in his judgment I will desire no mercy but I will be content to be put to death under the judgment of a Jury of twelve honest men but what saith the Scripture Cast out the bondwoman and her sonne for the sonne of the bond-woman shall not be heire with the son of the free woman Gal. 4. the sonne of the bond-woman plainly signifieth the Devill and the old Law for the old Law is the spirit of bondage and so is the devill as I in this book have plainly proved Now I will shew you in brief of Gods love and mercy For if the Pope and his Clergy and the Bishops and their Clergy will forsake the old Law and their false power and false doctrines and traditions which is contrary to the true worship and will of God and then be reconciled to Christ and the second covenant of grace God is rich in mercy to forgive them and receive them into his everlasting kingdome of glory Wherefore I will conclude with S. Paul as it is written 1 Tim. 2.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God out Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth for there is one God and one Mediator betweene God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himselfe ransome for all to be testified in due time whereunto I am ordained a Preacher I say againe whereunto God my glorious Father hath ordained me to be a Preacher I speake the truth in Christ and lye not for the spirit of God drawes but one way that is to Christ and to the obedience of the new Covenant my text saith All things that reproveth are made manifest by the light Now by that light God hath given to me I shall reprove the Anabaptist which will not allow young children to be baptized but by the help of God I will prove in briefe by human reason and spirituall signification of Scripture that they are deceived in their judgement my first proofe is Heb 10. For the Law having a shadow of good things to come which doth signifie that the old Law was a type and shadow of the New for the Apostle saith plainly concerning the Jews which were under the Old Law he saith they were baptized to Moses in the cloud 1 Cor. 10.2 the cloud signifieth the Old Law now I understand that Moses did not baptise with water but to signifie that circumcision was a type of Baptisme and young children were circumcised at eight dayes old Againe I finde it written Acts 16. concerning the Jaylor and Lydia which were converted by S. Paul it is said they and all their houshold were baptized Now what man is able to gainsay but those two persons might have young children that were baptized by S. Paul Againe Acts 2. when the Apostle told the Jews that they had crucified the Lord of life they were pricked in their hearts and said Men and brethren what shall we do Peter answered Repent and be baptized and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost for the promise is to you and to your children these places of Scripture doth plainly signifie that all young children of faithfull parents are to be baptized to the mysticall body of Christ Againe Christ said Suffer little children to come to me and forbid them not for to such belongeth the kingdome of God Marke this point I beseech you for Christ saith plainly that the kingdome of God doth belong to young children and Christ and his Gospell signifie Christ and his Kingdome Now if I aske the Anabaptists if they doe beleeve the Baptisme with water to be an holy Ordinance which doth belong to the body of Christ and to the second Covenant of grace they will answer yea why then my answer to them is in briefe that all those that will not suffer young children to be baptized they doe exclude them from the mysticall body of Christ and from the second Covenant of grace I pray God give all such people grace to forsake that wicked practise or else they will draw downe the fiery wrath of God upon their owne soules and thus I praise God I have proved in briefe by humane reason and by plaine signification of Scripture that young children must be baptized Againe I have shewed you that those two beasts doth signifie the Pope and his clergy and the Bishops and their Clergy that their false power are both as one It is written Iohn 16.13 14. Christ saith plainly When he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth he shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you marke I beseech you the commanding power of God for Christ Jesus who in the true and perfect God he saith expresly that the spirit of truth shal receive of his and shal shew it unto you Now by that spirit of truth which Christ hath given unto me I will shew you in briefe the true signification of Christ and his glorious Church with those holy Ordinances which doth belong unto it for there are three that beare record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one 1 Iohn 5.1 the Word signifieth Christ Jesus who is the second person in Trinity and all those people that will be reconciled to Christ and to the divine power of his word their spirits shal be joyned to the glorious Trinity my first proofe is in 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith know you not that Christ Jesus is in you except yee bee reprobates But how is Christ in his people my answer is by the vertue and divine power of his word which is revealed in his Gospel Again 1 Cor. 6.19 What know you not that your body is the temple of the holy Ghost which is in you Againe Ephes 4.4 There is one body one spirit one faith one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all These three places of Scripture doth plainly prove and justifie that all those people that will be reconciled to Christ and to the obedience of his word which is revealed in the New Testament their spirits shall be joyned to the holy and glorious Trinity Father Son and holy Ghost which shall be all ingraffed as in one man though they shall be in number thousands of thousands and thus I praise God I have shewed you in briefe the true foundation of true and sound Religion which by the help of God I dare boldly say that the Devill and all his carnall Ministers shall never be able for to overthrow or shake this foundation Now by the help of God I will shew you in briefe how and after what manner children are to be baptized for I think it fit that the Minister first reade that portion of Scripture Gal. 3.21 For if there had beene a Law given that could have given life verily righteousnesse should have beene by
by the hand and say these words after the Minister I John take Anne to my wedded wife to love and cherish in sicknesse and in health until death us depart according as God hath commanded by the divine power of his Word and thereunto I give thee my troth and then for the woman I Anne take John to my wedded husband to love and to cherish in sicknesse and in health until death us depart according as God hath commanded by the divine power of his Word and thereunto I give thee my troth And after this the Minister shal read that part of Scripture as is written Eph. 5. beginning at the 22. Verse and read to the end of the chapter And thus I praise God I have shewed you in brief what wil be sufficient for marriage which is agreeable to Gods Word and wil now for the burial of the dead I think it fit that the dead bodie be caried into the Church and there may be Divine Service or Preaching for the edifying of the people and then lay the dead body into the grave and the Priest and people may sing to the praise and glory of God the 113. Psalme for there is no cause of mourning for those that die in the faith of Christ therefore I say again I thinke it fit when the dead body is laid in the grave for the Priest and people to sing a Psalme And thus I have shewed you in briefe what wil be sufficient for the burial of the dead Now for Church-govemment I think it fit for to have a Justice of Peace in every Parish of note for to bear the sword of justice for to punish the evil doers and for the upholding of the just and good Againe I thinke it fit for to have Church-Wardens and Side-men in every Parish as already is for to keep the Houses of God in repair and for gathering of money for the poore that the hungry may be fed and the naked may be cloathed that so the members of Christ may rejoyce in glory together Now some with say this Church-government hath beene held here in England a long time My answer is in some respects it is very good but by the help of God I shal prove in brief that in some respects as it is held forth it is abominable in the sight of God for the Magistrates and Church-wardens they will suffer none to declare their mind to the people in the Churches but those which have beene brought up in the Universities and in so doing they deny God of his divine power for God breaths his Spirit where it pleaseth him Againe I say if God give a man a great and perfect gift concerning the art of preaching the Clergy and Magistrates will not suffer him to exercise his gift unto the people which God doth allow and command by the divine power of his Word as I shall prove in briefe My first proofe is in 1 Pet 2.9 Ye are a royall Priesthood an holy nation that you should shew forth the praise of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous light Now I pray how shall the Saints and servants of Christ set forth those praises and honour and glory which doth belong to Christ and his glorious Church but by the manifestation of his Word which is revealed in his Gospell Againe the Apostle S Paul saith expresly 1 Cor. 14. When the Church are come together let the Prophets speak two or three and let the other judge for ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learne and all may be comforted This saying of S. Paul doth plainly prove and signifie that God hath appointed that every man should have free liberty for to exercise his gift in the Church in an orderly and decent way for he saith All may prophesie one by one and for to prophesie is to open and unfold the mysteries of God to the true meaning and signification Againe I plainly understand that prophecying and preaching they are both as one in signification for prophecying is to unfold the mysteries of God to the praise and glory of his grace and to the confounding of false power and false doctrine which proceedeth from the devill and preaching is for the very same purpose I say that which doth proceed from God Now the Apostle maintaines his argument with a commanding power for to prove that God doth allow that every man should have free liberty to declare his mind in a decent way for he saith expresly in the 37. Verse of the same Chapter if any man think himselfe to be a Prophet or spirituall let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandements of the Lord. Thus I praise God I have proved by plaine and cleer signification of Scripture that God doth allow and command by the divine power of his Word that his Saints and servants should have free liberty for to declare their mind in the Church in an orderly and decent way but the Clergy and Magistrates and Church-wardens they will not suffer those things to be done in the Church which God hath commanded by the divine power of his Word I pray God give the Clergy and Magistrates and Church-wardens all grace to forsake that wicked practise and that henceforth they will suffer those things to be done in the Churches as God hath commanded which if they shall wilfully refuse to do they will be sure to have their portion in hell for ever Thus I praise God I have shewed you in briefe how Church-government may be held to the praise and glory of God Againe I have shewed you how Church-government in some râ—spects is held forth which is abominable and hatefull in the sight of God Againe I acknowledge the Lords Prayer and other golâ—ly prayers and Davids Psalmes shall abide in the Church of Christ for ever for the Psalmes those that are in prose to be read for Divine service and those that are in meeter for the people to sing to the praise and glory of God but for the old Law and Testament that is quite abolished by Christ Now if there be any Protestant Papist Anabaptist or Brownist that can be able to shew and set forth Christ and his glorious Church with those holy Ordinances that doth belong unto it in a plainer and cleerer and briefer way then I by Gods help have done I shall rejoyce to see that manâ— and I will be of his Religion if it shall appeare so to be by the plaine and cleare truth of the word of God and by the judgement of the high Court of Parliament which I hope are gathered together for the triall of the spirits FINIS
A plaine and briefe discovery of those two beasts that are written Revel 13. AND To show what dishonour and disgrace the Clergie bring against Christ and his glorious Church in reading some part of the Service-Book Againe I praise God I have shewed in briefe the true signification of Christ and his glorious Church with those holy Ordinances that doe belong unto it Gathered and directed by that grace God hath give to me James Hunt All glory be to God on high Printed for J.H. 1643. IT is written Eph. 5.13 All things that are reproved â—e â—â—aâ—â—â—nifest by the light Now by that glorious light God hath given to me I will show you the signification of those two beasts that are written Rev. 13. The first beast riseth out of the sea which signifieth the Pope and all his Clergy which have gathered to themselves so many false doctrines that the Spirit of God compares it unto the deep and broad sea But the second beast he cometh up out of the earth which signifieth the Bishops here in England and all their Clergy which have gathered to themselves so many false written books that for their number they may be compared unto the starres in the firmament which false written books do arise and proceed from the devill who is called the god of the earth and by those false written books the Bishops and their Clergy have deceived all those people that are as yet held under their power but the people whom the Clergy have blinded they cry out against me saying who hath made thee a Judge or a Preacher My answer is God my glorious Father and Christ Jesus my redeemer they have raised me up by the vertue and divine power of their Word for to be a Judge and a Preacher for to judge and divide betwixt truth and errour light and darknesse for I hope all that shall read this book they may understand from whence my judgment doth arise and proceed Again it is said the second beast he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him Now I will prove that the Pope and his Clergy and the Bishops and their Clergy their power not long ago was both as one First for the Pope he hath made the people believe that no man can be a true and sound Preacher but he must be brought up in the Universities and so say the Bishops and their Clergy but alas they are deceived upon both sides for God hath laid the Gospell in such a complete way that if there be a mystery or parable that speaketh somthing dark in one place a man may find two or three places for to prove and justifie what that dark mystery signifieth and that is the true and perfect way to open and unfold the mysteries of God to the true meaning and signification and I praise God I can prove these things may be done without the help of the Latin or Greek tongue for I can prove it by plain truth of Scripture Againe for the Pope he will not allow that any man shall be a Preacher for to declare his mind to the people but first he must be sworne for to observe those Canons and articles that the Pope or some of his Assignes shall set forth The very same power did belong to the Bishops here in England Againe for the Pope all Magistrates and Church-Wardens are sworne for to uphold the Pope and his Clergy in their way that if any man reprove them for to say their power or their doctrine is false then the Magistrates cast him into prison or els the Church-Wardens will complaine of him in the Spirituall Court and when he comes there if he do not play the hypocrite and say he is sorry for that he said and fee the Officers with money he shall be cast into prison if not put to death The very same power not long agoe did belong to the Bishops and their Clergy here in England Againe for the Pope he and all his Clergy have deceived the people in making the people believe that the old law is a rule of obedience for the people to be led and guided by and so say the Bishops and all their Clergy But they are deceived on both sides in their judgment for I can prove the more they bring the people under the obedience of the old Law the more they bring them under the bondage of the devill My first proofe is Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch then as the children were made partakers of flesh and bloud Christ likewise tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devill and so to deliver all those who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage This place of Scripture doth plainly signifie that all those people that were under the old Law they were under a yoke of bondage untill Christ freed them by his suffering on the crosse Again Rom. 7.6 the Apostle saith plainly and so say I Now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held as under the chaines and bondage of Satan that we should serve in newnesse of spirit and not in the oldnesse of the letter that is in newnesse of the Gospell and not in the oldnesse of the law Thus I have proved in briefe that the old Law is the spirit of bondage and so is the devill And hereby I have overthrown the Pope and his Clergy and the Bishops their Clergy in their judgment because they say the old law is a rule of obedience Againe I will shew you in briefe that S. Pauls false zeale was to the old Law when he was a persecuter of Christ for he saith plainly conserning his zeal persecuting the Church Touching the righteousnesse that is in the Law blamelesse Phil. 3. Thus I have proved in briefe that S. Pauls false zeale was to the old Law when he was a persecutor of the Church of Christ and in so doing let any man judge if he were not an enemy to God and a friend unto the Devill and so will all those Divines be found and proved so to be that keep the people under the obedience of the old Law Againe I say all those Magistrates and Church-wardens will be found to be Gods great enemies that shall strive to uphold the Clergy in their wickednesse and thus I have proved in briefe and shall prove againe at large that those two beasts signifie the Pope and his Clergy and the Bishops here in England and their Clergy which by their false power as conserning Church government and false doctrine they keepe the people under the bondage and captivity of the devill and the plaine truth is many of the Magistrates and Church-wardens doe yet uphold them in their abominable wickednesse for they will not suffer the Prophets of God to reprove them for their false power and their false doctrines which is abominable in the sight of our glorious God My text saith All
things that are reproved are made manifest by the light wherefore I say againe by that glorious light God hath given to me I will shew you in briefe what dishonour disgrace the Clergy bring against Christ and his glorious Church in reading of some part of the Service booke for the Clergy say wee are all miserable sinners and there is no health in us now if there be no health in us then wee are all reprobates for Know yee not that Iesus Christ is in yee except yee bee reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 Hereby I understand that if Christ by the vertue of his word doth shine in his people then I am sure there is some health in us but the Clergy say there is no health in us therfore let any man judge if they do not accuse the people to be in the state of reprobation Againe the Clergy say that we are all miserable sinners but if I ask any of them if the body of Christ be a body of sin and misery they will answer no Why then my answer to them again is in Ephes 1.22 God gave his son Christ to be head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all This place of Scripture doth prove and signifie that all those people that will be reconciled to Christ and to the new Testament their spirits shall be joyned to the glorious and mysticall body of Christ and thereby they shall be set free from the bondage of sin and misery Againe the Clergy by reading of some part of the Service Book they bring the people under the obedience of the old Law which is the bondage of death and corruption Againe the Clergy in reading of the Service Booke they teach the people to worship God in a false way for they teach the people to fall downe on their knees and pray for Christs Church militant here on earth which is a vaine and false worship for they have no Scripture in the new Testament to prove that Christ hath any such Church but I can prove by plaine truth of Scripture that Christ hath a glorious and triumphing Church here on earth but that the Clergy teach the people to deny for they say that Christs Church is militant here on earth but glorious and triumphing in the world to come but not here upon earth But I say plainly that is a doctrine of devils for the devill he strives by his carnall ministers for to teach the people to worship and obey that which is false and to deny that which is just and true for I will prove in briefe that Christ hath a glorious and triumphing Church here on earth for Christ saith Joh. 12. Father glorifie thy name then came a loud voice from heaven saying I have glorified it and will glorifie it again and Joh. 17. Christ saith plainly The glory which thou gavest me I have given unto them that they may be all one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me Againe 2. Cor. 2.14 the Apostle saith expresly Now thanks be unto God who alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ Jesus this word alwayes plainly signifieth here in this world and in the world to come forever Thus I praise God I have proved in briefe that Christ hath a glorious and triumphing Church here on earth and Christ will have his glorious and triumphing Church by degrees for to flourish over the face of the whole world which will be to the overthrow of the devill and the false Church and I praise God I have shewed you what dishonour and disgrace the Clergy bring against Christ and his Church in reading of the Service Booke My text saith All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light now by that light God hath given unto me I understand the Pope and his Clergy in their Service Book they have but the Lords Prayer and some of the holy Epistles of S. Paul and other parts of the Gospell and thereby they have set a glosse and a glorious colour upon their Service Book that so they may the more closely and craftily blinde and deceive the people for it is said in the 13. Verse that the beast maketh fire come down from heaven and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth I understand the fire that cometh out of heaven is those parts of the Gospell which the Pope and the Bishops have caused to be put in their Service book for the Word of God which is revealed in the New Testament doth signifie the Holy Ghost and fire Againe I say plainly that the divine power of the World of God in the Gospell of Christ will be as a flaming and consuming fire for to burn up all those errours and false traditions which the Pope and the Bishops have invented in their Service book Againe I say that the divine power of the Word of God in the doctrine of the new Testament will be a flaming and a consuming fire for to burne and consume all false power as touching Church government and false doctrines which is contrary to the true worship and Word of God Againe I understand that my glorious God hath appointed and commanded that for preaching and Church-government that must be held forth for to gather the people into the mysticall body of Christ But for those two beasts the Pope and his Clergy and the Bishops here in England and their Clergy by their false doctrine and false power they keepe the people out of Christ as I shall prove in briefe for the Apostle saith expresly 2 Cor. 5.17 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature and to be a new creature is to be reconciled to Christ and to the new Testament Old things are past away behold all things are become new I understand the old things that are past away is the old Law and Testament For as circumcision and the bloud of buls and goats did belong to the old Law and Testament which Christ hath abolished Now on the other side Baptisme and the Bread and Wine they are two holy Ordinances which do belong to the body of Christ and to the second covenant of grace Now these things which I have proved in briefe will overthrow the Bishops and all their clergy for their order is to read a chapter in the old Testament and then another in the new and when they are in their pulpits they joyn in their doctrine the old Law and Testament and the new together as if they were both as one and in so doing they have blinded and deceived all those people that are as yet held under their power for if there be any Divine or other man that can finde any one place of Scripture in the new Testament for to prove as he thinks that the ministration of the old Law and Testament is to be joyned to the glorious body of Christ if I cannot finde five other plaine truths to prove that he is deceived
the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve but before faith came that is before Christ came we were kept under the Law shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed which faith was revealed by Christ and the twelve Apostles For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus for as many of you as have beene baptized into Christ have put on Christ and then after this Scripture is read I think it fit for the Minister to reade the Lords Prayer and then the Minister shall baptise the child naming it by the name as the Father of the child or some other in his stead shall give it and shal sprinckle water on the face of the child saying I baptise thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost for a seale and pledge that for ever hereafter thou shalt not be ashamed to fight under the banner of the suffering of the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ but to continue his faithfull souldier even to thy lives end So when the child is baptised with water I think it fit for the Minister to declare these words saying Christ so loved his Church and gave himselfe for it that he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Ephes 5. that is Christ wil have his Church which are baptized to his glorious body to bee so chast unto himselfe and to his glorious Gospel that it should be free from false doctrines and false worship which proceedeth from the devil I doe not say that we shal be free from failings and infirmities here in this world for a child as soone as it is baptised it is joyned to the gloious body of Christ but then God wil have them as they grow in ripenesse of yeares that they should be fed with the sincere milke of the word in the doctrine of the New Testament that they may grow thereby in heavenly wisdome from grace to grace and strength to strength until wee all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4. that ye be no more children in understanding tossed too and fro and carried about with every winde of doctrine and slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in waite to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ for God our glorious Father gave us his Son Christ to be head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all unto whom be all praise honour power and glory both now and evermore world without end Amen Thus I praise God I have shewed you in briefe a true forme for the baptizing of children which will be to the praise and glory of god and to the edifying of the hearers but for God-fathers and God-mothers and the Crosse on the forehead be laid aside Now by the help of God I will shew you concerning the Sacrament of bread and wine it is written 1 Cor. 11.28 But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drink of that cup for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe And why doth he so the answer is because he doth not discerne the Lords body Now I understand as Circumcision and those Ordinances that are written Heb. 9. did belong to the Old Law and Testament which Christ hath abolished by his suffering now on the other side baptisme and the bread and wine they are the holy Ordinances which doth belong to the mysticall body of Christ and to the second covenant of grace for Christ saith plainly Luke 22.20 This Cup is my blood in the New Testament which is shed for you therefore I say againe the Sacrament of bread and wine doth belong to the body of Christ and to the New Testament the Apostle saith He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe because he doth not discerne the Lords body Wherefore I pray God give the Bishops and the Clergy all grace for to forsake the old Law and Testament which Christ hath redeemed us from and that they may be reconciled to Christ and to the second Covenant which if they shall wifully refuse to doe they will be sure to eate and drinke their owne damnation Againe if any man or woman have committed the sin of theft or adultery or any other hainous sin I pray God give all such grace to forsake it by turning to Christ by true repentance and then let them eat of that bread and drink of that cup to their everlasting joy and comfort for Christ is the fountain of mercy and love which doth not desire that any should perish but rather that all should come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved for the office of a Preacher is this First he must shew the people how they must be ingrafted into the true vine Christ by the divine power of his Word and then the people may grow in grace after they be ingrafted into the true vine for as grace and vertue doe grow by degrees by the divine power of the Word of Christ that will be a means to cause sin and wickednesse to die and vanish out of the people Again I think it fit that the Minister read the first chapter to the Ephesians and the Lords Prayer before he deliver the bread and Wine and then the Minister shal deliver the bread the people receiving it upon their knees saying take and eat this in remembrance that Christs body was crucified on the crosse for to redeem your soul from the bondage of hel and death and honour and glorifie his blessed name for ever and then the wine saying take and drink this in remembrance that Christs bloud was shed on the crosse to redeem your soul from the bondage of death and hell and honour and glorifie his blessed name for ever and when the people have received the bread and wine I think it fit for the people to sing a Psalme to the glory of God and after that these words The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the Father and the most sweet and comfortable fellowship of God the Holy Ghost blesse keep and defend you from this time forth and evermore Amen Thus I praise God I have proved that no people have any due or right to the holy Sacrament of bread and wine but such as wil be reconciled to Christ and to the second covenant of grace Now I wil shew you in briefe for the marriage for I think it fit that the man and woman take one another