First In the Wilderness figuring our Spiritual Warfare over Sin the World and the Devil and then by Joshua as they were led into Canaan the figure of * Heb. 11. 13 14 15. Heaven So the Saints in the Wilderness †Rev. 12. 6. Exod. 13. 14. chap. Ezek. 20. 35. of this World through many Tribulations ‖ Acts 14. 22. under the conduct of the true Joshua Christ Jesus enter into the glorious Rest even the Haven of Eternal Happiness And hereupon it is written in praise of Christ's Called Chosen and Faithful * Rev. 17. 14. That all the thousand Years Reign of the Beast aforesaid they lived and reigned †Rev. 20. with Christ and they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and that in the Wilderness and this World and the same is still the Saints ‖ 1 John 5. 4. Victory even our Faith by which we overcome the World Now as touching Election that most Heavenly Doctrine of Comfort to God's Children for the help of them deceived about it note That Election is a Work of God the * Eph. 1. 4. Father Redemption †Rev. 5. 9. a Work of God the Son and Sanctification ‖ 1 Cor. 6. 11. the Work of the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son So that the very nature of the word Election meaneth not all Men but God foreseeing before all Time in respect of Creation whatsoever would come to pass in time did make choice of a Remnant * Rom. 11. 5. out of the Lump of Mankind to be Heirs of Glory through Christ and left the rest in their fallen Estate And who shall call God to account †Rom 9. in these his Matters So that whomsoever the Father Elected he gave ‖ John 17. 12. unto his Son to Redeem And hereupon it is written in praise of God in Christ Thou hast Redeemed us * Rev. 5. 9. out of all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People So not all Nations because he was given a Ransom for many So that these ‖ Mat. 26. 28. as many as were †Acts 13. 48. ordained to life believed For * Jo. 6 44. no Man can come to Christ but those the Father draweth Now if all had been Redeemed the Altar under the Law and Priests that served at the same all Figures of Christ in the Work of Mans Redemption would have signified so much in Christ the true Altar and High Priest and Sacrifices offered thereon So that if he had Redeemed all would he not at the Golden Altar have offered up his Prayer for all But as Christ redeemed only the Elect or whole †Rom. 4. 1 Joh. 2. 2. World Abraham was Heir of so he appeared at the Golden Altar to offer Prayers for no other but ‖ Rev. 8. 3 4. Saints as it is written I pray not for the World * John 17. 9 20. but those the Father had given him in the †Ezek. 16. 8. Cant. 2 16 Covenant of Grace out of the World And thus all all that is Truth will agree to the Law to wit of Figures and Testimony of the Gospel of Salvation And that those Elected ones by God the Father and Redeemed by Christ cannot totally fall away because none can pluck them out of his Father's Hands ‖ John 10. 29. who has put his fear into their Hearts that they shall not depart * Jer. 32. 40. Prov. 14. 26 27. from him So are they kept by the Power †1 Pet. 1 5. John 17. 12. of God through Faith unto Salvation that they cannot possibly saith Christ be totally deceived Mat. 24. 24. Now some will object If the Elect cannot fall away how came so many as Demas and the like to fall from the Faith they professed Answer The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a ‖ Mat. 13. 47 48. Draw-Net which gathereth into it both good and bad as in the Figurative Building among the Materials came * 1 Kings 10. 22. Apes and Peacocks So among the Elect Living Stones the Materials of the Spiritual Building came Hypocrites who like Apes imitate for a time what the Saints do These are at the Feast but want the Wedding * Mat. 22. 11. Garment of Christ's Righteousness put on by Faith having only Lamps of External †Mat. 25. 3. profession or form of Godliness and not the ‖ 2 Tim. 3. 5. Power or Life thereof the Oyl of God's Grace so having received the Seed of God's Word on a Rock wanting Root * Luke 8. 13. Faith that worketh by Love so were in the Church saith the †1 John 2. 19. Scripture but not of it for had they been of it no doubt they would have continued in it Therefore like Peacocks through Pride fell away not from Grace but from that Grace they seemed ‖ Luke 8. 18. to have their * 2 Pet. 2. 22. Swinish nature being never changed turn again to wallow in the mire of open Filthiness as a Dog to their Vomit As touching Free-will in Man in his fallen Estate to repent and turn from Sin to God is a gross mistake First Because if Adam the Root had not this Power how came his Children to have it For cover †Job 31. 33. his Sin he did but repent he could not because it is not a virtue in Nature As it is written If God perad venture will give them Repentance ‖ 2 Tim. 2. 25. to the acknowledgment of the Truth who only works in his Elect both to will * Phil. 2. 13. and to do of his good Pleasure Therefore when Esau sought Repentance with Tears he found it not because true Repentance is a change †Heb. 12. 17. of the Mind which only belongeth to God to do As by the gift of Faith he opened the * Acts 16. 14. Heart of Lydia to believe and obey the Truth as it is in Jesus Ephes 4. 21. Some will object If all Men have not power to believe and obey why is it required of all Men Answ As Belief is a point of Obedience to God our Creator upon the Covenanted Estate Angels and Men made with God before the Fall it is still applied unto all as the word of their Condemnation And hereupon Noah by his Preaching condemneth †Heb. 11. 7. the old World as it is still the savour of Death unto Death in them that perish * 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. Else Christ would not have said to the fallen Angel It is written Thou shalt worship †Mat. 4. 10. the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve So that as this was spoken to Satan being what the Law required of him yet it doth not therefore follow that he had power to repent and believe so can no Man Though the same * Deut. 6. 13. Law requireth Obedience
discovered thine Iniquities to turn away thy Captivity but have seen for thee false Burdens and causes of Banishment Oh that Protestants would lay these things to Heart considering the many signs of God's displeasure shewed against this Nation of a Captivity threatned for these Sins Witness the Spanish Invasion in 1588 then the Powder Plot in 1605 the late Dreadful Plague and Fires and lastly this Cursed Popish Plot. Now consider according to the Law of Nations If a Ship at Sea meeteth with another which ought to strike to her and she refuseth then a warning Piece is sent to her if that make her not submit there is lot slie at her two or three Ordnance if then she will not do her duty there is poured into her a Broadside which possibly sinketh her and all that 's in her Even so if no Judgment nor Warning will make us submit in all things Spiritual to the Royal Scepter of the Lord Jesus in his Church to serve God in his Worship by the directions in his holy Testament then may we expect unavoidably that he will pour in on us Iris Murdering Places the Turks and Papists who like the Armies of ‖ Rev. 20. 9 Gog and Magog compass the Tents of the Saints about bringing great * Luke 21. 25. distress of Nations until Fire come down from Heaven even at that day when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming †2 Thess 1. 8. Fire who shall reap the Harvest of the Earth in taking Vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be destroyed from the glory of his Power when the Remnant of the Faithful as in the days of Noah shall be preserved and caught up to meet the Lord in the Air so shall they ‖ 1 Thess chap. 4. ever be with the Lord. The sum of all is Seeing God hath said He will do nothing concerning Mercy or Judgment to his People but he revealeth * Amos 3. 7. Rom. 15. 5. his Secrets to his Servants the Prophets written in the holy Scriptures for all Christians Admonition◠which we have here laid before this present Age. The chief Causes why God brought his Judgments in Ages past were for Errors in Faith and Corruptions in Worship Seeing then there is but †Eph. 4. 5. one Faith and proper Object thereof even the Evangelical Promise * Rom. 1. 16. of Grace in Christ from the days of Adam called the Faith of Jesus †Rev. 14. 12. once given to the Saints * Jude 3. therefore called the Faith of God's Elect †Tit. 1. 1. which Faith in God's Elect either more or less is built upon the * Ephes 2. 20. Foundation or Doctrine both of the Apostles and Prophets So that whatsoever Article of any Christian's Faith agreeth not to the Law and Testimony that is to the figures of Christ in the Law the Schoolmaster leading to Christ for fulfilling of the same in the New Testament with applying the Promises to the right Subjects †Acts 2. 39. they belong unto with all the benefits thereof to be enjoyed in God's 〈◊〉 is not the faith of God's Elect but a falned Faith which saveth not So that whatsoever Faith is not thus proved as it is written * 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves c. know ye not how that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Forasmuch as Christ is said to dwell †Ephes 3. 17. in the heart by Faith that is by true belief And hereupon it is written * Mark 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned How needful is it then that every ones Faith be right seeing it is a matter that concerns their Salvation Secondly As touching Worship It hath been proved that whatsoever Ministry or Ordinance God is served with or by after the Commandment and Doctrine of Men is * Col. 2. 22 23. Will-worship which all are to perish with the using Because the true Worship is to serve or worship God in †John 4. 24. Spirit and in Truth that is by Faith in Christ according to the word of Truth as Christ the only Law-giver in Worship hath commanded Thirdly And for as much as God is a God of Order * 1 Cor. 14. 40. therefore true Faith and Order in the performance of every Ordinance in the Worship of God must go †Col. 2. 5. together Every Officer is to keep within the Order God hath placed him and every Member within the bounds of their Places set in the * 1 Cor. 12. 18. Body For the clear distinguishing of every Officer and Member's place and duty in Worship as Members in the Body see the Book fore-named Ancient Truth Revived For the breach of these things God's Anger was still kindled against his People for which cause the Lord is now searching Jerusalem †Zeph. 1. 12. with Candles and will punish the Luke-warm Carnal Professors that are settled on their Lees who make Worldly Gain and Pleasure their Religion and Godliness Who say in their Hearts * Ezek. 9. 9. either the Lord hath forsaken the Earth or He will not do good neither will he do evil Thus as in the days of Noah is a state of Security seized on Professors saying Soul take thy ease Let 's build plant Marry Eat Drink joyn House to House Field to Field till there be no more place in the Earth The Harp the Viol and Pipe †Isa 5. 8 12 13. and Wine are in their Feasts but regard not the Works of the Lord neither consider the Operation of his Hands Therefore on such both Famine and Captivity will come so that their Goods shall become * Zeph. 1. 13 17. a Booty and their Houses a Desolation Even as Christ hath said Distress †Luke 21. 26. of Nations Mens hearts failing them for fear and looking after those things which for the Sins aforesaid are coming on the Earth The evident signs of the foregoing * Mat. 24. 15 21 24. Type of Jerusalem's destruction sheweth that the time is near of Christ's coming to Judgment true Faith so greatly decayeth among Men as it is written When the Son of Man cometh shall he find †Luk. 18. 8 Faith on Earth Oh! that open * Pro. 27. 6 Rebuke may be in this Day better than secret Love and the Wounds of a Friend better than the Kisses of an Enemy And to give to any †Job 32. 22. flattering Titles I know not for in so doing my Maker will soon take me away But have herein sought the good of every Soul yea the very * Mat. 5. 44. Enemies of all true Protestants the Papists and desire their Conversion that the Lord upon their true Repentance may have mercy on them Now to conclude by way of an healing Medicine both to the King 's most Excellent Majesty and
with the Covenants whereby they were bound unto their People The Laws of this Land are so full this way as no Man conversant in them can be ignorant that our Princes have preferr'd the observing of those equal Covenants whereby they are tied unto their People before the accomplishing of their own private Affections yea and Commandments in some Cases Hence it is that the Judges of this Land are bound by Law to administer Justice and Equity unto the poor Subjects notwithstanding that the Prince's Letter be directed to them to the contrary And as to the Law of God all Kings and Princes are bound thereby to be so far from thinking themselves tied by no Bonds unto their Subjects as they are plainly forbidden to be lifted up in Mind above their Brethren Deut. 17. 20. For so the word in that place calleth their Subjects and Servants The Kings of Judah who had the greatest Priviledges and Prerogatives both Ecclesiastical and Civil over their People that ever any Kings or Princes can have because they were Types and Figures of that Great King of Kings the Lord Jesus yet entred into Covenant notwithstanding with their People even particularly besides the general former Law whereby they were bound unto them Yea the Prophet Jeremiah being in no less danger and disgrace with all Estates than I and my Brethren are at this present required his Soveraign Lord and King Zedekiah to promise that he would do him no Violence nor Wrong nor yet suffer others to do the same for telling him the truth of the Word in the things wherein the King required to be resolved at his hands The which thing Zedekiah yielded unto and that by an Oath and Covenant of the Lord Jer. 38. 15 16. Whereby it appeareth that it is not without great Warrant of the Lord that Princes should enter into Covenant with their Subjects and that Subjects should require Promise and Oath to be kept with them otherwise Whereto serveth the Covenant But alas I enter not to scan her Majesties Oath I only tell you what her Laws allow me and my poor Brethren and I am assured if her Majesty knew the equity and uprightness of our Cause we should not receive this hard measure which we now sustain seeing we and our Cause are never brought before her but in the odious weeds of Sedition Rebellion Schism Heresie c. therefore it is no marvel to see the edge of her Sword turned against us Quest 3. Hath not her Majesty by her Laws established these Offices and this Order that now is in the Church of England Answ Her Laws have I grant of oversight as taking them for the right Offices and Order which appertain unto the Church of Christ which because we evidently see that they are not therefore flie we unto her former Promise and Act whereby she granteth us the enjoying of all the Priviledges of the Church of God In the next place There be other Protestants that have come yet farther out of the Romish Babylon in disclaiming the Service-Book Surplice Organs Cross in Baptism Priests Garments and the like because they were Popish Yet it is to be admired why such cannot as well disclaim the Order of the Ministry received from the Bishops as the Bishops received it from the Pope one Minister ordaining another without the Congregations knowledg where they are to take Charge and likewise pay and receive Tithes for their Ministers Maintenance which Pope Pascalis 827 Years after Christ * Qu. 19. cap. 1. Decimus a populo first ordained for his Priests These Protestants cannot think to escape the Judgments of God who †2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. touch the unclean things forbidden and are not fully come out of Babylon as Judah our Figure was who sent away all Babylon's filthiness ‖ Ezra 6. 2. Zech. 5. 8 9 11. with the Wings of a Stork into the Land of Shiner or Babylon where they were hatched as afore-shewed Moreover There are other Protestants who though they have forsaken the Ministry Service and all the fore-named Romish Inventions yet they retaining the Romish Errors of Free-will falling from true Grace general Redemption and denying that glorious Doctrine of Election cannot think to escape the Judgments of God because Error in Faith is so heinous in the sight of the Lord being likened to Leaven * Mat. 16. 6 12. 1 Cor. 5. Darkness †Luke 11. 34. 35. and Poyson ‖ Deut. 32. 3. that God threatned the Church of Pergamos to fight against them for not punishing them by Excommunication that maintained the Error or Doctrine * Rev. 2. 14 16. of Balaam and the Church at Thyatira for suffering the Women Jesebel to teach †Ver. 20. and to deceive them All which came on the Churches afore-shewed in Pag. 13. also Junius on Rev. 2. 10. Again There are other Protestants that are not guilty of the fore-named Errors yet for other sins of disorder in making * Gen. 6. 4. Ex. 34 16. 1 Cor. 7. 39. Marriages with them they cannot joyn with in the Ordinances of Worship and their walking in the shame of Nature long Hair †1 Cor. 11. 14. and Perriwigs which Evils as well as other sinful Conversations not in God's Order punished the whole Church becomes ‖ 1 Tim. 5. 22. Ps 26. 5 6. Pro. 11. 21. Josh 22. guilty of one anothers Sins As saith the Law Whatsoever the unclean Person toucheth shall be unclean and the Person that toucheth him shall be unclean Numb 19. 22. Again There are others that would be called they know not what who refuse the use of God's Ordinances in Worship to wit Baptism of Water and the Lord's Supper and suffer their Females * 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. Jesebel like to teach their Imaginations For no Person can teach any other thing concerning God or Christ in the work of Man's Redemption to Salvation that own not the written Scripture as the †John 5. 39. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Kings 8. 25. with 2 Chron. 6. 16. Ground of Faith and the Rule to try all Doctrine and Worship by who as it is said do deny the Resurrection of the Body Unto such the Apostle hath said If the Body rise not then is not Christ risen and so to them All Preaching is vain and they are yet in their Sins ‖ 1 Cor. 15. 14 17. and of all Men most miserable Another great mistake is among many Protestants in understanding the Prophecies and Mysteries in the Prophets literally concerning the Spiritual Glory of the Church under the Gospel or Christ's Reign with the Saints on Earth I would fain have these Protestants first to remember that Christ's Kingdom * John 18. 36. is not of this World neither the Warfare nor Weapons †2 Cor. 10. 4. Carnal and in all things exemplary to the Church under the Gospel we are exhorted to behold Israel ‖ 1 Cor. 10. 18. our Figure