I shall give some brief hints 1. That Justification and Salvation is by grace alone through Christ without any relation to any thing done by the creature 2. That this Justification and Salvation is enjoyed by faith 3. That this faith is the gift of God 4. That where this faith is truly wrought it produceth an universall obedience to the whole Law of Christ and that its the Believers priviledge only to be baptized 5. That obedience to Magistrates is the will of God and they submit for conscience sake 6. That believers are to press forwards after perfection in the use of lawfull means as Prayer Preaching Conference Fellowship c. 7. That none are the Ministers of the Gospel but such as have received the Spirit and power from on high 8. That the Spirit of Christ and the Scripture is sufficient for the Ministers calling and both Minister and peoples salvation 9. That its the work of the Lord and of him alone in the ministery of the Gospel to convert and build up souls 10. That all the Saints may and ought to exercise their gifts for the good of others according to the measure they have received 11. That it is their duty to be men of peace and as much as in them lieth to live peaceably with all 12. That a vizard and shew of holiness and innocency to deceive others without the power and life of godliness is the deepest hypocrisie and shall be punished with the deepest damnation 13. Their expectation is of a change in the day of the Lord wherein they shall be made conformable to him in glory 14. And in the mean time they are saved by hope that as the Anchor of the soul is cast into that which is within the vail where they are held both sure and stedfast Where they are cheared and comforted against all the black mouths and false scandals and lying tongues of Devil Priests or men that shall be opened against them notwithstanding you fear not neither tremble to do the work of the devil in laying false scandals and accusations to the charge of Gods Elect without just cause the Lord will in his time reprove you and rebuke you Well but I pass by because I must hasten to your Arguments I shall only take notice of a word or two more because its bootless to trace you in your folly You say You have forborn all gall and bitterness and tempered your reproof with love and meekness that you have dipt your nails in oyl that your witness is on high that you have done nothing out of envie spleen or passion to the persons of the men c. Truly Sir you have buttered words were your deeds answerable when the truth is that there is nothing else but gall and bitterness lying and false accusations are these words rouled in Sugar you would fain be shut of them have them banished the Nation I thought to what your sugered words would amount at last and indeed no wonder for it is the best portion that ever the world could afford the Saints As for your ensuing preface unto your first Argument I pass it over because in answering your Arguments I shall answer those things which seem to have weight in them because reiterations are both needless and useless The Arguments against the Preaching of gifted Brethren Examined and Answered Argument I. If God were angry with those in the time of the Law that did usurp the Priests office then he being Jehovah the same for ever will be angry with those in the time of the Gospel that do usurp the Ministers office But God was angry with those in the time of the Law that did usurp the Priests office Ergo He will be angry with those in the Gospel that do usurp the Ministers office Your Major you say is clear from the immutability of Gods nature he is the same that is truth But for to give you a discovery of the Fallacie and weakness of your Argument I shall give you a two-fold Answer First Your Major joyns the Priesthood of the Law and the Ministery of the Gospel together when the truth is there is no comparison between them The Priests were to offer Sacrifice and they only to teach the people and to minister about the things of the Altar as they were Types of Christ the great high Priest who offered himself once for all a Sacrifice for the sins of his people But the Ministers of the Gospel they are no Types of Christ they do not offer Sacrifice for sin c. Therefore there is no comparison between them none might meddle with the office or work of a Priest because it was appointed of God and did so clearly represent that great high Priest Christ Jesus but the work of a Minister of Christ is to declare forth what they have heard and seen from the Lord Jesus who is already come 1 Joh. 1. 1. 2. and this is the work of every Saint according to the measure of the gift received But secondly I answer I grant the truth of your Major in the terms but I deny that gifted brethren usurp the ministerial office in their preaching usurpation is a sin but for men to speak of the things of God according to the measure they have received is no usurpation Rom. 12. 6. 1 Pet. 10. 4. 11. nor sin but every Christians duty although you by your Logick and Retorick and forged innovations and abusive Interpretations would amaze and amuze the world and affright the Saints with Vzzah and Korah Dathan and Abiram c. But know that they are such as never came from Christ but the smoak ascending out of the bottomless Pit endeavouring to darken the bright shining of the Sun of righteousness in and by Saints Korah Dathan and Abiram were smiten for doing that they were forbidden you smite the Saints for doing that they are commanded and for which they are commended 1 Cor. 14. from the first to the fifth You apply that unto the gifted brethren which retorts it self justly upon your self For first you say usurpation to the Office of the Ministry is a great sin gifted brethren only exercise their gifts not usurp the Office but your selves it is that usurp the Office without the gift many yea most of the Ministers of the Nation usurp the Office but for the gift they are not only ignorant of but enemies to it And secondly not only usurp the Office without the gift but usurp the Office likewise without any colorable ground for it They cry up Office Office of the Ministery when they know not what it is and have no more authentick Authority for their Ordination to their Office then the Pope and the Devil can give them You instance Korah c. and apply it to the preaching brethen but truly if the Lord give you eyes but to see it you might more truly apply it to your selves you thrust your selves into the Priests Office as if you were holy and none but you and
Admit they did Preach 't was but once and that in a time of Reformation c. Was it lawful for them to Preach once and not a second time if once then always lawful was it lawful in a time of Reformation and not in a time of Deformation but it seems you would have no time lawful for your gifted Brethren c. The fourth Objection From 1 Sam. 10 5 6. Saul and his servants did Prophesie This you say was extraordinary not of Office True it was of gift and all that have the ordinary gift may Prophesie in an ordinary way as is proved already c. The fifth Objection The example of Elisha called from the Plough 1 King 19. 19. and Amos from the Stalls Amos 7. 14 15. These you say were called extraordinarily and shewed it by their Gifts c. Answ Prophets now are called ordinarily and shew it by their Gifts too and comparatively to your selves extraordinarily too for these preaching Prophets though Nailers Taylors c. yet in Gifts not Humane but Divine they excel and shame you Rabbies they can Nail and Preach Plough and Preach make Tents and Preach if that be their Calling but it s your Trade you can do nought else that good is nor that neither as it should be and yet cry out against your gifted Brethren for want of Gifts when the truth is they have too much Gift for you and are as lawfully called to exercise it as Amos and Elisha The sixth Objection Joel 2. 28. Where the Lord promiseth in the Gospel times to pour out his spirit upon all flesh and their sons and daughters shall Prophesie c. The sum of all you say to this is just nought at all It was say you performed in the first times extraordinarily but it s now fulfilled in the Elect to whom God gives his Spirit abundantly yet with this difference formerly they had extraordinary gifts of the spirit but now ordinary I answer then they could prophesie in an extraordinary manner and prophets now ordinary still sutable to the gift for you consess its the same spirit only the gift differs be contended then although the Prophesie differs 1. You say These words are a promise not a procept for Lay-men And is not promise enough and as much nay more then precept promise of assistance is more then precept without it 2. You say Because the Lord promiseth to bless his people not only with Temporal but Spiritual blessings Ergo They must preach and use their gifts in publike And why in publike Sir I thought it was publike that troubled you so much when in private then that troubled you but now in publike that troubles you but what 's the reason of it I shall tell you Sir 1. Because God hath given them more knowledge of the Truth and greater Abilities then your selves for this you envie them and your pride it is which makes you cry out no Gift your own must be gift though no gift but an Art their 's no gift though no Art but a gift 2. Because they in the light of Truth discover your folly and falsehood in deceiving the people therefore they may not come in publike I shall tell you a Story and a true one too One of the gifted Brethren preaching and it was in publike too neer about the midst of the Ciy of Lond. and preaching such things as he knew were contrary to your Principles Practice when he had done he asked the Parson of the place if he had preached any untruth if he judged that he had he had his liberty to reprove it The Parson answered That he confesfed it was truth but it had been more meet to have been preached in private and not in publike especially seeing there was so much liberty c. So that the publike preaching of Truth I perceive is your grief and burden c. 3. You say Because the Lord promised to pour his spirit on his handmaids and they did prophesie c. therefore women who are forbidden now may preach c. And where are women forbidden women may Prophesie now as well as then they are forbidden to Prophesie in the Church which is not an absolute forbidding but women may prophesie with their heads covered 1 Cor. 11. You conclude That as for those promises Jer. 31. 34. that the sum of all is but this That Gods People shall by the Spirit have a more full and clear understanding of Divine Mysteries And shall they know Divine Mysteries and not declare them will you teach them to hide their Talent in the Earth viz. within themselves That there shall not need so much labour in teaching c. with so little fruit for they shall all be taught of God And what is the reason then that you must have so much teaching in your Congregations and so little profit that there are so few that know the Lord from their being taught of him as your selves confess an evident demonstration that neither you nor they are the Ministers of the Church of Christ for he owns none to be his Church but such as are taught of him c. Allegations out of the New Testament for Lay-preaching Answered The first Allegation FRom the Example of Christ If he Disputed in the Temple and Preached in the Synagogues without a Call then Lay-men that have Gifts may preach without a Call c. Luk. 2. 42. 46. Mat. 9. 35. Luk. 4. 16 17. Your answer is 1. That all Christs Actions are not for our imitation he did many things which we may not cannot do we must walk by Rule c. for that which was lawful in Christ to do may be unlawful in us c. I answer That those things in Christ which were imitable its lawful for us to do if made partakers of the same Spirit and those who are not are none of his Rom. 8. And where this Spirit is in power there are gifts according to the measure of its working and the Apostle saith to the Saints in general desire spiritual gifts but rather that ye may Prophesy 1 Cor. 14. And Christ himself saith that his Disciples should not only do such works as himself but greater then those Joh. 14. 12. If it be objected that Christ gave to his Apostles his Spirit and Power more then ordinary I answer They still acted according to the measure of the gift received and accordingly they exhort others to do the like and if there be not the same measure manifest in the Saints yet still according to the measure of the working of Christ in them they are to imitate and follow him and he that saith the Saints are not to imitate Jesus Christ in preaching and declaring his Truth and Gospel so far as they have received from him doth both deny and belie him Secondly You say 'T is true Christ disputed c. but did not preach unto them disputing is one thing and preaching is another I answer That disputing and preaching though
c. And know this will yet lie in your way and is not so easily removed as you imagine you pretend a distinction between gifting and sending Many thousands in the Nation are gifted you say but may not dare not preach c. Your gifted brethren it seems may not dare not preach you keep them in subjection but your sent ones though no gift at all they may and dare to do it or abuse it and what account will you give to the Lord for this at last think you You say None may preach in a constituted Church without sending in your way And yet in the constituted Church of Corinth they might all viz. who had the gift prophesy one by one you instance Barnabas and Saul Act. 13. 1. 2. who though they had gifts must be ordained Yet Saul preached Act. 9. 20 21 22. before he was ordained or had seen the Apostles see vers 27. And when Paul and Barnabas were Ordained it was not to preach in a constituted Church but to the world as you may see Act. 13. You say If bare gifts be a sufficient Call c. Then gifted boys may preach as the little gifted Boy at Stafford And why not Sir will you limit the holy One of Israel and dare you reproach the Scripture as you do out of the mouths of babes and sucklings he ordained strength and will confound his foes Then gifted women may preach you say This is your own conclusion because we say as the Scripture saith that gifted brethen may preach or prophesie therefore you in reproach will conclude that gifted women may preach but it s your conclusion and to your self I leave it and according to the Mystery of the truth I think there are but few if any besides women preachers among your selves You produce Mat. 10. 1. 5. Which you say fully clears the scruple where Christ distinguisheth gifting men from Authoritative sending v. 1. he gifts them vers 5. he sends them I answer First Is this such a sending as you have talked of in your mission Election Probation Ordination or an immediate sending as he sent Paul before he was Ordained Here is not a word of Ordination but sending no laying on of the hands of Christ but gifting sending and so the gifting and sending of the gifted brethren is when the Lord enables them in a measure unto it and saith in them to them go as in Paul Gal. 1. 16. As for those gifts you mention Mat. 10. 1. I query if you or any of your sent Brethren have those gifts or if you are so sent as those vers 5. You conclude two things that must concur in making a Minister gifts abilities qualifications both of life and learning This if rightly understood is a truth and I freely own it But you seem pag. 12. to bring in a mixture a hodge podge Arts Sciences Latine Greek Hebrew c. And is it true indeed that these gifts are required in a Minister then no Minister without them I wonder then the Apostles could be Ministers who are said to be illiterate or unlearned men Act. 4. 13. Or were they made partakers of the Spirit of Christ and are not the Saints now yea or else they are none of his Rom. 8 9. and is not the same Spirit sufficient now as then yea certainly to those who trust in him but it s the spirit of Antichrist that seeks out after humane helps to supply the room or want of this Spirit of Christ and having gotten it they grow proud of it are self-conceited in it make it their great idol and dare reproach the Spirit and power of the Lord appearing in his Saints Secondly He must have power and Authority from the Presbytery to exercise his Gifts he must not run before he be sent I have Answered this already what Presbytery sent Paul when he preached Act. 9. or the scattered brethren Act. 8. c. And where is that Presbytery among you that have power thus to send It seems you have high esteem of your Presbytery else you would not mention it so often when it s but a new trick of the Devil to give another name when the Prelate was out of date Alas you were ignorant of Presbytery your selves not long since but now the name lifts you up to Heaven although the nature of the Prelate still remains I suppose you harp so much upon this string that so they might preach nothing but what you approve and then your dark kingdom might it may be stand the longer but the Lord Jesus will consume and destroy Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and the brightness of his coming You say All Preachers are sent either by God or by the Devil c. To this we fully assent without Tertullian your witness and I pray you look you unto it Are those who minister according to the measure of the gift given them in your account intruders usurpers sent of the Devil or of God Look to your self man you are upon a very sharp point and keen rock lest you fall or be split before you are aware Therefore I beseech you take a little view who are likeliest to be sent from God or the Devil your selves or your gifted Brethren The gifted brethren exercise the gift they have received either first when occasion and opportunity is offered to inform the judgement in the Gospel of Grace and Truth that so if the Lord work souls may be enlightned and converted or secondly to build up the Church in its most holy Faith he doth his Office as a member in the body that it may grow up in him who is the Head Your selves First make up a Church a body as you call it of Christ a monstrous body of prophane ones and give them Ordinances tell them they are Christians and so delude them and without infinite mercy damn them for ever Secondly Are ignorant of and envious to the truth the Saints and Servants of God Thirdly Do not the work of Christ preach baptize Believers converted gather Churches build up Saints but the contrary by way of opposition to all Fourthly For the most part are carnal loose base in conversation not so much as common civility or civil honesty yet all one sending Now be your selves judges who are sent from God and who from the Devil who doth the work of Christ and who the work of the Devil Oh consider this you who forget God lest he come and tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Pag. 13. You say 'T is for Wolves and false Prophets to be self called and to come of their own accord c. Answ You say truth They are wolves who are Self-called Thieves and Robbers Joh. 10. you mention it but the Query lieth here still Who are the Self-called ones you or the preaching brethren And so who are the wolves you or them Gifted brethren they preach only by Gift as they have received as I said either for conversion
is that its your selves who are the intruders pretending your selves Ministers of the Gospel when you know not what it is but are in deed and truth the Peoples Lords and Masters You say the power of the keys is given to you and the power of remitting and retaining sins and not to the body of the Church I answer The power of the keys is given neither to Church nor Minister to retain and remit that is proper only to God to Christ who have the keys of Hell and Death and open and no man shuts and shut and no man opens You would fain dethrone the Pope and take the power of pardoning out of his hand if you could But it is the power of the Gospel that remits sins where it comes in power it brings pardon and peace where the Gospel comes in power and is believed and received it remits sins but where it is not received there sin is retained So that it s not the word or authority of a Priest but the power and grace of Christ that remits sins The twelfth Argument If the work of the Ministry be an exceeding weighty and laborious work then every private man though he have some gifts is not fit for it but the work of the Ministry is an exceeding weighty and laborious work c. Hence the Apostle puts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on it 2 Cor. 2. 16. Who is sufficient c. and every man is not fit to be a Carver to a King I answer You are still harping upon one string you love reiterations and tautologies many of your Arguments being one and the same in substance you only alter the terms that so you may make up the number I have often answered that though every gifted brother is not fit to be a Minister in office yet every gifted brother is fit to communicate according to the gift he hath received and notwithstanding it is both a laborious and weighty Calling yet neither of them in those who are Ministers indeed shall prevent but rather encourage that which you so much oppose So in Paul and in Peter who excelling in the work of the Ministry excelled likewise in this the encouraging of the Saints in the performance of their duty in this particular 1 Cor. 14. 1 Pet. 4. And were you what you profess your self to be you durst not to have done what you have in opposing this truth of Christ The thirteenth Argument That way which was first invented by Socinians Anabaptists Arminians the enemies of Gods grace to destroy the truth may not be practised by Christians c. but this toleration of all gifted brethren to preach was first invented by Socinians Anabaptists Arminians to destory the truth c. Answ Dare you be so impudent and bold as to belye the Saints with so much venome as 1. To give them such reproachfull terms for their owning and professing truth 2. To call them enemies to Gods grace when they hold it forth in its purity 3. That they were the first Inventers of this practise and that to destroy the truth when it was the Lord Jesus in and by his servants the Apostles did command it therefore in your next lay your blame where it is Call Christ and his Apostles Socinians Anabaptists c. because they both practised and commanded that for which you would hang if you could your Brethren that practice the like Believe it Sir you had need be disburden'd of this Book and your pretended Ministry too before you meet the Lord Jesus when he comes to Judg the Earth He will say then As for mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me Luke 19. For Sir I would have you know that in substance you call Christ and his Apostles Socinians Anabaptists Arminians c. and enemies to Truth for they were the first Inventers of this practice you so much oppose Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 1 Pet. 4. The fourteenth Argument They which have no promise from God of Divine assistance cannot comfortably or succesfully undertake a work but private persons turning Preachers without a Call have no promise of Divine assistance Ergo They cannot comfortably and succesfully undertake the work The Major granted the Minor grounded on Mat. 28. 20. Lo I am with you to the end c. The Promise is made to the Apostles and their Successors And who are they your selves think you Say you not there are no Apostles now how are you their Successors then or do you their work which was to Disciple first then Baptize Nay how then why Baptize or sprinkle first and hate reproach persecute the true Disciples everafter yet are you the Apostles successors or rather are you not of the Bastard brood of Rome whose name is changed but not the nature But to your Minor 1. Where are the Saints called private persons in Scripture or Lay-men This is but a trick of your own to make your selves the more publick but if the Saints viz. Gifted brethren are commanded to and commended for exercising according to their gift then they have a promise and may expect a blessing and success in that work but they have a command 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. and commendation 1 Cor. 14. 6. for exercising in that gift Ergo they may with comfort expect success and a blessing in it The promise Mat. 28. 20. is for them I will be with you c. so long as you are doing what I command you and what I commend unto you And I will never fail you nor forsake you Heb. 13. 5. while you do that I command you and commend unto you c. The fifteenth Argument That way which breeds Disorder Errour and Confusion is not the way of God but toleration of private persons out of Office to Expound and Interpret Scripture in publike is away that breeds Errour and Confusion Ergo 'T is not of God Answ 1. The Major you say is clear therefore to your Minor The toleration of such uncalled Preachers breeds Errour It s granted but this doth not hinder the preaching of Gifted Brethren who are called to exercise their Gifts but indeed it s the uncall'd Preachers viz. your selves that have bred the Errour and Confusion in this Nation 't is proved by woful experience You it is that have stirred up the Nation to the zeal of Persecution and you it is in all Ages that have been the cause of War and Blood and you it is that at present if mercy prevent not endeavour to kindle a fire in it that will devour it and you it is that bring in such ignorance darkness and errours as that there is not any one truth that can appear in its purity but you cry out against it giving it some contemptible Nick name or other that so it may not take with the people but you will have but little thank of Christ one day for it And 2. If some do Preach and practice things tending to
loosness and prophaness lay not the blame upon the practice of the Truth but let it light where it is So that it s not the preaching of Gifted Brethren that brings in Errour but the preaching of uncalled and ungifted ones such as your selves are that brings in Errour and it s the preaching of Gifted ones that will be a means of its discovery and bringing out The sixteenth Argument If the Church be Gods House and Family then no man may presume to exercise any Function there without a Call from God but the Church is Gods House and that God should appoint Officers and Order in his own House is but reason Granted but this is the order of Gods House That all his Children should communicate each to other according to the Gift as I have already proved and it s the order of the Devils house to destroy this order of the Lords Jer. 11. 21. The seventeeneth Argument from the Rise of it That which springs from pride and self conceitedness cannot be good but this kind of Preaching springs from pride and self conceitedness Ergo It cannot be good The Major is granted that the Minor is true You say you judge by their actions you judge of springs by their streams and trees by their fruit But are you so ignorant bold and impudent as to judge of Saints for doing their Duty its their duty to Preach and Prophesie and in Humility and Obedience they act in it not taking the Office but exercising the Gift as they have received having freely received they freely give But it s your own preaching that flows from pride and self conceitedness you that would preach and none else we hinder none from preaching that hath the Gift your selves it is who usurp the Office by reason of your imaginary gifts being never called to it by God or man according to the Truth You it is who thrust your selves in by violence whether the people will or no the dry keck and bramble it is indeed who desire to rule that is the reason so many of the honest Party have left you because of your driness and emptiness and that is the reason you are so much troubled for want of the ruling scratching persecuting power but your preaching Brethren desire not to rule unless over their corruptions nor to scratch unless they could by the power of Truth scratch away your Ignorance Envy and Pride against the Lord and his Truth c. it s the irregular using of Gifts which is when men would by that means stifle all except their own this flows from Pride The eighteenth Argument If Christ at his Ascension gave only some to be Pastors and Teachers then all Gifted men may not Teach but Christ at his Ascension gave only some to be Pastors and Teachers Ephes 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 28 29. Ans If a gifted Brother should have brought forth such a gross and palpable untruth you would have thought it had been for want of learning the very Scriptures you produce to prove it being so evident against youâ— your falshood lieth in the words only Pastors and Teachers see the Scriptures God hath set some in his Church 1. Apostles 2. Prophets 3. Teachers c. how dare you be so bold as to say only Pastors c 1. Apostles That is men sent for the gathering of the Saints 2. Prophets That is Gifted brethren Prophesying according to the measure of Faith And 3. Out of these Prophets are taken Pastors and Teachers no Prophet no Pastor nor Teacher c. Thus briefly the falacy of your Argument is made manifest the gift is for all I will pour out my spirit upon all c. The nineteenth Argument That which hath neither precept nor president is neither commanded nor commended in the Word of God may not be tolerated in the Church of God But this kinde of Preaching by Gifted Brethren hath neither precept nor president in all the Word of God Ergo it may not be tolerated in the Church of God You conclude This new found Officer a gifted Preacher out of office is not to be found in the Bible I have already proved this truth that it is commanded and commended there is both Precept and President 1. Precept They shall declare the glorious majesty of thy Kingdom to the sons of men Psal 145. 11 12. As every one hath received so let them administer Commended 1 Cor. 14. 5 6. 2. President All the Prophets in the Old Testament acted sutable to the gift it was no Office viz. Prophesie but a gift 1. In the New Testament the scattered brethren Act 8. and Paul Acts 9. 20. straight way he Preached he never looked for an office as you dream and the truth is I can scarce imagine that you are so ignorant of this truth as you seem to be but that others might rest themselves quiet and satisfied in what you say Let your ignorance in presenting such gross untrue conclusions that this Preacher is not to be found in the Bible be recanted and repented of for shame The twentieth Argument From the practice of all Reformed Churches That which is condemned in all the Churches of God and is contrary to their practice ought not to be tolerated in our Church but this practice of private mens Preaching without a Call is condemned by all the Churches of God and is contrary to their practice Ergo. As for the Major and the Minor your Churches and your old Divines are no rule for me to walk by nor to any others who have their eyes in their heads no further then they follow Christ the Spirit and the Scripture The Spirit in the Scripture is the rule of Saints and this I am sure the custom of the Churches in the Scripture is contrary to your customs their custom was That Preaching brethren should both Preach and Prophesie 1 Cor. 14. 31. And for those who will be contentious against this truth there was nor is no such custom in the Churches of the Lord therefore keep the example of your Churches and Divines to your self who walk not according to the rule if any man walk not according to this rule it is because there is no light in him Isai 8. 20. Thus have I briefly run through your Pulpit-Guard and doubt not but that I have Routed you in all your Twenty Strong Holds that now the way being opened again the Gifted brethren may come in to your Pulpit without sin or shame As for your Indictment against the Lay-Prophet as you call him it is so ridiculous so poor and low not being accompanyed with common reason the Jury you pretend to call are your Witnesses the evidence you call it You have lost your self in the very form no wonder if you are lost in the matter you forsake the Scripture and flie to Apostatized Churches or rather to those who call themselves Churches Jews and are not but we have examined them and found them lyars you calling old Divines men of
THE Pulpit-Guard Routed IN ITS Twenty Strong-Holds OR A brief ANSWER To a large and lawless Discourse Written by one Tho. Hall of Kings-Norton Intituled The Pulpit-Guarded with Twenty Arguments Pretending to prove the unlawfulness and sinfulness of Private mens Preaching Wherein the Arguments being weighed in the Balance of the Sanctuary are found too light and the lawfulness of Private mens Preaching as Tho. Hall calls them viz. Gifted Brethren is cleared and confirmed in opposition to all Gain-sayers My work in this Treatise hath been and is 1. To Rout him in all his Guards 2. To discover the weakness and invalidity of all his Answers to those Objections and Allegations by him there produced for the Preaching of the Gifted Brethren His six Arguments to prove their Ministry free from Antichristianism rased and six more asserted proving them to be Antichristian Written by Tho. Collier Isai 28. 20. For the Bed is shorter then that a man can stretch himself on it and the Covering narrower then that he can wrap himself in it Verse 21. For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perasim and be wroth as in the vally of Gibeon that he may do his work his strange work and bring to pass his act his strange act strange because so to the dark minds of men Chap 29. 14. Therefore behold I proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of the prudent men shall be hid Chap. 28. 22. Now therefore be ye not moâ—kers lest your bands be made strong London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the Black-Spred Eagle at the West end of Pauls near Ludgate 1651. The Epistle to the Readers DEar Country-men and Friends it s not my desire as I am a man to be medling with things of this nature but as I am a Christian and made partaker in a measure of the Heavenly Gift taking notice of this Pulpit-Guard it being so directly against the will of the Lord in the Gospel dispensation and the free operation of his Spirit in the hearts of his people for the good and comfort of the Church his Body 1 Cor. 14. 31. For Sions sake I could not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I could not rest without giving a check in the plain evidence and demonstration of the spirit and power unto this unrighteous Guard it is a very sad and dangerous thing when men under the pretence of Religion for self-ends and interests shall make use of their Wisdom Arts Parts against the Lord and his Truth What opinion or practice is there this day in the world that pretends for Christ but that men may and do put fair glosses and pretences of Scripture for the upholding of it though never so contrary unto it I have in that light God hath given me examined the particulars of that discourse and the Scripture grounds and found them too light not holding weight in the Ballance of the Scripture and have commended to thy view who art the Reader The substance of my apprehensions concerning them possibly thou mayst imagine that I have been too rugged in my expressions or sometimes too light or vain in my Answers I answer 1. Meeting with such a Spirit in that Book of Pride Reproach and Self conceitedness I was at some stand as to the manner of my Answer But when I considered the words of Solomon Prov. 26. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit And Chap. 15. 28. The heart of the righteous studyeth to answer but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things I was satisfied in giving an Answer sutable to the Spirit I found working in it 2. Being deeply sensible of the dangerousness of the way that thousands of souls are lead in by these kind of men and finding by experience their height and perversness in their way that they are without a miracle of mercy without the reach or bands of love I have therefore dealt the more plain and downright yet still in truth and love and it s no other then Christ and his Servants have done in the like case before me Mat. 23. throughout John 8 44. Act. 13. 10 1 King 18. 27. But you may say you look upon many of them to be honest and pretious men c. Answ The more need have they to be sharply reproved for their sins and miscarriages men may be honest the people of God and yet in Babylon I am not despairing in the truth of what you say yet their Office and Babylonish actions are never the honester for that Rev. 18. 4. And this I must minde you that God hath not left himself without witness of the truth by me declared and that by men of the same calling with them but when once inlightned they reject their callings administrations and all as Antichristian with shame to themselves for their ignorance I could instance in divers if it might add to the truth but I judge it needless at present What thou findest written contrary to thy mind try it by the Scripture waite upon the Lord to teach thee what weakness in expressions as to thy judgement thou meetest with let not the truth suffer rather impute it to him whose it is If thou finde any light shining forth in it through it to thy dark understanding give him the glory who is the Author of it so have I my desire Finally reade and judge and the Lord give you understanding in all things T. C. THE Pulpit-Guard Routed In his twenty strong Holds SIR I Meeting with your Book subscribed with this Title The Pulpit Guarded c. and perceiving the drift and end of the matter with the manner of it could not but judge my self bound as I tendred the honour of the Lord Jesus his Truth and Gospel his Saints and Servants especially seeing none else undertaking the work to rebuke this unclean spirit and to cast out this devil to enter the lists with and to rout this unrighteous Guard It possibly may seem strange that I should undertake this task especially because this Guard was occasioned as you say by a dispute at Henly in Warwick-shire But Sir finding your Discourse tending not only to reproach the Creature but the Creator likewise his Truth and powerfull free operation in his Saints all which I finde my self bound in conscience for to vindicate as far as light and truth in its power appeareth in me As for the manner of my proceeding 1. I shall not turn aside after every vain and unworthy passage and miscarriage in your Guard neither shall I meddle with your particular Epistles but I shall first give you some hints concerning the Title of your Book Secondly I shall discover your ignorance falshood and folly in your Looking-glass for Anabaptists as you call them Thirdly I shall encounter with you in all your twenty Guards and in the strength of the
lye 1. Idleness in that you could spare so much time and leisure to read such a lye Saints work is to redeem the time 2. Ignorance in relating as well as reading not knowing that the relating of lyes and falshoods is no work for Saints but dishonourable to Truth 3. Vanity vain minds to delight in reading and relating such abominations 4. Malice in making use of a lying Story to dishonour Saints and Truth But if it be a son of your own begetting as me thinks it looks exceeding like your self remember that all lyars must have their portion in the Lake that burneth in the fire that is not to be quenched and this lye do you apply in scorn to the Baptists But give me leave to tell you that its your selves that are indeed the great swallowers you tell of an Ox but you can swallow the tenth of the whole Nation if you had it not only Corn and Hay but the Lambs Calves Pigs and Geese Eggs and leggs if not tails and all and yet not content was there ever such swallowers in the world beside think you be judge your self in time 1. Absurdity This is that will confound all Callings and Societies c. then every Souldier that hath a Commanders gift may be a Commander and a General without a Call c. then farwell all Answ You make use of Comparisons not consistent with the thing in hand those varieties of stations amongst men must have variety of distinct Callings to it but this of Preaching and Prophesying is that which all the brethren that have gifts are called to as I have often proved that in the Church all may Prophesy that have the gift and yet no confusion but peace and order and indeed it s nothing else but your ignorance and your pride in being afraid of such an equality with your Brethren as the Scripture presents you with 2. Then every gifted boy and woman should preach c. To this I have answered you already 3. Then all may preach and deliver the Supper c. To this I have likewise answered already 4. This would open a flood gate to all Errors Heresies c. I wonder what people in the world more full of Errors Heresies and Blasphemies then the Pope and your selves who have confined all preaching to your selves no way like this to nourish ignorance and nuzzle up people in blindness and abominable Worships 5. Then all vain glorious Hypocrites c. would turn Preachers c. the emptiest barrels make the loudest sound c. And is it otherwise now amongst your selves Who hold their heads highest who makes the greatest sound who thinks they have Gifts beyond all others Is is not your selves and would you not exclude all beside your selves had you so much power empty barrels making great sounds but being try'd there is nothing but vanity and pride And whereas you say All vain glorious Hypocrites would turn Preachers I would have you to know that the Saints have a Spirit of discerning and if they finde such persons they exclude them therefore this is no way to set up vain-glorious Hypocrites it is that Spirit of discerning God hath given to them that makes them discover so much Hypocrisie amongst you 6. Then the Church of Christ which is his Body would be monstrous all eye all ear all head c. contrary to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 12 14 15 28 29. Answ No truth in your conclusion For 1. I say not that all have Gifts but all that have Gifts may Preach there are some in the Body that have not those Gifts or do not exercise them 2. I say that to those who do exercise them the Gift is different Diversities of Gifts yet the same Spirit and diversities of operations yet the same Lord c. As there are diversities of Members yet the same Body And so 3. Diversities of Callings some Apostles that is sent for the gathering of Churches some Prophets gifted brethren in the Church exercising for the edifying of the Body of Christ Pastors and Teachers for to feed and watch yet not to hinder but rather to further and incourage the Prophets Deacons to see to the necessities of the poor c. Thus you see or may see that this order is so far from making a Monster that it sets every member to do his office in his place every one to exercise his Gift in the Body according to the measure he hath received But you it is who make a monster in all its parts a filthy corrupt leprous body without or at best with rotten false painted artificial members leggs arms c. without a head Jesus Christ never was never will be Head to such a Body and your are the men the Ministers that form up and present him with such a body and then cry it up boasting of this Body dance about this ill-favoured Calf and cry out against the true Churches to be monstrous Bodies when your selves are the Monsters all the while 7. If this be tolerated it will make both Ministry and Ministers contemptible c. Answ I thought where I should take you at last Oh you love Honour as well as your Profit to have the cap and knee and to be called of men Rabbi then it goes gallant and pleaseth the heart of a proud Pharisee but you are mistaken this is not the way to make Ministers vile but the alone way for them to be esteemed of as the Ministers of Christ when they walk according to the Truth and endeavour not the dethroning of any to exalt themselves and this is that hath made you dishonourable in the eyes of Christians your pride and vileness in this particular You say The toleration of such irregularities is not so small an error as some imagine c. Alas Sir do you want the power of the Civil Magistrate to exalt you into the throne it seems it matters not what becomes of Souls let them be ignorant let them sink let them perish so your Honour may be upheld you care not c. You 'l make it a matter of consideration and concernment to the Civil Magistrate to oppose the way and Truth of Christ for your own self ends and interests The sixth Argument Every Preacher must be able in some good measure above ordinary Christians not only to divide the Word aright 2 Tim. 2. 15. Soundly to interpret and give the true sence and meaning applying the same to edification but he must be able also to convince gain-sayers Tit. 1 9. But every Gifted Trades-man Nailer Taylor c. is not able to divide the Word aright nor to convince a learned adversary and gainsayer Ergo. The Major you say is clear of it self the Minor you pretend to prove which I deny your proof is this Those who want learning both Humane and Divine cannot be sound Interpreters nor solid Disputants but most of our Gifted artificers want learning both Humane and Divine Ergo. Sir I question what you
intend by Learning Humane and Divine whether you minde a perfection of Learning for you set no bounds upon your terms if so it s to be doubted that your selves are but Ignoramus's in both in your best and most experienced Art of humanity you come short of many Heathens and Philosophers and I am very confident that many in this Nation who never knew what an Art or Science meant in its form or method in way of School Study have more natural Philosophy Logick Retorick in their heads then your selves who so much pride your selves in your shame But whether am I wandring into the bottomless Pit of mans wisdom take your honour in this blackness and darkness and go on spoiling souls by your Philosophy Col. 2. 8. till the Lord prevent you You say in the Minor of your first Argument That every gifted Trades-man nailer tailor c. is not able to divide the word aright c. And is every Priest of your Calling in the Nation able to divide the Word aright in your own judgement or is one in ten nay in twenty be the judge your self if not be ashamed to bring such Arguments any more because every gifted Trades-man is not able therefore none are able c. because every Priest is not able therefore none are able Artificers in their art of preaching And in your second Argument you say most of them want learning c. And may not your selves say most of your own Calling want learning humane and divine I am sure you want divine learning else you would not make such humane Arguments against the divine truth but we confess your Argument we want learning not humane but divine and we wait on the Lord for his teachings acknowledging with the Apostle Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. You say Nor to convince a learned Adversary Truly now adays your selves are the learned Adversaries the Church of Christ hath to deal withall And this I must tell you and you 'l finde it by experience that the gifted brethren will in the light and strength of truth overturn all the wisdom of the flesh as it s exercised against the truth in you or any others God will make all fleshes wisdom and pride and glory vale it self and fall down at the presence of his truth in his Saints as Dagon before the Ark you are mistaken Sir to think its your humanity that makes you able to divide the Word aright and that makes you an able Disputant it s the power of the Spirit of Christ in his people that makes them able to divide the Word and to convince gain-sayers Therefore your Argument is weak and hath nothing in it if any thing it reacheth your selves as well as others nay more then others because you live in that sphear and yet want but the gifted brethren see their wants and acknowledge it not boast of their fulness like your selves and they see they may want learning both humane and divine and yet divide the Word aright be solid Disputants for the truth so far as they have received not walking without or beyond their line knowing the Lord is their light and strength who never fails those that trust in him and only one thing I desire to Query of you If ever the like was read or heard of in Scripture so much ado about humane Learning to beat down truth and prevent the free operations of the Spirit in Saints Did any seek to hinder Gods workings in this way Oh Sir you want learning humane Arts and parts Therefore prophesy not preach not unto us If Old or New Testament Law or Gospel Moses or Christ hath done the like pray produce it If not be ashamed for ever to account your self a Minister of the Gospel and to mak use of such an engine against truth and its Owners as never any in the world made use of but Babylon and Egypt You grant That Translations are excellent helps yet there is such an emphasis and fulness in the Original that the Translation is nothing to the glory of it Answ It s like that is the reason you are so filled and puffed up with this outward fulness as that the Original of all fulness the fulness of the Spirit is scarce ever spoken of by you as if the Spirit of the Lord was not sufficient for these things You complain What miserable wrakings and rentings of Texts have come into the world for want of this Learning Come Sir Let us now a little consider who are the greatest wrackers renters and tearers of Scriptures The learned Humanists or the preaching Brethren The preaching brethren they hold and say that salvation is through Grace and that without any relation to any qualification or good in the creature according to Isay 55. 1. Rom. 4. 5. The Humanists say no but there must be some creature qualification some good in the creature before the soul must presume to come to Christ The preaching brethren hold and say that none but believers are to be baptized because there is neither precept nor president for it The Humanists say Infants must though no Scripture for it and this is their practice The preaching brethren say That the Saints are the Church of Christ and that they dare not own any else to be members if they manifest the contrary 1 Cor. 1. 12. because they are the body of Christ chap. 12. 27. and compact together Ephes 4. 16. with carnal ones they can have no spiritual fellowship 2 Cor. 6. 15. 16. But the Humanists say nay to this They will turn the world into Church and make all Christians thus deluding them thus forming up a monstrous body for Christ if he would accept of it But you might with better acceptation present your Church at the feet of the Pope then at the feet of Christ Thus owning a communion with them rather in their Estates tythe Pigs Geese and Eggs then with their souls for some of you will confess they are no Christians but deluded ones for self-ends and would not own them nor have any fellowship with them were it not for their bellies their God is their belly and their glory will be their shame The preaching brethren they own none for Christians but those who are convinced and converted by the preaching of the Gospel The Humanists want the power of the Civil Magistrate to convert souls for them The preaching brethren they say That Christ is King of Saints and that its his work alone to accept or reject in matters of conscience relating to the knowledge or worship of him and that who so gets into his room is the Antichrist But the Humanists Pope-like and Queen Mary-like cry out imprison hang burn banish the Sectaries that will not do as we say c. The preaching brethren say That preaching is a Gift and that its the work of the Saints according to their measure to communicate having received freely freely to give But the Humanists say nay
might be an inferiour Church-officer or Deacon without a Call and Ordination from the Church then no man may be a Preacher a superiour Church-officer without a Call or Ordination The truth is granted though not by you understood there is a difference as I have already shewn and proved between the preaching of gifted brethren and Church-officers in relation to the manner of administring but not the matter the one waits upon it as his office the other as his gift You instance That if in the Common wealth none may intrude into anothers calling but must first serve an Apprentiship then much less may any intrude into the Ministry c. who do not first serve an Apprentiship That is the substance and the thing you drive at and indeed I knew before that you would turn Preaching into an Art and Trade that so you might be the true Merchants of Babylon And would Christ have the Scriptures to dwel in the Saints richly and abundantly and should they hide it there and not bring it forth for the good of others The tenth Argument If every man must study to be quiet do his own Work and keep the bounds of his proper calling then private men may not be Pulpit-men but the Apostle commands 1 Thes 4. 11. That every man study to be quiet c. Who are the unquiet men the gifted brethren or your selves who is it that casts out floods of contention and unquietness but your selves but you would have your brethren to be quiet and let you alone in your sin that so the blind leading the blind both might fall into the ditch this would be a sinfull quietness and silence But Sir may not a man follow his Calling preach and yet be quiet too May not the Nailer keep his Hammer the Husbandman his Plough c. and come into the Pulpit and yet be quiet too Is not preaching and prophesying one part of a Christians generall Calling if gifted unto it or may not a Christian come from his Hides his Shop his Arms his Blew Apron to the Pulpit without a Black Gown Is there so much vertue in that or doth all your office and divinity consist in it or rather doth not your colour manifest your nature Let every one abide in his calling 1 Cor. 7. 20. This I have answered already it relates to Servants not to leave their Masters after conversion c. and not to that end for which you learned Rhetoritians ignorantly apply it against the Lord and his Truth Your first and Second Query and Answer I wave as not material to my work in hand But the Objection you seem to Answer in it I shall a little touch If Paul had a double Calling why not We Your Answer is First There is a great difference between Paul and You He had much learning You no learning Stay Sir where is it said Paul had so much learning he had the gifts of the Spirit but what else This is Learning enough for Paul and mean Abilities yet according to the Ability let them minister Secondly He had an extraordinary measure of the Spirit had his Learning given him by Revelation Inspiration c. We by industry study c. Had Paul his by the Spirit and have You yours by another way No wonder if you make use of it to another End But have you indeed gotten another way to get the gifts of preaching have you Simon-like bought them for mony or have you Pharisee-like wrought hard for them oh the Lord will curse and blast all such gettings the Princes of Zoan and spiritual Egypt shall appear to be fools in the end I deny not reading of and meditation on the Scriptures But unless the Lord freely inspire and teach by his Spirit all your study and reading is nothing But your Art of studying and making Sermons I utterly protest against Thirdly you say The work of the Ministry is a distinct Calling c. Not so distinct but that they may make use of another as Paul Distinct Duties Not so distinct but that another may perform them but he is in a distinct manner to attend upon them and officiate in them The power of the Keys is not given to the Church but to Peter and his Successors c. To the Pope and his Ministers But the Keys of the Kingdom were not given to Peter more then to Paul but to Peters faith and to all that have obtained or shall obtain like precious faith Fourthly The Apostle labors 1. That he might not be burdensom to the Church which was poor 2. Thess 3. 8. But you will not labor but live upon the People though poor you will Lord it over them and have it from them if they have it without them 2. That he might stop the mouths of false Prophets Who would accuse him for making advantage of the Gospel But you will not labor let false and true Prophets say what they will of you but will make advantage of the Gospel you are so far from the Apostles temper that let what mouths will be open against you yet your mouths are still open for the gain 3. That he might be an Example of Industry But you are resolved notwithstanding to be Examples of Pride and Idleness you bind heavy burdens for others and cry out against their Idleness but will be sure not to touch them your selves with the least of your fingers But Fifthly you confess at last That a man may keep two Callings though your selves intend not to live lawfully in one but a Minister may teach School as Samuel had a School of yong Prophets Had a Lay Prophet as you call them said so much you would have been ready to cry out ignorance in tearing wresting and abusing Scripture to self Ends There is never a word of School or Colledge in the Text. But may a man a Minister have two Callings the one subordinate to the other and then why may he not bake and preach nayl and preach patch and preach and plow and preach too as well as fish and preach make tents and preach c. The eleventh Argument If the Calling of the Ministry be a distinct Calling have distinct offices and duties belonging to it c. then every private man though gifted may not intrude himself into it but so it is Mat. 16. 19. 18. 18. John 20. 21 23. The power of the keyes is not given to the whole body of the Church but to the Apostles and their Successors the Ministers of the Gospel to them belongs the power of remitting and retaining sins authoritatively in Christs name c. I answer 1. That I have already told you that there is difference between men ministring by office and by gift The Calling of the Minister is distinct yet not so distinct as to prevent the gifted brethren as you imagine and they may administer according to the measure they have received yet not intrude themselves into the office of the Ministry and the truth
the same Principle with your Church I wonder you left out your Mother Church of Rome she could have spoken as much in the case as both you and they all have done You produce Ordinances Scots Covenant c. and why not the Spanish Inquisition too Seeing you are upon this account you might have raked to the bottom and have brought in all the forces of the King of Darkness to this great day of Tryal But Sir your Judge Jurates Evidence and all are too low and weak to amaze or amuse your preaching Brethren It seems you have considered and wisely brought in the Councel of Trent for one in your third Edition and that though last in name yet I suppose first in being and father to all the rest of your Jurates witnesses And here before I pass because you begin to Judge I shall let you see not mine but the Scriptures judgment upon the false Prophets of the Nations who prophesie lyes in the name of the Lord smiting others in the face saying Which way went the Spirit of God from me to thee The Judge is Christ himself who is not only both Lord Judge and King of Saints Isai 33. 22. but of the world too Isa 99. 1. The false Prophets of the Nation that set themselves against the Lord and his Anointed is the Prisoner to be tryed The Witnesses are 1. The Scriptures the Old and New Testament 2. Reformed Churches who walk suitable unto the Scripture 3. Deluded Souls 4. Publike peace and weal of Nations Judge Cryer Call the Prisoner to the Bar. Cryer False Prophet come forth hold up thy hand heart thy Indictment Thou art here Indicted by the name of False Prophet or Ministry that hast a long time stood up and prophesied lyes unto the Nations in my name under what title or term soever thou hast been distinguished whether Cardinal Prelate Jesuit Presbyter or Priest thy name is False Prophet in deed and truth thou art here accused for high Crimes against the Lord and his People against the peace of Nations c. Judge Art thou guilty or not Answ Not guilty Judg. Call the Evidence 1. Scriptures come in what say you against the Prisoner at the Bar He is here Indicted by the name of False Prophet and thou art called to speak thy knowledge of him Dost know him by that name Scripture Yea my Lord I know him by that name long since Rev. 16. 13. 19. 20. who hath deceived them who dwell on earth and my Lord I have many things to say against this Prophet although he hath sate a long time as queen thinking that he shall see no sorrow and hath made use of me to confirm him in his wayes and to establish the men of the Earth so much the more firm in these delusions therefore I can speak the more experimentally of him First although it s written in me that thy people are a selected severed people from the World to worship thee in Spirit and Truth and that the wicked have nothing to do to take thy name in their mouth while they hate to be reformed yet this false and lying Prophet hath deluded souls all along many hundred of years forming them up with the out-side of a profession without the truth and power made them Christians though deluded ones before they knew thee or ever heard of thee I ruth and plain-dealing in this kinde he hath ever been inveterate against And I have done my part my Lord to inform him of his error but he would not believe me but give me the lye wrest my words at his pleasure for his own ends he hath likewise been an enemy to the peace of thy people of thy family because they could not joyn with him in his Babylonish Worships and say Amen to his deceits He hath alwayes ill requited thy Servants and hath abused my Sayings for that end and notwithstanding I have informed him that its only by thy Spirit men come to the knowledge of the mystery of thy will yet he hath always opposed this truth looking after it in the bottomless Pit of his own inventions In a word my Lord he hath been a Traytor to thy Crown and Dignity pretending a desire that thou shouldest Reign but that which he looked after was to reign himself abusing me and my Sayings Isa 9. 6 7. to exalt himself So sitting in thy seat exalting himself above thee over the conscience of thy people And so in deed and truth what ever his pretence is He is the false Prophet the Antichrist that was to come into the world This shall suffice at present my Lord though I could say much more if time would permit but I shall give way to the other Witnesses Judge Call in another Witness Christian Churches and Saints come in give your Evidence against the Prisoner at the Bar who is arraigned by the name of False Prophet Churches My Lord We have much to say against him for we know him by woful experience It s true my Lord he hath past under the name of thy Ministry in Office but he hath been far from the nature of thy Ministry which is meek peaceable and loving longing to convert souls unto thee and whatever his pretence hath been or is he hath been is a deadly Enemy to us thy Disciples and Followers and hath been swoln with the enmity against the Seed of the Woman no sooner could we receive any of thy truth but he fell a quarrelling with us and inventing reproachful nick names for us that so he might make us appear odious before the world his deluded Church if we come to see into the freeness and fulness of thy grace in justifying sinners and saving of souls without any relation to any thing done by us he immediately endeavors to reproach us with the odious name of Libertine if we come to see into the Law of the Gospel which is a Law of love and that Christ is the Judge King and Law-giver to the Saints that we have all the Law in him from him for righteousness and for Rule he then called us Antimonians if we separated from the world in their Babylonish wayes and worships according to thy-will and command he then branded us for Separatists if we practised Baptism according to thy written Word he then called us Anabaptists if we held forth that the power of thy law of love shed abroad in the hearts of thy people and written in thy Scripture was sufficient to keep them from sin and to carry them on in a way of holy walking with thee and that thou acceptest of no obedience but that which flows from this principle of love then he called us the Family of Love as if that had been reproach enough to be of that Family And divers other false Titles and Terms hath he reproached us withall He hath been a man of as beastly language against thy Truth and Saints as ever breathed on the Earth Besides we could no sooner come
out from the worlds ways and Worships congregating our selves together according to thy will edifying each other in love desiring to relie on none but thy self but he casts out floods of reproach and persecution after us calling us Independents c. And further he hath been an Enemy to the free operation of thy Spirit in thy Saints thinking to limit thee to himself whereas in truth he knew thee not and such hath been his boldness that he hath adventured to arraign all my gifted Members that so he might silence them for ever and so continue me the reproach and scorn of himself and the World In a word my Lord to conclude he it is that hath been the cause of persecution unto us in all Ages stirring up the Civil Magistrate to imprison burn banish hang us c. all for thy truth and sake In him and amongst them thou shalt finde the blood of Saints and Martyrs be headed for thy Testimony and to thee it is they address themselves crying How long Lord how long will it be ere thou avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth Judge Call in another Witness Deluded Souls come in give your Evidence against the Prisoner at the Barr what say you do you know the man his name is False Prophet Del. Souls Yea my Lord We know him by wofull experience but his name then was True Ministry sometime Papal sometime Prelatical sometime Presbyterian but We have found by wofull experience that he nicknamed himself and was not the man he professed himself to be for my Lord he it is that instrumentally hath deluded us with forms and customes and traditions bearing us in hand that we were Christians when there was no such thing Sometimes he would tell us that those who were Christians must do thus and thus yet would still make us a Church give us Ordinances when alass for the most part we knew not what a Church was nor the use and end of Ordinances And my Lord such was our ignorance that this pleased us The Prophets prophesied lyes and we delighted in it But miserable is the end And my Lord such was the falsness and deceit of this Prophet that if any of the servants of truth came amongst us and indeavored to fright us by the power of truth out of our delusions and formalities this lying Prophet would presently cry out against them bid us beware of them They were Wolves in sheeps cloathing c. and have prevented us often from hearkning after and imbracing truth when our consciences oft-times hath convinced us they by their lying against the truth have prevented us and we have now found it by sad experience that he is indeed the false Prophet the Woolf that comes in sheeps cloathing And therefore my Lord that which we desire is Justice against him as the grand ring-leader of souls in a way of falshood delusion and confusion c. Judge Is there yet another Witness if so call him in Publick Peace and weale of Nations come in give Evidence against the Prisoner at the Bar he is here arraigned by the name of False Prophet Dost thou know him hast thou any thing to say against him Peace Yea my Lord I know him very well likewise by sad experience he hath pretended himself to be the Minister of the Gospel and upon that account hath prevailed the more in doing mischif He hath prevailed not only upon the consciences of the vulgar sort of people but of the Civil Magistrate getting in his power for to accomplish his own ends and designs Under Papacy sending forth his Emissaries Jesuites c. to work upon the consciences of his deluded Followers perswading that it was a meritorious work to murder Magistrates or any that differed from him and that they might lawfully understake any practice blow up Parliaments ruin Nations foment Wars c. and all for furthering of his own wicked design and since his name hath been changed to Episcopal Presbyterian and Reformed Church and Clergy yet my Lord he is still the same man as formerly as proud covetous and contentious as ever stirring up and fomenting divisions War and blood not willingly permitting thy peaceable people to have a being their Pulpits being their Cock-pits for that end sowing strife and divisions amongst the people stirring up and enraging the vulgar sort to the breach of peace and trouble of thy Saints They it were who preacht the Nation into a War at first for their own ends and interests and when but an appearance that they might fail of their expectation they turn round again to another Interest and foment another War kindling a fire in Scotland and other parts that so they might burn up England and all under the pretence of holiness fastings prayings contributions pretended for the poor that so they might have supply of money to usher in an Enemy in my bowels to destroy me denying obedience to the Civil Magistrate and faithfulness to the Commonweath and the truth is my Lord I am at a stand and know not what to do I am never like to give that to the people that they so earnestly long for viz. peace and quiet so long as this Generatiō of men reign thus in the world and in the consciences of men and therefore my Lord that which I desire is Justice Justice against this perfidious trayterous and troublesome creature Judge Here hath been enough said Prisoner what sayst thou for thy self thou hast been here arraigned by the name of False Prophet and thou hast heard thy witness what plea hast thou for thy self that sentence should not be given against thee Prisoner My Lord they have much wronged me and mistaken my name my name is not False Prophet as they pretend but reformed Ministry teaching the way of God c. And as for their accusations they are mistaken Sir it s the Anabaptists Independents Sectaries c. that are the disturbers of the peace and enemies to thy truth c. Judge If this be all thou hast to say for thy self I must proceed to Judgement therefore prepare to hear thy Sentence for the truth is that although I have with patience heard these Witnesses and thy plea likewise yet I am a Witness my self as well as thy Judge and I know their witness is truth for I judge not after the hearing of the ear nor the seeing of the eye but with righteousness will I judge that I may save the meek of the Earth I say 11. 3 4 I will come near in judgement and will be a swift witness against the Sorcerers and against the adulterers c. Mal. 3. 5. And although I have a long time been silent and refrained my self and let thee alone in thine evil and pernicious wayes yet now will I cry like a travelling woman I will destroy and devour at once I say 42. 14. I will make wast mountaines and Hills and dry up all their herbs and bring the blind by a way they know
not but who are blind as my Messenger Thou False Prophet that pretendest thy self to be my Messenger and Minister yet most blind of all Who blind as thee pretending to open the eye and seest not thy self opening the ear but hearest not thy self vers 19. 20. Therefore first that thou mayst yet know there is mercy with me for the worst of sinners that I may be feared I advertise thee to kiss the Son least he angry if his wrath be kindled but a little Oh blessed are they then that trust in him Psal 2. Be not obstinate against my truth and servants any longer resolve not to break my bonds and cords of love and grace any longer If thou hear and obey there is yet the kiss of love for thee but if thou be still rebellious and persist in thine obstinacy my Sentence is that thou with that Beast before whom thou hast wrought miracles and deceived them that dwell on the Earth shall be taken both alive and cast into the Lake of fire burning with brimstone Rev. 19. 20. Now you say You proceed to Answer all the Cavils Scruples and Arguments which are brought in defence of Lay Preachers in which I shall trace you and finde you too light The first Objection Gen. 18. 19. The Lord commends Abraham for teaching his Family Ergo private persons may be preachers You say This was a long Cutlers Argument and that its like their Logick c. But believe it it s an Argument that hath more weight and perpetuity in it then your long Gownes although this is not an Argument much made use on for this purpose therefore I shall say the less to it in this place only give a hint or two that the weakness of your conclusions may appear 1. You say That was his Family and its one thing for a man to instruct and teach his Family and another thing to preach But stay a little Sir is it lawfull for a man to teach his Family and is it unlawfull for him to teach others May he not teach the same to others as he teacheth his Family Is it unlawfull for him to teach the way of God to others Was there ever the like heard of in this world It s lawfull for a preaching brother to preach and teach the way of God to his Family but not to others for preaching is but a speech or speaking of words and this I must do to my Family or nothing at all and this I may do it seems but not to others the reason rendred is because God commanded it but it seems if God had not commanded it then it had been unlawfull for a man to teach his Family too as if the law of Grace did not teach to do good to all Soul as well as Body others as well as Family but its evident there is a time when every man shall teach not only his Family but his brother and his neighbour too saying Know the Lord that is teach the knowledge of the Lord Jer. 31. 34 which was or is a condition preceding a glory that was to be revealed Now Sir if you and your Churches do all know the Lord from the least to the greatest and have no need of teaching let us know it when you come forth next in publike but if not be ashamed and silent for ever thus to mince and wrest Scripture to your own ends For till then they shall teach every man his brother in the constituted Churches for believers are all brethren and every man his neighbour so much is clearly implyed in the Scripture And thou shalt not suffer thy brother to sin but shalt reprove him and tell him his fault c. And comfort one another with the same comforts with which you your selves have been comforted 2 Cor. 1. 5. 2. You say If it be granted that Abraham did preach publikely yet it will not be any advantage because he was a Patriarch and a Prophet Gen. 2. 7. which Title is never given to any one in all the Scripture but only to one in office You are mistaken much in this likewise For first I say Prophesie is not an office but a gift so it was in the old so in the new Testament They prophesied according to the measure of the gift received and no further and I say that the Name or Title of office or officer is not given to a Prophet in all the Scripture because it is a gift and not an office Hence I conclude contrary to yours that as prophesie is a gift and Abraham and the rest of the Prophets did prophesie according to the measure of the gift received both in the old and new Testament So may every Nayler Taylor Artificer having received the same Spirit according to their measure prophesie and preach forth the truths of God for the good of others If it be objected That prophesying was an extraordinary gift and that spirit given but to few I answer In the time of the Law it was so but in the Gospel dayes it is not so prophesying in the Gospel it is to speak to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. which is proper to all the brethren as in the same Chapter none exempted but women ver 34. and they may prophesie too though not in the Church or at least by permission of the Church 1 Cor. 11. 5. all men that have the gift may teach in the Church 1 Tim. 2. 12. its implyed by the womans prohibition the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie and this is given to the brethren Rev. 19. 10. and he that can speak experimentally of the work of Christ for him in him and testifie his worth and work to others is a Prophet and may nay ought to declare this Jesus to others every spirituall man is a Prophet but the Saints are all spiritual therefore all Prophets 1 Cor. 14. 37. If any be ignorant of this let him be ignorant Wherefore my brethren covet to prophesie c. ver 38 39. The second Objection From Numb 11. 25. to 30. Eldad and Medad prophesied and Moses wisheth that all the Lords people were Prophets Ergo All that have gifts may prophesie and preach In answer to this first you say That this was an extraordinary spirit of prophesie Grant it to be so yet the spirit of prophesie in the Gospel is ordinary and proper to all the Saints it s poured out upon them all and accordingly they may prophesie 2. The spirit of prophesie here spoken of was a spirit of Government as appears by the Context ver 16 17. you had done very well to have produced one Scripture in the Bible if you could that saith the spirit of government is a spirit of prophesie Blindness with a witness Do you not know that Moses was a prophet as well as a prince and Leader of the People and that spirit of prophesie that was upon Moses was given likewise to the Seventy I make no question but that they
delusion 4. These could expound Prophetick Scripture 4. So can the Preaching brethren to your terror and amazement 4. You wrest them and darken them for your own ends 5. These subjected their prophesy to the judgement of the rest 5. So do the preaching brethren 5. You are puft with pride none may question what you say be it never so false 6. The Spirit of those was subject to them 6. So it is in the preaching brethren 6. But you are subject to your spirit of pride none may speak but your selves yet know not what prophesy is 7. These spake by two or three the others judged 7. So do the preaching brethren 7. But you speak all your selves but permit none to judge The ninth Objection Rom. 12. 6 7 8. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesy let us prophesy c. Hence they gather that all that have gifts of prophesy may prophesy c. Your answer 'T is granted that they who have the gifts of prophesy may prophesy c. But who are they that have this gift they that are Prophets by Office and not those who who have abilities only c. I have answered this already That there is no Office of Prophesy but Gift only and they that have abilities may prophesy the Gift is given them for that end You say It will appear more fully in the context and scope of the Chapter having exhorted to duties of Piety in general ver 1 2. he comes ver 3. to 9. to particular duties of Ecclesiastical persons and Officers viz. that they should not be proud of their Gifts c. Sir it were well if you who so account your selves c. could learn that lesson but Sir you very much fail in your interpretation for the Apostle speaks to the whole Church throughout the whole Chap. and in these verses mentioned ver 3. he speaks to the whole Church Let no man think of himself c. He doth not say let no Ministers in office think c. but no man Let no man be proud or lifted up with his gift to think more highly then he ought of himself but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Faith Mark as God hath dealt to every man you say every Minister in Office the Scripture saith every man c. ver 4 5. the Apostle relates to the whole Church We being many are one body c. What Sir do you suppose that none are the body of Christ the Church but the Priests or do you not see your ignorance that its the whole body the Apostle here speaks of 2. You say He sets down a distinct and perfect enumeration of all the standing officers in the Church c. To which I answer 1. That all your wisdom and Logick have not cannot distinguish these Officers 2. He enumerates the various gifts in the whole Church though officers are not excluded yet there is no office but depends upon gift else no Office And 1. He mentions Prophets Whether prophesie let us Prophesie c. that is let those who have that Gift make use of it for the good of the Church That this is the intention of the Scripture note first that the Apostle is speaking to the whole as you have heard Verse 5. 2. The terms under which it s express'd that is 1. Prophesie according to the proportion of faith answering ver 3. according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Hence note that its every mans liberty nay duty to prophesie according to the proportion of Faith c. 3. See Verse 7. There if anywhere you have the Office or Ministry Let us wait on our Ministring c. The first is a Gift without Office according to the proportion of Faith the other is an office to be waited on though office depends upon Gift likewise You confess That this is not the extraordinary but ordinary Prophesying And why this ordinary more then that 1 Cor. 14. 31. But Sir it is not your understanding of the Scripture that makes you give the right Interpretation of it but because it suits best with what you drive at for that I perceive is your great work to make the Scripture speak to your own purpose be it what it will You conclude Now let us see what they can gather hence because Pastors and Teachers who were Prophets c. men in Office are commanded to Prophesie and Expound the Word therefore private persons may c. this is kneading trough Logick I answer Where did you read your Logick in Scripture that Prophets were called Pastors or Pastors and Teachers called Prophets but that you can say any thing make the Scripture to say any thing for your own ends And this is Logick learnt from your father the devil Read and apply Joh. 8. 44. The tenth Objection 1 Cor. 11. 5. Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head covered c. Hence say they were women that did prophesy If gifted women did prophesy much more may gifted men thus Miriam Anna and Hilda prophesied 2 King 22. 14 c. This I suppose is a Scripture of your own invention in this place there are enough more to the purpose then this for I should be unwilling to do as your self turn the Scripture every way for your own ends yet Sir I shall a little trace you in this that so your pride and folly may appear You say Here is chalk for cheese we speak of ordinary gifted men and they flee to women that were called extraordinarily c. And how prove you that Sir Is there ever such a word in the Text 1 Cor. 11. 5. he saith pray or prophesy was it extraordinary praying too I wonder you left out that As for Phebe Rom. 16. 13. You say She was a Diaconess to minister to the sick and not to preach or have Peters Keyes jingling at her girdle I thought Sir you were very loth to lose the Keys having been Peters successors so long but I wonder how you got them from your father the Pope who sayth he keeps the chair still Aquila and Priscilla were helpers to Paul Rom. 16. 3. that is say you by their private instructions But who told you so that it was by their private instructions and why not publike as well as private So you say Not only men but women should teach their children servants neighbours the way of the Lord. Prov. 1. 8. 6. 20. Act. 18. 26. Tit. 2. 3. Confess the truth sometimes that out of your own mouth you may be condemned this is all we plead for that its the duty of the Saints according to the measure of their gift and proportion of faith to teach the way of the Lord to children neighbours any as opportunity is offered but I suppose you have a secret reservation or relation to that word private c. and why private Sir Is it lawfull in private
man taketh this honour to himself without a Call c. It s spoken of the Priests under the Law who were a type of Christ and not of your bastard Tribe of Levites c. Your answer to the objection I have already sufficiently cleared that they were gifted persons not officers c. The twelfth Objection Heb. 5. 11 12. When for the time ye ought to have been teachers c. here say they the Apostle blames them because they were not all Teachers The substance of your answer is that there are two sorts of teachers publike teachers and private teachers the one by men in office the other by men out of office But who gave this distinction of publike and private Christians of publike and private teachers I know not they are terms the Scripture is not acquainted withall therefore away with them to Rome from whence they came and call not that or them private whom God hath made publike say no more for shame that its lawfull for them to teach in private and unlawfull in publike doth the place and manner make so much difference If it be lawfull to teach the way of God to one or two in private is it not lawfull to teach the same to them in publike and if to one or two why not to ten if to ten why not to an hundred to a thousand if in private why not in publike doth the Scripture know any such distinction or approve one more then another If not be silent for ever and ashamed of your folly and make no more such distinctions where the Lord hath made none The thirteenth Objection 1 Pet. 2. 9 Ye are a royal Priesthood c. Rev. 3. 10. 1. 6. and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests c. Exod. 19. 6. All Priests must teach but all Believers are Priests Ergo all Believers may teach You answer The fallacie lies in the word Priest you read of two sorts of Priests 1. Some by Office c. 2. Others a royal Priesthood proper to all Believers c. who as the former come near to God 1. Have boldness and access c. 2. Offer sacrifice of prayer and praise 3. Slay their sins and mortifie the old man c. 4. In respect of common annoynting so all Believers have an unction of the Spirit of God which leads them into all truth 1 Joh. 2. 20. and being thus taught they may and must teach others These are your own words And now Sir where is the Fallacie in your self or in the preaching brethren your own confession shall be your judge one day But you pretend to mend all again with the word privately the way of the Lord how often have you confest the truth and then think to lick your self whole again with that one word that the Scripture ownes not upon your account but breathes forth light and truth to the contrary as clear as the Sun when it shines at the noon-day yet when you have confest the truth you pretend to over-turn it again with that word private with shame acknowledge your ignorance if not your malice 2. You answer You 'l shew the weakness of this Argument you say per idem thus The office of a King is to rule but every Believer is a King Ergo. And if so why do ye not get into the Throne c. I answer Your Argument looks like your self Because Believers are Kings Ergo they do and shall reign with Christ over Sin Satan Flesh and World with him in glory this is the truth in the mystery but you draw scurrilous and reproachful conclusions to make the Saints and truth contemptible be advised of your folly in time and repent least you walking in John a Leydens wayes cry up Office Office thinking to carry away all the crown and glory from the Saints when indeed and truth you have no more part nor portion in the business then Simon the Sorcerer c. I say be warned of crying up your selves above the Magistrate Parliament and Councel of State c. resolving to ruine all if you may not reign least you come to John a Leydens end c. The fourteenth Objection 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. As every one hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another c. every man must use the talent God hath given him c. Mat. 25. Hence you say they argue All that have gifts must use them but many private men have gifts Ergo they must use them Your answer 's true But where not publikely for then many women who have excellent Gifts should be Preachers but privately c. You have no other shift to put off truth but this silly distinction of publike private c. you have worn it thred-bare being so often put to it in the very plain express terms of Scripture that you know not where to shift your self but put off your load upon this word private to which I have said so much in answer unto it that I suppose the most weak and simple may see into your Fallacie but Sir you leave your case desperate at last but no wonder when it is so bad that it seems you are glad to steal away from it for you confess that which you have so long opposed You say He comes ver 11 to the gift of Prophesie and ministring according to our Abilities Is it the Gift of Prophesie indeed it s well you confess it It seems you had not audaciousness enough in you to contradict this truth shining so clear in your conscience You say Its the gift of Prophesie Surely these are not Prophets in Office you dare not say so it seems but as every man hath received this Gift so let him minister if any man speak c. Here you are blank and glad to be gone with speed to the next you saying so little and to so little purpose the Scripture it self being so undeniably clear that daunts all gain sayers as appears in your answer I shall say no more unto it but pursue you to that which follows The fifteenth Objection Rev. 11. 3. The two Witnesses Prophesie not only the Clergy but all the Faithful You answer 1. That borrowed Speeches make no grounded Arguments I answer That the truth of those speeches shall stand and hold firm when your Logick and Rhetorick shall have an end 2. You say The Witnesses consisted of Pastors and People the one Preaching the other Professing against Antichrist c. Be sure then it s not you nor your People who walk in Antichristian wayes but you it is must be witnessed against and if you have not already wil kill the witnesses And why not the people witness by Preaching as well as Prophesying if every one may administer according to the gift received as in the former Argument c. The last Objection is a Sceleton A penny worth of their small Reasons a parcel of bare bones the very naming of them is confutation sufficient as 1 Cor.
1. 27 29. God hath chosen the foolish things of the world c. Ergo Lay-men may Preach Sir Your Answer to this Objection and Scripture seems to carry the langage of the old Proverb in it more knave then fool was there ever the like heard of either from Pope or Devil what not a word of answer but scurrility and reproach what reproach the Scripture it self calling it a Sceleton a parcell of bare bones c Is this enough to give satisfaction does the light shine so clear out of that Scripture that it compels you to flie from it as not being able to look it in the face or give answer to it but cry out against it hath not this been your practice in all Ages when you meet with truth that you cannot gain-say-it then to reproach it and render it contemptible to the people but be ye sure you will have but little thank for it at the last day but seeing you leave this Scripture as being worthy of no answer but base and scurrilous names c. I shall say somthing to it that its light may appear and your darkness the more unto the world The truth there asserted is this That God in all Ages hath made choice of foolish weak and unlikely things by it to confound and bring to nothing things that are And this he doth either 1. In the work of Conversion the poor receive the Gospel Publican and Harlots go into Heaven before the self righteous zealous harisees for Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners c. 2. Or in the work of the Ministry Fisher-men Publicans Tent-makers Shepherds Plough-men c. And why so that by weak means he might bring to nothing things that are in creatures apprehension You cry up your humanity fleshly wisdom Arts Sciences c. But believe it the Lord hath began it already and he will go on with it by weak nothing creatures fools in the world eyes and in yours too to dash to peices all your wisdom and by this means he will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the Prudent Then where is the scribe where is the disputer of this world c hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world Take notice 1. That you fleshly wisdom in which you so much boast and glory cannot help you to the knowledge of God 1 Cor. 1. 21. chap. 2. 14. 2. It is foolishness with God 1 Cor. 3. 19. 3. It is that which must be destroyed when the wisdom of the Spirit comes 1 Cor. 1. 19. 4. It s enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 8. 7. 5. If mercy prevent not its death Rom. 8. 6. So the Greek word signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wisdom of the flesh c. and ver 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The wisdom of the flesh is enmity c. nay and fleshes best wisdom prudence so the word signifieth it s all but enmity death and that not only to your selves but others Col. 2. 8. And this God hath done is doing and will discover and bring it to nothing by weak and unlikely men and means manger all the wisdom and power of men and flesh that shall oppose be advised therefore ye wise men of the earth Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way c. You mention other Scriptures that are not to the purpose nor made use of that I know of by any but I suppose you juggled them in here that so you might shift off the truth in this Scripture by running to others not so much to the purpose therefore I pass them in this place and conclude The sum of all is this 1. That all the Brethren in the Church that have Gifts may Prophesie 1 Cor. 14. 31. 2. That every man according to his proportion of faith may prophesie Rom. 12. 3. 6. 3. That gifted men out of Office have Preached therefore may Preach Act. 9. 20. 8. 4. 18. 26. 4. That every man according to the Gift received may and ought to administer 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 5. That its the Saints work to declare the glory of Christs Kingdom to the world Psal 145. 10 11 12. 6. That this is the end wherefore God gives gifts to men Ephes 4. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 7. 7. That the Saints should desire to Prophesie 1 Cor. 14. 1. ver 5. 39. 8. That the Jews themselves denyed not this in their assemblies Acts 13. 14 15. 18. 26. 9. None but Devil Pope Priests and Persecutors ever denyed this truth 1 Cor. 14. 37. If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things I write are the Commandments of the Lord. But 1 Cor. 11. 16. If any be contentious we have no such customs nor the Churches of God chap. 14. 13. But if any man will be ignorant let him be ignorant still c. You say There was one thing more objected viz. That your Ministry was Antichristian of which one word and then you have done I shall as briefly trace you in it and so have done too This you say is objected Your ministry is Antichristan you are Babylonish Diviners Egyptians juglers limbs of the Divel proud covetous c. A whole load of such ignomious titles you may finde in a little Pamphlet of one Collier a very dangerous Sectary Sir Collier would have you to know that he hath written nothing in that little Pamphlet but what he is both ready and able in the strength of the Lord to make it good in opposition to all gainsayers notwithstanding your reproachful term of dangerous Sectary both in this and your beastial Epistle to your Reverend Senior he is a Collier and although you are black already yet he will make your blackness more to appear for he is accomplishing your desire working about coal digging up the blackness c. Well but you comfort your self yet That it is your honour and therefore you should not fret but rejoyce and give God thanks c. A very fine way to shift of truth from your selves and so go on in your wickedness saying you shall have peace although you add sin to sin and walk after the imaginations and stubbornness of your own hearts As well might the false Prophets and false Apostles rejoyce because the true ones reprove them and tell them that they transform themselves into Angels of light so because the servants of light reprove you and discover your false and erroneous ways you rejoyce as if persecuted for the truth of Christ Believe it your glorying is not good but I suppose your joy is but from the teeth outward as we use to say there is grief within and sorrow of heart c. Isay 65. 11. 12. 13 14. You say God is beholding to us for the kindness we shew to his Embassadors Answ 1. Then he is but little