CERTAYNE REASONS and Arguments Proving that it is not lawfull to heare or have any spirituall communion with the present Ministerie of the Church of England Ier. 50.14.15 Put your selves in aray against Babel round about all that bend the bow shoot at her spare not arrowes for she hath sinned against the Lord. Cry against her round about she hath given her hand her foundations be fallen her walles be destroyed because it is the vengeance of the Lord take vengeance vpon her as she hath done do vnto her Rev. 18.6 Reward her even as she hath rewarded you and double vnto her doubles according to her workes in the cup wherein she hath mixed mixe her the double Printed In the yeare of our Lord 1608. To the Christian Reader grace and peace in our Lord Iesus Christ THe Reasons following I have published gentle Reader for thy good and for the truthes sake which we witnes to the world The causes of our separation from the Church of England are divers as in other Books already printed may be seen This treatise handleth purposely but one of them which is concerning their present Ministerie and was for the substance of it written long synce in nine Reasons which now I have revised and reduced to seven In the propounding and handling whereof I have both inserted divers things which I met with in some writings of Mr Iohn Penry that faithfull Martyr of Iesus Christ and annexed sundry testimonies and Arguments out of the Books of the forward Preachers now abroad in mens hands The third Reason which is taken out of Rev. 14.9.10.11 hath his weight according to the right vnderstanding of that place Concerning which as Mr Ridley that blessed Martyr of Christ †See hereafter p. 59. did in his time I will commit the judgement thereof and of all the rest to the spirituall man to be tryed and judged by the word of God which is the onely rule of truth and so to be received and approved as they shal be found to beare weight being layd in the skoales of Gods sanctuary not any otherwise or further at all The Reasons are set downe in the forme of Syllogismes And the two first which conteyne in them the grounds of the rest have more specially the confirmation of them also handled after the same manner A course that some have desired for the further tryall of our cause Which now I wish it may help them forward to yeeld vnto the truth And if thy self Christian Reader reapest any fruit by our labours give God praise and pray for vs the vnworthiest of his servants who are every where contemned blasphemed and oppugned for the Name of Christ Ier. 30.17 Mat. 5.12 and 10.25 Heb. 12.2 1 Pet. 4.12 c. As hath ben the lot of the Churches and servants of God in all ages yea and of Christ our Lord himself But it is ynough for the disciple to be as his Maister and the servant as his Lord. Therefore will we beare it with pacience and rejoyce in it wayting till the Lord our God bring forth his truth as the light our judgement as the noone day Great we know is the truth and strong is the Lord that will destroy Babylon and will mainteyne the cause and avenge the blood of his servants Rev. 17. and 18. and 19. chap. with Ier. 50. and 51. ch Now therefore let me exhort all both Preachers and people high and low to compare together the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles concerning the work of God and fall of Babylon past and to come and to take heed vnto themselves that they harden not their hearts but whiles it is called To day to hearken vnto the voice of the Lord who sayth vnto vs concerning the spirituall Babylon all her assemblies and worship Go out of her my people that yee partake not with her sinnes and that ye receive not of her plagues as of old he sayd to the Iewes concerning Babylon in Chaldea Go out of the middes of her my people deliver ye every man his soule frō the fierce wrath of the Lord. Rev. 18.4 with Ier. 51.45 And let there be heard * Ier. 50.28 with Rev. 19 ◠◠the voyce of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babel to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God the vengeance of his Temple For it is written Thus saith the Lord of hosts The thick walles of Babel shal be broken downe and her high gates shal be burnt with fire and the people shall labour in vayne and the folk in the fire and shal be weary Ier. 51.58 Which how true it is wil be found in the Antichristian Babylon as it hath ben in the Chaldean let all that are wise observe make good vse thereof vnto themselves And in speciall as now I have occasion let me intreat the Preachers seeking reformation seriously to mynd the Books which many of them selves have written against their present estate with indifferency to judge whether their owne Arguments howsoever intended or alledged otherwise by themselves rely not vpon such grounds as are in very deed against their Ministery aswell as against their Ceremonies against the executing of the one aswel as against the vsing of the other withall against the keeping of communion with them in such estate albeit they have not hitherto so applyed or acknowledged it thēselves Which God in his tyme give them to do for their owne comfort benefit of others And the Lord guyde vs in these and all other things by his word and spirit in the way of his truth keeping vs from errour and every evill way and preserving vs to his heavenly kingdome by Iesus Christ who is the way the truth and the life Amen Thyne in the Lord Francis Iohnson REASONS and proofes from the Scriptures and other testimonies Shewing that it is not lawful to heare or have any spiritual communion with the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of England The first Reason ALl are bound in the worship of God to hear and communicate onely with that Ministerie which Christ hath given and set in his Church for that work But the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of England is not that which Christ hath given and set in his Church for the work of his Ministery Therfore it is not lawful for any in the worship of God to hear or communicate with the present Ministery of the Church-assemblyes of England The proof and declaration of this Reason in the several parts thereof THe Proposition or first part of the Reason is evident and certayn 1. Because Christ hath given his Ministerie to his Church as a fruit and confirmation of his ascension into heaven whose gift therfore cannot therin be refused without denying or derogating from the truth and benefit of that his ascension Ephe. 4.8 12. with Ps 68.18 1 Cor. 12.4 Rev. 1.13.16.17.18.20 2. Because he hath set his Ministerie in his Church
of sinne the bloody and adulterous estate of the whore that sitteth on many waters with whome the Kings of the earth have committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth have bene made drunken with the wyne thereof 1 Ioh. 2.18 and 4.3 2 Thes 2.3.4.7.8.9.10.11.12 Rev. 11.8 and 14.8.9 and 17. and 18. chap. Secondly the Lord Iesus will destroy Babylon condemne the whoore and consume the man of sinne with the breath of his mouth with the bright manifestation of his comming and with the publishing of his Gospell wherein he will clearly and powerfully appeare to the comfort of his Church and destruction of the wicked Rev. 14.6.7.8 and 18.4.5.6.20 and 19.13.15 2 Thes 2.8 with Esa 11.4 3. As God for a tyme hath suffred the Princes and States of the world to give over their power right and soveraignty vnto the Beast to submit vnto authorize and vphold the kingdome and jurisdiction of Antichrist so God agayne in his tyme doth and will stirre vp the Princes and Magistrates to hate that harlot to make her naked and desolate of her honours dignityes and revenewes to convert and employ her Lordships lands and livings to other vses and finally to suppresse and abandon her offices works abominations which have so long deceived and defiled the world Rev. 17.15.16.17 and 18. and 19. chap. 4. Fourthly this fall of Babylon this consumption of the man of sinne and desolation of the great whore shal be performed by degrees that as it rose not wholly vp in a day but first was in a mysterie and then was revealed and afterwards exalted so it shall also decay be abolished by little and little till at length sodenly in one day even in an houre this city and kingdome of Antichrist be destroyed abolished so as it shal never be found any more as when a great milstone is cast into the sea and riseth not agayne and as of old it came to passe †Ier. 51.61.62.63.64 with Rev. 18.20.21 according to the word of the Prophet in Babylon of Chaldea which was a type and figure of this spiritual Babylon now spoken of 2 Thes 2.3.4.7.8 Rev. 14.8.9 and 18.2.7.8.20.21.22.23 with Esa 13. and 14. chap. Ier. 50. and 51. chap. Lastly at the overthrow and destruction of this Antichristian kingdome and mysticall Babylon her Kings Marchants Mariners and craftesmen shall mourne lament because of the judgement come vpon her with whome they have lived in pleasure before and no man now buyeth their ware any more but the servants of God shal be glad and rejoyce give glorie to the Lord saying Hallelu-iah salvation and glory and honour power be to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgements for he hath condemned the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants of from her hand Reve. 18.9.10.11 c. with 19.1.2 c. And hitherto of the first and second Reason Both which I have prosecuted more largely as conteyning in them the speciall grounds of this controversie namely that their present Ministery is not according to the ordinance of Christ and not this onely but is also of the apostasie of Antichrist To which two heads the other Reasons here ensuing may be referred Yet the propounding handling of them apart from the other serveth more plainly to meet with some objections and more fully to insist vpon other particulars needfull in this cause to be considered And so we will now proceed to the Reasons following The third Reason VVHatsoever Ministerie is such as none can heare it or have any spirituall communion with it but in so doing he shall worship the Beasts image spoken of in the Revelation and receive his mark in his forehead or hand that Ministerie may none hear or have any spirituall communion withall But the present Ministery of the Church-assemblies of Engl. is such as none can heare or have any spirituall communion therewith but in so doing he shall worship the Beasts image and receive his mark in his forehead or hand Therefore none may heare or have any spirituall communion with the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of Engl. The first part of the Reason is evident because whosoever doth so worship or receive as there is sayd bringeth himself vnder the fierce wrath of God as it is written If any worship the Beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or hand the same shall drink of the wyne of the wrath of God yea of the pure wyne which is poured into the cup of his wrath and he shal be tormented in fyer and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe and the smoke of their torment shall ascend evermore and they shall have no rest day nor night which worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the print of his Name Rev. 14.9.10.11 That the truth of the second part of the Reason may better appeare we are first to consider what is meant by the Beast and his image here spoken of what by the worshipping of it and what by receiving his mark in the forehead or hand and then to apply it to the present purpose And first that these and the like speaches are not to be taken litterally but in a mysticall and spirituall signification the Spirit of God teacheth vs in playne words in divers places of this book Rev. 14.8.9 with chap. 17.5.15.18 and 11.8 and 1.20 besides that it may be shewed by necessary collection also as will appeare in that which followeth By Beasts the Scripture often figureth out men kingdomes of beastly qualities and conditions so resembling them for their foolish ignorance savage cruelty gredynes of prey beastlynes of life certainty of destruction c. Dan. 7.17 8.20.21.22.23 with Ier. 10.14 Luk. 13.31.32 2 Tim. 4.17 Tit. 1.12 And so here by the beast his image we may vnderstand the Romane dominiō Antichristiā hierarchie resembling it the body of the man of sin with all the offices functions lawes constitutions power authority apperteyning therevnto For which compare this Scripture of Rev. 14. with 2 Thes 2.3.4.8.9 1 Tim. 4.1.2.3 1 Ioh. 2.18.22 and 4.3 2 Ioh. ver 6.7 Rev. 11.8 and 13.1.2.5.6.11.15.16.17 and 17.1.2.3.4.5.6.7 c. and 18.2 c. and 19.2.20.21 c. 20.4 And thus have the Martyrs of former ages also vnderstood it as may be seen in Act. Monum edit 5. p. 161 5. c. By worshipping the Beasts image may be vnderstood the yeelding of spirituall subjection homage obedience to that Antichristian kingdome in the lawes rules offices orders power and jurisdiction thereof And so this word worship is much vsed in the Scripture Exod. 20.5 Deut. 12.30 13.2.4 Iosh 22.5.27 Iudg. 2.11 2 King 17 33-41 Ezech. 8.16 and 20.32 Mat. 15.9 Act. 7.43 Col. 2 18-23 By receiving of the mark in the forehead or hand may be vnderstood the receiving of their ordinances
that he shal be any such brute Beast but for that he is and shal be called the child of perdition which for his cruelty and beastly maners is called the beast The carnall Iewes knew there was a promise made that Elias should come before Christ the Messias the annoynted of God to prepare his wayes they knew also there was a promise of Messias that he should come and be a King and reigne in the house of David for evermore But they vnderstood all so grossely and carnally that they neyther knew Elias nor Messias when they came for they looked for Elias to come downe from heaven in his own person and for Messias to come and reigne in worldly pompe power riches glory whenas the prophecies of both were spiritually to have bene vnderstood Of Elias that he should come not in person but in spirit that is one that should he indued with the spirit and gifts of grace of Elias which was in deed Iohn Baptist as Christ himself did declare to his Apostles And of Messias reigne all the Prophets were to be vnderstood of the reigne of his spirituall kingdome over the house of Iacob and the true Israelites for evermore And so by their grosse and carnall vnderstanding they mistook both Elias and the true Messias and when they came knew neyther of them both So likewise I feare me nay it is certayne the world that wanteth the light of the spirit of God for the world is not able to receive him saith Iohn neyther doth nor shall know the beast nor his marks though he rage cruelly and live never so beastly and though his marked men be in number like the sand of the sea The Lord therefore vouchsafe to open the eyes of the blynd with the light of grace that they may see perceive and vnderstand the words of God after the mynd of his Spirit Amen Thus farre Mr Ridley And Mr Bale an exile of Christ vnderstanding by the Beast the great Antichrist and by his image those governours which take vpon them his blasphemous titles names authority or defence applyed it also thus * Image of both Churches vpon Rev. 14.9 To receive the Beasts mark in their foreheads and hands is both to agree to such decrees traditions lawes constitutions acts and proclamations as they vnder those titles have made onely for their owne covetousnes and pompe and neyther for the glory of God nor yet for the right maintenance of the Christian common wealth And also to be sworne to the same to subscribe to it to give counsel or ayde to it to mainteyne it by learning to minister in it to execute vnder it to accuse punish put to death for it or to think it lawfull and godly with such like Thus have I somewhat largely noted down the sayings of these Martyrs of former times as being of good weight to the matter in hand For although Antichrist was not then so fuly discovered nor so deeply wounded as synce he hath ben and wil be yet daily more in this latter age of the world in which respect we are not now to be pressed with every thing which they then cōming newly out of the darknes of Popery did receive and allow Yet by these testimonies alledged and other the like in their stories it may appeare how vprightly they judged and how faithfully they walked even vnto death according to the measure of light reveiled vnto them in which respect they will rise vp in judgement to condemne this age wherein notwithstanding that Antichrist be plainlyer manifested and more consumed as yet stil he wil be more more til he be abolished †2 Thes 2.8 Rev. 14.6.7.8 by the brightnes of Christs appearing in the light and power of his Gospell yet as if no such thing were or should be or as if men ‖ Esa 6.9.10 Mat. 13.14.15 Act. 28.26.27 had eyes and saw not eares heard not harts and vnderstood not who is there that do not still take pleasure in that vnrighteousnes of Antichrist disobeying the truth of the Gospell of Christ worshipping the image of the Beast and receiving his mark in their forehead or hand For which howsoever men do plead yet let all remember and consider how the Spirit of God hath foretold the end and fruict therof to be this to stand vnder the wrath and judgement of God to be tormented before the holy Angels and before the Lambe for evermore Rev. 14.9.10.11 with 2 Thes 1.8.9 2 Thes 2 3-12 The fourth Reason None may heare or ioyne in any spirituall communion with that Ministerie which deriveth not their power and functions of Ministery from Christ which is the head for the edification of the Church which is his body But the present Ministery of the Church-assemblies of Engl. deriveth not their power functions of Ministery from Christ which is the head for the edification of the Church which is his body Therefore none may heare or ioyne in any spirituall communion with the present Ministery of the Church-assemblies of Engl. The Proposition or first part of the Reason can not be denyed 1. Because none may be subject to any power or head in religion save onely to Iesus Christ who is the alone head of the Church in whome all fulnes of power dwelleth and from whom alone the Church receiveth her life and strength Ephe. 1.22.23 and 4.8.11.12.15.16 Col. 1.18.19 and 2.18.19 1 Cor. 12.4.5.6.12.27 2. Because the Ministers which derive not their power from this head to the execution of an office in his body are vsurpers of that which perteyneth not vnto them enemies of Christs soveraigne authority and the people which heare them or otherwise submit to their power and Ministery become guilty with them of treason against the King of Kings the Lord Iesus Christ Mat. 28.18.19.20 1 Cor 12.5 Luk. 19.12.13.14.27 with Exod. 20.4.5 2 Thes 2.3.4.9.10.11.12 Rev. 13. 14. 17. and 18. and 19. chap. 3. Because God disposeth the members every one of them in the body at his pleasure and hath fully furnished his Church with all offices needfull so as it is not in the power of any creature to give or take away any members to or from Christs body or to approve by any practise such giving or taking away vnder any colour whatsoever Rom. 12 3-8 1 Cor. 12.6.12.18.27.28 Ephe. 4 4-16 1 Tim. 3. 5. 6.13.14 Rev. 22.18.19 The Assumption or latter part of the Reason is proved not onely by this That the Ministers of the Church-assemblies of England have not those offices and callings which Christ hath given to his Church for the work of his Ministery as hath bene shewed before in the first Reason to which this may be referred but may also be made manifest further and shewed by the contrary after this maner 1. First the present Ministery of the Church-assemblies of England is of Deacons and Priests made by the Prelates some of them being Curates some Vicars some Parsons