whatsoever is the Essence and Life of Christianity which it is not possible for the world to have so long as it is scoffed at jeered and hissed out of the World And can we be the Church of-Christ then Yes when he hath Churches in Hell For where is our state and abiding but in Hell Seeing we lye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hell Dominion of our Lusts under which we worry toyle serve and are imbondag'd as much as if Christ never had been Surely Christs Church is called to a condition above and beyond all and not to walk as others in the will of the Flesh These and abundance more are cleare and ful in Gallicinium and if required I shal by Gods assistance clear the case yet further therefore at present I say no more I easily see that the Objection and cavil against this and the slighting of all that I have said and the evasion from all wil be upon mens own devised distinction between the visible and invisible Church whereby they cozen themselves and all others into eternal perdition but the taking away of that is easie to be observed from what is already said which I leave to be paused upon I desire to be briefe onely this first Proposal being the main and giving light into all the rest I have been the larger upon it I shal be briefer in the other I conceive now the Proposal is made clear and good onely this is to be added That whereas I have shewed that all Churches so called are in the state of damnation Antichristianly so all others are in the same accursed estate Diabolically This is the difference The World in the geneal lyeth and weltereth in the poyson of the old Serpent Lusts and Sin and consequently under the curse in the Wrath of God thus it is such diabolically And the Christian part thereof in special is deluded and driven thereinto by the Spirit of Antichrist in the pretence and profession of Christianity carrying their Christ Religion Grace and all into the Wil and Wisdom of the Flesh after they have by their avowing themselves to Christ declared their defiance against all professing to be his faithful Soldiers in the Christian Warfare And this is the most damnable and accursed condition of all other as the Word of Truth declareth Tremble then and be astonished O accursed World especially what is called Christian and if ever it were the charge of Christians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling now more then ever need we look about us with astonishment horror and affrightment For most assuredly all the World and every person therein that ever were and now are both may and shal attain salvation and not one be damned as wel as we yea and we the last of all if such a thing a might be unlesse from this wilful and headlong captivity under Antichrist we break forth with violence into the Kingdome and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 2. PROPOSAL That it is not possible that all the wit and wisdom of men in the way that they endeavour Reformation in can make the Estate of the Church better but rather still worse FOR the clearing of this it is requisite that I shew what that wisdom is which all endeavouring Reformation walk in the light of and so doing not possibly able to compass it The onely discovery of this is from the Oracles of God where amongst many other instances for this purpose I shall name but one for brevity sake which is Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no Provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Where we may see a notable distinction between the true Wisdom of God and the false and onely seeming Wisdom of men It is clear that Christ is called the wisdom of God and in that respect as he sayes elsewhere that the true Wisdom is revealed unto Babes who are thence called the Children of Wisdom And this Wisdom springs from the root of self-denial and is unknown to the World but so clear and open to the truly Regenerate as thereby and therein they are said to know all things and need no other teachings It were too long a business at present to open the fulness of this Mystery so as to be seen and apprehended by this darkned World It stands clear and ful in Gallicinium whereto I refer it Opposite hereunto is inferred in that fore cited place that wisdom of men as consisting in making provision for the flesh to fulsil the lusts thereof and truly in the dark shutting up in that Kingdom of the Devil is the state of all the wisdom of men Hence in the highest exaltation of men in their own wisdom are they compared in Scripture to the Beasts that perish void of all true understanding perceiving and savouring onely the provision for their Lusts as Beasts and Devils and most sure it is that the highest Wisdom of man can ascend no higher then to what is earthly and hellish and is wholly confined within that sphear as is at large declared in Gallicinium and till that come forth let the serious consider it well and they will find it so Having given some light for the clearing of this I come next to prove and make good this second Proposal and that shall be from these undeniable Arguments 1. From that which is the inward Root of all that blindness and error that is in the wisdom of man whence Error is acknowledged to be of its essence and propriety in nature hence it is said Humanum est errare as if to erre and to be truly man in statu quo were termini convertibiles This arises partly from the nature and estate of mans wisdom whereinto it is falne in that man is faln into part Beast part Devil The wisdome in both is called properly in Scripture Subtilty as of the old Serpent wherein the Devils far exceed both Beasts and Men and yet are they said to be shut up in darkness and holden under Chains of darkness whereas the Heavenly Spirits abiding in the meek subject on to the will of God are called Angels of Light VVhat then is this wisdom which man lives in but darkness Sure it is they were not meer fools and idiots as the world account such but the wise of the world of whom the Apostle said Ye were sometime darkness Again partly this arises from the curse of God and his damning Sentence upon the wisdom of men in that he hath shut up the true wisdom from the wise and prudent of the world and declared all the wisdom of the wise to be foolishness It being his just and dreadful sentence upon the hellish pride of man in turning from the meek subjection unto his heavenly wisdom into that of the flesh prefouring the Hell-darkness into which the Devil hath brought man beyond the Heavenly Light and accordingly like the Devils to be reserved and kept under those chains of darkness unto the judgement of
GALLICANTVS SEU PRAECURSOR GALLICINII PRIMUS Containing two ADDRESSES The one to the KING the other to the PARLIAMENT Tegether with a POSCRIPT ABOUT The affaires of RELIGION of most high Concernment By R. Lanceter Author of GALLICINIVM now in the Presse LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Ranew at the sign of the Angell in Pauls Church-yard 1660. An humble Addresse and Supplication to the Kings most excellent Majesty Charles the Second by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Blessed be God even the Father who onely doth great wonders that he hath so wonderfully brought and established your Majesty in your just Rights and Sovereignty The sâ—me Lord blesse preserve and guide your Majesty in this great and high Calling and Charge whereinto he hath brought and setled you And withall advance your Throne into the high calling of God in Jesus Christ that you may be truly and compleatly glorious both in the Father and in the Son May it please Your Sacred Majesty WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to traine you up long in the Schoole of affliction and no doubt to fit you thereby for some speciall and extraordinary work of his as it hath been his usuall way towards such as he hath designed for the most gratious archievments And accordingly hath abundantly manifested the power of his grace upon your Royall heart by those many signall testimonies thereof already shewn forth whereat all your good subjects exceedingly rejoyce and praise the Lord. That it may appear that as your Majesty hath set your heart towards God so himselfe hath set his heart towards you to advance your Throne above all the Kings of the Earth and above all that ever were before you You may please to see the evidence hereof in what the Lord is pleased here to present you with Wherein your Majesty becoming highly instrumentall if it be found to be truly of God never was King or Potentate on earth called as yet to that place of eminency with God as is your Majesty hereby It hath pleased the Lord Almighty who hath ordained the times and seasons for the bringing to passe his mighty Works and for the discovery of the hidden things of darknesse to exercise your humble Suppliant Subject and Servant in the reluctance with that darknesse all the time that he exercised your Majesty with afflictions And now upon your deliverance out of them to have also given him a release from those chaines of darknesse so far as to present your Majesty with that light into which he hath escaped The summary tender whereof is under these three heads 1. That it is not possible that either at present or in former times for many hundreds of yours either we or any other Nation called Christian or any other Nation or Party in the World can be the Church of Christ and people of God or in way of salvation but absolutely either Antichristianly or Diabolically in state of wrath and damnation 2. That it is not possible that any or all the wayes that men do or can devise to state and settle Religion and the Church in the wisedome that they act in can ever do it aright and make the case better then it is but in all likelihood to render all still worse and more Antichristian 3. That yet there is a way not new but layd of old by Christ wherein the Primitive Apostolicall Church constantly walked but ever since utterly lost in the World as to a Church-way such a way as is most cleare easie undenyable which all the World will grant if once they see it to be the truth of God the onely way to make all Churches Churches of Saints and all people to live blessedly an happy people both here and hereafter This the Lord hath reserved to be manifested in your dayes and your selfe for such a time and commendeth the same to your Royall care for the advancement of his glory in the Son and of your Majesties Throne in both I am not mad or a Fanatick but I speak the words of truth and sobernesse I have been in the Ministeriall Calling about thirty years in your County of Norfolk I have lived to see and with much reluctance and grapling with have passed through the calaminities of these times especially the distractions and monstrous emergencies in the notion way and pretence of Religion I have been ever formerly conformable in all things both as to Doctrine and Discipline as an obedient son of the Church of England And during these times while the truth of Christ was more and more obseured by the devices of men I have given my selfe into all my utmost endeavour to clear up the saving truth unto my own soul and consequently to the consciences of all others especially of my Charge In this my search and incessant study finding my selfe more and more confounded and the truth hidden from me in the abundance of the rubbish of mans wit and devices cast upon it It pleased God to recall me from the wisedome of men to that of himselfe in his word and to cast my self upon the pure discovery of truth in those heavenly Oracles which being the way of his own Ordinance it pleased the Lord to meet me therein and by revealing his Son in and unto me to vouchsafe me in the knowledg of him that light of truth which is not possible to be found in all the works of men whatsoever And being convinced by the clearnesse thereof and also by imparting the same to others of best judgment and piety that it was indeed the onely saving truth but yet wholly unknown and quite crosse to the opinion and way of the World I thought it my duty and thereunto also I discerned my selfe especially called to publish the same to the World as being of the highest concernment unto all that possibly can be imagined both for this life and for that to come Now may it please your Majesty hence is my present Addresse and Supplication unto you in the first place 1. For that intending the Dedication of this Work to your Majesty it being so high an undertaking might be too bold a daring to presix your name thereto without your good liking and consent 2. For that understanding that your Majesty together with your high Court of Parliament are setting your eyes to the affaires of Religion and that to the settlement thereof in such a way as I cannot in conscience close with therefore I thought it better to appeare beforehand in the case possibly some good may come thereby then to be found an apposer of authority afterward 3. For that considering that the things which I come forth with are of the highest concernment that ever came forth even the same with those of Christ and his Apostles which the World hath so long lost and have the like need of again and consequently of especiall concernment unto your Majesty in many regards both respecting God your place and people
for plucking up all root and branch So say I As the Father planted the Law so Christ the Gospell therefore every plant that he hath not planted never consider what wise men thought of it how it sits the state how it stands with prudence c. but without the least question or dispute Pluck it up it is of Hell Antichrist c. Is there nothing worth regarding thinke we in these and such like passages of Christ and of his blessed spirit That God hath hid the things of Heaven from the wise and prudent That whatsoever is highly esteemed of men is abomination in the sight of God That the wisedome of the World is foolishnesse with God That God knoweth the thoughts of men that they are but vaine And that all the imaginations of mans heart are wholly evils and that continually and abundance the like And yet shall we professing Christ account all these as nothing not considering how he saith Heaven and Earth should passe away but not one word of his should faile And yet I say shall we turn from all the wisdom of Christ into the accursed wisedome of men and into all of mans liking and esteem how abominable and dreadfull is this Is it not that â—eigne and delusion of Antichrist unto damnation whereunto the latter ages were to be adjudged and accursed and which we all confesse that for many hundred of years the Christian World lay inthralled And most sure it is that even as damnably as ever therein it abideth still Were I to speak to Heathens and Insidels these passage were in vaine but seeing it is to Christians that I speak for Gods sake let our Lord Christ be the common Master to us all The drift of all this my humble addresse is That seeing the Lord hath so happily called you together and begun a good worke by you of highest hopes and expectation and accordingly have set your hearts to a blessed settlement of all things both in Church and Common-wealth that you would be pleased to turne your hearts into the right way for the attainment unto your right intended ends for else they can never be accomplished Looke not therefore what was of yesterday what was in our Fathers times what stand with Policies of State with the liking and acceptation of men c. set by all and looke wholy to the Lord Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our Faith Remember I pray You that Christ layd the foundation of all Christianity in selfe denyall even of all our wills wisdomes likeings endearements and all that man doth or can give his heart unto Without which as nothing of truth can possible appear so be assured that in so doing all truth is before you even that holy unction whereby we know all things Which the Lord is about to tender unto you if so denying selfe you make way for that Grace of God In a word be it considered that if in the very Apostles times men had so carnalized the truth of Christ and apostatized from it as the Apostle was sayne to plucke them off wholly from all their religion then in esteeme and to contend earnestly for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints Jude 3.4 Much rather may I now presse the same when farâ—e more into Wantonnesse and Carnalisme the whole frame of Religion is carryed Even to spare it in nothing to please men with but to Pluck up every plant whatsoever that God and the Lord Jesus Christ hath not planted and so to contend earnestly for that Faith alone which was once delivered to the Saints from the mouth of Christ and his holy Apostles Damning all the rest to the pitt whence it came and the rather by how much the more the carnall mind is besotted and made drunke with that Whoorish cup. And thus I humbly take leave in the words of David on the like occasion 1 Chron. 22.16 Arise and be doing and the Lord be with you The Postscript THat which our Blessed Saviour expresseth Mat. 5.15 Noman having lighted a candle putteth it under a vessel but on a candlestick that all may see it c. intimating that when God inlighteneth any it must not be concealed but set forth to open view for a light unto others This the Apostles found and expressed the power of Act. 4.20 We cannot but speak the things which we have heard and seene This charge I sind imposed and pressed strongly on my heart and Conscience as to the power of that light which the Lord hath been pleased to vouchsafe me Therefore having in the first place made my addresse unto the Kings most Excellent Majestie then unto his high Court of Parliament in some generall things which will inferre abundance more of speciall discoveries I cannot forbeare the holding forth of the same light unto all others as previous to the discovery of farre more The things therein already declared are of the highest nature and greatest concernment that may be which all persons especially that professe and hope in Christ must nearly lay to heart The two former of which are in the addresse unto his Majestie namely 1. How we are no Church of Christ c. But meerely of Antichrist 2. How it is not possible that we can be set right in and by the way wherein it is sought and endeavoured Then 3. In the addresse unto the Parliament is shewed the reason of both namely for that men have turned and still do turne out from the wisdome of God into their own Then follows a 4th of speciall moment expressed in both addresses Which is That there is a true cleare and perfect way layd forth by Christ and his Apostles and practized then of all which wholly turning unto is the onely blessed way but otherwise all is under the curse and wrath of God To bear witness unto these truths and many more to follow am I now come up unto the head Citie of my Nation in a fit and due season the Lord grant it may be found a good and acceptable time In which enterprise and that not without the Lord I may justly use the Apostles words Act. 20.22 23 24. And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every Citie saying that bonds and afflictions abide me But none of these things move me netheir count I my life dear unto my selfe so that I might finish my Course with joy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God The same measure I expect and blessed be my Lord and Saviour who hath vouchsafed me for a long time to drinke of his own cup. It is not posible but that his word shall abide in force till this World be no more it self And hath he not sayd Yee shall be hated of all men for my names sake In this World yee shall have tribulation New wine cannot
be endured in old bottles and many the like Much there is in that Luke 5.39 No man having drunk old Wine straight-way desireth new for he saith The old is better Surely if then it was so much more it will now be found so when men have so long and so deepely drunke of the cup of Babilons fornication as they are even dead-drunke with it As I sayd so I say againe To beare witness unto the truths of Christ am I here come up and offer my selfe to all for the desence of The least call shall bring me forth to give appearance unto all or any Onely this one thing must be premonished All that I can possibly deale with must be Self-denyers Namely 1. As to the World if they chose their portion on this side Jordan and be of the mind of that Chancellor of Paris who boasted that he would not change his place in Paris for his place in Paradise such are dease addars stoping their ears and hardning their hearts against all heavenly working 2. As to the Flesh if their God be their Belly and their lusts possesse their hearts the belly hath no ears t is no dealing with them 3. As to the Devill if they swell in pride and abide in the gall of bitternesse they must needs be so fast bound in the bands of iniquity as they can never attaine to judge and discerne the truth But if they will learne of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart and give themselves out of the will and wisedome of the flesh into the will and wisdome of Goal they shall easily learn of the word and doctrine which I professe that it is not mine but of God even of our Lord Jesus Christ FINIS GALLICANTVS SEU Praecursor Gallicinij primus CONTEINING The making good of those four dreadful Proposals laid down in Gallicantu Primo I. That it is not possible that we or any other Nation in the world can be the Church of Christ but on the contrary either Antichristianly or Diabolically in state of Damnation II. That it is not possible that all the wit and wisdome of men in the way that they endeavour Reformation in can make the Estate better but rather worse III. That yet there is a way and that of old laid down by Christ to render all Congregations Parishes and Societies of People Churches of Christ and all as formerly Churches of Saints in a blessed condition both here and hereafter IV. That to bring this about and settle it in the world there must be an utter plucking up of all that is now in esteem and desire in the world and of all that have such in the world for many hundreds of years and all things to become new By the same AUTHOR Dirigente Deo LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Ranew and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Angel in Paul 's Church-yard 1660. THE Preface to these Proposals THE three former of these are expressed fully in the Addresse unto the Kings Majesty and the fourth is the main of the Addresse unto the Parliament as is to be seen at large in Callicantu primo A more then Giant-like attempt it may seem to adventure on such high Enterprises But what cannot weakness it self do in the strength of God whose Power is best seen therein and in the Light of Christ which enableth to go on boldly All that I desire of my Reader is this That as my heart is and must be set in the utter denial of Self even of all in me that God may do all So also That my Reader would set his heart in the like frame in the perusal of all even to set his heart at liberty out of his self-wisdom to yield himself into the wisdom of God else he will see nothing but be more and more blinded and hardened For God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble This premised I fall upon the pertieular Proposals The Lord be my Guide therein into the Truth GALLICANTVS SEU Praecursor Gallicinij PRIMUS 1. PROPOSAL That it is not possible that we or any other Nation in the World can be the CHURCH of CHRIST But on the contrary either Antichristianly or Diabolically in state of Damnation FIrst For the clearing of this dreadful Proposal be it considered First That I understand by Church as all others do that it is the company of those that are called in and by Christ out of the estate of Damnation into the estate of Salvation but withall That this call is not onely given but also received and yielded up into So as the Church are those people that yield up themselves into that call of Christ and no other else all the World must be the Church of Christ For as it is said in Scripture The sound namely of the Gospel is gone out into all Lands Secondly Be it considered That the Church of Christ is to be looked upon according to that distinction which Christ himself makes of them namely as scattered sheep and as folded sheep or gathered into his Fold The former are such persons in particular as in all Ages have become the sheep of Christ by the Lamb like Birth and so are given into the Call of Christ So becoming and living as Christ sheep and members of his Church but yet as scattered and not brought into the way and exercise of the Church of Christ as he hath instituted in his Gospel A Church thus stated is never wholly wanting in the world to Christ but yet not properly and completely to be called his Church as being not embodied in order to the way and exercise instituted for his Churches walking in Communion The latter are such persons as being so called give forth themselves also to be imbodied in a Society unto the exercise of the Church-way and Rule of Christ so as to have their conversation in Heaven as the Scripture terms it in mutual converse one with another and towards all in doing good flowing forth in love and good works This is properly called the Church and their estate even here in Grace is often called the Kingdom of Heaven Now thus the Church properly stated must be further considered either as coming short of the glory of God and of Christ or else as coming up into it sincerely The former sort are those who rest and stay themselves both in Doctrine Practice and Discipline in a way short of the fruits thereof unto eternal life The latter are those who by bringing forth much fruit glorifie God even the Father and are truly the Disciples of Christ Joh. 15.8 Of the former sort there may be many Parties and Professions of people in the world and some coming nearer to the glory of God then others But these not truly to be accounted Christs sheep or members Onely the last are his true Church of saved ones and of them is this Proposal meant Thus having cleared the Proposal I come to the proofe of it wherein first let
the case be considered from what all men professing Christ do acknowledge namely 1. That there was a true and pure Church in the time of the Apostles and a good while after so long as it abode in the Apostolical Rule Way 2. That there was to be a falling away from that Rule and Way of true Christianity and that to be universally and damnably as the Scriptures declare fully and clearly 3. That this falling away into the estate of damnation took beginning even in the Apostles times as to some persons which afterward became a general Apostasie from the Faith under which Apostasie the Christian World so called was to abide 1260 yeares 4. All Christians holding and believing all the former things and the Protestant Divines holding the latter do withall declare and maintain that for about 1100. years before the Reformation the Christian World was generally in the Antichristian Apostasie hence then it must needs follow that there still remains after the Reformation began by Luther about 160. years of Antichrists Reign which must of necessity comprehend all the time since unto this day Thus far the truth of the case is born out by all that profess belief in the Scripture Prophesies especially by all Protestant Divines and Churches Secondly Be it considered from what is further acknowledged namely That the true Christian Apostolical Primitive Church was and is called the pure Church for that it abode in the truth and sincerity of the Gospel in its naked purenesse and spiritual clearnesse living and walking in the new nature c. But in the after-times and so to this day the Church framed it self into an Artificial Garb and Structure both in Doctrine and in Worship Ordinances and Discipline wherein it boasts it self of its Liberty and Power so to add and change as to become quite another to what it had been alledging That then it was in its Infancy naked bare unpollish'd stintâ—sh c. But now is become adult of perfect maturity beauteous adorned splendid and in far more complete accomplishments Hence it must needs follow That if the Church Primitive were truely Christs and represented by the Woman clothed with the Sun the nakednesse and clarity of Truth Rev. 12. Then the other must be that of Antichrist and represented by the gorgeous Whore arrayed with earthly Pomp and Gallantry Lyes and Vanity Rev. 17. 18. Which if as Babylon the Mother of Horlots is signified the Romish Church then all other Churches bred out of her as all ours are are no other then her Daughter-Harlots If it be objected That all the Artifices Additions and Changes brought into the Church are but Circumstantial tending to order and decency and so alter not the Nature and Essence of the Church I answer it is quite otherwise those Artifices have utterly mixed Christianity even as much as Adams fall ruined all mankind the case is even the same as may and will be manifested in season it being the utmost height of that despoyling of all and destroying of all Religion which is spoken of Jude 4. and in many other places of Scripture Thirdly Be it considered what is yet further acknowledged that the Scripture fore-speaking of the most accursed Estate of people in the last times beyond all others before as no times to have been under such horrid Apostasie and Cursednesse as those and that all confess that these are those times do also declare that this condition should be universal and in that estate mens hearts to be so shut up blinded and hardened as no working upon them should win them out of it being given over to so strong delusion to believe a lye to their utter damnation such a delusion as to rest in a form of godliness and utterly to deny and turn away its Poâ—er such a besottednesse in a carnal self-pleasing Religion as to lye drunk in it and abundance of the like dreadful expressions and fore-speakings of the state of the last times And withall that there should be no release and deliverance out of this woful estate until the brightness of Christ dissolve and break those chains of darknesse save onely from some palpable enormities towards the end of the Reign of Antichrist which brightnesse of Christ having not yet appeared needs it must be that Antichrist still abideth in life power and all his essentials even where much of his outward parts have been consumed among the reformed These things and many more discovered at large in Gallicinium may well startle and affright us For surely were there such Churches and so many precious people yea and National Churches as we dream of these things could not be nor ever have been uttered by the Word of truth Fourthly Be it considered from the clear and unquestionable evidence of the case it self which all men must acknowledge and cannot possibly clude when it be set before them And herein 1. Consider wherein consists the true nature and essential proprieties of the true Church as it stood and abode in the Apostolical and Primitive times was it not in the new Man the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and power formed in their hearts according to his proper Nature and Office which Nature is Love and his Office is to bruise the Serpents head that is the Lusts which are the Kingdom and Power of the Devil in man and so to restore man unto that estate in the Image of God wherein he was first created that so living and walking in love the good works flowing from thene to be the fruits unto eternal life so being in the life of God and acting God's part and work in the world to be ever wel-pleasing and acceptable to God himself so becoming a Temple and Kingdom of God and of Heaven Is not this to be truly a Christian and this course and conversation the way of the Church and the conversation in heaven And did not the Primitive Church thus live thus walk Was not herein their Church-Way Church-Rule and all that denominated them truly Christian See at their firâ—t conversion Act. 2. 4. how Christ and Christianity manifested it self purely in their out-flowing self-denying Love so in all their Life Conversation Exercise whole Demeanure among the Heathen Was not the essential Character of their Religion and Grace meerly Love whence flowed all Virtue Goodness Holiness c So as it became the all-sufficient Note and Character whereby to be known to be the Disciples of Christ as himself declared Joh. 13.34 But now bring we our Church and all Churches now and of long time called Christian and see if any such character note and evidence can be found So as indeed it is utterly unknown shut up in a Mysterie making good that of the Apostle Eph. 3.19 The love of Christ passeth knowledge Sure it is and Gallicinium will make it evident that both we and all other Churches so called are far from the true Church of Christ even the pure Church of old as Hell
cannot hinder him when that season comes Behold the stone cut out of the Mountains without hands which is to smite Babylons Image and overthrow all the Hel-Dominion on the Earth is now in the cutting out and ere long the blow wil be given All the structures and devices of the wisdome of man shal have their fall return to their first nothing The Earthquake hath long been wherein the 7000. Names of men that is the inventions devices and structures of men in Religion whereby they have manifested themselves and made known the foolishness of their wisdom are to be slain and then the remnant afffrighted shall give glory to the God of Heaven and so the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever God hath so determined the times and seasons unto all say and do all the wits and powers of the world what they can There is but an hour for the power of darkness to prevail and then comes the power of the Light eternally to rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron And thus having spoken nothing but the words of Christ and of his heavenly spirit I may further apply thereto that saying of Christ The words which I have said unto you they are spirit and they are life THE CONCLUSION Most Dread Soveraign AS in my first Addresse so in the close hereof I make return unto Your Maesty in the first place humbly beseeching you to consider if what I therein declared be not now made good and accordingly whether ever any thing of so high and heavenly nature was ever presented and tendered to any Prince on Earth And whether the prosecution hereof will not advance your Throne above all the Kings that ever were before you Look not upon it I beseech you as the work of a poor simple man but as a Message from the King of Kings and his Son JESUS CHRIST who hath reserved this for your time and restored you to your Kingdoms for so great a work Finally this your poore Suppliant aged and weak who yet through the strength of Christ can stand on his leggs before and against all the Powers on Earth in defence of these Truths of his Lord and Master do yet as in his first Addresse tendered to your Majesties hands so now again humbly prostrates himself on his bended knees before Your Majesty beseeching you in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God and to set your heart to bring all all your Kingdoms and Subjects in what lyes in you into the same most blessed reconciliation with God in Christ Right Honorable Senators of the two Houses of Parliament whom God hath now happily joyned with our gracious Soveraign O that man may never separate again whom God hath thus joyned To your Honours I say as I made my Humble Address in the next place unto his Majesty by the hands of the Honourable Speaker to the House of Commons so I again return my speech to you in the same order humbly besecching you to take it as an Addresse of the highest concernment that ever was or can be tendred unto you ye profess to make Christian Laws to establish a Christian Government and all your intentions and aims to be truly Christian Of necessity therefore ye must lay the foundation of all in Christ which this presents you with or else all is but building upon the Sand Be pleased therefore to take into most deepe and serious consideration what is here presented you and say not by any means ye have not yet leisure for it and so lay it by but bear in mind That Foundations are first to be considered and laid and if ye have leisure to act any thing yea to eat or sleep or live then much rather ye must find leisure for this seeing that both to eat sleep live and act any thing are all to be to the glory of God in Christ which this Addresse wholly and alone concerneth Right Houorable the Lord Mayor Sheriffs Aldermen and all others of this head Citie of my Nation unto whom also I have made my humble address by casting my self into your arms not creeping into houses to lead any Captive but proclaiming in your streets the Name of the LORD O let it not be said of you as once it was of that head City Jerusalem O Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee I say unto you and to all other the Magistrates and people throughout all these kingdoms and Nations unto whom these addresses may come Men Brethren and Fathers unto you is the â—ord of this salvation sent Never Rulers and People had more need of it never was God and all that is of heaven so lost in the world as is now Behold here the light of God's countenance returning upon you Christ proclaiming his coming in power and great glory Behold I say here a breaking forth of that Light which will yet grow clearer towards the perfect day which if it be received and imbraced will abundantly make good that of the Prophet of old Happy are the people that are in such a case yea blessed are the people that have the Lord for their God Reverend Divines of this Honorable City to whom I have also made my address by repairing to diverse of you to beseech your help and concurrence in this work of the Lord not so much presuming to impart Light unto you as to crave further Light by partaking of your grace My humble Request both unto you and to all other of Christ's Ministry in these Nations is That you would not make good my jealousies and fears conceived in this case that as it was to Christ at his first appearing so also now the Priesthood to be the bitterest adversaries The grounds of the fears are the same which were in them having drunk so long and so deep of the old wine it is very hard to like of new O remember that the same word of prophesie which fore-spake of the slaughter of 7000 names of men which we find in the executing speaks also in the same place of the fall of the tenth part of the City which to be the Clergie of Antichrist's Church is more then probable and the making it good must be either by their falling from Babylon or together with Babylon into eternal perdition which latter cannot be avoided if the other salling off prevent it not even by hearkning to that call from heaven Come out of her my people c. lest yee be partakers of her plagues And now in a word to all committing you all to God and to the Word of his Grace I commend to your consideration that of the Prophet Jer. 26.13.14 15 16. Hatred Tribulation and Persecution from the World is the bequest of Christ to his saithful ones an Inheritance in Christ never to be parted with till himself appear again in power and great glory to incline the hearts of all to the love of the Truth And therefore wo to those pretenders for Christ whom all men esteem love and applaud as himself hath said They are the false Prophets which were to come into the world strange it may seem that this excreme difference should be seeing that all professe and preach by Name the same Christ onely here it differs the one doth it in jest the other in good earnest the one in hypocrisie the other in sincerity the one basely suted to mens carnal Lusts the other highly advanced into the heavenly self-denying love And so the wide difference stands clear the one is the Antichrist from Hell the other the Lord Christ from Heaven Therefore the hatred must of necessity be by reason of the enmity of Hell in the carnal mind against God Here then is the hope and comfort if this tender of the Lord Jesus Christ find place in the hearts of people then is the brightness of Christs coming appearing in such hearts unto assurance or proceeding to the highest glory of Christ if otherwise then the hour of darkness is not yet past but the true Light is reserved for a better generation which God in his own time will bring about and then none shall hinder it FINIS