I say that then thou art like those people in Jeremiahs time â—ho would not obey his and other true Prophets voice Ier. 5 12 13. calling upon them to repent neither would they believe their threatnings but loved rather to hear the false-prophets and corrupt Priests who taught them lies and secured them in Ier. 7. 4. 8. Ier. 5. 31. Ier. 6. 10. their sins they loved to have it so but cared not to hear of the sinnes and to be taught the feare of the Lord the word of the Lord was a reproach unto them they had no delight in it Thou asks further touching thy self Or am I one of the foolish people who have eyes and see not have ears and hear not without the fear of God holding up such as bear rule by means Answ The foolish people of whom Jeremiah complains are therefore said to have eyes and see not eares and heare not Ier. 5. 21. and not to fear God not because they did hold up these their Priests who bare rule by giving unto them that due maintenance or meanes which was prescribed by God for the Prophet doth not speak of any such thing or of any such reason of that peoples foolishnesse but they are said to have eyes and see not to have eares and hear not and not to fear God because that people was such who took no notice of things apparent to their eyes and which was taught them by the hearing of the eare sufficient to convince them that God only was to be feared served and observed They might see the greatnesse Ier. 5. 22. of God in his workings in the world restraining the motions Psal 89. 9 and commotions of the mighty waves of the Sea they might see the goodness of God in his merciful workings towards themselves giving unto them the former and latter rain in season Ier. 5. 23 24 and reserving unto them the appointed times of their earthly incomes They also might have heard continually from the true Prophets and holy Levites mention of the Lord and abundant motives to feare or serve him only and yer they wilfully refused to regard and consider of it in their heart having an heart revolting unresolved to fear God and minde what was for their spiritual good Now if thou art one who is obstinate and resolved in heatt to shut thine eyes from minding Gods greatnesse and wonderful workings in the world and his goodnesse towards thy self and if thou art determined in heart to shut thine eares Act. 20. 21 from all holy perswasions tendred by his publick servants whose office it is to preach repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ then I pronounce it that thou art like one of those foolish people which in Jeremiahs time had eyes and see not and eares and hear not and which were without the fear of God And if thou art such repent in time least the Lord withdraw from thee as he did from Ier. 5. 25. and 29. them those good things which he affords thee and come to visit thee and to be avenged for thy being like a people who loved to cast off his feare or service and to continue in profanenesse Touching the Prophet thou asks Did not they look on Jeremiah as on one being deceived and was he not cast into prison and dungeon Did not the Priests and Princes say he was worthy of death Answ Jeremiah was a true Prophet of the Lord and he oft denounced judgements against the whole Land against Hierusalem and against the Temple therein but the false prophets to please the people prophecied otherwayes and the people believed rather the lies uttered by the false then the truths which were spoke by the true Prophets being very Ier. 5. 12. confident that evil should not come upon them and they finding that judgements threatned by Jeremiah was not speedily executed did continually mock him The Word of the Lord said he was a reproach unto me and a derision daily Jer. 20. 8. Thus the true Prophet was accounted as one who was deceived Moreover Jeremiah was falsely accused for intending to fall Jer. 37. 13 14 15. to the Caldeans and the Princes believing the accusation did cast him into prison And upon the Princes petitioning against him that he Ier. 38. 1 2 3 4 5 6. weakned the hands of the men of War and the hands of the people and sought not the welfare of the people but their hurt he was let down into a dungeon wherein he did sink in the mire Lastly we also read that the Priests and the Prophets and all Ier. 26. 7 8 9 10 11. the People having heard his threatning Sermon that God would make the Temple like Shiloh and the City a curse to all the Nations of the Earth they took him and said he should die and the Priests and Prophets spake to the Princes and to all the people saying this man is worthy to die for he hath prophecyed against this City By what is related thy three demands which concerne the Prophet are easily answered namely the people did look upon Jeremiah as on one being deceived he was cast into Prison and a Dungeon And the Priests and false prophets said he was worthy of death and the Princes petitioned that he should be put to death I list not to conjecture what thy ends should be in questioning these things concerning the Prophet but I am sure the questions are to small purpose either in dependency on or in referency to the things at first demanded in this thy fourth head of demands unto which thou hast now from me a compleat answer CHAP. V. Thy fifth Head of Demands is as followeth ARt not thou one of them that divines for mony and teaches for hire and if I will put in thy mouth thou will preach peace to me if I will not thou will prepare War against me Did not such bring the people all on heaps yea Hierusalem Did not God say night should come on such and was not Micah full of the power and full of the Spirit to declare unto them their sinne and transgression And is it not a sinne and transgression now answer me Answ The Prophet Micah Chap. 3. Ver. 11. condemnes such Prophets who divined for money and such Priests who taught for hire we have out of holy Scripture this account of them what they were Micah saith that these prophets Mich. 3. 5. were such who made the people to erre who did bite with their teeth who cried peace who prepared war against them who did not put into their mouth The meaning is they taught errours they did teare the true Prophets with their teeth in their railing evil language uttered through the teeth they flattered and soothed people in their sins promising them peace they sought to trouble them who did not entertaine and feast them and did not comply with them in what they said and applaud their sayings These
Christ it is whom they owne or acknowledge in the flesh they reply that it is no other but Christ in their flesh Christ in them disowning and denying that there is the man Christ who is a man different from other men and who is the Mediator between God and man whom God raised from the dead who ascended into 2 Tim. 25. pag. 5. heaven and is now sitting at Gods right hand making intercession for his Church who shall come againe to judge the quick and the dead at the last day This Christ they deny and speak very contemptuously of him and of that body of flesh which he had on earth and hath now in heavenly glory A printed paper of theirs called the sword of the Lord drawn hath this blasphemous jeering expression your immagined God beyond the stars and your carnall Christ is utterly denyed and testified against by the light These men led by the lying spirit of Antichrist deny that Jesus is the Christ and they confesse 1 Ioh 2. 2â— 2 Iohn 7. not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh Thus both the Papal Antichrist and his confederated instruments and followers and the hereticall Antichrists with their associâ—tes and disciples have not abode in this doctrine of Christ that Chriâ—t is come in the flesh 2. It is also â— Doctrine of Christ that the holy Scriptures are the written word of God given by inspiration 2 Tim 3. 15. 16. Psal 119. 93. Rom. 1 16 and are sufficient to direct and inform in all things absolutely necessary unto salvation and that God by its precepts doth quicken his people and that the Gospell is the power of God unto salvation Christs doctrine doth magnifie the excellency of holy Scripture The Papal Antichrist Pope and Popelings deny that the holy Scriptures are sufficient for edification in things of salvation without traditions and some of them have reviled the holy Scriptures calling them a Dead letter and blasphemously the word of the Devill as Protestants whom they call hereticks alledged it and one of them said that the Church had vid. Tilen loc com 2. Sec. 35. been better provided for if there had never been any Scripture Some hereticall Antichrists Quakers and others in our dayes speaking from the spirit of Antichrist have vented the like venemous breath against the holy Scriptures saying that they are insufficient for guidance in things belonging unto salvation in comparison of the light within them and those Inspirations and Revelations which they imagine that they themselves have They do not acknowledge that the holy Scripture are the declaration of Gods minde but they call them the declaration of Saints conditions intimating thereby that they being not to us of this present generation but that they only concerned the Saints of former ages This conceite thwarts the holy Scriptures yea and some of these hereticall Antichrists have licked up the Popish slavering Rhetorick in calling the holy Scripture a dead letter and some of them have said that some Rom. 15. 4. paâ—t of the Scripture is the word of the Devill and serpents dust not considering that though these words which were originally uttered by the Devill are recorded by Gods Pen-men in the Scriptute yet being now recorded by these Pen-men of God who have related the true history of what the Devill spake these words are now the words of the God of Truth namely his true relating the Devills words Moreover some of these hereticall Antichrists have said that it was no great matter if all the Bibles in England were burned and that it had been better for one to whom one of them spake if he had never read the Bible It is evident by what is writ as it might be also if we would in other points parallel the great Antichrist and the petty Antichrists that they both have transgressed and have not abode in the doctrine of Christ Thirdly Both the Papall Antichrist and the hereticall Antichrists are deceivers The Papall Antichrist comes saith one Apostle with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth 2 Thes 2. 9. 10. that they might be saved The hereticall Antichrists or false teachers bring in privily said another Apostle damnable heresies denying the Lord that bought them and many shall 2. Pet. 2. 1. 2. 3. follow their pernitious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be spoken evil of and with fained words they shall make merchandise of Christians Both these sorts of Antichrists are deceivers and do manifest themselves to be so for they do not hold the forme of sound words but do delight purposely and affectedly to use cloudy and obscure expressions thereby to confound the understandings of simple men from apprehending aright the truth yea and their pretendings to extraordinary holiness and strictness in their conversation and religion beyond truth is but a crafty deceite under a meer shew of religion It were an endlesse labour to recount all that cunning craftiness and those deluding fallacies and subtill wiles and cheating tricks for insnaring soules and all those depths of Satan which they have used for gaining and for retaining those Proselites which they have gained It is enough to know that the Papall Antichrist and the Hereticall Antichrists are deceivers because the holy Scripture hath branded them with that name Fourthly both the Papall Antichrist and the Hereticall Antichrists have not God nor Christ both these sorts of Antichrists do pharasaically and arrogantly appropriate only to themselves Rev. 2. 9. and their followers the name of the Church of holy ones yet both are in reallity no other then of the synagogue of Satan Their transgressing and renouncing through their Apostacy the doctrine of Christ is a sufficient evidence that they have not God and Christ in communion neither have they their favour in this world and without repentance they shall 2 Thes â— 11. 12. not have any communion with God and Christ in glory for God hath sent on them strong delusions that they should beleive a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Fiftly As they have not God nor Christ in Communion so believers are not to hold communion or any intimate conversation with any of them The Apostle injoynes Receive 2 Epist Iohn 10. him not into your house neither bid him God speede They are not to afford any intertainment or incouragement to any Antichrist what ever not entertainment I suppose least thereby such gaine occasion of seducing by Antichristian doctrine from the doctrine of Christ nor incouragement lest thereby they be pâ—rtakers of his evil deedes Thou hast now a full answer to thy question and therewith a true discovery from holy Scripture who is the Antichrist and who are the Antichrists of whom it speakes in briefe according to it He who is an Antichrist is one who transgresseth the Doctrine oâ— Christ
among the Captives who went with King Eze. 1. 1 2. Jeâ—oâ—akin into captivity Thus these wicked Priests regarded themselves and did not regard their flock Their not regarding the the feeding of the flock is expressed by the Prophet who plainly sets down their demeanour both towards the sound and toward the distempered part of the flock Their behaviour towards the sound part of the flock is thus related ye kill them that are fed Some by them who are fed understand such who were rich in temporals whose death was wrought in these times by the wicked Priests and false prophets instigating wicked Princes prone enough thereto to slay or kill them all these sharing in the goods took from those whom by unjust judgements and wicked force they had put to death It is certaine that the Princes of these times were covetously affected and therefore also bloodily minded Behold saith the Prophet the Princes Ezek. 22. 6. of Israel every one of them were in thee he speaks of Hierusalem to their power to shed blood And againe her Princes ver 27. in the midst thereof are Wolves ravening the prey to shed blood and to destroy souls that is to root out their persons and to get dishonâ—st gain and it is certain that the wicked Priests and Prophets did solicite these Princes to put to death some as men seditious rebellious and enemies to the publick welfare Ier. 26. 11. and 23. who opposed them they petitioned that Jeremiah should die and the Prophet Vrijah was at that time by the Kings command slaine by the sword and it is most certaine that the false prophets with whom the wicked Priests did in many things conspire had an hand both in the death and in taking also of the wealth of many slaine in those times The Prophet saith there is a conspiracy of her Prophets in the midst Eze. 22. 25 thereof like a roaring Lion ravening the prey they have devoured souls that is destroyed persons they have taken treasure and precious things they have made her many widows in the midst thereof and it is very probable that the wicked Priests called here shepherds were guilty in partaking with those ravenous murders seeing they are by the Prophet charged to have killed those of the flock who with wealth were thick or well furnished Others understand by them who were fed such of the flock who had been formerly well taught by the holy Priests gracious Levites and good Prophets and had thickned or thriven well by their Doctrine in the knowledge and understanding of Gods Law These were killed by these wicked shepherds who had no natural care of the good of the flock partly by their starving them in not affording them vision to keep Pro. 29. 18 them from perishing and partly by poysoning them with errours and lying falshoods which they frequently taught in those days in perverting the Word of the living God and violating Ier. 23. 26. Eze. 22. 26 his Law Now whether it be understood that these wicked shepherds had an hand in actual dispatching the well-fed of the flock from their temporal lives and livelihoods or that they only slew them in their spirituals by depriving their soules of its necessaries and by poysoning them with corrupt abominations it is plain that their demeanour was very wicked towards those of the flock who were sound Their carriage towards those of the flock which was distempered is related to be evil enough in general to them all very evil in many particulars to some of them for thus the Prophet writes The diseased have ye not strengthned neither have ye Ezek 34. 4 healed that which was sick neither have ye bound up that which was broken neither have ye brought againe that which was driven away neither have ye sought that which was lost but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them In these words the Prophet indites these wicked shepherds for not exercising those acts of their calling which the distresse of their flock called on them to performe as namely 1. Some of their flock was diseased or languishing thorough the afflictions and discouragements of these times by these their souls were made feeble and faint as sheep are fainted and weakned by the Suns scorching heat and yet these shepherds used towards them not one word of strengthning instruction and encouragements to uphold their spirits from sinking under sad discouragements but they rather added affliction to their affliction for in this Prophet God speaks thus unto some who taught in those Times With lies ye have Eze. 13. 22 made the heart of the righteous sad whom I have not made sad 2. Some of the flock was sick in and with sinne sinne had wounded and hurt them and yet these wicked shepherds spake not unto them any wholsome sound or healing words whereby they might have been thoroughly healed that which they spoke did heal the hurt of the people slightly speaking Ier. 6. 14. unto them peace peace when there was no peace yea what they spake did not help to cure but to encourage them rather in their continuance in sins for God in this Prophet speaks thus to false teachers ye strengthned the hands of the wicked Eze. 13. 22 that he should not returne from his wicked way by promising him life 3. Some of the flock was broken or loose joynted with distresse in spirit partly with mourning for their own sinnes and the abominations of others and partly with their own perplexed irresolutions what they should do whether they should flee to which the false prophets in their teaching Eze. 13. 20 sought to presse them and these wicked shepherds spake not one word of comfort tending to binde up their broken hearts and satisfie their disquieted spirits whereas the true Prophets Isa 40. 2. did it with consolations from God speaking to them comfortably even to the very heart assuring them that the humble and Eze. 9. 4 6. contrite had their sins pardoned and that in the general desolation their persons should be spared 4. Some of the flock was driven away partly by the force of Satans temptations from truth and holinesse into errours and sinnes and partly by wicked mens violent persecutions Ier. 26. 21 into other Nations we read that the Prophet Vrijah was out of fear forced to slie into Aegypt yet these wicked shepherds spoke not one word of conversion tending to bring the flock back to the acknowledgement of the truth and to the forsaking of their sinnes neither did they speak any one word for reducing home to dwell in peace and safefty any of those who were cast out of their homes and the land of their Nativity by their brethren for Gods Name sake Isa 66. 5. 5. Some of the flock was lost in sinnes by their own follies and the bad examples of the wicked Princes Prophets and Priests whom they followed and yet the wicked shepherds did not seek or use
strength from faith to faith from grace to grace from one degree unto another we serve Jesus Christ and not our selves and our bellies 3. I and other faithful Ministers do not in our preaching use such good words and faire speeches for which the Apostle blames the deceivers of the simple Romanes we use no words commending and applauding them no wishings of prosperity and successe unto them in their pursuit of things unwarrantable we use no words enticing them to factions and separations no words promising things unperformable we use unto them no flattering words no speeches which meerly allures the affections and doth not informe the understanding with the very truth Our speech and preaching is not with the entising words 1 Cor. 2. â— 13. of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the Spirit We speake not with humane eloquence which conteineth oft words without matter but we speak words which the holy Ghost teacheth which are ful of substance and evidence of truth words which are good indeed because they have God for their Authour and contein good and wholesom matters and they do good to them who are upright and giveth light and understanding Micah 2. 7. Psal 119. 130 to the simple I can boldly and truly say I have taught my people since I came among them nothing but the Word of Truth which tends to informe their judgements and to reform their corrupt will and affections and to conforme their persons and lives to the holy will of God in all things I tell thee therefore truly I am not in the steps of them who with faire speeches and good words deceive the hearts of the simple which serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly Thy eight Head of Demands hath now received its Answer CHAP. IX Thy ninth Head of Demands is thus expressed ARt not thou one of the lovers of their owne selves that art covetous and to be turned away from 2 Tim. 3. Answ There are some who though they be lovers of themselves yet that their love is not blamable and there are others whose love of themselves is very unlawful and they are justly condemned by the Apostle in that place which is quoted by thee I am not one of this latter sort the truth may be thus cleared 2. There is a lawful self-love which is natural whereby every man as he is a man yea a creature seeks the good of a being and of a comfortable well-being as it is such a creature This love is by God stampt on every creature that it should look to its own preservation and the maintenance of Eph. 5. 28. Mat. 19. 19 Luk. 6. 7. it self It is a law written in nature that the creature should love it self and the Law of God revealed commands us to love our neighbours as our selves to do to them what we our selves would have others do to us and grace forbids not any to love themselves with a right love which is such when it is a love subordinate to that love which we beare to God we may love our selves but not so much as God nor more then God And thus without any sinfulnesse and blameworthinesse both I and thou and every man else may be lovers of our selves keeping the right order namely being willing to resigne our very being and all the conducements of our natural well-being when ever God our gracious Creator who gave them to us shall remand them from us 2. There is another love of ones self which is also lawful and laudable it is the spiritual love of ones self when a man loves his soul which is his better part so as that he presers it and the seeking of the good of it before all worldly things for Mat. 16. 26 what is a man profited to gaine the whole world and lose his soul and out of loue to it he takes care to promote its welfare in all meanes opportunities and advantages of improving it in grace and fitting it for glory And thus also it is very lawful for me and thee and every man else to love our own selves in loving our souls and seeking its good by following of that which is gracious But 3. There is another love of ones self which is unlawful and justly blamable It is commonly called the carnal love of ones self whereby a man esteeming more of himself and what is his then he ought is wholly addicted to regard and follow his own private personal concernments and advantages with a disregard of minding or with a carelesse neglect of seeking the publick good and welfare of others Such lovers of their own selves were these whom the Apostle in the place alledged mentions and he complaines of such in another Epistle that they all sought their own and not the things of Jesus Christ Phil. 2. 21. they sought their own ease their own profit their owne repute but not the honour of Christ and the publick benefit of his people Timothy was none of these self-lovers he naturally cared for the state of the Philippians he had as it were a parental Phil. 2. 20. care towards them as towards children sparing no diligence no thoughts no pains though very solicitous in seeking after their spiritual good I and other faithful Ministers bear towards our people the like solicitousnesse the like carefulnesse the like tendernesse of affection the like diligent seriousnesse of seeking their spiritual good as Timothy did towards the Philippians and therefore we are no such lovers of our own selves as they were of whom the Apostle speaks who would not displease nor disease themselves in any thing to promote the publick good of people We could soon spare all our paines labours thoughts cares 2 Tim. 4. 2 Eccles 12. 12 we could quickly ease our selves from wasting our spirits with often preachings and wearing our flesh with much studying and from weakning our strength with beating of our braines and with often breakings of our sleeps in considering how we may to our peoples best advantage send out the golden oyle Zac. 4. 12. of the glad tydings of salvation unto them we could speedily free our selves from all this task and toile which we have undertaken for our peoples good if we were such lovers of our own selves who seek our own profit and not theirs But know thou that the love we have unto Christ our Master doth constraine us to feed diligently and carefully his Lambs and Ioh. 21. 15 16 17 Phil. 2. 17. his sheep and the abundance of our love to have the souls of his people saved makes us very willing to sacrifice all our talents our time our thoughts our travels our healths our lives our selves upon the service of their faith we herein seek not our own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved 1 Cor. 10 33 Therefore I and other faithful Ministers are not like one of them whom Paul mentions who were lovers of their own selves Thou
nineteen evil qualities he would have them turn away from such which words properly signifie be thou turned away from or turned against such 1. The Apostle would have godly Ministers such as Timothy was to be turned away from such to shew them no countenance no liking that they might see in their looks that their evill courses hath no roome no approbation in any of these good Ministers hearts and not only so but 2. The words import that they are to be turned against such both in manifesting that their conversation is opposite to the conversation of such evil ones to which purpose the Apostle directs Ministers in directing Timothy to a 2 Tim. 3. 10 11. known practical following of his doctrine manner of life purpose faith love long-suffering charity patience persecutions afflictions as also they are to be turned against such in having their communication opposite to that resistance of the truth and to that corruption in life which Seducers deceiving and being deceived manifested To which purpose the Apostle exhorts Ministers in exhorting Timothy 2 Tim. 3. 14 15 16 17 to continue in the things which they had learned and known as Timothy did out of the holy Scripture whereby they might be profitable in Doctrine in Reproofs in Corrections in Instruction in Righteousness and be perfectly furnished unto all good works I am such even a man professedly opposite to men of corrupt mindes who are reprobate concerning the faith and who resist the truth I am a man also whose life and conversation through Gods mercy unto me is not tainted with any of those nineteen odious corruptions which the Apostle mentions I am one who endeavours as Timothy is exhorted to do to war a good warfare holding faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. 1 Tim. 4. 12 and to be an example of believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith and purity and I therefore tell thee both truly and plainly that I am not any such man from whom thou or any other hath any warrant or command from God to turn away Thy ninth Head of Demands is now fully answered CHAP. X. Thy tenth Head of Demands is as followeth ARt not thou one of them as Peter speaks of that with covetousness and fained words makes merchandise of the people and so art in Cains way and Balaams way answer I answer False teachers privily bringing in damnable heresies and denying the Lord were the men whom Peter speaks of who through covetousnesse and fained words makes merchandise of the people But these words of Peter do not speak of 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. any holy Apostle or other faithful Ministers who lived in Peters time neither do they speak of any faithful Minister of Christ who shall live in other times Peters words are not spoken of such who preach the doctrine of salvation but of them who teach damnable heresies or damning doctrines They are not spoken of any faithful Minister who publickly and openly dispenseth holy truth in all sincerity but they are spoken of false teachers who ptivily in the houses into which they creep or elsewhere instill into their hearers corrupting falshoods conveying these in their teaching with much cunning covert hypocrisie Peters woâ—ds are not spoken of such who earnestly contend for the faith which was once deliver'd to the Saints but they are spoken of those who diligently and slily seek to pervert that faith and to turn others from it Peters words are not spoken of those who with the heart believe unto righteousness and with the mouth make conâ—ession unto salvation and teach others also to acknowledge the Lord but they are spoken of such who deny the Lord and who seek by heresies to withdrâ—w people from beleeving and from confeâ—â—â—ng that holy Christian faith whereof the Lord himself is both the Author and the Finisher Peters words are not spoken of such Ministers who according to the duty of their calling do study and read 1 Tim. 4. 13 14 16. Eccles 12. 10 and meditate and pray and write and ponder and compare things revealed in the holy Scripture and who set in order the truths which are thence sought out whereby they may still teach the people knowledge But they are spoken of such who following cunning devises do compose fine words plaiting and artificially couching them so together that some sentences shall with elegancy breath out truth and falshood so as their own disciples sucks in falshood understanding them one way and others apprehend that good only was meant therein seeing they espy that good may be interpreted out of them both are abused by such teachers the one sort are led by them into strong delusions and the other sort are deceived in their hoping that they meant good who had so craftily mixt errour and truth that it was hard even for them who was very good to dissever them Lastly Peters words are not spoken of those who meerly coveting and longing to gain souls to God and to make them Christs Disciples do plainly let them know how miserable or how comfortable they shall be according as they shall reject or receive and embrace Christ the pearle of the Gospel and his precious truths But they are spoken of them who out of covetous desires to raise a greater worldly gain from those whom they intend to make their own Disciples do use fine plausible alluring words the better to conceale and cloak those errours and heresies which they vent which being entertained the souls of those who embrace them are sold to become slaves unto such corruptions that the Devil can lead them captive at his pleasure These false teachers are not unlike those false chapmen to whom the Apostle in the word Merchandise doth allude who through their insatiable desire of gaine do with fine flattering pleasing words set forth the high commendations of their wares beyond truth thereby thinking to vent their commodities the more speedily and so draw the larger sums of money from the buyers of them Such were the persons of whom Peter speaks who through covetousness with feigned words made merchandise of the people But I and other faithful Ministers of Christ who live in the reformed Church are none of these we as I have shewed in my answer to thy ninth demand have not exercised towards our people any covetousnesse neither are we covetous and we have not sought as my answer to thy eight demand hath sufficiently cleared by faire speeches and good words by fine and faire words either to flatter our people in any of their present corruptions or to fix in them any erratical and heretical abominations Peters words are no wayes justly appliable to me or any other faithful Minister of Jesus Christ but they must properly agree to the false teachers in our dayes who are of the papal and popular faction The Romish Church by her factors who are cunning Merchants traficks in all Lands and hath a streame of currant coine
that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turne away from him that speaketh from heaven and againe how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation In the midst of this sixteenth head of demands thou bids me answer thee and let the truth speak and come to the light and bring my deeds to it Answ I have fully answered thee and for thy sake to give thee satisfaction if thou art yet capable of any I have laid together the words of truth that thou and all who read them may understand what is spoken in them to the things demanded and if my deeds be examined by these words of truth which have been a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths it will plainly appear to all who are unprejudiced and who are judicious that I have done no unrighteous deed and thing in demanding to receive from thee that portion of my due maintenance which is in thy hand but from God the Lord both of thee and me to whom both must give an account for our doings assigned unto me for my labours Thy sixteenth head of Demand hath now its full Answer CHAP. XVII Thy seventeenth head of Demands is thus expressed WHat is the first principle of the pure Religion Is the steeple house the Church What Scripture hast thou for sprinkling Infants What Scripture hast thou for the word Sacrament Hast thou heard Gods voice immediately from heaven as Prophets and Apostles did or Christs voice Doest thou believe that a man shall come to that which is perfect while he is upon the earth and have the body of sin put off and be free from sinne Dost thou own that salvation that is wrought out with fear and trembling Dost thou own the same Revelation and Inspiration that the Prophets and Apostles had now in this age yea or nay Dost thou own the prophecying sonnes and daughters in this age and that the Lord will poure out his Spirit upon all flesh When Christ saith to his Disciples be ye not called Masters for ye have one Master and ye are all brethren Where dost thou read Mr. Paul Mr. Matthew Mr. Mark Mr. Luke Mr. John Mr. Peter Mr. James Mr. Timothy Mr. Titus that these transgressed the command of Christ is not he Antichrist that transgresseth and the deceiver and hath not God nor the Son and is not he to bid God speed Read Johns second Epistle and answer me Answer these queries in writing to the thing that is queried and do not say that they are foolish and non-sense but let me have an answer in writing Answer Here are eleven Questions proposed whereunto an answer shall be returned severally as they come in order 1. Quest what is the first principle of the pure Religion Answ The pure Religion is the doctrin according to Godlines containing such wholesome words which teach men the way of 1. Tim. 6. 3 2 Tim. 1. 3. 2. Pet. 4. 6. 2. Cor. 13. 4 Act. 24. 14. 1. Pet. 4. 2. 1. Pet. 4. 11. living to God and with God of serving God according to his own will The principles of this holy doctrin or pure Religion which are to be known are all those holy truths which are revealed from God and are plainly to be found in the Oracles or written words of God called the holy scriptures for there they are recorded Scripturall truthes are the principles or things in the pure Religion which are to be known and the holy scriptures are the principles or chief outward means by which men come to knowledge of those principles or truths which are in the pure religion and the first principle of this pure Religion which is to be known is this there is a God and he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him 11. Heb. 6. 2. Quest Is the steeple house the Church Answ In what sense the places of our holy Assemblys are truly called Churches will appeare by what I shall deliver at present touching the name of Church know then that A multitude of believers is called the Church namely the Rationall Church or the congregation of reasonable creatures conspiring together in the profession of the Common faith and in the practise of all things truly promoting the common salvation Thus the whole company and society of believers throughout the world agreeing in the Profession of Christ calling on his name submitting to his Ordinances holding communion in the same faith worship exercise of godlines and in things of everlasting salvation Act. 20. 28. 1 Tim. 3 15 Rom. 16. 61 is called in holy scripture the Church of God the Church of the living God the Church of Christ And thus also partiaular Societyes of believers visibly dwelling together within certaine convenient limits and bounds who prosesse publickely together the same doctrine of faith and love and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and his ordinances and to partake in these holy institutions which he hath appointed and who do meete as the Lords people publickely to worship God and Christ I say these particular visible societyes of believers 1 Thes 1. 1 are also called the Church The Apostle writes to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the father and in Jesus Châ—ist a Church in God and in Jesus Christ is Persons who have felâ—owship together in the faith obedience and worship which God the father and his son Jesus Christ requires Again know also that the very places of Christian Assemblyes where Christians meete to perform solemne service to God and Christ and to injoy holy ordinances these also are in holy Scripture stiled the Church of God namely the Local Church thus the Apostle speaking of the assembly of the Corinthian 1 Cor. 11. 22 church and abuses therein saith have ye not houses to eate and to drink in or despise'ye the Church of God the opposition which he puts between theire own houses which were places proper for their own ordinary and Common businesses and the place where the Church was publickly assembled which was no mans house but a place for the common use of the Church in things only spiritual plainely shewes that the Apostle calls the place of Christians assembling for Christian purposes the Church of God And he confirmed it by saying afterwards when ye come together to eate tarry one for another and if any 1 Cor. 11. 33 34. man hunger let him eat at home so then the very place where the Church Rationall of Gods people publickly meet is by the Apostle called the Church of God his Locall Church not mens home but Gods house of publick worshiping him where Mark 11. 17 ever such a place be in any nation Though thou in derision calls the place of our holy Assemblys a steeple house yet it is our comfort that the Apostle calls it the Church of God and that God himself hath promised to come and meet us and blesse us in it as he will all his holy people in all
AN Answer TO A QUAKERS SEVENTEEN HEADS OF QUERIES Containing in them seventy seven Questions WHEREIN Sundry Scriptures out of the Prophets and Apostles are cleared The maintenance of Ministers by Tithes is by Scripture fullly vindicated Several Cases of Conscience are resolved Several Points of Christian Religion are confirmed Parochial Churches and the Practises of some things in these our English Churches are throughly justified The Grand Antichrist with the Heretical Antichrists are decyphered and parallelled By John Bewick Minister of the Gospel and Rector of the Parish Church of Stanhop in Weredale in the County of Durham Prov. 18. 17. He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Quisquis hoc ligiâ— ubi paâ—iter câ—râ—us est pâ—rgat mâ—cum ubi paâ—iter haesitat quaerat mecum ubi erroâ—em suum cognoscit redeat ad me ubi meum revocat me ita ingrediamur simul charitâ—tis viam tendentes ad cum de quo dictum est quaeâ—ite faciâ—m ejus semper August de Trin. lib. 1. cap. 3. LONDON Printed by T. R. for Andrew Crook at the sign of the Green Dragon in Pauls Church-yard 1660. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL Sr. GEORGE VANE Knight And to the rest of the Parishioners of Stanhope in Weredale J. B. wisheth Establishment in the Truth Exemption from Error with Assurance of Everlesting BLESSEDNES THese last and troublesome times wherein Apostates and Hereticks disturb the Truth calleth on Ministers of the Gospel to be more vigilant both in feeding with the words of Eternal life Christs Flock under their charge and in fighting by the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God with the Errors of the time which threatens the ruine of their souls Now though the Inclinations of many Ministers bends them to be exercised more in practical Preaching the Truth then in controversal maintaining it by Writing yet when any of them are provoked to this latter service so without it Truth would be prejudiced they ought without neglecting the former to apply themselves unto it for the confirmation of their people in the precious Truth knowing assuredly that God and his Church are served when his Truths are defended by the Pen as well as when they are published from the Pulpit even as David honoured God as well in fighting the Lords battels for vanquishing his enemies as in dancing before the Ark for advancing devotion among his people His religious Worship was the more admirable yet Magis miror Davidem salâ—antem quam pugnantem Greg. Mag. his couragious Combats was unto the people usefully comfortable Seeing therefore my labours in preaching among you was not diminished by any pains beside which was took in writing I hope none will blame me for answering a Quaking Questionist whose confidence rendred him conceited that the Questions which he gave unto me to be answered were unanswerable considering that this vindication by Scripture of many Truths will further your firmer setling in these known and acknowledged Truths It is likely some may deem this a superfluous work because many have writ in answer to this sort of men but judicious men will not account the store of books in this kind to be any sore nor a multitude of Antidotes and Medicines in infected times to be any grievance My thoughts in this particular are not unlike Augustines that in places infected or likely to be August contra Mendaci cap. 6. infected with Errors every one should writ who hath ability thereunto that all sorts of people may among many books light on some and be thereby the better armed against infecting Errors and that the adversaries of Truth may find themselves every where to purpose incountred If the Questionist or any of his fraternity or any Reader and more particularly you of my charge shall hereby reap any spiritual benefit I shall not value as fruitless the pains took in composing this Treatise It is my hearts desire that you all may be saved and be kept in these tottering times from being rocked asleep in any security in sin and error Practise that holy faith and obedience wherein I have instructed you fourteen years with all diligence and patience I will not be negligent so long as I abide with you to put you always in remembrance of such things which accompanies salvation and whereby you may be edified in love and established more and more in the present Truth Commending you to the love of God and his Truth and to the hating of all Apostacy Heresie Fraudulency sacrilegious Impiety and Atheistical Prophanity I rest Jan. 12. 1648. Your loving Pastor always ready to spend and be spent for the good of your souls JOHN BEWICK THE LETTER OF Questions was thus endorsed FOR John Bewick called Minister of Stanhope 1. FRiend who calls thy self a Minister of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures to be the Rule Shew me out of the Scriptures where the Apostles or the Disciples or the Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ or any of the Saints or Believers run up and down or sent up and down and wrangled with Parishes for tith-Calfes Tith-pigs Geese or Eggs Apples Hey Wool Lambs Flax Foals Plow-pennies Bees Gardens or for mony for smoak passing up Chimnies Answer me this by Scripture out of the Apostles or Disciples practise and give me plain Scripture for it or else I shall never believe that thou art a Minister of Christ but hath the tithes from the Author the Pope come up since the dayes of the Apostles 2. Did not the Apostle cry against them that taught for filtby lucre and were covetous 1 Tim. 3. 3. Did not Christ give the marks of the blind guides Mat. 23. and saith be not ye called of men Master and have the chiefest places in the Assemblies Christ saith Be not ye called Master for ye have one Master even Christ and ye are all brethren Dost thou abide in his Doctrine that art called of men Master Did not Christ give these marks to the multitude and to his Disciples Now if I was one of the multitude could not I tell thinks thou if my guide were called of men Master and had the chiefest place in the Assemblies and had his long robes and uppermrst rooms at feasts Read Mat. 23. and how thou canst escape the seven woes there pronounced against such and whether thou will try thy practise thy life by Christs the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine yea or nay 3. Art not thou one of them that seeks for thy gain from thy quarter and hast a price and seeks for thy own way Did not the Prophet say Come without a price to them that thirsted therefore whether must I go to thee that hast a price or hearken diligently that my soul may live that I may witness the sure mercies of David and out-strip all my teachers as he did and come into the Everlasting Covenant and own the Prophets words Isa 55. 5 8. 4. Art not thou one of them that
from God the true Author and ordainer of their full free just and orderly payment to me among others who from him have obtained mercy to be faithful putting us into the Ministry But I have them not from the Pope as thou expresses it The Popes by sacrilegious acts seised in some places on tithes belonging to the Ministers of proper Churches and alienated them from them and bestowed them on Covents and Monastryes and granted dispensations to some lay-men to pay no tithes at all and hereby they proclaimed themselves to be very Antichrist or opposite to Christ in matters of tithe as they had also done in their oppositions to Christs institutions in other points of great concernment whosoever therefore refused to pay unto the Ministers of Christ their tithes they are rather the followers of the Papal Antichrist who robbed the Churches of Christ and his Ministers in many places of their patrimony and tithes then either the Dissciples of God who commands his Worshippers saying Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all 3 Pro. 9. Mat. 23. 23. thine increase Or the Schollers of Christ who hath told the world That tithing is a thing which ought to be done and hath no where by himself or by any holy Writer of the New Testament repealed Thâ— paying or receiving of Tithes established Enough is answered to thy first head of Demands CHAP. II. Thou thus hast writ II. DID not the Apostle cry against them that taught for filthy lucre and were covetous 1 Tim. 3. 3. Did not Christ give the marks of the blind guides Mat. 23. and saith Be not called of men Master and have the chiefest places in the Assemblies Christ saith Be not ye called Master for ye have one Master even Christ and ye are all brethren Dost thou abide in his Doctrine that art called of men Master Did not Christ give these marks to the multitude and to his Disciples Now if I was one of the multitude could not I tell thinks thou if my guide were called of men Master and had the chiefest place in the Assemblies and had his long robes and uppermost rooms at feasts Read Mat. 23. and how thou canst escape the seven woes there pronounced against such and whether thou wilt free thy practise thy life by Christs the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine yea or no Answer The Apostle in that place which is quoted doth not cry against any who taught for filthy lucre and were covetous he only relates what manner of man a Bishop who is a publick Teacher in the Church of God should be namely one who is not greedy of filthy lucre or who is covetous and he doth the very like in another place saying A Bishop should not be given to Titus 1. 7. filthy lucre I acknowledge that the Apostle though thou hast not quoted it in the first of Titus verse eleventh complains of unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers whose mouths saith he must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre The publick Teachers of the Church then are not the men against whom the Apostle spake who were guilty of filthy lucre though he shews by way of preparing them to their office that it is unbefitting their office to be such knowing the general proneness in all men to be covetous he in a special manner cautions 1 Tim. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 6. 11. them from being such exhorting the man of God to flie these things and to follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness even as he exhorts every particular Believer not to admit of Covetousness For it doth not bâ—come Saints so to do Besides that maintenance which is allowed and appointed by God unto these publick Teachers is not that Ephes 3 5 filthy lucre which the Apostle condemns seeing he neither in that place nor in any place else gives such a name unto the maintenance of publick Teachers But it is plain that they who were guilty of that filthy lucre whereof the Apostle did speak were Seducers men who had crept into houses and there led Captive silly women and perverted the Truth and subverted whole families these men unallowed and unlawfully and disorderly intruding into teaching in private houses were the men whom the Apostle calls unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers he tells us that they tâ—ught 1 Tit. 11. false Doctrines things which they ought not and that too for a base end even for filthy lucre Thus the Allowance only which Seducers received and had from their seduced Disciples what ever it was and not any maintenance of the publick Teachers of the Church is branded by the Apostle with that ignominious term of filthy lucre and well he might so term it seeing it was the recompence of those filthy falshoods which they had taught but ought not for all gain got from or with the breach of any Law of God is filthy lucre Thou goes on thus writing Did not Christ give the marks of the blind guides Mat. 22. 23. and saith They are called of men Masters and have the chief places in the Assemblies Answer Though the Hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees for their mis-interpreting some things in the Law are called in those Mat. 23. 16. particulars Blind Guides verse 16. Yet our Saviour tells the Disciples and the multitude in the beginning of that Châ—pter That these Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do but do you 〈…〉 not after their works for they say and do not Mark it Christ doth charge these Scribes and Pharisees with grievous faults and yet he doth not therefore discharge his Dissciples and the multitude from hearing observing and practising their good Doctrine Surely If notwithstanding the real faults of Teachers true Disciples according to our Saviours command ought to hear observe and practise what is well taught by them then they who pretend that themselves are the only true Disciples and Followers of Christ ought not to withdraw from hearing observing and practising those good things which are taught by the faithfull Ministers of England though they think that these very Ministers are really guilty of Pharisaical crimes much less ought they to do so when these very Ministers are no wayes faulty as were the Scribes and Pharisees and cannot be justly charged as guilty of those very things wherewith our Saviour did most justly charge the Scribes and Pharisees This will be evident upon the examination of particulars which come now to be considered For thus thou writes Did not Christ give the marks of the blind guides Mat. 23. and saith They are called of men Masters and have the chief places in the Assemblies Answer Christ in the 23. of Mat. did condemn many sins of the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees who in some particulars were blind guides but Christ doth not say That they are called Masters and had the
and of his exceeding great bounty towards them he claims it as his All the tithe of the Land is the Lords it is wholly to the Lord. Lev. 27. 30 Therefore whoseover covets the tenth part of the increase which is Gods and detains it from him whose Mercy hath bountifully allowed them nine parts they in that act proclaim that they renounce Gods Soveraignty over them that they will have no dependency on him that they are not beholden to him for what they are and have that they stand at defiance with him they covet an evil Covetousness unto their house bringing themselves under Gods curse by their robbing of him and they defraud themselves of a double blessing even of the promises of this life and that which is to come God reserved to himself the tithe which is his annual Rent and holy Tribute that out of his own proper goods wherein no Creature hath interest but such to whom he hath given it his Ministers who do him spiritual publick service should have maintenance from himself and not be at the curtesie of men to be provided for for he knew that men would commonly hate and use mercilesly them who sought their spiritual good We find moreover that God saith I have given the Children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service Num. 2â— 21 which they serve even the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation God here conveyed the tithes to the Levites in a term of an inheritance for their service because he the Law-giver would thereby let all know that tithes are to be perpetual and to descend from Ministry to Ministry to all generations for the service which they do to the Lords congregation And it is further to be taken notice of that Christ who is a Priest after Melchisedeck's order of which more anon which was before Aarons and received tithes before tithes were assigned to those of Aarons order I say the Lord Jesus Christ succeeding Aarons Priest-hood and being to continne a Priest for ever had all tithes which are Gods inheritance and rent they of right became his both because he is the heir of all things and among other things the inheritor of God the Fathers inheritance or revenue and because also all power in heaven and earth is given unto him he is Lord therefore of all persons and their Estates to him they owe and are to pay their yearly rent of tithe The Lord Christ hath appointed his Ministers Mat. 28. 28 to receive this his rent of tithe from those in whose hands it is so saith the Apostle As they who minister about holy things 2 Cor. 13 14. do live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel The tithes which they had who of old Ministered before the Lord are translated by the Lords ordaining to be the maintenance of his Ministers who preach the Gospel that they may live upon it As Gods portion was given by God to be the Levites portion because they were taken to minister before him so the same portion is now become Christs because he continues a priest for ever ministring at the right hand of God and Christ the Lord hath ordained that the Ministers of the Gospel should have and receive that his portion of tithes for their maintenance To shut up then briefly this discourse Thou may understand that Tithes are no price for preaching but they are Gods reâ—t at last setled on Christ and by his ordinance established to be the maintenance of the Preachers of his Gospel to the end of the world So then when I and other his Ministers demand of men tithes we demand not from them any price no not one penny of that which is theirs but that they would divide between the parts which God hath given them and the tenth part which he hath given us and if they either detain it from us or defraud us of any part thereof they rob not us but God and Christ of their due rent and homage and as God threatens a curse to such rebellious unthankfull sacrilegious God-robbers so his curse except they prevent it by a speedy amendment will overtake them may be in this world not with a consumption Mat. 3. 8. 9 upon their live-lihoods and comforts for the flying rowle of his curse is out to consume the very houses of thieves who steal from him and others however everlasting confusion in the world to come will be the portion of such who repent not their robbing God of his portion Thou asks Whether must I go to thee who hast a price or hearken diligently that my soul may live that I may witness the sure mercies of David and outstrip all my teachers as he did and come into the everlasting Covenant and own the Prophets words Isaiah 55. 5 8. Answer This question seems to imply that they cannot hearken diligently that their soul may live neither that they can partake of those other spiritual mercies which the question mentions who come for instruction to me or to any one that receive tithes which thou dost most falsly as hath been proved call a having a price But I answer thee The receiving Tithes by a Instructer from the instructed doth not hinder the instructeds profiting in any of those spiritual mercies which are spoken of in this question This Truth is clear Abraham paid Tithes to Melchizedeck yet his soul was not Heb 11. 8 9. Rom. 4. 19. 20. Luke 13. 28. thereby hindred from living by faith nor from acting in faith nor from inheriting the fruit of the everlasting Covenant the end of his faith the salvation of his soul for he shall be seen in the Kingdom of God nor from obeying diligently Gods commandment God gave him this testimony I know him that he will command his Children and houshold after him and they shall Gen 18. 19. keep the way of the Lord. Likewise David was a man who injoyed sure mercies and out-stript his Teachers and had an everlasting Covenant made with him and yet his carefulness for setling the Priests and Levites 1 Cor. 23. V. 24 25. ad finâ—m in their managements and maintenance after the dissolution of the Tabernacle service no ways prejudiced his obtaining the forenamed spiritual mercies Moreover I am perswaded that thou thy self art not so uncharitable as to think that the many thousands of Israel and of Judah who rejoyced for the Priests and for rhe Levites in the days of Zorobabel and of Nehemiah were all cut off Neh 12. 44 47. from partaking of these spiritual mercies by their paying unto them their Tithes and by sanctifying holy things unto the Levites And I do no think that thou or any wise man pondering things seriously can with modesty affirm that the paying Tithes now in the days of the Gospel
were the men who in Micahs dayes prophecied for money they would in their prophecyings forbear to speak any penitential word Mich. 2. 6. which humbles and shames sinners and they would for money speak presumptuous or licentious words to encourage Mic. 2. 11. people in sinne and particularly in their drunkennesse or excesse and it is certaine that the Priests who taught for hire were only unfaithful and corrupt Priests who being uncontent with their portion of Glebes Tithes and Offerings which God had appointed should be assigned unto them they would also be hired to speak what pleased the people and justified them in their sins making them believe that Gods Word did as well approve of the profane and uncleane as it did of the holy Eze. 22. 26 and clean not shewing the difference of them To thy question then Art not thou one of them who divines for money and teacheth for hire I answer I am not any such man who doth so thy supposal that I and other faithful Ministers have done so is most unjust for we make not our people to erre as did the false prophets of whom Micah speaks by teaching them lies and falsehoods we do not raile upon and speak all manner of evil of the faithful Ministers of Christ as the false prophets did of the true Prophets of the Lord tearing them with their teeth and smiting them with their tongue We do not flatter and sooth people in their sins as did these false prophets we do not as these false prophets did seek to vex those who do not afford us entertainment and embracement We do not forbear when a just oceasion is offered to rebuke our people sharply and to make them ashamed of sinne We do not speak licentious or presumptuous words to encourage people in their sinfulnesse as did the false prophets we do not countenance any false teachers nor yet for base gaine as did the unfaithful corrupt Priests seek in our teachings to please and justifie people in their sinful courses For we speak not to please men but God who trieth our hearts we dare do nothing against the truth but for the truth God hath appointed us his servants 1 Thes 2. 4 in office to preserve holy knowledge and to dispense it to his people We are no hirelings of any mortal creature neither will we be hired for any worldly considerations either to betray or to belie Gods truth though oppositions and hatred from worldlings proves to be our portion for our preaching for Christs sake the truths of Christ And be it known unto thee and to all the world that though I and other faithful Ministers of the Gospel have from God and the Laws of the Nation tythes allowed unto us from whence money arises for supply of our temporal needs yet tythes and money arising thence is not the scope and end of our teaching We are thankful unto Christ for providing for us in this manner whereby we are freed from many distractions in his service and from avocations from it wherewith other Ministers as they complain are cloyed who must ride far and wait long upon Treasurers and other men for their Salary We preach not for tythes and money accruing to us thence but out of love to Christ Jesus our Master and out of conscience to discharge faithfully our calling and duty and out of compassion to our people to save them from death to gaine them to Christ and to turn them from the power of Satan unto God For this it is we labour and preach spending our selves and being spent in study and preaching not seeking theirs but them Neither count we our life dear unto us so we may finish our course with joy and the Ministry which we have received of the Lord to testifie to our people the Grace of God We well know that if we would make money our end and aime in this world there are other courses advantagious and enough contentive to be took forgetting that and not this course of consuming our selves from morning to night and many times in the night in study in tiring our spirits in mournings of our soules in secret for the obstinacy of unruly unteachable ungodly and unconscionable sinners who care not how uncivilly unjustly and fraudulently they withhold from Christ our Master their duties and from us his servants their dues and rights briefly we preach not for money but for the good of our people that they may be stamped with Gods image in Christ and may not prove reprobate silver rejected of God We do not preach for hire though God giveth it unto us but to bring people to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in light with God and with Christ for ever and ever To what thou writes which concerns thy self and my self namely If I will put into thy mouth sayest thou to me thou will preach pâ—â—ce to me if I will not thou will prepare war against me I answer I am by Calling a Minister of the Gospel of Christ and therefore am a professed souldier of Jesus Christ as all other 2 Tim. 2. 3 faithful Ministers are I must then continually war against the sinnes and errours of the times and places where I live and fight against the powers of darknesse which seeks to corrupt and take captives the souls of men I must and will denounce Gods judgements against wilful and obstinate sinners that they may throughly understand that there is no peace for them For there is no peace saith my God unto the wicked Isa 57. 21. And though false Teachers will speak peace to those people in their sins and errours who are bountiful unto them yet be thou well assured that no bounties or contributions from thee or from any other shall stop my mouth from uttering faithfully the messages of the Lord against those very sins and errours wherewith I shall at any time finde either thee or any other of my people to be tainted Perhaps thou calls my preaching against them a preparing warre against thee but I contest not against thy person but against thy corruption I must lift up my voice like a Trumpet to shew my people their transgression and their sins and I will not be bribed by any either to hold my peace and be silent or to speak unto you peace thereby to encourage you in any of those abominations which you resolve to follow What is in this fifth Head of demands further writ is this Did not such bring the people on heaps even Hierusalem Did not God say night shall come on such and was not Micah full of power and of the Spirit to declare unto them their sin and is it not a sin and transgression now Answer me Answ It is already proved out of the Prophet that the false prophets would for money speak words to embolden people to continue in sin and that the corrupt Priests would be hired to teach what pleased the people and what justified them in
among them it seems dissented and separated from them who persisted in the true faith taught and learned These sowers of division sought by this meanes to make Bethel the House of God a Bether or mountaine of division Cant. 2. 17 2. They whom the Apostle spake of caused offences namely both to the right believers who were justly offended by these mens fomenting of divisions and separations and also unto professional believers whose bitter censurings judgings and despisings of one another whereby the weak and strong in faith were offended at one anothers actions was promoted by Rom. 14. 15 these who put stumbling blocks and occasions to fall in their brethrens way 3. They of whom the Apostle spake did pretend that they did serve the Lord Jesus Christ hoping thereby to gain credence with the people and so the more unsuspectedly to work on them to divide from one another in their affections and Congregations but the Apostle saith that those men served not the Lord Jesus Christ and he fervently prayed for the peoples exemption from such a dividing delusion saying The God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards Rom. 15. 5 6 another according to Christ Jesus that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 4. They of whom the Apostle speaks did intend in making divisions and offences to draw from the divided and offended Phil. 3. 19. Mark 7. 19 earthly things for cramming with delicates their belly which is the receptacle of all meats and for pampering their flesh and its other lusts all which receive from the belly much of their inflammation for the belly is a Kitchin cherishing and keeping warme the seeds of all manner of carnal lusts to which it seems these wicked seekers to pervert the believing Romanes Rom. 13. 14 were addicted and were resolved to serve their lusts in seeking to be from any sort or faction of people provided for their flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof 5. They of whom the Apostle speaks did deceive the hearts of the simple by good words and faire speeches They wrought on men who were unskilful and unwary easie to be led aside simple hearts on men who were of weak judgements and strong affections on these they wrought not by sound words convincing them by evidence of truth but by wooing words full of flatterings promising them much good and full of blessings or good wishings unto them if they will take that course which they propounded to them herein dealing with them as subtle thieves deal with simple travellers they tell them of a better pleasanter and farre nearer way to their journeys end then that is in which they are passing and they with many sugred pleasing words offer themselves to them to guide them therein but they lead them out of the common road to a place fitted for robbing of them or they serve them as Satan did Evah she by his fair flattering fawning and seemingly well-wishing language was deceived to her undoing Such were the men of whom the Apostle speaks Rom. 16. but neither I nor any other faithful Minister of the Gospel are in the paths and steps of these deceivers for 1. Their most pleasant and plausible words tended meerly to work among the people divisions and offences but our words both in comfortings and threatnings for both we use do all of them in their very tendency seek to breed and keep among our people an holy union in heart and affections and in all 2 Tim. 2. 15 Heb. 4. 12. holy conversation Our dividing as it is our duty the Word of God aright doth sometimes convincingly through Gods blessing divide sinners from their sins which are offences to God and good men and so prepares them to an amendment and to a removing of what offends but our dividing the Word aright doth not neither ought it tend to work between people and people a causelesse separation and division from one another either in their affections or in their Congregation for it chiefly aimes to teach all how they according to Gods will may with one minde and with one mouth glorifie God 2. They of whom the Apostle speaks did not serve Christ but their own belly They did not as good servants would seek to promote his glory his honour his Kingdome and his Word among his people they set not themselves to teach them the faith of Christ and love to Christ and love to one another nor to acquaint them with the peace of Christ nor to excite them to shew forth the vertues of Christ his humility his patience his meeknesse his wisdome and his other imitable excellencies in their lives and conversation but they served their own bellies they sought by causing divisions and offences among people to fish for themselves in these troubled waters to suck out thence no small advantage towards providing for their own ease security sensuality and satisfying of all their worldly and fleshly lusts Whereas I and other faithful Ministers are no Caterers for worldly and fleshly lusts as were these Deceivers We serve not our own bellies but the Lord Jesus Christ for we do not seek as these Deluders did to serve our own turns by fomenting divisions and offences among others we affect not invitations unto any mans dainties God hath given us a nature to be content with a little and grace to be content with much lesse then nature craveth The providing for our fraile bodies things lawful and necessary is not that serving of the belly which the Apostle condemneth neither is it unlawful unto us Ministers or to any other rank of men to 1 Tim. 5. 23 provide things necessarily serviceable for life and health yet the feeding our own and others bodies is not made by us our businesse but the feeding our own and others soules with the word which abides to everlasting life is the scope and end of our labours in our serving Jesus Christ on this work we attend and are wholly intent that Christ our Master may be glorified by our service The labours of the man of God such are we Ministers whom he hath called and imployed in his Ministry is for the mouth not for the belly for study Eccles 6. 7 of holy Scripture and finding out acceptable words and giving our selves unto daily attendance upon reading meditation and doctrine as that by our mouth and lips we may preach unto people and teach them the heavenly knowledge of Jesus Christ and thereby feed many and though while we live the appetite will not be filled with studying out more knowledge in the Mystery of Christ and with labouring for the good of people in communicating to them such knowledge yet as faithful servants to our Master Christ we do seek only the advancement of his glory and not our own advantages even by teaching his people how they may proceed in all the wayes of Christ from strength to
that these scoffers and mockers are Iude 3. 2 Pet. 2. 1. men who walk after their own ungodly lusts they are dâ—riders of the best counsel and comfort which Gods Word gives unto them they follow the guidance of their own corrupt reason and affections ordering their whole life according to their own lustings Such mockers and scoffers were those Seducers and false Teachers and their followers which the Apostle said should come and these since their first rising have had their ebbings and flowings in the several Ages of the Christian Church according as it pleased the Lord to exercise his Church with greater or lesser numbers of them And I believe that the numbers of these seducing and heretical mockers and scoffers of the holy Scripture and of all persons Ordinances duties services instructions directions comforts and commands commended unto us in the holy Scripture was in no time of the Church so increased as they are in these our days whereby we assuredly know that we are in the last days wherein evil men and seducers 2 Tim. 3. 13 shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 3. Thou asks further and are not these the marks of the false prophets mockers scoffers bâ—iars thornes thistles Answ 1. I finde that Peter and Jude do give the name of mockers and scoffers unto such false teachers whom they foretold should arise and therefore every one may infallibly conclude that such teachers are without doubt false teachers who are such mockers as the Apostles speaks of who scoffe at holy Scripture and cast all reproaches on it to villifie and nullifie it yea and who jeare and gibe at holy Ministers for their preachings of the Gospel of Christ which that word of truth holds out The Rabbies of the Romish Church and the rabble of teachers which they of your way heap up to your selves will never free themselves from that mark given to know false teachers by Whosoever hath to deale in the contrroversies of both must be of a stupendious inobservancy if he espies not both of them to be grand mockers and scoffers of holy Scripture and of the holy contents of it 2. The holy Scripture doth not by these words briars thorns and thistles particularly and distinctly decipher out false teachers from other wicked men It ascribes them in general to all wicked men in which number false teachers may be comprehended but it gives not these names properly and peculiarly to false teachers as Marks or Characters whereby they may be known to be no other then false teachers I think therefore it was not advisedly asked are not these the marks of false teachers briars thornes and thistles yet to satisfie thee understand that the holy Scripture doth certifie us touching these words As 1. We are told that it is a piece of the curse on the ground Gen. 3. 17 18 Isa 7. 23 24 Heb. 6. 7 8 for mans sinne that it should bring forth thornes and thistles and that it is threatned as a sore judgement to a land that it should become all briars and thornes and that the earth which bringeth out these is nigh unto a curse 2. The holy Scripture informes us that the enemies of Gods Eze. 28. 24 people of Israel were pricking briars and grieving thornes and that the enemies of Christs Church are all of them Cant. 2. 2. thornes surrounding her as pricking and stinging thornes do a Lilly 3. The Scripture certifies us that among Gods own people of Israel there were wicked men of all ranks which it calls thornes and briars One Prophet calls the common people Isa 9. 18 who were grosly wicked briars and thornes as he stiles the great ones who were also wicked the thickets of the forrest Anothet Prophet tells us that the great ones the Princes and Judges and great men in Israel even the very best of them were as a briar the most upright sharper then a thorne hedge The former Prophet did threaten that their wickedness should be Mic. 7. 3 4 as a fire in a Wood which should destroy the Nation it should first take hold on the briars and thornes and then consume all the trees so wickednesse should first destroy the poorest and meanest sort of wicked people and after the Grandees or them of higher rank and reckoning 4. The holy Scripture calls those who rebel against the Word of the Lord spoken and taught by his true Prophets briars and thornes and scorpions and bids his Prophet not to Ezek. 2. 6 be afraid of them nor of their words Thus wicked men are in Scripture called briars and thornes and thistles because their fruits is not good they choak the Mat. 13 12 Ezek. 2. â— Micah 7. 4 good seed of Gods word which his Ministers sow among them not suffering it to take root in their souls they are disposed to tear and hurt the servants of God and likewise others and many times they do so they yeeld no fruits of righteousnesse no grapes of grace to comfort and cheare any no figs no fruits of faith to assure themselves that the Lord is their possession or portion for men gather not grapes of thornes nor figs of thistles Though then false teachers as all other wicked Mat. 7. 16. men are briars and thornes and thistles yet these names are no peculiar mark of them that they are such they are not by these names marked out from all other wicked men to have it signified thereby that they have this property more then wicked men who are briars and thornes that they are false teachers 4. Thou having said that the fruits of these is mocking and scoffing at honest people dost further ask Do we we not see that these fruits proceed from thee Answ Mocking and scoffing and other sinnes of wicked men are fruits which proceed from themselves but they do not proceed from me or any other faithful Minister of Jesus Christ For 1. They proceed from wicked men themselves even from Mat. 15. 19 the corruptions of their own hearts which are fields fertile in all sorts of wickednesse but barren in any goodnesse and pro. 24. 30 31 prov 1. 24 25 they proceed from their own neglects of husbanding aright their hearts and from their refusals to have their hearts and lives ordered and husbanded spiritually by Gods holy commands and reproofes uttered unto them by his Ministers And 2. These evils of wicked men doth not proceed from us who are faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ and who preach Gods Word to take people off from such vanities and vild conversation for the Word preached doth good to them who are good who walk uprightly The faults of wicked men continuing still in their reproachful courses after the Word hath been faithfully dispensed to them are most unjustly by thee and others said to proceed from the preachers of the Word The Pharisees having heard our Saviour preach against Luk. 16. 14 serving Mammon derided him the Evangelist
doth not as it seeems thou and others of thy way would have done charge Christ with the derision of the Pharisees as if that their sin had proceeded from him but tells us plainly that the Pharisees was covetous it was from the evil in themselves that they derided him We Ministers preach to our people the words of truth and sobernesse disswading them from mocking and scoffing at any if any of our hearers notwithstanding our preaching will persist in such misdemeanours their sinne is no way to be reputed as proceeding from us but it is from their own rebelliousnesse that they are not reclaimed I am sure God will never charge these their sinnings on us who hath warned them they shall die in their iniquity but we have delivered our owne Ezek. 3. 19 soules Yea but these fruits in these wicked men thy hearers shew as thou writes that thou hast not profited the people at all Jer. 23. Answ It shews that these wicked ones have not profited under those means of profiting which God hath afforded them by my labours but though thou and such as thou will say that I have not profited the people at all yet others whose judgement and experience in holy things is truly commendable will say otherwise and if they should not speak out the truth in this yet it is mine and other faithful Ministers comfort that we preach nothing but what will profit our hearers and they might profit thereby if themselves solely were not in fault Peoples not profiting under the constant labours of painful Ministers is not the Ministers but the people 's own fault The Prophets of old preached against sinnes in which the people stil continued after their preaching God blames not his faithful Prophets for the people 's not amending but onely the people themselves I saith God have sent unto Ier. 44. 4 5 you my servants the Prophets rising early and sending them saying Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate but they hearkened not nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness God will not charge his faithful Ministers who labour soundly in the word and doctrine and preach his VVord faithfully unto the people with the people 's not profiting by their labours but he will blame the people for their not improving the means of profiting which they enjoy to their own profit Once one of thy way told me that if I and others who are called Ministers did preach the true Word of God all who heard it would profit for it would effectually convert and enlighten all that heard it I returned him at that time a full answer And Now I answer thee and all who shall read these lines and are troubled with the like thoughts wherewith that party was Let it be considered that Christ himself did preach the true word of God and yet many of his hearers were not converted nor inlightned neither did they profit by it the Pharisees heard him and derided him many of his â—isciples who had Luk. 16. 14 Joh. 6. 66. heard him went back and walked no more with him he had often preached at Hierusalem and would have gathered them but they would not be gathered And so Paul preached the Mat. 23. 37 true Word of God yet some of his hearers were not thereby Act. 28. 24 25 26 27. profited for they contradicted and blasphemed and so it is now we who are faithful Ministers preach the true Word of God though the most hearers are not thereby spiritually profited which thing is not from any impotency in the Word as an instrument to work conversion and illumination and profiting for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth but the not profiting of people by the word which Rom. 1. 16 is faithfully and truly preached unto them is from their own voluntary neglect and rejection of those things which belongs unto their peace The true causes why such people who live under plentiful dispensations of the word are not bettered and profited by it are these 1. In some the love of their own simplicity causeth them to Prov. 1. 22 continue in blindnesse and ignorance They are grosly ignorant and simple and unable to manage and improve to their spiritual good those meanes of spiritual knowledge under which they live and therefore they have no heart to entertain any thoughts of any spiritual things though their Ministers oft tenders these unto them very powerfully and plainly 2. In others a willing indulgence of the supersluity of naughtinesse and a contentedness still to live in some disobediences and darling sins a cockering of these in their hearts is the cause why many people who oft heâ—re the Word and live under the labours of an instructing Minister do not profit but remaine still blinde and ignorant for a willingnesse to continue still in sinne doth cast scales and scurfe over the eyes of Isa 6. 10. the minde making it unable to see though it see and to understand though it perceive Such a blinde and ignorant people Rom. 10. 21 who were unwilling to put away the evil of their doings lived in Isaiahs time 3. In others a wilful affectednesse to be blinde and ignorant in spirituals doth continue them in a condition of not profiting by the word though it be very fruitfully and powerfully preached Many are wilfully ignorant peremptorily stiffe and stubbornly resolved not to admit of any holy knowledge the light breaks in on them where they live under a good Minister and they will shut their eyes that they may not see what is manifested and held out unto them Some in whom this affected ignorance reignes will not at all or very seldome come to the publick Assemblies to hear the Word others of them will come but they resolve not to learne any thing spiritual from it neither to be moved with the Word Ezek. 33. 31 32. of â—od they sit before their Ministers like Ezekiels hearers hearing his words but they will not do them with the mouth they shew much love they commend his Sermon and applaud his delivery and voice but their hearts goeth after their covetousnesse they heare his words but they do them not These are the true causes why some people do not profit though they enjoy very plentiful meanes of profiting under their very diligent and laborious Ministers and therefore the not profiting of people ought not to be deemed as proceeding from me and other faithful Ministers who are not wanting to discharge our duties I am sure the Apostle chargeth that fault upon people themselves saying If our Gospel bâ— hid it is hid 2 Cor. 4. 3 4 to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minde of them that believe not namely through their own willingnesse and wilful stubbornesse not to believe least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine on them 5. Thou further
asks Doth not Christ say by their fruits you shall know them Matth. 7. inwardly ravening Answ Our blessed Saviour doth say beware of false prophets Mat. 7. 15 16 20. which come unto you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly they are ravening wolves you shall know them by their fruits In which words our Saviour 1. Gives a Caution to beware of false prophets 2. He tells us what manner of men they are namely they are hypocritical in their insinuations they come in sheeps cloathing pretending sanctity and innocency but they are truly harmful they are destroyers in their intention and endeavour they are inwardly ravening wolves full of greedy cruel purposes to draw people from life to death by their erroneous and factious doctrines 3. He certifies us by what meanes they may be manifested to be such and that is by their fruits by their fruits you shall know them Our Lord alludes in that expression to the critical judgement which men passe upon trees from the good or evil fruit which is gathered from them every tree bringeth forth proper fruit in its kinde a good tree bringeth forth good fruit and an evil or corrupt tree evil fruit These false prophets or teachers of whom Christ speaks are for their kinde no other then wicked men they are evil in having many evil conditions they are like harmful thornes and wicked they are in that they have no good conditions being void of grace and goodnesse they are like thistles whose substance is vain light and chaffy and they are evil in being fruitful in evil wickednesse procceeds from the wicked they are 1 Sâ—m 24 13 like corrupt trees bearing the evil fruit of evil speech or false doctrines which corrupts good manners by which fruit of 1 Cor. 15. 33 their lips false prophets may be known to be properly or peculiarly false teachers though by reason of their coming in sheeps cloathing the fruits of their lives or their actions seems to be as innocent as are the lives or actions of the best Instructors and so they cannot theâ—eby sometimes be well discovered Now though Christ saith that false prophets may be known by their fruits which properly are their false doctrines yet seeing I have not at any time brought forth the fruit of any false doctrine but have alwayes taught for manner and matter what the holy Scripture allows and delivered onely doctrines consenting to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godlinesse thou hast no reason to number me among the false prophets and teachers who may be known by their fruits of false doctrines Such fruits were at no time produced by me whereby thou or others might have thence any knowledge that I am a false Prophet or Teacher 6. Thou asks further Do we not see that people could be but wilde mockers and scoffers if thou never spake to them and are not these thy fruits Answ I have already told thee that peoples mocking and scoffing of honest people is a fruit of their own wicked hearts for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth Mat. 12. 34 speaketh but they are not my fruits for I my selfe am no mocker and scoffer none can plead my example to justifie thereby themselves in such evils for all my people know or may know that we have not behaved our selves disorderly among 2 Thes 3. 7. them The doctrines which I have taught them do naturally tend to bring them to Godlinesse and to have an holy demeanour towards God and man that impiety of mocking and scoffing which some have expressed slowes from the corrupt source of their own corrupted nature but not from my mouth I have ever endeavoured that it should be as Pro. 10. 11 a well of life uncessantly to send fourth on all good occasions the words of truth and soberness and to teach my people to 1 Pet. 3. 8 9 be pious courteous and affable not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing And whereas thou sayest Do we not see that people would be but wild mockers and scoffers if thou should never speak unto them Thou seemes hereby to imâ—ort that my speakinâ— to them doth them no good and therefore it is in vaine for me to bestow among them any more labour To this I answer 1. If people were wilde mockers and scoffers before I came among them then these their faults are not as thou sayest my fruits for they brought them forth before my coming to them and now they have no cloak for their sinne seeing they have been better informed If people have discovered more their wildnesse mockings and scoffings I know none but they accuse them thereof since I have preached among them then they manifested before my settlement yet know that these are no fruits of my labours but they are the ouâ—burstings of the peoples own corrupt hearts they have took occasion from hearing better things taught to manifest exceeding great sinfulnesse in their rebelâ—ious walkings contrary to holy instructions Thus sin that is corruption Râ—m 7. 8 takes occasion by the commandment to work all manner of concupiscence that is actual sin manifesting unconformity to the holy truths which are taught The word preached by me did not implant these sinful qualities of wildnesse mocking and scoffing which thou saith they have discovered If it be as thou sayes then theit own evil hearts hath taken an occasion because these evils have been preached against to be more mad in wickednesse and to discover the sinful acts more freely and openly then they wont formerly These acts are not my fruits as thou pleases to phancy but the fruits or evil doings of their own evil hearts 2. I answer to that which thou seems to import by these words namely Though some reap no good by my labours yet othets do and if none should yet I am not to cease from speaking to an unreclaimed people I am still to declare unto them their sinnes and the means of their amendment The Apostle commands Ministers who are the Lords publick servants of his Church to be gentle unto all men apt to teach 2 Tim. 3. 24 25. patient in meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth the hopes that God may give repentance to opposers is a ground and encouragement unto us to continue among a people for present unreformed our instant preachings unto them in season and out of season Yea God also 2 Tim. 4. 2 commanded his holy Prophet to speak his words unto his people whether they would heare or whether they would forbear Ezâ—k 2. 5 for they are most rebellious Ministers must do their duty and leave the issue and success to God If people will not amend having grace and good tendred them by their Ministers labours yet God will thereby justifie his proceedings and the wicked shall
be left inexcusable and our Ministerial labours continued among them shall however be acceptable to God for we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in 2 Cor. 2. 15 them that are saved and in them that perish and God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love which we have shewed toward his name our work or reward is with Isa â—9 4. our God It is not therefore for us to cease from speaking to our people though they should continue to be wilde mockers and scoffers as thou stiles them 7. Thou asks Doth not the Apostle say their fruit shall wither and shall not their fruit wither thinks thou Answ The Apostle speaking of Seducers whom he calls men crept in unawares ungodly men who turn the grace of Jude v. 4. v. 10 God into lasciviousnesse and deny the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ who speak evil of the things they know not and corrupt themselves in things which they know he v. 12 calls them clouds without water carried about with windes and also he calls them trees whose fruit withereth though themselves are trees without any fruit namely without any fruit of Gods Spirit which is in all goodnesse and righteousnesse and truth yet their own proper fruit withereth so saith Eph. 5. 9 the Apostle and so I do both think and say that their fruit shall wither The false doctrines which are properly the fruit which seducing teachers brings forth shall wither For 1. Their false doctrines have not in them any sappy taste of the seed of Gods Word which endureth for ever though they 1 Pet. 1. 25 pretend Scripture yet upon a thorough scrutiny and seâ—rching examination they will be found to have in them no inward juyce of any saving truths which the holy Scripture containes and for this reason it is that all the venemous and poysonous infusion which these false doctrines have had from the hearts and heads of those earthly minded men who devised them and countenanced them will not alwayes last but will wither as soon as their leaves and coverings fâ—lls off and they are laid open to the view of all to see that they are indeed no other then soure unsavoury unwholesome and pernicious fruit 2. The trees themselves I mean these seducing teachers are not by God planted in the House of God They who are by him planted in the orderly way of an upright faithful standing Ministry do flourish and bring forth fruit in old age to shew Psal 91 13 14 15. that the Lord is upright but seducers are no plants of the Lord. They are either sprigs springing up of their own accord among the trees of â—od undertaking the work to which they have no warrant being as the Apostle saith men crept in unawares or they are brought in by some Machivilian Politicians for their better bringing about some earthly designes and therefore God will root them out and blast the fruit which they beare that it shall not grow as it did at first nor be so desired as conteining according as many supposed falsely some hidden wisdome for it is said every plant which the heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up and they who creep into Maâ— 15. 13 houses and who resist the truth who are men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest unto all men 2 Tim. 3. v. 6 8 9. Thus thou may perceive that I both think and say as the Apostle doth that the fruits of false doctrines which are properly the fruits which seducers bring forth shall wither But know also that the holy doctrines and truths which I and other faithful Ministers do constantly deliver to our people are fruits of the Spirit of God gathered by us clearly from the holy Scriptures which is the written Word of God and they are by our preaching delivered to them and these fruits will never wither but will continue to be still gathered and communicated unto people even after we are dead and gone by a like holy order of faithful men as we are whom God in 2 Tim. 2. 2 the succeeding Generations will raise up to his Ministerial service who shall be able to teach others the things which we teach are the everlasting truths of God which perhaps may be supprest for a while by the prevailing of heresies schisms and persecutions but they will at last triumph over all those and continue conquering and to conquer the errours and corruptions of sinful mortals As for that mocking and scoffing of honest people with which thou dost charge the whole Congregation which is committed to my charge and doth say that is my fruit I again tell thee as I have told thee and proved it too that these doings are neither mine nor the fruits of the whole Congregation but they are the fruits only of such who are guilty thereof unto whom I hope God will in his due time give grace to repent of these their misdemeanours and then these evill fruits will be withered and be no more and these sinnes will be pardoned But if such continue in these and die not repenting of these and of their other sins then they shall in the day of rendring an account bear their own burden but the burden Gal. 6. 5. of their sinne will not be laid either on me or the Congregation who have been no wayes accessary to their transgression I suppose thou now hast a compleat Answer to thy twelfth Head of Demands CHAP. XIII Thy thirteenth Head of Demands is thus exprest WHere did the Apostle give Davids quakings prophecies reproaches fastings in meeter to sing to the world Answ In Davids Psalmes there is mention made of Davids fear and trembling to offend God and to provoke him to Psal 119. 120 judgements this thou calls Davids quakings whereas David did not cast his body as I heare some Quakers do into trembling fits and quaking shaking postures Moreover there is in Davids Psalmes a Record of Davids Prophecies and a Narrative of some reproaches which he suffered and of some fasting which he used Now in those very places where charge is given by the Apostles to be filled with the Spirit speaking to our selves in Eph. 5. 18 19 Psalmes Hymnes and spiritual Songs and to let the VVord dwell in us richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymns and spiritual Songs and if any Col. 3. 16. man be merry let him sing Psalmes The Apostles in all these places points us to the book of Psalmes for the New Testament I am 5. 13. doth speak of no other Psalmes in which Book the Psalmes which David Asaph and other holy men of God indited by assistance from the holy and unerring Spirit of God are conteined And the Apostles recommending these Psalms to be sung doth plainly intimate that they thought that these Psalmes did comprehend fit
never have commanded to have been paied unto the Priests who in his time were very corrupt if the professing him or coming to him had been a warrantable exemption of any of his followers from paying those dutyes which conduced to the maintenance and upholding the livelihood of the Priests and Levites who were then the publick setled Ministers of that Nation I say therefore though we read not that they who came to Christ had any command to maintaine those false teachers seducers and hirelings who for filthy lucre covetousnes and for hire preyed on people and sought to tyrannize over their soules and purses yet we are sure that Christ commanded to pay an offering which was a part of the Priests maintenance unto the Priests who were the setled publick Ministers to keepe up the holy publick service and observances which were injoyned that Nation and he would not suffer the least diminution of their maintenance no not one offering to be withheld from them For he commanded the Leper to offer his offering as a testimonie unto them viz. that he did not abolish the very least parcell of any thing belonging to their due maintenance and honour seeing the very comers to him are commanded by him to afford unto such maintenance in their lawfull established way of Priesthood even as to Priests and publick Ministers and Teachers Thou with those of thy way accounts us who are the established Ministers of Christs Gospell in this Nation to be false Prophets and false Apostles and false teachers and to be very hirelings and Teachers for meere gaine and for covetousnes because we require from our people that maintenance by tithes and otherthings which from them is due unto us both by Gods and the Nation law Yee are confident that ye are the only people of his Nations who are come to Christ and are the true professors of this truths and yee thinke that therefore ye have a just plea to deteine from us the forementioned dues asking us Whether comers to Christ are to maintaine and uphold false Ptophets and false Apostles and such like in their way as Ministers and Teachers Answ I have already fully proved and therefore will now only breifly tell it thee that the established faithfull Ministers of England are noe false Prophets nor false Apostles nor false teachers and that they are no hirelings nor teachers for gaine and for covetousnes though they require from their people the maintenance by tithes and other things which is by law established unto them the publick Ministers of the Gospel to this Nation Moreover know that notwithstanding the great confidence of those who are of your way that ye are the only commers to Christ and professors of his truths in this nation yet the whole nation except your selves cannot believe it because yee with draw from proffessing publickly with the Nation many soul-saving truths of Christ and from partaking publickly in those his gracious Ordinances which this Nation hath maintained and doth yet maintaine publickely against all Papall and Popular Antichristians though they therefore vex and gnaw their tongues Yet more consider that it hath been already proved that ye have no incouragement from Christs words on the pretence that ye are commers to Christ to deteine from the established Ministers any portion of that established maintenance which serves to uphold them in their Ministeriall way but that according to Christs injunction unto the Leper ye are to pay unto them their dues because they are the publick Ministers and Teachers of the Gospell of Christ to the people of this Nation I yet further would have it well pondered that none of all those acts which are here named by thee which Christ hath done or doth give any allowance to any who comes to Christ to deteine the due maintenance by tithes and by other things from the publick established Ministers of the Gospell for 1. It is true that Christ laid downe his life for his sheepe but it is as true that he did so not to give his flock a liberty either to dispise and turne from those Ministeriall Pastors whom he the cheif Shepheard had set over them to feede them with spiritualls or to withhold from these their spirituall feeders that milke of maintenance which by divine appointment they are to 1 Cor. 9. 7. have from them his flock 2. It is true Christ said Learn of me for I am meeke and lowly But these his words do not forbid his people to hear the Ministers of the Gospell and to learne of them seing he hâ—th also said he that heareth them heareth him and he that despiseth them despiseth him and despiseth him that sent him Neither Luk. 10. 16 do these words learne of me allow any of his people who are his Vines in his vinyard or Churnh to withhold the fruite of temporal maintenance from his Ministers seeing he Luk. 10. 7. himself hath said that the labourer is worthy of his hire and seeing it is of Divine appointment that the fruites or temporall maintenance which his Vines yeilds should be eate or 1 Cor. 9. 7 spent by his Ministeriall labourers whom he sent into his Vinyard to plant to water to prune to underprop to weed to dresse and to do what will advantage the spiritual good of his Vines and of his Vinyard 3. It is true Christ said I am the way and no man cometh to Joh. 14. 6. the father but by me because there is no other immediate way or meanes to come to God the father and be saved but by him yet these his words I am the way doe not discard the Ministers Heb. 13. 7. of the Gospell from being instrumentall guides of his people to him the true way and to walk in him as they receive him Collos 2. 6 Maâ—k 16 15 Rom. 1. 16 because Christ himself gave them a charge to be his messengers or preachers of the Gospell which is the power of God unto salvation unto every creature Moreover these words I am the way do not give incouragement unto any to deteine either from Christs messengers or Preachers of his Gospell or from any holy professour under the Gospell their reward due unto them in respect they deserve it of men though in respect of God it is of grace that such a reward is due unto them and from him appointed for them For Christ hath promised to all cordial and affectionate people who give unto these their due reward of honour namely and of maintenance that they shall receive a Prophets reward Math. 10. 41 which is fit for such who have been just in rewarding for their â—orkes sake his Prophets oâ— Preachers and his righteous servants deserving it of them which reward is the heavenly reward whercof they shall be partakers with those very Prophets and righteous men whom they have rewarded Rev. 1. 5. Joh. 18. â—â— Hâ—b 1. 2. Joh. 1. 57. 4. It is true that Christ is called the faithfull
on earth that he shall never more conflict and combate with it for so long as he lives he shall be less or more troubled with its inherency turbulency and Tyranny though it shall have in him no regency no Soveraignty no conquest to cause him to serve sin The Apostle knew that the old man was crucified that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth he and others in Christ should not serve Rom. 6. 6. Râ—m 7 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 sin yet he complaines of the Inbeing of his corruption and of its powerfull working presence In crossing him the motions of the spirit unto good and in haling him to be a captive unto evill though he acknowledgeth with thankfulness that it shall not have any totall and finall conquering prevalency over him 7. I believe according to the holy Scripture that there is no living man upon the earth who is free from sin a personall sinlesse perfection is not to be found among any mortall men on earth because the Scripture telleth us Their 1. King 8. 46. Prov. 20. 9. Eccl. 7. 20. is no man that sinneth not and againe who can say I have made my heart cleane I am pure from my sin and againe there is not a just man on the earth that doth good and sinneth not The meaning is he sinneth in doing good for so the Prophet acknowledgeth all our riâ—hteousnesses are as filthy rags Againe one 〈◊〉 64. 6. â—â—m 3. 2. Iohn 1. 8. Apostle saith in many things we offend all he includes himself other Apostles as great as he in holiness and both of them were very holy men excludes not himself saying If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourâ—elves and the truth is not in us I believe the tâ—uth of all these scriptures and therefore I do not believe that any mortal man while he is on the earth is free from sin 7. Quest Dost thou owne that salvation that is wrought out with fear and trembling Answ That Salvation the working out of which with fear Phil. 2. 12 13 an trembling the Apostle exhorts to because God worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure is properly the worke of obedience and Piety which one works who is in the State and course of Salvation This is called salvation because it conduceth to and will end in salvation for a man who continueth to the end in the course of true Obedience and Mat. 29 13 piety is sure to obtaine felicity he who endureth to the end shall be saved I say then that 1. I own that salvation which is to be wrought out I own that their should be a finishing the work of obedience and graciousness which tends to salvation even of all such good workes which God hath ordained that we should walke in and Eph. 2. 10. 2. I own that this obedient and pious working which tends to further us toward the end of our faith the perfect salvation of the soule should be wrought with fear and trembling that is as these words as here conjoyned do genuinely signify with an awfull reverentiall humble carfulness neither to offend God on whom their must be a dependency or ability to worke nor to deserve his Judgment by any proud arrogancy in presuming on the worke which we do though it be good seeing it is of his pure grace of his good pleasure that the very working out the very doing and finishing of any good is effected by us I do own this holy fear and trembling commended in Scripture which is an holy dread in the soule whereby it stands in awe of God having a great carefulnesse to walke humbly with God and fiducialâ—y to depend on him in all holy working And I do verily beleive that this fear and holy awe of the soul in its endeavouring to observe Gods commandments and to depart from evil is a surer evidence of one that works out his salvation in fear and trembling then are the quakings shakings wrestings and wringings of any body whatsoever for it is well known that in some men bodily quakings have been the effects of their Dâ—ut 28. 65 Psa 69. 23 bodily diseases in others they have been the fruites of Satanicall possessions and in some they are from divine curse and infliction 8. Quest Dost thou owne the same Revelation and Inspiration that the Apostles and Prophets had now in this age yea or no Answ I own all those selfe same revelations which were revealed to the Apostles and Prophets by the inspiration of the Spirit when they indited the holy scripture for in the writings of these his holy Pen-men Christ hath now fully and finally recorded the whole will and counsel of God concerning the way of his service and concerning all things necessary for mans salvation these are able to make wise unto salvation and seeing that God now only in these last dayes speakes unto us 1. Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 1. 1. Iuk 10. 6. Math. 28. 20. by his son and his son speakes to us teachingly from his word written by his Ministeriall servants with whom he hath promised to be untill the end of the world Therefore I disowne all those immediate Revelations which some in this age pretend to have knowing that these cannot reveale any saving truth which is not already revealed in the writings of the Prophets Apostles knowing that they all are accursed who seek to add to the Propheticall and Apostolicall Revelations any new Revelations or to preaâ—h unto men any other Gospel then Rev. 22. 28. 19. Gal. 1. 8. that which is received My faith is grounded as all good Christians faith ought to be upon the divine Revelations which the Prophets and Apostles received and have recorded in holy Scripture but not upon any other revelations which either in former ages or now in this age any other learned or holy persons have received 9. Quest Dost thou own the Prophesying sons and daughters in this age and that the Lord will poure his spirit upon all flesh Answ 1. I do believe that the Lord did poure of his spirit in plentiful measure of extraordinary gifts in an unusual manner so as they who received it in that manner did speak on a sudden in various and sundry languages the wonderfull works of God Ioel. 2. 28. Act. 2. 7. 18. 19. Act. 2. 1. this I believe because the Prophet Joel said that it should come to pass and the Apostle Peter said that it was come to pass and the Evangelist Luke hath told when it came to passe on the day of Pentecost when the Disciples were all with one accord in one place then was Ioels prophecy fully fulfilled in respect of the extraordinary effusion of the spirit But I do not believe that such an extraordinary pâ—uring out of the spirit in such a visible manner with such an apparent abundance of gifts and donations was ever known in the world either
and abideth not in it and he is also a deceiver and hath not God and Christ and is not to be received into true Christians houses neither are they to bid him God speede All this â—â— true of those who are indeed and truth the Antichrist Papal and his pertinacious adherents and who are the Hereticall Antichrist and their perverse followers both which doe resist the truth and oppose the Doctrines of Jesus Christ But not one word of all that scripturall description of Antichrist and of Antichrists is justly appliable to any fathfull Minister of Christ who both teaches and abides in all Christs Doctrines as hath been abundantly proved by me in this treatise and by sundry other faithfull servants of Christ in their severall laborious workes and writings for the benefit of the whole Church I do somewhat wonder to what purpose this question touching Antichrist was proposed for if he belongs to the Papall Antichrist who contrived these questions to get thereunto from me an answer then I dare boldly thinke that he is some puny Antichristian Emissary and ill advised if he hoped thereby to gravell any faithfull Minister of the Gospell in any of the reformed Churches because much lea neder heads in the Papacy then his own have found experimentally that their stirring in this question hath ever been to the great disadvantage of their Roman cause and to the better inabling of the meanest Evangelicall Ministers to understand more clearly that the Head of the Papacy is that Idol shepherd the great Antichrist against whom the Prophet Zâ—chary denounced a dreadfull woe and unto whom both Hierom and Lyra do expound that that threat will certainly Zec. 11. 17 fall But if he or they who contrived these questions do belong to any of the other hereticall clangs of Antichrists or false teachers then I dare boldly charge him or them with hypocritical blindnes in beholding the motes in Ministers and imagining these to be huge notes of Antichristianisme when he or they did not consider that their was apparently in him or themselves the reall beames of those characters wherewith the scripture decyphers the Hereticall Antichrists of the last times According to thy request I have now answered every one of thy seventeen Heades of questions which thou gavest me in Writing and desired that an answer might be returned thee also in Writing Their are couched in these seventeenth Heads no lesse then seventy seven questions and because thou bids me not say that they are foolish and non-sense therefore I took the greater paines to sift every word and sentence that I might the better understand what grain or chaffe was contained in them If God Almighty make this answer instrumentall to remove from thee and thine your present delusions I shall be much rejoyced and much the more if I could see a return unto and a walke againe in the truth from whence yee have swerved In all this paines tooke for your satisfaction I like a faithful Pastor have aimed wholly at your souls good therefore read and consider seriously what is written I adjure thee and thine hereunto as Deut. 30. 19. once Gods faithful Servant did his people I call heaven and earth to record this day that I have set before you life and death Blessing and Cursing therefore choose life that both thou and thy seede may live Thou hast in writing now a full answer returned to thee from John Bewick the servant of Chrst in the worke of the Ministry unto his people of Stanhope in Weredale Thanks be unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Corinth 15. 57. FINIS A Table of such places of Holy Scripture which are in the foregoing Treatise cleared illustrated and vindicated Chap. Vers Pag.  Gen.  14 19 20 21 22 23 112 113  Levit.  27 30 22  Numb  28 24 23  Prov.  3 9 7  Eccles  6 7 71  Isaiah  55 1 2. 3 19 20  4 7. 25 27  Isaiah  55 3 30 56 10 11 12 18 19  Jer.  5. 21 22 40  23 24 41 5 31 34 35 23 24 36 23 32 97  Ezek.  34 many verses explain'd 51 52 55 34 10 11 12 13 14 59 61 62  Joel  2 28 154  Micah  3 11 43 44  Zac.  4 11 12 135  Mal.  3 8 32  Mat.  8 4 130 23 7 16 23 16 8 9 23 23 7 23 34 35 134  Luke  10 7 133 134 11 42 6 14 7 8 9. 10 10 22 35 122  John  3 10 12  Acts  2 17 18 19 147 17 25 19  Rom.  12 10 13 13 7 13 15 4 114 16 23 126 16 7 68 13 4 6 138  1 Cor.  2 1 2 3 4. 5 6 7 8 9 10 3 3 9 10 12 9 4 126 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 3 23   109   110   111   117   132   133 9 10 16 17 133   133   138 139  2 Cor.  11 7 8 4  Gal.  6 6 5 120  1 Tim.  3 2 125 3 3 8 3 4 126 5 7 13 5 17 121  2 Tim.  4 2 74 3 17 110  Titus  1 7 8  Heb.  7 2 112  2 Pet.  1 2 3 79 2 17 88 89  2 Epist of John   10 149 AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE DIRECTING To some special Materials in the precedent TREATISE A ABraham paid tithes to Melchizedeck both of his substance and of the spoil p. 112 113 Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedeck more then once 113 Affectation of magnifying themâ—elves was the sinne of the Pharisees and Scribes 10 Antichrist described 148 The grand Antichrist who ibid. False Teachers and Seducers are in Scripture language petty Antichrists 148 Why they are called many Antichrists ibid. Ministers of the Gospel are no Antichrists ibid. The grand Antichrist and the heretical Antichrists parallelled in their transgression 194 Both deny the doctrine of Christ p. 160 Both deny that Christ is come in the flesh 161 Both deny the sufficiency of holy Scripture in what they do so 160 Both are deceivers 149 Both have no communion with God and Christ 148 Sound Believers are to hold no communion with any Antichrists ibid. The Apostolical practise of receiving maintenance in their times 4 5 The Apostle Pauls practise of personally forbearing to receive from people maintenance doth not bind any other Minister to do the like 5 No Apostle nor Saint nor Christ himself spake one word in the Holy Scripture against tithes or paying of Tithes to Ministers ibid. Augmentations may lawfully be took by the Ministers of the Gospel 124 B BAlaams way what 83 Ministers of the Gospel do not walk in his way ibid. Romish Emissaries and Hereticks do walk in Balaams way 84 Baptizing Infants or little children allowed by Scripture
their peoples sins and errors 46 Their words in preaching tends not to cause divisions and offences 70 Faithfull Ministers will not desist from the work of the Ministry though tithes be took and detained from them 66 67 A Minister is not to cease from his labors ministerial though he find that his people continue unreformed 102 103 The fruites of faithfull Ministers will not wither 104 Faithfull Ministers are no self seekers but self-wasters for the peoples spiritual good 73 74 The established faithful Ministers of the English Church are no false Prophets and false Apostles and false Teachers and Hirelings 131 Peoples believing or not believing that one is a Minister doth not make or unmake him one 6 Ministers may justly require tithes from those people under their charge who come not to enjoy their labors but withdraw from their publick Assemblies 141 142 Ministers are no wranglers in demanding their due maintenance of Tithes and other dues 2 3 Ministers are not covetous for demanding their dues 76 Mockers and Scoffers who they are which the Apostle said should come 93 94 95 Money Who divine for money and teach for hire 43 Ministers do not divine for money 43 44 Preaching for money is a sin 48 N NOvice who is and who is not a Novice 91 92 A Congregation being out of order doth not prove that the Minister thereof is a Novice 92 O OBstinate people are usually those that have eyes and see not and ears and hear not 41 P PArdon of Offendors is easie to God but not so to man 29 30 Parsonage houses may lawfully be enjoyed and possessed by the Gospel 123 Perfection whither attainable by men on earth and what perfection men may and to what they cannoâ— come while they are on earth 149 150 Pharisees condemned for affecting a magnifying of themselves 9 10 Places of holy Assemblies for divine service and holy purposes are lawfully called Churches 145 146 Popes by sacrilegious acts in alienating tithes from Ministers to Monks and others have proved themselves to be therein Anti-christs 7 Popery the sink of Heresies in the Western parts of the world 160 161 Preaching of the word doth not profit many people the causes whereof is not in the Preachers but in the people and what these causes are 98 99 100 Priesthood of Aarons changed but Melchizedecks is not 108 Priesthood of Christs and Aarons differ'd 109 The Law of Aarons Priests is changed 109 Priests of Aarons order had a Law to take tithes which is disanulled to them and yet the Law of taking tithes is not disanulled to Ministers 110 Priests who were in Jeremiahs time had their lawfull rule setled on their order by divine Authority 34 Romish Priests are the Priests in our dayes wâ—o divine for money and teach for hire 50 Prey twofold ibid. How the people was preyed on in the dark and cloudy day 59 60 Price what it is 20 Prophets false are threatned and with what 47 Prophecying sons and daughters at this age who are not 144 145 146 Prophecying or preaching daughters are disclaimed 145 How sons and daughters are said to prophecy 156 Psalms of David are injoyned to be sung 105 106 Singing Psalms is injoyned to worldly men as to sanctified men 106 Q QVakers are no such commers to Christ and professors of his Truth as they pretend 132 Bodily Quakers are no absolute evidence of salvation wrought with fear and trembling 144 R REligion The first principle of true Religion what 144 Rvelations now a dayes of saving Truths unrevealed in the revelations and inspirations which Prophets and Apostles had in penning of holy Scripture are all of them utterly disowned and disclaimed 144 154 Long robes not condemned but the ambitioas seeking to be clad therewith 14 15 Romish Teachers and Sectarians are they who with faigned words and covetousness make merchandize of Gods people 81 Bearing Rule by means what is thereby meant in Jeremiah 35 38 39 S SAcrament that word is lawfully used by Christians 148 Salvation wrought with fear and trembling in the Apostles sense what 153 Holy Scripture was not indited to be an history to relate every particular act done by those holy men whom it mentions 114 Seducers their fruit will wither what it is and how it will wither 103 104 Seducers are guilty of filthy Lucre 8 Self-love what lawfull and unlawfull 72 73 Shepherds against whom Ezekiah complains what is meant by wicked Shepherds eating the fat 52 What by their cloathing with the wool 52 53 What by their killing of the fllock that were fed 53 54 The particular neglect of wicked Shepherds in not exercising their Calling 55 56 The faults of evil Shepherds 57 Sheep Gods promise to seek his sheep doth not warrant any of the flock to have wandring sheep and to turn away from the Shepherds set over them 63 Gods promise to deliver his sheep doth not allow the sheep to detain tithes and dues from their Shepherds ibid. Gods promise to feed his sâ—eep on the mountains is no warrant unto his sheep to forsake the publick Assemblies or Congregations of his true Church 64 Singing Psalâ—s injoyned 106 Sin The particular sins for which God threatned by Jeremiah to visit the people 37 38 Wicked mens sins are fruits which proceed from themselves and not from their faithful teaching Ministers 96 97 98 101 No man can so put off the body of sin while he is on earth that he shall be free from sin 151 152 Souldiers are bound to pay a tenth of their spoils 112 Son of God is come to end all similitudes and liknesses 118 Spirit The Spirits pouring out doth not make all Preachers 145 156 Spirits pouring out of all flesh how 145 The Spirits extraordinary inspirations and donations are now ceased 156 Sprinkling of Infants is allowed 146 147 T TEaching lies errors and incouragements in sin and security is a ruining in sin 47 They do not teach for money and lucre who take tithes 49 The duty of one who hath more understanding then his Teachers 27 False Teachers are in the way of Cain and Balaam 79 80 81 82 83 False Teachers are wells without water 87 88 And inwardly ravening wolves 100 They are known by their fruites 100 101 They are called wicked 101 Thorns Briars Thistles what t s said of them according to Scripture 95 96 False Teachers are not by the name of Briars Thorns and Thistles described to be false Teachers but thereby to be wicked men 94 95 Tithes are Gods Rent to be paid as acknowleâ—gment of his Soveraignty over all 22 23 Tithes Christs right 23 And how Ministers are appointed to receive his right ibid. They demand from people only Christs right in demanding Tithes 23 24 Tithes are for ever to be paid to Christ by paying them to his Ministers 109 The fundamental reasons of paying Tithes of all 112 Tithes are not the price of Ministers preaching unto people spirituals 21 Tithes and money are no ends of Ministers teaching 45 Tithes were paid to Melchizepeck more then once 113 114 Paying Tithes is a standing duty to be paid by all ever after Abrahams time 115 116 117 Tithes are to be paid by all though they come to Christ 129 130 Denyers of paying Tithes is a renouncing of Gods Soveraignty over them Refusing of paying of Tithes to Ministers are in that act of theirs followers of the Pope but no Disciples of God and Christ 6 7 Taking Tithes is no making of Prey upon people 59 Christ biding his Disciples and Apostles to eat what is before them doth not inhibit the the taking of Tithes 121 122 It is no unrighteous thing to demand Tithes 137 Faithfull Priests Levites and Prophets of the Jewish Church are not blamed by any holy Prophet for taking Tithes or ministerial maintenance 17 18 Tithes were not disallowed and condemned by Jeremiah 32 33 Tithes and taking Tithes are in no place condemned or reproved by Ezekiel neither dirst he do so 57 Tithes are none of the Figures similitudes and liknesses to which Christ by his comming put an end 118 U UNcontentedness which God and the Law of the Land allows is a sin 48 Voice The immediate voce of God is not heard by Ministers and yet they communicate unto people the voice and word of God 149 W WElls without water who 88 What is meant by using good words and fair speeches 69 71 Wrangling demanding and inquiring after dues is no wrangling 2 3 FINIS