wisdom to know the full number of the Beast Truly Sir I do with you confesse that I have searched the Scripture from my childehood neglecting no part of the Old and New Testaments and that I have much enquired into those mysteries couched under the Visions of the Prophets but especially those shewed by Christ himself to John in his Apocalyps as that contracting the rest belonging to his and after times into a methodical Abridgement My ground for it was this Because I found a peculiar blessing attributed to those who read hear and keep the words of this Prophecie as that containing the whole testimony of Jesus being so full as nothing can be added to or detracted from it without a dreadfull curse Revel. 13. 19. 10. 22. 18 19. and from hence concluded That there was a divine Treasure of heavenly wisdom enclosed in this precious Cabinet and being a Prophecie of all Gospel-times that the several dispensations of God proper to every period with Satans opposite works was here included which no plain Text of Scripture so fully evidences and that the knowledge thereof would be as a pillar of Cloud to direct us in every age to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes thorow his several administrations and a true light to discover those Rocks of error which men running against hazard the wracking of their souls and that this being veiled from the sight of the world under dark Types that so Antichrist fore-prophesied of might have closer and freer entrance requires the more industry to draw it out Neither was the highest reach of my capacity able to dive so farre into these secrets as to discover the Beast farther then the Pope and Bishops till the Spirit who only knows the deep things of God removed farther from mine eyes that veil cast upon the eyes of all Nations Isa. 25. 7. and revealed unto me That the foundation of Antichrist consisted in an usurped power of Church-Discipline footed upon man and his will without the Call of God And that the call of God in our times is onely for separation and rewarding being during the vials pouring but in our journey toward Sion visibly separated and having but in part put off our Babylonish Garments Revel. 18 4 6. and 15. 8. And that the time for visible marriage is not till all enemies are down by the vials and God onely reigns Revel. 19. 7 8 9. Isa. 62. 5. And that all visible Church-marriage from the Apostasie till this reign is out of Gods time whose Prerogative it is onely to ordain the times and seasons and so being founded only on the Will Call Name and Power of man and not on Gods Call must be beastial And that the breathing of the Spirit in these both Officers and Ordinances in the Primitive Age the life and soul of both was since restrained being as a carcasse without a soul Ezek. 1. 4. Act. 2. 2. 1 Timoth. 4. 14. Revel. 7. 1. And then at the brightnesse of Christs coming the same Spirit of pouring and breathing returned Isa. 32. 15. Ezek. 37 9. Matth. 24. 27 28. Psalm 97. 4. Now least any mistake me as though I subverted all Gospel Ordinances we conceive that Ordinances are of two sorts 1. Such as are founded more immediately on our spiritual union and the Covenant of Grace as Ministery Baptism the Lords Supper Prayer Profession c. 2. Such as are footed upon Church-stating and appertain to Officials as Ordination Confirmation Excommunication Admission Absolution c. The first of these we say The gates of hell never prevailed against them but they were born up by the Spirit of Prophecie thorow the whole time of this deep Apostasie As teaching and Baptism was overlasting Matth. 28. 19 20. Isa. 55. 13. 56. 5. Revel. 7. So the bread and wine hold forth his death till he come 1 Cor. 11. 26. Also Prayer was alwayes 1 Thess. 5. 17. Revel. 8. 34. 9. 13. Likewise Profession continued Rev. 11. 3. The second sort to wit The Keys deemed essential to Officials were not alwayes truly used Though the name was fore prophesied to be everlasting yet {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} jad the Hand or the Keys held forth by the Hand interpreted Place is not so specified * Isa. 66. 5. But was wholly resolved in the Pope to whom another Key was given with other Smoke and Officers the Locusts Revel. 9. Neither was there any other face of Officials but amongst the Papists in Luthers time who himself was a Monk Nay the visible Church the foundation of these failed onely a sealed elect number remainod Revel. 7. 3. to 9. and 9. 4 We destroy not these Ordinances but hold that they have a being in the Scripture of truth and in the minde and desire of the faithfull And now in our return from Babylon we do as the Israelites of old carry these vessels of the Lord along with us in this our journey of separation Isal. 52. 11. but dare not officiate in them in the Territories of Babylon in which we are till we have passed by the sixth vial over the River Euphrates Revel. 16. 12. These with many other Discoveries I have received the full explanation whereof with all their Scriptures and Reasons would require a volume which neither the strength of my body or my time being now precious will permit me largely to delineate with my Pen You shall command any thing which with convenience I am able to perform And therefore Sir let me beseech you to come unto me who am not able to visit you with what friends you shall make choise of and you shall be really welcome where I will as God shall inable me grant your request by a living voice and freely hear your Answers and Objections against what I shall speak For I desire to have it brought to the Touchstone of Truth and there to be tried to the utmost And if by our confeerence we cannot be united in our Judgement yee I shall desire to be joyned with you in my Affection as highly prizing my union with all the godly With this Proviso of Aristotle Amicus Socrates amicus Plato sed magis amica Veritas Socrates is my friend Plato my friend but truth is my more speciall friend The Truths of God are to be valued above the nearest Relations Thus with my best respect remembred I rest and remain Your very loving Friend Simon Henden Bennenden Jan. 2. 1649. AN ESSAY FOR The Discovery and Discouraging of the new-sprung Schism raised and maintained by Mr Simon Henden of Bennenden in Kent Good Mr Henden I Thank you very much for your taking in good part my writing to you for your pains taken to answer me and your free imparting to me your Principles on which you go in this new way and embrace all this as no small testimony of your good opinion of and good affections toward me But having with some deliberation perused your Letter I must needs
AN ESSAY FOR The Discovery and Discouraging of the new sprung Schism raised and maintained by Mr SIMON HENDEN of Bennenden in Kent Exhibited in some Passages of Writing which have gone between Mr JOHN ELMESTON of Cranebroke and the same M. Henden Love the Truth and Peace Zech. 8. 19. Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine that ye have learned and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Haereses inimicus invenit Schismata quibus subverteret fidem veritatem corrumperet scinderet unitatem Cyprian de Unitate Ecclesiae The enemy the devil hath invented Heresies and Schisms by which he might subvert the Faith corrupt the Truth and rend Unity asunder An esse sibi cum Christo videtur qui adversus Christi sacerdotes facit Qui se à cleri ejus eâ—plebis societate secernit Idem ibid. Doth he seem to himself to be with Christ who sets himself against the Ministers of Christ Who doth separate himself from the society of the Ministery and people of Christ Published according to Order London Printed for C. Meredith at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1652. TO THE READER Gentle Reader IT is like thou hast heard the Story of the Trojan-Horse which the Grecians built by the councel of Pallas and by subtle Sinons perswasion procured to be received into Troy but to the ruine of that ancient and famous City For in the next night issued out of it a warlike troop of the most valiant Greekish Captains couched secretly therein which invaded the City and laid it waste with fire and sword Much like unto this Trojan-horse hath been set on foot here in England an Universall Toleration for all wayes and consciences in Religion No doubt it was by Satans craft and by the insinuation of some cunning Sinons It is like to redound to the great prejudice if not ruine of our Troy I mean of the Church of God in this Land and the Gospel of Christ For out of it have come forth not some small Bands but numerous Armies of ungodly Blasphemies Heresies Errours Sects and Schisms some whereof oppose the Fundamental Truths of the Gospel some disturb the Peace and Unity of the Churches All this to the great Joy of Satan and Grief of the Godly exceedingly hinders the thriving and progresse of the Gospel Out of this Womb have broken forth that execrable crue of Ranters which speak horrid Blasphemies of God of Christ of the Scriptures of the Arians Secinians and Antiscripturists who by their cursed Doctrines break down some main Pillars of our Christian Faith Out of this Womb also are broken forth another sort of erroneous Persons not so pernicious as these former though very dangerous whose Doctrines are I doubt like unto those waters into which the Wormwood-star sell and are become so bitter that whoso drinks thereof is in danger to die And of this rank are our Arminians Antinomians Soul-Mort lists Anti-sabbatarians Seekers and such like Out of this Womb also are come forth another brood not so dangerous for their Errors though some be grosse and absurd as grievous for the Rents and Divisions which they make and delight to maintain Among which our Anabaptists are the â—â—ading men After whom come up close all those other Separatists and Dissenters from us who have embraced such a Truth and Gospel as in their sense about it will admit of no Unity with us of the Presbyterian-way in Church nay scarce in Christian Communion and seem so strangely to be affected toward us as if they would not willingly allow us a place in Heaven with them nor they willingly be in the same Heaven with us It is an ancient and approved Axiom Quae conveniunt in eodem tertio ea quoque inter se conveniunt Whatsoever things agree in some one third thing they also agree between themselves What a sad thing is this then that Christians and Saints of God meeting in the one and onely corner Stone Jesus Christ upon whom they endeavour to build the whole frame of their Doctrine Worship and Discipline should so ill agree in their mutual Conversation each with other so farre disagree in the joint-Worship of the Lord that they seem to be possessed with as bitter a spirit of discord as the two Brethren the Poets fable of Eteocles and Polynices whose hatred was so unreconcilable that after Death the flame of the fire wherein their bodies were joyntly burnt would not close but did divide asunder And if that good man Linaker were now alive and should see this implacable division between the Professours of the same Gospel would he not and that justly break out with indignation against us into that his passionate Speech Surely either these men professe not the right Gospel of Christ or are not right Professours of his Gospel This is a Lamentation and this shall be for a Lamentation O God who art the Father of Peace O Christ who art the Prince of Peace O Holy Ghost who art the Spirit of Peace work it in the Hearts and Affections of thy Children Disciples and Saints that they may love and live in peace But to come to mine intended matter From hence also hath arisen this new forged Sect of M. Hendens of the which these following Papers will give thee a slight view and with the which I am at unawares more deeply engaged then at first I meant The brief Story whereof is this M. Henden hath been a man of good Note these many years for Profession of Religion no despiser of Learning but rather a lover of it By his private Industry he hath added to his Grammar-School-learning some Knowledge of the Original Tongues Studious also he hath been of the Scriptures unto which his retired life partly upon some bodily infirmity partly as some have thought upon some worldly Discontents gave him an opportunity and especially of the dark Prophecies of Ezekiel Daniel and the Apocalyps In the which his vein hath been to vary from the stream of other Interpreters and to produce some unusual notion of his own with no small confidence of its truth This man was heretofore a great Antagonist of the old Separatists called Brownists and with much zeal did against them maintain our Churches in England and our Ministery then as the true Churches and Ministery of Christ But now of late I know not how on the sudden it was noised abroad that he was changed in his Principles fallen from our Communion and had erected a new uncouth way by himself and much purer then any other And truly hereupon there was much flocking to him of unstable souls Much like as the Poet describes the flocking of people after Bacchus * his Orgia when they were first brought in at Thebes Turba ruit mistaeque viâ—is matresque nurusque Et vulgus proceresque ignota ad sacra feruntur The rout rung headlong and all mixt together Mives husbands and their Daughters each with other
superstitions and inventions in the room of them Christs Ordinances may and do still remain Christs Ordinances for matter and substance though in wrong hands and abused As the great Seale of the Kingdome is still the right and true Seale though in the hands of an usurping Lord Keeper and imployed to wrongfull ends Obj. But the Pope had another Key given him and other Officers as Locusts Revel. 9. Answ. Let it be so that another Key was given to the Pope viz. when he claimed to be an Universal Bishop Christs Vicar and the Head of the Church under him and so usurped an illimitted power in businesses secular and spiritual and that he had with all other Officers called Locusts viz. Monks Friars Priests Abbats Cardinals and the whole Popish Clergy yet with all subtilty he did retain the Key of Christs Discipline in Ordination Excommunication Suspension c. and made use of it to promote his own Kingdom yea and had for substance some of the Officers ordained by Christ such as were Preachers and Administrers of holy things in particular Congregations though under other names as Parsons and Vicars and not without some corruption in their admission and administration Notwithstanding as amongst all the corruptions under Popery Baptism for the substance remained true and right in as much as such as were baptized were baptized In the Name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost according to the form by Christ appointed Neither have any taught or affirmed That Baptism under Popery was or is null and to be repealed So for the substance a true and right Ministry might be and was there found viz. such a one as by which men were called and set aside to preach the Word and minister the holy things of God Object There was no other face of Officials among Papists but of these Locusts in Luthers time who himself was a Monk Answ. There was among Papists in and before Luthers time Officials as you stile them which are not to be reckoned among these Locusts but such as the holy Ghost in the Apocalyps doth honour and account of as true and worthy Ministers of Christ though what outward calling they had was from Popish Bishops and Presbyters and themselves were Monks and Friars or of some such Popish order It cannot be denied that many of those which during the Apostasie for twelve hundred and sixty years did stand up by Writing and Preaching to witnesse Truth against Popery were Bishops Priests Monks or Friars as in our England Bishop Grosted John Wickliff a Priest in other Countreys Taulerus a Preacher John Hus and Jerom of Prague Priests Savaralona a Monk and one Sylvester a Friar with many other the like All which notwithstanding that their Ordination was according to the times from Popish Bishops and their order superstitious yet the holy Ghost doth reckon of them as Christs faithfull Witnesses and so his true and lawfull Ministers and not any of those Locusts which came out of the smoke of the bottomlesse pit So Chap 1â— 6 8 9. there are three Angels which in course follow one another preaching the Gospel and declaiming against Babylon and the Beast Who are these now Not proper Angels coming from heaven but rather according to the currant of Interpreters a series and rank of Ministers which were raised up by the Lord by their preaching to make way for the ruine of the Pope and restoring the Church such as by some learned men are named in particular viz. Ockam John of Gaunt Dantes our John Wickliff John Hus Jerom of Prague Luther men that lived in the Church of Rome had their external calling from that Church were of some of their Popish orders and yet are acknowledged to be Angels as well as those of the seven Churches of Asia that is true Ministers of Christ raised sent and authorized by him It doth not then derogate from the truth of an official Ministry if he be a sound Preacher of the Gospel that a man hath been ordained thereunto by a Bishop Popish not only in regard of the Office but in Doctrine also But this acknowledgment of such for Angels doth approve such Ordination good for substance though in some things it be corrupt and defective as before I said of baptizing It is then a frivolous cavil and which by this sentence of the holy Ghost is put to silence that men make against our English Ministers as Antichristian because ordained by Bishops when such so ordained are called Angels and their Ordination is conferted on them by Bishops which were sound in the profession of the Gospel Presbyters and Preachers of the Gospel and in the worke did joyne other Presbyters with them Object But the visible Church it self failed which is the foundation of these Officials and latter Ordinances and so these must needs fail Answ. This is somewhat indeed Nay so much as will carry the cause if it be made good It is not true as is before shewed That the visible Church is the foundation of these Officials or latter Ordinances but Christs Institution and promise but the visible Church is invested with a power and right to use them and that onely and not any other civil or heretical Society and for the Churches good and service they were by Christ appointed So that if there were in those times of the Apostasie no visible Church it may be granted that they failed since there was no Church which had power to use them or for whose service they were to be used But me thinks for you to say That the visible Church hath failed is much one as if you should affirm That the pillars of the earth were broken down and overthrown For the visible Church standeth on as firm a foundation as they that is Gods Ordinance Power and Faithfulness Concerning which point by a visible Church may be meant a company of Christians with their seed joyned together in one place and setled in a right and compleat order for the worship of God and exercise of all Gods Ordinances Now that there hath been such a visible Church all along the Apostasie in any one place or in many places successively cannot I think easily be shewed nor is it needfull for this matter to be proved Next by a visible Church may be meant a company of persons professing the true Religion abstaining from false worship and worshipping God in a pure way though for the most dispersed in sundry places and meetings for Gods worship but in small companies Such a Church of God certainly hath been and shall be perpetual Such a Church of God there was in Israel under their great Apostasie viz. A company that did not bow the knee to Baal 1 King 18. 19. and did in solemn times meet for the main parts of Gods worship as hearing of his Word and Prayer 2 Kings 4. 23. though not for Sacrifice which ordinarily was onely to be offered at the Temple Such a one was there under the Babylonish Captivity
his Kingdom for they are Gods Ordinances in appointing which his soveraign Power Wisdom and Goodnesse are set forth Secondly Particularly in and by a visible Church his Worship is upheld among men his Religion is professed and the Doctrine of the Gospel published It is therefore called The Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. In and by an orderly Ministery the due honour and authority of that calling is maintained Gods holy things are ministred with the more assurance of Gods acceptation and hope of his blessing of them By Discipline scandals are prevented or healed and licentious living much restrained To deny therefore these things as unseasonable and so now unlawfull is to hinder the sanctifying of Gods Name and advancing of his Kingdome Thirdly It is against the Commandment of Christ concerning scandals which all Christians are bound to doe their endeavour to prevent or take away and for which Discipline by Christ is ordained the speciall Remedy which since you oppose what doe you but set your selfe against this command of Christ and open a Gate for sinnefull Liberty in erroneous Doctrine and loosenesse of Conversation Lastly It is prejudicial to mans Salvation which no rational man can or will deny must needs be better furthered in a setled Society of Saints under a constant Ministery and due exercise of Discipline then where none of these are But either an utter rejection of them or confusion in them And thus you have my Notions touching your new Revelations for which I have made you long to wait If you impute it to my dulnesse or sluggishnesse I will not deny it I am I confesse a man but of a dull apprehension and slow motion But I can more truely ascribe it to my late domestick troubles and sicknesse which I did slowly recover and to my want of time who have but by-times for such studies my greatest time being taken up with my School And to my pains which I have been fain to take in writing out more then one copy Now for conclusion I will onely adde a saying which Saint Augustine used unto one with whom he had debated some controversie by writing Vbiparitâ—r haesitas nobiscum quaeras nobiscum ubi pariter certus es nobiscum pergas nobiscum ubi tuum errorem cognoveris redeas ad nos ubi nostrum revoces nos Where you are in some doubt with us enquire with us where you are alike certain with us go on with us where you shall perceive your errour return to us where ours recall us And thus hoping that you will not take that with the left hand of mis-interpretation which I reach unto you with the right of good affection I rest Your truly loving and much well-wishing Friend in the Lord John Elmestone A Postscript WHat place of the Apocalyps I have before but touched upon I think meet again to propound for further consideration It is Chap. 15. 23. there John saw a sea of glasse mingled with fire and multitudes standing by it which had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his Mark and over the number of his Name having Harps of God and singing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb Now I desire to know who these can be but the reformed Ministers and people that at the first Reformation for John saw them before the Vials began to be poured out renounced the Pope and Popery and set up the pure Worship of God and sound Doctrine of the Gospel meant by the sea of Glasse there mentioned If this be so as surely it is I ask 1. How those reformed Churches then or ours in these times which are more reformed or their Ministery can be affirmed to be bestial and Antichristian when the holy Ghost doth testifie for them that they had gotten the victory over the Beast his Image Mark and the very number of his Name 2. Whether it be not a slander partly coming from ignorance partly from malice to brand the Ordination of our Ministers though by Bishops much more when done by preaching Presbyters as now is in use with fasting and prayer as a mark of the Beast when it is so plainly said that all they i. e. Ministers as well as people had got the victory over the mark of the Beast in expresse terms 3. Whether the reformed Churches which got such a victory over all these yea even the number of the Beast his Name have not cast off their Babylonish Garments For what remains of that Garment where the Beast his Image Mark and Number of his Name are cashiered 4. Whether it be not a perverse practice to reject singing of Psalms in Church-meetings for Gods service whenas that company which was with the Lamb on Mount Sion Revel. 14. 3. and this by the sea of Glasse Verse 3. are praised for giving this Worship to the Lord Lastly There are some passages in your Letter seem to have slipped from you at unwares as That Teaching and Baptisme was everlasting That Prayer was alwayes That you are in a return from Babylon and yet are within the Territories of Babylon a speech which I cannot handsomly reconcile being meant of a spiritual departure from her Vive vale siquid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti sinon his utere mecum Live and farewell if any thing you know Righter then these friendly do them bestow On me I pray if not then lo with me Make use of these which to you offer'd be A Postscript Reader I Would have thee know that M. Henden hath sent me an Answer unto this my last here printed large enough in words if as solid in Truth to the which I have begun some Reply and the Lord affording me strength and life mean to go thorow with it But in this businesse it much increaseth my labour that he hath sent to me a Copy in many places so closely written so often interlined and much blotted that in such places mine eyes thorow age being dim I cannot make out his full sense and meaning I moved himtherefore by Letter either for a fairer Copie on to print it as sometimes I was told was his intent To this request made a moneth since I can have no sair answer but what uncertain report brings me that I must content my self with that Copy as being not like to have any other from him This then is one main cause of my publishing these forâ—er passages between us that I may provoke M. Henden in like sort to publish his last writing that the Christian world may the better know the whole mystery of his new way and I may have a more plain Copy to inform my self and ground to proceed on in my intended Answer This is all and so I commend all to their impartial scanning by the word of truth J. E. FINIS The Printer to the Reader COurteom Reader Thou art desired to take notice that there are lately come out partly concerning the same subject viz. 1 A learned and full Answer to a Treatise entituled The Vanity of childish Baptism wherein the several Arguments brought to overthrow the lawfulnesse of Infants-Baptism together with the Answers to those Arguments maintaining its lawfulnesse are duly examined as also the Question concerning the necessity of dipping in Baptism is fully discussed By W. Cook Minister of the Word of God at Wroxal in Warwickshire 2. Vindiciae Redemptienis in the fanning and sifting of Sam. Oats his Exposition upon Mat. 13. 44. with a faithfull search after our Lords meaning in his two Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl endeavoured in several Sermons upon Mat. 13. 44 45. by John Stalham Pastor of the Church at Terling in Essex 3. The summe of a conference at Terling in Essex held between three Ministers John Stalham John Newton Enoch Gray of Terling of Little Baddo of Wickam Opponents pleading for Infant-Baptism and two Cata-Baptists Timotheus Bat Physician Thomas Lamb Sope-boiler of London Respondents denying Infants-Baptism John Geree's Sifters Sieve broken or a Reply to D. Boughers sisting my Case of conscience touching the Kings Coronation oath Two Books of his in Defence of Infants-Baptism in answer to M. Tombs Objections c. 4â— M. Nehemiah Rogers a learned and reverend Divine now of New England discovering the cause of Gods continuing his wrath against this Nation All to be sold at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard See John Hollands Paper of the Ranters * Pardon the simile the man is unlike Ovid Meta. 3. * This in Mr Henden was quoted Isa. 66. for 56. which errour I not finding out said nothing in this writing to that place