manner it is a receiued opinion of great antiquitie being one of the deepe doctrines of diuine Durandus that euerie sonday and holiday the soules do play in Purgatorie Are they not worthy therefore to be presented that doe any kinde of worke upon any holy day yea though it bee not in prayer time unlesse it bee to goe to the Ale-house to be merry and to leap and daunce about the May-poule after a bagpipe or so forth for that helpes forward the foresaid merriment yea our owne countrey-man Cardinall Poole a reverent Divine and as great a Scholler as any of our great Adversaries held and taught that the meaning of Christ in making Peter a fisher of men was that hee would driue all Emperours and Kings yea all the people of the world into the Popes net so that he might seeth broyle or fry them in a pan even as his Holines should think best to use and order them and his Prelates and their inferiour officers also to make their best gain and advantage of them and many other strange opinions concerning callings and ceremonies in Gods worship haue beene published by great Schollers and confirmed by whole Synods Convocations yea and generall Councels with as great probabilitie many of them and shew of all kinde of true learning as all that is which the reverend fathers and learned Divines of this age haue published or can say for these ceremonies and the other things in controversie amongst us Seing then the Church in her wisedom establised them as divine truths though not as necessarie to salvation yet profitable for unitie decencie and to try the obedience of her children why should not they be as well conformed to as ours were not their pure naturals as able to finde out some things commendable yea necessarily to be conformed unto in the worship of God though they had no better ground for them in the Scripture then as is formerly mentioned as well as the naturals of this pure or learned and spirituall age Degrees of Evill there is indeed but nature admits not any one degree of goodnesse no not one for it is starke dead in trespasses and sinnes the minde vaine the understanding darkened and full of ignorance the heart haidened not perceiving the things of the spirit of God nay it thinks them to be meere foolishenesse and more then needes even most absurd and against common sence must it not therefore be granted of absolute necessitie that all such spirituall persons as well in these times as in those by what name or title soever they be called though they haue all the learning and wisedome in the world yet if they bring not the warrant of Gods word plainly or truely for them in all their ceremonies callings gestures and other devices whatsoever of religious use are to bee held reputed and adiudged lyars and therefore all such their opinions of the Divell the father of lies and therfore by no meanes upon any tearmes to bee conformed unto was not their verbum non scriptum consuetudo sanstae Ecclesiae traditiones patrum bonae intentiones constitutiones vel canones as tollerable and necessarie as ours was it not the practise of the serpent from the beginning to proue by many wise and learned arguments that the onely way to aspire to spirituall preferments in this world is absolutely to forsake and disclaime the warrant of the sacred scripture in all matters of ceremonie and to depend upon tradition and the Catholicke grounds aforesaid Oh our most deere mother we can never forget these weightie instructions which so carefully and constantly thou hast taught unto us first that all manner of witch-craft is in the degree a direct forsaking of God and a uniting and knitting unto the Divell and therefore no manner of Witch white or blacke good or evill nor any that seeke after them ought to liue not that there is any of them good but that like other humane or divellish inventions they seeme to do good by maintaining divers in unlawfull callings and by helping some to their stollen or lost goods or others of diseases in men or beasts or the like Secondly that Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft yea that a Rebellious transgression though it bee but in ceremonie calling or gesture is a wickednesse not inferiour to Idolatrie for the same ground or foundation serues for both and that it is noâ— garments musick and such like complement that the Lord accepts or takes any pleasure in which yet hee doth in every thing of Religious use which he would haue his fervants in his worship to conforme unto but when his voyce is obeyed Now his voice is in nothing but what his word doth command therefore thou didst conclude that hee was not obeyed in any thing of religious use which was not grounded upon his commandement according to his own words whatsoeuer I command you concerning my worship that do thou shalt not add any thing whether ceremony calling gesture or whatsoever thereto for al counsels or canons or whatsoever that in Gods worship require any thing of religious use which is not the commandement of the Lord or his voyce is directly stubbornes of a wicked heart which makes to go backward from God and sinceritie to all profanes and Apostacie trueth is perished and cleane gone out of the mouth of such preachers as maintain such things and therefore thou didst charge us for ever to continue in our serving of God in all things which are written in the word of God to doe them yea them onely and not any Invention or noveltie whatsoever which unavoidably especially being once known and yet Iustified and defended will bring Gods greevous plague and curse Is the Righteousnesse of the Church Revealed in the Gospell and that not torne or patched but perfect and compleate and is the worship and ceremonies callings and gestures whereby the Church is made partaker of that righteousnesse and shewes her thankfulnesse unto God for the same but lamely taught therein or to the halues part being left to traditions unwritten verities and humane Inventions verily as in that so in these if there be any cause of Reioycing it is not with God and therefore must needs be with the Devill for what else can possibly bee found concerning the flesh bee it never so wise or learned or any work fruit or device thereof is not the Iustifying of humane Inventions in Gods worship without warrant from the word a plaine profession that they thinke though they bee not more Iust then GOD or more pure then their maker yet verily there is some iustice and puritie in their nature whereby they are able to find out a holy use of these things which God never commanded Is not this a verie naturall branch of that follie which being found was punished so fearefullie in the Angels therefore didst thou warne us also for ever to take heed of unstedfastnes
and mouth kindled might never bee quenched seeing the unerring and burning light thereof is our onely preservatiue through the effectuall working of the Holy Ghost against that feare of our adversaries this grace of God being given unto us not onely to beleeue in Christ but to suffer also for his sake in bearing witnesse to this part of the truth and not daring to conforme to any other though it cost us full deerely For thus onely in such times of triall are all that bee called thereunto preserued against all the powers and Principalities Lordly Dominions and other spirituall wickednesses in the whole and most unholy though most learned kingdome of darknesse Thus am I bold to present my poore endevours and private labours concerning these things unto publick view private I say not in regard of the truth generally in all true Christian Churches received professed but by reasoÌ„ of the danger of the times I durst not receiue direction from any who otherwise might haue been a great helpe unto me Onely to this end haue I done it not to be famous in my person for that were to bee infamous in their prison but to giue some taste that the Lord hath many who haue not bowed the knee in this kinde as it is urged as also to publish to all that feare the Lord and yet do not see the sufficiency of our warrant for so resolute a refusall to conformitie that it is not faction or humour nor the iudgement or practise of good men no not of our so endeered Pastors or of the most holy and best reformed Churches nor of all these together which we wholy rest or depend upon but that our consciences dare not conforme to any thing of religious use especially in the publicke worship of God but what is safely and soundly warranted by the word of our God and likewise to stirre up others who haue receiceived more and more worthy Talents to put their helping hands to the worke of the Lord. But mee thinkes I heare some black mouth roaring out That this is neither so nor so but onelie an old patcht Cloak to cover a peevish spirit withall for say such you haue the substance yet through frowardnesse because you may not have your wils you are not content but insnare your mindes and bring your consciences into a needlesse bondage about gestures and ceremonies or matters of Indifferencie which Christ hath fried us from I most humblie pray and doe hartelie beseech even by the mercies of God in Iesus Christ all such seriously to weigh consider whether any thing of divine use in the publick worship of God can be indiffereÌ„t or if God haue left it indiffereÌ„t whether any mortall power can possibly make it necessarie was it not the practise of that man of sin first under pretence of Indifferencie to make things common to be of Religious use then to bring them in some civill respects into Gods publick worship and at length to haue a necessarie state therein and so at last to bee of Apostolicall institution yet euen this way seemeth right to our graue and learned adversaries though the issues thereof bring forth most deadly what if I said damnable effects euen in all these Churches of Christ Iesus Breake not oh suffer not you Christian princes these men thus scornfullie to breake the sacred bonds of the first table lest you take away al coÌ„science of the duties of the second for Christ hath in them tyed you and all under you most strictlie to precise and sincere obedience in all things belonging to his publick worship yet hath he left full scope even large enough so farre as is fit for any mortall power in the other six Commandements for your Regall powers ad plâ—citum to exercise your high prerogatives most supreamelie in Bee well content therewith they that perswade you to incroach upon him under colour of inlarging your soveraintie do giue that which you ought not take being directly against the crown and dignitie of the Lord Christ in liew thereof are bould to challenge that from you even of divine right which by no means upon any terms you ought to parte to them they being withall persons utterly uncapable thereof And as for our adversaries I intreat all that are godlie minded advisedly to bethink themselues whether that substance which God be blest we haue being holy for which I confesse wee are nor sufficientlie thankfull can make that same Ceremonie also holie which in it first originall was impure and unwarrantable yea most vile therefore and abominable can any thing which is primarilie evill ever possiblie bee made good but onelie by the primarie goodnesse himselfe To make then that gesture action calling or ceremonie or the similitude and likenesse of them good which had their beginning from Antichrist and not bringing Gods word for it and yet to hold it upon these terms necessarie in Gods publick worship even conscience to be conformed unto is directly to set up another God who must impart this goodnes unto it Doth it not plainlie appeare by this that their Divino Iure did never discend from Divine Iehovah but from some black limping Vulcan or Olimpian Iupiter the naturall patroÌ„ of all such durty Dianaes yea I beseech them rather to obserue whether more probablie the ceremony being thus known to be of human invention and therefore of absolute necessitie filthie and polluted as everie thing of religious use is which is not commanded by God in the word doe not make that holy substance which we haue unprofitable and so uncleane also unprofitable I say though not for information of iudgement yet for sanctification of life to the obedience of faith For if holy flesh under the Law could non legallie sanctifie everie thing no nor any thing which was ioyned unto it by touching of it no more can the doctrines of faith and iustification under the Gospell truely taught and publikly professed in all the Churches of Christ amongst us ever by any possible meanes make the callings ceremonies or gestures in controversie lawfull or indifferent seeing these are not ordained by God and therefore that ministery that spends it strength for the iustification of them though it may perhaps continue some measure of knowledge in the hearers yet is it greatly to be feared that all those who freely conforme thereunto and wholy depend thereon shall rather scatter then gather any saving grace or sanctification thereby But to this it is said that these ceremonies callings and gestures are not those of poperie for nullum simile est Idem but the graue and advised ordinances of the holy Catholicke Church that hath come from amongst them and cleane separated from Antichrist at least in all fundamentall points of doctrine concerning our Iustification and therefore without all question ought by everie obedient Childe to bee conformed unto Alas what means then the lowing of these Oxen and bleating of the sheepe
are to bee esteemed vaineglorious teachers though their mouths even runne over whith all manner of art eloquence and learning And as for those that preach any thing which God hath not commaunded or perswade to conforme to any thing which is not grounded on the scriptures from these words of Saint Peter wee may safely esteeme them whether they speake elegantly or rudely but fabulous fellowes and Deceiueable doctors in taking vpon them like young masters or old Rabbies to teach defend or maintaine any thing in Gods worship which Christ the sole Doctor of all thinges whatsoeuer of Religious vse and which his Churches vpon any cause and in any respect may conform vnto neuer commanded taught or in the scriptures published or so much as once mentioned by precept or president yea obserue them wel and take heed of them these are the teachers of false Christs for they may as well teach that here is Christ or loe he is there as presse Christians to coÌ„forme to this ceremonie or that gesture of religious use in the publicke worship of God which Christ neither here nor there nor any where ever taught or in any degree or respect commanded so that if you heare any preachers teahing things with great zeale and learning which are not the direct commandements of Christ or grounded plainly in the evidence of the spirit upon the unerring rocke of the sacred Scripture I will not deny but such may speake in the power of a Spirit but certainly not of Gods Spirit For he even the Spirit of truth teaches nothing of himselfe though he be the very fountaine of all truth but onely what he hath heard in the word of the Father not that he needs any instructer or direction but that the most glorius and blessed Trinitie as the sole and onely way to preserue all true Churches or congregations in holy and heavenly unitie hath tied himselfe as it were or covenanted that though there be many other things of most admirable excellencie yet to require conformitie to nothing but those things which are written in the scriptures seeing they are fully and perfectlie sufficient unto faith or beliefe and therefore unto all manner of godlinesse the fruits of faith and so to eternall life the end or reward of faith through his name If any man therfore undertake to teach the Churches of Christ let him speake as the words of God and not as the cannons and precepts of men do enioyne for as God is glorified by those so is hee much dishonoured by these yea though they speak the wisdom of this world which the great ones Commend the learned approue and all doe generallie admire for the kingdom of God or preaching consists not in word in phrases in elegancie of speach excellencie of uttrance or in any other endowments of Art nature but in the evidence of the spirit of power when the cosciences of the hearers by the right handling of the word shall bee wrought upoÌ„ by making manifest the verie secrets of their hearts and so enforced to humble their souls and worship God and confesse not that great learning or reading is in the preacher but plainlie that God is in that ministerie indeed because it casteth down and doth not lift up as the word or doctrine of men doth because their manner of teaching is meerly carnall euen such as is approved by men but not warranted by the word strong holds or the Imaginations and Inventions of men which in a high degree do exalt themselves against the knowledge of God even against those doctrines of ceremonies callings gestures which God hath made known in the word and set mens thoughts and consciences at libertie from the obedience of Christ according to the scriptures concerning these things onelie under pretence of not being forbidden and so by their conformitie to that which Christ hath not commanded doe most strongly repaire and fortifie tâ—ose strong holds of humane devices concerning voluntary religions or ceremonies which the Lord by all meanes labours as being the greatest hinderers of the peace of his kingdome and fosterers of his rebellious enemies to haue utterlie ruinated yea and as Christ hath ordained to sanctifie and cleanse his Church by the obedience of faith which is the true conformitie of the doctrines of the word so these men by pressing conformitie to ceremonies callings and gestures which haue no warrant in the word do directly intimate though they pretend the cleane contrarie that their religion is but a doctrine of the tongue and not of the reformation of the life For if they subscribe and haue understanding of the heauenly doctrines and be able to retaine them in memorie and so at a trice can discourse or reason of them then are they absolutely qualified and excellent Divines though they make no conscience of that which they know and professe further then they see cause so indeed do most beastly pollute and by plain intimation both of their doctrine and life perswade their hearers to defile the Church of Christ and to take away the beautie glorie of it which is to be free froÌ„ human inventions to fill it with all horrible spots and wrinkles of worldly traditions that so it may never be holy but full of blame Are you not ashamed you deceitfull guides to cast abroad these firebrands and mortall insinuations in your lectures sermons or writings coÌ„versations and yet protest you meane no hurt is not your fiery heat in these courses a fained madnes or doe you make any more conscience thereof then of your play or sporte Yea say they our purpose in so doing is to do much good for we teach presse that in this conformitie which we so perswade unto every one should come with a good honest heart to perform these actions gestures withal for that is it which the Lord requires yea hee will passe by much infirmitie where he findes true sinceritie So that belike if men seem to haue good affections that shall be sufficient warraÌ„t to iustifie any strange or vncommanded gesture or ceremonie in the publicke worship of God yea though it be never so wickd at least in appearance and Idolatrous an action yet if they meane well and beleeue as the Church beleeues that these things are indifferent and lawfull or not forbidden all shall be exceeding well and what I pray you if the Iewes with good and honest hartes even sincerely purposing and verely intending to winne them vnto God do marrie wyues of Ashdod Amon and Moab dare you say these mariages are lawfull or can their Children euer possibly for all this good meaning speake the language of Canaan sincerely or trewly no verely though you charge them vpon paine of death to prepare them selues therevnto neuer so hartely yet doe you but presse them to a thing impossible be not wiser then God least it
CERTAIN REASONS OF A PRIVATE CHRISTIAN AGAINST CONformitie to kneeling in the very act of receiving the Lords Supper By Tho Dighton Gent. GAL. 6. 9. Let us not be weary of wel-doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not Anno 1618. TO AL PRIVATE CHRISTIANS VNfaignedly desiring to serue the Lord Christ and preparing themselues gird up the loines of their mind wait for his appearing grace and peace be multiplied for euer BRETHREN hearing what paines and labour many of your reverend and learned Pastors who sometimes were otherwise minded doe lately vndertake in many places by their publick teaching and example by their priuate conference and all other meanes possible to perswade to conformitie I am bold lest they should reioyce in your flesh to present this my poore mite vnto your godly consideration as casting it into our Lords Treasurie most humbly beseeching those that are rich in grace and haue siluer gold and precious stones conferred vpon them to offer them freely and seasonably for the seruice of his Sanctuary euen to build vp the decayed places of the gates barres and walles of the most holy Citty Alwayes prouided that nothing be done confusedly or at a very venture vpon the warrant of no ill meaning or a supposed liberty as if it had been sufficient to bring wood and timber stone and morter and all other needfull prouision in all abundance of any kinde or fashion length bredth thicknesse or temper even as the most learned and wise of those times thought meet and not to haue every thing fitted and prepared by the Lords owne direction so as there may need neither axe nor hammer nor any toole of Iron to be heard to reform and amend the same but if any thing be not well to put to or take from as occasion shall require No no all Gods outward worship and publicke or divine seruice must in every part and ceremony or gesture thereof bee so pure and free from all kinde of mixture of any humane invention as all things of the very least moment whatsoever being directly ordered according to the patterne shewed in the Mount of Gods holy word every beleeuing heart may reioyce at the most comely order and holy beauty of Gods own Ordinances and adiudge it high presumption to tender any innovation by farre-fetcht devices and novelties or some old Tradition or worme-eaten Ceremony full of incertainty to the direct disabling of the all-sufficient truth and offence of tender consciences In all humilitie therefore labour to be able to giue good and sound reasons why you dare not conforme to the questioned gesture and ceremonies nor to any thing else which is not within the compasse of the most vn-erring patterne the holy word of the all-commanding God and bee sure to build your refusall safely upon the rocke and not upon the sand vpon the commandement of Christ and not upon your owne humours or any mens iudgement and practise be they never so learned zealous and holy yea in whatsoever you haue not Gods word for your warrant Thus saith the Lord thus did our Lord or the Lord never tequired this at our hands therein submit your selues lovingly and peaceably yea most readily to them that are over you in the Lord. And in any case nourish not that most pestilent humour of that man of Sinne a delight in opposition to superioritie but in all humility in matters that are but meerely grounded on opinion and not on the Scriptures thinke better of other mens iudgements then your owne for God giues no saving grace but to the humble to the humble in deed not to the humble in shew Get this vertue therefore my brethren for then the yooke of Christ which now you are to draw in will be most easie and without griefe and his burden part whereof you are presently to beare light and full of comfort yea though you be made the gazing-stockes of the world and be hated and scorned of all men as the very off-scouring of the earth for bearing witnesse to this part of the truth yet shall you by humility bee inabled with much cheerefulnesse and spirituall consolations to endure all things and to suffer all things yea consider I pray you that the very true and most direct way to reigne with Christ hereafter is of necessitie to suffer for him in this evill world and to suffer for any part of the truth in Gods worship is to suffer for Christ Beleeue it therefore as verily as you doe any other thing that God hath purposely predestinated you to these particular trials euen in every circumstance and instrument thereof Seeing then you must drink of this Cup pray heartily that his name may be glorified and then what matters it though wee be despised disgraced scorned and derided so long as our Lord and master may haue honour thereby Will not every true hearted subiect suffer and endure any paines trauell or losse of goods and life for his King and Soueraignes sake yea and that most cheerefully with a manly and valiant courage And shall not we much more doe the like for the King of Kings who hath done and suffered a hundred thousand of millions more for vs he lost not an eye a hand or a foot for vs but was content to giue his whole body and soule also yea he spared not his whole person for vs and that also when we were his enemies he suffered disgrace not onely before the Princes but all manner of contempt by the vilest and of torment by the cruellest yea and the most grievous paines that the fierce wrath of God in all extremity of his iustice could possibly inflict upon his soule and body Doe you think he hath forgotten these things No my deere brethren in that hee suffered and was tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted yea assure your selues he puts euery one of your teares into his own bottle obserues every hidden device and close practise of your adversaries keepes a Register not to be corrupted of every word presentment information or certificate that is made signed put up exhibited or uttered against you and sets downe also every disgrace and contempt that is cast vpon you and keeps a iust reckoning of every penny for fees that is exhausted from you for exactions excommunications absolutions and of whatsoeuer other open or under-hand proceedings practised against you and will assuredly call to iudgement both you and all your aduersaries and backe or hollow friends euery one to giue a particular and most strict account of all these things and to them that haue done well herein hee will giue everlasting life and glory but they that haue done ill and unconscionably rather serving the time then the Lord shall certainly goe into eternall fire Gird vp therefore the loynes of your minde and feare not them that haue onely power to imprison your bodies and take away your goods or liues let neither their perswasions
for if once you sit downe or settle your selues with resolution to proue the lawfulnesse of the seates of these scorners or money-changers you are neere vnto cursing and farre from the blessing yea the Lord thinking upon his congregation which he hath possessed of old and on the rod of his inheritance which he hath redeemed and measured out for himselfe and on mount Syon wherein hee hath dwelt will verily lift up his strokes and destroy for ever every enemy that doth evill to the Sanctuarie Even so be it Lord Iesus If true Religion onely knits our heart unto God and all false Religions seperate our hearts from God then whatsoeuer is of Religious use and to be conformed unto in Gods publick worship must be true that is truely grounded in the word of God or else it separats us from God But true Religion doth onely knit our hearts unto God c. and the gesture of kneeling as it is urged being of Religious use and to be conformd unto in Gods publick worship is not true that is not truely grounded on the word of God Therefore to Conforme to kneeling as it is urged is to separate from God All feare or Religion towards God not taught by the Scripturs but by the precepts of men remooues the heart farre from God yea the defence and justifying hereof workes great wonders and marvels the wisedom of such wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall bee hid Esa 29. 13 14. TO THE CHVRCH OF GREAT BRITtaine in generall or to the severall congregations or Churches therein in particular being the true visible Churches of Christ grace peace bee multiplied for ever IT is not vnknown how vtterly vnlawful yea altogether impossible it is to serue or conforme to two masters as also that by our fall in Adam we haue not onely forsaken our first master of Creation who in our innocent estate did immediatly direct teach and leade vs into all truth but haue betaken vs to a new master whose Inventions or nouelties we did most voluntarily subscribe vnto euen Satan who now doth immediately in the estate of nature guide and leade all the children of men as well in the Church as out of it into all falsitie and error in all things concerning God and his Church and yet also how euerie one naturally doth most willingly though some perhaps more wisely or learnedly and others more vilely and desperately yeeld their hartie obedience vnto him though not in their purpose and intention yet at least in error of their Iudgment and corrupted resolution For the vnderstanding being vtterly blinded we think in our reason wisdome and learning that to be certe 〈…〉 ly good which is directly euill that to be cleare light which is Egiptian darknes that to be the service of God which is the apparant worship of Deuills and so think and are verely perswaded our master to be God when in verie trueth it is Satan True it is that wisdome discretion learning and many other excellent parts and gifts yea euen in heavenly things nature may and doth still by industrie attaine vnto but the sauing or sanctfying graces of God which bring the heart vnto Christ that new or renewing master are supernaturall euen the immediate worke of the holy ghost whose schollers or seruants euerie one of necessity must be that will be saued and thus farre I take it is agrreed on all sydes in all our Churches or congregations For I speak to none but to such among vs as professe thēselues to be the schollers of Christ now being matriculated or by the blessed sacrament of holy Baptisme Initiated into the schoole or corporation or bodie of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ I humbly beseech euerie one that doth sincerely purpose euer to take the lest degree of true holines or sanctification without which no man shal see God seriously to consider what books whether historical propheticall politicall poeticall or Euangelicall or authours as they terme them must here to this purpose be learned and professed and these are all bound vp together in one volume of the canonicall sacred or inspired scriptures and for their excellencie called the Bible all other writers or authors diffring from these in any thing concerning God or his worship by teaching or pressing some things which are not truly grounded vpon these are to bee esteemed books of our second master therefore to be accursed how honest or holy soever their intention or drift pretends or seems to be yea of most absolute necessitie it followes that all who do upon any terms learne their lessons from thence and so conforme unto them do thereby conforme unto Satan who of all men in their wits is acknowledged to be the author and teacher of all lessons or doctrines concerning religious ceremonies callings or gestures in the worship of God which are not in evidence and power of the holy Ghost plainly grounded upon the word of God for there bee but two masters who are by Christ opposed the one to the other All trueth therefore is to be learned of the one and to be collected or gathered onely out of his books or sacred writings even from God to whom onely wee must giue credit in his word for oportet discente credere whatsoever then is learned elsewhere must needs bee from that other master as the proper lessons of his open and free schoole wherin yet wee confesse all the excellencies of of all arts and all the deepenesse of learning do abound who must also in those arguments and reasons we ground or practise upon bee credited and beleeved to bee the authour of that supposed truth which we make profession of by our so doing Let us therefore bring forth those bookes or authours into the open view of the world wherein this lesson of Conformitie or refusall thereunto is taught and learned that so every Scholler may be knowne by his own Master and the authours publickly taught in his schoole Now if any be ashamed to professe that hee obayes or learnes this lesson of any other then of God then must hee either shew his warrant and authoritie out of the sacred Scriptures for the things hee professeth and practiseth in this controversie or else he plainly discovers whose scholler he is for they onely are the fountaine of trueth that which comes from them is holy and sincere but if it be grounded vpon men or Churches though ancient and orthodox in many other things yet the filthines of their channell in all matters especially of religious vse will leaue some infection behinde it Let vs therfore trie all things yea though they haue beene the receaued opinions or practises of the holiest men and purest churches in the world whose iudgment yet is highly to be reuerenced though it differ from ours till the worde of God do euidently to our consciences dicide the Controuersie and keepe or conforme to that onely in the divine service
be unsensible of the things of God yea meere Enmitie against him and therefore in any case never to conforme unto them because in so doing wee cannot possibly be subiect to the law of God but must needs Rebell against the holy Ghost by whose inspiration it was written Rebell therefore no longer you learned men by walking in a way which is not good euen after your own Imaginations if you think it horrible blasphemy that a priest of a peece of bread should make his maker then iudge it at least some smatch of like Idolatrie for men to presume without any warrant from the word to creat any thing whatsoever of Religious use for the service of their sauiour but if you be perswaded that those fiue words are of such efficacie then hold on your course make more cannons to strengthen your Conformitie Lastly one word to you my deere brethren of the Separation and one word to the wise is sufficient There is no one thing that our adversaries do more greedily desire then how to raise divisions and dissentions amongst us which most willingly though dissemblingly they usually for a time giue way unto Carefully looking what comes neerest to the truth and therefore most directly opposing their kingdom and that with force and armes euen by fraud and all abominable practises they set against which my trust is some good body will plainly discouer to their perpetual shame but teÌ„l me true in good sadnesse did you never read the learned legeÌ„d of that holy Nun mother Hubberd how that an Asse is still an Asse though he haue stoln a Lyons skin iets up and down like an irregular monster a learned master I should say even verie so it is I tell you a trueth though indeed a great secret they haue bretrayed our deere mother who bare us all and because she would not yeeld to their beastly lusts by a trap doore yea in the place of holinesse and that under pretence of devotion haue caused her ere she was aware of their guilefulnes to fall in a most deep dungeon and hauing stript her of all her goodly Raiment they haue power giuen them there to detain her for a time and so haue clad their common harlot my Lady sa-reverence Superstition in our mothers best cloathes and painted her writhen face filling up the pockholes c. with such excellent art and learned devices as they haue made the filthie beast to seeme â—erie like our holy mother insomuch as a good while we all were perswaded that it was shee but some of our elder brethren hearing her voice so strangelie changed began to suspect that some thing was in the wind and so observing more diligently perceived her box pensill attendans never to be from her lest any accident should discover the knavery Now you know shee alwayes abhorred painting as all honest women do and so it is evident that this filthie strumpet guls the world abuses all that are sincerely affected having such a Company of base and beastly followers as will sweare and forsweare any thing for the preservation of her credit for if her vizard be once plucked off they know full well that they must be sent packing with a vengeance My humble suite is therefore unto you that in your wisedome you would bee pleased seriouslie to moralize this fable and to Ioyne with us in the meanes of the redemption of our mother who I do assure you recommends her loue unto you and desires greatly to embrace us all in her armes of unitie and sinceritie The dungeon is an entire Rock and so hard that no toole will pierce it onely the tears of true Repentance distild in a limbeck of a lively faith over a fire of a godlie life moderately kept burning with the bellows of holy zeale according unto knowledge will absolutelie dissolue it yea I may tell you our mother is verie confident that if you and wee would louinglie ioyne together in this businesse without fainting separating our selues froÌ„ all singularitie pride loue of the world even all the works of darknesse her sighs and groans haue alreadie so softned the inside that the outside gapes as it were for our mollifying medicine Vp my brethren stir up one another and let us never giue over till by our earnest prayers and godly liues we haue procured her libertie then shall we see these Inchanters and witches children with their goddesse Conformity sent home againe to Egypt where shortly together with all of that litter they are to receiue their portion pardon my boldnesse deere mother passe by my rudenesse deere brethren accept of my service to my Saviviour for I desire onely his prayse and glory MALAC. 3. 1. The Lord whom yee seek shall suddenly come to his Temple even the messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in behold he shall come saith the Lord of hostes But who may abide his comming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like a refiners fire and like fullers sope c. I doe most humblie intreate all Christians that are zealous of the Common salvation wisely yea and earnestly to Contend for the maintenance of all and everie action gesture and ceremonie of the faith which were once giuen to the saints and never to conforme to any other FOR No omission of any action is Sin but onely of those actions which GOD hath Commanded or haue warrant from his word but the actions of the gesture of kneeling and of the ceremonies in question in maner and forme as they be urged are not commanded by God neither haue warrant from the word therefore the omission of them is not sin Let our adversaries proue that they bee commanded by God or are warranted by the word and we will ipso facto conform unto them but else their omission is no sin and therefore we are punished for well doing Be of good courage and doe it and the Lord shall be with the good 2. Chron. 19. 11. 1. King 6. 7. Deut. 12. 32. 32. 47. Math. 11. 29. 30. Rom. 8. 5. 10. 1. Pet. 1. 13 Luk. 12. 4. 5. Deut. 18. 19. 20. 1. King â—â— 6. 8. Eph. 6. 10. 1 Cor. 2. 1. 4. 6. Gal. 5. 17. Psal 129. 128. Math. 7. 7. Mat. 25. 29. 13. 12. Ioh. 5. 39. 2 Tim. 3. 16 1. Pet. 1. 23. Heb. 2. 1. Reu. 2. 4. Mat. 11. 25 Luk. 19. 21 Psa 45. 23. Luk. 24. 45 Act. 16. 14. Eph. 1. 18. 19. Ezek. 33. 32 Rom. 8. 8. 1. Cor. 2. 15 vers 12. 13 14 1 King 22. 6. 10. 11. 12. Mat. 7. 22. Note His Maiesties speech in the star-chamber Pag. 17. 2 Tim. 2. 17 Preface to the booke of com prayer Ioh. 4. 22. Mat. 12. 36 Eph. 5. 11. Eph. 5. 11. Eccles 5. 1. Psa 101. 1 Mat. 12. 35 His Maiesties speech pag. 18. Math. 5. 32. 48. 1â— â— Pag. 19. Pag. 7. Esay 8. 20. Obiect Answ Ioh. 8. 12. Eph. 5. 11. 13. Reu. 1. 5. 3.