demonstrate to sober minds And though some of your Doctors may speak Hebrew far better and be more ready than he at Sçeva Hiphil Phiel and at finding of your Roots as wisely established for such as the Holy Ghost taken away from Christ's Church yet without Lexicon Grammar Talmud and Targum he went so far beyond them that none of the best of them have ever so much as once dreamed of one word of the most sublime and divine sence which he hath discovered in almost every word of the Book of Genesis And if you had been pleased but to consult him a little about the meaning of some Hebrew words as for instance what means the Scripture by the word Meroz Judg. 5.23 you had never written nor suffer'd to be printed so much Non-sence about it Curse Meroz who can that be in the true sence of Scripture which is every where Figurative and besides in this place Prophetical but the Bishops and all such Shepherds whom God is against Ezek. 34.10 for that being like Meroz some of the men set apart among the Christian Churches to help the Spirit of God to fight against the Nations and the powers of darkness which War against him in man Gal. 5.17 19. and oppress the people of God and lead him away captive as Judg. 5.12 is said for Meroz was a Town of Galilee and belonging to the Tribe of Naphtali which with that of Zebâ—lon was by the Prophetess appointed in Israel to fight against Jabin the King of the Canaanites Judg. 4.6 5.18 and so typifies a part of those which are chosen from the body of the Church to set upon the Prince of this World and his Host in us they instead of thus helping the Lord against these mighty not only go not about either for their own private or publick good of their people to oppose their invasion but freely become their Slaves and betray into the hands of those Enemies of God Rom. 8.7 their Flocks by suffering them to walk and to run with them in the will of the Gentiles to wit Pride and Drunkenness excess in Clothes Patching Plays Revellings c. 1 Pet. 4.4 which Lusts go uncontrolled nay instead of exhorting the Magistrate to suppress the Schools of Vice in this Land viz. all lewd and Play-houses these dumb Dogs that cannot bark but for praise honour and gain Isa 56.10 11. discourage by barking at those that find fault with them as by applying to them on a Temporal account the curse of Meroz appears those few that would go and fight the said Enemies of God Besides as Meroz is not mentioned in the portions divided to the twelve Tribes Josh 19.32 to 40. among the Cities named throughout the inheritance of the people of Israel and yet was a Town of one of the Tribes of Israel so it ought to be applied to those that are in the Church and yet are not of the true Church of Christ have neither part nor lot in the Holy Ghost Act. 8.21 the true inheritance of Saints and Land of promise Rom. 14.17 and whose names are not set down or written among the true Israel in Heaven And who should these be but those who have not the Holy Ghost and deny the gift of it and yet like Simon Magus would gladly make sale of it as from their Ordination for money is manifest These four were Protestants viz. of the Lutherans and Valdenses Profession That the other Protestant parties have also seen some of the same wonders and signs done by the power of Faith upon some among themselves it is no hard thing to give several instances of and even out of some of their own Martyrologies But because they that read them may observe the same themselves and to avoid as much as I can prolixity out of many instances which are come to my knowledge in many parts of Europe I will give only two which occur and have been seen in England not so long time ago but that several sufficient eye witnesses of the one are still living and ready to attest it as the other is likewise by the testimony of great many judicious and learned spectators of the same now deceased The first instance is of a blind man that received his sight who being a Labourer by name Robert Lancaster of Castleacre a Town in the County of Norfolk had lost one eye by a Thorne and the other by a Stubble in binding sheaves in Harvest He was at least five years without the least sight and all that time earned his living with bunching of Flax and Hemp being led by his Son or an Apprentice he had from one Town to another He was a constant hearer of the Word and one Sunday about 30 years ago being at Church where hearing that part of the Gospel read or expounded which we find in the 9 th of John v. 6 7. viz. that Christ spat on the ground made clay and spread it upon the eyes of the man born blind and sent him to wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam which done he came thence seeing God it seems who opens mens ears in adversity by dreams visions of the night or by an interpreter and one among a thousand to shew man his uprightness that is the way which he may become righteous and just by Job 33.15 16 23. opened his heart to attend to the things that were spoken Act. 16.14 and to believe that God being as able and ready as ever to help all those who trusting to his goodness call earnestly upon him the same thing might then be done by him as well as before and in this confidence as soon as he came from Church he caused his Wife to get some clay from the wall of his Cottage and tempering it with his own spittle anointed his eyes and then desired to be led to a Spring which is in a place not far from thence called Broad Meadow where washing his eyes he did presently receive some sight and washing a second time he had a very good sight for all his life afterwards which was about eight years and used for a great part of that time Threshing in his and other Towns round about All this is certainly affirmed by several yet living in the same Town who knew Lancaster before and since his recovery by the Son of him that was then Minister of that Town who lives now in Snedsham not far from Castleacre his name is William Turner by Philip Pagraff of Little Appleton in Norfolk likewise Thomas Boot a Silk-weaver who dwells now in Goat-Alley by the Artillery-Ground Mrs. Mary Gold dwelling in the Haberdashers-Hall and by Lancaster's own Son who lives within five miles of the said Castleacre and Daughter who is married within three miles of London And this Relation comes from the present Minister of the said Castleacre Mr. William Briggs who though a sound Episcopal man hath sent it in writing to one of my acquaintance The other instance is of one Briggs a North-Country
and do most of their works to be regarded of men who like the Rich man in Luke 12.18 hoard up against the morrow and plead for it from St. Paul 1 Tim. 5.8 as though St. Paul's doctrine contradicted that of Christ Mat. 6.31 32. and as though his meaning were that men must work to be rich and not rather that they should work with their hands as he did Act. 18.3 for their own and Families subsistance from day to day Luk. 11.3 his words having reference to widows speaking of them before and after this verse which were to serve tables Act. 6.1 2. that is take care to buy and dress Victuals and whose office it was not to provide the means or the money for to procure them since they were themselves to be provided for as it may be gathered out of Scripture and his said words ought therefore to be thus interpreted viz. But if some of them widows 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is takes no care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chiefly or at least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those of her house that is who dwell in the house with her but minds her pleasure 1 Tim. 5.6 as most of our London Huswives instead of continuing in prayer both night and day v. 5. she hath denied the faith that teacheth us mutual love and care for one another whereas the Bishops do thus cunningly translate and fit the same for their own purpose viz. But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith But what faith the Bishops faith in the God Mammon they serve Luk. 16.13 and whom they say they can serve together with the true God blowing like the covetous Pharisees their nose for note the Greek word imports so much v. 14. at whoever doth like Christ deny that they can do it v. 13. thus to justifie themselves v. 15. making themselves wiser than Christ and his perfect Laws those wholsome commands of God void by this their tradition to do then as these Bishops who are carried about in pomp like Shews or pompae quae nullius per se sunt actionis compotes caeteros vero mole sua impudientes in their Chariots and Coaches with Foot-boys in Liveries with long Gowns and soft raiments and all other fine Trappings which things they that wear shall not as being effeminate the Text saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Mat. 11.8 enter the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 who instead of being contented with what is set before them Luk. 10.8 that is with some allowance willingly made sufficient to maintain them go from house to house v. 7. that is get from their first Benefice into another fatter nay keep both at the same time and still gape for a better who whereas Christ's followers have not where to lay their heads Luk. 9.57 58. have rich and large Palaces where they keep a continual feast like the feast of a King 1 Sam. 25.36 for persons of Quality and their Friends as Nabal did but when a poor man cometh for relief as David did you are a Stranger to me many Servants now a days run away from their Masters v. 10. where is your Certificate you are some idle Fellow and why don't you go to work is all the comfort he finds or stand thou there in the Hall or sit under my footstool Jam. 2.3 until I have dined is the greatest favour that he can expect of them who when they have got some men into their Inquisition that is their Spiriting Court which may be so called from Spiriting of Money and making many poor mans Purse light and Spirits heavy condemn all but inflict no punishment but on the Purse of their Patients who are those they presume to have money and that on no better proof than the bare information of some Whore upon Record whereas Christ would not condemn the Whore John 8.11 though she was taken in flagranti delicto v. 3. for who hath made me a judge saith he to some Luk. 12.14 over you in the kingdom of this World John 18.36 But Bishops will be the first Judges in order therein nay will sit as such upon those that are its proper Judges the Temporal Lords they will be Lords and Masters Mat. 23.8 and that not only Worldly or Temporal as the rest but Spiritual Lords also a brave business if they could tell how to have dominion over the Spirits of men what abomination is a Lord Bishop in Christ's Church O that my Body could but keep as far from the reach of their Lordships and Masterships as my Soul and Spirit are for I should be as safe from the effects of the kindness they shall have for me as they may be from any future invective from me in containing themselves within the bounds prescribed to all Lordship in this World like all the other sober and modest Temporal Lords I say that to do as the Bishops all the said things is not to believe in Christ for do they believe in one who act point-blank contrary to what he shews and prescribes and shew by their fruits or works that they are far from good trees and that they have perverted the righteous ways of the Lord May. 7.16 Therefore it is no wonder if Miracles and such other gifts or fruits of the Spirit are ceased from among them nay it were a great wonder if they should still wait on such for how can the Slave of sin who is taken captive by the devil at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 and hath not strength to shake off the yoke his evil passions have both subjugated and keep him still under with have power to overcome and command evil Spirits Fire Water and the Winds hurtful Beasts and deadly things and why should these obey him when they see not that in him to which they owe obedience to wit the Image of God and whilst the Nations that War against the Spirit in man Revel 2.26 Gal. 5.17 19 20. deny him all allegiance are not only revolted but continue absolute Masters of his mind and will But what sign dost thou shew thy self will some say to me John 2.18 art thou greater than all these famous Doctors of the Church John 4.12 that thou thus takest upon thee to tax and find fault with them as though they made of the house of prayer a Market-place of God's Word a meer Story of his Wisdom great Non-sense and of his Religion or Worship a Pageantry I answer that they are famous according as they lift up hammers and axes to break the Church of God down Psal 74.5 6. that I am I confess more brutish than any man Prov. 30.2 1 Tim. 1.15 pretend not to work Miracles but though I could do it yet I could not shew them any sign at their request because of their unbelief Mat. 13.58 and because it is not done but according to the faith of him that seeketh a sign
Holy Ghost being given but after that Christ ascended to his Father John dying before was not entirely in God's kingdom Rom. 14.17 and had not the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwelling in him as appears from his doubting whether Christ was the true Messiah that was to come Luk. 7.19 for they that have it know that 1 John 5.20 and so he was but one and the last of the old Prophets But notwithstanding this great Prerogative which all the Apostles had above them they were but men of the like passions and infirmities with them and with other men Act. 14.15 as appears by Act. 15.39 and by Peter compelling the Gentiles to do those things Gal. 2.14 which he himself condemned Alas per Antithesin to Master Vicar's alas which I have mentioned before out of his 5 th page lumen patiebantur tenebras interdum to wit when they did but slack the hand over the body Mat. 25.13 Rom. 6.6 8.13 23. 1 Cor. 9.27 Jam. 3.2 and had it been but for their extraordinary Spirit and Humane Learning Dionysius and Damaris had no more cleaved to them than those that heard the same things that they heard and yet mocked Act. 17.33 for what is Peter and Paul but the Ministers by whom Dionysius Damaris and the others believed and that how not as Paul's extraordinary Spirit prevailed but as even as God gave to some of them the grace to believe 1 Cor. 3.4 5. Quaere Seeing Damaris is mentioned together with learned Dionysius preferably to the men that believ'd at the same time Act. 17.34 and submitted with him to the School-learned reasons which as it follows from what the Vicar saith pag. 5. Paul was necessitated to make use of at that time to convince Dionysius was not the said Damaris a very learned woman and brought up in the Greek Schools or else was Dionysius become so much a Changeling that Paul had no greater need of Learning to convince him than to convince a woman Luke mentioning with a man of great Learning a woman before any of the rest seems to hint at the latter and Christ saying that we must become like little children to come into his Kingdom Mat. 18.3 and Paul that the wise worldlings must become fools to be wise 1 Cor. 3 18. because not many wise men after the flesh are called 1 Cor. 1.26 and God hides from such wise men his mysteries Mat. 11.25 it is plain that the learned Athenian was become so woman-like that the Bishops must look out elsewhere for another proof of the great necessity of Learning to convince him and for another better confutation of those Sects which they say do revile it Alas had it been but for the pretended supplement of it in the Apostles the Gospel had been nipped in its very budding forth the preaching of the Gospel had convinced no more men than it doth now amongst us the World had continued to be imposed upon like the people of Samaria Act. 8.9 10. and in general all they that heard the Word had mocked Is it wisely done therefore of the Lords Bishops to use or suffer to be used a falshood in a Pulpit with out check and correction as an argument of the great necessity of the thing so falsly supposed viz. School-learning in Preachers to reduce unbelievers to the obedience of Christ especially when Paul asserts flat and plain that he made no use at all of it God having chosen saith he 1 Cor. 1.27 the foolish things of this world to confound the wise whereof you have an instance in me and he preach'd not with wisdom of words the Humane Learning of the Vicar which he calls somewhere else a vain deceit Col. 2.8 lest the Cross of Christ saith he v. 17. should be made of none effect for it is to the Cross that the powers of the World among which Humane Learning and wisdom is not the least are nayled and by the Cross by self-conceited wise men resolving to become fools which is a great cross to them are the proud worldly wiselings with their imaginations and high conceits overcome 2 Cor. 10.5 Col. 2.14 15. Nay it is altogether injurious to the power which worketh effectually in the hearts of all converts Gal. 2.8 to call to help the wisdom of man and the School-learning in the preaching of the Word and therefore the Apostles spoke not with enticing words of mans wisdom v. 4. but planted and watered or preached always with all plainness of speech and simplicity committing the success to him that gives the encrease and trusting to his Spirit not to their own industry the work of man's conversion from sin to righteousness the means and the way to which is all that all Preachers ought to treat of in their Sermons And for all this their plainness weakness and infirmities they seldom preached in vain and they had better success than our Lords with all their great wisdom that comes to nought 1 Cor. 2.6 Also for all their want of Logick and Metaphysick they did not doubt as having saith Paul 1 Cor. 7.40 obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful but that they had the Spirit of God that directed them that what they designed was purposed in that Spirit Act. 19.21 and would have Christians to know that what they spake or wrote as their judgment or sentence was the command of the Lord 1 Cor. 7.25 14.37 And here had I but time enough I could run down the Bishops so very low that they would be glad to make of their Sleeves a Moses vail if they knew what they know not Zeph. 3.5 and were not so confident Prov. 14.16 For the fear of God being not only the beginning and instruction of wisdom Prov. 1.7 15.33 but also wisdom it self Job 28.28 and a whole treasure of it Isa 33.6 is not learning the Greek Tongue Logick and Metaphy sick and such like excluded from the means to get wisdom for what can they contribute and add unto that which yields a whole treasure of wisdom If a man asketh wisdom in faith God will give it him Jam. 1.5 6. God will give him his good gift the wisdom of the Father that is the Spirit of Truth Luk. 11.13 to guide him into all Truth For if any man will do Gods will John 7.17 keep the words of Christ ch 14.23 he and the Father will come to him by the Holy Ghost whereby he shall not only know of the doctrine of Christ but know all things and all Truth both Divine and Natural the word all comprehending omnia scibilia specially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 3.12 or the knowledge of nature as done before our eyes For such an understanding have all they that keep Gods words Psal 111.10 that they come of themselves to know and understand more than all their wisest Teachers Psal 119.99 100 104. and in a word the Scriptures proclaim almost nothing more than that men grow in knowledge as fast and by the same means only