to the Church of Israel vvas by them used and to be performed according to order and not any vvay to vveaken but to stablish the Elders auctoritie And vve must not be straungers from the policie of Israel Eph. 2.12 c. Yea this verie instruction in Mat. 18.17 is such as it accordeth vvith and hath reference unto the grounds and ordinances of God taught of old by Moses the Prophets as is shevved in particular in the Treatise aforesaid and in the Churches agreement published there about So as their opposition against us therein is indeed against Israel against Moses against the Prophets And vvhether thē it be not also consequently against the Lord and his ordinances prescribed in his vvord let all indifferent men judge Such is their error and so great is their transgression and iniquitie And hitherto of the first Objection vvhich in the printed copie is the second VVhere furthermore observe hovv vvhen they doe here quote the Scriptures alledged for proof of the 24 Article of the Confession they doe it thus Mat. 18.17 c. vvhereas in the Confession it is thus Psal 122.3 c. VVhich is to be noted in divers respects First because it sheweth that at the setting downe of the Confessiō the Scriptures of the old testament were observed for the confirmation of it asvvell as of the newe Secondly that Mat. 18.17 is so to be understood as may agree vvith the other Scriptures namely vvith Psal 122.3 Lev. 20.4.5 and 24.14 Numb 5.2.3 Deut. 13 9. vvhich Scriptures are in this article also alledged and joyned vvith that of Mat. 18.17 Thirdly that it must be understood vvith agreement and proportion to the order and manner of Israel vvhereof these scriptures doe directly speak Fourthly that therefore our understanding of it novv as vve doe is in the truth of the point it self according to our auncient sayth and not theirs vvho vvould make us straungers from Israel and vvould persvvade us that Christs doctrine in Mat. 18.17 is a nevve rule for the Churches novv vvhich Israel had not And that these people therefore have in deed left the ancient faith which thing they object unto others Moreover by the Scriptures asoresayd joyned together and compared vvith the estate of Israel it doth appeare reason it self doth teach it that we must distinguish betweē the sentence of excommunication and betvveen the execution thereof as betvveen the sentence of death of leprosie or the like and betvveen the execution follovving thereupon Novv in Israel the Elders in causes of death the Priests in case of Leprosie had a rightfull povver to give out the sentence of death and of leprosie and the like according to the lavv of God vvithout asking the peoples consent yea and though it should have been vvithout and against the consent of the people vvhom they call here the bodie of the Congregation Deu. 1.16 and 17 8-12 and 24.8 with 2 Chron. 26 16-20 Levit. 13. c. And vvhen the Elders and Priests had so pronounced the sentence according to the vvord of God and dutie of their office then vvas it for the people to performe the execution accordingly as may be seen in the Scriptures aforesaid many other the like Thus also the Elders may now by vertue dutie of their Office give out the sentence of excomunicatiō according to the lavv of God and the people should accordingly put it in execution by avoyding the excōmmunicated persons till they repent c. Or if any of the people can except against the Elders proceeding therein they are to be heard as in the foresaid Treatise upon Mat. 18 17. I have vvrittē heretofore VVhere note further hovv in that Treatise it is often mentioned particularly in our agreement about the understāding of this Scripture of Mat. 18.17 that we should alway understand and observe these things according as in Israel in the due proportion perpetuall equitie thereof and therefore not to abridge the brethren of their assent or any right that doth apperteyne unto them by the word of God but to doe all things accōrding to the rules prescribed therein c. And here let me then aske of this people thus divided hereabout first vvhether in Israel the Lord abridged the people of their right libertie any way in that by his word the Elders and Priests might admonish sinners give sentence of death and leprosie and the like things vvithout asking or taking the peoples consent thereunto Secondly vvhether the people have any more right and authoritie in the Churches government novv then the people of Israel had in those dayes Thirdly vvhether the people of Israel vvere not kings priests even a kingdome of priests and a holie nation asvvel as the Christian people are now Exod. 19 5 6. Psal 149.1 c. with 1 Pet. 2.9.10 Rev. 1.6 Fourthly vvhether the Churches power vvhich the Lord hath given unto it be not a ministeriall povver onely Fiftly vvhether the Elders povver be not ministeriall under the Lord in and for the Church so as it is the Lords primarily the Churches secondarily and the Officers ministerially or instrumentally for the Lord the Church vvhose Officers they are and that therefore there is no vveight in their Objections about the Elders povver as if it vvere not the Churches and that vvhich perteyneth to the bodie of the Congregation but that in deed it is the Churches so to be ministred by the Officers vvhom the Lord hath set in his Church to minister in his name for the Churches use and benefit and that they vvhich oppugne the Officers herein doe not onely oppose against them but even against the Lord the Church for which they vvould seem so much to plead And finally vvhether the Opposites in the Churches government as the Anabaptists in the Sacraments vvould not make us aliens from the common vvealth of Israel that so there should not be one bodie of them and us one Lord over them and us one sayth of theirs and ours c as the Apostle hath taught us Ephes 2 12-22 and 3 6. and 4.4 c. VVhich how absurd and ungodly it vvere to hold vve vvish they may in time vvel consider with them selves afore moe errors and further evils grovve upon them then yet are Furthermore let me also aske vvhy they doe not here speak of themselves asvvell as of us vvhat they pleaded to be the Church spoken of Mat. 18.17 as namely hovv some of thē taught publikly that it is the whole Church Congregation alledging to that end Num. 15.33 27.2 and 35.12 as also that Christ in this place speaketh of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 18.1 c. and that therfore we are to understand it of the whole Church How some also pleaded that it must be understood of men women children that can sorrovve rejoyce vvith others pressing to this purpose that vvhich Paul speaks of the bodie and parts thereof sorrovving and
both vvhen occasionally some of us haue been vvith them there and also among them selues as vve hear vve haue therefore for these and other the like reasons thought it good not to keepe these things any longer private by us but for the better satisfying of all touching the things vve hold and the clearing of our selves from the imputations layed upon us hereabout and removing the scandall vvhich some have taken are like yet more to take upon the publishing of this vvriting of theirs novv therefore to print also the said Ansvver to their exceptions that men may see and be able the better to judge beÌ„tvveen us them vvhen they shall haue heard both of us speak shall have asvvell our ansvvers as their objections to read and consider of by the vvord of God And though it haue thus fallen out betvveen us and our brethren they grovven to that height that they vvould not be persvvaded to continevv vvith us in coÌ„munion vvise men vvill consider it is but an auncient practise of Sathan thus to disquiet and trouble the Church of God In the Church at Corinth vvere contentions and dissensions raised up amongst the brethren so that some held of one Teacher some of an other 1 Cor. 1 10-12 And aftervvard vvhat contention grevve betvveene the eastern and vvestern Churches about the time of keeping the feast of Easter none can be ignorant that hath read thereabout the auncient histories Also vvhat fell out betvveene our ovvne countrimen at Franckfurt in the daies of Q. Marie they beeing then in exile for the truth as novv vve are their troubles and contentions are extant in print thereabout Yea our Saviour himself sayth it must needs be that offences come Mat. 18.7 And the Apostle sayth there must be schismes and heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.18.19 Novv seeing the like troubles divisions and disagreements have fallen out in former times in the Churches of God and that men have their infirmities though othervvise being religious and fearing God they vvhich are of a spirituall discerning vvill not upon everie occasion that ariseth amongst the professors of Christ by reason of their vveaknesses and personall sinnes and infirmities open their mouthes to speake evil of the vvaie of God though some take pleasure therein vvho shall finde one daie the avenging hand of God upon them if they repent not And touching these persons aforesaid that have so separated from us and thus offensively vvritten I persvvade my self that manie of them are persvvaded though deceived by the subtiltie of Sathan that they have the truth and that they did runne at the first into these extremities being carried as the Anabaptists and others also haue been vvith a zeale for the truth glorie of God against that Antichristian Apostasie governmeÌ„t vvhich formerly the Prelates ministers of that usurped authoritie oppressed theÌ„ vvithall And for myne ovvne part I hope that so manie of them as are the Lords elect he vvill in time by the meanes used for their good give them to see both their errours they stand in their grievous sinne in so rashly and unjustly breaking off them selves from the Church vvhereof they stood members that others by their example vvill take heed of the like hereafter These things I thus vvrite not to excuse evil in any but to take avvay occasion froÌ„ them that seek occasion to rayse up sclander against the cause of God by reason of these things thus falling out amongst us and that men should knovve that the vvaie of God hangeth not upon the lives of men but is to be regarded in respect of the Lord the author thereof Verie evill therefore doe they that take occasion upoÌ„ such dissensions to blaspheme the truth it self The erroneous vvalking of any professors shall not excuse others that imbolden themselues thereby to stand in Apostasie and seeke not after the truth and vvaie of God that Christ hath commanded all to vvalke in Thus having good Reader praefixed this short advertisement for thy better informatioÌ„ about the things aforesaid as also about this my purpose in setting forth of this Ansvver to the Objections aforsaid receiue novv the Ansvver it self as it vvas penned by the vvriter thereof vvith some additions thereunto by the same author upon occasion of inlargeing and publishing of the said Exceptions novv printed This ansvver I pray thee Christian Reader vievv and consider vvell that if it be the vvil of God thou mayest be satisfyed of the truth vve hold about these things And if in any thing we fayle hereabout through ignorance and want of understanding we shall willingly receiue and that with thanks thy brotherly advertisement thereof And because among other things we are much abused about a particular concerning the Church of Rome wee haue therefore hereunto annexed somewhat out of the writings of M. Iunius against Bellarmine about that matter not that we relie upon the judgment of men in causes of Religion but because we knowe that manie who are caried with a praejudice against us will yet more staye them when they see what M. Iunius hath written of that argument In whose writing although there be some schoole termes hard to be englished well in our tounge for the understanding of all as we desire yet we have so done it into english as we hope the meaning thereof will by all be conceived and attayned unto And thus leaving these â—hings with the event thereof unto the Lord his good blessing of his mercie in Christ I humbly beseech the most vvise God to cause the light of his heavenly word to shine forth more and more for the discovering of all errour and false opinions courses hindering the successe of the auncient truth and so to establish the Churches of God in that old and good vvaie prescribed by the Lord and his Apostles and Prophets Amen A COPIE OF THE vvriting touching the division made among us vvhich vvas sent to a friend in England By Mr. H. A. BEcause you have heard of the sorrowes that have befallen us here M. Ains Letter whereby your grief is the more augmented and because the true report estate of things perhaps is not so well knowen unto you I will also briefly touch the smart wherewith God hath humbled us caused our breach to be as the sea which can not be cured Manie daies of comfort God gave us here together whilest in singlenes of hart we sought him in the mids of our pilgrimage with love peace But love of preheminence which hath alwaies troubled the Church of Christ hath also troubled us whilest the Governours of the Church which should serve it with meeknes would rule it with Lordship 1. Confes artic 24. Apol. pag 26.63 1 For whereas we had learned and professed that Christ hath given the power to receive in or to cut off any member to the vvhole bodie together of everie Congregation
hovv to come to a good issue thereabout And thus themselues vvill not deny that the thing it self spoken of in the Confession vvas in this sort observed by us as is aforesayd But hovv did they observe it themselues vvhen they brake away and left us vvhiles vve vvere vvriting one to another the other Church and we concerning the matters propounded and fallen out betvveen us hereabout Of vvhich I shall haue occasion to speak more hereafter when first I haue noted a few things further about the former matter concerning our selues the Article spoken of For our selues besides the other things aforesayd vve signified also that vve vvould not refuse to conferre reason vvith the brethren of Leyden at any tyme about the matter in hand so as their comming vvere eyther of them selues or by the request of them here that desired it and vvithout our approbation for the reasons spoken of c. And accordingly vvhen they came hither Their Elders with consent of the rest vve performed it notwithstanding any thing that had passed before about these things For the Article it self obserue the clauses in it and the Scriptures cited for confirmation of it For the clauses in it note hovv it is sayd Conf. aâ—t 38. that every particular Congregation is as a compact and knitt citie in it self and therefore should use all good and lavvfull meanes that may further their compacting and knitting together in the truth and coÌ„mon fayth but not any such as may cause or at least colour the dividing of them asunder Also that the churches should all walk by one and the same rule and by all meanes convenient have the counsell and help one of another in all needfull affaires of the Church as members of the same bodie in the coÌ„mon fayth under Christ their onely head If this then be a rule for us it is so likevvise for all other Churches that vvhen there falleth out question about an errour among theÌ„ they should desire the counsel and help of such Churches thereabout as they knowe to be corrupted vvith the same errour and not purposed to leave it but to defend it supposing it to be the truth And vvhat conveniencie it vvere not to speak of the lavvfulnes of it or hovv needfull to call such as vve knovve to be in errour that so our people might eyther be the more corrupted or have the more colour for their errour evill dealing you may consider vvith your self Or if vve had sent for them or approved it might we not haue ben accessarie to the meanes by vvhich the truth might haue ben hindred and our people more confirmed in errour And vvhere then is the vvarrant for such vvalking For the Scriptures that are cited for confirmation of the Article aforesaid first observe about the point of difference betvveen us hovv the Scriptures of the old Testament are alledged asvvell as of the nevv and those also coÌ„cerning the estate of Israel applyed to our tymes and cases novv Secondly consider vvhether those Scriptures intend or vvill vvarrant a Church to send for such or to desire their counsel and help vvhom they knovv to be in errour about the poynts questioned and dealt in and by whoÌ„ the parties that trouble the church may be more strengthned in their errours and evils thereabout VVhich if they doe or if any other doe it that are not cited here then ought vve and all to yeeld thereunto Othervvise if the help and courses desired be not such as are approved in the vvord of God we might tempt God in atteÌ„pting of them and therefore must be carefull to follovv that onely which hath warrant from thence whereby the truth may be furthered the safetie and libertie of the Church preserved and occasion cut off from theÌ„ that desire occasion thereagainst And besides the things aforesaid vvhy did not themselues also desire to haue the counsel and help of the Dutch and French Churches that vvere here at hand round about us If they say because they thought they vvere in errour about the matter in question and so might haue hindred the truth and haue ben against them and for us then by it may be perceived vvhat their ovvne judgment is about this particular being simply considered in it self and in this behalf what the waight of this their exception is against us If they aunsvver any other thing it may accordingly be considered of as it shall be found to be And hitherto concerning the Article aforesaid and sundrie particulars that passed betvveen us by this occasion not spoken of by them Now touching the three particulars annexed to the ninth objection in the printed copie the first is that before their parting they offered that notwithstanding our differences of judgment they would continew together if our former practise might be reteyned VVhich is as if they should say they vvould haue continued vvith us if vve vvould haue continewed in errour and evil so found and acknovvledged by us suffring the ordinance of God touching the Eldership to be troden under foot the Elders to be despised abused by the people and the vvhole Church to be continually subject to contentions and scandals c. Besides vvhy doe they not also mention vvhat vve offered to theÌ„ vvhich seeing they speak not of vve will namely that before their parting vve offred to beare vvith them in their difference of judgment if they vvould be content to walke peaceably vvith the Church in that their difference but this vvas refused The next particular they speak of is that then they desired a peaceable parting to be two distinct Congregations each practising as they were perswaded yet nourishing love unitie A peaceable parting we graunt they desired in vvord but in deed stayed not vvith us but departed vvhiles vve vvere considering and advising vvhether it could lavvfully be effected or not And touching that particular of being two distinct Congregations of us in this citie c. we shewed them divers reasons vvhy vve could not in this case agree thereunto And of those reasons vve had speach vvith theÌ„ here and vvrote to the Church of Leyden signifying vvithall that if vve could otherwise better discerne vvhat vvere according to the vvill of God herein vve should God vvilling so receiue and vvalk VVhich letter vvith the reasons therein conteyned is hereafter noted dovvne Yet notvvithstanding they stayed not till we had an answer thereof from Leyden but soone after departed from us Besides that other meanes also vvas used by writing vvhich might at least haue perswaded them to stay and doe othervvise then they did Of vvhich I shall also speak more hereafter The third particular is about their procuring the help of the English Church at Leyden without our consent of vvhich I haue spoken here before about a waie of peace propounded by us agreed unto by the Church of Leyden our selues and yet afterward reversed by us c. Touching vvhich they doe here as before
and actions divine from humane good ones from evill true ones from false and the degrees of these also amongst themselues For as of things actions so also of persons some are corrupting through ignorance infirmitie or malice vvholly or in part others are corrupted euen in the simplicitie of their hearts as the Scripture speaketh and of these there are a great number of vvhom it vvere ungodly to esteeme that they vvere not of the church of God Of such as doe corrupt we must take heed Mat. 7. of the corrupted vvho yet are still corrupted vve must haue compassion But the Church verely is not to be judged of the maner of either of these for Christ saith not ye shall not knovve the Church but by their fruits of doctrine and life ye shall knowe them Mat. 7.20 And vvithout doubt they doe very unvvisely who judge of the truth of a church by the particular life or doctrine of any men vvho ever they be especially of private men for the calling of God maketh the church not the assenting ansvver of the men that are in it as on the other side the church ceaseth not to be a church for the refusal or denial of men vvheresoever the calling of God is Novv let us come to the second demaund VVhat is the dutie of those vvilt thou say that are in the Popish Church and see the grievous corruptions of it Their dutie is such as of those children vvhich dvvell together vvith their adulterous mother for God used this similitude in Esaie and Ieremie as vve haue seene before A vvise sonne vvill even from his heart abhorre the sinne of his mother he vvill vvith speach and signe call back his mother from evil and he vvill absteyne himself from it and in all things he vvill cleaue to his father he vvill stand to his judgement he vvill obey his vvil and vvhile he can by reason of his mother he vvill cleaue unto her next after his father but vvhiles by reason of her he can not doe it vvith good conscience for the spirituall and bodily injurie of her Closet or Inner roome he vvill betake himself into the chamber of his father vvhere also the church is the mother of us all Gal. 4.26 For this is not a good consequent if one depart from this or that church therefore he doth altogether departe from the church He but trifles vvho doth so from a particular conclude universally A part of the flesh if it be divided or cut asunder from another part by a vvound received is not straight vvay to be thought to be separate or cut off from the vvhole bodie for it is cutte asunder and the mouth of the vvound openeth but neyther part is therfore disjoyned from the bodie A godly sonne therefore ought to cleaue to his father and mother joyntly so long as vvith good conscience he can but because he cānot vvith sound fayth and conscience haue fellovvship with the unfrutefull vvorks of darkenes Eph. 5 11. he rather leaving his mother cleaveth to God his father our Lord Iesus Christ then that he vvill defile himself vvith those foule deedes of his mother And this did our auncestors religiously vvhom the popish tyrannie for some ages hath exercised The godly vvhich vvere at Rome and other vvhere in the church vvhich they call the Romane church abusiuely first learned to abhorre even from their soule the sinnes of their mother vvhen once they began to haue right understanding by vvords and signes they modestly called her back from her naughtie deeds vvhiles she vvould beare them they carefully absteyned themselues from all communication of evill yet in all things cleaving to their father from vvhom in vvhom by vvhom for whom are all things standing to his judgment and obeying his vvill finally they did so long cleaue to their mother next after their father vvhilst by her they could so doe vvith intire fayth and conscience and their ovvne salvation But vvhen they could not longer vvith good fayth and conscience so doe by reason of the violent tyrannie and the spirituall corporall injurie of their furious mother then being ashamed with her shamefulnes resting silent they betooke themselues into their fathers bosome and his inner roome albeit that she pursued them outragiously least they being ashamed of her should be sayd to shame her as strumpets are usually vvoont to doe For which causes I doe humbly beseech God the Father of our Lord Iesus that he would both by his saving calling informe direct and care for his church and vvhatsoever belongeth to his church that he would also teach everie one that is in it his truth and the truth of his church and that he vvould so vvorke as they vvisely absteyning from all evils especially from those vvhich the sonne of perdition and author of the apostasie hath brought in and taking heed of the spirit of lyes the efficacie of his errour they may religiously cleaue unto the Father and his good things in everie of them and to their mother next after the father or so farre as she accordeth vvith the Father that increasing in his truth pietie fayth loue they may bestovve and employe all their studies to the edification of the church the salvation of all and the glorie of that our heavenly Father c. God the Father and the Lord Iesus Christ by that eternall spirit of his eternall truth bring to passe that the wiles of Sathan being driven avvay vve may all grovve dayly in Christ in the church and in the truth of Christ and the Church and that vve may more and more confirme one another in loue unfayned to his glorie and the common salvation of us all Amen HItherto Mr. Iunius VVith whom agreeth Amandus Polanus noting some errours of Bellarmines about Antichrist in his Cōmentarie upon Ezech. 39. at the ende thereof pag. 733. VVhere he sayth thus The Messias of the Iewes is not Antichrist but a false Christ whereas the great Antichrist of whom the Scriptures foretell shall professe himself to be a Christian and under the name of Christ fight against Christ because he must sitte in the Temple of God 2 Thes 2.4 in the Temple I say not Iewish or at Ierusalem but Christian that is in the Christian Church as Chrysostome teacheth and Theophylact Ambrose Hilarius Hierome Theodoret Oecumenius Augustine and Thomas Aquinas also See the testimonies sayth he in our Catholick Symphonie chap. 23. Thes 3. And Bartholomeus Keckermannus speaking in a treatise of his of the properties of the church inferreth thus thereupon and sayth Now if we examine the Popish church according to these proprieties it will appeare that it is not a pure Church but verie corrupt like as a rotten apple is in deed an apple but corrupt as a man corrupted with the plague is a man but not a sound man Keckerman Praeparat ad sacram synaxin pag. 83. And divers other the like sayings out of these and other
AN ADVERTISEMENT CONCERNING A BOOK LATELY PVblished by Christopher Lawne and others against the English exiled Church at Amsterdam By Richard Clyfton Teacher of the same Church Psal 57.4 My soule is among Lyons I lye among them that are set on fyre even the sonnes of men vvhose teeth are speares and arrovves and their tongue a sharp svvord Esa 50.6 I gave my back vnto the smyters my cheeks to them that plucked off the hayre I hid not my face from shame and spitting Mat. 10.24.25 The disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord. It is ynough for the disciple that he be as his master is and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub hovv much more them of his houshold PRINTED In the yeare of our Lord 1612. The Preface to the Reader CHristian Reader it is not unknowen that when Thomas White published his Book called A Discoverie of Brownisme as now againe of late Christopher Lawne others with him have done theirs that there was an Inquirie Answer thereof written by the Pastour of this Church wherein he followed the particulars from point to point In which regarde it may be thought lesse needefull to write any thing about this latter Book being of like matter and argument with the other Yet in some respects we have thought it not amisse now to give thee this short advertisement and the few observations following about the contents of this latter Book also especially about that poynt of the division made lately among us and the articles given out thereabout Concerning which there was not such occasion before eyther in that Answer to Thomas VVhite or in any other of our writings to publish somewhat thereabout as there was about the other matters cōteyned in this Book of theirs And therefore for thy better stay and information is the advertisement following now given thee about these things where they are more at large though yet but briefly spoken of Which thou shal◠do well to consider of indifferently and be not caried from the truth or against it by any sinister meanes used to that purpose but remember what hath ben the lot of the truth and servants of God in all ages And as thy love is to the Lord Iesus Christ so let it appeare in the imbracing of his truth revealed and i◠giving witnesse unto the same And the Lord our God increase in thyne hart the riches of the full assurance of understanding to knowe the mysterie of God Col. 2.2 even the father and of Christ and to rejoyce in the faith and order prescribed in his word And he give thee to discerne thereof aright that the entiseing words of mans wisdome deceive thee not but goe to the lavv and to the testimonie if they speak not according to this vvord it is because there is no light in them Esa 8.20 So mayest thou soundly judge of things that differ And the Lord give thee understanding in all all things 2 Tim. 2.7 AN ADVERTISEMENT CONcerning a Book lately published by Christopher Lavvne and others against the English exiled Church at Amsterdam WHen it pleased the Lord Iesus to reveale the vvord of his truth unto the Gentiles by the ministerie of his servants the Apostles there arose up adversaries to vvithstand the same and to abuse his vvitnesses thereof VVhē Paul and Barnabas vvere sent forth by the Lord to preach the Gospel to the nations they cōming to Paphus the Deputie Sergius Paulus called them unto him and desired to heare the vvord of God then Sathan stirred up his instrument Elymas a false Prophet and a sorcerer vvho vvithstood them sought to turne avvay the Deputie from the fayth Act. 13 6-10 The like also did some of the Ievves at Antiochia vvho seeing the vvord of God to prevayle amongst the Gentiles and them desirous of further instructiō therein vvere full of envie spake against those things vvhich vvere spoken of Paul contradicting blaspheming ver 45. Like enemies did Paul again finde at Ephesus of the Ievves For he having spoken boldly in their Synagogue for the space of three moonths disputing persvvading the things concerning the kingdome of God then certaine of the Ievves having their harts hardened not onely disobeyed and beleeved not the vvord but spake evill of that vvaie before the multitude Act. 19.8.9 And manie other the like exāples of men opposing against the vvord of truth and of haters persecuters of the professors thereof might be shevved both out of the Scriptures and ecclesiasticall histories And as then it vvas in the first opening of the light to the Gentiles that Sathan by his Ministers vvithstood the preaching thereof so novv since that the Lord in mercie hath discovered the man of sinne and caused his truth obscured by the darke mistes of Poperie againe to be revealed to us in these last tymes sending his first Apoc. 14.6 c. second and third Angels to preach an everlasting Gospel to thē that dvvell on the earth that vvere overspread in Apostasie vvith the errors abhominations of the man of sinne and to teach us to vvalke in the vvaies of God calling us from the vvorship of the beast and receiving of his marke to keepe the commandements of God and the faith of Iesus c. even novv also I say have there risen up enemies of all sortes to stoppe this vvaie of truth to reproch vexe and persequute the vvitnesses thereof For to passe by all those hard speaches and ungodly deeds that have bene since before the dayes of Luther against the Saincts and faith of Iesus I vvill come to our ovvne particular case and state vvhereof there be manie of us that by experience can give testimonie vvhat hard measure vve have susteyned for the cause of Christ and do still undergoe reproches sclanders railings against and the like as it cannot be unknovven especially to our countrimen vvhat vve have borne at the handes of some of them vvho have manie times vvaies smitten us vvith their tongues Ier. 18.18 besides all the other troubles and persecutions susteyned by us to imprisonment banishment and death it self And vvhat is it for but because according to the measure of grace given us from above vve have separated our selves frō such corruptions of Antichrist vvherein vve formerly stood and doe vvalke in the vvaie of the Lord revealed uuto us out of his vvord vvitnessing against all false vvaies and devises of men brought into the Church for the vvorship service of God our desire and indevour being to stand and plead for that old and good vvaie of God vvherein all are bound to vvalke Ier. 6.16 For if the opposition against us vvere onely and simply for sinne and through an hatred that such men have against sinne then vvould they first begin vvith them selves both to look to their ovvne sinnes and iniquities and to take the like course against the sinnes and