time of their apostasie 2 King 9. 6. c. I answered the Question was not hereby prooved For 1. The Antichristian church is Babylon Rev. 16. 19 and 18. 2. and out of her that is Babylon are Gads people called Rev 18. 4. Now to prove her Gods church they flee to Jsrael wheras the Gentiles were her true types Rev. 11. 2. 9 18. though all the wickednes and hypocrisie of apostate Israel is also found in this Romish Babel His reply is Let the reader judge whether the point in hand touching that phrase of Gods people to imply the covenant of God be not proved by the example of Jsrael Ans. I leave it also to judgment whether the Question touching the church of Rome be proved hereby As for the phrase of Gods people in that church I never denyed it to imply the covenant of God to some visibly as the Martyrs of Christ killed in that church to other some according to the election of grace which shal appeare when they obey theyr calling and are come out of her as before I shewed Moreover he sayth the question was about the Temple of God 2. Thes. 2. wherabout he alleaged that terme and estate of the people of God Rev. 18. 4. but J flee to Babylon c. Answ. A plaine evasion The question was about the church of Rome as before I shewed from his own graunt To justifie her to be Gods church he alleaged 2 Thes. 2. for one proof Rev. 1◠for an other Rev. 18. 4. for a third and now the state of Israel for a fourth His other repetitions I have answered before I alwayes distinguished in Rev. 11. between the Gentiles the Antichristians and the holy citie and court which they have destroyed troden under foot and stil doe Neyther have I denyed but the idolaters in Iudah and Israel were types of Antichristians in part but this I sayd and still say that the more full and perfect type of them is by the holy Ghost shewed us to be in the Sodomites Egyptians and Babylonians Rev. 11. 17. 18. As the Priests of Aaron were types of Christ but Melchisedek was a more full and perfect type of him as the Apostle proveth in Heb. 7. Againe if that which he striveth for were granted him namely that Israel in apostasie typed out Antichristians and that Israel was notwithstanding a true church yet wil it not follow therefore the Antichristian church of Rome is a true church also For the apostasie and idolatrie of Rome is farr greater then Israels as I have elswhere shewed and can easily confirme against any that shall gainsay it 2. Mr. Io. himself maketh Antiochus and his captaines which were of the worst sort of heathens to be types and figures of the Pope and his hierarchie which are the Bishops priests and Deacons of the church of Rome as before we have seen Yet would he not admitt of this conclusion therfore the Bishops Priests and Deacons of the church of Rome are heathens as was Antiochus So his reasoning for Israel though it were true will be no sound proof for Rome Types figures and similitudes hold in some things not in all and it is a very easy thing to deceive men by figures similies allegories But the plaine doctrines in the scripture they are a sure ground and if any doe wrest a type or similitude against them it is to be rejected what colour soever it hath Now mine opposite reasoneth not from these doctrines which would soon end the strife For the scripture plainely sayth that Antichrist the man of syn is the son of perdition and all that beleeve his lyes and folow him are damned 2 Thes. 2. 3. 10. 11. 12. That Antichrist is a lyar denying both the Father and the Son 1 Ioh 2. 22. they that are of God doe overcome him they that are of the world hear him Hereby is knowen the spirit of trueth and the spirit of errour 1 Joh. 4. 3. 6. They that belong to the Lamb Christ on mount Sion have his Fathers name written on their foreheads Rev. 14. 1. and worship not the beast nor receive his mark Rev. 20. 4. but they that belong to Antichrist and have not their names written in the book of life doe worship the beast and receive his mark and shal be tormented for ever Rev. 13. 8. 16. 14. 9. 10. 11. But the church of Rome beleeveth Antichrists lyes worshipeth the Beast and his idols receiveth his mark and is partaker of all his abominations Who now without open injurie to the word of God can make this people the true church of Christ and in the visible covenant of grace On the other hand my Opposites reasons are drawen from that figurative phrase the Temple of God 2 Thes. 2. and the type of apostate Israel and an objection cast in the way to stumble at that else we must be baptised againe as if men that can not tell how to avoyd an inconvenience must run into a mischief to justifie those whom God cōdemneth And upon these and the like grounds are his reasons framed as may be seen throughout his work with some few props of humane authoritie to undershore them Though this brief answer might serve unto all his discourse about the state of Israel yet for to help the weak reader that might stumble at some things layd in his way I wil annex a few moe observations Vnder his wonted title of Errours evasions contradictions c wherwith he chargeth me this is 1. That the Temple of God 2 Thes. 2. 4. is no more Gods temple then Ieroboams idol temples in Jsrael and Bels temple in Babylon yet also J sayd it was to be understood of Gods church people invaded and destroyed by Antichrist c. Answ. This his tautologie I have before answered and cleared my self both of errour and contradiction For that Antichrist should destroy Gods temple and church I proved by the example of the Babylonians burning the Citie Temple of God and captiving his people and by the measuring of the new building Rev. 11. That this being doen Antichrist should have an other Temple and church of his own frame which he should call Gods and Christs I shewed by the Beast arising from the sea and from the earth with hornes like the Lamb Christ Rev. 13. which beast is a kingdom spiritual or ecclesiastical politie a great whore Rev. 17. by Antichrist adified adorned mainteyned which stil he pretendeth to be the ancient catholik church and temple of God Now further for Ieroboam that drew Israel into syn he confesseth that he was a type of Antichrist though he sheweth not wherin But Ieroboams syn was in making a new House or Temple and a new altar to sacrifice in unto God and new priests with new signes as Calves to worship God by 1 King 12. In these things then he must be a type of Antichrist who accordingly if he answereth to his figure must erect
20. 4. Esai 63. 18. he now wil have them answerable to the Iewes I then blamed and stil doe that men should make Gods holy courts citie and people to be figures of Antichristians of their church and worship But mine opposite to make his words seem to hang togither sayth that now J teach that the Temple of God spoken of 2 Thes. 2. 4. is Antichrists Temple church bodie c. Be it so yet of that scripture there was no controversie betwen M. S. and me and as the house of the Lord God of Jsrael in Ezr. 1. 8. is meant of his true ten ple but the house of their God in Amos 2. 8. and in Hos. 9 8. is meant of an idolatrous Temple so by the Temple of God in Rev. 11. 1. may be understood his true Temple and yet the Temple of God in 2 Thes. 2. may be understood of the Temple of Antichrist And this I sayd upon mine opposites interpretatioÌ„ which wil have the Temple in 2 Thes. 2. to mean the people or church of Rome which are in deed the Gentiles in Rev. 11. the Sodomites Babylonians Egyptians that tread down the Lords holy citie and have built a new Babel For otherweise if he did understand Antichrists sitting in the Temple of God to be his treading down of his Temple as here he treadeth down the holy Citie having ruined and burnt it and keeps it from being reedified as the Babylonians did during their reigne I would not have contended with him about it But then his applying of it to the church of Rome which the Pope hath builded honoured garnished as a most gorgeous harlot would be altogither unfit and agree no better then Babylon did with Sion But of that place 2 Thes. 2. we have spoken at large before Wheras heretofore he pleaded that Antichrist doth not wholly take away the church of God and every trueth and ordinance of the Lord and I answered Neyther did the Deviltake away every trueth and ordinance of God from among the heathens but they reteyned many rites of Gods worship received from their fathers c. First he blameth me as shifting c. for not saying the Divil took not wholly away the church of God from among the heathens I answer if by church he understand the order and constitution of the church the heathens strayed not furder from it then Antichrist hath by his counterfei catholik church and whosoever wil bring them to the trial it wil soon appeare Or if he understand by Church Gods people as he hath now his people in this Romish Babylon Rev. 18. I also say that the Divil took not away the church wholly from the heathens for God had many elect among them whom by means he called from heathenish idols to the true faith of whom there are many instances of sundry persons in the scriptures and I doubt not but there were many moe whose names are written in the book of life The dispersion of Israel among the nations might bring many heathens to the faith as we have an instance in Esth. 8. 17. To that which I sayd that the Divil did not take away wholly every truth and ordinance of God from among the heathen he answereth it is nothing to the purpose seing they are not the church and people of God under his covenant neyther doe so injoy any of them Answ. First I spake of the heathens of old whiles sacrificing was Gods ordinance as the examples that I alleaged shew He answereth of the heathens now whose state is much worse by refusing or falling from the Gospel Secondly his answer is true also of the Antichristian heathens Rev. â—1 2. if it be applied unto them for they are not Gods church and people under his covenant neyther doe they so injoy any of them but they are in the bondage and covenant of Antichrist as before is proved So my answer was to purpose his reply is but the begging of the question Object Take an instance sayth he in one of the particulars which he mentioned where he sayd that the heathens reteyn baptismes or washings among them yet when any of them leave that estate and come to the faith and church of Christ they are to be baptised into the Lords name c. but so may not be doen with those that have received baptisme in the church of Rome or any other apostate churches when they leave such estate c. Answ. First he wresteth my words spoken of the heathens of old which reteyned baptismes or washings whiles they were Gods ordinances and applieth them to their washings now when they are none of Gods ordinances I sayd the ordinances of God reteyned in other nations besides Israel as Altars sacrifices c and alleaged authors before Christs coming in the flesh he setteth down these as my words the heathens reteine c. Had I thus altered the case I should have been charged with shifting and that justly But I acknowledge not tho legal washings sacrifices altars c. of Gentiles or Iewes to be God's ordinances now as they were before Christs death That which he sayth of baptisme not to be repeated I grant and so must he have doen for circumcision among the heathens such as reteyned it for a divine ordinance as they did their sacrifices I instanced the Colchians Egyptians Ethiopians and the Samaritans which latter Mr. Iohnson acknowledged to have still used circumcision and yet were not Gods true Church But this he passed over and answereth not Now he would bring in the heathenish washings at this day which is a plaine tergiversation But of Baptisme we shall speak more hereafter Of Revel 18. 4. TO prove the church of Rome at this day Gods true church he alleadged Rev. 18. 4 Goe out of her my people c. I answered These very words are taken from Jer. 51. 45. My people goe out of the midst of her where by My people the Church of Babylon is not meant but the Israelites Gods lost sheep scattred there upon the mountaines and hills whom first the King of Ashshur had devoured and lastly Nebuchadnerar King of Babel had broken their bones having burned Jerusalem and the temple with fyre c. These Israelites figuring Gods elect are called out of Babylon which God would utterly destroy c. So from Antichrists church which is Babylon Sodom Egypt are Gods elect called out an evident proof that she is none of Gods church whatsoever she pretendeth c. His replies are questions Very well sayth he But are not those words My people the words of the covenant as J sayd Answ. They are but not of any covenant with Babylon and consequently not with the church of Rome which is Babylon at this day Rev. 17. 5. 2. And were not that people now in Babylon the church and people of God under his covenant Answ. They were Gods people and his lost sheep there but their Common wealth
is Christs true Church because it is the Temple of God 2. Thess. 2. D. Whitakers giveth sundry answers the two first are these 1. Jt may be called the church wherein Antichrist sitteth because it was the true church of Christ before not because now it is c. So Esaias sayth the faithful citie was become an harlot Esa. 1. 21. where he calleth Jerusalem the faithful citie because it had been faithful before so we say the Temple of God is the seat of Antichrist that is that which of old was the Temple of God 2. The Church of Rome taketh to it selfe the name title of the true Church and in the opinion of our adversartes it is the true Church 〈◊〉 was a monstrous thing of old 〈◊〉 deny this neither was it denyed but of a very few who straight way when they were knowen were killed notwithstanding it was not the true Church but the whore of Babylon c. These answeres when I gave mine opposite could by no meanes endure at my hand The same author sayth a litle before Now let us see whether the Bishop of Rome hath departed from Christ and from the faith so that the church of Rome now reteyneth not the form of the Apostles doctrine Surely that is evident by all the heads of doctrine which are in controversie between us and them That Church succeedeth the Apostles in deed but so as a den of theeves doe the house of God and as an harlot doth the faithful citie c. And after But the Pope sayth Billarmine honoreth one true God the Father Son and holy Ghost J answer hee honoureth him not but blasphemeth him He doth I confess as Atheists are wont to do which wil not openly deny God but in hart and workes they deny him so the Pope figneth and preclaimeth that he honoureth the trinity but in deed he carâ—h not for him For he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father of the holy Ghost but the Pope honoureth not the Son for he corrupteth his doctrine c. Againe touching that particular before handled whether by Babylon in Rev. 17. be meant the Citie or the Church of Rome Mr. Whitakers sayth Whereas the adversary affirmeth that it is not the Church of Rome whloâ—â— is called Babylon but the citie such as it was under the Emperours it is false For it is certain that Rome is by Iohn in the Revelation called Babylon because of that Church which should be at Rome For mention is made there of the false Prophet as also of the Whore which by her allurements should bewitch the whole world These things cannot be understood but of the Church and are necessarily to be referred unto Antichrist Mr. Brightman in his book of the Revelation expoundeth the Gentiles in Rev. 11. 2. to be the christiaÌ„s that are so in name only On Rev. 13. 8. he saith The holy Ghost doth cry openly that all they do wholly â—eopard and cast away their salvation that are subject to the Pope of Rome if so bee that they depart out of this life without repentance And again This Beast is worshipped of all Reprobates with whom while thou conspirest in thy worship who shal separate thee froÌ„ the state of reprobates He doth not therfore break off unity who departeth from the synagogue of Rome but he purchaseth unavoydable destruction to himselfe who cleaveth unto it without repentance These and the like things sayth Mr. Brightman one whose name mine opposite useth to grace his erroneous cause by Mr. Brovghtons testimony we have heard before Mr. Dudly Fenner in his Theologie writeth thus Antichrist is the head of the universal apostasie that should come 1. Ioh. 2. 18. Ioh. 4. 2. 2. Thess. 2. 4. 5. 6. Wherupon his church is by a Synechdoche called Antichrist 1. Ioh. 4. 3. 2. 18. as the true Church is called Christ 1. Cor. 12. 12. The Antichristian church compared to a Beast is the apostatical church but counterfeyting the vizar of the true which representeth the lively image of the Roman monarchie formerly doen away and of the goverment power amplitude seat therof amongst all peoples 2 Thes. 2. 4. 5. 6. 8. Revel 11. 7. 8. 13. 3. 11. 12. 18. Antichrist or the False prophet is the head of the Antichristian church the mediatour between it and the Dragon Rev. 16. 13. 13. 4. 11. 12. This Antichrist is an Opposer for to defend the foresayd departing away froÌ„ the truth of Christ 2 Thes. 2. 4. compared as touching the phrase with Dan. 8. 11. and an Exalter of himself first that he may lift up himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped that is against all powers and majesties both earthly heavenly 2. Thes. 2. 9. Dan. 8. 11. 36. Secondly that placing his seat in the church in name called Gods he may shew himself as God that is arrogate to himself the divine power and absolute dominion of Christ Esai 31. 1. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 4. Dan. 8. 25. Napier the Noble of Scotland expounding the Revelation sayth But as for the outward and visible face of the pretended church it must be rejected from God and no care measure nor account had by him therof because it must be given over to Antichristian and idolatrous people who shal subdue his holy church and spiritual Jerusalem and tread it under foot 1260. yeres Gods true church and spouse was chased away and remayned invisible and soliturie among certaine private persons predestinate elect of God But the rest of the people that lay dead in Antichristian errors arose not therfrom to imbrace the word of life ill c. But the rest J mean the whole outward visible church lay wholly as dead and corrupt with papistocal errours Of the Baptisme in the Church of Rome ALthough the former things against the Church of Rome be ynough to disprove her baptisme which is ordained of God onely for his Church and those in his covenant out of which Rome is gone yet because mine opposite urgeth some speciall reasons against mee for the same I will also briefly answer them About this poynt he hath nine reasons in his Christian plea pag. 27 ... 30. 1. The first which is against the repeating of Baptisme againe I grant him neither doe I hold it needfull or lawfull to repeate again the baptisme received in false churches 2. The second being for the same purpose I likewise grant As also that there is one baptisme as there was one circumcision which plea of his I would have noted because of his contrary reasoning afterward Likewise his example from Israel whose circumcision was not repeated I hold very fit But let the Reader observe how the Scriptures by him brought to prove it are 2. Chron. 30. chap. Ezr. 6. 19. 20. 21. of which the first was before the captivity the other after 3. The third that the covenant of grace is everlasting
is not true baptisme I constantly affirme so did Mr. Iohnson himselfe whiles he stood in and wrote for the truth That the Papists have turned baptisme into an idoll I have also formerly proved and wil maintain against his answers That therefore it is detestable and cursed unto them through their abuse of it doth necessarily follow for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abominatiō to the Lord Pro. 15. 8. That it should be no better then the dayly washing of our face is wrongfully imputed to us and Mr. Cl. whom hee citeth in his margine professeth to hold no such thing For our dayly washing is no religious action nor sacrament at all but baptisme by hereticks and apostates is a religious action after their manner and a false sacrament therfore neither true neither yet none at all as our opposite with us once professed Apolog. p. 110. Insted of proving it true baptisme hee bringeth reasons to shew that if it were an idol and lying signe it ought to be renounced and an other received This he knoweth the Anabaptists doe practise so it is no conviction of them all But he bendeth his force now against us and leaveth them Let us try what he sayth 1. Because sayth he idols and lying signes and fictions are not of God but of the Divil who is a liar and father thereof Ioh. 8. 44. Rom. 3. 4. Answ. I grant that which he sayth but he concludeth not the question Idols so farr as they are idols and lies are wholly of the Divill and so farr forth to be renounced But some idols and lies are made of Gods true ordinances and of his good creatures as Paul sayth of the Gentiles that they changed the truth of God into a lye and worshiped and served the creature Rom. 1. 25. Here the Gentiles lie is to be doen away and their idolatry renounced but the truth of God is to be reteined and a holy use of the good creature may be had which they abused So wee have renounced the popish idolatry and lies which they have brought upon Gods sacraments but the truth we reteyne 2. An idol or such a baptisme as is no more then a dayly washing of our faces cannot be the signe and seale of Gods true and everlasting covenant c. Answ. I grant it and from his own words conclude against him Baptisme in the Church of Rome is formerly proved to be an idoll because they give to the creature and work of mans hands that honour which is due unto Christ onely Therefore it cannot bee a signe and seale of Gods everlasting covenant by his owne grant As for us we reteyne no idoll but Gods truth onely as before I shewed 3. The signe in a Sacrament is that which is outward and visible which in baptisme is washing with water in the name of the Lord. Jf this be a fiction and lying signe in the churches aforesayd then is it not the Lords and they there baptised have not then the outward visible signe which the Lord ordained to be had of his people and therefore are bound to get it unto them where it may be had Rom. 4. 11. 6. 3. 4. Act. 10. 47. 48. c. Answ. 1. The first part of his reason is unperfectly set down for washing with water is a signe of the washing away of sinns by and in Gods institution onely by which institution it is to bee ministred to none but the faithfull and their seed Act. 8. 36. 37. 2. 38. 39. If it be not ministred according to this ordinance of God it is not the signe of his grace in that abuse though it be the thing which God in the right use hath appoynted for a signe 2. Hee would deceive his reader as if we held washing should be with any other creature then water or in any other name then the Lords These things wee know are in themselves the true ordinances of Christ but by Antichrist turned to a lye whiles hee falsly applyeth them to his adulterous synagogue which Christ hath given to his Church onely and whiles hee idolatrously giveth that grace to the work of his sacrilegious priests which is peculiar to Christ and his bloud It is the true signe of the covenant of Christ which is by Antichrist turned to a lye and if we should devise to our selves any other signe we should be lyars like him who hath devised creame spittle and other like elements synfully joyned with his baptisme 4. That also is to be doen without delay seeing the neglect of baptisme is sin and no unbaptised may eat of the Lords Supper c. Answ. It is true and so we if we had not been baptised with water c. would doe it without delay But hee trifleth insisting upon the outward element which he knoweth we had and leaveth the main thing the relation to the covenant of grace which we had not in that Antichristian synagogue 5. Jf any reteine an idol baptisme c. and presume to come to the Lords table they eat judgement to themselves Answ. We reteyne no idoll baptisme but have put away the idoll and the lye and reteyne the truth onely as before is shewed The same we answer to his sixt reason which is but a repetition and inlargement of his former as is his manner 7. Neither can it be thought that repentance which still they speak of should ever make a lye to be a truth and idol to be Gods ordinance c. For though repentance findeth mercy with God for a lye yet a lye is a lye stil and an idol-vanity Zach. 10. 2. Ier. 10. 8. Ioh. 8. 44. 14. 6. 17. 17. with 2. Cor. 6. 14. 15. 16. Answ. It is true of such idols and lies as the Scriptures which he citeth speaketh of but there are other idols and lies which by men are made of God himselfe and of his word and ordinances which by Gods grace upon mens repentance and faith are restored to the first truth As the Gentiles changed the truth of God into a lye Rom. 1. 25. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image Rom. 1. 23. and Israel changed God their glory into the similitude of an Oxe Psal. 106. 20. When they repented of their changing the truth into a lye they reteyned the truth still and kept that God whom before they ignorantly worshiped and of whom they had made an idoll to themselves Act. 17. 23. So for Gods ordinances as if the Israelites had made idols of Jachin and Boaz the two sacramentall pillars in the Temple 2. Chron. 3. 17. and had burnt incense to them as they did to the brazen Serpent 2. King 18. 4. they should have repented of and put away their idolatry but have reteyned those pillars still for such signes as God had ordeyned them But such pillars and posts as Israel had invented of their own heads and set them by the Lords posts Ezek. 43. 8. no repentance could make them
the Lords posts but they must have been utterly taken away So in Popish baptisme water is the Lords ordinance by them abused and turned to an idoll salt oyle c. are Antichrists ordinances set up also for idols these latter we utterly reject because they were never Gods ordinances in baptisme the water we reteyne having put away onely the abuse and lye of Antichrist annexed thereto If this bee not so then the Iewes should not onely have repented of and put away their lye when they used those lying words The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord c. Ier. 7. 4. but they must have destroyed the Temple it selfe also And whereas the Papists and other hereticks make lyes of the Scriptures and of Christs holy words This is my body make their idoll of Transubstantiation and the like they thould not onely repent of their lies and put away their idols but also renounce Christs words and put away the holy Scriptures if this doctrine of our opposites be true 8. Nor doe they in deed repent who stil reteyne such baptisme as themselves think to be an idol c. for true repentance bindeth us to cast away all idols c. Answ. This is already answered neither doe we reteyn such a baptisme as wee think to be an idol but that ordinance of God which was an idol by Antichrists abuse and is through the grace of God restored unto his former truth that onely doe wee reteyne repenting of our former abuse thereof amongst them God himselfe as I have shewed was made an idoll by the Gentiles their repentance bound them to cast away their idolatry but to reteyn God still Wheras they say We have gotten the Lords baptisme by comming to the Lord in true faith and repentance who baptiseth us with the holy Ghost and with fire As for the outward washing which we had it need not be repeated as before is shewed and we may as lawfully eat the Lords Supper without a new washing as the idolatrous Isralites turning to the Lord might eat the Passover without a new cutting or circumcising 2. Chron. 30. 1. 5. 11. 18. 25. Ezr. 6. 21. And afterward say We have renounced that Romish baptisme as an impure idol in their abuse standing up in the place of Christ and his precious blood which it is not pretending to give grace and wash away sinns which it doth not c. they doe but shift and contradict themselves and deceive others and still run into errours more and more Answ. Great words as if he would beare down all before him But let us heare his proofes For first sayth he speaking of the Lords baptisme they speake of that which is inward whereas our question is of that which is outward Answ. A good beginning The Apostle sayth there is one Lord one faith one baptisme Eph. 4. 5. Himselfe also a little before sayd against the Anabaptists There is one baptisme as there was one circumcision Now against us he would have two baptismes one outward an other inward Whereas though there bee two actions one outward doen by men the other inward doen by Gods spirit yet both are but one baptisme one sacrament as the outward body and the inward soule make not two men but one man A sacrament is a sacred order between the outward visible thing and the spirituall invisible which have a mutuall proportion and likenesse between them The Apostle sayth That is not circumcision which is outward in the flesh but that which is of the heart in the spirit Rom. 2. 28. 29. If they have in Rome but the outward washing without the inward then have they not true baptisme but a false deceitfull signe Secondly it is not true that I spake but of the inward work onely for I spake also of the outward which being had in Rome need not be repeated as I shewed by the example of the Israelites Now which of us two shifteth contradicteth and deceiveth I or he let indifferent men say 2. They spake sayth he of abuses in the ministration and opinions of the Ministers thereof whereas our question is of the thing it selfe not of the abuse Answ. We speak of the thing it selfe Baptisme abused by the ministers and receivers neither of which are in Gods covenant and therefore can have no true signe or seale of his covenant unto them in that estate Secondly if it were not for abuses and opinions of men God and his truth and ordinances could never bee changed into lies and idols as the Apostle teacheth us they were Rom. 1. 23. 25. The Athenians were idolaters against the true God whom Paul preached and whom they ignorantly worshiped Act. 17. 23. If one would take them in hand to excuse them say Our question is of the thing it selfe the true God and not of the Athenians abuses and opinions were it not a worthy plea yet such we have for Antichristians baptisme 3. Their assertion sayth he implieth that they had not the Lords baptisme till they got it themselves by comming to the Lord in true faith and repentance which is plain Anabaptistry and covert Popery and Arminianisme whereby they debase Gods grace and exalt mans works For it must be understood either of the inward or outward baptisme if of the inward besides that it toucheth not the question it implieth Popery if of the outward it conteyneth Anabaptistry Answ. Deliver my soule ô Lord from lying lips from the deceitful tongue Psa. 120. 2. First he citeth as my words till they had got it themselves by comming to the Lord whereas the word themselves is of his own addition Secondly hee wresteth them to such a meaning as in his conscience he knew I never intended namely to debase Gods grace and exalt mans worke as doe the Papists and Arminians As if I thought that we came or could come to the Lord of our selves without being drawn of the Father or as if our comming to him were a meritorious work which errours I abhorr 3. Neither doe my words imply such a meaning any more then our Saviours when he sayd Come unto me all yee that labour c. and J will give you rest take my yoke upon you c. and yee shall finde rest to your soules Math. 11. 28. 29. To conclude of that speech Therefore they could come of themselves or their comming should be a meritorious work or the like were an openinjury to our Lords words His two baptismes inward and outward is before shewed to bee but'an evasion wee acknowledge but one baptisme Eph. 4. 5. Neither if it be understood of the outward doth it as hee sayth conteyn Anabaptistrie for the Anabaptists doe not hold that they have the outward baptisme by faith and repentance but doe repeat the outward vvork and baptise againe vvhich I deny So herein he hath done me double vvrong 4. Jf they had died in infancie they had not then had the Lords baptisme nor had been baptised
the righteousness of saith and forgivenes of their sinns in that sinful estate Thus I shewed Gods words not mine own for oracles He asketh if we wil be wiser and more righteous then God himself who accounted them stil to be his people under his covenant and himselfe to be their God and upon this ground called them to repentance c. Answ. All this notwithstanding whiles they continued unrepent and unbeleeving and hardned their necks against the Lord their God c. their circumcisim by Pauls doctrine was made uncircumcision Rom. 2. 25. their sacrifices were an abomination to the Lord Prov. 15. 8. And hee might have seen in the Scriptures that though Israel were divorced from the Lord Ier. 3. 8. and not his people or wife nor he her husband Hos. 1. 9. 2. 2. yet they are in respect of their former state their continuall profession and the future mercie towards them called Gods people still even till Christs time Esai 11. 11. 16. Amos. 9. 14. That he should not urge a phrase as his manner is against the plain doctrines of the Scripture Obj. What wil they say to the circumcision of Judah in their apostasie c. was it also among them none of Gods ordinance but an idol c. Answ. It was Gods ordinance though abused by the unworthy receivers as before is shewed But he from a false church and Babylon flâ—eth to Sion the true Church corrupted which is his perpetuall fallacie If Iudah or any Church in the world had doen with the sacraments as Rome hath doen they had changed them into idols contrary to the 2. commandement But Iudah never did so with circumcision and the Passover he sheweth no word of God to prove it Obj. Have the gates of hell more prevailed against the Christian Church since Christs coming then they did or could against the Church of the Iewes before his coming in the flesh Mat. 16. 18. Answ. This old popish reason hath been often answered by many Writers against the Antichristians and is of no more force for Rome turned to Antichrist then for Ephesus Corinth and other churches turned to Mahomet For what priviledge besides a popish dreame had Rome above Ephesus Should it because it crucified Christ and is therefore cursed above all cities have prerogative above Ephesus wherin was a church in Pauls time which was the ground and pillar of truth 1. Tim. 1. 3. 3. 15. yet is that church long since cut off but Romes church must continue for her good service to Divils and idols Rev. 9. 20. and for worshiping the Beast Rev. 13. He might have seen in Rev. 12. that the woman the Church perisheth not though she be fled into the wildernesse from the presence of the Serpent and synagogue of Antichrist His other repetitions again and again are before answered Obj. The ordinances of God may in any churches become unprofitable to men by their own sinns circumcision may be made uncircumcision to such as break the Law c. Rom. 2. 25. 26. so baptisme now But shall we therefore say that they are not in such churches to such persons the Lords ordinances nor his true signes and sacraments but idols and lying signes c. Was the Lords table in the Church of Corinth a table of Divils or the Lords Supper an idoll or lying signe c. to such as eat it unworthily Was it not the Lords ordinance and true sacrament though sinfully abused by them c. Ans. The Lords ordinances abide alwayes the same and holy in themselves howsoever abused by Christians by Antichristians by Iewes Turks or Pagans to their perdition Neither is there a like degree of abuse in all neither doth every abuse make a thing an idoll but when the honour due to God alone is given to a creature then it is made an idoll and so I have proved is doen in the church of Rome to which proofs he answereth not I instanced the Lords Supper in Rome whereof they have made an abominable idoll worshiping a peece of bread as their maker Mine opposite will never mention or meddle with this but shunneth it as convinced in conscience And from Antichrists church runneth to the Christian Church in Corinth and asketh if the Lords table there were a table of Divils I answer No not then in Corinth but now in Rome they have made it by their idolatrous Masse a table of Divils and as Moses sayd of Israel they sacrificed to Divils not to God Deut. 32. 17. so say I of these Antichristians their sacrifice of the altar is a sacrifice to Divils not to God This he should have disproved if he could have doen it and not to leave the persons and things whereof wee dispute and run to others So the Lords baptisme they have turned into an idol ascribing the gift of grace which onely is Gods to water words and works of men that as the Gentiles turned the truth of God into a lye Rom. 1. these Gentiles also have turned the truth of God and of his sacraments into lyes And as the Lords incense and sacrifices were an abomination to him from the hands of wicked sinners Esai 1. 13. Prov. 15. 8. so the Lords sacraments are an abomination to him from the hands of Antichristians And as hee doth so ought all his people to esteeme of them and not to regard lying words of such as cry nothing but the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the sacraments and ordinances of the Lord to deceive Gods people and to harden the synners in their wicked works Wheras I distinctly shewed the idolatry committed in Antichrists baptising of his subjects partly by perverting the holy signes as the Israelites did the brasen serpent â— King 1â— 4. partly by inventing signes of his owne as crosses exorcismes c. Mine opposite first †censureth the things I wrote to be notable shifts errours contradictions abuse of scriptures vain distinctions and odious assertions Such grace hath flowed from his tongue and pen. 1. Observe sayth he a needless distinction of idols nothing helping for the question in hand Answ. The distinction is true and needfull to discern the truth of the question against his clamorous reproches as if I called Gods ordinance in it self considered an idoll 2. Jf they mean sayth he that baptisme there had is an idol of both sorts they doe the more increase their errour Answ. I doe so meane yet is there no increase of errour I heare his bold words but no proof 3. They speak of crosses exorcismes c. whereas we speak of the baptisme it selfe Ans. So doe I but of popish baptisme mixed with Christs ordinances and Antichrists together All parts of a thing put together make the whole and it is deceitfull dealing to dazel mens eyes with the whores golden cup and to passe by the abominable ingredients the fornications that are in it when both are joyned together Rev. 17. 4. 4. They speak