ground is manifested in this Dialogue following wherein is shewed their palpable ignorance in that they know not the Mystery of God and therefore have they made this Canon in flattery to the King only to support their Pride and Cruelty For if the Kingdom or Land of Israel or Canaan now under the Gospel be an earthly Kingdom or Land or Israel now a worldly or fleshly Israel as both were under the Law Then we would confess there should be an earthly King thereof But if the Kingdom of Israel now be not earthly but heavenly Joh. 18.36 and the Israelites now not of this world Joh. 15.19 Then the King thereof is not of this world as they are not of this world Joh. 17.16 And if these spiritual Lords confess that Christ is King now of the Land and People of Israel but yet he hath left our Lord the King his Deputy to make such Laws and Lords over the Church as pleaseth him the Word of the Lord is against them There is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 4.12 over his Church Nay his Majesty himself is against them who saith There is no earthly Monarch over the Church whose word must be a Law And saith further Christ is his Churches Monarch and the holy Ghost his Deputy alledging Luk. 22.25 The Kings of the Gentiles bear rule one over another c. but it shall not be so among you Saying further Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them in all truth but promised to send the holy Ghost to them for that end c. If any will be rebellious against the Word of the Lord herein yet let them not be rebellious against the word of the King Oh that any thing would prevail with them to make them leave off these cruel courses of persecuting poor souls that desire truly to fear God and are most faithful Subjects to the King and desire also the salvation of the souls of these their cruel Persecrutors who do seek their utter undoing by all the fore-named Persecutions only because they cannot of faith offer up such Worship to God as these spiritual Lords command and the rather let them leave off persecuting seeing the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth It is a sure Rule in Divinity That God loves not to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed And if it be a Law for all Christians That in indifferent things one must not offend another but the strong to forbear rather than offend his weak brother otherwise he wounds the weak conscience and sins against Christ 1 Cor. 8. Then how much less hath any man power to be Lord over the weak conscience forcing it to practise that it hath not faith in bringing it thereby unto sin and unto condemnation Rom. 14. We do unfainedly acknowledge the Authority of earthly Magistrates God's blessed Ordinance and that all earthly Authority and Command appeartains unto them let them command what they will we must obey either to do or suffer upon pain of Gods displeasure besides their punishment But all men must let God alone with his Right which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the soul and not command obedience for God where he commandeth none And this is onely that which we dare not but maintain upon the peril of our souls which is greater than bodily affliction And only for the maintenance of Christs right herein do false Prophets and Deceivers who by that craft are cloathed in fine apparrel and fare deliciously every day labour to make us odious in the ears and eyes of Prince and People knowing well that if they had not power by Persecution to force men to dissemble to believe as they their kingdom and gain would soon come to nought the wickedness of which course is discovered in this Writing following For the manner being Dialogue-wise we thought it the fittest in two respects First for the understanding of the simple to whom especially Gods Mysteries appertain more than to the wise and prudent of the world Secondly Because all the Objections that we have met with might be set down and the plainlyer answered And because we have faith and assurance that many will see and acknowledge the unlawfulness of tyrannizing over the Conscience by persecuting the bodies of such as cannot be subject We have also though it meet to manifest the fearful estate of such subjection that they may deliver their souls if they will be saved and also have set down the beginning of that old and good way that John Baptist Christ Jesus and his Apostles have left unto all that will be saved unto the end of the world Beseeching that Almighty worker that he would work in the hearts and consciences of men that they may enquire for it and that out of the Scriptures and walk therein then shall they find Rest unto their souls although Afflictions to their bodies Oh it is time for the Lord to work for they have destroyed his Law and have set up in many Nations such Worship for God as best pleaseth them that are in Authority and have power to persecute the contrary-minded Let all Gods People cry How long Lord when wilt thou come to destroy Antichrists cruel Kingdom and establish Christs meek and peaceable Kingdom As thou hast begun even come Lord Jesus by the Spirit of thy Mouth and the Brightness of thy Coming even come quickly Amen By Christs unworthy Witnesses his Majesties faithful Subjects Commonly but most falsly called ANA-BAPTISTS PERSECUTION for RELIGION JUDG'D and CONDEMN'D In a DISCOURSE between an ANTICHRISTIAN a CHRISTIAN Antichristian VVHy come you not to Church Christian VVhat should I do there Antich Worship God Chr. I must worship God as he requireth and not as any mortal man requireth Ant. True but the Worship that we require you to offer up is the Worship God requireth Ch. If it be so I will with all willingness assent unto it but my conscience must be satisfied thereof by the Word of Truth that I may have faith in it otherwise it is my grievous sin Rom. 14.23 For I may not believe it so to be because you affirm it Ant. Well you must go to Church otherwise you are disobedient to the Law and will fall under punishment Ch. But still remember that you would have me worship God as you pretend therefore let us agree what Worship God requireth Christ saith Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Here we see what Worship God requireth viz. That we worship him with our Souls and Spirits and also that we worship him according to the Truth of his Word And therefore for your Book-worship if it were according to Truth from the which it is as far as light is from darkness yet if I cannot offer it up with my spirit it is not acceptable to God but most abominable Ant. Well you must come to Church Ch. I pray let me ask you a
Question Do you seek the Glory of God and the Salvation of my soul herein or your own Obedience Ant. I seek the Glory of God and the Salvation of your Soul and not my own Obedience Ch. Then manifest it not by words only but by deeds and truth which if you do you will not threaten me with punishment to cause me to come but with meekness and patience satisfie my Conscience by the Word of Truth for this is the duty of the Minister of Christ 2 Tim. 2.24 that I may come with a willing mind so shall I be accepted 2 Cor. 8.12 Psal 110.3 For if by threatning me with punishment as Imprisonment Banishment or Death you cause me to bring my body and not my spirit or soul so shall I come near to the Lord with my lips when my heart shall be far from him which he accounteth vain worship and hypocrisie Mat. 15. Ant. I perceive what you aim at you would have none brought to Church but such as come willingly of themselves so should every man worship God as himself pleaseth Ch. Your Conclusion I aim not at for I acknowledge that as there is but one God so there is but one way of worshipping him out of the which way whosoever is and repenteth not thereof shall pay a dear price and therefore it standeth all men upon not to please themselves in worshipping of him But you perceive aright that I aim at this That none should be compelled to worship God but such as come willingly for I will by Gods assistance prove most evidently by the Scriptures that none ought nor can be compelled to worship God to acceptance by any worldly means whatsoever Ant. Prove that Ch. Well I prove what I have affirmed thus First Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God and Rom 14.23 Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin These two Scriptures prove most evidently that whatsoever I have not Faith in in worshipping God although it were undoubtedly true I may not offer it up to God for it is displeasing to him and it is a sin against him As also it appeareth plainly by him that came unto the Kings Supper and wanted his wedding garment Matth. 22. Ant. It is the Kings Law that you must go to Church and therefore you must be obedient Ch. The intent of the Kings Law is not so as appeareth both by the Statute for the Oath of Allegiance and also by his Majesties own words manifested in his Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance as is hereafter more fully declared For if the intent of the Law were to make me come to Church to worship God and not of Faith the intent of the Law were to compel me to sin which his Majesty requireth not Ant. I deny not but whatsoever is not of Faith is sin but we would have you come to Church to worship God in Faith Ch. It is not so you regard not whether I have Faith or no for if you did you would not urge the Kings Law against me which is but a carnal weapon and cannot beget Faith and therefore is no sure ground of Faith For in my obedience to God I must not presume above that that is written 1 Cor. 4.6 For the Word of God is the only ground of Faith Rom. 10.17 and therefore if you would have me come in Faith you would only urge the Law of the King of kings against me Ant. Have not all the Learned of the Land considered of these things and set them down Are such simple men as you likely to see more than all these Ch. I demand of you whether they be not all subject to erre as all men are and therefore I must try their spirits whether they erre or no 1 Joh. 4.1 For I may not hold either that they cannot erre or that if I find them to erre I must obey them notwithstanding do you not herein teach me that Popish and accursed Doctrine that you inveigh so much against in the Papists That I must believe as the Learned of the Land believe Ant. I do not hold that they cannot erre Ch. Yes you hold either that they cannot erre or if they do erre I must obey them for if I do not obey them you threaten me with punishment Ant. Nay but I hold that they being Learned do not erre and therefore you must obey them Ch. Then this is your Argument The Learned do not erre and therefore must be obeyed The Bishops and the rest of that rank are learned and do not erre and therefore they must be obeyed Another Argument as vain as they may be collected from this ground The Learned do not erre and therefore must be obeyed The Pope and the rest of that rank are learned yea as learned as yours and do not erre and therefore they must be obeyed The one is as true as the other but both abominable If you prove that they that want this Learning must not meddle with the wayes of God but as these learned men teach them then indeed you say something but if you cannot as most certain it is you cannot for the Word of God is against you herein then for shame to God and men leave oft your cruel persecuting For why do you persecute men that cannot in faith submit to your direction concerning the wayes of God upon which consisteth their Salvation if they walk in the true way of Faith with the love thereof and their Condemnation if they walk in a by-path Ant. Then I perceive if a man can plead that he hath not Faith in any thing which the King commands he need not to be obedient Ch. Would God all men could see your dealing herein This is your usual course when your mouth is stopped by the power of Gods Word that you know not what to answer then you run to the Kings Command and so make your matters good like unto your predecessors the wicked Scribes and Pharisees who when our Lord and Master had stopped their mouthes that they had no word of answer then they sought to make him a trespasser against Caesar but I have learned in some weak measure that as there is a Caesar unto whom in conscience I must be obedient So there is another King one JESUS that is King of kings unto whom if you will not be obedient in giving unto God that which is Gods He will tear you in pieces when there shall be none that can deliver you and cast you into the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for evermore where there shall be no rest day nor night and therefore agree with this your adversary quickly whilst you are in the way with him The Power and Authority of the King is earthly and God hath commanded me to submit to every Ordinance of man 1 Pet. 2.13 14. and therefore I have faith to submit to what Ordinance of Man soever the King commands if it be an humane Ordinance and not against the manifest Word of
God let him require what he will I must in conscience obey him with my body goods and all that I have But my soul wherewith I am to worship God that belongeth to another King whose Kingdom is not of this World Joh. 18.36 Whose People must come willingly Psal 110.3 Whose weapons are not carnal but spiritual 2 Cor. 10.4 c. Ant. Is this all the Authority that you will give to the King Ch. VVhat Authority can any mortal man require more than of body goods life and all that appertaineth to the outward man The heart God requireth Prov. 23.26 He commanded to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to Himself the things that are His Luk. 20.25 Now if all the outward man be Caesars and the inward man too so that he must be obeyed is his own matters and in God's matters also then tell us what shall be given to God If you or any man will give him more Power or Authority than I give him then you give him more than his Majesty requireth as shall be shewed Ant. We do not say that the King can compel the soul but only the outward man Ch. If he cannot compel my soul he cannot compel me to worship God for God cannot be worshipped without the soul Joh. 4.24 If you say he may compel me to offer up a worship only with my body for the spirit you confess he cannot compel To whom is that worship not to God Then consider you who they worship that are thus compelled say you by the King Let it well be here observed that you make the King a commander of such worship as is not to God contrary to his Majesties own mind manifest in his Writings But this you do not to advance Gods Glory nor the Kings Honour but your own cursed kingdom of darkness which you hold by flattery and falshood For if this compelled worship which is not to God were taken away then your kingdom would fall to Hell from whence it came and therefore all men may here see it is supported only by wickedness Ant. I confess the Kings Authority is earthly but he is Head over the Church under Christ Ch. God forbid that any mortal man should so equalize himself with Christ who alone is Head of his Church as the Husband is of the Wife Eph. 5.23 and hath left no Vice-gerent in that his Office for he is never absent from his Church Mat. 18.20 amd 28.20 All that any mortal man can be is to be a subject of his Kingdom for there is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 3.12 And that this is so his Majesty confirmeth by his own testimony in his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance pag. 46 47. But as I well allow of the Hyrarchy of the Church for distinction of Orders for so I understand it so I utterly deny that there is any earthly Monarch thereof whose word must be a Law and who cannot erre in his sentence by an infallibility of spirit because earthly Kingdoms must have earthly Monarchs it doth not follow that the Church must have a visible Monarch top For the World hath not one earthly temporal Monarch Christ is his Churches Monarch and the Holy Ghost his Deputy The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them but ye shall not be so Luk. 22.25 Christ did not promise before his Ascension to leave Peter with them to direct and instruct them in all things but he promised to send the Holy Ghost unto them for that end These are his Highness own words whereby it evidently appeareth his Majesty challengeth no supremacy over the Church but laboureth to overthrow that abominable exaltation of that Man of Sin in the Romish Profession for Christ hath given no Supremacy in or over his Church to any mortal man but expresly commanded the contrary as that place of Luke mentioned by his Majesty plainly declareth His Highness is supream Head and Governour over all his Subjects Bodies and Goods within his Dominions and therein I detest and abhor all forreign Powers whatsoever But now for the thing in controversie betwixt you and me of compelling men by Persecutions to do service to God as is pretended wherein they have not Faith it shall be manifest not to be of God in that Christ Jesus himself the only Lord and Law-giver to the soul neither had any such Power and Authority neither taught any such thing to his Disciples but the contrary First Mat. 28.18 19. All Power is given me in Heaven and in Earth Go therefore and teach all Nations And 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to cast down strong Holds c. Here we see Christ hath no worldly power nor worldly weapons Secondly He practised and taught the contrary When the Samaritans would not receive him going to Jerusalem Luke 9. his Disciples would have had Fire come down from Heaven and devoured them but Christ rebuked them and said Ye know not of what spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them And the Apostle by the Spirit of Christ 2 Tim. 2.24 commandeth the Servants of the Lord not to strive but to be gentle towards all men apt to teach suffering the evil-men patiently instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may know the truth and come to amendment out of the Devils snare c. These Scriptures need no explanation for this most evident Truth Ant. Well yet notwithstanding all this it is manifest in the Scriptures by the Example of the Apostle Peter smiting Ananias and Saphira to death Act. 5. and of the Apostle Paul striking Elymas the Sorcerer blind Act. 13.11 and also by delivering Hymeneus and Alexander unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that punishment upon the body may be used and the flesh destroyed For if it were lawful for them to smite to death and the like though by extraordinary means then it must be lawful for us by ordinary means since extraordinary means now fail If you say it be not lawful for us then you must say it was not lawful for them and that were to accuse them of laying a false foundation which none fearing God will affirm Ch. I dare not once admit of such a thought as to disallow the truth of that Foundation which the Apostles as skilfull Master-builders have laid But for your Argument of Peters extraordinary smiting of Ananias and Saphira he neither laid hand upon them nor threatned them by word only declared what should befall them from God and therefore serveth nothing to your purpose Also that of Paul to Elymas he laid no hands upon him but only declared the Lords hand upon him and the judgment that should follow If you can so pronounce and it so come to pass upon any do it and then it may be you may be accounted
Master-builders and layers of a new foundation or another Gospel And for the Apostle Paul his delivering Hymeneus and Alexander unto Satan 1 Tim. 1.20 it was not by any temporal sword or power but even by the Power of our Lord Jesus Christ in his Name by the sword of the Spirit 1 Cor. 5.4 And this was not extraordinary but ordinary to continue in all Churches to the end and not to destroy the outward man as you teach and practise but to destroy those lustful affections which dwell in the flesh that so the flesh being mortified the Spirit may be quickned and the Soul saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And whereas you say that as they did it by extraordinary means so you may do it by ordirary means If you would use only those weapons which Christ commanded his Disciples to use in this business which are not carnal we would agree with you herein but if your ordinary means be such as Christ never had nor any of his Disciples then it is a means of your own devising for Christ hath all means whatsoever for bringing men to the obedience of the Truth Ant. Doth not Christ in the Parable teach that he compelled all to come in Ch. I demand of you wherewith doth he compel them he hath no carnal weapons Doth he not compel them by his Word which is his two-edged Sword Heb. 4.12 Rev. 2.12 Doth he smite the Earth with any other weapons than by the breath of his lips Isa 11.4 Ant. Well then you see then compulsion may be used Ch. Yes I confess to you such compulsion as much as you will if when you have done you will walk in his steps who when the Gaderens prayed him to depart he left them and taught his Disciples where they should preach the Word of God if they would not receive them that they should shake off the dust of their feet for a witness against them Mat. 10.14 which accordingly they practised Act. 13.51 and 18.6 c. He never taught them to pull the contrary-minded out of their houses and put them in Prisons to the undoing of them their wives and children This was Saul's course when he was a Blasphemer and Persecutor c. Act. 9.1 c. Christ taught his Disciples to wait if at any time God would give the contrary-minded repentance and not to prevent their repentance by seeking their blood Indifferent man I have heard you all this while and by that I have heard I see evidently that none ought to be compelled by any worldly means to worship God neither can any be accepted in such worship in that it is Spiritual Worship that he accepteth Ch. Blessed be the Lord that you see it I would not you only but all men did see that the sword of the Magistrate and all afflictions proceeding therefrom are only upon the outward man and connot convert a soul from going astray not beget faith for Faith comes by hearing the Word of God Rom. 10.17 and therefore is no instrument in this work All that the Magistrate can do is to compel me to bring my body for except there be a willing mind which no man can see there is no acceptance with God and therefore it is not Gods Glory nor my acceptance with him they seek by forcing me but meerly their own Obedience to God's great dishonour and the destruction of my soul if I should so do But if it would suffice them to bring my body to that they call their Church and require of me no worship I will go when they will only not when their false worship is performed For I abhor the accursed Doctrine of the Familists herein Indif It is a lamentable thing to consider how many thousands in this Nation there be that for fear of trouble submit to things in Religion which they disapprove of Ch. Oh! whose eyes do not gush out with tears in the confideration thereof seeing in all that God is highly displeased and all those are under the Judgments of God everlastingly if they repent not Ant. If it were as you would have it that all Religions should be suffered how dangerous would it be to the Kings Person and State what Treacheries and Treasons would be plotted Indif Indeed that is a thing greatly to be suspected but if permission of all Religions could be cleared in that there is no question but it might prevail with the King and State Ch. If it be not cleared of that then let all men abhor it It is the Commandment of him who is the God not of confusion but of Peace and Order and therefore to be obeyed Mat. 13.30 Let the good and bad grow together unto the end of the world Suffering the contrary-minded patiently proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth c. First for all those that seek and practise in themselves Reformation in Religion Satan himself cannot task them with the least jot of Treachery And for the Papists may it not justly be suspected that one chief cause of all their Treasons hath been because of all the Compulsions that have been used against their Consciences in compelling them to the Worship practised in publick according to the Law of this Land which being taken away there is no doubt but they would be much more peaceable as we see it verified in divers other Nations where no such Compulsion is used for if they might have freedom in their Religion unto their faithful Allegiance to the King the fear of the Kings Laws and their own Prosperity and Peace would make them live more inoffensively in that respect Indif Only the Papists are dangerous in that some of them hold That the Kings and Princes that be Excommunicated by the Pope may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other Ch. For that damnable and accursed Doctrine as we abhor it with our souls so we desire all other may and therefore all the Laws that can be made for the prevention of such execrable practices are most necessary But now I desire all men to see that the Bishops and we justly cry out against this accursed doctrine and practice in the Pope and his associates That Princes should be murdered by their Subjects for contrary-mindedness in Religion yet they teach the King to murder his Subjects for the self-same thing viz. for being contrary-minded to them in their Religion So likewise as that accursed doctrine is to be abhorred in the Papists who teach Subjects not to be obedient to their Princes that are excommunicated by the Pope even so is that accursed doctrine of the Bishops to be abhorred who teach Princes not to protect their Subjects that are excommunicated by them in not affording them either Law or Justice nor to bear Testimony in any Court Do not the Bishops herein justifie this accursed doctrine and practice in the Papists Ant. There is a great difference in the persons for the one are
Kings that have power and authority shall destroy Antichrists Kingdom and nourish and cherish Christs Kingdom Ch. Most true it is the Lord hath spoken it and therefore it ought to be a great comfort to Gods People but what is this to the purpose in hand namely That Kings may persecute the contrary-minded The words of the Prophet Isaiah prove that Kings and Queens that have formerly persecuted and destroyed the Church their hearts shall be turned by the power of Gods Word to be lovers and preservers of the Church And the other place Rev. 17.16 proves that Kings shall make that Whore desolate c. not by their temporal Authority or Sword as some say that make more shew of Religion than you do although themselves be now persecuted yet if Kings were of their minds would be as cruel as you for they maintain the same thing but by the Spirit of the Lords mouth and the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 For this kingdom of Antichrist shall be destroyed without hand Dan. 8. 25. only by the Everlasting Gospel the true Armour indeed wherewith the Witnesses fight against the Antichrist As the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth Apol. pag. 93. Ant. You are so stiff against using of outward weapons in Church matters Did not our Saviour make a Whip of small cords and whip the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple And why may not we follow his example Ch. In this and many other actions of Christ our Saviour we are to consider him as the fulfiller and ender of the Law as in the action of the Passover and sending him that was clensed of his Leprosie to offer to the Priest the gift that Moses commanded in which things we are not to imitate him for by him the Ceremonies are fulfilled and abolished and the everlasting Gospel established in the which we are to walk and it were more than foolish to reason thus Christ whipped wicked men out of Gods Temple made with hands with whips made of cord therfore we may whip wicked men out of Gods Temple made without hands with whips made of cord There is a wholsom doctrine to be collected from the Type to the Truth as thus Christ drove out wicked men out of the Temple made with hands by a carnal or worldly whip So Christ by his People must drive wicked men out of the Temple made without hands by a Spiritual whip even his Word which is called a Whip or Rod. Rev. 2 27. and Psal 2.9 So is Excommunication 1 Cor. 4.21 Ant. If freedom of Religion should be granted there would be such Divisions as would breed Sedition and Innovasion in the State Ch. Thus when your shews out of the Scripture are answered then you run to conceits and imaginations of Sedition Innovasion and the like thinking thereby to disswade Princes and all that are in authority therefrom knowing else your kingdom of iniquity would fall But that it may appear to all that you deal deceitfully herein let us consider first the Scriptures secondly behold the success of suffering of Religion free in other Countries And first Christ our Saviour who is that Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 not of Sedition hath taught Mat. 10 and Luk. 12. That he came not to send Peace on the earth but Debate to divide five in one house two against three and three against two the father against the son c. And a mans enemies shall be they of his own houshold And his desire is that the fire of such Sedition should be kindled Where we see this Prince of Peace putteth difference in Religion by preaching his Gospel which some receive as the savour of life unto them others refuse it and so become enemies unto the Truth and witnesses thereof as they did to Christ Jesus himself and his Disciples and as you do to me and others Secondly behold the Nations where freedom of Religion is permitted and you may see there are not more flourishing and prosperous Nations under the Heavens than they are Indif The Convocation of Bishops and the rest have made a Canon That whosoever shall affirm that the Kings Majesty hath not the same power in Causes Ecclesiastical under the Gospel that the godly Kings of Israel had under the Law let him be excommunicated ipso facto Ch. Yes they have so In the beginning of his Majesties Reign when they had gotten him sure unto them of the which they so much doubted as with my own ears I heard some of their chief followers say when his Highness was coming into England Now must Steeples down and we shall have no more High Commission with a lamentation they spake it then they made this Canon because their consciences are convinced that they stand only by his Power and if his hand be turned their spiritual power of darkness falleth to the pit of darkness from whence it came and whither it must go though there be never so much means used for the supporting of it for the strong Lord hath spoken it Revel 18. As for their sending men to Hell as they suppose with their ipso facto Excommunications if they had no stronger weapons for the supportting of their kingdom it would stand but a short space If Israel now were of this world as it was under the Law then they said something but if it be not of this world as it is not John 17.14 then the King of Israel is not of this world for when this King came the worldly Israel knew him not Indif I see evidently that all are but cavels and that no mortal man can make any man offer Sacrifices under the New Testament until he be a Believer and converted for he must be in Christ before he may offer Sacrifices for in Christ only the Father accepteth us But what say you Have they not power to compel men to come to the place where the Word is publickly taught that they may be converted Ch. Well then you see that the example of the Kings of Israel who had power to compel them to Sacrifice or to cut them off applyed to earthly Princes is gone as a meer doctrine of man and not of God And for compelling men to hear that they may be converted we can learn of no better than of Him who if we hear not we shall have a dreadfull recompence He had all power in Heaven and in Earth for converting souls given unto him and sent his Disciples as his Father sent him Joh. 20.21 charging them that when they should come into a City c. if they would not receive them nor their Word to shake off the dust of their feet for a witness against them saying it should be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for that City or house And so the Apostles went from City to City accordingly Here were no Temples made with hands nor worldly power to compel all to come unto them to hear the Word of the Lord but they were commanded to go
from City to City and from house to house Indif In those dayes the Magistrates were Vnbelievers but the question is where Magistrates are Believers Ch. Christ had all power needful for that work if Magistracy were a power needful for that work then Christ had not all power Magistracy is Gods blessed Ordinance in its right place but let not us be wiser than God to devise him a means for the publishing of his Gospel which He that had all power had not nor hath commanded Magistracy is a power of this world the Kingdom Power Subjects and means of publishing the Gospel are not of this world Ant. A goodly thing indeed that men must go about the Country to preach Ch. In your estimation it is base and contemptible your Pomp and Pride will not bear this it is more easie for you to hunt after Promotion till you come to the highest in getting to be chief Bishop of Bishops within these Dominions and then cometh your fall full low if you repent not But the wisdom of God hath appointed the chiefest Officers of Christs Kingdom even the Apostles thus basely to go up and down to and fro to preach the Gospel yea that worthy Apostle Paul preached this Gospel night and day with many tears openly and throughout every house Act. 20. Indif But if this be thus as for my own part I am fully perswaded it is then I see the High Commission cannot stand for as I take it it is only for Causes Ecclesiastical Ch. So far as it is over Church-matters it is most unlawful for the Commission for judging and punishing of the transgressors of the Laws of Christs Church is given to Christ the Monarch thereof a part whereof he hath left to his Disciples which is no worldly Commission or Power but only the Power of the Lord Jesus the uttermost of which Commission is Excommunication 1 Cor. 5. Ant. The High Commission is from the King and dare you once call it into question Ch. If I do take any authority from the Kings Majesty let me be judged worthy my desert but if I defend the Authority of Christ Jesus over mens souls which appertaineth to no mortal man whatsoever then know you that whosoever would rob him of that Honour which is not of this world he will tread them under foot Earthly Authority belongeth to earthly Kings but spiritual Authority belongeth to that one spiritual King who is KING of Kings Ant. Well all your pleading will not serve your turn either you must come to Church or else go to Prison Ch. I have shewed you by the Law of Christ that your course is most wicked to compel any by Persecution to perform any service to God as you pretend Now I desire also to shew you that the Statute Law of the Land requireth only civil obedience and his Majesties Writings maintaining the Oath of Allegiance testifie the same The Law of the Land requireth that whosoever cometh not to Church or receiveth not the Sacraments the Oath of Allegiance is to be tendred to them which that it may be manifest to all that not only I but all that profess the Faith with me are most willing to subscribe unto it in faithfulness and truth I have thought good to express it The words of the Oath Anno 3 Jacobi Regis I A. B do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess and testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the World That our sovereign Lord King James is lawful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries And than the Pope neither of himself nor by any other Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose of any his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any forreign Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty or to give licence or leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults or to offer any violonce or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person State or Government or any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I do swear from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or Sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successors or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heirs or Successors or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against him or any of them And I do further swear that I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable doctrine and position That Princes which be Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully ministred to me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and Acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true Faith of a Christian So help me God Ant. This Oath was intended for the Papists and not for you Ch. It is not so for his Majesty at the last Session of Parliam Anna 1609 saith thus Some doubts have been conceived anent the using of the Oath of Allegiance and that part of the Act that ordains the taking thereof is thought so obscure that no man can tell who ought to be pressed therewith c. And therefore if there be any scruple touching the ministring thereof I would wish it now to be cleared c. And thereupon this Statute was made Anno 7. Regni Regis Iacobi c. Chap. 6. towards the latter end And if any person or persons whatsoever of or above the age of eighteen years do now stand or at any time hereafter shall stand and be presented indicted and convicted for not coming to Church or receiving the Lords Supper according
and 6.6 8. the Wisdom of God therein teaching that the Forehead and Hand are the apparantest parts of the body to the view of all men so that to receive the Mark in the Forehead or Hand is to make manifest Profession of him we obey The sum of all which is that whosoever openly professeth obedience and subjection to that spiritual cruel power of Rome the Beast or to that spiritual cruel power of England his Image wheresoever they or either of them are exalted such a one and such persons shall drink of the Wine of Gods wrath and be tormented in fire and brimstone and shall have no rest day nor night for evermore Indif Your description of the Beast the Papists will deny so will the English Lord Bishops and their followess deny your description of his Image but thousands will grant both and some will deny both as the Familists who say that Religion standeth not in outward things and therefore they will submit to any outward service and they that do not so but suffer persecution say they are justly persecuted Ch. Those Enemies to the Cross of Christ are most of them not worth information because for the most part they are such as do with an high hand sin after enlightning having forsaken the way wherein they walked because they would not bear Christs Cross but in that some simple souls may be seduced by them let us a little in general compare their Opinion with the Scriptures True it is that Religion standeth not only in outward things for God requireth the heart and truth in the inward parts but that God requireth not our subjection upon fearful punishments to those outward Ordinances which he requireth is a doctrine of Devils as I shall prove And first for the outward Ordinances of the Old Testament which were meerly shadows and now are beggerly rudiments Gal. 4.16 what indignation the Lord had towards them that transgressed Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire which the Lord hath not commanded a fire went out from the Lord and destroyed them Levit. 10.1 2. The men of Bethshemesh looking into the outward Ark which God had forbidden the Lord slew fifty thousand and threescore and ten of them 1 Sam. 6.19 Vzza of a good intent leaning his shoulder to the same outward Ark which God forbad the Lord slew him I Chr. 13 7 10. Vzziah the King oftering up outward Incense which God commanded to be done only by the Priests Numb 18.3 7. the Lord smore him with Leprosie until his death 2 Chron. 26. Corah and his company what fearful Judgments came upon them though he a Levite for presuming to meddle with the Priests Office the Earth opening and swallowing them up Numb 16. King Saul likewise offering up Incense in time of need as he thought the Lord rent his Kingdom from him 1 Sam. 13. as also for his disobedience afterwards touching the fat of the Amalecks Cattel 1 Sam. 15. How often was the wrath of the Lord poured down upon them Israelites because of their transgression of his outward Ordinances in place person and things for it was a Law Lev. 17.3 4. That who so brought not his Sacrifice to the place viz. to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation but offered it up other where blood should be imputed to that man and he should be cut off from among his People yea such Sacrifices were esteemed of God as offered to Devils ver 7. And the Lord caused them to pronounce Deut. 27.26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them and all the people must say So be it Was God thus jealous of Moses's Ordinances and is he less jealous of Christs Must he dye that despiseth Moses Law and shall he escape that despiseth Christs upon what pretence soever And Christ saith It becometh him and all his to fulfil all Righteousness in outward Ordinances as washing with water Mat. 3.15 And whosoever saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandments which are outward aswell as inward he is a lyar 1 Job 2.4 And whosoever breaks the least Commandment and teacheth men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.19 And whosoever will not hear that Prophet Christ Jesus in all things that he shall say unto them shall be destroyed out of his People Acts 3.22 23. The affections of the soul are to be manifested by the actions of the body according to Gods Word and all other good intents or affections are abominable We may not neither can we worship God with our spirits and the Devil with our bodies for we are bought with a price and therefore must not be the servants of men but must glorifie God with our bodies and with our spirits for they are his 1 Cor. 6.20 and 7.23 And this may suffice to satisfie any concerning the overthrow of this cursed Conceit knowing also that Christ and his Apostles and all his Disciples to the end of the world might and may live peaceably enough from Persecution if this Doctrine might be observed viz. Submission with our bodies to any outward service The Lord discover such Hypocrites Indif I bless God I have learned of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.8 to say nothing against the Truth but for the Truth and therefore when I see things are evidently manifested by the Scriptures am desirous to submit and not to cavil But you know it is pleaded they have the Word and Sacraments in the English Assemblies Ch. I confess they have the Scriptures in the which Gods Mysteries are contained which are locked up from them and revealed to his Saints Col. 1.26 which they wofully pervert to their own destruction They have also imitations of Gods Ordinances as Water Bread and Wine and other things which they use after their own inventions which things make them boast so much of their Christianity and of their Church which makes them reason thus We are Gods People for we have the Word and Sacraments The Philistims might better have reasoned 1 Sam. 5. who had the true Ark of God amongst them these have but a shew We are Gods People for we have Gods Ark and holy Oracles amongst us But I think they had no great cause to rejoyce thereof in the end No more shall these have in the end when God recompenceth all that withhold the Truth in unrighteousness Gods dealing is not now as it was of old he now reserveth punishment to the last day he is patient and would have men repent but they despise his bountifulness and long-suffering preaching peace when there is no peace Indif It cannot be denied but that the Ministers preach many excellent Truths and do bring people to much reformation in many things Ch. True it cannot be denied For if the Devil should come in his own likeness men would resist him but because he transformeth himself into an Angel of light therefore he deceiveth So his ministers if they should teach all lyes
a little consider of it In truth it is to say that in one respect they have Gods Promises appertaining to them in another respect they have Gods most fearful Torments pronounced against that Beast and that false Prophet Rev. 19.20 appertaining to them In one respect they are Gods People serving Him their Master in another respect the Devils people serving him their master In one respect they shall be saved in another respect they shall be damned But what false doctrine this is Gods holy Word doth discover Our Saviour saith No man can serve two masters ye cannot serve God and Riches Mat. 6.25 And can any serve Christ and the Beast God and the Dragon When Christ shall come at the last day to give to every man according to his works will he say to any one In respect of thy personal graces I will save thee Come thou blessed as he will say to all his Children But in respect of thy being a member of Antichrists body I will damn thee Go thou cursed as he will to all that worship or obey the Beast Will not Christ Jesus pronounce absolutely either Salvation or Condemnation to every one and that according to this word Joh. 12.48 so as God in his Righteousness will either justifie or condemn every man So hath He taught us to know that no Fountain can make salt water and sweet Jam. 3.12 And therefore that by mens fruits we should know and judge them to be not both good and evil trees at one time as this opinion teacheth but either good or evil alwayes taking heed we justifie not the wicked nor condemn the innocent both which are abominable to the Lord And for any communion whatsoever with them What fellowship hath Christ with Antichrist the Righteous with the Wicked the Servants of the Lamb with the servants of the Beast But I leave this for further answer to thse who although they are nearer to this man that hath published this opinion than I am yet hath according to truth confessed in writing That there is nothing to be expected from Christ by any member of the Church of England but a pouring out of his eternal Wrath upon them Mr. De-Cluse Advertis pag. 9. Indif Well I praise God I am much informed in these things yet one thing more I will desire your answer unto The case standeth thus with me In these things I am betwixt faith and doubting though the rather I believe these things you say are true and that I may never go to these Assemblies again without sin but I am not so perswaded thereof that I dare suffer for it What if I should not having Faith to suffer for fear of persecution go to their Worship again Ch. It were your most fearful sin which I prove thus and I pray you observe it well You must do it either as being verily perswaded you do well and then all this beginning of Light in you should be extinguished and so your estate is with the worst if not worse or else you must do it doubting whether you do well or no For I hope you will not say you do it knowing you do evil If you do it doubting the Lord saith It is sin Rom. 14.23 which I hope you will acknowledge and not approve your self to do well in sinning and then God is merciful to forgive your sin either this or any other 1 Joh. 1.9 But if you say you sin not therein doing it doubtingly you make God a lyar who saith It is sin and your sin remaineth Indif What if I should many times go through weakness Ch. If you unfainedly repent being through weakness there is mercy with God though it should be seventy times seven times in a day Mat 18.21 22. But we had need to take heed of our repentance The Apostle saith where there is godly sorrow for sin what Care it worketh in you yea what Indignation c. 2 Cor. 7. and custom in sin is dangerous we had need to take heed we be not hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.13 Indif Then you hold that if any man approve himself in sinning his sin remaineth Ch. If any man sin and say he hath not sinned there is no truth in him 1 Joh. 1.8 and God will enter into judgment with him Jer. 2.35 Indif Then absolutely I see that if any man worship the Beast or his Image c. as before you have shewed he neither hath Faith nor Fear of God in him what shew of Godliness soever he maketh But what say you may not a man that separateth from all uncleanness though he yet see not the way of Christ in his Ordinances may not such a man be saved Ch. Yes upon this condition that he believe in Jesus Christ for his only Righteousness and be willing and ready to hear and obey his Ordinances an example hereof we have in Cornelius Acts 10. But if any will not hear that Prophet Christ Jesus in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them they shall be destroyed out of his People Acts 3.22 23. Indif What do you mean by will not hear Ch. That when any part of the Way of God is manifested to them they despise and contemn it or carelesly neglect it otherwise men may not receive some of Christs Truth and yet not be said that they will not receive it Indif Next after forsaking the wayes of wickedness and imbracing Christ for our Righteousness what must we do Ch. Christs whole Testament teacheth this and no other way after repentence from dead works and faith towards God to be baptized with water Matth. 16.16 Acts 2.41 and 8.12 38. and 9.18 and a cloud of witnesses calling these the beginnings of Christ and foundation Heb. 6.1 c. Indif May none be admitted to the Church to partake in the Ordinances except they be baptized Ch. If any teach otherwise he presumeth above what is written 1 Cor. 4.6 and therefore ought to be held accursed Gal. 1.8 9. For there was never true Church since Christ was manifested in the flesh joyned together of unbaptized persons though some have vainly published the contrary Indif True I think that cannot be denyed where the persons were never baptized but now the members of the Church of Rome from whence the Baptism of the Church of England cometh are baptized Therefore why need they again be baptized Ch. If they be baptized with Christs Baptism I will acknowledge they need not again be baptized but that the Baptism of the Church of Rome is Christs Baptism that can never be proved for Christ requireth that only his Disciple should baptize his Disciple and into his Body none of which is in Romes baptism For Christs adversaries wash with water those that are not Christs Disciples into the body not of Christ but of Antichrist Indif I confess that the Church of Rome and members thereof are the Church and members of Antichrist but they use the water and words in their Baptism that
Christ appointed Ch. What then is it therefore Christs Baptism The Conjurers used the same words that the Apostles did Acts 19.13 c. We adjure you by the Name of Jesus c. yet abominable was their action Also Psal 50. Unto the wicked said God What hast thou to do with my Ordinances or to take my Word in thy mouth c. Also the Papists use the same words in their Church that Christ hath appointed to be used in his as also in their Ministry Is it therefore Christs Church and Ministry They use also the same words and washing with water in baptizing their Bells that they use in baptizing their Infants Is it therefore Christs Baptism If answer be made Bells are not to be baptized I answer No more are the seed of wicked Persecutors by our Opposits own confession If this were any thing you should see what would follow The Baptism of Rome is Christs Baptism because they use water and these words So if any use water and these words as the Jews or any other of Christs adversaries as the Papists are then there is Christs Baptism Consider this and see what truth there is in it Indif Though the Baptism of the Church of Rome should be naught yet the Baptism of the Church of England may be good in that there be many thousands that were never baptized in the Church of Rome Ch. I answer that the first beginning of the Church of England was made of the members of the Church of Rome as is apparant in the dayes of King Henry the eight and afterwards in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign after Qu. Maries death and so continueth unto this day and the long continuance of it makes it not approvable And the Papists themselves bid the Protestants prove if they have or hold any other Baptism Church or Ministry than that they have from them and shew it and they will recant Besides the Baptism now practised in the Church of England is no better no otherwise than that of Rome for the Church of Rome baptizeth all the Infants of the most wicked that are in her Dominions and so the Church of England baptizeth all the Infants of the most wicked that are in the Kings Majesties Dominions and of this Timber are both these Churches built and therefore we may truly say as is the Mother so is the Daughter And as they are in their first building so they are in most of their Laws Lords Law-makers Courts and thousands of their Abominations insomuch that it is plain enough the latter is the very Image of the first unto which whosoever submitteth or obeyeth or maintaineth their Baptism or any other of their humane trash he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone for evermore and shall never have rest day nor night Rev. 14. And therefore in Gods fear cast away that cursed action of washing where was neither Christs Disciple administring nor his Disciple upon whom it was adminstred nor Christs Body or Church baptized into and obey Christs Voice in becoming his Disciple and to his Church that you may be baptized by his Disciple and be made a Member of his Body or Church This only is Christs Baptism and of him acknowledged and ought to be of all his Disciples and the contrary to be held accursed and in no sort maintained or kept Indif It is objected That we must cast away that which is mans Ordinance and retain that which is Gods Ordinance namely Washing and Water and Words Ch. I deny that any thing in that action was Gods Ordinance or Appointment what truth is there in this to say That because God appointeth Water and Washing and Words in his Baptism therefore howsoever Water and Washing and these Words are used that is Christs Ordinance I confess Water and Washing and Words are Gods Ordinance being used as he hath commanded the which I acknowledge must be held but this use of them or action fore-spoken of being not the use of them or action appointed of God as the adversaries confess is to be cast away as execrable Indif Further it is objected They repent of that which is evil and retain that which is good Ch. For the better discovering of this deceit let us consider what is the evil they confess and that they repent of say they An unlawfull person performed an unlawful action upon an unlawful person this is the evil Now this is the question whether this action thus unlawfully performed may be kept and yet repented of The Scripture teacheth That not only confessing but forsaking sin in repentance Pra. 28.13 Can a Thief that hath stolen Goods repent thereof to acceptance with God and not make restitution to the party wronged being in his power or having ability to restore I would know how this will be maintained for the one is a greater theft than the other Indif It is further objected That Jeroboams followers had no right to Circumcision in their idolatrous estate yet such as were circumcised in that estate were not afterwards circumcised when they came to repentance Ch. It is their forgery so to object for either they had right to Circumcision being true Israelites although in transgression or else none had right to Circumcision in the world no not Judah For what can be said but that because the ten Tribes were in rebellion against God therefore they had no right to Circumcision May not the same be said in as high a measure of Judah was Israels sin half so great as Judahs If it be said that Israel forsook the place of Gods Worship the Temple so did Judah too worshipping under every green tree and Grove and high place whatsoever can be said of the one as much may be said of the other This is a meer deceitful forgery raised up by Satan in the hearts of his false Prophets to deceive themselves and them that shall perish if they repent not in that they receive not the love of the truth but believe these lyes and have pleasure therein concluding from this false ground That because the Israelites in transgression were circumcised and after coming to repentance were not circumcised again So Egyptians Sodomites and Babylonians never having been Israelites baptized in the Synagogues of Satan are not to be rebaptised as they call it there being no comparison betwixt the persons the one being true Israelites according to the flesh Gods People to whom by Gods appointment Circumcision appertained who should have increased their transgressions if they had not performed it and the other true Babylonians Gods adversaries unto whom God threatneth his Judgements for taking his Ordinances in their mouthes or hands Indif I see indeed there is no true proportion betwixt the persons in Circumcision and Baptism for the one were the persons appointed of God to be circumcised which Circumcision taught them the forsaking of their wickedness and bound them to the observation of the Law Gal. 5.3 and they had no cause to repent of
that their action The other are not the persons appointed of God to be baptized but sinned in that their action and must repent thereof by your opposits own confession But if this be granted this question ariseth Who shall then baptize after Antichrists exaltation Ch. For answer to this There are three wayes professed in the world One by the Papists and their several successors professing succession from the Pope and his ministers Another by the Familists and scattered flock that none may intermeddle therewith lawfully till their extraordinary men come Another we and others affirm That any Disciple of Christ in what part of the world soever coming to the Lords way he by the Word and Spirit of God preaching that way unto others and converting he may and ought also to baptise them The two former I shall through the help of God confute and confirm the latter by the Scriptures First to the Papists and all their several successors some standing for all by succession from Rome some for more some for less some for nothing but Baptism being of our Judgement for the appointing of their Ministry To them all I answer with the words of the Lord Psa 50.16 What have Antichrists Ministers to do to take Gods Word in their mouths or to declare his Ordinances seeing they hate to be reformed and have cast Gods Word behind their backs If they have nothing to do with his Word and Ordinances then not with Ministry and Baptism Besides God hath forbidden that the adversaries of Him his Temple and them that dwell in Heaven should build according to that of Nehem. 2.20 The God of Heaven he will prosper us and we his Servants will rise up and build but as for you you have no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem Secondly to that fantastical Sect I answer It is their dream and false vision to look for extraordinary men for God hath not spoken it For if an Angel from Hevven should come and preach otherwise than those extraordinary men the Apostles have preached which none else could preach and which is written in Christs Testament we are to hold them accursed Gal. 1.8 9. Which Truth none need go into Heaven to seek but every one that searcheth the Scriptures may find by the direction of the holy Ghost which God hath promised to all that obey him Acts 5. and ask it Mat. 6.1 Indif Now I pray you let me hear your confirmation of your practice Ch. As it was in the second building of the material Temple after the captivity of Babylon in Caldea so according to the true proportion it is to be in the second building of the spiritual Temple after the captivity of spiritual Babylon Now this is to be observed in the former that every Israelite with whom the Lord was and whose spirit the Lord stirred up was commanded to go and build Ezra 1.3 5. though some were more excellent in the business than others So now every spiritual Israelite with whom the Lord is and whose spirit the Lord stirreth up are commanded to go and build and the Lord will prosper them in rising up and building though some be more excellent in the business than others the beginning of which spiritual building is first to beget men anew by the immortal seed to Gods Word so making them living stones and thereupon to comple them together a spiritual house unto God 1 Pet. 2. upon the confession of their Faith by Baptism as the Scriptures of the New Testament every where teach as before is shewed Indif It is confessed of many that any that have gifis may preach and convert but not baptize Ch. Such our Saviour accounteth Hypocrites and reproveth Mat. 23. that held it was lawful to swear by the Temple but not by the Gold on the Temple by the Altar but not by the Offering on the Altar to whom he saith Wether is greater the Gold or the Temple that sanctifieth the Gold the Offering or the Altar that sanctifieth the Offering So may I say Whether is greater the Water and Washing or the Word that sanctifies the Water Indif What other example have you in the Scriptures that an unbaptized person may baptize Ch. If there were no other than that afore-mentioned it were sufficient An Israelite circumcised in flesh God stirring up his heart was to build the Temple made with hands from the first stone to the last So an Israelite circumcised in heart God stirring him up is to build the Temple made without hands from the first stone to the last beginning with Go preach and baptize teaching to observe all that God commands as Christ teacheth his Disciples to the end of the world But further we have the particular example of John Baptist who being unbaptised preached converted and baptised Indif But John Baptist was an extraordinary man it will be objected for God spake to him extraordinarily Ch. What then Is not his practice written for our instruction God hath spoken at several times after sundry manners Heb. 1.1 c. yet all to one end As for this of John Baptist the same God that spake to John Baptist in the wilderness his Word the same God speaketh to us in his Scriptures the same Word he spake to John and therefore seeing the Lord hath spoken who shall not preach and practise according to his Word seeing now God speaketh to no particular persons For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for every mans instruction Rom. 15.4 Indif Many famous men as Mr. Perkins and others confess that if a Turk should come to the knowledge of the Truth in Turkey he might preach the same to others and converting them baptize them though unbaptized himself Ch. True but this Mystery of Iniquity so prevaileth perswading many that they are Christians because they had Baptism in their Infancy when it appertained not to them that they think their case is better than the Turks though alas it is much worse for it shall be easier for the Turks than for them if Gods VVord be true Are not all Jews and Gentiles in one estate by nature and is there more than one way of coming to Christ for them both namely to be the Sons of God by Faith and to put on Christ by Baptism Gal. 3.26 27. Who hath set up his new way Christ or Antichrist Indif Many of those called Brownists do confess that they are reasonably perswaded that Antichristians coming to the Truth may be baptized and they would not differ with you concerning that but that you deny Infants Baptism What say you may not the Infants of the Faithful be baptized Ch. No except God have appointed it Indif You know it is granted that there is neither plain command nor example for it in Christs Testament but from the consequence of Circumcision in that Covenant that God made with Abraham and his seed Gen. 17. and other places agreeing therewith Ch. Let us endeavour to put an end to this if it
things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God And 1 Joh. 2.27 But the Anointing that ye have received of Him dwelleth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and it is true and is no lye and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in Him And 1 Joh. 3.24 Hereby we know that He abideth in us even by the Spirit that He hath given us And 1 Cor. 12.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of Wisdom and to another the word of Knowledge by the same Spirit The Scriptures be so plain in this that the greatest adversaries thereof do acknowledge the truth of it only herein lyeth the difficulty Who it is that hath this Spirit of God to interpret the Scriptures which is this sure Rule which in the next place is to be handled CHAP. 3. That the Spirit of God to understand and interpret the Scriptures is given to all and every particular person that fear and obey God of what degree soever they be and not to the wicked PRoved Psal 25.12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him will he teach the way that he shall chuse And ver 14. The secret of the Lord is revealed to them that fear Him and his Covenant to give them understanding And Psal 107.43 Who is wise that he may observe these things he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. And Dan 12.10 None of the wicked shall have understanding but the Wise shall understand For God will do nothing but He revealeth his Secrets to his Servants Amos 3.7 And Psal 119.99 c. I have had more understanding than all my Teachers and than all the Antients because I kept thy Precepts For he that keepeth the Law is a Child of understanding Prov. 28.7 And Joh. 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and He shall give you the Spirit of Truth And ver 23. If any man love me he will keep my Word and my Father and I will come unto him and will dwell with him And John 7.17 If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or no. And Acts 5.32 Yea and the holy Ghost whom God hath given to all that obey Him And Luke 21.15 I will give you my Disciples that obey me and suffer for my sake a mouth and wisdom c. and Luke 12.12 The holy Ghost shall teach you what ye shall say For Mat. 10.20 It is not you that speak but the Spirit of my Father that speaketh in you And Mark 4.11 To you my followers is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but not to them that are without For the Mystery of the Gospel is made manifest to the Saints Col. 2.2 The Church and Saints of God have revealed unto them by the Spirit the things that eye hath not seen c. 1 Cor. 2.9 10. And they have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things that are given them of God But the natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual discerneth all things c. ver 14. Hence is most plain to whom the Spirit of God is given even to every particular Saint of God And it is no private spirit but even the publick Spirit of God which is in him which enableth him to understand and so to declare the things given him of God 2 Pet. 1.20 That is a private spirit that is not of God though it be in multitudes but the Spirit of God though but in one Saint is not private Gods Spirit is not private for it is not comprehended only within one place person or time as mans is but it is universal and eternal so is not mans therefore mans is private though they be many Gods is publick though but in one person CHAP. 4. Those that fear and obey God and so have the Spirit of God to search out and know the mind of God in the Scriptures are commonly and for the most part the simple poor despised c. PRoved Mat. 11.5 Our Saviour faith The Poor receive the Gospel And v. 25. I thank thee Father because thou hast opened these things unto Babes it is so O Father because thy good pleasure was such And Jam. 2.5 Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the Poor of this world that they should be rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised c. And 1 Cor. 1.26 c. Brethren you see your calling that God hath chosen the foolish of this world the weak of this world the vile of this world and dispised and which are not Gods dealing is to give unto the Simple sharpness of wit and to the Child knowledge and discretion Prov. 1.4 The Sprit bloweth where it listeth John 3.8 and is not tyed to the Learned Poor persecuted Micaiah had the Truth against four hundred of King Ahabs Prophets 1 King 22. So had Jeremiah against all the Priests and Prophets of Israel The Lord of Life himself in his fleshly being what was he but a man full of sorrows in his Birth laid in a Cratch because there was no room for him in the Inne Luk 2.7 A Carpenter by Trade Mar. 6.3 Having not a hole to rest his head in Mat. 8.20 And in his Death contemned and dispised His Apostles in like manner what were they but mean men Fishermen Tentmakers and such like having no certain dwelling-place 1 Cor. 4.11 which the worldly-wise Scribes and Pharises took notice of and reproachfully said Joh. 7.48 Do any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believe in him but this people that know not the Law are accursed ver 49. The truth of this is as plain as may be that the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith perfect and absolute and that the plainness of them is such as by the Spirit of God they may be easily understood of those that fear and obey God but of none else and that such are most commonly the poor and dispised for if any man want wisdom be he never so simple let him ask of God and he will give him Jam. 1.5 Which is also confirmed by humane Testimonies The Protestants confess Whit. pag. 7. That in the Primative Church the Doctrines and several points of Religion were known and discovered by the most mean of the people and the Bishops exhorted them thereunto c. Also pag. 9. That this Rule is of that nature that it is able to direct any man be he never so simple yea the most unlearned alive may conceive and understand it sufficiently for his salvation And they relate the Sayings of the Ancient in this thing pag. 32. First Clemens Alexandrinus The Word is not hid from any it is a common Light
as Joh. 11.48 And because their fear towards God was taught by mens precepts and because they looked to their own way and to their own advantage and had rejected the Word of the Lord and because they builded their Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity and sought their own honour and not Gods as before is proved So the cause of the blindness of the learned Papists in denying the Scriptures the only Rule of Faith is not the obscurity of the Scriptures but their winding with their eyes lest they should see that that would bring them from their honours and profits and all the forenamed in the Jews And also as the Protestants well observe Whit. pag. 18. First That they might make themselves Judges in their own cause For who seeth not that if the Church be the Rule of Faith and their be the Church which way the verdict will go Next for that the greatest points of their Religion have no foundation on the Scriptures c. So that take away the Scriptures and establish their Religion but establish the Scriptures and their Religion vanisheth and that Mother of Whoredoms that glorified her self as a Queen Rev. 18. shall be consumed and her Merchants that were waxed rich through her pleasures and profits shall wail and weep the which they now seeing shut their eyes lest they should see that which would bring them from these honours profits and pleasures In like manner it may easily be judged by every indifferent man that the cause why the Learned of this Land will not see or at least practise that seeing there is but one Lord Eph. 4.5 and one Law-giver over the Conscience Jam. 4.12 Therefore no man ought to be compelled by persecution to a worship wherein he hath not Faith is not the obscurity of the Scriptures but their winking with their eyes lest they should see that that would take away their honours and profits For if Bribes blind the eyes of the Wise Deut. 16.19 then Honours and Profits much more For who seeth not if none should be compelled by persecution to worship God in Spirit and Truth such only worship Him and none but such are required to worship Him Joh. 4.23 that these Learned would lose their Honours Profits in being Lords and Law-makers over the conscience souls of men although your Majesty might lawfully give them what temporal Honours and Profits your Highness liked of These are the true causes of the blindness of the Learned For so Christ saith How can ye believe when ye seek honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God alone Joh. 5.44 And how can men but be blind in gods Mysteries when they look to their own way for their own advantage and for their own purpose for having rejected the Word of the Lord what wisdom is in them they have no answer of God that build up their Sion for so they account their Churches and Professions with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity as before is proved If these Learned could free us from the Lords wrath or if they might answer for us and we be free it were safe for us to submit our selves and captivate our judgments and practice to them but seeing they cannot so much as deliver their own souls And that if the blind lead the blind both must fall into the Ditch Mat. 15.14 and Every one must give account of himself to God and be judged by his own works done in the flesh and that the soul that sinneth shall dye We dare not follow any mortal man in matters of salvation further than we know him to agree with the meaning of God in the Scriptures Paul the holy Apostle of Jesus Christ taught That we should follow him no otherwise than he followed Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 Yea Christ himself sent men to the Scriptures to try his Doctrine The Apostles suffered their Doctrine to be tryed and commend them that try it And the Protestants confess Whit. pag. 127. This Doctrine was never misliked till a Church rose up whose Silver being Dross and whose Milk Poyson could not endure the tryal which being true that we may try why may we not also judge and practise according as Gods Spirit shall direct us in our tryal If a man should drink poison and know it to be poison were he not in a worse estate than he that should drink it ignorantly not knowing thereof even a murderer of himself in the highest degree So he that drinketh spiritual poison knowing it for according unto mens faith it is unto them he is in a worse estate and a murderer of his own soul in the highest degree And therefore that Church or those Learned that will suffer their Doctrine to be tryed and yet constrain men to receive and practise it when upon examination their consciences are convinced of the falshood thereof are worse and do more highly sin than they that constrain a blind conscience though both be evil We despise not Learning nor Learned men but do reverence it and them according to their worthiness only when it is advanced into the seat of God and that given to it which appertaineth unto the holy Ghost which is to lead into all Truth than ought all as Ezekiah did unto the brazen Serpent detest it and contemn it CHAP. 6 Persecution for cause of Conscience is against the Doctrine of Jesus Christ King of Kings 1. CHRIST commanded that the Tares and Wheat which are those that walk in the Truth and those that walk in falshood should be let alone in the world and not plucked up until the harvest which is the end of the world Mat. 13.30 38 c. 2. The same commandeth Mat. 15.14 That they that are blindly led on in false Religion and are offended with him for teaching true Religion should be let alone referring their punishment unto their falling into the Ditch 3. Again Luke 9.54 55. He reproved his Disciples who would have had Fire come down from Heaven and devoured those Samaritans that would not receive him in these words Ye know not of what spirit ye are the Son of man is not come to destroymens lives but to save them 4. Paul the Apostle of our Lord teacheth 2 Tim. 2.24 That the servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evil men instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of the snare of the Devil c. 5. According to these aforesaid Commandments the holy Prophets foretold that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdom be established then all carnal weapons should cease Isa 2.4 Micah 4.3 4. They shall break their Swords into Mattocks and their Spears into Sithes c. And Isa 11.9 Then shall none hurt nor destroy in all the Mountain of my Holiness c. And when he