but thou findest fault with me being too familiar in frequenting companie I would gladly knowe thy reason wherein thou art offended seeing that my ordinarie companie is with such as do professe Christ as we both doe Puri Although thy ordinarie companie is with such as doe professe Christ as wee both doe yet sometimes I can espie thee conuersing with a Papist the which I ha◅e with a deadly hate PRO. Why dost thou not hold it lawfull to conuerse with an aduersarie Puri I am so far from conuersing that as I said before I hate and vtterly detest their companie PRO. I pray thee let me aske thee a question whether doest thou thinke that onely those of thy profession and life shal be sau◅d Puri Thou hast made a verie idle question for I thinke no lesse PRO. I will then demand of thee another question how is it possible that such as are not of thy profession should come to bee conuerted seeing that thou refusest to conuerse Puri I perceiue that thou beginnest to cauill about questions if thou wouldeft haue my companie thou must giue them ouer PRO. I would be sorrie to become offensiue in the least degree therfore I pray thee let vs haue some further conference seeing that thou canst not abide to cōuerse with a Papist yet because thou and I doe agree in this word onely in Christ I pray thee let vs examine this faith by the word of God because Saint Iohn saith Beleeue not euerie spirit but trie the spirits whether they be of God or not 1. Ioh. 4. 1. Puri Although I am contented that our doctrine shall bee approued by the Word of God yet because I doe perswade my selfe that thou art a fauourer of the Papists therefore I make neither barrel better hearing and therefore I hate thee likewise as a mēber thereof PRO. Me think brother I find thee greatly out of charitie for although the Papist bee foorth of the way as I know he is yet if my cōferring be but to bring him into the way againe I see no reason why thou shouldest become thus offended it too plainly appeares that thou art much too blame Puri Thou mistakes◅ me for my meaning is not that I altogether hate the persons of men I onely dislike your company and hate your conditions PRO. Brother thou saiest that I mistake thee but it will appeare that thou mistakest thy selfe for suppose that thou art in the right way to heauen and I my selfe in the wrong thou saiest thou louest my person and hatest my conditions Now whether art thou bound in loue to my person to bring mee into the right way againe or rather bound to let mee alone hating my conditions Puri I must of necessitie let thee alone for I know that there is no hope in thee PRO. Brother here appeares but small charitie thy answer is too peremptorie thou mightst haue done much better first to haue done the part of a friend in some Christian reproof thē seem thus to disgrace me as being void of hope thou hast accused me without a cause therfore thy error in my iudgement is very great Puri I passe not for thy iudgement therefore keepe thy selfe satisfied for I am no chāgeling as thou supposest for what I haue spoken thou knowest but what else thou shalt not therefore rest thy selfe contented PRO. I
hee might doe to inherit eternal life Mark 10. 2◅ Hee affirmed before the company of many hundred persons that this yong man is a damned soule in Hell I know there was Hypocrisie found in him and who can say hee is free heerein But seeing that our blessed Sauiour who answering an obiection of his Disciples said Although with men it seeme vnpossible yet with God no hing is impossible and againe for those many good parts the which Iesus Christ said that hee loued him for I gather that hee is in a farre more happie case in my iudgement then thou whosoeuer thou art that iudgest thus vncharitably of him Againe in the same Sermon the partie being a meere stanger it was d◅manded by a Church-warden for his Licence but what angrie answer was returned I haue omitted to set it downe onely to satisfie his own m◅licious humour and to disgrace the Officer hee said in a publike speech being in the Pulpit that hee was a Cadauerous Knaue implying that a Tinker or a Pedler might find more fauour and haue no such questions put vpon them and for want of matter hee said that God made all but the Deuill would haue all but heerein hee equiuocated for he ment all but those of his sect and being too bold and too impudent for such a place he said in a verie peremptorie passion that if hee had spoken any thing which might seeme preiudiciall the Law was open his name was knowne and likewise where hee dwelt and in conclusion of all without exception hee said that hee cared for the face of no man Againe thy followers vsing their exercises after thy Sermons in the Church some one of them stands vp to speake and expostulate of things that haue beene spoken before and to the number of an hundred or more or lesse doe attend him Now after thy Sermons whatsoeuer is spoken all are well pleased but if it chance that a reformed Minister nay let it bee the Bishop himselfe then the leafe must bee turned ouer to see whether that Lots wife looked back only in her head or in her heart or in both and heere they are at odds and cannot agree These followers of thine are the silly ones of this age they are Buckes of the first head they haue very pregnant wits of indiscretion they thinke that none can bee saued but such as vse these their outward obseruations We know them when we meet them for they haue no good morrow for vs but wee know them better when wee bargaine with them for then their sound horse prooues lame This feminine kind are very silly and louing creatures seeming very deuout although very ignorant for after thy after-noone Sermon some Gentlewoman or other must in treat a Sermon after supper Now thou who cāst preach without studie hauing no power to deny this deuout company with thy sel◅e must meete when all honest men in the Towne are in bed whatsoeuer thou or this company doe although a crime very grieuous yet in thy owne eie it seemes good and tolerable but if thy brother Protestant chance to get a fall of infirmity this in thy sight proues a present beame and therfore thou saist damnable But whatsoeuer thou doest in thy own sight it seemes good but whatsoeuer I doe in thy sight it is naught Now the reason is as Saint Iohn saith because darkenesse hath blinded thy eies 1. Ioh. 2. 11. These are children of thy owne begetting here is like Priest like people But wilt thou heare what comes of thy darke sermons I would not omit to tell it although I take no pleasure therein A Gentlewoman who seeming very deuout being one of the chiefest followers of that sexe and whom no occasion might hinder to follow thee tenne miles or more to heare thee speake thou couldest not quote the Scripture so fast but shee was ready to looke thereon thus farre was verie commendable But behold what happened this seeming deuout Gentlewomā chanst to prooue with child and when the time of her houre drew neere she acquainted some of her kinswomen with it who being readie to attend her demanded whose the child was but shee being not willing to returne an answer staied her tongue so long in so much that her Kinswomen making an offer to depart and leaue the duty of womanhood she presently consest that it was her eldest brothers for which I am very sorry to heare it and I could wish that it had neuer been Brother I haue not noted this in way of any disgrace for such clewes will wind themselues to their open shame and although this sin bee grieuous be it farre from mee to enter into Iudgement in the least degree I leaue it vnto Iesus Christ who must iudge both quicke and dead and therefore without a speedy repentance thou who hast most violently pulled this heauy rod of Gods iudgements foorth of his owne hands which is only peculiar to himselfe shalt one day heare this heauie sentence of Goe ye cursedinto euerlasting iudgments And thus may all men see what fruits doe come from thy darke doctrine and likewise from thy night-Sermons and how that thou shewest thy selfe vnto the whole world as Saint Paul saith To bee but a creeper into mens houses leading silly women captiue which are laden with diuers sinnes and many lusts 2. Ti. 3. 6. Thou wouldest make all men beleeue by a little s◅eming strict and outward obseruation that thou art an innocent and a harmelesse man but who is he that hath but halfe an eie and seeth not how that thy puritie is without charitie and thy demurity but impurity nay who is so blind and seeth not the still Sow eating all the draffe Therefore as Saint Paul saith He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption Gal. 6. 8. I could speake much more by experience but seeing that it is accomplished alreadie which Saint Paul hath prophesied long before how that thy madnesse is euidently known vnto all men 2. Tim. 3. 9. I will therefore giue ouer where I might herein reprehend thee further and turne my selfe vnto those of whom Saint Paul s◅ith I per swade my selfe better things He. 6. 9. and after some friendly exhortation with them I purpose to encounter with thee once again but farewell for a while And now faithful brother in Christ according to my promise and that little measure of knowledge which God hath lent me I haue first shewed thee the difference of the spirit of errour from the Spirit of truth by the child of disobedience Secondly I haue likewise shewed thee the difference of the spirit of errour from the Spirit of truth by his doctrine and such fruites ◅s come thereof how that he being so deepely conceited in his own imaginations that he is no Teacher nor Scholer at all in the schole of Christ for powring in the wine of God◅ iustice into the wounded members of Christ reseruing the oyle of Gods mercies vnto himselfe he is so
vnderstand that both the true Church and the false is in this little Iland called England and as there are many false Churches in the world and but onely one true The world may likewise perceiue that as the true Church of GOD is alwaies accompanied as Saint Paul saith with some heresies for the better triall thereof 1. Cor. 11. 19. So now especially is it at this present time for there are three sorts of Teachers amongst vs whereof one of these is the true Church of Christ and the other two with all the rest doe but oppose themselues Now of these two latter being both false the one of them doth teach in priuate the other doth preach in publike Now for this priuate teacher it is needelesse to speake any thing of him seeing that the Church of God doth know him sufficiently how that he degrading Christ of his Offices challengeth such prerogatiues vnto himselfe as are onely peculiar vnto Christ and therefore no true member thereof And as this priuate teacher is a knowne enemie vnto Iesus Christ so likewise I am readie to prooue by the Word of God that thou who restest in thy owne conceit hauing separated thy selfe from thy brethren being become a rash accusing iudger of them that thou art so farre off from being either a teacher or a scholer in the Schoole of Christ that thou art an enemie thereunto teaching onely in the vanitie of thy owne imagination And that this is true our blessed Sauiour seeming to teach the whole world the way vnto the Kingdome of heauen hath erected vnto the view of the whole world a large free Schoole wherein he teacheth that whosoeuer would bee a teacher or a scholler therein must learne this lesson of meekenesse and lowlinesse Matth. 11. 29. And lest his children should swerue or goe astray from this his milde Commandement hee giues a speciall warning in the sixth Chapter of Saint Lukes Gospell and thirtie seuenth verse in these words Iudge not that yee bee not iudged condemne not and yee shall not be condemned forgiue and yee shall be forgiuen Luk. 6. 37. Now there are diuers and sundrie sorts of people which doe perswade themselues that they are true teachers in this schoole of Christ which indeed are not and therfore to resolue a doubt which may either arise in thâ—…â—…gnorant or in such wâ—…ich doâ—… misâ—… 〈◊〉 aâ—… the Papiâ—… and diuâ—…rs doe I will therefore make plaine one place of Sâ—…ripture that the ignorant may not onely be better satisfied but likewise that their vnderstaÌ„dings may be more apt to conceiue of things afterwards And for this purpose Saint Iohn saith Trie the Spirits whether they bee of God or not 1. Ioh. 4. 1. and in the next verse he saith Heereby shall yee know the Spirit of God Euery spirit which confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 1. Ioh. 4. 2. Now heere thou must take heede how thou vnderstandest these words if thou take them litterally as the Papists doe in the sixt Chapter of Saint Iohns Gospell concerning the Sacrament then thou art in an errour for theÌ„ not only the Papists but specially the Puritan with diuers other sects should receiue benefit by Christs death which being rightly vnderstood thou maist plainly perceiue that they haue no right nor interest therein For they that degrade Christ of his offices as the Papists doe or seeme to to seuer that vnion betwixt Christs members as the Puritan doth doe separate themselues both from Iesus Christ and hâ—…s members And therfore to cleare this point before I proceede the Prophet Esay saith This people come neere me with their mouth and honour me with their lippes but their heart is farre from me Esa. 29. 13 And our blessed Sauiour saith Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of heaueÌ„ but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Mat. 7. 21. And to make this more plaine our Sauiour Christ saith further Many will say vnto mee in that day that is the day of Doome Haue wee not prophesied by thy name and by thy name cast out deuils and by thy name done many great workes yet for all these outward actions wanting loue and charitie vnto the members of Christ thy answer shall be Depart from me thou worker of iniquitie I know thee not Mat. 7. 2 3. So that wee see by these proofes that it is not an outward profession only which God requireth but likewise an answerable conuersation But now to the purpose And whereas thou perswadest thy selfe to bee a Teacher in the Schole of Christ the world shall plainly see that thou dost but flatter thy self in thy owne imagination being quite contrarie minded to the true teachers therin And that this is true I will first set down a true disciple and a follower of Christ who according to our blessed Sauiours commaund approouing himselfe both in his life and doctrine teacheth with the spirit of humilitie and patience as appeareth by that blessed Apostle Saint Paul who speaking of himselfe and all true Teachers in this Schole of Christ saith in these words Wee giue no occasion of offence that our Ministerie should not be reprehâ—…nded 2. Cor. 6. 3. but in all things wee approue our selues as the Ministers of Christ in much patience 2. Cor. 6. 4. And lest others should mistake theÌ„selues who are to deale sometimes with such an aduersarie as doth oppose himselfe against the truth he likewise aduiseth Timothie To instruct such with the words of meekenes and hee hath set downe a reason why for per aduenture God may give them repentance 2. Tim. 2. 25. Now Brother whether thou art a Teacher after this manner or but a Teacher after thine owne conceit I appeale vnto such words as flow from thy fierie spirit of accusing Iudgements and likewise from such fruit as doth appeare by thy general doctrines for powring forth the Wine of Gods iustice in such fearefull manner against the wounded members of Christ as thou doest reseruing the oyle of Gods mercies without due consideration vnto thy selfe what is this but to feede thy own idle and most absurd conceit making beames in thy brothers eyes and but motes in thy owne Heerein thou makest thy selfe no better then a plaine hypocrite as appeareth by our Sauiour Christ saying in these words Hypocrite first casâ—… out that beame which is in thine owne eye and then shalt thou see more clearely to cast out the mote that is in thy brothers eie Matth. 7. 5. Here mayst thou see how opposit thou art to Christ and his followers but that as Saint Iohn saith darkenesse hath blinded thy eyes 1. Iohn 2. 11. Againe our blâ—…ssed Sauiour saith Iudge not that yee bee not iudged Mat. 7. 1. and Saint Paul as a true disciple of Christ doth giue a sufficient reason whâ—… we should not iudge of others For saith hee thou that iudgest others thou condemnest thy selfe Rom. 2. 1. Now how