Sermons nor yet by their bookes which are full fraighted with false doctrines and confirmed and countenanced not onely by the Kings authority and power but also by wresting and false interpreting of the Scriptures and by alledging of popish Fathers which through the great ignorance of the people doe greatly prevaile btt then shall be abolished through the word and spirit of god his two witnesses in the mouth of his servants Rev. 11.3 and 19.10 who by word and writing shall breed such knowledge that none of wisedomes children shall be deceived Another reason why so many good people are now deceived is because we that have most truth are most persecuted and therefore most poore whereby we are unable to write and print as we would against the adversaries of the truth it is hard to get our daily food with the labors of our weak bodies and feeble hands how then should we have to defray other charges and to write and print I have through the help of god out of his word made a scourge of small cords 2 Pet. 2.2 wherewith Antichrist and his Ministers might be driven one of the Temple of God Also a declaration of certain false translations in the new Testament but I want wherewith to print and publish it therefore it must rest til the Lord see'th good to supply it It is the kings honor to search out a thing Prov. 25. Exod 3.6 In mean while I humbly intreat his Majesty and Parliament to give me leave to prove the Bishops with one question by which you may perceive the ignorance of your Bishops 't is this how they will bee able to prove a resurrection from these words I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Onely from these words will they prove the resurrection if they be the Bishops of Christ for he proved the resurrection from hence Luk. 20.27 The question is hard I grant but if their Lordships be not able to interpret it according to the meaning of Christ as I am sure they are not then it will be another cause very sufficient for their deprivation from their Lordly and idol offices and princely livings But because most men do wrest and mis-interpret the Scriptures some of wickednesse and some of ignorance for the utterance of their doctrines and so deceive both Prince and people I will shew how you shall perceive it lest thereby you still be deceived Every Scripture therfore mis-interpreted do make a contradiction As for example M. Iohnson one of the Preachers called Brownists to prove Rome a true church alledgeth 2 Thes 2.4 where the Apostle sheweth That the man of sin and son of perdition sitteth in the Temple of God which words Temple of God he interpreteth to be the church of God whereby he doth greatly erre for then such interpretation will contradict this scripture which saith 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of God is the pillar and ground of truth But if the man of sin sitteth there Rev. 28.2 Rev. 18 4. then it is a hold of foul spirits a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird as the Scripture speaketh yea the pillar and ground of falshood and not of truth Neither would the Lord call his people out of her as he doth if it were the true Church Rev. 12.13 14. Also if the temple of God in that place be interpreted the church of God this foul absurdity and contradiction will follow viz. that the Church called the woman to whom were given two wings of a great Eagle that she might fly into the wildernesse from her persecutors for a time times and half a time was not persecuted neither yet did sly into the wildernesse so long a time Neither yet was the Church called both woman and whore Re. 17.1 5. also great Babylon the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth drunken with the blood of the saints and of the martyrs of Iesus as the Scripture testifyeth Again if that be the church of God where the man of sin sitteth then the winepresse was not troden without but within the Church and so it also crosseth this Scripture which saith Rev. 14.20 the winepress was troden without the City so that blood came out unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs Ergo a false interpretation Moreover we are not to understand the word Temple at all times to mean the Church for when Christ said destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again did not mean the church nor yet the materiall Temple wherin he was but meant his body yet the Jews understood the word Temple otherwise even as Mr. Iohnson c doe here understand the word Temple otherwise then the bodies of peoples multitudes nations Rev. 17.5 and tongues which they ought not to doe Likewise Paul when he said If any man destroy the Temple of God him will God destroy did not mean the Church but the members of the Church So when he said the man of sin sitteth in the Temple of God he did not mean so much as the members of the church much lesse the church Therefore it must be understood that all those in whom the man of sin sitteth are called the Temple of God onely in respect that the Lord hath bought them for the Lord hath bought all men 2 Pet. 2.1 1 Joh. 2.2 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 7.23 Lev. 18.6 even the false teachers that deny him Therefore no man is his own in that respect but the Lords Also the Bishops themselves to prove brothers and sisters children may marry alledge Lev. 18. But that Scripture do not prove such marriages but the full contrary for it saith none shall come near to any of his kindred to uncover shame But brother and sisters children are kinsfolks Lev. 18.17 therefore they may not come near to uncover shame for that were wickednesse This they must confesse or else prove that brother and sisters children are not kinsfolks which they cannot seeing then brother and sisters children cannot call cozen and so all cozenship is blotted out by their doctrine for uncles and Aunts call their brothers and sisters child nephew neece Thus many Bishops and preachers do deceive Kings Princes and peoples by wresting and misinterpreting the Scripture Col. 2 8.1â— Therefore I earnestly desire your Majesty and Parliament to beware lest there be any man that spoyle you through Philosophy and vaine deceit through the Traditions of men according to the rudiments of the World and not after Christ 1 Tim. 6. â— 20 21. â— And to avoid profane and vain bablings and Antithesis or opposition falsly called learning which while some professe they have erred concerning the faith And now O King Prince and Parliament open your eyes and listen your eares unto compassion and mercy 2 Cor. 5.10 Mat. 5.45 Ver. 21 22. Lu. 18.7 8. 2 Thes 14.8 Jam. 1.5 6.
therefore Christ commanded his disciples to teach all nations and baptize them that is to preach the word of salvation to every creature of all sorts of nations that are worthy and willing to receive it and such as shal willing gladly receive it he hath commanded to be baptized in the water that is dipped for dead in the water and therefore the Apostle saith Else what shall they do who are baptized for dead 1 Cor. 15.19 Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 Luke 8.37 if the dead be not raised why are they baptized for dead And therefore he saith we are buried then with him by baptism c. and it is to be wel observed that when Christ would have preached the word of salvation to the Gadarens he did not compell them when they refused but finding them unwilling to receive him and his word Luk. 9.54.55 he turned from them without hurting them also when James and John saw that some of the Samaritans refused Christ they would have commanded fire from heaven to consume them as Elias did but Christ rebuked them and said Ye Know no of what spirit are for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them By all which it may please his Majesty and Parliament to take knowledg that Christ will have none consumed with fire and sword for not hearing and not receiving his Word And that howsoever it hath been the mind of Antichrist to destroy mens lives for Religion and therein have not spared neither Prince no people yet it is not the mind of Christ that Princes should destroy their subjects nor yet that Subjects should destroy their Princes for difference in Religion And therefore why should Bishops perswade Princes and people and why should King Prince and people be perswaded by their Bishops and Ministers to be contrary minded to Christ verily it is a notorious and plaine token of a false faith and discipline that is defended by fire and sword the power and authority of Princes And they cannot be Christs Bishops and preachers Christs Bps. will not bee Lords ever the consciences that perswade Princes and peoples to such antichristian tyranny and cruelty And it is very evident that those Bishops and Ministers which give over men and women to the Magistrate to be perswaded by persecution doe shew clearly that their doctrine is not good and that they want the word and spirit of God and therefore flee to the Magistrates sword for the forcing of them to their faith and discipline and as the wine is not good which we are forced to drink so those doctrines are not good which we are forced to beleeve But it may be by this time all those Bishops who unfainedly fear God and truly love the King wil haste and make speed to come unto his Majesty for pardon acknowledging the truth of this book confessing their ignorance and arrogance in the knowledge of Gods word and in compelling the people to heare the word preached and for imprisoning burning banishing and hanging for Religion contrary to the mind of Christ and also for stopping the mouths of men and burning their books that preach and write contrary to their minds and wils yea it may be they will also confesse and say Oh most gracious King we beseech your Majesty to shew us mercy and to forgive us our spirituall pride and ambition in that we have thus long usurped the blasphemous titles of spirituall Lords and Lords graces the which titles we now to the glory of God and honor of the King The Bishop â—…oe know in their consciences that this is true Iob. 32.22 Phil 2.9.11 do with unfained hearts confesse to be due and belong onely to Christ himself and that the name and title of spirituall Lord cannot belong to any earthly creature no not to the King or Emperor because it is an heavenly name and title how much lesse can it belong or be due unto us your Majesties unworthy subjects and scholars And for so much as we now understand the Lord be praised therefore that the holy and heavenly name and divine title of spirituall Lord is as much yea as high and great as the name and title of a spirituall God also that it is a name above every name which God the Father hath given unto Christ onely to the end that every knee should how unto that onely and heavenly name and that every tongue should confesse that Iesus is the Messiah the Lord unto the glory of God the Father that in all things Christ might have the preheminence for be alone is the head of the Church Col. 1.18 which is his body the which cannot bee so long as we or any other Bishops do hold and retain that divine high and superexcellent name and title of spirituall Lord because then it cannot be said that God hath so highly exalted him as to give him a name above every name seeing our names and titles are also spirituall and are called spirituall Lords so well as the son of God Iesus the messiah the remembrance hereof most gracious soveraign do make us to tremble before God and the King The Bps. in titles equall to the sonne of God And therefore we must earnestly desire your sacred Majesty and the whole Parliament to discharge and release us of these fearfull names and titles that do onely belong to the son of God Iesus the onely spirituall Lord that God hath given unto his Church Note Gods blessings iâ— expected unles these idols bee rejected who are exalted above all earthly Gods Moreover we do according to the truth acknowledge that if we should any longer retaine these divine and high names of spiritual Lords and Lords graces we should therein be intituled not only with a name equall to our Lord Iesus the onely begotten son of God but also we should be intituled with a name and title above your right excellent Majesty yea above all Emperors Kings and Princes of the earth the which alone we doe acknowledge to bee a sufficient cause to put us down and to deprive us of these usurped names and blasphemous titles Also we do confesse that our pomp and state wherein we now live is more like the Bishops of the Catholick church of Antichrist then any way like the Bishops of the Apostolick Church of Christ unto whom we acknowledge we ought to be made like and also to be qualified with the like gifts and graces of the Spirit or else in no case we can be meet Bishops for the Church of Christ as the Apostle plainely teacheth both to Timothy and Titus c. 1 Tim. 3. Tith 6.9 And we must further acknowledge and confesse that our houses housholds and revenues are more fit and meet for Princes Dukes and Earls then for the Bishops of Christ Wherfore being moved and stirred up hereto by the feare of God we earnestly beseech your Majesty and Parliament also to disburden us of this great
whatsoever For whom also and for the whole common-wealth of all his kingdoms we ought to be diligent and ready to hazard and lay down not only our goods but also our lives at all times and occasions For Christ hath onely set us free from all ecclesiasticall laws and ordinances which himselfe hath not commanded in his last will and testament yea from the ecclesiasticall laws and commandments of the old Testament Col. 2.14 Heb. 8.23 how much more hath he set us free from the ecclesiasticall laws and ordinances of Antichrist but he hath not set us free from the morall and judiciall law of God for that the King is bound to execute and we are bound to obey and for want of the execution thereof Deut 17.18 20 there are in our land many whores and whorekeepers and many children murdered besides the death and undoing of many persons about whores Wherefore I humbly desire that the morall and judicial law of God may be practised and executed of all degrees both high and low without respect of persons according to the mind of Christ for the Lord will have that every man shall love him above all and his neighbor as himself and Christ saith Luk. 6.31 As ye would that men should do to you so do yet to them likewise Therfore as the King would not have his subjects to take away his life because he is contrary to them in religion so let not the King take away his subjects lives because they are contrary to the king in religion as you would not that men should force you to a religion against your consciences so do not you force men to a religion against their consciences and as it is the duty of subjects to seek the conversion of their king State by the word of God and not his and their destruction by fire and sword So it is the duty of the King and State to seek the conversion of their Subjects by the word of God and not their destruction by fire and sword as the Pope and his Prelates doe teach Note whose vassals therein both Emperors and Kings as well as people have beene a long time both to the destruction of themselves their subjects For who knoweth not that Prelates and priests have perswaded Subjects to destroy their Kings and Princes as wel as Kings Princes to destroy their subjects 1 Cor. 3.17 6.19.20 but I pray them both to take notice that the Scripture saith he that destroyeth the Temple of God him will God destroy Let not therefore Kings Princes nor Subjects bee any longer perswaded to destroy one another through the subtletie of Bishops and their ministers who most of them onely seeke the security of their owne pompe and glory and the stablishment of their spiritual thrones therein for so long as they may confirm that they passe not who perish whether King Prince or people Again therefore I humbly pray his Majesty and Parliament to repeale and make void all popish lawes and canons and to see the moral Iudiciall law of God Frederick Iohn Palsgraves said that under pretext of the holy-ghosts office of correction little else was sought then to reigne over the consciences of the Magistrates subjects like as in the accursed popedom is come to passe c. both firmly enacted and carefully practised after the minde of Christ and them shall Christs spirituall throne be stablished in the hearts and consciences both of King Prince and People so as the Church Christs spirituall Kingdom shall increase in the knowledge of faith and obedience thereof with all love peace and charity one towards another And the common wealth of his Majesties Kingdoms will flourish and prosper and also his throne be constantly stablished both to him and his Heires throughout all his Dominions in a sure land of peace and love th' one with and towards another to the glory of God and the comfort of his Majesty and of all his Subjects and also to a famous and excellent glorious pattern of government to all Kingdoms Nations and Countries round about as in the daies of Salomon King of Israel For if the holy lawes of Gods word be practised and executed after Christs will then shall neither King Prince nor people be destroyed for difference in Religion then Treason and Rebellion as well as burning banishing hanging or imprisoning for difference in religion will cease and be laid down then shall not men women and youth be hanged for theft then shall not the poor same sick and weak ones be stocked and whipped neither shall the poore stranger fatherlesse and windowes be driven to beg from place to place neither shall the lame sick and weake persons suffer such misery be forsaken of their kindred as now they be then shall not murder whoredome and adultery be bought out for money then shall not the great defraud and wrong the small neither the rich oppresse the poore by usury and little wages then shall not men bring up and inherit others children instead of their owne neither shall an honest man be forced to live with a whore instead of an honest wife nor yet an honest woman be forced to live with a whorekeeper in stead of an honest husband Then shal not servants be forced from marriage by bonds nor yet be bound to servitude longer then six yeers neither shal they be brought up contrary to covenant nor posted from one quarter or one yeare to another for their freedom and in the end be forced to buy it of their Masters or else to goe without it too Then shall neither Prince nor people be disinherited for not being of the Church Note wel neither shall they be held lawlesse persons though excommunicated neither shal any man dare kil them as now they may and be quit by law neither shall any man feare to have his mouth stopt for preaching the truth then shall no man need to flee out of his native Countrey and Fatherland for persecution sake then shall all men live in peace under his owne vine Act. 15.28.29 21.25 lauding and praising God honoring and obeying the King Then also will no bloud be eaten among Christians whereby the Jewes should have just cause to stumble or be offended neither should any reliques of the ceremoniall law as Tithes and offerings c. be any longer in use whereby the Jewes should be hardned in their unbeliefe Jewes kept back from the faith by persecution and kept from the faith of the Messiah Then shall the Jewes inhabit dwel under his Majesties Dominion to the great profit of his Realmes and to their furtherance in the faith the which we are bound to seeke in all love and peace so well as others to our utmost endeavour for Christ hath commanded to teach all nations c. and they are the first Lastly then shall not so many Men and Women be deceived by false Ministers neither by their