word made flesh that reveale the father for thou shalt worship the Lord thy God Mat. 4. and him only shalt thou serve And above all in this in beleeving his word only who can not deceive nor be deceived Otherwise though thou pray vnto him and vse all externall devotions he will not account that service or following him but following a man knowes not who what or wherefore for how shall they call on him in whome they have not beleeved Rom. 10.14.15 And how shall they beleeve in him of whome they have not heard there can therefore be no true serving him without hearing and beleeving nor no hearing to salvation without hearing of him nor indeede without obeying or following for therfore it is added But they have not all obeied the Gospel Some obey it not at all as Iewes others would serve God and Mammon others Christ and Antichrist others Gods word and the precepts of men but this is not to obeie the Gospell to follow Christ to worship him aright for he saith In vaine they worship me who teach for doctrines the commandements of men Thus doe they who teach that diocessan Bishops should be received and obeied Mat. 15 9. which make Gods word of the presbiterie of none effect and this they also doe by other theire traditions and precepts which not only crosse the Gospel in other things See the crowne of a Christian Martyr but serve men for a religion and so make the word of God of none effect And while they hold that Gods will is that they should be obeied that is in effect to teach them for doctrines they are no longer things indifferent but necessarie or rather presumptions that turne from the truth Mar. 7.8 and make men lay aside the word of God for laying aside the commandements of God ye hold the tradition of men As if he saide ye cannot hold the tradition of men but ye lay aside the commandement of God as wee finde true in matter of the presbiterie and other things Againe No man hath seene God at any time Ioh. 1.18 the only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the father he hath declared him All things are delivered vnto me of my father and no man knoweth the father save the Sonne Mat. 11.27 Ioh. 15.15 and he to whome the Sonne will reveale him But he saith to his Apostles All things that I have heard of my father J have made knowne vnto you so he hath fullie declared him And the Apostles have declared vnto vs in the new Testament all the counsell of God If therfore the Sonne Act. 20.27 have not revealed these traditions and precepts of men in his Testament it is a greate presumtion to say they may be imposed or that Gods will is that they should be obeied For because Christ only is the word that revealeth the father therefore that only should be taught which he hath revealed by his Apostles Evangelists but he hath not revealed these precepts of men and therfore he saith In vaine they worship me who teach for doctrines commandements of men As if he saide rejecting God his word ye worship him whose traditions ye receive Ioh. 4. and that with the greatest and trewest worship The true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and truth Viz. in obeying the truth and yealding themselves to be wholly governed by it as by a perfect and necessarie rule which requireth not a difference of meates or such triviall things but righteousnes and peace Rom. 14 16.18 ioy in the holy Ghost He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God He is a true worshipper For so Paul saith After the way that they call heresie so worship I the God of my fathers beleeving all things that are written To beleeve the Testaments and no more Obejed is the true worship This must needes be the worship vsed by them who are saide to worship in the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie Rev. 11.1.19 because there was nothing seene in it but the Arke of his Testament they beleeved and obeied all things that were written therein and no more 1. Sam. 15.22 To beleeve and to obey is better then Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of rammes It is the best service and worship as the very Iesuits prove from this place Ignati de obed virtute sect 5 and thereby condemne themselves who give this best service to theire superiour by beleeving and obeying him as one that can not be deceived though they cannot perceive but he commaunds things contrarie to God and so make him theire God Thus the Pope sits in the Temple of God as God or as men say most maister in things and thus papists worship the Beast and his image For his servants ye are to whome ye obey And yet this worship in matters of religion is only due vnto God whose word alone is the spirit that giveth life yea men have more or lesse the Spirit of prophecâ—e 〈◊〉 â—â—â—uld be obeied as they speake according to that word and thâ—â—â—fore the Angel saith worship God for the testimonie of Iesus is the Spirit of prophecie Rev. 19 His testimonie and no other For the church is subject to Christ not to the preceps of men This testimonie ye ought to beleeve and obey Ephes 5.24 as Paul did in beleewing all things that are written and so to worship God in Spirit and truth For the Father seeketh such to worship him The Papists then in receiving and teaching for Doctrines precepts and traditions of the Pope and Church of Rome so contrarie to the word do certainly giue them this true and greate worship which only belongs to God and so are like them who changed the truth of God into a lie Rom. 1.25 and worshipped and served the creature more then the creator who is blessed for ever Thus they are saide to worship the Beast and his Image Many thinke that some such thing is done by those in England that defend teach the authority of the Bishops theire hierarchie Canons decrees and ceremonies because many of them are popish and more pressed by many then some points of the Gospel And though divers doe not doe this with a purpose to set vp poperie vnlesse in a few things neither can be perswaded that the hierarchie is a limbe of the Beast yet the obedience to it in these things if they or it be not of God is a worship to it and a serving the creature more then the creator which indeede is much more donne by the Papists to the Beast and his Image And here by the way it is a thing worthy observation that if in the primative ages of the church vnder the first Christian Emperours some were touched with some of the popish opinions as very few were and those only in some things yet they did neither maintaine them against such light of doctrine
as is manifested now a daies nor give theire false doctrines and interpretations for lawes as they have donne in these later ages and since the councell of Trent which is the thing that makes them and theire followers so abhominable Therfore after one Angel haveing an everlasting Gospel to preach had cried feare God Rev. 14.6 7.8.9 and worship him and that the second had denounced the fall of Babylon by which two seeming to be wicklife Luther and theire followers came greate light of doctrine The third Angel followed them and denounced eternall damnation to every one that should after this time worship the Beast and his Image and receive his marke And because some would rather suffer martyrdom then doe it that is added Here is the patience and the faith of the saincts vers 12.13 Here are they that keepe the commandements of God and the faith of Jesus Blessed are the dead which henceforth die in the Lord or as others reade for the Lords cause Here then wee may see theire impietie and danger who continue not in the word but either more or lesse receive and professe the Doctrine and superstion of the Pope and Church of Rome which is not taught in the holy Scriptures they receive the marke of the Beast and worship him and his Image To receive and haue which marke is to receive or have an impression of the Popish Doctrine and Religion in part or in whole either in profession which is to haue the marke in the forhead or by defending or helping the same by som meanes which is to haue the marke in the right hand as will appeare by shewing how men haue the Seale or marke of God The eternall word and Wisdom of the Father is his expresse Image with which the elect are sealed in theire forheads by saueing knowledge and profession thereof with faith and full assurance Which is when they receive the Doctrine of the holy Scripture and it leaues such an impression in them that they professe they will receive it and no other vnder any pretence of the Spirit vnlesse it follow from the same Testament of Christ who to shew that the Holy Ghost brings no other Doctrine he the truth calleth him the Spirit of truth and saith He shall not speake of himselfe Ioh. 16.13 But he shall receive of mine and shall shew it vnto you He shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoeuer J haue saide vnto you So he leadeth into all truth And he shall shew you the things to come that is touching the generall Apostacie vnder Antichrist and such other things in the Revelation Councels therefore doe vainly pretend the Spirit if they speake not according to the Testament of Christ The word was made flesh Ioh. 1. the Disciples saw the glorie thereof in his Doctrine and miracles full of grace and Truth This cannot be saide of the canons and inventions of men Of his fulnesse saith Iohn haue all wee receiued Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ Whosoeuer brings not this word 1. Ioh. 2.24 this truth of God is a deceiver But the anointing which ye haue receiued of him abideth in you and ye neede not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie Idaicus taketh Christ to be the anointing here meant and Lorinus on the place giues good reasons why the word is saide to be the Anointing Indeede the Spouse saith to him Thy Name is an ointment powred forth Cant. 1.3 Now wee know his Name is called the word of God And indeede this eternall word seemeth to be the anointing meant because he saith it is Truth and is no lie And Christ that word because he addeth and euen as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him or it in the anointing And now litle children abide in him that when he shall appeare wee may haue confidence and not be ashamed before him at his comming v. 12. to iudgment for the word shall iudge vs at the last day Ioh. 12.48 and Christ is that word as Augustin proueth on that and many other places of Iohns Gospel As many as receiued this word this eternall Truth to them he gaue power to become the Sonnes of God euē to them that beleoue in his Name whose name is called the word of God Therefore he saith to them that beleeued on him Ioh. 8.31.36 If ye continue in my word thē are ye my Disciples indeede and ye shall know the truth the truth shall make you free and sheweth the same truth to be the Sonne that maketh Sonnes free saying If the Sonne therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeede This comes of the saueing knowledge of Gods word 1. Ioh. 3.2 Therefore Iohn saith Now wee are the Sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what wee shall be that is because wee know but in part But when he shall appeare we shall be like him for wee shall see him as he is And euery man that hath this hope purifieth himselfe euen as he is pure Thus as Paul saith men put on the new man Ioh. 17. which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him and that saueing knowledge is the cause of loueing and obeying him and of purifying of a mans selfe as he is pure Therefore it is that Christ saith M. Downam Guide to Godlinesse cha 5. Rom. 10. Psa 119.27.33.34 this is eternall life to know thee and him whome thou hast sent Saueing knowledge as one saith beeing the ground of obedience and the roote of faith and all other graces For how shall they call vpon him in whome they haue not beleeued and how shall they beleeue on him of whome they haue not heard Or haue no knowledge Divinely therefore saith David Make me to vnderstand they way of the precepts so shall I talke of thy wondrous works Giue me vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy Law And therefore Augustin saith that wee may loue things vnseene but not vnknowne For to shew that the first conversion of a Christian is wrought by illumination knowledge and a liuely faith that followeth thereupon Christ saith to Paul Act. 26.18 J send thee to the Gentiles to open theire eyes and to turne them from darknes to light that is from the power of darknesse to the Sonne of light as he addeth from the power of Satan vnto God Ephes 2.2 chap. 4.18 Wherefore he sheweth that the Gentiles in times past walked after the Prince of the power of the aire and were aliened from the life of God because theire vnderstanding was darkened through the ignorance that was in them because of the blindnesse of theire heart that beeing aliens from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the couenants of promise they were at that time without Christ haveing no hope and without God in the world Hence it was that they beeing
leaves and barke of the tree of life and all tree Religion would be lost if theese be not observed But a liar must haue a good memorie For when on the otherside wee tell them the Apostles ordained Elders to be Bishops in everie Church to rule by the word and that this ordinance was to be as the barke to the tree of life that betweene the same and the stock of the tree the sap might passe so as the fruite of righteousnesse might be brought forth and the propper leaues of the tree kept greene and in esteeme that this tree had its propper leaves the new Testament its proper ceremonies in the primitive age In Churches then established Christian Religion was compleate Col. 2.5 things were donne decently in such order and with such due ceremonies as was Pauls joy to behold they scoffe vs with noveltie and say they were never since the time of Christ or his Apostles But by theire leaves this scoffe proves them to be the old and good way that shortly after began to be changed to another framed and ratified by the depths of Satan as they spake That to the Bride is graunted to be araied in pure and fine linnen Reu. 19. white and cleane by beeing reduced to this old way to this old righteousnes of the Saints by walking in all the commaundements and ordinances of God Luke 1. as Zacharie and Elizabeth did and indeede as not onely the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia but divers in Sardis did who held fast that which Christ left Reu. 3. without receiving other seeing the best of mens inventions and presumptions are but stumbling blocks â—om 14. â—â— and occasions laide in mens wayes by the cunning of Sathan to make them fall to greater presumption and superstition as both hath appeared and will yet further appeare by those which are received in England and therefore indeede to draw the Bride and all others to the puritie and simplicitie of the first Christians it is added for the fine linnen is the righteousnes of the Saints Reu. 19. The first government the presbiterie the first ceremonies with the old order in choyce of ministers are then restored It is then graunted to the Church to come to this righteousnes of the Saints Whatsoever is spoken of them and theire Churches and ordinarie orders theese are all the true sayings of God to be observed Humane inventions will worship and presumptions in Gods service as lies devised by men are to be rejected Reu. 22. And therefore it is added Blessed are they that doe his commaundements he doth not say mens but his in opposition to theyres that they may haue right to the tree of life as if he saide otherwise they can haue no right to the tree of life nor to enter through the gates into the citie but doe remaine without among dogges sorcerers and others they are there so called because they neither are nor will wee be arayed in that white linnen which is the righteousnes of the Saints such as those in Smyrna Philadelphia and som in Sardis who held fast that which Christ left but are enemies to such righteousnes and yet do vainly beleeve that they are holy and as good Christians as the best because they loue common prayer and some other things If God had ordained that verie forme of prayer as he did the Iewish sacrifices yea if it were so greate a part of true religion that as these sacrifices it were oft put for the whole yet they in other things changing the ordinances and breaking the everlasting covenant must know that of such it is saide Pro. 15.8 The sacrifice of the wicked is abhomination to the Lord. But the prayer of the righteous in acceptable to him Theire prayer onely is his delight that of others is abhomination to him Much more if in this theire sacrifice theire fear towards God be taught after the inventions and precepts of men with sopperies and ceremonies which he commaunded not theese make theire sacrifice whereby they thinke to please God abhominable The Church of England speaking of ceremonies devised by man why som be abolished and som reteined Preface to the booke of common prayer in fol. Ephes 4.15.21.24 confesseth that Christs Gospel is not a ceremonial Law as much of Moses Law was but it is a Religion to serve God not in the bondags of the signe or shadow but in the freedom ef the Spirit They might haue added beeing content onely with the ceremonies of the Gospell and to grow vp vnto him in all things which is the head even Christ If so be ye haue heard him and haue beene taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus Fot so ye put on the new man which after God is cceated in righteousnes and holines of the truth But they adde beeing content onely with those ceremonies which doe serve to a decent order a godlie Discipline and such as be apt to stirre vp the dull minde of man to the remembrance of his duty to God by some notable and speciall signification whereby he might be edified And never considering that the church of Rome who invented or established and imposed them sayes the like of all other her ceremonies they wilfully take the crosse in baptisme to be of this nature and therefore say wee signe him with the signe of the crosse in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and manfullie fight vnder his banner against sinne the world and the devill and to continew Christs faithfull souldier and Servant vnto his lives ende In the times of Antichrist God indeede requireth theese excellent duties of all Christians but not this signing as if beeing thus signed he should be the lesse ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and more manfully sight vnder his banner then others that are not so signed and as if this were a ceremonie and signe which would make him doe that dutie of a Christian the better which Christ requireth when he saith Rev. 2. him that ouercommeth c. For neither the Bishops who make all to be thus signed nor the English in generall haue proved more constant confessors and souldiers of Christ then the presbiters and theire people in France and Germanie they haue not more denied themselves in sinnes and worldly lusts of covetousnes ambition vaine honour dominion and the like they haue not more striven against poperie Arminianisme ignorance and errour nor in theese late wars for the defense of Christs religion and members they haue not more stirred vp theire Princes to follow Christ for they haue not donne it themselves nor suffered others that would both in theese and in matters of the presbiterie So they make men take a pretended signe of such a confession and warfare yet will not suffer them to doe the thing preteÌ„ded to be signified but scorne and persecute them that doe They therefore whome for theese things they call
puritans doe truly beare the crosse of Christ fot the Testimonie of Iesus while the Prelates who in the meane live in pompe and pleasure onely impose on others and take on themselves a beggarly signe with the hand ordained as they thinke in greate Wisdom which yet doth never a whit the more stir them vp to theire duty as is pretended For in theese cases they mock and oppose the reasons of Christs Souldiers the reformists and haue rather sided with such against the parliaments as were rockoned trecherous and verie corrupt in religion and therefore it is but a mockerie and as other things onely carried out by humane Lawes terrour and authority They haue not in theese cases observed that the foolishnes of God is wiser then men that he saith let no man deceive himselfe 1. Cor. 1.25 chap. 3.18 If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a foole that he may be wise for the Wisdom of this world is foolishnes with God He taketh the wise in theire owne craftinesse The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are but vaine as wee see in this particular For God gives a better blessing to them which doe not seeke to stirre vp mens mindes to such duties by signes but by the Scripture which is sufficiently proffitable for doctrine 2. Tim. 3.16.17 for reproofe for instruction in righteousnes that the man of God may be persect thorowly furnished vnto all good works What neede then is there of theese beggarlie devises Signing with the signe of the crosse doth not doe this though they give such a reason of it Much lesse can they prove that the vse of coapes and hoods in service Altars organs singing men whome few or none vnderstand or Antemes whereof no such specious reasons can be given as beeing in savour heathenish or Iewish or popish are apt by notable significations to stirre vp men to theire duties to God For they are rather offences or stumbling blocks making men to fall to heathenisme Iudaisme or poperie in som things They cannot justifie them by the old Testament for that serves as well to prove that sacrifices and other Iewish ceremonies should be still observed which to say were to lay a greate stumbling blocke seeing they are all abolished and wee are to vse no more then the new Testament alloweth Howsoever the English as ye see haue not better donne theire duties but more failed then the reformed churches who have none of these things Now therefore whereas they also say Vbi supra That som ceremonies entred into the church by vndiscreete devotion and such a zeale as was without knowledge and for because they were winked at in the beginning they grew daily to more and more abuses which for theire vnproffitablenesse and because they much blinded the people and obscured the glorie of God are wortly to be cut away and cleane rejected wee see that these are such that the signe of the crosse is of this nature by themselves made ridiculous Rom. 14.13 Such is theire Wisdom They doe not in this case observe that rule that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brothers way And so also in matter of the surplesse By theire rule this is also apt to stirre vp the dull minde of man to the remembrance of his duty to God by som notable signification whereby he might be edefied And therfore they bring Scriptures for it Reu. 6.9 They that were slaine for the word of God and for the Testimonie which they held had white roabes given vnto every one of them It is therfore say they no hurt to impose the wearing of white seeing peradventure in the Church of Martyrs this was devised to stir vp the dull minde of man to this duty Chap. 15. The seaven Angels come out of the Temple haveing seaven plagues clothed in pure and fine linnen They as wee saw haue the Testimonie of Iesus the marke of God and indeede nothing is pure and white without it And so haue those also of whome is saide Chap. 19. The armies which are in heauen followed him vpon white horses clothed in pure and white linnen Which is not onely meant of those that helpe to get the victorie over Rome and the Beast by the sword but of those also that doe it by the word of God all theese haue white roabes I answer all this doth not warrant the Bishops to impose on men a signe of this much lesse as our Bishops doe and yet in divers particulars abovementioned they as the Popish Bishops before them doe not suffer them to doe the thing signified â—herefore it is but a Popish tricke and a mockerie to make men retaine and weare that which at first was invented and is at this day vsed with superstition by the Papists They cannot say theese are the fruits of the Spirit For the fruite of the Spirit is in all goodnes and righteousnes and truth Ephes 5.9 Marke in Truth not then in ceremonies signes and shewes They say white is a note of puritie innocencie victorie and gladnesse and so indeede it is yet as wee have seene they are far enough from that white linnen or puritie which is the righteousnes of the Saints there meant And indeede they are not more innocent victorious and pure then other Protestants that doe not weare the white garment but rather more Popish and corrupt They doe not now neither in Doctrine discipline nor manners so hold fast the word as the Saints did in som of the seaven Churches Men Popish may not onely come to theire communions but even knowne drunkards fornicators Prophane mockers of religious excercises and other like wicked men It was an ordinance of the ceremoniall Law Exod. 28.2.40 thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glorie and for beautie And for Aarons Sonnes thou shalt make coates and girdles and bonnets for glorie and for beautie Theese beeing commaunded might then stir vp the dull minde of man to remembrance of his dutie for God then taught them by ceremonies and shaddowes But now they cannot such Lawes beeing abolished and the truth cleerely preached to vse them is greate presumption to devise others for glorie and for beautie more then were in time of the Apostles whether they be surplesses coapes or Rochets and the like is far greater presumption and namely to choose rather to be edified by shaddowes of humane invention then by the cleere and all-sufficient Truth of God revealed in Christ yea to deceive our selves because the surplesse wee see doth nothing stir vp mens mindes to doe the duties of those who are saide to weare white as the seaven Angels the bride and those that follow Christ on white horses For among others the presbiters sit round aboute Christs throne in white raiment Reu. 4.4 which setteth forth the puritie of theire order yet Prelates and theire defenders are so far from