They were strict in all small common things but the weightie matters they left vndone mercy and iudgement they ought to haue looked into 1. â—win 11.31 Mat. 5.7 which proueth men blessed as it is written If you would iudge your selues you should not be iudged And blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy But you say Obiection A man may be borne againe to you though he be not borne againe to God for we iudge as farre as we see by his fruits If we iudge him worthy of baptisme he is then borne againe to me you say I pray you is there one new birth to you Answere and another to God will ye haue a man borne againe and againe will ye haue two regenerations one to you and another to God one essentiall another in shew Ioh. 3.3 The Lord saith Except a man be borne againe meaning once of water and the holy Ghost he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Not twice once to you and once to God But you iudge as far you see you say but why iudge you farther then you see tell me that For you say without exception that all those whom you haue rebaptised are reborne of repentance and of the holy Ghost Mat. 3.11 according to the meaning of the Scriptures And yet you say that some of these may fall away and perish for euer Is it possible that a man may bee borne of God and perish for euer It is as possible the word of God should perish which saith blessed and holy are they that haue their parts in the first resurrection for they shall not be hurt of the second death Reu. 20.6 I beleeue that some of those whom you affirme borne againe shall perish for you affirme you know not what If ye were guided by God and his trueth which is his word you would not affirme any man to be borne of God except ye were sure of it verily nor yet deny any to be borne of God except ye were as sure they are not But you boldly affirme some to be borne againe which are not and as boldly denie many that are in that you iustifie your selues and exclude all others from beeing to you borne againe Wisedome if you had harkened vnto her Pro. 2.4.5.6.7.8.9 would haue taught you to haue iudged better For she giueth great vnderstanding to her children both sound and sure They doe not iustifie that which shee condemneth nor condemne that which shee iustifieth Neither dare her children condemne though shee condemne except she reueale it vnto them nor yet iustifie though she iustifie except shee declare it vnto them But if she reueale it then they dare speake Joh. 20.23 Mat. 18.18 and what they say is done what they bind is bound and what they loose is loosed But this error of yours doth arise from this false ground which you haue laid namely that no one may be baptised that is not first a new creature reborne of the spirit and sealed therewith vpon which ground also do almost all your other errors depend but I think it is sufficiently proued already that baptisme hath beene administred by Christ and his Apostles to many Disciples who were not born again yet because I will make it more plaine I will set downe some more examples for that purpose It is written Act. 20.41 As many as gladly receiued the word were baptised It is written againe the thornie ground receiued the word with ioy therefore the thornie ground was baptised It is euident also that the stonie ground was baptised Mat. 13. All these were or might be baptised and the high-way-side also for they both receiued the word in their hart And who is not glad of that which he receiueth in his heart And it is cleere as day but that men will be so wilfully blind that people were baptised presently as soone as they did beleeue and receiue the word to be a truth without any further testimonie of other fruits as appeareth by the Iayler Act. 16.33 who was presently baptised with all that did belong vnto him And who is so blind so much as to thinke that they were all instantly borne againe but he that neuer knew what it is to be borne againe I dare boldly say here are ten thousand in England that doe beleeue more Acts. 8.13 then the most of the Iaylers houshold did beleeue And what did Simon Magus beleeue more then the Gospell to bee truth and many thousand moe that were baptised by the Apostles themselues Actes 2. But if you did vnderstand one thing which was done by the Apostles you should easily bee deliuered of this error And that is this There was a second supplie made by the Apostles after the first preaching of the Gospel and baptising them whereby they were refined and purified such of them as in whom the first seed of the word tooke deepe root as appeareth by Peter and the Church of Samaria who were baptised of the holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands of the Apostle after they had beleeued and were baptised by Philip. Actes 8.17 Others also that came to the Apostles who had beleeued and beene baptised were afterwards baptised of the holy Ghost in the name of Iesus Actes 19.5 6. And this is it which the Scripture intendeth which saith Mark 16.16 whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued meaning by baptisme there the baptisme of repentance and of the holy Ghost As if the Lord had saide whosoeuer beleeueth the truth of the Gospel and is regenerate shall be saued Baptisme cannot be vnderstood in that place of earthly water for then Simon Magus must needes be saued for he beleeued and was Baptised with that water And also another time there came Certaine Disciples to the Lord asking him who shouldbe the greatest in the Kingdome of heauen The Lord answered them to this effect Doe you come to aske me who is the greatest in the kingdome of heauen Matth. 18. and your selues are not so much as entred into it yet Meaning by the kingdome of heauen that little spirituall house whose vessels are all of gold and siluer where is ioy in the holy Ghost and great rest and peace not that great house which is before described for in that house they were already The Lord takes a little child and sets in the middest of them I tell you saith he though you doe beleeue the truth of my word and are baptised and be my Disciples yet except you become conuerted and reborne as this little child you shall not so much as enter into that kingdome of heauen wherein I bestow my secrets and greatest treasure Whereby it is euident as also by the other examples and many moe that might be shewed to this purpose that many did beleeue and were baptised before they were returned and became as little children contrary to your false ground Master Smith whereon dependeth the whole frame of
to the end it shold bring any man to saluation by working thereafter but to make more plaine and manifest mans cursed and lost condition Deut. 27.26 Gal. 3.19 And the law of Ceremonies As circumcision the Pascall Lambe Gal. 3.21 The land of Canaan Ierusalem the Temple the Altar the Priesthood the Sacrifices and Ceremonies whatsoeuer Were not giuen them to the end that in them and by the obseruation of them they should gaine life and saluation But they were giuen for a time to teach Israel the substance contained in the Testament of life And did preach vnto the faithfull seed of Abraham the spirituall land of rest Gal. 4.2 which they entred into by vnhardening their hearts and hearing the voice and Testament of mercy with all the children of Hagar I meane the vncircumcised in heart vtterly reiected as they doe still to this day Mar. 13.30 Mat. 24.34 for the same generation remaineth still euen the bond-womans children and their mother also And I am in feare of you Master Smith and of your children for you haue runne your selues vpon the same rocks with thē iustifying your selues vpon your carnall obseruations framing a carnall regeneration and faith which may faile men like vnto them which put confidence in works and obseruations of ceremonies which neuer could saue them And as the bondwoman and her children did increase and get the vpper hand in the Church of the Iewes so that the bondwoman got the name of the married wife and of child bearing and the free woman with her children troden in the dust and as a widow forsaken was she accounted and as a woman that had neither husband nor children euen so it is now And as Ierusalem that then was did an swere to Sinai and Hagar the mother of bondage In somuch as her children did match theirs in hardnesse of heart and vnbeliefe persecuting the sonnes of the free woman as Ishmael did Isaac and Esau Iacob Gen. 21.9 Gen. 27.41 and as they did in the wildernesse whose carcases fell I say as Ierusalem persecuted the Prophets and killed them scoffing and deriding the free womans children Yea though hee were their King euen Dauid Luke 23.35 Mat. 23.29.30 or Christ himselfe the free womans eldest sonne and is therefore saide to bee in bondage with her children as Hagar was with her sonne And as they doing the same workes that he did were cast out with her sonne from inheriting the promise with the childrē of the free woman euen so it is now For the Serpents seed is yet aliue the bond-woman hath many sonnes though the free woman hath few or none to be seene Ismaels brethren haue had the vpper hand a great while euen among Christians as they had among the Iewes And their mother hath the praise of child-bearing still as shee had then And Ierusalem from aboue the free woman and her children despised and troden vpon like a streete as they were wont to be Reu. 11.2 by such like obseruers and Pharisaicall boasters who pretend obedience and sacrifice as much as euer did they who are likewise in most cursed bondage and must also bee cast out with them and shall not inherit with the free-womans children nor enter into rest with them But lerusalem from aboue is free As she euer was from the beginning and is the mother of vs all euen of Abell Henoch Abraham Dauid the Prophets the Apostles and all that euer are and shall bee saued And although shee be as no body and no where in comparison Esa 5 4.1 Yet as Esaiah said vnto her in his daies and as Paul said vnto her in his time Gal. 4.27 so be it said now and still Reioyce thou barren that bearest no children breake forth and cry in ioy thou that bearest not for the desolate hath many moe children then she that hath an husband And this is the trueth of the matter These are the two Testaments And these are the two seeds To wit the law of Commaundements giuen vppon mount Sinai which gendereth to death and bondage And the law of life giuen on mount Sion which gendereth to rest and liberty And the cursed generation of Caine and Ismaell the seede of the one and the blessed generation of Abell and Isaack the seede of the other And so the Scriptures and truth is the same from the beginning to the end of the world And the two Testaments do remaine still yea euen that Testament figured by Hagar and Sinai and the children of bondage figured by her sonne And the curse also doth still remaine and is not taken away by the Crosse of Christ from any of Hagars children But onely from the children of Sara the faithfull seede And Circumcision was not a seale nor signe of any other couenant whatsoeuer but of the Circumcision of the heart and the righteousnesse of faith and mercy couenanted first to Adam then to Abraham and so from time to time renewed And at last confirmed by the Mediator himself and by his death vpon the Crosse who hath made all things cleare and manifest vnto vs if we had but spirituall eies to see them But hee came to saue and to seeke out all the lost sheepe leauing the ninety and nine euen all Hagars proude sounes who thought them selues wise and safe enough Euen so now This is the iudgement which the Lord hath sent into the world Ioh. 9.39 and it is meruailously seene this day The blinde doe see and they that see are made blinde Not the rich nor the full but the poore and the empty receiue the Gospel And now Master Smith whereas you would disproue the argument drawne from circumcision to proue the baptising of children by your doubtfull speech of mistaking the couenant and by your vnsound distinguishing the two Testaments which is your first and principall ground whereon many of your other reasons doe depend It may now be well seene that you are the man that doe mistake For I pray you tell me where you will bestowe circumcision and of what Testament will you make it a seale If you take it away from the new I estament made with Abraham and his seed by promise Will ye bestowe it on the law of commaundements giuen on mount Sinai and the sonnes therof I pray you then which doth it seale vnto them perfect holinesse which they neuer had but altogether the contrary Or did it seale the curse which saith Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all these thinges to doe them which indeede most iustly did belong to all such seruants to sinne and bondage and rebels to grace As all Abrahams carnall seede borne after the flesh were I think you dare not affirme any of these But it should seeme you meane it sealed a blessing vnto the carnall seed and not a curse Say you so M. Smith Then where are you now you haue left the olde Testament For therein lieth no blessing But cursed is euery man
A DESCRIPTION OF THE CHVRCH OF Christ with her peculiar Priuiledges and also of her Commons and Entercommoners WITH SOME OPPOSITIONS AND ANSWERS OF DEFENCE For the maintenance of the Truth which shee professeth AGAINST CERTAINE ANABAPTISTICALL AND ERRONIOVS OPINIONS Verie hurtfull and dangeroous to weake CHRISTIANS MAINTAINED AND PRACTISED By one Master IOHN SMITH sometimes a Preacher in Lincolneshire and a Companie of English people with him now at Amsterdam in HOLLAND Whome he hath there with himselfe Rebaptised By I. H. REVEL 22.13.14.15 VER ¶ J am Alpha and Omega saith the Lord The first and the last Blessed are they that doe his Commandements that their right may be in the free of life and may enter in thorough the Gates into the Citie For without shall be Dogs and Enchanters and VVhoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoeuer â—â—ueth or maketh lies LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Fosbrooke 1610 ¶ The principall oppositions are these 1 THat the Baptisme of Children is the marke of the Beast 2 That euery member of a true visible Church must be baptised againe 3 That none ought to be Baptised before hee bee Regenerate 4 That the members of their Church are all so regenerate and baptised and is the heauenly Ierusalem 5 That some of these may fall away and perish 6 That there is no true Church to be seene in the world but themselues at this day With diuers other false Doctrines which are grounded vpon these principles TO THE CITIZENS OF THE HEAVENLY IERVSALEM INCREASE OF TRVETH And heauenly Wisedome be multiplied vpon you with Peace and prosperitie in these latter dayes And to all her well affected Friends that desire to see her Beautie and to dwell within her Gates happie successe A Friend of yours sweete Citizens vnworthy to take part with you in your riche peculiar things makes bolde to present vnto your custodie treasures which I haue found And also most earnestly intreates you to assist me against your many enemies who lay claime to your Citie and all your priuiledges Pray with me vnto the Lord your God that his truth may take place in the hearts of men and bee regarded and that all the hatefull enemies therof and their lies may be brought to confusion These things I entreat at your hands making no doubt of your diligence herein Goe but vp to the top of mount Sion and you shall see your enemies round about you with their shields in their hands and their swords drawne but be of good courage feare nothing your God will deliuer them into your hands and their weapons shall you consume like straw with the fire of his word and the Citie shall be yours as it is and it shall not he taken from you nor the treasures thereof out of your possession The daies are come wherin truth shall preuaile And now deere friends to let you vnderstand my cause of writing to the aforenamed Master Iohn Smith and his company It fell out of late that I being in company with some of them had some conference with them wherein they seemed very well affected to the things that I spake vnto them One of them answering me in these words I could willingly let all these things which you haue said goe downe into me but onely the going to the assemblies another of them answered him instantly you heard what he sayd for that And so they requested me that I would set the things downe in writing which had beene said and they would either answere or subscribe vnto it which thing I thought good to performe And beloued friends though I be the least worthy of you all to plead your cause yet being mooued at their request I haue made bold and also seeing afterwards some writings of theirs published in Print I was emboldened the more perceiuing therein their desperate resolution proclaiming open war challenging al and therin the city of God I was encouraged seing it was his cause perswaded he wold be my protector in the defence of his owne Citie I therefore tooke his word and promise for my shield with this confidence that he would not leaue me till they were ouerthrowne other weapons I haue none except the sword of the spirit The skill of the learned disputers of this world looke not for that is not my profession Truth I hope yee shall find but vested in a very low and simple Coate Method I did forget matter onely was in my mind the enemy came so fast vpon me that skill was laide aside Truth I hope hath kept me company though I could not garnish it with Rhetoricall ornaments And therefore most noble and courteous Citizens I haue made choice of you before all other to Dedicate this measure of truth vnto because I knew although you be the noblest Citizens in the world yet are ye the poorest in spirit your hearts can stoope and your eyes can looke below you are come downe from the hilles of pride to the vallies of teares yet can goe vp to the top of mount Sion you looke not after the glory of this world nor the wisedome thereof It is foolishnes in your thoughts which are seasoned with heauenly wisdome if truth come you embrace it you looke not vpon the coate of him that brings it so that you iustifie I am pleased what others say and iudge for my part I passe not but for their parts I wish them to be aduised and to giue eare to the voyce of the Spirit and the Bride which crieth come whosoeuer is a thirst and whosoeuer will and take of the water of life freely And to the end your Mother deere Children of Ierusalem might a little refresh the spirits of her well affected friends that haue beene so long time wearied with the Iarres and contentions that haue beene about her visible state I thought good to publish this short description of her vnto the open veiwe that they might see her fruits what they be her light her priuiledges and her markes whereby shee may bee seene and knowne from the fleshly boasters of these distastfull times who hauing beene so long accustomed to earthen buildings cannot discerne nor tast that which commeth from aboue and although not onely the generall but specially the reformists and reformers will not onely distast like wayward children but euen spurne against yet will I not be discouraged for there is a little remnant that thirsteth for reliefe so they be refreshed I passe not for the rest for I know true wisedome which is alwaies from aboue hath beene is and shall be for euer iustified of her Children and they shall see Ierusalem to their great ioy whereas the other groping in the dark shall neuer behold that holy Citie nor pertake of her priuiledges for euer And although she hath cried oft and vttered her voice full many a time and few or none regard what shee saieth yet can shee not holde her peace but shee must pleade her Childrens cause against those that lay claime to their
of cold water to any one of the lest of these Marke 9.41 in my Name saith the Lord shall not leese his reward but shall haue eternall life As it is written Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world For I was an hungrie and you gaue me meate I was a thirst and you gaue me drinke c. Yee did it to these saith he if but to the least of these my brethren yee did it to me Mat. 25.34 35 36. And againe Whosoeuer receiueth one of the least of these little ones in my Name saith the Lord receiueth me and with me him that sent me O happie man therefore that can perceiue and doe these things But hee that despiseth you despiseth me and him that sent me And this is it which Iohn meaneth He that saith he is in that light 1. John 2.9 and hateth his brother is in darkenes vntill this time But he which loueth his brother abideth in that light and there is none occasion of euill in him And againe Hereby we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren 1. Iohn 3.16 meaning the Lords brethren the little Sheepe to whom he will say Come yee blessed inherit the Kingdome for euer These loue their enemies Matt. 5.44 If they hunger they feede them if they thirst they giue them drinke if they curse they blesse if they persecute they pray and weepe for them And these are the light of the world Matt. 5.14 15. the Candle on a Candlesticke the Citie set vpon a Hill whereof Dauid spake when he said Glorious things are spoken of thee Psal 87.3 thou Citie of God and this if one will he may visibly see for a Citie set vpon a hil cannot bee inuisible And to this alone is power giuen to binde and loose Ioh. 20.23 to remit and to retaine sinnes euen to these I meane are these Keyes giuen whom God approueth and will approue for euer Indeede many are called but these are they that are chosen these loue one another and thereby doe they know each other to bee borne of God and to be loued of God and that they doe loue God I say for that they loue those that are borne of God 1. Iohn 2.5 As it is written Hereby we know that yee are in him And this is the kingdome which the Lord saith Iohn 3.3 No man can see but he that is borne againe And this is that house of Leui 1. Peter 29. Hebrew 12.23 that royall Priesthood spoken of the peculiar people the congregation of the first borne who are all written in heauen The chosen generation and people set at libertie If you will receiue it Mat. 18.4 Reuel 3.12 these are they that haue the preheminence these are all the Priests of God and serue in his Temple for euer These he hath made pillars in his house and shall goe no more out these are blessed and holy and haue al their parts in the first resurrection and shall not be hurt in the second death These are they that are risen with Christ Reuel 20.6 Reuel 2.11 and seeke those things which are aboue who are dead to sinne and crucified to this world these are they that haue ouercome the world and haue receiued the white stone and the new name of the Lord. And this is the little flocke to whom he saith Luke 12.32 Be of good cheere for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome And this alone is that Citie of God Reuel 3.11 which onely is named the new Ierusalem and these are the Citizens and of these the scripture meanes which saith Where two or three be gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them And behold I am with you saith he vnto the end of the world But perhaps you will say if this bee the Church of Christ which you haue here described Obiection to whome the Keyes of the Kingdome of heauen and all those titles and priuiledges doe onely belong then was there neuer such a Church in the world in one fellowship congregated and constituted by baptisme pertaking together in the Lords supper and all other exercises of Religion consisting onely of such vnmoueable stones as you speake of For with the Lord himselfe and with his eleuen Apostles one was who did prooue a diuell And many also were with Christ before and were Baptised which fell away and afterwards with his Apostles also which fell away and were offended It is true indeed but what saith it Answere Ioh. 2.19 If they had bin of vs they would haue continued with vs but of that Church they neuer were that hath the preheminence and vnto whom those excellent titles and treasures of God doth belong for although they did partake with them in receiuing the word and beleeuing the truth thereof and of the elementish Baptisme and the signes of the Lords bodie and blood and all other such like common things yet were they neuer baptised in heart returned and became as little children neither yet did euer eat his flesh and drinke his blood Mat 18.3 truly and indeed by faith for want wherof they could neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen nor yet had euer life in them as it is written And therefore of that Church and kingdome they neuer were Iohn 6.53 nor yet did euer partake with them in their peculiar things nor neuer came into their courts of rest nor Citie of peace But to the returned little ones doe all those great things belong those excellent priuiledges euen to them that eate his flesh Iohn 6.54 and drinke his blood who haue all of them eternall life abiding in them whom the Lord Iesus will raise vp at the last day as he himselfe saith But how then did that Church iudge of them Question you will say while they were with them did they not beleeue that they were returned and did they not accompt of them as they did of those that were returned and borne againe that had eaten Christs flesh and drunke his blood vnto eternall life seeing they were baptised with them and did eate the same bread and drinke the same wine with them also did they not iustifie them and approue of them as of the rest That Church did neuer so approue of them Answere they were neuer so blind and desperatly bold as your Master Smith to iustifie and approoue of those whom God doth condemne they are not so rash as you and your Church to affirme they know not what They are better aduised and better taught then so That Church kingdome which we speake of was neuer so deceiued in her entercōmoners to account and approue them as borne againe because they did partake with her children in all these common things But she and her children iudged alwayes the truth of them and neuer were deceiued
Cor. 13.4.5.6.7.8 And waite with patience laboring to see it by any means they will bring forth fruit euen the fruit of the good tree The good fruitwhich when they see they do reioice imbrace them knowing thereby that they are borne of God their owne father as Children of that holy Church Ierusalem their mother purged and purchased through his eternall Testament in the bloud of that one Lord the Lambe 1. John 3.14 to be an holy habitation to himselfe for euer And here is no loue lost betweene these brethren such loue betweene them as neuer was betweene earthly brethren As the stocke they came of in their new generation doth excell in glory inriches in power 1. Iohn 5.1 in wisedome in bounty in mercy and loue all Fathers and Mothers in nature be they neuer so high in place of this world euen that they can giue Kingdomes and thousand thousands of Gold and Treasure to their Children and possesse them of all the pleasures that the world can afford and with all the signes of loue that nature can expresse I say as the great God of Heauen doth excell the greatest that euer was on earth And as his loue is infinite beyond theirs and his abilitie also to performe the same So doe the gifts the signes and seales of his loue excell theirs And as his children doe come of a more noble stocke then theirs and are more honourablie descended euery way So doe they excell in loue ten thousand degrees for ehey loue for other and greater respects And as loue was the beginning and cause of this happinesse 1. Iohn 4.19 euen the loue of the eternall God as the Scriptures witnesse So loue is the end of their conuersation Heb. 13.8 in and through Iesus Christ yesterday to day and the same for euer This is that name so secretly written vpon them that no man can Reade or know it but they alone which haue it Reuel 3.12 and vpon them onely is his Name written New Ierusalem as it is written Him that ouercommeth will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God And he shall goe no more out And I will write vpon him the name of my God and the name of the Citie of my God euen the newe Ierusalem which commeth downe from heauen from my God And my new name And this is the ende which whosoeuer endureth vnto is faithfull to the death and shall receiue the Crowne of life Many false Prophets shall arise and deceiue many Mat. 24.11.12.13 and because iniquitie shall abound the loue of many shall bee cold but he that endureth to the end euen this true and perfect loue the contrarie to iniquitie and to loue that is cold he shall be saued And this is the Baptisme of the holy Ghost and fire Matth. 3.11 euen the fire of Gods loue the coals wherof are fiery coales and a burning flame which much water cannot quench neither the flouds drowne But it breaketh foorth and returneth such a loue to his God and Father â—an 8.7 and to his Lord and redeemer as no man knoweth but he that hath it And such a loue to his fathers Children those little ones his and his Lords brethren as they neuer know nor shall know who are neuer borne againe Yea he returneth loue to al men euen to his enemies Prou. 21.22 Rom. 12.20 21. Psal 15.2 4. If he hunger or thirst he feedes and giues them drink and so heapes coales of this fire vpon his head Hee speaketh the truth from his hart and with his tongue vseth no deceit Hee esteemeth not himselfe but is vile in his owne eyes Hee enuieth not 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6. The Sunne goes not downe vpon his anger Hee reioyceth not in iniquitie but alwayes in the trueth and in doing good to others Loue seeketh not her owne And are not these fruits which may distinguish betweene the good tree and the bad These fruites those righteous men neuer brought foorth which fell away Heb. 3.14 Their blade was neuer like this fruit Their beginnings were neuer like these endings Those first were neuer like these last Matth. 22.14 which are the first euen the first borne For many are called but fewe chosen And this is Ierusalem that poore little sweete holy Citie Reuel 11 2. which hath bene troden vnder feete of those heathen Gentile Courtiers and outside Christians not worth the measuring these many hundred yeres And this is the Hill which once stood vp aboue the Hils whose light did shine from East to West Rom. 1.8 euen to the worlds end To it the Nations flocke to heare and see the things that were of her so famous throgh the world To whom shee cried saying Come whosoeuer will and take of the water of life freely Reuel 22.17 whereat many reioyced beleeued and were Baptised Of which some were made pet takers of her peculiar things And were not onely beleeuers of the trueth and Baptised with the Baptisme which thereunto belonged but were Baptised in heart broken and dissolued into a thousand teares And beleeued in him who also Baptised them with the holy Ghost and fire The other hard and vnbaptised in heart refusing that graceso freely offered them Iudging the common Faith and Baptisme which they had receiued sufficient to serue their turne Supposing that one Talent safely kept would stand them enough insteede when the day of account should come despised the little ones that were borne and Baptised from aboue Acts 20.29 And thus began the mysterie of iniquitie to worke and grew vp in time aboue the Hill of God and like Wolues spared not his flocke tooke possession indeede of the outward Court gathered strength got a head And trode downe that liberall free Citie the true mother and nurse to the Lords lambes and babes This head of theirs is that great Antichrist Reuel 13.1 that beast which rose out of the sea with seuen heads and ten hornes who hath reigned now twelue hundreth and three yeeres and yet still reigneth and shall till seuen and fiftie moe be come And then his dayes his times Reuel 11.3 moneths and yeeres shall be accomplisht euen one thousand two hundred and sixtie and his Crownes puld from his head his Citie burnt with fire and vpon that woman which saith I sit being a Queene am no widow and shall see no mourning shall come shame and confusion howling and crying and vtter desolation euen she which now calleth her selfe by the name of the true mother and like an harlot challengeth the husband of the true spouse to bee hers Mat. 23.35 And these are the ofspring of Caine the race and line of those Pharasies at whose hands the Lord said should be required the blood of all the Prophets from righteous Abell to Zacharias yea these are all one house with them And so are all the assemblies and congregations in the world be they neuer so cleane without doing
thy brethren and seeke his loue as before with all courtesie and meekenesse of exhortation and if he still resist thy loue and vtter wordes of scorne against thee or reuile thee as enuie cannot hide it selfe Then can that one or two witnesse against him and will if that he will not heare them neither but first let them also admonish him that so euery word that he speaketh euill against thee or the light in thee may be confirmed And if he refuse to heare them tell it vnto the Church if he refuse to heare the Church also let him be vnto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican that is If hee still like a scorner refuse to giue eare and to receiue instruction at the handes of that one witnesse with thee or two tell it to the Church These he hath made Pillars in his house and they shall goe no more out Reu. 3.12 that is to those little ones borne of God being gathered together in my name who onely haue this priuiledge to be my Church and Pillar of truth for if there were fiue hundred brethren more beside the little humble ones yet none can iudge this cause but they This Church doth neuer condemn the inocent and let the guilty goe free This Church neuer decreed lies and condemned the truth And if he refuse to heare this Church let him bee vnto thee no longer as a brother and a fellow partaker in the common things of the kingdome wherein before he did and might take part with thee as a disciple of Christ but let him be vnto thee and vnto all the Church euen as a Heathen that beleeueth not the truth of the Ghospell and as a Publican that professeth the practise of sinne Verily I say vnto you Ver. 18 whatsoeuer you binde on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer you loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen for to you it is to whom I haue giuen the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen as well to binde them that sinne against you and the Conenant of loue written in you with the bond of death and to shut the gate of mercy and loue against them as also to lose the bonds of iniquity and the cords and chaines of their sinnes that do repent and to open the gates of my kingdome of mercy life vnto them so that whatsoeuer ye binde on earth is bound in heauen and whatsoeuer ye lose on earth is losed in heauen For if he escaped not that despised him that spake on earth how should he then escape that despiseth him that speaketh from heauen And as he died without mercy vnder two or three witnesses that despised Moyses law Much more lamentable and fearefull is the condition of him that despiseth that law and couenant of grace whereby his soule should liue resisting the voice of the bride and of her children which sought his good How much greater is his bondage and sorer shall his punishment be that is condemned by that Church where the Prince of the couenant doth sit of treason against his bloud by the testimony of two or three witnesses It had been good for that man if he neuer had beene borne And better for him after hee was borne that a milstone had beene hanged about his neck and throwne to the bottome of the Sea before he fell to despise the Lord in his Sanctuarie and to resist his spirit of grace in his little ones Againe verily I say vnto you That if two of you my brethren that beleene in me Ver. 19 agree in earth vpon any thing concerning my word and the meaning thereof either for the sentence of death to the disobedient or mercy and life to the returned sinner whatsoeuer ye shall aske the Father in my name if it be life for him that sinneth not vnto death or whatsoeuer else is necessary and good for the kingdome he will giue it you For Ver. 20 where two or three be gathered in my name there am I in the middest of you what will hee not therefore giue you for my sake Aske and ye shall receiue that your ioy may be full These are priuiledges belonging only to those little ones that are born of God who haue their parts in the first resurrection against whom the gates of hell shall not preuaile nor yet the second death But there was euermore an Israell after the flesh which persecuted that Israell which is after the spirit and shall be to the worlds end For this generation shal not passe away till the Lord himselfe come Mat. 24.34 And if there were not an Israell not of God Paul would neuer haue said To the Israell which is of God And if there were not an earthly Ierusalem he would neuer haue told vs of a heauenly Yea there were two Ierusalems in all times Two Israels in all ages two mothers two test aments two seeds euen from the beginning As Caine and Abell Ismaell and Isaack Esau and Iacob Two lands of Canaan heauenly and earthly Two rests carnall and spirituall As it is written saying To day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts least ye enter not into this rest Euen then while they were in possession of the earthly rest Heb. 3.15.16.17.18.19 which by vnhardning their hearts and hearing his voice they might haue entred into Euen the same way which euer was still remaines and shall doe to the worlds end Euen the same rest the same heauenly Ierusalem the same congregation of the first borne the same holy City the same Church which hath had in it at all times the same power from God to binde and loose to remit and to retain sinnes And this is the bride the Lambs wife This is she to whom is granted to be cloathed in white aray And these are they that watch and are sober attending with their Lampes burning to meete the bridgeroome their husband These all vnhardened their hearts and heard his voice and entred into his rest The rest and peace with God rest to their soules euen that rest which is said to remain to the people of God Heb. 4.9 And whosoeuer entred into that rest did first heare his voice that is receiued the word of faith And whosoeuer receiued that word of faith did first vnharden his heart that is did first repent was lost and dead crying and bewailing with an vn-vtterable desire of life his sinnes death and these are the dead which heare the voice of the sonne of man and liue Ioh. 5.25 And this is that one baptisme spoken of and is called the baptisme of repentance Acts. 19.4 Mark 1.1.2.3.4 and the beginning of the Gospell the preparation to the word of faith That one faith spoken of and they that are borne againe of these two Mat. 3.3 Ephe. 4.5 haue all receiued that one spirit spoken of euen the spirit of adoption and are all seruants vnto that one Lord and children to that one God their
a true Israelite So likewise in this new time there is the Baptisme of the skinne and the Baptisme of the heart but the Baptisme of the heart is the onely chiefe baptisme 1. Cor. 12.13 and they that are so baptised are the onely true Christians and Israel of God and is but one and the same for euer In comparison whereof that which is but outward on the skinne is none at all And tell mee Master Smith are not these thinges true indeede dare you to resist and gain-say them do you not know that which is of God shall stand Act. 5.38.39 and that which is of men shall fall and come to nought Take heede therefore least ye be found a fighter against God But you may say to me thou art a sinfull wretch and if I write against thee I write but against a wretched one It is true indeede and therefore vnworthy I am to write or speake of these holy things And as for me spare me not for my sinnes but yet let the truth goe free for the Lords sake whose it is and for his childrens sake to whom it may come and for your owne sake least you die Obiection But some will say perhaps Master Smith is too wise I trow to fight with or to yeelde to such a foole that hath not one maior or minor but all minimes too too little for his great capacity Alacke Master Smith regards it not he scarse looked on it it is so meane he will not file his hands to answer such a clownish discourse that hath not one artificiall argument in it and so void of learning that it hath not so much as method but plaine like the plough Alacke Master Smiths bringing vp hath not beene so Swineheard and Shepheard like He is a Scholler of no small reading and well seene and experienced in Arts. If hee thought his answere to Master Clifton would be the lesse esteemed for that hee is helde a weake man but that his allegations and reasons are the best plea of the greatest Rabbies themselues Thinke not that he will weaken his cause to answere thee If it were any of the Rabbies of England or any other harlot whatsoeuer you should see then what he would say to it for although Master Smith doe publish answeres to Master Clifton one of the separation on Master Iohnsons side chalenging them especially to the combat yet he proclaimeth saying Be it knowne to all the separation that wee account them in respect of their constitution to be as very an harlot as either her mother England or her grandmother Rome out of whose loines she came Answere As her Mother England whose sonne is Master Smith if one might aske where was hee borne and where had he his education and bringing vp In England yea in England Is this a kind sonne to vse his mother thus not onely to runne away from her like his followe brethren against whom also he doth protest but to raile against her so Is this your Logick sir was this your bringing vp hath Art caused you so much to forget Nature If not grace yet mee thinkes the light of nature should haue taught you better If you had beene borne in America or in Rome it selfe very nature might haue perswaded you that some might bee there that had rather die then worship diuels or bowe to Baal Much more in England though you be runne out for feare tell mee whether can any man runne in all the world to mend himselfe at this day And although your mother England hath too many disobedient and froward children yet if you had beene a Naturall sonne you would haue stayed at home and if you had receiued a greater light then the rest of your brethren Loue would haue forced you to haue laide downe your life for them rather then they should haue beene vntaught therein considering also what great hope is to bee conceiued of England aboue any one Nation in the world and not to leaue them in the darke and cry out a harlot a harlot no Church visible nor Christian to be seene no faith but the faith of diuels no Baptisme but the marke of the beaste no Church to bee seene in the world but I Iohn Smith and my Company Is this your shamelesse voice Dare you be so bold to set vp a flag of defiance against the City of God Be it knowne vnto you that the least Citizen thereof is able to meete both you and all your company in the field and through the strength of the Lord thereof without either bow or shield euen by the word of his mouth put you all to flight And for all your great bragges and flagges Bee it knowne vnto you and vnto all the world this day That his holy Citie is in England euen Ierusalem that is from aboue and although she hath many yea and too many entercommoners yet she hath free Denisons who pertake of her priuiledges whose feete walke in our streetes though the world regard it not and if ye will not beleeue me wipe but your eyes with Sackecloth and come and see and if you will doe neither answere in the field and although heere bee neither Art nor learning and therefore you know not how to frame your pen to stoope so low Remember where once you were from whence you came know that reason brought forth Art and therefore was before Let Art then beeing the daughter although shee be so high looke downe a little to her mother and let both and all and euery creature bend and yeeld vnto the word of the Lord which shall endure for euer And although it be none of the Rabbies but one of the vnlearned babies yet meete him seeing hee doth accept the challenge but looke well to your forehead for all your Artificiall Armes and skill to vse them for little Dauid beeing a keeper of sheepe though he knew not how to stir himselfe in such like armor yet comming in the name of the God of Israel from the sheepe with his sling and a stone stroake Goliah so deadly that hee fell downe and with his owne sword cut of his head wherefore looke vnto it it is dangerous striuing with trueth for although Kings be strong and Wine is strong and Women are stronger then either of both who beare Kings and the planters of Vines and all Masters of Artes and sciences whatsoeuer yet truth is stronger then all and all must bend and bow and yeeld to her least they die at the point thereof And though it come out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings yet it is stronger then Goliah withall his forces Not that I despise learning but reuerence it and doe acknowledge my selfe to be vnworthy thereof but only this It must not be so proud to thinke that trueth should learne of it or to thinke that reason must not rule it and if Art should thinke for it is like Nature very blind that truth and reason could ouershoot it selfe yet were