are to bee esteemed vaineglorious teachers though their mouths even runne over whith all manner of art eloquence and learning And as for those that preach any thing which God hath not commaunded or perswade to conforme to any thing which is not grounded on the scriptures from these words of Saint Peter wee may safely esteeme them whether they speake elegantly or rudely but fabulous fellowes and Deceiueable doctors in taking vpon them like young masters or old Rabbies to teach defend or maintaine any thing in Gods worship which Christ the sole Doctor of all thinges whatsoeuer of Religious vse and which his Churches vpon any cause and in any respect may conform vnto neuer commanded taught or in the scriptures published or so much as once mentioned by precept or president yea obserue them wel and take heed of them these are the teachers of false Christs for they may as well teach that here is Christ or loe he is there as presse Christians to coÌ„forme to this ceremonie or that gesture of religious use in the publicke worship of God which Christ neither here nor there nor any where ever taught or in any degree or respect commanded so that if you heare any preachers teahing things with great zeale and learning which are not the direct commandements of Christ or grounded plainly in the evidence of the spirit upon the unerring rocke of the sacred Scripture I will not deny but such may speake in the power of a Spirit but certainly not of Gods Spirit For he even the Spirit of truth teaches nothing of himselfe though he be the very fountaine of all truth but onely what he hath heard in the word of the Father not that he needs any instructer or direction but that the most glorius and blessed Trinitie as the sole and onely way to preserue all true Churches or congregations in holy and heavenly unitie hath tied himselfe as it were or covenanted that though there be many other things of most admirable excellencie yet to require conformitie to nothing but those things which are written in the scriptures seeing they are fully and perfectlie sufficient unto faith or beliefe and therefore unto all manner of godlinesse the fruits of faith and so to eternall life the end or reward of faith through his name If any man therfore undertake to teach the Churches of Christ let him speake as the words of God and not as the cannons and precepts of men do enioyne for as God is glorified by those so is hee much dishonoured by these yea though they speak the wisdom of this world which the great ones Commend the learned approue and all doe generallie admire for the kingdom of God or preaching consists not in word in phrases in elegancie of speach excellencie of uttrance or in any other endowments of Art nature but in the evidence of the spirit of power when the cosciences of the hearers by the right handling of the word shall bee wrought upoÌ„ by making manifest the verie secrets of their hearts and so enforced to humble their souls and worship God and confesse not that great learning or reading is in the preacher but plainlie that God is in that ministerie indeed because it casteth down and doth not lift up as the word or doctrine of men doth because their manner of teaching is meerly carnall euen such as is approved by men but not warranted by the word strong holds or the Imaginations and Inventions of men which in a high degree do exalt themselves against the knowledge of God even against those doctrines of ceremonies callings gestures which God hath made known in the word and set mens thoughts and consciences at libertie from the obedience of Christ according to the scriptures concerning these things onelie under pretence of not being forbidden and so by their conformitie to that which Christ hath not commanded doe most strongly repaire and fortifie tâ—ose strong holds of humane devices concerning voluntary religions or ceremonies which the Lord by all meanes labours as being the greatest hinderers of the peace of his kingdome and fosterers of his rebellious enemies to haue utterlie ruinated yea and as Christ hath ordained to sanctifie and cleanse his Church by the obedience of faith which is the true conformitie of the doctrines of the word so these men by pressing conformitie to ceremonies callings and gestures which haue no warrant in the word do directly intimate though they pretend the cleane contrarie that their religion is but a doctrine of the tongue and not of the reformation of the life For if they subscribe and haue understanding of the heauenly doctrines and be able to retaine them in memorie and so at a trice can discourse or reason of them then are they absolutely qualified and excellent Divines though they make no conscience of that which they know and professe further then they see cause so indeed do most beastly pollute and by plain intimation both of their doctrine and life perswade their hearers to defile the Church of Christ and to take away the beautie glorie of it which is to be free froÌ„ human inventions to fill it with all horrible spots and wrinkles of worldly traditions that so it may never be holy but full of blame Are you not ashamed you deceitfull guides to cast abroad these firebrands and mortall insinuations in your lectures sermons or writings coÌ„versations and yet protest you meane no hurt is not your fiery heat in these courses a fained madnes or doe you make any more conscience thereof then of your play or sporte Yea say they our purpose in so doing is to do much good for we teach presse that in this conformitie which we so perswade unto every one should come with a good honest heart to perform these actions gestures withal for that is it which the Lord requires yea hee will passe by much infirmitie where he findes true sinceritie So that belike if men seem to haue good affections that shall be sufficient warraÌ„t to iustifie any strange or vncommanded gesture or ceremonie in the publicke worship of God yea though it be never so wickd at least in appearance and Idolatrous an action yet if they meane well and beleeue as the Church beleeues that these things are indifferent and lawfull or not forbidden all shall be exceeding well and what I pray you if the Iewes with good and honest hartes even sincerely purposing and verely intending to winne them vnto God do marrie wyues of Ashdod Amon and Moab dare you say these mariages are lawfull or can their Children euer possibly for all this good meaning speake the language of Canaan sincerely or trewly no verely though you charge them vpon paine of death to prepare them selues therevnto neuer so hartely yet doe you but presse them to a thing impossible be not wiser then God least it
a spirit in man and therefore it may bee that some are called spirituall men yet we should allwayes find this to be true in all controversies o◠proceedings about matters of Religious nature not many such how excellent soever much lesse the greatest part of them though most wise after the flesh no though their counsell in their dayes be esteemed as free from error as the oracle of God are notwithstanding chosen of God to doe any speciall good to his Churches or servants for indeed though their titles be spirituall yet their wayes and courses doe plainly testifie that their hearts are Carnall and fleshly and therefore they do not savour the things of Gods spirit no they seeme meere foolishnesse unto them because indeed they are spiritually discerned therfore they esteem them verie fooles and asses that will loose a good living rather then conforme to mens Inventions in Gods worship thus doe they assume that sufficiencie to themselues which is wholy of God Almightie whose inspiration onely giveth understanding especially in all matters of Religious use and yet will these aspiring spirits presume to set the H. Ghost to schoole most presumptuously reade large lectures of discretion unto him in his servants because they will not conforme without his direct warrant pretending that there is great truth no lies in the things they presse and yet cannot possiblie proue them to bee commanded of God as all trueth necessarie for the Church to conforme unto is as though if there were any kind of truth in them the holy Ghost would not lead and direct us therein and least they should put this off as a peculiar promise to the Apostles he hath purposely by precept and practise expresly in all such occasions tied us absolutely to the Scriptures you haue done foolishlie therefore in this O yee reverend and learned men that ye◠haue not rested on the word of the Lord in these thing in controversie which you so eagerly presse conformitie unto but as it were upon the hoast of the Aramits on the Ancient fathers general counsels and canons humane reason and the learning and wisdom of the world heare therefore the word of the Lord henceforth you shall haue wars one or other shall set upō your ceremonies all other your humane inventions and never giue that argument over till all ordinances in the Church which God hath not planted by the authoritie of the Scriptures bee utterlie rooted out And this your Idoll of conformitie the ripe fruit of your proud hearts wil deceiue you yea though thereby you are growen confident because you haue at length setled your seats as safely as in the clefts of the Rock and made your nests the verie next to the Eagle himself in the supremest mountaines of the highest Region yet will I bring you down from thence saith the Lord for though by thy wisdom and deepe pollicies or undiscerned subtleties thou hast gotten thee great riches and prefer 〈…〉 nts and hast increased very greatly thy power and authoritie and so art lifted up in thine heart as in a chaire of securitie conceiting thy selfe that thou art wiser then Daniel and hast more learning and wisdom greater reason and stronger arguments for thy conformitie then all those that are of perfect or sincere hearts towards the Lord and are contrarie minded and therefore dare no way conforme unto you with whom their feare even hee whom they serue will shew his strength yet behold God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound you that are so wise yea vile and despised persons which in the opinion of the world being compared with you did not so much as seeme to exist or bring to naught your strongest arguments for this your great goddesse conformitie and that by a plaine demonstration of their vanity yea though they be neither prophets or sons of the Prophets nor so much as brought up at the feet of some prophet but in comparison meere strangers yet they bee as a terrible nation and their arguments shall be as drawen swords against the verie beautie of thy wisdom yea they shal defile thy brightnesse your so admired vnderstanding by laying open your most dissembling and cunning practises yea in some of you horrible and fearefull blasphemies Many haue had I confesse too religious estimation of your learning and other venerable endowments but finding it plaine that in this Controversie with poore Christians you haue cast off the word of the Lord and trust in violence and wickednesse and stay thereupon for the iustifying of your courses not regarding the lawes of God or man but by one devise or other will breake through all therefore there is great hope that this iniquitie which lies swelling within you will make you so top-heavie as your verie height the onely thing you so wisely foresaw to be necessarie and therefore so providently by your deepe reaches haue attained will be an unavoydable cause of your sudden and violent downefall yea and with that detestation as no one humane invention seeme it never so tollerable shall bee left for the meanest use and office in the worship and publick service of the Lord no not so much as a little sheard to fetch fire or water for as all Gods ordinances are good so no humane invention of religious use in Gods worship can be good no not one And wheras it is obiected y t the reverend Fathers of our Church hold thē lawfull and good Iure diuino even so that Reuerend father Deterano Chamberlen to Vrban 6. publickly taught with great approbation of many great Divines that the verie meaning of Christ in saying giue to Caesar the things that be Caesars was but till his ascention and that when he was lifted vp he would drawe all these things vnto him that is Baronies Earledomes yea and kingdomes too even all that was Caesars and that it is therfore of Diuine Institution that the ministers of the Gospell might challenge and enioy these things as their proper and peculiar right both revenewes and honours and that it was grievous sacriledge for any prince to withhold the same or any ciuil authority from them or to this effect was that which he held which hath sprong out of that slip which he then set the seueral plants wherof haue wōderfully thriven in al christendom so likewise many great schollers and very learned divines haue held it an invincible argument that the Popes gouernment Hierarchie and supremacie is lawfull because it hath prospered and so long endured with good success for els say they God would neuer haue suffred it Is it not also avowed by many wise and reuerent Doctors that Iames the brother of our Lord according to the flesh did bring in the Masse and ioyned it to the scripture and therefore that it is of Apostolicall institution and ought to be conformed unto In like
CERTAIN REASONS OF A PRIVATE CHRISTIAN AGAINST CONformitie to kneeling in the very act of receiving the Lords Supper By Tho Dighton Gent. GAL. 6. 9. Let us not be weary of wel-doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not Anno 1618. TO AL PRIVATE CHRISTIANS VNfaignedly desiring to serue the Lord Christ and preparing themselues gird up the loines of their mind wait for his appearing grace and peace be multiplied for euer BRETHREN hearing what paines and labour many of your reverend and learned Pastors who sometimes were otherwise minded doe lately vndertake in many places by their publick teaching and example by their priuate conference and all other meanes possible to perswade to conformitie I am bold lest they should reioyce in your flesh to present this my poore mite vnto your godly consideration as casting it into our Lords Treasurie most humbly beseeching those that are rich in grace and haue siluer gold and precious stones conferred vpon them to offer them freely and seasonably for the seruice of his Sanctuary euen to build vp the decayed places of the gates barres and walles of the most holy Citty Alwayes prouided that nothing be done confusedly or at a very venture vpon the warrant of no ill meaning or a supposed liberty as if it had been sufficient to bring wood and timber stone and morter and all other needfull prouision in all abundance of any kinde or fashion length bredth thicknesse or temper even as the most learned and wise of those times thought meet and not to haue every thing fitted and prepared by the Lords owne direction so as there may need neither axe nor hammer nor any toole of Iron to be heard to reform and amend the same but if any thing be not well to put to or take from as occasion shall require No no all Gods outward worship and publicke or divine seruice must in every part and ceremony or gesture thereof bee so pure and free from all kinde of mixture of any humane invention as all things of the very least moment whatsoever being directly ordered according to the patterne shewed in the Mount of Gods holy word every beleeuing heart may reioyce at the most comely order and holy beauty of Gods own Ordinances and adiudge it high presumption to tender any innovation by farre-fetcht devices and novelties or some old Tradition or worme-eaten Ceremony full of incertainty to the direct disabling of the all-sufficient truth and offence of tender consciences In all humilitie therefore labour to be able to giue good and sound reasons why you dare not conforme to the questioned gesture and ceremonies nor to any thing else which is not within the compasse of the most vn-erring patterne the holy word of the all-commanding God and bee sure to build your refusall safely upon the rocke and not upon the sand vpon the commandement of Christ and not upon your owne humours or any mens iudgement and practise be they never so learned zealous and holy yea in whatsoever you haue not Gods word for your warrant Thus saith the Lord thus did our Lord or the Lord never tequired this at our hands therein submit your selues lovingly and peaceably yea most readily to them that are over you in the Lord. And in any case nourish not that most pestilent humour of that man of Sinne a delight in opposition to superioritie but in all humility in matters that are but meerely grounded on opinion and not on the Scriptures thinke better of other mens iudgements then your owne for God giues no saving grace but to the humble to the humble in deed not to the humble in shew Get this vertue therefore my brethren for then the yooke of Christ which now you are to draw in will be most easie and without griefe and his burden part whereof you are presently to beare light and full of comfort yea though you be made the gazing-stockes of the world and be hated and scorned of all men as the very off-scouring of the earth for bearing witnesse to this part of the truth yet shall you by humility bee inabled with much cheerefulnesse and spirituall consolations to endure all things and to suffer all things yea consider I pray you that the very true and most direct way to reigne with Christ hereafter is of necessitie to suffer for him in this evill world and to suffer for any part of the truth in Gods worship is to suffer for Christ Beleeue it therefore as verily as you doe any other thing that God hath purposely predestinated you to these particular trials euen in every circumstance and instrument thereof Seeing then you must drink of this Cup pray heartily that his name may be glorified and then what matters it though wee be despised disgraced scorned and derided so long as our Lord and master may haue honour thereby Will not every true hearted subiect suffer and endure any paines trauell or losse of goods and life for his King and Soueraignes sake yea and that most cheerefully with a manly and valiant courage And shall not we much more doe the like for the King of Kings who hath done and suffered a hundred thousand of millions more for vs he lost not an eye a hand or a foot for vs but was content to giue his whole body and soule also yea he spared not his whole person for vs and that also when we were his enemies he suffered disgrace not onely before the Princes but all manner of contempt by the vilest and of torment by the cruellest yea and the most grievous paines that the fierce wrath of God in all extremity of his iustice could possibly inflict upon his soule and body Doe you think he hath forgotten these things No my deere brethren in that hee suffered and was tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted yea assure your selues he puts euery one of your teares into his own bottle obserues every hidden device and close practise of your adversaries keepes a Register not to be corrupted of every word presentment information or certificate that is made signed put up exhibited or uttered against you and sets downe also every disgrace and contempt that is cast vpon you and keeps a iust reckoning of every penny for fees that is exhausted from you for exactions excommunications absolutions and of whatsoeuer other open or under-hand proceedings practised against you and will assuredly call to iudgement both you and all your aduersaries and backe or hollow friends euery one to giue a particular and most strict account of all these things and to them that haue done well herein hee will giue everlasting life and glory but they that haue done ill and unconscionably rather serving the time then the Lord shall certainly goe into eternall fire Gird vp therefore the loynes of your minde and feare not them that haue onely power to imprison your bodies and take away your goods or liues let neither their perswasions
nor threatnings cause you to conforme to errour of which nature is every thing not warranted by the word of truth but feare him who when hee hath done as much as they possibly can is able also to cast body and soule into hell fire Christ saith vnto vs all Him feare even feare to do any thing in his worship seruice but what you haue good warant for under his hand and seale in the sacred Scriptures that he will not be offended at it but acceptably receiue it at your hands and so blesse the use thereof unto your soules For else at the very best that can bee sayd for it is not this directly to tempt the Lord and to dare him to his face when in his publick worship wee dare doe some things of speciall note which hee most carefully obserues and that before his face and most assured presence yet onely upon the Canons or perswasions of sinfull men not consulting with the word whether God will be pleased or offended therewith or no There is difference I confesse betwixt that which the Lord hath expresly forbidden and that which he hath not directly nor by any good consequent commanded but yet it is onely secundum magis minus to conform to the latter is to do wickedly but to subscribe to the other is to become abhominable Therefore in such cases of extremity the chusing of the lesse sinne may very well argue a most wise and carnall discretion but not any honest heart or sincere affection You know brethren that in the begining the Lord put an everlasting enmitie betwixt the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent distinguished afterwards into the Citty or Kingdom of God where himselfe is pleased to dwell as supreame Lord and King peramount ruling governing his people especially in his owne service by his owne Spirit according to his owne Lawes in his owne Word and into the Synagogue of Sathan where he also sits upon a Royall throne indeed not in his owne likenesse but most exactly trickt vp and transformed into the similitude of an Angel of light teaching by his seruants many things commendable by the light of nature yea and commanding with great authority of all possible learning reason discretion wisedome and Philosophicall vnderstanding garnished with the pretious ornaments of most admirable Oratory many diuine and excellent truths of the word but enterlacing ever and anon some doctrines of darknesse yet very covertly alwayes in outward shew for holy ends and godly purposes and never vndertaken but upon most graue and good advice yea very learned sound and divine deliberation renouncing the Divell forsooth most directly and professedly out upon him naughty meat what did ever any body meane to bestow the sealding and plucking of him the very savour or sent of him is death irrecoverable but retaining the broth wherein he was sodden or the principall brewisse or some speciall part thereof oh it is very good and most wholesome diet indeed the holy father his benedicite light upon them that saved it for else all the fat had been in the fire yea I tell you this with good houshold bread is even Angels food full glad would they be the proudest of them to lick their lips after the leavings of it though indeed every common understanding cannot diue into the deepe mystery thereof Separating from and quite banishing for euer and a day the grosser doctrines of Popery the reall presence praying to the Saints departed the supremacy of the Apostolike Sea and such like fie for shame that any body should so much as once name them seeing without all question they are most damnable and came verily from hell but yet retaining diuers gestures and ceremonies thereto appropriated and thereby first begotten oh here be many rare bits and sweet morsels euen admirable and most excellent uses of such as the Holy Ghost could never for his life foresee or thinke of and therefore indeed it never came into the minde of the Lord to require them euen because he did not prouidently enough consider what decency and comelinesse what vnity and much other vndiscerned goodnesse their generall conformity would instantly produce For seeing the Diuels to deceiue the world with greater ease and to be more free from suspition will put upon them the likenesse of Gods holy Angels why should not these againe to bee revenged on their enemies transforme themselues into the likenesse of Diuels by conforming to some of their ceremonies that so more powerfully they might draw the seruants of Sathan vnto God What if the damned crue were guld a little and some other fooles made faine a while yet were not this an admirable peece of seruice and do they not deserue all the packe of them to be hangd up yea by the very heeles that will not subscribe to the lawfulnesse hereof All which premisses being most grauely pondered and carefully considered certaine nice and nimble wits of a very deepe diuing reach and most high soaring humour are lately risen vp and now growen full ripe who haue vndertaken not to dispatch all the labours of Hercules in one houre nor by their sweet melody to make the wilde beasts the sea hideous monsters the fell fowles of heaven and all the huge mountaines of the earth in one instant to bee silent and at a trice to conforme to their measures of most indifferent mildnesse but with great facilitie though it be a very strange wonder I tell you yet do not thinke it incredible to reconcile euen these two so contrary seeds and by divine appointment directly opposite Citties O what a blessing are these peace-makers worthy to haue for the speedier and more safe accomplishment whereof they haue most wisely provided and discouered to all our horizon the full perfection of their so learned sufficiency for they haue most strongly builded and highly erected euen in the very aire a very great yea without all question the goodliest castle that euer mortall eye beheld called Saint Neuter-hall or as the base vulgar speak Newt-hall which is furnished with all store of every kinde of warlicke munition either for offence or defence so that by the place it is inaccessable and by the power of it utterly impregnable all their aduersaries may cast their caps at it the constituted Regent hereof is a most sage and honourable graue person Lorded out of their owne loynes one Grando Magnifico Cavileiro Segnioro Indifferento whose colours vnder the conduct of two great commanders they haue made full not a man missing I warrant you with most able followers of an invincible temper and indefatigable constitution neither hot nor cold neither flesh nor spirit but indifferently disposed I do not say for God or the Divell but as times and occasions do best serue for their purposes Now this is the man and these bee his forces and arguments my brethren that make strongest head against you hee perhaps will faigne hypocritically that hee is at vtter defiance
things wherein there is any appearance or likenesse of evill ye 〈…〉 forme to nothing be it gesture action or ceremony in Gods publicke worship if it be not the commandement of Christ which hath any resemblance of Idolatry in it though the Idolatry it selfe be sent packing for verily such inventions haue in them though purified never so often an Idolatheous disposition Haue you no fellowship therefore with them and so I pray that the peace of God may be with you all that are in Christ Iesus Now unto him that is able to keepe you that you fall not in these times of triall and to present you faultlesse before the presence of of his glory with ioyes unspeakeable and glorious even to God onely wise bee glory and maiesty dominion and power both now and for evermore Amen T. D. CERTAIN REASONS OF APRIVATE Christian against Conformitie to keeling in the very act of Receiving the Lords Supper THE Eternall sonne of God our blessed Lord spake alwaies to his church euen from the beginning and directed all his seruants for their manner of worship as well outward as inward even to the fathers before the flood to the Patriarks Prophetts and holy men of God after and this he did in diuers and sundry manners but now since his comming in the flesh he hath tyed all Churches and all persons that desire to haue eternall life to the sole direction of his word which is his owne and onely personall voyce and doth testifie of him whatsoever is profitable for the Church to conforme vnto either for doctrine or gouernment or for whatsoeuer else that is any way or in any degree helpfull vnto godlinesse for this and this onely is the immortall seede or the seede of immortalitie all other doctrins for any Religious vses raised els where are meerly mortall or seeds of death and therefore vtterly vncapable of any good vse in the publicke worship of God Seing then we must wholy and onely depend vpon the scriptures for direction in all the actions of Gods publick worship which are to be conformed unto let us in these controversies about kneeling in the very act of receaving the Lords supper whatsoever else is in question being of Religious use diligently give heed to the things wee haue heard and learned therein being truely or evidently grounded thereon and by no means approove in any degree of any thing else for that will make us one time or other in one thing or other to run out and fall from our first love yea doe what possibly we can to decline scatter Harken therefore to that which the Lord Iesus himselfe did purposely speake in this his own voice concerning this very point I thanke thee ô father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise hast opened or as Luk renders it revealed them to babes euen so father because it so pleased thee VVhence he gives all his â—ervants plainly to understand that all the wit learning discretion experience and Iudgement in the whole world is not possibly able to find out the mysteries of Religion or to determine with what ceremonies actions gestures Gods publick worship service is to be performed no though they be Rabbies Doctors or the most absolute teachers in Israel but that this is a speciall peculiar priviledge or grace treasured up in the word and reserved purposely for such persons as will dig and search for it and rather desire and labor to have dominion over all their known corruptions and so to bee glorious within then to exercise any outward glorious pompous domination in the world for those that rest them selves and depend on Gods holy own ordinances shall have their hearts or understanding thereby opened or inlightned so made able to know the hope of their calling the riches of the glorious inheritance of the saints the exceeding greatnes of Gods power towards al which beleeue but those that depend upon the wisdom and learning of men can not possibly attain hereunto because Gods own ordinances though they do enjoy them yet are not esteemed of them further then the excelleÌ„cy of the outward gifts therin give coÌ„tent to their senses for though they heare yet they will not do or obey all such bee they never so wise and learned are in the flesh and therefore cannot possibly please God but those in whom the Spirit of God doth dwell shal be enlightned and made able to discerne all things which the other though of never so great learning most admirable parts having even the very spirit of the world in them can not do because they have but mans wisdom that perceiveth not the things of God nay they are foolishnes unto him here therefore for distinction sake and that every one might iudge his own heart whether he be of that number to whom God hath revealed these things or no our Saviour cals them Babes not in sanctification of life and power of Gods spirit but in their sence feeling being privy to their manifold weaknesses ignorances therfore in all humblenes of mind and meeknes of spirit they renounce their owne wisedom and submit themselves to the word of God as also being in the accompt esteeme of the world when they are compared with those that be contrary minded no better then very Babes even base contemptible persons not worthy so much as to carry their books after them yet these are the people and thus must they find themselves quallified men women or children whom Christ hath chosen to Reveale his holy and divine mysteries unto So that howsoever learning and wisdom are highly to bee reverenced as being very excellent gifts of God ordeyned for special helps in the ministerie of the Church both for the finding out of the truth also for the deviding of it aright therefore they that despise them cannot bee of God yet many times men of Belial doe enjoy them even false Prophets profane preachers who are many of them of most excellent parts so that from this place it is most evident that very often and not unusually learned and wise grave and understanding men yea famous and of principall note even Chiefe Rulers and principall pillars in the Churches of Christ having as much in them for all manner of learning in humanity in divinitie and in whatsoever as nature and industrie can possibly attaine unto are notwithstanding all this more then this if more can be teachers defenders maintainers of many grosse and horrible errors yea vise and damnable heresies which yet Babes do separate and fly from if any be pleased to restraine these words of Christ to the doctrines of faith and IustificatioÌ„ though every branch haue intrest in the priviledges of the tree I wil not contend about it but onely presuming on their patience be bould
sensible savouring the things that are of men as how we ought to pitty our selues our wiues and children and so prevent the unavoidable evils of non-conformitie but yet they understand not in this poynt the things that are of God namelie that rather then we should conforme to anie thing in his worship which he hath not in the word commanded we must forsake yea we must hate or denie in this case all affection of dutie reverence loue tender care or whatsoever to father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and our owne liues also or else we cannot bee the disciples of Christ Must not these graue and learned perswaders then of absolute necessitie bee an offence unto every faithfull and tender heart Goe on therefore my brethren and be of good courage and assure your selues that in suffering for not conformitie to kneeling you suffer for the Lord Christ and to yeeld against the light of your hearts is to be ashamed of him seeing these things doe directly follow from his own words even wheÌ„ for feare of men spiritually adulterated we will conforme to things of divine use in his worship which he never commanded but are onely warranted to our consciences by the advise of the learned or the precepts of men the traditions of the Elders and other like humane authorities All which without warrant from the word even euery one of them in particular and generally altogether are Lyars and therefore all the gestures or actions ceremonies or or callings of religious use in the worship of God which they perswade unto without warrant from the word are lying gestures lying actions lying ceremonies and lying callings not but like the Divel they may speake professe and acknowledge some excellent truths but that the maine thing they aime at is to maintaine some errour or other and therefore all the volumes in the world filled with all the Art learning wisedome and discretion of the whole world compared with or set against one verse in the sacred Scriptures are to bee esteemed most filthy and stinking dung But haue we but one sentence in the Bible for a table-gesture which yet were sufficient against all humane opinions and authorities whatsoever haue we the first institution onely or barely mentioned do not everie one of the Evangelists make mention of a supper or a table of rising from supper and sitting down and of sitting even in the act of administring and receiving the sacrament yea doe not diuers places in the Acts and Epistles plainly inferre the continuance of a table gesture and therefore to bee the direct ordinance of Christ But it seems an impudent generation is come up who dare affirm that the Sunne of the Church must if they make such a charme or Canon stand still continually and not stir at all as once it did for one whole day in Gibeon but the Moone especially not to moue one inch as for that time it did not in the valley of Aielon further then they in their discretion shall thinke to bee fit and so by their wit and learning are bold to defend that the earth is in circular motion all the world and the creatures therein turning round continuallie yea they are most confident if they may haue audience to make any indifferent hearer that comes without preiudice to conforme and subscribe to â—his opinion Doth not the spirit of giddinesse possesse the heads of these men are not these the true successors of those learned Divines graue Rabbies great Doctors that still cried out to Christ Shew us a signe make it appeare that there is a Sun in the firmament proue unto us that there is a God or which was as evident that thou art the Messias Seeing then all things whatsoeuer of religious use which the father would haue the Church to know and conforme unto are treasured up in the word though every one indeed can not come at them deny this if they dare it must needs follow that either the gesture of kneeling as it is urged is a a humane Invention or as you would say in playne termes a very starke lie though hansomlie lapped up and therefore of the divell the father of lies though artificially painted perhaps by some of his limmers with the very best Italian beauties or else if it bee a trueth and therefore to bee conformed unto then there be some unwritten trueths or vereties which the Churches are bound of conscience to beleeve and conform unto and yet not commanded in the word of truth then it must needes follow besides the scriptures and either let our learned adversaries make this large breach for the Iesuites at pleasure to enter by or else for starke shame discharge no more such furious Cannon shot against our bullet-beaten fortresse The scriptures sufficiency Is it not high time to take away these presumptuous causes which purposely teach and perswade Conformity to such blasphemous doctrins out of Israel being the best seeds of the verie worst evils thereof I conclude therefore it is farre better to expose our estates and bodies to the greatest malice of our greevous adversaries by standing for a gesture without all exception then by conforming to one which that Prophet never taught no nor so much as once mentioned in that manner and forme as it is urged and so to be by him Destroyed out of the people For must we have his warrant and heare him onely in the doctrine of the sacrament and shall wee not care for his warrant nor regard what his word saith for the gesture of the sacrament And for those who in these matters of God concerning his publick worship insist so much and with such violence upon prohibitions a service sometimes not very acceptable to them crying out unto us shew one place where the Lord forbids these things and wee will yeeld that it is a damnable sin to conforme unto them I am bould with their good leave to Remember them of one other argument of the Lords own making concerning this very subiect of the actions ceremonies and gestures in this publick worship and service which he purposely framed and committed also to writing for the use of all posterity even to bee a lanthorne of our feet and an unerring light to our paths in these very occasions and in most plain evidence of the spirit it stands thus By the light of nature all mankind knows that there is a God therfore everie one wil worship him as wel as he caÌ„ though it bee not according unto knowledge to glorifie him as God for that is impossible without direction from his spirit according to the scriptures but though they have excellent wisdom and admirable understanding yet even the learnedest of them when they professe themselves greatest Clarkes proue themselues the veriest fooles because they become vain in their thoughts their foolish hearts are full of darknes for they turn the glory of the
accursed for I am a great King saith the Lord of hosts and my name is terrible among the heathen Seeing then everie David Churches or particular persons after Gods own heart doth banish such lame ceremonies blind callings and sicke gestures from all the parts of Gods publick worship as things which his soule hateth Oh thou sonne of David smite them and deliver us from them for our verie soules doe abhorre them and put it into the faithfull heart of thy friend and servant Iacob to put away these strange Gods and earings and so to cleanse all his kingdoms by burying these humane Inventions under the oke which is by Shechem And you the faithfull servants of that sonne of David though the driving out of the temple or place or callings appointed for Gods publicke worship not onely the more grosse abuses which had been they will confesse no more then was fit and convenient but even All humane Inventions which he found therein with the sheep and oxen things commanded by God to be used in his service yet this maner of providing them and making them readie for the people of God not being commanded by the Lord made them abominable and powring out the changers mony thereby discovering the gainfulnes of those places which onely kept and held in these abuses and overthrowing the tables And the rest of our Saviours cariage who is Lord and blessed for ever when he would manifestly and mightly declare himselfe to bee the onely and sole king or supreame head of his Church in generall and of all the nationall or severall congregations therein in particular by exercising dominion not onely in the fundamentall points of faith and justification but in everie things of Religious use seeme it never so small even in these circumstances or appurtenances seemed unto flesh and bloud something rude and indiscreet and that the businesse was not so carried as the peace of that Church wherein he was borne and bred required or as the reverence of the Ecclesiasticall persons in authority deserued yea seeing as carnall reason doth think and censure these matters were but things indifferent though there was questionles many excellent parts in him yet his discenting from the Church government so ancient so reverent yea and by generall consent uppon most graue and learned consultation with all possible wisdom with such good successe so long established must needs argue exceeding great weaknes in him by our learned adversaries louely oratory because hee was so violent in these small triviall matters as if the verie substance of Religion had consisted in them surelie goodmen they seeme to be hartelie sorie that he overshot himselfe more in this then all the things that ever he did in his whole life and did not performe this action with such moderation and discretion as was fit and as a matter of such high consequence deserved notwithstanding all this and whatsoever had been or shall be said against such proceedings I humblie beseech all such as unfeinedlie desire to serve the Lord Christ to Remember that it is as a perpetuall law to bind Gods servannts even all posteritie for ever that when the outward and publick worship of God is thus corrupted and defiled by mens Inventions in the ceremonies callings gestures and actions thereof all those in whom the spirit of true Zeale doth abide must be so far of from conforming upon any termes unto these things or any of them as upon pain of Gods high displeasure according as it is written of them they must in one degree or other manifest their Iudgement in the dislike of them and everie of them yea though they expose their persons their credit and reputations to the like disgraces and Rebukes by so doing Finallie you reverend and learned adversaries seing civill policie is the strongest argument that can be pressed for that conformitie which with might and main you doe so eagerly perswade unto Consider I beseech you the issue of the verie like course a remarkable president against our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ The Scribes and Pharisees you know though still they cried out for arguments and miracles reasons and signes to prove his divine authority yet it was well knowen among themselues though they made outward shew of the contrary that hee was a teacher come from God but yet considering that his doctrine though holy and divine in all things tended directly to the overthrow of their Ecclesiastall pollicie and government so that their authoritie and dignitie their reputation and greatnesse must of necessitie come downe if the truth which hee taught were once received they concluded meerely at first in civill pollicie that though hee were a holy man in life and of great power in his ministerie and did exceeding much good thereby yea and held nothing but what was truelie grounded on the word of God yet of absolute necessitie upon the causes and considerations aforesaid he must be opposed even because hee must and so from this seeming small beginning they fell to plots and devices how to bring his opinions into disgrace with the state in generall and with some speciall persons that were of greatest and highest account therein in particular perswading them that they were his verie purposed plots and craftie devices to crosse their designes and so by degrees they came to a politicke mallice of his person arising onely from the hatred of his doctrine which was the mother of their most fearefull and finall apostasie never resting themselues till by flattering insinuations false accusations open slanders falsifying mens testimonies or depositions and like abhominable practises the particulars whereof are a most worthy worke to discover and at length by false witnesses and plaine periurie they not onely brought his doctrine and person into open and generall hatred but most maliciouslie practised and perfidiously procured his cruell and bloudie death If then in your ignorance you haue spoken a-against the Sonne of man in this cause of his servants who dare not conforme to humane inventions but labour for reformation that by the Magistrates authority al these novelties might bee driven away and their favourers whipped out of the Temple upon your repentance it shall bee forgiven but if when you haue considered their arguments and reasons against conformitie you see the euidence of the spirit according to the Scriptures appearing therein and yet for these or such like politike cōsiderations you thereunto moving you persist willingly in the defence of conformitie your case is most dangerous and to be lamented Take heed therefore of transgressing maliciously though it bee never so pollitickly the Lord of hostes the God of Israell will not be mercifull unto such the fervent prayer of all the faithfull is against it Enter not then into the Councell or convocations with the wicked how to iustifie and defend their courses or if that bee past stand not therein be not stiffe and resolute in such wicked proceedings
manner it is a receiued opinion of great antiquitie being one of the deepe doctrines of diuine Durandus that euerie sonday and holiday the soules do play in Purgatorie Are they not worthy therefore to be presented that doe any kinde of worke upon any holy day yea though it bee not in prayer time unlesse it bee to goe to the Ale-house to be merry and to leap and daunce about the May-poule after a bagpipe or so forth for that helpes forward the foresaid merriment yea our owne countrey-man Cardinall Poole a reverent Divine and as great a Scholler as any of our great Adversaries held and taught that the meaning of Christ in making Peter a fisher of men was that hee would driue all Emperours and Kings yea all the people of the world into the Popes net so that he might seeth broyle or fry them in a pan even as his Holines should think best to use and order them and his Prelates and their inferiour officers also to make their best gain and advantage of them and many other strange opinions concerning callings and ceremonies in Gods worship haue beene published by great Schollers and confirmed by whole Synods Convocations yea and generall Councels with as great probabilitie many of them and shew of all kinde of true learning as all that is which the reverend fathers and learned Divines of this age haue published or can say for these ceremonies and the other things in controversie amongst us Seing then the Church in her wisedom establised them as divine truths though not as necessarie to salvation yet profitable for unitie decencie and to try the obedience of her children why should not they be as well conformed to as ours were not their pure naturals as able to finde out some things commendable yea necessarily to be conformed unto in the worship of God though they had no better ground for them in the Scripture then as is formerly mentioned as well as the naturals of this pure or learned and spirituall age Degrees of Evill there is indeed but nature admits not any one degree of goodnesse no not one for it is starke dead in trespasses and sinnes the minde vaine the understanding darkened and full of ignorance the heart haidened not perceiving the things of the spirit of God nay it thinks them to be meere foolishenesse and more then needes even most absurd and against common sence must it not therefore be granted of absolute necessitie that all such spirituall persons as well in these times as in those by what name or title soever they be called though they haue all the learning and wisedome in the world yet if they bring not the warrant of Gods word plainly or truely for them in all their ceremonies callings gestures and other devices whatsoever of religious use are to bee held reputed and adiudged lyars and therefore all such their opinions of the Divell the father of lies and therfore by no meanes upon any tearmes to bee conformed unto was not their verbum non scriptum consuetudo sanstae Ecclesiae traditiones patrum bonae intentiones constitutiones vel canones as tollerable and necessarie as ours was it not the practise of the serpent from the beginning to proue by many wise and learned arguments that the onely way to aspire to spirituall preferments in this world is absolutely to forsake and disclaime the warrant of the sacred scripture in all matters of ceremonie and to depend upon tradition and the Catholicke grounds aforesaid Oh our most deere mother we can never forget these weightie instructions which so carefully and constantly thou hast taught unto us first that all manner of witch-craft is in the degree a direct forsaking of God and a uniting and knitting unto the Divell and therefore no manner of Witch white or blacke good or evill nor any that seeke after them ought to liue not that there is any of them good but that like other humane or divellish inventions they seeme to do good by maintaining divers in unlawfull callings and by helping some to their stollen or lost goods or others of diseases in men or beasts or the like Secondly that Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft yea that a Rebellious transgression though it bee but in ceremonie calling or gesture is a wickednesse not inferiour to Idolatrie for the same ground or foundation serues for both and that it is noâ— garments musick and such like complement that the Lord accepts or takes any pleasure in which yet hee doth in every thing of Religious use which he would haue his fervants in his worship to conforme unto but when his voyce is obeyed Now his voice is in nothing but what his word doth command therefore thou didst conclude that hee was not obeyed in any thing of religious use which was not grounded upon his commandement according to his own words whatsoeuer I command you concerning my worship that do thou shalt not add any thing whether ceremony calling gesture or whatsoever thereto for al counsels or canons or whatsoever that in Gods worship require any thing of religious use which is not the commandement of the Lord or his voyce is directly stubbornes of a wicked heart which makes to go backward from God and sinceritie to all profanes and Apostacie trueth is perished and cleane gone out of the mouth of such preachers as maintain such things and therefore thou didst charge us for ever to continue in our serving of God in all things which are written in the word of God to doe them yea them onely and not any Invention or noveltie whatsoever which unavoidably especially being once known and yet Iustified and defended will bring Gods greevous plague and curse Is the Righteousnesse of the Church Revealed in the Gospell and that not torne or patched but perfect and compleate and is the worship and ceremonies callings and gestures whereby the Church is made partaker of that righteousnesse and shewes her thankfulnesse unto God for the same but lamely taught therein or to the halues part being left to traditions unwritten verities and humane Inventions verily as in that so in these if there be any cause of Reioycing it is not with God and therefore must needs be with the Devill for what else can possibly bee found concerning the flesh bee it never so wise or learned or any work fruit or device thereof is not the Iustifying of humane Inventions in Gods worship without warrant from the word a plaine profession that they thinke though they bee not more Iust then GOD or more pure then their maker yet verily there is some iustice and puritie in their nature whereby they are able to find out a holy use of these things which God never commanded Is not this a verie naturall branch of that follie which being found was punished so fearefullie in the Angels therefore didst thou warne us also for ever to take heed of unstedfastnes
table gesture was the onely true gesture in the administration of this sacrament which at this very instant he immediatly instituted and delivered for else he would never have used it Therefore by this his own action hee hath made known to all true Churches for ever that he heard or learned the table gesture of the father and therefore they may not in any case or upon any terms conforme to any other unles in like manner it be apparant that it comes also from the father also he never made known unto them that kneeling as it is urged was lawfull therfore he never learned or heard it of his father And because the disciples should not forget this or any thing els which by precept or practise he had told them he promised to send the holy Ghost unto them both to teach and also to bring all things to their remembrance which he had told them now seeing they never used any other for it is that most fearefull sin of presumption the mother of final Apostacie to suppose they used any thing of Religious use needfull for the Churches afterward to use and Conforme unto which the scriptures do not directly mētion approue it is more then evident that they never heard of Christ that any other gesture was lawfull or mght in any respect be conformed unto in the act of receving the sacrament especially seing he bears witnes to the truth even to the whole truth not to some speciall parts onely if then this bee a gesture of trueth and the other bee ceremonies of trueth though in the lowest degree of Religious use Christ doth certainly beare witnes in the word that they are good and lawfull and then indeed wee ought to conforme unto them seeing Every one that is of the trueth heareth his voyce that is obeyeth his will and is not the word his voyce or hath he any other All therefore that conforme to any thing of Religious use without safe warrant from the word are not of the trueth but directly of error If then Christians are bound to conforme to any thing yea for conscience sake which yet Christ hath not made known in the Scriptures to bee good and lawful then do your Adversaries of necessity inferre that Christ hath not made known All things of necessary use at some times and in some cases at least in the worship of God unto his Churches and servants and so denying the faithfulnesse of his propheticall office in this particular they come neere to that Apostaticall heresie even to deny that Iesus is that Christ or that anovnted prophet whom we must heare in all things yea by this their stricte pressing of conformitie they doe intimate that he is not the Lord not Lord or author of the whole trueth for they say kneeling and the other things in controversie are not lies or novelties fantasies or Incerteinties but of the trueth and and therefore to be conformed unto and yet for their hearts cannot proove that Christ is Lord or author of them And even as he which denies the divine providence in the particular government of all things even to the falling of the hairs of our head doth say in his heart there is no God or frames his affections and disposes of his Courses as if God were otherwise then he hath in his word revealed himselfe to bee and so denying his particular providence sets up in his heart the Gods or Idols of Chance and Fortune good or evill so they that affirme that because Christ hath not particularly or expresly forbidden these things in the word therefore wee may yea and being cōmanded ought to conform unto them though there bee no warrant in scripture for thē do in effect in these hairs as I may say or ceremonies of his worship or as they count them the small and triviall matters of his service deny that he is Lord in his Church that is not such an absolute Lord as the sacred Scriptures describe him to bee and so set up in their harts the Idols of Novelty and Incerteinty or the Gods of humane Inventions and worldly traditions or the precepts and pleasures of men and so dispose of Religious ceremonies in Gods publick worship as their occasions may happen or chance to move them unto so that though without any stop they readily take the oath of allegyance unto Christ yet by a mentall reservation they intend and meane that Iure divino their callings with these appurtenāces are not subiect to the supremacy of his word Therefore let all Gods servants rather reason thus what profiteth the Image or any humane Invention Verely they are teachers of lies Doe they no good then do they much hurt teach they not the truth if they doe then Christ in the word bears witnesse unto them then do they confirme errour falshood Woe therfore unto him that saith that these devices are sufficient to teach the Churches that some good lesson or instructiō may be gottē by them no no though they be laid over with gold silver and have the most excellent and learnedest wits in the world to Iustifie and defend them yet when they haue done all that possibly they can there is no breath in them they cannot for their liues make them of any profitable use for the service of the Church in the worship of God but the Lord is in his holy temple onely in his own ordinances there is the blessing for evermore not in mens devices therefore let all the earth keepe silence before him hereafter hold their peace and never open their mouthes in the defence or excuse of these vanities But why I pray you will some say should not Images or this gesture and these ceremonies or other like humane Inventions yeeld as much comfort and stir up as true devotion in our conformitie to them as well as the Ark Cherubins or the table gesture and other of the like nature Even because the Lord in his infinite wisdom and love hath devised and commanded these and therefore how silly or contemptible soever they seeme to the wisdom of the world yet his divine power is alwayes present and doth inseparably work in the holy using partaking of his own divine ordinances but he never ordayned the other and therefore all the power which is in them is from Satan stirs up to errour and superstition or to schisme and Apostacie All the teaching and preaching therefore and other payns whatsoever undertaken for their iustification and upholding is but in vayne utterly unprofitable for the Churches of Christ for all the devotion Reverence and seemlinesse which these do beget is but vaine and deceitfull even onely in seeming not in substance For what are the opinions and imaginations of the most wise and learnedst men in the whole world not being truely grounded on the word of God are they not absolutely Evil and that not now and then or
the first verse which he had not commanded them what could it advantage them to plead as these men do the Lord hath not forbiddē it therefore we may conform unto it seeing there is no ill meaning nor any the least purpose to bring in Idolatrie or to confirme any therein but the cleane contrary as it is well enough known why should any bee so precise to abridge us of our libertie But the Lord foreseeing that all the other eight commandements would not haue halfe so much oppsition as this of his outward worship yea knowing that all the witty obiections and the very quintescence of all the subtill distinctions that the bottomlesse pit could possibly affoord would bee set abroach in these last times under colour of unity and decency for the more easie making way to the breach thereof this being the very key to all the other following for keepe this sincerely and faithfulnesse and truth will flourish in all the rest but suffer wicked men by carnal devices to make a breach in this and to iustifie the same and there will bee nothing but carnall policie and dissimulation in all the rest Now to prevent this misery which all callings and conditions else wil feele the smart of he teaches Magistrates by his owne practise how to deale with their Nadabs Abihues for every age wil haue some such and by this his argument o◠maner of reasoning teaches al private Christians how to behaue themselues in these occasions as if he had said That fire which the Lord hath not cōmanded is strange or a novelty that gesture in Gods worship that ceremony or calling in the Church which the Lord hath not ordained is strange and a meere Innovation Is it a matter of religious use yes And hath not the Lord in the word commanded it no. Then it is strange and thou mayst not in any case subscribe or conforme unto it And lest the impudent importunity of these indiffrent ones should prevaile in his Churches the Lord is pleased for our better confirmatiō to afford us this invincible reason Those that teach words in my name he doth not say which I haue forbidden but which I haue not commanded teacblying words so that whatsoever is ministerially taught and expressed in the Churches of Christ which God hath not commanded is of a lying disposition even of no other vse but to oppose the truth and to iustifie errour Those callings then which the Lord hath not commanded are lying callings Those ceremonies and gestures which the Lord hath not commanded are lying ceremonies gestures ferue for no other end but under colour to thrust out Gods holy ordinances and to bring in by degrees even any of mens Inventions But here me thinks I heare one crying out this is not to the point though they graunt all that I haue said for Nadab and Abihu were violent and vnstaied yong men and that which they did was the friute of rash and greene heads and they were neuer Inioyned by Moyses to take any other fire then that which was of Divine institution and came downe from heaven but voluntarily presumptuously without any dāger of losing their liuings or having any Ecclesiasticall ordinance or allowance for the same they very vnadvisedly yea desperatly ventred on it whereas otherwise if they had been graue and discreete persons the action not being forbidden by God the magistrate commaunding it and that otherwise they might not haue ministred at the Altar but should haue beene deprived both of their places and maintenance In such a case rather then the daily sacrifice should cease and the people be untaught it were better a thousand times to take any fire yea and to weare a fooles or a red pyde Coate in steed of the Priests garments and to conforme or subscribe to any thing whatsoever in cases of such desperate extremitie and so there appeares an exceeding great difference betwixt ther case and ours I must needs confesse this to be true and hee were worthy of a fooles Coate and cox-combe too that will not acknowledge this so great a difference in many of you But is it any other then that which was betwixt Ioabs killing of Abner in his owne private quarrell voluntarily presumptuously and of malice forethought And of Doeg that Edomite his running upon and slaying fourescore and fiue persons that did weare a linnen Ephod by the direct but most uniust commandement of Saul the annointed of the Lord Hee that voluntarily makes himselfe a Foole and a Knaue is worthy of reprose but he that is commanded to doe wickedly and damnably as to take away a mans living good name or life by some Canon-shot poyson or other damnable practise is not to be held any strange man but by this strange inference of these strange disputers to bee iustified because though to breake any of Gods least commandements even the least branch of anie of them wilfullie against knowledge and to teach others so to do or to perswade them to conforme thereto in cases of extremitie will certainlie keepe out of the kingdom of God in the iudgement or opinion of Christ yet if the magistrate will haue it so saith our learned masters sweet inference then any even the greatest commandements of Gods Law in anie branch thereof may very safely be broken without all danger conformed unto Is not this most horribly though most closely to vilify supreame authority let no sonne of Esau or cursed Amalekite gather that from hence which was never so much as Intended as if I inferred that either such an unlawfull decree may in any fashion be resisted seing all the servants of Christ though in in such cases they cannot be obedient because it is not in the Lord yet of absolute necessity they must bee subiect for the Lords sake or because David a man after Gods own heart gave forth a commandement occasionally wicked which yet being meerly civill Ioab unwillingly obeyed that therefore David is to be esteemed a Saul a persecutor an hypocrit a reprobate God forbid if it be a sin of the second table though great and filthy yet with Shem and Iaphet couer it but if directly against God confesse it if ever we looke for mercy Not but that God himselfe may dispence with any of his Commandements but for us to give this his glory or a speciall prerogative to any other is to blaspheme him that made us Moyses therefore knowing the absolute necessity in the ordinarie way to salvation of the knowledge in this principall and fundamentall poynt of faith and Religion viz. that the Lord will be sanctified both by using his own ordinances reverently and holily and especially or principally in having nothing in his publicke worship of religious use but what hee hath Commaunded in them that come neere him and can we possibly come neerer him then when we are with him and he by his speciall presence with us at his
and Saviour lessons all hearers that as hee hath manifested his love unto them in inviting them to his holie supper at his own table to partake of such heavenly comforts as the eye of man never saw so if they will prove them selves to bee his Friends indeed and not onely in shew their carriage and behaviour must in all things but especially in the actions and gestures of this sacrament being at the very time of this intimation instituted be onely as hee hath commanded and that must bee donne whatsoever it be so that not to doe all that which hee commands or to conforme to any thing which he hath not commanded is to make our selves his enemies whereof a strange carriage or gesture is more then a most strong presumption But hereto they say that not onely men whose fruits and doctrins may yeeld some preiudice or give cause of suspitioÌ„ but eveÌ„ holy and godly men such as have approved theÌ„selues in Gods house to be faithfull yet for the peace sake of the Church wherein they liue and because they would not offend others though they wish with all this hearts that all these things were quite taken away and do publicky teach that they sin in it they are content notwithstanding under going it as a heavy burdeÌ„ to conform to the ceremonies of Rome when they are there and else where as they find them established and therefore much more we ought to do the same rather then to disturbe the quiet estate of the peers of the Church who haue long lived at ease and rest As though the practise of Gods owne servaÌ„ts or true constituted Churches were a sufficient warrant to my conscience to conforme to ceremonies and gestures of Religous vse in the publick worship of God no if Peter himselfe that so loving so much regarded an Apostle will conforme to gestures actions or ceremonies not warrantable though a thousand times more as wee heard might haue beene said for him then for our ministers yet must he be withstood openly euen to his face yea in his so doing to be coÌ„demned because howsoeuer flesh and bloud can produce many strong reasons of indifferencie liberty and as matters stand conueniencie especially in respect of peace and vnity yet the holy Ghost saith plainly that whatsoeuer men pretend by preaching and manintaining many excellent truths and sincerely confuting many grosse errors yet this conformitie to ceremonies of Religious vse though it were not in the face and presence of God at his own table is not the right way to the truth or power of the Gospell vnlesse therefore wee haue warrant from the word of God for our so doing Conformitie to the things in question is without all contradiction the wrong way to the truth of the gospell thou go the readiest way in the world to any spirituall promotion and 〈…〉 hinder the efficacy and effectual working of the holy Ghost in the ministeriall functions of the Gospell yea in the Godly and best quallified servants of God it is not my collection but the plaine evidence of the spirit of truth this kind of conformity let the motiues bee what they possibly can savour most strongly of dangerous Hypocrisie because nothing can by any means be warrantable in Religion but that which is commanded by God And therfore the crowne of all ministers yea the honour of all Chrstians consists not in studying how to giue content to the world but in searching the Scriptures not once or twice ouer but daily whether the things bee so or no for that may be discerned at the seventh consideration or perusing which was thought before to be impossible to bridle that vnruly conceite which naturally excellencie of gifts doth alwaies beget Neither haue any pastors if they be sent of Christ warrant to teach to their charges or Churches and to exhort them to conforme to or obserue any thing of Religous vse but what Christ hath commanded If they do he tels them plainly he is not with them and therefore will not blesse the ministery of such in their teaching teaching and commanding being indifferently taken in the Scriptures for if Christ haue not commanded it that is if it be not taught in the scriptures it is directly whatsoever pretences are set upon it in the nature of another Gospell and the teachers and iustifiers or excusers thereof doe no lesse in effect take every one in his degree then they that teach the Gospell of Saint Thomas And therefore as those that taught his Gospell so certainely these that teach and maintaine the lawfulnesse of these unwarranted ceremonies and gestures intend to pervert the Gospell of CHRIST IESVS though not in doctrine of Iustification yet in the doctrines of Church government and other matters of religious use in the worship of God and these are they that trouble the Church or breake the peace thereof though they are most like unto him that is onely guiltie of the Fellonie yet in the pursuit cries out as mainlie as ever hee can Stoppe Thiefe stoppe Thiefe not caring who is apprehended or imprisoned yea and condemned as troublers of the Churches peace so they may goe away with it undiscerned Is not here sufficient warrant then not onely to refuse conformitie to these things but even to hold those preachers accursed or separated from Christ who goe about to preswade us in the least measure to conforme thereunto yea though their gifts be most heavenly or Angelicall but on the other side to think most reverently of our Religious pastors who haue most sincerely though to the losse of all that ever they haue taught vs to the contrary when therefore they say Christ never forbad it if you haue no other or better place of Scripture remember this that it is written that whatsoever is otherwise then that which the word preacheth or commands is to bee held an accursed doctrine or opinion concerne it faith or government ceremonies or gestures or any thing of religious use whatsoeuer yet doe I not say that all preachers that perswade rebus sic stantibus rather to conforme in some things then to stand out do this out of malice or anie purpose to cause their hearers to decline and so by degrees to fall from grace but that whatsoever flesh and bloud wisedom and learning can devise for their defence or excuse yet the holy Ghost teacheth us plainly that though it cannot be denyed but that these most strong and vehement perswasions proceed from true and strong affections of carnall loue and as it is to bee hoped that many of them are the deere servants of God yet in this particular of perswading to conformitie wee are to esteeme them as Adveâ—saries unto Christ yea and all their wise and learned arguments so full of discretion and all their conceited unanswerable satisfactions to bee notwithstanding of a verie Satanish discent and meere divellish disposition a most
Yea I do friendly intreate these Merchants of experience in and with these true west Churches of Christ advisedly to view and take particular notice of these pleasant wares so full of delicacy which their souls by reason of their excellent fatnes do so greedily yea most violently thirst or luste after and sincerely to consider whether they be not so like to those of poperie as one naughtie egge can possibly be like another though perhaps one be but addle and the rottennesse of the other most offensiuely stinkes the one most noysome the better very unholesome But here our adversaries will confesse that for the forme they are alike indeed as one partridge is to another but in their use and intention most opposite even cleane contrary But is not this I pray you some small parcell of the voyce of that beast yea is it not an apparant branch of his great blasphemie to assume authoritie to ordaine ceremonies and callings for the publicke worship of God and to appropriate unto them holy or religious uses and spirituall intentions which power is onely proper and peculiar unto God himselfe and yet even this divine authoritie doe they dare to assume as their divino iure hath publicklie proclaimed to all the Churches in the world But to leaue this to their better consideration and to assume that which which they must needes bee willing to grant that the things in question are in their outward forme like unto those of popery but not in their use at least as it is preached I humbly desire them to consider whether this bee not without any turning or winding a direct and manifest breach of the second commandement where the Lord forbids all Churches under what climate or government soever not simply as I may say to haue but to make Images or any visible representations of the eternall loue of God the Father and of the incomprehensible and invisible grace of IESVS CHRIST shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost but as if the Lord had said I know it is absolutelie necessarie in my outward and publicke worship to haue certaine visible signes and formes subiect to common sence and reason which must haue this heavenlie use even to represent to the minde and understanding by the eye of faith these spirituall graces for else the imagination beeing left at libertie and not preciselie tied to these set formes and divine ordinances will bee so full of wandring fantasies in hearing seeing tasting handling and meditating as the soule can never possibly bee edified But yet saith the Lord. Thou shalt not make or devise these I doe reserue that glory to my selfe and will not under Law or Gospell giue it no not in the least circumstance of publicke and religious use in my worship and service to any other But say our adversaries wee doe not take that glory to our selues therefore wee haue not broken this commandement I confesse between the theife and the receauer the whore and the bawd there is indeed some manifest difference and therfore to auoide all manner of contention herein it is as if the Lord had said in plainer termes Thou whoseuer thou art generall counsell or nationall synode ciuill magistrate or ecclesiasticall Ruler or both together shalt not make or being made shalt not command or teach any to conforme vnto any thing of Religious vse pertaining to my worship and service which I may self haue not commanded no nor the liknes of any such thing either in forme or vse so that if these things in question be but like popish devices and be not coÌ„manded by God we may not for any cause or consideration or in any respect whatsoeuer bowe downe vnto them that is intertaine or shewe forth any reuerent estimation of them and so onely in a good meaning for peace and quietnes sake coform vnto them in the worship of God Vnlesse therfore the verie touching of holy things in or by the soundnes of some doctrines in our Church and so as it were carrying a part of holy flesh in the skirt of our garment or divine service be a sufficient warrant to make any ceremonie lawful yea though it be taken from the heathen poets from the Turkish Alcaron or the Popes massebook yet vpon intentionall altering of the vse they may be very safely coÌ„formed vnto in the publick worship of God their argument of haueing the substance hath no iot of substance in it at all Therefore vnlesse their words reasons and arguments whereby they perswade to coÌ„formitie come from the mouth of God we haue sufficient forewarning no not in any case to conform unto the but to esteeme them as verie chaffe huft and puft up perhaps into a verie great bulke making a goodlie shew in outward appearance by excellencie of words and art but being winnowed or tried by the fanne of the Lord no corne of grace or one grain of goodnesse can be found therein and this is the verie cause why the Lord threatens to bee or to come against such sweet tongued preachers that labour chiefly for a sweet deliverie and to that end steale the word never applying it to the right end and use but as it were by force and armes doe take and carrie away the true scence intent and meaning of the scriptures ordeined onely to maintain the truth by tricks of wit tearms of art they enforce theÌ„ at least to seem to maintaine errors even the meere Inventions of men and this in some false in many flattering and in most a dreaming kind of preaching is the onely and main cause of error and schismes diversitie of opinons sects that are among the people not bringing any other profit in the world unto their hearers but either to nuzle them still in ignorance or to bee utterlie out of loue with the trueth from hence then haue wee good warrrant to adjudge all their doctrins which are not according to the word of God to be verie lies though they shew never so great art and learning and thereby giue all good content to their auditorie For that high or large commission of all the true ministers of Christ extendes onelie to Teach the Churches to obserue and conforme unto all things not which they in wisdom and discretion shall adjudge meet and fit or think not to be forbiden but onely what-whatsoever Christ in the word hath commanded and we will abjure whatsoever we cannot prove to be his commandement if then they presse any thing which is not the commandement of Christ they goe beyond the limits of their commission yea doe more then ever our Lord himselfe would do for though indeed his 〈…〉 ctrines seemed verie strange yea impossiâ—â—e to some and others marveiled or were astonied not at his allegation of fathers or patriarkes of Councels or Rabbies and other learned authors nor at his excellencie of gifts but at his knowledge in the Scriptures for
it selfe therefore Ephraim thy glory decayes yea flies away like a bird there is none that do sincerely reverence thee gray haires are upon thee though thou consider it not Doe not all men see that thou hast nothing but devices meere tricks of wit though never so dishonest to defend their owne Invention many altars thou doest make great shewes of devotion and exceeding care of religion thou doest pretend but all that thou doest is to defend thy sinne even to gaine estimation to thy carnall devices which haue no warrant from the Lord nay those that dare not comforme to thy Canons or courses because the great things of Gods law written in the Scriptures doe not require it for all other writings are small in respect of these and and to bee regarded but as trifles thou countest them strange men it being a strange thing with thee to loose any thing for Christs sake but to forsake their livings and liberties to loose their Credits and reputations rather then to conforme to these humane Inventions yea thereby to expose themselues by their deprivation to open cōtempt miserable povertie bands and imprisonment seemes to be one of the strangest wonders of the world that any of sound iudgment should euer haue so little wit in them thus doest thou glorifie thy self though thou committest iniquity in Gilgal for there is the cause why the Lord doth hate thee even for the wickednesse of thine Inventions in his worship which there thou hast set up in great pomp state therefore will the Lord cast thee out of his house or Church because all they spiritual Lords or princes are Rebels iustifying these carnall devises against the plaine evidence of the scripture Increasing daily errors and lies which in the end will be their own Destruction which yet they hope to prevent by making a covenant or contract with Ashur and carrying oyle into Egypt Refining and so refreshing their old Imagerie with new painted devices yet thou feedest thy selfe with this winde and art very confident that these secret and hidden plots of thy close and subtill fetches shall maintaine thy greatnesse though thou grow gracelesse perswading Christians yea compelling some to conforme to offer uncleane bread upon the Lords Altar and yet would haue us subscribe that this is not contrary to the word of God And in great disdaine they demand wherein haue wee polluted the Lord or the worship or seruice of God alas when you presse vs to a gesture at the Lords owne table which is not warranted by the word do you not say or directly inferre the table of the Lord is not to be regarded for it matters not what gesture we vse no say you though our ceremonies be lame and our callings blind and our gestures sicke yet it is no euill for they are ordeined and haue been long established by publick decree to be the offrings and sacrifices of the Lord and therfore ought with all reverent respect to be conformed unto of all rather then to disturbe the quiet possession and peace of the Church which by a strong hand these armed men haue obtained and keepe as the onelie entrance or rather maintenance of their glorious pallaces Is it no matter then for the outward worship so the inward bee intended and professed to be good and sound why do you then condemne the papists for taking away the second commandement quite out of the table and you letting it stand take the effect quite away giue them but the same libertie which your selves exercise and they will quickly agree with you for the substance of that which is inward I warrant you for who can udge the mentall reservation and you require no more but an outward profession and subscription at least though you teach the necessity of inward sinceritie yet your own practises doe manifest that the other without this will serue the turne wel enough but be pleased I pray you if any thing possibly be able to satisfie you to heare the Lords own answer go your wayes and when you haue any purpose to shew your loue and tender your service yea in a most speciall manner unto your prince offer him such presents will he bee content with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of hosts yea when thou invitest thy friends or neighbours to thy own table do but serue them with such dainties and diet-bread and marke how they like it nay see if thy horse will not blow upon it and refuse it though perhaps thy greedy dogges or grunting hogges will accept it yea though neither side were ever baked on the hearth yet you teach and preach you professe and perswade and spend a great deale of time which you had need to redeeme by many long and as you thinke learned arguments and wise reasons to proue that this is good enough for the Lord that is that he will verily accept such a publicke worship and service at our hands though no body haue any care to shut the doores to make due triall of that which is brought for an offering as these things in controversie whether it ought to enter into the Lords house as being commanded or required by him or whether it bee the meere invention or wil-worship of men and so what goodly and golden shewes soever it make to haue the doores shut against it and not to offer abhomination before the Lord but come who will come and bring with him what hee will though it be not according to the commandement and holy ordinance yet if he will but come and conforme presently you receiue him and most readily kindle a fire and offer up that which he hath brought though there be never so evidēt appearance similitude or likenesse of Idolatry in it Is not this directly to worship God in vaine even to kindle a fire vpon his altar to no purpose yea you grow weary of the Lords own ordinances they doe not giue full content to your senses and therefore yee snuffe at them as being too base for your greatnesse wanting pompe and state and I know not what and approue rather of any thing never so absurd ridiculous and popish even that which is torne lame and sick should I accept this of your hand saith the Lord but cursed be the deceaver you that haue my servants the males in your flocks whom I haue fullie quallified to make the truth of these things known and who haue faithfullie spoken my word in my name and in this behalfe and will depriue them and purposely maintaine though if need require you know how to make shew of the cleane contrarie Brokers of Corrupt doctrines perswaders to and defendors of unwarrantable ceremonies callings and gestures and so deall deceitfullie with the Lords people in these great things of his law or publick worship teaching them in steed of these to sacrifice unto the Lord a corrupt thing you I say shall certeinly bee
for if once you sit downe or settle your selues with resolution to proue the lawfulnesse of the seates of these scorners or money-changers you are neere vnto cursing and farre from the blessing yea the Lord thinking upon his congregation which he hath possessed of old and on the rod of his inheritance which he hath redeemed and measured out for himselfe and on mount Syon wherein hee hath dwelt will verily lift up his strokes and destroy for ever every enemy that doth evill to the Sanctuarie Even so be it Lord Iesus If true Religion onely knits our heart unto God and all false Religions seperate our hearts from God then whatsoeuer is of Religious use and to be conformed unto in Gods publick worship must be true that is truely grounded in the word of God or else it separats us from God But true Religion doth onely knit our hearts unto God c. and the gesture of kneeling as it is urged being of Religious use and to be conformd unto in Gods publick worship is not true that is not truely grounded on the word of God Therefore to Conforme to kneeling as it is urged is to separate from God All feare or Religion towards God not taught by the Scripturs but by the precepts of men remooues the heart farre from God yea the defence and justifying hereof workes great wonders and marvels the wisedom of such wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall bee hid Esa 29. 13 14. TO THE CHVRCH OF GREAT BRITtaine in generall or to the severall congregations or Churches therein in particular being the true visible Churches of Christ grace peace bee multiplied for ever IT is not vnknown how vtterly vnlawful yea altogether impossible it is to serue or conforme to two masters as also that by our fall in Adam we haue not onely forsaken our first master of Creation who in our innocent estate did immediatly direct teach and leade vs into all truth but haue betaken vs to a new master whose Inventions or nouelties we did most voluntarily subscribe vnto euen Satan who now doth immediately in the estate of nature guide and leade all the children of men as well in the Church as out of it into all falsitie and error in all things concerning God and his Church and yet also how euerie one naturally doth most willingly though some perhaps more wisely or learnedly and others more vilely and desperately yeeld their hartie obedience vnto him though not in their purpose and intention yet at least in error of their Iudgment and corrupted resolution For the vnderstanding being vtterly blinded we think in our reason wisdome and learning that to be certe 〈…〉 ly good which is directly euill that to be cleare light which is Egiptian darknes that to be the service of God which is the apparant worship of Deuills and so think and are verely perswaded our master to be God when in verie trueth it is Satan True it is that wisdome discretion learning and many other excellent parts and gifts yea euen in heavenly things nature may and doth still by industrie attaine vnto but the sauing or sanctfying graces of God which bring the heart vnto Christ that new or renewing master are supernaturall euen the immediate worke of the holy ghost whose schollers or seruants euerie one of necessity must be that will be saued and thus farre I take it is agrreed on all sydes in all our Churches or congregations For I speak to none but to such among vs as professe thēselues to be the schollers of Christ now being matriculated or by the blessed sacrament of holy Baptisme Initiated into the schoole or corporation or bodie of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ I humbly beseech euerie one that doth sincerely purpose euer to take the lest degree of true holines or sanctification without which no man shal see God seriously to consider what books whether historical propheticall politicall poeticall or Euangelicall or authours as they terme them must here to this purpose be learned and professed and these are all bound vp together in one volume of the canonicall sacred or inspired scriptures and for their excellencie called the Bible all other writers or authors diffring from these in any thing concerning God or his worship by teaching or pressing some things which are not truly grounded vpon these are to bee esteemed books of our second master therefore to be accursed how honest or holy soever their intention or drift pretends or seems to be yea of most absolute necessitie it followes that all who do upon any terms learne their lessons from thence and so conforme unto them do thereby conforme unto Satan who of all men in their wits is acknowledged to be the author and teacher of all lessons or doctrines concerning religious ceremonies callings or gestures in the worship of God which are not in evidence and power of the holy Ghost plainly grounded upon the word of God for there bee but two masters who are by Christ opposed the one to the other All trueth therefore is to be learned of the one and to be collected or gathered onely out of his books or sacred writings even from God to whom onely wee must giue credit in his word for oportet discente credere whatsoever then is learned elsewhere must needs bee from that other master as the proper lessons of his open and free schoole wherin yet wee confesse all the excellencies of of all arts and all the deepenesse of learning do abound who must also in those arguments and reasons we ground or practise upon bee credited and beleeved to bee the authour of that supposed truth which we make profession of by our so doing Let us therefore bring forth those bookes or authours into the open view of the world wherein this lesson of Conformitie or refusall thereunto is taught and learned that so every Scholler may be knowne by his own Master and the authours publickly taught in his schoole Now if any be ashamed to professe that hee obayes or learnes this lesson of any other then of God then must hee either shew his warrant and authoritie out of the sacred Scriptures for the things hee professeth and practiseth in this controversie or else he plainly discovers whose scholler he is for they onely are the fountaine of trueth that which comes from them is holy and sincere but if it be grounded vpon men or Churches though ancient and orthodox in many other things yet the filthines of their channell in all matters especially of religious vse will leaue some infection behinde it Let vs therfore trie all things yea though they haue beene the receaued opinions or practises of the holiest men and purest churches in the world whose iudgment yet is highly to be reuerenced though it differ from ours till the worde of God do euidently to our consciences dicide the Controuersie and keepe or conforme to that onely in the divine service