word made flesh that reveale the father for thou shalt worship the Lord thy God Mat. 4. and him only shalt thou serve And above all in this in beleeving his word only who can not deceive nor be deceived Otherwise though thou pray vnto him and vse all externall devotions he will not account that service or following him but following a man knowes not who what or wherefore for how shall they call on him in whome they have not beleeved Rom. 10.14.15 And how shall they beleeve in him of whome they have not heard there can therefore be no true serving him without hearing and beleeving nor no hearing to salvation without hearing of him nor indeede without obeying or following for therfore it is added But they have not all obeied the Gospel Some obey it not at all as Iewes others would serve God and Mammon others Christ and Antichrist others Gods word and the precepts of men but this is not to obeie the Gospell to follow Christ to worship him aright for he saith In vaine they worship me who teach for doctrines the commandements of men Thus doe they who teach that diocessan Bishops should be received and obeied Mat. 15 9. which make Gods word of the presbiterie of none effect and this they also doe by other theire traditions and precepts which not only crosse the Gospel in other things See the crowne of a Christian Martyr but serve men for a religion and so make the word of God of none effect And while they hold that Gods will is that they should be obeied that is in effect to teach them for doctrines they are no longer things indifferent but necessarie or rather presumptions that turne from the truth Mar. 7.8 and make men lay aside the word of God for laying aside the commandements of God ye hold the tradition of men As if he saide ye cannot hold the tradition of men but ye lay aside the commandement of God as wee finde true in matter of the presbiterie and other things Againe No man hath seene God at any time Ioh. 1.18 the only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the father he hath declared him All things are delivered vnto me of my father and no man knoweth the father save the Sonne Mat. 11.27 Ioh. 15.15 and he to whome the Sonne will reveale him But he saith to his Apostles All things that I have heard of my father J have made knowne vnto you so he hath fullie declared him And the Apostles have declared vnto vs in the new Testament all the counsell of God If therfore the Sonne Act. 20.27 have not revealed these traditions and precepts of men in his Testament it is a greate presumtion to say they may be imposed or that Gods will is that they should be obeied For because Christ only is the word that revealeth the father therefore that only should be taught which he hath revealed by his Apostles Evangelists but he hath not revealed these precepts of men and therfore he saith In vaine they worship me who teach for doctrines commandements of men As if he saide rejecting God his word ye worship him whose traditions ye receive Ioh. 4. and that with the greatest and trewest worship The true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and truth Viz. in obeying the truth and yealding themselves to be wholly governed by it as by a perfect and necessarie rule which requireth not a difference of meates or such triviall things but righteousnes and peace Rom. 14 16.18 ioy in the holy Ghost He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God He is a true worshipper For so Paul saith After the way that they call heresie so worship I the God of my fathers beleeving all things that are written To beleeve the Testaments and no more Obejed is the true worship This must needes be the worship vsed by them who are saide to worship in the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie Rev. 11.1.19 because there was nothing seene in it but the Arke of his Testament they beleeved and obeied all things that were written therein and no more 1. Sam. 15.22 To beleeve and to obey is better then Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of rammes It is the best service and worship as the very Iesuits prove from this place Ignati de obed virtute sect 5 and thereby condemne themselves who give this best service to theire superiour by beleeving and obeying him as one that can not be deceived though they cannot perceive but he commaunds things contrarie to God and so make him theire God Thus the Pope sits in the Temple of God as God or as men say most maister in things and thus papists worship the Beast and his image For his servants ye are to whome ye obey And yet this worship in matters of religion is only due vnto God whose word alone is the spirit that giveth life yea men have more or lesse the Spirit of prophecâ—e 〈◊〉 â—â—â—uld be obeied as they speake according to that word and thâ—â—â—fore the Angel saith worship God for the testimonie of Iesus is the Spirit of prophecie Rev. 19 His testimonie and no other For the church is subject to Christ not to the preceps of men This testimonie ye ought to beleeve and obey Ephes 5.24 as Paul did in beleewing all things that are written and so to worship God in Spirit and truth For the Father seeketh such to worship him The Papists then in receiving and teaching for Doctrines precepts and traditions of the Pope and Church of Rome so contrarie to the word do certainly giue them this true and greate worship which only belongs to God and so are like them who changed the truth of God into a lie Rom. 1.25 and worshipped and served the creature more then the creator who is blessed for ever Thus they are saide to worship the Beast and his Image Many thinke that some such thing is done by those in England that defend teach the authority of the Bishops theire hierarchie Canons decrees and ceremonies because many of them are popish and more pressed by many then some points of the Gospel And though divers doe not doe this with a purpose to set vp poperie vnlesse in a few things neither can be perswaded that the hierarchie is a limbe of the Beast yet the obedience to it in these things if they or it be not of God is a worship to it and a serving the creature more then the creator which indeede is much more donne by the Papists to the Beast and his Image And here by the way it is a thing worthy observation that if in the primative ages of the church vnder the first Christian Emperours some were touched with some of the popish opinions as very few were and those only in some things yet they did neither maintaine them against such light of doctrine
THE FALL OF BABYLON IN VSVRPING ECCLESIASTICALL POWER AND OFFICES AND THE MISERABLE ESTATE of them that pertake of her fornications Revelation 18.4 Come out of her my People that ye be not pertarkers of her sinnes and that ye receyve not of her plagues Imprinted in the yeare of our Lord. 1634. THE PREFACE TO THE Reader IT was a question prophetically asked of those times wherein the Church and truth of God should suffer greatest persecution and opposition why doe the Heathen rage Psa 2. and the People imagine a vaine thing The Kings of the Earth set themselves the Rulers take counsell together against the Lord and against his Christ saying Let us breake theire bands asunder and cast theire cords from us But for all these forces and devises of men who are not Iewes indeed Christians indeede but Gentiles and Heathen Yet saith God have I set my King upon my holy hill of Syon and that as he saith to have the Heathen for his inheritance and the ends of the Earth for his possession eyther to rule them by the rod of his power by the revealed word or to break them in pieces like a Potters vessel â—or it had beene sâ—yde He shall judge among the Nations Isa 2. Well therefore is it added Be wise now therefore o ye Kings be instructed ye Iudges of the earth Serve the Lord with feare c. For as the Church of God in generall so every true member of it will be ready to say Chap. 33. The Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King and that therefore it were a happy thing if Princes and States would be pleased to consider that they are onely Lords over men properly and directly as they are theire subjects and not as they are Christs Disciples Christians and spiritually his subjects withall that God is not pleased with unwilling worshippers whereby neyther Christian societies are bettered nor the persons themselves For while all are compelled to a conformitie especially if it be in things not according to the word of God many haveing presently theire Religion in respect of mans authority not of Gods become Hypocrites Timeservers and a kinde of Atheists which is worse such men by theire formalitie though they have litle else in them doe oft attaine authority in such Churches and thereby get dominion over mens faith in other things For though in the primitive times the Bishops of Rome had no such ample power yet the fi st step to it was that of imposing conformitie in things devised by men by them counted indifferent and innocent if not proffitable and necessary which power beeing graunted them they soone got authority over all Ministers and People and then so much over Kings that in verie pollicie they thought it theire best course to hold all theire subjects in matters of Religion to the obedience of the Church of Rome rather then to adventure the danger of her displeasure whereby they brought both themselves and theire subjects into a far worfe thraldom then that of the Aegyptian bondage What reason then is there that this power thus Popishly taken up should still be maintayned against the poore subjects From the beginning it was not so For the Ancients finding the burden imposed by Heathen Tyrants to be intollerable sayde Tertull. that it is no propertie of Religion to compell to Religion which ought to be taken up freely that no man is forced by the christians against his will Lactanc seeing he that wants faith and devotion is vnserviceable to God and that God not beeing contentious would not be worshipped of the vnwilling And in deede after he had manifested his whole truth the new Ierusalem his true church if these things would not serve to convince men he saith He that is vniust let him be vniust still and he that is filthie Rev 22. let him be filthie still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still Yet doe I not denie all compulsion to the hearing of Gods word as the meanes to worke religion common to all sorts good and bad much lesse excuse civill disobedience palliated with religious shewes and pretences vsed by Annabaptists others or condemne necessarie restraint of publik idolatrie the excercise of all erronious religions So as these rules of reason be held inviolâ—ble That the bond betweene Magistrate and subject is essentially civill but religious accidentally only th ugh eminent So that he is only to hinder and punish that which God would have hindred and punished and to cherish that only which God would have cherished and not by the cunning of prevaricators who serve not the Lord Iesus but theire owne bellies to be drawne either to hold them guiltie that follow Gods Testament or those guiltlesse who erre in theire hearts practises because they have not known his waies nor indeede will know them whence it may come to passe that he that persecutes the chu ch of Christ defeÌ„deth the Synagogne of Satan may thinke he doth God service when he hath rather cause to feare that he helpeth his grand enemie the devill I have therefore endeavoured to shew these things in the fall of Babylon and withall that as the christian Magistrate hath his power of Magistracie from God which his Christianitie serves to sanctifie and direct so vndoubtedly he is to vse it for God and his honour and that in his true worship in which he is espetially honoured and only against the contrarie The world doth ring of three complaints 1. When a State professeth the reformed Religion hath Churches governed by Elders as neere as it can to the practise of the primitive Churches yet by a tolleration or connivance gives leave to Annabaptists Arminians Lutherans Papists and others to have Churches in the same Cities 2. When a State is of the Popish Religion and maintaynes it yet both gives absolute tolleration to the reformed Religion and contemnes it as in France 3. When a State professeth the Protestant Religion and withall a hierarchie traditions and Ceremonies which are Romishe commanding all to a conformitie in them and forbidding all confutation of them and of some other Popish Arminian tenets and practises much connived at In the two first men say if Sathan have a Synagogue or Throne in the one ende of a Citie yet Christ hath a Throne in the other his Temple is open and his Servants have libertie to serve him as the primitive Churches did neyther is any man compelled to other they may freely preach write against all errours This cannot be sayde of the third and therefore if a poore Christian that would flie out of Babylon be forced to dwell in one of them let him learne by Christs word in which he ought to take up his habitation THE FALL OF BABYLON IN VSVRPING ECCLESIASTICALL POWER AND OFFICES And the miserable estate of them that pertake of her Fornication THE church
may finde by the Scriptures if he doe but observe that rule of Christ Ioh. 7.17 If any man will doe his will that is be ordered by it he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God er whether J speake of my selfe Men can not know the truth in this point because they are not willing to know it much lesse to doe it and hold it fast as they are willed But because God hath suffered diocessan Bishops so many hundred yeares and hath not sodainly slaine them when they began to innovate as he did Nadab Abihu and Vzza therefore men are so foolish as to thinke he is so well pleased with the invention that now it should not be so much as questioned when they know if that argument were good the like might be saide for Antichrist who began to rise and raigne with them yet will not men see it Much lesse will they beleeve that as for lesser presūptions in the Corinthians Paul saith for this cause many are weake and sick and many sleepe 1. Cor. 11.21.31 so God punished these as well at theire first rising with the persecutions as since with many plagues spiritual temporall Eccl. 8.11 Psa 50.21 Because sentence against an euill vvorke is not executed speedily therfore the heart of the Sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe euill J kept silence and thou thoughtest that I vvas altogether such a one as thy selfe That is wel enough pleased with thy works But I vvil reproue thee and set them in order before thine eyes and as the Prophet sheweth Ier. 5.1.3.4.5 Isa 26.9.10.11 God inflicteth his punishmēts on a citie or people to make them seeke his truth and to bring them to the knowledge of it O Lord are not thine eyes vpon the truth thou hast stricken them but they haue not grieued for they know not the way of the Lord they haue broken the yoke burst the bonds When thy Judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learne righteousnes The godly will but let fauour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learne righteousnesse Nor yet when the hand of God is vpon them Exod. 32 34. When thy hand is lifted vp they will not see But they shall see be ashamed for their enuie at the people and as he saith in a like case In the day vvhen I visit Ier. 12.1 Habak 1.13 I will visit theire sinne vpon them In the meane time why should any godly man be so moved at their prosperitie as to put forth his hand to their wickednesse or in discontent to say wherfore doth the way of the wicked prosper wherefore are all they happy that deale verie trecherously For then he will make them to see that his church is called the Tabernacle of the Testimonie The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie in heauen was opened Reu. 15.5 Chap. 11.19 And ther was seene in it the Ark of his Testament To shew vs that as vnder the first Testament all things concerning the Priests the service was to continue according to the first institution 1. Sam. 2.28 so ought it to be vnder the new I did giue saith God to Elie vnto the howse thy Father all the offerings made by fire to let him know they ought to haue been contented with what God had giuen them and not to take more as his Sonnes did the Testimonie was as well concerning the office and right of the Priests as other things there was not any thing to be suffered of coueteousnes ambitious vsurpation or humane inuention Deut. 19.19.20 So was it to be vnder the new Testament For when God by Moses had spoken of Christ and that which he should speake in his name it is added in the next words But the Prophet which shall presume to speake a word in my name which I haue not commaunded him to speake euen that Prophet shall die And when Christ saith Reu. 22.18 If a man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagnes written in this booke wee are not onely to take it of thrusting things into the text or adding to it but of speaking and in his name imposing on Churches and people things in religion which he commaunded not God so taxed this fault in the Iewes Isa 29.13 Mat. 15.8 that he counted all things yea theyr verie worshipping of him to be vaine while this was suffered Because in the primatiue Church men did not striue to ouercome the intruding of inuentions by holding fast Christs works vnto the end but let in now a litle and then a litle the truth was daily betrayed and lost and so it must needes be where they are maintained the lesser presumptions make way for the greater Gods word and truth is his glorie Psa 4.3 But saith he how long will ye turne my glorie into shame yet this they doe who would make it defend or allow the inventions and precepts of men This is a harlot like trick to giue her husbands goods and glorie to her adulterers But as Israel and Iudah did it so haue Christian Churches Thou ô Rome wast at first a famous Church but like them Ezech. 15. Esa 48.8 chap. 1. thou didst trust in thine owne beautie and playedst the harlot because of thy renowne thou didst deale very trecherously and wast called a transgressor from the wombe How soone did the faithfull citie become an Harlot It was full of judgment righteousnes lodged in it But now murderers c The Prophets Prophesie falsly Ier. 5.31 and the Priests beare rulle by theire meanes and my people loue to haue it so and what will they doe in the end thereof I answer they made a like custom and long continuance a warrant for theire inuentions as they doe that vpon like grounds defend euill They despise the Law of the Lord. Amos. 2.4 And their lies caused them to erre after which their Fathers walked They would rather doe as their Fa hers had donne and taught then as God commaunded By reason thereof men talke in vaine that tell them of Gods ordinance They cannot hearken Ier. 6.10 Behold the word of the Lord is vnto them a reproach they haue no delight in it I haue written to him the greate things of my Law but they where counted as a strange thing Hos 8.12 And the reason is well giuen Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the Leopard his spots Chap. 13.23 then may ye also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill All men are subject to finde excuses and even to wrest the Scriptures to defend ancient custome◠It was Gods gracious promise vnto them for all this Isa 1.25.26 Chap. 2.12 I will purge away thy drosse And I will restore thy Iudges as at the first thy counsellours as at the beginning Wee saw he hath promised as much in the case of his church for the
day of the Lord of hosts shal be upon every one that is proud and loftie that is lifted up and he shall be brought low In the meane while wee must know Chap. 5.1 he planted a vinyard in a very fruitfull hill and he fenced it he looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes therfore he tooke away the hedge thereof and it was not digged and pruned as it should be So was the hedge taken from the church in the time of the persecutions when she brought forth the wilde grapes of mens inventions Isa 24.5 Ezech. 5.6 Amos. 2.4 Men will confesse it was for some sinne as Israel was alwaies plagued Because they transgressed the lawes changed the ordinance marke changed the ordinance brake the everlasting covenant Though they kept it in fundamentall points of religion yet with Korah and Vzzah they brake and changed it in Ecclesiasticall order service and ceremonies which opened the gap to greater transgressions Had they continued in his ordinances doubtles they had never beene so afflicted he would have beene to them as he promised to Israel Exod. 34.24 I will cast out the nations before thee and enlarge thy borders neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt goe up to appeare before the Lord thrice in the yeare he would so have ruled theire enemies hearts but when men observe not his ordinances or like the Angels keepe not theire first estate then by his plagues he seekes to abate theire pride Now wee shall have seene that in the primative church the Clergie did soone decline from his waies in such things were plagued Isa 9.16 Chap. 52. Chap. 42.24 Chap. 8.16 both they and theire people For the Leaders of this people cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroied So they that rule over them make them to howle and my name continuallie every day is blasphemed Who gave Jacob for a spoile and Jsrael to the Robbers Did not the Lord he against whom wee have sinned for they would not walke in his waies e. And therfore he saith binde up the Testimonie Seale the law among my Disciples Certaine that lived despised in corners and persecuted even of some of theire owne brethren while he hid his face from the howse of Jacob. Ier. 2 30. Isa 57.17 For saith he in vaine have I smitten your children they received no correction your owne sword hath devoured your Prophets c. For the iniquitie of his coveteousnes was I wroth and smote him J hid me and he went on frowardly in the way of his owne heart So that Coveteousnes hath in all ages beene the roote of all evill Ier. 6.13 especially in church-men For every one is given to coveteousnes and what followeth thereupon from the Prophet to the Priest every one dealeth falsely And they bend theire tongue like theire bow for lies such as are for theire honour or proffit but they are not valiant for the truth Such was the fruite of coveteousnes and ambition in Elies Sonnes such in Gehezi in Ziba and others as well of the Priests as of the people and such hath it ever beene as well in the christian as in the Iewish churches There was doubtles a lust of the eies after the pride of life a seeking after preheminence and authority in the Bishops of Rome from the verie death of the Apostles Theire devises to superintend over neighbour churches or parishes and theire Decrees in theire Synods wherin they for the most part ruled all for theire owne glorie do sufficiently declare it this was the foundation of theire greatnes And som desire there might be of filthie lucre but the first open proofe recorded is that decree of Vrbanus Platina in Vrban 1. that the church might receive from the faithfull inheritance of lands This was aboute the yeare 224. For before times the preaching Bishop was maintained by that which the seaven Deacons gathered for the poore and church vses as both Damasus and Platina shew in the life of Evaristus who died for the Truth in the yeare 109. and was it seemes the last of the vncorrupt Pastors of that litle flock in Rome He presumed not to make ordinances And so as Hegesippus saith to the times of Trajan or thereabouts the church continued cleane and vndefiled as a virgin Euseb lib. 3. c. 26. lib. 4. c. 21. but since that sacred companie left the world the conspiracie of iniquitie began to worke with open face They tell vs indeede of an ordinance that his predecessor Annaclet made against Clergie mens nourishing of long haire in head or beard Platina in Anaclet 1. Cor. 11.14 which haveing respect to that of the Apostle seemed tollerable But the Apostles words were sufficient what neede such an ordinance yet if he made it that served for a pretence that they might make others The like may be saide of that commaund of his that the consecration beeing ended all the faithfull should communicate or they that would not should goe out of the church These theire best preceps were steps to intollerable presumptions in others as in Alexander who succeeding Euaristus ordained holy water the masse and other inventions which others increased So was this of Vrbanus a step to extreme coveteousnes and many other corruptions Cyprian yeeldeth this reason of the persecution of Decius Cyprian lib. de lapsis Because every man slept in the coveteous desires of his owne heart it was high time for God to awak them with his rod There was no longer any devotion left in the priests Anno 253 no sincere faith in ministers no mercie in theire works no government in their manners c. The Bishops them selves who should have served for a spurre and patterne of well doeing abandoning theire holy functions and forsaking theire flocks goe a gadding into other countries haunting marts and faires for filthie lucres sake litle caring to relieve theire hungrie and starving brethren so themselues might haue money at will getting lands by fraude and money by griping vsurie and what did wee not deserue for these ill doeings The Churches ye see were not the more purified but more defiled after diocessan Bishops were set vp Howsoeuer this shewes theire follie who ascribe so much to the wisedom and holines of those times Eusebius giues the like reasons of the persecution of Dioclesian Platina in Marcel as Platina observeth saying Eusebius imagineth that it was permitted of God for the corrupt manners with the too much libertie and indulgence of the Christians espetiallie of the Clergie to bridle whose perversnes the divine justice ordained this persecution while he saw dissembling in theire countenance fraud in their hearts and deceite in theire words For these striving among themselves with envie pride enmities hatreds seemed to sâ—â—iour more of a tyrannie then of the Priesthood alltogether forgâ—ttâ—ng the Christian pietie and rather profaning then celebrating the divine
to be ordained of God and necessary when indeede it is theire owne office that is not necessary seeing it onely serveth for such things to persecute men for the Testimonie of Iesus and more to force vnnecessarie then necessarie ceremonies For kneeling in prayer good order and reverent gesture in the Church are vsed in the french Churches as commendable and necessarie and yet in men that in those other thâ—ngs are disobedient to the truth theire verie prayers are abhominable and but mockeries much more theire owne deuised cringes and gestures as in Papists who abound in such things and as if a man should with all order and reverence bow his body to the King his chaire of Estate Image or seale and yet despise or neglect many of his wholsom Lawes and commandements The orders and ceremonies which God ordained are indeede to religion as the barke or leaues to a tree that is a comely part of it but as for other ceremonies and inventions with theire pretended significations which beeing devised by man are more then are in the reformed Churches of France or were in the Apostles time they are not to the religion and truth of God as they say like the barke to the tree which if it be taken off the tree withereth but as the ivye to the oake which seemes to adorne and embrace it but indeede binds shadowes and by degrees wasts and destroyes it For these shewes serve many for a religion and a cloake of persecution and the power of Bishops serues for a tyranous terrour to keepe men from pâ—aching and writing the truth and setting theire names to theire bookes in the cases of the hierarchie traditions Altars images pelagianisme or the like and consequently to beget flatterie and lukewarmnesse in Clergie and people and eate out that loue and zeale of the truth in all things that they either doe now or may hereafter prohibit or maintaine Such was and such is the fruite of theire power and therfore certainly it is not of God but of men of the world of the coueteous lust of the eyes and of the pride of life and therfore what matters it who gaue it them whether councels or Kings they cannot make black white nor euill good nor that Lawfull which is so unlawfull and pernicious to the Kingdom of God Constantine no doubt thought he had offered a greate sacrifice to God in giueing them so much as he did other Emperours Kings therfore haue augmented it But he that forbiddeth to adde to his word or take from it saith to obey is better then sacrifice 1. Sam. 15. Therfore Asa to doe that which was right in the eyes of God did not vrge his owne or other mens inventions 2. Chro. 14.3.4 but tooke away the Altars of the strange Gods and the high places and Images other Kings had erected and commaunded Judah to seeke the Lord God of theire Fathers and to doe the Law marke and the commaundement Chr st beeing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords though Kinges as his deputies haue greate power in matters of Religion yet that is so as in theese things not so seeke theire owne but Gods will donne in earâ—h as it is in heauen I saith he Ioh. 8.26 chap. 6.34 Tract 40.41.54 speake to the world those things which I haue heard of him J came not to doe mine owne will but the will of him that sent me He saiâ—e this that was the eternall word and Wisdom of God yea verie God and eternall l fe For indeede he was not his owne wisdom word but the Fathers as August n doth mâ—nâ—fest on theese the like places of the Gosspell And shall not Kings then who are but his Deputies much more say it yea doe it either by causing the word of God to be faithfully taught in theire cities as David and Iehoshaphat or by rooting out all monuments and stumbling blocks of superstition and idollatrie and by suffering theire subjects to preach freely against them and to worship the Lord in the beautie of holinesse as Hezechiah and Iosiah did that is in a word by causing theire subjects to worship God aright and take his marke in the puritie of his ordinances and not to worship the Beast and take his mark in receiving professing and defending his corrupt traditions and ceremonies For to serve God and make others serve him in the beautie of holinesse Psa 110.3 is to make men serve him in the holinesse of the truth according to all that is written in his Testament Ios 1.8 and not with cathedrall service and musick after the pompous traditions and inventions of Prelates and theire Canons as some infer For the Image of God is renewed in all righteousnesse and holines of the truth Ephes 4.24 and if God would not that wee should be again in bondage to the rudiments which himselfe ordained in the ceremoniall law Christ haveing nailed them to his crosse much lesse to those which the pope and church of Rome or other men have invented or established It were good that Princes and theire chaplains would think of that Ezra 7.21 whatsoever is commaunded by the God of heaven that is in matters of religion let it be diligently donne where mark he saith not commaunded by Kings for why should there be wrath against the Realme of the King and his Sonnes That is either for neglecting Gods commaund or vrging inventions of men for therfore wee are willed not to thinke of men and theire power above that is written 1 Cor. 4.6 It is the necessity of conformitie imposed upon Ministers that furnisheth them as it did the Papists with arguments to defend traditions humane precepts and Canons against this truth and so to make a fearfull war against God Which I observe not so much of them who haveing subscribed follow theire ministrie preach the word and never speake of English traditions hopeing God will reforme them as of those that defend and preach them Isa 1. never thinking that God may say vnto them who required these things at your hands What Gospell is this How doth it helpe the Kingdom of God What knowledge what fai h what holinesse of the truth doth it worke They yet strive to justifie these ordinances and all the power of the prelates 1. Cor. 14.40 saying the Apostle saiâ—h Let all things be donne decently and in order therfore Synods may ordaine diocessan Bishops and all such Canons as are in England and doubtlesse the will of God is that they should be obeied I nswer the Apostle by this decencie and order can not meane any thing that shall overthrow any of the ordinances of God or make his word of none effect in any particular He speakes it of things before mencioned in his Epistle Chap. 11.21 Chap. 12. There were divers who did eate theire suppers when they came to the Sacrament one is hungrie and another is drunken this was not decently and in order If any
man hunger let him eate at home The holy Ghost giveth divers gifts of wisdom knowledge healing faâ—th prophecie tongues c. to divers members of the same body If the one of them should say of the other I have no neede of thee this were not to doe things decently and in order He wisheth them to covet the best gifts rather to prophecie then to speake with tongues that men praying or prophecying should be vncovered Chap. 14. that women should be covered and not speake in the church and above all he there speaketh of prophecying one by one of others holding theire peace and judging or trying the Spirits And so of these and the like things then in vse Rev. 2.24 he saith let all things be donne decently and in order As for these new inventions of Bishops and Synods Chr st himselfe saith I will put vpon you no other burden but that which ye have alreadie hold fast till J come And shall men thinke that they may doe it Are there any true Christians that will not see that the offices of dâ—ocessan Bishops who burden the church with sup rsti ious rites are not de jure divino not of God but of men That they w re raised to this height and power after the example of the Bishop and church of Rome who in those first ages was imitâ—tâ—d by the most So truly is she called the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth That they beeing armed with power serve chiefely to suppresse the truth in these other po nts to get and have dominion over mens faith bring in Arminianisme or other like errours forbid confutation of them exalt humane traditions Romish inventions and ceremonies and like Egiptian taskemaisters to burden the churches with them make ministors that they dare not see these evils least it should hinder theire preferment or they should be deprived of theire liveings or silenced for speaking against them whilest they see that others flatter or extoll them and they serve thousands for a religion and insteade of that which Christ ordained as also for a cloake of poperie mocking and persecution It will be saide the Canons ceremonies are not imposed as matters of faith but of order and are counted things indifferent and therfore innocent and not so hurtfull as you make them I answer 1. So were they at the first in the Roman church but they grew into greater authority and so do these among thousands in England as sleight a matter as some make of them If things indifferent and innocent why are they pressed with such power For they are more vrged and observed by many then the Gospel In whose mindes these imposers preachers of ceremonies only leave Christ a name while like vsurpers they carrie away the power of a King and kingdom and therfore an offence against them is more punished and more skorned by such popelings newters and temporisers then an offence against the Gospel who yet in all these things count themselves the better subjects the better Christians 2. That in the booke of Articles which is of matters of faith ministers are made to subscribe to this that the church hath authority to ordaine these things that must be by som power given them in Gods word and that is as much as to make them matters of faith and necessity For that is in effect implied If as they say God have given every national church this authority then his will is that these things should be religiously observed and obeiâ—d and to breake them is sinne Thus they are or ought to be of faith Rom. 14.23 for whatsoever is not of faith is sinne But as wee proved the Papists take many of these ceremonies and even the office of diocessan Bishops and Archbishops from the heathen and from the daily encroachings of prelates therefore how should the subscribing to them in this tyranie be of faith no sinne especially seeing they doe many waies turne from God I denie not but that som things that the Apostles vsed are indifferent and may be altered for time and place as preaching and administring the Sacraments in the night and in mens howses Act. 8.36 This may be donne in the day and in Temples Philip and the Eunuch went both downe into the water others neede not to doe soe But such things altered or added by Synods ought to be verie few and such onely as necessity and not pretended conveniencie require For so say the Apostles and Elders Act. 15.22 28. with the whole Church at Ierusalem It seemed good to the Holy Ghost to vs to lay vpon you no greater burden then theese necessarie things Marke they say necessarie things I grant that some things the Church hath altered are necessarie in some Churches as that the whole body should not be dipped in Baptisme nor men forced to stand vncouered in such cold countries as Russia and Sweden while Moses and the Apostles are read as they did of old and as now they doe in prayer and singing of Psalmes other order may be taken for a Reader to reade the Scriptures and begin the Psalmes also for the manner of collecting almes setting vp a pulpit with water for Baptisme and a table conveniently placed on the communion day for at other times there needes none But vnder pretext that the Church hath this power it is most absurd to say it may giue authority to diocessan Bishops and Archbishops theire courts power and proceedings the oath ex officio theire fining imprisoning suspending silencing and so many ceremonies Altars canons customes and traditions as are in England more then were in the Apostles time or then are in the reformed Churches of France Germanie Belgia and other countries and whereof there is no necessitie but much mischiefe as beeing many of them Popish and snares tending to poperie tyrannicall and causing grievous schismes Which if Queene Elizabeth did not abolish consider how she found the land what policies and tempers she vsed how she suffered as King Edward had donne Cand. lib. 1. p. 16.28 and 77. the same service in English which was before in Latin some vaine things omitted Popish Priests to hold theire liueings if they would but take the oath of supremacie that there wâ—re therfore but 80. in the whole land that refused it how the Iudges and many of the nobilitie Iudges in Parliament were still Papists for many yeares after her coronation as the Reader may finde in Camden withall that notwithstanding all theese tempers which she thought those times required she so loued the Gospell and was so far from beeing an enemie to the reformation of Geneva that she as a meanes vnder God established it in Scotland France and the Netherlands her forces did it Againe consider that the best acts that euer any King of Iudah did in the reformation of religion were no excuse for his or theire leauing the high places vntaken away that prouinciall and diocessan Bishops
beeing suffered among the Isralites were a snare vnto them Iudg. 2.2 so must it needes be with these popish offices altars and ceremonies left among protestants The parliaments therefore should have struck at the rootes and stocks of the trees wh ch bring out such fruits in matters both of the church and common wealth and better they never did nor never can bringe foorth in any nation It is a just plague God hath sent on the Clergie because like the Angels they kept not theire first estate of presbyters nor receive the love of that ordinance For now since the death of the Apostles prophets and Evangelists by the Testament of God all degrees of Clergie men that since crope in are not branches of Christ the vine he gave some to be pastors Teachers and Elders but never any to be diocessan Bishops Such as are not content with the callings and offices that he hath given for his church but aspire to others that make them Lords of Gods heritage they abide not in him Ioh. 15. â— 5 6.7 1. and as he saith As the branch cannot beare fruite of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me Euen as he is the word he is the vine and his ministers are the branches by which his fulnesse is spread abroade wherfore he saith If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered He saith abide in me and I in you and sheweth what that is If ye abide in me and my words abide in you and that as well in matter of office and ceremonies according to his ordinances as in other things Herein is my father glorified that ye beare much fruite soe shall ye be my Disciples as if he saide otherwise not Bishops therefore that have not theire callings of him of his Testament are branches of some other trees not of Christ Iesus the vine and that makes them bring out such fruite as they doe It will be saide if kings may not give Clergie men such honour and power as Constantin Iustinian and other Emperours gave them where is theire prerogative And if councels may not give them such authority as the councell of Nice and other Synods of those times gave them where is Christs promise of the Spirit To the first I answer wee are willed to give vnto Cesar the things that are Cesars Math. 12.21 but vnto God the things that are Gods This as wee have shewed is a thing that is Gods And who then would thinke that Christians if they may be so called would ever teach that Kings or Synods may gâ—ve a power to Prelates that shall make any of the ordinances of God of none effect most of those prelates Antichrists and one of them the grand Antichrist Kings indeede are nursing fathers to the church but that is then to see that theire people be fed with the sincere milke of the word of God and not with the traditions of men or leaven of the Pharises Isa 52.2 which beeing not the bread of heaven satisfieth not Yet Prelates are ever buzzing Princes in the eares with theire prerogative in what they have established They may as well reason thus 2. Chro. 12.11 Iehoram made high places and so caused men to commit fornication He compelled Iudah thereto therfore Kings may s t vp diocessan Bishops and Sees which are high places never ordained of God and so cause fornications and compell men to theire obedience 2. King 16 â—0 Ahaz saw an Altar at Damascus sent the fashion of it to Vâ—â—ah the Priest made him make such a one and offer on it therfore Kings may set vp Altars cause such things and divers others taken from the heathen Iewes or Papists to be vsed in theire churches Ieroboam set vp golden calves Nebuchadnezar a golden Image and caused all to worship it ergo Kings may set vp these golden Images the B shops and cause them in all theire power traditions and ceremonies to be obeied that is worshipped Christs Bishops would rather say Kings are commaunded to write them a booke of the law not to depart from it as God willeth Iosha but to mediate therein day and night that they may observe to doe according to all that is written therein Ios 1.2 therfore they may not make theire subjects worship the Beast and take his marke not though he pretend that they are the things of the Spirit either invented or confirmed in councels If Christ by whome Kings raigne be the King only wise the best and noblest King as he is the word and wisdom that ruleth his then it is the greatest and best prerogative to be renued into his image and seeke his kingdom seeing the father saith Psa 2. J have set my King vpon my holy hil of Sion to rule all nations in all matters of religion be wise now therfore o ye Kings c. Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 Now his Image is renewed in knowledge righteosnesse and holinesse of the truth Marke not holinesse of mens inventions and traditions but holinesse of the truth The rudiments of the world as Paul sheweth bring men into bondage and ignorance Gal. 4. Ioh. 8. Chap. 17. Chap. 14. but the knowledge and obedience of the truth and continuance therein as Christ also saith maketh men free and Sonnes of God which is the greatest honour that can be He saith Thy word is Truth I am the Truth His name is called the word of God Such as yeeld to Gods word yeeld to this truth they truly bow at the name of Iesus and doe him homage as the King of Kings Princes are rightly called Gods Deputies and truly honourable when they labour to bring men to this true holinesse For there is no true holines but the holines of the Truth No man can serve two Maisters not God and Mammon much lesse Christ and Antichrist who commaund and teach contrarie things But Christ is the Truth And every one saith he that is of the Truth heareth my voice Ioh. 18.37 Chap. 10. To be of the Truth then is to be a true Christian My sheepe heare my voice and they follow me and a stranger they will not follow This stranger is one that bringeth false doctrines or for doctrines the traditions and inventions of men His servants ye are to whome ye obey He saith not to whome ye pray but to whome ye obey Rom. 6.16 Him ye serve worship whether Christ or Antichrist God or any other potentate The Papists and all that teach or observe for doctrines commaundements of men will say wee worship and follow Christ Indeede his is the kingdom the power and the glorie But as he is the eternal word and wisdom of God Ioh. 12.26 he saith If a man serve me let him follow me that is to heare beleeve and obey me and me only as I am God with the father and the holy Ghost or as I only am the
as is manifested now a daies nor give theire false doctrines and interpretations for lawes as they have donne in these later ages and since the councell of Trent which is the thing that makes them and theire followers so abhominable Therfore after one Angel haveing an everlasting Gospel to preach had cried feare God Rev. 14.6 7.8.9 and worship him and that the second had denounced the fall of Babylon by which two seeming to be wicklife Luther and theire followers came greate light of doctrine The third Angel followed them and denounced eternall damnation to every one that should after this time worship the Beast and his Image and receive his marke And because some would rather suffer martyrdom then doe it that is added Here is the patience and the faith of the saincts vers 12.13 Here are they that keepe the commandements of God and the faith of Jesus Blessed are the dead which henceforth die in the Lord or as others reade for the Lords cause Here then wee may see theire impietie and danger who continue not in the word but either more or lesse receive and professe the Doctrine and superstion of the Pope and Church of Rome which is not taught in the holy Scriptures they receive the marke of the Beast and worship him and his Image To receive and haue which marke is to receive or have an impression of the Popish Doctrine and Religion in part or in whole either in profession which is to haue the marke in the forhead or by defending or helping the same by som meanes which is to haue the marke in the right hand as will appeare by shewing how men haue the Seale or marke of God The eternall word and Wisdom of the Father is his expresse Image with which the elect are sealed in theire forheads by saueing knowledge and profession thereof with faith and full assurance Which is when they receive the Doctrine of the holy Scripture and it leaues such an impression in them that they professe they will receive it and no other vnder any pretence of the Spirit vnlesse it follow from the same Testament of Christ who to shew that the Holy Ghost brings no other Doctrine he the truth calleth him the Spirit of truth and saith He shall not speake of himselfe Ioh. 16.13 But he shall receive of mine and shall shew it vnto you He shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoeuer J haue saide vnto you So he leadeth into all truth And he shall shew you the things to come that is touching the generall Apostacie vnder Antichrist and such other things in the Revelation Councels therefore doe vainly pretend the Spirit if they speake not according to the Testament of Christ The word was made flesh Ioh. 1. the Disciples saw the glorie thereof in his Doctrine and miracles full of grace and Truth This cannot be saide of the canons and inventions of men Of his fulnesse saith Iohn haue all wee receiued Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ Whosoeuer brings not this word 1. Ioh. 2.24 this truth of God is a deceiver But the anointing which ye haue receiued of him abideth in you and ye neede not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie Idaicus taketh Christ to be the anointing here meant and Lorinus on the place giues good reasons why the word is saide to be the Anointing Indeede the Spouse saith to him Thy Name is an ointment powred forth Cant. 1.3 Now wee know his Name is called the word of God And indeede this eternall word seemeth to be the anointing meant because he saith it is Truth and is no lie And Christ that word because he addeth and euen as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him or it in the anointing And now litle children abide in him that when he shall appeare wee may haue confidence and not be ashamed before him at his comming v. 12. to iudgment for the word shall iudge vs at the last day Ioh. 12.48 and Christ is that word as Augustin proueth on that and many other places of Iohns Gospel As many as receiued this word this eternall Truth to them he gaue power to become the Sonnes of God euē to them that beleoue in his Name whose name is called the word of God Therefore he saith to them that beleeued on him Ioh. 8.31.36 If ye continue in my word thē are ye my Disciples indeede and ye shall know the truth the truth shall make you free and sheweth the same truth to be the Sonne that maketh Sonnes free saying If the Sonne therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeede This comes of the saueing knowledge of Gods word 1. Ioh. 3.2 Therefore Iohn saith Now wee are the Sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what wee shall be that is because wee know but in part But when he shall appeare we shall be like him for wee shall see him as he is And euery man that hath this hope purifieth himselfe euen as he is pure Thus as Paul saith men put on the new man Ioh. 17. which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him and that saueing knowledge is the cause of loueing and obeying him and of purifying of a mans selfe as he is pure Therefore it is that Christ saith M. Downam Guide to Godlinesse cha 5. Rom. 10. Psa 119.27.33.34 this is eternall life to know thee and him whome thou hast sent Saueing knowledge as one saith beeing the ground of obedience and the roote of faith and all other graces For how shall they call vpon him in whome they haue not beleeued and how shall they beleeue on him of whome they haue not heard Or haue no knowledge Divinely therefore saith David Make me to vnderstand they way of the precepts so shall I talke of thy wondrous works Giue me vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy Law And therefore Augustin saith that wee may loue things vnseene but not vnknowne For to shew that the first conversion of a Christian is wrought by illumination knowledge and a liuely faith that followeth thereupon Christ saith to Paul Act. 26.18 J send thee to the Gentiles to open theire eyes and to turne them from darknes to light that is from the power of darknesse to the Sonne of light as he addeth from the power of Satan vnto God Ephes 2.2 chap. 4.18 Wherefore he sheweth that the Gentiles in times past walked after the Prince of the power of the aire and were aliened from the life of God because theire vnderstanding was darkened through the ignorance that was in them because of the blindnesse of theire heart that beeing aliens from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the couenants of promise they were at that time without Christ haveing no hope and without God in the world Hence it was that they beeing
past feeling gaue themselves ouer to worke all vncleannesse with greedinesse Which ignorance and blindnesse is so greate a sinne and so greate a cause of sinne that the Psalmist saith Psa 79.6 powre out thy wrath vpon the heathen that haue not knowen thee and vpon the Kingdoms that haue not called vpon thy name And the Apostle saith that the Lord Iesus shall come from heauen with his mightie Angels 2. Thes 1.7 8. in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God That is because they care not for this greate favour he vouchsafeth to reueale himselfe in revealing his word in theese and other things vnto sinfull men that by receiving the loue and knowledge of his eternall word and truth they may be made Sonnes and friends of God to obey him better then they haue donne For as Ioseph by the favours his maister shewed him was taught to denie to sinne with his mistresse So this greate grace of God Tit. 1.11 bringing salvation hath appeared to all men Teaching vs that denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world So that the more saveing knowledge there is in a man there will be the more faith pietie righteousnesse and holinesse of the truth The Angels in heaven doe Gods will better then we because they know him better rhen we and wee shall doe it better when wee know him better when wee shall see him as he is Therefore Peter saith Grace and peace be multiplied vnto you through the knowledge of God 2. Pet. 1.2.3 Chap. 3.18 Exod. 34.6 and of Iesus our Lord. Therefore when Moses desired to see and know God he shewed himselfe in theese words The Lord Jehouah strong mercifull gracious long suffering abundant in kindnesse and truth reserving mercie for thousands forgiveing iniquitie c. This beeing a summe of the Gospell And therefore also Paul prayeth for this as one of the greatest blessings that can be that the Father of glorie may giue vnto you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him Ephes 1.17 the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing inlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs ward that beleeve That wee may be filled with the knowledge of Gods will Col. 1.9 in all Wisdom and spirituall vnderstanding Knowing as was shewed that this worketh sanctification that the Image of God is renewed in knowledge Ephes 4.24 and thereby in righteousnesse and holinesse of the truth Not holinesse of mens inventions and traditions but in holinesse of the truth Which is when they are confident that they neede not that any man teach them but as the same Truth teacheth them of all things and is truth and is no lie That while Prelates teach other things it is more then needeth That wee should all speake the same thing to avoide divisions but that must be the Testimonie of God 1. Cor. 2.1 which the Apostles declared vnto vs otherwise divisions cannot be avoided For men must contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints holding i◠fast and when they professe as much that is to haue the Seale name or marke of God in theire forheads For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Character or marke comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to make a deepe impression Letters are therefore called Characters because those elements wee first learne leave a stronge seale in our memories So doth the Doctrine of God in the heart and Soule where he promised to write it Ier. 31.33 I will put my Law in theire inward parts and write it in theire hearts So doth he his promises whereby wee are made to beleeve obey and consequently sealed with the marke or Image of God Ephes 1.13 In whome also ye trusted after that ye heard the word of truth in whome also after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise Thus the Lord sealeth men by the ministrie or his word and cooperation of the Holy Ghost God saith Paul 2. Cor. 3.3 6 17.18 hath made vs able ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit which giveth life and consequently sealeth Now the Lord that is Christ the word is that Spirit Namely which wee administer to the Soule and vnderstanding and which sealeth Wherefore he addeth That is the word of the Lord. wee all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glorie of the Lord are changed into the same Image and consequently sealed therewith And that seale is in theire forheads when they professe it and that they will receive it and no other So it is saide Hurt not the earth nor the Sea nor the trees till wee haue sealed the Servants of our God in theire forheads Theese are such as receive the Testimonie of Christ and no other Doctrine vnlesse it follow from the same Such behoulding Romish superstition prophesied in Sackcloth yet could not be hurt by the locusts the Monkes and Friars all theire tales of purgaterie affright not them They haue the Fathers name written in theire forheads because the word is called his name and expresseth him as an Image on a Seale doth him whose Image it is I haue manifested thy name vnto the men which thou gavest me Ioh. 17.6.8.11 that is thy word as it followeth I haue giuen them the words which thou gauest me they haue received them Keepe through thine owne name those which thou hast giuen me That is through thy word 1. Pet. 1.5 Heb. 1.2 who are kept by the povver of God that is by the word of God by which all things were made and are vpheld Now then this eternall and divine word by which the world was made and is vpheld is called the Fathers Name as beeing his word the brightnesse of his glorie and Character of his substance that is his expresse Character which expresseth him and wherewith wee are sealed which Character or word the Sonne is therefore they are also saide to haue the Sonnes name on theire forheads Reu. 19. Now on his head were many crownes and a name written v. 12. which shewed what he was and his name is called the word of God Of which therefore and for which all Kings should hold theire crownes and not of the Pope nor for his traditions and service Thus Iohn saith He that continueth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne 2. Ioh. the Father and his word Therefore it must needes be the marke of God Reu. 19. Chap. 15.6 chap. 11. Reu. 21.17 Chap. 22. which he had who saith J am thy fellow Servant and of thy brethren which haue the Testimonie of Iesus And that is also proved by this that he is one of the seaven Angels that commeth out of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie that is
out of the Church millitant against Antichrist and his adherents And if he come thence he is certainly one of them that worship therein keepe his sayings and contend for the truth which things men doe He is a man for so he saith J am thy fellow Servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of them that keepe the sayings of this booke that haue the Testimonie of Iesus As all those must needes haue that haue the marke of God they are such as continue in the word such as are the true Church because they continue in the word defend ma ntaine it and no other as the Church doth which is called the pillar of truth 1 Tim. 3 15 And not as some in England doe who serve for little else then to defend theire owne ambition canons and ceremonies and yet would be called the Church of Christ If one of theese through flatterie grow so greate in favour with his Prince as to rule all as he list to turne Religion into Popish complement and ceremonies to mould it after his owne humour If therefore many out of feare flatterie or hope of favour follow and justifie him is he the Church not he nor he and all his flatterers If he could bring fower or five or all the Bishops to his Religion are they the Church They might see that so the Church of Rome came to be corrupted That theese in the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie are onely the true Church because they continue in the word and will receive no other that the same must needes be the marke of the true Church which is here the marke of true Christians These as wee have seene are set out by the Iewes the first Testament who neither in doctrine nor ceremonies might receive any thing which God had not commaunded but were to hold in all things to his first ordinances and institutions Crowne of a Christian Martyr wherein when they failed they were plagued and that it would be so with Christians if they changed Christs ordinances or let in any innovations hath appeared by his constant comparison to the seaven Churches and others of Churches compared to a Ierusalem and an harlot to the Temple of God and the Synagogue of Satan to the inner Temple and the court without he will not yeald theese later to be Iewes that is Christians because of other Lords they hold other Lawes in Religion in order in ceremonies and other things they doe not hold fast the word and ordinances which he left without receiving innovations or inventions of men therefore they are not of that part of his Temple which he alloweth to be accounted his Church but of the court without which is giuen to the Gentiles Reu 11. that is to Antichrist and others who in Gods account are as Gentiles such as in divers things will not heare his word but make it of none effect with theire dominion and traditions They hold som Christian truths but not all Those in England that are defenders of the hierarchie or Arminians hold more then the Papists yet not all Christ will not yeald som to be Iewes who perhaps failed in fewer things Iudge therefore I pray you whether they be not of that sort or like them of whome Christ speaketh Chap 2 which say they are Iewes and are not of the true Temple are not viz. not of those secret parts of the Temple 1 King 8 8 As there was nothing in the Arke saue the two tables of Stone so there is nothing in the church of Christ in this Temple but the Testimonie of Iesus and his government the Eldership no Popish dominion nor traditions If there had Iohn who tooke exact measure of it saw it opened would haue reuealed it in his Revelation but there was nothing else seene save that and them that worship therein Who therefore must needes be those that from the heart receive and obey that word and no other for there is no other there This was then so greate an honour that Iohn was readie to worship him that was such a one as if that were the best nobilitie to be thus stamped sealed with the Image of God in all doctrines and Lawes of Religion Act. 17.11 to haue recourse to the Law and to the Testament like the men of Berea to see if the Teachers taught according to this word And yet in England he that is such a one is in contempt called a Puritan hated and scorned and that by the Prelates themselves who therefore despise all that are of this Temple Because indeede if diocessan Bishops theire power canons and ceremonies be not according to this word they that are of this Temple care not for them Ephes 6. Phil. 1.27 They have theire loines girt about with the Truth they stand fast in one Spirit with one minde striveing together for the faith of the Gospel they have the testimonie of Iesus as here one of them saith they continue in his word and so are Disciples indeede They confesse and professe this word and so have his name and marke on theire forheads to which the binding of the law to the hand and forhead did point in a figure Deut. 6.8 and both that and this doe shew that in matters of religion the Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our King the Lord is our lawgiver 1. Tim. 1.17 Phil. 3.16 He is the King only wise Every man had neede to beleeve and receive this and to say with Paul let vs walke by the same rule let vs minde the same thing for this ye see is the marke of a Christian And by the Rule of contraries the marke of Antichrist must needes be an impression of that his doctrine law and superstitious rites which is more then the word revealed or against the same the profession and observation thereof is the marke as the observation of the heathenish rites is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Mac. 4.20 the character or marke of the Grecians The Pope would that all men should receive defend and professe his doctrine and superstitious rites and so should receive his marke in theire right hand and forheads For in the forhead that is by profession and in the right hand that is by operation as the ordinarie glosse expoundeth Antonius also and Lyra teach that A character or marke is a certaine manner of liveing according to the law of any Agâ—tho in epist inter acta sextae Synodi constantinop Bonifac 8. in extran de maior obed Clement in lib. 5. ad nostruÌ„ in gloss D. 18. c. si qui sunt whereby men are distinguished from others So the Pope causeth all men to take his marke for he saith Everie soule that would be saved must confesse the forme of the Roman tradition Wee affirme define and pronounce that it is altogether necessarie to salvation for every humane creature to be subject to the Pope of Rome
following that government that they cannot abide to heare of it This therfore pretended to be donne to edifying is but like the dog in the fable to catch and make others catch at the shadow let goe the substance they will not suffer men to take the marke of God in some points It is in the case of Euangelicall precepts as in that of the ten commandements the best do many times of infirmitie breake them and so sinne against the Testimonie of Iesus which also hath many rules and therfore theese that weare the white roabes haveing no doubt some staines of infirmitie are faine to wash theire roabes and make them white in the blood of the lambe Reu. 7.14 Now the fault of the Prelates is not of this kinde but as when a man breaketh any of the commandements And teacheth men so though he be zealous in all the rest yet this is abhominable before God Gal. 3.1 that therein he will not obey the Truth nor heare of it O foolish men who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the Truth If the question be asked to those of the Church of England the answer is ready Surely the honours and proffits of this world For as the Galathians did not obey it in some particulars no more doe theese in others Many not onely of the Romish but even of the English Ministers that are conformable haue in other things the Testimonie of Jesus and in many points hold it with zeale against Hereticks but in the matter of the presbiterie the power that God gaue to each Church or congregation and things that are against the hierarchie and ceremonies they change and breake the ordinance of God and teach men soe Such is the fruite of the hierarchie it makes men feare and flatter the Prelates and haue the truth of God in respect of persons Pro. 28.23 and as the Scripture saith to haue respect of persons is not good for for a peece of bread that man will transgresse Much more that he may get or hold a liveing and most of all for a Bishopwrick or denarie They doe not in this case observe that precept of the old and new Testament Zach. 8.16 Eph. 4.25 speake ye euery man the truth to his neighbour The Bishops do in this case as the Papists doe in this and others they will not so much as suffer Princes much lesse other men to heare of the Presbiterie and the grounds and reasons that show it ought to be maintained but scorne and persecute those that seeke or defend the truth So they withhold the truth in vnrighteousnesse Rom. 1.14 and change it into a lie They hold that though God ordained the presbiterie gaue each Church power to choose theire minister and him to receive the gift by laying on of the hands of the presbyterie to excomunicate c. Yet as the Church was enlarged another government might be ordained and now he is better pleased with theire hierarchie traditions and ceremonies that is that wee turne againe to weake and beggarlie rudiments be againe in bondage to them to observe dayes and times c. And so that he ordaineth or alloweth theese Yea som of them change the truth of God into a lie while they wilfully take that to be spoken of diocessan Bishops which is spoken of the presbiters And beeing driven from that for want of more divine warrant they are ever telling men of the Queenes injunctions of the statute and proclamation and the peace the English have since enjoied knowing that men dare not speake so boldly against these as themselves doe against the presbiterie ordaind of God without any feare that he may say vnto them wilt thou disanull my judgment Iob. 40.8 to establish thy owne or the inventions of men wilt thou condemne me that thou or they may be righteous What good doe ye to your Kings by flattering them with the emptie name of a prerogative in things so many waies against me and good government Can they get any good by that or by making Israel to sinne Doe not you your selves run away with the wordly proffit and honour of it Have I not manifested how the church of Rome became the greate whore Gal. 4.25 and shewed you of a new Ierusalem that is to come downe from God as a bride prepared for her husband and arraied in white which is when the church gives the kingdom in all things vnto her God when she is neither defiled burdened nor in bondage vnder precepts and inventions of men that the Ierusalem which is from above is free and will ye yet be in bondage and pleade to bring others to such bondage Will ye yet give the Kingdom and dominion to men in these things Will ye pretend your selves to be spirituall Bishops ministers or Christians for me and yet mock at this Ierusalem at this bride and those that desire to see her so adorned ye have no such affections ye doe not put them on as a wedding garment but to terrifie and crucifie them that doe or would ye thunder in talke of proclamations Statutes and inventions like them that with trumpets drums or the like things made a noise when they sacrificed theire children vnto Idols least theire cries shoud move pitie and remorse All your pretences and thundrings are for Kings and councels for theire prerogatives and lawes in these cases Let others prove what they will for me these must make them speechles now what ever make you speechles herafter for not haveing on a wedding garment Ye talke of faith but shew me your faith by your workes or affections in this cause Will true faith stand with opposing scorning me in these things Whome doe ye despise against whome doe despite and make war in all these things Herein they have no way to avoide Antichristianisme but to say with Cardinal Cusanus that the vnderstanding or sense of the Scripture goeth with the practise of the church C. Cusan ad Bohem. epist 2. epist 7. and so in effect that Gods minde is changed in these things or which is all one that notwithstanding his ordinance of the presbiterie he hath left thē to Princes and councels they might ordaine diocessan Bishops traditions and ceremonies Now is it not a greate dishonour to God to say that his minde is so changed that they might ordaine them and so change the government For while they say they ought to be obeied in all these things they withall tell vs that Gods will is that it should be so which is in effect to corrupt the word of God and to say his minde is in these things mutable One of the first and greatest heresies was that of Ebion who as Eusebius and Irenaeus shew vs Histor Eccles l. 3. c. 24. Iren. adve haeres l. 4. prolog denied Christ to have beene alwaies God and the word and wisdom of God and refused part of the new Testament And of them indeede Irenaeus
saith They blaspheme against the Lord severing and dividing Iesus from Christ and Christ from the Saviour and againe the Saviour from the word and the word from the only begotten Now if the Bishops doe not sever the Saviour from the word and the word from the only begotten yet it is an heresie somwhat a kin to this to change the truth of God into a lie to refuse part of the Testament touching the presbiterie and to say that the same ordinances aboute this and the power of each church to choose ministers and excommunicate called the power of Christ are not now his word and ordinances nor the power of Christ to be followed of all churches that these things might be taken from them and given to one in a diocesse which is indeede to take them from Christ who hath trusted the churches with them that they are things indifferent that councels and Kings might change them or set vp others that turne from the Truth and are soe contrarie that his will is that these should now be obeied and followed and not those which himselfe ordained which is to say his will is changeable All this beeing in effect affirmed by them is downright the marke of the Beast For so papists argue in the same cases and in those of Images communion in one kinde the primacie and the like And yet we know that the new Testament and all the ordinances thereof are from everlasting yea eternall and vnchangeable Mat. 13.35 Rom. 16.35 Ephes 1.9.11.2 Tim. 1.9 Ioh. 12.48 and Ioh. 1.1.2.3 1. Cor. 2.7 Heb. 13.8 And so the Apostle saith Iesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same also for ever Thus they that in the Revelation weare white hold fast the testimonie of Jesus The Bishops neither doe so nor suffer others that would but with flaterie and threats make many preach and write in defense of theire power traditions ceremonies and so to make war against the lambe Bishops themselves therefore had neede of one in these cases to open theire eies to turne them from darknesse to light 2. Tim. 3.8 and from the power of Satan vnto God For as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses so doe these also resist the Truth men of corrupt mindes and by theire tyranous imposing of these things cause divisions and offences Rom. 17. contrarie to the Apostolike doctrine and therein serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but theire owne bellie and with faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple I would they that are counted both learned and wise were not as commonly deceived by theire flatteries and false glosses They likewise make men bow toward the Altar and at the name of Iesus not at other names of Christ or God his father and kneele at the receiving of the Sacrament as if they did more reverence and obey Christ the word then others that doe not these things though as wee shewed it is but a popish and a late devise And yet they themselves can not bow to Christ in his ordinance of the presbiterie and the power he gave to each church nor endure to heare of it but hinder others that would Can they be Christs Bishops When Elijah heard the voice of God he wrapped his face in his mantle for the reverence that he bare to Gods word When the Spirit of the Lord came vpon Iehazel 1. King 19.2 2. Chro. 29 14.18 so that he spake the word of the Lord Iehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground and all Iudah fell before the Lord worshipping the Lord. 2. King 20.19 And when a sentence was pronounced against Hezechiah for his sinne yet he saide Good is the word of the Lord that thou hast spoken And Iohn so reverenced the word of God that he was ready to worship the Angel that shewed it him who thereupon saide see thou doe it not worship God All these and the like places shew the greate reverence that is due to the word It is the name of Christ Rev. 19. His name is called the word of God A name that could never be given to any other a name above all names and therefore this is that name of Iesus at which every knee should bow where yet it is not so much meant of bodily worship with the knee as receiving the word with faith and obedience obeying the truth is the true worship Those that doe not this are called stifnecked such as will not bow And such are the Bishops Act. 7. who yet in the meane mock God with a beggarlie signe of such obedience which therefore is not apt to stir vp the dull minde of man to a remembrance of this duty to God but is a meere complement a shew And indeede this and other theire ceremonies insteade of doeing good serve thousands for a religion or a shew of one and in place of that wich God commandeth For brevitie sake I omit to speake of other cathedrall ceremonies and to observe the like poperie tyranie and abuse in many of theire canons courts and customes as is shewed in the Curtaine of church power Curtaine of Church power certaine it is that many have litle religion besides and that many who defend them doe it on purpose to make them inductions to other poperie and because they are fit maskes to cover theire popish or prophane practises So that beeing thus grossly abused they may and by theire owne rule ought to be taken away and cleane rejected But they will have nothing reformed or changed yet they themselves as others before them have changed the ordinance of God which is a most adulterous fact and therfore whereas som say if wee goe aboute to alter or reforme any thinge wee shall never be quiet till all be brought to Annabaptisme or Brownisme I answer this is as if one should say you may not turne a woman from poperie or adulterie for feare she turne Annabaptist They should therefore deale plainly with vs and say to maintaine theire hierarchie the greatnes of a few Prelates theire pompe theire coaches and pallaces the truth must be suppressed the church and common weale corrupted and the whole world disturbed Mic. 3.11 The heads thereof judge for reward c. yet they leane vpon the Lord and say is not the Lord among vs None evill can come vpon vs. Her prophets are light and trecherous persons Zepha 3.4 Eze. 22.26 Haba 1 3. her priests have polluted the sanctuarie they have done violence to the law There are that raise vp strife and contention Therfore the law is slacked and judgment doth never go forth for the wicked compasse aboute the righteous therefore wrong judgment proceedeth They so wrest the truth to maintaine theire hierarchie and traditions and will not see the truth of God in these things that almost all men after theire example turne prevaricators Mic. 2. â— O thou that art named of the howse of Iacob is the Spirit of the Lord streitened are
march 6. 1632. Yea a greate Bishop in a sermon before the King charged one that writ for the presbyterie with Arianisme whether truly or no I know not for he namd not the man nor the book for feare least his proofes of the presbiterie should be looked into So much do they bewray the rottennesse of theire cause that will not endure touching nor to be looked vpon and in the meane call vpon men to frequent common prayer be obedient and conformable to theire mother the Church c. Beeing willingly ignorant that when of old som began to finde fault with the increase of superstition and tyranie in Romish Prelates Canons they reckoned them Schismatikes willed men to seeke peace stirred them vp to love of common prayer conformitie in ceremonies and externall devotions building of Churches c. Whereby ignorance increased and the truth was daily more and more betrayed and sold till it was too late to reforme them Princes and noble men could not doe it because they beeing nourished in this ceremonious and superstitious part of religion fell themselves into ignorance and so into many quarrels and noisom lusts like the Prelates one growing dissolute another vsuâ—ping another circumventing killing warring as in France betweene the Kings and the Duks of Burgundie and other Princes In England betweene the howses of yorke and Lancaster the Kings and Rebels they had not a Gospell truly preached to order and aw them so they could not see that all these errours in the Clergie and indeede in themselves came from altering the presbyterall government and giveing such authority to Bishops who for theire owne ends were readie to side with any of them So Protestants in other countries have observed that when the Palatinate was loosing the churches in Germanie France and other parts in greate miserie yet the church of Prelates theire adherents in England did litle helpe them but rather hindred such as would siding with the Duke and others charged by the parliaments to practise secretly for the popish partie or a newtralitie vnder colour that they were conformable to the English discipline and therfore Protestants but at the best that is indeede such as the hierarchie bringeth forth either newters or men of a mixed religion partly popish in the hierarchie Canons and ceremonies most followed and maintained and partly protestant in som points of faith more coldly defended by the most who also seemed to thinke it dangerours to maintaine ancient and honest priveliedges as free elections free speaking and parliamentarie power in searching out and reforming corruptions in church and common wealth both the one and the other beeing by som factious cunningly accounted a puritanicall zeale and a trenching vpon the prerogative of Princes when indeede the prerogative themselves sought to maintaine was only that of corrupt Prelates and favourits who have abused our Kings with such incensings and whisperings as the protestations of the parliaments laboured to manifest It is no neede to tell how they were prevented or that thereupon greate divisions followed both at that time and since especially in religion The Prelates not enduring that the howse of Commons should medle with it nor with the most notorious delinquents that did but favour theire partie who thus strove to helpe and vphold one another what ever became of the cause of Christ at home or abroade Gal. 5.9 Not to mention what boldnes and corruption this hath since bred in other inferiour bodies and government A litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe The french and other Protestants say theese are the fruits of maintaining the hierarchie and ceremonies which are Popish and so serve many for a cloak of poperie or trecherie or Arminianisme or prevarication or persecution or newtralitie or what a man will whereby the English haue beene brought into greate contempt theire peace thus attained beeing scorned as savouring of corruption or Newtralite in Religion and as more helping to support then ruin Babylon and her chiefe fort and wall the howse of Austria and as thus haveing lost theire honour both abroade and at home The Bishops could cover all this and turne the fault vpon the puritans that would not flatter as themselves did And yet in all this like the Romanists they bluster with the name authority and wisdom of Christs Church whether they be truly of it or the world The name Church if the Greeke word be considered signifieth coetus evocatus a companie or people called out Coetus evocatus as Israel out of Egypt or men out of darknesse ignorance or worldlinesse How few are thus called out of poperie temporising and earthlinesse I know divers Ministers that have subscribed are in all other things of the reformed Religion and thorowly called out of poperie save onely that for feare of loosing theire liveings they dare not see one part of it in the case of the hierarchie things that are against the presbiterie But consider the Church of England as the Bishops that govern it account it in themselves and theire adherents in a Synod called the Church representative and maintaining theire power canons and ceremonies with the fruits and practises of them who can say it is coetus evocatus Much lesse if you vnderstand it of halfe a dozen of Prelates that are courtiers in a manner ruling all are followed and flattered by many temporising Clergie men and a world of ignorant gentlemen and people And what if one corrupt Bishop get into such favour as to rule all the rest shall he like the Pope account himselfe the Church Not onely all these ill fruits but all that are in the Church of Rome came from altering that order of Bishops which the Apostles left by setting one presbyter of a greate citie over the rest and giving him first a litle authority as President of theire councell and then a litle more till he came to be accounted the sole Bishop of a diocesse And therfore as cunning Clarks as they make themselves our saviour may in these cases say of them If you were blinde Ioh. 9.41 if ye did confesse your blindnesse if ye had not the light of Gods word to shew it to you ye should haue no sinne But now ye say wee see chap. 101. therfore your sinne remaineth He that entreth not by the doore into the sheepefold but climeth vp another way the same is a thiefe and a robber I am the doore As he is the word of the father that revealeth him so is he the doore If a man come with any other Doctrine then the word revealed or enter by any other way to be a Pastor or Governour of the Church then such lawfull election and mission as is ordained in the word if he enter by any other rule office authority or title then such as the word alloweth he is a theefe and a robber that commeth not but for to steale a hireling as the Pharises were They complaine of lecturers as vnlawfull yet none
must complaine of them Men will not see theese things This peoples heart Mat. 13.15 saith he is waxed grosse and theire eares are dull of hearing and theire eyes haue they closed c. When Christ commeth he will distinguish the sheepe from the goates and know them by this mark as himselfe saith My sheepe heare my voice If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeede my sheepe indeede otherwise not This is as well true of them that are at Synods as at Sermons both the one and the other beeing but conventicles if they continue not in the word but teach or receive for doctrines precepts of men A diocessan Bishop would like a player seeme to be that which he is not namely a Bishop of the new Testament when yet he makes them of none effect and so is an hypocrit by his office one that saith not against him that would have presbyters restored this man is against Gods ordinance but against the Doctrine of our Church a custom or a canon of a councell and therfore an hipocrit but if Christ shall say to this vsurper depart I know you not I ordained no such offices no such canons who is then the hypocrit It is true indeede that among the many orders of the Popish Religion diocessan Bishops and theire officials are the most ancient and that secular Priests which anciently were presbyters did before the Nicene councell differ litle from the presbiters Christ ordained save that Bishops had wrunge most of the government out of they re hands but when loosing power in excommunication they also became subject to the Bishops and to be governed by theire Lawes Rules and canons as they all by the Pope they left and lost Christs marke tooke on them the marke of the Beast But then as they had made the presbiterie of none effect so the Regulars supplanted them There are many orders of these Regulars or Monles who haveing obtained of Boniface 4. and others after him to have the administation of the word and Sacraments got the hearing of mens confessions and by degrees stole from Bishops and Priests all that reputation which they had with the people and became the stoutest champions of the papacie in all the designes thereof as is at large proved in Plesses his Historie of the papacie progress 51. c. These were the Augustines Benedictines Iacobines Heremits Carthusians but especially the Dominicans and Franciscans Cordiliers and Capuchins and last of all the Iesuits and fathers of the Oratorie These and others have all theire severall Rules and so are severall Religions Yet they all have the marke of the Beast They all hold of him and for him not of Gods word nor for it And so ye have seene also that English Bishops and theire officials Deanes Prebends Subdeanes Archdeacons pettie canons and the like doe not hold theire authority and right in theire orders to execute theire offices from Gods word but from other rotten principles and have taken them from the custom and authority of the Pope Church of Rome or from a child or a woman Edward 6. or Queene Elizabeth that to hold them vpon any such humane authority or to say the word of God giveth leave so to hold them is to change the truth of God into a lie and to worship serve the creature more then the creator For of Christs Testament they doe not nor cannot hold them If they say from the Nicence councell wee have seene the weaknes of that hold in this perticular and indeede that as well many of the ancient as of the later councels have in many things beene carried by mens private interests and practises as appeareth among other Testimonies by an Epistle of Bishop Iewel annexed to the Historie of the councell of Trent and further that Bishops had not then theire courts and such power as afterwards and as they now have in England where in the Reformation it was set vp in the same power the Popish Bishops had enjoyed if not in greater because they were freed from the tyranie of the Pope and lastly that none of all these have the Testimonie of Iesus for theire orders offices and Rules They are not of that Temple or Church militant which Iohn saw but of the owter court though neerer the Temple and Altar then the Papists For all that are of that Temple have the Testimonie of Iesus as well for theire offices as Doctrines which you see none other have but presbiters Pastors helpers and Deacons Not excluding such Majestrates and people as are of the reformed Religion these church orders and no other have his marke who when he is ready to powre out his last plague on Babylon and other cities saith behold I come as a theife Rev. 16.15.16 Where I thinke he meaneth in that last plague against all Antichristian adversaries and in the voyces thunders the exceeding greate earthquake and haile and the fall of Babylon which are of it accompanie it or follow soone after it as Revel 2. Repent or else I will come vnto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth For then it is that the Angel crieth Babylon the greate is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of deuils c. Then Babylon comes in remembrance before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fircenesse of his wrath and therefore he addeth Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments least he walke naked and they see his shame that is in lusts and ignorance or worshipping the Beast or his Image or receiving his marke in part or in whole For they that would not doe this though they may come into trouble for the witnesse of Iesus and for the word of God yet these seaven plagues take not hold of them Luk. 21.36 they watch and are thought worthy to escape these things they raigne with Christ and have part in the first resurrection Rev. 13. God therefore sends vs to see when this vial is powred out or at least to heare that voyce It is donne or that Babylon is fallen is fallen c. Which seeme to follow close after the powring out of the seaventh vial that it may drive vs to repentance before such lamentable iudgments fall on vs at least on all them who pertaking with her in her sinnes are sure to receive of her plagues a thing that is not enough regarded by many in England Christ also comes as a thiefe in the last day And then when he shall looke on the soules of many who have had voices in Synods upon the soules of many a preacher of many an officer and many a hearer and shall see there is little in them but the Canons and ceremonies of the pretended church and a reverent opinion of them because of theire pretended antiquitie or if they have knowledge and zeale in many other things as the Papists have in some they withall have zeale and ignorance
in theese and theire feare towards him hath beene taught by the precepts of men doe you thinke he will ackowledge this for his marke or that it may stand together with his as some thinke it may in Papists who hold the Christian faith and truth in many things and that he will not rather say unto them who required these things at your hands And not rather to abide in the word and suffer your wayes to be reproved by it Ioh. 18.37 for every one that is of the truth heareth my voice he watcheth and keepeth his garments that ye would not doe in these things but persecuted them that haveing the marke and testimonie of Iesus would have drawne you to it but ye have mocked at theire arguments and rejoiced to see them prohibited and trodden vnder foote so wretched is the condition of many of the Prelates and theire defenders in England And indeede nothing doth more shew the Rottennesse of theire cause and that they are not of God then theire forbidding of bookes written in defense of Gods ordinances about the presbiterie and power he gave each church in election of presbyters excommunication c. wherein they have beene such cruel adversaries that they have by suppressing all bookes and preachers that doe but touch on these points left men no meanes of defending or knowing the truth in such cases like the Philistins who suffered not a Smith in the land of Israel saying 1 Sam. 13.19 least the Hebrewes make them swords or speares This thing alone sheweth that so great power as Bishops have in the church can not be of God and that it serveth chiefely to suppresse the truth and forbid the defense thereof in these things and in those others about Gods free-grace in election free will perseverance of the saints or any thing else that either they doe now or may hereafter prohibit in doctrine discipline or ceremonies as in like manner the church of Rome did in one thing or other till at last she became full of abhominations and filthines the first steps whereof were the establishing and increasing the power of Bishops against the presbiterie c. which gave them power to effect theire pleasures in these and all other things About the yeare 400 a councell in Carthage did forbid to reade the bookes of the Gentiles but allowed them to reade the bookes of the Heretiks the Decree whereof is amongst the Canons collected by Gratian. Histor of the counc of Trent p. 472. This saith a learned Author was the first prohibition by way of Canon for in the church of Martyrs there was none The bookes of Hereticks containing doctrine condemned by Councels were often forbid by the Emperours for good government So Constantine forbad the bookes of Arrius Arcadius those of the Eunomians and Maniches Theodosius those of Nestorius Martinus those of the Euticheans and in Spaine King Ricardus those of the Arrians But this is no warrant for Kings or Prelates to forbid those which are written in defense of the presbiterie or any of Gods ordinances It sufficed the Councels and Bishops to shew what bookes contained damned or Apocryphal doctrine Idem So did Gelasius in the yeare 494. and went no further leaving it to the conscience to avoide them or reade them to a good end After the yeare 800. as the Popes of Rome assumed a greate part of the politik government so they caused the bookes whose Authors they did condemn to be burned and forbad the reading of them Notwithstanding one shall finde but few bookes forbid in this sort till this age Martin 5. doth in a Bull excommunicate all the Sects of Heretikes especially Wicklifists and Hussites not mentioning those who reade theire bookes though many of them went aboute Lev. 10. Condemning Luther did with all forbid his books upon paine of excommunication After Popes did the like The Inquisitors made Catalogues of those whome they knew Philip King of Spaine was the first that gave a more convenient forme in the yeare 1558. making a law that the Catologue of bookes prohibited by Inquisition should be printed After this example Paul 4 caused an Index composed by that office to be printed in the yeare 1559. At last all they pleased were fetched into this number to deprive men of all meanes of knowledge A better mysterie was never found then to vse religion to make men insensible So doe English Bishops who though they follow not the same forme yet they vse another as rigorous and prevalent They have the licencing and censuring of bookes in these cases and so are both Iudges and parties they can scoffe suspend fine imprison silence and degrade whom they please yea men in these cases goe in jeopardie of theire liveings and lives by which meanes as by the weapons of their warfare they must needes obtaine their cause as the Romanists have theires so like are they in som things to Babylon the mother of Harlots Ioh. 8.43.44 and to those Iewes to whom Christ saith Why doe ye not vnderstand my my speech even because ye cannot heare my word ye are of your father the devill and the lusts of your father ye will doe he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth he is a liar and the father of it And because I tell you the truth ye beleeve me not He that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore heare them not because ye are not of God Iudge therefore whether it be not with good cause that som English who hold with the Geneva and french reformations have said that the English hierarchie dominion and practise of the Prelates and many of theire canons customes courts and ceremonies are popish and a parte of the marke of the Beast not so much in those who have of infirmitie subscribed yet doe not defend them as in them that maintaine these things scorne them that doe not and will not see the mischiefes that follow that in these cases men cannot without great trouble freely speake or write the truth to convince them that they bring forth popish fruits flatterie superstition ignorance non residencie ambition prophane mocking newtralitie Episcopal tyranie wicked policies Arminianisme and the like and that therefore they ought to be abolished That these evills doe so increase through theire power and practises that they may justly feare that Christ will one day shew them to theire cost that this maintaining of them against the reasons and proofes of them that in the reformed churches hold the ordinances of God is not to savour the things that are of God but those that are of men not to have the marke of God but rather that of the Beast that at least som of them are in divers respects Popish and tend to poperie and that therfore if to maintaine that they ought to be obeyed be neither directly nor indirectly to worship the beast and his Image or take a part of his marke yet they have theire
originall and first authority from her who taxing the offices and ordinances of Christ of insufficiencie for the government of the Church is the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth that the mysterie of iniquitie began to worke in these things and when they are vtterly confuted or taken away it will begin to cease working Rev. 16.17 In that theire last plague this voyce will be heard It is donne That while Christ is thus spoken against in his officers and ordinances the hearts of many are discovered that they stand not so much for the truth of God as the traditions of men That they in England who make these things indifferent innocent and trifles doe cover with a covertng but not of his Spirit they full of wrath doe not favour the powring out of the last vial much lesse pray for it though it be a greate mercie to his people and onely full of wrath to his enimies That the Kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof which all Christians should seeke doth suffer more prejudice by such temporising and daubing then by the malice of such as are the profest enemies of religion That they have hereby so vpheld the power and rigour of the Prelates that men begin to crie out that vnder colour of maintaining theire authority they shake the defence of Religion against Papists and bring in the defense of Altars Images such precisenes in ceremonies that wee are like to be coosoned of our Religion and loose it in the fire of humane inventions diocessan power superstition avarice ambition and persecution as by the same meanes and the like the Church of Rome lost the love of the truth and was given over to strong delusions to beleeve lies vnto the everlasting ruin of many millions of Soules which is an evill so greate and so sure a roote of all evils that the Church of England and all the Soules therein should rather seeke to prevent it by watchfulnes and due reformation then by mocking and scorning the reasons of reformists as groundles opinions full of curiositie schisme and puritanisme to discover theire owne shame and keepe the way broade to her owne corruption and ruin or at least to the corruption and destruction of many thousands of Soules who live in the pale of that Church and covering themselves vnder the vaile of conformitie are Popish or newters or meere civil men or Prophane or persecutors and will not be made to see that in this manner the church of Rome began to be Babylon And yet in the meane by her prosperitie and deliverance from heathen persecutions she iudged her selfe to be beloved of God and that he was well pleased with the authority of her Prelates traditions inventions and ceremonies as Philip King of Spaine hardly escaping a danger at sea saide Histor of the counc of Trent lib. 5. pag. 417. he was delivered by the singular providence of God to roote out Lutheranisme which he presently sought to doe as English Prelates thinke God hath longe preserved them in theire pompe and power to roote out reformists called puritans and iudge of the favour of God toward them theire hierarchie and traditions by the deliverances from the Marian persecution the Spanish invasion and the longe time of peace and prosperitie they the Church hath enioyed when all other Churches have beene vnder the crosse A strong evidence say they that God was therewith well pleased which is the argument of them that burnt incense to the Queene of heaven for then say they wee had plentie and were well and saw no evill Not considering that in the Spanish invasion and the powder treason the axe for some sinnes was laide to the roote of the tree that though God seeing some in that land did seeke the truth and mourne for the abhominations that were donne therein did in mercie spare the same yet his mercie and longe suffering leadeth to repentance That Rome and Italie from the time of Constantine to the inundation of the Gothes and Vandals enjoyed as greate peace and plentie and no doubt glorified her selfe therein that her hierarchie traditions and ceremonies which then had not donne much more hurt to the Kingdom and truth of God then the English now have were pleasing to God seeing while other Churches were plagued she was at rest Athanasius Basil travailing in the East and groaning vnder the burden of the Arrians and other miseries writ to the Bishops of Italie and France Basil Epi. 70. Epist 78. It beeing impossiblo say they that they should be ignorant of our miserable estate so well knowne through out the world Therefore they redoubled theire letters conjuring them to informe the Emperour of these troubles in the East from whome and not from Damasus they hoped for redresse But in the meane the Churches of Rome Italie and France beeing in prosperitie neglected theire afflicted brethren Epist 10. and were no comfort to them For if the Anger of God saith Basil continue still vpon vs what comfort will the pride of the west afford vs who neither do know neither yet will have the patience to be rightly informed of the truth of things c. wee have saith he venerable brethren set our eyes vpon you but our hope hath proved vaine c. And yet this thirteene yeares longe do wee continue in this war Which in effect hath beene the complaint of the french and German Protestants to the Prelates of England from whome they have found as litle pitie and helpe in theire distresses The arme is oft let blood to cure som part of the body 1. Pet. 4.17 If iudgment as it oft doth begin at the howse of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel Therefore seeing in the English reformation many Popish things were left vnreformed she hath cause to feare it will be saide of her as somtime of Iudah Ier. 3.10 Yet for all this her trecherous sister hath not turned vnto me with her whole heart but fainedly saith the Lord. But let the Church of England therfore take heede that she do not now glorifie her selfe as foolishly as the Churches of Rome and Italie then did Rev. 18. Chap. 3. and now doe to say J sit as a Queene and am no widdow and shall see no sorrow or like Laodicea who saide I am rich and increased with goods and have neede of nothing and knew not that she was wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked When the last plague is ready to be powred out Christ saith Behold I come as a thiefe That is to judge and plague such secure ones And indeede as now so in those dayes the Churches of Italie were in greater pompe and prosperitie then any other Christian Churches but withall theire feare toward God was more taught by the precepts of men there was more superstition and Ecclesiastical tyranie therefore they were not more happy but indeede more miserable as the